The dormitory was quiet in the afternoon, with nothing but the occasional chirping of birds drifting in from outside.
Lin Mo lay on the bed with his eyes closed, but he was not asleep.
He was sorting everything out in his mind.
In the Game World, he was now a Legendary Lord with thirty-six Tier 3 Clones, occupying Water Curtain Cave as a temporary base.
In the real world, he had brought back his Attributes, and his physical fitness had improved significantly.
However, his hunger had increased accordingly, so he needed to take in more energy.
"Tonight, once I enter the game, my top priority is to establish a territory."
Lin Mo unconsciously tapped his fingertips against the bedboard, producing a steady, faint sound, while his thoughts raced through the possibilities.
"Black Stone Village? No. It's too conspicuous. After all, it's a village officially registered with the imperial court.
"Even if I forcibly occupied it, the trouble afterward would be endless. I might even attract a massive government purge. That would be nothing short of suicide."
"Black Wind Stronghold? It has more than fifty bandits and three professionals. A head-on clash would be too risky.
"Besides, the stronghold is built in a remote mountain pass. The place is tiny, with neither decent farmland nor sufficient water. It simply couldn't support long-term development."
"Water Curtain Cave? It is well hidden, but the space there is far too cramped. At most, it could serve as a hideout. Trying to grow stronger there would be wishful thinking."
The rhythm of his tapping suddenly became erratic.
"Maybe... I should change my approach."
Lin Mo abruptly opened his eyes and stared fixedly at the ceiling.
"I don't necessarily have to chew on what others have already chewed.
"Existing villages and strongholds all have their limitations. Why not choose an unclaimed piece of land and start from scratch, personally building a territory of my own?"
"With the 50% acceleration and 20% resource reduction from the lord skill 'Territory Construction,' combined with the additional 30% speed boost and simultaneous construction of three projects from 'Infrastructure Maniac'..."
He quickly calculated in his head. "Construction speed will be 180% of normal, while resource consumption will be 80%. If all the Clones devote themselves to construction..."
A vague plan began to take shape in his mind.
But first, he needed more information about the surrounding area.
Just as he was thinking, his phone vibrated once.
He took it out and looked at it. It was a message in the class group.
The class monitor was announcing that there would be an impromptu class meeting in the multimedia classroom at three that afternoon. The counselor required everyone to attend, as there was important information to convey.
"Important information?" Lin Mo raised an eyebrow.
He replied, "Got it," and then continued lying down.
At two fifty in the afternoon, Lin Mo slung the black backpack containing emergency medical supplies over his shoulder and left for the Art Building.
By the time he stepped into the classroom, more than half the students were already seated.
Buzzing discussions rose and fell, occasionally mixed with the background music from Short Videos on their phones. The commotion was far livelier than usual.
Lin Mo chose an empty seat toward the back and casually swept his eyes over the room.
Zhou Ming was sitting in the front row. The moment he turned around and spotted Lin Mo, he immediately made faces at him and silently mouthed, "What's going on?"
Lin Mo shook his head slightly, indicating that he was just as confused.
Su Wanqing sat by the window in the front row, surrounded by several boys. She looked very much like the center of attention.
The boys gathered around her and spoke in low voices. She wore a polite, faint smile, nodding and responding from time to time.
At exactly three, counselor Li Xuewei walked in.
Today, she was wearing a beige trench coat over a white shirt and black skirt, with high heels on her feet.
Her long hair was tied behind her head, revealing a smooth forehead and an elegant, slender neck.
It was a very capable outfit, but the trench coat's belt was tied a little tightly, outlining her slender waist and the curves of her chest.
The top two buttons of her shirt were undone, revealing a small patch of fair skin and delicate collarbones.
Li Xuewei was twenty-six that year. After completing her master's degree, she had stayed on at the university, and she had been working as a counselor for less than a year.
She was beautiful, had a good figure, and was gentle by nature, making her very popular among the students.
Quite a few boys harbored thoughts about her in private.
Lin Mo had... admired her too.
At that moment, Li Xuewei walked to the podium, scanned the room, and furrowed her brows slightly.
"Is everyone here?" Her voice was a little hoarse and sounded exhausted.
The class monitor stood up to count the students. "Reporting to you, Teacher Li, there should be forty-one students, and thirty-nine are present. Wang Hao and Liu Zixuan asked for leave."
"What was the reason?"
"Wang Hao has a fever. Liu Zixuan... has something going on at home."
Li Xuewei nodded and gestured for the class monitor to sit down.
She braced both hands on the podium and leaned forward slightly.
The posture caused the neckline of her shirt to open wider. From Lin Mo's angle, he could see a deep cleavage and the edge of black lace underwear.
Several boys beside him clearly held their breath, their gazes seemingly drawn in by a magnet.
Lin Mo was enjoying the view as well.
He had never hidden the fact that he was lecherous.
Beautiful things—especially beautiful female bodies—were meant to be admired.
Li Xuewei seemed not to notice, or perhaps she was already accustomed to such gazes.
She cleared her throat and began:
"I called everyone together at short notice today because I have several important matters to announce."
"First, the school has recently received several reports of students suddenly feeling unwell at night.
"Everyone must pay close attention to your health, avoid staying up late, and maintain a healthy routine.
"If you feel any discomfort, contact the school clinic or me immediately."
Before you continue