ZZ (Part 2)

A dozen or so days later.

Night blanketed the imperial palace of Saint Grand Fort. Beneath the crystal lamps, the Chen King was reading a confidential report.

Suddenly, a shadow silently rose beside him.

It was Zero, one of the Grand Duchy's four Pioneers, known as Shadow.

The proposal to make Pioneers a regular rank had been put forward by the Bio-Exterminator, Xixi Li.

In the past, being a Pioneer had represented the dawn of a new era for scholars—a distinction that only three people could bear: Antonio, Gauss Adolf, and White Niven.

But now, with Xixi Li having developed Alpha Power and ushered in a new era of arms competition between the Grand Duchy and its Cataclysm Weapons, she had formally declared the arrival of the Cataclysm Era. Using this as a dividing line, she proposed making the Pioneer rank a regular one.

In other words, the meaning of Pioneer would shift from being an honor marking an era to a title for human scholars capable of standing alongside Level Four creatures.

Thus, Esoteric, Transcendental, and Pioneer would represent the proper divisions between Level One, Level Two, Level Three, and Level Four scholars.

As for the Royal Academicians, they were a special class of beings between Level Three and Level Four creatures, comparable to Legendary Creatures and Ancient Creatures.

In Xixi Li's words, this classification would help scholarly civilization develop further, dispel The Foolish, and become more rational and healthy.

"What is it?"

The Chen King asked without turning his head.

"Pioneer Antonio has returned with Reilo Gubo, bearer of the Sun Power. He has been secretly taken to the Eastern Palace."

The Chen King slowly turned to look at Zero.

"Reilo is back?"

He snapped, "Why wasn't he brought straight here? Go get him—no, I'll go myself."

The