New Course

"Brother Louis, you didn't know, Meow?"

Xiluo was more than happy to answer Louis's question. "Spandine was still the head of CP5 not long ago. He was transferred to CP9 as deputy chief some time back. It looks like they intend to promote him to chief of CP9. I really don't understand what the higher-ups are thinking, Meow. They actually want someone like him sitting at the top of the CP series, Meow."

Strictly speaking, although CP0 still bore the CP name, it was already another organization separate from the CP series. After all, CP1 through CP9 answered directly to the World Government, while CP0 answered directly to the Celestial Dragons. Even when facing CP9, the Marines would dare to respond with a Buster Call, but with orders from above, even a minor CP0 leader would dare point at the Fleet Admiral's head and bark commands. That was the difference.

Because of this, with CP0 almost entirely detached from the rest of the CP series, CP9 naturally became the pinnacle of the entire CP series. The chief of CP9 was therefore the chief of all CP branches. After all, official CP9 members had the authority to mobilize agents from other CP branches.

So there were plenty of people who could not understand why the higher-ups wanted to put Spandine in the position of CP9 chief.

"It's enough for the agents beneath him to be sharp and capable."

Louis said casually, "A chief only needs to be obedient. Is the current CP9 chief not obedient?"

"How would I know, Meow?"

Xiluo spread his hands. "But the current chief definitely doesn't want to step down like this, Meow. So, Brother Louis, take a guess. What do you think the current chief would think when he sees that there's a trainee in the camp who has a pretty good relationship with Spandine, Meow?"

"You take a guess too."

Louis smiled.

"Take a guess? Guess what, Meow?"

Xiluo froze.

"Take a guess what the current chief would think when he sees that a trainee in the camp has a very good relationship with the trainee who is close to Spandine."

Louis replied.

"Eh?"

Xiluo froze. "Eh!!!"

Life in the training camp continued at an unhurried pace. Louis did not pay much attention to the possible attention from the chief. What was coming would come sooner or later. Worrying about it was useless. All he needed to do now was keep getting stronger.

The third month's assessment arrived as scheduled. Louis's opponent in the combat test was still some nobody. After easily dealing with him, Louis successfully remained in the training camp with the highest overall score.

He had completed the work of controlling his body hair the previous month. Controlling his skin was indeed difficult, and it would take at least several more months to fully accomplish it. Once it was done, changing his appearance and apparent age would become much easier.

He had already completed four of the Six Powers: Tekkai, Kami-e, Soru, and Geppo. Thanks to the groundwork laid by Soru and Geppo, his Rankyaku training was only short of the final step. To be honest, it was the Six Powers technique Louis thought least highly of. It had little development potential, though it would probably be enough for clearing out fodder.

His greatest improvement should have been his basic combat strength, or so Louis believed. After gaining control over his digestive system, his digestion and absorption abilities had skyrocketed. His appetite grew even further, and fifty portions per meal were no longer quite enough. The cafeteria chefs had already begun developing a special high-energy menu tailored to Louis's appetite.

In return for that appetite, Louis's body was rapidly becoming stronger. The meat in this world was already packed with energy. Even ordinary people would become stronger from eating it for long periods, let alone someone like Louis, who could gorge himself and fully absorb everything he ate.

Although he had not tested his Doriki again, he figured that he probably had a Doriki Value of at least nine hundred now. One thousand was not impossible. In the entire training camp, the only people with greater Doriki than him were probably Stuart and Xiluo.

During the month he turned thirteen, Louis was growing stronger and stronger.

At the same time, new classes began. The afternoon physical training class was cut and replaced by sparring classes, where trainees either sparred with one another or with instructors.

Louis chose an instructor. In terms of combat experience, these people were still more capable. Then he discovered that the instructors were not as formidable as he had imagined.

The morning classes also entered a new phase. One day, Louis received a notice telling him to go somewhere for a training course.

"Special infiltration and interrogation methods, and anti-special-interrogation methods."

Louis muttered the name of the course he had heard from an instructor the previous day. That malicious grin on the man's face seemed to imply something.

"Hm?"

He saw someone: the woman named Yerika. Her hand rested on the room's handle, and her face was somewhat pale, as though she did not dare push the door open.

"..."

Noticing Louis's arrival, she turned and glared at him, as if he had once again stumbled upon some embarrassing secret of hers. Her killing intent was practically overflowing.

Creak.

Gritting her teeth, she pushed open the door and walked inside.

"Oh, what a handsome little boy!"

When Louis pushed open the door and entered, he found the room empty. A chair stood behind a desk, while a woman sat atop the desk. She was beautiful, sitting there with one leg crossed over the other as she painted her nails. Her skirt was so short that Louis could clearly see beneath it. When she saw Louis enter, she looked delighted. "How lucky!"

So this was the kind of course it was?

Louis somewhat understood what "special" meant in the so-called special infiltration and special interrogation methods.

"Wow, you're Louis, right?"

The woman smiled. "You're really suited for this course."

Giggling, she stood and walked up to Louis, carefully examining his face. Though still young, he was already exceptionally handsome. "Haha, study hard with me, little handsome. This will definitely become a weapon that serves you everywhere!"

"Yes, Instructor."

Louis nodded slightly.

"Oh my, calling me Instructor is so unromantic."

The woman waved a hand and laughed coquettishly. "Just call me Anna."

"I'll teach you well."

Anna licked her lips and whispered, "How an agent should make use of their gender advantages, and how to resist—"

She leaned close to Louis's ear, her breath warm and fragrant. "The sexual allure of the opposite sex. Don't worry."

"Once you've seen enough, you naturally stop caring."

Louis finally understood why Miss Yerika had looked so pale earlier. That was also why even Spandine was not particularly interested in female agents within the CP system.

Louis thought that Miss Yerika probably would not have an easy time undergoing this kind of training.

The training proceeded in an orderly fashion. Miss Anna was an excellent teacher. She taught Louis, from every angle, the points to watch for and the methods to use when dealing with the opposite sex. It was practically a flirting course.

Then another assessment arrived.

"Eh? The opponent is Stuart, Meow?"

Xiluo cried out in alarm. "No, Meow! Isn't this the end, Meow?!"

"Yerika, your opponent is Louis!"

On the other side, Louis's opponent had also been decided. Miss Yerika, pale-faced and utterly dejected, stared at him intently.

Heh, this woman again.

Louis shook his head slightly.