The Multiverse, Starting from *Fullmetal Alchemist* to Become the Mastermind - Chapter 20

"Isn't there a joint physical education class for Class B and Class D this afternoon? I can put it on and demonstrate it for you then. As it happens, I brought it with me."

"Eh? Is that really okay?"

Ichinose Honami widened her eyes.

She had assumed Su Wei might keep it to himself or use it as a bargaining chip to demand something in return.

After all, as the first person to redeem a combat suit, he could easily snowball his advantage and use it to maintain his lead.

"Why wouldn't it be?"

Su Wei said casually:

"We'll likely be teaming up together in the future anyway. If my teammates are stronger, I'll have less to worry about, right?"

Hearing these words, Ichinose clearly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Then thank you so much, Su Wei-kun! I... I don't even know what to say."

She sighed with genuine emotion.

Although this school advocates for meritocracy, it turns out there are still many good people in this world.

"Ring-a-ling--"

The urgent school bell rang abruptly.

"Ichinose, it's time for class."

Shiranami Chihiro walked over quickly and naturally linked her arm with Ichinose's.

Her tone was gentle, but when her gaze swept over Su Wei, it instantly turned sharp, much like a hissing kitten.

"Ah! Sorry!"

Ichinose exclaimed, as if remembering something, and hurriedly fumbled in her pocket.

"Um... Su Wei-kun!"

She handed over a small bottle of Max Coffee that still held her body heat, looking a bit embarrassed:

"It's not anything expensive, but please, you must accept this! Consider it an apology for taking up your time!"

Su Wei took the coffee without standing on ceremony:

"Thanks, it saves me a trip."

"See you this afternoon!"

Watching Ichinose being pulled away, Su Wei could clearly sense that Shiranami Chihiro had glared at him fiercely one last time before leaving.

That look...

Is she guarding her food...

What a sinful woman you are, Ichinose.

Su Wei didn't mind, cracked open the coffee, and took a gulp.

Hmm, as expected, coffee is still terrible.

It's only good for acting aloof.

It really doesn't compare to cola, and it's even worse than ice-cold Lao Da.

"Can I join you?"

As they walked, Kushida Kikyo suddenly spoke up.

"Of course," Su Wei nodded, "after all, you are the group owner of the Black Sphere Mutual Aid Group!"

Kushida Kikyo froze.

Clearly, she was the group owner; clearly, she had participated in the first exam and was lucky enough not to be selected as a fixed member, giving her two more chances for error than those students who hadn't even entered the Black Sphere yet.

Logically, she should feel fortunate and superior.

But for some reason.

She wasn't happy.

"Yeah... I am the group owner, after all."

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was afternoon.

On the playground, the students of Class B and Class D were warming up.

In the past, for Class D, physical education class was basically a free-for-all; the boys would play ball and the girls would chat, focusing primarily on being lazy and undisciplined.

But now, because of the threat that daily performance was linked to class points, this group of students, no matter how reluctant, were for once putting on a rare show of seriousness.

Of course, there were still a few who had completely given up.

For instance, Sudo and the others, who figured they were already at rock bottom and one more person wouldn't make a difference;

Or, for example...

Su Wei.

Taking advantage of the gap during the roll call, Su Wei made an excuse about needing to fetch something from the equipment room and slipped away in broad daylight.

After all, this was the time when the fewest people were around, making it the least likely to be noticed by others.

He sent a location pin to Kushida and Ichinose on his phone, then stepped into a cubicle inside the equipment room.

A few minutes later.

Just as he finished changing into his combat suit and was preparing to pull his school gym uniform over it, the door to the equipment room was pushed open gently.

Kushida Kikyo and Ichinose Honami snuck in one after the other, acting like thieves.

"Su Wei-kun!"

The moment they met, Kushida Kikyo complained with a huff:

"Our performance right now is tied to the class evaluation, you know! If the teachers find out you're skipping class, points will be deducted!"

"I already covered for you and asked for leave... please be more careful next time!"

"Oh, my bad."

Su Wei brushed her off with zero sincerity, "I'll definitely be careful next time."

Kushida puffed out her cheeks, clearly dissatisfied with his perfunctory attitude.

Meanwhile, Ichinose's attention was entirely focused on Su Wei.

Even through the gym uniform, she could still see the layer of black material with a metallic sheen at Su Wei's collar.

"You've... already put it on?"

Su Wei didn't waste any words.

He walked straight to the equipment rack, his gaze locking onto a dumbbell marked "20kg."

Then.

Under the astonished gazes of the two girls.

He extended his pinky finger and hooked it through the dumbbell's handle.

As if it were a fake prop made of foam, the dumbbell was hooked and lifted into mid-air by him; he even swung it around casually, showing no signs of strain whatsoever.

"This..."

Ichinose Honami stepped forward, trying to take the dumbbell with both hands.

"Ugh!"

A heavy, sinking sensation hit her instantly; her body lurched downward, and she nearly dropped it on her toes.

It really was 20 kilograms!

The real deal!

"...Isn't that a bit exaggerated?"

Kushida Kikyo's eyes widened, her mouth slightly agape; her shocked expression this time didn't look like an act at all.

Su Wei took the dumbbell back and tossed it casually onto the rack:

"It is exactly that exaggerated."

"As for the jumping ability..."

As he spoke, he hopped lightly in place twice.

Then, he bent his legs slightly, gathering force.

"Whoosh!"

Under the incredulous stares of the two girls, Su Wei leaped four or five meters high, easily grabbing the high steel structural beam of the equipment room ceiling with one hand.

"Thud."

He let go and landed, steady on his feet.

He remained completely at ease, with not a hint of discomfort on his face.

"So amazing..."

Ichinose Honami quickly recorded the data on her phone, her tone filled with wonder:

"This combat suit... the cost-performance ratio is ridiculously high."

"Lifting dozens of kilos with one hand, jumping four or five meters in a single bound..."

She looked up:

"It looks like we need to prioritize getting everyone a set."

"Oh, right, Su Wei-kun."

As if thinking of something, Ichinose hesitated for a moment before suddenly speaking up:

"I have another idea I'd like to verify."

"Speak," Su Wei said, concise and to the point.

Ichinose Honami glanced around, lowering her voice:

"In the Black Sphere trials, the Standard Gun and the Capture Gun aren't bound items; we can exchange and use them with each other, right?"

"Correct."

"Then I want to know... is this Reinforcement Suit exclusively bound?"

"If it could be lent out..."

"Then the classmates in our group who don't want to participate because the previous members' lives were in danger, or the newcomers chosen at random, wouldn't have to suffer so much."

Su Wei couldn't help but be rendered speechless.

As expected, patching the system was the right call.

Wasn't there someone right in front of him trying to exploit a bug?

He looked at Ichinose, who wore a hopeful expression, and kept his face straight:

"How would we test this? Call Ryuen Kakeru or Katsuragi Kohei over?"

"No..."

"No, there's no need for that much trouble!"

The young girl seemed to have made up her mind.

She bit her lip lightly, her gaze fixed firmly on Su Wei, before glancing at Kushida Kikyo, who was standing guard by her side:

"I'll do it!"

"As long as no one says anything, it'll be fine..."

"I've already troubled you both so much; I can't cause you any more trouble!"

Kushida Kikyo was somewhat dumbfounded, but she hurriedly waved her hands to show her loyalty: