Then the air suffocated!
At least, the air around that receptionist had completely frozen solid.
The next second.
"Aaaaaah!!!!!!!"
A piercing scream shook the entire mission hall.
Countless gazes instantly focused on him.
The receptionist was pointing at the tall, handsome young man before her, her face full of disbelief.
Lu Chen grew somewhat impatient under all those stares. Frowning, he urged, "Please hurry. I'm in a rush, thank you!"
"W-wait! Sir, I... I'll go get our manager right away!" The receptionist could barely get the words out before turning and sprinting away.
By then, the curious crowd around them had gathered closer, sizing Lu Chen up from head to toe.
Until someone noticed the gleaming "Special Grade" badge on his chest.
At once, gasps rose and fell in succession.
"Special Grade student?"
"My God! The academy reform only happened a few days ago. Someone has already advanced to Special Grade?"
"It's more than difficult—it's harder than climbing to heaven! I heard you need to complete a mission on the scale of an S-rank one just to qualify..."
"He advanced so quickly. Did he complete an S-rank mission?"
"Who is he? Some scion of a great family?"
A wave of hushed murmuring spread through the crowd.
Just as everyone was chattering away, someone suddenly shouted, "I remember now! No wonder you looked so familiar. Are you Lu Chen?!"
Lu Chen was slightly startled. He had not expected anyone to recognize him in unfamiliar Qianjiang City.
He nodded instinctively. "You... how do you know my name?"
"Your news has been everywhere online and in the papers these past two days! I've come across it several times! You're the student who advanced the fastest in the country after this reform, from Jiangdu City's Jiangcheng No. 3 High School, right?"
Only then did