A Despicable Person

After leaving the Auditorium, Mo Bai returned to his life at the academy.

Honestly, Mo Bai felt overwhelmed just looking at the course names, never mind studying the subjects themselves.

He could at least understand courses like [Tunneler Leap Dynamics] and [Tunneler Material Bionics], and he was willing to put in the work.

After all, his department existed to train Tunneler Candidates.

But could someone tell him what the point of [Microgravity Agricultural Engineering] was?

"This is... a throwaway class..."

Mo Bai sat at his desk, looking at his classmates, who were practically asleep on theirs, and the teacher at the lectern, who paid no attention to discipline whatsoever.

Yes, this was familiar. This was what he had always imagined college life would be like.

It would be a shame not to take a little nap...

Thump.

But just then, Mo Bai felt something hard strike his head.

It was a little ball of paper.

He unfolded it and recognized the handwriting inside.

[Zzt, zzt. Mole calling Big Dog. Let's go for a ride (#^.^#).]

Well, there was only one person among his friends who drew emoticons on handwritten notes.

Mo Bai glanced at the teacher, who was completely absorbed in the lecture.

Right. I did promise her we'd go for a ride. I'm just keeping that promise.

It's definitely not because I can't stand this throwaway class anymore.

With that thought, Mo Bai quietly sank into the shadows.

Plop.

"No matter how many times I see it, I'm still so jealous of that ability!"

Lynae gazed enviously at Mo Bai as he emerged from the shadows.

"What, you're jealous of my Shikigami?"

"No, that ability makes you unbeatable at skipping class!"

Mo Bai's face darkened at her answer. He had never imagined someone would envy his technique because it let him skip class...

Still, he wasn't reckless enough to start a loud argument with Lynae in the hallway, so the two of them quickly left the academy.

Vroom!

The motorcycle started, and they sped away from the academy.

"By the way, how come you can come and go from the academy whenever you want now? It took me ages to get permission to leave."

Lynae complained from her seat on the motorcycle.

"Well, they found out your enrollment documents were fake. Of course the academy's going to keep a close eye on you now," Mo Bai said, concentrating on the road.

He wasn't as comfortable riding fast as Lynae was, especially now that they were on an unpaved track.

"In my case, they only had suspicions. Once they couldn't find a scrap of evidence that I was a spy, they naturally declared me innocent."

Mo Bai's answer earned him an eye roll from Lynae.

His tone was matter-of-fact, but to her, it sounded an awful lot like bragging.

"Wait!"

Screech!

At Lynae's warning, Mo Bai slammed on the brakes.

A group of Tunneler Swarm Creatures stood ahead of them.

Unlike their usual docile selves, their reddish eyes were obvious even from a distance.

That was proof they had been contaminated by a Voidmatter Magnetic Storm. Stranger still...

A vast Voidmatter Magnetic Storm zone lay not far from Mo Bai and Lynae.

It covered a large area, though it didn't look particularly dense.

Mo Bai could clearly see the worry on Lynae's face.

"Professor Mornye said the first thing we should do when we encounter a Voidmatter Magnetic Storm is report it to the acade—"

"There's someone inside!"

Lynae cut Mo Bai off before he could finish.

The moment she said there was someone inside, he knew there was no point finishing his sentence.

She was bound to decide rescuing that person came first, then charge straight in.

If only Rover were here. That would make things so much easier.

At least Rover could keep Lynae in check.

Then again, maybe not. Rover would probably charge in to save them too.

Lynae looked over at Mo Bai.

Her gaze was resolute.

"Let's go."

With no other choice, Mo Bai rode with her into the Voidmatter Magnetic Storm.

They both had Tacet Discs to protect them from the Voidmatter Magnetic Storm.

Besides, Lynae had resonance power and Mo Bai had Cursed Energy. A storm this thin would have little effect on them.

Vroom—

Lynae drove them into the Voidmatter Magnetic Storm.

The Tunneler Swarm Creatures inside were fairly easy to deal with. A few blows to the head were enough to short them out and knock them unconscious.

"Ugh... I feel awful..."

After clearing out the creatures, Lynae and Mo Bai spotted a student slumped in the middle of the Voidmatter Magnetic Storm.

The student wore a red Star Torch Academy uniform and was mumbling something.

"Are you all right?"

Lynae approached the student with concern.

Meanwhile, Mo Bai wandered around behind the student.

He had never been this far inside a Voidmatter Magnetic Storm before. He had only read about them in textbooks.

For a Lament unique to the Lahai Luo region, this storm seemed remarkably thin.

"Hang in there. We'll take you back to the academy right away."

Lynae said, moving to hoist the student onto her shoulder.

But just as she approached, she exchanged a glance with Mo Bai, who stood a short distance away.

"Let me do it."

Mo Bai suddenly stepped in front of the student and, politely yielding, moved to carry them instead of Lynae.

"Thank you. Thank you both."

The student forced a smile. Their voice and expression were both weak.

Whoosh!

But just as Mo Bai was about to approach, the student suddenly sprang at him.

Thud!

However, the student was quickly flipped over Mo Bai's shoulder and slammed to the ground.

Click!

Lynae then raised her pistol and pressed it against the student's forehead.

"When did you figure it out?"

The student no longer looked weak or pitiable. Instead, they glared furiously at Lynae and Mo Bai.

"You're not the first Remnant Star Society spy I've caught hiding at the academy. I noticed when I got close."

"No special reason. Your acting was a little too fake, so I was on guard."

After speaking, Lynae and Mo Bai tied the student up on the ground.

Whoom—

At that moment, the Voidmatter Magnetic Storm in the area also vanished.

Clatter.

At the same time, Mo Bai noticed the sound of something falling to the ground nearby.

Looking closer, he saw an empty canister.

Since it appeared at the exact moment the Voidmatter Magnetic Storm disappeared, it must have been closely connected to the Remnant Star Society spy in front of them.