Evening, Pinglu City.
The location for Guan Tong's birthday party was a small courtyard provided by Shi Jingyi.
As a long-standing main lecturer at the academy, she had been allocated a residence with a separate courtyard, a far better arrangent than what Guan Tong, the temporary substitute teacher back then, had received.
The six people attending the birthday party, including Guan Tong, had already gathered in the courtyard. The table was laden with steaming hot dishes, all brought by Xu Xiaotian from the cafeteria.
Shi Jingyi had prepared so light tea and beverages, as basically none of those present drank alcohol.
"Co on, everyone, let's have a toast first, to congratulate Xiao Guan on turning twenty today!"
Wang Yan raised her glass first. Being the eldest among them, she naturally took on the role of host.
"Congratulations to my Brother Tong, officially embarking on the road to thirty starting today!"
"Happy birthday~"
After finishing his cup of tea, Guan Tong said, "Thank you, everyone. We're all good friends, so I won't waste words on formalities."
"Mm." Shi Jingyi smiled. "You're not very good at them anyway."
Since returning to the academy, she had heard plenty of stories about Guan Tong from students and other teachers.
The common descriptions of him were things like "doesn't like to talk" and "has a cold expression."
She knew, however, that Guan Tong wasn't exactly cold, he just didn't particularly enjoy interacting with outsiders.
"Lecturer Jingyi is right." Wang Yan also teased with a smile. "This kid Xiao Guan just doesn't like to talk. But that's fine, it's better than those who blabber nonsense all day."
Xu Xiaotian, sitting nearby, let out an awkward chuckle at this. "Auntie, the 'blabbering nonsense' type you ntioned is probably soone like , the overly friendly type. But if I wasn't so friendly, I wouldn't have t Brother Tong back then. And I never would have imagined that the famous 'Shadow' was actually Brother Tong!"
Guan Tong shook his head slightly. "'Shadow' isn't really that amazing. A lot of the rumors circulating outside are nonsense, don't believe all of them."
Silver Fox spoke up then. "That's true. Even so experts in the Counterasures Research Office believe 'Shadow' is sothing created by an organization, not an individual."
Guan Tong found this strange. "Don't you all know my identity?"
"Only a few people know. It hasn't been fully disclosed across the entire Research Office." Silver Fox winked at him. "You didn't really think the person in charge would make it public, did you?"
After a mont's thought, Guan Tong understood Silver Fox's point.
An organization as strict and rule-bound as the Counterasures Research Office wasn't immune to leaks.
The office had many personnel, and with the existence of remote communication Mind Power items like the [Communication Scroll], unless shielding items were used constantly, anyone determined to leak information could definitely do so.
Similar incidents might have already occurred.
"It's better not to publicize it." Shi Jingyi said to Guan Tong. "A tree that stands out in the forest will be battered by the wind. The more people who know your identity, the more dangerous your situation becos."
Guan Tong nodded.
The group chatted while eating.
Since Guan Tong was the birthday boy and the core of the group, the conversation revolved almost entirely around him.
However, as the talk continued, the others also got to know each other a bit.
When the topic turned to the recent events in Sakura Prayer Country, Guan Tong told them the reason he had initially gone there to seek revenge on Yuzawa Jun.
"So that's what happened!"
Silver Fox, now understanding the conflict that occurred during the scramble for the Kimos Star fragnt, had a mont of realization.
"That's how the grudge started. Back when Sakura Prayer Country mobilized warships, we received the news, but we never imagined it was related to you."
Shi Jingyi remained silent, thinking of the attack she and Guan Tong had suffered after the Earthquake Rule ended... Clearly, Guan Tong's choice to live a solitary, elusive life after suffering two such attacks was completely justified.
"...Sakura Prayer Country, or more accurately, the Yuzawa Family led by Yuzawa Jun, had ambitions of world conquest from the very beginning. Fortunately, we stopped it in ti. If Yuzawa Jun had been allowed to grow without limit, he would have beco unimaginably terrifying in the future."
Those who didn't know about Yuzawa Jun's abilities were all quite shocked after hearing Guan Tong's account.
"He actually had such a perverse ability?!"
Xu Xiaotian was the most astonished.
This wasn't surprising. Compared to his Instant Noodles item, Yuzawa Jun's bloodline power seed to belong to a completely different dinsion.
"His ability and his identity complented each other perfectly." Shi Jingyi said. "A growth-type ability like that must have been extrely weak in its initial stages. Without assistance from others and the protection of an organization, it would have been very difficult for it to grow."
"And Yuzawa Jun, possessing such an ability, happened to be a mber of a nation's ruling family. This allowed him to use the vast majority of the nation's resources to feed his own growth, accelerating his developnt. That's why, in less than two years, he beca an existence far surpassing ordinary Ascendants."
Everyone nodded in agreent.
What Shi Jingyi said was correct. Growth-type abilities required a long ti and abundant resources to develop. Most had to struggle through the initial phase, a very difficult process.
Few had the uniquely advantageous conditions that Yuzawa Jun possessed.
"Truly frightening." Wang Yan sighed. "It's just that such bad people have such good luck. If it weren't for you guys stopping him, who knows how many more people he would have hard."
"In this era, ambitious individuals like Yuzawa Jun will beco more and more nurous." Silver Fox said. "So we must strike down every one we discover, and never let the world fall into the hands of such people."
"Speaking of which... you all know about what's happening over in Black Flag Country, right?"
Hearing Xu Xiaotian bring this up, Guan Tong said, "I know. Although I've been in Sakura Prayer Country these past days, I've still seen the news."
The parasitized forms seizing Black Flag Country's territory and declaring the establishnt of the Seli Divine Nation was a massive, globally explosive event, dominating all news and social dia.
Even while busy dealing with Yuzawa Jun, Guan Tong would naturally learn a thing or two about such a major event.
"The academy's teachers and students are all discussing this." Shi Jingyi said. "If this nation truly continues to exist..."
"That's impossible." Silver Fox stated decisively. "Humanity will not allow colonization by alien lifeforms. I contacted the captain earlier. Beixing is currently urgently mobilizing a large number of troops, clearly aid at Black Flag Country. The Human Consortium should also issue a joint statent soon."
The captain Silver Fox ntioned was naturally Dragon Soul. The latter had been operating at the base with Zhang Minglu and could learn about the latest official preparations firsthand.
"Speaking of this..."
Silver Fox looked at Guan Tong.
"Yuzawa Jun is dead, your revenge is settled, and the Sakura Prayer Country matter is basically concluded. What are your plans afterwards?"
"."
Guan Tong's original plan was to head to the Xisiya Empire to deal with Yelanka's brother after settling matters in Sakura Prayer Country. Or go to the chaotic region of the Tulip Federation to settle scores with Lucifer.
But now he wanted to slow down a bit.
Because the Fifteenth Rule was already on the way. Today was January 6th. In just over a week, on the 15th, the new rule would be announced.
With such a short ti, rather than rushing to an unfamiliar place, it was better to rest and recuperate.
On one hand, to adjust his own state and look for enhancent points.
On the other hand, Uenoshi and he were now part of the sa organization. Even if the organization only had two mbers, they needed to take ti to sit down and discuss various details.
However, Silver Fox asking this now seed to imply she had so request.
Guan Tong asked in return, "I'll probably rest for a while. Do you have sothing in mind?"
"Rest? Hmm... Alright. I wanted to ask if you'd be interested in continuing to cooperate with the Research Office."
"Continue cooperating?"
"Yes. The number of parasitized forms over in Black Flag Country is too vast. Relying solely on soldiers might not be comprehensive enough. We'll definitely need so powerful Ascendants to provide support. I was thinking, if you were willing to go, the Research Office would certainly agree and et your demands and conditions."
The others fell silent upon hearing this. Such matters were not for outsiders to comnt on; only the person involved could decide.
"The parasitized forms are enemies threatening the survival of all humanity." Guan Tong said. "Since I am human, of course I will fight them. However, given my current state, going there imdiately might not be ideal."
As he spoke, he noticed Shi Jingyi's gaze turn grave, as if she had thought of sothing related. He felt a flicker of curiosity.
"Brother Guan, if you're tired, you should rest. Don't push yourself." Chen Na said.
Wang Yan also chid in. "Na Na is right. The parasitized forms are a big issue, but you're not made of iron, Xiao Guan. You just finished dealing with the major event in Sakura Prayer Country. You deserve a rest!"
"That's right. This Silver Fox lady, Brother Tong has been running around everywhere, it's really not easy!"
Silver Fox smiled and shook her head. "I was just making a suggestion. I'm not forcing anything, and besides, I don't have the ability to force... You're right. Even before the investigation team was ford, you were already contending with Yuzawa Jun, Guan Tong. You've contributed much more than we have. Taking a rest is only right. I'll punish myself with a drink, don't mind ."
After saying this, she picked up her teacup and drank. Guan Tong didn't bla her at all; in fact, he could understand.
If their roles were reversed, he would also hope Silver Fox would go to Black Flag Country to help. After all, if the establishnt of the parasitized forms' nation wasn't completely dismantled, the harm it could cause in the future might far exceed that of Yuzawa Jun.
No matter how ambitious Yuzawa Jun was, no matter how perverse his abilities, he was still human. But what exactly were those parasitized forms? What planet did the spores co from, and what was their ultimate goal in continuously spreading? These were all unknowns.
Many could understand Yuzawa Jun's goal; it was just the sa old set of "ambitious individual with grand emperor dreams," countless throughout history.
But the unknown pursued by these parasitized forms would make people even more fearful. Because humanity's deepest fear is the fear of the unknown.
After the al, the cake was brought to the table.
Everyone also took out their prepared birthday gifts.
Chen Na was the first to present her gift, a small square box.
Under her expectant gaze, Guan Tong opened it to find a watch inside. The strap and dial were both black, looking quite ordinary.
"A watch?"
Everyone was a bit surprised, Xu Xiaotian especially scratching his head.
Because watches had long been obsolete in this era, replaced by smart projection rings or other smart wearable devices.
In this era, watches were basically only used as accessories, with little practical value. And based on Xu Xiaotian's understanding of Guan Tong, the latter had no interest at all in non-practical items like accessories.
This was evident from the fact that every ti he saw Guan Tong, Guan Tong wore the sa clothes... Even if one could guess this outfit was a Mind Power item, soone with even a slight inclination to dress up would change clothes occasionally.
Guan Tong, however, didn't mind. Smiling, he picked it up and put it on his left wrist. Upon contact, he noticed a panel pop up before his eyes.
He closed it temporarily without examining it closely and asked, "Xiao Na, is this a Mind Power item?"
"Mhm, mhm!" Chen Na nodded repeatedly. "After I found out it was Brother Guan's birthday, I spent a long ti browsing the terminal market and then bought this super multi-functional watch!"
"Super multi-functional?" Xu Xiaotian asked curiously. "What functions does it have?"
"Well... It can work as a flashlight, indicate direction, monitor body data in real-ti, test environntal gases, detect radiation, and lots more, lots more!"
"I thought since Brother Guan is always running around all over the world, encountering all sorts of environnts, you might need many small tools, so I picked this watch. What do you think, Brother Guan?"
Guan Tong nodded. "I like it very much. It's very practical for . Thank you, Xiao Na."
"Hehe, I'm glad you like it, Brother Guan."
"All those complex functions in one watch? That's actually pretty good! This watch must not be cheap, right?" Xu Xiaotian asked.
Chen Na shook her head. Though she didn't state the price, it was certainly not low.
Silver Fox, sitting nearby, chuckled lightly. "Xiao Na, did you use up all the wages and subsidies the Research Office gave you?"
"Not all..."
Guan Tong knew the Research Office paid wages in Ascension Coins. For Ascendants with special abilities like Chen Na, the wages were certainly not low, and there were probably additional subsidies for missions.
But a multi-functional utility item watch like this definitely wasn't cheap. He patted Chen Na's head. He didn't offer to compensate her with Ascension Coins, as it was a child's heartfelt gift.
"Thank you, Xiao Na. When your birthday cos, I'll prepare an even better gift for you."
"Wow, then I'll thank you in advance, Brother Guan, hehe."
"Ah, compared to this, my gift seems a bit hard to present now!" Xu Xiaotian sighed, but still went to get his gift, a large cardboard box.
When he opened the box, everyone saw its contents and were even more puzzled than they had been about the watch.
The box was actually filled with cup noodles.
Under the group's silent stares, Xu Xiaotian scratched his head awkwardly. "Um... these aren't ordinary instant noodles. They're all special instant noodles I made using the new ability I developed not long ago. They have special effects!"
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