Zhao Longfei glanced at the phone and picked up the call, "Hello, Secretary Lin, hold on a moment."
Qin Siyang looked back at him once, then continued walking into the main hall.
So the one calling was the principal's secretary, Lin Yaman.
Zhao Longfei lightly turned his wristwatch and activated conversation shielding mode, only he, Qin Siyang, and Wu Yu beside him could hear the call.
"Alright, go ahead. What's the matter?"
"Oh, you're asking what we were doing standing at the school gate? Uh, nothing important, just out for a stroll. It's only been half an hour, how'd you already find out? We didn't even make any noise."
"Someone posted photos of us standing at the gate on the forum?", Zhao Longfei rubbed his scarred bald head, his tone slightly puzzled, "So what if they posted photos?"
"What? You're saying people online are claiming that South Glory has taken in two unidentified individuals, suspected to be two fugitives from the Snake List?"
"Isn't that nonsense? Those two have nothing to do with fugitives… right?"
As he spoke, even Zhao Longfei sounded unsure. He gave Qin Siyang a kick with his foot, signaling him to answer.
Qin Siyang patted the dust off his pants, "No relation. Neither of them are from the Snake List."
"Secretary Lin, these two aren't fugitives. Those forum posts are definitely deliberate, someone's trying to throw dirt on South Glory University."
"Yes, look into it. Maybe it's Eastern Glory University's doing! That hag Liu Yingrong has held a grudge ever since I refused to arrange a marriage between Sifang and her daughter."
"Or maybe it's Western Glory University! They must've found out that we exposed their illegal mining operations on the forum last time, Yan Mohui could be leading a counterattack!"
"Central Glory could've done it too! They once tried to partner with the underground market to sell materials. Because their merchandise overlapped too much with what South Glory sells, I turned them down. That old fox Han Shuo might be taking this chance to strike back!"
"Anyway, this kind of thing isn't new. Just find out who's behind it, then call their university president directly and demand an explanation!"
Listening to Zhao Longfei's "analysis," Qin Siyang's mouth twitched.
So this was what the power struggles between the top universities in the safe zones were like?
He'd imagined it would be an intricate chess game, one move leading to another, slow and deliberate, like a match of tai chi between masters.
But after hearing this… good grief. The "upper echelon" struggles were shockingly simple and crude.
This kind of smear campaign was no different from two rival restaurants on the same street competing for business.
Or rather, like two kids shouting at each other, spitting and throwing rocks back and forth.
Then again, thinking about it, it actually made sense that the conflicts among the Four Glory Universities were so straightforward.
In his experience, the simpler a plan, the more effective it usually was.
"Principal Zhao, no need to investigate, it's not the work of any of the other universities," Qin Siyang sighed, "I know who did it. I'll tell you later."
Once Qin Siyang said that, Zhao Longfei immediately realized the sudden smear posts about South Glory University must have something to do with the two unconscious people slung over Qin Siyang and Wu Yu's shoulders.
Zhao Longfei spoke again, "Secretary Lin, find a way to suppress those posts. Don't let them damage South Glory University's reputation in the hearts of the students."
"Thanks, make sure this is settled before those old bastards from the other three universities catch wind of it. We can't let them fan the flames. I'll handle the rest."
"Alright, that's all."
Zhao Longfei hung up. By then, he had followed Qin Siyang up to the tenth floor of the guesthouse.
It just so happened that a tenant had checked out that morning, and no new guest had moved in yet. Qin Siyang planned to settle the two unconscious people there once the room was cleaned.
For now, he could only place them on the bed in his own room.
Wu Yu adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, "Little Qin, I've recently been developing a tool that can determine a Sequence user's classification based on the skill they release. It should be ready by next month. I'll let you know when it's done."
"Alright, thank you, Professor Wu."
"No need to thank me. If not for the materials you gave me, this tool wouldn't even exist."
Then Wu Yu turned toward Zhao Longfei, "Principal Zhao, would you like one?"
Zhao Longfei thought for a moment, "It's a useful tool, especially popular among rich kids without much combat experience. Professor Wu, can this tool be mass-produced?"
"Not easily, unless you have a large number of Blood Moon Tarantula eyes."
"Blood Moon Tarantulas? Those damn things are not only fast and hard to kill, they burrow underground constantly. In all these years, the Zhao family's underground market has only seen two or three carcasses. Where am I supposed to find more? How many of those Sequence-identifying tools can you make now?"
"That's the problem. I only have five Blood Moon Tarantula eyes total. One of them produced ten of these Sequence-detecting tools. The remaining ones I need to keep for ongoing research."
"Only ten? So they're basically non-sellable, reserved for internal use?"
"Exactly. At present, in terms of technology, you can only ever have two out of three, performance, low cost, and innovation."
Zhao Longfei sighed, "Alright, got it. Keeping them for ourselves works too, it'll be one of our hidden cards. And the strange Sequences you've been studying can stay safely in our database without fear of leaks."
"Precisely, Principal Zhao, that's exactly what I was thinking."
After a moment of thought, Zhao Longfei said, "Give one tool each to Sifang and Gu Yunpeng. Whatever resources you need, I'll have the Zhao Chamber of Commerce get them for you."
"Alright then, thank you, Principal Zhao. I'll head back to the Miracle Building and continue my research."
"Professor Wu, you've worked hard. And hey, maybe think about finding yourself a partner. Living alone's dull. If you want, I can have the Zhao family's intelligence team help screen some candidates for you."
Wu Yu chuckled, "Principal Zhao, that doesn't sound very convincing coming from you. You're not married either, are you?"
"Me? If I had your looks, Professor Wu, I'd have found true love ages ago. With my scarred, roughneck face, anyone willing to be with me is only after my wealth and power. Boring."
Wu Yu said bluntly, "Principal Zhao, I know you're hoping I'll settle down here in South Glory, put down roots and stay for good. First of all, I appreciate your trust and recognition of my abilities."
Zhao Longfei's intentions were laid bare, and he gave a slightly embarrassed laugh.
Qin Siyang watched from the side, amused.
He hadn't expected Wu Yu to speak so straightforwardly even to Zhao Longfei.
Professor Wu's knack for hitting right where it hurts was like snow cutting through the cold air, impartial and merciless, falling on everyone equally.
Wu Yu continued, "But without Li Tianming's support and guidance back in the day, I wouldn't be who I am today."
"As long as old Li is still in South Glory, I'm not leaving."
With that, Wu Yu smiled, bid farewell to Zhao Longfei, and left for the Miracle Building.
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