"Kiana, the storage space can only store items from the system," Raiden Mei reminded.
"Then isn't it useless?"
You couldn't blame Kiana for doubting it. The rewards they'd received so far—like the augment core and Stigmata—were directly applied to the body. They weren't like game equipment you could swap in and out anytime.
"Kiana is indeed an idiot," Bronya said disdainfully. "The storage space gifted by the system obviously means that future rewards will become weapons or item-type objects. It has practical value for storing and retrieving them."
The group in the dorm chatted among themselves while Fu Hua observed the chat channel, looking at the newly added participants.
Amber: So this is the Q&A space that Lord Otto mentioned? I was pulled in without even noticing.
Rita: It's a pity only Amber was pulled in. It's unfortunate that the Overseer and Lady Durandal weren't included.
Tesla: Huh? Only one person got pulled in? Our first time had double digits.
Einstein: Ahem, watch your words. There are students present.
Tesla: True. Most of them are Theresa's people. So Theresa really does know the inside story.
Theresa: No, I'm just quietly lurking—why are you dragging me into this…
Fu Hua glanced up. Theresa was sitting upright with a serious face, nodding from time to time.
This was clearly a major matter for St. Freya, yet the principal herself was leading the chat spam…
Just as Fu Hua was considering whether to expose Theresa, the system notification sounded.
[This round of Q&A begins. Correct answers will grant rewards. Incorrect answers will result in penalties.]
[Question 5 (1/2): Theresa Apocalypse hides a secret—a big secret she cannot let others know. However, paper cannot contain fire. Due to a moment of carelessness, the secret was discovered. Theresa went berserk, and with brutal methods created a mountain of corpses. Which student from the Puppet Academy discovered her secret?]
A: Imitation Judah
B: Requiem of Dawn
C: Tesla Zero
D: Bella
Everyone: …
What kind of strange question was this?
It gave almost no context. All it said was that Theresa hid a secret that couldn't be discovered—but someone found out anyway, causing her to snap and eliminate everyone who saw it.
So the person who might know the answer would probably be…
"Why are you all staring at me?!" Theresa exploded when she noticed everyone looking at her.
If it was about secrets, she had quite a few—like the Homu dolls and comics in her office—but nothing that would warrant killing witnesses.
"Auntie, this question is obviously about you. I have no clue," Kiana said.
Even Kiana could tell: aside from guessing, the only way to answer was to ask Theresa.
"Principal, Bronya can help analyze. You can always trust Bronya," she said seriously.
"For example, we could start by explaining what the Puppet Academy is," Mei added.
"Does St. Freya have a subordinate academy I don't know about?" Himeko wondered.
"I really don't have some big secret!" Theresa wailed. "At most I used Himeko's salary and school funds to buy Homu comics and merchandise. That doesn't deserve a massacre, right?"
She truly had no idea what the Puppet Academy was. An academy for making and controlling puppets sounded more like Anti-Entropy's work—after all, one of the options was Tesla Zero.
Rita: Lady Theresa, if you can't figure it out, you could send information to the chat so everyone can discuss.
Einstein: If time runs out, the system will randomly select someone. No one wants to take a punishment for nothing.
Tesla: Exactly. Lady Theresa, I'm very curious about Tesla Zero.
Theresa: I—I really don't know anything!
Eventually, as Theresa sank into self-doubt and everyone kept urging her, time ran out.
[Ding! Answer time expired. Random participant selected.]
[Congratulations to Fu Hua. Please answer within ten seconds or it will be treated as incorrect.]
"Huh? I got picked?" Fu Hua was shocked.
"Class monitor, hurry—just pick one!" Kiana shook her shoulders.
"Yeah, just choose. Either you time out or get it wrong. If you get it right, even better."
"Four choices. Fu Hua, believe in yourself—or at least believe in the principal who believes in you."
Under everyone's urging, Fu Hua randomly chose C.
[Fu Hua submitted answer: C.]
[Incorrect. Penalty: Fu Hua's chest measurement reduced by one.]
Fu Hua: !!!
Everyone froze.
What kind of punishment was that?! There were minors in the chat!
Even though they'd expected harsh penalties because of the generous rewards, when it actually happened, they realized how naïve they'd been.
Fu Hua looked down, touched her chest, and her eyes went lifeless.
[TL note: went from flat hills to cutting board flat]
No woman could accept such a cruel reality—not even a fifty-thousand-year-old one.
Coincidentally, all the selected participants were female.
The chat exploded in panic.
Kiana swallowed nervously, feeling a chill. She regretted forcing Fu Hua to answer.
"Theresa, hurry and tell us the answer!" Himeko grabbed her shoulders and shook her.
"I really don't know!" Theresa cried.
[Congratulations to Raven. Please answer within ten seconds or it will be treated as incorrect.]
Raven: Huh?! I was just lurking! Why me?! I don't want this!
Kiana: Raven, believe in yourself!
Tesla: You must get it right—we'll remember your contribution!
Rita: Miss Fu Hua, Miss Raven, I can recommend a chest-enhancement exercise. I've tested it personally.
Einstein: Ahem, let's talk privately.
Raven: Why is everyone assuming I'll get it wrong… Wait, time's almost up—I pick A!
[Raven submitted answer: A.]
[Incorrect. Penalty: Raven's purchased stocks turn green and hit limit-down. Half her assets are locked.]
Raven: No! My money! My money!!!
Kiana: Raven! Raven! Raven—
Tesla: She's doomed.
Bronya: Bronya checked. MiG Central Design Bureau and Shencheng Pharmaceuticals' stocks crashed after scandals. The drop was like a cliff…
[Congratulations to Tesla. Please answer within ten seconds.]
Tesla: What?! Me?! Einstein, save me!
Einstein: B or D. Theresa doesn't know either. Fifty-fifty odds.
Tesla: Whatever. I'm tired. Let's just end it. I pick B.
[Frederica Nikola Tesla submitted answer: B.]
[Correct.]
[Reward: Anti-Entropy mech — MSR7 "GodFather" prototype design blueprints.]
Tesla opened the storage space and saw a thick stack of blueprints. The more she studied them, the more shocked she became.
Such design concepts completely deviated from conventional mech theory—but she loved it.
Einstein examined them too and sighed. Even with the prototype, current Anti-Entropy lacked the ability to build it—materials, processing, and funding were all insufficient. If only their leader were here…
Before they could say more, the system spoke again.
[Question 5 (2/2): In the Puppet Academy, what secret of Theresa did "Requiem of Dawn" discover that led to the worst incident?]
A: Theresa's collection of Cecilia's secret photos.