Chapter 537: Troubles Encountered by the Store Manager
“Ah—huh?”
When I arrived at the bakery, I was met with an unexpected closed door.
I originally thought I would directly meet the store manager, Shali here, but encountering a closed door right away was something I did not anticipate.
But fortune shouldn’t guide me here just to face a setback, right?
No, no!
There must be a problem. I don’t remember the bakery closing for no reason. Even during holidays, when I was also working part-time here, it was never closed.
So there’s definitely something wrong, right?
I stepped forward and looked through the glass door. The shop was somewhat dim, and there was a temporary notice posted on the glass door stating it was closed, which seemed to have been put up not long ago.
“Sure enough, something went wrong. It can’t be that I was too harsh during that one time, making those girls cry, and now there’s no one to keep the shop running?”
I was jokingly talking to myself, but I still performed a quick analysis to get an idea of what really happened here.
The information was organized quickly, and there was plenty of it, but the results came out slowly.
This wasn’t an analysis of a specific object but rather a summary of a particular event over several days within a defined area, making the analysis a bit cumbersome. It seemed that I had provided them with a new research direction and transformation guidance for analysis techniques, after all, practical problems can always be solved through research.
Just then, while I was also organizing this information, a sudden shout interrupted my thoughts.
“Hmm? Is that Xiao Han?”
“Ying Shiqian, senior?” I turned around and was a bit surprised to see her. I didn’t expect to meet her at this time. Could this be what they call fortune leading the way?
“It really is! Ah, don’t call me senior anymore. Xiao Han is now a teaching assistant. If you keep calling me that, I might not be able to handle it~,” Ying Shiqian said quickly with a smile.
“It’s fine; you’ve already gotten used to it as well. But what are you doing here? Also, why is the bakery closed?” I curiously pointed at the closed shop door and asked.
“Oh, the bakery’s closure is quite a hassle. I came here mainly because I left something behind and just remembered I needed it.” Ying Shiqian stepped forward, took out a key, and opened the door to lead me into the dimly lit bakery.
Ying Shiqian then rummaged around the register and swiftly took her belongings.
“Hehe… that’s private, so I won’t tell Xiao Han what I left here.” Ying Shiqian brushed off the matter with a few hurried words.
I didn’t probe further, as even though she claimed it was private, she didn’t seem to put up much of a guard about it. It was just a small item anyway.
“Then I won’t dig deeper~. Now let’s talk about the bakery. I came here a while back and didn’t see anything unusual. What the heck happened?” I shifted the topic and asked.
Since I encountered an acquaintance here, I naturally didn’t need to use analysis techniques, as unrestricted-level analysis would still infringe on personal privacy.
“Yeah, indeed something did happen, but it’s not a big deal for us, at least—not a big deal. But for the store manager, it’s quite a blow.” At this point, Ying Shiqian couldn’t help but sigh.
“What happened to the manager? What could have happened to her?” I followed after my senior as she walked out of the bakery, locking the door behind her.
“Um, Xiao Han, do you have time? There’s a coffee shop not far from here; I’ll treat you, and I’ll tell you about it.”
“Sure, then let the senior treat me~” I was a bit surprised but agreed to Ying Shiqian’s treat. I didn’t expect things had escalated to the point where it couldn’t be explained in just a few words.
At a small café with an outdoor seating area, I ordered a classic hand-brewed coffee while Ying Shiqian opted for a caramel coffee.
“Xiao Han remembers the store manager’s Small Treasury we talked about, right?” Ying Shiqian asked as she sat down.
“Of course, I almost forgot! The manager seems to still owe me a small gift,” I replied.
“You remember, huh?”
“Of course! As a result, several people in the Holy Angel Academy suffered quite a bit back then~” I said with a smile. “Anyway, let’s not bring that up. So what happened next?”
“Then…” Ying Shiqian’s voice lowered as she continued, “Do you remember the most precious item in the store manager’s Small Treasury?”
“The most precious… oh, that Extraordinary Knowledge!” I immediately thought of it and responded in a low voice.
“Yes, that one. It seems the manager has received quite a bit of targeting. It’s likely that item will be pressured into being handed over.”
“Handed over? Who is targeting her?” My interest piqued.
Earlier, I had learned that this Extraordinary Knowledge was part of the original script design, so upon discovering it, I had no desire to touch it. But now, I was surprised to find that someone did?
My first thought was that someone was living recklessly, but soon I realized something was off—could this be a plot-driven event?
After all, Extraordinary Knowledge isn’t trivial, and many witches covet it. No one would dare scheme to take it.
“The people who came that time were from the All-purpose Association. Xiao Han knows about the All-purpose Association, right?”
“All-purpose Association, um… I know a bit.” I nodded quickly, having encountered two seniors during the written test, one of whom was from the All-purpose Association.
I remembered that one… I think her name was Fu Xinglan?
I still had their contact details, and they had taken my business card as well.
“Just knowing is enough. If that association set their sights on our bakery, we wouldn’t be able to stand against them at all.”
At this, Ying Shiqian looked a bit frightened. As an experienced member of the Witch Academy, she had some understanding of which groups, clubs, or circles couldn’t be trifled with. The All-purpose Association was definitely not to be provoked!
Even Xiao Han should preferably avoid direct conflict, after all, who among such terrifying associations doesn’t have members who have become teaching assistants?
The Witch Academy has been around for so long, and those associations established to this day all have their own operational heritage systems.
“So, does Ying Shiqian know why they suddenly came to snatch it?” I continued to ask.
At this time, our coffees were delivered. I lifted mine and looked curiously at Ying Shiqian.
“I’m not exactly sure. It doesn’t seem like outright snatching; rather, they’re making the store manager make a choice. I heard it has something to do with the Struggle of Fortune, and they don’t want to tear their faces with the manager just yet.”
“There’s quite a lot going on with this, huh?” I said, surprised. It seemed the plot was indeed gaining momentum, and now large associations were starting the so-called Struggle of Fortune?
It should be a conflict due to alignment issues…
“Yeah, but I don’t know that much. Ever since the store manager had that private talk with someone from the All-purpose Association, she has become a bit silent and hasn’t explained the situation to me. She even closed the shop directly.”
“So… Ying Shiqian, do you know where the store manager is now?” I asked, continuing. If she knew, I wouldn’t mind going to ask her directly since I had the time.
“I’m not sure, but… I heard she wants to meet with Tan Han. I think she’s been waiting for her school departure application to be approved these past few days, and she might have already gone out to find Tan Han.”
“School departure application? Isn’t it a holiday… and you still need to apply?”
“Oh, that’s for us graduates staying in the academy. After all, the powers we wield are too formidable, and they don’t want to let us go just like that, viewing us as unstable elements. Leaving the academy is quite troublesome, but some special tasks can allow for a swift exit, and the store manager might have casually taken on an external task.”
“Ah, I see.” I nodded, realizing I had completely missed out this time, as the manager wasn’t even at the Witch Academy!
Following that, I chatted with Ying Shiqian for a while about the details of the matter, but unfortunately, she didn’t know much.
However, I got a piece of seemingly useful information—that the piece of Extraordinary Knowledge the store manager possessed was only part of a complete whole.
It seems she obtained it before graduating, and not many years had passed since then.
Ying Shiqian didn’t know much about the events the manager experienced, just knowing a rough outline.
The incomplete form of the Extraordinary Knowledge seemed to resemble a crystal crown, and its alternate name was “Absolute Zero.”
As for whether it was truly Absolute Zero, I speculated on that. Ying Shiqian indicated she wasn’t sure, but it was very likely.
Ying Shiqian didn’t have much concept of Extraordinary Knowledge, so she was just guessing. However, I knew its terror. If it were just a shard, achieving Absolute Zero in the material world—where material particles are completely immobilized—would indeed be possible, though challenging.
But even the ancient Ice Transformation technique, once possessed by Tan Han, might not achieve Absolute Zero, and the general ice manipulation spells I derived might not either.
Otherwise, how could it be termed Extraordinary Knowledge?
I personally felt that achieving Absolute Zero might also involve microscopic properties of material space. Simply relying on elemental energy itself would be difficult.
After all, elemental extraordinary energy operates at a lower energy level, influencing only the material world visible to the n*ked eye and adhering to the objective physical laws of that material world to some extent.
However, we weren’t discussing Absolute Zero but rather the problems the manager was encountering right now.
I took a small sip of my coffee, about to ask something else when suddenly I felt a strange movement.
“What’s wrong, Xiao Han?” Ying Shiqian also noticed my change in expression.
“Oh, it seems someone is calling me,” I said casually.
But in reality, I sensed the location of the Reverse Summoning Spell. However, this summon was a bit strange.
Moreover, the Reverse Summoning Spell I currently mastered had updated multiple versions, basically, each business card had a differentiation for who it specified.
But this one was… a very primitive sort of summoning ritual, the kind I initially performed, using a small alchemical item to carry the summoning ritual.
At that time, I didn’t give out many—Qiu Ruxin was one, and those in the dormitory also counted, but I later replaced them with others.
So, there weren’t many people who had those items.
“Calling you? How come I didn’t hear anything?” Ying Shiqian looked a bit surprised, then scanned the surroundings, confirming that indeed no one nearby was calling out for Xiao Han.
“Oh, I’m referring to a sort of magic. I’m truly sorry; I may need to excuse myself for a bit.” I put down my coffee and said apologetically to Ying Shiqian.
“It’s fine; I know you’re busy, so go ahead.” Ying Shiqian quickly reacted, not delving further but directly bidding me farewell.
“Thank you, I’ll take my leave then.” I nodded, and a Reverse Summoning ritual array materialized beneath my feet.
In the next moment, my figure vanished from the spot.
Ying Shiqian looked at the empty space across from her, a hint of envy in her eyes, followed by a sigh, and finally a relieved smile.
“Hehe~ I guess now I’m also Xiao Han’s friend! This will be quite the story to tell~”
Ying Shiqian just felt a bit emotional, wondering how, despite it not feeling long since, the shy Xiao Han from the past had now transformed into someone whose leg she could hardly wrap her arms around.
…
“d*mn it… how did these guys set their sights on me?”
At this moment, Shali was struggling to evade the figures in the distance, multiple spells obscuring her aura and external signals.
Those mad-dog-like individuals suddenly focused on her, using terrifyingly powerful weapons to demolish several buildings along the way to capture her!
This series of explosions had caused panic among everyone in the vicinity; this was likely the largest impact caused by recent extraordinary terrorists.
She also attempted to communicate with the other party, but they didn’t give her a chance at all. Furthermore… the firearms they used were peculiar, probably some kind of uniquely designed alchemical item.
Or… perhaps they were witch weapons from the Wizard Academy.
On the other side.
Unbeknownst to Shali, those carrying out the terror attacks were players who had descended from the game world.
Originally, they shouldn’t have acted so recklessly, but while gathering information about this world, they suddenly received a forced mission from the All Worlds Terminal!
This was the first time they encountered such a mission, which held a very high priority—tasks mandated by the highest authority game architects in conjunction with the All Worlds Terminal.
In fact, for this, those high-level game architects, whom they usually could barely meet, directly established communication with them, taking command over their operations. They only needed to report back to these game architects.
Moreover, they wouldn’t be held accountable for the consequences of this event.
Thus, these pioneering explorers clearly understood that they had likely stumbled upon something great this time.
However, only those game architects who could directly control the All Worlds Terminal knew what they had encountered.
They were practically beside themselves with excitement!
This world they inadvertently entered had directly encountered something on par with the core of the All Worlds Terminal!
They referred to Extraordinary Knowledge as the “Technology Core,” and if they could obtain a second Technology Core, it would be worth any cost.
This opportunity was incredibly rare, so they no longer cared to explore the extraordinary undercurrents of this world.
They had to seize the item before those terrifying extraordinary beings had a chance to react!
Once they got their hands on it, escaping this world immediately would be no problem; this reward was far more terrifying than the value of the world itself!
Now the only challenge was figuring out how to acquire this “Technology Core.”
