Chapter 740: The Clones Were Kidnapped to Be Volunteers (Labor)…
Expanding Realm Teleportation Hall.
The staff here looked at the figures continuously pouring out from the teleportation passage, all in shock.
So many Xiao Han!
How… how could there be so many!
“Um… excuse me, what is going on with these?” At this moment, a staff member forced themselves to step forward to inquire.
“Oh, these are all my clones from the Expanding Realm. I brought them to the Witch Academy, no problem, right?” At this time, I stepped out from among the many clones and looked at the bewildered staff member, speaking up.
“Ah? This…”
Most of the staff in the Expanding Realm Teleportation Hall were part-time students or graduates, and while they usually seemed free, that was because no one dared to cause trouble in such a place. However, they had work protocols, such as maintaining the teleportation passage, receiving temporary arrangements, scheduling contract signings, and personnel registrations.
This also included prohibitions against the indigenous people of the Expanding Realm from intruding into the Witch Academy or the accountability for unregistered returnees, etc.
They couldn’t guarantee that these people who looked exactly like Xiao Han were indeed clones. What if they were indigenous residents sneaking into the academy in this way?
Although… the probability of this teaching assistant Xiao Han doing this was extremely low, they would still be held accountable if something went wrong.
Moreover, most of the staff here were in-school seniors or graduated students, with considerable knowledge, and they could at least distinguish between what a “clone” and a “physical entity” was.
This large group of people before them was not simply magical clones!
“Is there a problem?” I asked, noticing the other person was entangled in their thoughts for quite some time.
“Oh, this teaching assistant Xiao Han, it’s like this…” The young girl explained a bit about the situation to me, “I’m really sorry, but please understand our work responsibilities.”
“Simply put, you can’t tell that these people are my clones, right?” I said, rubbing my forehead a bit in frustration… the existence of these clones seemed indeed to exceed their understanding, and they were not simply a result of a single magical spell but a combination of various spells and derived techniques used to create the clone bodies.
So, after a bit of back and forth, they finally called over an instructor to mediate.
The instructor who came over here wasn’t someone I was very familiar with, but the other party recognized me at a glance.
“Oh? So many Xiaos? What’s going on here?”
“Hello, I am, and all the ones behind me are my physical clones.” I stepped forward among the many clones to explain.
“Oh, I almost couldn’t tell.” The witch mentor looked at me in surprise, “Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Benaire. Perhaps you haven’t heard of me, but I frequently hear Lina mention your achievements.”
“Huh? Sister Benaire knows Sister Lina?” I was a bit surprised, discovering this connection.
“Sort of. She was… your grade supervisor in the past, and I am the current grade supervisor for this new batch, so our friendship is not shallow.” Benaire, after being called here, didn’t rush to resolve the issue but instead started chatting with me.
Meanwhile, the working seniors nearby were stunned, surprised that they were just chatting like this!
Of course, the main issue wasn’t just chatting but the fact that this witch mentor openly acknowledged this seemingly unrelated relationship and was willing to converse; heaven knew that sometimes even their chosen mentors wouldn’t pay them any mind…
However, while chatting, Sister Benaire also realized the problems posed by the “army of clones” behind me.
“Xiao Han, I’ve heard about these clones behind you. I heard they’ve played quite a role in the Wanlian Main Network Tree laboratory.” Benaire looked at the clones behind me, seemingly pondering something.
“Actually, they just helped out a little in the laboratory~”
“They say Xiao Han is so humble that it makes witches feel proud; I’m starting to feel it now.” Benaire chuckled lightly, “But Xiao Han, have you thought about how suddenly bringing so many clones to the Witch Academy without saying anything could cause quite a bit of trouble?”
“Huh? Trouble?” I was somewhat confused, “This… the Witch Academy even integrates those peculiar creatures from the Witch Secret Realm well; my clones…”
“Those are two different concepts.”
“This… isn’t that treating them differently?”
“It’s not about treating them differently; those lovely little ones seem to us more like pets, controllable existences, but your clones don’t work that way.”
“Huh? What if my clones could work that way too?” I asked hopefully.
“Really? Then I won’t hold back—I’d like to raise a cute Xiao Han in my villa.”
“?”
“Then it’s settled. How about it?”
“No! No, no, no… wait, I think that’s a bit inconsiderate…” I quickly refused.
Although these clones are not truly me, the thought of being taken away like pets… ugh~!
I absolutely cannot accept that!
“Oh really? Then there’s no solution.” Benaire said with a disappointed face.
“Is there truly no other option? It would be quite a shame to destroy these clones…” I sighed, not expecting to fall into this predicament.
Clearly, I was still hoping to let these clones help with some things, like assisting in the laboratory.
Although clones could not replace Yi Rui and the others for testing experiments, after all, they were just shaped clones, and these clones already possessed “pseudo-Self-Generated Magic,” but this clone could represent my will there, providing advice without disrupting their progress.
The main point was that once the laboratory had my clones, I wouldn’t need to disturb them constantly to understand their progress.
However, the laboratory can’t accommodate too many clones; I planned to utilize these clones elsewhere. Even bringing them out to assist Yi Rui and the others in dealing with new students could free them of running errands.
“Actually, these clones aren’t completely useless. Did Xiao Han have any plans for arranging these clones earlier?” At this point, Mentor Benaire asked again.
“Sister Benaire, you really do have a plan, right?” From what she said, I had a rough idea that there was still a chance to turn things around; otherwise, I would have to tearfully destroy these clones.
Or… send them back to the Expanding Realm?
If Sister Benaire allowed me to do that…
“Let’s not rush this.” Benaire smiled as she gazed at the numerous clones behind me, her scrutinizing intent unabashed, “Xiao Han, you still haven’t answered my earlier question: what did you originally plan to use these clones for?”
“Um… I originally planned to use part of them for experiments, and the rest I intended to settle down first, and then…”
Actually, I knew there were too many clones, but there was nothing I could do…
However, their tasks in the Expanding Realm were mostly completed, and continuing to stay there had little meaning; it would be better to move them to the academy. If something came up, I could directly ask them for help. Moreover, I currently had enough resources to support this hundred or so clones.
As for what I originally intended to have these clones do… naturally, it was to establish extraordinary laboratories across various shelters in the Expanding Realm.
Only by having people from the Expanding Realm build their own extraordinary research team could they have a more concrete understanding of the extraordinary, allowing them to free themselves from the constraints of the Power Network and develop their own power systems.
While letting these people use my Power Network was indeed a good option, different extraordinary paths could give me different insights, and various extraordinary systems could spark wonderful ideas with me.
People who only relied on my Power Network for their power foundation and didn’t have a close relationship with me, what connection do they have with a parasite?
Even the Witch Academy merely simulates extraordinary power and cultivates extraordinary consciousness; they eventually remain as preparatory witches.
Regardless of whether the people in the Expanding Realm were willing to give up the Power Network, I had sown the seeds for them to develop independently.
When they realized that the Power Network also has its limits and is ultimately just a handy tool, they would choose to embark on the path of extraordinary research. Excluding those who complacently succumb, their distinction would merely be a matter of time.
“So… you actually don’t have many arrangements for these clones, do you?” Benaire asked, then began to mumble to herself, “No, no, no… such an unstable factor is too much; we must find something for them to do…”
“Huh?”
“How about this: these clones… I’ll guarantee them as the new grade supervisor, allowing them to stay at the Witch Academy. However, they cannot just laze around because that would become an unstable factor.”
“Um… Sister Benaire… isn’t that essentially exploiting labor?” I complained.
“It’s just rational utilization. Xiao Han, you are currently the most famous figure in the Witch Academy, a true genius in every student’s mind. I think this new batch of students also needs someone like you as a role model! They, as a group filled with admiration…”
“This…” I took a deep breath and wasn’t fooled by Benaire’s repeated praises of “role model” and “genius.” Instead, I got to the essence of the issue, “Then can Sister Benaire leave some clones for me? Although I don’t have specific arrangements for that many clones yet, I still need to use them for some things.”
“Of course!” Benaire immediately replied, as if she had been waiting for my words.
While the Witch Academy didn’t care how the new students entered, those who’ve been brought into the Witch Academy without proper guidance often lacked adequate direction.
As this new group of “laborers” who naturally brought a promotional effect of Xiao Han would turn up at her door, it was only right that she took them.
“By the way, Xiao Han, do these clones have your level of combat ability?” Benaire asked again.
“Well… I didn’t give them spellbooks, but they possess many abilities for casting spells manually, and they have the gift of self-generated magic, so I wouldn’t worry about resource consumption. I can only say that they have some level of strength…” I explained.
“Can they use the Power Network?”
“Of course.” I replied.
After all, these clones were also shaped using the Great Knowledge Seed medium. As long as the Wanlian Main Network Tree was planted in the Witch Academy, they could use the Power Network there.
“Great, great, great~ this is fantastic!”
“Huh?” I looked at Sister Benaire in confusion, feeling that she seemed to have some ulterior motives regarding my clones from the beginning, and now she was even more unabashed about it.
“Oh, it’s nothing~ just thought of something happy~” Benaire waved her hand quickly.
Since these clones could use the Power Network, once the new semester started and the new student competition began, she could produce some new formats!
What does this represent?
She stood at the forefront of change; the new batch she brought would encounter good opportunities, welcoming new competition modes!
In the past, the new student competition was merely a confrontation among class leaders.
Because initially, the distribution of resources like spellbooks and magic sources was limited, it led to such a form, and often even the advisors of each class would have to dip into their own pockets to provide powerful spellbooks.
Now with the Power Network, every student has fair access to extraordinary power.
Shortly after the semester starts, showcasing a display of extraordinary power for everyone represents the initial purpose of the new student competition.
If they don’t stimulate students’ love for the extraordinary or interest in power, and help them experience the charm of the extraordinary, how can they show diligence in studying dry courses in extraordinary theoretical knowledge?
Thinking about how the future new students would carry on the tradition in the new type of competition she would organize excited her greatly.
After all, the previous new student competitions had become modern scraps, yet each batch was still held with great enthusiasm. There’s no reason why, even after she boldly innovates, future witches wouldn’t draw from it.
“Um… Sister Benaire? Is that look of yours truly because you thought of something joyous?” In the end, I couldn’t help but interrupt Benaire’s daydream.
While I roughly guessed she might want to use my clones for something, it still felt like she was up to something outrageous…
“Ah… I’m sorry; that was my slip.” The suddenly self-aware Benaire quickly replied, then guided me to prepare to leave, “It’s not convenient to talk here. Since things are more or less resolved, let’s first settle these clones, and then we can discuss what to do next, okay?”
“Um… okay.” I nodded, and since things had more or less been settled, I felt there wasn’t much more I could say.
After all, my bringing so many clones to the Witch Academy did seem… indeed a bit outrageous.
After handing over the registration to the staff in the Expanding Realm Teleportation Hall, we took this large group of clones and left here “grandly.”
Such a sight inevitably caught the attention of other students, and seeing this large group of orderly lined-up “Teaching Assistant Xiaos” left the passing students stunned, unable to move.
Once they snapped back to reality, they hurriedly took photos and posted them online on the academy network.
However, neither I nor Mentor Benaire stopped them, after all, this matter wouldn’t be able to be concealed for long, would it?
After spending some time getting these clones settled, the discussion topic about the “large group of Xiaos” exploded across the academy network.
A large group of gawking seniors still in school gathered around to watch.
However, this didn’t hinder my conversation with Mentor Benaire about how to arrange the next plans for these clones.
“Wait… I can understand guiding the new students… but letting these clones participate in the new semester’s new student competition? Is there a process for that in the new student competition?”
“There originally wasn’t, but… this batch, I’m the grade supervisor responsible for the entire new student group, so many things are up to me!” Benaire assured me with a grand stance of being the top of the new student grade. “Even reporting to the academy head won’t be an issue!”
“Or do you think Xiao Han lacks confidence in educating that group of fresh new students?” Benaire jokingly challenged me with a smile, “I know you managed to bring in quite a few new students not long ago—shouldn’t be a problem, right? Also, Xiao Han, your… younger sister… seems to be in this grade, right…”
