Kapitel 25: Chapter 25: When Everyone is Unusual, Being Normal Becomes a Crime
In the perfectly round hall, over a hundred candidates selected this year had gathered. The hall was well-equipped, with many metal tables at its center, beautifully arranged with various fruits, foods, and what appeared to be fine wines. The surroundings were adorned with numerous decorations, giving the entire place an air of sophistication, much like a high-end buffet.
However, the atmosphere inside the hall was somewhat strange. The candidates grouped together in twos and threes, speaking in hushed tones, making the entire hall unusually quiet. Everyone was subtly observing those around them, each trying to appear calm while internally, they were tense.
All of them were young talents who had stood out among countless superhumans, earning themselves a spot in this program. But soon, they would face an additional assessment against these other talented individuals.
As geniuses, they all had their pride and did not want to fall behind. However, they were also aware that those around them were equally gifted. Today would determine who among them truly deserved the title of the most talented.
No one wanted to rank low, and secretly, they all hoped to stand out among the others. The examiners, like Sofia, had all emphasized the importance of this assessment, mentioning that many important figures would be watching and that good performance could lead to benefits.
As a result, everyone was being restrained, viewing those around them as competitors. There was none of the usual camaraderie one might expect among young people meeting for the first time.
However, amidst all this, one peculiar occurrence stood out. Nearly all the candidates shared a common reaction: their eyes kept drifting toward a certain individual in the hall. They would glance at him, frown slightly in confusion, look away, and then feel compelled to glance back again.
—Strange, I need to take another look.
In the hall, there was a young man whose behavior was strikingly different from everyone else.
Even though he wore the same uniform as everyone else and didn't have any particularly unusual hairstyle, he effortlessly drew everyone's attention.
Unlike the other candidates, who sat quietly in their seats, Liam wandered around the hall with a plate in his hand. To him, the hall was filled with delicious food and drinks, clearly meant to help everyone relax. The others might be sitting still for some reason—maybe they had eaten too much breakfast and were feeling a bit bloated? He wasn't sure, but he figured he'd make the most of the situation and treat himself to a buffet lunch.
Liam was quite frugal, especially since he was still trying to save money. He hadn't forgotten that he owed Sofia the 300,000 credits he borrowed and planned to pay it back.
And so, everyone watched as the one person in the hall who seemed completely at ease treated the place like a buffet restaurant.
Not only was he eating, but he was also being quite selective about it, as if he wanted to taste everything available. Concerned about eating something that might upset his stomach, he kept his "Voice of All Things" ability active to help him make his choices. An incredible ability, being used to pick out food.
[Strange Ice Fruit: If you eat too much of me, you'll get diarrhea. If your rear end can't handle a bombardment, you might want to skip this.]
[Purple Tomato: I'm nutritious, plump, and juicy. Feel free to eat more of me.]
[Green Goji Berries: They boost vitality. Eat ten, and you'll stay... "strong" for three days.]
Following the guidance of his ability, Liam wandered through the food section, selecting items, becoming the only person walking around in the otherwise empty area.
Sofia, seated at a table for the examiners, noticed Liam's unusual behavior in the hall and facepalmed in exasperation. While the food was indeed meant for the candidates to eat and replenish their energy before the assessment, most were too nervous to help themselves.
This being the first time for everyone to attend such an event, people were generally reserved. It seemed that no one had ever approached an assessment with such a relaxed attitude as Liam.
Unable to take it anymore, Sofia took out her phone, carefully chose her words, and sent a message to Liam using her "Sour Milk Stick" identity:
[Sour Milk Stick: Didn't you say you had an assessment today? Is it crowded? Is there... anyone unusual, someone who stands out from the others?]
The hint was obvious—she wanted him to realize what was off and perhaps tone down his behavior. Liam's response came quickly.
[Traveler: Unusual? It seems like everyone else is strange. The academy prepared a lot of buffet food, but no one is eating. They're all so picky.]
Sofia: ...
After reading the message, she tossed her phone aside, deciding to let him be.
...
At that moment, Li Xi also arrived at the scene.
Sofia was seated in the examiner's area as the Frost War God, but Li Xi, as an examiner herself, didn't technically need to be there. However, she had come specifically to stir up trouble.
She initially intended to find the student with the E-level talent, assuming it would be difficult, thinking he might be hiding in some corner out of insecurity. To her surprise, she immediately spotted Liam, whose behavior stood out from the rest.
As she got closer, she noticed the badge on his uniform.
"E-level?" Li Xi was taken aback, glancing at Liam's face, which was full of carefree confidence.
She had assumed that someone with an E-level talent, no matter what connections they had, would feel out of place in such an elite setting. She thought finding this person would be a challenge, perhaps spotting them huddled in a corner out of insecurity.
This outcome was the last thing she expected.
What an average guy—where does he get this confidence?
Approaching Liam, Li Xi couldn't help but feel a surge of irritation. His casual, food-focused demeanor reminded her too much of Sofia, someone who also infuriated her.
With a snide tone, she said, "Wow, quite the genius we have here. You're enjoying yourself, huh? You've nearly eaten all the purple tomatoes. Do you usually not get enough to eat?"
Liam turned to look at her. Noticing that she was dressed differently from the other candidates, he mistook her for a server and said, "Oh, hi. Could you bring out some more of these? There's not enough for everyone else."
"I... you... what?!" Li Xi was momentarily speechless, her composure shattered.
Did he just mistake me for a server?
Her usual snarky demeanor quickly evaporated as she snapped, "Are you blind? I'm not a server! Is this how you treat your seniors?"
"Alright, I made a mistake," Liam replied, frowning slightly. He thought she was overreacting, but he decided to just brush it off and not engage with this temperamental woman.
However, Li Xi was not ready to let it go. Liam's indifferent attitude only fueled her anger. She continued, "Everyone else is sitting at their seats, but you're the odd one out. What are you, starved or something?"
Liam wasn't pleased either. Ignoring whether she was a teacher or someone important, he frowned and replied, "So what? Wasn't the food here prepared for us to eat?"
"Uh..." Li Xi was at a loss for words because, technically, Liam was correct. The food was indeed provided for the candidates to eat.
Still, she quickly retorted, "But no one else is getting up to eat. No candidate in previous assessments has ever behaved like you..."
"So what?" Liam interrupted her, using his height advantage to look down at her. "Just because it's always been done that way, does that make it right?"
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein