Chapter 5: Strange Gazes And The Black Terminal
Majestic modern-style building complex, with exquisite carvings of Reshiram on the white exterior walls, roadside trees along the stone slab paths, and ancient and simple semi-wooden street lamps with a touch of Chinese style.
The scorching summer sun and the blue sky unlike that of the city, the café at the campus doorway. Japanese restaurant at the doorway with a Charmander mascot standing there.
Passing student couples chatting and laughing.
The White Dragon Academy school flag fluttering in the wind on the white roof.
This is the Senior High School Department of White Dragon Academy on Academy Island.
Zuo Hang held Zuo Rou’s small hand, pulling his suitcase with the other hand, the Electric Mouse on his shoulder holding the admission letter, and the two arrived at the freshman reception area not far from the school gate.
“Shuoshuo, help me watch for a bit, new students are coming over there again.” The purple-haired senior student at the reception area waved at Zuo Hang, “Junior, over here.”
Zuo Hang didn’t respond for some reason, but suddenly stood still, staring blankly at the sky.
“Zuo Hang, Zuo Hang! Someone’s calling us.” Zuo Rou waved her hand in front of her brother.
“Ah?” Zuo Hang came back to his senses. He had been looking at the clouds above White Dragon Academy. The moment he got on the island, he felt like something was watching him. The feeling was especially strong when entering the school, and that feeling came from the clouds above the academy. This was also why Zuo Hang suddenly zoned out.
“Zoning out on the first day at school? That’s not a good habit.” The purple-haired senior student in front of Zuo Hang said.
From afar, the two looked like a couple, but up close, it was obvious they were a pair of siblings. The younger brother seemed a bit precocious, with a lazy world-weary face, somewhat handsome. The sister was timid, somewhat cute. Both had brown heterochromia.
Jiang Xia smiled gently. Both were her type.
“I’m Jiang Xia, your second-year senior student. Let me see the admission letter.”
The Electric Mouse on his shoulder handed over the admission letter.
“Thanks.” Jiang Xia said, and by the way pinched Pikachu’s cheek, “Enmmmm, Zuo Hang, Zuo Rou, let me check the roster… found it, Class A Year One. Coincidentally, senior is also in Class A. Just give the luggage to the senior over there. I’ll take you to the dormitory first.”
“No need, we can handle the luggage ourselves.” Zuo Hang said.
His suitcase contained many important things, like rare items such as the New Moon Feather, and the socially anxious Zuo Rou probably wouldn’t want to hand her luggage to others either.
“Room 16 for girls, Room 17 in front for boys. Senior will send the junior first.” Jiang Xia said.
Zuo Hang hesitated, “Um… my sister she…”
“Hm? What’s wrong?” Jiang Xia asked.
Zuo Hang was about to say something, but Zuo Rou suddenly let go of the hand holding Zuo Hang and said, “I can do it, no need to worry.”
With a forced strong gaze, after saying that, she was far from as calm as Zuo Hang had seen.
“Alright… message me when you get to the dorm.” Zuo Hang said somewhat uneasily.
White Dragon Academy’s dormitories were all single rooms: a bed, desk and TV, independent bathroom with wet-dry separation, several levels more advanced than the bunk beds Zuo Hang had lived in before.
Not only that, there was a small balcony outside the window, a password lock on the door, and a small safe inside the room.
Just looking at the hardware showed this school was no ordinary place.
White Dragon Middle School was also called National Third Middle School. Only top talents in all qualities in China had the opportunity to get in. Besides academic scores, all aspects of quality were assessment criteria. He didn’t know how his old man got him in, and he was placed in Class A right away.
“I’m here.” Zuo Hang’s mobile phone pinged, with Turtwig’s avatar. This was from Zuo Rou.
Knowing his sister was fine, he felt relieved.
Good thing the dorms here were single rooms. If it were those bunk beds with several people crammed together, Zuo Rou would probably feel very uncomfortable. His old man probably considered this point before sending them to White Dragon Academy. In China, the only school rich enough to provide students with single rooms was probably White Dragon Academy.
That househusband who tied a white apron every day was surprisingly reliable when getting things done.
Official classes started the next day. Zuo Hang simply strolled around the academy.
The teaching building was about a ten-minute walk from the dorm. First-year classrooms were on the first floor. Besides Zuo Hang’s Class A Year One, there were also B, C, D, E, F on the same floor. The obvious class divisions made people feel a bit uncomfortable.
Zuo Hang wasn’t very clear on this academy’s class assignment mechanism, but Class A should be the best, Class F the worst. Chinese education always advocated equality for all, rarely doing this kind of differential treatment. Seeing the A, B, C, D grades, Zuo Hang couldn’t help but feel a bit surprised.
“You’re indeed here.” The purple long-haired senior patted Zuo Hang’s shoulder from behind. “I just went to the dorm to find you, but you weren’t there, so I guessed you might have come out to check the classrooms.”
“You can enter the boys’ dorm?” Zuo Hang asked.
“Of course, all single rooms with password locks. What’s not allowed? White Dragon has no rules prohibiting visiting dormitories. Even bringing a girlfriend into the dorm is no problem~”
Jiang Xia held a black “mobile phone” and said, “This is the academy’s terminal. Don’t lose it. You’ll use it for the next three years. You can basically toss your phone. It’s useless at White Dragon Academy.”
“No need for mobile phone?” Zuo Hang had seen phones that could install the Pokémon Pokédex app. This terminal should be similar. The academy had secret realms, and the terminal might even have a status system that worked normally in secret realms.
Jiang Xia continued, “Pokédex, locator, these are just the basics. The terminal’s main function is to store contribution points. At White Dragon Academy, contribution points are everything. You’ll understand in a few days. The homeroom teacher will explain in detail.”
Saying that, Jiang Xia picked up the terminal in her hand and took a photo of Zuo Hang. The terminal, which originally only had a camera and a few simple apps, was immediately activated.
Name: Zuo Hang
Student ID: 250829001
Trainer ID: （Unregistered）
Contribution Points: 10000
“Yo~ Ending with 001, junior’s not simple. How many points on the middle school entrance exam?”
Jiang Xia had just aimed the terminal’s camera at Pikachu when the combat power recognition system hadn’t loaded yet, and the terminal was immediately snatched by Zuo Hang.
“I didn’t take the entrance exam.” Zuo Hang said sincerely.
“Didn’t take it?” Jiang Xia laughed, clearly not believing it.
“Alright, I’ve given you the terminal too. I still need to find the other students in your class. By the way, I’m your leading senior. Come find me if you have any problems in the future.” After Jiang Xia finished, she left Zuo Hang’s line of sight.
“—Phew~” Zuo Hang sighed in relief. Good thing he was quick and snatched the terminal before Jiang Xia saw the data.
He had never heard of this combat power recognition system before. After Jiang Xia walked far away, Zuo Hang used the terminal to scan Pikachu.
