81: Chapter 81. The three-year term does not equate to my agreement.

[Current Status: Restarting]

Lu Chengyuan's voice wasn't heavy.

Yet when these few words landed in the old classroom, they felt like an invisible hand squeezing everyone's throat.

Three years.

The three years that Lin Shoushan had bought for Lin Jin by entering No. 9 Forbidden Zone himself.

Now, the Department of Education was saying the term had expired.

So, the observation was restarting.

So, the path was restarting.

So, from the moment Lin Jin picked up his first wrench, he was pulled right back into their old project files.

Chen Ye's first reaction was to look at Lin Jin.

“Brother Jin...”

He didn't know what to say.

If someone told him that his dad had gone to his death three years ago just to keep the Department of Education from touching him for a while, he probably would have exploded on the spot.

But Lin Jin didn't explode.

He sat in his Maintenance Position, pressing his fingertips against the desk, his gaze incredibly cold.

So cold that it didn't even look like anger.

It looked more like he had already begun deconstructing a problem.

Shen Tingxue also looked at Lu Chengyuan.

She gripped the Ice Key, tiny cracks spreading across its icy surface.

Zhou Heng's expression was the worst of all.

Because he knew better than anyone how disgusting it was to be ensnared by the Department of Education with words like 'observation,' 'cultivation,' and 'compatibility.'

Deputy Director Zhou Chengyue was a prime example.

Lu Chengyuan looked at Lin Jin, his tone still gentle.

“The suspension period your father fought for has ended.”

“According to the temporary transaction records, the observation of the Second-generation Maintenance Position automatically restarts.”

“This is not a punishment.”

“Nor is it a transfer.”

“It is simply observation.”

Lin Jin finally raised his head.

“Observing what?”

Lu Chengyuan replied:

“The stability of your career path.”

“The compatibility of your rule correction tools.”

“Your localization reaction to the main wreckage of No. 9.”

“And whether you will become a new out-of-control Maintenance Position.”

Chen Ye couldn't help but say:

“You make it sound so nice.”

“How is this any different from treating someone as a sample?”

Lu Chengyuan glanced at him.

“There is a big difference.”

“A sample is an object of study.”

“An object of observation is an object of risk.”

The blackboard immediately lit up with a gray glow.

[Observer's Seat Speech Detected]

['Object of risk' suspected of being an identity definition]

[Warning: 1]

Lu Chengyuan paused, then nodded.

“I correct my phrasing.”

“The object of observation is the risk status; no identity definition is made for Lin Jin himself.”

Lin Jin looked at him.

“Director Lu is very practiced.”

Lu Chengyuan smiled faintly.

“Those who deal with rules must always be familiar with them.”

Lin Jin stood up.

“Then let's play by the rules.”

He picked up the recording projection of his father's voice from the desk and enlarged several lines.

['I entered No. 9 to buy three years.']

['Not to agree to let you touch Lin Jin.']

['And certainly not to agree to him inheriting some crappy sample path.']

Lin Jin pointed at those lines of text.

“These are Lin Shoushan's own words.”

Lu Chengyuan nodded.

“I don't deny that.”

“He indeed did not agree to you inheriting the sample path.”

“That is why the Department of Education is currently proposing a restart of observation, not sample confirmation.”

Lin Jin chuckled.

“Changing terms again.”

“If 'sample' doesn't work, you call it 'observation.'”

“If 'transfer' doesn't work, you call it 'supervision.'”

“If 'restart' doesn't work, you call it 'risk status logging.'”

He looked at the file projection on the blackboard.

“The problem is, your record here says 'Second-generation Maintenance Position observation.'”

“Not 'ordinary safety observation.'”

“The term 'Second-generation Maintenance Position' itself comes from the peripheral project of No. 9.”

“And from your sample chain back then.”

Lu Chengyuan's eyes flickered slightly.

Lin Jin continued:

“So let me ask you this.”

“Did I personally sign it?”

The old classroom fell silent for a moment.

Chen Ye immediately caught on.

“Exactly!”

“You're treating the three years his dad bought as a contract, but did Lin Jin himself ever agree to it?”

Shen Tingxue also spoke up:

“Lin Jin was not awakened when he was fifteen.”

“The so-called career orientation assessment was a unilateral action by the Department of Education.”

“He was neither informed nor did he confirm it.”

Zhou Heng said coldly:

“And he certainly never agreed to be written down as a Second-generation Maintenance Position.”

Lu Chengyuan didn't answer immediately.

Because this wasn't an emotional outburst.

This was a definitional loophole.

A father could fight for a suspension on behalf of his son.

But he couldn't sign an inheritance agreement on behalf of his son.

And certainly, just because the suspension period ended, it didn't mean the person could be automatically dragged back into the project chain.

Inspector Han Su's voice came through the communication talisman:

“In the records of the Department of Education, the observation of the Second-generation Maintenance Position falls under risk filing, not a self-authorized project.”

Lin Jin immediately followed up.

“Then delete 'Second-generation Maintenance Position.'”

Inspector Han Su fell silent.

Lu Chengyuan said:

“It cannot be deleted.”

“Why?”

“Because this is a factual path.”

Lu Chengyuan looked at him.

“Lin Jin, you have already come into contact with Rule Maintenance.”

“You already possess a rule correction tool.”

“You have already been reverse-targeted by the main wreckage of No. 9.”

“If you say you are not a sample, I can accept that.”

“If you say you do not belong to the Department of Education, I can also accept that.”

“But you cannot deny that you are the second-generation Maintenance Position to appear after Lin Shoushan.”

This phrasing was extremely clever.

It didn't directly say 'sample.'

Nor did it say 'successor.'

It simply packaged 'second-generation Maintenance Position' as a factual description.

But Lin Jin understood.

As long as he accepted this term, the subsequent observation, recording, and supervision would all grow out from it.

Second-generation Maintenance Position.

It sounded like an identity.

But in reality, it was a hook.

Lin Jin picked up the rule correction wrench.

The moment the wrench was in his hand, another sharp pain shot through his brain.

The successive corrections and training sessions had left his mental load still very high.

Shen Tingxue immediately frowned.

“You shouldn't use it again right now.”

Lin Jin didn't try to be a hero.

“I know.”

He didn't strike directly at Lu Chengyuan's projection, nor did he strike at the entire Department of Education file.

Instead, he gently pressed the wrench against the line that read [Automatic Restart].

The Hand of Rules popped up a prompt.

[Target: Second-generation Maintenance Position Observation Restart Record]

[Fault: Erroneously deriving 'the person's consent to restart project observation' from 'expiration of the suspension period']

[Fault: Erroneously defining the 'second contact of the Rule Maintenance path' as the 'Second-generation Maintenance Position project subject']

[Maintenance Option 1: Forcefully delete observation records]

[Success Rate: 17%]

[Side Effect: Triggers the Department of Education's definition of high-risk refusal of supervision]

[Maintenance Option 2: Correct the nature of the observation]

[Success Rate: 72%]

[Result: Retain safety observation, decouple from the project sample chain]

Lin Jin did not hesitate.

“Select Option 2.”

Chen Ye let out a sigh of relief.

“Thank goodness you didn't try to force it head-on.”

Zhou Heng snorted coldly.

“If he tried to force it head-on, he'd be flat on his back tonight.”

Lin Jin looked at Zhou Heng.

“Thanks for the concern.”

Zhou Heng's face darkened.

“Who's concerned about you?”

Lin Jin stopped bantering.

He placed the academy identity anchor badge, the tripartite review records, the transcript of his father's recording, and the self-examination results of his tool possession qualification onto the desk.

“Chain of evidence.”

“First, Lin Shoushan's recording explicitly states that his entry into No. 9 does not represent consent for the Department of Education to touch Lin Jin.”

“Second, Lin Jin himself has never signed any Second-generation Maintenance Position observation agreement.”

“Third, the current tripartite review has defined Lin Jin as a freshman of Jiangcheng First Combat Academy, the core Maintenance Position of the Rule Maintenance Special Class, and an associate of the No. 9 remnant localization.”

“Fourth, the qualification to hold the rule correction wrench is confirmed by the tool's self-examination as conditional possession.”

“Fifth, safety observation can exist, but it cannot be applied to the old project sample chain.”

Lu Chengyuan looked at the evidence on the desk, his gaze darkening bit by bit.

Lin Jin raised the wrench.

“Therefore.”

“Observation is fine.”

“Project observation is not.”

“Risk logging is fine.”

“The Second-generation Maintenance Position sample chain is not.”

“Review upon expiration is fine.”

“But automatic restart is not.”

The wrench came down.

Bang.

A gray-gold light slammed into the line that read [Automatic Restart].

The lights in the classroom flickered instantly.

The Department of Education's file projection fluctuated violently.

[Second-generation Maintenance Position Observation: Automatic Restart]

The words twisted frantically, trying to restabilize.

Lu Chengyuan did not stop it.

However, around his projection, a layer of silver authority patterns faintly emerged.

It was as if the file itself was invoking the Department of Education's highest authority to resist the correction.

Cold sweat seeped from Lin Jin's forehead.

[Correction Progress: 34%]

The white text began to push back.

[Path contacted]

[Tool possessed]

[Localization occurred]

[Observation should restart]

Lin Jin gritted his teeth.

“Everything you say is correct.”

“But these only prove that I need safety supervision.”

“They do not prove that I belong to your project.”

The second strike of the wrench came down.

Bang!

[Correction Progress: 61%]

Shen Tingxue used low temperature to suppress the authority patterns on the edge of the file.

Chen Ye raised his shield to block the fragments of white light pouring out of the projection.

Zhou Heng thrust his Thunder Spear, pinning and snapping a silver thread that was trying to connect to Lin Jin's school badge.

“Don't try to stick things onto his badge.”

Lu Chengyuan looked at this scene and suddenly said softly:

“Your coordination is faster than I anticipated.”

Lin Jin raised his head.

“Observer's Seat, do not evaluate team compatibility.”

The blackboard lit up.

[Observer's Seat Warning 2: Suspected team compatibility evaluation]

Lu Chengyuan smiled and stopped speaking.

Lin Jin's third strike of the wrench came down.

“Lin Jin coming into contact with Rule Maintenance does not equal the automatic restart of the Department of Education's old project.”

Bang!

The file projection shook violently.

That line of text was finally rewritten.

[Second-generation Maintenance Position Observation: Automatic Restart]

It became:

[Rule Maintenance Path Safety Observation: Pending Tripartite Review and Confirmation]

Below it, another line of gray-gold remarks appeared.

[Use of 'Second-generation Maintenance Position' as the current project subject code is prohibited.]

[Deriving Lin Jin's personal consent to restart observation from Lin Shoushan's transaction three years ago is prohibited.]

[If observation is required, it must be executed through joint filing by the Academy, the Abyss Processing Bureau, and the Department of Education.]

As Lin Jin withdrew the wrench, his feet swayed slightly.

Chen Ye hurriedly supported him.

“Can you still hold up?”

Lin Jin caught his breath.

“I can hold up.”

Shen Tingxue glanced at the back of his hand.

The black patterns hadn't erupted, but their color had deepened slightly.

Her voice was very low.

“You can't use the correction wrench again today.”

Lin Jin nodded.

“Yeah.”

Zhou Heng said coldly:

“You'd better actually remember that.”

This time, Lin Jin didn't talk back.

Lu Chengyuan looked at the rewritten records, his expression showing no anger.

Instead, he looked somewhat like he had just witnessed an unexpected problem-solving process.

“You are different from your father.”

Lin Jin raised his head.

The blackboard immediately lit up.

[Observer's Seat Speech Detection in Progress]

Lu Chengyuan smiled.

“This is a comparison of facts, not an identity definition.”

“Lin Shoushan preferred to smash the entire problem set back then.”

“You prefer to modify the problem until the other party cannot refute it.”

Lin Jin said coldly:

“After two warnings from the Observer's Seat, one more time and the session will be terminated.”

Lu Chengyuan nodded.

“Alright.”

He paused for a moment, then suddenly said:

“However, your correction is still incomplete.”

Qin Shanhe's eyes sank.

“Lu Chengyuan, what game are you trying to play now?”

Lu Chengyuan raised his hand, and the recording file in the projection re-emerged.

“Lin Shoushan indeed demanded that it be written down clearly back then.”

“What you heard was also the official record.”

“But an official record does not equal a complete record.”

Lin Jin's eyes turned cold.

“You deleted the second half?”

Lu Chengyuan did not directly admit it.

“In the project negotiation recordings, some segments were classified under the White Tower's old authority verification.”

“I cannot retrieve them on my own.”

Chen Ye couldn't help but say:

“Here we go again, 'not something you can retrieve.'”

“Is it always just a coincidence that whenever your Department of Education does something bad, it's always beyond your personal control?”

Lu Chengyuan glanced at him but did not respond.

Lin Jin stared at the recording.

The Hand of Rules popped up a new prompt before his eyes.

[Target: No. 9 Peripheral Project Temporary Negotiation Recording]

[Integrity Verification: Failed]

[Missing Segment: 17 seconds]

[Missing Content: Lin Shoushan's supplementary terms]

[Current Storage Location: White Tower First Floor Real Reward Subsidiary Seal]

Lin Jin's breathing hitched slightly.

Lin Shoushan's supplementary terms.

The White Tower's first floor real reward.

In other words, the real reward they were originally going to get was not just the list of the replaced.

But also the supplementary terms his father had left behind back then.

Lu Chengyuan looked at Lin Jin, his tone still steady.

“You just changed the automatic restart to pending tripartite review.”

“That is very good.”

“But it is only temporary.”

“If you want to completely shut down the second-generation observation chain, you must obtain the original copy of the supplementary terms Lin Shoushan left behind.”

“It is on the first floor of the White Tower.”

Zhou Heng said coldly:

“You are currently baiting him into entering the White Tower.”

Lu Chengyuan shrugged.

“The White Tower has already called you out by name anyway.”

“I am merely stating the facts.”

The blackboard did not issue a warning.

Because he indeed had not said 'you must enter.'

But everyone knew that this was a glaring hook.

Lin Jin looked at Lu Chengyuan in the projection.

“So the real reward of the White Tower's first floor, besides the list of the replaced, also includes my dad's supplementary terms.”

Lu Chengyuan nodded.

“Yes.”

“Obtain it, and you can completely break the Department of Education's old project observation chain.”

“If you don't, after the tripartite review ends, the Department of Education will still apply to restore safety observation and attempt to prove that the second-generation observation code possesses historical continuity.”

Chen Ye cursed:

“Isn't this just forcing us to go get it?”

Lu Chengyuan said calmly:

“It is not forcing.”

“It is that you have already walked up to the door.”

“All that's left is to enter.”

Lin Jin did not speak immediately.

He put the rule correction wrench back into the toolbox.

Then he raised his head to look at the blackboard.

On the blackboard, the partial map of the White Tower reappeared.

The small door at the bottom of the first floor was still lit.

[Teammate Accompaniment]

And behind the small door, two lines of reward annotations slowly appeared.

[Real Reward 1: List of the Replaced]

[Real Reward 2: Lin Shoushan's Original Supplementary Terms]

Shen Tingxue gripped the Ice Key tightly.

Zhou Heng gripped his thunder nail tightly.

Chen Ye pressed the shield-shaped light slice into the edge of his shield.

Lin Jin looked at those two lines of text, his voice very soft, yet very steady.

“Alright.”

“Then let's go get it.”

The very instant he finished speaking, the partial map of the White Tower suddenly brightened.

Behind the hidden small door, a third, extremely faint line of text emerged.

[Hidden Reward 3: Former Deputy Director Zhou Chengyue's Hesitation Residual Coordinates]

Zhou Heng abruptly raised his head.

His expression completely changed at that moment.