272: I am your examiner

Those two words were light and casual, as if the turmoil that had just been enough to overturn the entire industrial park was truly just an insignificant trifle.

Qin Zhan, however, did not end the topic there.

There was no extra ripple of emotion on his sharply defined face; he merely continued speaking in a steady voice.

“Mr. Lin, there is one more matter.”

“The official notice might have to wait a while to be announced with others, but your situation is special, so I will inform you now...”

“I... am your dedicated examiner for this year’s College Entrance Examination.”

One sentence.

It instantly tightened the atmosphere, which had just slightly eased because of the “approval for release,” solidifying it into a block of iron.

Examiner?

Lin Yu was slightly surprised.

His College Entrance Examination had a dedicated examiner?

However, recalling the 288-Star Hell Difficulty he had chosen, it suddenly seemed reasonable.

“The difficulty of your assessment is unprecedented.”

Qin Zhan's voice was completely flat, as if stating an established fact.

“Therefore, the entire process will be designed and supervised solely by me, independent of other military departments or anyone else.”

He spoke this sentence with extreme seriousness.

Every word was like a nail hammered deeply into the hearts of everyone present.

This was... distancing himself.

No, more accurately, this was drawing an absolute red line.

Lin Yu's assessment was Qin Zhan's business alone.

No matter what happened during the assessment, no matter what shocking power Lin Yu displayed, Qin Zhan would bear the responsibility alone.

He was using his identity as the Fangs Commander-in-Chief to forge the most solid barrier for Lin Yu.

Lin Yu looked at him and finally understood the motivation behind his series of actions.

“Thank you for your trouble,” he replied calmly.

Zhong Huai, standing nearby, let out a long, silent sigh.

He didn't know what Qin Zhan was planning, but with that statement, no matter what happened, Lin Yu or the people behind him could only target Qin Zhan.

Zhong Huai's mind was in turmoil.

As for the others, they weren't just in turmoil.

They had completely exploded.

Examiner?

College Entrance Examination?

What is going on?

How could these two words be linked to the terrifying existence before them—one who made powerhouses from the Abyss Domain grovel and forced the Fangs Captain to offer a solemn apology?

Old Shi's aged face, which had just regained a hint of color, turned deathly pale once more.

He felt as if his heart was being squeezed by an invisible large hand, and breathing became difficult.

Director Wang was completely frozen, his brain crashing, unable to process the information overload in that statement.

He subconsciously looked toward Yan Xing and the Black Shadow.

Those two Visitors from the Abyss Domain were equally bewildered and stunned.

They had some understanding of the Blue Star system, so naturally, they knew what the “College Entrance Examination” was.

Precisely because they knew, they couldn't understand.

“Captain Qin... Qin...”

Director Wang's lips trembled as he finally managed to squeeze out a complete sentence.

“The College Entrance Examination you... you mentioned... is... is it the one we think it is?”

Qin Zhan did not answer him.

He merely turned sideways, clearing the way so that everyone's gaze could fall unobstructed upon Lin Yu.

His action spoke volumes.

Director Wang, Old Shi, Yan Xing, the Black Shadow, all the executives from the Four Major Companies, as well as the Fangs members and Customs officers... everyone's eyes were focused on the Young Man who had remained exceptionally calm from start to finish.

Then, they heard Qin Zhan’s emotionless supplementary explanation.

“Mr. Lin Yu is a graduating high school student taking the College Entrance Examination this year.”

Emmm, although it's a delayed exam, he hasn't attended university or taken the College Entrance Examination before, so he should still count as a graduating student, right?

Boom!

If the earlier mention of “examiner” was a thunderclap.

Then this statement, “graduating high school student,” was a nuclear bomb detonated directly in everyone's minds.

The entire industrial park fell into dead silence.

A pin drop could be heard.

“Huh?”

Someone let out a short, strange gasp.

Immediately following, successive gasps spread through the crowd.

A... a senior high school student?

What kind of joke is this!

The person who made Old Shi, the Alliance's stabilizing force, collapse on the spot, who made Abyss Domain powerhouses obediently comply, and who was personally protected by the Fangs Commander-in-Chief... was a high school student?

Did something go wrong with this world?

Wang Teng and Feng Rui, who had been following Old Shi, finally revealed looks of helplessness.

“Old Shi... actually... he is...”

Feng Rui's body was also trembling, and he swallowed with difficulty.

“Linzhou No. 1 High School’s... red Mythic Rank profession awakener who refused to sign with us...”

“...’s older brother.”

Although their voices were not loud, in this silent environment, they clearly reached Old Shi's ears.

Old Shi suddenly turned his head, staring intensely at his two subordinates.

Wang Teng shivered under his gaze, but still braced himself and nodded desperately at Old Shi.

“Old Shi... he... he is the Lin Yu we wanted to sign before.”

“The student... who angered Manager Feng Rui so much he almost had to be hospitalized.”

“This situation is quite special, and I can’t explain it clearly in a short time.”

“Go!”

Old Shi abruptly pushed Wang Teng aside, his voice hoarse.

“Get out of here! Now! Immediately!”

He didn't want to stay here for another second.

If he stayed any longer, he feared he would literally be scared to death.

Old Shi quickly apologized and bid farewell to the others. Without waiting for a response, he grabbed Wang Teng and practically dragged him, staggering toward a corner of the park, far away from the center of the storm.

“Tell me! Tell me everything about him, clearly and in detail!” Old Shi demanded, gripping Wang Teng’s collar, his eyes bloodshot.

Meanwhile.

Yan Xing and the Black Shadow were no less shocked than Old Shi.

But their shock was more a reverence for an unknown civilization.

A senior high school student?

A senior high school student possessed such terrifying financial resources and such unfathomable backing?

When did Blue Star's education evolve to this level?

In Yan Xing’s mind, the geniuses from the Abyss Domain, hailed as “Divine Sons” and “Holy Maidens,” instantly appeared.

Yet even those individuals, at the age of eighteen, could never achieve one ten-thousandth of Mr. Lin Yu’s accomplishments!

Qin Zhan took in everyone's reactions, but he paid them no mind.

He simply looked back at Lin Yu and nodded slightly.

“Mr. Lin, the assessment location and specific projects will be notified to you later... In the meantime, Mr. Lin, I do not know the purpose of you or the people behind you, but if you have any needs, please let me know in advance...”

Qin Zhan hesitated to speak further.

There was probably no need for threats, warnings, or gestures of goodwill; as the core figure in a plan that even he and Zhong Huai found terrifying, Lin Yu would surely understand everything.

“Then, I shall not disturb you further.”

After speaking, he prepared to turn and lead his team away.

As he passed Director Wang, Qin Zhan looked at him coldly.

“Write your own report to the higher-ups.”

After Qin Zhan left, Zhong Huai gave Lin Yu one last complicated look before anxiously following Qin Zhan's steps.

He still had many things to discuss with Qin Zhan.