Chapter 211: Dots

Words : 1292 Updated : Sep 23rd, 2025

Chapter 211: Dots This was just a replay, and yet, somehow, it looked worse watching it like this. D-29 felt responsible. Deeply and painfully responsible. If it had known that its Host would push himself like that, it wouldn’t have suggested such a complicated model in the first place! In fact, maybe D-29 could’ve just continued borrowing (hijacking) Sid whenever needed. But that was all in hindsight. And all that the little system could do was to compensate for this mistake. Just like in the dramas where the male lead leaves his female lead only for him to belatedly realize that it was the worst mistake of his life, and so he comes back and woos his love with the best-looking rocks. But D-29 could not buy rocks, nor could it produce those little children that always come when the female leads want to leave but must be forced to stay. For apparently, children weren’t for sale. So, the repentant system could only think of one thing to make it right. "Host, I have made a grave error and would like to beg for forgiveness." "I would like to cancel the cosmetic upgrades as part of my punishment. But if you deem it necessary..." D-29 really hoped the Host didn’t, but it was also aware of its grave lapse as a system meant to serve its Host. So, it understood and prepared for more possible losses. "It’s alright, D-29. More than you, it is me who would likely be punished." Relayed Luca in his mind. After all, Xavier was already looking a little green from the video replay they were watching. It was footage of one hardworking mecha maker who worked like he was in a trance. For he really was. Xavier watched this Luca, whose golden eyes were distant and unfocused, and yet his hands never stopped moving. And if anyone from the Duchy saw this video, they’d likely send themselves into an early grave. As it again looked like the heir wasn’t in there. And if not for his busy hands and all those tendrils moving around, they would fear for the worst. Just like Xavier, who felt like there was a lump in his throat. Then something even more mindblowing happened, as Luca likely thought this was too slow. Yes. And that was rather on point. For the businessman who moonlighted as a mechanic kept on comparing it with how he made Guiding Pills back in Tesseris. So, his solution? Splitting his tendrils and assigning them to different tasks. It was a sight that could probably not be shown unless they wanted the attention of all citizens and pirates. For Luca was sending tendrils of spiritual energy through the air, with many of them performing independent acts of attaching components, reinforcing structures, recalibrating systems— All at once. This even shocked the system that was used to the Host performing the same tasks with this many tendrils, but not this, where it looked like the Host spawned working clones just to finish on time. But if D-29 was surprised, then the Imperial Crown Prince practically sat frozen. His expression was unreadable as he watched his little chipmunk’s self-inflicted torture. For a long moment, he said nothing. But his thoughts were loud. This— This could never be C-class. A C-Class spiritual user couldn’t manipulate energy like this. And honestly, a C-Class spiritual user wouldn’t even survive operating at this level. If anything, could he, an S-class, even have such control? No. And yet, the little chipmunk looked like he had no idea. Or was it because this was his normal? The concern was warranted as Luca’s worry was far different from Xavier’s. His worries? That abysmal working habit and that fire hazard of a workstation. So, clearly, Xavier would have to confront this guy. __ Not long after, in the quiet of their dorm room, Xavier sat at the edge of the bed, still feeding Luca small bites of food. This was to avoid upsetting the mechanic’s stomach, which had been empty for a while. Then again, what was probably worrying was how he looked spiritually ready to go to work again. If not only for his body feeling like jelly. Which, in Xavier’s mind, was clearly a problem that he ought to figure out. "...When did you last get tested for your rating?" Xavier finally asked. Luca blinked sluggishly, chewing thoughtfully. "Mmm. Right before the Division Assessment Test," Luca admitted. Now Xavier actually hesitated, not wanting to make the little chipmunk uncomfortable but needing to understand why he was like that. "What about before you came back?" "Well, never." Xavier frowned. "Never?" And Luca only nodded before bringing back the topic to this period. "Yeah. So, the first time was when I had my entrance assessment. But that was cut off midway, so they re-took it. However, even then, Dr. Brent said my results were... odd." Xavier stilled. "...Odd, how?" "He said the result looked unusual..." and at this, D-29 hurriedly promoted a photo spliced from the recording of this moment. Xavier’s frown deepened as he looked at the admittedly odd results and wondered if he had a faulty test. "Describe the test to me." Luca thought for a moment before tilting his head. "Well, they told me to stand there and wait." Xavier nodded. That was standard. "...And?" "I waited?" Xavier stared at the bedridden shorty who was literally just describing what he did. "So, you’re saying you just stood there?" To which the Prince received another nod, only for him to stop because it looked like he remembered something. "Oh. But then I remember getting bored, so I played with the dots a bit." What? "Dots?" Luca nodded. "Yeah, the little floating dots. I made them move around to pass the time." "You moved them?" "Yeah?" Luca looked confused, suddenly concerned that maybe he had damaged the testing apparatus by playing with it. "Was I not supposed to?" "..." And Xavier could only stare. For those dots weren’t just dots. They were indicators. And they were supposed to be attracted to the matching spiritual energy, which was how people were gauged. They weren’t something that could be controlled. And yet, there was Luca, who played with them after being bored. No wonder his results looked odd. However, little did he know that Dr. Brent was puzzled by this very odd result, as was D-29, who kept on trying to scan as promised, only for it to return as ’Inconclusive.’ But just when Xavier was going to ask about re-taking the exam, he noticed how Luca had dozed off to sleep. So he let it go for now, as he found a little corner on his own bed to sleep on. __ However, there were things that couldn’t be let go. And while Xavier respected Luca’s independence and freedom, they also had to acknowledge the fact that the little chipmunk had no concept of limits. So, someone needed to set their foot down. And not even Ollie was spared. While Ollie got an earful about how he nearly made himself into blonde confetti, Luca had bigger problems. Because starting from today, he was officially under supervision. Xavier’s supervision. And if there were times when the Prince couldn’t be there physically, then Luca must make it to their scheduled calls, or Xavier was coming back to pull the plug on this. Obviously, that scared the little penny pincher, and Xavier felt a twinge and figured he could give a bit in return. So, he promised to let him take energy instead of using spiritual water like it was no one’s business. It was just that no one, not even Luca himself, could imagine what he’d be like with an on-demand supercharger.

Chapter 211: Dots

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