My setting is above yours!

Chapter 20 Assassination Commission
fighting?

Ron was momentarily stunned.

He frowned: "How could there suddenly be such radical reforms..."

If I remember correctly, previous competency assessments were all scored based on the output data, rarity, and research value of the competency model, weren't they?

"I don't know..."

Deng shook his head, a rare look of worry appearing on his face:
"But it can make those people temporarily give up the 'benefits' that come with their abilities and turn to pursuing combat power..."

Perhaps, only the outer city remains.

Outer city?

Ron was taken aback, momentarily confused as to what Dunn meant:
"What do you mean by pursuing combat power for the sake of the outer city?"

After he finished speaking, seeing the worry on Deng Yin's face, he belatedly frowned:

"Could it be... that you mean war?"

“You can think of it that way…” Deng nodded heavily.

War... how could it possibly be war?

Ron was incredulous. After all, there was no power in the world that could compare to Moen City!
Although Moen Ideal City has many drawbacks, such as class oppression, capitalist plunder, and intense social conflicts...

Various social problems make Moen Ideal City look chaotic, but no one would deny that it is humanity's only home.

History will always record one sentence—

After the cataclysmic destruction of the planet, it was humanity's own renewed desire to rebuild their home and their unity that enabled them to establish this ideal city that covers half the planet.

Of course, this is just a mild way of educating children; it could be said much more clearly.

After the cataclysm, the three largest corporations, as the three strongest forces, chose to stop their corporate wars and cooperate for mutual benefit, which led to the current situation.

They have an extremely strong control over everything on this planet, and there is absolutely no possibility that any force could resist Ideal City...

Even if war were to break out, it would only occur within the inner city of Ideal City, affecting the three giant corporations themselves, and certainly not in the remote outer city.

To put it bluntly, how exactly can a bunch of old fogies who are still living in the last century threaten Ideal City?

How can we expect powerful corporations to jointly invest and reform the college entrance examination to select top talents?

"This war is not quite what you imagine; the enemy will certainly not be the people of the outer city..."

Seemingly sensing Ron's confusion, Dunn shook his head and instead posed a question to Ron:
Have you ever wondered... why Ideal City is divided into inner and outer districts?

...What's the point of asking such a question?

Isn't this a classic case of prioritizing ideals over others? The inner city has been developed, but the outer city hasn't even had a chance yet?
Ron scratched his head. "Because of the wealth gap?"

“No,” Dunn said in a complicated tone, “it’s actually something more serious… but it involves a strict confidentiality agreement, and I can’t explain it to you.”

I can only tell you one thing—the municipal government has the absolute ability to conquer nature. If Moen Commercial and Sumeru Real Estate's industrial machinery were to be put into operation, they could completely transform the entire planet with steel and concrete within six months.

They don't do it simply because there are some insurmountable problems standing in their way..."

Could it be that such a secret is hidden in the outer city?

Ron couldn't help but find it somewhat unbelievable.

He lived in the outer city when he was a child, and apart from feeling that the lifestyle in the outer city was somewhat old-fashioned, the people were more superstitious, and the technology was less advanced, there was nothing special about the outer city in Ron's memory.

He wanted to ask more questions about the outer city, but Deng Yin simply shook his head, interrupting him:
"According to past practice, you'll find out about this when you get your own lab..."

However, given the current situation, the classified files may be declassified soon.

You can put your curiosity aside for now.

He looked at Ron, his tone serious:

"Right now, what you need to pay more attention to is your college entrance examination."

After the college entrance examination reform, you will need to compete with students in the same examination area, and your ability level will be judged based on the victory points...

I don't doubt your abilities are superior to the vast majority of test takers, but I must remind you of one thing.

As he spoke, he turned on the holographic projector and displayed various advertising posters:

"Because this year's college entrance examination has become a competition of the ability to attract investment from all companies, and the level of attention is far greater than in the past, many of your competitors have received support from companies."

Ron looked at the advertising posters and, sure enough, found that the spokespeople for these ads were all test takers the same age as him.

"Many candidates who receive investment will enhance their abilities in the laboratories of giant companies, and their abilities will improve dramatically..."

Losing to them isn't terrible; you have plenty of chances to lose. After all, as long as you beat a few people, you're good enough to get into Moen University.

As he spoke, he selected an enlarged version from the densely packed advertisements projected on the holographic projection:
"But you absolutely cannot lose to this person!"

The projection showed a young man who looked to be about the same age as Ron, arrogant and noble, with a hint of disdain in his eyes.

So arrogant and condescending...

Ron frowned and read the text on the poster:
"Moen University's rising star, the future heir to the throne of the Physics Department, Euan Hansen... Who is this?"

Deng Yin continued, "He is the youngest son of the vice president of Moen University, a [Gravity Control] ability user who is about to advance to Lv.3."

He is your closest rival in the race for first place in the physics department.

If you lose to him in the college entrance exam, your score weight in the [Prometheus] ranking test will inevitably be much lower than his.

Therefore, losing to him means missing out on the top spot in the physics department!

It turns out it was just losing first place...

Ron didn't seem to care too much. Although he had promised Deng that he would get first place in the physics department as Deng's student, he also said that he would do his best.

Even if he doesn't get first place in the physics department, what impact will it have on his life?
Ron didn't seem to care much, but Dunn noticed his lack of interest and immediately raised her voice:

"Don't take this lightly. Getting first place in the physics department isn't just for my own good—don't you want to solve the problem of your abilities spiraling out of control?"

"Once you get first place in the physics department, you'll understand how the school treats you differently from others..."

"Perhaps this is your chance to break free from the limitations of your abilities and gain complete control..."

Complete control?

Ron immediately became serious, unlike his previous lack of interest.

So, becoming the top student in the physics department really gives you this kind of opportunity?

We absolutely cannot let it slip away...

He carefully examined the poster in the holographic projection and meticulously memorized Yu An's appearance.

However, there's no time to study this future adversary right now.

The old magician's commission was due at noon today, and Ron didn't want to be suspected by the magicians for missing the deadline.

He said goodbye to Deng, left the training hall, and found a corner where no one would notice.

[Personalized settings have been installed.]

The next moment, Ron's figure became hunched and emaciated, his gentle, youthful face instantly turning withered and hard, like a dried-up corpse. What a peculiar feeling…

Ron felt as if he were wrapped in a cool, thin film, like wearing a veil.

It seems that "a thousand faces for a thousand people" does not actually involve distorting the body or changing the appearance.

He simply wore something that resembled a shapeshifting suit, making him appear to outsiders as an old magician.

He changed into the pure black cloak he had prepared beforehand, put on the emerald ring, and activated the map navigation.

"If I remember correctly, the mission is to go to Laboratory Ω8631 at Noah Pharmacy in Zone C..."

Ron muttered to himself and quickly found the location on the outskirts of the city, near the edge of Zone C and close to Zone D of Ideal City, following the navigation.

A silver-white building stands here, with a white and green "∞" logo on it, clearly an asset of Noah Pharmaceuticals.

Under normal circumstances, Noah Pharmaceuticals' laboratories should be bustling with people, with countless researchers working hard to meet the performance targets set by their superiors.

But now, the silver-white building is quiet and has long been sealed off.

The orange-yellow seal, adorned with a large skull, serves as a stark reminder to all passersby of the hidden dangers lurking here.

However, the seal on the first-floor entrance has now been torn off, and the interior lights on the first floor have been turned on, indicating that someone is already inside.

Presumably, it must be the client and the magicians who arrived early...

Ron seemed lost in thought. He pulled up his hood to cover his now gaunt face and slowly pushed open the laboratory door.

His gaze swept around, taking in the four people in the room—

A man in a suit with the Noah Pharmaceuticals logo... Is the woman next to him his secretary? Is she the client?
A woman dressed smartly, with an intellectual face, who looks like a teacher;
There were also young men with a thuggish air about them, tattoos, and a thug-like demeanor...

Ron seemed to be deep in thought. After a brief observation of them, he saw the young man, who looked like a thug, looking at him and grinning broadly.

"There's someone else... Oh, isn't this 'Master' Karen? Why aren't you looking for that forbidden tome of your imagination? Why are you taking on side jobs for a giant corporation?"

His gaze towards Ron was filled with undisguised contempt and mockery:
"What are you doing in the inner city of Ideal City, an old relic living in the past, thinking yourself superior just because you're a descendant of some quack cult?"

What is meant by "forbidden texts in fantasy"?
This person, a fellow practitioner of the old magician, actually believed that the forbidden texts did not exist.

Moreover, these old-fashioned people living in the past consider themselves superior as successors of their sect…

Ron seemed to be deep in thought, recalling the old magician's earlier introduction that he came from the Ember Cult.

It seems we need to find a way to get some information out of this person.

"Cough cough, what a frog in a well... Just because you don't know something doesn't mean it doesn't exist."

Ron coughed twice, mimicking the old magician's condescending and disgusting tone, and sneered:

"Furthermore, retract your slander against the 'Ember Church'... Someone like you simply cannot comprehend the glory of the Church!"

"What do you mean?"

The young man immediately looked at Ron with displeasure, his eyes filled with contempt:

"Who doesn't know that you're always carrying around a tattered book, shouting 'forbidden book, forbidden book,' and when you lose it, you say some god stole your treasure..."

If you truly possessed any forbidden scriptures, you would have already become a genuine 'master.' Why would you need to cultivate connections and obtain the title of honorary master?

As he spoke, a wicked smile curled at the corner of his mouth, and he deliberately provoked:

"And, old man, I'm afraid you don't know, so I'll mention it to you."
The Ember Church and the Coal Ash Church have long since perished under the wheels of history...

You're using the name of this shady church to claim you're a magic master possessing forbidden scriptures—you're just living in a dream!

It turns out... the Magicians' Association had no idea about the magic book at all!

Even the Church of the Embers is now reduced to just the old magician!

Ron couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. He never expected that the old magician would be so ostracized in the magician community, completely ignored by others.

If the forbidden scriptures hadn't been discovered by the Magicians' Association, there wouldn't be an organization behind the old magician...

If Ron can get through this job, he can rightfully disappear and never get involved with magicians again!

Thinking of this, Ron suppressed the smirk that was creeping onto his face.

He had originally wanted to interact with this roguish young man a bit more to see if he could glean any information, but the client beside him was clearly too lazy to listen to these trivial matters.

"enough."

The client clapped his hands, interrupting their argument:

"Settle your personal grudges privately, don't waste time..."

"Since you accepted this commission, you should know what happened here, right?"

At this moment, the capable woman, who had remained silent until now, adjusted her glasses and spoke:

"According to the letter of commission, it must have been a mistake by the administrator here, which awakened all the corpses in the laboratory..."

"That's right, he performed a wrong ritual and awakened all the experimental materials."

The client nodded, stood up, and unlocked a hidden access lock on the wall next to him.

He entered the password, and the next moment, the floor not far from them immediately sank and opened, revealing a secret passage.

Deep inside the secret passage was an extremely heavy iron door, from which one could faintly hear mournful howls.

"Those corpses have all come to life and are wandering around the underground laboratory..."

"You are all masters of necromancy; you should be confident in resolving this kind of trouble, right?"

Upon hearing this, the young man immediately patted his chest and said confidently:

"Of course! They're just some zombies transformed from a ritual error; we can deal with them easily!"

As he spoke, his tone became obsequious, fawning over the client in front of him:
"However... sir, I wonder if, after completing this mission, I might be able to get an opportunity to join Noah Pharmaceuticals?"

"That's not possible..."

The client shook his head. "I know you all want to complete this commission as a stepping stone to joining Noah Pharmaceuticals, but this alone is far from enough."

“However,” he said, changing the subject as he pulled out several files, “if you can complete these commissions again, proving your loyalty…”

"The doors of Noah Pharma will naturally be open to you!"

A commission that can prove loyalty?

Ron looked at the files with great interest and discovered that they were all assassination requests.

The assassination targets were mostly well-known scholars, junior executives of companies, and some students who could be seen in those college entrance exam advertisements...

As he looked through the files, his gaze suddenly froze, and he stared intently at the last file, a surge of turmoil rising within him.

The last file didn't mention a famous scholar or a high-ranking executive from any company...

It is written in the file,
distinct,

It's Ron's name!

(End of this chapter)