243. The Eighth Simulation Ends
『Simulation Evaluation: Crime Buster, Mystery Detective, possesses his own sense of good and evil, and puts it into practice; a highly influential figure in the detective world.』
『Simulation Rating: Excellent, Reward Points 20,000.』
『Eliminating simulation effects, estimated time 30 seconds.』
『Please choose three rewards from the following.』
『1. Choose one of the following four talents: 'Stubborn (White)', 'Attentive (Blue)', 'Photographic Memory (Blue)', or 'Rational Thinking (Purple)'.
2. Excellent-level Detective Skill.
3. Elite-level Barton Technique.
4. Elite-level Boxing.
5. Mysterious Gift from Zhuge Kongming.
6. Mysterious Gift from Luna Kindred.』
"I choose the talent 'Rational Thinking', along with the Mysterious Gift from Zhuge Kongming and the Mysterious Gift from Luna Kindred," Yun Ling replied.
This simulation didn't bring him much improvement. Although the talent 'Rational Thinking' was a purple talent, it had the same effect when he was holding the pocket watch given to him by Vill-V.
So for Yun Ling, it was better than nothing.
Yun Ling first opened the mysterious gift from Kongming.
It was a feather fan, the same feather fan Kongming always carried. He gently fanned himself with it, finding nothing unusual.
Then he opened the mysterious gift from Luna. To Yun Ling's surprise, Luna had given him a blood-red ring.
At first glance, he thought it was the cursed ring from the Snow Maiden...
"So... what happened to Kongming and Luna in the end?"
His simulated memories stopped at the moment of his death, and his death wasn't actually from being drained of blood by Luna Kindred, but from being killed by an Honkai Beast.
If Yun Ling remembered correctly, Luna Kindred's body contained a bacterial-type Honkai Beast, which would unconsciously inject this pathogen into people's bodies while sucking blood.
This was the culprit that caused Yun Ling's death.
Although he was slightly surprised by Luna Kindred's appearance, he was used to it since there was already Zhuge Kongming before him.
But why was Zhuge Kongming able to live so long? Could it be related to the points inexplicably deducted in the fourth simulation?
"System, did you leak the simulation's secrets?" Yun Ling asked.
『No.』 The system only replied with these words.
"Then what were those points taken from the fourth simulation used for?"
One is Lin Chaoyu, and the other is Zhuge Kongming; neither of them should appear in other eras.
『You'd have to ask the previous system assistant.』 The system said helplessly.
"Where is it now?" Yun Ling asked a very stupid question.
『Destroyed by the creator.』 The system answered honestly.
"Damn it!" Yun Ling then remembered that the current system assistant had already eliminated the previous system assistant during the last update.
Holy crap, was this also part of your plan?
Although he didn't know what happened afterward, Yun Ling still searched for that place online, only to find it had been designated as a restricted area...
"I'll go check it out when I get a chance."
Yun Ling stretched and lay back down on the bed.
The next morning, all the students gathered on the playground, full of energy. Even Kiana, who was often late, arrived early.
"Yo, Bronya, long time no see." Yun Ling greeted Bronya.
"Don't act like you're so close to Bronya." Bronya turned her head away.
"We've been classmates for a month, no need to be so cold." Yun Ling raised an eyebrow.
"If you're here to mock Bronya and show off your superior strength, then you've succeeded. But Bronya won't lose forever. One day I'll trample you under my feet."
During her seclusion, Bronya had been working harder than ever before, constantly improving herself.
Clearly, the outcome of that hacker defense battle had left a deep impression on her.
"Heh, anyone I've caught up with will never be able to surpass me," Yun Ling said, his face radiating confidence.
With various buffs, if Yun Ling wanted, he could become one of the world's top figures in any field.
"We'll see," Bronya scoffed, ignoring Yun Ling.
Yun Ling shrugged and started chatting with Kiana and the others.
Soon, a fiery red figure appeared before everyone.
"Looks like everyone's here. I won't call names then. You all know what day it is today."
"Monthly Exam!"
"Valkyrie Exam!"
Voices immediately responded from below.
"That's right, today is both the monthly exam and the preliminary exam for the Valkyrie Assessment. Your monthly exam results will directly affect your Valkyrie Assessment scores, so it's very important for you all, and you need to take it seriously."
"However, don't be nervous. After all, you've only been enrolled for a short time, and many of you have never even stepped onto a battlefield before. Therefore, I won't put too much pressure on you, and I also hope you won't put too much pressure on yourselves. You can always try again next year."
"I hope everyone will give it their all and perform to the best of their ability. This way, I can tailor my training to your strengths and weaknesses. That's all for now. Good luck!"
Himeko saluted everyone and then left.
She was the instructor for this class. Although Himeko wouldn't cheat in this situation, she still needed to avoid any appearance of impropriety.
"Hello everyone, I'm your proctor. You can call me Teacher Fu Hua." Fu Hua stepped forward and greeted everyone.
"Your monthly exam consists of two parts: a combat test and a theoretical exam. The combat test will be held this morning. Please follow me to the simulation training room in an orderly fashion."
"Because the combat test is somewhat special, if you feel unwell, please inform me in advance. You can postpone it for a week, and then retake it."
Fu Hua's gaze held a hint of inquiry; after all, girls experience menstruation every month.
Seeing no one raise their hand, Fu Hua led everyone to the simulation training room.
"You can choose your own test content. You have three chances, and the best score will be recorded. Remember to act within your limits and don't injure yourself." Fu Hua explained the precautions to everyone.
The students nodded; Himeko had already told them these things.
Since there were only ten simulation training rooms for this assessment, they needed to enter in three batches.
Yun Ling and the others happened to be assigned to the third batch.
The first batch of students went up, and everyone tacitly chose assassins as their simulation training subjects.
Although the Death Squads were considered the weakest enemies, they were actually much stronger than the average adult, wielding scythes.
A single scythe could easily cleave through rock! Their bodies were powerful; ordinary blades struggled to cut them.
Most importantly, they felt no pain and only relentlessly attacked their target.
Even with severed arms or legs, they would continue attacking.
Underestimating them would lead to serious trouble.
However, after a month of training, equipped with their gear, they didn't expend much effort against the Death Squads.
The fastest took thirty seconds, the slowest only two and a half minutes.
Then they continued their challenges. Some, seeking safety, chose higher-level Death Squads, while others, more daring, opted for the Seraph-class Honkai Beasts.
Soon, the simulation training room's red light appeared, signifying that those inside had either given up or failed their challenge.
A few minutes later, the best performer defeated a Seraph-class Honkai Beast in ten minutes, an exceptional achievement among the freshmen. The second group immediately followed, their scores nearly identical to the first.
Although they could prepare for the afternoon's theory exam after the test, it was clear they had no intention of leaving.
They wanted to see just how far they were from those 'geniuses'.
The third group took their turn. Yun Ling entered the simulation training room and immediately chose the ultimate level—Ganesha.
Although it was only a simulation, the oppressive aura of an Emperor-class Honkai Beast felt real, as if it were truly present before Yun Ling.
Yun Ling made no unnecessary movements. With a single sword strike, Ganesha cleaved in two, turning into data and disappearing from the training room.
Time taken: 3 seconds...
Yes, he had planned this all along. He wasn't going to hide anymore. Perhaps Otto already knew of his existence, and perhaps Rita was here to investigate him.
In the eighth simulation, it was obvious that the people of Schicksal wanted to capture Yun Ling in the simulation.
Yun Ling in the simulation didn't know what was happening, but Yun Ling outside understood perfectly well.
If he wasn't mistaken, Otto might want to use him to research a method to 'resurrect' Kallen.
Even if it exposed him to Otto, he wasn't that afraid.
At worst, he could hide behind Fu Hua and whine, or go back to Shenzhou and cling to his aunts.
Yun Ling seemed to have been underestimating the strength of those around him all along, a fact he realized after his recent encounter with Fu Hua.
And because of this, Yun Ling's courage suddenly grew.
Hey Otto, you love doing stupid things, don't you? Then try it! I have a powerful backer!
In the eighth simulation, Otto had indirectly killed him once, and regardless, he'd remember this grudge!
When he had the chance later, he'd definitely give him a cuckold's horns, or a great-granddaughter! (Just kidding)
...