Market Price Changes Should Be Taken Early

Beneath the streetlight, their two shadows made for a crowd.

“Couldn’t you have just sent me the information on your phone? Why did you wait all this time?”

Having left the classroom, Wang Ning complained as she walked side-by-side with Boli An.

Boli An turned her head to look at her and said, “Weren’t you the one who said to give you the information here, at this time?”

“I don’t like to break agreements.”

As she said this, she stared directly into Wang Ning’s eyes, making Wang Ning feel guilty for a moment.

‘The key thing was, she never expected that when Boli An said she’d wait, she would actually wait the entire time.’

Boli An paused and said, “Forget it.”

Then she shifted her gaze away, looking ahead as if she didn’t plan to bring it up again.

Wang Ning took the opportunity to ask, “Um, the information…?”

Boli An said flatly, “That pair of twins are from the ‘Life Sequence’. They were likely ordered to take you away.”

‘She had heard another unfamiliar term.’

‘Whether in the game or in this current world, she had never heard of this… organization? This ‘Life Sequence’?’

“It sounds like the kind of organization that kidnaps and dissects people—wait, I feel like I’ve seen this name somewhere before.”

Wang Ning tried hard to remember, her brows furrowed tightly. “Strange… where have I seen it?”

Passing by a beverage vending machine, Boli An stopped in her tracks.

When Wang Ning noticed she wasn’t following, she looked back. “What’s wrong?”

Her gaze then fell on the vending machine next to Boli An.

“Are you thirsty? I remember one of the sodas is pretty good. Right—that lemon one.” Wang Ning pointed with her finger.

‘She remembered it was the same kind Senior Karin had given her. It was very cheap, only four yuan.’

A few coins appeared in Boli An’s hand—one of which was from when Rin Yue broke her phone case—and she inserted them into the machine.

A can of soda rumbled down.

Boli An reached in, pulled it out, popped the pull-tab with a crisp fizz, and handed it to Wang Ning.

“Ah, for me? Thanks!”

Wang Ning took it and had a few sips. The sweet and sour taste of the lemon soda, mixed with the tingle of the bubbles on her taste buds, was addictively good.

“Ahh—that’s so refreshing! The person who invented this is no less a genius than Pemberton who invented Coca-Cola!”

Wang Ning cradled the ice-cold soda can, her hair fluttering in the breeze, and squinted her eyes in comfort like a pleased little animal.

Boli An glanced at her but didn’t press her about the unfamiliar name she had mentioned.

‘Perhaps, one day, she will share it with me on her own?’

‘This thought surfaced in her mind unconsciously.’

‘It was a thought that sprouted without reason.’

‘Getting the information should have been simple, yet it had to be this troublesome, violating the principles of observation.’

‘It’s a bit strange, but not bad.’

‘—At some point, the person before her was no longer just a ‘pure human’ symbol. A database named ‘Wang Ning’ was slowly being built.’

After Wang Ning had taken a few drinks, Boli An finally spoke slowly, “The soda you’re drinking is a product developed by a subsidiary of the ‘Life Sequence’.”

“Cough, cough!”

Wang Ning struggled to swallow the drink in her mouth, looking at the can in her hand in horror.

“The same organization that’s trying to capture me?!”

“Correct.”

For a moment, Wang Ning didn’t know what to say.

Holding the half-finished lemon soda, she suddenly felt a burning sensation in her stomach.

“Don’t worry, there’s nothing wrong with the drink,” Boli An said. “Although the ‘Life Sequence’ has many operations in the shadows, the products it develops and sells openly are all up to standard.”

“Most of its business involves medical and equipment R&D, but it occasionally develops things in the food and beverage industry as well.”

“Although it’s superfluous, they do a good job in this area—compared to the ‘Life Sequence’ known to industry insiders, the public is more familiar with the ‘Life Foods’ trademark.”

Wang Ning: “…”

She glanced at the logo on the soda can.

Beneath an icon of a sprouting seed was a line of small text—Product of ‘Life Foods’.

‘Well, I’ll be.’

‘I thought you were some shady underground operation, but you’re actually this legitimate.’

Wang Ning felt a bit conflicted. “Then why do they want to capture me? Just because I’m a pure human?”

Boli An gave her a deep look and said, “It’s not just that.”

‘The classification of a ‘pure human’ has a complete set of standards.’

‘Under the influence of beast transformation bloodlines, a normal bloodline ratio is 4:6, with the beast bloodline accounting for around 60%.’

‘Those with a human bloodline ratio of over 70% can be called a ‘pure human’.’

‘Even so, pure humans are still exceptionally rare.’

‘And the aptitude required to be a Magister is something only pure humans possess.’

“‘Life Sequence’ wants to develop magitech. If they want to seize the initiative, their only option is to find more pure humans—but who doesn’t know the importance of pure humans?”

‘Whether it’s the Empire, the Church, or other organizations.’

“This is also why the practical component of magic perception was added to our classes.”

Boli An felt thirsty from talking. She felt her pockets; no more coins.

Her gaze fell on the half-full can in Wang Ning’s hand, and she asked, “Are you still drinking that?”

“Huh?”

Before Wang Ning could process her leap in logic, she saw Boli An lower her head and casually drink from the can in her hand.

Her lips touched the cold metal can, drinking from the same spot Wang Ning had.

Her loose hair brushed against Wang Ning’s wrist, stirring a ticklish sensation.

Wang Ning: “! Couldn’t you have just bought another can?!”

Boli An looked up at her, suddenly smiled, and said, “Karin always says—”

‘You like her a lot. You’re willing to accept her hugs, her closeness, and her intimacy.’

“What did Senior Karin say?”

Wang Ning sighed at the now-empty soda can. Hearing a familiar name, she instinctively looked up.

Boli An looked into those eyes, which held not a trace of amorous emotion, and the curve of her lips slowly flattened.

“…Nothing.”

Wang Ning glanced at her watch, couldn’t help but yawn, and rubbed her eyes.

“Then, continue. Is there any other information?”

Boli An said, “The rest will cost extra.”

“What!”

Instantly, all of Wang Ning’s sleepiness vanished.

“That’s not what we agreed on!”

Boli An’s voice was flat. “It’s normal for product prices to rise due to market fluctuations.”

Wang Ning stared at her in disbelief. “That’s absurd! It’s only been an afternoon—at most an evening! Can’t you just finish telling me first?”

“No.”

Boli An started walking towards the dorm.