Chapter 13:

Mensa Corps

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“Ughh...I actually lost myself in the moment. Dammit..to think that I lost my cool just from getting knocked around a bit..and it didn’t even hurt too...”

Vinci sighed as he stood in the headmaster’s office after being led by two of the school teachers.

Even though Vinci remembered that he was directly hit by the lightning blast Batomi had casted towards him, he strangely did not feel any pain. In fact, none of the attacks inflicted upon him by the trio made any meaningful impacts on his body, though he was slightly shaken by the sudden attack.

“Was it because their attacks were too weak? Or perhaps I’m too strong..hmm...I guess they were small fries after all..”

As he stared at the two teachers explaining the situation to Headmaster Ember, he noticed that her smile didn't waver. In fact, it seemed to have stretched even a bit…

Once the two teachers were dismissed from the room, only Vinci and the headmaster were left. The elder now faced to look at the boy with a glistening interest in her eyes.

“You are quite lucky, boy. The students you heavily injured somehow managed to survive, though with that they will be crippled for the rest of their life...and as unfortunate as it is, they’ll be expelled from school starting tomorrow.”

“...”

Seeing that Vinci did not answer and only continued to return the same calm expression, the headmaster heartily laughed.

“Oya? You seem quite calm...are you not afraid that you will expelled along with them for breaking the school rule?”

To this, Vinci finally spoke up.

“...It was them that started the match and although I admit I went a bit overboard, as per the school rule, they did not die. Thus, I have not killed. I see no reason why the school would banish me.”

“Hoo~”

The headmaster was surprised when the boy answered her with unwavering confidence and calmness.

“Hahaha, very well. It is as you have said, because there were no deaths you will not be held on any accountable punishments. But remember, one must learn how to control one’s strength if one were to survive in the world. Even though we value those with great power, nonetheless this is still a modern society. We are not, in any sense mere barbarians that only knows how to kill.”

“...I understand. I will keep that in mind for the future.”

“Mmmm...then you are hereby dismissed.”

In his mind, Vinci sighed in relief as he turned around and started for the door. Although he was expecting to accompany the headmaster longer due to his rash actions, he was surprised he was being let off so easily. The School really does follow the principle of “survival of the fittest” huh...Well, there is no reason for him to complain, though.

“Ah! Please wait!”

Vinci stopped and turned around when he heard the headmaster’s voice call out to him.

“Take this.”

The elder handed him a white letter that had a golden round sticker sealing it.

“Um...this is…”

“Mmm. It’s a membership invitation letter from the Mensa Corps.”

Mensa Corps. A prestigious, intelligence organization widely known across the United World. This union specializes in the networking of vast information across different clans. Membership is also extremely difficult to gain for this organization as it only selects those with either high SAT scores or those who are able to show innovative practical use of their intelligence (i.e. inventing a new magic spell, proving new spatial theories, etc). Besides the 7 Great Clans, there are very few individuals whom the corps associate with.

“Huh…but...”

Vinci had heard about this organization from Googole, though he didn’t understand how they could have heard of him…

“Ahh~ If you’re wondering how they know about you, it’s because Arena Academy is responsible for reporting the Ranks and SAT scores of all students to the government. That way, they will be able to keep the database for all citizens up to date. We report the information immediately after one finishes the School exam.”

“...I see.”

That explains how the organization was able to get a hold of him. Although he was unable to take the crystal ball examination due to it shattering during the test, he was extremely confident in the written test portion. He later found out that he had scored a perfect mark on it.

“That was probably what caught their attention…” Vinci thought as he looked down at the letter.

Vinci then looked up from the letter and faced the headmaster.

“Headmaster Ember, please tell the organization that I accept their invitation.”

“Oh? Are you not going to think about it for a while?”

Although headmaster Ember said that, she knew very well the prestigious and influence Mensa Corps had. Just by being able to receive a random letter from them would count as a miracle in itself, but to get an invitation letter at that...one would probably faint from the overwhelming happiness.

“Yes. If a useful organization such as that comes asking for me to join them, I see no reason to refuse.”

“Mmmm...alright, I give them your response.”

Vinci faintly smiled and gave his thanks before turning around once again and walked out the room.

“To join just because it is a ‘useful organization’ huh…”

The headmaster lightly chuckled to herself as she slowly shook her head. She did not understand what the boy was thinking at all.

***

When Vinci opened the door to his classroom, there was no one there. Though that wasn’t a surprise as it was late into the afternoon and school had ended quite some time ago.

The boy quickly went and picked up his bag. After making sure that his supplies were all safe, he turned to leave but suddenly froze before taking another step. In front of him stood Cecilia as she blocked the doorway. The princess coldly glared the boy who went rigid upon noticing her.

After a moment of staring at each other, she broke the silence, her icy tone filled with subtle indignation

“...Why did you lie to me that you were a No Rank?”

“Uh..I-I didn’t lie! T-the school told me that I-I was a No Rank..”

“Liar!”

Cecilia snapped at Vinci’s pitiable attempt to conjure up an excuse.

“Then how was it possible for you to use Soul Power?”

“I-I…”

Vinci had no rebuttal left. It was true that he was assigned as a No Rank, but even so he was able to use Soul Power. His actions and statements just don’t add up. As he stood there, unable to answer the princess’s question, Cecilia promptly turned around. She softly muttered under her breath as she left

“...Don’t ever come near me again.”

Still unable to give a satisfactory answer, Vinci could only continue staring at the ground. After a while when he was certain the princess left, he slowly let out a deep sigh.

“Haaaa….I really screwed up huh…”

He then once again proceed to exit the classroom. This time, there was no one blocking him.

***

Once Vinci arrived home, he quickly went to his bedroom and shut the door. Knowing that he will be living alone, he had purposely arranged to have a decently sized, two-level house purchased. The house sequentially consists of two bedrooms upstairs, one bathroom, one living room, and one kitchen (not that it would be put to use anytime soon..).

And because he was able to use «Real Imagine» to produce the proper funds needed, ‘money’ was not a problem for him.

Moreover, ‘money’ in the United World is known as “SMU”, Standard Monetary Unit. It is universally employed in all the Clans in the continent and can be earned through being under employment, or exchanging body parts from magical beasts for payment, with higher ranked magical beast parts being worth equally more SMUs...

*Plop*

He laid on his bed as he replayed the events that transpired today. Not only did he almost kill someone, he instantly lost the trust of a beautiful girl the same day he had met her.

As Vinci thought about this, he buried his face into the soft pillow. After a while, he lifted his head and, in a tired voice, he called out,

“True System, open.”

A black screen appeared out of the thin air in front of him. On the screen, the following was displayed:

[box border=2 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=3 width=140% bordercolor=#232323 bgcolor=#232323]True SystemCurrent NameVinci NoburoEarthian Sphere Progress1%Rank???Storage56% FullOngoing Event:

------[/box]

Vinci groaned when he saw that he made little progress on Earth even after arriving a few days ago. “Usually by now I should at least be at 40% if it was any other dimensional world...but it doesn’t seem it’s the same for Earth..haaa…”

“True System, Close.”

The black screen flickered briefly before dissipating.

True System.

That was the name Vinci gave it---no, it would be more appropriate to say it was “planted” in his head. Thinking back to the day when this screen had first appeared, he remember the rush of adrenaline that came after he had selected [Yes]. Instantly, the methods of how to call forth the black screen, its name and functions, and all the other miscellaneous information were “downloaded” into his brain.

After arriving on a dimensional planet, Vinci noticed that the True System only displays rather basic information, such as his progress thus far in dominating a planet, numbers of sphere he won over, the amount of space left over in his spatial storage, and the ongoing Event. These information also changes depending on the sphere he is in.

The spatial storage was one of the few functions of the black screen. Merely by touching an item, Vinci is able to transport that said item into a void-like space for safe-keeping. No one is able to steal from there and no matter how large the item is, it will still easily fit inside his System’s storage.

Then, there’s the Ongoing Event. As Vinci came to realize over the “years”, the black screen does not randomly appear when he’s on a dimensional world. It only shows up when there is an “Event” for him to accomplish. Upon completion of each event, Vinci’s “Progress” percentage on that said sphere will further increase, propelling him closer to “world domination.”

As of now, Vinci is quite perplexed that there weren’t any Events popping up for him to do.

Moreover, there weren’t many information about the origin of the black screen itself, leaving Vinci alone drowning in his curiosity. Did it come from this so called ‘True World’ that the black screen had first asked him about? How was he selected to be able to go to that mythical world? How is it possible for this screen to appear directly in front of him, yet no one can see it? Are there others like him??

A billions of questions had initially warped through Vinci’s mind when he was first introduced to this ability. Though, as time passed on, he quickly shoved this questions to the back of his head. For now, he wanted to focus on reaching this ‘True Word’ that was advertised to him at the beginning. Perhaps the answers to his questions will then be revealed…

“Haaaa….I guess I’ll just go to sleep now...no use worrying about anything here...once I conquer this sphere I’ll just be warped to a different one...better to not have too much connections...must...stay….on….task…..”

Vinci’s eyelids slowly fluttered shut as sweet sleep embraced him...