After finishing the call, Qiao Sang hurriedly searched for her homeroom teacher's phone number and dialed it. She didn’t want to face the embarrassment of her teacher calling back after seeing her mother's missed call.
No one answered the phone. Qiao Sang continued to call, but after five frustrating attempts, it changed from ringing to the message that the number was turned off. With no options left, she sent a text message and gave up.
Her Fire Tooth Dog had been staring out the window with its head raised. Qiao Sang followed its gaze and saw a large advertising airship in the sky, around thirty meters long and nineteen meters wide, slowly floating by with a television screen attached. These airships could often be seen when someone looked up; they typically showcased the latest news and sports events.
Right now, the screen displayed an interview about the Interstellar Cup. “What are your thoughts on your upcoming opponent?” one reporter asked.
“Bode Lai is an outstanding Beast Master. His tactical combinations are quite varied. Especially during his last match where he advanced from twenty-four to twenty-two. The way his Earth Calamity Hound paired with the Two-headed Snake Dragon in that maneuver was simply breathtaking; I believe you all saw that,” replied a man named Lin Ya, the same person Qiao Sang had seen at the mall with a Giant Heavenly Toad.
“This is your third Interstellar Cup. You’ve only made it to the top ten in the previous two. Do you have confidence in achieving better results this time?” the reporter continued.
“Everyone here is a top Beast Master in the galaxy. I have no confidence,” Lin Ya chuckled, which surprised the reporters who exchanged glances.
“But I will do my best,” he added.
“On the Interstellar Betting Network, your odds are 1.89, while Bode Lai’s are 1.23. What do you think about having higher odds than Bode Lai?” another reporter asked.
“Everyone should bet cautiously,” Lin Ya replied with a friendly smile.
Qiao Sang stared at the airship's screen, stunned for a moment. Then she looked down at her phone and began searching for the Interstellar Betting Network. This was the official betting site of the alliance, although there were many other sites where one could place bets on the Interstellar Cup. However, when it came to safety and credibility, the Interstellar Betting Network was the best choice.
Without hesitation, she placed a bet of 5,000 Alliance Coins on Bode Lai. Although Lin Ya represented Blue Star and was the only contestant from Dragon Country, Bode Lai's odds were lower than Lin Ya’s. Such odds were calculated strictly by betting companies, and unless something unforeseen happened, the odds reflected their chances of winning.
Qiao Sang chose to trust the data provided by the betting companies. In addition to the match between Lin Ya and Bode Lai, she also invested another 5,000 Alliance Coins on a nearby contest, again based on the winning probabilities. After placing her bets, Qiao Sang felt invigorated, thinking she might have earned a little profit.
...
Time quickly passed to June 9th.
At 8:50 AM, at Hanggang Sixth Beastmaster Middle School, the Fire Tooth Dog looked lively and energetic, its paws moving with light steps, unaffected by the ten-kilogram weight it carried on its right front limb. In contrast, Qiao Sang trudged toward her destination with a dazed expression. The dark circles under her eyes were stark against her pale skin, revealing that she hadn’t slept well the night before.
Unable to resist, she yawned. Due to the time difference with the galaxy, she had stayed up until three in the morning watching Lin Ya's match against Bode Lai. Since it involved her money, sacrificing her sleep was nothing. However, she didn’t expect to pull an all-nighter. Before three, she had been watching the match, but afterward, it was frustration that kept her awake.
Lin Ya lost, and she lost her 5,000 Alliance Coins…
She cursed the betting company for their unreliable odds! Clearly, gambling was a perilous path, and now she could only hope that the other match would allow her to recoup her losses. Otherwise, she’d have to cut back on her daily supply of Qiyuan milk.
“Sorry, Fire Tooth Dog!”
The Fire Tooth Dog, curious about its surroundings, looked around without realizing that it might not be getting its favorite Qiyuan milk every day anymore.
At the admissions office of Hanggang Sixth Beastmaster Middle School, the door was ajar, allowing Qiao Sang to hear multiple conversations inside. She knocked lightly.
“Come in,” a deep voice came from within.
Pushing the door open, the room fell silent, and all eyes turned to Qiao Sang and her Fire Tooth Dog. Inside sat four men and two women, all appearing older than thirty.
Qiao Sang was a bit bewildered; wasn't today the special admission day? Why were there no one her age? And why were they all staring at her? It felt strange…
“Hello, teachers. I’m here for the special admission,” Qiao Sang said to the nearest middle-aged man.
“You must be Qiao Sang. I’m the vice-principal of this school,” Chen Shengtang greeted her warmly.
He restrained his excitement, flashing a broad smile, trying hard to appear approachable. She was the very first student to apply for special admission after achieving self-awakening since the school’s founding! Self-awakened Beast Masters had a natural advantage in their abilities, able to expand their Brain Domain faster, and such talents numbered only about forty in Zhehai Province each year; most got directly recommended or specially admitted into top Beastmaster high schools.
Yet this year, such a talent had chosen to apply to their school! This made him so thrilled that he had been waiting here since early morning for Qiao Sang’s arrival.
Looking at her, Chen Shengtang felt more and more pleased. Not only was she beautiful, but her first contracted beast was also a fire-type, showing her courage! Plus, applying to their school showed she had good taste!
“What a surprise meeting the vice-principal…” Qiao Sang thought it was odd that a vice-principal recognized her but didn’t question it; she hurriedly took out her information card along with her proof of self-awakening and handed them over.
Though she had registered online, she still needed to complete the in-person verification and undergo another test for her Brain Domain's development level to avoid any oversights.
Qiao Sang was fairly laid back about being specially admitted to Hanggang Sixth Beastmaster Middle School; she knew she would certainly pass. However, her heart belonged to Holy Water Middle School; she was only here to create a safety net for herself.
“Have you had breakfast?” Chen Shengtang asked with a smile, not rushing to check her information.
“If you haven’t eaten yet, our school cafeteria has a splendid breakfast, and we can take you there,” a kind teacher in glasses chimed in.
Chen Shengtang glanced at the teacher approvingly. The female teacher sitting by the window looked somewhat sour, realizing that the vice-principal seemed to have taken a liking to Qiao Sang.
“I’ve eaten,” Qiao Sang replied.
The teachers in this school seemed quite nice…
Chen Shengtang casually glanced at the proof of self-awakening, mainly interested in her Brain Domain development level.
Upon reading it, he felt a pang of worry.
[Brain Domain 5%-9%, fluctuations significant, cannot be determined, needs to be stabilized for a reevaluation.]
(End of Chapter)