I, Sonia, Am a Good Person!

"I've seen with my own eyes a healer slip onto a transport ship with nothing more than the excuse 'I want to head back for a good meal.' On top of that, they don't even have to take off their masks after boarding, and no one checks their identity the entire time." "Although I don't know why they enjoy such a privilege, practical investigation indicates that a healer's status likely outranks that of the prison guards." Langna's eyes shifted, and he asked, "You want to target the healers?" "Just borrow their clothes," Igola said. "The specific procedure is as follows: we gather in the restroom, Yaxiu purifies the chips at the napes of our necks, and within the following ten minutes, each of us heads to an infirmary, subdues a healer using sorcery spirits, and strips their clothes. Finally, before the prison alarm sounds, we slip onto the transport ship preparing to return. Naturally, we must not take the healers' lives—their deaths would trigger the prison alarm and draw the guards' attention." "Did everyone understand? A very simple plan. The only part that requires practice is how to rush from the infirmaries to the harbor within a few minutes. Train hard over these next two days." Yaxiu asked, "What if the prison discovers the healers are injured and alerts the transport ship to halt and inspect us?" "That's when the 'Gourmet' and 'Woodpecker Golden Beak' will need to step up," Igola said calmly. "Taking them completely by surprise, can you deal with the Bloodmad Hunters on the transport ship?" Langna looked toward Ronald. Ronald took a deep breath and nodded heavily. "We can!" "I'll protect Ronald," Langna said. "When does the transport ship arrive?" "The transport ship visits the prison on the 1st, 11th, and 21st." Igola wrote the number '2' on the mirror. "Today is the 19th, which means, Yaxiu, you must master the purification miracle within two days and cast it under sorcery power restrictions. Any problem with that? If you can't, our breakout will have to be postponed to the 1st of next month." Yaxiu was silent for a moment, then nodded. "No problem." "Then... dismissed. Over the next two days, adjust your mindsets, rehearse your routes for the day, or just eat and drink your fill so you don't leave yourselves with any regrets." Langna and Ronald were the first to leave. Just before Igola stepped out of the restroom, Yaxiu suddenly asked, "The premise of your plan is that the chips change their signal frequency upon entering a special situation. But what if, even in a special situation, the chips continue transmitting vital signs at a fixed interval? Wouldn't that mean this plan is doomed to fail? For all we know, the moment we remove the chips, the prison processor will detect an anomaly the very next second." Igola glanced back at him. "Indeed, that worst-case possibility certainly exists." "Then what do we do if the worst-case happens?" "What do we do? You're asking me?" Igola seemed provoked. In a sudden stride, he lunged forward, grabbed Yaxiu by the collar, and glared directly into his eyes. "What are you expecting? For me to design a flawless scheme for you? And if you're not satisfied, you can throw it back and make me revise it? Do you also want to make some delightful demands, like riding a rainbow out of Shattered Lake Prison?" He probably wanted to hoist Yaxiu up or slam him against the wall, but the restroom only granted excretion permissions, not combat permissions, so Igola could do nothing more than grip Yaxiu's collar. Yaxiu did not shrink back. "If hearing this makes you feel a bit better... I'm sorry. I used you." "Still, deep down, I feel very fortunate. I'm fortunate it was you I used. If it had been anyone else, there's no way they could have come up with a plan with such high feasibility." "You think sweet-talking will work?" Igola sneered a few times. Yet his furious expression suddenly vanished, replaced by an unhurried demeanor as he smoothed down Yaxiu's collar. "Still, if you really want to prepare more and increase our margin for error, there isn't no way." "What way?" "Pray to your Four Pillar Gods, my dear cult leader." Leaving behind a contemptuous glance, Igola turned and walked away. ... Jialesi, Sword Flower University. "Professor Libluomu, I think Lois would be a much better candidate. She's been the emcee for all sorts of events before, and I'm sure she would be more than happy to take on this hosting role..." Holding a textbook in his arms, the young professor stopped and turned helplessly to the persistently pestering female student. "Miss Servi, the roster of hosts for this joint evening gala between the two universities was vetted by six department heads and submitted to the chancellor before being finalized. This isn't some minor event hosted by a small department where your little clique can swap people around at will..." Sonia panicked instantly. "Professor, I definitely don't mean that! Lois and I don't even get along—I'm certainly not yielding this opportunity to do her a favor! Or if not her, someone else can do it! Just find a second- or third-year senior sister to replace me!" Libluomu sighed. "Miss Servi, do you remember our university's motto?" "'Keeping promises is the most beautiful rose on the hilt; guarding is the sharpest blade beneath the rose,'" Sonia recited helplessly. "'Keeping promises' and 'guarding' are the university's greatest expectations for all of you. If you wish to resign from hosting duties, you must provide a proper reason. Otherwise, such poor conduct in an important affair will severely affect the university's evaluation of you." Libluomu said earnestly, "Moreover, you are Professor Trozan's research apprentice. To demonstrate impartiality, the university might even issue you a disciplinary warning!" As Professor Trozan's apprentice, Sonia naturally enjoyed numerous perks behind closed doors—such as course professors turning a blind eye to her coursework. On the surface, however, every move Sonia made was subjected to the strictest scrutiny. She was currently Sword Flower University's top student, representing the institution's public face. She couldn't afford the slightest blemish, let alone tarnish the university's reputation! Sonia didn't want a warning either. The university's disciplinary process started with an official warning, moved to suspension, and ended with outright expulsion. Which meant receiving this warning would leave Sonia just a step away from going back to her hometown to farm. "It's just that I'm unsuited to be a host due to certain special reasons..." "What reasons?" Sonia opened her mouth, her lips trembling. She mouthed wordless gibberish for ages, yet not a single syllable came out. Libluomu raised an eyebrow. "Miss Servi? Your reason?" "I..." Sonia struggled mightily to speak, as if a fire were burning in her throat. "I..." "You're not feeling well? Family matters? Busy with your studies? Swordsmanship training reached a critical stage?" Watching her struggle was agonizing even for Libluomu, so he proactively offered several excuses for Sonia, hoping she could just pick one to brush it off. "It's... well..." Sonia was on the verge of tears. "During the gala, I need to introduce our university's outstanding students, praise the school's achievements this year, and introduce the professors' teaching results..." "Yes, that's part of a host's duties. What about it?" "But... I... I..." Sonia stammered through teary eyes. "I can't lie." Libluomu blinked. "An admirable quality, Miss Servi. I hope you keep it up. Now then, do you have a legitimate reason to resign from your duties as host?" Sonia's lips twitched. For a long time, she couldn't utter a word. Finally, she gritted her teeth fiercely. "No! I! Don't!" "Have a pleasant evening." Watching Libluomu walk away, Sonia stomped her foot in helpless frustration. She wanted to struggle a bit more, but her feet were already carrying her toward the training hall—it was time for training. The moment she stepped into the training hall, Sonia drew the eyes of everyone in the room. But unlike the envious stares of the past, there was something indescribable mixed into their gazes this time—admiration? Mockery? Schadenfreude? "Professor Wesley was so infuriated he didn't even teach class..." "Talk about an arrogant upstart letting success go to her head..." "Even Felix isn't this arrogant. Does being a genius make her so special?" "Sigh, geniuses have the leverage to throw their weight around without caring about interpersonal relationships..." The more Sonia listened, the more aggrieved and indignant she felt. Someone as tactful, smooth, and watertight as her was actually viewed one day as an arrogant genius who cared nothing for social niceties! And worse, dragged down to the level of being compared to Felix! Just then, Felix entered the training hall as well. Passing by Sonia, he coughed twice and joked, "Senior Sister Sonia, Professor Trozan took your advice to heart and has already gone to a stylist to get a new haircut..." Many swordsmanship apprentices sucked in a cold breath—who in the entire school didn't know Professor Trozan kept a terribly tacky bowl cut? Yet nobody dared question Trozan's taste. Even Professor Nidala, the 'Rhythm Sword Saint' who didn't get along well with Trozan, had never mocked her over it. Just how vicious were Sonia's words that Trozan was forced to abandon a hairstyle she had stuck with for ten whole years? As expected of Sonia! She effortlessly pulled off what no one else could! At that moment, Ingrid arrived for training as well. Spotting Sonia, she jogged over, pumped her fist, and offered encouragement. "Hang in there, Sonia! You did the right thing! We sword sorcerers should be unbending like this—true inside and out. We don't need everyone to like us. Keep it up!" I don't want to be unbending! I don't want to be true inside and out! I want to lie too! I want social connections! I want everyone to like me, to get twice the results with half the effort in everything I do, and to have people cater to me wherever I go—instead of being treated like a toxic Baneling that can't speak like a normal human! Grief and indignation mounting within her, Sonia poured all her energy into ravaging the armored dummy, each slash cleaving deep into the dummy's bullseye ring. For some reason, the more she slashed, the more thrilled she became. The more she swung her sword, the more full of power she felt. The training wasn't tiring at all; she even felt a thread of joy as stamina surged continuously through her! Clang! With a crisp ring of the sword, a one-winged sorcery spirit emerged at the tip of her blade—the one-winged sorcery spirit, 'Slash Sword'! Sonia was somewhat stunned. She couldn't understand why today's training efficiency was so extraordinarily high, why the session felt so invigorating, or how she had managed to smoothly summon a one-winged sorcery spirit. Naturally, she didn't know this was the effect of the advanced stamina potion, so she could only seek reasons from her own behavior today. Today, she hadn't worn a hypocritical mask; she showed disgust when disgusted, and fondness when fond. Today, she hadn't lied; she hadn't concealed the truth to escape punishment, nor had she offered empty pleasantries to maintain relationships. Today, she hadn't compromised herself; she had spoken frankly upon seeing Professor Trozan's hideous haircut, and decisively refused when Adele asked to borrow her clothes. And then, her training efficiency had soared, and the training session had been effortless and delightful. Putting all these factors together, a terrifying hypothesis couldn't help but bubble up in Sonia's heart. Could it be that she, Sonia Servi... Was an upright, good person down to the bone?!