A month wasn't an especially long time, and the recruitment work of various high schools within the Jade Skirt was gradually entering the retest or final stages, and this was also true for Edith Academy, ranked within the top four in the Star Domain.
South First District, B12 block.
Unlike the magnificent architectural style of the Northern First District, which was built against the mountains, the buildings in the South First District were more in line with people's past imaginations of a technological future. The entire South First District was divided into 54 giant hexagonal blocks, which fit together and could even be moved when necessary.
Among these 54 blocks, 6 were designated for living services, where residents could enjoy shopping, dining, recreation, rest, beauty, and entertainment in commercial complexes as transparent as crystal palaces. 12 were residential blocks with various high and low buildings and parks scattered amongst them, complete with hospitals and police stations. 5 were blocks for the Federal Government's official business, as this was the capital of Jade Skirt, and the headquarters of various institutions were located here. 12 were commercial blocks, home to major companies and enterprises, and so on.
In addition to the mentioned functional blocks, there were others such as spaceship ports, military bases, industrial parks, schools, and so forth.
And Edith Academy alone occupied one entire block, its area no less than all of Payin City. Various academy-affiliated buildings were distributed within it, and it even had its forestry, lakes, ski slopes, and more. Two giant corporations that deeply cooperated with Edith Academy had also constructed labs and research facilities on campus.
Clean floors, service Autonomous Units available everywhere, a beautiful environment, a variety of professional tutors and equipment, and the academy's vast network of connections—students who grew up in such an environment were like running on a speeding train, something many students from ordinary high schools couldn't reach.
The advancements brought by technology made life more convenient, but also invisibly widened certain gaps, no longer an era where one could catch up by working in isolation.
At this moment, the meeting in the academy's boardroom had just concluded, and important senior personnel were leaving.
"Director Hayden, good day. I'm Fernandi, and there's something I hope to report to you," said a tall man with a document pouch, greeting an elderly man who had just stepped out of the meeting room.
"Fernandi, what is it?" The elderly man recognized the man before him; after all, Fernandi had received his sponsorship when he was young, and his current work within Edith Academy was also due to the elder's support.
.net
"Please, come with me." The corridor wasn't suitable for lengthy discussions, so the two headed to an airy, standalone balcony. A simple wave of the hand was all it took for the nearby Autonomous Unit to bring beverages for them.
"Here's the situation..." Fernandi began to tell about a girl with special Talent he met in the Northern Seventh District a month ago.
"I see, it's not impossible to let her enter the school through a special channel, but since you've reported to me, you must have encountered problems along the way," said the elderly man in a gentle voice.
"Is her father still around?" the old man opened his eyes.
"No, according to the files, her father has been missing for over a year now."
"He's probably staying clear of her to avoid causing trouble. A person like him can only bring problems to those around him as long as he's alive. I wager he disappeared on purpose."
"Logically speaking, feigning death would be more convenient, but that would be too heartbreaking for his daughter, who is still young, with her entire family gone."
The two fell into another silence. Finally, the old man spoke.
"Let me explain to the board of directors. You take the files and necessary documents, go straight to the Northern Seventh District to find her, and bring her to live in the South First District."
"If her sister could create the miracle of the past, then as the younger sibling, she won't fall too far behind. Edith Academy has already failed once on the path to becoming number one - we cannot continue to fail like this," he slowly stood up.
"Besides, I'm very curious to see the expressions on the faces of those from Saint Ingo Academy when she competes as our Academy's representative."
"Although there's no direct evidence, after Temisia's death, Saint Ingo Academy did not provide any aid or support to their family, indicating the relationship between the Academy and their family isn't as harmonious as outsiders might think. And I just happen to know that today's Saint Ingo Academy, despite being filled with officials' children, has also caused arrogance and hubris among the students, with frequent infighting and contests for prestige,"
Having finished speaking, the old man gazed into the distance.
"If not for Temisia, that shooting star, the number one position in the Star Domain would have been rotated four years ago. Those people have been sitting there for too long, practically rotting in place."
"The foundation of the Four-leaf Crystal Star Domain isn't weak, but it can never develop with those bloated leeches in power... It's time to take action."
"Yes, I will set off right away." After receiving affirmation, Fernandi stood up, bent in a bow, his hesitation vanishing in an instant, his voice sounding much more resolute.
Three hours later, a white airplane adorned with blue Rose patterns made an emergency departure. It would fly across the vast Jade Skirt ocean, through layers of poisonous rain and clouds, towards that remote city in the north that no one cared about, where fate would once again wrap around that destined name, an inescapable connection to their past.
ps: Going live this afternoon, the last time.