I Can Control Resources

"Five abilities!!!"

"What?! He actually has five!"

"Oh my god... I’ve never heard of anyone having five talents over 80%. What does that even mean? Is he a monster?!"

If the students were shocked before...

...then now, they were truly dumbfounded.

Born in the Forgotten Land, they truly couldn’t imagine that the halo of talents above a person’s head could actually number as high as five—and all of them over 80% at that.

Despair. This was true despair.

How could one person be so outstanding? Perfect looks, top-tier academic scores, first place in the physical fitness test, and now even his talents were exaggerated to the point of five abilities over 80%?

How could anyone compare!

There was no comparison at all!

"Five abilities?" Gao Neng was actually a little surprised himself. His expression grew even more peculiar. He really hadn’t expected Shen Ning’Er to peg him with five talents over 80%.

Lieutenant Chen’s gaze fell on Gao Neng. He didn’t see much elation on Gao Neng’s face, which surprised him somewhat.

’Could this kid’s mental fortitude be this strong?’

’A will as firm as a rock, like in the legends?’

’What a talent!’

’No wonder even Major Shen is so... toward him...’

Ahem!

Lieutenant Chen coughed forcefully twice, and his gaze softened. "Five hidden talents exceeding 80%... This can be considered joyous news for the Alliance. Therefore, to protect you, your remaining two talents will not be announced publicly."

"You’re not announcing them?" Gao Neng looked at Lieutenant Chen calmly.

"That’s right, we’re not. However, they will be given to you in a sealed envelope so that you’ll know them yourself. Understand?" Lieutenant Chen said calmly.

"Understood!" Gao Neng replied loudly.

"Ahem... As long as you understand. No need to be so loud. Go to the lounge and rest for a bit. Someone will bring you the envelope shortly." Lieutenant Chen rubbed his ears.

"Alright!" Gao Neng shouted once more before making a beeline for the lounge. He was genuinely curious to see what other two talents Shen Ning’Er would tack on for him.

...

In the lounge.

Gao Neng waited quietly, rocking back and forth.

Outside, however, Li Qingping and several teachers from Third Senior High School were as anxious as ants on a hot pan, their faces flushed red.

Five talents over 80%!

If they hadn’t heard it with their own ears, they wouldn’t have believed it. And on top of that, his physical fitness test results: 725 points of explosive power, a 6.5-second 100-meter dash, and 20 minutes of endurance!

If that’s not a genius...

...then you tell me what is!

Third Senior High School has produced a super genius! Once this news gets out, it will absolutely shake the Forgotten Land. Even people in the City of Hope would be astonished to hear it, right?

"Why haven’t the results been delivered yet..." Li Qingping muttered, wringing his hands as he paced back and forth in front of the lounge.

"They’re here, they’re here, Principal! The results are here!" one of the teachers exclaimed.

"Hm?! They really are here!" Li Qingping looked over and saw a soldier in the distance walking toward the lounge, holding a sealed envelope.

"Hello, Principal Li," the soldier greeted him.

"Are these Gao Neng’s final results?" Li Qingping was overcome with excitement.

"Yes, they are. But I can’t show them to you just yet, Principal Li. The orders from above are to let Gao Neng see them first, then he can decide whether or not to make them public," the soldier replied with a nod.

"I understand, I understand! It’s for his protection, I get it!" Li Qingping immediately stepped aside and pointed to the lounge. "Gao Neng is right inside. I’ve sent everyone else away. He’s the only one in there. It’s quiet, completely confidential!"

"Heh... Principal Li, you’re truly a model public servant!" The soldier chuckled, then walked briskly inside with the envelope. He immediately spotted Gao Neng rocking in his chair.

Gao Neng, of course, also saw the soldier enter.

However, he wasn’t excited. His expression was placid, and he even felt a little like laughing. He completely lacked the typical anticipation of someone about to see their report card and grin from ear to ear.

"Student Gao Neng, you’re quite composed. This is the first time I’ve seen someone remain so calm after getting such excellent talent test results," the soldier quipped.

"Yes, I am indeed very composed," Gao Neng replied with a serious nod.

"..." The soldier was taken aback for a moment. ’This guy isn’t being modest at all, is he?’ After a brief pause, he handed the envelope to Gao Neng and turned his back. "Give it back to me after you’re done reading."

"I have to give it back?" Gao Neng curiously tore open the envelope. Then, his eyes slowly widened.

Because what was written on it was extremely simple.

Just three words...

You fill it!

Gao Neng stared blankly for a full five seconds before it dawned on him.

’What the hell, "You fill it"?!’

However, he already understood what Shen Ning’Er meant. She wanted him to provide his own "report card" to be submitted to her superiors.

’But is Shen Ning’Er really so sure that I have more than just three talents over 80%?’

’It seems Shen Ning’Er must have guessed something... or maybe... wait a minute, I’m not supposed to know, am I?’ Gao Neng suddenly thought of a problem.

Without the system’s Attribute Panel, it would be impossible for him to know the values of his hidden talents. So, what did Shen Ning’Er mean by giving him this envelope to fill out?

’Could it be...’

’I get it!’

Gao Neng quickly realized—it was the intermediate-level testing machine.

During his test, he had felt a strong sense of being enveloped. Not only that, but when he was forcefully absorbing, he could actually feel the distinct fluctuations of various ’energy elements’.

It was just that there were too many fluctuating ’energy elements’, and his mind had been fixated on making the machine explode, so he hadn’t paid close attention at the time.

But thinking back on it now, he was starting to understand.

’I *do* know!’

’Although I don’t know the specific values, I still have a sense of which ’energy elements’ were fluctuating the most intensely.’

’Shen Ning’Er provided three "reference values" in advance. Now she’s letting me extrapolate from them. And if I’m not mistaken, there’s a trap in here somewhere!’

Of course, not *that* kind of trap!

Gao Neng had a good guess that Shen Ning’Er was testing him. After all, for someone who could "overload" an intermediate-level testing machine to end up with only five talents over 80%...

...it just didn’t seem to make much sense, no matter how you looked at it.

’Instead of announcing all five talents, she deliberately left two for me to fill in? She must want to see just how "honest" I’m willing to be with her, right?’

’In that case, I might as well be a little bit honest...’

With that thought, his pen flew across the paper.

Soon, a row of numbers appeared on the paper.

Iron 91%, Copper 88%, Tin 86%...

For these three, Gao Neng gave Shen Ning’Er plenty of face, not changing a single percentage point. He just casually added another string of them afterward.

Silver 85%, Gold 86%, Phosphorus 82%, Sulfur 83%, Silicon 85%

So as not to scare the daylights out of Shen Ning’Er...

...he was low-key and only wrote five.

Adding the ones Shen Ning’Er had announced earlier, that made a total of eight.

’That’s definitely low-key enough, right!’

After writing the five, he thought for a moment more, and finally added a sentence at the very bottom of the page: "The Alliance must cultivate this talent as a top priority. My respects!"

...

The envelope was quickly returned.

Shen Ning’Er waited until the soldier had left before opening the envelope. She then saw the string of numbers on it, as well as the final sentence.

It made her initially calm expression suddenly break into a smile, like a peach blossom blooming in March.

"’My respects?’ Heh, but to think he actually came clean..." Shen Ning’Er chuckled, but then her gaze turned solemn. "To actually have eight talents over 80%... that’s even more impressive than I expected. Is he really only two short of my own?"

Shen Ning’Er’s brow furrowed tightly, the smile gone from her face. Her fingers tapped lightly on the desktop as she twirled a pen in her hand.

’A student from the Forgotten Land with eight talents over 80%, yet no background... His strength has only just broken through the second human limit. If this were announced now, there might be some immediate benefits, but what about when he enters the City of Hope? Can he really protect himself there?’

The tapping of Shen Ning’Er’s fingers grew faster and faster.

’Assign someone to protect him?’

’No!’

’It would be too conspicuous and would easily arouse suspicion.’

’Besides, that would turn him into a hothouse flower. Without a baptism of blood, one can never become truly strong.’

’He has to grow strong on his own!’

’Taking a step back, who could possibly protect him for his entire life?’

’Better to stick with five talents. For him at this stage, that should be the most suitable number. It’s enough to be considered a genius and attract attention, but not so much that he’ll incur the jealousy of *those people*. In terms of initial resources, even the ’Big Four’ couldn’t possibly ignore a genius with five talents over 80%! By the time he graduates and enters the Military Department... he should have the ability to protect himself by then!’

Thinking this, Shen Ning’Er finally stopped twirling the pen in her hand. The tip slowly descended onto the string of numbers on the envelope.

Sulfur 83%, Silicon 85%

These two numbers were quickly crossed out.

Then, the pen hesitated over Gold and Silver.

’Gold... he probably can’t afford to use it. Let’s just leave Silver!’ Shen Ning’Er finally crossed out Gold 86%, leaving only Silver 85% and Phosphorus 82% on the envelope.

...

After Shen Ning’Er crossed out the remaining three talents, Gao Neng finally received the notification that his mission was complete.

"DING! Congratulations, Host, for completing the first trial of the ultimate mission ’Shining Red Star’—’High-Profile Luxury.’ You have successfully obtained a Primary Treasure Chest. Please keep up the good work!"

"Completed?" Gao Neng’s eyes lit up as he continued to rock back and forth in the lounge. He opened it casually and once again received a white Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill.

’Not bad!’

’The third human limit breakthrough is right around the corner!’

Gao Neng thought for a moment, then happily opened the mission panel to check the description for the second trial, ’I Am the Overlord’.