I Can Control Resources

...

At the military training base.

The principal of the Second High School couldn’t bear to watch any longer and shut off the screen.

Li Qingping didn’t say a word.

Xue Jingjing also remained silent.

However, everyone’s gazes were subtly fixed on He Lin, the principal of the First High School.

"You believe him? I, He Lin, have dedicated decades of my life to the First High. Do you really think I would harm a student for my own selfish gain...?" He Lin’s brows furrowed, his eyes darting about.

"The theory exam’s home ground was the First High, so you had ’favorable terrain.’ As for ’opportune timing,’ if Gao Neng failed, your school was almost guaranteed to produce the top scorer. And for ’popular support’... would any student from the First High dare to go against your wishes, Principal He?" While the others kept quiet, Xue Jingjing spoke without a trace of fear.

"I can’t be bothered to waste my breath on you!" He Lin snapped, flicking his sleeves as he stood up. He then turned and walked toward the door.

But he quickly retreated.

Because a person was now standing in the doorway, dressed in a black military uniform, with a head of beautiful long hair and a pair of bright eyes.

Shen Ning’Er!

"Principal He, why was the surveillance camera at the entrance of the First High School broken?" Shen Ning’Er slowly walked into the room, her gaze fixed on He Lin’s face.

"How should I know! You think I broke it on purpose?" He Lin’s face flushed slightly.

"I just find the timing a bit of a coincidence. It just so happened to break on the day of the exam. As the principal of the First High, don’t you think you owe us a reasonable explanation?" Shen Ning’Er continued to ask in a calm tone.

"Perhaps the electrician took the day off. I’ll ask the school’s logistics department about this. Once I have an answer, I will naturally provide an explanation!" He Lin gritted his teeth.

"No need to trouble yourself. The Military Department has always been cautious in its affairs. We happened to consider this possibility. As a precaution, we... inconveniently... installed a new surveillance camera across the street from the First High. Would Principal He care to take a look with us?" Shen Ning’Er waved her hand dismissively and, at the same time, pulled out a storage device.

"Major Shen, what... what are you trying to say?" The color drained from He Lin’s face.

"Principal He, don’t tell me you have a guilty conscience?"

"Guilty conscience? Heh, why would I have a guilty conscience? And what do I have to feel guilty about!"

"At the entrance of the First High, while Gao Neng wasn’t paying attention, you had someone put phosphorus powder in his pocket. It’s crystal clear on the video. Are you really not the least bit guilty?"

"Major Shen, I hope the Military Department can operate based on evidence. It’s not impossible that a jealous student framed him. Based on this alone, you have no reason to assume I was the one who ordered it!"

"Did I say it was a student from the First High who planted it?" Shen Ning’Er’s tone suddenly sharpened.

"Didn’t you just..." He Lin got that far and then abruptly shut his mouth.

"Men, take Principal He to the interrogation room! I trust the Military Department’s methods can make Principal He talk!" Shen Ning’Er wasted no more words and simply waved her hand.

"I am the principal of the First High! How dare you!" He Lin’s face was livid with rage.

But the two soldiers completely ignored his fury. They rushed in immediately, grabbed He Lin’s arms from his left and right, and pinned them behind his back.

"The Forgotten Land is to be reorganized. Purging the three major powers is imperative. Therefore, your faction, He Lin, the last of them, is naturally no exception," Shen Ning’Er said coolly.

"So you knew all along. If you knew, why make your move only now?" He Lin’s expression shifted, his fists clenching and unclenching. Finally, he let out a soft sigh.

"The Military Department operates on evidence. We had evidence to arrest Tang De and to kill Wang Ju. But we had nothing on you, He Lin, because you never showed your face in any official capacity. This was the perfect opportunity. I trust you have no problem with me... using it, do you, Principal He?" Shen Ning’Er explained.

"I understand! In that case, I have nothing more to say. I just want to ask one last thing: when the Military Department acts, are families implicated? Haifan and Haiyang both know nothing about my affairs! I hope..."

"Rest assured, Principal He!" Shen Ning’Er cut him off directly. "The Military Department doesn’t make a habit of implicating family. Besides, I don’t really care whether your two sons know about your business or not. It’s not like I, Shen Ning’Er, am afraid of them seeking revenge. If they want revenge... they’ll need the strength to back it up!"

After saying her piece, Shen Ning’Er left.

The two soldiers kept He Lin held fast between them.

He Lin stared blankly at Shen Ning’Er’s departing figure for a moment, then a smile touched his lips. "She really is arrogant. But... she’s earned the right to be."

"Old He, we follow different paths, so we cannot walk together. Though we’ve known each other for over a decade, we won’t be seeing you off this time," the principal of the Second High School said.

"No need to trouble yourselves!" He Lin nodded. Then, his gaze fell on Li Qingping and Xue Jingjing. "Old Li, you don’t have a partner, do you? I think Principal Xue is quite a catch. You should consider it!"

"Get lost!" Li Qingping cursed immediately.

"A dog’s mouth can’t spit out ivory!" Xue Jingjing cursed as well.

"Hahaha... I, He Lin, haven’t asked for much in this life. I only wanted to survive! A pity... I was outmaneuvered by a single move! But I’m no worse off than any of you here. At least my two sons will both enter the Military University. They still have a bright future ahead of them. And you? You have nothing! Dedication? Dedication, my ass! Hahaha..." After speaking, He Lin strode away.

"..."

Silence filled the room.

In a cruel world, is it really wrong to do what it takes to survive?

No one could answer that question.

Li Qingping waited until He Lin’s back had disappeared, then subconsciously glanced at Xue Jingjing beside him.

"What are you looking at? This old lady has high standards! You think I’d just hand over my million-dollar fortune to a wretched old man like you without three houses and two cars? Are you still dreaming?!" Xue Jingjing snapped.

"..." Li Qingping was speechless.

"Jingjing, I have three houses and two cars..." the principal of the Second High School said leisurely.

"You? Too ugly!" Xue Jingjing shot the principal a look, then stood up and left. "That bastard Gao Neng, picking on my girls’ school because we have no one to stand up for us, is that it? Does he really think he’s all that just because he’s handsome!"

...

「In the Virtual Battlefield.」

After Gao Neng eliminated the last student, he finally received a system notification.

"DING! Congratulations, Host, for completing ’The Arrogant Loner.’ You have received one Primary Treasure Chest."

’Only two missions left!’ This time, Gao Neng didn’t check the fourth mission. Instead, he immediately ran to the lakeside and began doing calisthenics to recover his stamina.

The moment his stamina was fully restored, he swallowed two Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills in one gulp.

Gao Neng was well aware of the consequences of revealing his strength this time. An explosive power of over 2,000 points was simply impossible to achieve for someone who had only broken the third human limit.

’I have to break through to the Fourth Human Limit.’

’Otherwise...’

’I won’t be able to bluff my way through this!’

With two Bone Marrow Cleansing Pills down the hatch, his Vitality and Energy values rose rapidly.

Vitality: 463

Energy: 239

...

Vitality: 485

Energy: 245

...

"Host’s Vitality has reached the 500-point limit. Initiate breakthrough?"

"Break through!"

’Fuck... It hurts so much! Double the pain... like needles...’ The moment he started breaking through, Gao Neng felt as if every bone in his body was about to crack.

「Five minutes later.」

Gao Neng washed himself clean in the lake, then walked through the gate that had appeared on the small island, a look of delight on his face.

’Awesome, I can really break through!’

’So awesome!’

’Huh?’

’There’s even a welcoming party at the exit...’

"Lieutenant Chen, long time no see... How’ve you been feeling?" Gao Neng was about to run the second he finished speaking, but he quickly discovered there was no escape.

Because behind Chen Bai...

...stood nine other Examiners in military uniforms, their faces grim.

"Gao Neng, let’s stop beating around the bush. Why don’t you take a guess... whether you’ll be walking out of here alive today?" Chen Bai sneered at Gao Neng.

"I’m guessing I can," Gao Neng said confidently.

"Oh? Quite confident, are we? Then tell me, why should we let you go?" Chen Bai didn’t make a move right away, just stared at Gao Neng.

"Because I’m a genius! A super genius who has broken the Fourth Human Limit! The Alliance is definitely going to want to cultivate me as a priority talent, right?" Gao Neng beamed.

"You really broke through the Fourth Human Limit?" A flash of astonishment crossed Chen Bai’s eyes. He had already suspected it, but hearing it confirmed was another matter entirely.

"Of course!" Gao Neng affirmed.

"Then why was your explosive power only just over 700 points during the last physical fitness test?"

"I was being low-key! Lieutenant Chen, you must not be aware of the situation in the Forgotten Land. It’s a very dark place. A super genius like me—handsome, and having broken the Fourth Human Limit—if I didn’t know how to lie low, wouldn’t I have been killed by jealous haters long ago?" Gao Neng had already prepared his excuse.

"Then why aren’t you being low-key now?"

"Things are different now! I’m about to enter the Military University. Once I’m in the City of Hope, I’ll be safe! There won’t be any more dark forces to worry about. Wouldn’t you agree?"

"Safe once you’re in the City of Hope? Hahaha..." Chen Bai suddenly burst out laughing.

The other nine Examiners also started laughing, their expressions unsettling. Every one of them looked at Gao Neng with a kind of profound pity.

"The City of Hope... isn’t safe?" Gao Neng sensed that something was wrong.

"Heh, you’ll find out when you get there. Alright, enough nonsense. Major Shen and Dr. Lan want to see you. Come with me." After speaking, Chen Bai turned to lead the way.

"Shen Ning’Er? Dr. Lan... which Dr. Lan?" Gao Neng was startled. He’d had a feeling Shen Ning’Er would want to see him, but who was this Dr. Lan?

"Dr. Lan from the Alliance Science and Experimentation Institute, of course. She’s... hmm, very interested in you!" Chen Bai glanced back, sizing up Gao Neng with a serious expression, but the smile playing on his lips grew even more unsettling.

’The Alliance Science and Experimentation Institute...’ Gao Neng’s face darkened. ’Are they going to fucking dissect me for research?’

(I keep hearing people say my Chapters are short? I can’t stand for that! How about a 3,000-character Chapter to change your mind! Please vote with recommendation tickets!)