Stepping past the neatly arranged filing cabinets, a crowded Small World appeared before everyone.
In a corner on one side of the room, a black marble grandfather clock stood, its silver-white face engraved with elegant, flowing runes. A charcoal-black pendulum swung unhurriedly, making a ‘tick-tock’ sound.
In front of the grandfather clock was a massive spherical instrument. The surface of the sphere was covered with stellar patterns, and on its sturdy brass base, four red-glowing dragon-like beasts extended their claws, slowly rotating the central sphere.
On the wall on the other side of the room, a wooden casement window was tightly shut; silver-gray curtains were bound tightly to both sides of the window frame. Through the dim light outside the window, the dark, undulating tree canopy of the Silent Forest could be seen in the distance.
On the windowsill were several pots of short-leaf clivia and narcissus. Perhaps due to neglect, the broad green leaves of these potted plants were covered with a layer of dust, making them look rather dull.
Along the low wall beneath the windowsill, a row of cardboard boxes was stacked, filled with miscellaneous items. On top of these items were several conspicuous red ‘Do Not Touch’ warning signs.
In the center of the room was a massive desk. It occupied most of the space in this world. The desktop was cluttered with stacks of documents, and colorful labels were clipped within these documents, looking dizzying.
At the front of the desk, a bamboo-yellow pen holder lay overturned, with several calligraphy brushes splayed out, lazily dripping black ink. A bronze water buffalo, about an inch tall, wagged its tail and lowered its head, licking the black ink stain clean.
There was a simple bird stand at the Edge of the desk.
Two parrots were perched on the bird stand.
One was the tiger-striped macaw that had led Zheng Qing and the others.
The other was a red-bellied macaw with two heads.
At this moment, the red-bellied macaw was holding a list and shouting loudly:
“Alpha Academy’s Annual Hunting Ground Usage Plan!”
“Atlas, a Wesleyan monk’s application for an independent class from the Baptist class!”
“Patrol’s duty roster for next week!”
With each shout, a blue Little Elves would rummage through the surrounding piles of documents, find the corresponding document, and stack it in the center of the desk.
When the newcomers squeezed through the mountain-like piles of documents to reach the desk, the tiger-striped macaw was sipping juice with a straw. The other head of the red-bellied macaw was also holding a straw, competing with the tiger-striped macaw for the drink.
“The first floor really needs another administrative office!” The tiger-striped parrot flapped its wings, humming vaguely, “The ‘Merfolk Reserve Office’ that was removed a few days ago is still empty, quick, write a report and apply to establish a new office.”
“It’s not that simple.” The red-bellied macaw dropped its straw and complained, “That vacant office has already been reserved. It’s said that the ‘Third Administrative Office’ will be renamed the ‘Affairs Coordination Office’—heaven knows how many documents such messy changes will add!”
“Exactly! Exactly!” The head of the macaw that was reading the list turned its head in agreement.
“Don’t stop! Do you want to get off work tonight?!” An annoyed voice interrupted the two birds’ chorus.
The owner of the voice had his head buried in a pile of documents, and Zheng Qing could only see his messy black hair.
Seeing the new students approach, the red-bellied macaw cleared its throat twice.
Behind the desk, a tired face lifted from the pile of documents.
“Who are you?”
“The group of new students who fought before even entering University!” The tiger-striped macaw eagerly explained from the side.
“This is the First Administrative Office’s duty officer for this week, a third-year student from Starry Sky Academy, Heinz Riemann.” The red-bellied macaw slowly introduced him to the newcomers.
“Oh! You’re here to receive your mandatory labor tasks, aren’t you?” Heinz showed a look of realization, pulled out a stack of documents from a drawer, stood up, and walked in front of the newcomers: “I’ve already prepared them for you.”
He was tall and well-built, his blue academy robe stretched tightly over his body, making him look like a bodybuilding coach.
“Today’s new students are truly something.” This senior student flipped through the files in his hand, sighing as he did so: “When we first entered University, we were as well-behaved as a bunch of little quails, not daring to even fart. Unlike you, you started fighting before your student ID cards even warmed up! There’s definitely a generation gap!”
The newcomers were submissive, greeting him with smiles.
“Did you bring your ID cards and disciplinary notices?”
“Yes, yes, we did.” Several new students hastily replied.
Zhang Jixin pulled out his crumpled notice and ID card from his pants pocket.
Heinz held a corner of the notice and gave him a meaningful look.
Zhang Jixin chuckled nervously.
Zheng Qing pulled out his own notice from the gray cloth bag and carefully smoothed out the wrinkles.
“You are Lin Guo?” An exaggerated voice echoed in the office.
Zheng Qing looked up. Heinz was holding an ID card, carefully examining Lin Guo.
Lin Guo hugged his small backpack and nodded nervously.
On his backpack, the ill-tempered mouse showed a fawning smile.
“I’ve only heard your name, never seen you. Today I finally get to meet the legendary super genius from my same year!” The duty senior patted Lin Guo’s shoulder with emotion: “You usually don’t come to Starry Sky Academy. Many people there are eager to greet you.”
“Everyone tells me not to go to Starry Sky Academy.” Lin Guo’s face turned a bit green.
Zheng Qing deeply agreed.
With the little boy’s physique, he probably wouldn’t survive one round of greetings from Starry Sky Academy.
“To be fair, you are actually their senior!” The duty senior looked at the other newcomers in the office with a smile.
“Senior!” Zheng Qing glanced at the thin figure, holding back the tears that were about to well up in his eyes.
Why is there such a big difference between people?
At the same age of twelve, he seemed to have wet his pants from fright after seeing a ghost, while Lin Guo had already audited two years of University courses at First University.
“You don’t need to call me senior,” Lin Guo waved his hands in a panic, but the gray mouse on his backpack looked smug: “The past two years don’t count as formal enrollment. I’m in the same year as you.”
Zheng Qing hung his head in dejection, no longer speaking. This explanation stabbed him in the chest again.
Heinz opened the file bag and pulled out notices one by one:
“Lan Que, you go to Alchemy Laboratory 114. Once inside, find Assistant Teacher Jin.” Because they were from the same Academy, this senior enthusiastically pointed him: “Assistant Teacher Jin is very amiable. He specializes in weapon enchanting. He probably asked a Starry Sky Academy student to do some blacksmithing.”
Zheng Qing imagined the incongruity of a cold-faced Lan Que wielding a hammer and couldn’t help but grin.
“Zhang Jixin, go find Stendhal in Baicao Garden. He will arrange things for you.” The senior shook his head, patted the red-faced boy’s shoulder, and comforted him: “Be careful, careful, and extra careful when working in the Garden. Don’t cause trouble for your family.”
Zhang Jixin accepted his disciplinary notice with a mournful face.
Zheng Qing maliciously speculated whether the school specifically chose people with the ability to compensate for damages to go to Baicao Garden.
“Xiao Xiao, go to the Library and find Researcher Lin.”
The bowl-cut boy nodded quietly, tucking the disciplinary notice into his notebook.
The senior in the office looked at the last two disciplinary notices, rubbed his eyes, and read them carefully again.
“Impossible!” He mumbled, grabbing the two papers and running back to the desk, flipping through the backup detailed records to verify the content.
The office fell into an unusual silence.
Zheng Qing looked at Lin Guo, then at his other companions.
Xiao Xiao squinted, lost in thought; Zhang Jixin scratched his head, also looking bewildered; Lan Que patted Lin Guo’s head reassuringly.
“So, the last two students.” Heinz stood behind the desk, confidently shaking the two slips of paper in his hand: “I thought there was a transcription error when they were issued, but I didn’t expect it to be true!”
“You two will have it a bit tough.”
He lifted his eyelids, scrutinizing the two uneasy newcomers.
“Zheng Qing, you and Lin Guo will go to Patrol. Hmm, your placements have already been arranged. You’ll join the Linzhong Lake Night Patrol, responsible for night Patrols from 1 AM to 4 AM. The time isn’t fixed, but you need to dedicate one day a week to participate in Patrol duties.”