Chapter 740: Clones Kidnapped to be Volunteers (Laborers)...
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 740: Clones Kidnapped to be Volunteers (Laborers)...
The Expansion Realm Teleportation Hall.
The staff members working there were utterly shell-shocked as they watched figure after figure pour out of the teleportation channel.
So many Sister Xiao Hans!
How... how could there be so many?!
"U-Um... excuse me, what exactly is going on here?" one of the staff members asked, bracing herself as she stepped forward to inquire.
"Oh, these are all my clones from the Expansion Realm. It’s not a problem to bring them to the Witch Academy, is it?" I said, stepping out from among the crowd of clones to address the bewildered staff member.
"Huh? This..."
Most of the staff in the Expansion Realm Teleportation Hall were either part-time Senior Sisters currently enrolled in the academy or alumnae who had already graduated. While their jobs usually seemed relaxed because no one dared to cause trouble in such a place, they still had strict protocols to follow—maintaining the teleportation channels, receiving temporary assignments, arranging contract signings, personnel registration, and so on.
This also included the responsibility of preventing World Natives from the Expansion Realm from sneaking into the Witch Academy and tracking unregistered personnel.
They couldn't be certain that these people, who looked exactly like Sister Xiao Han, were actually clones. What if they were indigenous residents trying to infiltrate the academy this way?
While the probability of Teaching Assistant Xiao Han doing such a thing was infinitesimally small, they would be the ones held accountable if anything went wrong.
Furthermore, most of the staff here were experienced witches with significant insight; they could at least tell the difference between a simple "spell clone" and a "physical entity."
The massive crowd before them was definitely not made of simple spell clones!
"Is there a problem?" I asked, seeing her hesitate for so long.
"Oh, Teaching Assistant Xiao Han, it’s like this..." The girl briefly explained the situation to me. "I’m truly sorry, but please understand our professional responsibilities."
"To put it plainly, you just can't tell that these people are my clones, right?" I massaged my temples, feeling a bit of a headache coming on. The existence of these clones did seem to exceed their understanding; they weren't created by a single spell, but were physical clone carriers created through a combination of multiple spells and derived spell techniques.
In the end, after a fair bit of back-and-forth, a Mentor was called in to mediate.
I wasn't very familiar with the Mentor who arrived, but she recognized me at a glance.
"Oh? So many Xiao Hans? What’s the story here?"
"Hello. I am the original, and everyone behind me is one of my physical clones," I explained, stepping forward from the group.
"Oh, I almost couldn't tell you apart." The Witch Mentor looked at me with a hint of surprise. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Barnier. You might not have heard of me, but I often hear Lina mention your exploits."
"Eh? Sister Barnier knows Sister Lina?" I was a bit surprised; I hadn't expected that connection.
"More or less. She was... well, she used to be your Grade Dean, and I’m the Grade Dean for this new incoming class. We go back a long way." After being called here, Barnier didn't rush to solve the problem immediately. Instead, she started chatting with me.
The Senior Sisters working nearby were completely dumbfounded. They were actually just... chatting!
Of course, the main issue wasn't the chatting itself, but the fact that this Witch Mentor had acknowledged such a distant connection and was so willing to talk. Heaven knows that even with their own chosen Mentors, they were sometimes treated with cold indifference...
Chatting aside, Sister Barnier also realized the problem posed by the "clone army" behind me.
"I’ve heard rumors about these clones of yours, Xiao Han. I heard they played quite a significant role over at the Omni-Link Main Network Tree laboratory." Barnier looked at the clones behind me, her mind clearly working on something.
"It was really just helping out a bit in the lab..."
"They say Xiao Han is the kind of child whose humility makes other witches feel conceited. I think I’m starting to see it now." Barnier chuckled softly. "But Xiao Han, have you considered that suddenly bringing so many clones to the Witch Academy without a word might cause quite a bit of trouble?"
"Eh? Trouble?" I was confused. "But... the Witch Academy integrates even those strange creatures from the Witch Secret Realms into the Academy City quite well. My clones..."
"Those are two different concepts."
"That... that’s just discrimination!"
"It’s not discrimination. To us, those cute little creatures are like pets—beings we can command at will. But your clones are different."
"Eh? What if my clones could be treated like that too?" I asked, trying to negotiate.
"Really? Well then, I won't be polite. I’d love to keep a cute little Xiao Han in my villa."
"?"
"Then it’s a deal, how about it?"
"No! No, no, no... wait a second, I think I was being a bit inconsiderate..." I hurriedly declined.
Even though these clones weren't the "real" me, the thought of being kidnapped and kept as someone's pet... Ugh!
I absolutely could not accept that!
"Is that so? Well, then there’s not much else to be done," Barnier said with a look of disappointment.
"Is there really no other way? It would be a shame to just destroy these clones..." I sighed, not expecting to get stuck here.
I had planned to have these clones help out with various things, like assisting in the laboratory.
While the clones couldn't replace Yi Rui and the others for testing and experiments—since they were just molded clones, even if they possessed "Pseudo-Self-Generated Mana"—they could still represent my will at any time, offering suggestions without interfering with their progress.
Most importantly, once the lab had my clones, I wouldn't have to constantly disturb them just to check on their progress.
However, the lab couldn't hold that many clones. I planned to use the rest elsewhere. Even if they just went out to help Yi Rui and the others recruit new students, it would free up their time from running errands.
"Actually, these clones aren't entirely useless. Xiao Han, did you have a plan for how to arrange them?" Mentor Barnier asked again.
"Sister Barnier, you do have a way, don't you?" Hearing her say that, I realized there was still a chance. Otherwise, I’d have to tearfully destroy these clones.
Or... send them back to the Expansion Realm?
If Sister Barnier would even let me do that...
"No rush on that." Barnier smiled, her eyes scanning the numerous clones behind me with an undisguised look of appraisal. "Xiao Han, you haven't answered my question yet. What did you originally intend to do with them?"
"Um... I planned to use some for experimental coordination, and for the others, I was going to settle them down first, and then..."
I knew the number of clones was a bit excessive, but I couldn't help it...
Their missions in the Expansion Realm were mostly complete, and leaving them there didn't make much sense. It was better to move them to the academy where they could help out if anything came up. Besides, my current "family fortune" wasn't so small that I couldn't support a hundred or so clones.
As for what I originally wanted them to do... naturally, it was to set up Transcendent laboratories in the various Shelters of the Expansion Realm.
Only when the people of the Expansion Realm established their own Transcendent research teams could they gain a more concrete understanding of the Transcendent, eventually breaking free from the constraints of the Power Network and developing their own power systems.
While having them use my Power Network was a decent option, different Transcendent paths could provide me with different inspirations, and different Transcendent systems could spark wonderful new ideas when they collided with mine.
A population that only knew how to rely on my Power Network as their foundation without having a close relationship with me—how were they any different from parasites?
Even the Witch Academy only simulated Transcendent power to cultivate Transcendent consciousness; they were, after all, Prospective Witches.
Regardless of whether the people of the Expansion Realm were willing to give up the Power Network, I had planted the seeds for their independent development.
Once they realized the Power Network had its limits and was ultimately just a useful tool, they would choose to step onto the path of researching the Transcendent. Aside from those who chose to wallow in self-decay, the only difference would be how long it took them to get there.
"So... you don't actually have many specific arrangements for these clones, do you?" Barnier asked, then began muttering to herself. "No, no... having so many unstable factors is too risky. We have to find something for them to do..."
"Huh?"
"How about this? As the new Grade Dean, I will personally guarantee these clones so they can stay at the Witch Academy. However, they can't just sit around idle. Idleness makes them an unstable factor."
"Uh... Sister Barnier... isn't this... isn't this just labor exploitation?" I complained.
"It’s just rational utilization. Xiao Han, you are currently the most famous figure in the Witch Academy—the genius in every student's heart. I think this year's freshmen need a role model like you! As a group of girls who admire—"
"This..." I took a deep breath, not letting Sister Barnier’s flattery of "role model" and "genius" go to my head. I went straight to the heart of the matter. "Then can you leave some clones for me, Sister Barnier? I don't have specific plans for all of them yet, but I still need them for certain things."
"Of course!" Barnier said immediately, as if she had been waiting for me to say exactly that.
While the Witch Academy didn't care how freshmen entered the school, those who were "recruited" often lacked proper guidance.
As the Grade Dean for this year's freshmen, she needed to look out for her students.
Now that such a large batch of "labor" had delivered itself to her door—and Xiao Han clones with built-in publicity effects at that—she couldn't let the opportunity pass without shearing a bit of wool.
"By the way, Xiao Han, do these clones have your level of combat power?" Barnier asked.
"Um... I didn't give them spellbooks, but they’ve mastered many Manually Cast Spells. Plus, they have the Self-Generated Mana talent, so I don't have to worry about consumption. I’d say they have a decent amount of strength..." I explained.
"Can they use the Power Network?"
"Of course."
After all, these clones were shaped using the [Transcendent Knowledge] Fragments as a medium. As long as the Omni-Link Main Network Tree in the Witch Academy was planted, they could use the Power Network within the academy.
"Good, good, good~ That’s wonderful!"
"Hmm?" I looked at Sister Barnier suspiciously. I felt like she had been plotting something regarding my clones from the very beginning, and now she wasn't even trying to hide it.
"Ah, it’s nothing~ I just thought of something happy~" Barnier waved her hand dismissively.
Since these clones could use the Power Network, she could introduce some new formats for the Freshman Competition after the semester started!
What did this represent?
She was standing at the forefront of change! The new class she was leading had encountered a great opportunity and would usher in a new mode of confrontation!
In the past, the Freshman Competition was just a duel between the class monitors of each class.
Because in the beginning, resources like spellbooks and Mana Sources weren't distributed in large quantities, it led to that format. Often, the class counselors even had to pay out of their own pockets to provide powerful spellbooks.
Now, with the Power Network, every student had the chance to fairly access Transcendent power.
Shortly after school started, showing them all the charm of a Transcendent power confrontation was the original purpose of the Freshman Competition.
If they didn't stir up the students' love for the Transcendent and their interest in power—and let them experience the charm of the Transcendent—how could they expect them to show diligence in the tedious theoretical knowledge courses?
The thought of future freshman classes carrying on the tradition of the new-style competition she organized made her incredibly excited.
After all, the old Freshman Competitions had become modern dregs, yet they were still held with great fervor every year. There was no reason why future witches wouldn't borrow from her brave innovations.
"Um... Sister Barnier? Are you sure you’re just thinking of something 'happy'?" I finally couldn't help but interrupt Mentor Barnier’s delusions.
I could guess she wanted to borrow my clones for something, but I had a feeling she was planning something very outrageous...
"Ah... sorry, that was a lapse in composure." Snapping out of it, Barnier quickly spoke up and began leading me away. "It’s not convenient to talk here. Since the matter is mostly settled, let’s get these clones settled in first, and then we can discuss the follow-up together. How does that sound?"
"Uh... alright." I nodded. Since the problem was mostly solved, I couldn't say much else.
Bringing so many clones to the Witch Academy was, in itself... admittedly a bit ridiculous.
After completing the registration and hand-over with the staff at the Expansion Realm Teleportation Hall, we led the massive "procession" of clones out of the area.
Such a sight inevitably drew the attention of other students. Seeing a huge, orderly line of "Teaching Assistant Xiao Hans" caused passing students to freeze in shock.
Once they snapped out of it, they hurriedly took photos and posted them on the Academy Network.
Neither I nor Mentor Barnier stopped them. After all, this wasn't something that could be kept secret for long, was it?
By the time we finished settling the clones, the discussion topics regarding the "Xiao Han Swarm" had already exploded on the Academy Network.
A large crowd of gossip-hungry Senior Sisters who were still on campus flocked to watch.
However, this didn't interfere with my discussion with Mentor Barnier regarding the plan for the clones.
"Wait... I can understand things like guiding the freshmen... but having these clones participate in the new semester's Freshman Competition? Is that even part of the process?"
"It wasn't originally, but... I’m the Grade Dean in charge of the entire freshman body this year. I’m the one who calls the shots on many things!" Barnier assured me with the air of someone who ruled the freshman grade. "Even if I report this to the Dean, there won't be any problem!"
"Or is it that you don't have the confidence to educate a bunch of new little cuties, Xiao Han?" Barnier teased me with a smile. "I know you 'kidnapped' quite a few freshmen recently~ It shouldn't be a problem, right? Also, Xiao Han, your... younger sister... seems to be in this grade too, doesn't she?~"