Xiang Lie and Mo stepped into Mister Yi's room, one after the other, to find a considerable number of people already gathered there. Mister Yi remained behind his simple metal desk, a gentle smile on his face. Beside him, Xiao Lin, Jing, and several other silver-haired girls Xiang Lie couldn't name but recognized from the battle, stood at attention, their expressions solemn, their postures erect, lending an air of gravity to the entire room.
"Xiang Lie, Mo, you're here," Mister Yi said, smiling and nodding.
Ling, maneuvering her wheelchair to block the doorway, preventing any retreat, cleared her throat and spoke first. Her eyes, usually full of playful mockery, were now sharp with rational clarity. "Alright, big guy, no beating around the bush. I'll get straight to the point." She projected a virtual screen into mid-air, displaying detailed information about the Giant Tower Academy's professional assessment.
"According to my analysis, your academy's professional assessment, put simply, is a test of combat prowess. And you," her gaze swept over Xiang Lie's formidable muscles, her tone betraying undisguised contempt, "aside from having astonishing muscle mass, possess practically zero actual combat skill. Based on the data model's projections, at best you'd scrape by with a B-rank assessment, graduating to a job as an archivist or a warehouse mover."
"So?" She changed tack, a cunning smirk playing on her lips. "Interested in rapidly improving your combat skills in the next few days? These ladies," she gestured with her chin towards the group of girls, each with a distinct aura, "including the one behind you, are all battle-hardened combat specialists, you know."
Xiang Lie instinctively turned, looking at Mo with a hint of disbelief. In his mind, Mo had always seemed to be in a state of injury, weakness, or shyness. He found it difficult to associate her with the term "combat specialist."
Sensing Xiang Lie's gaze, Mo's small face instantly flushed crimson, but this time, she didn't lower her head. Instead, she mustered her courage, raising her clear silver eyes to meet his. There was a touch of stubborn defiance in her gaze, as if to say: *What are you looking at? I'm very formidable, you know!*
Xiang Lie blinked, then a light of realization dawned. So… they wanted to teach him martial arts. To be honest, before he met them, Xiang Lie had no interest in fighting. In his view, that was a base hobby for street thugs, far less noble and pure than having a soulful dialogue with barbell plates in the gym.
But the experiences of the past few days had sown a new seed deep within him. Wielding a long spear, fighting with unrestrained vigor; protecting the vulnerable, engaging powerful enemies… that surge of adrenaline, that rush of hot blood, perhaps… was also a unique, ultimate romance for a man.
"Of course," Ling's voice broke his reverie again. "Arming can indeed greatly enhance a Master's abilities, bestowing combat skills you wouldn't otherwise possess. But a Master's own martial prowess is equally important. Strong inherent martial arts, combined with appropriate armament, can achieve an effect far greater than the sum of its parts." She glanced at Jing beside her. "According to Jing's combat feedback, your physical coordination and combat intuition are both excellent. You're an extremely talented combat prodigy, just… um, hindered by your excessively strong muscles."
Xiang Lie understood. This was The Ark's benevolent repayment for his actions. He barely hesitated, nodding heavily.
"I'll learn."
Seeing his agreement, the atmosphere in the room visibly relaxed. Mister Yi gestured for the other girls to leave, leaving only Xiang Lie.
"Classmate Xiang Lie," Mister Yi's smile softened a bit, becoming more serious. "I know everything about your self-sacrificing act to save Luo. On behalf of The Ark, and all of our sisters, I extend my most sincere gratitude." He stood up and bowed deeply to Xiang Lie. "We hope to forge the deepest friendship with you."
Mister Yi paused, then sat back down, his gaze becoming profound. "There is something I must tell you. Your physique, or rather… your 'trapezius muscles,' are, to us Weapon Girls, a treasure capable of inducing madness. They almost perfectly solve the most critical issue for Weapon Girls in their armed state: energy sustainability."
"And such a 'treasure,' for the high-ranking officials of the Bureau in the city, likewise represents incomparable research value."
"During my time in the city, I received some information," Mister Yi's tone grew solemn. "Your previous conflict with the Black Guards to save Mo seems to have attracted the attention of certain individuals. They may already be aware of your existence. So, your return this time may not only involve the assessment but also unknown dangers… of course, it could also be an opportunity. All of this, you will need to discern and face yourself." He took a completely black, unmarked metal card and a small piece of paper from his drawer, handing them to Xiang Lie. "This is the address of one of our secret strongholds in the city. This card is the token. If you encounter any insurmountable trouble, you can go there, and with this card, seek assistance. The people there can be trusted."
"Regardless," Mister Yi's eyes were filled with anticipation, "I still hope you can pass the S-rank assessment and earn the title of 'Weapon Girl Hunter.' The higher you stand, the broader the strata you can access. Sometimes, that is more beneficial for protecting them."
Xiang Lie silently took the card and the address, the sheer volume of information making it difficult for him to process all at once. He remained silent for a long time, then finally looked up, asking the ultimate question that had been circling in his mind since he first met Mister Yi, a question that utterly baffled him.
"Um… Mister Yi." He looked at the other man with intense seriousness. "Are you… a 'Weapon Boy'?"
*PFFT—!*
Xiao Lin, who had just raised a cup of water to drink, spat it out directly. Jing, who was organizing files nearby, trembled, sending papers scattering across the floor. Even Ling, poised at the doorway to eavesdrop, nearly toppled from her wheelchair.
Mister Yi himself was utterly dumbfounded by the question. The gentle expression on his face instantly froze, and he remained stunned for a full five seconds.
Then…
"Hahaha… Hahahahahahaha!"
He suddenly burst into a thunderous peal of laughter, bending over, tears practically streaming from his eyes. He laughed, waving his hand, gasping for breath. "A Weapon… a Weapon Boy? Hahahahaha… that idea of yours… is so… so creative!"
He laughed for a full thirty seconds before finally managing to stop, wiping tears from the corners of his eyes, and began to explain to Xiang Lie.
"No, I am not. If a Weapon Girl and an ordinary male combine and have offspring, if it's a girl, she will still be a Weapon Girl. But if a boy is born…"
He looked at Xiang Lie, smiling gently, and spoke a single term.
"We are called 'Hybrids.'"