He quickly checked the time.
The location was about a ten-minute walk away.
But now he had to get there in just "seven minutes."
So, without thinking much, he hurriedly followed the system’s instructions and ran towards the goal.
Along the way, seeing Rex running as if his life depended on it, other students were surprised and curious, but before they could react, he had already disappeared into the distance.
Breathing heavily, he ran as if his life was dependent on it, his lungs burned with each breath, and his legs felt like they were made of lead. Sweat dripped down his forehead, stinging his eyes as he wiped it away. But he still pushed himself forward, he could swear this was the fastest he had ever run in both of his lives.
He was especially thankful that he had started jogging recently; otherwise, he definitely wouldn’t have been able to run this fast or this far.
At 12:46, Rex finally reached the designated location, one minute earlier than the set time. Honestly, even he was surprised by his speed, but now wasn’t the time to think about it.
Following the system’s instructions, he arrived under a large tree nestled within a cluster of trees.
Finally reaching the location, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a relieved breath.
Now that he had a moment to look around, he instantly recognized the place.
A secluded grassy area behind the old campus building...far from prying eyes.
The old campus buildings stood like forgotten relics, their once-pristine walls now cracked and covered in patches of moss. A broken bench lay discarded in the corner, its wooden slats warped from years of neglect. Nearby, an old lamppost leaned at an odd angle, its glass cover shattered long ago.
The old campus buildings had become semi-abandoned due to the construction of newer facilities. But this place was now a popular spot for couples.
At this time, however, it was empty since classes were still in session. But once classes ended, couples of all kinds would gather...some sitting under trees, some lying on the grass, and some even perched in the trees. Honestly, he never understood their thought process.
As he distracted himself with these useless thoughts, the time reached 12:47, and he immediately heard voices approaching.
A couple was walking toward him, their conversation tense.
Listening closely, he could tell they were arguing.
The girl walked ahead while the boy tried to catch up with her.
As they came closer, Rex raised his eyebrows in surprise...he recognized them.
It was Adrian and his girlfriend.
Yes, the same arrogant girl from the cafeteria.
As they neared, Adrian grabbed Blair’s arm to stop her.
"You only care about money now!" Adrian’s voice was thick with frustration.
"Ever since last month, you’ve been acting differently... showing up in designer clothes, expensive bags, shoes that cost more than my entire tuition! Where is it all coming from, Blair?!"
Blair, standing with her arms folded, let out an exasperated sigh. "Why does it matter?" she scoffed, brushing her freshly manicured nails against her coat sleeve. "I finally have the life I deserve. Shouldn’t you be happy for me?"
"Happy?" Adrian’s voice cracked. "You barely had money to pay for your books last semester, and now you’re dripping in luxury brands overnight? Where did it all come from?" He took a step closer, his jaw tight. "Or rather, who gave it to you?"
Blair’s lips curled in a smirk, utterly indifferent to his anger. "What does it matter to you?" she said coolly. "Since when do you care so much about my money?"
Adrian’s hands clenched into fists. "It’s not about the money! It’s about you! About us!" His voice rose. "You’ve changed, Blair! You weren’t before. What happened?"
Blair let out a low chuckle and shook her head. "You’re so naive," she murmured. "Do you really think love is enough? Look around you, Adrian. People like you and me don’t get anywhere in life without connections. Without knowing how to play the game."
Adrian’s face twisted in disbelief. "So that’s what this is? You’re selling yourself out for connections? Is that where all this is coming from?"
She shrugged, completely unfazed. "Believe whatever you want."
Adrian let out a bitter laugh, his voice laced with disbelief. "You’re unbelievable." He ran a hand through his hair before turning away. "I hope it’s worth it, Blair."
Blair gave him one last indifferent glance before spinning on her heel and walking off, the glint of gold from her designer bag catching the light.
But as she moved, something slipped from her coat pocket...a sleek, black smartphone.
It landed in the grass, hidden from view.
Neither of them seemed to have noticed.
But Rex, standing just a few feet away in the shadows, did.
His gaze flicked from the device to Blair’s retreating figure.
He slowly stepped out of the shadows and picked up the phone, his fingers instinctively tightening around the sleek device.
’How is this connected to the system’s mission to expose Professor Clement?’
Blair’s sudden change, the expensive clothes...it all felt too coincidental. Could this phone be the clue the system had hinted at?
Just as hesitation crept in, the screen suddenly lit up.
A new message appeared.
"Let’s meet again at night. Same place. – Prof. C"
Rex’s eyes widened in surprise. Google seaʀᴄh novel⸺fire.net
Seeing the cryptic name, he knew that it was definitely not a normal meeting and his instinct told him this Prof. C was definitely professor Clement.
As the mission and clue were all about Professor Clement.
He had suspected something was off about Blair’s sudden wealth, but he hadn’t expected a direct link to Professor Clement. What business did a student like her have with him?
His grip on the phone tightened as countless possibilities ran through his mind. Was she being bribed? Blackmailed? Or was she willingly involved?
But one thing was certain...this definitely wasn’t a coincidence.
The system had led him here for a reason.
Taking a deep breath, Rex made his decision.
Whatever the reason may be, today, he will definitely find out the truth.
But right now, he had something more important to do.