When Lili heard that the enrollment was over, he really was about to continue walking out of the place.
He wasn't concerned.
He wasn't affected.
Whether he got the reward or not—he didn't give a fuck.
As he slowly walked toward the entrance, he suddenly felt something strange. The air around him grew cold, an unnatural chill spreading across the area. After about a minute, the coldness vanished completely.
Then Lili heard it.
Ding—
□ Mission
Mission accomplished: Joined Shrek Academy
Reward: 20 R.P.
Lili stopped walking.
He tilted his head slightly, questioning it.
"So… I passed?"
Before he could think further, a loud shout came from behind him.
"Don't forget to pay the entrance fee! And welcome to Shrek Academy, your highness!"
That was what he heard.
Lili paused for a moment, then spoke calmly.
"So I just need to pay to get enrolled?"
He nodded to himself.
"Well, that makes things easier."
He mentally instructed his system to bring out 1,000 gold coins. At the same time, he activated his Devil Fruit ability, weaving a web-like square blanket that formed into a pouch.
As the gold coins materialized one after another, Lili used the web pouch to catch them smoothly.
Once all 1,000 gold coins were inside, Lili casually threw the pouch behind him in a clean arc, sending it flying toward Flender—who wasn't waiting for the money, but for an answer.
Flender suddenly saw a white web-like pouch flying straight at him.
He caught it instinctively.
The moment it landed in his hand, he felt the weight. And just from the sound alone, Flender knew—
This shit is gold.
A wide smirk spread across his face.
"Hahahaha—jackpot!"
He looked toward the entrance again. The purple-haired woman was already slowly walking away. Maybe she was heading back to the hotel, maybe to buy something—either way, she had paid.
That meant she was officially a Shrek student.
"Hahahaha… not only powerful, but rich too. Muwahahaha…"
But just as he tried to pull his hand back, something felt wrong.
His hand wouldn't move.
"Huh?"
Flender pulled again.
Nothing.
It felt like his hand was glued to the pouch.
"What is this?"
He used more force.
Still nothing.
His hand was completely stuck.
"Ugh—what the hell is this? Ugh… fuck! Why can't this thing come off?!"
Then—
Bangggg!
Someone fell from the sky and landed beside Flender.
It was Zhao Wuji.
Known as the Motionless Bright King, Zhao Wuji was the second strongest staff member of Shrek Academy. He served as the primary Vice Dean and was often in charge of entrance exams and student discipline.
"Hey, Flender, what happened here? I felt your soul power leaking out," Zhao Wuji said.
But Flender wasn't paying attention to him at all.
"Oy! Flender! What are you doing?" Zhao Wuji shouted.
That finally snapped Flender out of it.
"Oh—Vice Dean, you're here! Help me with this! My hand is stuck to this pouch—I can't remove it!"
"What pouch? Stop messing around," Zhao Wuji said as he stepped closer.
"Hey, hey—don't touch it directly!" Flender shouted urgently.
"If I could remove it myself, I wouldn't ask you! Zhao Wuji, go get something to cover your hand first, then help me pull it off!"
He grimaced.
"This thing feels like spider silk—but thicker… stronger… and way more troublesome."
♤
Zhao Wuji soon returned, holding a piece of brown cloth in his hand.
He carefully wrapped the cloth around the other side of the pouch—the part Flender wasn't touching—then tightened his grip.
"Alright… I'm pulling!"
He pulled hard.
"AUGHH—!"
"What the hell is this thing?!" Zhao Wuji cursed.
He adjusted his footing, inhaled deeply, then pulled again—this time with even more strength.
"HA—!"
Ssiikk… sshiikk… PACKKK!
The web finally tore free.
Zhao Wuji stumbled backward, barely keeping his balance.
"Oh—finally! It's removed!" Flender laughed loudly.
"Hahaha! That was a great help, Vice Dean!"
Zhao Wuji dropped down onto the ground, clearly exhausted from pulling so hard. He then lifted the pouch, feeling its weight, and heard the clear clanging sound coming from inside.
Clang—clang—clang.
He glanced at Flender with a strange look.
"It's just gold," Zhao Wuji said.
"I thought it was something serious—for you to even release your soul power over this."
"Oh, about that—hahaha," Flender waved his hand dismissively.
"Zhao Wuji, it's more than just a sticky pouch."
He leaned closer, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"I found someone special. No—more than special. She's the real deal."
"And she's strong."
Flender laughed again, low and satisfied.
"Hahahaha…"
♤
Zhao Wuji was stunned by Flender's reaction.
For this man to laugh like that—it was the same expression he wore when he hit a jackpot in a high-stakes gamble and won big.
But… who was she?
"Hey, Flender," Zhao Wuji asked, frowning.
"Who are you talking about? What did you find? Who's she?"
Flender was still laughing maniacally beside him. When he finally heard the question, he stopped and grinned.
"Hahaha! Zhao Wuji, I found a strong student for Shrek. And I'm telling you—we cannot mess with this one."
He leaned closer, lowering his voice.
"Not only is she strong… she's also rich. Muwahahaha!"
"W-what?!" Zhao Wuji snapped.
"You accepted a student without following the proper procedure? I can't accept that. I'll test her myself!"
Flender's laughter stopped completely.
He turned to Zhao Wuji, his expression serious, and flicked his crystal glasses. His tone left no room for negotiation.
"Zhao Wuji," Flender said firmly,
"even you wouldn't be able to defeat her."
"I used my soul power just to see how she'd react to the pressure. And guess what?"
Zhao Wuji swallowed.
"What… what do you mean? Just tell me already. What happened?"
Flender exhaled slowly, his voice calm but absolute.
"My 78-level Spirit Saint soul power was… nothing."
"Nothing at all."
"Like a wing brushing past her."
"So think carefully, Zhao Wuji," he said with certainty.
Zhao Wuji's eyes widened in shock.
"What?! She wasn't affected at all? Are you telling me there's someone level 80 or above just wandering around?!"
"But—are you sure someone like that can enroll? We're looking for teens, kids who can represent our school. Are you sure about her age?"
"No," Flender shook his head.
"I don't think she's that old."
"With how she talks… with her simple actions… I could tell."
"She's young. Too young."
He smiled again.
"We'll see tomorrow. Hahahaha."
"Come on, Zhao Wuji. Let's go see the new students of Shrek."
Then he glanced sideways.
"You didn't rig the exam, did you?"
"W-well… I was about to," Zhao Wuji replied, disappointed.
"But you intervened."