While the Mason household was dealing with their own problems, Adam finally visited the dorms not before seeing a 'wandering' Sir Steward fumbling about. He paid exactly what he owed.
There were specified areas within the school where they can live in. There are 2 major dorms, one for men and the other for women.
After registering his name by the guard and confirming it. He entered the dorm and went into his assigned room.
Usually, there would be two people in a single dorm so that they would become close friends and get along with each other but Adam had a dorm all to himself, as he specifically requested.
After lying down and relaxing, he got a transmission from the doctor saying that they found the person he was looking for.
"So, Adam do tell who you are looking for. It seems the backlash from finding that person to be quite serious, from his tone, Isabelle seems to be in quite a serious predicament."
"I don't know." Adam laughed it off.
The doctor was confused, "What do you mean you don't know? Then what was the purpose of this whole thing?"
"We both know that that device only shows what category of the trait that person has while the actual device that tells a person's trait is in my hands. I made it so that if a person outside the boundaries of those categories shows up, it would show that exact symbol."
"Hahahaha! You crazy bastard, I can't really look at you as a kid at all. Now, I am curious as well. What trait would that person have? The ability to steal other traits? The ability to negate them? Could he use lost magic like void magic? Or perhaps, he can control others at will! Now, I am getting excited. I hope they move fast, I can't wait!"
"Me too. How interesting would things be if he can do all those things and more? I can't wait."
Adam closed the transmission and took a shower before heading to bed. As he was about to drift to sleep.
*Knock Knock*
A sound could be heard as someone was at the door. Adam got up from his bed and opened the door.
It was a big kid, presumably 16 or so.
"Hey newcomer, there are a few rules that you have to follow in our turf."
"Oh, is that it? Well, go on."
"You catch on quick, first, every month when the school gives out resources you are to give 10% of your resources to us. Second, you are to follow the commands of people who wear this insignia."
The man showed a symbol, it was for the digit of pi.
"Third, you are required to join the monthly ranking tournaments."
"I get the first two but why join fights?"
"Because of fourth, you are required to join the turf wars as cannon fodder."
The big man smiled, he was used to this. Although it is quite peaceful for the most part, there are still people who want to prove themselves as one of the best. Especially when there's an unspoken rule of those who reign and show their potential to be recruited to be a Royal. A title befitting those who will soon lead the kingdom to greater heights.
"If you don't follow these rules then we can only beat it into you."
"Makes sense, I'll follow your rules. Now I'll go to sleep."
Adam was here to grow and earn the kingdom's trust. Besides, those resources given to the students were trash in his eyes. He had already used resources much better than what they were given when he was 8.
The beasts and monsters in the wasteland, although extremely dangerous had valuable materials contained within their bodies. They had to contain strong and power materials since they wouldn't have survived otherwise. Adding on the fact that Adam had Richard to gather his materials for him, someone who can control those creatures at will, it was easy to gain better resources than them.
To be fair, Adam did teach Richard which was valuable and useful albeit in a roundabout manner.
In the fights, he did say that it required to join the monthly rankings. Children tend to do their best and that way those in control can brace themselves the growth and power those who they control have.
Sadly, I am just going to lose. I was never well-versed in combat in the first place. I fight with smarts, not brawn. Those turf wars are also irrelevant, I'll just hide until it's over.
Then again, I wonder where Richard is. He's considered as an elite already based on his raw power, adding on his trait, no one in this school can beat him. Then again, that's considering he had the same amount of beasts in the wasteland.
I guess he's already living in those fancy elite rooms where there is an actual maid or butler that would tend to you. And his subordinates are with him, keeping him company. Those guys are gonna be a pain in the future.
With his thoughts slowly drifting off, everything went blank.
The following day, he went to class and didn't learn anything this time. It was a bench-pressing contest this time.
The baby grew and completely and utterly won the competition, there wasn't even a single person that came close.
After classes, Adam went to the Mason household. There he saw the man of the house, Lady Isabelle's father, waiting for him alongside a weak-looking kid.
"Here he is, checks it for yourself."
He gave Adam the device and he double-checked, sure enough, it was the same symbol.
"Cool, well I am off now. Oh, before I go, enroll him in the school and make him my roommate. This counts as one of the favors."
Adam left alongside the weak-looking kid. He was malnourished and was bearly able to walk on his own. Adam decided to carry him to where the doctor was living in.
After a tireless journey due to his weak physique, Adam finally reached another mansion that was even grander than the Masons' mansion.
After entering the gate, Adam's legs gave out. He was taking deep breathes and asked a nearby maid to fetch him some water and cook some meals for the weak-looking kid.
"Dammit, I should really work out."
"Ahahaha! What's this? Adam the prodigy, on his knees because of some random kid. What a sight to behold!"
"Oh, shut it! This is the kid that has that unknown trait. Bring him to your lab."
"Yeah, yeah."
The doctor took the kid and entered the mansion. Adam followed soon after he drank a glass of water.
In a white room, the same room that was under the building the previously exploded, laid three people.
While the weak-looking kid was eating the meal, Adam and the doctor talked.
"So this is how far you've gotten with space magic, huh?"
"Ah, you flatter me! I couldn't have done it without your guidance, wise one."
"Let's run some tests. First of all."
Adam took out a flat disc-shaped contraption from his school uniform and placed it near the kid's heart. It took a while to warm-up but in the end there was only gibberish on the screen.
"Well, can't say I am surprised. Now for the basics."
"Hey kid, what's your name?"
The weak-looking kid gulped down and timidly said.
"I don't have one."
Adam slowly said, "What do you mean you don't have one?"
The kid seemed to tear a little bit as there was a traumatic experience that came with it.
"No one gave me one."
"How about this, what do you wanna be called?"
"I don't know."
Adam sighed, "Let's get this over with, just say stop when you feel like it."
"Ok. Uh... stop."
"Zane, your name is Zane."
"O-Okay!"
The doctor had a look of forlorn on his face, "This is bad, Adam. You do know that naming your test subjects makes you attached to them, right?" Sadly, it was full of sarcasm.
"I don't get attached."
"Anyways, Zane, from now on I am your friend. My name is Adam, nice to meet you!"
"I-I'm Zane, nice to meet you too!" Zane looked down and extended his arm and Adam shook it.
"Now, Zane. Is there anything that pops into your mind when you hear trait?"
"No, nothing."
"Worth a shot. Now, follow me. This machine helps us understand how special you are."
Zane nodded.
"Seeing two equally aged kids talk like that is so amusing."
"Now, enough messing around. Adam, here, I wanna see if he can remove traits. Hey Zane, listen, try to think of removing Adam's trait. Alright? Do your best!"
The doctor was still messing around with Zane.
Adam glanced through the book and Zane was looking at Adam intently.
"So, did he remove your trait?"
"Nope, still understood it at a glance."
"Well, maybe he nullified a-"
Adam stood up and went to an obscure spot and said, "Code 404, access, I-L-O-V-E-K-"
The room started to rumble and started to heat up.
"STOP! STOP! I GET IT! STOP!"
The doctor was frantically trying to shut Adam's mouth off.
"You and your cheat trait!"
"What do you mean, cheat? There are a lot more powerful traits than mine. Like Isabelle's trait, she can force anything to happen but she does need to pay a price."
"Hmph! I know someone who can teleport and someone who can kill someone with a touch of their fingers! I still consider your trait even better than that!"
"That's just your opinion, isn't it?"
"Says the kid who took over the whole underground world of one of the world's leading kingdoms and made something even kings would fight over. Yeah, just my opinion."
The doctor glared at Adam while Adam was sheepishly smiling.
"I think it doesn't work with Mind traits, let's try the others."
The doctor opened a door that phased into existence, inside it is a few kids training. There were kids who could control objects with their minds. A kid getting barraged by multiple elements and getting out unscathed. A kid who had no mana around her, and seemingly twitching as if she was holding more power than her body could handle, after a while, a rod came out and she ejected all her mana into it and felt better.
"Nice child army you got here, doctor."
"Giving dying people a chance for redemption is a noble action! Don't slander my good name." The doctor said with a righteous look on his face and a finger pointed upward.
"Zane, try to remove their traits."
"I'll try."
Zane focused and started at the children but nothing happened. Zane tried touching them but nothing happened. No matter what he tried nothing happened.
"This sucks, I really hoped that he could remove traits. What a trump card that would be!"
"Better than mine, right?"
"If it's permanent then yes but if its temporary, yours hands down."
While Adam and the doctor were talking, the kid who had no mana around her started to scream as Zane approached her.
The doctor swiftly asked as he increased the distance between them, "What did you do?"
"I-I didn't do anything I just looked at her! I am sorry!" Zane profusely apologized to the girl.
The girl wasn't crying, it seemed as if she was already used to this but her voice was hallow.
"When he got near me a massive amount of mana entered my body."
"So its mana-inclined, interesting. Zane, follow me."
The doctor ordered Zane and went to a mana-testing area. The device tests how strong mana is within an individual but when it tested Zane, it showed that mana was going away from Zane instead of going into him.
"His body is rejecting mana and yet there is no missing mana inside him, so what's happening?"
"Maybe he needs to increase his familiarity with mana."
"Right, right. Or maybe he is a natural-born sorcerer with a different trait." The doctor smiled as if he wanted this to be the case."
"That may be true, sorcerers are the children of mana. It wouldn't be strange for her to suddenly gain so much mana. As interesting as it would be, sadly that just cannot be. When we tested him, his body rejects mana itself. Even if he has a trait to infinitely contain mana himself, he can't possibly survive if he is a sorcerer since their own bodies are mana itself, no matter how powerful he is. It's like a piece of yourself is getting cut every second."
"Then what do you think it is?"
"Get that kid that can control things with his mind. I wanna check something."
"Got it, 1 get over here! We need you for something."
The kid named "1" obeyed without delay.
"First try lifting the doctor up to the ceiling."
"H-Hey! Wait a minute! I got some weights here instead. Geez, so reckless."
1 tried to lift the weights and dropped them after.
"Now Zane, focus on 1 here."
Zane nodded.
"Try that again."
1 once again lifted the weights but this time it was faster and actually made a small dent on the ceiling.
"A dent? Ha! Zane, my boy. How about you come and-"
"Interesting, so that's why this is happening. He gives, just gives."
"Then why didn't it work on my trait?" Adam was in deep thought.
"Cause you are a goddamn cheat! What's to improve on something that's already perfect!"