A Chemist's Interstellar Saga
Chapter 203: In The Meeting Room

Chapter 203: In The Meeting Room

In HMA’s conference room, reps from the academy and the corps gathered around a table, deep in discussion about the ongoing selection.

President Gunder led the academy’s side, flanked by several first-year mentors. On the corps’ side, Kellan sat with his two adjutants. All eyes were glued to the screen, tracking the students’ every move. Praises flew when a student performed well.

"Deanna and Marceau, despite their rocky pasts, have skills just shy of the Drexel siblings. I think they have a solid shot at getting selected," one representative remarked.

"Rahan stands out too. His combat skills might not top the charts, but his escape tactics are top-notch. Ideal for scout," another added.

"And let’s not forget Dollan. His talent puts him among the top freshmen, and his dedication secures him a spot in the top five," someone else chimed in.

"Still, Drexel is the best. Whether he’s surrounded by beasts or fighting solo, he comes out on top every time. His skills make him the top student of the first year," a mentor praised, eyes fixed on the screen showing Drexel in action.

Nods of agreement came from both mentors and corps reps, all acknowledging Drexel’s exceptional performance.

"He’s impressive, but a bit wasteful," Gunder sighed, clearly upset about the beasts Drexel had taken down.

Though these beasts weren’t pricey, getting them from the battlefield to the training grounds was costly. Normally, they were there to help students practice escaping, but with Drexel, it seemed the beasts were the ones in need of escape practice.

The mentors chuckled at their president’s distressed expression. Kellan also smiled slightly at Drexel’s show on the screen. But his focus soon shifted to another screen, searching for his Arix. After a while with no sign of Arix, worry crept into his eyes.

Noticing his concern, a mentor asked, "Where is Arix? She vanished after entering those bushes."

Everyone’s mood shifted, concern mounting at the thought of Arix being in danger. They quickly mobilized all the nano-flying cameras in the 100th Dimensional Training Field, searching anxiously.

Despite their efforts, Arix remained elusive.

"Could Arix have been eliminated?" an instructor speculated.

"No way. She isn’t that weak," Kellan shot back, a hint of frustration in his voice. He fiddled with his opticomputer, and soon the screen displayed a small, exhausted tiger.

When they saw the small tiger, everyone finally pieced together where Arix had gone. They had almost forgotten someone at the academy had therian blood.

"Doesn’t Arix look adorable as a little tiger?" Jonna said, relaxing as she cupped her face and stared at the screen.

The small tiger lay flat like a pancake, looking cute and clumsy with a hint of dazed innocence. The golden emblem on its forehead made her look noble and mysterious, while the gold around her eyes gave her a sacred and more exquisite appearance.

"Absolutely, even real tiger cubs aren’t this cute," Gunder agreed, nodding.

"I bet her fur is super soft. I wonder how it feels," another mentor said dreamily.

Kellan remained silent, just gazing lovingly at his sister, though the slight smile on his face showed his good mood.

On the Dimensional Training Field...

"Achoo!" Arix suddenly sneezed. She rubbed her nose with a paw, feeling a bit uncomfortable. She had the odd sense someone was talking about her.

Puzzled, Arix rubbed her nose again and started flying toward the finish line.

In her beast form, the second checkpoint felt like a child walking through a busy street. She drew a lot of attention from the other beasts, but none attacked her. Arix reached the finish line with ease.

Before crossing it, she pressed a button on her wristband. A layer of invisible film covered her furry body, hiding it from view.

The wristband, specially designed for the Empire’s therians, prevented any accidental exposure when they shifted back to human form.

Once Arix transformed back into her human form and dressed, the invisible film automatically disappeared. After ensuring everything was in order, she confidently stepped out of the second checkpoint.

The nano cameras had a privacy function. It turned off automatically when the target was sleeping, changing clothes, or bathing.

...

As Arix stepped out of the Dimensional Training Field, she spotted an officer by the exit holding a drink. He saw her, approached, and handed her the drink.

The scene felt oddly familiar to Arix, triggering a tense silence between them.

The last time someone offered her a drink, it left deep psychological scars.

Noticing Arix’s hesitation, the officer quietly initiated a video call to Kellan.

Soon, Kellan’s kind and handsome face appeared on the screen.

"Kellan?" Arix’s surprise was evident as she glanced between the officer and Kellan.

"Arix, the third level is unique. This drink is specially made for you. You need to drink it to proceed," Kellan reassured her with a warm smile.

"Alright, I understand," Arix sighed, taking the drink and downing it in one go. The peach flavor was unexpectedly pleasant.

Once she finished, the officer ended the call with Kellan and addressed Arix in a cold tone, "Follow me."

"Yes, sir," she responded, trailing behind him. They eventually entered a small room where another officer in a white lab coat awaited.

Seeing Arix, his expression soured slightly, and he turned to the cold officer.

"Did she drink it?" the white-coated officer asked with a mix of annoyance and relief.

The cold officer nodded, "She drank it."

The white-coated officer exhaled, "Good. You can get the next student."

"Alright," the cold officer replied before leaving, leaving Arix standing there, puzzled.

"Arix, come lie down," the white-coated officer instructed with a gentle smile.

Though finding the whole situation odd, Arix complied and lay down on what looked like a dentist’s chair.

"Good. Now, close your eyes gently..."

Arix followed his instructions.

"Very good. Now, relax your body and find the most comfortable position..."

As the officer’s words sank in, Arix began to understand his intention. But she had no secrets, and with Cupid and the others around, she felt safe.

Letting her guard down, she drifted off under the influence of the drink and his soothing voice.

Once Arix was under, the officer began his questioning softly.

"Your name?" he asked gently.

"Arix Kering," she replied, still asleep.

Satisfied, the officer confirmed she was hypnotized.

"Sir, you can come out now," he said, turning to Kellan, who had been observing quietly.