"I will send you off one last time" [Global Examination]

The Second Lunch Break

After Chu Yue managed to successfully shoo the other examinees and reserve invigilators away, she turned back towards the other invigilators.

"So..." She started gently, "Where do you want to start?"

Almost immediately, all the invigilators shot to their feet, and started talking, but their words came out as a bunch of gibberish and word vomit as they tried to talk over each other, and the volume that they were speaking at gradually got louder and louder.

"The System-"

"Why didn't you tell us-"

"If you're destroying the System-"

"Why didn't you-"

"How-... why-..."

Qin Jiu just deadpanned; this was getting nowhere.

These were all grown ass adults, right? Why were they acting like children trying to one-up each other?

Surprisingly, the only one who wasn't speaking up (besides the two great masters and Chu Yue) was Gao Qi.

His mouth was opening, closing, opening, closing... almost like he just couldn't get the words out of his mouth. His eyes constantly flickered between You Huo and Qin Jiu, as if he was trying to piece together all the puzzle pieces in his head, and yet, he was unable to say anything, despite how vocal and rambunctious he usually was when it came to You Huo.

Eventually, You Huo got fed up, and crossed his arms.

Upon seeing his movements, all the invigilators immediately clammed up, waiting for their leader to speak.

You Huo's golden eyes gleamed sternly as his gaze ran over every single invigilator, and some of them started fidgeting on the spot, slightly nervous.

They had only been in this strange realm, watching this viewing experience for barely a day... and somehow, they seemed to have forgotten that You Huo was literally the strongest person in the room despite being one of the youngest, and could easily tear through all of them like they were nothing...

Leaning back into the couch, You Huo lowered his gaze again, before saying, "D?"

Surprised that his code was being called, Gao Qi snapped to attention, "Yes?"

"You've been quiet." You Huo stated, his eyes flickering over to Gao Qi for a second, before going back to gazing at the ground, "Perhaps you have gathered your thoughts properly."

"I..." Gao Qi suddenly felt his mouth run dry, as Qin Jiu casually against the armrest of the couch, like he was watching some kind of television drama.

"I... don't understand." Gao Qi tried to piece his thoughts together on the fly, "You know we've been constantly advocating for getting rid of the System, and yet you didn't let us do anything... and now that we have found out that you were actually planning something..."

His mouth dried up, and Gao Qi looked away slightly.

Having You Huo on their side instead of with the System... it was something they've been constantly hoping for, but given how stoic and emotionless You Huo appeared to be, at times, it almost seemed like he was brainwashed by the System, forced to do its bidding, regardless of his own wishes.

This viewing experience allowed You Huo to express himself a bit more, but he was still rather closed off, if not for Qin Jiu's constant aggravation (thank goodness for that, not that they'd ever tell him that), and the invigilators couldn't help but be worried that You Huo would still side with the System after witnessing all the atrocities firsthand, like some twisted kind of stockholm syndrome.