In the open-air coffee shop, Violetta Hoffman let her long, auburn curls fall gently over her shoulders, accentuating her fiery red lips. Her peach blossom eyes were particularly enchanting.

"...Now that the group divisions are out, I’m sorry, Sun, I didn’t get you a good result." She was speaking to the girl sitting across from her.

The girl was playing on her phone, her sitting posture quite boss-like, one hand pressing the phone screen. Upon hearing this, she looked up, a striking and exquisite face beneath the brim of her hat: "It’s alright."

Nathalie Quinlan put her phone back on the table, looked up at her again, and continued: "Really, I didn’t take it to heart, and you shouldn’t either."

Seeing that she wasn’t bothered by it, Violetta couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. Her oval face broke into a captivating smile, and she gracefully picked up the coffee cup in front of her. Before taking a sip, she stopped and asked the girl: "Do you want me to accompany you to the research institute tomorrow for registration?"

The phone that Nathalie had left on the table lit up, and she glanced at the new WhatsApp message. Supporting her chin with her hand, she absentmindedly replied: "No need, I’ll go on my own, it would be too conspicuous with you accompanying me. As a rookie, it’s better not to be too noticeable, to avoid being targeted."

"Pfft." Violetta couldn’t help but laugh, looking at her, suspecting she was up to something: "Boss, wasn’t that score you got eye-catching enough?! I don’t think you’ve ever been afraid, is there anything in this world you’re scared of... I don’t believe it..."

Not only did she not believe it.

I suppose no one in Black Mandala believed what Nathalie just said.

The words were just too much to take seriously.

Someone who at a young age single-handedly founded both Red Alliance and Black Mandala is now sitting here with crossed legs saying she’s afraid of being targeted... Tsk!

Violetta clicked her tongue, feeling a bit envious in her heart but began to explain the research institute’s details to the girl: "After reporting to the research institute tomorrow, you’ll be assigned to a group. This grouping is different from the grading; it just determines your teammates. You guys will form a small team to complete some large, complex experiments."

Nathalie raised an eyebrow, apparently not expecting that joining a research institute would be so complicated, with assessments and grading, and now this so-called grouping...

She has always been averse to trouble, so her tone was a bit impatient: "Can I not be in a group and work alone?"

"The research institute has never had a precedent for working alone." Violetta’s expression softened as she gently explained: "Every rookie goes through this step; it’s just a group division, it won’t be too troublesome. Then it just depends on which group you’re assigned to. Among the rookies, the better groups are 1, 3, and 6. The members in these groups are considered quite outstanding among the newcomers. The most outstanding group is led by someone from one of Inderia’s three great families, the Kingsleys. I don’t know if you’ve heard... it’s Zevaney Kingsley, who is also a student of Nathan Garland, the leader of the level 5 laboratory."

Another mention of Zevaney Kingsley...

Nathalie placed her hand on the table, speaking carelessly: "Never heard of her."

She wasn’t interested in the Kingsleys and didn’t want to know!

At this moment, Nathalie’s phone lit up.

She picked up the phone, ended the call.

Then she stood up, saying to Violetta: "It’s eight o’clock tomorrow morning for reporting, right?"

"Yeah, eight o’clock." Violetta nodded.

Nathalie picked up the bag she had placed on the chair beside her: "Alright, I’ll be there at eight tomorrow."

"I have something today, I’m leaving first."

Violetta didn’t have time to invite her for a meal, so she could only watch Nathalie leave the coffee shop.