The first thing Orion did was walk into a clothing store. He then took off the tattered, patched clothes he was wearing and chose a dark, plain suit that fit him well but wasn't flashy. The young man in the mirror was between a child and a youth, with handsome features, but his eyes were too deep, not quite matching his age.
Next, he used the money given by Natasha's parents and the Winter City coins he brought with him to rent a small apartment in a relatively quiet corner of the Administrative District in their name, as a temporary place to stay. Orion was now the actual controller of the Underworld, controlling the flow of goods in the Underworld through Natasha, making it easy to get money for daily expenses.
Countless Golden Threads of Fate quietly spread out from the apartment where he was located. The Golden Threads of Fate began to weave a new network. Although with his current mental strength, he could only maintain the Golden Threads' coverage within approximately one city block, it was enough for now.
Orion strolled along the streets of the Overworld. Unlike the dark and dilapidated Underworld, the air here was fresh, the light was bright, and the streets were wide and clean. Blue sky and white clouds, with the distant snow-capped mountains clearly visible, it was as beautiful as a painting.
The buildings in the Administrative District were towering and full of steampunk style, and their proud mechanical creations could be seen everywhere. Shop windows displayed a dazzling array of goods: exquisite pastries, magnificent clothes, and sparkling accessories, all showcasing the prosperity of the people in the Overworld. Pedestrians on the street were well-dressed and composed, completely different from the numb and wary residents of the Underworld. Children played in the square, and the fountain shimmered with a seven-colored rainbow in the sunlight. Orion even saw the sign of the Goethe Grand Hotel and the iconic dome silhouette of the Golden Theater in the distance.
He walked into a restaurant, where the food was varied and fragrant. The waiters were polite and guided guests to their seats. He ordered a hot soup and bread, the taste of which was far superior to the coarse food in the Underworld.
This is... luxurious. Orion felt no particular envy in his heart. This prosperity was built upon the endless exploitation of the Underworld.
After settling down in the Overworld for several days, Orion bought the Overworld's largest circulation newspaper every day to keep abreast of the Overworld's developments. One day, a news headline occupying half the page caught his attention.
"Supreme Guardian Cocolia to Attend Belobog Academy's Centennial Anniversary Ceremony with Daughter Bronya Rand."
The report mentioned that Cocolia had graduated from this historically long-standing academy, and Miss Bronya Rand, as the Supreme Guardian's heir, was currently a sixth-grader at the same academy. The accompanying picture was a photo of Cocolia and Bronya at a public event. Bronya in the photo was wearing a school uniform. Her silver-grey hair was meticulously styled, and her expression was cold, somewhat like those ice-cold young ladies in TV dramas.
"Belobog Academy..." Orion put down the newspaper, deep in thought. The little girl he used to slide with at the Orphanage when he was young had now transformed into the Supreme Guardian's daughter, attending the best academy in all of Belobog. And this was exactly as he had expected.
"Sixth grade, huh..." Orion slightly curved his lips.
The next day, Orion again found his nominal adoptive parents. He needed their help to handle the transfer procedures to Belobog Academy.
"Transfer? To Belobog Academy?" Natasha's mother was a bit surprised. "That's a school for nobles and elite children; the admission requirements are very strict."
Orion calmly said, "I believe that with your connections in the Overworld, this is not difficult."
"As for tuition and related fees, I will take care of them myself." He took out a small bag of Winter City coins, enough to cover a year's tuition and miscellaneous fees.
Natasha's parents exchanged glances and finally agreed. For them, the less this "adoptive son" had to do with them, the better. If going to the academy as a boarder meant he wouldn't show up at their door anymore, they would be happy to see it happen.
Orion was already thirteen years old and should normally be in the seventh grade. But he had specifically inquired and confirmed that Bronya was indeed in the sixth grade. Therefore, when filling out the transfer application, he still chose to apply for the sixth grade.
On the day of admission, Orion, dressed in a brand-new Belobog Academy uniform, was led into the sixth grade (A) classroom by his homeroom teacher, Ms. Matilda. The uniform was a dark blue jacket and a white shirt, expertly tailored.
"Students, quiet down," Ms. Matilda clapped her hands. She was a kind-looking middle-aged woman. "Today we have a new classmate joining our class, an honor student transferring from the Underworld, so everyone should get along well."
Orion stood on the podium, his gaze calmly sweeping over the young faces below. Their eyes held curiosity, scrutiny, and also a hint of disdain. He bowed slightly: "Hello everyone, my name is Orion, please take care of me from now on."
As he spoke, his gaze was drawn to the second-to-last seat by the window. The girl sitting there had silver-grey hair and a delicate profile. She was engrossed in the book in her hands, as if everything outside had nothing to do with her. It was her, Bronya.
Orion had expected Bronya to be very surprised when she saw him transfer in. However, when Bronya felt his gaze and looked up, there was not a ripple in her beautiful grey-blue eyes. She merely nodded slightly, then lowered her gaze again, continuing to focus on her book, as if he were just an unimportant stranger. Orion's brows furrowed slightly.
Ms. Matilda looked around the classroom: "Orion, you can sit... hmm, in the empty seat next to Bronya."
"Peter has taken a long sick leave."
Orion hummed in acknowledgment and walked straight to that seat. Of course, this was not some protagonist's halo or coincidence. Before, in the few days he waited for the admission notice, Orion had not been idle. He had also used various methods to find out information about Bronya's class, such as the teachers and student composition. He noticed that the seat next to Bronya was originally occupied by a somewhat mischievous rich boy named Peter.
One evening before admission, Orion "coincidentally" met him in a secluded alley that Peter took on his way home from school. The alley was dimly lit and deserted. As Peter grumbled about the heavy schoolwork for the day and kicked a stone by the roadside, a dark figure appeared behind him. Orion didn't even let Peter see his face. Relying on his strength, which far exceeded that of his peers, he deliberately controlled his force and cleanly delivered a hand chop to Peter's back. Peter didn't even grunt before he slumped softly to the ground, his schoolbag scattered beside him. Orion confirmed he wasn't dead, then quickly left.
The next day, Ms. Matilda announced that Peter had suddenly been injured in an accident, but his life was not in danger; he just needed long-term hospitalization and would probably not be able to return to school this semester. An empty seat was thus created.
Orion sat down next to Bronya. The faint scent of ink and books wafted from the girl. He turned his head, a perfectly gentle smile on his face: "Hello, classmate, I'm Orion."
"It's a pleasure to be your deskmate, please take care of me from now on."
Bronya looked up again, this time her gaze lingering on his face for less than a second. Her voice was cool and flat, without much emotion: "Hello." Then, she didn't look at Orion again, as if he were a ghost.