The Genius Evolution Store

”Strengthening the new generation?” Auric muttered, looking at the document. ”This is nonsense.”

”Yeah.” Maya agreed without hesitation. ”From what I can see, they’re going to reassess Ellia while assessing you. Our college will have to send a team with Ellia as the leader. The team will consist of five people, but the one who will pick the team is either you or Ellia.

”It’s suggested to have one or two first-year students since its original intention is to make the new generation stronger. No third-year students or above.

”From what I’ve heard, they’re going to send three second-year students and two first-year students.

”So, what do you think?” Maya asked.

Auric contemplated. ”Does Ellia know about it? If so, I have to ask for her opinion first. After all, she’s the leader.”

”She told me that she has left it in your hands. If you are going, she will go. Of course, the teammates will be up to you.”

Auric crossed his arms. On the one hand, knowing the skills of the students from Kallarnos University was probably a good idea. This way, he would know how to improve himself further. On the other hand, it was quite risky, as he might have to reveal his elements.

Still, since this was a joint operation, the second-year students working on this case would probably do most of the work.

Auric could use this opportunity to see their elements and copy them. Besides, it would definitely give him a good experience.

Maya said, ”Well, it’s probably a good idea to scare those people from Kallarnos University. They’ve been holding their heads high for too long.”

”Well...” Auric considered it carefully. He had to consider this matter carefully, considering the danger level might be quite high. ”We have to take down an organization?”

”Do you know about the scavengers?”

”Yes. They’re people picking up scraps and living outside the city. They’re mostly criminals who escape punishment by living outside. Killing people and so on.”

”The target this time is a group of scavengers. They’re quite a big group, but they’re not necessarily strong. With Ellia being able to defeat someone with an adult-form avatar, the group’s safety should improve significantly.”

”Who is sponsoring this trip?” Auric asked.

”No one. However, since you’re my student, just get first-class tickets. As for your accommodation, you have Ellia.”

”Ah.” Auric almost forgot that Maya came from a rich family with a connection to an airline, while Ellia had a hotel business. So, both the travel and accommodation were already covered.

”Let’s see...” Auric was trying to see if there were people he should consider for teammates.

Obviously, Arina would be one of them. She had to be there to take care of Ellia. As for the other two teammates, he could think of two people who might accept this opportunity.

”Let me make a call first.” Auric first called Milinda. Milinda continued working in his store even after witnessing how cruel he could become.

He had never asked her to go on a mission, so this might be a good opportunity.

”Hello. What’s up, Auric?”

”Hi. I’m wondering if you’d like to go on a mission. It’s not just with me, though.”

”Who else will join?”

”From the looks of it, Ellia and Arina will join, since Ellia is the captain of the team. You know them, right?”

Milinda paused for a moment. Her brain just froze when he mentioned these two.

However, she immediately remembered what Ellia had said to her back then.

In the past, Auric wasn’t comfortable enough to show whatever secret he was still hiding. That was why he didn’t ask whether she wanted to join.

But this time, Auric personally asked her. In other words, Auric had become comfortable enough to ask her to go on a mission together.

That was why she answered, ”I will go.”

”Do you not want to know about the mission first?”

”It’s fine. Just send me the information about the mission later. I’ll take a look at it, but it won’t change my decision.”

”I understand. Thank you, Milinda.” Auric smiled. With this, the fourth member had been decided.

There was only one person left. Kallarnos University sent three second-year students and two first-year students, so he should take one more person from his generation. It was rather obvious whom he should choose.

Auric immediately called that person.

”What?”

”Eric, I’ve just gotten an offer from Kallarnos University. They want to conduct a joint operation with us. There are three seniors: Ellia, Arina, and Milinda. I’m sure you know them, right? I need one more person from our grade, so I wonder if you want to join.”

”You should have said, ’I need you.’ Anyway, sure. What’s the mission?”

”It’s about the subjugation of scavengers.”

”Killing people?”

”Yeah. If we want to get stronger, we have to kill both beasts and humans. So, they’re trying to use this opportunity to help the first-year students grow...”

”Fine. Time? Location?”

”I will send you the details later.”

”Okay.” Eric hung up right away.

”...” Auric was speechless. He shook his head helplessly, but the team was now formed.

Maya said, ”It looks like you understand their intention.”

”Yes. It’s obvious that they want us to get used to killing people as well. After all, sometimes humans are worse than beasts.”

”That’s right. I don’t need to worry about you, though. After all, you’ve killed plenty of humans before.”

Auric smiled wryly. It wasn’t the most pleasant experience, but he was indeed fine with killing humans.

”Anyway, the team is formed. I guess I’ll just have to tell Ellia about it.”

”Yep.” Maya raised one finger. ”One more thing. This is probably the first time you’ve come with a large group. Do you know the roles within the group?”

”Yeah.”

”Do you know the composition?”

Auric nodded. ”Normally, a group consists of five to six people. They have at least one vanguard, one attacker, one support, one scout, and one balancer. The sixth person is usually a vanguard, an attacker, or a balancer.

”A vanguard is someone tough enough to stop the enemy. From what I can see, Ellia can fulfill this role.

”An attacker is someone with high firepower. They’re the ones who take down the enemy or damage them severely whenever they have an opportunity.

”A support is quite versatile. Some supports have healing abilities, which are quite rare. Some supports have the ability to boost someone’s strength. However, most supports belong to the control category. They use their abilities widely to control the battlefield, allowing everyone to have an easier time.

”A scout is someone who has to explore the area and find the enemy’s locations.

”Last but not least, a balancer. They can be said to be an all-rounder. Their job is to become a buffer for everyone, allowing the team to function the way it should function.”

Maya nodded in agreement. ”That’s right. How about your team?”

”There’s no way to fulfill all the roles. Ellia and Eric can become the vanguard, but Eric is studying both elemental manipulation and close combat. So, Eric can fulfill the balancer role in one way or another.

”I don’t know about Milinda’s ability, but she must be fairly strong. From what I’ve heard, she was quite amazing at her previous university before she hit the wall.

”In the previous mission, Arina could act as a scout with some drones. That leaves me. I can become an all-rounder as well. I believe I have enough firepower to be an attacker as well. So, that depends on how Ellia wants it to play out.”

”It looks like I don’t have to teach you anything else.” Maya nodded. ”Still, I want to add something about support. Even though the support is good, they’re not exactly as versatile as you think. Most of the time, supports can only help control the battlefield.

”At the same time, they boost their teammates’ strength, just not in the way you think. Originally, people think of support like they’re in a game. You can just heal people or improve their strength magically.

”However, our power is more like elemental manipulation. How do you manipulate light? It’s like bending the light and so on.

”Still, there’s also the power of avatars. Some avatars possess elements with healing properties, so they’re probably the true support.

”On the other hand, most people who belong to this category can control the battlefield or support them by using their elements. It’s more like using their own energy to fuel their teammate’s power.

”In another case, an evolution master can be a support. They treat injuries, especially from an attack that leaves some energy in your body.

”That’s why you can become a support. You can treat other people, but you may want to get an element with a healing property. It is a rare property, so it might be hard to find one, but please consider that.”

Auric nodded. ”Yeah. I will.”

”Good.” Maya was satisfied. ”You should talk to Ellia about the teammates and see if she agrees. If she is okay with it, I will tell Kallarnos University that we accept the joint mission.”

”Got it.” Auric nodded with a serious expression. He immediately called Ellia.

”Yes? Has your teacher mentioned the joint operation?”

”She has. She told me that you gave me the chance to choose the teammates. Is that true?”

”Yeah. I want you to go with people you’re comfortable with. It doesn’t matter who they are. If necessary, I will carry the team.”

”That sounds reliable, but I have picked the teammates. Surely, Arina will go with us, won’t she?”

”If you want, she can come.”

”What? You don’t even insist on bringing your childhood friend?”

”You are the priority on this mission, not me. Of course, I can’t insist that you bring my childhood friend.”

Auric thought for a moment. There were no other people he knew among the seniors, so he thought Arina would be the best choice. ”Anyway, the other three members will be Arina, Milinda Kompo, and Eric Dabood. What do you think?”

”Sure. Milinda should be stronger than Arina. I’ve seen Eric’s battle as well. If you don’t mind bringing them, then I’m okay with it.”

”All right then. What should we do next?”

”I will create a group chat. We will have a meeting about the mission and then meet the group from Kallarnos University. The mission starts on Wednesday, so we will head there on Tuesday. The accommodation is on me.”

”Ah, yes. My teacher also said that it’s alright to bring everyone in the first class.”

”No one is going to reject free luxury.” Ellia agreed.

”Well, that’s all. I guess we will have a meeting on Monday?”

”Yep.”

”Okay then.” Auric was about to end the call, but Maya suddenly waved her hand and added, ”Auric, tell her that the heads of the students from Kallarnos University have grown too big. Humble them a bit.”

Auric smiled wryly and relayed the message. ”She also said to show the students from Kallarnos University that we’re also capable students.”

”Got it. Humble them a bit, is it? Tell her that she doesn’t even have to say it. It’s already the second priority after you.”

”...” Auric smiled wryly. These two came from wealthy families. Both were talented and capable. Were those the reasons they thought alike?

However, Ellia once received an invitation from Kallarnos University. The invitation was revoked because of her element, so it was normal for her to carry some grudges.

”Well, that’s it. See you soon.”

”See you soon.”

Auric just shook his head helplessly.

...

Meanwhile, the students from Kallarnos University also received the same invitation.

Tommi couldn’t help but grin. ”We are going to meet again, Auric. I hope you bring another surprise this time.”

This time, Auric wasn’t the sole target. They also wanted to reassess Ellia, who had defeated Abel. If Ellia could evolve again, she might receive an offer to transfer to Kallarnos University.

That was why the leader of the group from Kallarnos University was someone she knew well.

”Heh...” A woman walked onto her balcony after receiving the news about the mission. ”That devil child. I guess we will meet again. I’ll show her that even if she manages to evolve once, once a loser, always a loser.”