The Genius Evolution Store

When he opened the shop, people couldn’t help but stop in front of it, not because it was Auric’s shop, but because of the person who was in charge of the promotion.

It was Katarina, who was still wearing her maid uniform. Katarina was the vice president of the student council. Her talent and strength were practically unmatched. She always looked serious, making it hard for them to converse with her.

This was the first time they had seen her wearing a maid uniform. After the first embarrassment, Katarina had completely regained her composure. She maintained her poker face the whole time as though she wasn’t affected by her clothes anymore.

She held a big sign.

[Night and Day Store.]

[Night and Day you’re worried about your injuries, this is the place to treat them.]

”What is going on?”

”Isn’t that our vice president?”

”Why is she wearing that kind of clothing? I mean, I’m not complaining that I can see a different side of the vice president, but who can actually make our vice president dress like this?”

People were curious about the store owner, who was able to move Katarina. After all, Katarina wasn’t lacking anything.

She might not be the most beautiful, but she certainly had her own pride in her looks and body. She might not have the wealthiest family, but it wasn’t like they were small. Her talent could also change the fate of her family.

So, all the students who tried to make her do something would end up failing, including the president of the student council.

”Yo, vice president. You need to show your smile. Hospitality, hospitality!”

”A big smile from the vice president is all I need to enter this store.”

”Say cheese!”

The students couldn’t stop themselves from teasing her. Some even took pictures.

Katarina remained silent the whole time. She couldn’t care less about having her picture taken. Even in this uniform, she was still confident with her looks. As long as she maintained her dignity, people could tease her, but it wouldn’t bring down her pride.

Of course, Auric also compromised with her. As long as she worked normally, Auric wouldn’t mind if she just stayed there without saying anything. The sign was big enough for everyone to see anyway.

”Listen up!” Katarina stepped forward and stared at them. ”If you are here to harass me, I don’t mind holding this grudge. However, if you are here to get your injuries treated or something, then go inside. I warn you not to crowd the store without doing anything. If you are obstructing the business, I will remember your face.”

It was a simple threat, but Katarina meant it. The students also knew that she would seriously do it.

People panicked. They looked at each other, wondering if they really should leave.

Before they could act, Auric suddenly came out. The owner who managed to make Katarina wear this uniform was actually someone they didn’t recognize. After all, Auric was an exchange student.

Still, Auric’s appearance was more than enough to etch his face in their minds.

”Kyaa!”

”Who is that?”

The female students started cheering. The atmosphere had completely changed.

One of the female students suddenly came forward before shyly saying, ”Hello. I don’t think I’m fine. I wonder if I could have a health checkup here?”

”Wait, Belle. What are you doing?” Another female student tried to grab her and drag her away.

Auric smiled at this girl called Belle. ”You are perfectly fine. There is nothing wrong with your health. Your friend, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to be fine.”

”Huh? I’m not fine?” The female student who wanted to drag her friend away suddenly glared at him, looking defensive.

”Indeed.” Auric nodded calmly. ”Have you learned a technique that relies heavily on your right arm? Let’s see... around four to six months ago? When you’re using this technique, you can feel that your energy is being drained out. It gives you power, but it’s draining your energy completely.”

”What?” The female student was taken aback. ”How did you...”

Katarina didn’t say anything, but she was observing the entire thing. She thought, ’As expected, there’s something unique to his senses. Like how he could sense my problem, he is able to see someone’s problem with just a single glance.’

Katarina noticed the details of his diagnosis. ’He’s even able to pinpoint the problem. It’s no wonder he’s able to become a silver-grade evolution master at that age. And he’s already at three stars. It means that his power might be the one limiting him, not his skills.’

Katarina didn’t want to believe it, but Auric might be able to become a gold-grade evolution master if he wanted to. Unfortunately, his avatar had yet to evolve into its adult form, so it couldn’t provide Auric with enough power.

With this kind of talent, everything else was unnecessary. That was why she immediately accepted her defeat the moment she saw the silver badge.

’If only he didn’t have a unique element... No, even if he does have a unique element, he might still be able to reach rank 4 or even rank 5. After all, his senses are too extraordinary.

’If he becomes rank 5, that means he can become an evolution master beyond diamond grade, a titanium-grade evolution master.

’A titanium-grade evolution master is a person who will help you reach rank 6. Their status is extremely high. After all, almost all rank 6 humans will feel indebted to them for helping their avatars evolve.

’There are at least a few people in this world who can reach rank 5 with their unique elements. But none of them are evolution masters. I can’t imagine how far Auric can go with those senses.’

Katarina simply calculated everything in her mind. People might underestimate Auric, but she didn’t plan to do the same.

In this way, she was probably the first one to recognize him among the students, or so she thought.

She saw that the angry student from earlier had suddenly stopped and begun to act politely toward Auric.

”So, you can help me with my problem?” The student asked.

”Of course. Unfortunately, you are quite strong. My power alone won’t be enough, and I don’t have the right herb to treat you. How about coming back tomorrow? I’ll prepare the herb and I’ll treat your problem.”

”She is not just strong.” Katarina came to Auric.

Auric glanced at Katarina, not expecting her to suddenly enter the conversation.

”She is ranked 10th in my year, Irvetta. She has an exceptional sense in battle, which makes her a very good vanguard. The one next to her is her sister, who is one year younger, ranked 5th, Belle.”

”It doesn’t change the fact that a treatment is necessary, and I don’t have the power to do it right now. I will need the herb to do it, and that will depend on whether she wants to get it treated or not.”

”Fair enough.” Katarina nodded. ”It’s your decision, Irvetta.”

Irvetta thought for a moment before saying, ”I will do it. I’ll take the treatment.”

”Very well. Please come back tomorrow.” Auric nodded calmly.

Everyone was a bit surprised that Auric was able to see through Irvetta’s condition. In fact, no one knew about this before. Even her sister looked surprised.

”Vetta? You...” Belle covered her mouth in surprise.

Irvetta smiled wryly.

Seeing how Auric was able to actually find a hidden condition that no one knew, they realized that Auric’s skill was the real deal.

More and more people suddenly stepped forward. ”Me too!”

”Me too!”

”I would like to have a checkup please!”

Auric raised his hand to calm them down. ”All right. Please calm down.”

Auric had to deal with them one by one, but he already knew who had a problem in their body or not.

”To think that the vice president of the student council will be taking care of someone we don’t even know... Judging from the situation, is he one of the rumored exchange students?” Irvetta asked while looking at the crowd.

”Am I supposed to answer your question?” Katarina shrugged.

”No. I can guess why you are working here. It looks like the next two weeks will be interesting.” Irvetta smirked.

”I am not sure about that...” Katarina narrowed her eyes as though she noticed something. However, her expression returned to normal soon. ”My role is clear right now. Help with the store and protect him. That’s all.”

”Is that so? Well, I guess I will challenge you again once I’m healed.”

”Don’t think too much. No matter how many times you challenge me, it will be impossible for you to win.”

”We don’t know that.”

”Hmph.” Katarina said nothing further. Even though she acted confident, she never really looked down on her opponent. That was why there was no such thing as underestimating her opponent.

”Anyway, go back and get healed. If your condition is as severe as he said, you can probably take down two or three people in the ranking.”

”Hehehe.” Irvetta grinned. ”I’m looking forward to it.”

Milinda had been observing everything from the start. She wasn’t surprised by what Auric could achieve anymore.

In fact, Auric’s strategy worked. He first placed Katarina in front of the store to attract attention.

Then he would come out to check on their condition. As long as there were people who had a problem, he could gain their attention and attract a lot of customers.

Auric wouldn’t treat them on the same day. This way, there would be a stream of customers for two or three days.

People would be talking about his store during that time, which would result in even more customers.

A few hours later.

”Haa... ha...” Auric wiped the sweat from his forehead.

”You worked hard.” Milinda chuckled.

”I guess you are the one at the center of attention, not me.” Katarina scoffed. ”Does something like this happen at Grand Magica College as well?”

”Indeed. He’s practically an idol. His strength is at the top of his year, his status as an evolution master makes him popular, and his appearance says it all.” Milinda shrugged while rolling her eyes.

”Sounds like a hassle.” Katarina nodded. ”Well, I can understand that. Sometimes, dealing with people is harder than anything else. And it looks like you are in trouble.”

”!!!” Auric raised his eyebrows. ”I’m in trouble?”

”Yes.” Katarina raised two fingers. ”I saw two people scouting the store. I don’t know what’s going on, but have you made any enemies?”

”I don’t recall making any enemies.” Auric shook his head. ”This is the first day I’m studying at this university. I haven’t even talked much with my peers.”

Auric thought for a moment. He had given some assistance to his classmates. If one of them were like Simon, that person might be holding a grudge against him.

”So, trouble, is it?” Auric nodded in understanding. ”I will see what I can do.”

”My job here is just to protect you and the store while working. I won’t be responsible for anything that happens outside my working hours.”

”I know.”

”In that case, I’m going outside again.”

Auric’s expression turned solemn. He wondered who he had provoked again this time.

...

In another corner of the university, two guys gave their report.

”Young Master. It’s not good.”

”We’re sorry.”

”So, you guys failed? Talk about being useless.” The young master glared at them.

”No. We might have failed, but there is a good reason for this. The one protecting him and his store was Vice President Katarina!”

”!!!” The young master widened his eyes in shock. ”Do you mean that Katarina?”

”Yes, young master. We don’t know why Katarina helped him, but she actually wore a maid uniform when working in his store. He might have a way to control the Queen.”

The young master crossed his arms while furrowing his brow. ”There must be something going on. I need a full report. How is his store?”

”He was... good. He was able to spot Senior Irvetta’s hidden problem that no one knew.”

The young master’s expression turned grim. ”I need a reinvestigation. A full investigation on him. I want to know everything about him!”