"I...I...I, this...actually, I came up with this."

As Carol approached the last player present who hadn't handed in a gift.

Gu Xinghe was surprised to see him take out a recruitment flyer from his pocket.

"See? I told you, Lekaya, your paintings are beautiful! There will definitely be new students drawn to them because of them!"

"Sister... Sister, stop talking. It's just a very ordinary painting."

"But including this time, three new students have already come to the school to register for school with this flyer!"

I always knew this recruitment method would work!

He took the recruitment flyer from the last player with one hand.

Carol rested the pad of her left thumb and the knuckle of her index finger on her chin, admiring the brochure in her hand with her sister.

Through that fleeting glimpse, Gu Xinghe saw that the content on it was entirely hand-drawn.

The upper part of the flyer features a brightly colored picture, depicting what appears to be a beautiful campus environment.

The lower half contains a long passage of elegant and beautiful text, which appears to be a description of the school.

Although the specific content on the flyer could not be clearly seen.

But with just that one glance, Gu Xinghe could guess that it must be exactly the same as the "rumored" in the game's background.

This is probably what they call a photo fraud.

However, what the last player said made Gu Xinghe realize something instantly.

He came to the academy based on the flyer he was holding.

In other words, unlike others who are randomly placed into the instance.

The last player entered the school on their own, and the flyer was the item needed to unlock this instance.

Carol had just mentioned that three new students had already arrived at the school with flyers to register.

This may indicate that before this player, there were two other players who also opened this instance on their own using this flyer.

What is the probability that a non-player could actually enroll in this school based on this flyer?

Gu Xinghe looked around at the somewhat gloomy and strange campus in front of him and silently crossed out this possibility.

After accepting the recruitment flyer, Carol never asked the player for a gift again.

Gu Xinghe wondered if this was because the initial identity was different due to the fact that the instance was opened voluntarily.

Just like the [Golden Apple Theater] instance that he initiated back then.

But what set him apart from others at the time was his status as an audience member and an ordinary worker.

Aside from not being extorted for gifts, this player seemed to be just like everyone else, an ordinary freshman.

After collecting gifts from each of the freshmen present, Carol finally turned around, satisfied.

At this moment, she finally noticed the three boys who had arrived late earlier, standing silently behind her.

"Oh! You're here too. As fellow alumni, what kind of welcome gift would you like to receive from the new students?"

"Haha, it's okay, we don't need any gifts."

Gu Xinghe saw the person who had been winking at them earlier waving his hand and speaking.

Based on this, it seems that these three players entered the instance before them.

Seeing that they seemed to be completely unharmed, it's hard to imagine how these three managed to get past Carol's gift-giving challenge.

Just as the players on Gu Xinghe's side were about to breathe a sigh of relief after hearing the boy's rejection, Carol spoke up again.

"No way! If I accept the gifts but you don't, Teacher Elaine will definitely nag us again if she finds out!"

【But when you make a mistake, you get nagged by the teacher; when we make a mistake, we're locked in the solitary confinement room!】

Hearing the thoughts of the three people opposite him, Gu Xinghe's heart skipped a beat.

"How about we accept a hug from each of our new classmates as a greeting gift? It'll also be a good way to express our friendliness."

The other one of the three then spoke with a smile.

"Great! Now you're all receiving gifts, just like us!"

Carol happily agreed.

After Carol and Rekaya hugged each of the five freshmen, including Gu Xinghe, the three people behind them took turns hugging them.

"Alright! New students, now you can follow us into the campus!"

"Tao Changyi, could you please carry that classmate who collapsed on the ground inside as well?"

After all, once he accepts the gift, he'll be our new classmate, and classmates should help each other in a friendly way.

The one referred to as Tao Changyi was the same person who had given the five players meaningful glances earlier.

As he walked over to the player who was slumped on the ground...

With lightning speed, she tore open his white shirt and quickly bandaged the wound on his hand.

However, he did not carry him on his back, but simply supported his shoulders and pulled him inside.

At this moment, the group of ten finally entered the campus.

Clang—clang—clang—

The moment they officially stepped into the school gate, ten bells rang out.

The melodious chimes echoed faintly from afar, emanating from the clock tower hidden behind the buildings.

It is unclear whether the sudden sound startled the guests in the clock tower.

From afar, the crowd saw a flock of black birds flying out of the clock tower, emitting hoarse and unpleasant cries.

There was none of the usual sound of students reading aloud or laughing and playing around on campus.

The only ten students walked through the quiet, deserted campus.

The area occupied by Shuguang Boarding School is definitely not small.

But it is precisely because of its enormous size that the place appears even more tranquil and empty, especially with only ten students remaining.

At this moment, after everyone entered the school, Carol led the group along a corridor leading to the teaching area.

There was a small pond on one side of the corridor, but no fish could be seen swimming in the emerald green water.

Only a few aquatic plants grow sparsely in the pond.

Around the pond, several lush, green trees were planted.

Squeak-squeak-squeak-

The annoying chirping of cicadas started at some point.

The incessant chirping seemed to resonate and vibrate in the eardrums of everyone present, almost causing tinnitus.

Amidst the seemingly endless chirping of cicadas, an extremely clear image inexplicably appeared in everyone's minds.

It was a cicada perched on a tree trunk, its eardrums vibrating up and down to make a sound.

Its tentacles supported it on the tree trunk, and its black body and eyes gleamed strangely in the dappled shadows of the trees.

The transparent, net-like wings fluttered gently in the air from time to time.

Amidst the continuous chirping of cicadas, the pace of the group seemed to unconsciously synchronize.

The corridor leading to the classroom seemed exceptionally long.