The Oga teacher shot Erin Xavier a quizzical look. "What are you thinking? Isn’t this a matter of common sense?"
"Of course not."
If they could, what would be the point of Alphas? Ogas could just go fight Xenobeasts themselves.
"An Oga’s spiritual power is ant to help you Alphas by dispelling and purifying the unstable factors that cause a spirit sea to go berserk."
Erin wasn’t surprised to hear this answer; it was what he had always believed to be true.
Under the teacher’s surprised and confused gaze, Erin humd, "Yeah, I just suddenly wondered if it was possible to do that."
The Oga teacher shook her head, clearly thinking Erin’s idea was a bit fanciful.
After checking on Erin, she didn’t linger and left.
Erin stood with his hands in his pockets, watching Zoe Pierce from a distance as she stood with Nathan Lockwood and Chase Shaw.
The teachers at the Federal Military Academy were more skilled than ninety-five percent of Comfort Officers out in the field. A firsthand account from an Oga teacher here was clearly the most mainstream and authoritative view there was.
If that was the case, then what was the deal with Zoe?
How could her spiritual power also be able to protect him?
’And then there was Nathan Lockwood, whose attitude had been strange from the very beginning.’ He narrowed his eyes. ’Does Nathan know about the issue with Zoe’s spiritual power?’
’If he does, why is he hiding it from us?’
Miles Sherman had finished talking to the teacher and walked up from behind Erin. Seeing him just standing there lost in thought instead of moving forward, Miles paused and asked, "What are you thinking about? Why aren’t you going over?"
Erin turned his head slightly. "Miles, why exactly is Nathan treating Zoe so specially?"
’If he won’t tell , Miles should at least know sothing, right?’
Miles explained in a low voice, "Nathan wants Zoe to officially join the squad and stick with us from now on. I haven’t agreed yet."
Only the two of them knew about this, so it was normal that Erin didn’t.
Erin raised an eyebrow. "I’d agree too, Miles. If Zoe can join the squad, I’m all for it."
"Chase would probably agree too."
"I thought you’d be the most against it." Miles glanced at him sideways. When he said he’d consider it, part of that consideration was how to convince Erin and Chase.
He just hadn’t expected Erin’s attitude to change so quickly, since he’d seed so displeased with Zoe before.
"That was different. I originally thought she’d be like all those other annoying Ogas, just trying to seduce us." Erin shrugged. "But she’s been pretty well-behaved these past few days."
"She didn’t even react when Chase’s spiritual power went rampant and he released his pheromones." Although he hadn’t called her disabled to her face, he clearly had fewer reservations with Miles. "She’s not like an Oga."
In terms of her behavior and her body, she didn’t seem like one.
She didn’t have that typical Oga delicateness, and she wasn’t affected by pheromones.
’And then there’s her spiritual power, which I still haven’t figured out. Interesting.’
"What’s her family’s situation? Do they need a lot of money?" Erin rembered Miles ntioning before that the Pierce Family needed to attract investors. He and Chase were probably the ones who knew the least about Zoe.
Before, he’d just thought of Zoe as another one off the assembly line—use her and toss her aside, so there was no need to care.
Miles said, "The Pierce Family is in the mining business. It’s a juicy prize."
Combine that with the fact that Zoe’s parents had passed away, and anyone sharp would understand the situation.
Without soone in charge, if the heir couldn’t keep up, the business would be swallowed up and absorbed.
Businessn don’t give you ti to prepare. Of course they’ll strike while you’re down.
Erin understood. "Her brother isn’t capable enough."
Miles nodded. He had investigated Zoe beforehand. He didn’t say anything else, just offered two phrases: "short-term borrowing against goods, gambling with collateral."
Miles hadn’t dug any deeper.
After a mont, Erin raised his eyebrows and smiled. "But she said she wants to learn from ."
When he first heard it, he just thought Zoe was a bit pitiful.
Parents dead, mory gone, an Oga without even pheromones—basically half-disabled—and a brother who seed unreliable.
But then he imdiately thought of what she’d said that day, and how she had stood in front of him today.
Zoe only looked soft. The personality hidden beneath that gentle face had a stubborn backbone.
’It’s quite a contrast.’
’Like a little kitten. Usually obedient, but she’ll show her claws unexpectedly. If you piss her off, she’ll give you a nasty scratch.’
"Erin Xavier!" Miles frowned, saying his na in a low, serious voice.
Erin pulled his hands out of his pockets and made a gesture of surrender. "Miles, you don’t have to keep reminding . I know my limits."
"Besides, Zoe’s soothing ability is very strong. I don’t think there’s a problem with being on good terms with her, right?"
Miles’s face was grim, his voice cold. "I hope you an what you say."
’Miles worries too much sotis,’ Erin couldn’t help but think. ’Anyone he even remotely approves of, he protects like a mother hen with her chicks.’
’And now, Zoe has clearly halfway caught his eye.’
He started walking toward Zoe and the others. "Let’s go, Miles. Isn’t it great we don’t have to sleep in the wild?"
’What a pleasant surprise. We don’t have to worry about food and lodging for the next few days.’
Miles followed, his brow tightly furrowed, but ultimately, he said nothing.
The five-person squad was now complete.
Once the teachers had more or less finished their survey, a dedicated person ca to escort them out.
They were assigned to a house built just outside the joint exam forest, specially for the teachers.
As a female Oga, Zoe Pierce was given her own room.
As for the rest, Nathan Lockwood and Chase Shaw shared a double room, while Erin Xavier and Miles Sherman shared another.
Nathan and Miles, who were directly responsible for the deaths of the two strangers, were called in for questioning one by one. Chase and Erin also went for more in-depth examinations.
Suddenly, the only one left with nothing to do was, surprisingly, Zoe.
But "nothing to do" wasn’t entirely accurate; Zoe didn’t just sit around.
Thinking about how she had only managed to sense the Xenobeast attack in the nursery in the cave, and ended up being carried out by Erin, she felt her physical fitness was still too poor.
While the four of them were busy, she asked a teacher where she could exercise in the main building and got back to training her stamina.
At the sa ti, she released her spiritual power, letting it spread out around her. She wanted to see what it was like to try and control it while exercising.
Aside from it being difficult to adapt at first, after a few hours, an exhausted Zoe collapsed onto the floor, panting.
With both her spiritual power and physical stamina drained, it felt like all the air had been squeezed out of her lungs, leaving her gasping desperately.
She was shakily trying to get to her feet when she heard a noise at the door.
The person walking in from the doorway paused, slightly startled to see her.
Zoe bit her lip. Her legs were as soft as noodles, making it impossible to stand. All she could do was sit there and call out awkwardly, "Miles... uh... hello?"
There was nothing for it. It was only then that Zoe realized she actually didn’t know Miles very well at all.
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