100\% DROP RATE : Why is My Inventory Always so Full?
Chapter 80 - Reconnect

Chapter 80: Chapter 80 - Reconnect

Ellen’s breathing hitched.

She turned toward the door... then froze.

It was clear. She wasn’t ready to face Maxim.

The others in the room noticed it too. With a collective sigh, they shook their heads.

"We’ll go ahead, Headmaster," Olga said, breaking the silence. "You’d better entertain the guests."

He turned on his heel and walked out.

The other department heads followed, giving Lucien polite nods and brief goodbyes.

On their way out, they instructed the guard, "Escort the guests to the Headmaster’s office."

And just like that, Lucien found himself alone with Ellen again.

He glanced at her... and sighed.

She hadn’t moved a muscle.

The air around her was... strange.

It felt heavier and warped... like time itself had slowed down around her.

Lucien frowned.

He recognized this.

She was using her skill.

Perfect Loop.

’Is she seriously running simulations in her head.’

The tension in the room confirmed it.

The distortion in the air...

The silence...

All signs pointed to her skill being active.

His mind automatically recalled the skill’s description...

***

Skill (Active/Passive): ★★★★★

Illustration: A broken clock suspended in the air with its hands spinning in reverse

Name: Perfect Loop

Description:

• Active – The caster’s senses accelerate to impossible speeds as time slows around her. The mind loops through countless possible outcomes in an instant, automatically choosing and executing the most optimal course of action.

• Passive – When in immediate danger, time automatically slows around her, giving her a brief window to react and counter.

***

Lucien sighed again.

He couldn’t help but think how well Ellen’s skill complemented Maxim’s Perfect Calculation.

Maxim’s PERFECT CALCULATION allowed him to analyze infinite variables and predict accurate outcomes.

And Ellen? She could simulate those decisions with absolute precision and think of the best course of action... thanks to her PERFECT LOOP.

Together, they were a terrifying match. Like logic and instinct fused into one flawless machine.

Lucien recalled Maxim’s skill description from the system...

***

Skill (Active/Passive): ★★★★★

Illustration: A glowing web of equations spinning around a head like a crown

Name: Perfect Calculation

Description:

• Active – Predicts anything by calculating countless possibilities in an instant... at the cost of a fitting price.

• Passive – The world becomes an equation, allowing the caster to measure and analyze everything with flawless precision.

***

Lucien sighed inwardly.

With the copied version of Perfect Calculation in his skill list, he only had access to the passive effect. The active part was locked.

And that was the thing.

Both Maxim’s and Ellen’s skills were just... overpowered. He couldn’t even begin to imagine the kind of side effects they had to endure.

Then he remembered a conversation he once had with Maxim.

He had asked him directly about it... What kind of side effects came with a skill like that?

Maxim’s response had caught him off guard.

"Well, there’s another use for my skill that I rarely touch. The side effects are too severe. But you want to know the biggest change when I got this skill?

"What is it?"

"It turned me into a perfectionist."

Lucien blinked in surprise.

"Eh? But you don’t seem like a perfectionist at all, Uncle Max."

Maxim had chuckled darkly.

"You don’t get it, Nephew. Being a perfectionist isn’t about doing things perfectly. It’s about noticing every flaw. Finding faults easily. And let me tell you... that sucks."

Lucien had fallen silent then. Enlightened.

He understood more than he wanted to.

Suddenly, a knock snapped Lucien out of his thoughts.

He glanced at Ellen who was still frozen in her loop and sighed.

Rising from his seat, he walked to the door and opened it.

Standing there were Edric and Maxim, both grinning from ear to ear.

Lucien’s instincts flared.

Danger.

He immediately took a step back.

Too late.

Edric was already lunging at him, arms wide in an incoming hug.

Lucien tried to dodge but Edric was fast.

"Oh, shit... Here we go again."

And just like that, Edric scooped him up into a tight embrace... lifting him off the ground like a sack of potatoes.

"GAHAHAHA! My dear nephew! I heard what happened from the guards. You really are my family’s lucky charm!"

Still holding Lucien, Edric added with glee, "I can’t wait to see the look on those bastards’ faces after this! GAHAHAHA!"

Maxim just shook his head as a quiet smile tugged at his lips.

He stepped forward, heading toward Ellen... who had finally stirred.

Their eyes met.

Neither spoke.

But the weight of everything unspoken filled the space between them.

Edric and Lucien both froze, immediately sensing the tension thickening in the air.

Without a word, Edric gently released Lucien and the two silently stepped aside to give the duo their space.

Lucien pulled two cans of coffee from his INVENTORY and handed one to Edric.

Edric blinked in surprise at the unexpected drink. His eyes flicked to the can, then to Lucien... but he said nothing. Now wasn’t the time to ruin the mood.

They sipped in silence, eyes locked on the unfolding scene.

Maxim and Ellen hadn’t spoken.

The tension was almost unbearable.

Then finally—

"Ellen..." Maxim said softly. His voice cut through the stillness.

Ellen flinched ever so slightly.

Her response, however, was anything but expected.

"Who are you again?"

Maxim froze in place, caught completely off guard.

Edric chuckled under his breath. Clearly entertained.

Lucien twitched.

’The hell? Women. Even when they grow old, they never learn how to be honest.’

He rolled his eyes in disbelief.

’She used Perfect Loop for this? This is the best course of action she could come up with? What a total waste of a five-star skill!’

Lucien didn’t want to watch the drama anymore.

Seriously, they were old enough. They should just be honest with each other.

Edric took a slow sip from his coffee, smirking.

"Women."

Lucien heard him and nearly choked on his drink.

He took a sip of his own to stifle the reaction.

Then their eyes met.

That was a mistake.

Both of them suddenly struggled to hold back laughter.

Their lips twitched as they tried to keep straight faces.

Edric leaned in closer. His voice was low with amusement.

"Haha, you see that, Nephew? If I had a daughter, I wouldn’t let her grow up like that. I’d scold her if she wasn’t honest."

Lucien raised an eyebrow, sensing something ominous.

Then came the real punchline.

"So rest assured," Edric said with a grin, "you should just marry my daughter and become part of the family."

Lucien choked on his coffee.

He glared at Edric.

"Uncle Ed, don’t force me to commit a crime. Your daughter’s not even born yet! And—I’m not a pedophile!"

Edric threw his head back and laughed. Not too loud.

"Come now," Edric said with a smirk. "I’m sure you don’t want to watch some old romance play out. We shouldn’t be here. Let’s leave the two old bones alone."

Lucien nodded in agreement... though a part of him doubted this would be resolved anytime soon. Especially with Ellen still pretending not to know Maxim.

So before they left, Lucien decided to give things a little nudge.

"Uncle Max," Lucien said with feigned innocence. "Aunt Ellen said earlier that she misses you so much. She was just... sultry that you didn’t come to see her while you were cursed. You never even visited her once."

At those words, Maxim’s eyes lit up.

Wide.

Surprised.

Apologetic.

Ellen, on the other hand—

Lucien didn’t get to see her reaction.

Because the moment those words left his mouth, Edric suddenly grabbed him around the waist like he was hauling a bag of potatoes... and bolted.

At a blinding speed.

As if his life depended on it.

"Nephew, don’t play with fire! We almost died back there!" Edric hissed.

His eyes were wide and his jaw was clenched as he ran.

Only then did Lucien notice how pale Edric had become.

Ghostly pale.

Had Ellen done something? He hadn’t even sensed it.

Within moments, they were already outside the academy gates.

Only then did Edric stop and exhale sharply, shoulders sagging in relief.

Lucien, still reeling, swayed a bit as Edric finally set him down.

His vision spun from the sudden acceleration.

A Silvermine carriage was already waiting just outside the academy gates.

The coachman blinked in surprise at their sudden appearance but... ever the professional, he quickly composed himself and gave a respectful nod when he saw them.

Edric turned to Lucien.

"Come, Nephew. Let’s visit the market district. Let’s see if anything catches your eye."

Lucien’s eyes lit up with excitement.

He had been curious to see just how grand the capital’s marketplace was.

Without hesitation, he climbed into the carriage with Edric.

The interior was as luxurious as expected, with fine cushioning and polished wood paneling.

Outside, the elegant silver horses trotted forward smoothly, pulling them into the heart of the capital.

Lucien watched the passing scenery with bright eyes... until Edric broke the silence.

"Nephew," he said, grinning, "I heard from the guards... you cut off some students’ dicks, huh? GAHAHA! Not a bad move at all!"

He let out a booming laugh.

Lucien tilted his head, unsure how to respond.

Edric continued, clearly enjoying himself.

"They’re not gonna go around announcing it. I mean, would you? Admitting it is like waving goodbye to their status as heirs. If they can’t do the deed, they can’t carry the bloodline. Simple as that."

He leaned back, smirking.

"And with the old witch’s help, they won’t even remember that it was you who did it. GAHAHA! Smart. Very smart."

Lucien’s eyes sparkled.

Then, Lucien asked something that had been nagging at him.

"Uncle Ed... I thought the Golddusts were supposed to be formidable. Ruthless and calculating. But that Thornel bastard was openly arrogant... like he wasn’t even trying to hide it. I expected more cunning from their side."

Edric fell silent.

He turned to the window, watching the passing scenery with distant eyes as if pulled into a memory.

His expression shifted.

"You can’t blame the new generation, Nephew. They’ve never seen the golden era of nobles..."

He paused... then turned to look Lucien directly in the eyes.

"Back then, the Golddusts were terrifying. Cold. Methodical. That’s how they managed to wipe out the Copperrock lineage. They didn’t boast, they didn’t bluster. Everything they did was behind the scenes. Quiet and precise."

He leaned back in his seat, eyes shifting upward as he continued.

"They didn’t dare act arrogantly here in the capital... because they couldn’t."

Lucien narrowed his eyes slightly, intrigued.

Edric’s voice lowered.

"Because during those years, the capital was the safest place in the kingdom. Not because of the guards. Not because of the law..."

He exhaled slowly.

"But because an assassin emerged. A shadow that moved in silence. He hunted down every corrupt noble. One by one... without fail."

A faint smile touched Edric’s lips.

"They called him... Thousand-skill Luke."