Chapter 43: I've Never Learned to Be Low-Key

At 1:30 PM, a dolphin-shaped special aquatic shuttle glided toward Trelan Junior High School in the coastal district.

To conceal their identities, Tian Dao and the others were split into two groups, arriving in staggered batches under the guise of exchange students. Naturally, Tian Dao was paired with Kalolin, while Chen Kong and Chen Xing—siblings who had already arrived earlier that morning—were assigned to the other group.

“Tian Dao,” Kalolin said, glancing sideways at the lounging figure beside her in the dolphin shuttle, “just remember to keep it under control once we get to school, okay?”

Tian Dao, half-lounging in his seat, lazily replied, “I know, Kalolin. You’ve said that at least ten times since yesterday. Can you please stop repeating it?”

“I’ve got a hundred percent faith in you,” he added with a smirk. “I’m not going to mess anything up.”

Kalolin knew better. The words clearly slid right off one ear and out the other. She knew this guy—brilliant, capable, but utterly incapable of restraint. Telling him to stay calm was like asking him to give up sweets. Impossible.

If they were back at Yujin Base, it wouldn’t matter. That was their territory. Let Tian Dao strut around like a peacock—he could be as loud as he wanted. No problem.

But this was different.

They weren’t just on a protective mission assigned by the organization. They were now in a completely unfamiliar metropolis—New Federation’s Deep Blue Metropolis. If Tian Dao acted as recklessly as he did back home, he’d inevitably draw attention from the Deep Blue Metropolis branch of the Stellar Envoy Association.

And if the Stellar Envoys got involved, what should’ve been a simple assignment would spiral into chaos—complicating everything, and dragging the Stellar Prodigies into trouble.

After all, in the eyes of the New Federation, Requiem was officially classified as a “malevolent organization.” The moment a Stellar Envoy spotted one, they were authorized to eliminate it on sight.

But Tian Dao, who had read the original story, knew the truth: no matter how low-key he tried to be, the trouble would find him anyway.

Dorian, the richest man in Deep Blue Metropolis, had gone to extraordinary lengths—going so far as to secretly ally with Requiem, an organization universally despised across the Federation. That alone told you how deep the pressure ran. The man was drowning in problems, and only two forces in the city could have caused it.

One was the official power of the New Federation—the Deep Blue Defense Force.

The other? The Deep Blue Metropolis branch of the Stellar Envoy Association.

Tian Dao knew the real reason behind Dorian’s troubles.

It was all about the Deep Blue Tear—a rare, high-value resource under the exclusive control of one of the Four Great Families, the Shuangyin Family.

Dorian wanted a piece of that mining rights. And to stop him, the Shuangyin Family quietly manipulated a group of major shareholders within Tianhai Group, offering them sweet incentives to pressure Dorian into backing down.

But Dorian wasn’t a fool. He had his own connections—support from high-ranking members within the Shuangyin Family itself.

So the conflict wasn’t really between Dorian and the shareholders.

It was a power struggle within the Shuangyin Family—two factions vying for greater influence and control over the Deep Blue Tear.

“Miss Kalolin, Mr. Tian Dao,” the driver announced, “we’ve arrived.”

The dolphin shuttle came to a halt at the school gate. Tian Dao and Kalolin stepped out.

Before them stood a building shaped like a colossal seashell—its curved, iridescent form shimmering under the afternoon sun.

Tian Dao exaggerated, grinning, “Kalolin, if this giant shell is real, do you think we might find a priceless pearl inside?”

Kalolin shot him a deadpan look. “It’s not a shell. It’s the main classroom building. It just looks like a shell.”

“Really?” Tian Dao raised an eyebrow.

“Why would I lie? Did you even read the Deep Blue Metropolis City Handbook? It has a full section on Trelan Junior High.”

“I tossed that boring book ages ago,” Tian Dao shrugged. “No point in reading it. I’d rather trust my own eyes.”

Kalolin rolled her eyes, turned on her heel, and marched toward the main gate without another word—too tired to argue.

Trying to reason with Tian Dao? She’d already learned the hard way—this man was born without logic.

As she walked away, Tian Dao adjusted his sunglasses. Beneath them, his pale cerulean eyes flickered with a strange, almost imperceptible glow.

Just a shell-shaped building? I doubt it.

For a brief moment, he removed his sunglasses.

In his vision, the building came alive.

Veins of shimmering, faintly blue starlight—like liquid starlight—pulsed through the structure, flowing like blood through a network of stellar energy veins. The entire building throbbed with quiet, rhythmic power.

Tian Dao wanted to trace the source of that energy. But a complex star-warding spell, combined with spatial distortions, blocked his perception. He couldn’t pinpoint the core.

Still, that wasn’t why he was here.

He re-sighted his sunglasses.

“Stranger in a strange land,” he muttered. “Might as well let Kong guide me around. Better than wandering blind.”

“But first… I need food. I’m actually kind of hungry.”

Without hesitation, Tian Dao turned away from the academic buildings and headed straight toward the cafeteria.

Why go to the staff office first? Come on—reporting was nothing compared to drama.

He remembered clearly: Chen Kong—the protagonist of the Stellar Drama series—was having a rough time at school.

As an outsider, he’d shown no exceptional talent, no powerful connections. And so, the so-called “elite coastal locals” of Trelan Junior High had instantly labeled him a penniless interloper—some kind of “beggars from the mainland.”

It was almost comical.

Yet, in less than half a day, Chen Kong had already been targeted with full-blown regional discrimination.

Tian Dao had known this outcome from the start—but he still couldn’t help being amazed.

You’re the main character of an entire series. You’ve survived Requiem—a world full of monsters and deadly anomalies. And now, in a peaceful city, facing a bunch of ordinary kids with no Star Sources at all… you’re still getting bullied?

Where’s your Star Core? Where’s your Star Source? Where’s your combat training from the organization?

All because Yun Meng said to keep a low profile—does that mean you’re supposed to just take it? No defense? No pride?

So damn rigid.

Beneath the golden afternoon sun, Tian Dao strode through the campus in his blue-and-white Trelan uniform, sunglasses perched high on his nose, radiating confidence.

Low-key?

Sorry, but Tian Dao Siming can do everything—except learn to be quiet.

This drama? I’m in.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end