The Last Gentleman

As Yi Chen left the "Fetal Heart Chapel," his expression was slightly strange.

The series of simple tests had triggered memories from his time at the orphanage… memories that felt like opening a cursed box hidden deep in a cellar, accidentally releasing ancient curses that had been sealed away for a long time.

He instantly became cold, with a subtle aura of death, and even the color of his eyes darkened.

However, this state did not last long.

"Looking back, I suppose it wasn’t all bad~ If it weren't for the 'special environment' of the orphanage, and the strict management rules set by the 'new principal,' and if I hadn’t survived in such a setting…

Even if I did manage to cross over to this place, I’d probably be killed and my body drained by the living corpses from Cemetery No. 4, with not even my ashes left behind.”

In just five seconds, he reverted to normal, locking those overflowing memories back in the depths of his mind.

Little Grape also noticed the subtle change in Yi Chen, but it didn’t say anything, only finding him even more interesting.

…

These dormitories leaned more toward a Victorian architectural style rather than a strong Gothic influence.

Red brick walls, gabled roofs, bay windows, and iron railings.

They gave off a warm feeling, a stark contrast to the cold Gothic buildings, making them more suitable for living.

All the dormitories were four stories tall, with limited capacity.

Yi Chen analyzed briefly: “Only seventeen of us passed the assessment. Those who chose the ‘black letter’ path will undergo a completely different type of training, and the enrollment was already small to begin with. Moreover, the school has a ‘two-year’ limit, and the student count is capped at a modest level… I’d guess most of these rooms are likely single occupancy.”

His guess was right.

After verifying his identity as a new gentleman under one of the dormitories, Yi Chen was assigned a "two-bedroom, one-living-room" unit with a Nordic minimalistic and natural decor.

His favorite room was the "study."

Its large windows faced the "Twin Towers," and when he grew tired at the desk, he could simply stand up and gaze at the starlit campus landscape.

He took out Professor Chamberson’s "schedule," which was packed with various targeted training sessions.

Only Sunday evenings were free; otherwise, his schedule was full, and his sleep time was reduced to around six hours per day.

Yet Yi Chen didn’t mind the arrangement.

In fact, he eagerly anticipated the coming "Pathology" class and its mysterious instructor.

When you’re busy for something you’re passionate about, no amount of busyness is burdensome.

With a clear goal, the prospect of progress and growth, and the ability to see and feel self-improvement, this was so much better than his previous life, stuck in a cramped lab, endlessly writing papers, only to face ordinary, pressure-filled days, with no guarantee of a good job even after graduation.

…

Monday morning was set for "Pathology" classes.

All students were required to reach the mountain base of the Twin Towers by 8:00 AM, where they waited for the elevator to take them up.

The massive elevator could transport everyone to the teaching building’s entrance at the mountain’s peak.

Of course, students could also arrive earlier and challenge themselves by climbing the nearly vertical mountain column by hand, to hone their physical strength…

Believe it or not, some new gentlemen focusing on "physique" actually opted for this choice.

The venue for the "Pathology" class, the Wilsterman Teaching Building, was named after the subject’s founder and vice-principal, George Wilsterman.

This multi-story, sealed, nearly windowless square building looked more like a giant gray brick standing atop the mountain.

The reason for it being "sealed" was simple.

Inside the building were various pathological materials for teaching, corpses of patients, as well as infected plants, inorganic substances, and so forth.

Additionally, for safety management and effective teaching, classes here were small.

The gentlemen who passed the assessment together formed one class (if fewer than ten, classes would be combined), and with Yi Chen’s group of seventeen, they made up their own class.

It’s worth noting that the duration of "Pathology" classes was set for *one year*.

Once the final exams were completed, unless under special circumstances, students would not need to enter this building again.

......

*Early Morning [07:50]*

A crowd of over 130 gentlemen had already gathered in front of the large elevator.

As Yi Chen approached the group, he immediately heard a familiar greeting.

"William, your suit looks amazing!"

The one greeting him was Edmund, a blonde man who had been looking around for Yi Chen since he arrived.

The other gentlemen who had passed the assessment together with him turned their heads upon hearing Yi Chen's English name. Everyone was curious about how unique a suit made from the skin of the "First Gentleman" could be.

Clearly, the ancient aura from Yi Chen's suit was stronger, and the supportive effects provided by the clothing were significantly better.

Edmund squeezed through the crowd and quickly came up beside Yi Chen. He held his left wrist with his right hand, barely able to contain his excitement as he asked, "Can I touch it?"

"Sure."

Touching the suit wasn’t an issue—it had a self-cleaning function.

Edmund lightly brushed it with his fingers, feeling a tingling sensation spreading throughout his body.

"This...what level of quality is this? Even in my family, I haven’t seen such a perfect early suit... Where did you get this made?"

"From a friend of Professor Chambers."

"Seems like a private tailor I don't know about. I'm really envious."

Yi Chen then looked Edmund up and down, commenting in a low voice, "Your suit isn't bad either."

Edmund wore a dark blue double-breasted suit with a peak lapel, six buttons, and a high lapel design, exuding a dignified yet lively noble aura.

As for the other two members of Edmund's team, one wore black and the other white as their main colors.

Juliana’s black suit leaned toward a casual style, with a narrow-shouldered, slim fit design that highlighted her figure.

Dagobert, on the other hand, was like a suited brute. His white suit clung perfectly to his body, showcasing the muscular lines beneath.

Notably, the gentleman with the colorful mask and patterned suit, "Jin," was absent. It was almost certain that Jin had chosen a black envelope.

When the time came, the massive elevator carried everyone up toward the mountain peak.

Edmund leaned in close to Yi Chen’s ear and whispered, "Hey, I heard some insider news. Due to staffing issues, the school assigned us a teacher for Pathology who’s a bit problematic. His teaching methods were once so improper that they led to the direct death of a student. He faced severe punishment and a trial in Zion...but he was kept on because of his irreplaceable and unique expertise. Let’s look out for each other during class, alright?"

"Sure."

...

Entering the Wilsterman Building required passing through a long, dimly lit hallway for a thorough inspection. They then climbed a winding internal staircase to reach the classroom.

Along the hallways, they could hear the hum of generators. The building used a self-sustaining power system, completely separated from Zion City’s power supply to prevent pathogen contamination.

After nearly twenty minutes, they finally reached the classroom floor.

The layout resembled an old ward designed to hold severely mentally ill patients: narrow, enclosed corridors with iron doors equipped with small observation windows, and tungsten lamps flickering with a dying hum.

*[#203]*

This was the special classroom where Yi Chen and the others would study [Pathology] for the next year.

They pushed open the iron door.

Inside was an old, completely sealed classroom. Twenty rusted metal desks were scattered around, and the so-called podium resembled more of a metal autopsy table. As they found seats and arranged the desks, they heard faint footsteps from outside the door.

Everyone instinctively straightened, assuming it was the teacher arriving.

However, as the footsteps grew closer, their expressions began to change.

The sounds were not of a single person but of a dense crowd approaching.

Creak!

The moment the classroom door opened, the already flickering tungsten lamp went out.

In the darkness, a horde of deformed, living beings crowded through the narrow doorway, pouring into the classroom like a flood.

........................................................................

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