Chapter 67 - 66: Parents’ Accident
"Yeah," Yvonne Lowell shrugged. "While it wouldn’t have gotten you an automatic acceptance, if you had applied to Loster with that award back then, the minimum score for undergraduate admission would have been lowered by at least 30 points."
Yancy Lowell collapsed onto the sofa, his expression utterly lifeless. His eyes were vacant, as if his very soul had departed.
’If he had just applied to Loster seven years ago, he might have reunited with his sister in his sophomore year. He might have even gotten to study directly under Professor Spencer.’
"PFFT!" Harrison Lowell spat out a mouthful of water. "Hahahahahaha! Serves you right, Yancy! Hahahahaha, you finally got what was coming to you."
Caleb Lowell glanced up at him, his eyes holding a hint of pity.
’He missed the cutoff by three points back in the day. And here his younger brother had a 30-point reduction and didn’t even take it.’
’How great would it have been if that was for him?! If they’d lowered his score by 30 points, he would have been a shoo-in!!’
[What does that mean? Their fourth brother could’ve gone to Loster at 12?!]
[I think it’s very likely. After all, his grades in every subject were excellent...]
[I just looked up that competition from seven years ago. The winner of the perfect score gold medal + special award was really named Yancy Lowell... 12 years old, and the youngest contestant that year.]
[That’s terrifying... Why are these two siblings both so smart?!!]
[So the fourth brother almost became his sister’s senior?!]
[Not necessarily, sis. After all, that demon graduated in just three years...]
[He’d be a sophomore when she’s a freshman. He’d be defending his bachelor’s thesis when she’s graduating with her doctorate.]
[Stop, you’re scaring me. Just gonna hug my trembling self...]
"It’s fine. It’s not too late to write it down now," Yvonne Lowell said, patting his shoulder.
"Maybe I shouldn’t. I didn’t apply back then. What if they hold a grudge? What if they just reject me outright now?" Yancy Lowell stared at the ceiling with dead fish eyes.
Adrian Lowell leaned in and said, "You’re overthinking it, fourth brother. So many geniuses get into Loster every year. They won’t remember you specifically."
"Get lost!" Yancy Lowell kicked at him irritably.
Yvonne Lowell rubbed her nose. "Ahem, actually, Adrian has a point. Just add it. The rest of the application is fine. Once it’s translated, you can submit it."
Yancy Lowell sat up and started typing on the computer. "Fine, I’ll listen to Nola. I’ll put it all down and leave the rest to fate."
"I think you’re just worrying for nothing. You’ve already been guaranteed a spot in the doctoral program at Aurelia Tech anyway. Just go for it," Harrison Lowell said casually, his eyes on the ’VICTORY’ on his screen.
[I’m starting to wonder if their family group chat is named: A Family of Loving Frenemies.]
[Hahahahahaha, it’s possible. Other families are all lovey-dovey, but they’re all about loving and killing each other.]
[At this point, whenever I hear them talk about guaranteed doctoral programs, I feel absolutely nothing.]
[+1. Compared to everything else, I can calmly say: ’Just a guaranteed doctorate. No big deal.’]
...
After lunch, Yvonne Lowell was in the kitchen washing fruit when she heard the THUMP THUMP THUMP of approaching footsteps.
Turning around, she saw Adrian Lowell running toward her, phone in hand. "Sister, your phone is ringing."
"Thanks, Adrian."
Yvonne Lowell took the phone. Seeing the caller ID ’0’, her brow furrowed slightly.
She glanced at the kitchen camera, then walked quickly upstairs before answering the call.
A moment later, Yvonne Lowell came rushing back downstairs, having already changed her clothes.
As she passed through the living room, she slowed her pace and tried to act nonchalant as she called out, "I have to go out for a bit. You guys have fun without me."
Without another word, she left without looking back.
"Nola, where are you going?!"
"Sis..."
The four brothers chased after her, only to see Yvonne Lowell’s car already disappearing into the distance.
They were left standing there, staring at each other in bewilderment.
[Where is the sister going?]
[Probably because of the call she just got? Must be something urgent. I noticed she avoided us to take it.]
[Seriously? They’re in the middle of filming a show and she just leaves? What kind of person is she? Acting like a big shot?]
[Are you sick? Are people not allowed to have emergencies? Besides, the guest contracted for the show is Lowell, not her, okay?]
[Exactly! Can’t you see she was in a hurry?]
...
「Kingsland Suburbs, beside a military transport plane.」
"Chief, aren’t we leaving yet?" a man in combat fatigues asked, his face a mask of irritation.
Stanley Sutton, standing to the side, was also getting impatient. "Just a little longer. The higher-ups said they’re sending us some backup."
"Are you kidding me? We’re on a tight schedule! Do you see what time it is?!" the man exclaimed, grabbing a handful of his hair in frustration.
A man with glasses spoke up, trying to smooth things over. "Alright, it’s not takeoff time yet. Everyone calm down."
"Tch, Glasses, you’re just too much of a pushover," the hot-headed man said resentfully.
...
Yvonne Lowell slammed the accelerator to the floor, losing count of how many red lights she ran on the way.
In less than an hour, she reached the Kingsland Suburbs.
She had just killed the engine when she saw a familiar face.
She paused for a second, took out a mask and put it on, then got out of the car and approached.
"Let’s go."
Stanley Sutton’s brow furrowed slightly as he looked at the petite girl before him, who wore a black mask with gold filigree. "You’re Number 1?"
Yvonne Lowell had driven an ordinary car today, one without the Lowell family insignia.
That, plus the voice changer she was using, was why Stanley Sutton didn’t recognize her.
"I am. Enough chitchat. Let’s move."
With that, she moved to board the plane, but was blocked by the hot-headed man from before.
"You’re the backup the higher-ups sent? Seriously? With those skinny arms and legs, you think you’re up for this?"
A dangerous glint flashed in Yvonne Lowell’s eyes. She took two steps back and faced the hot-headed man.
"S-Class Fire Element?"
The hot-headed man froze. "How did you know? Did the higher-ups tell you?"
Yvonne Lowell kicked him in the stomach. Caught off guard, the man stumbled back several steps.
Her Fire Ability had seared a shoe print onto his clothes, yet his skin underneath was unharmed.
The faces of the others changed as they rushed forward to help the man. "Deputy Captain!"
The hot-headed man’s expression was complicated. "You..."
"Am I qualified now?"
"My apologies. I failed to recognize my superior," the hot-headed man apologized.
"I’m here to cover your asses, not to take your crap. If you’ve got a problem, suck it up. You’re welcome to challenge me to a one-on-one after the mission is complete. But right now, I’m in charge. Board the plane."
With that, Yvonne Lowell turned and boarded the plane.
Everyone looked at Stanley Sutton. He was the first to follow her. "Let’s move out."
The plane took off. Ten superpower users were crammed in the back, occasionally stealing glances at Yvonne Lowell.
They exchanged glances with each other, but no one dared to speak.
...
Yvonne Lowell sat by herself, watching the clouds outside the window.
Her eyes darkened as she recalled the contents of the phone call.
"Six Aurelian citizens have been taken hostage in Country X. They need rescue."
"And?"
"I’ve assigned the rescue mission to the Anomalous Abilities Unit. I’d like to ask you to go along as their backup, to provide a safety net."
"Tsk. Are you trying to fleece me now?"
"Among those six citizens... two of them... are your parents."