Chapter 87: New Dollars

Xiao Lin coughed a few times after being ignored and raised his hand weakly, asking, “Excuse me, what are New Dollars?”

Both Hank and the student union president shot him a weird look. The president was the first to react and patted his head, unsure whether to laugh or cry. “I almost forgot that you’re still a new student. Let me explain briefly. New Dollars are the currency for the New World. It’s jointly promoted by all our colonial academies in Planet Norma to replace the chaotic currency system there.”

“Can the New Dollar really buy anything?” Xiao Lin was skeptical.

The president smiled and said, “You can rest assured that this is different from redemption points. The so-called redemption points or credits are merely a trading system used by students in our academy, while the value of New Dollars is vouched for by the Supreme Council, which comprises all colonist academies throughout the world. The purchasing power of New Dollars is guaranteed in all colonies.”

“Understood, redemption points can only be used within the academy, while New Dollars are the currency of the new world. What’s the Supreme Council then?” Xiao Lin blinked his confused eyes.

The president sighed. “We can go on forever if we are to explain these things. In the future, all these basic things will be systematically explained to the freshmen before they enter the New World for the first time. You are an exception.”

“Judge Academy will send someone to help him understand these things,” Hank answered quickly.

“I don’t understand English,” Xiao Lin gave a very curt response.

The president had a headache. “How about I send someone to accompany Xiao Lin? After all, it’d be more convenient for people in my school to communicate. There are still many things that need attention before going to the New World.”

Xiao Lin and Hank thought for a while before nodding simultaneously in agreement.

The president rubbed his hands and looked at Hank, “Well then, I’m sure you know that even senior students or graduates have many things to do. If you want to get them to go to Judge Academy, it’s all a question of labor costs…”

Xiao Lin was a little speechless. Was that a buy-one-get-one-free offer?

Hank finally lost it and jumped up. He shook his head like a rattle and objected, “NO! Absolutely not! If I agree, I’ll be sliced in half by my superiors when I return!”

The president’s baby face looked quite dejected. He was not trying to deliberately embarrass the American, but he had no power—not even with his president’s authority—to compel any senior or graduate to accompany Xiao Lin to Judge Academy for free. It was almost impossible for them to do so unless they were paid.

“Maybe you can have Department Head Song come along with me?” Xiao Lin suddenly proposed.

“Department Head Song? Which Department Head Song?” The president asked blankly and quickly realized. “You mean Song Junlang, the Head of the Logistics Department?”

“Yes, him!”

The president looked at Xiao Lin hesitantly for a moment and before mulling over the idea. “I heard that the two of you get along well, but I don’t think your relationship with him is so good that he would be willing to accompany you to America for no reason. It’ll be good if you can convince him, but if not, I’m afraid I can only ask Judge Academy for the favor.”

“I’ll call him!” Xiao Lin was not very sure, but instead of going to a completely unfamiliar academy all by himself, he felt that it would be better to find a reliable person to accompany him. After living at Dawn Academy for a month, the only person he knew who met that requirement was Department Head Song.

Based on what Xiao Lin knew, Department Head Song usually woke up at around that time on weekends and might be washing up or having lunch. The call quickly connected and the virtual image of Song Junlang in pajamas with bread in his mouth appeared through the magic cell phone.

Xiao Lin expected such a scene and briefly explained everything.

After listening to everything, Song Junlang widened his eyes and finished the bread in his mouth in two bites. Ignoring the crumbs at the corners of his mouth, he shouted with spittle flying everywhere, “What? You want me to go to America! I don’t care what reasons you have for going there, but why should I accompany you! Have you gone bonkers after the monthly exam? Don’t you know I have loads of stuff to do at my farm—ahem—I mean my Logistics Department, everyday!”

Xiao Lin murmured, “What else could you be doing other than spraying hypnotics on your cabbages or something like that? Just have the president arrange people to take care of them for a few days.”

“Don’t use the student union president to threaten me! Someone higher-up is taking care of me and I’m not afraid!” Song Junlang looked absolutely frustrated.

The student union president coughed a few times to indicate that he was still there. Hank shrugged and turned around wisely to show that he would not interfere with the Dawn Academy’s internal affairs.

Xiao Lin was silent for a while and sighed. “Then I won’t bother you, Department Head Song.”

Song Junlang snorted twice. “I’ll hang up if there’s nothing else.”

Xiao Lin then said, “Well, actually, there is one more thing. I didn’t perform very well in this monthly exam and ended up getting a bad grade because of the side effects of the burning Fire Chicken that you gave me before. I thought about it for a while and I’m afraid I won’t be able to participate in your diet therapy research in the future…”

The corner of Song Junlang’s eyes twitched noticeably. He was silent for less than a second and his expression changed rapidly. A hearty laugh soon followed and he said, “I was just kidding! Did you actually take that seriously! Come on, what are we? Of course, I’ll help you. This is no biggie! Tell me, when are we going to Judge Academy!”

“The specific time hasn’t been set yet and I’ll let you know once I get news! But if you’re really busy, then it’s okay if you can’t come with me.”

“Xiao Lin, you don’t consider me as a friend anymore if you say that again! Don’t worry, just let me know if you’re facing any difficulties and I’ll help you as much as I can. After all, someone high-up is watching over me!”

…

The student union president’s face was a bit stiff after Xiao Lin hung up. He had no idea whether he should admire Xiao Lin’s quick-witted wisdom or denounce Song Junlang for being so unethical. After a long while, he said, “I’ll send someone to make arrangements with Department Head Song’s Logistics Department and he can rest easy… You seem to have a very good relationship with him… Hehe.”

Xiao Lin forced a smile. “Yes, we have a very good relationship… Hehe.”

Now that the chaperone had been selected, it was much easier to handle everything else. Hank seemed to suggest that the sooner they set off, the better, and the best scenario was if they could set off immediately. However, the president indicated that they had to go through many procedures. First of all, Xiao Lin would be absent from school for a month, and it was imperative that their teachers must be briefed. The central computer must also be notified so Xiao Lin’s daily absence would not be recorded in the attendance. To do all that, the dean must first be informed, and it was the dean who had to give his final approval before they could proceed with the above procedure.

After sending Hank away, the president said to Xiao Lin, “The entire process won’t be too slow. The procedures will probably be completed tomorrow or the day after. As for Department Head Song, I’ll have to trouble you to inform him about it. You can rest a bit for these two days. After all, you just finished your monthly exam.”