Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

"Let's go," Shengya from Lily Garden urged softly.

The group walked down the stairs, through the empty corridors of Abydos, and out of the main building's main entrance.

The car parked outside wasn't the limousine that had brought them in; instead, it was a medium-sized bus.

The bus has a plain appearance, with a low-key gray paint job and no obvious college markings.

“To avoid unnecessary attention,” Saintia explained, “we’ll transfer to this train to the subway station. Taking the subway is the fastest way from District 3 to Trinity’s main campus.”

She paused, then added, "While Kiwatos's road system is well-developed, its speed and reliability are far inferior to the subway due to 'border checks' between school districts and occasional 'temporary controls.' The subway system is directly managed by the Commonwealth Student Council, and even though the student council is now almost paralyzed, its basic operating rules remain in effect, and it has the highest priority."

Lin Yi nodded to show his understanding.

The group boarded the bus. The interior was clean, the seats were comfortable, and the air conditioning was at a suitable temperature.

The driver, wearing sunglasses, simply nodded slightly after seeing Shengya and the others get into the car, without saying anything more.

The bus started and smoothly drove out of the school gates of Abydos, heading towards the central area of ​​the third school district along the bumpy road on the edge of the desert.

About twenty minutes later, the bus stopped near the entrance to the Third School District Central Hub.

Everyone got off the bus and entered the subway station.

It still has that simple silver-gray style, automatic ticket machines, and only a handful of passengers.

Saint Garden bought the tickets with practiced ease—this time using Trinity's official account, a stack of magnetic card tickets quickly arrived.

The train pulls into the station, slides in, and the doors open silently.

The group entered the carriage.

There weren't many passengers at that time, and the carriage was very quiet.

The five girls from Abydos sat somewhat reservedly in their seats. Their Trinity uniforms attracted some attention, but most of those glances were just curious glances that quickly moved away.

The train started and accelerated, and the streaks of light on the tunnel walls outside the window merged into one.

Lin Yi leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes to rest. He could sense that Baiheyuan Shengya, sitting opposite him, seemed to be watching him, but he didn't open his eyes.

About fifteen minutes later, the announcement came over the loudspeaker:

"Arriving soon: Trinity College Central Plaza Station. This station is located within the Trinity College area. Please observe the College's code of conduct. Repeat: Please maintain proper behavior in public areas and avoid making noise, running, or other indecent behavior."

The broadcast had a soft yet clear tone, but the content had a distinctive style.

The train began to slow down and slowly came to a stop.

The car door slid open.

An aura completely different from that of Gohena wafted over me.

It was a complex scent that blended floral, tea, and high-end perfume aromas.

The air was fresh, the temperature was pleasant, and even the light seemed softer than outside.

Lin Yi stepped out of the train carriage and onto the platform.

The first thing that catches the eye is the decoration of the platform itself.

The floor is covered with smooth marble, pieced together in a complex geometric pattern.

The walls are made of milky white stone, with exquisite reliefs carved on them—angels, flowers, vines, and some patterns that look like ancient scriptures.

A crystal chandelier hangs from the ceiling, its lighting carefully designed to be neither too bright nor too dim, illuminating every corner just right.

There was almost no graffiti on the platform, nor any damage or stains.

Everything was neat and orderly, as perfect as the lobby of a luxury hotel.

The pedestrians on the platform perfectly matched this atmosphere.

They all wore the same Trinity uniform, often adorned with gold decorations.

The girls stood or sat, their postures elegant, their voices soft, and their manners proper.

Most of them are beautiful and have outstanding temperament; some even have white wings folded behind their backs—a common racial feature among Trinity students.

Lin Yi even saw a girl accidentally drop her book on the ground, and another girl next to her immediately bent down to pick it up for her. The two smiled and nodded at each other, and then left. The whole process was quiet, smooth and natural.

Orderly, elegant.

This was Lin Yi's first impression of Trinity.

It is completely different from the chaotic, wild, and vibrant order of Gohena.

"This way," Shengya from Lily Garden said softly, and with the help of a guard, she took the lead towards the exit.

The group followed.

Stepping out of the subway station, the scene before them caused everyone except for Seiya, Mika, and Nagisa to pause slightly.

A square so huge it was suffocating.

The ground is paved with flawless white stone, each stone having a side length of over two meters, and the gaps between the stones are so fine that they are almost invisible.

In the center of the square is a huge fountain, and at the center of the fountain stands a marble sculpture—an angel with outstretched wings, holding an open book in its hands.

Water jets gushed from the pages of the book, refracting a rainbow of colors in the sunlight.

The square is surrounded by rows of classical-style buildings.

A towering clock tower, a domed auditorium, a library adorned with exquisite reliefs, and a continuous stretch of buildings.

All the buildings are constructed of white or light gray stone, with window frames and decorative elements in gold or dark brown, creating a harmonious and luxurious overall tone.

What's most eye-catching are the "shops" on both sides of the square.

It wasn't an ordinary shop; it was more like a combination of a high-end gallery, jewelry store, antique shop, and luxury boutique.

Through the huge glass window, you can see the goods displayed inside: exquisite jewelry, porcelain ornaments that look like antiques, high-quality silk fabrics, and all kinds of desserts, teas, and coffee beans. The prices on the tags next to them made Kuromi Serika subconsciously swallow.

"The desserts here..." Celery's eyes widened as she pointed to the window of the nearest dessert shop, her voice trembling slightly, "That... three-tiered cake tart... is priced at... 188,888?"

With each number she pronounced, her voice grew weaker until it was almost a whisper.

188,888 United Coins.

Based on Celery's usual hourly wage, she would need to work continuously for almost a month without eating or drinking to afford that cake tower.

The values ​​of migrant worker soldiers have been greatly impacted.

Takanashi Hoshino frowned as well. She looked at the shops around her, then at the smartly dressed students in the square, and whispered to Nomiya beside her, "Is this... really a school?"

Nomiya nodded with a wry smile: "That's how Trinity is. Many of the 'students' here come from families with vast businesses and influence in Kivotos. For them, an 180,000-dollar dessert might just be a casual afternoon tea treat."

She paused, then added, “Of course, Trinity also has students from ordinary families, but most of those students apply for scholarships or work part-time in various departments of the college to maintain a ‘decent’ appearance that matches their surroundings. Class differences are well hidden here, but they are everywhere.”

Ayane Okusora listened silently, her fingers unconsciously clenching the hem of her clothes.

Her family used to be part of the upper class, but that was a long time ago.

Standing here now, she feels only unfamiliarity and alienation.

The Sand Wolf Bai Zi didn't react much. She stood quietly beside Lin Yi, her blue eyes scanning the surroundings as if she were observing the terrain and assessing potential threats or evacuation routes.

At this moment, Saintia from Lily Garden took out five cards from her small bag.

The card is pure white with gold lines along the edges. The front features the emblem of Trinity, while the back has a magnetic strip and a chip.

“These are temporary student cards.” Saintia handed the cards to the five girls from Abydos. “They’re already activated and linked to temporary credit accounts. You can use these cards to pay for all your daily expenses during your time at Trinity, and the costs will be charged to your exchange program account.”

She paused, glanced at Hoshino and the others, and said, "Don't worry about the price. Buy whatever you want. This is also part of experiencing life at Trinity."

Hoshino took the card, held it in his hand, and had a complicated expression.

She didn't really like the feeling of being "kept," but reason told her it was the most reasonable choice at the moment. Celery's eyes were already shining; she looked at the card in her hand, then at the dessert shop not far away, and her Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

Bai Zi put the card into his pocket without looking at it again.

"Then, you can go and familiarize yourselves with the surroundings and visit the places you want. Meet at the central fountain in an hour, and I will send someone to take you to your accommodations."

After she finished speaking, she looked at Hoshino and asked, "Is everything alright?"

Hoshino nodded: "Okay."

The five girls from Abydos looked at each other, then turned around and walked hesitantly toward the shops on one side of the square.

Only when their figures blended into the crowd in the square and disappeared among the glamorous shops did Baiheyuan Shengya turn her gaze away.

She turned around and looked at Lin Yi, who had been standing silently to the side.

Lin Yi was also looking at her.

"You sent them away because you have something to say to me alone, right?"

It's not a question, it's a statement.

Saintia from Lily Garden coughed lightly twice, covered her mouth with a handkerchief, then lowered her hand, a helpless smile on her face: "As expected, I couldn't hide it from you."

She paused, glancing at Mika Seien beside her.

Mika Seizono is currently clinging to Nagisa Kirito, her hands clasped together, a pitiful expression on her face: "Nagisa~ Nagisa~ My dearest Nagisa~ Please lend me a little more pocket money! I promise, as soon as my allowance arrives next month, I'll pay you back immediately! Double! No, triple!"

Kirito Nagisa looked at her expressionlessly, her voice calm: "You said the same thing last month, the month before last, and the month before that. Where's your allowance?"

"Um...did you buy shampoo?" Mika Seien said matter-of-factly. "You know, to keep my hair this fluffy and smooth, I need to use at least two bottles of expensive shampoo every day! It's very pricey!"

As she spoke, she tossed her long, fluffy pink hair, which reached her calves and resembled clouds. The strands shimmered with a healthy sheen in the sunlight, clearly indicating that she had taken excellent care of it.

Kirito Nagisa stared at her silently for a few seconds, then pulled a calculator from her small bag.

She started pressing the numbers.

"Your total debt to me, including interest, is 87.62 million." Kirito Nagisa looked up and adjusted his glasses. "Based on your earlier promise to repay three times the amount, you need to pay me 262.86 million. How much is your allowance next month? I think it's 150 million?"

Mika Seien's smile froze.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but Kirito Nagisa had already put away the calculator and turned to look at Lily Garden Saintia and Lin Yi, as if the conversation had never happened.

Saintia watched this scene and sighed softly.

She turned her attention back to Lin Yi, her expression becoming serious: "Mr. Lin Yi, before the 'performance' officially begins, there is something I need to discuss with you in advance."

"explain."

“When the plot develops to a certain stage,” Saintia’s voice was soft, but every word was clear, “you may need to… take action against Weihua.”

Lin Yi raised an eyebrow.

“Specifically,” Saintia continued, “it’s when she does something too outrageous according to the ‘script’ or makes a mistake because she’s been taken advantage of. You need to act as her ‘mentor’ and ‘discipline’ her.”

She paused, then added, "You can be a little harsher. Don't worry about her status or my attitude. In fact, that's exactly what Nagisa and I want to see."

Lin Yi looked at the unflowered garden in the sacred garden.

The pink-haired girl was squatting by the roadside, staring longingly at the desserts displayed in the shop window, muttering something to herself, completely unaware of the conversation taking place.

"Reason?" Lin Yi asked.

“Mihana… is too easily swayed and manipulated.” Saintia’s eyes were complicated. “Her nature is not bad; in fact, it can be said to be very pure. But precisely because of her purity, she is easily blinded by distorted ideas, extreme emotions, or seemingly 'righteous' excuses. Mihana has been misled by people from the Arius branch more than once because of this character flaw, and has done things that cannot be undone.”

“So, you need to give her a profound lesson before she really goes astray,” Kirito Nagisa continued, her voice calm to the point of being cold. “Let her remember that some lines cannot be crossed, and some things cannot be done. Pain and frustration are sometimes more persuasive than words.”

Lin Yi remained silent for a moment.

"Are you sure?" he asked. "She's your friend."

“Precisely because we are friends,” Saintia said softly, “we cannot stand by and watch her destroy herself and Trinity.”

Her eyes were firm, without the slightest hesitation.

Lin Yi nodded: "Understood. I will handle it according to the situation."

"Thank you." Saintia bowed slightly.

After she straightened up, she took two items out of her small bag.

The first thing was a thick folder with a pure black cover and no markings.

“This is the ‘script’.” Saintia handed the folder to Lin Yi. “It contains the basic framework for your ‘performance’ at Trinity over the next few days. It includes the characters you need to interact with, the events you need to get involved in, and the ‘attitude’ you need to show. Of course, you can improvise on the specific details, as long as you don’t deviate from the main plot.”

Lin Yi took the folder and casually flipped through a few pages.

It does contain a detailed "script," which includes the basic information of several major factions within Trinity and several pre-arranged "conflict scenes."

It's very detailed and well-considered.

Lin Yi closed the folder and looked at the second item in Sheng Ya's hand.

It was a cell phone.

"This is a communication tool specially prepared for you. It comes pre-installed with the contact information of the top leaders of the main academies of Givotos—not just Trinity, but also Gohena, Millennium, Classic of Mountains and Seas, Hundred Ghosts, Valkyrie, and key figures of several important neutral forces."

Lin Yi took the phone and pressed the power button.

The screen lit up, displaying a clean desktop. He opened his contacts, which indeed contained a long list of names and titles:
[Hina Sorasaki - Chairperson of the Disciplinary Committee]

[Tian Yu Ya Zi - Executive Minister of the Gehenna Disciplinary Committee]

[Kanna Valkyrie Police Academy Chief]

[Hazumi Hanekawa - Senior Executive of the Trinity Justice Realization Department]

[Sword First Crane City - Minister of the Trinity Justice Realization Department]

[Seven Goddess Lin - Acting President of the Federation Student Union]

The list is long, covering almost every notable figure in Kiwatos.

Lin Yi raised his head and looked at Sheng Ya in the Lily Garden.

Saintia met his gaze and explained, "Regarding your matter, I have already given a brief briefing to the higher-ups of the other colleges under the guise of a 'tea party.' Of course, I didn't reveal too many details, only that Trinity has invited a 'special external advisor,' who may get involved in some events in the coming days. I hope everyone can understand."

She paused, then added, “Those who sit in that position aren’t fools. They should understand what I mean—don’t provoke you, and don’t interfere with your activities at Trinity. This phone is to give them a channel to contact you directly when necessary, avoiding misjudgments and conflicts due to poor communication.”

Lin Yi put his phone away.

Very thoughtful arrangements.

Although Baiheyuan Shengya is physically weak, she is meticulous and truly deserves her title as the "core strategist of the tea party".

Saintia coughed lightly twice, a tired look on her face: "That's all for the basic arrangements. The specific 'performance' will begin tomorrow. You are free to explore Trinity today and familiarize yourself with the surroundings. Your accommodations have been arranged, and someone will take you there later."

She glanced at the time: "I have other matters to attend to, so please excuse me. Mika, Nagisa, you two accompany Mr. Lin Yi for a stroll around."

Mika Seien immediately jumped up, a bright smile spreading across her face: "Okay! I've got this covered!"

Kirito Nagisa nodded slightly: "I will make the arrangements."

Saintia from the Lily Garden bowed to Lin Yi again and quickly disappeared into the shadows of the porch.

Only Lin Yi, Seien Mika, and Kirito Nagisa remained in the same spot.

Mika Seien leaned closer to Lin Yi and blinked, "Where do you want to go next? There are so many fun places at Trinity!"

She started counting on her fingers: "This place has the largest library in all of Kivotos, a museum with countless antiques and works of art, some of which even I find a little strange... Oh, and also, more than a dozen tea rooms and dessert shops with different styles! I highly recommend the limited edition macarons from 'Starry Sky Candy,' they only make twenty boxes a day, and you can't get them without making a reservation in advance!" (End of Chapter)