Chapter 389 I was just wondering when you became so clever.
William hadn't actually taken a bath in many years.
Dust or dirt simply couldn't cling to him, and he never emitted any sort of odor.
Alice's bathroom was a luxurious paradise, astonishingly spacious. At its center was a massive bathtub over 9 feet long, coated with a smooth, pearl-white glaze. Its design was both modern and elegant.
Beside the tub, a latest model iPad was carefully placed on a stand made of pure gold, shining and reflecting the shimmering water surface.
On the opposite wall, a huge 60-inch 4K ultra-high-definition smart screen was mounted in an exquisite frame made of rare wood and mica, perfect for watching high-definition movies or playing virtual reality games while soaking in the bath.
The entire space was adorned with warm lighting and delicate scented candles, creating a cozy and luxurious atmosphere.
This bathroom was originally Alice's private sanctuary, but Mia, mistaking William for Alice's fiancé, had no hesitation in bringing him here.
William lay comfortably in the foam-filled bathtub, tapping on the iPad next to him, browsing the latest international news, and thought to himself, "Indeed, times are progressing. Even bathing has become such a luxurious experience."
The hottest news, naturally, was about the various Soulmancer Guilds starting to select their first batch of apprentices the next day.
This information had been released just half an hour ago.
Students at school would continue their regular classes tomorrow, with officials arriving to test if the students could sense energy.
Non-students could register for testing in relevant communities.
This was only the first round of tests,passing it didn't guarantee that these Guilds would definitely admit the applicants.
William saw some unsettling elements in this development.
The reason today's society was so stable, apart from national prosperity, was also due to the fact that ordinary people experienced birth, aging, sickness, and death.
What if everyone became a Soulmancer?
If that were to happen, the whole world would be in great turmoil.
Soulmancers had longer lifespans, leading to more intense competition for resources. Although a new continent had just appeared, its resources would quickly be completely divided.
And this was under the assumption that Soulmancers were not numerous.
In a few decades, or even a century, resources will inevitably become scarce again.
Moreover, Soulmancers' high-profile entry into society and the recruitment of apprentices will disrupt the existing class balance, leading to new social hierarchies.
William glanced through the trending topics. The entertainment gossip news, which used to capture a lot of attention, seemed to have disappeared overnight.
In an era where everyone was entertained, capitalists could use popular celebrities to make money, earning fortunes wave after wave. But now, times have changed.
People began to focus more on learning how to become Soulmancers.
Books like "The Bhagavad Gita" and "Pilgrim's Progress" suddenly became trending searches.
After all, becoming a Soulmancer, which was once just a fantasy for many, had now become a reality.
Mastering the way to become a Soulmancer could change one's entire destiny.
Who wouldn't want to rewrite their fate?
Capitalists shifted their focus to how to become individuals with superpowers. Those celebrities, once adored by millions, suddenly became the rejects of the era.
Of course, most of these celebrities already lived in luxury houses and drove fancy cars. Even if they couldn't become Soulmancers, their future lives would still be much better than those of ordinary people.
The real sufferers were the children who had invested all their youth and time in pursuing their idols and dreams.
Unless they possessed extraordinary talent and capabilities, with the growing social class disparities, their future lives might become even more challenging.
If the social system does not protect the interests of ordinary people, their status could become very low in the presence of those with superpowers.
William soaked in the bath for a while, contemplating these issues, which actually didn't have much impact on him.
Regardless of the era or how the world changes, he could accept it.
After bathing, William went to Alice's bedroom and knocked on the door.
"Come in..." Alice, who had been anxiously debating in her bedroom for a long time, stuttered upon hearing the knock.
Upon entering, William saw Alice suddenly flip out of bed, wearing a thin silk nightgown. She glanced at him, then quickly lowered her head and said, "I'm going to take a bath."
William nodded with a smile as Alice swiftly darted past him, her nervous demeanor amusing him.
After entering the room, William settled down at the bedroom's desk and pulled out a copy of "Principles of Quantum Mechanics" from his spatial storage ring to read.
Science may not be able to conquer magic, but it can still reveal some of the essence of society.
William had to admire the people of this era for their achievements without magical abilities.
They have unraveled many historical truths through science, have landed on the moon without the power of flight, and the advancement of information technology via smartphones and computers is commendable, something that hasn't been achieved in tens of thousands of years.
Human history spanning hundreds of thousands of years is just a brief moment for William, but the rapid development of the last few centuries is quite astonishing.
Although William hasn't reached the point of venerating science, he finds it intriguing.
After her bath, Alice returned to find William engrossed in his book at the desk. She tiptoed into the room, carefully closed the door, and then climbed quietly into bed, hiding under the covers.
William seemed completely absorbed in his reading, not lifting his head once from the moment Alice entered the room.
Alice lay under the covers, her heart still racing, occasionally glancing at the bedside table.
Because that box of condoms was right there.
She was conflicted.
What should she do if William made a move? Reject, accept, or face it calmly?
If it came down to the first two options, should she use what's in the bedside drawer?
For her age, it does seem a bit too early to have children.
But what if William disliked using such things?
Right!
He might not have used them before.
And if they ended up having children, what would they name a boy? And a girl?
Such thoughts gave her a headache!
At that moment, William suddenly spoke, "Are you asleep?"
"No..." Alice's heart skipped a beat as she replied, "It's still early."
William slowly put down the book in his hands, turned his head towards Alice, and said, "From now on, you'll have to rely on yourself. Even if you're in danger, I won't intervene."
"Uh?" Alice's fleeting ripple of emotion vanished instantly, replaced by a tinge of nervousness as she asked, "Master, are you going somewhere?"
William turned to face Alice and said, "Not really going anywhere. I've signed up for a Soulmaner school, just to check it out."
"I want to go too!" Alice exclaimed, unable to miss such an opportunity for learning. William's teachings were too advanced for her, and she knew almost nothing about the basics of Soulmaner theory.
Many fundamental concepts about Soulmaner were still unfamiliar to her.
William pondered and then said, "Hmm, you are currently an honorary instructor at the 13th Bureau, and everyone there thinks you are an extremely powerful Soulmaner. You should maintain that persona."
A glint of mischief flashed in Alice's eyes as she smiled, "That won't stop me from signing up! Since they all think I'm a super-strong Soulmaner, they'll probably just think I'm doing it to experience life."
William fell silent.
Alice raised an eyebrow and asked, "Isn't that right?"
Taking a deep breath, William responded, "That's one way to put it! I was just wondering when you became so clever."
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