Chapter 324: Chapter 324: Mishaps

Lana blinked in confusion.

“If that is the case, then why did you bring this vanity van?”

Axel chuckled softly.

“I brought it simply because I did not want you to sit in a cramped environment. I obtained special permission so that you could travel comfortably. This is far more suitable.”

He then began listing the benefits with surprising seriousness, explaining the seating ergonomics, the stability system, the onboard facilities, and even the controlled temperature zones.

As Lana listened, she felt something inside her chest loosen.

’Even if I never receive my family’s love… perhaps it will not matter.’

She watched Axel speak, noticed how he had planned everything in advance, how naturally he had stepped in to protect her without making it seem like protection at all.

’I have someone who cares. Someone who thinks ahead for me.’

A small smile formed on her lips as Axel continued his explanation, completely unaware of the warmth he had created.

…………………

Meanwhile, inside the other vehicle, the atmosphere was the complete opposite.

The air felt suffocating.

Everyone sat cramped together, knees pressed awkwardly, shoulders bumping every time the car moved.

The smell of packed bodies, plastic upholstery, and stale air made several students visibly uncomfortable.

Some of them muttered under their breath.

“I heard Lana is just the fake daughter of the Almond family.”

“I thought her situation would only get worse.”

“Who would have imagined she would attract Axel’s attention instead?”

“And now she is traveling in that luxurious van while we are stuck here.”

Their whispers carried jealousy more than disbelief.

“It must be some kind of bad karma that we got this type of sponsors,” someone scoffed quietly.

Garrison sat silently, his anger rising with every word.

His jaw tightened, and he wanted to shout at them to stop, but he restrained himself.

He could not afford to lose composure in front of future elites.

………………………

By nighttime, Lana and Axel were still calmly discussing matters while having another meal.

Axel spoke in a steady tone.

“When you join the exchange program, you must remain cautious.”

Lana looked at him curiously.

“Why?”

“For the past few years, I have received multiple reports. Students involved in the exchange program often misbehave. Some even create secret troubles intentionally. You must think of ways to protect yourself.”

Lana nodded thoughtfully. This time, she did not rely on Axel to shield her.

’I can handle students. I am not that helpless.’

They began discussing the kinds of underhanded tactics that might appear.

Axel described past incidents, each one more shocking than the last.

“Once, a group deliberately misled students from Shadowridge University,” Axel said. “They guided them into an isolated area and left them stranded.”

Lana’s eyes widened.

“That is reckless. What if a ghost portal had opened there? Or enemies had taken advantage of the situation?”

“Exactly,” Axel replied. “It was both thoughtless and dangerous.”

………………….

At that very moment, inside Garrison’s vehicle, the situation had deteriorated drastically.

Everyone was starving.

They had expected good food after hours of travel, but somehow the meals prepared inside the van had spoiled.

The containers emitted a sour smell, and no one dared eat them.

“This sponsorship arrangement is terrible,” someone complained loudly.

Others immediately agreed.

Garrison began to panic. He had checked everything beforehand. How could things still go wrong?

“I will take everyone to a five-star restaurant,” he announced hastily. “A Michelin-star establishment. Please remain patient.”

That promise calmed them temporarily.

However, as the journey continued, they did not pass a single restaurant. Not one.

Suspicion grew.

Frustration returned, stronger than before.

Garrison quickly contacted the driver.

“We are only following the destination you entered,” the driver replied.

When Garrison checked the navigation, his vision nearly went dark.

The destination he had set was over a thousand kilometers away from the intended location.

His hands trembled.

’How did this happen?’

He could only order an immediate reroute.

As a result, the dinner that should have been served at seven in the evening was delayed until nearly eleven.

By then, tempers had completely flared, and some students had already filed formal complaints against him.

Garrison sat there, exhausted and humiliated.

’This is all because of that jinx, Lana. She must have cursed me. Otherwise why would everything keep going wrong?’

The more he thought about it, the more unsettled he became.

……………….

Meanwhile, Axel and Lana arrived smoothly at their destination by ten in the morning.

They had rested comfortably from two until ten, the journey passing like a peaceful retreat rather than travel.

Lana stepped out feeling refreshed, her mind clear and body relaxed.

She did not feel like she was heading toward conflict or danger.

From her perspective, it felt less like preparation for an uncertain situation and more like the beginning of a quiet picnic.

After stepping out of the vanity van, Lana stretched her arms high above her head.

Her muscles loosened with a satisfying pull, and the cool morning air brushed against her skin, carrying the faint scent of wet grass and distant pine.

“We can head out now,” she said lightly, turning toward Axel.

Axel immediately reached out and held her back.

“Where do you think you are going?” he asked, shaking his head.

Lana chuckled, slightly confused.

“To Spineridge University, of course. Everyone must have already arrived by now. We should report in.”

Axel did not reply. Instead, he raised his communicator and showed her the latest message he had received.

Lana leaned closer.

The moment she read it, she froze.

Garrison’s vehicle had ended up nearly a thousand kilometers away from the actual destination.

Because of the wrong coordinates, it would take them at least another full day to arrive.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

“So…” Lana murmured slowly, still processing the absurdity, “we suddenly have an entire day free?”

Axel looked at her, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

“It seems like a good opportunity to explore the city.”

Lana blinked, then laughed.

“Alright. A forced holiday does not sound so bad.”

The two of them began walking through the streets, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings.

The places near Spineridge was surprisingly lively.

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