The White Eagle Federation, St. George University.

The scorching summer afternoon sun filtered through the shade of the trees, casting dappled spots of light upon the grass.

The soft grass gently cradled his body as he lay back, the fragrance of fresh grass and blooming flowers lingering in the air, causing Sulu to instinctively squint his eyes in contentment.

He wore a pristine white shirt, a few buttons undone, revealing a hint of his toned chest and healthy skin. His sharply defined features, sky-blue eyes, and slightly curly, short blonde hair naturally conveyed an air of carefree rebellion.

…Well, let’s be honest—that was all a bit of embellishment. In reality, Sulu’s looks were fairly average. He was simply a young man, full of the kind of vitality that only youth can bring. The fact that, as his university years were winding down, he remained single was the clearest proof of that.

"Time really flies... Four years have passed, and graduation is just around the corner..."

Sulu gazed up with wide eyes, a look of melancholic reflection, as if contemplating the stars.

He was no native of this world. He came from another timeline—a "salted fish" (someone who drifts through life aimlessly) who had failed to achieve anything significant. After one fateful all-nighter spent gaming, his vision blurred, and when he came to, he had collapsed on his computer and found himself... transported here!

"Youth or not, you really shouldn’t stay up late..." Sulu sighed, a note of regret in his voice.

As someone who had experienced this first-hand, he felt a deep remorse.

It was just a shoddily made, third-rate game. How had he ended up so deeply absorbed in it?

It started innocently enough with, "I’ll just play for one more minute, then go to bed." Then it became, "Once I defeat this monster, I’ll sleep." Then, "Just finish this mission, and then I’m done..." Before he knew it, hours had slipped by without his notice.

And it wasn’t just the games. Novels, movies, TV shows—they were all the same. No matter how many times he swore to himself, once staying up late became a habit, it was nearly impossible to break.

"Sigh... For those who stay up late, the chances of sudden death far outweigh those of time travel. Don’t try it unless you absolutely must..."

Sulu sighed once again.

Don’t think that time travel will instantly turn your life around. You won’t just marry a rich and beautiful woman. The truth is, even if a "salted fish" time-travels, it’s still just a salted fish!

Now, let me properly introduce this time traveler’s identity.

Sulu Portelli—his full name, Sulu Dunstan Andrich Rohad… Montportelli—was a name steeped in history. The lengthy middle part signified a series of historical marriages and significant events, all part of the White Eagle Federation’s tradition. It was a tradition that many officials despised, and with today’s push for name simplification, his official name on documents was simply Sulu Portelli—a 21-year-old soon-to-be graduate of St. George University.

Appearance: Unremarkable. Academic performance: Mediocre. Barely scraped through with enough credits. Graduation doesn’t guarantee job placement, leaving him grappling with the looming specters of unemployment and the uncertainty of job hunting...

At this moment, Suru’s heart was brimming with frustration.

This... is just so unimaginative! Not only does it lack the essential "golden finger" that’s a staple in transmigration stories, but most frustrating of all—why is there no “K” in this ridiculously long name of mine?

Maybe I should just change my name to Suru K and start walking the path of a true winner, the dark overlord.

Or perhaps, I could adopt the surname Potter and live out my days in a magical world.

But alas, my name isn’t Suru K or Suru Potter—these are just the idle fantasies of a hopeless soul.

"Well, at least... I’m not completely without hope!"

Suru half-sat up, picked up the notebook beside him, and began to scribble, chewing on the end of his pen.

Four years after his transmigration, he had finally come to terms with his situation. St. George University was located in the White Eagle Federation, a nation with a 278-year history, a population of around 30 million, and a vast territory that commanded a place on the world stage.

As for the state of technology, it roughly mirrored the period between the first and second industrial revolutions in his previous world, where steam-punk reigned supreme.

In his previous life, Suru had been an engineering graduate, fumbling through the struggle to master a practical skill. Though he couldn’t claim to be a world leader in his field, at least he was skilled enough to make a living in this world’s scientific landscape.

Furrowing his brow, Suru began outlining his ideas: “While some knowledge clearly doesn’t apply in this world, after four years of research and some clever sleuthing, I’ve managed to compile a few valuable…”

Don’t underestimate the intellectuals of this world!

In his past life, Suru wasn’t some academic genius. He was just another undergraduate from a test-driven education system, with a specialized, but not deeply profound, expertise.

Moreover, his transmigration was his greatest secret. He couldn’t afford to draw attention by offering theories or making waves—it was too risky to stand out!

Over the years, Suru had spent most of his spare time in the library, searching for intersections between his old knowledge and the new world’s systems.

He would never admit that part of the reason was simply that he had no other distractions—he couldn’t find a girlfriend to save his life.

Sigh... why did he feel like he might just burst into tears?

In a land that was supposed to be a melting pot, where Caucasians, Asians, and people of all races lived side by side, with a culture of open-mindedness, how could it be that a homebody like me, unable to change my ways, still couldn’t find a girlfriend? What a tragic fate that is.

Thank heavens, the moment I crossed over, I found myself stepping straight into university life. Far from home, the journey to return was long and difficult, and I used the excuse of part-time work during the holidays to stay on campus, stubbornly refusing to leave. I had barely returned home at all, which at least meant I didn’t have to face my family in this body.

"It's odd when you think about it. Originally, Su Lupo Tili’s family seemed poor, which was unfortunate, but what really stands out is that he seemed to have fallen out with his family over some matter. It was almost as if he left home without a penny to his name and went off to university. Over the years, there had only been a few letters exchanged, and no relatives ever came to visit. Really lucky, I guess..." Su Lupo tapped his head thoughtfully with the pen.

The original body seemed to have gone through some traumatic upheaval. Some memories were hazy, and all he could vaguely recall were the whereabouts of his family and a few distant relatives. There had been little contact in recent years, and his memories only held a few blurred outlines.

“Could it be that my crossing over caused this memory loss?”

Su Lupo felt a twinge of guilt, but there was no way he would ever go back home to find out.

"Hey, bro, here’s your sandwich! And a letter!"

Just as Su Lupo was lost in thought, a shadow fell over him.

He turned to see his roommate—and mischief-maker—Sean walking toward him.

Sean was tall and thin, with triangular eyes and burgundy hair. He wore a black t-shirt and a silver necklace that, while cool in theory, looked strangely out of place on him, giving off an almost sleazy vibe. With a grin, he handed over the sandwich and an envelope, flashing his white teeth. "That’ll be four coppers! The tip’s included."

Su Lupo rolled his eyes, fully aware of Sean’s antics. He pulled a few coins from his pocket and handed them over. "Thanks… but as both a waiter and a mailman, your fees are a little excessive."

"Oh, bro, don’t you know how far the dorm is from the mailbox? Those damn dorm managers are so lazy..." Sean shrugged with a smirk, his face curious. "Come on, check it out. Maybe it’s your acceptance letter!"