Governor Temisso’s specially approved documents in hand, Zhang Wen didn’t spend much time helping Xiaoxi complete the enrollment procedures at Almexius Academy. However, a small problem arose when the teacher in charge of processing the paperwork tried to assign Xiaoxi a dormitory. Almexius Academy had already started its semester, and the girls’ dormitory was nearly full.
As a result, after searching the registration book for quite a while, the teacher finally found only one dormitory that wasn’t fully occupied and was also close enough to Zhang Wen’s residence to prevent Xiaoxi from experiencing her debilitating weakness—this was the room where Lady Garite stayed!
“Oh?! How can this be? How can I possibly live with her?” Garite nearly jumped up in alarm upon hearing that Xiaoxi would be moving into her room and becoming her roommate.
“Yeah! Why should I have to live with this flat-chested girl?” Xiaoxi also strongly opposed the arrangement on the spot.
“Ah? Well, this is a bit of a problem…” The teacher in charge scratched his head helplessly.
“Garite, Xiaoxi, stop it! Don’t make Mr. Tom uncomfortable,” Zhang Wen sighed and spoke up again.
“But…” Garite and Xiaoxi simultaneously turned their pretty faces upward.
Seeing the two girls’ unwilling expressions, Zhang Wen couldn’t help but let the corners of his mouth lift into a grin. At this moment, he held both girls’ secrets in his hands. If he used a firm attitude to force them to accept being roommates, they probably wouldn’t dare to oppose him. However, Zhang Wen had no intention of doing so. After all, that would be too boring!
“Alright then, please try to find another room,” Zhang Wen helplessly smiled at Old Tom first. Then, as Old Tom began searching the registration book again, Zhang Wen returned to the two girls.
“Garite,” Zhang Wen first smiled as he beckoned Garite aside, “why don’t you want to be Xiaoxi’s roommate?”
“Because… because…” Garite’s lips moved. This kind-hearted girl still found it hard to speak ill of others behind their backs.
“I know. Because you think she’s annoying and always makes you angry, right?”
“Hmm… well…” Garite pouted.
“Hehe! Garite, I’m different from other teachers. I won’t lecture you with grand principles about classmates needing to love each other. What I want to say is, you should learn to look at everything from two perspectives. Indeed, living with Xiaoxi would be like having an annoying person right beside you. But, what if you look at it differently? Remember, she’s a new student who knows nothing about the academy’s rules. And you? You’re the student council president, responsible for maintaining the academy’s discipline…”
“Oh! Right! How could I not think of that?” Garite’s pretty eyes lit up after hearing Zhang Wen’s final words. The student council president quickly brightened, clenched her little fist cutely, and started panting excitedly, obviously imagining the red-haired little brat’s miserable future being tormented.
“Xiaoxi!” While Garite temporarily fell into a sweet fantasy, Zhang Wen smiled and approached Xiaoxi, asking the exact same question, “Why don’t you want to be Garite’s roommate?”
“Because she’s annoying!” Compared to Garite, Xiaoxi’s personality was much more direct.
“I see. I completely understand. Living with someone you dislike is indeed unpleasant.”
“Exactly!” Xiaoxi nodded eagerly, looking like she was about to shout “Understanding is everything!”
“Right! I still remember when I was in school, the person I lived with was someone I particularly disliked.” Zhang Wen, seemingly reminiscing, continued, “So every night I would find different ways to prank him. For example, I would sneak out while he was sleeping and make all sorts of strange noises. Or I would wear a mask and scare him by appearing and disappearing in front of him. Anyway, that guy had terrible martial arts skills. No matter what tricks I used, he couldn’t find any openings. Eventually, he was scared half to death. Even now, thinking about how he couldn’t sleep at night and had panda eyes the next morning when going to school, I still find it quite amusing! Haha!”
Laughing heartily, Zhang Wen then seemingly casually added, “Oh, right! It seems Garite is also afraid of ghosts. Yeah…”
Although Xiaoxi appeared uninterested in Zhang Wen’s words on the surface, after Zhang Wen finished speaking, the corners of her mouth, which were vibrating intensely from holding back laughter, revealed the true thoughts in the red-haired girl’s heart.
“Well… there really are no other empty dorm rooms. If you really don’t want to live together, maybe I can go talk with other students and see if anyone can switch rooms,” Old Tom, having finished his second search, looked up helplessly at the two beautiful girls with a bitter smile.
“Ah… no, that’s okay. Hmm! I think, actually living with Xiaoxi isn’t so bad,” Garite tried her best to appear nonchalant.
“Yeah! I’m really looking forward to living with Garite too!” Xiaoxi’s face was full of anticipation.
“Oh? Well then, that’s settled,” Old Tom blinked in confusion, not understanding why the two girls who had just been at each other’s throats suddenly changed their minds. However, since both parties had no objections, Old Tom was naturally happy to avoid the hassle of negotiating with other students.
The key to the dorm room was quickly handed to Xiaoxi. Thus, the red-haired beauty officially became a member of Almexius Academy.
“Hehe… it looks like the next few years at the academy won’t be boring at all,” Zhang Wen thought to himself with a high-lifted smile, leading the two equally delighted and eagerly anticipating beautiful girls out of the academy’s central gate.
After completing Xiaoxi’s enrollment procedures, the three of them followed Garite to Principal Jackfrit’s office.
Unlike most academy principals Zhang Wen remembered from Earth, Principal Jackfrit of Almexius Academy seemed to dislike the grand office building of the academy. His office was actually located alone in a forest at the northeast corner of the academy.
After passing through the forest path leading to the principal’s office, what appeared before Zhang Wen and his companions was a building with a pointed roof, its walls covered with strange plants.
Although this wasn’t Zhang Wen’s first visit to Principal Jackfrit’s office, seeing the building in front of him involuntarily reminded him of the eccentric and sinister sorcerers from fantasy stories.
However, Principal Jackfrit actually had nothing in common with those emaciated, withered-skinned evil sorcerers. This high-level expert who held an outstanding position in Kasares, although also of advanced age, was full of spirit, with a ruddy complexion and a perpetually gentle smile.
As Zhang Wen approached the principal’s office, he heard several people arguing intensely from inside. Even with Zhang Wen’s acute hearing, through the thick wooden door, he couldn’t make out what the people inside were arguing about. After a brief pause, Zhang Wen knocked on the seemingly ancient wooden door in front of him.
“Come in,” Principal Jackfrit’s voice came out immediately after Zhang Wen knocked, and the arguing inside stopped at once.
Zhang Wen pushed the door open and saw Principal Jackfrit sitting with a troubled expression, rubbing his shiny forehead helplessly. Before the principal’s desk stood two men and two women—on the left were Xin, the head instructor of the martial arts department, and Fox, a three-star instructor; on the right were Kajelena, the head instructor of the psychic arts department, and Emily, a four-star instructor.
Judging from the angry expressions on the four instructors’ faces, they must have been the ones arguing loudly in the principal’s office just now.
“Oh! Teacher Zhang Wen, you’re back! Perfect timing, perfect timing! We’ve been waiting for you. Come in, Garite and that lovely girl too,” Principal Jackfrit smiled and waved at the group entering.
“Principal Jackfrit, you summoned me?” Garite walked up to the principal, her face showing seriousness and confidence, already fully regaining the demeanor befitting the student council president of a prestigious academy.
“Yes! Exactly,” Principal Jackfrit nodded with a smile. “Actually, gathering you all here today is for one and the same matter.”
“Oh? What matter?” Zhang Wen raised his eyebrows in surprise.
Zhang Wen really hadn’t expected that, so soon after the survival competition had ended and with classes not yet resumed, Almexius Academy would have an important matter requiring the heads of both the martial and psychic arts departments and the student council president to be summoned together.
“A reciprocal visit to Temis Academy.” The words from Principal Jackfrit caused Zhang Wen to be greatly surprised.
“A reciprocal visit to Temis Academy? That… that’s too quick! The delegation from Temis Academy probably hasn’t even returned to the planet Fira yet,” Garite also asked in astonishment.
“That’s right, Garite. The instructors present share the same opinion. However, this time it’s a direct order from Governor Temisso himself. From his expression, Governor Temisso left us no room for refusal,” Principal Jackfrit sighed again, rubbing his smooth forehead.
“What? Father… Hmm…” Garite first frowned in surprise, but soon lowered her head in distress.
At that moment, Garite couldn’t help but recall the furious shouts and the clattering of broken objects she had overheard from outside the study when Governor Karayan left a couple of days ago. Moreover, the next morning, Garite had also seen a pile of teaware fragments near the gate of the governor’s mansion. Judging from the patterns on the fragments, they looked like the set Governor Temisso usually favored the most.
“Oh! Sending both the arena and Almexius Academy at the same time, hitting from two fronts… It seems our governor really is angry. He’s determined to show Karayan a thing or two and simultaneously send a message to the Emperor.”
Zhang Wen silently mused to himself, recalling the commission he had heard at the arena not long ago. Zhang Wen could somewhat understand why Governor Temisso was so agitated over this defeat.
In fact, if Temisso had simply lost fairly to Karayan and allowed him to win Princess Sofia’s favor, although Temisso would have been angry, he wouldn’t be as furious as he was now. What truly made Temisso unbearable was the attitude the Emperor had shown in this incident.
The Emperor had known that the syndicate would take action in Kasares. Moreover, the events that occurred in the Sandra Forest were largely orchestrated by the Emperor himself. Yet, using this as an excuse, the Emperor denied the possibility of Princess Sofia staying in Kasares! This was not only mocking Governor Temisso but also a very dangerous signal!
It was enough to prove that the Emperor of the Empire didn’t care at all about how Governor Temisso felt, nor did Kasares hold any significant place in his heart. If, after being so thoroughly mocked by the Emperor, the people of Kasares didn’t show even the slightest sign of resistance and just swallowed their anger, not only would Governor Temisso’s future career be in jeopardy, but the people of Kasares would likely be looked down upon in the future!
A kind person gets taken advantage of. In any world, this is a truth that strikes at human nature. Therefore, this time, whether for himself or for Kasares’ future, Governor Temisso absolutely would not let it go!
However, Governor Temisso was certainly not foolish enough to directly confront the Emperor of the Empire. What he could do was to kill the chicken to scare the monkey, vent all his anger on the detestable Karayan. He wanted every person who thought the people of Kasares were easy to bully to see, you’re wrong!
Dead wrong!
“Principal Jackfrit, although this time it’s a direct order from Governor Temisso, I must say that the governor’s command is simply too unreasonable!” While Zhang Wen was thinking about the reason for Temisso’s anger, Kajelena, the head psychic arts instructor, spoke seriously.
“Even if we set aside the issue that the time interval for the reciprocal visit is too short and doesn’t follow tradition. His demand that we must achieve an outright victory during the visit is simply an impossible task!”
“I know, Instructor Kajelena. But this is Governor Temisso’s requirement…”
“Why didn’t you refuse him on the spot, Principal?” Not waiting for Principal Jackfrit to finish, Emily, the four-star instructor beside Kajelena, couldn’t help but angrily complain, “You should know that during academy exchanges, the competition rules are decided by the host academy! If it were Temis Academy visiting us, it would be easier to handle. But demanding that we must win on Temis Academy’s home ground is simply too unreasonable!”
“Hehe! Teacher Emily, if you have any anger, you should go vent it on Governor Temisso. Yelling at Principal Jackfrit here, what kind of example are you setting? After all, isn’t Principal Jackfrit your teacher’s teacher?” Instructor Xin glanced at Emily, clearly speaking with a mocking tone.
Normally, in the academy, Emily had always looked down on the martial arts department instructors. Even Xin, the head martial arts instructor, had often been the target of Emily’s sarcastic remarks. Now that he finally had a chance to mock her in return, Xin naturally wasn’t going to miss it.
“Hmph! Xin Cleary, don’t get too cocky! I admit that this year Temis Academy’s little girl named Selene has given us quite a headache. But do you think your martial arts department can definitely pass the test?”
“Emily, what do you mean by that?” Instructor Xin, like a bantam rooster, glared at Emily with wide eyes.
“Ha! Xin Cleary, how exactly did you become the head of the martial arts department? You don’t even know the current situation of Temis Academy’s martial arts department? Truly all brawn and no brains!” Emily continued to unleash her sharp tongue, mercilessly ridiculing Instructor Xin.
“You old maid! How dare you call me brainless?” Xin, a straightforward man, was simply no match for verbal sparring with a woman. After being mocked by Emily, he lost his temper and, abandoning whatever little dignity he had left, started cursing loudly.
“Xin Cleary!” Emily was so angry she couldn’t speak. At over thirty years old and still unable to find a suitable boyfriend, this was indeed Emily’s most sensitive sore spot.
“Enough! This is Principal Jackfrit’s office. A group of academy instructors bickering in front of students, what kind of example are you setting?”
At the glare from Kajelena, Emily could only reluctantly lower her head and stand behind her strict superior. Without an opponent to argue with, Xin also cast a resentful glance at Kajelena and shut his mouth.
“Instructor Xin, although Emily said many inappropriate things just now, there was one point she made correctly. As the head of the martial arts department, shouldn’t you pay more attention to your opponents?”
“I…” Xin could only remain speechless in front of the serious Kajelena.
“When Temis Academy visited our academy previously, their martial arts department’s strongest prodigy, Link Spader, did not accompany them. It is said that Temis Academy has been planning to use Link Spader as their ace for next year’s academy ranking competition against the Imperial Military Academy and the Royal Elite Academy. Although I haven’t met Link in person, if Temis Academy dares to make such a bold claim, he should certainly not be inferior to the aces of the Imperial Military Academy, Carlson, or the Royal Elite Academy, Alexander. You should prepare for how to deal with him, Instructor Xin.”
“This… I understand.” As the head of the martial arts department, it was truly embarrassing for Xin to know less about his opponent than his colleagues from the psychic arts department. Kajelena’s words indeed made Xin blush with shame.
However, while making Xin blush with shame, Kajelena’s words also served as a reminder to him. Originally, Xin had harbored some thoughts of taking credit for this reciprocal visit to Temis Academy.
After all, as the head of the martial arts department, if he insisted that this reciprocal visit to Temis Academy be led by himself and only allowed Zhang Wen to serve as a supporting instructor, no one could reasonably object. In this way, the work of training the students and participating in the competition would still be done by Zhang Wen, while Xin could comfortably take the credit.
However, now Xin changed his mind. If what Kajelena said was true, then the student named Link they were about to face might very well be a powerful individual who had broken through to the seventh or even eighth elite level!
A student with eighth-level elite strength was absolutely no match for the bunch of useless students in Almexius Academy’s martial arts department. Even if Zhang Wen had heaven-defying abilities, Xin didn’t believe he could make Zack and Cloud and the others break through their limits in such a short time and defeat opponents who were two or even three levels above them!
Thinking of this, Xin quickly exchanged a meaningful glance with Fox beside him. Fox immediately understood and nodded. He naturally knew what Xin meant. After the meeting ended, he would immediately investigate the background of the student named “Link” from Temis Academy as quickly as possible. If what Kajelena said was true, then they need not get involved in this reciprocal visit and could continue letting Zhang Wen take the fall for them!
“Principal, regarding this decision to reciprocate Temis Academy’s visit, is there really no way to negotiate with Governor Temisso again?” While Xin and Fox exchanged meaningful glances, Kajelena turned to Principal Jackfrit and asked again.
“Ah, Temisso has already made up his mind. If I could negotiate, I wouldn’t have called you all here today,” Principal Jackfrit continued to shake his head helplessly with a bitter smile.
“Fine then. For this mission, I will personally lead it with Irina. If the psychic arts department cannot win against Temis Academy, I will resign from my position as the head of the psychic arts department,” Kajelena didn’t argue with Principal Jackfrit any further, but instead decisively threw down that statement and left the principal’s office with Irina.
“Then, we’ll take our leave too. We’ll finalize the martial arts department’s team composition tonight and report back to you,” seeing Kajelena leave, Xin also took the opportunity to bid farewell to Principal Jackfrit and hurriedly left with Fox.
“Teacher Zhang Wen, I’m afraid this time you’ll have to work hard again,” watching the retreating figures of Xin and Fox, Principal Jackfrit couldn’t help but give Zhang Wen a helpless bitter smile.
“Hehe, I’m also a citizen of Kasares. It’s my honor to serve the academy and the governor,” Zhang Wen politely smiled, slightly bowed to Principal Jackfrit, and left the principal’s office with Xiaoxi and Garite.
“Hey, Zhang Wen, is this Link guy really that strong? But no matter how strong he is, he can’t possibly break through to the tenth-level master rank, right? Just let me go on stage, I’ll help you easily take care of him!” On the tree-lined path outside the principal’s office, Xiaoxi excitedly twirled a steel needle between her fingers as she asked Zhang Wen. A breeze passed by, making the little tuft of hair on top of the red-haired girl’s head perk up, eagerly swaying.
“Haha! This time probably won’t work,” Zhang Wen laughed and shook his head.
In fact, just now in the principal’s office, for a brief moment, the thought of letting Xiaoxi take the stage had also flashed through Zhang Wen’s mind. However, he quickly suppressed that thought again.
“Why not?” Xiaoxi persisted, unwilling to give up.
“Your identity is that of a prisoner. If you participate on behalf of Almexius Academy, the opponent will discover it. Do you want them to send you to the dungeon of the governor’s mansion?”
“Ahh! Then forget it,” Xiaoxi was startled, and the tuft of hair on her head immediately drooped down lifelessly. The six words “the dungeon of the governor’s mansion” had already formed a psychological shadow in Xiaoxi’s heart.
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