“I was truly surprised, child. I always believed that you wouldn't just leave those three alone and make your merry way.“

The man's glasses crook a bit as he said those words. Unfaltering, he fixed his glasses and ran his hand over his hair, brushing his long fox ears.

“I would never,” I said with as much passion I could summon up. “Thank you for believing in me, Mr. Teumessian.“

“Now, now, no need to be so formal.“ As he smiled, he picked up another slice of the pastry and pushed it onto my plate. Don't mind if I do, free food.

“I am curious though, Ralph.“ Mr. Teumessian's said. “Why did you act like you were leaving if you were coming back in the first place?“

“I am more curious about how you got to see it at all? I was sure that the Special Exams are not broadcasted publicly.“

Mr. Teumessian averted his gaze anxiously. “That, uh. I made some connections last time with some folks. I join them in their hobby or something like that…”

He gambled huh? He gambled on my exam huh?

{Do you have to trouble your sponsor like this? He's too pure to even lie!}

Fair.

“A-anyway, don't mind the small details. I have an inkling, but you did have something in mind, right?“

I immediately wore a wistful gaze and gave him a wry smile. “If I didn't do anything, there would've been infighting amongst us four for the cores. I took all their hatred toward me so that they could cooperate and avoid any obstacles in their relationship.“

{You bastard}

Quiet.

Mr. Teumessian nodded fervently and grabbed my hand with a merry gaze. "I knew you were a great child, Ralph. I have high expectations for you."

"Thank you, Mr. Teumessian."

"If you need anything, don't hesitate to tell me alright? Your mother is trusting me on it as well."

"Do you meet her frequently?" I asked.

"Only to talk about you now and then. She's always worried about you and your sister."

Oh? So he talks with mom? Should I kill him now? Place his guts out open on his mansion, it would make a good attraction for the vulture population in Ternet. I heard they were declining.

{No you didn't? Also, do you have to be that extreme?}

You wouldn't know.

{So much for hating your mother}

Come on now, we are working on it.

I decided to let the fox man live for a bit more since a new idea to get some brownies entered my mind.

"Mr. Teumessian. In that case, I have been wanting to ask something."

"Oh? What is it?"

"How is the little one doing these days? Cadmean, wasn't it?"

I asked about the kid I had helped. I didn't remember him one bit, but who cared?

"Oh, haha! Ever the kind kid. I wonder sometimes if someone as nice as you might just be pulling an act!"

{Wow, his wonderings sure are scary.}

Eh, I don't need him anymore. Isabella's pupil is a title that can bring about a lot of money after all. Having her clear my mess was strangely filled with good points.

"He's doing great. He even sent a letter for you." Saying that, Mr. Teumessian reached into the pocket of his coat and pulled out a letter. He placed it on the table before reaching into his suitcase and bringing out a box wrapped up like a gift. He placed the box next to the letter and smiled again.

"Your mother asked me to give you this. To celebrate the move-up in your rank."

I smiled wryly and accepted the gift. Mom sent something, how out of character. I wonder what was inside.

I chatted with Mr. Teumessian a bit more. As expected of the businessman, he was curious about some others. Mostly Florris. He even asked me if I could talk a bit more with the ringlet curls since her family was quite the big name in Ternet. I accepted, of course, along with some other kids from different courses as well. Relationship management wasn't that tough for me, so why not? Good connections were important for me as much as they were for him. To my surprise, he was even curious about Blaine and Seraphina Exise, it didn't seem business related though.

After a bit, we got up. I insisted on paying for the snacks in the morning cafe, but he vetoed the notion in moments.

I saw him to the intersection that split up between Agriche Academy and the Portal Station in Agriche city.

The row of cars floating just a bit above the road was a sight that I missed seeing inside the academy. Everything was leveled there. Cars never needed to enter most of the campus, and the kids that did want to travel used either bicycles or hoverboards. My feet tapped over the row of stone slabs making up the wide sidewalks. Dozens of high-end stores with intricate glass panels and beautiful ebony or mahogany doors were lined up one after the other.

The closer one got to the academy, the larger became the stores. And with size increased their extravagance. Stepping out from one such cafe was a girl with light blue hair that bordered on white and lighter blue eyes to accompany. Her was twisted up in a frown while her eyes were downcast to the point I wouldn't be surprised if one said she was glaring at satan.

I walked up to her. She didn't notice me at all.

"Why, my lady. You look like you just stepped on a dead cicada."

Blaine raised her head in surprise and glared at me. She hid away the tight frown behind an equally tight leer. "It's just what your presence does to this young lady. Take a hundred thousand steps back and I'll be all normal again."

"Doctors knew of this condition since I was born. They said I should suggest holding your breath till you can't breathe anymore to people like you."

"They must have had rather short lives. Poor them."

I chuckled and so did Blaine. We started walking back to the academy at a slow pace. It wasn't that far, but we were assigned to the same dorms so our way together was long.

As we passed by the city and entered the gates of the academy after a quick security check. The students around had mellowed down greatly. All the grades had their Special Exams, which sent pretty much all of them in a mood to relax after the tense events. Thankfully, they also let us go in and out to the Agriche City without much restriction.

We walked a bit more when Blaine spoke up in a deflated tone. "That was a representative from my family. I was being torn a new one for the rank drop."

Oh? I met her at quite a good time.

"Any punishments?"

"None for now."

"You'll show 'em next time," I said. "You were already at the top once, getting even higher won't be tough."

"Hard luck this time."

Wow, she totally forgot that I was hundred percent to blame, didn't she?

Blaine laughed and looked at me. We were almost the same height, so it felt a bit strange. "I agreed to go with your plan. It wasn't like you betrayed us either, it was just a show to run away after your golem messed up. You're not to blame, so I don't blame you."

"You somehow sound like a sensible person? Don't read my mind though."

"Right? Now fork over ten million."

"Scam. Scam artist."

We walked in silence for a bit after that. She seemed a little, just a little chipper after letting things out.

We soon came across the turn toward the dorms when she stopped,

"Well, I am going to meet Sera and the others at her place."

{The secret top ten dorms?}

The very place where they sacrifice the blood of low-ranking students.

{A meritocratic society should just burn}

"What? You can only join after paying an entrance fee of a hundred million. A total of ten seconds with blindfolds and earplugs."

"That might be worth it if you weren't there."

"Tell that to me when I make money off it."

This girl definitely read too many novels.

I waved her bye and walked away in my direction. I had a lot of time to get her on my side. Slightly bored, I fiddled with the gift mom had sent. I didn't want to break it though, so I decided to hold it safely and booted my watch instead. The messenger app popped open and a bunch of unread messages entered my sight.

[Odis: Dude, do you have salt in your room? I need salt? Can I break your door?]

[Jin: Sir Ralph, perchance, do you keep salt on you? There might be a ghost here. Do you mind if we break your door?]

These bastards, touch my room. I dare you.

I ignored the clowns and scrolled down.

[Ilya: Ralphieee! Did you rank up? My uncle said you ranked up! Congrats! When are we—]

It was too long to preview. I'll reply later.

[Advanced Magic Group!: Isabella - Brats. No classes from now on. I'm too lazy,

Kristina - Please post it officially. Mam]

[Mom: Ralph, did you hear anything from your sis—]

Right then, a new message popped up.

[Zachy Bird: Reserved a pool table. Missing a player. Come.]

If I went back, I'd have to deal with Odis' antics.

I quickly typed a response and turned back.

[Me: Thanks for the invite. I'll be there -Ralph]

Don't mind if I do.