Leo’s CPU instantly overloaded.
Vice Dean?
The white-bearded old man who, with one stroke on the assessment, promoted him from “utterly ordinary” straight to “Outstanding”?
Why is he looking for me?
Could it be that he discovered I was hiding my strength during the assessment and is here to settle accounts later and strip me of my “Outstanding” rank?
“Student Leo?”
Seeing that Leo wasn’t responding, the staff member urged him again.
“Oh, right. I’ll head over now.”
Leo snapped back to his senses and stood up. He shot Christine a “you know what I mean” look.
“Sorry, Miss Christine. Looks like our conversation will have to be paused for now.”
Christine frowned slightly, clearly unhappy about the sudden interruption, but she knew how much weight the Vice Dean’s words carried. She nodded, saying nothing more, but those golden eyes were full of the message: This isn’t over.
Leo took Irina and hurried after the staff member.
“What’s going on?” Irina muttered softly beside him, “Why’s the old man suddenly looking for you? Don’t tell me he thinks your bones are extraordinary and wants to take you as his last disciple and pass on all his lifelong skills?”
“You’ve read too many novels,” Leo replied irritably. “I’m guessing it’s not a good thing. Eight or nine times out of ten, it’s probably some trouble.”
[Making a salted fish work overtime is truly against the way of heaven!]
[I just want to quietly muddle through until graduation and go back to Blackwood Town to be my local overlord. Why is it so hard?]
Soon, the two of them arrived at the Vice Dean’s office.
The office was spacious, lined with bookshelves, and the air was thick with the scent of old books and ink. An elderly man, white-haired and bearded but with a vigorous spirit, was sitting behind a huge desk. When he saw Leo enter, he immediately gave a kindly smile.
“Student Leo, please have a seat.” The Vice Dean gestured to the chairs in front of the desk.
Leo and Irina sat down as instructed.
“And this is… Student Irina, right?” The Vice Dean beamed at Irina. “It’s been many years since our Academy has seen such a genius rated as ‘Excellent.’”
Irina was a bit embarrassed by the praise, giving a couple of sheepish laughs.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the Vice Dean’s gaze returned to Leo. His eyes were like Columbus discovering the New Continent.
“Student Leo, I’ve called you here today to talk about your future.”
Here it comes—the classic mentor moment.
Inside, Leo’s alarm bells were ringing, though his face showed no change: “Please advise me.”
“Your talent in summoning is unlike anything I’ve seen in my life.” The Vice Dean’s face was full of excitement. “At the assessment, you only summoned three earth elementals, but I could feel it—that was nowhere near your limit. Your mental power is vast as the sea, simply born for summoning!”
Leo: “……”
[Old man, please don’t jinx me. I’m scared.]
“So!” The Vice Dean suddenly slammed his hand on the desk, making Irina jump. “On behalf of the Academy, I’m officially inviting you to join our ‘Tomorrow’s Star Training Program!’”
“What the heck?” Irina blurted out.
The Vice Dean cleared his throat and explained, “This is a special cultivation program established by the Academy exclusively for the most promising geniuses. We’ll assign you the best mentors for one-on-one guidance, open up all of the Library Forbidden Zone for your perusal, and you won’t even need to attend basic classes. The Academy will tailor a personal growth plan just for you!”
He was getting more and more excited, as if he could already see a Legendary Mage rising.
“Our goal is, within three years, to make you the top summoner in the entire kingdom—no, in the entire Continent!”
Any other student would probably be so excited by these conditions they’d kneel and swear allegiance on the spot.
Irina was practically bug-eyed, frantically nudging Leo with her elbow, eyes signaling: Say yes! This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance! It’s like the Academy’s giving you cheat codes!
However, Leo’s heart was as calm as still water, and he even felt like yawning.
[One-on-one guidance? How will I slack off, then?]
[Access to the Forbidden Zone? Does the library have more guides than my brain?]
[No basic classes? Then how will I exchange flirty glances with Irina in class… ahem, I mean, experience the joys of campus life?]
[This isn’t a ‘Tomorrow’s Star’ program, this is the ‘007 Wage Slave’ program!]
Thinking this, Leo’s expression turned extremely sincere.
He stood up and gave the Vice Dean a deep bow.
“Thank you so much for your favor, Vice Dean.”
The Vice Dean, pleased, stroked his beard, waiting for Leo’s emotional acceptance.
“But I must decline.”
“……”
The air in the office instantly solidified.
The Vice Dean’s smile froze on his face, his hand still stuck mid-stroke in his beard.
The staff member’s eyes nearly popped out.
Irina almost slid right off her chair, staring at Leo in disbelief, mouth forming an “O”.
“W-why?” The Vice Dean finally found his voice after a while.
“Because I know my own limitations, and I am unworthy of such a position.” Leo wore an expression of humble self-awareness. “My performance on assessment day was sheer luck, the result of burning through a long stretch of my potential all at once. I’m afraid I would let down both the Academy and yourself. So I’d prefer to study step by step like an ordinary student and build a solid foundation.”
These words were watertight, praising the Academy while showing off his “modest, eager to learn” attitude.
But the Vice Dean was no fool. How could he not see Leo was just making excuses?
This kid was clearly trying to avoid trouble!
The Vice Dean was so furious in his heart. So many people would kill for this opportunity, and this kid’s actually turning up his nose?
But he couldn’t bear to just let such a genius slip by.
He pondered for a moment, his eyes flickered as another idea occurred to him.
“Very well, since you insist, I won’t force you.” The Vice Dean sighed, switching to a look of “I’m heartbroken, but I understand you.” “However, besides teaching, the Academy also receives various Commissions from outside.”
“Commissions?” Leo’s ears twitched.
“That’s right.” The Vice Dean nodded. “For example, some nobles need escorts, some Merchant Guilds encounter monster disturbances, and sometimes even the royal family entrusts us with tasks they’d rather not handle openly. These assignments are usually taken by upper-year students or tutors.”
He looked at Leo, a sly smile appearing.
“Of course, these Commissions come with payment. Quite substantial payment, in fact.”
The words “payment” struck Leo’s brain like lightning.
[Money?]
[There’s money?]
[You should’ve said so sooner!]
The “humble” look on Leo’s face vanished in a heartbeat, replaced by energetic enthusiasm.
“Vice Dean!” He declared righteously, “As a member of the Academy, it is my duty to help share its burdens! Opportunities to improve myself while serving society—how could I pass those up?”
Irina could only stare dumbfounded from the side.
How does he change faces faster than flipping a page?
“Oh?” The Vice Dean raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. “Didn’t you say you needed to build your foundation?”
“Theory and practice must be combined to truly lay a solid foundation!” Leo replied firmly. “If I stay buried in books all day, I’ll just become a bookworm. Real strength is forged through real battles!”
The Vice Dean grinned with satisfaction.
He knew it—no fish can resist the bait.
“Excellent! The Academy is very pleased to see your resolve.” He pulled a file out of his drawer and handed it over. “As it happens, here’s an urgent Commission. Take a look.”
Leo took the file, eagerly flipping it open.