CHAPTER 55: SILVER LINING IN THE GOLDEN SKY (PART 1)

After accepting Seth’s proposal, I returned to the J-Tutorial Club as its leader.

The kind of welcome party that greeted me was unexpected, to say the least. I was practically surrounded by everyone, and they welcomed me back with a thunderous voice.

I still remember the gleams in their eyes as they clasped their hands and called my name, almost as though they were referring to a deity. It’s a little scary being in such a position of power, especially due to my elevated status in their minds.

In a sense, I have gotten a glimpse into the lives of Nobles and the Royal Family.

This kind of fanaticism and reverence that is showered upon a man should not exist, and yet it is something that I cannot complain about.

Power is useful, and in the right hands... it can prove quite effective.

With my Public Service being taken care of by the members of the Club, each taking their turn in an effective roster, I reckon that I’ll be able to gather all my necessary Prestige Points in a matter of weeks. Until that time comes, I’ll simply put up with my current predicament.

Unfortunately, I don’t even have time to get a breather.

After all, piles of work were waiting for me when I returned to the Club.

All the affairs that the other members didn’t have the expertise to handle, or desired me to take charge of, were simply stacked on my desk. It’s almost like they had some sort of guarantee that I would return.

What if I still decided to refuse them? How would they handle all this load?

Ah... no use thinking about it now.

It’s time to get to work.

The workload might seem like a lot, but after proper appraisal and delegation of tasks, it isn’t so scary. Administration is a particularly strong suit of mine, thanks to my past life’s memories and an accumulation of knowledge in this new one.

I have no problem disbursing tasks to the appropriate person and seeking the most effective route to solve a problem.

Thanks to this, most of the matters were solved within the first week of my resuming office.

However, there remains one that hasn’t been fully resolved.

The matter is also the most pressing concern that faces the J-Tutorial Club. It has to do with the juniors who have just stepped into the Academy, particularly how to bring them into the Club in order to expand our influence.

This seems like an easy feat to accomplish, doesn’t it?

After all, our Club already has a firm foundation and a fine reputation after several months of operating without problems. Sure, there was the incident with me, but it didn’t negatively affect the Club too much.

However... thinking like this would be too naive.

The issue with our Club is the fact that it is indeed too popular, and the value it offers is quite unique to the students. In fact, it is something most students—particularly in the Bronze Wing—need in order to succeed properly in the Academy.

Not only would they have seniors to guide them, but like-minded classmates can also rub minds together and solve difficult problems.

The principles of collective effort and optimal cooperation are the lifeblood of this Club.

The High Nobility must have realized this, so they have begun to spread negative news about the Club to these juniors. Since the other Clubs have been in existence for longer than ours, they have far more sway outside the Academy than the J-Tutorial Club does.

As such, they had already started poisoning the well before the students even entered the school.

After admission, the High Nobility used some of their plants amongst the juniors—High-Rank Knights who have been sponsored by them, or Lower Nobles affiliated with them—to help spread the rumors among our Club.

The rumors especially rely on my recent trouble with the Academy, which has caused many to look at the J-Tutorial Club in a bad light. I recognized this quickly, but even after offering to step down to save the Club’s reputation, my members refused.

They’ve gotten shrewder, it seems.

The truth is, even if I step down, that isn’t any guarantee that the rumors will stop.

We have to take active positions and fight against this misinformation.

Weeks pass, and our investigation has finally borne some fruit. We know the mastermind behind the rumors among the juniors.

It’s none other than a boy called Cedric Thornvale.

I have met Cedric a few times.

He is a short, stubby kid with a rather large belly. His purple hair is a little unruly, and he has mean crimson eyes that hold no reverence for anyone whatsoever. The most peculiar trait about him, however, is his two top incisors, which are large like a rat’s, and his chubby face further accentuates this facial resemblance. I hear the buckteeth are a family trait, and all members of his family have them, but that doesn’t matter much to me.

I’m not one to judge based on appearances.

The problem is that this Cedric Thornvale person is the son of a Count!

Indeed...

In the Randalorion Kingdom, after the Royal Family, the second most powerful Nobility are the Dukes. After Dukes... are the Counts.

There are only three Duke Households in the Kingdom. As for Count Households, there are seven of them in total.

In essence, Cedric Thornvale is a very big deal!

One thing confuses me about this whole arrangement, though. The Thornvale Household belongs to the Royal Faction. The J-Tutorial Club has served as an Anti-Noble Faction in the past; we never really crossed the Royal Faction.

Plus, with the way Cedric is moving, it seems he is growing more acquainted with the Noble Factions of the Academy.

It’s strange...

Has the Count changed his stance, and is it something I’m unaware of?

This could also be the case of a child rebelling. After all, Cedric is at that age, and he gives off a bratty vibe. Regardless, it isn’t up to me to find out his motives, but instead to seek out a solution to the current predicament.

And, after working hard for some weeks, we’ve finally been able to curb the problem.

This is the Royal Academy, filled with Nobles and Royals.

The best way to combat rumors is to create an even better rumor.

Such a simple tactic... I would never have expected it to be the case, but it makes sense, since these are still young individuals who are very concerned about maintaining their image and keeping their reputation in High Society.

After we spread some rumors—harmless ones, I promise—regarding Cedric, he backed down from assaulting us.

I’m certain the Noble Factions that he has been helping will strike sometime in the future, but we’ll deal with that problem when it comes. For now, I’ve achieved my objective of stopping Cedric and saving our Club’s reputation.

With the source of the problem already dealt with, we now have our grasp on the juniors.

I plan to establish an even more complex bureaucracy that will accommodate even more members and strengthen the Club. After all, our seniors will leave, and more juniors will join in the coming years. It’s only natural to create a more effective framework.

Most importantly, now that I have dealt with Cedric Thornvale... I hold no doubt in my mind that I would have drawn the attention of the High Nobility again.

I plan to play it safer this time.

After all, I’m on probation, and any wrong move could get me expelled from the Academy.

However, that doesn’t mean I’ll be completely passive.

The High Nobility in my class aren’t the biggest problems. My major challenge involves the seniors, especially the ones who rule the two most powerful Noble Factions among the students.

There is Vaelen Ashfall, who rules the Ashfall Faction, and Garron Starcrest, who rules the Starcrest Faction. Both of them are children of Dukes, and their families belong to the Noble Faction.

In essence, they are on another level compared to Cedric.

Like two dark clouds hovering above my head, these two overlords will be sure to strike with a fury if I’m not careful. Since I have moles in their Faction—though only belonging at the lower level—I have heard some things about the two of them.

They’re second-hand information, not entirely unreliable, but they have given me a general grasp of their personalities.

Vaelen Ashfall is a prideful man who tends to look down on all.

Despite being a rather short individual, having the appearance of a child, he wields authority incomparable to others who tower above him. He is merciless and cruel, and he ensures each of his subordinates knows their place.

He is also one to keep grudges very deeply, and just like Earl Klaus Gerondester... he also holds Noble Supremacist ideals.

This makes him my biggest obstacle thus far.

As for the second one—Garron Starcrest—he is a rather wild student, but I believe his rough and straightforward personality makes him easier to deal with than the scheming Vaelen.

He is one of the few members of High Nobility who has shown interest in the Department of Martial & Chivalric Studies. I haven’t interacted with him personally, but I had the pleasure of watching him battle once.

That boy is a beast!

He is incredibly skilled, and despite being a young adult who just turned twenty, he has the physique of a man in his prime. I doubt even my father is his match.

Setting aside his obvious noble pride, I believe he treats those around him fairly.

They respect him more than they fear him, which is a good sign.

I doubt he would be really behind Cedric spreading such rumors about the J-Tutorial Club, though he certainly wouldn’t have tried to stop it, since it benefited him. As such, I believe the biggest problem is Vaelen Ashfall.

I have crossed someone who thinks like the Earl... how unfortunate.

But this is fine, too.

After all... I have my own trump cards as well.

"Greetings, Lady Serena," My voice is calm and smooth as I bow slightly before the beautiful senior who sits in one of the private gardens in this Academy. I normally wouldn’t be allowed a hundred meters near this place, not to mention stepping foot inside, but today is an exception.

After all, I have been personally invited by this lady.

"Javier, you’re here."

She raises her delicate hand, and I pick it up, kissing it gently.

Lady Serena Rudinger—the niece of one of the seven Counts, rumored to be betrothed to the son of the only Duke who serves the Royal Faction. She is undoubtedly an important figure in the Royal Academy, yet this lady has chosen to have an audience with me.

"I’m glad you received my letter well..." She smiles sweetly at me, her long silver hair dancing with the wind while her deep scarlet eyes stare at me.

"Were you surprised?"

"Frankly... yes." I slowly straighten up, returning her hand to her. "Even now, I am still reeling with surprise. I’m curious about what the Lady wishes to discuss with me."

Of course, I am lying.

Why would I be surprised when I was expecting something like this to happen?

How could I not be aware of what this senior is after, especially since the political maneuvers among the students of this Academy are relatively easy to read?

The answer is pretty clear to me.

"Sit, Javier... let’s discuss over some tea."

Her servants quickly set up an elaborate banquet table, with a canopy blocking the sunlight, while we still enjoy its brilliant rays and the fresh breeze of the garden.

The sweet scent of flowers, coupled with the aroma from the tea and all the fine pastries, causes my stomach to bite me for attention. My mouth waters uncontrollably, and my entire body tempts me to partake of the meal against my will.

But, I have sufficient self-control, so I only help myself to a few cups of tea and some plates of cookies before stopping.

A Knight must show restraint at all times...

After we get comfortable, and she also enjoys a little bit of her tea, she finally speaks her mind.

"As you know, I belong to the Prince’s Faction in this Academy. He... has taken notice of you, Javier. He would actually like to act as a sponsor of your J-Tutorial Club, and I have been chosen as his representative to express his goodwill."

"The Prince himself?" My voice trembles as I nearly gasp.

To be honest, this has already exceeded my expectations. I already expected the Prince’s Faction to notice me and even approach me, but to think the Prince is directly involved.

This certainly makes things more interesting...

"Indeed!" She beams at me, her chin resting on her intertwined fingers. "He would like to meet you, Javier."

A conversation with the Prince of the Randalorion Kingdom.

That... is an unexpected development.

’But I would be a fool to refuse!’ A grin nearly explodes on my face, but I maintain modesty since I am still under Serena’s gaze.

"So... what do you say, Javier Aditi? Would you like to join the big leagues?"