Chapter 60 - 61: Going to Pick Up People from the Five Top Academies?!

Chapter 60: Chapter 61: Going to Pick Up People from the Five Top Academies?!

The sound of rushing wind exploded in Nathaniel’s ears.

He suddenly felt the ground disappear beneath his feet as Westmere rapidly shrank in his field of vision.

The City Lord’s Mansion.

The Professional Center.

Beaumont Trading Consortium’s headquarters.

And the Beaumont estate, where he had lived since childhood.

Within a few breaths, all the familiar buildings had become blurry outlines beneath him.

An invisible spatial barrier surrounded Instructor Malcolm Rook, completely blocking the turbulent airflow.

Standing beside him, Nathaniel barely felt any weightlessness.

Only the scenery rushing past at incredible speed made him glance around several times.

Noctis lay on Nathaniel’s shoulder, its two little paws gripping his collar tightly. Its tail stood straight up.

"Meow..."

Nathaniel raised his hand and patted its head.

"Don’t panic."

Noctis shrank its neck and buried its head inside Nathaniel’s collar.

A little curiosity rose in Nathaniel’s heart.

"Senior Rook."

"Where are we going now?"

Instructor Malcolm Rook replied indifferently,

"First, we’re visiting a few academies to pick up some newcomers like you."

Nathaniel’s interest was piqued.

"Newcomers?"

"Yes. Several students from the Five Top Academies who passed the High Command selection."

"And one genius from another academy."

A hint of interest appeared in Nathaniel’s eyes.

In Westmere, gaining admission to one of the Five Top Academies was enough to make someone famous throughout the entire city.

But in the High Command, students from those academies were simply a group of newcomers waiting to be collected.

Westmere was, after all, still a small city.

Instructor Malcolm Rook seemed to understand his thoughts.

"You don’t need to feel inferior because you came from Westmere."

"The High Command doesn’t care about your background."

"It only cares about strength, potential, battle records, and value."

Nathaniel smiled.

"I wasn’t thinking that way."

"I’m just curious about the strength of the other people selected."

Instructor Malcolm Rook replied,

"You’ll find out soon enough."

Nathaniel continued asking,

"And after we pick them up?"

"We’ll head to the High Command Training Camp."

"The High Command won’t send newcomers directly into its official ranks."

"Every selected Professional must first enter the Training Camp and complete their preliminary training."

Instructor Malcolm Rook paused before adding,

"There’s something you should remember."

"Once you enter the Training Camp, don’t hold back."

"All the resources there must be earned through competition."

"The better you perform, the greater the support you’ll receive."

Nathaniel nodded.

"Understood."

As soon as he finished speaking, a circle of ripples appeared in the space ahead.

Instructor Malcolm Rook stepped forward.

Nathaniel felt the light and shadows around him stretch.

When his vision cleared, they were already above another city.

This city was much larger than Westmere.

Its Professional Center covered an enormous area, far exceeding the one in Westmere.

Even from a distance, several high-tier dungeon entrances could be seen outside the city. Each released powerful energy fluctuations.

Instructor Malcolm Rook did not stop. He descended straight toward the rooftop of a tall building.

Someone was already waiting there.

It was a young man in his twenties.

He had a tall build and wore a black-and-red combat uniform. A broad-bladed long saber rested across his back.

His arms were crossed over his chest, and his expression carried a hint of arrogance.

When Instructor Malcolm Rook landed, the young man’s eyes lit up.

Instructor Malcolm Rook spoke without emotion.

"Gareth Quinn?"

The young man immediately straightened.

"That’s me."

"Gareth Quinn, second-year student at Redmont Institute."

Instructor Malcolm Rook nodded.

"Come with us."

"Yes, sir!"

Gareth naturally noticed Nathaniel standing beside him.

He couldn’t help asking,

"Brother, are you also joining the Training Camp in this batch?"

Nathaniel nodded.

"Yes."

Gareth immediately became interested.

"Which academy?"

Nathaniel replied,

"I haven’t attended university yet."

The smile on Gareth’s face froze.

"Sorry?"

He suspected he had misheard.

"You haven’t attended university?"

"Then, where are you from?"

Nathaniel answered calmly,

"I’m a senior high school student from Westmere."

The air fell silent for a moment.

Gareth’s eyes widened.

"A high school student?!"

"What the..."

"Brother, are you serious?"

"You’re still in high school, and the High Command recruited you directly?"

Nathaniel glanced at him.

"Is there a problem?"

The corners of Gareth’s mouth twitched.

Was there a problem?

There was a huge problem!

He, Gareth Quinn, considered himself a fierce competitor.

He came from an ordinary university.

He had no top instructors paving the way for him.

Yet he had fought through the Hundred-Academy Tournament, defeating the second-year students from the Five Top Academies one after another.

Only then had he attracted the High Command’s attention.

No matter how he looked at it, that achievement was something he could boast about for years.

But what about the young man standing in front of him?

A high school student.

Directly recruited by the High Command.

Just how impressive was that?

Gareth couldn’t help looking at Instructor Malcolm Rook.

"Senior, could he have some special connections?"

Instructor Malcolm Rook’s eyes turned cold.

"The High Command doesn’t recruit people through connections."

Gareth’s heart tightened. He quickly waved his hands.

"I was only asking!"

He looked at Nathaniel again, his curiosity growing.

"If he wasn’t recruited through connections, that’s even more ridiculous."

"Brother, just how talented are you?"

"Do you have a Hidden Profession?"

"Or a Unique Profession?"

Before Nathaniel could answer, Instructor Malcolm Rook spoke coldly.

"Don’t go prying into other people’s professions and abilities."

Gareth’s expression froze.

"Understood."

Instructor Malcolm Rook paid him no further attention.

He raised his hand, and space rippled around them again.

Feeling the change in the surrounding energy, Gareth’s eyes lit up.

"Senior, that technique of yours is incredible!"

Instructor Malcolm Rook remained expressionless.

"Be quiet."

Gareth fell silent.

The next instant, the three of them stepped into the spatial ripples.

When their vision stabilized, they were already high above the ground.

It was clear that Gareth had never experienced being carried through the sky by someone at this level.

He lowered his head and watched the mountains and rivers rush past beneath his feet.

He couldn’t help clicking his tongue.

"This is much faster than the flying mounts at my academy."

Instructor Malcolm Rook said nothing.

Gareth wasn’t embarrassed. He soon turned his attention back to Nathaniel.

"Brother, let’s get acquainted."

"Gareth Quinn."

"Second-year student at Redmont Institute."

"I’m incredibly strong!"

As he spoke, he raised his chin slightly. His confidence was impossible to miss.

"You’ve heard of the Hundred-Academy Tournament, right? Even if you haven’t attended university, you must have heard something about it."

"It’s the biggest competition among university students."

"During the last tournament, I fought my way from the preliminary rounds all the way to the finals."

"Those so-called geniuses from the second year at the Five Top Academies? I defeated every one of them."

"That battle was what finally caught the High Command’s attention."

"To put it simply..."

"I earned my place through strength alone."

Nathaniel glanced at him.

This guy certainly liked to show off.

Still, defeating the second-year students of the Five Top Academies while attending an ordinary university was no small achievement.

He had earned the right to be proud.

Gareth continued,

"Brother, what’s your name?"

"Nathaniel Beaumont."

Gareth suddenly leaned closer and lowered his voice.

"Nathaniel, how about the two of us form an alliance first?"

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow.

"An alliance?"