“And lastly, let's all put aside the formalities. If you have any questions about Wyvern Peak or the country, feel free to ask. I will answer all your questions."Sage raised her hand.Adrian saw this and asked, "What's your question, Sage?"She stood up. "Sir, I'm one of the candidates from a very poor family. I'd like to ask if you meant what you said, that our family backgrounds don't matter in this selection. Are there no hidden rules?"Sage's question caught the attention of many others born into poverty. Adrian sat upright and smiled. "Have you read the selection's rules, Sage?""I have, and I've memorized them all. I’m aware that I'm from a poor family and am worried it will affect my results. All I want is a fair competition with no hidden rules and no bias towards the rich.""I believe many of you wish me to assure you of this question. So, I promise on my honor as a legate that the rules of this selection are exactly as what you've read. We aren't just looking for som
Adrian's reply brought relief to the women present.At that moment, everyone was sure that the upcoming selection would be the most unique throughout history.***After two hours of Adrian answering questions, the rally ended. The candidates filed out of the hall and headed back to their hotels to pack up. They were going back to their respective academies to wait for the six locations to open. When Adrian returned to his office, Raquel walked in. "How was it? Do you think there's any difference with this year's candidates compared to your batch?"He once participated in the selection and came out on top with the best results, even creating new records in the process. Thus, he already had an idea about what this year's candidates were going to be like."You go first."Raquel had never participated in the selection, but she still had the right to voice her opinion since she was a battle warrior of Wyvern Peak. "I think the women are a little too hostile. They even overshadow t
With Garret by her side, Sage packed up and prepared to leave."Something on your mind, Sage? Is it about the rally?"She smiled and turned toward Garret. "It's nothing, really. I was just a little surprised by War Legate Draco. I've never seen him before, but I can tell from this first meeting that he's incredible. After seeing him, I feel like I know nothing nor do I have his temperament."Garret laughed. "Don't you think he used to feel the same way you do now? All that will come with experience, so cheer up. You should just focus on giving your best now that War Legate Draco has opened up the selection to women. Even if you don't become the legate, you can still aim for a high-ranking position."Sage nodded with a smile. At that moment, Raquel walked in and said, "Sage Hall, War Legate Draco would like to meet you. Please come with me."Sage was shocked. "War Legate Draco wants to meet me? Is something the matter?" she asked curiously."Quit the questions and just hurry alo
These words came out of a nineteen-year-old girl. Adrian vowed to treat the young woman before him in a different light from now on. Nineteen was the peak of one's youth, yet Sage chose not to date and get into a relationship like others. Instead, she pushed herself to her limits in pursuit of her dreams. Everything she said was from the depths of her heart. She refused to live her life as an ordinary woman. She wanted to be better.Adrian fell silent, startled by Sage's words. He felt as though she had just taught him a lesson. She did not seem like a nineteen-year-old no matter how one looked at her. She was far more mature than that."Will you regret your decision in the future?" Adrian asked. Sage shook her head but then nodded. Finally, she said, "Nobody can predict what happens in the future. Maybe I will, maybe I won't, but one thing I’ll surely regret is missing this opportunity.”She could not predict what would happen to her after the selection but she was sure what woul
Sage said, “Luposia is the closest country to us and they have connections with Excenom and Hangton. My first undertaking will be to lure Excenom, Hangton, Luposia, and other outland countries to invade us.“Then, I will issue a warning for them to withdraw. In view of their view and that I’ll be a woman leading Wyvern Peak, the outlanders won’t back down. Hence, we’ll have a reason to destroy them.“I’ll send out two troops to pretend to attack Excenom and Hangton. When Luposia is providing assistance to those two countries, I’ll dispatch my main troop to take out Luposia’s Pegasuton.”Sage pointed at the closest outland city to Navia, Pegasuton. This was Luposia’s transit station closest to Navia. If Pegasuton were to fall, Luposia would have to withdraw at least five hundred kilometers. They would lose Pegasuton as a transit station, impeding their effort to invade Navia again.Adrian already had this plan in mind all along. He wanted to shock all the outland organizations with
“In the future, I hope you won’t forget the words you’ve said today. I wish you all the success in the world.” Adrian smiled at Sage. She hastily nodded. “Thank you, sir. May I leave if there’s nothing else?”“Go ahead! Work hard!” Adrian waved. Sage left the office. As soon as she left, Raquel walked in. Leaning against the door frame, she asked, “How did it go? How was the discussion? What do you think of the girl? Anything you’re dissatisfied with?”Adrian pondered for a while before answering, “She’s too confident.”“Isn’t that a good thing?” asked Raquel. Adrian did not refute her but instead said, “It’s a good thing to be confident, but it depends on the circumstances. There are times when we can’t just be blindly confident. We need to find out if she understands this principle. But she did pretty well in the overall assessment. After all, no one’s perfect.”Raquel giggled so hard that she almost bent over in laughter. “I bet you’re recalling how you were when you fir
Adrian shrugged helplessly. Raquel said, “Don’t you worry. I know my situation very well. I’ll return to my family home after I’ve retired. Someone’s waiting for me there.”“Is that so?” Adrian’s interest was piqued. He said smilingly, “Tell me, who is it? What’s he like?”Raquel said, “He’s a friend of mine from high school, and he lives in the neighboring village. You can call him a childhood friend. We didn’t keep in touch but we bumped into each other a few months ago.”“What kind of person is he?” asked Adrian. “He was obedient when younger and is a nice person. We’ve been talking recently and I learned that he’s been starting up new businesses but none have proven successful. No one has accepted his feelings either so he’s still single.”“Is it because he’s ugly?” Adrian asked. Raquel said, “He’s better than you.”Adrian burst out in laughter. “I’m serious, he really is better looking than you. His father fell ill recently so he’s back in his family home to take care
After the rally, Adrian realized that this year’s candidates were much stronger than he had been, and he was deeply gratified over this. He took comfort in this rather than worry the candidates would be problematic. His concern was not the candidates’ standards, but the innermost thoughts that they kept hidden. Adrian recalled the saying of new talents emerging in their own way with the passage of time. The saying “The student has surpassed the master” was highly appropriate in this situation. Many of these candidates surpassed the attitude he had when he was a candidate himself.***As night fell, the lights of Songton shone brightly, exuding splendor and magnificence. Adrian arrived at Lake Solunar and stood on the bridge of the lake, watching the passersby, feeling a myriad of emotions in his heart. He felt like a lonely hero from ancient times that was about to go into hiding.He had stepped back, and anything that happened in Novemton from now on would no longer be associate