Chapter 44: Are You Still Planning to Fail?

"The technique you just mentioned, Headmaster, what does it refer to?"

Lu Chen grasped the crux of the matter.

"Wait until Valeri returns, and you'll know. These days, it's better to recuperate in the academy. It's your first mission, and it's inevitable to feel a bit tired, right?"

Ansel smiled, knowing that the Lionheart Society's secret library was a treasure trove, and this child would gradually unearth its secrets.

"Tired or not, it's just that this mission feels a bit tedious. I thought we'd go straight into combat after arriving."

Lu Chen quipped.

"It seems like your teacher has indeed trained you into an excellent warrior. As a member of the Secret Society, a love for combat isn't a bad thing. I've heard that Filimon has already proposed to register you early in the Execution Department. What do you think?"

Ansel scrutinized the young man before him.

"I heard that this AA-level mission could earn me quite a few credit points? But what exactly does that mean? Can it save me from failing a subject?"

Lu Chen suddenly brought up academics.

Ansel also paused for a moment, "It does translate to being able to make up for one subject, but are you planning to fail a subject?"

Among the academy's students, earning credit points and completing A-level records in war practice courses were matters of pride. However, it was the first time Ansel had heard of someone wanting to make up for a subject using credit points earned from an AA-level mission, especially at the beginning of their freshman year.

Lu Chen also felt a bit embarrassed. "You also know, Headmaster, that I haven't received higher education before. Alchemy and chemistry courses are too challenging for me. I find them a bit overwhelming."

"Are you suggesting that you'd like...?" Ansel prompted.

"Can I take on more tasks to make up for the cultural courses I'm missing?" Lu Chen was sincere. He had laid his cards on the table; he was simply not good at academics.

Watching Lu Chen leave his office, Ansel couldn't help but mutter with a chuckle, "This kid."

In fact, even if Lu Chen hadn't brought up the matter, Ansel had been thinking about it. After all, historically, the President of the Lionheart Society had always been registered in the Execution Department, ready to accept mission calls at any time.

If Valeri were to step down upon his return, it would be logical for Lu Chen to enter the Execution Department. It's just that Ansel hadn't expected Lu Chen's reason for wanting to take on more missions to be the fear of failing a subject.

Well, if Lu Chen didn't pass his cultural courses and didn't earn enough credit points, he might become the first S-level in history to be demoted due to failing a subject, which would be quite embarrassing.

This kid's roommate seemed to be Fingal, right? It would be good for him to spend more time outside, lest he catch the laziness bug from staying in the dorm too long.

...

"Junior Brother, ever since you arrived, our news department has felt a lot busier."

Just as he returned to the dormitory, Lu Chen saw Fingal typing away at the keyboard.

"What's up?"

Lu Chen put down the "afternoon tea" he brought from the Headmaster's office. The pastries from the Headmaster's place tasted good, but there was too little.

"See for yourself."

Fingal pushed the table, leaning back in his chair with the help of the recoil force.

Lu Chen walked over to take a look at the screen.

"First Mission: AA-Level, Perfectly Completed by S-Rank Freshman!"

"Shocking: High-risk Hybrid Species, Helpless against S-Rank Student's Decapitation."

"Have You Ever Seen a Gust of Wind? Victim's First-Person Perspective."

"Can't Use Instantaneous Movement? No, It's You Who Can't!"

"Some of these posts seem to have leaked details of the mission, isn't that against the rules?" Lu Chen's mouth twitched.

"No evidence, no worries. Who cares about empty talk? Besides, they just mentioned some details about the battle, not the specifics of the mission," Fingal shrugged. As a professional paparazzo, there were few news items he wouldn't dare to publish.

"Now the Nightwatch forum is buzzing about you. The contrast is too obvious. The veteran commissioners from the Execution Department are all lowering their flags in front of you, a newcomer. It's hard not to admit that there's some truth to the bloodline theory," Fingal scrolled through the forum's list, with almost half of the high-traffic posts being about Lu Chen.

Lu Chen also checked his current reputation. Completing the mission added 100 points, theoretically putting him at 150. However, his actual reputation now stood at 220. It seemed that publicity also influenced reputation. He estimated that completing tasks for the Execution Department in the future would gradually increase it.

"To be honest, how does it feel?" Fingal pouted.

"I don't feel much, to be honest. Just chopped off a lunatic's head," Lu Chen sat down and started his real "afternoon tea."

"No hesitation at all? Or maybe you were worried that your dear senior sister might be defiled, so you acted rashly and chopped off his head?" Fingal smirked.

"Where did you hear that? Helping out a fellow student is just common decency," Lu Chen almost choked.

"What I just asked you wasn't about your feelings about the mission. I asked you, who's your destined one between Milanla and Luthia?" Fingal, true to his title of the gossip king, would surely stir up a new hot topic on the Nightwatch forum if Lu Chen leaked any information.

"As classmates and friends, it's fine," Lu Chen replied nonchalantly.

"Junior Brother, your response is so typical of a sleazy guy."

"Sleazy guy?" Lu Chen hadn't heard this term before, but it sounded derogatory.

"It means not refusing, not responding, and not taking responsibility when faced with the pursuit of women," Fingal explained seriously.

"What should I do then to not be considered a sleazy guy?" Lu Chen took a bite of his sandwich.

"I was just joking, Junior Brother. Of course, you're not a sleazy guy. After this incident, I bet more of your admirers among the younger female students will increase. You can't respond to each one individually," Fingal laughed. "I heard you're about to succeed as the President of the Lionheart Society?"

"Perhaps, but Valeri hasn't returned yet."

"After that, are you planning to register with the Execution Department for missions?"

"That's the plan. As you know, Senior, alchemy and mechanical engineering courses are too difficult for me. It wouldn't be bad to make up for my grades this way. I can't just cheat and copy Chu Zihang's homework during finals."

Lu Chen took a sip of water and suppressed the thought. Although Chu Zihang was quite loyal, he was also quite rigid. Every time Lu Chen tried to copy his homework, Chu Zihang would earnestly advise him to pay attention in class and ask him if there was anything he didn't understand. He would teach him.

He certainly wouldn't stoop to cheating when there was a legitimate way to make up for his grades.

"But Junior Brother, you're only a freshman. Let me tell you, even though this mission seems intense, there are plenty of tasks in the Execution Department that are even more intense. You might even encounter pure-blooded dragons and third-generation species, it's very dangerous," Fingal warned solemnly.

"Isn't that even better?" Lu Chen grinned.

"It seems like you're naturally suited for the Execution Department, Junior Brother. I won't nag you anymore, but remember, when you go out on missions, bring back some local specialties for your Senior Brother," Fingal put on a teasing smile, as if ready to kneel and beg.

"Why didn't you graduate, Senior Brother?" Lu Chen suddenly wondered. He now had a better understanding of Cassell Academy, and with his secret bloodline warrior's insight, he could see that this shameless Senior Brother was actually quite strong.

Not to mention, in terms of physical fitness, his Senior Brother might even be faster than Chu Zihang.

Failing a subject could lower one's bloodline rating, but it couldn't change a person's true bloodline.

"Hehe, if I graduated, wouldn't I also suffer all over the world? It's much more comfortable to stay in the academy. Besides, there are a few cultural courses that I really can't pass," Fingal scratched his head.

Seeing this, Lu Chen didn't ask further. Everyone had their own secrets, and Fingal had his.