Chapter 46: Interesting Caesar

On the bench, Caesar and Lu Chen sat shoulder to shoulder. Caesar was applying medicine to his abrasions while Lu Chen finished a bottle of mineral water and tossed it into a nearby trash bin.

"Hiss... I never expected you to dodge that," Caesar sucked in a breath of cool air as he tended to his wounds, seemingly touching a sore spot.

In the final moment, he thought victory was assured. Lu Chen had discarded the steel plate and weapons, opting to fight bare-handed. When Lu Chen crouched down, he couldn't have possibly evaded Caesar's gunfire.

However, Lu Chen's actions left him dumbfounded. In an instant, Lu Chen exerted force with his feet, collapsing the wall ledge and kicking away the debris, blocking Caesar's carefully planned fatal shot.

Caesar had never intended to defeat Lu Chen with punches and kicks. He was proud and confident, but not foolish. Lu Chen, a young man with monstrous strength from running a martial arts school back home, was not someone he could challenge in his own realm.

From start to finish, Caesar planned to determine the outcome with his marksmanship, his specialty. However, Lu Chen's extraordinary reflexes caused him to miss almost all his shots in the previous round, leaving him with only two bullets. He wasn't confident of a lethal shot.

So, he devised a plan for what followed.

But he never expected his perfect timing and setup to be thwarted by brute force, leaving Caesar somewhat bemused.

"Caesar, Senior Brother, I didn't expect you to lack sportsmanship," Lu Chen said, feeling a bit speechless. They had agreed to a contest of fists, but in the end, you pulled out a gun. It was almost like you were going to say, 'Times have changed.'

"It's just a spar; each of us should play to our strengths," Caesar replied.

Lu Chen lit a cigarette, a gift from Feng Er, and watched the white doves fluttering around the campus. Campus life wasn't quite what he had imagined, but he liked it.

"Try this. It's from Cuba, Cohiba. This is what real men smoke," Caesar said, taking out a metal box and offering Lu Chen a cigar.

Lu Chen accepted, lighting it up and taking a deep drag. "Cough, cough..." he choked a bit.

Caesar was surprised. "Lu Chen, you're not supposed to inhale."

Lu Chen chuckled awkwardly. "Oh, right."

He took another slow puff, swirling the smoke around his mouth, and the aroma of tobacco filled his senses. It was indeed a different experience.

"Not bad," he commented.

"I've always liked top-notch things," Caesar remarked.

Caesar flashed a brilliant smile, but perhaps accidentally moved his wounds, distorting his smile a bit, making it look amusing.

As the two were engaging in harmonious conversation, an unexpected visitor arrived – an instructor, wearing a somewhat displeased expression.

"Lu Chen, Caesar, this is the bill for the repair costs of the facilities," he handed over a list to Lu Chen, who took a look.

Violent breakthrough of trenches, damage to the industrial simulation area gate... Damage to the exterior wall of the clock tower, collapse of the top floor...

Lu Chen was stunned. Wasn't this supposed to be a free-for-all match?

Seemingly sensing Lu Chen's thoughts, the instructor continued, "Generally, a certain degree of damage is permissible, but there's significant damage and collapse of many defense facilities, which will affect the subsequent use by students and need repairs."

Lu Chen fell silent, looking at the several zeros on the list. It seemed like his scholarship wouldn't cover it all. Would he have to rely on selling photos to Feng Er for meals in the future? That would truly be living off someone else.

"The academy is too stingy. What's the point of repairing a few buildings with the annual donation from the trustees? Don't worry, this can be considered our battle achievement. I'll take care of it," Caesar said, taking the list and giving Lu Chen a hearty pat on the shoulder. Lu Chen chuckled awkwardly, as most of the damage was caused by him.

The amount on the list was equivalent to a year's scholarship for him, but for Caesar, it seemed like it wouldn't even be worth mentioning. The Italian noble seemed to have no concept of money.

"I heard you're about to succeed as the Lionheart Society's president?" the two chatted casually.

"It's just rumors. Senior Brother Valerio hasn't returned yet, and even if he does, he might not be satisfied with me as I am now."

"Valerio is indeed an outstanding man, but unfortunately, he's not at the academy. The days without opponents are too boring, but now it's different."

"Am I your opponent now?"

"You are, and also a friend."

"Haha, then I'm looking forward to the days after I take over as president."

The two on the bench shared a glance and smiled.

"Lu Chen, the president is back and wants to see you," a senior brother from the Lionheart Society approached, informing Lu Chen.

With that, Lu Chen bid farewell to Caesar.

...

Late at night, when all was quiet, the Amber House was brightly lit.

The Amber House was a grand building, fully equipped with all facilities. At this moment, however, ancient candlesticks were lit, and it seemed like time had turned back overnight, with an old and solemn atmosphere pervading the building.

The members of the Lionheart Society were dressed in their school uniforms. Figures stood along both sides of the second-floor corridor and the two rows in the ground floor hall.

Not a single member present was below B rank, as the Lionheart Society only recruited elite students.

In the center of the circular corridor on the second floor, the tall figure of Valerio stood, surveying everyone.

"The hall is spacious, and the Amber House is an excellent venue for club activities," for some reason, Valerio's first sentence in this solemn atmosphere was to comment on the venue. But his next sentence made all Lionheart Society members pale, "But we should feel ashamed, and I should feel ashamed."

"The history of the Lionheart Society can be traced back to before the establishment of Cassell Academy. Since the establishment of the academy, we have always conducted our ceremonies at the Norton Hall. However, we are now in the Amber House."

Valerio's voice was low and slow, causing many Lionheart Society members to hang their heads.

"This is my incompetence and negligence, and also the negligence of all of you. The glory of the Lionheart Society has been taken by the Student Union, and the proud lion has lowered its head for the first time."

Valerio clenched his fists, and his voice grew more impassioned.