292 Academy City (2)

"… Hey, did you hear that?"

"Two B-Ranks and one A-Rank? Crazy! And they are so young as well. God, that girl is a B-Rank practitioner when she is just fifteen!"

"I heard that becoming B-Rank before twenty is already enough to consider someone a genius. Are you telling me that we met three monsters more amazing than that here?"

"Damn, I thought I was a genius because I was about to breakthrough to C-Rank before eighteen. What is with this disparity?"

"Hey, don't you think these girls are very pretty?"

"They must be the descendants of some noble or something like that. What are people like them doing here anyway? Why did they not enter the city directly?"

"Perhaps they want to cause a commotion here?"

Bloed, Regina, and Liu Ying were a bit surprised by the commotion they caused, but they remained calm.

In fact, they already expected something like this. After all, Bloed and Liu Ying could be considered as top talents of their generation. Anybody would be surprised when they learn about their cultivation.

Fortunately, Regina hid she was a demigod, otherwise, the commotion would have been much worse.

By the way, Regina's age was indeed twenty, at least according to her body. She had been created using the body of Camilla's daughter, who died at twenty years old and was frozen for four hundred years after that. Then, her body was modified to make her a Valkyrie, so physically, she is eternally twenty.

When the young man processed Bloed and the girls' words, his expression turned stiff. He hurriedly looked at Bloed's group again, this time observing them carefully.

Finally, he noticed the strangeness of the group. Of the three of them, two of them were girls. One was a stunning silver-haired girl, and another was a beautiful black-haired demon.

As for the young man, he was pretty handsome as well. Moreover, his eyes were very unique.

His eyes seemed as though countless unknown runes were flashing on them, creating a mysterious image that made the young man dazed.

Just that glance was enough for the young man to notice that the group in front of him was not normal.

"W-What did you say? B-Rank, A-Rank?"

Bloed put on a gently smile and nodded, making the young man gulp down nervously.

"I-I understand. Y-You are here to be students, don't you?"

"Of course. I think we need to pay a fee, right?"

The young man nodded tensely. He could not be blamed, though. You must know that he was just a little D-Rank practitioner. To him, B-Rank practitioners and A-Rank practitioners were very powerful.

Moreover, such young high-rank practitioners surely must have a powerful background. He did not believe someone like that did not have the backing of some powerful force.

Bloed ignored the young man's nervousness and smiled gently, making the young man relax a little bit. He then watched how Bloed took a bag of gold coins out of thin air, becoming startled again.

"S-Spatial artifact…"

"Sorry?"

"N-No, it's nothing. Y-Yes, I think this money is enough."

"Great. When can we take the exam then?"

"W-Wait a moment. Someone will come here soon. Right, I don't know if you know the rules of the city."

Bloed knew most of it, but he decided to hear the young man anyway. Who knows? Perhaps he could hear something he did not know.

Seeing that Bloed and the two girls seemed pretty friendly, the young man relaxed a lot more and started to explain.

"A-Actually, Academy City is an academy in itself. As soon as you enter the city as a student, you can listen to hundreds of free lessons of your preference. However, if you want to hear better lessons or receive individual teaching, you will have to pay extra. Most nobles and rich students chose this option, while commoners usually chose mostly free lessons, and some paid lessons of their preference."

Bloed nodded. He already knew this information, so he was not too surprised.

However, the next words of the young man interested him.

"Every student will have to undergo a test each year to show his progress, and if your progress is found lacking, you will lose your identity as a student. Besides that, you can choose to inscribe in a club, or if you think you are good enough, create your own one."

"A club?" Bloed tilted his head curiously.

"Yes. Clubs are student-led organizations supervised by a teacher. They realize activities such as tournaments, mock combat, explorations, etc. Moreover, the strongest clubs of the city receive resources from the city each month, enough to cause envy." An expression of envy and longing appeared on the young man when he mentioned that.

Bloed nodded silently and furrowed his brows.

These clubs… They seemed like the perfect place to start his plans.

'Should I create my own club then?'

At that moment, a twenty-something young man appeared. He walked towards Bloed and the others and patted the shoulder of the young man conversing with Bloed.

"Send the next one."

���Let me!" Liu Ying raised her hand excitedly, making the young man turn towards her.

As soon as he saw Liu Ying, his expression froze.

All of sudden, he put on a 'suave' expression and bowed towards Liu Ying as a gentleman.

"To think I would have the honor to meet such a beautiful lady and talented lady. Can I ask what is your name?"

"Liu Ying."

"Liu Ying, huh. What a beautiful name." The young man said with a romantic look that sent goosebumps on Bloed's spine. " You are here to take the test, right? As your senior, let me tell you something. Normally, the test is very difficult. You are fortunate I'm the one testing you. I just broke through B-Rank, so nobody will mind if I go easy on you."

"Really?" Liu Ying blinked with an innocent expression, making Bloed almost burst out laughing.

Even the young man that received Bloed's group information and the people in the surroundings were looking at the newcomer as though he was a fool, although the young man failed to see it.

Instead, he continued to stare at Liu Ying with a passionate expression that made Bloed want to kick his face.

"Don't worry. I don't mind helping such a beautiful and talented lady. Plus, I'm sure you will become as strong as me soon enough."

"Thank you very much. You are a nice senior." Liu Ying smiled brightly, leaving the young man breathless.

Only when the young man beside him coughed slightly he recovered his composure and extended his hand.

"Follow me, I'll take you to the place of the test."

"Thank you very much."

"I'm honored to help such a beautiful girl… Right, I forgot to hear about your Mana Rank. What is it?"

"My mana rank? It's B-Rank as well."

"B-Rank, huh. As expected of such a talented lady." The young man said with an expression of admiration. But soon, that expression froze on his face.

"... Wait a moment, you said B-Rank?"

Liu Ying smiled brilliantly, but the young man could see a playful and teasing glint on her eyes.

Finally, the young man realized that something was wrong.

And for some reason, he felt cold sweat flowing down his spine.

...

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