Learning the Answer

Since he was a new student, it was quite difficult to get inside the library for him.

One would need to hand over their student id to be administered to enter the library, and Alex doesn't have one as a new student. Knowledge is the source of power in the Hyperion Empire, equal or even more so than individual prowess.

Inside the academy's library, profound knowledge was stashed.

Due to that alone, the academy's library became one of the most important places around.

But once again, his last name proved to be very useful.

Just mentioning that he was from the Sitradus Family alone able to instantly change the librarian's mind, he was permitted to head inside with a simple warning, telling him that he would need the student id for his next visit.

Entering the library through an automatic gate, he was completely mesmerized.

As one of the most important places of the academy, the library was not disappointing. It's a massive circular-shaped building, a rotunda with a glass dome that provides a way for natural lights to seep through.

Large and tall white marble bookshelves could be seen everywhere the eyes could see.

Statues, pole ornaments, and even holographic fountains adorned the place.

Alex was overwhelmed by the number of books, he didn't even know how to search for the information that he wanted. But trying out himself would take too long, so he decided to search for help as he didn't have much time before class started.

"Hmm... Let's see here" a librarian aide, a woman with silver hair tapped on the console.

It seems searching for the book he wanted is easier than he thought.

One would only need to search in a console provided in a section of the library to know where the book is located. 'Very different. Back home, it must be done manually or asks the librarian who is an expert that literally memorized every single book in the library'

Gazing at a name tag on the woman's uniform, Alex found her name there, Marla.

"Are you new? It's my first time seeing you here" Marla asked.

Upon hearing this, Alex nodded his head, "Yes, I passed the Trial and got transferred here"

"You must be quite talented then, it's very rare for a new aspirant to get transferred around this time" Marla replied, still tapping on the console. But eventually, she found the books Alex wanted and led him to them.

Five minutes later, Marla handed over three books that Alex wanted.

Receiving the books, Alex smiled politely, "Thank you, madam. I really appreciate it"

"Don't be so formal," Marla giggled, her voice melodious. "I'm a student here too. Just call me Marla. And here, you might also want to read this book as well, I'm sure it'll help" She offered him another book, which Alex accepted, though he was slightly puzzled by her gesture.

Examining the book, he found that it was about an Imperial Charter.

Alex raises his gaze with a questioning look, wondering why she gave him this book.

"Judging from the books you are searching for, I assumed that you're aiming to have your own battleship. If so, you'll need to start learning about that for the test" Marla answered, putting on a brilliant smile that made her somewhat shine.

In return, Alex bowed slightly, "Yes, it has been a dream of mine to own a battleship"

"Well, good luck then! I'm going to go before the librarian scolds me" She bids her goodbye.

Gazing at her back, Alex smiled before he walked away.

Taking a seat on the table nearby, he put the four books in front of him and sat down.

I don't know about the Hyperion Empire's people, but since I have mana, absorbing the information in these thick books shouldn't take too much time. Let's get started then. Alex thought, stretching his hands before he started reading.

Aside from the book given by Marla, the other three are the ones he needs right now.

One is about spaceships, in general, starting from history all the way to related information about them, another is about battleship that contains all types and weaponry, while the last one is about military and noble titles.

Just how can Xander not know this...? Alex sighed dejectedly.

Coming from an influential family that many would consider to be a behemoth family, he thought that the memories from Xander would provide him with all the information he needed to push onward.

But he was wrong, Xander mostly spent his time training and tending to his mother.

It was a rough life for him, so Alex couldn't even blame him too much.

Having little time, Alex burned through the content, using his mana to increase his focus.

Flipping through the pages quickly, he was reading very fast.

Some of the aspirants who saw this gave him a weird glance as for them, there's no way that a person could read and comprehend the content of the book that quickly. If they tried to keep up with Alex, they couldn't even grasp a sentence much less the entire book.

Due to that, they thought that he was only messing around.

Contrary to their expectations, Alex grasped all of them without much difficulty.

Now the question that he has is finally answered.

In order to own a battleship that could be freely used, or at least serve the purpose of war, a person would need to have money, acceptable military service, possess an officially issued license also known as an Imperial Charter, and also possess a noble title or high military rank.

Just as he anticipated, the requirements are hard to complete.

Money is as expected, but it costs about 20 million imperial credits... Alex frowned.

Hyperion Empire's currency is called imperial credits.

A very successful business owner, having the domain within a planet would probably be able to accumulate around 1 million credits a year. A regular worker would have 2,400 credits a year, and that alone shows how expensive even the oldest model of a spaceship is.

On top of that, he would also need to have at least 10 years of military service in his belt.

But Alex didn't think this requirement much.

In the military scheme, the 10-year requirement is only mandatory through regular means. If I show extraordinary feat during my service, I'm sure I can bypass this requirement easily. Alex pondered, confident that he would be doing extraordinary feats in the future.

Then again, his confidence is not a blind one.

Since in his past life, he lived in Adudal Principality, he knows the strategic planets.

Gaining recognition would be easy for him with that information.

Alex also now, knows why Marla gave him the other book. It was for him to prepare himself for taking the Imperial Charter test that he would need to purchase a spaceship. Lastly, one would need to also have sufficient title or rank.

It's either having a Planetary Baron title or a Ship Captain rank...

Upon learning about this, Alex could only massage his throbbing forehead with a sigh.

Since he came from a very influential family, he shouldn't have this problem.

His father, Aaron Zich Sitradus is honored with a High Nobility title, given to only those who governed multiple Solar Colonies, four ranking higher than Planetary Baron. With his father's title, Alex should have enough standing to fulfill the required title.

However, the second wife, Olivia did something that made this into a problem.

Out of pure pettiness she had against his mother, Eleanor, she erased her children's names including his sister from the Sitradus family legally. Despite still using the last name Sitradus, he and his sister were legally not a part of the family anymore.

Due to that, the title would be the hardest for him to complete.

No matter, I'll figure it out along the way, I'm sure. Alex thought before he continued reading.

A couple of hours passed, and the time for class arrived.

Closing the books that he had already finished, he stood up and put them back in their places. Gazing at the holographic time on the wall, he learned that it was nearing midday, and class would start in half an hour.

Walking rather fast, he takes a turn to reach the exit.

But when he turned, he stopped abruptly seeing a group of women across him.

Alex's widened eyes were fixed on two women, one at the center while the other was on the right. Both of them also seemed to be surprised to see him here, the sight was so surreal that their eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

It was obvious that none of them expected to see Alex here.

One is a striking figure of elegance and grace, standing tall and slender.

A figure that made her look like the poise of a runway model. Her lustrous brown hair is neatly tied back in a sleek ponytail, allowing her beautiful features to take center stage. She exudes an approachable air that belies her youthful appearance.

From Xander's memories, this woman is Hannah, his ex-fiance.

Despite having the opportunity to marry a son of the Sitradus Family, Hannah's family decided to cancel the engagement due to the fact that the second wife essentially erased Alex's name from the Sitradus family.

It gave them no benefit to let Hannah marry Alex this way.

Moreover, Hannah was also against this when she knew that his Bio-aptitude was low.

Someone with low Bio-aptitude like Alex would only stay at the bottom, weak and frail. She knew that she was worth more than him, so she was glad that the engagement was canceled lest she marry a low-life.

However, Alex's attention on her didn't last long as his eyes shifted to the other woman.

It forces a frown to appear on Alex's face at the sight of this woman.

A woman with flowing dark hair that cascades to her back like a silken waterfall.

It acted as a frame to her face that exudes an aura of sharpness and certainty. She's rather petite but athletically built, and her feline yellow eyes which are piercing and dominant bore a stark similarity to Alex's eyes.

She was Amara, the daughter of the second wife, his half-sister.

Just the sight of Amara alone makes his body stiffen, remembering her mother's brutality.

Both Amara and Hannah knew that Alex was nothing but a reject, he couldn't match their strength thus making it quite impossible for him to join a prestige academy such as the Orion Institute of Mech-Soldiers, so the sight of him caught them off guard.

Alex locked eyes with them and for a moment, couldn't move from his spot.

From the tension that lingered between them as the group of women halted on their spots, he already knew that there was going to be trouble. Damn it, why do I have to meet with them now? I have class, and these two are nothing but trouble.