[Book 8: Power Talks]

A few days had passed since the entrance exams to the Phrontistery of Scientific Education had concluded, and as Gaius sat up from his bed unhurriedly, he recalled that today was the first day of school. A legitimate, proper school, unlike the one he’d attended at Heritage Basestation.

Gaius looked at the prescribed uniform hanging off the wall thoughtfully. Unlike every other school he’d seen in Orb — which was only two, to be fair — the phrontistery had a set uniform and dress code. Students, regardless of gender, were assigned a formal, short sleeved suit, which came with an optional, equally formal vest.

“Alright, first day at school.” Gaius washed up, slapped some water onto his face and picked up his bag, which Nexus had already hopped into. He wasn’t here to just experience a normal school life; the Pinnacle wanted him to do something in exchange for an opportunity to choose something from his private vault.

This was beginning to feel like an established pattern or something. Do something for a chance to get some treasure — Gaius was beginning to wonder if there was also going to be another Zeroth Armament in Kolya’s treasure stash. Unfortunately, he didn’t have enough samples to definitively prove that every private vault had a Zeroth Armament, and more importantly, even if there was one, Pinnacle Kolya would be an idiot if he didn’t remove it earlier.

Slapping his cheeks lightly once more, Gaius went downstairs, where Nakama and Isabelle were wearing the school uniform and sitting around a marble dining table. The latter was poking Nakama’s forehead with an outstretched finger — Isabelle was probably scolding her for playing with her food.

Hmm. Is she in her rebellious phase? I thought that was over already… Gaius shook his head and sat down at the table. It was something that they brought a few days back to spruce up the interior of the house…and it looked like something that could withstand an accidental kick from Gaius or Isabelle.

After a light breakfast, the three left the house. Sterne Street, which was where their mansion was located at, was a home to many a rich family, and the moment the three stepped out, Gaius could see thirty to forty other students on the road already.

The Phrontistery taught students for three years, or four, depending on one’s wishes and aptitude. It was very possible that these students in front of them were students in later years, so there wasn’t much of a point in making friends yet. Therefore, the three of them stuck together as they approached the boundary between Upper and Twilight Elysium, where their student identities were verified.

Like the school gates, the school walls, furniture and other miscellaneous items were all plated or made with some chrome-like material, presumably because they boasted of a greater material strength.

Heck, even the sculptures were plated with chrome.

Casting a few curious glances at the shiny school, Gaius and company made their way into the school hall. Nakama and Isabelle shivered as they entered the place, and after sparing a moment or two, he understood why. The giant hall had air conditioning, which he couldn’t feel since his Climate Control was always activated for maximum comfort.

Around four to five hundred chairs were laid out, each of them made out of some velvet, cushiony material. The metal skeleton frame each of them had was smooth to the touch, and for a moment, Gaius wondered if the school would notice if he brought a few back with him at night.

Class 1-S…Gaius looked around, but it was Isabelle who noticed the areas allocated for their class first. Leading them over, the three found seats in an inconspicuous corner of the area assigned to their class and sat down.

“I like this chair,” Isabelle murmured. “I wonder if we should buy something like this when we go back today.”

“Can we bring this back?” Nakama asked

“No, I’m afraid not…”

Gaius’ chain of thoughts drifted elsewhere as the two girls chattered on. He was looking for someone that Pinnacle Kolya wanted him to approach, the Countess Reinford from the Western Holdings.

As it turned out, she wasn’t just any run of the mill aristocrat. Countess Reinford was someone part of the West’s Court of Hallows, the decision-making body of the Western Holdings. To be more specific, she was the little princess of quite a few aristocrats linked together by marriage, and she too held quite a lot of power in the Court of Hallows.

And his job was to persuade the Western Holdings that it was also in their best interest to send more than just a support battalion of logistics troops over to World’s End. After all, if they had participated in an attack on the South just two years ago, helping to defend the Five Lands shouldn’t be too hard for them with a sizable number of troops shouldn’t be a tall order.

But theories were, in the end, theories.

The hall, which was full of chatter, fell silent as a group of students entered it. Just a moment ago, someone had run into the hall to unfurl a thin red carpet that spanned the entrance to the seating area of Class 1-S. Whether that student intended it or not, the entire hall was now watching curiously at the newcomers, a group of students that oozed poise and a cartful of pride based on one’s birth.

Fortunately for Gaius, the Pinnacle’s request was just that — a request. If Gaius didn’t want to do it, then he wouldn’t. It wasn’t like he was the only one that was working to convince the West to contribute more in the upcoming fight against the Demon God.

He couldn’t imagine himself toadying up to anyone. No, Gaius knew that he would have to take a different approach in convincing Countess Reinford…and that the fact that he still cast a shadow over her in combat would be the key.

Licking his lips, the boy waited in silence, watching as the ridiculously grandiose convoy drew near, his eyes focused on his newfound prey.