Reno Continent has three main cities.

These "main cities" aren't defined by size, but by their control over Reno Continent's key transportation hubs.

All these hubs ultimately lead to the heart of Reno Continent—

the Imperial Capital.

When people think of the Imperial Capital, their first thought isn't the royal palace.

But three elite academies.

They are: Kempfer Royal Academy, An Yi Noble Academy, and Eight Thousand Rayber Academy.

The selection for each generation of the Radiant Ten Stars rotates among these three academies.

This time, it's held at Kempfer Royal Academy.

Reno Imperial Calendar, 9th Century, Year 80, October 4th.

This day thrills the entire Reno Continent.

Kempfer Royal Academy's quadrennial enrollment begins today, lasting three days.

Though it's early morning, the enrollment area at the academy gates is already a massive crowd.

Some are here for the spectacle;

others to try their luck;

and of course, some truly skilled individuals seeking education...

On the pure gold archway, "Kempfer" is engraved in bold, flowing script.

But in its lower right corner, a row of simple desks and chairs is set up.

"Teacher Jingyue, have you heard?"

An old, bald man with graying hair leered at the female teacher sitting nearby, diligently reviewing documents.

"What is it, Director Bolong?"

Jingyue didn't look up, still focused on the documents. A massive queue snaked before her desk, while Bolong's line was nearly empty.

If Dilu were here, he'd vomit a liter of demon blood. To get Alice enrolled, this old baldy had gouged him hard, slashing a zero off his personal gold account!

"It's about that girl Cecile! Teacher Jingyue, dedication is good, but don't fall out of touch with the times!"

Jingyue adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses, still not glancing at Bolong.

"Cecile's actions are commendable. Nothing improper about them."

Bolong feigned shock, ignoring the anxious new students in his own line.

"So you knew! Oh dear! That girl Cecile is so foolish! If she's selected for the Radiant Ten Stars, her studies don't matter. Yet she insists on re-enrolling! Wasting another four years! If it were me, I'd just enter the selection tournament for a rank and call it a day."

"Director Bolong! Speculation is unnecessary! Please focus on your enrollment duties!"

Jingyue fell silent, reviewing documents while answering new students' questions.

A young man before Bolong seized the moment.

"Respected teacher, are my documents complete? Do I need to submit anything else?"

Bolong glared at him, puffing his cheeks.

"What's the rush! I'm looking right now! In a hurry to die or something?"

The youth quickly apologized with a forced smile, not daring to protest.

"What? 'Dare not'? Seems you're a coward too! You're unqualified. Go play in the mud somewhere else!"

The youth's face turned pale, then flushed red. He stammered, unable to utter a word. Silently, he cursed every female ancestor of the old man for eighteen generations before slinking away.

No choice. This lecherous old baldy was infamous across the Imperial Capital—even the Reno royal family respected him.

Witnessing the youth's humiliation, Bolong's entire queue instantly shifted to Jingyue's line.

"Hmph~ These young people nowadays... can't handle a little setback..."

Bolong put on a world-weary expression, legs crossed, while sneaking glances at Jingyue's chest.

Just then, two women and three men approached from afar, drawing most eyes.

One woman wore practical attire. Despite the dust of travel, her beauty shone through.

One man, though older, had a muscular build. Strangely, he followed a little kid like a bodyguard.

Another elderly man led a horse named "Thousand Mile Snow," his wrinkled face etched with exhaustion.

Most noticeable were the boy and girl at the front.

The silver-haired boy had a wild grass stalk dangling from his mouth, hands in his pockets. Beside him, a cute black-haired loli leaned almost entirely on his arm, snoring softly as she shuffled along, adorably clumsy.

Clearly, a noble young master and lady traveling with bodyguards and servants.

"Brat! It's still early! Let's go back through Ash Forest!"

"Ahhh~~~" The silver-haired boy ahead yawned widely, ignoring the fierce words of the woman in practical clothes.

Undoubtedly, this group was Ryosuke and his companions. The woman in practical attire was none other than our noble and beautiful commoner, Miss Cecile.

Cecile fumed inwardly. Honestly, she was incredibly frustrated!

She'd planned to use the Greenwind Wolf King to eliminate this brat—that was why she hired them as escorts. With wind on her side, she could escape anytime.

But on this journey, she'd even slowed down to stretch it into night. Not only no Greenwind Wolf King, not even a wolf pup in sight!

The ground was so clean, not a single wolf hair to be found!

It was enough to make one spit blood in frustration!

Cecile swiftly bypassed the two and spread her arms to block Ryosuke.

"Young lady, what now?"

Cecile gritted her teeth silently. She couldn't stand this brat's arrogant attitude. At first, he seemed like a normal kid, even acting cute with elders sometimes. But he'd quickly revert to his true self.

Cecile couldn't tell which was the real him...

"Turn back!"

"I refuse."

"No! This is too strange! I heard the Greenwind Wolf King's roar before entering Ash Forest. How could we walk a whole day and night without seeing a single wolf pup!"

Ryosuke chuckled inwardly. That roar was the wolf king's warning to the forest: a great figure was coming, so all wolf pups fled in panic. That's why the journey was so smooth.

Even so, it took a whole day and night. This brat had only taken a little advantage of her—was such calculated revenge really necessary?

Besides, he'd been forced into it!

"Young lady, our job was to escort you safely to Kempfer. We're almost at the gates now. Please proceed on your own."

Seeing this, getting her help with enrollment was impossible. Anyway, they'd arrived.

As the saying goes, "When mountains and rivers block the path, willows and flowers signal a new village." At worst, he'd enroll himself. He didn't believe the Iceflower Evil God Dragon couldn't get into a school!

Cecile stomped her foot hard and vanished into steam before everyone's eyes.

Why does this girl always do such shocking things...

"Miss! Wait for me!"

Poor Magroo let out a wail, dragging "Little Snow" as he desperately pushed into the academy, vanishing into the crowd in a blink.

Cecile was already a student at Kempfer Royal Academy, so she had her own way to report.

"Finally gone..."

Ryosuke sighed in relief. Suddenly, a thunderous gurgle sounded behind him.

Ryosuke turned, shocked to see the burly old man behind him. The man rubbed his stomach, staring intently at Ryosuke.

"Sigh..."

Ryosuke sighed again. He'd almost forgotten this troublesome presence.

Alpha blinked her big eyes, head tilted innocently as she looked at Ryosuke.

When did she wake up?

"Alpha, give me the shoulder bag."

"Meow~"

Alpha obediently handed a black crossbody bag to Ryosuke. He took it, opened it, and fished out a blue crystal card.

This was given by Snook as thanks to Ryosuke. It held a hefty sum of gold coins.

This crystal card functioned like a bank card from his past life.

"Old man, take this card. Find the nearest inn, get a room, eat something. I, the great one, will find you after I finish my business."

For convenience, Ryosuke called the Apsen Giant "old man." He didn't know his name, and the giant didn't either, so he just went with it.

The Apsen Giant grunted a nasal "Ooh" and waddled away in his duck-footed gait, disappearing from Ryosuke's sight.

"Sigh..."

Ryosuke sighed again, turning to look at the innocent Alpha beside him.

Alpha wasn't ordinary. Her true identity was the former leader of the Twelve Demon Kings—the Black Emperor Demon Dragon. It was safer to keep her close.

"Time to handle my own business. Since leaving Origin Forest, I've been dealing with others' affairs. I guess I can only blame myself for being too selfless and great."

Ryosuke's self-absorbed words made bystanders instinctively keep their distance.

"Such a strange kid, calling himself 'I, the great one.' Must be from some noble house. Better not get involved in any messy business."

Soon, Ryosuke spotted the enrollment area.

"This is so shabby! Is this school even legit?"

Ryosuke muttered, ignoring the stunned stares, and walked straight to a bald old man.

He yanked out the chair before the old man's desk and plopped down boldly.

His first words weren't flattery for the bald man. Instead, he propped his chin on one hand on the table with a thud, glanced sideways at the endless queue nearby, completely ignoring the old man's shocked gaze, and mused aloud:

"Are these guys stupid? No line here, yet no one comes to enroll."

With those words, Ryosuke instantly became the center of attention. Even the unmoved Jingyue couldn't help but glance back at him.

Ryosuke noticed Jingyue's gaze and took a closer look.

Thin lips, crescent-shaped eyebrows, fair skin, ample bosom—undoubtedly a mature beauty.

"Hey, beauty, hello."

Ryosuke kept his pose, casually greeting her with nonchalance.

"Why are you all staring at me? Do I have flowers growing on my face?"

The onlookers collectively gasped. As for Alpha, she was desperately trying to squeeze onto Ryosuke's lap—she wanted to sit, not stand.

"Can't deal with you..."

Ryosuke patted Alpha's head, then lifted her onto his lap in full view of everyone.

The bustling enrollment area instantly turned into a graveyard.

Deathly silence...