"So you’re joining the club?"

Su Han sighed after listening carefully to Lin Zhong.

"Seriously, you could’ve just told me directly. Did you really need to duel someone over this?"

She had no issue with Lin Zhong joining the club—she just hated that he’d kept it from her.

"You agree?"

Lin Zhong lifted his head, meeting Su Han’s exasperated gaze.

"Of course. But I’m joining too. I’ll be keeping an eye on you to make sure you don’t do anything reckless."

Su Han nodded. She wouldn’t—and couldn’t—stop him now. There was no turning back after everything that had happened.

But her words about "keeping an eye on him" deflated Lin Zhong. He knew all too well that if they joined together, Su Han would likely forbid him from entering Dungeon Instances or fighting others.

"Don’t look at me like that. I didn’t stop you from causing trouble this time."

Unable to withstand his pitiful stare, Su Han revealed her true thoughts. Protecting him now was pointless. Even if Lin Zhong avoided trouble, others would seek him out. His duel had showcased his strength—but would it truly deter them?

Unlikely.

His power had already pressured the top factions. Soon, they’d try recruiting him. And if he refused? He’d become their enemy. To them, anything that couldn’t be owned must be destroyed.

Just like Su Han herself—she’d rejected every offer, and the trouble never ceased. She knew Lin Zhong’s stubborn nature all too well. Her original plan wasn’t just to shield him from Dungeon Instances; she’d wanted to keep him away from those predators entirely. But Lin Zhong never understood her intentions.

Now her plan lay in ruins. Lin Zhong was no longer the weakling everyone looked down on. He was the White Reaper who’d crushed a Student Council member with a 700,000-bounty.

Her best option now was to stay by his side—to minimize future headaches. She wasn’t worried about his individual strength, but even he couldn’t take on a hundred opponents—or more—alone.

"Really?"

Lin Zhong lifted his head in surprise. Her answer caught him off guard, but it meant he wouldn’t have to hide anymore.

"Really."

Su Han nodded, already wondering about this club.

Freya with a 5-million bounty. Joker with a 50-million bounty.

This was absurdly overpowered. And the club Lin Zhong had targeted must be a major one.

"Um... Lin Zhong?"

The rest room door creaked open. A small head peeked out, eyes downcast, looking both nervous and sheepish.

"He’s the president. The only member. Oh—and the Student Council President said she’d join if I won."

"Huh?"

Su Han stared at Lin Zhong in disbelief, then turned to Charlotte’s delicate, beautiful face. Her gaze was pure pity.

*An emperor and two apostles serving a has-been?*

*Are you kidding me?*

Su Han’s mind went blank. She couldn’t even form words.

Charlotte was famous at school—but not for his strength. For his beauty.

In terms of actual power? He was the most washed-up has-been imaginable.

"I won."

"Mhm, I know!"

Charlotte beamed at Lin Zhong, his sweet smile dazzling enough to mesmerize anyone. But Lin Zhong remained unmoved.

"Oh, and Su Han’s joining too."

"Really!?"

Charlotte’s smile widened. Freya with a 5-million bounty. The Seraphim with a 3-million bounty. Either one stood at the school’s pinnacle.

Now both would join his club—alongside the formidable Lin Zhong. The sudden rush of happiness left him breathless.

"Hold on! Darling, you can’t mean this... *gentleman* will be club president?"

Su Han’s eyes widened as she pointed at Charlotte’s beaming face.

"Well, he’s a bit weak, a bit cowardly, a bit too pretty-faced—but otherwise fine."

"W-wah... please stop..."

Lin Zhong’s words stabbed Charlotte’s heart like blades. True as they were, did he have to say it aloud?

"Oh, and he’s short. Gets lost easily too. But aside from that? No major issues."

Lin Zhong crossed his arms, recalling Charlotte’s flaws.

*You’re the one who gets lost,* Su Han thought dryly.

Lin Zhong’s legendary lack of direction had long since driven her to despair—and he didn’t even realize he was directionally challenged.

"*Ahem!*"

Two sharp coughs cut through the chatter. Aester stood behind Lin Zhong, arms crossed over a clipboard.

"Hah~ You won. A bet’s a bet. Here."

She handed Lin Zhong the clipboard. A form and pen lay neatly on top.

"This is the club application. I’ve already signed as both club member and faculty advisor. Sign your names and return it. I’ll assign your clubroom."

Lin Zhong took the form. After signing, student profiles would be entered into the club system. The form only required signatures and a club name—the Student Council handled room assignments.

All clubs started at Rank F. No exceptions, no matter how strong the members. That detail didn’t matter.

Glancing at the form, Lin Zhong noticed two signatures under "Club Members": Aester’s... and another name below it.

Sebastian.

"Who’s this?"

Lin Zhong pointed at the name.

"He asked me to add it."

Aester answered truthfully. She’d been shocked too. Everyone in the Student Council knew Sebastian despised Lin Zhong.

Yet his first words upon waking were: *Resign from the Council. Join Lin Zhong’s club.* The whole Council had been stunned.

Club rules were simple: add the name, then let Lin Zhong decide whether to cross it out.

"Oh."

Lin Zhong didn’t press further. He signed his and Su Han’s names under "Club Members," then handed the clipboard to Charlotte.

"Your turn, President."