"But if we're talking top-tier talent, I might know someone."

Aester set aside the roster and slid a document tucked inside across the desk to Lin Zhong.

"This isn’t the roster?"

Lin Zhong furrowed his brow slightly. Aester should’ve had the roster—why was this hidden inside?

"Guess?"

Aester closed the roster with a faint smile and returned it to the bookshelf.

"Top-tier talent?"

Su Han leaned in too. Talent ratings were locked in during enrollment tests—permanent for life.

*Top-tier?* Even Su Han, the third-ranked Apostle, had only scored 99. Not the perfect 100.

Lin Zhong’s own rating was 100. That single point separated Apostles from Emperors. A 100-rated mage could one day rival an Emperor. No wonder they’d hunted him last year after he chose anonymity.

But this new 100-rated Magic Division student had gone public. Every faction would fight to claim her.

"Was this your plan all along?"

Lin Zhong grinned, holding up the filled-out document. Aester didn’t answer—just smiled faintly again.

**[Freshman: Alice]**

**[Division: Magic]**

**[Talent: 100]**

The photo showed a fifteen-year-old girl. Adorable. Yet that terrifying rating had already sealed her fate.

"Though her personality... isn’t ideal," Aester admitted reluctantly. Lin Zhong had stressed finding someone compatible.

Fool’s Court was a mess: Charlotte’s timidity, Sebastian’s rigidity, Su Han’s gentleness (reserved only for Lin Zhong), Aester’s subtle scheming, and Lin Zhong’s occasional absurdity. Finding someone who’d fit? Nearly impossible.

"Talent outweighs personality outweighs strength."

Lin Zhong’s eyes locked onto Alice’s photo. That number—100—was persuasion enough.

Strength could be trained. Talent lasted a lifetime. With time, even a zero-strength prodigy could become a first-rate mage.

"But her personality is truly..." Aester forced a strained smile. She knew this freshman well.

"Truly what?" Su Han caught the hesitation.

"Fine. Honestly?" Aester sighed, spilling everything she knew about the 100-rated genius’s clashes with the Student Council.

Su Han’s expression shifted—from indifference to seriousness, then shock, finally existential dread.

According to Aester, Alice was a cocktail of arrogance, petulance, narcissism, and utter disdain.

She was also an old acquaintance. During enrollment, she’d "visited" the Student Council—and turned it upside down.

"Let’s skip her."

Su Han sighed. Aester’s stories had mythologized Alice. Recruiting her would be chaos. She’d probably dismantle the entire Club.

And if Aester was right? Alice might scorn even the First Apostle.

"Interesting."

Lin Zhong set down the document. He’d heard every word—but that 100 rating was too precious to ignore.

"Huh?!"

Both tensed. *Did he really plan to recruit her? Would she even come?*

Su Han was genuinely spooked. This wasn’t just "bad personality"—it was catastrophic.

"What happens if we leave her alone?"

Lin Zhong swiveled his chair to face them.

"A 100-talent mage will surpass Apostles. She might even reach Emperor-tier. If we fail to recruit her... we’ll face an Emperor someday."

Su Han, rated 99, had climbed to third Apostle in a year. With guidance, Alice could hit Four Generals strength just as fast.

Left unchecked? She’d crush every Apostle underfoot. Even Fool’s Court—with three Apostles—couldn’t withstand an Emperor’s wrath. Not even Lin Zhong, the Joker, could guarantee victory.

"...True. A real problem."

Aester shook her head. She’d debated revealing this. But in Fool’s Court, secrets had no place.

Still, knowing Alice’s nature... she’d hesitated. Yet when Lin Zhong mentioned training rookies, she’d handed him the file anyway.

"Then we recruit her. We’ll forge her into a top-tier orthodox mage."

Lin Zhong tapped the document, smiling.

"Mm."

Su Han nodded, smiling back. She never doubted Lin Zhong’s decisions. Even if Alice sounded like a demon, his word was law.

(She’d never imagine how both she and Aester would regret this choice years later—when a clingy little demon haunted Lin Zhong’s every step. All because they’d tried to stop a haughty princess from becoming their enemy.)

"Fine. Your call. Don’t say I didn’t warn you."

Seeing Lin Zhong’s resolve, Aester gave up. She’d started this, after all.

"How? Her personality won’t fit our tiny Club."

*Tiny Club.* Fool’s Court was microscopic compared to factions boasting thousands of members.

"Freshman orientation isn’t over yet. Perfect timing."

"Huh?"