"Welcome aboard~"

Lin Zhong smiled at Alice before him. This had been his plan all along: take her through a dungeon instance, then send the club invitation this way.

Joining the club was simple, but leaving it was far harder than entering a dungeon instance. Unless the club disbanded, quitting required an application to the student council.

And who was the student council president? Aester!

Once she clicked "Join," there was no turning back. The trick was sending the application when she was completely relaxed—she wouldn’t overthink it then.

Now Lin Zhong had succeeded. Alice, the max-level mage talent every club had eyed, was part of Fool’s Court.

"This..."

Alice kept flipping through her phone’s display. Below the student handbook, a new "Club System" had appeared, named Fool’s Court.

[President: Charlotte]

[Vice President: Lin Zhong]

[Members: Su Han, Aester, Sebastian, Alice Colette]

The entire club had only six members. The latest notification read:

[Lin Zhong has invited Alice Colette to join Fool’s Court]

"I’ll pick you up from your classroom tomorrow. Remember to wait for me~"

Lin Zhong raised his hand, called out, and fled the room like he was escaping.

"Wait..."

Alice lifted her head, but Lin Zhong was already gone. The open stone door announced his departure.

Are you kidding me?!!!!

...

"Bang!"

The door to Fool’s Court burst open. Lin Zhong rushed back in, panting heavily.

"NICE!"

A hand lightly patted his back—Aester’s. Her delicate face wore pure schadenfreude, her ladylike grace vanishing instantly.

"Heh heh heh..."

Charlotte sat on the sofa, grinning brightly.

"You tacticians have such dirty minds."

Sebastian shook his head helplessly. He’d only learned of this plan when Alice’s message arrived.

Honestly, Lin Zhong’s scheme clashed with his character. Sebastian, with his warrior’s honor, felt no joy—only shame.

He’d muttered "This isn’t right" upon hearing it. Only Charlotte listened. Su Han sat waiting on the other side, while Aester sinisterly pictured Alice’s expression.

Lin Zhong had devised this plan. Aester initially didn’t grasp why he mentioned using freshman trials—but once explained, she immediately agreed.

"My heart isn’t dirty; this is tactics," Lin Zhong retorted to Sebastian.

"Hmm, back already?"

Hands pulled Lin Zhong over. Su Han tugged at his clothes—head first, then limbs...

"Wait..."

Lin Zhong tightened his grip. He knew exactly what Su Han wanted.

"Hurt?"

"No, this dungeon instance was easy."

Su Han was fiercely protective. Lin Zhong didn’t want him stripping him bare here, checking for injuries in front of everyone.

"Quick question—are these two your pets?"

While Su Han tugged, Aester noticed the animals clinging to Lin Zhong’s shoulders.

"A cat and... a Husky?"

Sebastian looked too. A gray Scottish Fold cat and a pure white ‘Husky’?

"Pfft!"

Lin Zhong snorted. The nearly invincible werewolf called a Husky? Hilarious.

"Awooo!"

The ‘Husky’ released Lin Zhong’s clothes and lunged at Sebastian. But before it leaped, hands caught it—Lin Zhong’s. No one else could tame this wolf pup.

"Xiao Hui... and this is..."

Su Han saw the gray cat on Lin Zhong’s back and the white wolf pup in his arms.

"This is a wolf, okay?"

Lin Zhong watched the pup, still eager to pounce on Sebastian, with amused exasperation. Huskies resembled wolves but differed greatly. This was just a pup, lacking a wolf’s fierce aura.

"A wolf?!"

"Got it from the dungeon instance. Yeah! Adorable."

Lin Zhong gently stroked the pup. Unlike the savage White Wolf King, this one was incredibly cute—especially when lunging at Sebastian.

"A wolf? So cute~"

Charlotte approached, lightly poking the pup’s face.

"From the dungeon instance?"

Aester leaned in, puzzled. She’d never seen a living drop before—instances only gave items and gear.

Drops came from monsters. The only living things inside were monsters and students.

Had he tamed a monster?

Aester dismissed it instantly. Dungeon monsters attacked on sight—no chatting, let alone taming. Lin Zhong had been inside mere hours.

"This wolf? Where’d you find it?"

Aester examined the pup closely. Wow! So cute~

She couldn’t believe it came from a dungeon instance. It was too adorable—students would hesitate to attack it.

"The boss. It took my full-power strike plus a Forbidden Spell and came out unscathed."

Lin Zhong vigorously ruffled its fur. The pup, no longer fierce, nestled happily in his arms.

"What?!!!!"

Charlotte, Aester, and Sebastian froze. Lin Zhong’s full-power strike equaled an Upper Apostle’s blow.

Sebastian, who’d felt it firsthand, gaped—eyes wide, jaw dropped.

Unbelievable for the serious Sebastian to look like this. Even more unbelievable: this tiny pup had blocked Lin Zhong’s attack unharmed.

"Really?"

Su Han stayed calmer than the rest, but his expression turned serious.

"Of course."