"Alice, someone's waiting for you outside..."

The girl interrupted Alice, who had been lost in thought.

"Me?"

Alice pointed to herself. She couldn’t recall having any friends in this academy. Aester? That guy would never seek her out. Or could it be—

"Tomorrow, I’ll pick you up from your classroom. Don’t forget to wait for me~"

Lin Zhong’s words from yesterday flooded her mind, his fairy-like beautiful face resurfacing in her memory.

*Bang!*

Alice slammed her hands on the desk and stood up abruptly, startling the girl beside her.

"Sorry! Sorry!"

Alice ignored her, grabbed her bag, and dashed out of the classroom. Every gaze followed her.

A boyfriend? Or something else?

But they quickly brushed it off with a laugh. Impossible. Who could ever tame Alice’s proud nature?

Her looks and figure had drawn attention since enrollment, but her arrogance had crushed all suitors.

Alice with a boyfriend? No way.

She burst out of the classroom. Outside stood the familiar figure. A black hoodie obscured most of his face, but a single-shoulder bag hung on him, a cat’s head poking out from it.

Perched calmly on his shoulder was the white wolf that had once filled her with despair.

"You came?"

Alice walked slowly toward Lin Zhong. Her usual haughtiness vanished; instead, she seemed gentle, almost timid.

A delicate blush crept across her exquisitely pretty face.

"Yeah. Let’s go," Lin Zhong nodded. Their next stop was the club. He didn’t realize countless eyes were already fixed on him.

Students along the corridor wore ghostly shocked expressions. Curious onlookers peeking out shared the same disbelief.

No way—Alice blushing? Had the sun risen in the west today?

"Mm!"

Alice nodded, her hands clinging tightly to Lin Zhong’s arm.

This time, not just the students—even Lin Zhong froze in confusion.

*Huh? What the—!?*

His expression locked up. He had no clue what was happening, oblivious to how ambiguous his words in the Dungeon Instance had been.

"I’m really starting to want you more and more."

That line alone had sealed Alice’s misunderstanding. And Lin Zhong still hadn’t grasped the severity.

"Yesterday... um... I agreed," Alice murmured shyly, lowering her head. Her golden bangs hid her face.

Agreed? Agreed to what?

A question mark popped over Lin Zhong’s head. He’d only forced Alice to join Fool’s Court. But agreed? Had she officially joined?

"That’s great!" Lin Zhong smiled. Voluntary recruits worked far better than forced ones—not just filling headcounts, but adding real combat power. Unwilling members were useless. He’d planned to ease her in slowly, but this was perfect.

His words made Alice’s heart skip.

*That’s great? Does that mean it’s settled? Engagement... marriage...*

Her imagination spiraled. Lin Zhong, still clueless, only pictured how the club would thrive with her.

Alice hugged his arm tighter, her sweet smile radiating. All eyes now burned into Lin Zhong. They’d left the Magic Division floor, entering territory where many recognized him.

"Holy crap! Two-timing scumbag!"

"Holy crap! From a gentle senpai to a busty loli—pervert!"

"Holy crap... holy crap!"

Their stares shifted—from scum to scum-loli-obsessed freak.

Lin Zhong ignored it; he was used to such looks. Alice? She was already planning the wedding.

They walked on, unchallenged. Many onlookers were spies from rival clubs, monitoring Alice—their key combat asset no faction could afford to lose.

Beside her stood Lin Zhong, Fool’s Court’s sole Battle Mage. Orders were clear: recruit him if possible; eliminate him if not.

But could they? A Battle Mage dominated mid-to-long range, crushing normal Martial Arts or Ability Division fighters. Even Magic Division chanters stood no chance.

Plus, his 800,000 bounty neared Apostle-level thresholds. Eliminate him? Who had that power?

The two most wanted figures walked together. Everyone could only glare—approach? No. Retreat?

Well... spectating seemed safest.

Along the way, only scorn followed Lin Zhong. His duel with Sebastian had erased rumors of him being weak.

Joke’s on them—he’d crushed the 700,000-bounty student council secretary in hand-to-hand combat. If that was "weak," 90% of the academy were trash.

*Bang!*

The door to Fool’s Court flew open. Lin Zhong and Alice entered. The other four members were already there. All froze at the sight of Alice, clinging to Lin Zhong like a lovebird.

Su Han?

Her golden blade was drawn. Her usually gentle face beamed with a radiant smile, but dark aura swirling behind her made everyone shiver.

"Darling," she cooed, stepping toward Lin Zhong, "mind telling me what that lump of meat on your arm is?"

"Uh... Alice?" Lin Zhong gestured to the girl beside him.

"Oh? My apologies then. It’s time for this stray cat to die."