Rylan gave a good look at each small group. Each group sat apart from the others, their members throwing constant glances at one another. Judging from their appearance and the slightly different robes they wore, there were members of all ages and of later school years in each group, though they seemed to be predominantly made up of people Rylan's age. Still, he could make a safe guess that they were all nobles.

Rylan furrowed his brow.

Why are they sitting like that?

Even though the groups were all separate from one another, that was not to say they were disorganized. In fact, the people in the stands sat in a pyramid-like shape. The furthest rows in the stands housed several groups, while there were only two in the very first row. No matter how he looked at it, it was a hierarchy.

…Even when they're just sitting down and waiting for us to be done?

He scoffed, then looked at one of the two groups in the first row. A young woman sat at the very forefront, and she was staring straight at him. With orange hair and blue eyes, she couldn't be described as anything less than 'beautiful,' and her smile looked especially friendly and warm. However, Rylan could see the greed hidden deep within her gaze. It was different from desire, like when Jennifer looked at him, or even respect, like the way Hayden and Jasmine did. He felt like she was staring at a shiny piece of treasure. Rylan resisted the urge to frown and looked at the four people behind her. Young men and women, a few looking older than the others.

Then, Rylan looked at the group on the right of the first row. The boy on the forefront had dark hair and obsidian eyes, his skin so pale that the sunlight made him almost glow. Next to him, there was an ordinary-looking teenage boy with brown hair and especially icy chestnut eyes. The remaining three people all looked older.

Rylan narrowed his eyes, giving all the other groups a look. In total, there were eight of them, but he was willing to bet that only the two in the first row were actually capable of anything. It was abundantly obvious from the nervous glances the people in the groups at the back were throwing at them. Sighing to himself, he turned around and walked over to Alice, who was alternating between looking at him and the groups in the stands with an increasingly sour expression.

"I'll have to go deal with that," Rylan said as he approached his professor. "Shouldn't take long."

Alice looked at him with a complicated expression.

"…Don't dismiss them so easily. There isn't a single person among them who isn't the heir to some powerful noble family, or at least closely related to one. They're people who can bend this city to their whims. Nothing about them is simple."

Rylan only slowly shook his head.

"I know. I'm just not interested in anything they will likely say. I made my choice when I joined the student council."

Alice stared at him for several seconds before nodding.

"Be careful and stay sharp. Call me over if you need to."

Rylan smiled at her.

"The way you worry is cute, professor."

Alice scoffed and gave him a dismissive wave with mysterious emotions in her gaze, then turned away. She glanced at him a few times. Smiling, Rylan turned to his left. Hayden and Jasmine were approaching him with grave expression.

"We'll go with you," Jasmine said. "Even I can guess what you're about to do."

Hayden nodded.

"I'll follow your lead," he complemented.

Rylan threw him a bitter smile.

"You should really give things like this more thought. My choices aren't always the best ones for you," he replied.

Hayden shook his head.

"I'm already Master's disciple and I now have access to an environment I could only dream of before the tournament. I need nothing else. Besides, I know you. You won't make a bad decision, not when it comes to something like this. I trust you."

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Jasmine nodded and puffed out her chest. Rylan gave them a helpless stare before sighing and turning around.

"Come along, then."

Together, they walked toward the part of the stands where the groups were sitting. The people in the groups all stood up, but remained in place. Rylan narrowed his eyes. He already had a good idea of what those young nobles were going to say, from simple persuasion to even threats. However, he still hoped that the worst-case scenario wouldn't come true.

Please, don't use the wars as an argument.

He had made his decision to protect the kingdom he had been born in and the Academy that had made him experience a student's life for the first time, for a variety of reasons, including the fact that Damian was his master. But that didn't mean everyone would think the same. Judging from the information the other members of the student council had given him, as well as the talks he'd had with Damian, the highest noble houses in Ceotha were already coordinating with other kingdoms and the Empire itself for their benefit.

Including the Astassier family.

Rylan slightly frowned at the thought. Still, it was entirely possible that the people in those groups could try to use that side of things as part of an attempt to convince him. He could only hope that it wouldn't come down to that.

Silently, Rylan approached the stands with Hayden and Jasmine in tow. Once he got close enough, the dark-haired young man and the ginger young woman stepped forward at the same time. They threw each other a glance before speaking almost at the same time.

"I'm Amber Boudon."

"I'm Jason Cousteau."

They frowned simultaneously, but Rylan raised his hand, making them stop themselves before they said anything.

"I have a good idea of why this is happening and why you're here," Rylan started. "So I'd appreciate it if we could skip the pleasantries and get straight to business."

As he spoke, he raised his gaze to look at the groups further back. None of the people in them had said anything. Instead, they sent nervous glances at Amber and Jason and didn't even move.

Jason and Amber remained silent for a few seconds.

"Very well," Amber suddenly said after taking a deep breath. "I am here to convince you to leave the student council behind and join my faction. I'm sure Jason is here for the same purpose."

'My' faction.

Rylan narrowed his eyes and kept his eyes on her. She appeared calm and in control, with a grin that made it seem like she already knew everything that was going to happen. Rylan then looked at Jason. His demeanor was different from Amber's, but similar at the same time. There was a different air of knowledge, as if he were certain that he could outdo anything she offered. That apparent realization only translated into calmness.

Rylan crossed his arms.

"Make your offers, then."

Jason remained silent. Amber slightly frowned at him before looking back at Rylan.

"There is nothing that the student council can offer that we can't," she started. "And we can offer even more. The greatest difference is that our financial power is leagues beyond it. Not only are we nobles, but we also hold the majority stake of more than half of this city's businesses and enterprises. It is no exaggeration to say that we control this kingdom's finances."

Rylan gave her a good look.

That's a problem.

Damian hadn't talked about Ceotha's financial situation too much, since they had bigger worries. But if all the greatest merchants and richest people had gathered into a single faction, they controlled the fate of the common people, who had no choice but to follow their whims. Rylan resisted the urge to frown.

"Naturally, this means we have many alliances with nobles in other kingdoms and have established important trade routes. We can offer the three of you artifacts and the best money can buy, even when it comes to knowledge," Amber continued with a smile that made her look like she already knew their answers.

I see how this offer would be attractive to others my age.

Money was a powerful motivator. With enough of it, one could even hire a powerful Mage for protection and assistance in Leveling up, much like how the Lamollet family had helped Jasmine. Buying artifacts and information, hiring teachers, alongside all kinds of pleasure and entertainment. With enough money, one could do all of that and more. Rylan glanced over his shoulder at Hayden.

This must shake him a bit.

As a commoner without parents, Hayden had struggled to make ends meet all his life. It was only natural for him to be tempted. However, contrary to Rylan's expectations, Hayden was simply looking at him with a grin. The boy nodded. Rylan smiled and nodded back before turning to look at Amber again.

"We're not really interested in money," Rylan said calmly. Amber immediately frowned.

"Are you serious? Think about everything you could buy. There would be enough artifacts to make your combat abilities surge, from rings and necklaces to new staves. There's nothing in this world you can't get with enough money," she snapped back. "The student council can't even hold a candle to us, not even Lucian or Oliver."

In response, Rylan only shook his head, making her grit her teeth. She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Jason interjected.

"I suppose it's my turn now," he said in a smug tone.

Rylan looked at him. The pale young man had crossed his arms and was looking at Amber with a smile. She glared at him, but took a deep breath and closed her eyes. After a few seconds, she opened them again, looking much calmer. Rylan glanced at her.

At least she can recompose herself after being caught off-guard.

It seemed like his immediate refusal had rattled her a bit, but she was back in control now. He looked back at Jason, who was now looking at him, and waited for him to speak.

"We have connections to the Empire," Jason said loudly and firmly. "That's all."

A few seconds went by in complete silence. Then, Rylan frowned.

And here it is.

He could see where the young man was going with this. The worst-case scenario was here.

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