Jax answered Roxana's question with a dismissive wave.

"Harsh? You know nothing about it, Roxana. Just watch and you'll understand eventually." He paused, a knowing smile crossing his face. "You're in the same shoes, just like Nerith."

Roxana made a confused face at the unfamiliar name. Before she could ask, Jax sighed and changed the subject entirely.

"By the way, perfect timing. Can you repeat the format for the tournament matchups? I need my students to hear it properly."

She gazed at him for several seconds, then realized exactly what kind of person she was dealing with. With a heavy sigh of resignation, she said, "Fine."

Roxana stepped into the uneven circle formed by the students and began her explanation with practiced professionalism.

"The tournament will be one week long, covering every match and event within the academy grounds. Every day will either be a knockout round or a match that declares the winner on that very same day."

Seraphina nodded thoughtfully. "A battleground type format for One day game."

Roxana confirmed with a nod. "The structures of matches remain the same as previous years, but the games themselves have been changed through mutual agreement by all four academy heads."

She held up an important finger.

"For the entire tournament, a student can enroll in only ONE game. Meaning if two candidates participate in a duel team match, neither of them can take part in any other games afterward."

Her eyes swept across the group seriously.

"So simply put, we have to carefully use our resources. Every decision matters."

Jax was totally focused this time. He didn't utter a single word. Didn't crack a joke. Didn't make inappropriate comments. Just pure, concentrated attention.

For the next half hour, Roxana explained the games in detail. Their rules. The strategies commonly employed. The pitfalls to avoid. The opportunities to exploit.

Jax remained fully concentrated throughout, his mind already plotting the holes in the system and mapping out his path to victory.

When Roxana finally finished, she looked at Jax and found herself genuinely surprised by his unwavering focus.

"Are you okay, Professor?"

Jax twitched slightly, snapping out of his thoughts. "Yeah, I'm fine."

All eyes were on him now.

Roxana's suspicion grew. "You didn't say a single word throughout that entire explanation. Don't tell me you were ignoring this again and having a nap during this crucial time."

Jax said defensively, "What do you take me for?"

Then he dramatically pointed at his own eyes with both fingers.

"What do you see in these eyes? It's resolve. It's absolute victory. And for your information, these eyes didn't even blink once during that entire info dump."

Roxana scoffed. "Impossible. Now you're boasting too much."

"Why would I be doing that? Why would I lie when I can't afford to lose from here?"

Seeing the confused faces of Roxana and the others, Jax sighed.

"Fine. Let me tell you the big deal here."

He crossed his arms.

"When this class started, I had a choice. Accept Zharina's bet and get Seraphina in my team, or walk away safely."

Everyone stiffened at his words. Even Elira, who had been completely unbothered by every scene before, actually turned her full attention to Jax.

"I can't afford to lose," Jax continued, his voice growing serious. "Because if I lose, Zharina will do something far worse to me than just getting me expelled from the academy."

His expression darkened slightly.

"I've seen the grin on her face. She's going to settle the score."

Roxana's eyes widened as realization struck her like lightning.

"Now it all makes sense! So you had forced her into submission back at that time in the room! You made her—"

She suddenly noticed the students listening intently and coughed loudly, cutting herself off. Her greatest mystery about the complicated relationship between Jax and Zharina had finally been solved.

Jax looked relieved at her self-censorship and quickly diverted the situation.

"So basically, I don't have to aim for first place. Just beating Zharina's team in the rankings would be enough."

Seraphina stepped forward, her expression troubled.

"But Professor, why are you doing this? If the bet is that serious, then I don't want you to wager everything for me. I won't allow that. If that's what it takes to—"

Roxana cut her off sharply.

"Oi, Princess. Do you actually think he would be doing all this for you?"

Her voice was flat with disbelief.

"If so, then you are completely delusional. This rasca—" She caught herself. "I mean, this Professor would never do such a selfless thing. He's a greedy one and won't do anything crazy unless he gets something substantial from it."

Jax smiled at her assessment. "I'm greedy, huh?"

Then he turned to face the students with a dramatic expression.

"Students, your assistant professor Roxana here curses everything about me. Doesn't like a single thing about me."

He paused dramatically, building suspense before breaking into a wide grin.

"But that's all for the public. Just a show. Because deep inside, she loved everything about me."

Roxana's face flushed.

"In fact, do you know what she said while drunk?"

"SHUT UP!"

Roxana charged at him, her hands clamping over his mouth desperately. Muffled words barely escaped through her fingers as she wrestled to silence him.

The students watched with varying degrees of amusement. After things cooled down and the laughter subsided, even Elira had a slight smile on her usually emotionless face.

Roxana stepped back, sighing heavily. She murmured under her breath, "He should lose against Zharina and then I'll—"

"I can hear you."

Roxana's expression shifted to mock innocence.

"Oh, it's nothing, Professor. I was just rooting for Professor Zharina. I mean, she also deserves a win at least." Her smile turned sharp. "After what you've done to her, doesn't she?"

Jax laughed heartily.

"Even now I'm suspicious of my own assistant after the students. What a wonderful start to team bonding."

Seraphina pressed further, her curiosity unsatisfied.

"Professor, can you tell us clearly why you accepted the bet?"

Jax adjusted his tie elegantly, as if he were a noble addressing his subjects.

"Well, at first it was true that I needed you in my roster. But then the main objective became crushing Zharina's ego." His smile widened. "And of course, your brother's ego too."

He shrugged casually.

"I accepted it. Why wouldn't I? I was already envisioning their faces kneeling in defeat before me."

The students observed his confident expression with mixed feelings.

Seraphina asked another question. "Then about the bet itself, what exactly is it?"

"Nothing much." Jax waved dismissively. "Just that if I lose, she can do anything with me."

He paused, recalling the exact words.

"She said 'anything the winning party wants.' Now that I think about it more carefully, it feels really scary."

Then he shrugged again.

"But nah, why should I worry? I have a cool roster right here."

Roxana's expression turned grave.

"Professor, let me inform you. In the last tournament, her team secured overall third position."

Jax's confident smile flickered.

"And worse," Roxana continued mercilessly, "three of the five members from her team back then are already registered in her current roster."

She met his eyes directly.

"In short, you have been tricked."

Jax recovered quickly, waving his hand dismissively.

"Oh come on, Roxana. Don't demotivate them. And of course, these arrogant—" He caught himself. "I mean, these humble students are winning this for real."

Roxana wasn't finished.

"Professor, don't tell me you got tricked by her due to your lust again." Her voice was clinical. "She pinpointed your weakness and showed you that you could do dirty things with her again."

Jax's eyes widened with panic. He quickly scanned the students' faces, then shot Roxana a desperate look that clearly said 'shut your bloody mouth.'

"Oh my, Roxana. You're really making me look evil in front of them."

He placed a hand over his heart with mock sincerity.

"No, I never think like that about our strong Professor Zharina. And I promise I won't do something like that."

Roxana's eyes remained unbothered.

"Then what will you do after winning?"

"I've already told her my reward."

"And what will that be?"

Jax smiled.

"A date with her."

Silence crashed over the group like a tidal wave.

Seraphina's jaw dropped. Lilith made a small choking sound. Seris blinked repeatedly as if trying to reset her brain. Even Elira's eyebrow twitched slightly, which for her was equivalent to screaming in shock.

Roxana just stared at him with an expression that said 'I should have expected this.'

After some time passed and everyone managed to push Jax's ridiculous bet reward to the back of their minds, Roxana spoke up with renewed focus.

"We need to find the fifth member for our preparation and strategy. A person who can fill the spot perfectly."

Jax shook his head calmly.

"There's no need for that."

Roxana raised an eyebrow. "You're eyeing someone already?"

Jax's smile turned knowing.

"Yup. Even now, my eyes are on her."

Roxana was confused. She followed his gaze across the training grounds.

And found Astrid walking toward them with an angry pout on her face.

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