Chapter 47

Chapter 47

In the end, the victor of Training Ground No. 3 was neither Campbell's squad nor Evan's squad, but the squad in second place, Campbell's rival for the top rank in their year. They stood out amidst the chaotic battle, thanks to their excellent tactics and teamwork.

Afterwards, the three of them came to the infirmary because they had discovered that the pungent medicine from last time was extremely effective. Their training load these past few days was more than triple what it had been during their middle school years. With this medicine, however, bruises and swellings healed quickly, not affecting their training the next day at all.

The short-haired woman said nothing further. She slightly furrowed her brow and directly took out three bottles of the medicine, placing them on the office desk. The three bottles shimmered with a mysterious glow under the lamplight.

In the practical training field, Assistant Instructor Mara seemed rather nonchalant as she graded the students who had just left. She was sitting in a rocking chair that had appeared from somewhere. It swayed gently, emitting a soft creaking sound, radiating comfort and leisure. It was as if she wasn't in a tense practical training field at the moment, but rather at some peaceful vacation spot, thoroughly enjoying her idle time.

Hans sat solidly on a chair. In front of him was a small charcoal stove. Inside the stove, the charcoal glowed red, radiating intense heat. He had skewered tender lamb on iron rods above it. As the charcoal roasted them, the lamb gradually turned golden, fat dripping down with a sizzling sound. Indeed, Hans was intently focused on grilling. The aroma of the roasting meat filled the air, making one's mouth water.

"How is this batch of students? From what I've observed, there are still a few promising ones." Hans said while skillfully turning the meat and using a brush to evenly coat the lamb with sauce. His focused expression made it seem as if he were engaged in an extremely important task. "For example, those three lads in Training Ground No. 3 who set over a dozen traps, and that handsome young man named Campbell they targeted. Hmm, that little fellow who could bide his time until the end, then fan the flames to make all the squads in Training Ground No. 3 fight each other before swooping in for the spoils is also quite good." Although these students' performances didn't quite meet Hans's standards for a good soldier, he understood well that as officers commanding battles, these students were absolutely qualified. They possessed keen insight, flexible adaptability, and decisive judgment.

Assistant Instructor Mara didn't even lift her head. Her gaze remained fixed on the notebook in her hands. She merely tapped the pen in her hand lightly against a name on the notebook, then sneered and said, "They're all a bunch of little schemers who don't understand what tactics are at all. Especially this Evan Noah, his attacks always aim for the low blows. If he hadn't known to discard his team tag and cover his face, I would have deducted all his points!" Assistant Instructor Mara had never before encountered a freshman who would resort to such underhanded methods. In her teaching career, students usually followed certain rules and ethical codes during combat. Evan's actions completely defied her expectations, leaving her both surprised and angry.

"But he's also the one who took down the most opponents." Hans, on the other hand, quite admired Evan. Having seen combat, he understood that in the brutal reality of war, whether methods were underhanded or not didn't matter; what mattered was being able to kill the enemy. Victory was the ultimate goal, and the means during the process were merely tools to achieve that goal.

Assistant Instructor Mara scoffed, not agreeing with Hans's viewpoint. But she also understood that in different environments, people's understanding and evaluation criteria for combat would also differ. Although she disliked Evan's methods, she still used her pen to mark Evan's name for special attention. As a teacher at the Imperial Knight Academy, another important task for her was to discover and cultivate talent for the military. In her view, although Evan's methods were somewhat unsavory, his combat ability and adaptability were not to be ignored. Of course, Evan wasn't the only one she marked. Other students who performed excellently in practical combat and showed potential also entered her watchlist.

Unaware that he had been marked for special attention, Evan, after getting the medicine, helped Louis and Ista apply it, and they helped him in return. The pungent smell of the medicine permeated the air around them, making others keep their distance. Carrying this scent, they went to the Third Dining Hall for dinner. Their appearance in the dining hall drew some attention, but they didn't mind. They simply focused on enjoying the food and exchanging experiences and reflections from the afternoon's practical training. After agreeing to sit together during the next day's general knowledge class, the three parted ways and returned to their respective dormitories.

Evan slowly opened the villa's main door and walked inside. His heart was filled with weariness, but also with anticipation for the future. When he saw the scene in the living room, a wave of surprise washed over him. All three of his usually elusive roommates were actually sitting on the living room sofa. On the coffee table were exquisite black tea and delicious pastries. They seemed to be chatting pleasantly, appearing to be having a delightful conversation. However, no matter how they tried to conceal it, the bruises and swellings on their faces were still quite obvious. This greatly diminished their originally elegant image, making them appear somewhat comical.

Evan hesitated for a moment but still walked over. He felt somewhat conflicted inside. On one hand, he felt he didn't get along with these roommates; on the other hand, he didn't want to appear overly aloof. In the end, he decided to make a friendly gesture. He placed the half-full bottle of medicine on the coffee table and said softly, "This is medicine bought from the infirmary. It can reduce swelling overnight."

Lyndes, Tom, and Jerome couldn't help but have their eyes light up, their gazes fixed intently on the bottle. But they still maintained reserved smiles, politely thanking Evan and saying they would go to the infirmary to buy some later. Then, they invited Evan to sit down and enjoy this premium black tea with them.

Evan was once again sure he'd never get along with these pretentious roommates. Their elegance and reserve formed a stark contrast with his own casual and straightforward nature. He made up some excuse to beg off and returned to his room. In his room, he felt a sense of tranquility and relaxation. He could focus on his own thoughts and writing without being disturbed by others.

This afternoon's practical training made Evan deeply aware of his own progress. He found that his strength and speed were somewhat greater than during his middle school graduation exams. This showed the power of the breathing technique. It could enhance a person's physical fitness in a short time, making them stronger. Evan somewhat looked forward to the power he could obtain after being promoted to Knight, but he also understood that the rate of such improvement was very slow. If he wanted to improve quickly, he had to use the specially formulated medicinal baths and consume special ingredients provided by the school. However, the price made Evan balk. He knew well that his family's financial situation wasn't affluent enough to bear such high costs.

"I still have to work hard to earn money," Evan sighed. His heart was filled with both helplessness and determination. Thinking again about the potion he still couldn't even glimpse a corner of, his heart was even more filled with longing and anxiety. Even the desire to rest dissipated completely. He went to his desk, picked up his pen, and continued writing *Henry's Adventure*. In this fictional world, he could freely unleash his imagination, creating one exciting story after another.

Night quietly fell, and large glass oil lamps were lit one by one. The soft lamplight spilled into every corner of the Imperial Knight Academy. Although it couldn't be as bright as day, it still allowed people to see their surroundings clearly. Amidst this brightness, the tall library stood in complete darkness. It was like a mysterious castle, hiding countless secrets. Only a brief flash of light streaked through it, like a meteor vanishing into the night.

And inside the already locked library, Sara Adams held a candlestick, slowly walking among the bookshelves on the second floor. The faint candlelight flickered in the darkness, as if it could go out at any moment. Sara's figure, illuminated by the candlelight, appeared particularly mysterious. His pitch-black eyes reflected the candlelight, as if starlight was contained within them. Those deep eyes seemed to hide boundless wisdom and power.