Chapter 49

Chapter 49

Henry was stunned, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief. It felt as if a heavy stone had struck his heart, leaving him breathless.

Flo, too, was stunned, still holding the manuscript, but his thoughts were completely immersed in this astonishing twist. Several moments passed before Flo finally reacted. He all but jumped up, his face filled with incredulity: "Mei is the Phantom Thief! How is that possible!"

Although he verbally expressed disbelief, all those slightly odd quirks involving Mei while reading the manuscript now had a perfectly logical explanation. Flo began recalling the details of the story, those plot points that had once puzzled him now becoming clear.

Flo was eager to see how the story would develop further, his heart brimming with anticipation and curiosity. He impatiently turned to the next page, but all he saw was a single, lonely word: The End.

The End! How could it be The End!

Flo felt an impulse to rush to Mr. Noah's home and give the author a piece of his mind. He felt the ending came too abruptly, leaving him wanting more. He yearned to know more of the story, to understand the future of Henry and Mei.

Time slipped away like water, unnoticed. In the blink of an eye, nearly a month had passed.

Just after the general knowledge class at the Imperial Knight Academy ended, students gathered in small groups, whispering among themselves. Their faces were filled with youthful vitality and a thirst for knowledge.

Evan, Ista, and Louis were no exception. Sitting in the classroom, they had just finished a challenging and thought-provoking lecture. They casually tossed their books and notebooks onto the table, as if freed from a constraint. The three exchanged glances, their eyes full of understanding and silent communication.

Evan began hesitantly: "The Freshman Tournament requires teams of five. We're still short two people." His voice carried worry and anxiety. He knew well that in such an important competition, the strength of the team was crucial.

Ista discreetly glanced around, his eyes observant and thoughtful. A month was enough time for him to figure out the temperaments, personalities, backgrounds, and family histories of all one hundred freshmen. He knew who was approachable and who to keep at a distance. But forming a team for the Freshman Tournament required more careful consideration.

Louis also began pondering who had the right temperament to join them. His brow furrowed slightly as he fell into thought. He hoped to find some reliable companions to achieve good results together in the Freshman Tournament.

Evan, however, had already locked onto a target. He pointed towards a girl also sitting in the front row, though in the far corner: "What do you think of Nancy Golt?" His eyes were full of expectation and hope. He felt this girl could be an important addition to their team.

Ista and Louis simultaneously followed Evan's pointing finger. Their gazes fell upon the girl, their hearts filled with curiosity and doubt.

There were one hundred freshmen, but only a mere three were girls. In this era, girls taking the military academy entrance exam were already rare as phoenix feathers. Those who succeeded in enrolling were undoubtedly forces to be reckoned with.

With a ratio of three girls to ninety-seven boys, logically these three girls should be the center of attention. Yet, a small area around this girl was empty; the class seemed to be giving her a wide berth.

As if sensing someone watching her, the girl, who had been looking down at her book, turned her head sharply towards Evan and the others. Her eyes were full of wariness and suspicion, as if scrutinizing this unwanted attention.

The scar on her left cheek then came into their view, adding a touch of ferocity and a 'don't mess with me' air to her otherwise quite pretty features. The scar seemed like a witness to a story, making one inevitably curious about this girl's past.

Caught red-handed staring, Ista felt a bit embarrassed and rubbed his nose. He offered an awkward smile, as if apologizing for his actions.

Louis smiled very politely, his smile full of warmth and goodwill. He hoped to ease the awkward situation and let the girl feel their friendliness.

Evan, however, grinned, showing a row of white teeth, and even raised his hand to wave at Nancy. His action was full of energy and confidence, making one feel infected by his cheerfulness.

Nancy was utterly bewildered, not understanding why these three were looking at her like that. She just frowned, glared fiercely at the three of them, and shifted her gaze and attention back to the book on her desk.

Ista couldn't help but shrink back a little: "Kinda scary." His voice carried worry and unease. He felt this girl might not be easy to get along with.

"But she ranked fourth in the freshman entrance exam," Evan admitted frankly that he was drawn to this girl's combat prowess. His voice held respect and admiration. He knew well that in the Freshman Tournament, strength was paramount. The strong and silent type, though feeling a bit ashamed, Evan had to admit he couldn't beat her.

"Who will invite her?" Louis asked. His voice was full of hesitation and concern. He didn't know how to approach this unfamiliar girl.

Then he saw Ista and Evan, as if they had rehearsed it, look at him in unison. He was taken aback, pointed at himself, his face full of disbelief. "It couldn't be... me, could it?"

Ista and Evan nodded together. Their eyes were full of expectation and trust. They felt Louis was the most suitable candidate.

Louis shook his head repeatedly. "I haven't even spoken a single word to her." His voice was full of helplessness and anxiety. He felt this task was too daunting for him.

"But you're handsome!" Evan put it bluntly. His voice was full of confidence and certainty. He felt Louis's appearance was an advantage for their team. Ista nodded in agreement. Louis himself was a rare handsome man. When it came to talking to girls, among the three of them, Louis clearly had a higher chance of success.

Louis was speechless, but he still stood up and walked towards Nancy. His heart was filled with tension and unease, but he also knew this was an opportunity for their team. He had to bravely take this step.

Then, under the watchful eyes of Evan and Ista, Louis smiled and said a few words in a charming tone. He managed to change Nancy's expression from full of wariness to a slightly reserved smile. Nancy hesitated, glanced at Evan and Ista, and actually stood up and walked over with Louis.

"How long?" Ista nudged Evan with his elbow. His voice was full of curiosity and anticipation. He wanted to know how Louis had managed it.

Evan glanced at his pocket watch. "Three minutes." His voice held surprise and admiration. He hadn't expected Louis to succeed so quickly.

"Sure enough, women look not only at the wallet but also at the face," Ista muttered quietly. His voice held a mix of teasing and resignation. He felt the world could be quite realistic sometimes.

"I can join you, but I have a condition," Nancy said, standing before Evan and Ista, her chin slightly raised. Her eyes were full of confidence and determination. "I want to be the team leader. All activities during the Freshman Tournament will follow my command."

Wow, going straight for the leadership role! Evan, Ista, and Louis exchanged glances, a decision forming in their hearts. They knew this girl was no simple character, but they also had their own principles and bottom lines. They needed to consider this condition carefully, to see if they could accept it.

Evan, Louis, and Ista—these three—truly didn't care much about who led the team. In their hearts, improving their own strength was the most crucial thing. They had a clear goal: to hone themselves through various means, to become stronger. So, when faced with Nancy's demand to be the leader, they didn't get bogged down in excessive deliberation. The three simply exchanged a glance and then, in unison, nodded in agreement.

Nancy was quite satisfied with their reaction. She had always detested men who were indecisive and hesitant. In her view, people who acted decisively and without dragging their feet were worth cooperating with. She smiled, satisfied, as if she had found like-minded partners.