Recruitment Day

Du Chen’s smile froze instantly. *What’s wrong with Teacher Zigurd today? Did that purple-haired ice man offend him?* he wondered.

Zigurd’s brow furrowed. His hand trembled, unconsciously tugging out two whiskers, and his mouth twitched in pain. *Ah, so it was Francis! No wonder the gatekeeper downstairs didn't announce him! My words just now were too harsh. How can I take them back?*

An idea sparked in his mind!

Zigurd maintained his stern expression, huffing, “How many times have I taught you? Everything must follow rules, but you still haven't learned!” Then, he suddenly broke into a cheerful laugh. “Remember for next time, understand? I won’t punish you this once…”

*Damn, Teacher Zigurd was just joking with me!* Du Chen’s doubts vanished. He bowed a theatrical ninety degrees, stretching out his words with a grin, “Stu…dent…has…noted…it!”

Zigurd chuckled, rising to scoop up a child in each arm, then looked at Xue Ji with a hint of surprise.

Du Chen hastily introduced, “Teacher, this is Xue Ji, my fiancée. She’s an Einz Lanning native, and she’s specially come to pay her respects to you today!”

“Oh? You’re already betrothed!” Zigurd’s eyebrows twitched, and his face instantly bloomed with smiles. He observed the shy and nervous Xue Ji for a few moments, nodding repeatedly. “Good, good, good!”

The repeated ‘good’s eased some of Xue Ji’s tension, yet a subtle pang echoed in her heart. *Einz Lanning native? When did I acquire that nationality? Alas, how could Alex deceive even a teacher as close as a father?* She felt a flicker of discomfort, but then she thought, *Am I not also deceiving Teacher Margaret? What right do I have to blame my beloved? Alex did all this for our future! If I were to harbor resentment over this, it would truly betray Alex's painstaking efforts…*

With that thought, Xue Ji gently leaned against Du Chen, smiling as she engaged Zigurd in pleasantries.

After a few exchanges, Du Chen casually asked, “Teacher, who was that person who just left? His body seemed to be troubled, unable to control his aura!”

This casual question made Zigurd’s heart skip a beat!

His mind raced. Zigurd’s face showed indignation as he slammed a fist down on the desk with a 'thump.' “Don’t even mention it! Hmph! It’s always like this when graduates leave school… no manners at all! Just now, an old friend came, wanting me to ‘recommend’ a few High-level Battle Gods from the Pantheon Institute by force. Hmph, isn’t that ridiculous?”

As expected, it was someone trying to pull strings! Du Chen didn't mind, joining his teacher in rebuking the purple-haired ice man. However, no one noticed that while Zigurd spoke, little Beibei in his arms had wide eyes, curiously peeking at her grandfather the entire time…

Du Chen stayed to chat with his teacher for a long while until a staff member brought some documents. Only then did he rise to take his leave, walking arm-in-arm with Xue Ji into the corridor. He smiled, “Well? Teacher Zigurd is a bit different from the rumors. Though a bit old-fashioned, he’s a virtuous and respected elder!”

Xue Ji nodded, her cheeks flushed. “Yes, I was a bit nervous just now, but he truly is very kind.”

“No, no!” little Beibei suddenly shook her head. “That’s not right, Papa, Grandpa is very strange today!”

Du Chen paused, then picked up his daughter. “What did Beibei notice?”

The little one thought for a moment. “Grandpa’s mental fluctuations were very smooth before, but when that purple-haired person was mentioned… they sped up so quickly!”

Rapid mental fluctuations indicate that Zigurd’s emotions were highly unstable during the conversation, or more directly, that the old man had a tendency to lie!

Du Chen rubbed his nose, hesitating. “Perhaps Teacher has some academy secrets he doesn’t wish to mention? Never mind, let’s not concern ourselves with his affairs!” The family walked out of the Crystal Tower, heading directly to the Dormitory District to visit old classmates.

But just as they exited the building, a pair of sinister eyes watched their retreating figures from the top floor, peering through a window!

That purple-haired ice man had returned to Zigurd’s office. Staring at Du Chen outside the window, he said grimly, “They saw my face!”

Zigurd had completely shed the ‘kind, virtuous’ demeanor his juniors spoke of. His face was grim, and he coldly snorted, “What do you mean by that? Do you intend to kill them to silence them?”

The ice man, with hands clasped behind his back, said flatly, “You know, in this situation, I must kill them to silence them. That’s our rule!”

Zigurd sneered, “I warn you, Francis is my student. If you want to touch him, you'll have to go through me first!”

The ice man glanced back at Zigurd, a disdainful look on his face, seemingly unfazed by Zigurd’s threat. He paced to the desk, propped his hands on the surface, and leaned in, fixing his gaze on Zigurd. A cold aura washed over them!

“Alright! I’ll go through you now… I want to eliminate your student. Do you, Dean Zigurd, Father of Battle Gods, unparalleled in nobility, whose call can summon thousands of Battle Gods, have any objections?” The latter half sounded like flattery, but the ice man’s sarcastic tone made the mockery obvious even to a child!

Zigurd’s triangular eyes flashed with a sharp glint. He said menacingly, “Are you threatening me?”

The ice man gave a strange laugh. “Yes, I am threatening you! I’ll say it again: I want to eliminate your student. Any objections?” Without waiting for Zigurd’s rebuttal, he slowly raised a finger and wagged it. “Don’t forget, this rule was set by ‘her’!”

Upon hearing ‘her,’ Zigurd’s breath hitched, and he slumped onto his chair. After a long silence, he frowned and said, “Francis’s current strength even surpasses mine. Do you still think you can eliminate him? Don’t overestimate yourself!”

“Must one use battle qi to kill? You should know that better than I…”

By this time, Du Chen had vanished from the square outside the window. The ice man also turned to walk out the door.

Zigurd suddenly stood, slamming the table with a 'boom.' “Third Brother, I warn you! Dare to kill my student on Battle God Isle, and I will never let you off!”

“Oh, oh, what do I hear?” The ice man retracted the leg he had stepped over the threshold, turning with a smile, then angrily cursed, “After fifty years as a Dean, do you really think you’re the Father of Battle Gods?! Old One, my Eldest Brother, don’t forget who you are! Your Third Brother is waiting to see how you won’t let me off!”

*Bang!* The ice man slammed the door shut and left!

Zigurd trembled with rage, gritting his teeth. He sat back in his chair, pondering for a very, very long time…

He suddenly rang the bell beside his desk, cleared his throat, and his voice turned serious as he spoke into the speaking tube beneath the bell, “Dean Ricardo? This is Zigurd! I just received a Crystal-tier secret report from the Papal Curia, stating that spies from an unknown force have infiltrated Battle God Isle, attempting to cause chaos during the recruitment fair. The initial suspicion is Fiendkind! Covertly strengthen the protection of representatives from various major powers, especially guarding against mental assassination techniques and viruses!”

Zigurd paused, then particularly emphasized, “The great cause against the Fiendkind now outweighs everything. Commanders of alliance war zones like Francis must be even more strictly protected. That’s all, go implement it immediately. Remember, dispatch experts from the Pantheon Institute to strengthen defenses against mental assassination techniques and viruses!”

With that, Zigurd leaned weakly back in his chair, sighing dejectedly, and touched his cheek. “Fifty years… Who am I? Hmph! I am Zigurd, Dean of Battle God Academy!”

…

Du Chen led Xue Ji on a tour of the Dormitory District across the five major departments, meeting many old friends. There were both disappointments and surprises.

The disappointment was that several of his closest old brothers couldn't go to Durkes City to serve in government—Xino Dwarf Sem was a prince himself, merely waiting to graduate and return to become king, so naturally, he wouldn’t settle for a mere internal affairs official position. As for the hefty Jason, with his vast family business, he was ambitiously preparing to become a trade king, and of course, he wouldn’t deign to be the Minister of Finance in Durkes City…

The surprise, however, was that Du Chen’s former Dormitory Seventeen now belonged to a graduating student named Martin! Du Chen knocked, and lo and behold, it was the exchange student Martin who used to live by his door, and he was also graduating this year! What made Du Chen sigh, “I’ve done so many good deeds, I don’t even remember them,” was Martin’s timid reminder that Dormitory Seventeen, his tuition for recent years, and even his hometown mother’s medical expenses… all came from Du Chen!

Speaking of Martin, Du Chen had once asked Jamis during the Emerald Sea Secret Convocation why he had specifically conned this seemingly honest exchange student. Jamis had casually replied, “We conned many people. As long as young people have potential, we try to con them, you just didn’t see it!”

To be evaluated as having potential by Jamis, and having received such a great favor from him, greeting Du Chen with profound gratitude and a bow… what more needed to be said? Martin, without a word, tossed his unsubmitted resume and several interview notices into the trash, shouldered his luggage, and followed Du Chen.

Naturally, Du Chen, having tasted the sweetness of success, generously renewed the lease on Dormitory Seventeen and gifted it to an excellent, impoverished student from a lower grade. In a few years, this would be another reliable talent!

In the evening, Du Chen led his party back to a hotel in the city center. After dinner, Martin went to the Disciplinary Affairs Office to handle his archives, and Cassian, who had been busy all day, also returned, casually tossing twenty-some resumes to Du Chen, saying coldly, “Here, these are the ones interested in coming to Durkes City today. You pick!”

Du Chen paid no mind to Cassian’s attitude, but after flipping through the resumes, he paused. “Why are they almost all dross?”

Cassian rolled his eyes at Du Chen, then flipped through the resumes and pulled out a dossier, throwing it onto Du Chen’s chest. “See for yourself!”

This was a recruitment notice for Durkes City. Du Chen chuckled as he read a few points: “Our city lord is a First-Class Duke of Lanning, a Three-Star General, and the Commander of the Holy Alliance’s Grand Triangular War Zone. By Lanning Law, he can bestow upon his subordinates a maximum noble title of First-Class Earl and the military rank of Brigadier General. Furthermore, our city lord is the wealthiest man in Lanning… Sounds pretty good, doesn't it?”

“Good?!” Cassian threw a few more dossiers at Du Chen. “Look at the offers from other powers! Leaving others aside, Prime Minister Antoine himself came from Lanning for this recruitment. The price he’s offering is a starting First-Class Viscount for ordinary graduates, plus the rank of Commander! And if Graduate Students from the Pantheon Institute are willing to join the Lanning government, Antoine has twenty blank imperial decrees on him, capable of immediately bestowing the title of Third-Class Marquis!”

Du Chen secretly clicked his tongue. Emperor Bargnar was truly generous, but it wasn’t excessive. What kind of place was the Pantheon Institute? While Grand Matriarch Lucy’s military capabilities only allowed her to command a small squad of Retainers during the Godslayer era, today she would at least be a fierce general. Yet, her military tactics ranking in the Pantheon Institute was only third! If a Marquis title could recruit a continent-level formidable general, no matter how one calculated it, Bargnar wouldn’t lose out!

In the Godslayer Thirteenth Century, what was most valuable?

Talent!

Cassian then pointed out the few resumes that weren't “dross” in Du Chen’s words, saying, “In terms of benefits, we are constrained by law and simply cannot compare to the major powers! I can only compensate with high salaries for noble titles. These few are here purely for the money!”

Du Chen frowned, then waved his hand, tossing aside the resumes of those who were only after money!

“These others are good. One is a fanatical follower of the Papal Curia, willing to follow you, his Godfather, regardless of benefits. Another is a native Newinian, wanting to return home. The last few are those who have received your — albeit insincere — kindness and are here not for benefits, but to repay you!”

Cassian scoffed angrily, “There were dozens of others who originally wanted to repay you, and they would have come if the benefits were comparable. But when they saw the price you offered, they turned around and rushed to Antoine… The damn ingrates!”

Du Chen merely smiled. He had seen too many such people throughout his years of good deeds… Faced with huge profits, to still have a few who remembered to repay kindness, that already made Du Chen very satisfied! He patted the resumes. “Keep those last few you mentioned! Arrange positions according to their talents. I can’t offer more in terms of noble titles, but don’t be stingy with the money. Offer whatever you like, as long as it’s not too outrageous!”

Cassian nodded. “Also, today all the major powers had their Eminences personally present. Tomorrow, you should go personally too. With your hypocritical smile, you might just recruit a few more people!”

Du Chen squinted at Cassian with a sly smile. “Hypocritical? Oh, my Junior Brother, even if my smile truly is hypocritical, among the billions of humans across the Three Continents, over ninety percent say I smile warmly and kindly. So, my smile *is* warm and kind. If you call me hypocritical, others will just call you a nonconformist… understand?”

Cassian was so choked up that his face turned green, but he couldn't find any words to retort!

Du Chen rose and patted his Junior Brother’s shoulder. “Learn slowly. When you truly understand my smile, you can then return to your country and become its Yakun Overlord!”

Cassian was bewildered. Du Chen reached the doorway, turned back with a smile, and said, “Tomorrow I’ll go to the recruitment myself. You stay here and watch the children. However, a student named Martin will come over tonight. Assess him and give me a report!”

…

Early the next morning, as Du Chen and Xue Ji were walking to the recruitment fair, Martin rushed up, looking flustered. He timidly handed Du Chen a sealed dossier, lowering his voice. “M-my Lord, this is from Chief Steward Cassian, regarding… regarding my assessment…”

The dossier was perfectly sealed. Du Chen smiled slightly, took it, and opened it.

Martin’s palms were sweating as he followed behind, not daring to look at his Lord reading the assessment. He softly explained, “My Lord, last night… I was too nervous during my interview, and I might not have performed well, you see…”

Du Chen chuckled as he read the dossier. As Liana’s student, Cassian’s assessment bore Liana’s style — Six-Star Battle God Martin, Loyalty: Excellent, Internal Affairs Ability: Good, Military Ability: Good, Planning Ability: Excellent, Diplomacy Ability: … Disastrous!

Recommendation: To serve as a Staff Officer in the Lord’s Manor Staff Headquarters, First-Class Viscount!

He casually handed the dossier to Martin. “Alright, Viscount Martin, let’s go to the recruitment fair!”

Martin let out a sigh of relief.

The Battle God Academy’s recruitment was actually quite simple: servants would hang banners with job descriptions and benefits in Battle God Square, and students would review them on their own. Du Chen only needed to sit in the viewing pavilion on Hot Spring Mountain, waiting to assess the graduates willing to come to Durkes City. All other details would be handled by academy staff and his new staff officer, Martin.

Though there were hundreds of people packed into the vast pavilion, order was perfectly maintained. On the ground floor, rows of seats were filled with students awaiting assessment interviews, while the examiners sat in private rooms on the upper floor of the pavilion. Du Chen had just settled into his private room when a hearty laugh echoed from nearby. “Your Grace, I hear you are engaged. Is this your fiancée?”

Du Chen turned, frowning slightly, then smiled. “Ah, Prime Minister Antoine. You’re right next door?”

Antoine laughed. “These private rooms are divided by region. All of us Lanning lords are nearby!”

Du Chen looked left and right, and indeed, his neighbors were all familiar old friends from Lanning politics!

Antoine’s door had a long queue, and after a few pleasantries, he became busy. Du Chen’s door, however, remained deserted, not a single person approaching him all day. Time passed slowly, from morning to afternoon, then to evening. Antoine’s door saw people come and go like a revolving lantern, but Du Chen’s remained empty, with only seventeen or eighteen resumes on his desk. And upon opening the transcripts… disaster, utter disaster!

Throughout the entire day, Du Chen only sent two mediocre but decent students to Cassian for assessment. As night fell, Du Chen couldn’t bear to see Xue Ji suffer any longer and told her to go for a walk. But no sooner had Xue Ji left than Antoine waved to Du Chen from his window, drawing him to a secluded spot.

Antoine’s face was clouded with worry. “Francis, do you have any news of Avril?”

Du Chen was stunned. “I haven’t seen Avril in three years. You’re her grandfather; don’t you have news of her?”

Antoine nodded disappointedly. “Two years ago, Avril told me she was going on a study tour, but she never returned… Sigh, I thought she would come to find you during this graduation recruitment, but I didn’t expect you wouldn’t know either!”

The old man’s face was etched with worry, his concern for his granddaughter plainly visible.

Du Chen sighed inwardly, then reminded him, “Prime Minister, you might try asking Annie of the Batuk Family. She might know.”

Antoine’s eyes lit up, and he cupped his hands. “Thank you!” His expression then grew serious, and he lowered his voice. “However, Your Grace, personal matters are personal, but public affairs must not be delayed… I couldn’t find you yesterday, but now receive His Majesty’s secret decree—all Lanning lords are to cooperate with Prime Minister Antoine in recruiting talent, submitting all received resumes to the Prime Minister, keeping copies for themselves!”

What?! Did Antoine mean that he would pick the best talents first, and Francis would only get the leftovers?

Du Chen’s face immediately darkened, and he sneered, “Prime Minister, forcing talent to come is ultimately not the right path. Let’s each rely on our own abilities!”

Antoine snorted. “Don’t vent your anger on this old man; I’m only acting on orders!”

“That’s right! Your Excellency Francis, it’s actually an unwritten rule that the talents recruited by lords are first reviewed by His Majesty!” Several other Lanning lords gathered around, their faces showing varying degrees of reluctance, but also helplessness!

Upon arriving, they immediately stood by Du Chen, surrounding Antoine.

But before they could speak, Antoine coldly swept his gaze over them. “Have you all come over? Don’t say anything. I understand what you mean, I know you’re all dissatisfied with this secret decree! So you’re all waiting for Francis to lead the defiance, then follow along like lackeys, both reaping benefits and hiding behind the ‘law doesn’t punish the multitude’ excuse, correct?”

Some lords flushed, some pretended not to hear, but remained steadfastly behind Du Chen!

Antoine was right; the lords were all unhappy with the secret decree, but no one dared to defy it. They were all waiting for the courageous Du Chen to be the one to stick his neck out!

Antoine’s expression turned cold. He pulled Du Chen a few steps away, speaking earnestly, “I am now just an old man nearing retirement, only wishing to find my granddaughter. I have no more energy to contend with you! I know you now have the courage and strength to defy orders, but what good will it do? Look at the queue outside my door, then look at yours… Even with fair competition, you absolutely cannot win against His Majesty. Why antagonize His Majesty over something impossible?!”

This was the absolute truth. The scene outside their doors was starkly divided: one bustling with activity, the other deserted!

Antoine continued, “You are now the strongest lord in the country. The other lords are all watching you. Anyway, the benefits you offer won’t attract much talent, so why be the one to stick your neck out and incur His Majesty’s displeasure?”

Du Chen rubbed his nose hard. What Antoine said indeed made sense, but it still made him feel… *damn it, why was he so choked up inside?*

In terms of strength, he wasn’t bad! In terms of prestige, he far surpassed Bargnar, the King of Lanning. But when it came to how many benefits he could offer others… Du Chen could at most give people Gold Coins and some honorary noble titles, but Bargnar could casually hand out vast territories! On one side was wealth and honorary positions, on the other was tangible land, subjects, and power. How graduates would choose was beyond doubt!

Seeing Du Chen somewhat swayed, Antoine was overjoyed and quickly added, “How about this? I’ll secretly give you some leeway, and you publicly accept His Majesty’s secret decree. Don’t give those other lords a chance to cause trouble. After the fair, I’ll privately share a few good young talents with you. How’s that?” He patted Du Chen’s shoulder. “To speak frankly, without fear of offending you, I believe you understand yourself: accepting my terms will result in far more talent afterward than you could recruit on your own!”

Du Chen shook his head with a bitter smile. Antoine was truly being magnanimous!

*Sigh, so be it!*

Du Chen was about to agree when, suddenly, a commotion erupted from the ground floor hall. “Oh my God, how could they appear here together?! Could it be…”

“Heavens, the Commander of the Sober Empire’s Third Legion whom I’d set my sights on is now out of reach…”

“Damn it, what are they here to snatch from us ordinary graduates?!”

“It’s over, what chance do we have now?!”

“Forget it, let’s go. Good positions aren’t for us. Let’s check out Francis’s stall. At least he pays well…”

On the second floor, Du Chen’s face was ashen, almost kicking his ‘stall’ into pieces.

The other lords couldn’t help but snicker, but then, thinking of themselves, their smiles vanished—*we’re even worse than Francis!*

Antoine also wanted to laugh but held back. Just then, *thump! thump! thump!* a civil official ran up to Antoine, looking utterly frantic. “Prime Minister, this is bad!”

Antoine was startled. “What happened?!”

“The top ten Graduate Students from the Pantheon Institute have appeared together, and… each of them has a resume!”

At that moment, the Eminences in the various private rooms on the second floor were heard coming out. Though they maintained a dignified and nonchalant facade as they walked downstairs, their hurried footsteps deeply betrayed them!

Antoine’s expression suddenly changed. “Francis, we’ll talk later!” With that, he quickly joined the ranks of the Eminences. The impression of recruiting worthy individuals had to be made first!

Du Chen watched the Eminences descend, then pursed his lips. *Comical? But this kind of thing happens every year. Today these Eminences might be mocked, but tomorrow, they can bring a future Grand General of the Three Continents back to their country. The day after tomorrow, that general can carve out a vast territory for them!!!*

To expand dominion, to enrich city-states, to maneuver and strategize, to stand invincible amidst the shifting tides of the Three Continents… this is talent!

For all this, what did a little mockery matter?

Ten individuals, some old, some young, some male, some female, arrived together at the staircase leading to the second floor, directly encountering the descending Eminences! The first among them was Antoine, who had rushed ahead.

The old Prime Minister looked at the ten individuals, then smiled at the one at the very front, an old man of similar age. “My friend…”

“Heh, my old friend!” The old man interrupted him with a smile. “I’m merely a decrepit old man who’s been repeating grades in the Pantheon Institute’s Sacred Artifacts of War Department for over fifty years, only wishing to earn some coffin money while I can still move around. You needn’t trouble yourself… Would you mind moving aside?”

Antoine’s facial muscles stiffened slightly. *Repeating grades for fifty years? You’re lying! You’ve clearly been researching Sacred Artifacts of War for fifty years, an expert in decisive weapon-based battles…*

Antoine stepped aside, letting the old man pass, then smiled at the second person, a middle-aged woman. Before he could speak, the woman chuckled, “You must be Prime Minister Antoine? I’m just a farmer… would you mind moving aside?”

Antoine had barely stepped aside for the woman when a queen-like figure rushed up from behind, tightly grasping the woman’s hand. “Sister Corinne, our country suffered a great drought three years ago, and we owe it all to your Ice Crystal Great Array that drew water from the four seas to save my people. Today, I must have the opportunity to thank you. Shall we discuss it over here?”

Antoine then turned his attention to the third person, a young man resembling a bard. He was even more direct, pushing Antoine aside. “Move aside, kiddo, I’m in a hurry!”

*Kiddo?* Antoine’s beard was entirely white! How old was this young poet really?!

Through a series of “move aside, sorry” pleasantries, the ten individuals pushed through the crowded staircase of Eminences, finally reaching the second floor. They confidently identified their direction and began walking, as if their target had long been decided.

The Eminences sighed inwardly, knowing they had lost their chance. They stopped doing such embarrassing and undignified things, returning to their private rooms to assess other students, all while keeping an eye on the ten newcomers!

Antoine had originally intended not to join the commotion, but precisely because these ten were heading towards his private room, he could only shamelessly follow. And at the end of the corridor…

Du Chen had been bored all day and was now impatient. He disregarded his image, crouching down in an empty space in the corridor where there were few people. The other Lanning lords, seeing him crouch, hesitated for a moment, then also squatted down with Du Chen, forming a circle.

Du Chen glanced sideways. “I’m crouching because I’m tired. Why are you all crouching?”

“My brother Francis, we are all Lanning lords, and neighbors too, so we won’t stand on ceremony with you…”

“Exactly! The situation today seems to be the same as in previous years; we won’t get any good candidates! But I just heard from the chatter downstairs… there are quite a few money-grubbing students this year!”

Du Chen raised an eyebrow. “Asking to borrow money from me?”

“My brother sees clearly!”

Du Chen rubbed his nose and sighed. “Alas, we are all brothers in misfortune; none of us have found good candidates this trip…”

*Slap!*

Someone patted Du Chen’s shoulder from behind. Du Chen turned his head to glance. It was a decrepit old man. He forced a smile and said, “Old man, is there something I can help you with?”

The old man pushed aside the lord next to Du Chen and squatted down to Du Chen’s left. “Little brother, didn’t find any good candidates? I have a few good ones in my hand, how about it?”

Better than nothing, Du Chen crouched and raised his left hand. “Let me see a resume first!”

*Slap! Slap! Slap…*

Under the incredulous gazes of all the Eminences in the room, ten resumes landed on Du Chen’s hand in quick succession!