The voice was somewhat shrill and grating on the ears.


    Jason turned his head and saw a girl with two followers in tow.


    The girl was wearing the uniform of St. Mungo''s Academy, with average features, high cheekbones, and narrow eyes, intently staring at Tedi, while her two tall and sturdy followers, despite being suited up, couldn''t conceal their muscr torsos, and exuded an unweing aura.


    Clearly, these two followers served the function of bodyguards.


    And they were quite qualified at that.


    At least, Jason could clearly feel that these two possessed a fierceness surpassing that of ordinary people.


    Simrly, the two bodyguards also sensed something extraordinary about Jason.


    They stared intently at Jason.


    Jason''s casual scrutiny had doubled the pressure on them.


    Almost involuntarily, they ced their hands on their waists.


    "What are you trying to do?"


    Edward walked over with his arms crossed, directly shing his police badge.


    Seeing the police badge in Edward''s hand, the two bodyguards'' expressions changed yet again.


    After exchanging a nce, one of them stepped forward and quietly gestured towards the girl with the harsh features.


    The girl with the harsh features frowned at first.


    However, she quickly resumed her disdainful demeanor.


    "Since you are Deputy Chief Edward?"


    "Then you must be that Jason mentioned in the newspapers?"


    "I wonder, what is Teacher Jason skilled at that he became a student council advisor?"


    The girl with the harsh features withdrew her resentful gaze from the female student council president and turned to look at Jason.


    Jason could clearly feel the faint hatred emanating from her.


    And it was the first time he had seen her.


    Without a doubt, she had transferred the resentment she held toward the female student council president onto him.


    As for why?


    Wherever there are people, there is strife.


    Strife arises either from interests or from differing ideologies.


    Or perhaps from both.


    Such conflicts invariably ur in any human environment and do not change with circumstances or the number of people involved.


    The girl before him was in conflict with the female student council president.


    And he?


    Naturally, he had been dragged into it.


    The female pastry chef scurried over and exined in a low voice:


    "She''s the youngest daughter of the Andema Family, who once ran against Tedi for student council president, and after losing by a significant margin, she''s been troubling Tedi from time to time."


    "Be careful, this person is very cunning."


    The female pastry chef warned Jason.


    Jason really didn''t want to get involved in the dispute between two young girls.


    But he was already the student council advisor.


    Naturally, such involvement was unavoidable.


    Resign from the position?


    Extra meals!


    What if he couldn''t have the extra meals prepared by the cooking teachers at St. Mungo''s Academy?


    And then there was the sry!


    He needed the sry to pay the rent for the female pastry chef and the asional meal expenses.


    Therefore, after nodding his head, Jason looked at the girl with the harsh features and replied, "Combat, shooting, equestrianism, and cooking."


    This was what Jason had previously told the female student council president about his expertise.


    At this moment, naturally, he wouldn''t change his answer.


    "Oh?"


    "I thought it was solving cases."


    "After all, you made it into the papers for your ability to solve cases, but the others?"


    "I''m not aware of them."


    The words from Andema with the harsh features carried a form of address that seemed respectful but were spoken with increasing bitterness, causing the student council members to frown.


    "Andema, this is the student council''s training ground."


    "Please leave."


    The female student council president rebuked, leaving no room for courtesy.


    They had already shed several times, and there was no need for any form of cordiality.


    "Leave?"


    "Of course, I will leave."


    "But before I go, I need to make sure you haven''t abused your authority," she said, pointing at Jason.


    "Him, I doubt his ability to serve as a student council advisor!"


    "Unless he proves hispetence in thebat, shooting, equestrianism, and cooking he imed to excel in."


    "Otherwise..."


    "I will choose to directly raise an objection to the dean."


    Andema stood her ground.


    "Why do I need to prove anything to you about my actions?" Tedi retorted.


    "If you want to raise an objection with the dean, then go ahead."


    "I trust my uncle will treat me fairly," the female student council president answered.


    "So what if your uncle is the dean?"


    "St. Mungo''s Academy has a board of directors, and my Andema Family also holds a seat on it."


    Andema, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, suddenly became irate.


    "Andema always believed that her loss to Tedi in the student council presidential race was because Tedi''s uncle is the dean of St. Mungo''s—yet she never considered how her overbearing attitude would make it impossible for anyone to choose her," whispered the female pastry chef.


    At this moment, Andema seemed to have lost her sensespletely.


    She took off her glove and threw it down fiercely in front of the female student council president.


    "Duel!"


    "I challenge you to a duel!" bellowed Andema.


    "Heh," Tedi chuckled softly.


    "Laws of Newdeth City prohibit dueling."


    "Coward!" Andema red viciously at Tedi and then, as if to vent her frustration, yelled at Jason, "You too, relying on her to gain a teaching qualification, you''ll never earn the true recognition of St. Mungo''s. You''ll always watch others receive rewards on the 1st, 15th, and 30th, while all you get is finger-pointing."


    Having said that, Andema turned to leave.


    "Wait a moment."


    "You mentioned the 1st, 15th, and 30th reward, is it extra meals?" Jason suddenly asked.


    "Extra meals?"


    "That''s trivial, the real reward is..."


    "How do you want me to prove it?"


    Andema wanted to say more but was directly interrupted by Jason.


    The sharp-featured girl paused, then burst outughing.


    "I don''t need you to prove all four skills – fighting, shooting, horsemanship, and cooking."


    "You just need to prove one of them."


    "If you dare, head to the second arena!"


    This time Andema didn''t linger and turned to leave.


    Jason turned his head to look at the female student council president.


    "Where is the second arena?"


    "It''s in the old campus area."


    "However, Teacher Jason…"


    "Lead the way."


    Jason cut off the female student council president mid-sentence, speaking decisively.


    It was just a single verification.


    Nothing was more important than an extra meal.


    Seeing Jason''s resolute demeanor, the female student council president furrowed her brows and, ultimately, chose topromise.


    She signaled for Jason to follow her.


    The female pastry chef and Edward naturally followed.


    The members of the student council also all came along.


    They passed the riding area, heading into the depths of St. Mungo''s Academy.


    After about 20 minutes and passing through a pine forest, a massive pit appeared.


    "This is the second arena,"


    the female student council president said.


    Jason looked at the so-called ''second arena''; the huge pit before him did not look like it was purpose-built, but rather like it had been altered and restructured.


    Because at the bottom of the pit, Jason saw remnants of aquatic nts that would only grow at the bottom of ake.


    They were dry now.


    But Jason could confirm they were indeed aquatic nts.


    "Was this ake before?"


    "They drained theke water and then built what''s called the ''second arena''?"


    "Why not build a new one if it''s possible to drain theke?"


    Jason thought.


    With the current technology level of the replica world, draining such argeke was no small feat.


    The costs would be enormous.


    With such expenses, it would be better to just build anew.


    As he pondered, Jason continued looking around.


    Unlike the previous dense vegetation, there wasn''t a single nt here, just the bare, hardened yellow-earth ground, terribly simple.


    The group''s direction of arrival was directly above the second arena, which allowed them a clear view of the scene below.


    The ground, paved with square stones, was firm and solid. In the very center of the arena was arge cage covered with a ck cloth.


    Roaring sounds came from the cage.


    The previously scornful miss from the Andema family stood on the other side of the arena with an attendant.


    Upon seeing Jason approaching, she immediately said,


    "Which skill are you going to verify?"


    "Whichever one you choose to verify will involve what''s down there."


    "Of course, you can also choose to give up." Stay connected with mvl


    A malicious smile appeared on her face.


    Then, she waved her hand.


    The attendant inside the arena promptly pulled off the ck cloth.


    Instantly, louder roars echoed along with cries of shock.


    "A bear!"


    "It''s a bear!"


    "Andema, you''ve gone too far!"


    "How can a person fight against a bear?"


    The student council members spoke out usingly against Andema.


    But the scornful miss just sneered.


    "Humans can''t beat a bear?"


    "That just proves he''s too weak!"


    "How can such a person be a student council advisor?"


    "And besides..."


    "Did I say it had to be bare-handed?"


    "Isn''t Teacher Jason skilled in shooting?"


    "He can use a gun!"


    Andema scoffed again, maintaining her stance.


    This attitude greatly irritated the student council members.


    Even the normally good-tempered female pastry chef frowned.


    Edward red at her in anger.


    He knew well that ordinary small-caliber guns weren''t lethal for a bear; they would only anger it. Facing an injured and frenzied bear, anyone would likely be torn to shreds!


    Especially this bear.


    It was huge.


    It did not show any restraint even in its cage, on the contrary, it was increasingly ferocious.


    "Jason, you..."


    Edward was about to warn his friend instinctively.


    But when he turned around, he realized his friend who had just been beside him was no longer there.


    "Look down below!"


    A student council member eximed.


    Everyone looked.


    Judging from their expressions, Jason had somehow already made it into the arena below.


    The attendant seeing Jason appear, turned to look at the person he served.


    The smile that spread across the face of Andema''s youngest daughter was one of cruelty, and without hesitation, she gestured with her hand.


    Immediately, the attendant ran toward the exit above.


    In his grip was a rope.


    When he reached the passage and shut the door, he pulled the rope.


    ng!


    The bolt locking the cage fell to the ground.


    Roar!


    The ck bear burst out of the cage upon realizing the bars were no longer secured.


    Gaining its freedom, it instinctively unleashed a bellow.


    Then, it started rushing towards Jason without thinking.


    However, as it drew near and raised its head, it saw a pair of hungry, oppressive eyes…


    Weirdly, a chill ran down its spine.