The ten Class Leaders had a light meal and rested to restore their physical strength, then at exactly eleven-forty-five minutes, all gathered at the artificial mountain system in the West sector.
In this climbing category, Angus only maintained a slow pace for the first five minutes, then he began to accelerate, quickly leaving his opponents behind.
Except for Hawley, the other Class Leaders all thought Angus was "angry" for losing the first category running, so now he tried his best right at the beginning. Those Class Leaders secretly felt eager, hoped that Angus would quickly exhaust.
But over time, what they saw was that Angus had no expression of being exhausted, and the distance between Angus and they themselves was increasingly far. At the end, Angus was the first one to finish this category, with the total time one minute earlier than Drake of Class F.
When the screen displayed the result, Hudson suddenly turned around and asked Iris with a loud voice: "Hey, did anyone say what our Leader cannot compare?"
Iris snorted, hardly had a time that he spoke with a loud voice: "Cannot compare is correct. One minute earlier and one second earlier, how to compare?"
Dallton laughed out, then he looked towards Class F and shouted: "Heard that? One minute and one second! How-to-compare!!!"
Class F got a slap on their face: "..."
Later, in the swimming category, perhaps because there was no longer any category to save energy, Angus directly swam with lightning speed right after jumping into the pool, then finished the category earlier than Drake five minutes.
This time, without waiting for the official announcement, Dallton shouted again: "Five minutes! It's five minutes!! Who you are to compared with our Leader!!!"
Class F was slapped on the face the second time: "..."
***
After the competition, all the students gathered in the dormitory's common cafeteria for dinner.
Class K divided into two half. One half went to find the seats for the whole class, the other half went to get meals for the whole class. With the win of Angus for the First round, the atmosphere of Class K's area was quite fun.
But it was just quite fun, nothing more and nothing less.
Having provoked Class F twice in the afternoon, Dallton was not so dumb that he would tease them again.
Leader Angus didn't like to provoke quarrels with other people. All Class K members knew this. Therefore, when he was present, all Class K were more modest, their voice was also lower than usual.
Well, in fact, it was not that they were controlling themselves so good. But... even they themselves didn't know why whenever Leader Angus was present, there would be some kind of invisible pressure that made them unconsciously be careful about their words and actions – even though Leader Angus just stood still and did nothing ➡ By Class K.
After having finished dinner, Class K bought some more soft drinks and fruits, brought to Angus's dorm to have another "party". There were two more days until the next round to be conducted, so Angus didn't object but let the Class K play freely.
Well, anyway, he was also happy...
The who class gossiped for some time and then they turned to talk about Dallton teasing Class F two times in the afternoon. After having heard the full story, Angus fell into silence for a few seconds.
Dallton thought he was about to be scolded when he heard Angus say: "During this time you guys have to go in a group, at least, a group of three or more."
Angus' voice was very serious, which showed the attitude of not allowing any argument.
Dustan was a little suspicious: "Leader, you meant they would mess with us?"
"Uh," Angus nodded. "They all have bad records, right?"
Maddox raised his chin, showing a confidence: "Don't worry, Leader! Couldn't I fight them? Just come and I will beat them up!"
Angus glanced at him: "How do you know they will come alone or come in a group? You can win a group of ten?"
Dallton immediately shut up.
Even though Angus was one of the contestants of the competition, he still observed the general situation of ten classes as a usual habit. As what he could see, other Class Leaders could only make half the class obey them, the other half didn't mind at all. Given the current ability of Class K, it didn't matter if the three of them play against ten from other classes.
"What about you?" Hudson asked.
Angus nonchalantly said, "They can't win me."
Class K: "..."
Alright, their Leader was always calm, but sometimes he would appear with a great confidence, so... just get used to it!
Later Iris suddenly asked, "Leader, what is Alvin to you?" The others might not see it, but Iris clearly saw the secret wink between Alvin and Eugene in the morning.
"Haven't told you guys yet?" Angus was a little surprised, then answered directly: "Legally... he's my younger brother."
Huh?
Class K all surprised: "So why did he say that he just a friend of you? A friend from the same village?"
Also... What was a "familiar neighbor"? Having been friends for two years? Very closed to each other? Knowing the hobby reading books while exposing under sunshine of Leader?
Was all of those things made up???
Angus smiled slightly, "That's why I said "legally"."
Class K got confused, all wanted Angus to explain.
Angus took a breath, chose the wordings and then said: "Alvin... was adopted by my family. He joined the family later, so he became my younger brother. But because we're the same age, he doesn't want to be younger brother. So usually he doesn't admit."
Adopted?
So... that guy was Leader's younger brother?
Well, even just an adopted younger brother, that relationship was still more familiar than a neighbor! So it was not strange that he knew a lot about Leader!
Someone raised another question: "Why doesn't he admit? He joined the family late, so nothing wrong to become a younger brother!"
Angus furrowed his brows, "How do I know! Maybe it's because... we have quite same situation, but he had to be a younger brother, so it's hard to accept?"
"How can that be same! You are biological son and he is adopted!"
Angus paused for two seconds, after which he said: "I'm also adopted."
...
– I'm also adopted.
The air suddenly silent as dead.
Shocked. Surprised. Puzzled. Doubt. Fear.
All sorts of emotions appeared in the eyes of the Class K.
Some people thought that they must have heard wrongly, wanted to open mouth and ask again, but immediately got glared at by the next person, signaling for silence. In the end, no one dared to speak.
Neil even threw Edelina a reproachful look.
Edelina was also blaming herself. Why could her mouth be faster than the brain like that!!
Who would have thought... Their Leader was, was adopted?
The education from the family and the influence of social values for more than twenty years growing up had made them inculcate ideas: family background was very important for the future of a dragonman.
But Leader, Leader was... an orphan?
Being an orphan who was adopted, but was able to achieve the current achievements, what had their Leader experienced???
Everyone in the room tried to think of something to say, but the words coming to the mouth could not escape.
Say "Please don't be sad, Leader" ? ➡ Did Leader look like a melancholy person?
Say "Cheer up, Leader!" ? ➡ Our Leader Master needed those empty words?
Say "It's okay, Leader" ? ➡ Funny! How could you say something like that to the person who tried to grow up without parents?
In short, the image of a calm, cool, amazing, and most powerful Leader was imprinted in the minds of the Class K!!! They all felt that, all those mushy consoling words were really inappropriate for him.
In contrast to the serious expression of Class K, Angus still looked calm as usual. He was silent for a moment and then slowly said:
"You guys don't have to be like that."
"Actually, me myself also used to hate my condition. Why I don't have parents? Why my original form is not as deepen in color as other people? Or, why I'm a mixed-blood?"
Angus's voice was very light. But it came to Class K's ears, it carried a terrible weight.
Mixed... blood? Mixed-blood!
This was another bomb striking Class K's mind. In a place where no one noticed, Neil and Iris' faces suddenly turned pale.
Angus continued to maintain that monotone tone, as if he was telling a story unrelated to himself.
"But then I discovered, if I kept asking myself those questions, I would only get less and less confidence, more and more depressed. So I didn't ask myself anything else but started looking for a way to make myself stronger."
"Alvin said the truth. In the past I enjoyed the sunshine a lot. Because I read in books that sunlight could help cells grow better, making body healthier. Later I discovered, sun exposure could not change my appearance color. I didn't do that anymore. But I still maintain the habit of reading every day. Because someone told me, knowledge is power."
"After that, I went through a number of things, saying it's luck or bad luck was both true. But in short, all of those helped me to grow up. About my family... Although I don't have parents, I have my grandfather, who adopted me, and Alvin. I'm luckier than Alvin a bit, I was adopted even before birth. I also have very good neighbor grandmas and grandpas."
"Also, now I have you guys."
Angus smiled a little: "I told you guys those stuffs, not to make you guys behave differently to me, or to Alvin. Because..." He paused for a moment, his spirit became serious: "Whether I'm adopted or not, whether I'm a mix-blooded or not, I am Angus."
– I am Angus.
Just three short words, but it was like a declaration. The declaration for the existence of the name Angus. Class K couldn't help but admit it, this was the coolest declaration they had ever heard!
Hudson sat on one side, silently listening to everything. After a moment, he raised his head, his eyes looking straight at Angus, said in a solemn voice: "Leader, you deserve my respect."
Except for Iris and Neil, Hudson was the one who had the highest frequency to appear next to Angus. But unlike the other two, Hudson rarely referred to Angus as "Leader" but just simply as "Angus". He appreciated Angus, standing on Angus' front line, defending Angus many times in team competitions, but deep down he still considered himself on par with Angus – though perhaps he himself didn't really pay attention to this matter.
But today, Hudson called Angus "Leader" very clearly, in that clarity there was also determination. Today, he really accepted this person to be his "Leader".
Hudson's words woke everyone up.
Maddox snorted in order to hide his emotional face, then said: "Leader! You are the coolest one that I've ever known!"
Nissyen expressed his heart with a serious promise: "Leader, I respect you too! I will try my best to be like you."
Even a shy person like Rinne also spoke up: "I... Leader, I'm very grateful to you! You may not know it, but since you became the Class Leader, everyone has tried harder. We all get amazing progress! You were the one who motivated us..."
Dallton determinedly gave a conclusion: "That's right, Leader! No matter this time you will be the Grade Leader or not, you're always the coolest Leader of us!"
Class K was about to show their agreement on Dallton's words while suddenly Angus spoke up: "I'll be the Grade Leader."
Class K: "..." Sorry, didn't catch up Leader's speed!
Hey?
Wasn't the topic that "How to show our support and loyalty to Leader"? Why it suddenly changed to "Who will become Grade Leader"???
In response, the coolest-Class-Leader of Class K was still very calm: "Didn't Dallton asked that if I could become the Grade Leader or not? I was giving you guys the answer." ➡ This implied: You guys must not doubt my ability, not even a word!
Dallton was innocent: "..."
Leader, did you get my key point? My very key point???
I was expressing my loyalty to you, how could it be doubting your ability??
Hu hu, swear that later I would think for seven times before talking to Leader!!!
***
Update the score of 10 Class Leaders after the First round (Points in brackets were the scores of 3 categories in the following order: Long-distance running, Mountain Climbing, Swimming):
#1. Angus Farley - Class K - Base 5 - 29 points (9, 10, 10).
#2. Drake Atticus - Class F - Base 3 - 28 points (10, 9, 9).
#3. Cheryl Maximus - Class A - Base 1 - 24 points (8, 8, 8).
#4. Kristena Ellis - Class C - Base 2 - 20 points (7, 6, 7).
#5. Hawley Quincey - Class I - Base 5 - 19 points (6, 7, 6).
#6. Patrick Kang - Class B - Base 1 - 14 points (5, 4, 5).
#7. James Petrov - Class H - Base 4 - 12 points (4, 5, 3).
#8. Stella Wagner - Class D - Base 2 - 10 points (3, 3, 4).
#9. Samuel Meyer - Class E - Base 3 - 5 points (1, 2, 2).
#10. Martin Blanc - Class G - Base 4 - 4 points (2, 1, 1).
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