"Oh! Cut the crap. What's with the notice you guys put up?" Larne said while glaring at Pella
The fatty let out a long sigh and said, "Brother, weren't you troubled by the constant challenges you received from people last year? Didn't I come out with a solution to that problem that also profited us both by charging anyone who wanted a spar with you for five gold coins, from which I took two and the rest went to you? Us brothers earned quite a bit after 39 spars last year. However, that old bastard took note of our little business..."
Pella pointed at the sky, hinting at the pressure from his higher ups. "Just two days ago the old bastard came looking for me and told me that you still didn't manage to break through during your excursion at the Treasure Islands. The other academies mocked that of all the people in Orca Academy, you, a rank three grandmaster, was appointed a dual gold ranked instructor. To teach those people a lesson, we decided to put up that notice, mainly to attract the grandmaster Swordsmen from other academies to challenge you and see for themselves your ability."
"Is that really all it is?" Larne glared at him for he didn't believe for one moment that that was all it is.
"Erm..." the fatty hesitated. "And, we also wanted to earn some money from this. The old bastard said that I was short-sighted and that I was satisfied with only just a little over a hundred gold coins. He thought that if we offered a tempting gold reward, it would attract even more people, even if we raised the sparring fee by three times. Of course, the old bastard said that since you're the one doing most of the work, you'll still receive your cut of six gold coins per duel. The enforcement division's share got cut to only one gold coin per duel for arranging the dueling location and maintaining security during the duel. The rest of the money will go to the academy."
Larne understood that the "old bastard" referred to by Pella was no other than Academy Head Steven. "The old guy isn't afraid that I'll lose a match?"
"Hehe," laughed the fatty, "I myself trust you wholeheartedly. Even though I'm a rank three grandmaster Swordsman, I know full well that I will not last more than ten moves should I battle with you. Based on your 39 wins last year, we at the Enforcement Division don't doubt you one bit!"
"But I find it weird that the old bastard has so much faith in you that he set the reward prize so high. Oh, did you spar with Instructor Watkins during your trip to the islands? I heard you lasted more than 700 moves from him without losing. Is that true?" said the fatty as he recalled the rumor.
Instructor Kelly Watkins was a rank three Sword Lord and was heralded by most as a person who would one day break into the Sword Saint level. He was the chief swordsmanship instructor and was the only other person in the academy other than Larne who had a gold swordsmanship instructor badge. He got it because of his skill while Larne got his by breaking and setting a new record by winning 46 straight duels against opponents of a higher CoreEnergy rank than him. Additionally, Larne would lose his appointment as a gold ranked swordsmanship instructor if he loses even one duel.
Instructor Watkins already wanted to spar with Larne ever since he heard of Larne's 39 wins. However, he was hesitant to do so as his CoreEnergy rank was far beyond that of Larne and didn't want to be accused of bullying. The expedition to the Treasure Islands, however, presented itself to be an opportunity for him to spar with Larne. The excuse was that Larne's battle experience had to be assessed to determine whether he was fit to attend the expedition.
Larne endured more than 700 moves and finally lost due to the sheer difference in CoreEnergy power, which was already an amazing feat in itself.
"How did you know?" asked Larne, as there were only two people present during that spar.
"The old bastard told me himself," exposed Pella without blinking an eye. "He said that even though he wasn't well versed in the matters of CoreEnergy or swordsmanship, Instructor Watkins's high evaluation on your abilities, which included your undefeatable status among grandmasters and your swordsmanship that far surpasses most grandmasters made the old bastard very confident in you, so much so that he's willing to bet such a large amount of money on you. Ever since his duel with you, Instructor Watkins has also entered seclusion training to attempt to break through to the Sword Saint rank."
"Huh..." Larne was speechless. Just like that, he was swept into this money-making scheme by the academy head right after returning, causing him to feel incredibly annoyed. "I'm going straight to meet that old bastard!"
"He needs to explain to me why and how am I his money making outlet?"
Larne just couldn't understand it at all why the 'old bastard' did that cause he felt there is more to it that meets the eye, while he was still wondering, he gets interrupted from an unexpected visit from an old friend
"Excuse me, but may I have a little bit of your time?"
A man came up behind him and asked politely just as Larne turned and was about to walk away.