"I've made it clear, there's nothing you possess that could entice me into a futile battle with that fatty," Newt retorted to Linda, who had unexpectedly joined him in the cafeteria.
"Consider your decision carefully; we're merely offering compensation for fulfilling our task," Linda calmly replied, eyeing Newt.
"If you want my attention, bring your superior here, and I might entertain your proposal," Newt stated before departing, leaving Linda visibly irritated.
Despite her frustration, Linda refrained from confronting him directly, given the public setting of the cafeteria and the decorum expected within the academy.
"This barbarian," Linda muttered under her breath, vexed by Newt's response.
"I'll have to report this to the miss," Linda decided, leaving the cafeteria to convey the message to her miss.
In her room, Brenda sensed a disturbance and turned her attention to the intruder, Linda. As Linda recounted the incident in the cafeteria, Brenda responded with surprising calm.
"Is that so? Then let's go meet him right away," Brenda said composedly, catching Linda off guard with her unusual reaction.
"Are you sure about this, miss?" Linda inquired once more.
"Why not? Today is already a terrible day. I'll meet him and have a conversation while taking in some fresh air," Brenda replied casually as she donned her academy attire.
The two of them left the room to confront Newt.
In another part of the academy, students engaged in casual conversations in their classroom.
"Our instructor is quite unconventional. I mean, who teaches their students in a jungle when we have a spacious class dedicated to us?" one student remarked.
"Different teachers have different methods," Kith, the fourth-ranked student, commented.
"Class 9 sounds a bit odd and somewhat inferior, doesn't it?," added another student.
"There's a reason for that. Those who advance to Rank 6 will be transferred to another class next year," explained William, the third-ranked student. William shared a similar build and height with Newt but had a fairer complexion, making him quite popular among the students.
Kith fell silent upon hearing William's explanation, looking somewhat irritated. Although Kith possessed an average build and a handsome face, his strength couldn't compare to William. Moreover, the girls were drawn to William for his looks, while some admired Ryan for his formidable strength.
"Most of us will advance to the next class since we're all hardworking students," Ryan stated, earning nods from several students. William, however, shot him a glare and moved to the back of the classroom, choosing to focus on his aura breathing technique.
As the students exchanged chatter, an unexpected duo made their entrance into the classroom—Brenda and Linda. The lively atmosphere dimmed as everyone, including the typically spirited Ryan, fell silent. Brenda, exuding an air of authority and beauty unmatched by any girl in the class, commanded attention with her presence.
With grace, Brenda walked towards the back, positioning herself directly in front of William. Ryan and the other students ceased their conversations, struck by the princess-like aura Brenda carried.
Glancing briefly at the class, Brenda returned to William and spoke, "Long time, no see, Wills."
"Yeah, it is, Brie," William responded with a smile. Despite the tension between them, there was a familiarity in their exchange. Brenda, acknowledging the need for privacy, proposed, "Shall we talk outside?"
"Sure," William agreed, a smile still playing on his lips.
Brenda's gaze then shifted to Newt, who was seated nearby. She called him out abruptly, "You, come outside." Despite the brusqueness in her tone, Newt simply smiled and complied, leaving the classroom with them.
"Ryan, how does William know her?"
"That's Brenda Knight, a 17-year-old Rank 6 Martial artist."
"She's from a prestigious family! Unbelievable!"
"William has quite the luck to have a connection with her." The students in the class exchanged comments, but Ryan, too, refrained from divulging more information.
In the corridor, Brenda, William, and Newt found a spot to converse.
"How are you?" Brenda, sitting opposite William, inquired with a familiar tone. Linda sat beside her, while Newt occupied the seat opposite them.
"I'm fine. How about you?" William replied, offering a warm smile.
"I'm good too." Brenda replied, gracefully running her fingers through her hair, enhancing her allure.
A brief silence lingered before Brenda addressed the matter in the room. "Don't mistake my father's intentions. He said those words as a joke."
William, expressing a sense of dejection, replied, "It's okay. Despite being twins, my brother's talent surpasses mine. He's a Rank 5 martial artist at 18, while I'm only Rank 7."
Brenda, reaching out, gently held William's hand, providing reassurance. "Even though you share the same blood, the difference in character is vast. You're a good person, William, unlike your brother."
"Thanks for saying that," William responded, smiling. Brenda, realizing the intimacy, withdrew her hand shyly. "It's okay. I believe you'll reach heights like your brother one day. If not you, then who can?" Brenda unintentionally spoke aloud, blushing. As she glanced at Newt and Linda, her expression turned cold.
William and Brenda turned their attention to Newt, who regarded them with a hint of perplexity. The subtle romantic ambiance in the air left Newt pondering the unexpected turn of events.
'Are they having a romantic moment when they should be discussing matters with me?' Newt mused looking at Brenda and William.
Brenda cut straight to the point, asking Newt directly, her intentions veiled.
"What do you want in return?" Brenda inquired, her expression revealing little about the underlying issue.
Newt, meeting her gaze, responded simply, "Information."
Perplexed, both Brenda and William exchanged glances, visibly surprised. Brenda pressed, "Not money, women, or artifacts, but information?"
With a nod, Newt affirmed his preference. Brenda, finding amusement in the unconventional request, assured, "Ask whatever you want. I guarantee you'll receive the information you seek."
Newt, unfazed, outlined his terms, "I have five questions. I'll ask three now, and the remaining two after the fight. All questions require detailed answers, not mere yes or no responses."
Brenda, assuming Newt's inquiries would revolve around academy customs and tests due to his status as a barbarian, nodded her approval, signaling for him to proceed.
Fixing his gaze on them, Newt posed his first question, "Why do children of prestigious families fear the name 'Newt' and target me as if there's some blood feud?"
William maintained his calm demeanor, while Brenda struggled to conceal her rising temper.
Observing Brenda's agitation, William gently held her hand, offering reassurance. He addressed Newt, "You've misunderstood. Not all members of prestigious families fear that name. Only three individuals fear it—Ryan, my brother, and Brenda. Ryan and my brother share a history with him; they were nearly killed. As for Brenda, her fear stems from an incident where Ryan, seeking to impress her, went too far. Her fear is based on that simple reason and nothing more."
Newt acknowledged their response with a nod, his expression turning serious. He commented, "I understand now, all of this just to vent some frustration." His demeanor conveyed a genuine anger that both William and Brenda couldn't help but notice.