Well, just as Ren wished, the team battles this time were extremely easy for his team, since the other team surrendered as soon as they saw Ren was supposed to be their enemy.
'I can't believe it at all… Is this even allowed?' was the thought in everyone's head in Ren's team. For a team that always got trashed every single time they competed, it was too much of a change of pace.
"Team 22, you were… remarkable today, perhaps, too remarkable. You may go now, all except for Ren, you remain behind." The instructor said.
"Any problem, instructor?" Ren wasn't sure why he had been asked to stay behind, and he couldn't think of a possible reason, but that was all initially.
"No problem, probably. The Vice Head has requested for you to go see him."
Ren went at once to see the vice head.
"Good day to you, Ren. The vice head has been waiting." Larson said as he led Ren in.
"Hmm? You came earlier than expected, did the exercise finish already?"
"The other team surrendered as soon as they encountered us." Ren responded, being straight forward.
"Hahaha, I see. It is expected." Fars had a smile on his face, but it immediately disappeared as he put on a serious face right after, matching Ren's more neutral expression.
"Well, I have called you here for a related, meeting. Of course, you are free to make the choices here, I'm only offering you the possibility." Fars said, piquing Ren's attention.
"While don't you have a seat first." Fars offered.
"I'll cut straight to the point. Following your recent accomplishments, I can confidently say that you are already more than capable of handling the battlefield. Remaining in the academy further will not be the best at this point, even though it still has its own advantages…"
"You want me to choose between remaining here and skipping to graduation."
"Well, exactly that."
"I choose the second option of course." Ren said without any hesitation. 'If I can graduate early, it means I can do a lot more and get even further ahead of the MC and enact my plans even sooner, then I'll only have to wait for the MC to do all the important bloodline stuff…' For Ren, this was the perfect opportunity.
"No hesitation, I like that. Keep in mind that it isn't assured whether or not we can get you out of here and into the army proper, but we'll definitely try our best." Fars assured Ren.
They talked a little bit more about other things before Ren left, and he left in very good spirit.
'If they succeed, it'll be more than good! My enemies on this are the other generals, the lesser evils, and worst of all, the aristocrats…'
Well, the Great Phoenix Kingdom was first of all a combination of five nations, and each one of them practiced a kind of Aristocracy, at least that was how they were in the old ages, even though they had advanced past that level of civilization, they still adhered to some of their origins and foundations. Not to mention, it was also very beneficial in a lot of ways for those at the top. Even though the military had a lot of power and authority, they could not override the decisions of the nation, which was dictated majorly by the higher-ups in the government.
'Well, this is one of those things that can't be helped, I don't have the power to influence such a decision, yet.' Ren made his way to the cafeteria to get some food since he hadn't eaten anything that would qualify as food that day 'I'm starting to feel a bit hungry already,' Ren said to himself. On the way however, his journey to the cafeteria was cut short in the most abrupt way yet.
Out of nowhere just as Ren passed a corner, someone came out of nowhere and jammed into Ren by the side, sending him stumbling a few steps before falling on his ass. The one who did this, from what Ren could see, spotted a blonde hair that looked rough and unkempt, and apart from the uniform he was wearing signifying that he was a student in the academy, Ren couldn't recognize him.
'Well, here comes the bullies, and I should really start investing into creating some kind of sensory skill…' Well, even though Ren didn't notice beforehand the presence of his assailant, he did see the blonde boy just before he made his attack, and with Ren's reflexes and speed, he could have easily dodged, but he let himself get it and even fell on his ass for the extra effect.
"You are the one they call Ren, huh? Don't seem like-"…
'Well, from time to time, it isn't a bad idea to humor myself, I mean, all work without play will only make Jack a dull boy, and in this particular play, I'm Jack.'
"-Josh wants to see you." By the time Ren was done with his own thoughts, all he picked uo was that he had to see someone called Josh, well, he figured it must be the head of the group. 'It's always good to deal with these guys early on, if not they will only germinate rapidly like weed in a farm and become nuisances.'
Ren stood up to follow the blonde boy who he still didn't know the name of because he wasn't listening.
"Move it," the blonde boy said while extending a hand to push Ren forward. Well, it seems that was a mistake, since Ren was no longer in the mood to play the victim.
In one swift motion too fast for the blonde boy to react to or even perceive, Ren grabbed the blonde's arm using his left hand, and with his right hand grabbed unto the blonde's head before ramming it straight into the wall.
"Don't touch me…"
"…"
"He's knocked out?" Ren quickly took out a bottle of water from his inventory and dumped it on the blonde before proceeding to slap him until he woke up.
'HUH? WHAT HAPPENED?... My face… feels sore…'
"Get up and lead the way, quietly." Ren ordered, to which the blonde responded with a nod, shaking his head rather frantically.
'Why did I react like this?' Even though he couldn't figure it out immediately, there was something he didn't need conformation with, 'he feels even scarier than Josh…'
. .
"He is inside." The blonde said to Ren, remaining at the door.
"Well, open it and lead us in then." It was clear to Ren that the blonde probably didn't want to be seen with a beat up face spotting different colors.