Once everyone learned of Henry and Anna's haul from the dungeon, they instantly felt that what they had obtained was mere trifles, nothing more than scattered junk.
The desire to compare their loot vanished, and they were struck by a profound realization—the difference between individuals can often be greater than that between humans and pigs.
The afternoon class was a World History lesson, and Henry had planned to use it to relax after the tense atmosphere in the Silence Forest.
However, before even half the class was over, he and Anna were summoned out.
They were met by a balding, corpulent old man in a finely tailored suit—Mr. Louis, the principal of the school.
Adjusting his glasses, Mr. Louis sized up the pair and praised, "True to the reputation of the only two awakened hidden classes in our batch, you have indeed secured an astonishing array of high-tier equipment."
Although Bolt Academy wasn't a school for nobility, as its principal, Mr. Louis had seen his fair share of the world.
Thus, despite the rarity of acquiring silver-tier equipment on a first dungeon dive, he managed to maintain his composure.
"Mr. Principal, do you need us for something? If not, please don't interrupt our return to history class. I'm quite interested in the part about the origins of the continent," Henry said casually.
Return to history class?
Mr. Louis stood stunned for about a minute before regaining his composure with a cough.
"Well, the thing is, I know you two are among the elite of Bolt Academy and probably wouldn't be interested in teaming up with just anyone."
"I have a candidate in mind. She's my sister's daughter, also a hidden class, and a magus, like yourselves."
"If possible, I'd like you to consider teaming up with her. After all, it's only fitting that outstanding talents should come together and shine."
Indeed, old Louis was here for his niece.
Henry snorted inwardly.
Clearly, news of his and Anna's acquisition of silver-tier equipment had leaked in the class, prompting the old man to rush over and request them to team up with his niece.
But Henry was not going to agree so easily.
The principal's niece was somewhat arrogant, not even deigning to approach him personally.
With this in mind, Henry spoke up.
"Respected Principal, if your niece wishes to team up with us, it's not out of the question," he began.
"But I must clarify that the team will be under my leadership, and she has no right to interfere."
"Additionally, any loot obtained during our team's ventures will be distributed solely by me. If she's not willing to accept that, then she's free to leave the team."
"And most importantly, she must come to me in person to discuss the details. Having someone else contact me on her behalf would show a lack of sincerity."
Mr. Louis frowned at Henry's somewhat harsh words and replied, "You might not be aware, but my niece trains very hard and might be tight on time..."
Henry interrupted him with a gesture, speaking coldly, "Mr. Principal, you might not understand. While your niece may be a hidden class, to us, she's dispensable."
"The decision to join the team must be her asking me, and there's no room for negotiation."
"This..."
Mr. Louis's brow furrowed in annoyance.
After all, he was the principal of Bolt Academy, and these students were showing him little respect.
Henry offered no explanation and instead unleashed his energy, revealing his level.
Anna, supporting her boyfriend, did the same, displaying her current level as well.
Then, the pair turned and walked back into the classroom, leaving a stunned Louis behind.
"A level 15... from a single dungeon dive?" Louis muttered in disbelief.
He hurriedly pulled out his phone, scrolled through his contacts, and dialed a number.
Soon, a clear, melodious voice answered, "Hello, Uncle Louis. What's up?"
"Emily, where are you? I have something important to discuss," Louis said gravely.
"I'm leveling up in a dungeon with a friend," she responded.
"Come out immediately, leave the dungeon right now," Louis urged rapidly.
"Then head to the address I'll give you and find Henry to ask to join his team. Oh, and make sure to bring some gifts, something valuable."
Confused, Emily replied,
"Is that necessary, Uncle Louis? I've already sent a team request to those two, but they haven't accepted."
"They're just two newly awakened low-level hidden classes. If we really can't work together, there's no need to force a team-up."
"Ridiculous! Arrogant!" Louis scolded sharply over the phone before taking a deep breath and continuing.
"Listen, Emily, as a magus with area damage effects, your leveling speed is among the slowest of all awakeners," Louis said firmly.
"Despite being a hidden class, you've been abandoned by various teams due to your slow progression. But now, a miracle stands before you, one that can resolve this issue."
"That Henry has reached level 15 after just one dungeon dive, and even the girl teaming up with him is at level 12. Can you imagine how astounding that speed is?"
Emily's breathing hastened over the phone, her voice laced with urgency.
"Uncle, give me Henry's exact address. I'm ending the dungeon dive now and catching a flight back."
After hanging up, Louis sighed.
"I hope that girl has the luck she needs. Henry will surely be in high demand in the future; she must secure him now!"
...
Emily sat on the plane, her thoughts fluttering.
She had awakened her hidden class half a year ago and was envied by many.
But the high experience requirement for leveling up as an AoE magus had pulled her down from her pedestal as a prodigy.
Watching her former teammates reach levels 30 and 40 while she was still stuck in the teens was not just demoralizing, it had even led her to consider abandoning her awakener status to lead an ordinary life.
Yet, the words of Uncle Louis had rekindled a flame that had long been extinguished within her.
A person who could level up to 15 on their first dungeon dive could definitely pull her out of the mire!
No matter the cost, she had to join Henry's team!
The plane soon landed, and Emily hurried to Henry's residence, quickly arriving at the row of townhouses.
The door was open, but after knocking several times with no response, she hesitated before deciding to boldly push open the door and step into the living room.
"Is this Mr. Henry's house? I am Emily, Mr. Louis's niece. I'd like to discuss teaming up with you. Do you have a moment?"
No one answered, but there seemed to be some noise coming from the bedroom.
Emily cautiously moved closer, the sounds growing louder, revealing their nature – the lascivious noises of a man and a woman, the woman's pitch high and accompanied by the man's heavy breathing.
Emily's face flushed red.
"Who's there?" Henry's voice came from the bedroom, breathless.
"Mr. Henry, I am Mr. Louis's niece," Emily stammered, her legs trembling, unsure of what to do.
"Wait in the living room!" Henry's voice was irritable, and he didn't stop what he was doing. Instead, the intensity increased, with Anna's cries growing even louder.
Under the weight of these sounds, Emily involuntarily swallowed several times.
After an hour, and they were still not finished! Emily bit her lip, quickly wiped between her legs with a tissue from her pocket, and crossed her legs tightly, not daring to move.