"Sigh... It turns out my suspicions were correct after all."
Crossbridge Academy, Student Council!
As the top student, Owen naturally serves as the leader of the student council. Sitting in the main seat, he gently rubbed his temples, his expression somewhat helpless.
The news that Emily had brought a man back to Crossbridge Academy quickly spread and soon reached Owen's ears.
Although Owen didn't question it in detail, he didn't need to think much to know that the man must be John.
So here's the problem.
What on earth was that fool Emily thinking when she brought John back?
Could it be that, despite Owen already having informed her about John's tactics, she still fell into his trap and let him get the better of her?
In that case, Owen really had nothing more to say and would need to completely distance himself from Emily, severing any possible ties with her in the future.
"Master Owen, should we go and intimidate this new student?"
At the right moment, the man sitting to Owen's left spoke slowly.
His name was Andrew, and in the original story, he was one of Owen's most loyal followers, the captain of Crossbridge's security team, extremely skilled in earth magic.
Unlike most mages who were physically frail, Andrew was one of the few battle mages with a strong physique.
As Owen's right-hand man, Andrew was constantly on the front lines of making life difficult for John in the original story, though he eventually met a grim fate, being stabbed through the forehead by John.
"No need, just ignore him. Make sure your subordinates do not cause trouble for that new student; act as if he doesn't exist.
Also, there's no need to report anything related to Emily to me in the future.
The original intent of the student council is to involve students in the management of the academy.
We have enough trivial matters to deal with daily; we don't have the time or energy to waste on such insignificant people. Understood?"
Owen glanced around the room, unsurprised to see the varied expressions on everyone's faces.
Owen's obsession with Emily was no secret, either within the student council or throughout Crossbridge Academy.
In the past, Owen would have his subordinates report Emily's movements daily to keep tabs on her. But today, what's this sudden change of attitude?
"Master Owen, are you upset because Emily brought back a man? If it bothers you, I am willing to step in and expel him from the academy!"
"I've made myself clear, Andrew. There's really no need. I understand what you're implying, but Emily is no longer that important to me. In a month, I will be heading to the Far East Tower to meet with Elaine.
After I leave, you must keep each other in check. No one is to trouble John. If I find out that anyone has disobeyed, they will be permanently expelled from the student council. Understood?
Especially you, Andrew. I know your temperament, so you must remember this well."
Upon hearing this, Andrew quickly assured him, "Rest assured, Master Owen, I understand!"
Although Andrew couldn't quite comprehend the situation, his duty was simply to obey.
Owen was not only the head of the student council but also the future of the academy. Since he had sworn loyalty to the lion, he would not easily break his oath.
"So, tell me, what major events have occurred within the academy recently?"
Andrew then stood up and said in a serious tone, "Regarding the Tower, the academy has finalized the list of participants for this expedition. Master Owen, you will be leading the team. Accompanying you will be me, Farms, Glena, Emily, and that new student, making a total of six people."
"Who arranged this? The headmaster?"
"It seems to have been jointly decided by the headmaster and the various house deans. The dean of the Flame School recommended Emily, Farms comes from the Water School, I am from the Earth School, Glena was chosen from the School of Nature, and Farms is a standout from the Alchemy School.
As for that new student, his situation is somewhat special; it seems he was personally recommended by the vice headmaster."
"Duncan, the vice headmaster... No matter, it's fine to bring him along. Just ignore him when the time comes; there's no need to worry about that.
Besides this, is there anything else to report? If not, let's conclude today's meeting."
Seeing that there was nothing more important to report, Owen stood up and left, his figure suddenly disappearing from the spot.
...
"Look at you, so chubby, not moving an inch all day. Fiona has spoiled you too much. From today on, your cat food will be halved every meal. You need to lose some weight, got it?"
Owen gently stroked the cat's plump belly, smiling, "System, do you think if I were to crush John's bones to ashes, completely cutting off any chance of resurrection, could I truly kill him?"
[Please abandon such dangerous thoughts, host.]
"So, that means it's possible, huh? Tsk, oddly tempting..."
If he could kill John, Owen would have nothing to worry about in the future.
But, John is the protagonist, after all. His fate is set, and it wouldn't be that easy.
He might even turn misfortune into fortune and gain immense power from the ordeal.
After some hesitation, Owen dismissed the idea.
In his previous life, Owen often sent Andrew and others to trouble John, under the guise of commissions, leading John to the Haunted Forest, where he ended up obtaining the Soul-Devouring Ring.
Or throwing John alone in the snowy mountains, only to have John level up and become a diamond-tier mage, capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with Owen, and so on.
There were countless similar experiences. In short, as long as Owen sought trouble with John, John would seize the opportunity to strengthen himself.
But now, Owen had come to understand.
Without dual cultivation with Emily, John wouldn't have as many opportunities.
With his talent, even if he stayed in the academy for ten years, he'd hardly be a match for Owen.
Owen couldn't be bothered to deal with him at all.
Moreover, Owen's cultivation had been steadily increasing. In just three days, he had progressed from diamond-tier level 6 to level 9. The Slacker System truly lived up to its name!
It's safe to say that Owen's words carried significant weight within the student council.
Since he warned everyone not to trouble John, no one had mentioned John's name again.
For the past three days, life at Crossbridge Academy had been far more peaceful than John had imagined.
Every day, apart from eating, sleeping, and training, there was nothing else to do, and John was so bored he felt like he was growing mold.
Yet when he entered the academy, he had clearly inquired and learned that the chief trainee, Owen, was supposedly infatuated with Emily, to the point of not allowing other men near her. And now, he hadn't even shown up once.
John had been brought into the academy by Emily, so wasn't Owen at least curious about his relationship with her?
This left John utterly baffled.
Because of this, John even went out of his way to find his mentor, Sorvan, and asked if life at Crossbridge Academy was supposed to be this peaceful. This, in turn, puzzled Sorvan.
"What's wrong with a peaceful life? Your most important duty as a student is to focus on your training every day. Nothing else matters."
"But I've heard that the chief trainee, Owen, is deeply in love with Emily. Yet, to this day, he hasn't come to cause me any trouble. Isn't that strange? After all, I am the man Emily brought into the academy."
Hearing this, Sorvan gave John a disdainful look and said helplessly, "If you were the chief trainee, would you consider someone who hasn't even reached the silver-tier as a rival?
Moreover, she only brought you into the academy. Have the two of you even met in the past few days?"
To Owen, you're nothing more than a minor character. Today, Emily can introduce you to the academy; tomorrow, she can naturally introduce someone else. What's the issue with that?"
"No, something still doesn't feel right... Mentor, do you think there's a possibility that Owen is secretly planning to take action against me?"
"... Think whatever you want, as long as it makes you happy. But from now on, don't bother me with such trivial matters."
Sorvan had never encountered someone so shameless!
Does he really think he's that important? Who does he think Owen is?
Owen is hailed as the most gifted genius in a thousand years, the only person in history who might break through to god-tier before the age of one hundred. Even talking to someone of your level would lower his status, let alone secretly plotting against you?
Ridiculous!
Sorvan couldn't help but feel exasperated.
If only his student were that precious Owen!
Humble, exceptionally talented, and hardworking—there's nothing to criticize about him, a perfect all-rounder.
And then, look at this shameless oaf!
Comparing people can really drive you mad...