Finnley's eyes blazed with fiery anger. Leo was torn between laughter and dismay.
"If you have any more recruitment plans," Leo said, "please hurry up and finish them. Don't forget that today is my birthday. You're coming to my house for dinner tonight."
Finnley's expression shifted, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Ah, see how clever my brain is! That's right, we'll just split up the work. You take care of recruiting in the crowded areas, and I'll continue pulling people in from here. I refuse to believe my irresistible charm won't land at least a few recruits!"
Leo smiled wryly and nodded in resignation. He knew that recruiting talented individuals for his team wouldn't be easy, especially considering his own limited influence. The harsh reality was that he wouldn't be able to attract anyone noteworthy anyway.
After Leo left, Finnley immediately got up and began to survey his surroundings. Although he had his heart set on recruiting pretty and delicate junior sisters, the survival of their society was still his top priority. If he was unable to gather a minimum of five members, the society would be forced to disband. The dire consequences of failure weighed heavily on his mind; they wouldn't even qualify to become a dark society, a fate worse than oblivion.
Finnley's gaze swept across the bustling campus, his mind racing with strategies to salvage the society. He knew it wouldn't be an easy task, but he was determined to explore every avenue. The society's survival depended on his ability to recruit new members, and he was willing to do whatever it took. With renewed determination, Finnley set off to canvass the student body, hoping to find the elusive fifth member who would secure their future.
Finnley's eyes suddenly sparkled with intensity as he swiftly charged towards the new student at lightning speed. Blocking the student's path, Finnley scrutinized him, his eyes narrowing into slits. The newcomer stood impressively tall, exceeding 2.2 meters in height, with a robust and muscular build that unmistakably branded him as a student from the Soldier Department.
"Student, you must be new around here. Have you joined a society yet?" Finnley asked, blocking Kratos Matsumoto's path.
Kratos Matsumoto's paused momentarily, taken aback by the sudden inquiry. However, he swiftly regained his composure and flashed a warm smile. "Hello, senior. Yes, I'm new. My name is Kratos Matsumoto, and I'm from Avalon City. I haven't joined a society yet."
Finnley chuckled, seemingly pleased. "That's perfect! You're extremely lucky. My instincts about you were spot on. You should definitely consider joining my Misfit Society. It's an elite hub, a paradise for exceptional talents."
He proudly highlighted one of their distinguished members. "Take Leo Subaru, for instance. He consistently ranks first in Doctrine exams for the prestigious Commander Department. You're familiar with the Commander Department, aren't you? It's renowned for nurturing experts!"
Finnley enthusiastically opened Leo's impressive report on his Starlink, angling the screen for Kratos Matsumoto to see. However, his left hand discreetly covered a portion of the report, concealing specific details.
Ranking first stunned Kratos Matsumoto. The other seniors seemed utterly indifferent to him, their attention solely captivated by the junior sisters.
Kratos Matsumoto's eyes widened in stunned incredulity. "S-senior, can I really join?" he stuttered, his voice trembling with excitement.
Finnley beamed with pride, his chest puffing out. "You can call me President from now on! I'll personally oversee your development." He flashed a charismatic smile. "Welcome to our esteemed Misfit Society."
Kratos nodded vigorously, determination etched on his face. "Yes, Sen—President. I'll definitely do my best!"
Finnley's expression transformed, radiating pure joy. "Ah, the perks of presidency are undeniable." He chuckled, reveling in his newfound authority. "No wonder so many aspire to this position. The sense of satisfaction is unparalleled."
Kratos awaited his first assignment, curiosity getting the better of him. Finnley's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Kratos, your inaugural mission awaits. Return the table and materials to the storehouse. I'll send the address to your starlink."
"Already?" Kratos asked, slightly perplexed. "President, aren't we going to continue recruiting?"
Finnley rolled his eyes theatrically. "What do you think our Misfit Society is? We don't just accept anyone. Elite caliber is paramount. Inner qualities trump quantity. It's better to have none than compromise our standards!":
Kratos Matsumoto's face flushed crimson with exhilaration as he carefully dismantled the recruitment stand. Lumina, the city of grandeur, never ceased to amaze him. Even seniors from Chrono Vanguard Academy exhibited exceptional character, surpassing those from smaller cities.
Finnley observed Kratos's diligence, his chest swelling with pride. His cunning had paid off. The Misfit Society, once on the brink of dissolution, now boasted three members. The future looked brighter.
With renewed confidence, Finnley vanished into the crowd, tracking down Leo. He spotted his friend distributing leaflets with unbridled enthusiasm. "Time to wrap up, brother!" Finnley exclaimed, snatching the flyers. "Today's your sixteenth birthday – let's celebrate! Recruitment can wait till tomorrow."
Leo chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Did you lure him in with my partial grades again?"
Finnley feigned innocence, his expression deadpan. "What trickery? I merely stated an undeniable fact – albeit, half a fact." A sly grin spread across his face. "Effective recruitment strategies require creativity."
—————————————————————————————————————————————-
Leo was a prodigy who made waves in middle school, earning the nickname "Team Battle Tactician." His exceptional strategic mind caught the attention of numerous top schools. With outstanding grades and having already ignited his chrono flame, he bypassed conventional entry requirements to directly join the prestigious Commander Department at the Chrono Core Academy.
However, his subsequent development stunned everyone. Despite being touted as a genius, Leo's growth potential was surprisingly low – only Level Five. This astonishing revelation meant his innate abilities were inferior to those of an average person. His exceptional conceptual knowledge wasn't complemented by comparable physical prowess. The expectation was that he would thrive within the orthodox education system, but the outcome left everyone speechless.
The academy was forced to silently endure the embarrassment. Leo became the laughingstock of the Commander Department, which proudly represented the academy's elite. Throughout his academic year, Leo's sole friend was Finnley.
The Chrono Vanguard Academy comprised four specialized departments: the Commander Department, Abilities Department, Soldiers Department and Arcana Department. Each department was renowned for producing exceptional talents. Yet, Leo's struggles raised questions about the academy's assessment criteria and the true meaning of genius.