The walk to the Academy tram was an exercise on its own. Jethro had to navigate the stares which were even more than usual. Though this one was more understandable: Scorch, coiled prominently around Jethro's neck and shoulder, was impossible to ignore. But the whispers were getting annoying.

"...is that Merrick's lizard? Looks… different."

"...did that scrap get some kind of growth spurt?"

"...he just painted it black. No big deal."

Dash walked slightly ahead, ignoring both Jethro's group and his cousin, Ben, who was inbetween his fight with Dash and his hatred for Jethro, muttering insults under his breath aimed at both Jethro and his "mutant trash-lizard."

Jethro kept his face carefully neutral, hands in his pockets as he walked to the tram. The morning sun was his anchor. With it, [Solar Charge] was active once again, and [Regenerate] healed all the wounds aching his body.

However, it also heightened [Deep Sense], which Jethro was yet to master. Because of this, his mind and eyes catalogued every glance, every whisper, every sneer. They all rang in his sense, make it extremely difficult to ignore, but also reminding Jethro how important it was for him to master this Skill as soon as possible.

The tram hissed to a stop at the imposing Academy building, and Jethro saw with a frown that he was there. As expected, Security Chief Otis Mountaingate was standing just outside the entrance, his Mushroom Lizard standing placidly behind him, ugly and tremendous. Otis scanned the entering students, welcoming them cheerfully.

None of them would believe that this man found joy in beating up students to a pulp.

As they walked close, climbing the steps, Jethro avoided eye contact with the Security Chief. But Kekius, ever cheerful, raised a hand in greeting. "Morning, Chief Otis! Hey, Goliath!"

The Chief's gaze moved to Jethro and his group, initially ignoring the lizard tamer and landing on Kekius. "Kekius!" he said with a warm smile. "Good to see you and that nonchalant Turtle of yours."

Kekius smiled back. "You too, Chief Otis!"

Jethro pretended not to hear their altercation and attempted to walk past. Otis's eyes moved, following him. A slow, wide grin spread across his face. It wasn't the predatory smile from the night before, but something more… amused. Mischievous.

Jethro could sense it, but he didn't stop to acknowledge it. He kept his eyes fixed straight ahead, willing himself to be invisible without [Camouflage]. He was almost past when the Chief's voice stopped him dead.

"You! Stop there!"

The air suddenly thickened.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

The bustling stream of students round them slowed and heads turned to the direction of Chief Otis and the student tamer he was pointing at. Kekius looked worried, Oand was silent, Dash paused a few steps ahead, turning back curiously, while Ben looked mildly interested in Jethro ending up in trouble.

Jethro turned with stiff limbs, meeting Otis's knowing eyes. To others, Chief Otis was just doing his job, but Jethro knew what this was about. This mad man was the reason he crawled back to his dorm last night with aches all over his body, and now… What did he want?

"Morning, Chief," Jethro said as casually as he could. His skills in pretense impressing even the Chief.

Otis moved forward, the reinforced plates of his armor creaking, then he leaned to get a better look at Jethro. "Sleep well, Merrick?" he asked, his tone also deceptively formal. He was obviously referencing the slight eyebags Jethro carried underneath his eyes. "Looks like you had a 'restful' night."

Restful.

This thickheaded mushroom man was messing with Jethro. And he didn't like it. Right then, what Jethro wanted the most was to smash that head through a brick wall. To smash it so hard that Otis would die from the bleeding out.

But that wasn't possible. Otis was almost thrice his size and probably had already smashed heads of his own before.

So all he could do now was contain his anger. Be as calm as possible. Like Kaden said.

"Uh, not really, Chief," Jethro replied, pretending to be weary. "Kept waking up. Must be the bad dreams I had. Or maybe the excitement." He gestured vaguely towards the Academy hall.

Otis grinned, impressed even more. He clearly enjoyed the game they were playing, especially because he was the one in control. "Excitement, eh?" he rumbled, nodding slowly. "Yeah. That'll do it. As for those dreams… I hope it isn't about getting beaten up. Is it?"

Jethro's eyes widened.

Otis chuckled. "I'm just playing with you, young student. Now carry on."

Everyone looked away in slight disappointment or confusion, continuing up the steps and into the Academy building. Jethro didn't wait either, he headed onwards, hands in pockets, Scorch around his neck. Kekius and Oand followed after him.

"What was that about?" Kekius asked him.

"Yeah," Oand chimed. "I didn't know the Mushroom Lizard Man knew your name."

Jethro looked at Oand. "I have the weakest mechbeast, remember? And the whole surviving the Conqueror stuff. I think every staff member in the Academy knows my name at this point." Then he turned to Kekius. "As for that back there, I have no idea," he shrugged.

"Oh well," Kekius accepted the response. "Chief Otis has always been a peculiar man. Let's head on to the Academy Hall."

They filed into the vast assembly hall— an activity they did in the mornings when there were announcements to be given. The air crackled with anticipation, not just for the day's announcements, but for the usual posturing and factional sizing-up.

Jethro spotted Padva already seated at the far end of a corner, her Doomsday Panther curled on her lap. Reserved and alone, as usual.

He also caught a flash of Eryn Fenlor's meticulously styled hair and cold profile near the Knight faction banner, surrounded by his usual cohort. Dash immediately peeled off to join them, throwing a last, unreadable glance back at Jethro.

Jethro took a seat with Kekius and Oand, and before he had the chance to ponder what today's announcement was going to be about, the hall lights dimmed. Spotlights illuminated the central stage as President Velara, flanked by the imposing figures of Professor Saggitaru, House Leaders Fenris of House, and the steely-eyed Lance of Knight, stepped forward.

"It's the president!"

"President Velara!"

"She's so hot, right? I would let her beat me up for sure."

It didn't take long for Velara's presence to silence all the voices and whispers.

"Good morning, Students of Beastcorp Academy," her voice, amplified and clear, resonated through the hall. "As you know, today marks the formal unveiling of the Year One Student Leaderboard.

"Are you prepared to see your starting scores?"

Jethro's brows lifted. 'The Student Leaderboard?'

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.