Athena and the others glanced at each other, any trace of noble reserve vanishing from their faces as they eagerly swarmed forward.
This was not something to be ashamed of!
They were witnessing history!
Just from the title On War, one could tell that this work would eventually be placed in the hallowed halls of military academies across every nation.
Hundreds of years from now, when scholars researching this world-shaking masterpiece flipped through the yellowed, original funding application, they might see their own flamboyant signatures in the witness column!
This was a free ticket to historical fame—who would be foolish enough to refuse?
Everyone scrambled to sign their names.
Wendy watched this with satisfaction.
When he turned back to Tracy, he suddenly felt that this red-haired female Instructor looked quite pleasing to the eye.
She was practically an angel investor, a walking ATM!
A flash of inspiration struck him.
Remembering the most critical issue, he immediately adopted a well-behaved expression and cautiously approached her.
“Um, Instructor Tracy.”
“You see, about that perverted… I mean, that Special Forces Standard Physical Training Plan…”
Tracy was currently blissfully calculating how much academic reputation and academy bonuses she would gain as an Honorary Sponsor once On War was published.
She was in an excellent mood and very easy to talk to.
“As for training, you can just go through the motions with the group,” she said with a grand wave of her hand, showing the aura of a big sister.
“Just don’t make it look too bad. Don’t let those jealous fools from the other departments catch you slipping.”
“Your primary task this year is to write that book for me! Remember, you must write it well! If any shortsighted teacher from another course tries to make things difficult for you and delays your creative progress, tell me directly!”
“I will personally go and have a… thorough talk with them!!”
Wendy was overjoyed.
With this protective talisman, wouldn’t his four years of academy life be as blissful as paradise?
“Then, thank you, Instructor!”
He turned around to face a room full of eyes brimming with admiration and fanaticism.
He secretly felt lucky the class was small; otherwise, he feared he might float away from the praise right then and there.
Then, the Prince held up the 10,000 gold coin check, waving it in the sunlight.
The paper reflected a golden glow, appearing exceptionally holy.
He waved his hand with high spirits and spoke in a booming voice.
“Tonight! It is my treat! Everyone, please come and do me the honor!”
“Oh!!!”
The crowd erupted into a mountain-toppling cheer.
The intensity was such that one would think Wendy was not inviting them to dinner, but leading them to conquer a kingdom.
Wendy turned back, looking at Tracy with a grin, and issued a sincere invitation.
“Instructor, everyone has agreed. Would you also grace us with your presence?”
Upon hearing this, Tracy immediately took a step back, shaking her head like a rattle.
“Don’t you dare try to ruin me! I just approved your research funding, and if I went out to eat and drink with you immediately after, those old fogies on the Disciplinary Committee would skin me alive if they found out!”
Wendy smiled.
“It is fine. We just won’t let them know. We can find a secluded place.”
“No, no!” Tracy was firm.
“The economy is bad right now, and jobs are hard to find! I do not want a stain on my record that gets me fired from the Academy. My reputation would be completely ruined!”
She paused, her gaze becoming incredibly solemn.
“If you truly want to thank me, then write the book well. That is better than anything else.”
Wendy stiffened, then understood her point.
He stopped insisting and nodded seriously.
“Alright. I will definitely finish it as soon as…”
“No!” Tracy interrupted him again.
“What I mean is, you must write the book well!”
“It does not matter if you are slow; quality is the priority. I do not want to see you rush and hand me a piece of trash filled with flowery, superficial language just to meet a deadline. If that happens, the loss will not just be money, but your reputation and mine!”
“And those two things cannot be bought back with any amount of gold coins!”
Looking into the female Instructor’s eyes, which were burning with academic fervor, Wendy was stunned.
He cast aside all his levity and calculation.
Facing this respectable Instructor, he solemnly performed a Scholar’s Chest Salute.
“Rest assured, Excellency. I will not fail your trust!”
Tracy nodded with satisfaction.
Looking at the group of students who had completely transformed into Wendy’s Royal Guard, she knew this class could no longer continue.
However, because she had stumbled upon a world-class genius who was founding a new school of thought, she was not disappointed.
On the contrary, she was in high spirits.
Thus, the Commander no longer kept a stiff face and instead casually chatted with everyone about various anecdotes around the Academy.
“…In the basement of the Magic Branch Library, it is said there lives a Perverted Female Ghost who likes to play pranks on boys. Do not go there alone if you have no business there.”
“At the Holy Studies Branch’s Confession Tower, there are always a few students every year who cannot handle the pressure and jump off. Although the Divine Arts protect them so they do not die, breaking a leg is a certainty…”
Everyone listened with great interest to Tracy’s stories.
They felt their relationship with this Tigress Instructor had instantly closed the distance, which was far more effective than a stern lecture.
The atmosphere grew warmer and warmer until, in the blink of an eye, the melodious noon bell rang from outside.
Class was over!
Everyone felt like they had not heard enough and were reluctant to leave.
Tracy, however, seemed to have been wound up like a clock.
She quickly gathered her books from the podium and turned to leave.
Seeing how everyone was dawdling, she could not help but stop and scold,
“What are you looking at! You idiots, you will have plenty of chances to chat later! The food in the cafeteria is limited! If you arrive late, you will be stuck chewing on Black Bread!”
The group looked at each other, quickly packed their things, and darted out of the classroom.
Tracy watched their retreating backs and laughed in exasperation.
Suddenly remembering something, she shouted toward the crowd,
“There are no classes this afternoon! Since you only arrived a few days ago, walk around and familiarize yourselves with the Academy environment!”
“Alright—!”
The crowd responded in unison, their footsteps quickening as they launched a death charge toward the dining hall.
Wendy mingled with the crowd, caught up in the atmosphere, and ran along with them.
When they burst into the restaurant, everyone was stunned by the sight.
The spacious hall was teeming with people, a dark mass packed together like a tin of sardines.
Countless students were gathered, their conversations creating a constant humming sound.
‘This Academy does not look that large,’ Wendy thought, puzzled.
‘Where did all these people come from?’
Athena saw him dazed and hurriedly grabbed him.
“Boss, stop looking! Charge! If we do not go now, we won’t even get any meat broth!”
After saying that, she snatched two trays from a nearby dining table, holding one in each hand over her chest like shields.
Rolling up her sleeves, she charged toward the densest part of the crowd.
Her majestic chest pushed through the crowd like a great ship trying to break through an iceberg.
However, the tide of people did not budge.
Instead, she was the one being squeezed and jostled, jumping in place with anxiety.
Watching this scene, Wendy could not help but remember his past in a university cafeteria, where he had charged through the fray seven times just to snatch a portion of tomato and scrambled eggs.
In an instant, his battle spirit was reignited!
He reached out, grabbed a tray from a nearby table, took a deep breath, and shouted at the top of his lungs,
“Everyone look! There is a handsome guy at the door—!”
The entire cafeteria went silent for one second.
Everyone seemed to have their pause buttons pressed.
They stopped what they were doing and turned their heads in unison toward the main entrance.
‘No matter the world, being in heat is a student’s instinct!’ Wendy thought with disdain.
In the next second, his footsteps slid like a swimming fish.
Following the gaps opened when everyone turned around, he charged forward like lightning.
Because everyone’s attention was drawn outside, his path was unobstructed.
With almost no effort, he reached the very front of the serving window.
Behind the window, the plump cafeteria lady was holding a giant copper ladle.
She, too, was leaning against the ledge, craning her neck and muttering,
“Where? Where is the handsome guy?”
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