Chapter 186: For the Benefits! Go for it!
“It’s not like I’m being forced!”
Colin’s face was filled with helplessness, and he finally began to explain the reason for his urgent need to improve his strength.
“I used to be the only one in Xilan Academy. But when I came to the Dawn Academy, the competition here is too fierce. There are also some with the same talent as me, and most of them are innate talents. If it weren’t for you letting me awaken the innate lightning runes, I would basically be drowned in the sea of talents. Now, I’m barely at the upper-middle level among my peers. If I can reach the strength of a seventh-tier lightning-element mage, and with the secret manual you gave me, I’m confident in dominating this academy!”
Seeing Colin’s heroic expression, Chen Ran couldn’t help but be surprised. “With your current talent, a breakthrough is only a matter of time. Why are you so nervous now? Have you been stimulated?”
At this, Colin’s weak voice immediately weakened, and his face was filled with bitterness. “Brother, I’m in love…”
“Huh…” Thinking that this ideal man, Colin, had finally found a target, Chen Ran found it a little novel. “Congratulations. Which family’s girl has won your favor?”
“It’s still a one-sided love for now…”
“…” Seeing Chen Ran’s speechless expression, Colin sighed a long sigh and explained, “She is the daughter of the principal of our Dawn Academy, about the same age as us, named Cheryl. She is a seventh-tier fire-element magician, and is ranked number one in the academy’s combat power. Her ability is outstanding, and her appearance is also the first among the girls in the academy. She is the most perfect lover in the eyes of all the boys. But it’s a pity… she’s just too hard to get…”
“As expected.” Seeing that the tall, rich, and handsome Colin also had to suffer setbacks in a place like the Imperial Capital, and that his already good talent still required him to work hard to advance, it showed his determination. Chen Ran said, “Since you say that girl is so good, her suitors must not be few, right?”
“That’s for sure,” Colin said, flicking his hair. “Good things are always in high demand. No one is a fool. The few top students in the academy are also pursuing that girl. But that girl is also very direct. She said that first, you have to have the strength to defeat her. Although there are a few seventh-tier top students in the school, no one has been able to defeat her so far. From what I can see, although I haven’t even reached the seventh tier, I have the best chance of winning! Especially after you came!”
Chen Ran, who was drinking a beverage, immediately spat out a mouthful.
Seeing this reaction, Colin sat over, took Chen Ran’s hand, and said with an expectant look, “For my cousin’s sake, help your future big brother-in-law. Now that little girl Dongfang is only thirteen and already has the strength of a fifth-tier summoner, you must also have a way to help me. Such a beautiful girl, if she falls into someone else’s hands, I’m not reconciled!”
Seeing his friend’s heartbroken expression, Chen Ran comforted him, “Alright, alright, I’ll do my best to help you.”
Faced with a good friend’s request for help, Chen Ran didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. But it was precisely this thick-skinned attitude that was very much to Chen Ran’s taste. For him, it was not impossible to help Colin improve his strength. Just like Nicole, who was about the same age, she had miraculously broken through to the eighth tier. Even that wild girl Azshara had broken through to the seventh tier of wild power at the age of nineteen. With his various status buffs, a breakthrough didn’t seem to be too difficult. For Colin’s current bottleneck, perhaps he just needed to fight another serious battle to break through.
After a while of idle chat, Chen Ran finally got a general understanding of the specific situation here. After he had a better idea, he was much more at ease.
Chen Ran also asked if there was a way to enter the Dawn Academy, because he had heard that the academy had the largest library in the Imperial Capital. Perhaps there were some spatial concepts or other magic array knowledge that he needed. Perhaps the library here would have something to help him. So, he needed a proper identity to freely enter and exit the academy, and it would also be easier to communicate with Ella inside.
On this question, Colin thought for a moment and suddenly answered, “By the way, aren’t you a priest? See if you can communicate with the church here. The teachers of the Dawn Academy will generally select some powerful and famous experts from the Warrior’s Guild, the Mage’s Guild, and so on to participate in the student training. The tutors also include the high priests of the Holy Church. See if you can get a position as a high priest’s assistant or something. With an identity, you can freely enter and exit the Dawn Academy. It’s fun to get in there. It’s full of eye-catching girls. I haven’t regretted coming to the Dawn Academy. Marrying any girl here won’t disappoint me. But since I can pursue something better, I will definitely give it a try!”
“Is there such a thing?” With that, Chen Ran had a better idea. No matter what, he had a chance to try.
Because of Chen Ran’s arrival, Colin neatly finished this “expensive” dinner and returned to the Dawn Academy to inform his cousin, Ella, of Chen Ran’s arrival.
Chen Ran sat quietly in a private room by the window, looking at the scenery outside.
The night in the Imperial Capital was not as ostentatious as in Diya City. The quiet, shuttling crowd on the road gave a very deep sense of history. Every corner here revealed a strong historical atmosphere.
In his field of vision, the high-topped magic tower of the Mage’s Guild stood tall in the city, exuding a beautiful halo, with a dreamlike fantasy.
It was said that the City of Dawn was the most glorious place of the powerful Turin Empire. For example, the Dawn Academy had a tenth-tier wind-element magus and a tenth-tier assassin tutor, who served as the principal and vice-principal of the academy respectively. Not to mention the few leaders who commanded the palace guards, and the personal guards of the current emperor, who were all at least of the tenth tier of strength.
Of course, the presidents of the Warrior’s Guild, the Mage’s Guild, and the Mercenary’s Guild, which were neutral forces in the Imperial Capital, were also peerless tenth-tier experts. All kinds of talents gathered in the Imperial Capital, and it was full of talents.
Perhaps it was for this reason that Chen Ran was a little excited. Although he hadn’t strolled on the streets for too long, he was full of curiosity about this city of civilization.
Just as he was admiring this charming night scene, a series of hurried footsteps interrupted his thoughts.
“Big brother!”
A bell-like, joyous shout. Chen Ran turned his head. Hearing the familiar voice, who else could it be but that little girl Dongfang?
That familiar little red dress. Dongfang ran over and threw herself at Chen Ran with a warm hug, her large, clear eyes blinking as she looked at him with joy. “Big brother, you’ve finally come to see us. We’ve missed you so much.”
“Mmm, I have to keep my word. And I also came to see how you guys are doing now,” Chen Ran said, flicking little Dongfang’s delicate nose. He then stood up with a smile, put her down, and looked at another figure who was walking toward them.
That familiar blue. Ella still had that elegant look, making one not feel a trace of the mundane. She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and said with a smile, “Little Dongfang was so excited when she heard you were here. She couldn’t wait to show you her hard work.”
Chen Ran patted little Dongfang’s head. The little girl was still as mischievous as before, no different from more than a year ago, just a little taller and a little cuter.
“Little Dongfang, you go out first. I have something to talk to your big sister Ella about. I’ll be out to walk with you soon.”
“Oh,” Dongfang said, holding the wood spirit staff, covering her mouth with a sly smile. “Then I’ll wait outside for a while. Big brother, big sister, hurry up.”
Looking at Dongfang’s skipping figure as she left, temporarily leaving the private room and taking the initiative to close the door, at this time, only the two of them, a man and a woman, were left in the small private room.
Chen Ran let out a long sigh of relief, smiled, and walked up, directly wrapping his arms tightly around Ella’s slender waist. He lowered his head and whispered hotly in her ear, “Alright, I know you don’t like to express yourself in crowded places. Now that it’s just the two of us, tell me, how do you usually think of me?”
Seeing Ella’s ears quickly turn red, Chen Ran found that this girl was not as calm as she appeared on the surface. She would show her true colors after a little teasing.
Looking at Ella’s angry gaze, Chen Ran found her even more adorable. He looked at her red lips and couldn’t help but kiss her directly.
That kiss was very forceful, almost sucking all the air out of Ella’s lungs. Ella couldn’t take it and escaped, her pretty face flushed red. She took a deep breath and glared at Chen Ran. “You’re so bad as soon as you arrive. You finally thought to come and see me?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll probably be with you for a while,” Chen Ran replied. “The Imperial Capital is a good place. I might meet some interesting people. I plan to stay for a while and also spend more time with you.”
“I hope you can keep your word,” Ella said, letting out a sigh of relief. Her eyes couldn’t help but become much more lively, and a smile appeared on her face. “I’m a tutor at the Dawn Academy now and can’t come out often. Why don’t you find a way to get in too? That way, you can help little Dongfang and my brother more easily. You’ve been away for a long time, and they are both at a bottleneck now. I also have a few very good friends. I believe you can also help them, which will be very helpful to your social network.”
“Ella, then won’t my future mission be very arduous? I came here this time mainly to see you,” Chen Ran said with an innocent face. “Speaking of which, I still haven’t thought of a way to get into your academy.”
“I believe you’ll find a way,” Ella said with a charming smile, whispering in Chen Ran’s ear, “If you can do it, I’ll give you some special benefits.”
“Really?” Chen Ran’s expression gradually turned into an ambiguous, wicked smile. “I’m very bad, you know?”
“How bad can you be?” Ella’s face was lovely, her eyes blinking, as if hinting at something, making one’s imagination run wild.
Chen Ran patted his chest and said, “Mmm, I guarantee I’ll complete the mission. It’s just a small gate. How can it stop me? I’ll just have them invite me in.”
Chen Ran had made up his mind. Even if he didn’t get in with the identity of the Holy Church, the name of an equipment master would be enough to shock the principal there. But when doing things, it was better to be low-key if possible. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be fun.
“It’s a deal,” Ella said, extending her finger and hooking it with Chen Ran’s affectionately.
Then, the two of them held hands and walked out of the private room like many of the couples in the restaurant, taking the long-awaited little Dongfang with them to walk the streets outside and to let Chen Ran familiarize himself with the environment.
