Chapter 45: Chapter 45

Inside the office of Professor George Chamberlain, also known as the White Owl W.O.

A trial sparring session was underway.

A white-feathered owl perched in the corner, watching intently.

The sparring didn’t last long—just 1 minute and 37 seconds in total—but for the participants, this duration was already an astonishing feat.

The typically stern and rigid Professor Chamberlain burst into uninhibited laughter.

The owl, sensing its owner’s joy, hooted enthusiastically.

It had been a long time since Chamberlain, having reached an advanced age, had laughed so heartily.

“We’ve been waiting for you all morning. If we miss out on suitable tasks because of the delay, then William will have to foot the bill for the day’s expenses. I wouldn’t mind spending the night at a luxury hotel.” Ř

“Apologies, I was delayed at Professor Chamberlain’s office. Let’s hurry and go.”

“No need to be so formal, just a joke.

As new gentlemen enrolled in the academy, we have the privilege of mission allocation, so there will always be suitable tasks available whenever we go.

Let’s go—destination: ‘Gentlemen’s Hall’.”

Over the past six months, although they only had two classes per week, Edmund’s persistence brought him and Yi Chen closer.

Occasionally, Yi Chen also discussed physical development with Dagobert, another student specializing in physique training.

Their decision to form a team wasn’t random. Edmund had sensed the importance of this six-month milestone and proactively invited Yi Chen during a recent pathology class.

This time, unlike at Green Lake Town, Yi Chen didn’t refuse.

1. Six months of interaction had deepened his understanding of Edmund and the others.

2. Yi Chen had reached a sufficient level to team up with Edmund’s group, whose members had been rigorously trained since childhood. He no longer worried about exposing his 'rookie' status.

3. Edmund’s team had successfully completed five squad missions during this time, offering invaluable experience to Yi Chen, who had yet to undertake his first mission.

4. Most importantly, Zion’s rules required gentlemen still in training, like Yi Chen, to take on missions as part of a team to reduce mortality rates.

Thus, Edmund’s team welcomed a new member, expanding to four.

He pass through winding alleys, squeezing through narrow passageways with his chest and back almost pressed against the damp walls.

Eventually, he reach a higher, open, three-way intersection.

Here stands a colossal building, far surpassing the surrounding structures in scale, intricacy, and aura:

[The Gentleman’s Hall].

A black metal plate with vertically elongated lettering is mounted on the central part of the building, adorned with various intricate patterns. The building’s sides feature numerous flying buttresses, both visually stunning and reinforcing the towering nature of the structure. It evokes a sense of upward momentum, as if soaring straight into the sky.

At the very top, a prominent circular window catches the eye. Designed with a wheel-shaped lattice, its centerpiece displays the emblem of the organization—G&D.

"William, this must be your first time here, right?

Although the Gentleman’s Hall is classified as a [Public Area], it’s essentially a highly confidential division, even involving core secrets.

The interior is strictly sectioned off, with tight controls over movement.

As new gentlemen, our access is extremely limited, and we’re confined to the lower levels.

Let’s wait until we receive today’s mission slip before discussing task details."

As they entered through the main gate,

a towering gentleman guard, nearly two meters tall and equipped with a black mask and mechanical goggles,

lowered his gaze to scan the group’s physical conditions.

Click! With a full rotation of the circular mechanism on his goggles, the scan passed!

The guard then made a polite gesture, inviting them in.

The ground-floor hall had a circular layout, filled with numerous independent counters. Each counter was staffed by a clerk and separated by thick glass, reminiscent of a bank’s design.

Looking around for the first time, Yi Chen noticed there were no visible stairs or elevators leading to the upper levels.

"Is there no direct way up from the ground floor?"

"There is… but only if our [Persona Rank] is sufficient. You’d need to apply through one of the clerks here, and they would guide you to the middle or upper levels to take on higher-security, more challenging missions.

But that’s something for the future."

The group approached the nearest counter.

Edmund, appearing well-acquainted with the process, gestured toward Yi Chen behind him.

"Our squad would like to add a new member. Can we complete the registration here?"

"Please present the necessary documentation."

Yi Chen promptly handed over his student ID, issued by the academy.

The ID drew attention for two notable details:

1. A stamp approving a maximum six-month mission delay.

2. A stamp from the "First Gentleman" as an official sponsor.

The clerk couldn’t help but take a closer look at this special new gentleman.

"Please wait. Adding a member requires recalculating the squad’s [Overall Index]. It should take about ten minutes to provide you with a new mission list suitable for your team’s level."

the clerk hung a “Service Suspended” sign and headed to the upper levels to report the situation.

The unique student ID quickly caught the attention of a senior manager.

A rare ‘First Gentleman’ sponsorship? For such a talented newcomer, why spend six months idling at the academy? And why was the delay application submitted by the infamous ‘White Owl’ squad?