Chapter 19: Reputation is the Most Important

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

In the Nova Province, the Vincent family—the family of the hereditary aristocrat, Duke Tulip

This was a huge family, and the entire Nova Province was under their authority.

From the governor of Nova Province to the councilmen below, all of them were members of the Vincent family.

As one of the three pillars of the kingdom, the Vincent family was the most powerful in the entire kingdom, apart from the royal family. Even an ordinary duke would not dare to be presumptuous in front of this family.

It could be said that their members were spread throughout the entire kingdom. However, today, the Vincent family had a large gathering which was rare.

Over ten thousand family members had rushed over from worldwide to participate in this grand gathering.

“The instructors of the Royal Academy will arrive in a moment. All of you must put on your best to preserve the family name!”

“This time, 13 members of the Kelsey family and 15 members of the Silvico family have been selected. I hope that you can surpass this number, to have at least 16 of you to become students of the Royal Academy!”

The Royal Academy was a combat academy that the royal family led with qualified talents from all around the kingdom.

Whether it was magic, Dou Qi, alchemy, or military strategy, they were all within the scope of the academy’s teaching.

It was the most comprehensive, professional, and powerful academy in the entire kingdom.

Therefore, this academy also adopted the model of elite teaching. The number of students who successfully enrolled each year was extremely limited.

Other than the royal family members, it was mainly open to the nobles, especially the aristocrats of the kingdom, such as the Vincent family.

The commoners simply stood no chance with this top academy.

Even the aristocrats would be strictly vetted by the instructors of the academy. Very few people were able to join the academy successfully.

The aristocrats were people that placed great importance on inheritance.

The excellence of the descendants would affect the continuation of the aristocrats’ future. Thus, it caused a struggle over the number of people admitted.

For aristocrats, this was a matter of great importance to their reputation.

That was why the great elder said that he hoped for more than fifteen people to be selected.

He intended to suppress the other two families. After all, these two families were the only existences—other than the royal family—that could be stronger than the Vincent family. They were the other two of the kingdom’s three pillars.

“The great elder is so dedicated in his duties. This is rare.”

Just as the great elder was giving a lecture, a Griffin dressed in armor landed from the sky in the courtyard.

A man in gorgeous dark purple armor leaped down from the back of the Griffin.

Following that, a few other magical beasts landed. All of them were tamed flying magical beasts.

A few people also came down from the backs of these magical beasts. They were the instructors from the Royal Academy.

“Instructor Ron, I really didn’t expect you to come this year.”

The great elder smiled and welcomed Ron and the others warmly.

But from his stiff smile, it was not difficult to spot that he did not really like Ron.

“Yes, several members of the Vincent family were disqualified last year. I felt bad about it, so I came to apologize.”

Ron stared at the great elder with a smile. Although he said that it was an apology, there was no trace of remorse on his face.

The great elder’s face darkened a little.

Last year, Ron came to the Vincent family as the main examiner for the disciples. In the end, only eleven people were selected, making the Vincent family have the least qualifiers out of the three families.

Because of this, the great elder had been scolded by the patriarch many times. Hence, Ron did not make a good impression on the great elder. Even more so, the great elder loathed him.

He was not happy as he did not expect Ron to come this year, especially when Ron did not portray any good intentions when he spoke. 

“Oh, you’re too kind. All the children of our family who meet the requirements are here. Please begin, instructor Ron.”

As the great elder spoke, he turned to look at the third elder.

The third elder nodded indiscernibly and heaved a sigh of relief.

“They’re all here?”

Ron frowned in confusion and took out a list. “The number of children from the Vincent family who are 18 and under 19 years old this year should be 84. Why are there only 83 here?”

“Instructor, are you talking about the piece of trash, Shu Ke? He died in the Noir Forest!”

At this time, an unfriendly voice was heard.

Ron frowned and looked at the speaker. “You are Dreyer, right? The grandson of the great elder.”

“Yes.”

Dreyer nodded with a proud face.

This made Ron, who was in the army, very unhappy. He frowned immediately. “Didn’t your elders teach you to be humble in front of your mentor?!”

Ron’s words made Dreyer a little confused.

Wasn’t he just speaking normally? Why wasn’t he humble?

However, Ron did not give Dreyer a chance to explain. Instead, he turned to the great elder. “Great elder, this person is from your family. Tell me, what’s going on?”

The great elder looked at the third elder again for affirmation.

The third elder nodded.

Ron glanced at the great elder and then at the third elder. His instincts told him that there was a problem.

However, this was a personal matter of the Vincent family. Even if they really did expel someone from the family, Ron would not be able to control it.

“It’s true. Shu Ke hasn’t been sensible since he was young. Not only he is playful, but he also doesn’t know how to cultivate. He’s a complete piece of trash.”

“Actually, having him here or not won’t make a difference. Even if he’s here now, he’s just trash. He can’t cultivate so he won’t be able to participate in the assessment. Thus, there’s no need to worry about him.”

Hearing the great elder’s words, Ron could not help but frown.

These words were really a bit too much. It was as if he wanted Shu Ke to just die.

Although Ron knew that these nobles valued their reputation more than anything, he didn’t expect them to be so ruthless—wanting a child dead just because he couldn’t cultivate.

Moreover, Ron remembered that this child’s parents had died in battle for the Vincent family.

“Since that’s the case, let’s get ready for the assessment then.”

Ron shook his head. He did not have the leeway to interfere in other people’s family matters, so that was that.

“Wait!”

At this moment, a slightly immature voice was heard behind the crowd.