Chapter 42: Recruitment II
"Brother! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up, you stupid brother!"
Carrie was jumping around the room while shouting Zac’s name, desperately trying to wake him up.
With a huge yawn, Zac slowly sat up. "What is it, Carrie? Why did you wake me up so early?"
Instead of answering, she immediately grabbed his arm and dragged him toward the window. "Look outside!"
The sleepiness and drowsiness in Zac’s eyes instantly vanished. Numerous reporters were gathered in front of his house.
"What is this?"
"I knew this would happen sooner or later."
"What?" Zac asked.
"Yeah, I think it’s about your illegal beauty drug."
Zac stared at her.
"What illegal drug?"
"The one you used to change your face."
"You’re still holding on to that?"
"Of course I am." Carrie crossed her arms. "A real woman never lets go of her grudges."
"Where do you even learn things like this?"
[Most likely from the same place where you learned how to forget important dates.]
Zac’s eyelid twitched. "Nobody asked you."
[Yet I continue to provide valuable services.]
Ignoring the annoying system, Zac followed Carrie downstairs. Martha was already waiting in the living room.
The moment she saw him, her eyes became slightly red. "I didn’t expect you to take first place, Zac."
She walked over and hugged him tightly. "I’m really happy and proud of you, my son."
Small tears appeared in her eyes. Only then did Zac finally realize something.
Wait...
"Today was the day the results were coming out. How could I forget? I’m such an idiot."
[Congratulations for finally accepting the truth.]
"Shut up."
Before Zac could think about it any further, his VSB suddenly started ringing.
He glanced at the caller ID. "Why is she calling now?"
Carrie peeked at the screen. "Brother, is that your new girlfriend?"
[Yes]
"No. It’s from the Association."
Zac accepted the call and immediately heard Lima’s voice. "Are you calling to congratulate me?" Zac asked as he quietly distanced himself from his family. "I’d prefer a kiss as my reward."
"You wish." Her answer came without the slightest hesitation.
"The reason I called is because you need to be here by ten o’clock."
"Huh?"
"Recruiters from the top academies contacted me. They said they’ll be coming here by ten to recruit you."
Zac blinked. "Already?"
"Yes. So don’t be late."
With that, Lima ended the call.
[She hung up in 12.4 seconds. You really need to up your game if you want to pursue this relationship.]
"I seriously need a way to mute you."
[I don’t have that feature.]
Zac checked the time, it was already 8:30 in the morning.
He quickly took a shower and ate breakfast. By the time he finished, it was already nine o’clock.
After saying goodbye to his family, Zac stepped out of the house.
The moment Zac is out, the reporters swarm him like a flock of sheep surrounding their shepherd.
"Mr. Zac! How does it feel to top the entrance exam?"
"I am very happ..."
"Mr. Zac! You are the pride of the Eastern Alliance!"
"Thank you, it’s an hono..."
"How did you prepare for the exam?"
"Are you really an E-rank?"
"Did you cheat during the examination?"
"No I di..."
"Mr. Zac! Can you give us a private interview?"
Questions flew at him like bullets from a machine gun. Before he could answer one, five more followed.
"Thank you. Thank you."
Zac tried to respond politely, but the crowd only grew more excited.
"Mr. Zac, what’s your secret to success? What academy are you planning to join?" Do you have a girlfriend?"
That last question made him pause.
"Now that’s an important question."
[Unfortunately, the answer is still no.]
"Shut up."
[Just doing my job.]
"You know what? I had enough." Unable to handle the endless barrage of questions, Zac finally released a trace of his Divine Aura.
A heavy pressure spread through the area, and the reporters instantly fell silent.
For a brief moment, the entire street became still. Seeing his opportunity, Zac immediately made a run for the association building.
"Don’t let him go. Quick! Follow him!" The reporters recovered almost instantly and chased after him.
"Why are they chasing me?"
[Journalists and content are like moths and lamps. Unless there is other hot news, they won’t stop coming.]
[Isn’t it funny.]
"What?"
[People wanted to get famous but once they did they act like they don’t like it.]
By the time Zac reached the association building, he was beginning to regret ever taking first place. The crowd that followed him only got bigger as time went by.
Fortunately, the guards outside stopped the reporters from entering. Zac slipped inside and immediately headed to the ninth floor.
Upon entering Lima’s office, he dropped onto a chair. Lima glanced at him and smiled.
"So, how does it feel to be famous?"
"Honestly? Exhausting."
"Oh, this is only the beginning. There’s plenty more coming your way."
"I really hope not."
Lima chuckled. "Anyway, did you check your scores?"
"No. I woke up and came straight here."
Lima stared at him.
Then her gaze slowly traveled from his face to his clothes. "You took a bath, right?"
"Of course I did."
"Good." Lima leaned back in her chair. "You’re going to meet some important people today."
"I don’t understand. You said recruiters were coming to recruit me, but as far as I know, the association is keeping my true potential hidden. So why are they here?"
Lima shrugged. "I don’t know. Maybe that’s exactly why they’re here."
"Your potential may be ranked E, but your combat ability was leagues above what an E-rank should be capable of. You even killed a C-rank beast."
"Fair point."
"That probably caught their attention."
Zac nodded. "So how many academies came to recruit me?"
"Oh? Straight to the point now?" Lima smirked. "Not playing around anymore?"
"Well, if you want me to..." Zac took a step toward her.
Lima slowly raised her eyes. The look she gave him clearly said: Take one more step and I’ll burn you alive.
Zac immediately took two steps back. "Good choice," Lima said.
["The honey was within your reach, washed by the elegant rain, But you took two steps back, choosing the sweetness of pain."]
"What was that?"
[A poem that describes your exact situation.]
"When did you become a poet?"
[Just finished Shakespeare.]
"And you chose to vomit it on me."
[Yhee...It’s not that bad.]
"Anyway, who is Shakespeare again?"
("...")
"And you are zoning out again." Lima said with an angry face.
"Sorry! My bad."
"See this." She turned her monitor toward him.
On the screen, four middle-aged men sat inside a conference room. Each wore an expensive suit and carried the aura of an influential businessman.
"Only four?" Zac asked.
Lima laughed. "What do you know? Seventeen academies originally came to recruit you."
"Then what happened?"
"Those four happened." She pointed at the screen. "They’re representatives from the Top Five Academies."
"Only four people."
"There is no news from the fifth one."
"Oh."
"The moment the other academies saw these four, they gave up and left."
"Doesn’t that reduce my options?"
"Don’t tell me you would seriously consider attending a normal academy while the Top Five are offering you admission?"
"...You have a point."
"I always do."
Lima’s eyebrow twitched. She looked at him up and down and started frowning even harder. "What are you even wearing?"
Zac looked at himself. "What? What’s wrong with my clothes?"
"Really?"
"Really."
"A white collarless shirt, jogger pants, and sandals. I clearly told you recruiters were coming today. Can’t you wear something formal?"
"I have a terrible sense of fashion."
"I can see that."
Lima opened a cabinet and tossed a set of clothes at him. "Here. Wear this."
He unfolded the clothes and blinked. "You bought me clothes?"
"Don’t start."
"How very kind of you."
"Don’t run your imagination wild." Lima rolled her eyes. "You’re from Mellow City, and I’m the chief of this city. Your appearance reflects on me."
"Sure."
"Besides, those aren’t newly bought. The association keeps spare formal clothes for emergencies."
"Whatever you say."
Zac grinned. "But it still doesn’t change the fact that you got me clothes."
Lima’s expression became completely blank. "Think whatever you want."
[Translation: She has given up.]
"Now go change."
Zac immediately took off his shirt.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Didn’t you ask me to change?"
"Yeah, but not here!"
"Why are you overreacting? It’s not like you haven’t seen it before."
The moment those words left his mouth, it was as if flames erupted around Lima. "On second thought, why don’t I change in one of the side rooms?"
Seeing the dangerous look in her eyes, Zac immediately turned and sprinted toward the nearest room.
The outfit was a simple black tuxedo with a red tie. A few minutes later, he stepped out.
Lima looked him over. For a second, she seemed slightly surprised by how handsome he looked. "Much better."
Zac followed Lima toward the conference room. When they arrived outside, Lima suddenly stopped.
"Listen carefully. As I said before, the people inside are representatives of the Top Five Academies. They have enormous influence within the Variant Association."
"So whatever you do, don’t make them angry. It won’t end well for your future. Understood?"
Zac nodded. "Got it."
Then Lima opened the door, and they stepped inside together.
