"Fly, you're finally back." Seeing him, Genevieve spoke immediately, her tone laced with unmistakable anxiety.

  "You've been waiting for me?" Fly asked. He noticed an inexplicable weariness etched on her face.

  "Why didn't you just come find me directly? What happened? Is it about the Student Council?"

  He didn't really think that bunch of spineless bullies could cause any real trouble for this "genius girl," but given his own experience earlier that day, he mentioned it casually.

  To his surprise, Genevieve nodded.

  "Mm."

  "I was hoping to talk to you privately," she looked somewhat hesitant. "You... you fought with the Student Council members this afternoon? Are you alright?"

  "Of course. Did you really think that pack of incompetents could suppress me?" Fly's words held a hint of pride. He still couldn't understand what was so frightening about them.

  Seeing his attitude, the worry on Genevieve's face deepened. "The Student Council's methods go far beyond just fighting. For the past few years, they've firmly controlled the graduation paths of Star City High's top students."

  "If they didn't have some extraordinary means, how could they possibly maintain that control?" she added.

  Hearing about graduation paths immediately reminded Fly of the line of fine print on the second-to-last page of the contract Forrest Banks had shown him:

  He had originally planned to ask Mr. Carter or Dean Sterling about it, but the Student Council's pathetic display of strength later had made him dismiss the idea.

  But judging from Genevieve's words just now, things were probably not that simple.

  He also recalled 'Emperor' Valerius's warning in the cafeteria.

  Fly thought.

  "Speaking of which," he said, "when Minister Banks approached me this afternoon, he showed me a contract. One of the clauses did seem rather strange."

  "You mean the one about the graduation assignment, right?" Genevieve interjected. "Just as I suspected. They want to control our early decisions when applying to universities."

  "Is there something special about this 'early decision'?" Fly asked.

  "Hmm?" Genevieve tilted her head, looking slightly puzzled. "Mr. Fly, surely you've looked into this somewhat?"

  Fly froze for a moment, then shook his head. Since arriving in this world, he had poured all his energy into martial cultivation. Apart from matters directly related to enrolling at Star City High, he hadn't paid much attention to other trivial details.

  Genevieve offered a faint smile. "After graduating high school, we naturally face university applications. Students with poor grades can generally only attend community Martial Academies. While they can continue their studies there, they basically have no chance of becoming high-level Beast Warriors."

  "Students with better grades can often apply to four-year Martial Academies, gaining access to better educational resources and having a greater chance of becoming high-level Beast Warriors."

  "And above all these universities are the legendary Eight Elite Universities of The Tulip League!"

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  "These are the eight best Martial Academies in our country!"

  Fly quipped internally.

  Genevieve, oblivious to his thoughts, continued enthusiastically, "The Tulip League universities not only possess the highest quality teaching resources, but more importantly... only graduates from these eight elite schools are qualified to enter The Martial Sanctum!"

  Fly's eyes suddenly lit up.

  That term was not unfamiliar to him. While researching in the school library, he had come across descriptions of The Martial Sanctum in some specialized books. According to those sources, it was a world accessible only to the most elite Beast Warriors.

  But when he had tried to delve deeper, he found that further information was inexplicably scarce.

  In his mind, The Martial Sanctum was a profound and mysterious place.

  "In short, only by entering one of The Tulip League's Eight Elite Universities can one truly distinguish oneself," Genevieve continued. "Star City High is, after all, a key academy, so every year, a few students manage to get into one of the eight."

  "But this is precisely where the Student Council is so insidious!" Her voice was tinged with anger now. "They attempt to control all the genius Beast Warriors graduating from Star City High through these exploitative contracts!"

  "Many talented students who sign the contract find themselves ineligible to even apply to Martial Academies upon graduation. They are forced to obey the Student Council's arrangements and work for their designated organizations."

  "Of course, some students insist on applying to university anyway. To do so, they must pay the Student Council an exorbitant 'breach of contract fee' and sign a new contract. And with this new contract, the Student Council can easily manipulate them even while they are at university."

  "Basically, once you sign that contract, your future is completely in the hands of the Student Council!"

  As she spoke, Genevieve clenched her fists tightly in anger.

  Hearing her explanation, a dark expression crossed Fly's face.

  Thank goodness Genevieve had warned him this morning. Thank goodness he hadn't signed that contract. This Student Council was truly treacherous!

  But then another thought struck him.

  Since The Tulip League universities held such extraordinary significance in this martial world, the school itself should benefit from its students getting accepted into them.

  So why would the school administration allow the Student Council to act so recklessly?

  Where did they get such influence?

  Just from Forrest Banks and his cronies? Fly remembered Banks mentioning he was one of six ministers. The other ministers were probably around his level. How could a group like that possibly wield such overwhelming power?

  "Doesn't the school intervene?" Fly asked. "Haven't any students or parents reported the Student Council before?"

  No matter how powerful, it was still just a student organization. Surely they couldn't intimidate the principal, or even the police? This sounded like outright criminal activity.

  And what about the parents? Seeing their children bullied like this, wouldn't they take action? Star City High had students from many prominent families. Faced with this situation, wouldn't the heads of those families make a stand?

  "How could they not intervene?" Genevieve sighed. "Shutting down a high school student council isn't difficult. The real problem is the mysterious organization pulling the strings behind the scenes!"

  "A mysterious organization behind them?" Fly's brow furrowed.

  "Mm. I don't know the specifics, but it's said to be related to The Martial Sanctum," Genevieve said.

  Fly thought.

  "But how could a mere high school student council get involved with a mysterious organization connected to The Martial Sanctum?" Fly asked.

  "Sigh!" Genevieve sighed again. "To understand that, you have to know about one person."

  "Who?"

  "Lysander Thorne!"

  "Who?" Fly raised an eyebrow. The name sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.

  Genevieve looked utterly bewildered. She had imagined various reactions Fly might have upon hearing that name—shock, confusion, perhaps even... but she had never expected such... indifference.

  "Seriously, bro..." Genevieve pressed a hand to her forehead. "No matter how obsessed you are with training, shouldn't you at least spend a little time learning about the history of our own school?"

  In her eyes, Fly must have been training himself into a stupor. Otherwise, as a student of Star City High, there was simply no reason not to know who Lysander Thorne was.

  "It rings a bell, I just can't recall right now," Fly said, scratching his head sheepishly. "Is he very famous?"

  "Famous is an understatement!" Genevieve's voice rose with exasperation. "Lysander Thorne is the number one figure in the entire hundred-year history of Star City High!"

  A strange light flickered in Fly's eyes.