Lysander Thorne's martial career could only be described as "monstrous."

  Genevieve began to explain slowly:

  "Regarding his family background, there are no clear public records available now. Some say he came from humble beginnings but had a fortunate encounter in his youth, receiving the teachings and inheritance of a Grandmaster-level Beast Warrior. Others claim he was the young master of some hidden, reclusive clan. There are many rumors, and no one knows the truth. But one thing is certain: by the time he entered Star City High, he already possessed considerable strength. Even... stronger than some of the graduating seniors!"

  "Are you saying he obtained a Beast Totem card and began his Martial Studies cultivation before entering high school?" Fly asked.

  "Yes," Genevieve nodded.

  In this world, the Beast Totem card was the foundation of a Beast Warrior's cultivation and an incredibly precious resource, almost impossible to measure in monetary terms. For an ordinary family without deep connections, even immense wealth might not be enough to purchase one. Furthermore, to maintain social stability, the government implemented a strict registration system for Beast Totem cards, generally prohibiting private circulation and controlling them as tightly as firearms were controlled in Fly's previous life.

  Fly thought.

  However, Lysander Thorne's power was not merely reflected in this single point.

  Genevieve gathered her thoughts and continued:

  "The moment this Lysander Thorne entered Star City High, he became number one. Not just number one in his year, but... number one in the entire school!"

  Fly sucked in a sharp breath.

  Becoming number one among the freshmen was understandable. No matter what, in any group, there would always be someone at the top, like himself right now. But becoming number one in the entire school immediately upon entering high school was terrifying. Star City High was a key academy; every student admitted was a top prodigy from their respective middle school. Talent was merely the entry requirement; only the geniuses among geniuses could rank at the top of their grade level.

  For teenagers still growing, a single grade level difference represented a world of disparity. It was like basketball players in his past life; you might be a genius in your own grade, but against older players, your advantage might not be so obvious. At this stage, a single year meant a massive leap in both martial cultivation and physical development.

  And yet, this Lysander Thorne, as a freshman, had leaped across four years to defeat the fourth-year seniors and claim the top spot in the entire school. Such talent could no longer be described merely as "terrifying".

  Genevieve continued, "Before him, the Star City High Student Council was just an ordinary student organization, no different from those at other schools. Until Lysander Thorne became its president..."

  "Upon taking the presidency, he immediately implemented drastic reforms, absorbing other influential student clubs and consolidating almost all available resources... In less than half a year, he completely transformed the Student Council. From a loosely organized group, it became a well-structured and powerful collective of Beast Warriors!"

  "Given Lysander Thorne's exceptional talent, even when his methods were questionable, the school administration gave him the green light, turning a blind eye and approving his actions," she explained.

  "Incidentally, that era was a low point for Star City High. Although it still held the title of the top Martial Academy high school in the province, countless other key schools were eyeing its position, eager to bring it down. Lysander Thorne's meteoric rise gave the school leadership much-needed reassurance. In the freshman invitational tournament, he cut through all opponents, defeating the prodigies from other key high schools to claim the championship. He continued this dominant performance in subsequent inter-school competitions."

  "From then on, Star City High firmly secured its position as the undisputed number one Martial Academy high school in the province. And Lysander Thorne, having made such immense contributions, naturally received preferential treatment from the school. Many of his more controversial actions during his Student Council tenure were overlooked. As a result, the Student Council's influence within the school grew larger and larger."

  "And after the Student Council grew strong, Lysander Thorne began helping others improve their strength..."

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Hearing this, Fly grew increasingly puzzled. According to Genevieve's account, this Lysander Thorne seemed like a good person. His own strength was immense, he brought glory to the school externally, and internally he helped his fellow students improve. None of these actions seemed like those of a villain.

  Then how did the Student Council become what it is today? Could it be that after Lysander Thorne left, his successors became corrupted by the immense power they inherited?

  Genevieve looked at Fly, seeming to sense his confusion. "What Lysander Thorne truly intended, no one knows for sure even now. However... to assume he was a good person based on that would be far too naive!"

  She paused for a moment, then continued.

  "With Lysander Thorne's immense power, getting into one of The Tulip League's Eight Elite Universities was a certainty. However, even after entering university, he did not relinquish his control over the Star City High Student Council. The current Student Council is merely a puppet organization acting on his orders."

  "Remember what I told you earlier? The Student Council uses contracts to forcibly control the graduation paths of Star City High's talented students. Naturally, this caused dissatisfaction among some parents, but in the end, all dissenting voices were suppressed."

  "This Lysander Thorne has that much influence?" Fly couldn't help but feel a chill. "He could actually suppress the objections of all the major families in Star City?"

  In Fly's view, this was simply outrageous. No matter how monstrously talented Lysander Thorne was, he was still just one powerful Beast Warrior. Those major families surely had high-level Beast Warriors of their own, along with extensive networks and deep roots. He found it hard to imagine Lysander Thorne could make all those powerful families bow their heads through his efforts alone.

  "Of course, he couldn't do it alone," Genevieve continued. "Lysander Thorne is not only powerful himself, but he is also adept at cultivating his own faction. He began building his network of loyalists back in university. After graduating, he entered The Martial Sanctum. This was a natural progression; after all, The Tulip League's Eight Elite Universities are the keys connecting the outside world to The Martial Sanctum."

  "What happened to him after that, no one knows. The Martial Sanctum is a place only high-level Beast Warriors can enter, impenetrable to outsiders. But judging from subsequent events, his development within The Martial Sanctum was clearly quite successful."

  "After Lysander Thorne left, the school administration and the families whose children were oppressed did try to dismantle the Student Council. However, without exception, they all failed," Genevieve stated.

  "Was it interference from Lysander Thorne's organization in The Martial Sanctum?" Fly asked.

  "Yes and no," Genevieve replied. "Lysander Thorne's organization did intervene, but they didn't show up directly. Instead... the Star City government officials acted on their behalf."

  "Star City government officials?" Fly murmured. "Even the government is on his side? Then this situation is truly serious."

  According to Fly's previous assumptions, no matter how formidable Lysander Thorne was, he led a private organization, akin to the New York Mafia in his past life. But if even the government was involved, then the waters ran far too deep...

  Perhaps, this time, he really had stumbled into major trouble...

  "Mm," Genevieve nodded. "Because even the government sided with Lysander Thorne, the major families and the school administration were completely powerless against the Student Council. As a result, the Student Council's arrogance only grew. And over the past decade or so, many of Star City High's top graduates were unable to enter university, instead going directly into The Martial Sanctum to work for companies or organizations under Lysander Thorne..."

  "Abusing power for personal gain, constantly expanding... this Lysander Thorne certainly has his methods!" Fly exclaimed in admiration, but then his tone shifted. "Is his immense strength also related to this constant consolidation and utilization of resources?"

  "So you're not completely oblivious after all," Genevieve raised an eyebrow, a slight smile playing on her lips.

  Fly's guess perfectly matched her own investigation results. She had indeed spent considerable effort looking into Lysander Thorne's archives at Star City High and his experiences after entering university. The results were unsurprising: while building his faction, Thorne had also utilized the consolidated resources to aid his own cultivation.

  The Tulip League's Eight Elite Universities were renowned nationwide, never lacking in exceptionally talented students. Yet Lysander Thorne had thrived even in that environment, like a fish in water. Apart from his already peerless talent, the more critical factor was the vast amount of resources he had concentrated.

  In Martial Studies cultivation, lack of talent wasn't the biggest fear; lack of resources was! And the heights someone like Lysander Thorne could reach—possessing both outstanding talent and the knowledge of how to leverage resources—was simply unimaginable!

  "And here I thought you only knew how to train and couldn't figure out anything else," Genevieve teased with a smile.

  "No way! I just don't care much for gossip!" Fly retorted defensively.

  Then, as if struck by a thought, he smiled faintly. "You telling me all this... you wouldn't happen to be trying to recruit me to fight the Student Council together, would you?"

  In Fly's view, after the incident with Forrest Banks and Marshall, he had already made an enemy of the Student Council. If they were truly as Genevieve described, then retaliation was surely coming. If she didn't want to get involved, she should be distancing herself from him right now, seeking self-preservation.

  Yet, not only was she not distancing herself, but she had shared so much information about the Student Council. Combined with her warning that morning, it was clear she held considerable resentment towards them herself.

  "No..."

  But to his surprise, Genevieve shook her head firmly. Then, her tone became resolute, almost severe. "Not just the Student Council. I... I intend to take down Lysander Thorne himself!"

  "I will enter The Martial Sanctum, find him, and then, I will eliminate him with my own hands!"

  "Make him regret everything he has done!"

  As she spoke, the rims of Genevieve's eyes couldn't help but turn slightly red.