"An equipment shop in such a backwater dump... no matter how good the gear is, how could it possibly rival the work of a Grandmaster Blacksmith?" Jing Qingyun grumbled, his disappointment reaching a new low after browsing the shelves.

  "I have no idea what the Academy was thinking, sending us here. I’d rather go back and fight combat golems," the massive Mo Hei rumbled in a gravelly voice.

  "We are here now; we might as well make the best of it," Mo Bai added softly. Though his words were diplomatic, the unconcealed disappointment in his tone was hard to miss.

  Zhong Lingyun, after casually checking the shop’s layout, headed toward the Combat Strength Enhancement area to see if there were enough vacant booths.

  That was when she saw someone who absolutely should not have been there.

  "Principal Gu Pingchuan! What are you doing here?!"

  Gu Pingchuan, who was currently enduring a series of stern warnings from Kael, looked up. He immediately smoothed his expression into a calm, grandfatherly smile.

  "Keep your voice down. I am simply here to oversee the start of your off-site training," Gu Pingchuan said with practiced composure.

  However, Zhong Lingyun's startled cry had already acted like a magnet, pulling the gaze of every student in the shop.

  "The Principal!"

  Jing Qingyun nearly screamed. The others fared no better, their eyes bulging out of their heads in sheer shock. They never imagined that the head of Brilliant Academy—one of only two Hero Rank powerhouses in the entire Huangyuan Empire—would be found in a place like this.

  A sudden, chilling realization hit them: If a man of his stature was here, this shop had to be extraordinary.

  Thinking back to their earlier insults, Jing Qingyun felt a wave of mortification so strong he wanted to find a hole and crawl into it. Even the great Gu Pingchuan had "humbled" himself to visit this shop—he was even engaged in a "cordial" conversation with that slender young man.

  Who was he, Jing Qingyun, to act superior if the Principal himself was acting so respectful?

  The three sophomore students—Guimian and the Mo brothers—were equally red-faced. They stood frozen, wishing they could travel back five minutes and slap themselves for their arrogance. They could only pray the Principal hadn't overheard their complaints.

  "I can't believe the Principal is here. Is the Owner his friend?" Shuangshuang whispered.

  "I might have still underestimated the depth of this place," Wuji noted, her usually stoic face showing a hint of awe. "If even Principal Gu is here, then the person who froze those two Wolf-Hunters outside... must be another Hero Rank master."

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  The hidden depth of this shop was far beyond what met the eye.

  "Boss! You're in the Arena again? Carry me in the next round!" Ying Feng spotted Kael and immediately rushed over.

  "Is this your training mission?" Kael asked, looking up briefly with a flat, indifferent tone. He had no memories of the Academy’s curriculum, so he was genuinely curious.

  "Actually, I don't know what the mission is yet... Oh! Hello, Principal Gu," Ying Feng scratched the back of his head as he finally noticed the old man sitting nearby.

  "Alright, do not bother the Manager. If he joins you, it will defeat the purpose of your training," Gu Pingchuan cleared his throat and said sternly.

  Having fought alongside Kael, Gu Pingchuan knew all too well that the young man’s tactical command and individual combat skills were peerless. In the Arena’s Multiplayer Mode, Kael could practically carry an entire team on his back. If he helped the students, they wouldn't learn a thing.

  "Oh... yes, Principal," Ying Feng replied, looking a bit dejected.

  "Coincidentally, my time on the machine is up. You all may begin your training," Gu Pingchuan stood up as the notification from his crystal ball chimed in his mind. "I shall take my leave then, Manager."

  "Mm. Safe travels," Kael nodded, barely looking up.

  Gu Pingchuan didn't mind the casual treatment. He was too busy thinking about how to explain the Fruit Jelly, Bacon Sandwiches, and Potato Chips to the other two "old fogies" back at the Academy. If he didn't share the news, they’d never let him hear the end of his "skipping work" today.

  However, Kael's dismissive attitude toward the Principal only served to solidify the students' fears. Only a fellow Hero Rank (or higher) would dare treat Gu Pingchuan with such casual indifference.

  Even though the Principal was known for his kind and gentle personality, anyone meeting him usually showed the utmost reverence for his power. Kael, on the other hand, treated him like an old neighbor who was just stopping by to say goodbye. He didn't even bother to stand up to see him out.

  This shop is terrifying, everyone (except the Ying siblings) thought simultaneously.

  "There aren't enough booths for everyone yet. Wait here for a moment; feel free to look around," Zhong Lingyun announced after seeing the limited space.

  Jing Qingyun and the others didn't dare complain anymore. They stood quietly in the shop, their eyes darting around with newfound caution. When facing a potential Hero Rank powerhouse, it was best to be on one’s best behavior. Some masters were kind, but others were bloodthirsty; until they knew Kael's temperament, staying humble was the only survival strategy.

  "Whoa, look at all the newbies!" Tiger Hunt followed behind Gu Pingchuan, having just finished his session. He emerged from the booth area and blinked at the crowd.

  Blood Wolf followed closely with his squad. "You guys look pretty tense."

  "What's there to be nervous about? The greedy Boss is just like that. As long as you don't start trouble, he won't care."

  "Who knows what they're thinking. Let’s head to the Cloud Mist Forest."

  The mercenaries chuckled and teased the students as they left the shop. Even though the Blood Wolf Squad was disciplined, they were still mercenaries at heart—wild and untamed.

  Being mocked by a bunch of "rough" mercenaries didn't sit well with the students, but they were relieved by what they heard. It seemed the young man they called "Boss" really didn't care about them. In the presence of a powerhouse, being ignored was often a blessing.

  "Sister! Come here! Shier just told me the shop has new 'good stuff'!" Ying Feng had already scurried over to the Snack Vending Machine and was waving at Ying Xue.

  In the entire group, Ying Feng was easily the most at home.

  "What kind of good stuff?" Ying Xue asked, her curiosity piqued as she walked over.