Bernard was amused since he didn't expect any of the students to manage to complete the task within the allocated time but two of them did.

 

 

"It seems you guys did indeed suit being the top rankers of the first year. Congratulations and come to my office to take your gifts. So what else do we have here?" 

 

 

 

He could see a big bull monster stabbed in multiple places but all the limbs and organs were still perfectly intact. 

 

 

'Maybe they stumbled upon this thing and decided it's better than nothing.' Bernard thought.

 

 

"Well it's better than nothing isn't it? That's the spirit. In the future, when you guys are working in a team, you guys have to know how to survive and being flexible is one of the ways of survival. Since it is still early, why not you guys work together and cook this bull monster."

 

 

The students:...........

 

 

Instead of getting any replies, Bernard saw his students were glancing at each other awkwardly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Melinda who saw their reaction could guess what they were thinking and couldn't help but feel annoyed. The only reason why she tried this class was because the syllabus of this class includes a deeper understanding about monsters' anatomy and edible plants inside the dungeons or how to correctly cook them.

 

 

Glancing at the guy beside her, Melinda couldn't help but ask, "Hey do you know how to cook? Why are you even in this class to begin with?"

 

 

But because of the silence, the other students also heard what she said thus they thought Melinda was talking about them. This caused some of them to feel embarrassed for some reason since most of them were female.

 

"I know how to cook and that's why I'm here. This class seems interesting."

 

 

None of them expect Ares to reply and they also never expect his voice to sound so soothing, as if someone is coaxing you to commit a blasphemy.

 

 

Melinda also didn't expect Ares to reply, "Then start cooking."

 

 

None of the students dare to say anything to Melinda but they were shocked seeing how Melinda dared to boss a Targael around.

 

 

"I don't have enough spices so we just make grilled beef. Fortunately I bought some equipment," Ares also didn't mind much since he was still hungry despite already having lunch.

 

 

He continued pulling out a large grill pan, "Well, we need to make a fire first."

 

 

"We, we help. Let us handle the fire," one female student said before pulling her friend to find something to make a fire.

 

 

"Ok. Thank you. Next we need to slaughter and skin the bull. I will do it and the others can clean the meat. Someone else can prepare the meat with these spices."

 

 

Ares told them one by one what they needed to do and they all willingly followed his words as if they were being enchanted.

 

 

Two hours later, an aromatic smell of a flagrantly well-cooked meat swirling in the air.

 

 

"The meat on this side is already fully cooked. You guys can eat it."

 

 

There's only grilled meat without any other side dishes but the students ate them with relish.

 

 

"Y-young master, did you always cook everyday?" One female student was curious.

 

 

"Depends. I cook every other day." Ares answered.

 

 

He has a large appetite and he knew his food portion was abnormal but seeing how much the Targael eat, he assumed it was because of his family's genetic need to consume large amounts of food.

 

 

Thus he decided to both cook and also buy food in order to feel satisfied and not hungry.

 

 

"This tastes heaven. Young master, if you ever open a restaurant, please tell me. I will come everyday," another female student said.

 

 

"Young master, you ruined my diet so I don't want to take this class anymore."

 

 

After eating the food, the students had a better impression on Ares and they couldn't help but want to joke with him and to their surprise Ares was more easy-going than their initial thought was.

 

 

"Oh, you already looked fine. No need to do any diet. Just eat healthily and exercise regularly."

 

 

"Young master, you're more easy-going than we thought."

 

 

"You need to talk more to the young master."

 

 

 

"Is that a magic mask? How convenient. You don't even have to take it off to eat and drink."

 

 

 

Bernard, as the class instructor, never thought that his first class could go so well thanks to a certain student who was said to be a spoiled rich kid.

 

 

 

"Ok class time ended. For those who choose this subject, we will meet again next week on the same day and time. Thank you for coming and may we meet again," Bernard said before dismissing the class.

 

 

 

"Thanks Sir."

 

 

"See you again Sir."

 

 

 

Unlike earlier where the students' focus more on Ciel, the teaching assistant, this time they focus more on Bernard and greet him before walking away.

 

 

Some only smiled at Ciel while others didn't even look at him. That was how teaching assistants usually treated.

 

 

Not because the students were rude but because they knew, teaching assistants are special students who needed extra points to graduate. In other words, they were final year students who did not get enough marks to go for an internship before their graduation.

 

 

Ciel was one of those students.

 

 

"Ares, did you know that guy?" Melinda couldn't help but ask.

 

 

"Who?"

 

 

"Ciel Dunner."

 

 

"Not really. He's a final year student so should I know him? Maybe my sister knows him," Ares said.

 

 

"No but he looked at you intently as if he is interested in you," Melinda couldn't help but smile mischievously.

 

 

 

 

But Ares didn't say anything and just left the class along with Melinda since he knew Ciel's target was never him to begin with.

 

 

Seeing that all the students had left, Bernard couldn't help but feel relief. This was his first class so he didn't want to mess it up.

 

 

"Congratulations on finishing your first class," Ciel said happily.

 

 

"Fuhh, thank Goddess everything went right. Thanks for accompanying me, Ciel," Bernard said sincerely.

 

 

He had known Ciel for a few years before Ciel was enrolled into Heptagon. Ciel was currently 19 years old while Bernard was 24 years old.

 

 

He went to an ordinary high school, went to college, taking education as his main course before he was recruited by a low level noble who sponsored him to be trained as a low level instructor in Heptagon.

 

 

He was awakened but he never thought of enrolling in a specialized school like Heptagon but he agreed to be an instructor because of Ciel.

 

 

The kid that gave him warm food during the warm winter.

 

 

Fortunately he found him again when he walked near the Heptagon area and saw Ciel's beautiful long brown hair.

 

 

At first he didn't realize who Ciel was but Ciel recognized was the first one to recognize who he was.

 

 

"Ciel, remember that time when we first met again?" Bernard muttered.

 

 

"Of course. You looked at me as if I owed you money but when I looked at you, suddenly I seemed to think you're familiar until I saw the scar on your arm. You're the same kid I found fainted in an alley during a winter evening. I still worry if you managed to stay alive or not."

 

 

"Well, I'm thankful for you for giving me the blanket and food. Not long after you left, a few policemen found me and put me inside a charity home. I managed to go to school and college due to a scholarship given by the charity home. And then we managed to meet again," Bernard couldn't help but to reminisce.

 

 

Ciel was like a ray of light to him. After he met Ciel for the first time, he felt like his life had been lucky and smooth sailing.

 

 

"And we will stay together forever," Ciel said with a wide smile.

 

 

 

Ares who just arrived at his dorm couldn't help but frown when a silver haired girl was standing there, blocking his door.

 

 

 

"Is there something wrong?" Ares asked Selena who kept staring at him.

 

 

"You're not in swordsmanship, martial arts, body combat, multiple weapons or combat magic class. What class did you join?" Selena asked directly.

 

 

"None of your business. Step aside."

 

 

 

Ares was staring dagger at her and his always docile mana around him started to become thicker for some reason so Selena instinctively moved aside to let Ares passed through.

 

 

 

"When are we going to have a duel?"

 

 

"Ask Samuel Adenca," Ares replied before shutting off his door.

 

 

 

"......." If I can ask him, I won't ask you.

 

 

 

After he managed to avoid one annoyance, another one came.

 

 

- Knock knock

 

 

 

"Hi bestfriend~" Prince Theo's face appeared when Ares opened the door thus he immediately closed it again.

 

 

But would Prince Theo just let it be? Obviously not.

 

 

"W-wait! At least let me say something."

 

 

"You have two minutes."

 

 

"How about five minutes."

 

 

"1 minute and 55 seconds left."

 

 

"Ok ok fine. Please help me with my task. I'm at a dead end."

 

 

"Task? Oh the one Samuel Adenca gave our class."

 

 

Prince Theo just ignored how Ares referred to the Chief Director as and continued saying, "Bingo, yes that one. I'm the only one who hasn't completed it yet so I need your help."

 

 

 

Ares wasn't shocked hearing Prince Theo's request. Plus there would be a lot of things he wanted the prince to do for him in the future so why not help him for now so he could use that favor later on. This is an investment.

 

 

"Ok come in."

 

 

"Cool."

 

 

After half an hour later.

 

 

Ares couldn't help but frown at the report. Instead of finding any suspicious religious group, Prince Theo found evidence of many corrupt politicians instead.

 

 

"Well, it's hard. The scope is too big and Vulcan is a big country. I can't turn the country upside down can I?" Prince Theo scratched his head.

 

 

 

 

If anyone thinks carefully, only a lunatic would give such a task to a first year student but who dare defy Samuel Adenca, an SS level awakener. Even the emperor wouldn't.

 

 

Ares also couldn't think of anything useful from the plot that he knew that might help. Plus he was also confused why Samuel Adenca gave such a difficult task that even a final year student would have a hard time with.

 

 

 

He was sure Samuel Adenca knew something more than they realized.

 

When he thought about the dark elf, Ares suddenly had a thought crossing his mind, 'Dark elves live in hiding and are experts in ambush and information gathering. So does Samuel Adenca actually wanted Prince Theo to ask for his relatives' help? Would they really help him though? They kind of abandoned him after his mother died.'

 

 

"Why not ask your family or relatives for help?" Ares suggested but instead of considering the idea, Prince Theo's expression seemed to harden before it became relaxed again.

 

 

 

"I'm an abandoned Prince so there is no one that will help me after my mother's death."

 

 

 

"Oh," Ares knew Prince Theo was hiding something but he also had no reason to know or pry into it too much.

 

 

Prince Theo's mother's origin was a secret to the public and she was only known as a former entertainer fancied by the emperor. Even Ares didn't know how or when she died.

 

 

 

"That's why I ask for your help instead of going to find any Manic to help me. Please~" Prince Theo clasped both his palms together and looked at Ares with a pitiful gaze.

 

 

"......." Can you stop talking to me like that and why are you trying to act cute in front of me?

 

 

 

After a few persuasions, the annoyed Ares reluctantly agreed when Prince Theo said he found an interesting dungeon and would let Ares know the location. He also gave Ares an invitation to an auction a few months later.

 

 

Ares let out a breath of relief when he was finally alone inside his room. He grabbed his phone and made a phone call to someone.

 

 

 

"Good evening young master. Did you have any problem or issue?" Vincent's concerned voice reached his ears after a few seconds.

 

 

"I want to form an intelligence group but I don't want  a total newbie. I am already in the middle of acquiring a newly formed organization. So look into a homeless woman and also a prostitute named Jane Doe. She has a daughter named Mia. Next also look into a man named Wilde Bond, Jane Doe's ex-husband. I want these three people no matter the price. You can report to my grandma if you want to, I don't care."

 

 

"Is that all young master? Should we provide them with everything?"

 

 

"I will tell you if there's anything more. Provide all the basic necessities to them. Make them sign the death vow contracts I send you later on. It's only level one so it's not that much."

 

 

"Ok, as you wish, young master."

 

 

"Hn."

 

 

"Goodnight, young master."

 

 

"Wait, there's one more thing. Check everything about Bernard Sarkozi, a new instructor in Heptagon. I'm going to join his class. Also investigate his teaching assistant, Ciel Dunner. I want everything from his birth and even if he had a scar or birthmarks. This includes people they have with their whole life."

 

 

"Ok. The information might take some time if you want it to be that detailed."

 

 

"Hire those three people first and let them do this task as a test. If they succeed, hire them with a high salary. If they refuse, just lock them up and blackmail them until they agree."

 

 

"As you wish for a young master. Goodnight."