Ancient Dragon in Arknights

Nesario felt his mouth watering. Normally, a person wouldn't feel hungry so quickly after waking up, but he also had to consider what Nesario had been through.

That's the New World Survey Corps' cat food! A delicacy that every hunter who has tried it raves about!

Nesario was spiritually hungry at the moment; he desperately needed to find a substitute for cat food to alleviate his regret of not being able to eat cat food in Terra.

......

"Nana...why do you have such a big appetite today?"

"Is it obvious?"

"Of course, normally five servings of rice are enough for you, just like me, but you've already had your eighth!"

"It's probably because it's time for him to grow taller again."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Chen and Rita were speechless. Nesario's physical body had reached a terrifying level, and there were not many people on the Terra continent who could fight Nesario hand-to-hand.

Will he continue to develop? What will he eventually become?

Chen recalled the martial arts novels he had secretly read under the covers when he was a child. Some of the heroes in those novels could split mountains in two with a single sword strike. For some reason, the imagined hero was now taking shape.

Chen witnessed Nesario whipping its tail and slicing the mountainside in half...

"What strange things am I thinking?"

Chen shook his head, banishing the childhood fantasy from his mind.

"Nesario, the large-scale exercise will begin in three days."

Rita spoke up to remind him that Nesario had previously said his tail was a change caused by molting, and this earnest girl had believed it—what she meant was that Nesario should take care of his body in advance.

We can't exactly go into battle while we're sick.

"Don't worry. If the other classes don't come up with a good strategy, our victory is practically guaranteed. However..."

Nesario's words sounded arrogant and conceited, like a villain covered in flags; but in reality, he had already taken it seriously, and those boasts were just what he wanted to say.

"The other classes will definitely find a way to kick us out."

Rita used all her tactical knowledge to guarantee that their class would definitely be targeted, and other classes might even form alliances, all in order to create a "relatively fair" competition environment—the game couldn't proceed normally unless they dealt with Nesario first.

"Nesario, most of the pressure will probably be directed at you. Be careful, be extremely careful."

Chen showed concern after a long time. This girl has a slightly arrogant personality, and she often keeps her concerns to herself. But you can tell from her usual interactions with Fiona that even though Chen finds Fiona noisy, she has never refused her invitations.

"We'll see when the time comes. Without knowing the opponent's tactics, it's all just empty talk. We'll deal with whatever comes our way."

"You...you're a Colombian, but sometimes you know more about Chinese culture than I do."

"Haha, the culture of Yan is profound and extensive, it's normal to be interested."

......

Are you sure you haven't misread or misjudged?

"Yes, Lady Aldebaran. I confirmed it myself multiple times before daring to report it, and the information is accurate."

"...I've been tricked."

Ottcliffe district, inside the Duke of Cumberland's mansion.

Allard was receiving a man—a man dressed plainly, without any extravagance, and whose face showed no signs of the privilege of nobles or merchants—a commoner whom Allard had sponsored.

Climbing the social ladder and developing power would require far too much money and manpower, far beyond what Cumberland could afford at present.

Therefore, investing in ordinary people became Cumberland's clever trick.

Cast a wide net; you never know, you might catch something.

See? They've taken the bait.

"Royal Guard Academy... I thought he would operate in the shadows, but I didn't expect him to show up so directly."

Allardy gestured for the gentleman to leave, and he departed swiftly and impolitely. The Duke of Cumberland might be a joke in the eyes of other dukes—but in the eyes of the common people, he was still a behemoth that they could never catch up to in ten lifetimes.

Although he had accepted Alder's financial support, the commoner could never fathom the nobleman's thoughts.

Looking at the handwritten report in her hand, Alder took a sip of coffee and began to think.

The report is simple: it's a diary-like account by an ordinary citizen of how he discovered Nesario—the answer being gardening.

He was a gardener hired by the Royal Guard Academy to trim the greenery on campus—Aldey had recently sent a highly accurate replica of Nesario's portrait to every informant she sponsored.

She did not provide a full description, only a facial sketch, and demanded that the "Vaivan" be found.

The gardener hadn't expected this good fortune to fall into his lap, given how vast Lentinium was and how difficult it would be to find someone.

But out of gratitude for the past favors, he kept Nesario firmly in his mind.

Then, from afar, I spotted Nesario sitting on a bench chatting with Miss Felin in the Royal Guard Academy.

"Elsie... never mind, I'll go myself."

"Hopefully Cumberland's reputation will still be of some use."

Chapter Eighty: An Unpleasant Guest Arrives

"Nesario, come with me."

The next day after class, Angelia stopped Nessario, and judging from her slightly serious expression, she must have something important to say.

After several months of study and exchange, Nesario and the others had figured out the teacher's style—although he said he had no sense of responsibility as a teacher, he taught his students his lifelong battlefield experience and military principles during class.

Aside from leaving get out of class even faster than the students, Angelia is the perfect teacher—not the kind who is confined to the textbook and restricted to the classroom.

"What happened?"

Following behind Angelia, Nesario stared at her wolf tail to pass the time, while also trying to find out what had come up to him.

“A nobleman is looking for you. Listen carefully to what he has to say, and don’t miss a single word.”

"Yes, sir."

So serious!? What exactly did they do wrong?

Nesario quickly went through all the things he had done in his mind and found that too many things could have led to the current situation, but what worried him most was his own life, Draco's.

'That's probably not the reason. If my identity were completely exposed, the school would have arrested me immediately. No... the Imperial Guard Academy has no right to arrest me; on the contrary, they'd treat me like a VIP. So... could it be the special forces?'

Nesario's heart raced slightly. He raised his eyes and stared intently at the back of Angelia's head, hoping that her aura would give him away.

"When nobles come to the school to deal with students, there are usually only two situations. The first is that you have offended them and need a solution. However, in this case, they usually come directly to us teachers and we act as intermediaries to negotiate. This is considered the school's protection of its students."

"What about the second one?"

The former, Nesario, was not afraid; he had only privately clashed with two nobles—two grand dukes.

The Duke of Castells can't get into Londinium; as for Cumberland... it's hard to say, but they probably won't come knocking on our door directly.

"The second scenario is that you are exceptionally talented, and a nobleman takes a liking to you—so he offers to invest in you, covering tuition, living expenses, high-end equipment, and even money for food, drink, and entertainment. You will receive a substantial sum of money, but the price is your future."

"Being a private bodyguard for a nobleman is not a good job. The minimum requirement is high and the maximum requirement is low, but the money comes quickly; however, the hidden dangers... never mind, you should understand that, kid."

I see... This can also be considered a kind of investment: finding underprivileged students in advanced schools in advance and then buying their future.

It was indeed a good deal. Poor students gained the opportunity to meet face-to-face with aristocratic children, while aristocratic lords gained a useful watchdog.

“My advice is to refuse—the nobles of Victoria are no better than the tycoons of Colombia. Of course, if you’re a scoundrel, then disregard what I said. Nesario, you’re better suited for the military; with your talent, a major general is inevitable.”

"My teacher's evaluation of me was exceptionally high."

"If you are a thoroughbred Victorian, you could even become an admiral."

"..."

'Teacher, if I admit I am a Victorian, then what awaits me is not merely a general.'

Nesario kept those words to himself, and with the dull thud of military boots, they arrived at the reception room.

"I've said what I need to say; the choice is yours."

"goodbye teacher."

Once Angelia had disappeared from sight, Nesario stood outside the reception room door, tidied himself up, and then raised his hand to knock on the door.

"Please come in."

The voice coming from behind the door sounded very gentle and kind—was this the voice of a nobleman?

"excuse me."

As the door opened, Nesario saw the person facing it—a woman, who, judging from her clothing, was a maid.

The voice just now must have come from her—damn nobleman, Nesario couldn't help but think. This maid, though not particularly beautiful, possessed a striking, innate gentleness. Let me see which fat, gruff fellow managed to acquire such a fine maid?

'Wait, this smell is a bit...'

Even faster than the shifting perspective was the change in atmosphere. It wasn't until Nesario entered the reception room that he saw the person sitting further inside—Aldean Cumberland.

"Hey, long time no see."

"..."

Teacher Angelia! Help me!

"I wonder what business the renowned Duke of Cumberland has with a mere student like me?"

Although he was panicking inside, Nesario was still bluffing to avoid revealing any weakness.

"Oh? 'Little students'? Could it be that the Imperial Guard Academy's assignment is to steal from the Duke's house?"

"..."

"Your life is now in my hands. Once I release the information, I don't need to say more about the consequences, do I?"

Allardy was able to support the Cumberland family with her frail arms when she was young, relying on the methods she had developed through countless setbacks—negotiation, bargaining, coercion, and oppression—she had mastered all of these skills.

Nesario didn't show any panic or fear after hearing this. Instead, he slowly walked to the sofa in front of Alleide and sat down. The two of them just looked at each other.

"Guess what my chances are of escaping alive if I kill you with one stroke right now?"

Nesario is no pushover. Although it was just a test, his retaliation was not weakened by the test—on the contrary, his attitude was even tougher than Steeltail's!

"This is not your ducal mansion. There is no Originium array to protect you this time."