Emperor's Reckoning

"Well...?" Lyon raised one of his brows. "You've been raising your chin enough to reach the ceiling, how does the ground taste?"

"Kh!" Judsah couldn't retort. He was the one that looked him down, not knowing that he was the sheep all along.

"Please, forgive us," said the old man. "This fellow of mine is not old enough to wise up, thus his behavior."

Lyon smirked, "You have all the power to subdue his impolite gesture, yet you did nothing. You think I'm a blind old man or something?!"

Both guests opened their eyes wide. They were caught off guard by the tone he gave even though he knew that they were from the Second Heaven.

"Enough, I will not pursue this matter longer than it should," said Lyon. "I believe that you're here from Mavis, right?"

Both raised their brows before the old man asked, "Did young master Mavis contact you prior to our visit?"

"No," answered Lyon. "Graham told me what's going on." Seeing their confused looks, he continued, "He is the guy that choked you like a chicken."

( The driver )

"I-I see," the old man muttered. ( So he overheard our conversation? Or was it from Garuda? ).

"Now, then, let's talk about why you're here," said Lyon. "I believe it has something to do with the Second Heaven? I've heard you mention a class."

"Y-Yes," said the old man before he made a fake cough and sharpened his eyes, "We are here today to offer you a position of teaching in a grand school in Second Heaven."

"Damn, that Mavis, what he got to do with a school," muttered Lyon, though it was heard by both guests. "What's the catch?"

"You're not going to ask about the benefit?"

"I have my own ways," said Lyon.

"Well, you're going to teach the worst in class," said Judsah.

"They are not the worst, they are just, underdeveloped," said the old man before following a sigh. "Young master Mavis believes that you and he shared the same vision about cultivation."

"What?" Lyon frowned. "I never share my thoughts with him."

"He said that you would believe in equal chances for all, meaning that hard work will triumph over those who are talented," said Judsah. "More or less."

Lyon grunted before he said, "That's a hot take."

The old man sighed, "Those children strived to be the best, well, at least when they first enroll."

Lyon raised his brows, "Sounds like there is a bit more story of this, I mean, the fact that you go all the way to Mortal World, even more so to find a teacher, you must be really desperate."

Both of them had their head down.

Lyon frowned, "What happened to the previous teacher?"

"Well, the students didn't like them," said the principal.

"All of them?" Lyon raised his brows. "That's bullshit."

"It's true," Judsah nodded.

"Then why not dismiss the whole class?" Lyon frowned.

"Because that would be a slap toward young master Mavis," said Judsah, "We can't possibly do that toward one of our backings."

"Backing eh?" Lyon smirked. "Alright then, what is this school called?"

"The Nirvana School," said the old man. "That's why we have this lotus insignia."

"Nirvana and lotus," Lyon shrugged. "Who are your backings?"

"I'm sorry but I can't disclose that directly," said the old man.

"But you just said that Mavis was one of them," Lyon frowned.

"That's because you are the young master's friend and recommendation, where it not from him we would have never visited this place," said Judsah.

"Pretty big words for someone on the bed," said Lyon.

"Y-You get the idea."

"How about someone else? Nobody else wanted to take on the job?" asked Lyon.

The old man shook his head, "It seems like most of them are more afraid of offending the young masters if they fail."

"These kids, how old are they?" asked Lyon.

"About fifteen to eighteen, more or less," said Judsah.

"How many are they?"

"Three."

"What?" Lyon raised his brows, "A class has only three students?"

"Yes, it's an elite school," said the old man as he chuckled. "Every teacher can only teach three students max."

"Are you a teacher, Judsah?" asked Lyon.

"No," Judsah shook his head, "I'm the vice-principal."

"Woah, really?" Lyon raised his brows before snorting a smirk. "So the principal and the vice-principal can't take any students?"

"It's the law," said the old man.

"Alright, how long should I teach?" asked Lyon. "You can't expect me to teach in your school forever."

"No," said the old man, "But if you do well, we might give you the offer."

"Heh, fuck off," said Lyon. "Perhaps it's best to tell me about your school first, what's the difference."

"Nirvana School is a school that only opened its doors once every three years. We only accept those elite backgrounds as well as elite talents. The eligible ages that can apply to us ranged from fifteen to twenty years maximum and they only have one chance to apply. The subjects that we are focusing on are cultivation and magic, in which we already famously excel. Our alumni have become important cultivators for Second Heaven and some are thrivings in Third Heaven," explained Judsah.

"However, young master Mavis initiated the first class where any background can apply," said the old man.

"So let me get this straight," Lyon said, "Your system is inviting those with powerful backgrounds in Second Heaven, but the invitation is not to join your school, but rather the invitation to APPLY to your school?"

"Precisely," the old man nodded. "The number of elite backgrounds in Second Heaven is numerous and we simply do not have enough teachers."

"That's a lie," Lyon answered. "It's not that you don't have enough teachers, but because you were never planning to increase another. Perhaps because the backings of your school were those five or six big clans in Sixth Heaven, right?"

"Yes," the old man nodded as Judsah take a surprised glance at him.

"Heh," Lyon smirked. "Looks like the Sixth Clan controlled most of the things in lower heaven."

"I don't have the knowledge to answer that," said the old man.

"Alright, returning to my original question," said Lyon. "How long?"

"Until they graduate," said Judsah. "Which is in six months, give or take."

"Hmm," Lyon grunted as he contemplated. "I have my own room right?"

"Naturally," the old man nodded. "Food and general needs are supplied very well."

"So I labor myself for free?" asked Lyon. "What do I get from teaching those kids?"

"Mana Essence," said the old man. "Every month you will be given Mana Essence for your service, whether you're doing a good job or not."

( Teaching in exchange for drugs ) thought Lyon as he laughed inwardly. "Alright, I need to ask you something in return."

"Hm?"

"Where can I find a seer in Second Heaven?" asked Lyon with his eyes sharpened.

"The seer? Well, perhaps in six month time," said Judsah.

"In the graduation?"

The old man nodded, "The Graduation Event is a team battle between the classes. It's the biggest event."

"Oh?" Lyon raised his brows. "That's new, so it's a war between classes?"

"Yes."

"And I only got six months to do this?"

Both of them couldn't evade his clarification.

"So that's why nobody wants to take on the job," remarked Lyon. "Then what about those classes that lost."

"Let me explain," said the old man. "The class can only graduate if they have reached a certain threshold by the end of the Graduation Event. For three years, the students will accumulate points based on the quests, exams, etc. After that, by the end of the Graduation Event, if the accumulation points of all three students didn't reach the threshold, then they would truly fail."

"Let me guess," Lyon laughed. "This class that I'm teaching, it's on the brink of failure?"

"It seems like nothing can hide from you," said the old man with a chuckle. "You can be the beacon of hope."

"What's the minimum placement my class has to be, for them to graduate?" asked Lyon.

"Number one," said Judsah.

"They have to win the Graduation Event for them to graduate," said the old man. "Now then, Hero of the Mortal World, Lyon Torga, are you willing to become an even bigger hero?"

"No," said Lyon.

"Kh?!"

"I never want to be a hero," said Lyon as he stood up from his chair. "An even bigger one? That's just inviting unnecessary trouble."

The guests looked at each other for ideas of words but none of them could think of something.

"I owe Mavis, well, we actually paid him back but whatever," Lyon shrugged. "I have my own matter and coincidentally, his path crossed with mine once again."

"So are you willing?" said the beaming old man.

Lyon smirked, "The circumstances are too hard to reject."

"Great! Then we will depart at your earliest convenience!" said the old man.

"I'm not going there alone," said Lyon.

"Huh...?"

Lyon crossed his arms and smirked.