In Robert Lane, officials had even more power than in those ancient dynasties—after all, it was a country where might made right. If you didn’t submit, they’d suppress you; if they couldn’t suppress you, they’d recruit you.

　　Studying at the academy for six months—even if you weren’t like Nathaniel Clark, who could take over a post—offered far better prospects than only studying for three months.

　　Unfortunately, Instructor Brooks's expression didn’t change at all, because they had witnessed this scene far too many times. With a wave of Instructor Brooks's hand, a servant stepped forward and dragged the student away.

　　“I hope you’ll leave yourselves some dignity. Don’t get thrown out of the academy. The assessment continues.”

　　Instructor Brooks’s words made the students who hadn’t yet been assessed feel a chill in their hearts. The next two candidates also failed, but having seen the previous student dragged out as a warning, they managed to control their emotions and quietly returned to the dormitory to pack their things.

　　Ahead of Nathaniel Clark was William Parker, who wore a confident smile as he walked up to the stone block and easily lifted it.

　　“Nathaniel Clark, step forward!”

　　As soon as Instructor Brooks spoke, all eyes in the room turned to Nathaniel Clark. Although every student who stepped up for the assessment drew everyone’s attention, the looks directed at Nathaniel Clark carried noticeably different emotions.

　　To the students in the A dorm, Nathaniel Clark was just a pitiful wretch—poor and refusing to accept his fate. To those in the B dorm, Nathaniel Clark was someone who willingly debased himself.

　　Did he really think that doing menial work like carrying water would lead to success?

　　Too naive.

　　Among all these gazes, William Parker’s was the most complicated.

　　He shared a dorm with Nathaniel Clark, but while Nathaniel Clark pretended to be above eating his beef, he’d turn around and do servant’s work to earn money to buy meat. Wasn’t that a slap in his face?

　　That was what truly infuriated him about Nathaniel Clark: angry at his lack of ambition, angry at his fake nobility.

　　Debasing himself like this, and still failing the assessment—just wait to be laughed at by everyone.

　　Nathaniel Clark took in all the looks from the students, walked silently to the stone block, gripped the handles with both hands, and properly lifted the block above his head.

　　One breath, two breaths...

　　“Passed.”

　　When Instructor Brooks uttered the word “passed,” the atmosphere instantly became hushed.

　　With his hands clasped behind his back, Henry Collins’s pupils contracted slightly, but he quickly resumed his pose of gazing at the sky at a 45-degree angle.

　　Emily Turner blinked her big eyes gently—Nathaniel Clark’s performance had surprised her.

　　Matthew Bolton, Stephen Reed, and the other students from the A dorm looked as if they’d just stepped in dog poop. Someone they’d already written off as a servant had actually passed the assessment and become their classmate.

　　The B dorm students’ mouths hung wide open—the clown in their eyes had actually passed.

　　William Parker: ......

Chapter 9: The Wind of Youth Is More Precious Than Gold

　　In this strange atmosphere, the assessment continued.

　　In the end, only 14 out of 36 students managed to lift the 500-jin stone block and could stay at the academy.

　　The 22 students who were eliminated went back to the dorm to pack up and leave.

　　After the assessment, Instructor Brooks left, while Nathaniel Clark and the other students who passed remained in the training ground.

　　“Fellow classmates, from today on, we’ll be at the academy for two and a half years. I’ve reserved a banquet in the dining hall and hope you’ll all join me so we can get to know each other.”

　　David King spoke with a cheerful smile. He was a student from B1 dorm and had been able to lift the 500-jin stone block seven days ago, so he’d already started preparing for this banquet.

　　There was a quirk to the academy’s prices: after the assessment, prices would drop. Although still higher than outside, it wasn’t a big deal for these students.

　　Otherwise, if prices stayed this high for the next two and a half years, even the richest man in Danning County couldn’t afford it.

　　After every three-month assessment, it was tradition for the remaining students to have a group meal.

　　In the minds of those who stayed, the eliminated students weren’t really their classmates anymore—their potential and status were different.

　　It was harsh, but it was reality.

　　Everyone thought they’d agree, but to David King’s surprise, his invitation was declined.

　　“I still need to practice martial arts, no time.” William Parker was the first to leave.

　　“I don’t have time either.”

　　“If you want to gather, go ahead. I’m going back for a medicinal bath.”

　　The A dorm students all left, and even the B dorm students found excuses to decline.

　　David King was left bewildered—what was going on?

　　Nathaniel Clark looked at David King’s confused expression and couldn’t help but laugh. This guy didn’t get it, but Nathaniel Clark saw it all clearly—he knew exactly why everyone left.

　　They didn’t want to sit at the same table as him.

　　In their eyes, he was just a servant. Now that he’d turned things around, the thought of eating at the same table made them uncomfortable.

　　Emily Turner didn’t really care, but seeing everyone else leave, she congratulated Nathaniel Clark and left as well.

　　“Brother King, shall we go eat?” Nathaniel Clark suggested to David King, seeing that only the two of them were left.

　　David King’s mouth twitched. He wasn’t stupid—he hadn’t realized at first, but now he understood why no one else was coming.

　　But he’d already paid for the banquet, so he couldn’t very well refuse Nathaniel Clark outright.