Chapter 158 (2/2)

Jackson only felt that Edger’s actions and words were pushing him into traps, putting him at a disadvantage. However, at this moment, he had no choice but answer honestly, “I believe that Fang Xingjian has a chance. He transitioned into a Windstorm Sword Hero within four months, transcended the speed of sound within a month… There are not many cases of people with such talent throughout the course of the Empire’s history.

“Such a person has great chances to sense ether particles and attain Heaven’s Perception.

“Additionally, I’ve also been trying to contact the Holy Orison. They are very interested in Fang Xingjian’s condition.

“As long as Fang Xingjian can recover, then our earlier investments would not be seen as a failure. If we give up on him now, all of our investments would go down the drain.”

Edger said furiously, “So, you plan on using the whole academy as your wager? How much more resources are you planning to distribute to him? To a blind man? Throughout the Empire’s history, has there ever been a blind man who managed to become a Conferred Knight? Has any of them participated in the Regional Selection?

“Headmaster, be more rational. What we should be thinking of right now is to prevent further losses. If we don’t even have a student breaking through to the top ten, then next year, how much would the budget, given to us by the Regional Office and the Governor, be reduced by?”

Hearing the prospects of a lower budget, everyone paid full attention. This was something which affected them in areas such as their salary, benefits, and monthly cultivation materials.

Edger continued with great confidence, “This time around, the Commissioner of Education is very concerned for the upcoming Regional Selection and next year’s National Selection. He is not very happy with the way that we’re cutting out a large portion of our resources to be given to a portion of the talented students.”

“Even the Commissioner of Education said this?”

“It’s true that this way of portioning out the resources is somewhat unfair to the other students.”

Governor Devitt rules over the Knights in a region and naturally, there would be many leaders under him. The Commissioner of Education was one of them and was in-charge over the twelve Prefectural Royal Academies in the region.

As for the Great Western Region’s only Regional Royal Academy, it was managed by Governor Devitt himself. He was both the Headmaster as well as instructor in the academy. The Regional Royal Academy was the only academy that the Commissioner of Education had no power over.

Hearing Edger’s words, Jackson frowned and said, “Don’t worry, I’m only going to make sure that Fang Xingjian gets his deserving rights as a Prefectural Champion. I will no longer provide an excessive amount of resources to him.”

“But to be investing so much resources into a blind man… Is there any use?

In the Regional Selection, there was a stage which required one to observe the Pantheon Monument in order to comprehend martial techniques. However, with him blind, how can he observe the monument? There is no way for him to participate in the Regional Selection.” Edger continued, “I suggest that we cancel all the resources provided to Fang Xingjian from now on. Of course, I’m referring to the cultivation resources. As for the monthly allowance, it’ll remain the same. There’s no need to take back the villa either.

“Although he is blind, he still has experience. I suggest that we let him be a teacher in the Sword and Sabers Department and have him take up the job of guiding other students, allowing them a higher chance of fighting in the Regional Selection.”

Jackson let out a cold snort and unleashed his aura explosively, pressing them against Edger. “Edger, do you think that you call the shots here? Are you the Headmaster?”

Edger put up a forced smile and continued, “I’ve already had a discussion with the people from the Yellowstone Trade Association. They’ve agreed to sponsor the academy with one hundred thousand gold, but on one condition, which is for me to have full control over how this sum of money is used. It’s because they trust my judgement. They trust that I will be able to use this sum of money appropriately to bring honor to the academy and not waste it on some blind man.”

[1] Edger is a totally different character from Edgar, the aristocrat from Kirst City.