145 Mysterious Dean (1/2)

Inside the Dean's office, Crawford Royal University.

”Are you sure you want to resign, lass?” An aged old man asked. ”Why the suddenness? What are you planning to do after?”

”Yes, Grandpa Wilfred. Thank you for taking care of me all this time.” Lina answered with determination as she handed in her resignation letter. ”But I want to travel the world and temper myself. I want to become strong.”

In class, she would always put on a strong facade to hide her weakness in front of her students, but this was not what she wanted. She wanted to be genuine strong and confident.

”Very well. Since you have decided, I will not stop you.” The dean said, before continuing, ”However, if you wish to become truly strong, I can recommend you to a place to train.”

With her interest piqued, Lina asked curiously, ”What place is that, grandpa Wilfred?”

”I take it that you interested.” The dean smiled gently and began writing a letter of recommendation. ”Head to the far eastern kingdom, the Geyser Kingdom and give this to the City Lord of Blackwater City, he will make arrangements for you. Once you reach that place, you will naturally know exactly how great of a place it is to train there.”

”Thank you, grandpa Wilfred.” Lina accepted the letter with mild astonishment, but still asks with a trace of doubt, ”But I am a wood-user, are you sure I can train there?”

”Wood-users are indeed rare.” Wilfred nodded. ”But they are not unique to your Greene family. Once you travel far and see more things, you would eventually come to know there are much more wood-users and the world is much bigger than you think.”

Surprised, Lina couldn't help but ask, ”Who are you really, grandpa Wilfred?”

”Hmm? Lass, you ask a very strange question. Don't you know who I am anymore? I'm just an old man living out the remainder of his days as the acting dean of this university.” Wilfred stated.

”Oh...got it.” Lina responses with a skeptical expression.

The dean was a very mysterious person. No one knew his strength and origins, not even his true age. He appears to be very advanced in his years, as one could grasp from his long brows and beard.

However, the vitality exuded from the old man was not much different to that of a middle-aged man. It was far from someone with little time left like he had claimed.

Perhaps, he came from the far east kingdom? Otherwise, how would it explain his connections with the people there?

People rarely travel as far, to and from the Geyser Kingdom, thus there weren't many news regarding the place.

It was unknown to which heights the kingdom had progressed, but it never had much tension and conflicts between its borders as compared to the other three kingdoms.

The only way other kingdoms could procure fresh drinking water was from the inland rivers and water-users. Thus, water families usually have monopoly over the water distillation business in the Human Domain. With their abilities, they could create water or simply separate the clean water from the impurities.

Of course, others could obtain safe drinking water through simple filtering and boiling methods, but it would never taste as good.

...

”Leah, you're still too green. How can try to attract these types of men? Don't waste your time on that poor sook. Judging from his appearance, he probably can't afford our service even if he wanted to.” Another hostess mocked.

”Eh~ But I thought he seems quite decent.” Leah inserted.

Hearing someone mocking, Leon paused his steps. Here he was, minding his own business, but he is being looked down for it. His pride wouldn't allow him to simply walk without doing anything.

He directly tipped the girl called Leah 100,000 Craws, before walking off. Best way to deal with people that like judging other people by their appearance was to slap them with the cold truth.

His action immediately sealed the hostess's foul mouth as she froze in disbelief.

Impossible! How can he give away so much so easily, while dressed like that? Was this person actually a rich young master in disguise? She immediately felt regret for offending such a potentially big customer.

”This... so much...” Leah was pleasantly surprised. Although the amount wasn't a lot in their line of trade. There would occasionally be a few prodigal young nobles and masters coming to play, but this was the first time someone tipped her so much without receiving her service.

”Wait, young master! I can't take your money without servicing you- ah?” By the time she had realized it, the person was already gone. She felt a faint trace of disappointment.

”Leah, we should split the tip half and half. If it weren't for me goading that young master, he wouldn't have tipped you.” The foul-mouthed hostess said as she eyed the money greedily.

Working in the brothel, they get paid a certain amount of commission for the customers they serve, but tips were completely their own income.

”That goes without saying. Thank you for the hard work, senior.” Leah handed over 50,000 Craws with a fake smile.

Inwardly, she was disgusted with such a hypocrite. Although she wasn't paying attention, she could tell the myriads of changes the person's expression; Contempt, surprise, regret and now greed. Human selfishness and greed knows no bounds.

It was sickening, but she was just a small-time figure in this big city. In order to survive, one would have to get along well with everyone. Only the capable can keep their dignity and stand proudly, instead of buttering up to others. That is the harsh reality of society.

…

Leon continued his stroll through the streets of the Upper District, unaware of what transpired. He did not pay the brothel any further attention. This encounter was just like a crossroad that intersect once and never meets again. If it did, then it would be called fate.

He stopped at the doorstep of the Cromwell's Real Estate Building. As royalty, the land belonged to them. They can just pick any random empty plot of land to have his pill store built, but it would take too much time.

It was much quicker to acquire an existing building. He would just treat it as the royal family buying back the land they sold.

”Hello young master, how may I serve you?” A young clerk asked politely.

”I would like--”