’Learn what?’

Erin Xavier didn’t react for a moment. That comfortable spiritual power swept through his spirit sea, instantly alleviating much of his restless irritation. He couldn’t help but let out a muffled groan.

This time, the soothing didn’t last long. After a short while, Zoe Pierce pulled her hand back.

Erin Xavier was still getting used to the sensation of that comfort disappearing. But it would be too strange to force Zoe Pierce to soothe him.

Only then did he belatedly remember that Zoe Pierce also had a brother.

’If I remember correctly, Miles mentioned it before. Zoe Pierce’s brother is looking for investors?’

’So, is there something shady going on?’

Zoe Pierce watched as Erin Xavier’s eyebrow shot up and he leaned in closer. She took a few steps back. "Don’t get so close."

Although she had no problem with Erin Xavier beating up Sheldon Xavier, his sudden proximity still made her nervous.

"Zoe Pierce, I’ve suddenly realized that I really admire you."

’She’s full of surprises.’

However, Erin Xavier scanned her physique up and down a few times and couldn’t help but shake his head.

’Her brother is probably an Alpha, right? How could a small, skinny Omega like her possibly win in a fight?’

He felt it was a bit of a pity. After all, when he had truly beaten Sheldon Xavier to the ground, aside from hatred, there was a definite sense of cathartic satisfaction. Zoe Pierce would probably never get to feel that.

"Thank you." Hearing Erin Xavier’s somewhat off-the-wall words, Zoe Pierce was already becoming immune.

After all, in her eyes, Erin Xavier’s words always had a reckless and brazen quality to them.

From the initial "sexual harassment" to later wanting to hug her, and now to his admiration—if she actually took him seriously, this little tyrant would probably flip out on her.

She appeared exceptionally calm and composed.

Erin Xavier looked at her, his tea-colored eyes narrowing slightly, and said no more.

’I was going to say that if Zoe Pierce cooperates with us in the joint exam, I wouldn’t mind being her muscle.’

’Helping her teach her brother a lesson wouldn’t be that hard.’

While they waited, a teacher arrived. The one in the lead was none other than the one who felt she’d been watching too much soap opera drama.

She had volunteered for this. When Erin Xavier had brought the Omega and Alpha from that other team over, he hadn’t destroyed their surveillance mechanical eyes, so his face had been clearly revealed.

As a result, the task of retrieving the students had caused quite a scramble among the teachers.

Everyone was used to eliminations, but their passion for gossip burned like a raging fire.

No one could resist the urge to watch the drama unfold. After all, who knew how long they’d have to wait for the next juicy story?

As soon as the teacher arrived, she saw Erin Xavier and Zoe Pierce standing together, the handsome, baby-faced youth raising an eyebrow as he moved closer to the girl.

The teachers chosen to be proctors were all Alphas, so that if any trouble arose, it could be resolved quickly.

Their spiritual power was beyond question. Perhaps their levels couldn’t compare to prodigies like Miles Sherman and the others, but in terms of application and practical experience, they were more than seasoned enough.

She had heard every word of Erin Xavier’s almost-whispered, "I really admire you."

’Good heavens! And their hands are even touching!’

’Logically, I know what they’re doing, but I can choose to conveniently ignore that part.’

The female teacher couldn’t help but glance over to observe the expressions of Chase Shaw and Nathan Lockwood.

’Their reactions to his words are far too calm.’

Miles Sherman noticed the teacher’s gaze was fixed on Erin Xavier and Zoe Pierce and spoke up to interrupt.

"Teacher, you might need to see to Sheldon Xavier."

The moment Miles Sherman spoke, he immediately drew the teacher’s attention.

Only then did she see the brutally beaten and miserable-looking Sheldon Xavier.

Her desire to ship them was temporarily put on hold, and her brow furrowed. "How did he get beaten up this badly?"

She squatted down and gave him a quick check. It was indeed all just soft tissue contusions—nothing serious. There wasn’t even a need to go to the medical bay.

But this was clearly different from a normal elimination fight; it was obviously a humiliating attack.

The academy absolutely did not encourage this kind of competition.

She raised her eyes just in time to see Erin Xavier walking over from Zoe Pierce’s side, his hands shoved in his pockets. "Teacher, I did it."

Just as she was frowning, she heard Erin Xavier continue, "If you need to call a parent, please just contact my father directly." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Oh, or you could contact his mother and have her find my father."

He looked down nonchalantly at the semi-conscious Sheldon Xavier, a smile that didn’t reach his eyes on his face. "After all, he and I don’t share a mother, but we might share a father."

That one sentence made any words of admonishment the female teacher had planned die in her throat.

He stood off to the side, looking utterly well-behaved, as if he had no idea what a shock he had just delivered.

Even Zoe Pierce blinked a few extra times.

The teacher glanced at Erin Xavier a few times, then looked down at Sheldon Xavier. Finally, she lifted him up with her spiritual power. Her tone was a bit stiff as she said, "Don’t do this again."

Erin Xavier gave a noncommittal shrug. As he watched the teacher lead the others away, he even gave a wave. "Thanks for your hard work, Teacher."

...

Zoe Pierce’s group went on to eliminate three more teams in a row.

It took almost no effort. Upon seeing Miles Sherman and his team, one squad chose to give up and be eliminated on the spot, while the other two still tried to put up a fight.

Though it quickly ended in their defeat.

Without Nathan Lockwood saying anything, no one knew Zoe Pierce could use spiritual power. She didn’t need to do a thing the entire time, so she just watched quietly from the side.

She watched the team’s structure when the four of them attacked, and she watched their methods.

Chase Shaw’s spiritual power was extremely oppressive. The mere leakage of it could suppress the spiritual power of any Alphas at a lower level than him.

Nathan Lockwood directed them verbally, his spiritual power spread out all around, able to clearly sense the exact moment other Alphas’ spiritual power fluctuated.

And Erin Xavier was even more incredible. He was so fast, his physical conditioning so strong, that from the moment Nathan Lockwood designated a target to the moment Erin carried it out, it was just the blink of an eye. Zoe Pierce would see their chosen target pinned against a tree and eliminated.

Only Miles Sherman.

Zoe Pierce had never seen Miles Sherman make a move. She couldn’t guess what the purpose of his spiritual power was.

They were strong. The kind of strong that was in a league of its own.

Even though Zoe Pierce was inexperienced, after watching them compete against the other teams in the academy for a day, she had come to this conclusion.

The four men’s abilities were incredibly complementary, linking together one after another, both in terms of strategy and combat.

Sitting around a newly built campfire, some idle chatter was inevitable.

But as soon as they started talking, it became clear that Zoe Pierce seemed to know nothing about anything.

"Huh? You didn’t know Nathan is in the Command Department?"

Erin Xavier exclaimed in astonishment.

"Then do you know that Chase is from the solo assault division?"

Zoe Pierce opened her mouth. "I... I thought you were all in the Mechanical System."

She’d been careless; it was a total stereotype. She had assumed that since they were all so skilled, they must all be from the Mechanical System.