Signing Up to Participate

At the creak of the bamboo chair in the courtyard, Fisher Doge closed his eyes, his face twisting into an expression as grim as if his own father had died.

"Disaster, disaster... We're all finished now."

Fisher Doge muttered through a choked voice.

Then he opened his eyes and peered through the crack in the door, only to meet Samlet's gaze directly.

Samlet, seated in the courtyard, did not urge him. He knew the fellow inside would come out eventually.

Just then, Samlet suddenly turned his head toward the courtyard gate. Voices drifted over from the bamboo-lined path outside.

"Master Doug, Nando from the Academic Affairs Office requests an audience."

When Fisher Doge heard Nando's voice, he knew he had no choice but to go out. Otherwise, that brat Nando would definitely offend the lord in the courtyard.

So just as Nando saw Samlet sitting on the bamboo chair and was about to scold him as he would any other Academy student, the bamboo house's door opened first.

"Nando, what brings you here?"

Hearing Doug's words, Nando swallowed the rebuke he had been about to direct at Samlet, then bowed to Doug.

"Master, the Academy's grand selection tournament is about to begin. The Dean sent me to ask whether you have any disciples you would recommend to participate."

Doug stroked his grizzled beard, then pointed at Samlet on the bamboo chair.

"This year, I recommend him. He belongs to the Warrior Institute. Register his name."

Samlet had not expected this fellow to dare make him participate in such a damned tournament. Was he not afraid Samlet would cripple all the talented juniors they had painstakingly raised during the competition?

Afraid that Samlet would refuse, Doug turned to face him. Though his mouth spouted nonsense about giving his name quickly, he