Peterson's Gratitude

Chapter Thirty-Four: President Peterson's Thanks

After leaving the academy's Finance Department, Lorist found himself with a heavy money pouch in hand. Inside were thirty Gold Fude. Next, he had to visit the Swordsmanship Club. Executive Vice President Telman was eagerly waiting for the Swordsmanship Club president, Lorist, to come over and sign his name so that this month's benefits could be distributed to the members who had been waiting impatiently. The instructors and assistants of the Battle Qi instructor group were probably no exception.

The Swordsmanship Club still had three Gold Fude listed as office-expense subsidies, while the Battle Qi instructor group had five gold coins in benefit subsidies. Added together, his income this month came to thirty-eight gold coins. Lorist was extremely satisfied with his current life. He had once estimated the prices and housing costs in Molent City: if one copper coin were equivalent to one yuan in his previous life, then a small silver coin would be worth twenty yuan, a large silver coin one hundred yuan, and a Gold Fude two thousand yuan. His thirty-eight gold coins were therefore worth seventy-six thousand yuan. Including his mercenary income, his annual earnings were roughly equivalent to a million yuan in his previous life. I'm a rich man now. Lorist felt extremely pleased with himself.

Lorist was indeed the highest-paid instructor at Dawnlight Academy, mainly because he possessed dual Gold Instructor Badges, which doubled his salary. No wonder Garilando, the owner of the Red Raven Tavern, had cursed when he heard Lorist announce his monthly salary. Even with a thriving tavern, Garilando earned only around two hundred gold coins a year, and that included his commissions from introducing people to missions. Lorist, on the other hand, could stay comfortably at the academy and earn three hundred and sixty gold coins a year.

An assistant instructor at Dawnlight Academy received only one gold coin in monthly benefits. Those who performed well would be hired as trainee assistants, earning two gold coins a month during a three-month probationary period. After completing that period, they would become officially hired instructors. A Black Iron instructor earned three Gold Fude a month. If their Battle Qi had reached Silver Rank, they first had to serve as a Black Iron instructor for one semester before officially becoming a Silver instructor the following semester, at which point they would earn five Gold Fude a month.

Silver instructors had four salary tiers. They earned five gold coins during their first three years, six during the next three years, and seven during the three years after that. If they taught at the academy for more than ten years, their monthly salary would be fixed at eight Gold Fude.

The salaries of Gold Instructors at Dawnlight Academy were determined by strength. A Gold One-star instructor earned ten Gold Fude a month. A Gold Two-star instructor earned fifteen gold coins. As for Instructor Krudd, a Gold Three-star, his monthly salary was twenty gold coins. If Krudd could break through the peak of the Gold rank and become a Great Swordsman, his monthly salary would be at least fifty Gold Fude.

When Lorist had first obtained the Ikado Badge, he had received the benefits of a Gold Instructor, but the Finance Department had argued endlessly over how much his monthly salary should be. Some said it should be based on the salary of a Gold One-star instructor. Others asked whether Instructor Locke had originally been a Black Iron instructor, and whether they should continue paying him a Black Iron instructor's salary after giving him a Gold Instructor's salary because he had obtained the Ikado Badge. In the end, the matter was reported to Dean Levens for a decision. Dean Levens said that Lorist should be paid according to the salary of a Gold Two-star instructor, and that there was no need to pay him the Black Iron instructor's salary as well. Thus, Lorist's monthly salary became fifteen gold coins. Then he obtained the Battle Qi Gold Instructor Badge, doubling his salary.

That was also why Fatty Shi and the academy's friends liked taking small advantages of Lorist whenever they could. There was no other reason—they were simply jealous. Every payday at the academy, Fatty Shi would find an excuse to make Lorist treat him to a meal, declaring righteously, "I worked my way up from a member of the Enforcement Department to its supervisor at the academy. I've worked my butt off for almost ten years, and I only earn twelve gold coins a month. That's not even half of Locke's salary. How am I supposed to endure all this envy and jealousy? If I don't make Locke bleed once in a while, how can I sleep at night..."

After leaving the Swordsmanship Club, Lorist went to the office of the Battle Qi instructor group. As the chief instructor, he first signed the benefits-distribution list handed over by Instructor Anfia, authorizing the distribution of the benefits. He then signed his name below his own and received five Gold Fude. Just as he turned to leave, Instructor Marlin called out to him.

Instructor Marlin held out his hand. "Lend me some money. I'll pay you back tomorrow."

"Hm? How much?"

"The more, the better. Preferably all of it. I'll pay you back tomorrow," Instructor Marlin said.

"Huh?" Lorist took out his money pouch and tossed it to Instructor Marlin, looking extremely curious. "Brother Marlin, what do you need to borrow money for? And why will you pay it back tomorrow? What's so urgent?"

Instructor Anfia, who was standing nearby, burst out laughing. "We borrowed money too, and we'll pay it back tomorrow as well. Instructor Marlin has to hand over his entire salary to his wife every time he gets paid, so he's always troubled by his lack of drinking money. That's why he just came up with a brilliant way to make some money. He plans to take advantage of the timing gap and use the borrowed money and his salary to create a private fund for himself. Then he won't have to worry about drinking anymore."

"What brilliant idea? Borrow money today and repay it tomorrow, and you can get enough private money in one night to never worry about drinking again? Even loan sharks don't make money in just one day!" Lorist thought for a long while, but still couldn't figure out what Instructor Marlin's money-making scheme was.

"Actually, this idea has something to do with you," Instructor Anfia said with a smile.

"Me? What is it?"

"Tomorrow is the academy's dueling day again, isn't it? Your opponent is Clearwater Academy, ranked seventeenth, right? That academy isn't anything special, so it will probably just be a formality. Instructor Marlin plans to scrape together one hundred gold coins to bet on you winning. Although a large silver coin only wins a small silver coin, one hundred gold coins would still earn him twenty gold coins. That would be enough for Instructor Marlin to drink for several years," Instructor Anfia explained.

Lorist looked at Instructor Marlin with an expression of helpless amusement. After all that, this was the lousy idea you had come up with? He also wondered whether the dean would fly into a rage if they actually won. "Brother Marlin, you really dare to think of anything. You're borrowing my money to bet on me winning. What happens if I lose? If you want to drink, I'll treat you. How about we go to the Red Raven Tavern tonight?"

Instructor Marlin chuckled shamelessly. "If you lose, you're responsible for yourself. Alcohol you buy yourself always tastes better. Besides, it's fine if you treat me once or twice, but I'd be too embarrassed to keep accepting your hospitality. It wouldn't be right to freeload drinks every day."

"Aren't you afraid the dean will come after you? You're obviously trying to snatch money from the academy!"

"For the sake of alcohol, brother, I'm throwing caution to the wind. Besides, we can say this is the instructor group's way of showing support and encouragement for you. Tomorrow morning, all the instructors and assistants who have nothing else to do will go cheer you on. Then the academy won't be able to do anything to us."

"All right. Since you've already thought it through, I have nothing to say. Don't sleep tonight. Pray that I won't capsize in a ditch tomorrow." Lorist headed toward the door, then suddenly remembered something. "By the way, Brother Marlin, when President Peterson mentioned the three-thousand-Gold-Fude prize last time, you didn't seem very excited. Can you tell me why?"

"Oh, that? I saw plenty of that in the City Defense Army. Whenever cannon fodder was needed, the officers would shout about how whoever charged first would receive a hundred gold coins or something like that. After hearing it so often, I got used to it. No matter how large the amount is, I don't react anymore." Instructor Marlin answered with complete indifference.

"Uh..." Lorist was speechless...

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Lorist first went to see Young Master Peterson, who was working hard to lose weight. Under the encouragement of the whip, the former fatty had successfully lost more than seventy pounds after nearly fifty days of unremitting effort, though he still weighed around three hundred pounds. After taking the fatty young master's pulse, the instructor beside him who was responsible for supervising him with a whip reported that the training was going smoothly. The only problem was that the young master had gone mad wanting to eat meat. Just now, when the instructor had stood a little too close, the young master had lunged forward, grabbed his arm, and bitten down. If he had not reacted quickly and used Battle Qi to protect his arm, that bite would have taken at least a pound of flesh. Afterward, he had given the young master a thorough whipping before the young master finally came to his senses.

No wonder the young master had been so obedient while Lorist was taking his pulse. It turned out he had just been disciplined. After pondering for a moment, Lorist decided to add one meat dish to each of the young master's meals. "How about this? Starting tomorrow, breakfast will remain unchanged. At noon, add a small boiled chicken weighing about a pound. In the evening, add a steamed fish. Neither dish may contain oil; just add a little salt. However, we'll also begin the second training plan tomorrow. Since the food is improving, the high-intensity exercise has to keep up as well."

After watching the fatty young master lie on the ground like a dead fish while doing sit-ups, Lorist felt that enough time had passed and that he should go to the great auditorium. That afternoon was the time for the first batch of one hundred and fifty-two students in the first Battle Qi Enlightenment Class to awaken their Battle Qi. As the chief instructor, he had to show his face.

When Lorist arrived at the great auditorium, the timing was perfect. The students preparing to awaken their Battle Qi had already gathered and formed ranks. Instructor Marlin invited Lorist onto the stage to give the students a final pep talk.

Lorist stepped onto the stage and pointed at the huge pentagram hanging on the wall. "I believe everyone has become familiar with and memorized this pentagram during this period. This is the Great Bloodline Circulation of Basic Battle Qi. In a moment, when you enter the meditation rooms, relax your bodies, focus your minds, and imagine this pentagram-shaped Great Bloodline Circulation operating within your bodies. You'll soon be able to sense the Qi Sensation forming inside you. That means you've awakened your Battle Qi. There's no need to be nervous. You won't fail. Your bodies have already reached their optimal state of essence, qi, and spirit. I examined your bodies over the past two days, and I'm full of confidence in every one of you. So relax, be confident, and awaken your Battle Qi with smiles on your faces."

Lorist's words drew a low ripple of laughter from the students below. Then, under the guidance of the instructors and assistants, groups of students filed into the temporary meditation rooms. They would remain inside for one to two hours and come out after awakening their Battle Qi.

Awakening Battle Qi was actually simple and not complicated, but no matter how peacefully someone sat and pondered, if their body was unhealthy, they would not be able to sense the Qi Sensation forming within them. After awakening their Battle Qi, the students would also have to familiarize themselves with and practice using it under an instructor's guidance, allowing their bodies to adapt to its circulation. They would continue until their Battle Qi reached the Bronze One-Star standard and entered the rank. After that, advancing their Battle Qi would depend on their own cultivation.

Lorist also visited the other three classes. Feeling that he had fulfilled his duties as chief instructor, he was preparing to return home when Bill, the Peterson family's butler, hurried over and said that President Peterson had arrived and wanted Lorist to meet him.

Bill led Lorist through a winding route for quite some time. Whenever Lorist spoke to him, Bill responded perfunctorily, which left Lorist somewhat puzzled. What's going on? This butler Bill seems to have a serious grudge against me. Could it be because he thinks our training to help that fatty young master lose weight is abuse, and has therefore held a grudge? He doesn't look like much, but he's certainly loyal. That's a good quality.

Lorist never imagined that Butler Bill had already lost more than twenty gold coins betting on him. If he had not stopped in time, he would have lost another dozen or so this month. To Bill, seeing Lorist now was like seeing the more than twenty gold coins he had lost. How could he possibly give Lorist a pleasant expression? The fact that he did not pounce on him and bite him a couple of times was already a sign of considerable restraint.

Finally, Butler Bill led Lorist to a small grove beside the training field. Only then did Lorist discover that President Peterson was hiding behind the bushes with his butt sticking out, secretly watching the fatty young master undergo physical training under the whip's urging. Every time the whip cracked, President Peterson shuddered as though it had struck him personally.

Lorist wore an expression of helpless amusement. "President, I can understand hiding so your beloved son won't see me, but why did you have to sneak your chief instructor over here as well? You kept skulking around the whole way. I thought you were planning something criminal."

President Peterson was extremely satisfied with the results of his fat son's weight loss over the past fifty days. Anyone could see that the young master had slimmed down considerably, and seeing that his son could still run and jump made President Peterson ecstatic. At home, his son was famous for being lazy. If he could sit, he would never stand; if he could lie down, he would never sit. After walking for a short while, he would be panting heavily. President Peterson had wanted to discipline him more strictly, but the old lady, the first madam, and the second madam all doted on and protected the fatty boy, refusing to let him be touched, leaving him helpless.

Although the boy was currently being threatened by the instructor's whip into doing physical training, it was still better than staying at home and refusing to exercise. Of course, President Peterson had also objected to the whip, wondering whether it was too thick and whether the instructor was cracking it too frequently and too forcefully.

Lorist explained with a smile that a thick whip would not injure the tendons or bones. It hurt a great deal when it struck, but it would not draw blood, and after applying some medicine when training ended, the marks would be gone the next day. As for the instructor striking so quickly, he had been forced to do so. Who told the young master to be so lazy? The moment no one was watching, he would cut corners. Without proper training, it was difficult to achieve good results, so the instructors serving as training partners had no choice but to harden their hearts.

Lorist said meaningfully, "It's better to suffer some pain now than greater pain in the future. We're not merely helping the young master lose weight; we're also helping him establish the correct attitude toward life. Once the young master awakens his Battle Qi and returns home, he won't be able to live the same gluttonous and lazy life as before."

President Peterson...

After remaining silent for a while, President Peterson said, "Actually, I came today for another reason. Bill has praised that steam bath to the skies, which aroused my curiosity. So I deliberately made time today to experience it. Of course, I also wanted to see how my beloved son was doing. Now that I've seen my son, I'd like to thank Chief Instructor Locke and the other instructors for all the effort and painstaking work you've put in. I believe Chief Instructor Locke will make my wish come true."

Lorist nodded. The morning's duel performance had made him sweat all over, leaving him feeling uncomfortable. He had also spoken in a somewhat lecturing tone just now and felt a little awkward. Now that President Peterson had conveniently offered him a way out, how could he not take it? "I wonder if I might have the honor of inviting you to experience this steam bath?"

President Peterson smiled. "Of course you can..."

"Ah, that feels wonderful." Sitting in the steam bath with a towel wrapped around his lower body, President Peterson was drenched in sweat as he leaned against the wooden platform.

Lorist was ladling cold water over the glowing-hot cobblestones. White steam rose in waves, and the bathhouse had already become so hot that it was difficult to breathe.

"After steaming once, go outside and rinse yourself. After three rounds of steaming and rinsing, you'll feel especially refreshed. Steam baths are actually very beneficial to the skin and overall health. However, you can't stay in the bathhouse for too long. Generally, ten-odd minutes is best," Lorist said. His voice sounded somewhat muffled in the steam bath.

"I'll build one at home too. It might be nice to hold a steam-bath party then, with everyone naked and completely exposed to one another. Heh heh." President Peterson suddenly had a strange idea.

"That isn't a good idea, because you won't know whether any of your guests have hidden ailments or contagious diseases. A home bathhouse is the owner's private domain, and outsiders should not be allowed inside. If you want to hold steam-bath parties, you might as well build a high-class steam bathhouse and add services such as body scrubbing, massages, and pedicures. The business should be quite good," Lorist said.

"Right! How did I not think of that..." President Peterson sat up and began pondering with shining eyes.

Before getting into his carriage, President Peterson reached into his robe, took out three palm-sized sheets of paper, and slapped them into Lorist's hand. "The first is to thank you for giving me such a good business idea. Since you came up with the business, I'd feel embarrassed to take it for free, so this is my way of showing my gratitude. The second is to express my thanks to all the instructors in the instructor group. The third is my personal thanks to Chief Instructor Locke. I'll be entrusting my beloved son to you."

They were three gold certificates, each with a face value of one hundred gold coins. Once they reached the temple of the Goddess of Serkin, who governed commerce and wealth, they could be exchanged for three hundred Gold Fude. As expected of the Peterson family, one of the seven great merchant houses of the Commercial Alliance—they were truly generous.

Lorist bowed and inclined his body slightly in gratitude. "Thank you, President. Please rest assured. We certainly won't fail you."