Ethan's Direction of Effort Was a Bit Different from the Norm

The words fell.

A sharp intake of breath echoed through the common room!

Students stared in shock at Sean and Ethan, and many upperclassmen let out groans of regret.

Hiss—!

This was the top-tier club everyone dreamed of joining, a badge of identity: the "Round Table Council."

It was said.

Every single member had gone on to become a heavyweight in the Ministry of Magic.

They made no effort to hide their clique-like nature.

It was the strongest network of connections a student could have in their school years.

Even other houses, especially Slytherin, kept close ties with the club's members.

Limited by cognition and knowledge.

The Round Table Council had never deigned to let lower-year students join.

This year's second-year addition, Cho Chang, was already considered an exceptional case.

Who would have thought that Sean, one of the two Vice Presidents, would personally invite Ethan, who had only been at school for two months, to join?!

But then again.

Thinking about what Ethan had done since the start of the term.

It seemed—not so impossible after all, right?

After all, Ethan's "achievements" in two months outnumbered what most students accomplished in seven.

"Gorgon on the run!"

Michael's eyes nearly popped out, as if he were the one receiving the invitation.

He tugged frantically at Ethan's sleeve, saying with boundless envy:

"Your top-priority dating rights for the next seven years! Ugh! I'm so jealous!"

"..."

That's all you've got in your head.

Ethan slapped Michael's paw away.

He turned to face the older student before him.

In the other's eyes, Ethan saw contempt, resentment, and smugness.

Clearly, the guy thought offering him a spot in the club was an act of charity.

He probably even wanted to spit out, "What a creep, so disgusting!"

Only...

He hadn't said he wanted to join, had he?

Ethan: "Thank you, Senior, for giving me this chance to join Ravenclaw's top club—"

"Hmph."

Sean smirked arrogantly, crossing his arms and looking down at the stupid little brat in front of him.

Yare yare~

He really didn't want to let a first-year kid into their noble organization.

Fine, he'd just let him in and then ignore him.

Toss him some scraps now and then to keep him quiet.

Even that was something the other fools dreamed of.

What Sean didn't see was Prefect Robert's pitying gaze.

Ethan: "—but I refuse."

Sean: "Hmph, I'll reluctantly let you join, then. Remember, don't ask stupid questions about everything—refuse?"

It was as if he'd heard the word "refuse" for the first time in his life.

His entire face twisted in shock and disbelief, his eyes bulging like brass bells.

"Wait."

Ethan took half a step back, his brow furrowing slightly.

"You're not going to say next, 'You're the first person to ever refuse me, I'll remember this,' are you? This isn't a teen drama."

Sean: "..."

The words stuck in his throat, nearly choking him to death.

Fucking hell.

Listening to this brat's crap was worse than taking a punch.

On the other side, watching Sean, whose face had turned purple as he choked on his words...

Prefect Robert tilted his chin up, squinted his eyes, and let out a satisfied "Ah."

That felt good.

Finally, someone shared his pain.

Nothing was more enjoyable than watching Ethan mess with someone else.

And it wasn't just Sean.

The moment Ethan's words left his mouth, the entire common room fell dead silent again.

Nothing was more shocking than being invited by a top-tier group—and then ruthlessly turning it down!

Michael's jaw nearly dropped off.

He stared at Ethan in disbelief, unable to process what he'd just heard.

Turning down the right to choose a partner for the next seven years?!

Kid, do you have someone on the side, is that why you're so cocky?!

Even Professor Flitwick hadn't expected this outcome.

He stumbled, nearly falling off the table.

A long moment passed.

Sean finally snapped out of it.

Boom—his cheeks burned red-hot!

"How dare you—how could you—do you even know what the Round Table Council stands for?!"

Sean roared in fury and humiliation.

He suddenly leaned in, getting close to Ethan, and lowered his voice:

"With a professor here, I can't say much. But Mr. Vincent, you clueless fool, do you have any idea what you just rejected?"

"We're all future key figures in the Ministry of Magic. You didn't just reject an invitation—you rejected your path into the Ministry!"

The meaning was clear.

Petty retaliation.

Before even stepping into the Ministry, he'd already mastered the bureaucracy.

Ethan narrowed his eyes, his nose twitching as he looked at Sean with a hint of scrutiny.

He seemed to catch the stench of oppressive power...

"There are two mistakes in what you just said."

In full view of everyone, Ethan spoke slowly.

As if the threat hadn't registered, he calmly raised a hand and held up one finger:

"First, why do you assume my future goal is the Ministry of Magic?"

Sean froze at that, blurting out, "All Ravenclaws aim for the Ministry—"

"Bullshit," Michael muttered. "My goal is to live it up and bed every beauty in the world—ow!"

Ethan tossed the brat aside with a Levitation Charm, stopping him an inch from the fireplace.

"Your first mistake is being too arrogant."

"You think everyone's goal is the same as yours, or that your goal is the most ambitious and idealistic."

"My goal has never been some petty Ministry of Magic—it's the world."

When that last word landed, everyone gasped, holding their breath.

—The world!

Such an ordinary word.

But coming from Ethan's mouth, it struck like a bronze bell hitting the ground!

A jolt shot through everyone!

Professor Flitwick was practically tearing up, hopping up and down, muttering, "Good, good!"

In a daze, he seemed to see the glorious era of the Four Founders a thousand years ago.

Was the Ravenclaw eagle finally about to take flight?!

"You, you can't even get into the Ministry! And you talk big!" Sean stammered, half-shocked, half-furious, stepping back involuntarily.

To his surprise, Ethan nodded very bluntly.

"That's right. I probably won't get into the Ministry. Because—"

"I'll probably fail the political review."

Sean: "..."

The students: "..."

What... what a straightforward reason!

Sean wanted to argue, but found he had no comeback.

Indeed, with Ethan's Netherworld-style antics—daring to go after a professor in his first year—by second year he'd blow up the school!

...No, that probably wouldn't happen, right?

Either way, with those records, even if he didn't interfere, the Ministry of Magic's review—yeah, it probably wouldn't pass!

At that moment, Sean felt like he'd punched a wad of cotton.

Frustrated beyond belief.

"But," Ethan curved his lips and offered a considerate consolation, "Azkaban is also under the Ministry of Magic. If you really want to work with me that badly, I suppose I could make an effort."

"Who, who wants to work with you—wait, where did you say you'd make an effort to get into?"

Make an effort to get into Azkaban?

Ethan Vincent had lost his mind!!