I Came to Rule This Place!

He Tao wrestled with his decision, his faint eyebrows drawing together until they nearly tied themselves in a knot.

Faced with Jiang Dongjun's blunt offer to recruit him, he did not take the opportunity to ask for anything, such as a hundred-year soul ring... He Tao simply kept his head down and weighed things up himself.

He did not keep Jiang Dongjun waiting long before handing the notebook back.

He Tao: Boss, make sure you stick close to me at noon. There are too many students at the academy. When lunchtime comes, they all charge toward the cafeteria like hungry wolves. If you run too slowly and get there late, you really might not get anything to eat.

He Tao: ╥﹏╥...

Uh, eating at the cafeteria? Sure, that works.

With that settled, Jiang Dongjun lost interest in chatting and sat up straight.

Just as Li Qun, standing at the lectern, finally thought the little troublemaker from Brother Jiang's family was going to pay attention, Jiang Dongjun closed his eyes again and began meditating.

Li Qun: ...

Not angry, not angry. I'm not angry.

He had to pamper Young Master Jiang like his own father. If this kid threw down his tools, quit studying, and ran home, Li Qun would be the one left crying.

This monster from the Jiang Family was no ordinary feather in his cap. He might very well break a record Shrek Academy had set two hundred years ago!

-A True Dragon Soul Master had once entered Shrek Academy at eight years old and level twenty!

Li Qun fantasized to himself: if someone with comparable talent emerged from his class, surely he could transfer from teaching to administration?

Then he would have more money, less work, and no worries. It would practically be early retirement. Beautiful.

Soon, noon arrived.

With a miserable expression, He Tao led Jiang Dongjun into the cafeteria.

The first-floor hall was a seething mass of people, stirring memories in Jiang Dongjun's heart of fighting for food back in high school.

He had been quite gifted at it back then. Even from the fifth floor, as long as no teacher he knew was on the stairs to rein in his speed, he could be the first person at one of the cafeteria's serving windows.

Later, when he changed classes and moved to the first floor, he became downright heaven-defying. Sometimes he arrived before the cafeteria ladies had even brought the dishes out to the counter.

Just now, He Tao had lost some time waking him from his meditation.

On the way, He Tao had urged him to run a little, but Jiang Dongjun was long past his edgy adolescent years and could not quite bring himself to do it. He Tao could hardly leave him behind, either.

Thus, the two had ambled into the cafeteria.

Looking at the impenetrable throng of students lined up at the serving windows, He Tao's expression grew even more miserable.

"Boss, we're doomed. By the time it's our turn, there might only be some vegetable broth and plain rice left."

Jiang Dongjun's attention, however, was not on the food. He immediately let out a curse.

"Fucking hell! You're this young and they won't even give you chairs? Wait, where are the tables? They won't even give you tables?"

He Tao said timidly, "Boss, there's nothing we can do. There are too many students at the academy. Tables and chairs take up too much space, make it harder to line up for food, and slow things down."

Very good. I officially recognize you as the Elementary Soul Master Academy affiliated with Shrek Academy.

"But, Boss, shouldn't we be more worried about what we're having for lunch? You've only just arrived, so you don't know. If you're at the back of the line, there really will only be plain rice or flour-based food with vegetable broth left."

Jiang Dongjun glanced at the stairs nearby. "I haven't seen many students going up to the second floor. There should be fewer people up there. Let's eat upstairs."

With that, he started toward the stairs.

He Tao hurriedly stopped him.

"Boss, there aren't many people upstairs because meals there are paid for in Silver Soul Coins. On the third floor, they even charge Gold Soul Coins. Let's just eat down here. The academy accommodates us, so a meal only costs one Copper Soul Coin. It's tasty and cheap."

"Oh? Meals priced in Gold Soul Coins? Now I have to see what they taste like. Come on, upstairs with me."

He Tao could hardly stand against Jiang Dongjun, who forcibly dragged him up to the third floor. He was almost in tears, but the moment they stepped out of the stairwell, the little pudgy boy was stunned by the third floor's lavish decor.

There was no shortage of wealthy people in Shrek City. Dozens of students were already dining on the third floor, and elegant court orchestral music played from a Soul Guidance Gramophone in the corner. Quiet and refined, it matched everything He Tao imagined high society to be.

"Go find somewhere to sit. I'll get your food. You'll eat whatever I'm eating."

Jiang Dongjun did not suggest taking He Tao along to get the food.

The boy would probably collapse on weak knees the moment he reached the serving window, his tongue trembling so badly he would not even be able to squeeze out a fart.

"B-Boss, n-no need. I'll watch you eat. In a bit... in a bit, I'll just go downstairs and get something."

"Did you forget what I said in class? Just go find a seat and relax. Even an emperor doesn't send out hungry soldiers. Didn't you say you were willing to help me with a few things?"

He Tao remembered. Gritting his teeth, he edged along the wall to find a seat, his calves trembling.

Jiang Dongjun approached the serving window and discovered there was no need to agonize over his choice. There were only two dishes.

One was beef stew. His blind guess was that it came from a ten-year bovine Soul Beast; hundred-year beef was probably supplied to Shrek Academy's outer court cafeteria.

The other was a thick soup similar to hot pepper soup, apparently containing meat, seafood, dried ingredients, and medicinal herbs.

The two dishes made up one meal, priced at five Gold Soul Coins.

Rice and baked flatbread were set off to the side, free to take in whatever quantities one wanted.

Carrying a tray in each hand, Jiang Dongjun brought four bowls of food over to He Tao. The boy stared wide-eyed at the exquisite dishes before him. He had never seen such delicacies, and his Adam's apple bobbed.

"Go get your own rice or bread. Let's eat first."

After that, neither spoke again. They ate quietly, with only the faint sound of chewing remaining.

Until, after they finished eating-

"I've got two little walnuts!"

Jiang Dongjun: ???

No way, bro.

This fucking Soul Curse mechanic.

Looking at the walnuts offered by those little chubby hands, Jiang Dongjun was fortunate to have enough self-control not to laugh. His expression did not change, either.

He calmly took the walnuts, cracked them open, dug out the kernels, and ate them.

"Tsk... raw walnuts. The flavor's a little lacking. Once you have a soul ring, they should taste much better."

"Boss, you're the first person to treat me to a meal, and the first person who hasn't laughed at my Soul Curse and has treated my Martial Soul normally."

The little chubby boy lowered his head, almost burying it beneath the table to keep Jiang Dongjun from seeing his face. Still, Jiang Dongjun noticed glistening drops sliding down both his cheeks.

"Boss, just tell me. As long as it won't get me expelled, and as long as you're not asking for my life, whatever you need help with, I'll do everything I can."

Jiang Dongjun did not stand on ceremony. He said bluntly:

"It's simple, Walnut. I need you to challenge the Soul Masters in every year who have hundred-year soul rings. Whether they have one ring or two, challenge them all. I'm a battle-crazed maniac who rejoices at the mere mention of a fight. I want to weigh up the caliber of this academy's Soul Masters."

As he spoke, Jiang Dongjun took two paper-wrapped cylinders out of his Storage Ring, set them on the dining table, and pushed them toward He Tao.

"Make the challenges a little formal. Here are twenty Gold Soul Coins. Buy enough invitation cards, write the message inside, and deliver them one by one. Observe all the proper courtesies. Tomorrow... no, I'll give you another day. At noon the day after tomorrow, I want to see them on the playground."

"Walnut, can you do that?"

He Tao forgot about wiping the traces from his face and hurriedly raised his head. Looking at the paper cylinders on the table, his Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed.

"B-Boss, I can do it, but the money... I won't need this much money."

As he spoke, his little chubby hands moved to push the two paper cylinders back.

Jiang Dongjun pressed his hand down, his tone brooking no argument. "This is the operating budget I'm giving you. How you spend it is your business. But once you take the money, you must get this done properly for me."

He Tao agonized for a while, then gritted his teeth again before finally putting away the Gold Soul Coins.

It was far too much.

"B-Boss, I understand. But how much information about you can I reveal in the invitations? And what kind of tone should I use for the challenges?"

"My Martial Soul, age, soul power level, soul ring age-anything you know about me, you can tell them. I don't care how you challenge them. I only want to see them on the playground at noon the day after tomorrow, and then defeat them!"

"I didn't come here to study. I came to rule this place!"