Chapter 6: The Dual-Emblem Envoys and Student Recruitment (Second Update)

An ordinary Emblem Master can only awaken one emblem in their lifetime. The awakening occurs between the ages of seven and ten, and the emblem's profession is determined by the individual's innate talents and strengths.

However, where there is the ordinary, there is the special! This is relative.

Some children awaken their emblems before the age of seven, and after turning seven, they awaken a second emblem, becoming Dual Emblem Masters.

As long as a Dual Emblem Master’s cultivation talent is not too poor, with the help of two emblems, their future path will be broader, and their achievements will not be low.

However, because most Dual Emblem Masters achieve significant success, and the probability of a Dual Emblem Master appearing is only one in ten thousand, they are shrouded in a veil of mystery.

They are even regarded by the general public as "natural-born geniuses"!

But in reality, awakening two emblems does not improve one's innate talent; it merely opens up a wider path for future development and makes combat more flexible and versatile. Moreover, cultivating two professions simultaneously consumes more resources. If one does not know how to prioritize or lacks proper guidance, it is impossible to reach a profound level in either profession. Their future path will not go far, and they will eventually fade into the crowd.

However, because Dual Emblem Masters are so rare, these facts are not widely known, and the average person is unaware of them.

Coupled with a recent incident that has left the senior management of Cloud City Emblem Academy feeling very embarrassed, they are in urgent need of recruiting a "natural-born genius" with the potential to become a Dual Emblem Master!

……

The continent is divided into three countries, and Cloud City is a first-tier city in Azpedan, known as the Land of Red Earth.

Azpedan has three top-tier cities, representing politics, economy, and knowledge, respectively.

Beneath these three top-tier cities are twelve first-tier cities, hundreds of second-tier cities, and countless third-tier cities and rural areas.

The twelve first-tier cities are subordinate to the three top-tier cities, divided equally among them.

Cloud City is a subordinate city of Akamoi, the city representing knowledge.

Perhaps because it is a subordinate city of Akamoi, the four first-tier cities under its jurisdiction focus on cultural development. Their Emblem Academies also lean toward cultural studies, offering far more cultural courses than the Emblem Academies in other first-tier cities. The students who graduate from them are more adept at fighting with their brains, specializing in professions that favor wisdom, such as Mages and Summoners.

In literature, there is no first place; in martial arts, there is no second.

The Emblem Academies in the four first-tier cities compete with each other in every aspect.

For a long time, the four first-tier cities have had their share of wins and losses, keeping things relatively balanced, including in terms of enhancing school reputation and external recruitment!

Recently, the Emblem Academies in the other three first-tier cities each recruited a "natural-born genius" who awakened an emblem before the age of five and has the potential to become a Dual Emblem Master. They publicized this heavily, causing the status of those three academies in the eyes of the public to surpass that of Cloud City Emblem Academy.

Often, an academy's prestige is tied to its students.

On one hand, it is about producing excellent students; on the other, it is about recruiting them!

It is much like how, after the college entrance exams every year, a group of special "hunters" goes to lobby the provincial top scorers to enter the universities they represent.

Then, news spreads that "so-and-so provincial top scorer has enrolled in such-and-such school," giving the school a boost in prestige.

Even if the level of the schools is similar and their status is the same, the more geniuses a school recruits, the more it appears superior to others, making its reputation louder and strengthening the general public's trust in the academy.

Although it is just a matter of saving face, unfortunately, the culture of the four first-tier cities under Akamoi places great importance on face!

Furthermore, recruiting a genius means a greater chance of future fame. A few years later, another elite emerges, which can once again promote the academy's name—it is absolutely a win-win investment!

"What? Your standards are the same? Then why didn't that genius enroll in your academy? It must be because your academy isn't good enough!"

At this moment, Cloud City Emblem Academy is in such an awkward position.

Why did the other three academies recruit geniuses with the potential to become Dual Emblem Masters, but yours didn't?

"Our academy offers better benefits!"

"Then why didn't you recruit a genius with the potential to become a Dual Emblem Master?"

"Our academy has a stronger faculty!"

"Then why didn't you recruit a genius with the potential to become a Dual Emblem Master?"

"Our academy produces more geniuses!"

"Then why didn't you recruit a genius with the potential to become a Dual Emblem Master?"

"#%￥%￥&*&*%%"

How can one explain it? It’s impossible to explain clearly.

With enrollment approaching, if they cannot regain their prestige, they will lose many excellent students this year, and perhaps for years to come.

Without excellent students, the future development of Cloud City Emblem Academy will be severely impacted, and it might truly fall to being the "worst of the four cities."

Do we not care about our reputation?

Because of this, many senior members of the academy have been worrying themselves gray recently. They have even resorted to poaching, but the strength of the other three academies is on par with Cloud City Emblem Academy, and they simply won't give Cloud City Emblem Academy a chance.

In the end, even the Dean and the senior elders went out to search for any undiscovered children with the potential to become Dual Emblem Masters.

It would not be an exaggeration to say they were waiting with bated breath.

The reason Andy was at the main gate earlier was that he had been out searching and had returned empty-handed.

And then... Baili Yuan came bouncing along.

It was simply—"walking right into the trap"!

……

After hearing the ins and outs, Baili Yuan rubbed his chin.

Am I in a situation where I am "a rare commodity to be hoarded"?

Does that mean... I can negotiate terms with them?

Gentlemen, I suddenly have a bold idea!

Sensing Baili Yuan's malicious gaze, Andy narrowed his eyes.

"Well, it doesn't matter if you refuse. Our academy has a specialized brainwashing team. As long as we send you in, we can definitely brainwash you into a slave of the academy. Besides, there are quite a few muscular hunks in that team who love little boys like you~" Andy said with a casual attitude.

Baili Yuan's body trembled.

"I think your esteemed academy suits me perfectly, so I have decided to join!" Baili Yuan said hurriedly.

"Then it's a happy decision. Senior elders, I'm going to help little Yuan with the enrollment procedures."

With that, Andy grabbed Baili Yuan and left, leaving behind a group of senior elders and the Dean of Students.

"When did our academy have a brainwashing department? A-Yue, do you know?" one senior elder asked.

"Reporting to the senior elder, we don't. It must be something the Dean made up to get Baili Yuan to agree to enroll," the Dean of Students replied.

"I see." The senior elders nodded.

"As expected of Andy, still as clever as ever. Let's go follow and see," the senior elders said.

"By the way, don't let this slip. A-Yue, remember to help Andy cover it up. Don't let Baili Yuan find out he's being lied to," one senior elder instructed the Dean of Students.

"Please rest assured, senior elders, I know what to do," the Dean of Students said, nodding expressionlessly. His glasses shifted, reflecting a beam of light that obscured his eyes.