The next day, after the morning exercises, Wade held his meal and watched as the apprentice at the corner of the kitchen passed a meal tray to the kitchen lady, which she served to Levi.

  Wade looked on with a sinister smile before taking his meal and walking to the second floor.

  “What’s wrong with that guy today?”

  Levi looked at Wade’s back with a puzzled expression. That guy is strangely quiet today. He is starting to get used to hearing that guy’s foul words and sarcastic remarks after the end of each training session.

  Shaking his head, Levi stopped thinking about this and walked towards a dining table on the side.

  Soon after, the cafeteria was gradually filled with trainees; each one held their meal tray and either sat at the table or on the floor and ate.

  “Ren, the training is getting harder and harder! This is not something common folks can go through!”

  Ron rubbed his aching muscles and complained.

  “You don’t have to complain, you’re already doing very well. The sad ones are those guys that hadn’t seen much improvement over the past three weeks.”

  Ren calmly sipped his soup and said,

  “Besides, there are only 10 days left before the end of the first month, so you should be worrying about how to pass the exam.”

  “Indeed, although my strength has grown a lot since the beginning of this month, I’m still a bit nervous about the upcoming exam.” Jerry worriedly said.

  “Don’t worry! We’ve grown a lot stronger! I’m sure we can pass!” Ron said optimistically.

  As the three of them chatted about various topics, Ren was looking at Levi and the cooking apprentice at the back of the kitchen from the corner of his eye.

  Levi was calmly eating his food alone at a table. This guy was isolated from the beginning of the guards’ test.

  This wasn’t just due to the conflict between Levi and Wade; it’s also because Wade has especially threatened all trainees to not contact him.

  Wade has employed various strategies to subdue Levi, including isolation and bullying. From beating Levi’s roommate and anyone who even talks to him to throwing garbage at him and humiliating him in any way he could.

  If it weren’t for Levi being very strong and tough, and Ren’s secret help, he would have suffered a terrible fate due to Wade’s tactics.

  ‘Now that he couldn’t find any way to bring Levi down before the first month’s exam, he’s resorting to poisoning him... Even though I was the one who designed Wade as the villain of this play, I have to admire his low-handedness. He doesn’t have any moral bottom line at all.’

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Ren sighed. This guy is simply the perfect low-level villain. Instead of improving himself and looking for ways to face the challenge head-on, he just relies on cheap tactics and dirty tricks to try and bring his opponent down.

  ‘But isn’t this the reason I chose him? Further amplifying his half-sibling's contempt and disdain for him, then driving him to participate in the guards’ test, caused me to be quite tired, but it’s worth it.’

  Ren thought with a faint smile.

  ‘But speaking of it, that guy couldn’t be more obvious. Anyone can see his nervous expression. If I hadn’t interfered yesterday, he would have been stopped and questioned a long time ago.’

  He looked at the nervous cooking apprentice at the back of the kitchen and thought.

  ‘Then again, I’m not a monster who can use anyone and throw them aside, at least not now. I have arranged a special opportunity for him to escape. Though the rest will have to depend on him…’

  “Ren! What are you thinking about so deeply? I’ve called you several times, but you didn’t respond.”

  Ron waved his hands in front of his face and said.

  Looking at the high-spirited young man in front of him, Ren couldn’t help but sigh.

  “I was thinking about something, Ron. What did you say?”

  “I asked about your guess about the exam at the end of the month. I guessed it’s an endurance test, and Jerry guessed it would be a strength test. What about you?”

  Ron eagerly asked,

  “Who knows? Maybe it will be both?”

  Ren asked back with a faint smile.

  “Hey! Can’t you give a more serious guess?”

  Ron complained about his friend’s lazy response, but Ren just smiled in response.

  The three of them soon began talking about other things. Such are conversations amongst young boys, often jumping from one topic to the other.

  As the days slowly passed, the first monthly exam came closer and closer, and finally, at the end of the first month. There was just one day left before the first monthly test.

  …………….

  “Haha! I found you, Ren! Mark is the last one that I haven’t found yet, but it won’t take long. I’ll find him and prove that I’m the hide and seek champion!”

  Ron grinned as he looked at Ren, who was hiding behind the bushes.

  “Are you a dog or what, Ron? Why can you always find us no matter where we hide?”

  Ren complained as he slowly stood up and dusted his clothes.

  “Hahaha! Of course, it’s because I’m the greatest detective in the world! Nothing can escape my sight!” Ron proudly proclaimed.

  “Heh! I think nothing can escape your nose! Well, go look for the others, I’m tired; I’ll go back to the dormitory room first.” Ren waved his hand and said.

  “By the way, don’t overdo it. Remember that the instructor has told us to rest today. If you overexert or injure yourselves, thereby affecting your performance in the test tomorrow, you’ll have no one to cry to.”

  Ren said as he slowly walked away.

  “Of course we know, Ren. Isn’t it just because we’re too nervous for tomorrow’s exam that we agreed to go out and play and relax? We’ll just play for a bit and then go back and rest!” Ron energetically replied before scurrying off to look for the others.

  Ren looked at him silently before shaking his head and heading back to the dormitory room.