"Hydis Magic Academy is a top-tier magic academy, so its admission process is different from other academies," Holan explained.

  "The academy employs a special advancement system. All students are top talents who have risen from one of Hydis' affiliated magic academies."

  "There are thirteen affiliated magic academies in total. You’re from Ocean City, right? Ocean City Magic Academy is one of them."

  "Each year, the top one hundred students from the affiliated magic academies earn direct admission into Hydis Magic Academy."

  "So if you want to enter Hydis Magic Academy, this is one way."

  "However, as you said, you don't want to be a student. And considering that you’re a mercenary, I doubt you’d be willing to sit in classrooms all day studying..."

  Caius snapped his fingers. "Exactly. So what should I do?"

  Holan leisurely picked up a cookie. In just this short time, the little catgirl who had followed Caius had already devoured most of the snacks on the plate.

  With a graceful motion, Holan took a bite from the square-shaped cookie, then sipped her tea elegantly before continuing.

  "So, there are two other ways for you to enter Hydis Magic Academy."

  "One, internal recruitment."

  "If a mentor or someone with internal recruitment privileges takes a liking to you, they can directly admit you into the academy. Your role would depend on their decision."

  "You could be a student, a research assistant, or even an adjunct instructor—it all depends on the mentor’s arrangement."

  "However, the mentors at Hydis Magic Academy have extremely high standards. If you don’t have talent, no matter how hard you try to stand out, they won’t choose you."

  Hearing this, Caius’s eyes lit up, staring eagerly at Holan.

  Holan raised an eyebrow before chuckling. "Don’t even think about it. There’s no way I’m recruiting you."

  "Why not?" Caius asked.

  "Each mentor only has one internal recruitment slot per year. I’ve already allocated mine. She’s a member of my research team and needs it more than you do."

  "If you’re willing to wait another year..." Holan’s beautiful eyes gleamed with amusement. "Maybe I’ll consider you then."

  Caius chuckled and waved his hand. "Let’s talk about the second method."

  Holan pursed her lips, finished her cookie, brushed off the crumbs from her fingers, and continued.

  "The second method is also the one I think suits you best."

  "Become an academy-affiliated field agent."

  "Besides students, the academy also employs personnel within its system. Every year, a number of field agent slots are released."

  "And what exactly do these field agents do?" Caius asked.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  "Think of them as mercenaries who prioritize academy tasks," Holan explained.

  "The academy has many missions, some of which students cannot complete. For example, long-distance, high-risk escort missions, capturing or hunting dangerous magical beasts, and other hazardous or complex tasks."

  "You know that the academy protects its students. But when a mission arises that students can't handle, that’s where field agents come in."

  "This also benefits you. First, you're already a mercenary, so the role aligns with your profession. Second, the rewards for academy missions are generally more lucrative than other missions of the same level."

  "Moreover, field agents enjoy greater freedom. Aside from one or two mandatory missions per month, all other assignments are voluntary."

  "In short, this is like a guaranteed job for mercenaries—you’ll never lack missions, and you won’t be as restricted as students."

  "You’ll have free access to various academy areas, won’t be treated as an outsider, and will receive benefits like a fixed monthly salary and..."

  As Holan continued listing the perks, Caius’s eyes shone brighter and brighter.

  He knew he had haggled for the right deal!

  The value of all these benefits was worth far more than a single Wolf Demon!

  If he could secure the field agent position, both his financial concerns and academy-related issues would be resolved!

  So Caius made a swift decision. "I’m in!"

  Holan chuckled. "However, there are quite a few people competing for this position."

  "The number of field agent slots is fixed. New slots only open when agents leave—either by resigning or... dying."

  "This year, the academy is filling 185 field agent positions."

  "But in Grilla City alone, at least 3,000 people are vying for these slots. Including surrounding areas, the number is likely over 10,000."

  Caius widened his eyes.

  So this is the power of job security?

  "That’s some intense competition..." Caius nodded. "So how does the selection process work?"

  "It’s simple. The academy distributes slots to various guilds and third-party organizations. The guilds then conduct their own selection tests. The process varies by location—the academy only handles the slot allocation."

  "Some slots are given directly to favored individuals, some are auctioned, some require bidding, some are awarded for completing specific tasks, and some are won through duels."

  "Two years ago, there were only 30 slots available, and one of them was auctioned for 120,000 gold coins."

  Caius twitched at the number.

  This competition was even fiercer than he expected...

  "More importantly," Holan suddenly added, "you’re currently ineligible to compete for a slot."

  "What do you mean?" Caius asked.

  "Although the academy doesn’t limit how slots are allocated, there is a minimum requirement."

  "You must be at least Gold-rank, or a Gold-ranked mercenary."

  Hearing this, Holan’s eyes gleamed as an idea struck her. "Oh, right! I just remembered—each mentor also has one recommendation slot. The allocation method is up to the mentor."

  "I had planned to auction off my slot. Though it wouldn’t fetch as much as the one from two years ago, I was hoping for at least 30,000 to 40,000 gold coins..."

  After finishing, Holan smiled meaningfully at Caius.

  Caius raised an eyebrow.

  Classic Holan.

  After a brief pause, he spoke earnestly. "Can I pay in advance with my stunning good looks?"

  Holan blinked, then burst into laughter.

  "You have some nerve!" she said.

  Caius humbly replied, "Flattery will get you everywhere."

  Holan: "You think I was complimenting you?"

  Caius: "Wasn’t it? Beautiful words from a beautiful mentor."

  Holan rolled her eyes. "Smooth talker."

  She then finished her tea and continued. "I’ll give you the recommendation slot, but I have three conditions."

  Caius: "Name them."

  "First, as I mentioned, you must be at least Gold-rank or a Gold-ranked mercenary. The slots will be allocated next month. If you don’t reach the required level by then, I can’t give you the slot even if I want to."

  "No problem!" Caius nodded.

  "Good. Second condition," Holan continued.

  "Once you become a field agent, you must prioritize my missions. Some specific tasks will be non-negotiable."

  Caius raised an eyebrow. "And these 'specific tasks'...?"

  Holan: "I haven’t decided yet, but they will be tasks of great importance to me."

  Caius: "And if they’re suicide missions?"

  Holan: "I wouldn’t send you on a suicide mission. But to account for uncertainty, how about this—"

  "For certain missions, you can’t refuse outright. Instead, you flip a coin."

  "Heads, you must accept."

  "Tails, you can choose. How’s that?"

  Caius laughed. "I like the unpredictability and challenge. Deal!"

  Holan smirked.

  "Third condition."

  "Make me a cup of tea. The leaves are in the second cabinet up top—High Mountain White Peach Blossom. One and a half sugar cubes. Preheat the cup for the best flavor."

  Caius: "..."

  Ah, women.