It had to be said that Director Edwin’s ability to fill in the blanks was quite impressive.
Although the process was completely wrong, the conclusion was indeed correct.
Jiang Lin’s purpose in asking the two lords for recommendation letters was indeed to suppress certain figures from those big families.
After all, combining his experiences from his previous life and this life reading various storybooks and novels, the classic trope of 'beating the small one brings out the old one' was a frequent occurrence.
Not everyone was as honorable as City Lord Dane.
At least, that was how City Lord Dane appeared in Jiang Lin’s eyes.
“Your entrance test results are quite good. All three tests received a gold rating, which already meets the standard for the special scholarship.”
Walking along the tree-lined campus avenue, Director Edwin explained to Jiang Lin.
“We can talk about the specific terms of the special scholarship slowly once we get back to the VIP room.”
“No problem.”
Jiang Lin nodded.
It seemed to be class break time now, as the number of students on the road had increased. Jiang Lin noticed that there seemed to be some students from foreign races in the school.
Just now, a pair of beast-ear students walking arm-in-arm even greeted Director Edwin.
“Director Edwin, does our school actually have foreign races?”
Jiang Lin asked in surprise.
Director Edwin nodded.
“Naturally. As one of the best magic academies in the southern part of the kingdom, we have a certain number of spots for foreign race students every year.”
Pausing for a moment, he continued:
“Furthermore, our academy has exchange student eligibility with other demon and beastkin academies.”
Hearing this, Jiang Lin asked with some confusion:
“Is what those demon and beastkin academies study any different from our human magic academies?”
Edwin continued to clear up Jiang Lin’s confusion:
“Of course. The magic system we humans study is different from both the demons and the beastkins. Much of the demons' magic consists of ancient magic passed down from the primordial era. The beastkins, on the other hand, usually brand magic runes onto their bodies to strengthen themselves for combat.
“And as you should know, most of the magic humans use now has been refined generation after generation. Many ancient magics, after being improved, are divided into many levels from low to high to make them easier for us to learn.”
Jiang Lin nodded as if he had realized something:
“I see.”
In fact, he didn't know at all. He wasn't clear on this magic history; the teachers in the tail-end class had never mentioned it.
Even after moving to the elite class, he hadn't listened to the lectures because he couldn't keep up and didn't understand.
“Then how are those exchange student spots usually allocated? Is there any danger in going to the territories of foreign races?”
Jiang Lin was actually thinking about the second stage of the system quest.
【Stage Quest:】
【Demon Lord】
【Through the Demon Lord Seed, complete the Demon Lord Trial】
【Reward: Obtain Demon Lord Status and access to the Abyss of Slaughter】
According to Little Black, this Demon Lord Trial seemed to need to be conducted in the territory of the demons.
“Are you interested?”
Edwin was somewhat surprised.
“You don't need to worry about safety. After all, most academies are neutral. Even if a large-scale war breaks out, both races will guarantee the safety of the students, since they also have students in our school.
“However, these spots can only be obtained once you reach the middle academy.”
Pausing, he added:
“But if you can reach rank-3, you can also take the assessment early to get into our school's middle academy campus.”
Jiang Lin nodded, indicating his understanding.
Soon, the two of them arrived at the school's VIP room once again.
Director Edwin called over the middle-aged male teacher from before, once again asking him to brew tea for Jiang Lin.
Jiang Lin, however, said with a smile:
“Haha, there’s no need to trouble this teacher, I’ll do it myself.”
As he spoke, he took out the half-empty bag of tea leaves he had mooched from the city lord last time.
The middle-aged male teacher didn't recognize it, but Director Edwin’s pupils constricted.
Those were tea leaves produced exclusively by the Kohlst family!!
The Kohlst family's status in Clearwater City was equivalent to the Castrot family's status in Boulder City.
The city lord of Clearwater City was a member of the Kohlst family.
And their family's tea was not sold externally.
Being able to take it out meant it had been gifted by someone from their family!
As such, the theory that Jiang Lin came from a major family was once again confirmed in Director Edwin’s mind.
While smilingly brewing tea for Director Edwin and himself, Jiang Lin asked:
“Could Director Edwin talk about the scholarship mentioned earlier?”
Director Edwin replied with a smile:
“Of course, but the signing of a special scholarship requires the participation of someone at the level of the academy principal.
“Would it be alright for student Jiang to wait a moment?”
“Haha, of course. I have plenty of time.”
Afterward, the middle-aged male teacher was left behind, with Director Edwin telling him to keep Jiang Lin company.
The middle-aged male teacher could only agree with a stiff nod.
Although he hadn't witnessed Jiang Lin’s entrance test, he had heard their conversation.
The words 'special scholarship' were enough to prove Jiang Lin’s excellence.
How many students could get a special scholarship every year?
This Jiang Lin was definitely a genius among geniuses.
Furthermore, coming from a big family, he was definitely not someone a regular teacher like himself, who had struggled for so many years, could compare to.
With a forced smile, he tried to find a topic of conversation with Jiang Lin.
He saw that Jiang Lin had been laughing and chatting with Director Edwin, so he figured he wouldn't be too difficult to get along with.
Just as he was about to speak, he saw that as soon as Director Edwin closed the door, the smile on Jiang Lin’s face instantly turned cold.
Not only that, he leaned back and crossed his legs, his entire image instantly transforming from a good student into an arrogant and overbearing scion of a noble family.
Seeing Jiang Lin like this, the middle-aged male teacher was stunned.
He then heard Jiang Lin say in a sarcastic tone:
“Teacher, the tea in your hand is a specialty of the Kohlst family. It can't be bought outside.”
Upon hearing this, cold sweat instantly broke out on the middle-aged teacher's forehead.
Is he... going to make things difficult for me?
He recalled for a moment, thinking of some ordinary teachers who had been fired because they were disliked by the noble children in the student council, and he instantly felt his career was under threat.
While secretly cursing himself for judging people by their appearance and looking down on this 'prince' earlier, he responded with a forced smile:
“Hahaha, is that so? It seems my knowledge is too lacking.”
As he spoke, he set down his teacup.
However, he didn't expect Jiang Lin to continue sarcastically:
“Eh? I brewed this tea, and I specifically chose such good leaves. By not drinking it, are you looking down on me, Jiang Lin? Are you not giving me face?”
While the middle-aged teacher grumbled inwardly, he put on a forced smile again and lifted the teacup.
“Eh? Teacher, I only brewed three cups of tea. One for me, one for Director Edwin, and one for the principal. I wonder what position you hold?”
The middle-aged teacher’s expression froze on his face, unsure whether to put the cup down or keep holding it.
However, Jiang Lin spoke again:
“Eh? Teacher, what’s with that smile? Do you think I’m funny?”
Hearing this, the other party instantly controlled his facial muscles and suppressed the smile.
“Eh? Teacher, why the cold face? Are you giving me attitude?”
Hearing these words, the middle-aged teacher almost cried.
This is bullying!
Yet, Jiang Lin’s words didn't stop:
“Eh? Teacher...”
...
Finally, Director Edwin arrived with the vice principal.
The moment the door opened, the tearless middle-aged teacher felt as if he saw the light of a new life.
In the conversation just now, he felt like he was about to say goodbye to his teaching career.
You had to understand, an ordinary admissions office teacher could be found anywhere, but a student capable of getting a special scholarship was very hard to come by.
The key was that he didn't have a family background, so he was naturally terrified that Jiang Lin could get him fired with a single sentence.
At some unknown point, Jiang Lin had returned to his original sitting posture with a warm smile on his face. He stood up and bowed slightly to the new teacher:
“Hello, Teacher!”
This scene left the middle-aged teacher dumbfounded.
Where did that arrogant and overbearing student go?!
“Alright, you can go out now,” Director Edwin said to the middle-aged teacher.
Hearing this, the middle-aged teacher felt reborn and hurried to stand up and leave.
“This is our academy’s vice principal—Keith Howard,” Director Edwin introduced to Jiang Lin.
The newcomer was a middle-aged man dressed in exquisite clothing, with his hair combed meticulously.
He held his head high and his eyes were bright as he sized Jiang Lin up:
“Not bad! Very energetic!”
As he spoke, he gestured for Jiang Lin to sit.
Subsequently, the three of them sat on the sofas in the VIP room.
He also noticed the teapot on the table.
“This is...?”
Vice Principal Keith frowned as he looked at the tea leaves floating in the pot, seemingly lost in thought.
“These are tea leaves produced by the Kohlst family,” Director Edwin reminded him at the right time.
“Hmm? Since when did the tea our school uses for guests change to this?” Vice Principal Keith asked in confusion.
However, Director Edwin said:
“These are tea leaves brought by student Jiang Lin.”
Hearing this and recalling the theories Director Edwin had told him earlier, Vice Principal Keith understood.
“Hahaha, I wonder how much allowance student Jiang Lin’s family usually gives him when he comes out?”
The other party didn't directly bring up the scholarship, but instead casually found a topic.
Jiang Lin shook his head:
“I’m just a common orphan; I don't have any so-called family. If Vice Principal Keith doesn't believe it, you can send someone to Boulder City to investigate. I really am just a common orphan.
“However, a respected elder of mine said that if I couldn't even get a scholarship, I shouldn't bother showing my face outside.”
Jiang Lin chose to tell the truth.
As for the words of this so-called elder, they were naturally spoken by 'the old self' to 'the current self'.
However, the more he spoke like this, the less the other party believed him.
Vice Principal Keith thought to himself about how arrogant that sounded while reaching a conclusion.
“Hahaha, it seems your family has great confidence in you.
“I believe student Jiang Lin understands that the tuition for a normal student at our school is 300 gold coins per year, with living expenses extra.
“And with student Jiang Lin’s excellent results, you can freely choose from all scholarship levels. However, the restrictions for different scholarship levels are also different.”
Jiang Lin hadn't expected there to be restrictions on scholarships.
But after recalling for a moment, he remembered that it was indeed the case.
In his previous life, many private schools would also set up scholarships but would require students to finish their three years of high school at that school, or they would have to pay a penalty.
So it stood to reason that the magic academies in this world would have similar rules.
Sure enough, Vice Principal Keith said:
“First of all, all levels of the special scholarship include the privilege of full tuition and living expense waivers, along with a luxury single-room dormitory.
“If you want more comfortable accommodation, you can add 100 gold coins per year to upgrade the dormitory to a private villa. This upgrade fee is already an 80% discount off the original price, making it quite a bargain.
“Of course, all of this comes with a prerequisite: your middle magic academy studies must be completed only at Saint Brilliance Magic Academy. You cannot transfer to another middle magic academy; otherwise, you will have to pay three times the original price as a penalty.”
Jiang Lin nodded; he had naturally guessed as much.
However, he still asked:
“What if I enter a high magic academy early?”
Vice Principal Keith said:
“If you can enter a high magic academy early, the school naturally won't stop you, and you won't need to pay the penalty either.”
Hearing this, Jiang Lin said no more and listened as the other party continued.
“Next is the classification of the special scholarship. There are three levels in total.
“The first level, which is also the best, provides 300 gold coins per month as a living and cultivation allowance; free use of all the academy’s public cultivation facilities, such as the magic gathering array, gravity room, elemental tower, projection training ground, and the Tower of Trials; assignment of a mentor of at least the fifth rank for regular guidance; access to the high-tier areas of the library; priority access to precious secret realms controlled by the academy; and priority recommendation spots for kingdom-affiliated institutions or top-tier factions upon graduation.”
Hearing such generous conditions, Jiang Lin was quite tempted, but he knew that behind such generous terms, there must be harsh conditions.
Sure enough, Vice Principal Keith said:
“However, this level of scholarship requires an annual assessment. We will evaluate your potential and talent according to regulations. If you fail the talent assessment in any given year, the school will suspend your scholarship rewards.
“Not only that, there is a core condition: you must promise that for the next seven years, from your middle magic academy studies until graduation from the high magic academy, you must complete them all at Saint Brilliance Magic Academy without transferring or taking long-term leaves. Furthermore, after graduation, you must follow the school’s arrangements and work in a specific position for five years.”
Hearing this, Jiang Lin frowned slightly, and his interest instantly vanished.
“The second level provides 100 gold coins per month as a living and cultivation allowance; free use of all public cultivation facilities; assignment of a senior teacher of at least the fourth rank as a mentor for regular guidance; access to high-tier areas of the library; priority access to precious secret realms; and priority recommendation spots for kingdom-affiliated institutions or top-tier factions upon graduation.”
The benefits were much less than the first level, but they still seemed decent.
“And what is the price?” Jiang Lin asked directly.
“Similar to the first-level special scholarship, you must promise that for the next seven years, from middle magic academy to high magic academy graduation, you must complete them at Saint Brilliance Magic Academy without transferring or taking long-term leaves. However, you won't need to work in a specific position; you can decide your own path after graduation.”
This meant his high magic academy studies also had to be completed at Saint Brilliance Magic Academy.
Jiang Lin was a bit uncertain. After all, although Saint Brilliance’s middle academy was considered one of the best in the southern kingdom, their high academy couldn't compare to the best in the kingdom.
“Then what about the final level of the special scholarship?”
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