As it was a direct command from the Emperor, the Enforcement Team arrived with unprecedented speed.
Leading the team was a man dressed in a simple yet sharply tailored black uniform. His chestnut-colored hair framed a pair of gentle, soulful black eyes, and his warm smile gave him the air of a kind and approachable older brother. This demeanor starkly contrasted with his reputation as the Emperor’s most loyal “hound” and the ruthless head of the Enforcement Team.
“Your Majesty, Huo Shan reporting.”
The golden-haired Emperor gave a casual wave. “Just a small matter; thank you for your trouble.”
“Serving Your Majesty is my honor,” Huo Shan replied smoothly.
On the way there, General Lin Xueyang had already briefed Huo Shan. His sharp gaze swept across the group, pausing momentarily on Xia Yan.
He had encountered the distinguished young noble several times at banquets before.
Frankly speaking, he wasn’t particularly impressed.
Compared to the eloquent and cunning Grover, Xia Yan’s straightforward and arrogant personality was as transparent as glass—entirely unguarded. His innate arrogance and cold indifference didn’t align with the current Emperor’s expectations for a successor.
Huo Shan understood the Emperor’s strategy: granting Xia Yan the Gardner surname but withholding the title of Crown Prince. It wasn’t so much an endorsement as it was a way to forge Grover into a sharper blade by using Xia Yan as a whetstone.
Having served the Emperor for over a century, Huo Shan could read between the lines of his ruler’s plans.
For this reason, he had no particular reaction when his son challenged Xia Yan to a duel. If his son lost, he could always pivot and have him serve Grover instead.
The irony was that Xia Yan’s father, the wily Duke Xia, was as inscrutable as they came, capable of twisting words into knots. And yet, somehow, that man had raised a “naive simpleton” of a son.
Huo Shan shook off these thoughts as quickly as they arose and stepped forward with a pleasant smile. “I’ve reviewed the case. I’ll need both students to cooperate with the investigation.”
“Understood,” Xia Yan replied.
With the situation already decided, struggling was pointless.
The original owner had been arrogant toward commoners but maintained a respectful attitude toward fellow nobles—especially those with real power. And with the Emperor present, even he knew better than to act out.
Taking a deep breath, Xia Yan lifted his chin slightly. His dark, lustrous eyelashes cast a delicate shadow beneath his eyes. His posture was poised, and his demeanor unyielding.
“What do you need from me?”
It had been about ten days since Xia Yan transmigrated into this body. His soul had nearly fused with the physical form, and his facial features now bore about an 80% resemblance to his original appearance.
The young man’s porcelain-like skin and sharp jawline created a striking contrast. His naturally rosy lips and upturned eyes—both sharp and spirited—gave him an undeniable charisma that illuminated the room.
For a fleeting moment, Huo Shan found himself startled.
It was an instinctive reaction to being momentarily captivated.
Coughing lightly to cover his lapse, Huo Shan quickly refocused. After asking a few routine questions, he extended his hand. “Alright. Xia Yan, I’ll need to take your wrist intelligent brain for the investigation.”
“…?”
Xia Yan’s brow furrowed. “Why do you need my intelligent brain ?”
Huo Shan’s smile turned playful, his tone laced with teasing. “We need to verify the source of any information. Of course…”
He drew out the words mischievously, “…it’s purely procedural.”
Xia Yan: “…”
“If we don’t take your intelligent brain, how can we convince others that you haven’t been secretly contacting Duke Xia?” Huo Shan lowered his voice so only Xia Yan could hear, his tone deliberately provocative.
Xia Yan clicked his tongue in annoyance. “What a hassle.”
He shot a quick glance at the golden-haired Emperor, tamping down the surge of irritation in his chest. With deliberate movements, he unfastened the intelligent brain from his wrist and tossed it to Huo Shan.
“I trust the Enforcement Team’s efficiency in conducting a ‘swift’ investigation.” He stressed the word “swift” heavily.
While Xia Yan had no issue with his intelligent brain being taken, maintaining the original owner’s haughty demeanor was essential. Total compliance would feel out of character.
Huo Shan chuckled but refrained from commenting further.
Compared to Xia Yan’s composed cooperation, the other party involved, Hans, was visibly rattled. His darting eyes and rapid breathing betrayed his growing unease.
Having handled countless cases, the Enforcement Team had seen their fair share of guilty individuals. Hans’ poor composure made the situation painfully obvious. Who gave this man the audacity to stir up trouble with such fragile nerves?
Huo Shan, maintaining fairness, confiscated Hans’ intelligent brain as well.
–
With the situation resolved and the Emperor and the Enforcement Team gone, the military students wasted no time pulling out their intelligent brains to flood the school forum with posts expressing their excitement.
Some professed their undying loyalty to the Emperor, others swooned over his appearance, while many mocked Hans for embarrassing himself before the Emperor.
As for the accusation of Xia Yan cheating?
Ridiculous. Who would dare summon the Enforcement Team if they had something to hide?
Still, some persistent voices raised dissent:
【Even if Xia Yan didn’t cheat, he admitted using his family’s resources to obtain training materials. That’s unfair to other students!】
【Why are you so pressed? Even the Class 3-A students haven’t complained.】
【This school is full of well-connected kids. Huo Ruihe is also a noble with S-grade mental strength. Why is Xia Yan the top student? Maybe because he’s actually talented?】
【Huo Ruihe: I have no idea why you’re dragging me into this.】
【This argument is like crying foul over a parent paying for their kid’s tutoring. Just because you can’t afford it doesn’t mean it’s unfair.】
【But it is unfair in a way…”】
Most students, however, remained reasonable, siding with logic over jealousy.
Meanwhile, Xia Yan, who lacked his intelligent brain, was oblivious to the forum’s drama. He sat in the cafeteria, staring blankly at his now bare wrist.
Damn it! Without my intelligent brain , how am I supposed to pay for dinner?
The original owner’s lackeys were nowhere to be found, and he could not contact them. Borrowing money would destroy the aloof persona he’d worked so hard to maintain.
If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have dismissed my teammates earlier. At least I could’ve bummed a meal off them.
As one of the school’s most notable figures, Xia Yan naturally drew attention wherever he went. Following the earlier “cheating” incident, the forum buzzed about him.
When he failed to order food, someone snapped a photo and uploaded it with the caption:
【The bewildered top student is unexpectedly adorable.】
【What’s he doing, having a staring contest with the robot?】
【I have a bold theory.】
【Is he broke? 23333】
【LOL, I’m dying. Seeing Young Master Xia dumbfounded is priceless. Someone buy him dinner!】
OP: 【I’d love to, but I don’t dare.】
Xia Yan’s arrogant personality was deeply ingrained in people’s minds. Even though he showed a rare moment of softness, no one dared to approach him casually.
The students observed him discreetly, and from a distance, a few nobles were eager to strike up a conversation.
Just as they were about to make their move, a tall man sat down next to Xia Yan. With golden hair and sky-blue eyes, it was none other than Xia Yan’s roommate, Ludwig.
The crowd: “…” Damn it! Too late.
Xia Yan, who had been lost in thought about whether to leave, hadn’t noticed his surroundings. Ludwig’s sudden presence startled him.
The training session is over. Are we close enough to share a meal now?
To be honest, Xia Yan had worried that Ludwig, like the protagonists from his previous worlds, might start acting strangely after the accusations at the training ground.
However, after hearing that Ludwig’s actions were solely to protect the team’s integrity, he breathed a sigh of relief.
That makes sense. I bully Ludwig every day. He’s only tolerating it because of the practical training. I was overthinking it.
System: [Uh…]
Wait… doesn’t this solve the dinner issue?
Xia Yan’s eyes lit up, and a faint smile appeared on his face. However, he knew he needed a little strategy.
When Ludwig started placing his order, Xia Yan immediately chimed in, placing his own order as well. Considering that Ludwig was just a regular student who might not have much money, Xia Yan deliberately chose inexpensive items.
While ordering, he kept an eye on Ludwig’s expression. When he saw Ludwig frown, he quickly steeled himself, knowing the critical moment had arrived.
Tilting his head slightly, he raised his chin with an air of arrogance and said, “I’m giving you an opportunity to treat me…” to dinner.
Ludwig: “I recall you didn’t eat this kind of food before.”
Both of their voices overlapped.
Xia Yan was momentarily thrown off by Ludwig’s comment and nodded absentmindedly.
Ludwig turned to the robot and said, “Cancel everything he just ordered.”
Xia Yan: “…” Failed to mooch a meal?
Before he could come up with a new plan, he heard Ludwig fluently recite a series of familiar dish names: snowflake beef, caviar, and even an absurdly extravagant gold-leaf sundae.
Every single item was something Xia Yan used to order regularly.
Xia Yan: “???”
Robot: “Your order has been placed. Please raise your intelligent brain for payment… Beep! A total of 12,031 interstellar credits have been received. Thank you for your patronage.”
After finalizing the order, Ludwig turned back to Xia Yan and looked at him firmly. “I have money. You don’t need to compromise.”
Xia Yan was dazed.
One meal. The protagonist gong paid for everything. While Ludwig himself had ordered a 136-credit standard meat dish, Xia Yan was now enjoying over 12,000 credits worth of high-end cuisine.
What kind of gullible rich fool is this?!
Xia Yan sat silently for three seconds before muttering: [System, am I still dreaming?]
