My Ultimate OP System: Summoning All Dragons, Gods, Heroes & Villains-Chapter 66: Employment Offer

Lucy’s eyes widened so hard she nearly dropped her pen. She muttered, "I don’t understand..."

Ethan leaned forward. "Look, long and short of it is this. I don’t think you’re one for guilds, and my company could make good use of a really smart and capable magi-engineer. There’s only one person I know who fits that role. You."

She looked at him in surprise. "B-but I have no real experience outside of class and my little workshop at home..."

Ethan continued, "I’ve known you for three years, Lucy. I’ve seen enough. The pay is wonderful, but most importantly, Stark Industries will provide you the means to continue your father’s legacy. Starting with that giant mecha robot thingy, whatever it is."

Lucy’s eyes went glassy, and her cheeks flushed red. Tears welled up at the corners of her eyes and she tried to keep them from falling.

Ethan smiled gently. "You don’t have to accept it now. We still have two more weeks before we’re out of Belsorth. So give me a reply by then."

She looked down at the envelope, then back up at him. Then nodded, raising one hand to quickly wipe the tears from her eyes.

When she lifted her head again, her eyes were red and wet, but she was smiling through little chuckles that came out half-laughing, half-crying.

Ethan nodded, stood, and headed back to his seat.

[You have completed a self-imposed objective: Offering Lucy Hargreeves employment at Stark Industries]

[Reward: +2,500 XP]

With the 2500xp reward he gained yesterday for asking Eduardo to be his tutor for saber class, his total experience points was currently at;

[Total Experience Points: 32,450]

Taking his seat, Ethan heaved another sigh. A moment later, more students began filing into the classroom.

Bettie entered as hurriedly as usual. The moment she spotted Ethan at the back of the class, she waved with an excited look on her face.

Ethan nodded at her in acknowledgment.

Then Wilson Heydrich entered, with two wannabes following behind.

Wilson caught sight of Ethan and gave him a brief nod of acknowledgment before walking off to take a seat in the far corner.

Ethan made a weird disgusted face, wondering what the hell that was about, then shook his head and dismissed it.

Not long after, Percival stepped through the door.

Ethan felt that immediate shift in the air.

Percival, while walking through, had briefly shifted his gaze toward another empty seat across the room.

And he thought for a split second about actually not sitting by Ethan’s side today. But then he quickly reprimanded himself. "Nope. Bitch move." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

He wasn’t about to make it obvious that he and Ethan were not exactly on the best of terms.

Instead, he walked all the way over and took his seat right next to Ethan.

It was awkward and neither of them said a word to the other. Ethan thought about starting a conversation, but quickly stopped himself after realizing about five different ways this could go wrong immediately.

And with that, they both sat in silence, even though the tension only kept rising by the moment.

Then Mr. Kieran entered the classroom.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

—

The class settled as Mr. Kieran scanned through the students.

"Oh, Ethan, you’re back. Might I ask you about Beatrice? It’s been a week now," he said.

As their form teacher, he knew they had something between them and thought the situation was still the same.

A few of the class had muffled giggles. Wilson turned his gaze away sharply, and Ethan palmed his face, slightly annoyed.

Mr. Kieran looked at the class’s reaction and Ethan’s reaction, and somehow figured that maybe something had happened between them.

So he tried not to make it any weirder by quickly adding, "Okay, don’t worry about the question. I’ll just check in with House Morgenstein today."

Ethan sighed and shook his head disappointedly. Normally, Percival would have laughed at Ethan for that too, but he just wore an expressionless look and stared forward.

Mr. Kieran then continued, "Well, guys, I only came to make this announcement and I’ll be on my way. We’ll be going camping next week. Although it hasn’t been decided where yet, but we’ll be going with the final years of Mallory High."

Nearly the entire class groaned. One person loudly made his discontent obvious. "Ugh, man!"

"Settle down, settle down," Mr. Kieran said, raising both hands in a placating gesture.

No one truly liked this idea. Even Bettie looked discontented, and she never complained.

Mallory High, in truth, was a direct rival academy filled with arrogant pricks for final years.

Mr. Kieran continued, "This was all management’s idea, not mine. It’s going to be a three-day camp, and we’ve planned a few activities to make it enjoyable since this will be your last. One of these activities is an auction event."

Now that made them go quiet.

Mr. Kieran proceeded further with an explanation. "The whole point of this camping exercise is to prepare every one of you for what life outside of these walls really means."

There was a brief pause before he added, "And the auction will be a good example."

The students were intrigued. Auction events were a thing for the grown-ups, big guilds and corporations alike.

Kieran continued, "There’ll be a bidding event for different items, which includes spell sheets, catalysts, weapons, and artifacts."

Anna, the class representative, raised her hand at that point, cutting him off.

He exhaled and gestured at her. "Yes, Anna?"

"Mr. Kieran, but we are not working men. Unless bidding on these items will not require real money?" she asked, expressing what some of them were thinking.

He answered, "Unfortunately, the bids on the items will require real money. Silver and gold denominations."

"But Mr. Kieran, is that not unfair? The only way most of us can get that money is by asking our parents and using whatever little we get to compete against people like Ethan Stark." She turned toward him and added, "No offense."

Ethan shrugged slightly.

Mr. Kieran then said, "Once again, this camping exercise is to show you the reality you should expect out there. If you were to go to an auction house tomorrow, would you tell the auctioneer that it is unfair because you do not make as much as the others?"

Anna went mute at that point and sat back down.

Then Kieran sighed and continued, "I get it, guys. Don’t worry. A few rules have been added because yes, we understand situations like Ethan Stark exist."

He paused, then added, "Truth is, the auction thing is also a means of fundraising by both academies. So yes, ask your parents, or friends if that’s the only means you have."

There was murmuring in the class between a few students, and Ethan couldn’t help but notice the stares toward his direction.

"Yes, before I forget, there’ll also be a trading event between students of both schools. So come with whatever you think is worth the sale.

...The trading event will take place shortly before the auction begins. If there are any additional details you need to know, I will send letters to your home addresses outlining them.

Thank you, class."

He bowed slightly and walked out.

The class went up in rows of chatter after that. Some people left their seats to go discuss with the others. The stares and glances at Ethan only grew as well.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​