For Su Wen, this was nothing short of an unexpected disaster. Thankfully, his cssmates were cooperative, and with Chen You’s help, they managed not to miss the opening ceremony.

  "I’ve figured it out," Chen You whispered to Su Wen during the principal’s speech. "This homeroom teacher not only loves giving speeches but also holds grudges."

  Su Wen, still tired from moving the books, sighed. "We have to deal with this teacher for three years. I’m already considering switching csses."

  It wasn’t just Su Wen and Chen You—all the students had formed a negative impression of Mu Hanzhi.

  But Mu Hanzhi didn’t seem to notice the whispers in the crowd. Instead, he was chatting happily with a female teacher from Css 3.

  Thus, the students gave Mu Hanzhi another nickname: "The Greasy Middle-Aged Pervert."

  The first day of school didn’t have any csses scheduled, so it turned out to be possibly the most rexed day of Su Wen’s entire high school life. By the time everyone finished their self-introductions, it wasn’t even 11 AM.

  Compared to the introduction sessions Su Wen had experienced before, this time everyone inevitably mentioned not only their names but also their Pokémon.

  However, apart from one girl’s Bulbasaur, there wasn’t much worth noting.

  On the other hand, when Chen You mentioned that his Pokémon was Rotom, it sparked a lot of interest. Some boys even started chanting for Chen You to release Rotom, but they were quickly silenced by a gre from Mu Hanzhi.

  Mu Hanzhi checked the time and said, "We still have forty minutes before css ends. Let’s dismiss at 11:30 so everyone can go eat, alright?"

  The css erupted in cheers. Finally, the homeroom teacher had done something decent.

  "In these st thirty minutes, let’s decide on a css monitor," Mu Hanzhi said, his gaze subtly drifting toward Su Wen.

  The students exchanged confused looks. It was only the first day—how were they supposed to choose a css monitor?

  A girl sitting in the front row timidly suggested, "How about Su Wen?"

  Su Wen was stunned. He’d been a css monitor in his past life, and this time he just wanted to coast through school.

  But before Su Wen could refuse, the css unanimously agreed.

  Before Su Wen could voice his opinion, he was thrust into the role of css monitor.

  Under Mu Hanzhi’s insistence, Su Wen had to go up and give a speech, promising to work hard and serve his cssmates, and so on.

  After barely surviving the thirty minutes, Su Wen thought he could finally go eat, but Mu Hanzhi let all the students leave except for him, saying he needed to discuss css monitor duties.

  Chen You gave Su Wen a "good luck" look and quickly ditched him, leaving Su Wen to fend for himself.

  Walking beside the silent Su Wen, Mu Hanzhi lightly smacked the back of his head. "Say something."

  Su Wen looked at him incredulously. "Mr. Mu, didn’t you say you had things to discuss?"

  "Did I?" Mu Hanzhi shrugged and changed the subject. "Did you know your father originally pnned for you to attend high school in the capital?"

  ?

  Su Wen’s mind was filled with question marks. Sending me to school in the capital?

  Mu Hanzhi gnced at Su Wen’s bewildered expression and shook his head. "Your father really didn’t tell you."

  "Mr. Mu, do you know my father?"

  "Your father was part of my first graduating css."

  Before this, Su Wen had no idea his father had also attended Cloud City High School.

  Before Su Wen could ask, Mu Hanzhi continued, "The high schools in the capital are far superior to Cloud City High School. I was the one who asked your father to let you stay here."

  "You asked? Why?" Su Wen was confused.

  Mu Hanzhi’s expression turned somber for the first time. "Do you know about the Ho-Oh Cup?"

  Su Wen nodded. "It’s the rgest collegiate trainer competition in our country, held every four years. I remember st year’s winner was a team from Capital University."

  "Do you know about the Little Ho-Oh Cup?"

  "Uh..." Su Wen had no idea there was a Little Ho-Oh Cup.

  Mu Hanzhi didn’t keep him in suspense. "If the Ho-Oh Cup is the rgest collegiate trainer competition, then the Little Ho-Oh Cup is the rgest high school trainer competition, held in the same year as the Ho-Oh Cup."

  Su Wen wasn’t surprised he hadn’t heard of it. With the Ho-Oh Cup being so prominent, it was natural that the Little Ho-Oh Cup, being a high school competition, didn’t get much attention.

  "What does this have to do with me staying at Cloud City High School?" Su Wen suddenly thought of something and slowed his pace.

  Seeing Su Wen’s reaction, Mu Hanzhi guessed he’d figured it out. "That’s right. I’m hoping you’ll pce in the top three in the Little Ho-Oh Cup during your senior year."

  "Mr. Mu, you’re really overestimating me," Su Wen said, utterly baffled. Did he really have that much charisma?

  Mu Hanzhi chuckled. "Of course, it’s not just you. Your friends Zhou Wan, Chen You, Ni Xuanya—who ranked second in the entrance exam—and other promising students, we’re doing our best to keep them all here."

  It was normal for schools to try to retain top students, but Cloud City High School’s approach was unusually aggressive.

  "What did the school offer the others?" Su Wen felt a bit uneasy. Zhou Wan and Chen You probably didn’t know about this, meaning the three of them hadn’t received any benefits.

  "Three years of the highest-level schorships, one opportunity to enter a high-level restricted area, and the school covering all Pokémon training costs up to one million," Mu Hanzhi said, noticing Su Wen’s discomfort. "Don’t worry, your treatment will be the same. However, there are only five spots for the restricted area."

  "Five spots?" Su Wen, having experienced the Charizard leader’s financial bombardment, was unfazed by the one million. But Mu Hanzhi’s implication was that these five spots would require competition.

  Mu Hanzhi smoothed the few remaining hairs on his head. "Of course, there’s competition. Money is trivial, but do you think access to a restricted area is easy to come by?"

  "Why is Cloud City High School going to such lengths? I don’t believe it’s just for a top-three finish," Su Wen said, thinking of Wu Yan. "Even Wu Yan was brought in. Who are you trying to compete against?"

  Either Cloud City High School was aiming higher, but it was already the best high school in Cloud City—how much higher could it go? Or it was about to be overtaken by someone. Su Wen thought mischievously.

  Hearing Su Wen’s words, Mu Hanzhi’s expression grew even more bitter. "Cloud City High School hasn’t qualified for the Little Ho-Oh Cup in the st two competitions, while Cloud City Second High School and Cloud City Haixu High School have both achieved decent results in recent years."

  "Two consecutive failures?" Su Wen did the math—that meant Cloud City High School hadn’t officially entered the Little Ho-Oh Cup in nearly a decade.

  "Yes. This time, the higher-ups have given a strict order: if Cloud City High School doesn’t achieve good results, the resource allocation for high schools in Cloud City will be reassigned," Mu Hanzhi finally revealed the truth.

  Su Wen finally understood why Cloud City High School was going all out—it was truly on the verge of being overtaken.

  "Shouldn’t this depend more on college entrance exam results?" Su Wen was incredulous. "Don’t tell me Cloud City High School is also falling behind Second High and Haixu in the college entrance exams."

  Mu Hanzhi shook his head. "Not yet, but there’s already talk that Cloud City High School, with the best students, is failing in trainer development and no longer deserves the best resources."

  "It is failing," Su Wen nodded unconsciously, earning another smack to the back of his head.

  Seeing the murderous look in Mr. Mu’s eyes, Su Wen quickly admitted he was wrong.

  Mu Hanzhi snorted coldly. For him, Cloud City High School was a pce he’d devoted half his life to, and he wouldn’t tolerate anyone belittling it.

  "Your father said your Aura talent is exceptional, and that Charmander of yours has the best resources. That’s why I swallowed my pride and convinced him to let you stay," Mu Hanzhi said, his gaze filled with expectation, making Su Wen feel a bit embarrassed.

  "Can I tell Zhou Wan and Chen You about this?" Su Wen hadn’t pnned to ask, but he was afraid of repercussions ter. Better to ask, especially with Mr. Mu’s reputation for holding grudges.

  Mu Hanzhi thought for a moment. "No need. They’ll find out eventually anyway."

  With that, Su Wen knew what to do. He’d deal with Chen You ter. Su Wen thought gleefully.