novelraw Chapter 91: The Reason They Haven't Won a Championship Is Because I Wasn't in High School Yet!
Chapter 91: The Reason They Haven't Won a Championship Is Because I Wasn't in High School Yet!
"Midterms, finals... you must take first place in all of them," Muse said slowly, gazing into Fly's eyes.
"Is it... really that simple?" Fly couldn't help but be taken aback.
In the Freshman Power Assessment Test, he was already ranked first. Moreover, he had the innate "Learning Genius" talent from his system, allowing him to cultivate much faster than his peers.
Under these circumstances, maintaining the top spot was a walk in the park.
Either Muse was underestimating him...
Or... he had another, much more difficult demand up his sleeve.
"The Jade State League."
Just as Fly had suspected, Muse wouldn't let him off with such a simple requirement.
"You must achieve outstanding results in The Jade State League."
"Ah, got it." Hearing Muse bring up The Jade State League, everything finally clicked into place for Fly.
Indeed, taking first place at Star City High was simply too easy for him. Achieving outstanding results in The Jade State League, now that presented a real challenge.
And for a result to be considered "outstanding," reaching the top eight was the bare minimum.
"What kind of outstanding results exactly?" Fly pressed further.
Muse didn't answer right away. He simply smiled without a word and slowly raised a single finger.
"First place?" A flicker of surprise flashed through Fly's eyes.
Although he hadn't been in this world for long and was still fuzzy on many common-sense matters, his homeroom teacher, Mr. Carter, had explained the ins and outs of The Jade State League to him before.
The strongest high schools from every city in the Jade State could participate. However, due to the massive disparity in funding and resource allocation, the only schools truly capable of competing for the championship were Sovereign High, Laurel High, Willow High, and Sycamore High.
The other high schools were essentially just there to make up the numbers and serve as stepping stones.
Of course, even so, being able to cross blows with the absolute best from those elite high schools was incredibly beneficial for Beast Warriors from ordinary schools.
Combat was always the best stage for a Beast Warrior's growth.
But that was the limit. Even a legendary genius like Lysander Thorne had only barely managed to lead Star City High to a runner-up finish back in his day.
Outside of that one phenomenal year, Star City High had never achieved such heights again.
Worse yet, in recent years, they hadn't even managed to break into the top four.
Yet now, Muse was demanding that Fly lead the team to seize the championship title of The Jade State League right out of the gate. This was undoubtedly a hell-tier difficulty quest.
"Are you scared?" Muse chuckled. "Let me remind you of one more thing."
"If you fail to meet my requirements, it won't just be a simple contract termination. As Party B, you will also be required to pay a penalty fee."
"A penalty of 1.5 million."
As a side note, Muse had explicitly included this penalty clause in the contract from the very beginning.
Both Mr. Carter and Dean Sterling had noticed it, but they had assumed it was perfectly fine because they thought Muse's demands would only involve Fly achieving a certain rank within Star City High.
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For someone like Fly, the undisputed number one among the freshmen at Star City High, that naturally wouldn't be a difficult task.
Had they known Muse's demand was this utterly insane—directly requiring Fly to take first place in The Jade State League—they would have absolutely forbidden Fly from signing this contract, no matter what.
"I presume your two teachers didn't realize the sheer difficulty of my demands. You are welcome to give them another call and consult them," Grandmaster Muse kindly reminded him.
"Of course..."
Muse shifted his tone. "Your talent is indeed outstanding, and I have no intention of making things overly difficult for you."
"If, after consulting your two teachers, you decide to refuse to sign this contract, I can accept that. Furthermore, I am willing to gift you 500,000 out of my own pocket."
"Consider it a sponsorship for your future path in Martial Studies."
"If you ever need help with anything in the future, you can also contact Cynthia. Since fate has brought us together, providing assistance to talented juniors has always been a long-standing wish of mine."
Having said his piece, Muse rested his hands on his thighs and quietly looked at Fly, waiting for him to make his choice.
The way things had developed had completely exceeded Fly's expectations.
If he signed the contract, he might face a massive penalty of 1.5 million.
Ultimately, he might not only fail to become Muse's disciple but also plunge himself into severe debt.
If he didn't sign, he could take the 500,000 sponsorship and walk right out the door, while still maintaining a connection with Grandmaster Muse.
If he really ran into a difficult problem down the road, he would have an extra trump card to rely on.
If it were any rational person, after weighing the pros and cons, they would almost certainly choose the latter, right?
Fly glanced down at the phone in his hand.
In reality, Muse was also feeling incredibly tense at this moment.
Ever since he first made a name for himself, he had harbored the idea of taking on an apprentice. However, most of those so-called "geniuses" he encountered were nothing more than mediocre talents hyped up by mutual flattery.
The only person who had ever managed to catch his eye was Lysander Thorne all those years ago.
But at that time, Muse had been at the absolute peak of his career. He had simply had too much on his plate and couldn't spare the time.
On top of that, Lysander had an incredibly arrogant disposition and wasn't the type to willingly submit to anyone else.
Due to all these factors, the opportunity had slipped away.
Now, Fly was the second person to truly move him after all these years.
But this was still far from enough.
What Muse was searching for was a true genius.
Not only did they need talent in Martial Studies cultivation, but they also needed to possess the heart of a powerhouse.
A Beast Warrior must dare to fight, must relentlessly strive for the top.
To pursue a path even knowing it seems impossible.
If one lacked even the courage to shoulder immense pressure, then they were nothing more than a mediocre nobody with empty talent.
Therefore, deep in his heart, Muse was desperately hoping—praying, even—that Fly would truly take that bold step forward.
"If I were to call Mr. Carter or Dean Sterling right now, they would definitely think I've lost my mind."
"The Jade State League is packed to the brim with absolute monsters. Especially Sovereign High—I've heard that practically everyone in their elite martial class possesses a Mythical Species Beast Totem."
"Meanwhile, Star City High hasn't won a single championship since the day it was founded."
"This is simply an impossible mission."
Fly spoke slowly as his fingers gently stroked the contract on the desk. "That's what you're thinking too, right, Grandmaster Muse?"
"You're thinking that giving up on the contract, taking the 500,000, and walking away is the truly wise move."
Having said that, Fly picked up a fountain pen from the desk. With crisp, decisive movements, he flipped the contract to the very last page, signed his name on the Party B signature line, and quickly filled in the date.
Afterward, Fly slid the contract right back in front of Muse, his demeanor practically saying: I've signed it. Now it's your turn.
"The reason Star City High hasn't won a Jade State League championship yet..."
Fly enunciated each word clearly, speaking at a measured pace.
"...is because I wasn't in high school yet."
Seeing this unfold, Grandmaster Muse froze for a moment.
During Fly's silent deliberation, countless possibilities had flashed through Muse's mind. He had even mentally prepared himself for Fly to just take the money and leave. But he never, in his wildest dreams, expected this...
Not only did Fly sign his name cleanly and decisively, but he had also dropped such an audaciously badass declaration.
Star City High hadn't failed to win the Jade State League championship because the other schools were too strong. It was simply because...
Back then, Fly Ansel hadn't been in high school yet!
"Hahahaha!"
In an instant, Grandmaster Muse threw his head back and erupted into uproarious laughter, laughing so hard that tears actually formed at the corners of his eyes.
"You really are an interesting kid."
"First, you question whether my Apprenticeship Contract is full of hidden traps, going so far as to specifically ask your two teachers to review it for you."
"Yet in the end, after finding out about the 1.5 million penalty fee, you turn around and sign your name without a second of hesitation."
"Interesting. You are simply far too interesting."
"Fly."
"I haven't been this happy in years."
Muse reached up and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. Then, his expression shifting back into a mask of total seriousness, he picked up the fountain pen from the desk.
"You better think this through. If you fail to bring home The Jade State League championship, I will make you pay that 1.5 million."
"Just sign it," Fly replied, his expression completely unfazed.