Chapter 2

Colin cut the steak with his knife, then picked up a piece with his fork and chewed it. The steak was only medium-rare, very tender. After swallowing the steak, Colin picked up the water glass beside him to drink, then reached into the bamboo basket to take a long bread roll to eat.

Smith and Linda were also actively dealing with the steak on their plates, but they were chatting at the same time.

"How's the situation at the Ministry of Finance recently? I've heard some bad news." Linda cut a small piece of steak but didn't rush to put it in her mouth. Instead, she turned her head to ask Smith, a worried look on her face.

"Not just the Ministry of Finance, but most of the institutions in the town hall will be downsizing. They will lay off those incompetent people to reduce fiscal spending. The financial situation in the Marquis's territory has been poor for years. This is the reform the Marquis has made." Smith nodded and then smiled faintly, saying, "Don't worry, I'm young and capable, I won't be laid off."

"That's true. Our Smith is an outstanding graduate from Will University." Linda smiled, wanting to touch Smith's head, but he turned his head to avoid it.

"Really, none of you are as cute as when you were little." Linda complained, then took a bite of the small piece of steak on her fork.

The Marquis referred to Marquis Kent, a territorial marquis of the empire with vast lands, and this city of Will was one of his territories.

Colin's eyes flickered. Smith was too confident. If the government downsizes, he might really be affected. If that happens, our family's financial situation will worsen even more. It's so frustrating.

"Colin, how's your schoolwork? Have your grades improved?" Just as Colin was lost in thought, the fire was directed at him. Smith turned his head and asked.

"It's just so-so." Colin said helplessly, picking up a piece of beef with his fork and putting it in his mouth.

"Ah." Smith sighed. It wasn't really Colin's fault. Their family hadn't produced any extraordinary individuals for generations. Both their bloodline and family heritage had reached a very low level, almost starting from zero. Colin's grades at school were average, and he had already worked very hard.

"Come on, Colin. You will definitely become a knight of great importance to the empire in the future." Linda quickly stepped on Smith's foot under the table, then showed a fiery smile, encouraging Colin.

Smith's foot hurt, but he didn't show it on his face.

"Sure, keep it up." He nodded.

"Sure." Colin nodded, then focused on his steak. He felt the burden on his shoulders was very heavy.

After dinner, the two brothers pushed their chairs back, patted their butts, and went upstairs, leaving Linda to clean up the mess.

The next day.

Colin picked up his schoolbag, inserted his training sword into his waist, said goodbye to Linda, and went to school.

The Will Ministry of Finance is currently in the downsizing phase, so Smith had already left. Linda, being a tutor, still had some time before she needed to go to work.

The Will Knight Academy is located on Wright Street, and its students are from the middle class: impoverished nobles, wealthy merchants, or rich farmers' children.

Most students have bloodline powers, but some do not. No matter how impoverished a noble family is, they can still pass down a thin bloodline. For wealthy merchants or rich farmers' children, it's not so certain.

Therefore, many wealthy merchant or rich farmer families hope to marry into or welcome impoverished noble families to enhance their bloodline.

These students without bloodlines, after graduation, can at most be strong and healthy. Students with bloodlines, after graduation, many will become extraordinary individuals.

If they are nobles, they will immediately become lifelong knights of the empire, barely entering the circle of prominent nobles. For wealthy merchants or rich farmers' children, most will become adventurers.

Of course, some nobles, after becoming lifelong knights of the empire, choose to become adventurers. Danger often comes with opportunity, and many great knights are of adventurer origin.

The Will Knight Academy has a long history and a large area. It has teaching buildings, training grounds, various artistic statues and oil paintings, and a vast green area.

The school's purpose is not to cultivate warriors who only know how to fight, but to develop well-rounded knights. The curriculum includes literature, art, mathematics, and etiquette.

There are about a thousand students in the academy, with a six-year academic term. Colin is a second-year student, in the fifth class, with over thirty classmates.

After walking for a while, Colin saw many classmates wearing the same uniform, converging like rivers into the Will Knight Academy.

Colin walked among the many classmates, quite unremarkable. He passed through the grand academy gate, entered the second teaching building, and went into the classroom with a "5" sign on the door.

The classroom was large and simply laid out. At the front was a blackboard, in front of which was a lectern, followed by individual desks and chairs.

At this moment, the chairs were already full. Colin went to his seat, put his schoolbag under the desk, and leaned his training sword against the desk.

"Colin, something big is going to happen today." Bill Pitt, the classmate next to him, leaned over slightly, somewhat excitedly, and said to Colin.

He had brown hair, a very handsome face, and a light makeup. Although he was wearing a school uniform, his accessories were somewhat luxurious. His voice was very gentle, and his manner was somewhat effeminate.

In the Will Knight Academy, the hierarchy among nobles, wealthy merchants, and rich farmers is very clear, with distinct upper and lower levels. In short, nobles look down on wealthy merchants and rich farmers, and wealthy merchants look down on rich farmers.

Because of his manner of speaking and behavior, Bill was distant from most noble children and looked down on wealthy merchants and rich farmers' children, so he had very few friends. Colin was one of his few friends.

Colin smelled a faint perfume from Bill. Many noble children have the habit of spraying perfume, but Bill's perfume was quite special.

Colin didn't understand much about it, but he could make a basic judgment. The perfume Bill sprayed was quite expensive and possibly more feminine.

"What big thing?" Colin asked curiously. Although Bill had few friends, he was very well-informed and was a gossip. If he was this excited about something, it definitely wasn't a simple matter.

"Our bloodline potion will be distributed in the first class today." Bill said excitedly.

Colin's eyes lit up. As students of the Knight Academy, the classmates were also quick-witted, all looking at Bill in surprise and then getting excited as well.

This included those students without bloodlines.

The bloodline potion is one of the benefits of the Will Knight Academy. The main reason for the expensive annual tuition is the bloodline potion.

The effect of the bloodline potion is to have a chance to upgrade one's bloodline by one level. For students without bloodlines, there is a potion to enhance personal attributes as compensation.