The Last Gentleman

Chapter 45

[Fetal Heart Church]

Inside the office of Professor George Chamberlain, also known as the White Owl W.O.

A trial sparring session was underway.

A white-feathered owl perched in the corner, watching intently.

The sparring didn’t last long—just 1 minute and 37 seconds in total—but for the participants, this duration was already an astonishing feat.

“Hahaha!”

The typically stern and rigid Professor Chamberlain burst into uninhibited laughter.

The owl, sensing its owner’s joy, hooted enthusiastically.

It had been a long time since Chamberlain, having reached an advanced age, had laughed so heartily.

Across all of Zion, besides Zed, only you possess such distinctive physical characteristics.

I look forward to the day you reach the pinnacle of multi-attribute capabilities.”

“Thank you, Professor.”

“You’ve also timed everything well~ There are only ten days left of your six-month deadline. Are you ready for your mission?”

“As soon as I leave your office, I’ll set out for Zion’s ‘Gentlemen’s Hall’.”

“Good! Let me remind you once more.

While the academy places no specific requirements on the tasks you choose or their difficulty levels, you must hold yourself to a higher standard.

Don’t settle for the easiest, safest tasks just to get by—choose something one tier higher, with some risk and uncertainty.

If you don’t acclimate in advance, you’ll surely perish when you face true dangers outside the city.”

“Understood.”

---

Clang, clang! The train rumbled forward.

This marked Yi Chen’s first time leaving the academy in six months.

The Eternal Night scene, sealed behind the academy gates, gave way to sunlight spilling over his body. He felt as if his entire being had awakened, perhaps linked to the photosynthesis occurring within the plants inside him.

It was like being reborn.

A sapling sprouted in his palm as a smile appeared on his face, filled with hope for the future.

“This feeling is amazing.”

As the train pulled into the 'Street District' station, three familiar faces awaited him outside the window.

The moment he stepped off the train,

A hand faintly scented with English cologne wrapped around Yi Chen’s shoulder.

The deep-blue tone of a suit brushed against his black suit, leather rubbing together.

Beneath blonde hair, a face reminiscent of Aaron Taylor-Johnson leaned closer. It was none other than his classmate, "Edmund Mariano".

“We’ve been waiting for you all morning. If we miss out on suitable tasks because of the delay, then William will have to foot the bill for the day’s expenses. I wouldn’t mind spending the night at a luxury hotel.”

“Apologies, I was delayed at Professor Chamberlain’s office. Let’s hurry and go.”

“No need to be so formal, just a joke.

As new gentlemen enrolled in the academy, we have the privilege of mission allocation, so there will always be suitable tasks available whenever we go.

Let’s go—destination: ‘Gentlemen’s Hall’.”

---

Over the past six months, although they only had two classes per week, Edmund’s persistence brought him and Yi Chen closer.

Occasionally, Yi Chen also discussed physical development with Dagobert, another student specializing in physique training.

Their decision to form a team wasn’t random. Edmund had sensed the importance of this six-month milestone and proactively invited Yi Chen during a recent pathology class.

This time, unlike at Green Lake Town, Yi Chen didn’t refuse.

1. Six months of interaction had deepened his understanding of Edmund and the others.

2. Yi Chen had reached a sufficient level to team up with Edmund’s group, whose members had been rigorously trained since childhood. He no longer worried about exposing his 'rookie' status.

3. Edmund’s team had successfully completed five squad missions during this time, offering invaluable experience to Yi Chen, who had yet to undertake his first mission.

4. Most importantly, Zion’s rules required gentlemen still in training, like Yi Chen, to take on missions as part of a team to reduce mortality rates.

Thus, Edmund’s team welcomed a new member, expanding to four.

...

[Gentleman’s Hall]

One of the most important buildings in Zion City, the Gentleman’s Hall is a Gothic structure spanning three levels—lower, middle, and upper—located in the central street district.

Taking the elevator to the "Lower Street District,"

He pass through winding alleys, squeezing through narrow passageways with his chest and back almost pressed against the damp walls.

Eventually, he reach a higher, open, three-way intersection.

Here stands a colossal building, far surpassing the surrounding structures in scale, intricacy, and aura:

[The Gentleman’s Hall].

A black metal plate with vertically elongated lettering is mounted on the central part of the building, adorned with various intricate patterns. The building’s sides feature numerous flying buttresses, both visually stunning and reinforcing the towering nature of the structure. It evokes a sense of upward momentum, as if soaring straight into the sky.

At the very top, a prominent circular window catches the eye. Designed with a wheel-shaped lattice, its centerpiece displays the emblem of the organization—G&D.

"William, this must be your first time here, right?

Although the Gentleman’s Hall is classified as a [Public Area], it’s essentially a highly confidential division, even involving core secrets.

The interior is strictly sectioned off, with tight controls over movement.

As new gentlemen, our access is extremely limited, and we’re confined to the lower levels.

Let’s wait until we receive today’s mission slip before discussing task details."

"Understood."

As they entered through the main gate,

a towering gentleman guard, nearly two meters tall and equipped with a black mask and mechanical goggles,

lowered his gaze to scan the group’s physical conditions.

Click! With a full rotation of the circular mechanism on his goggles, the scan passed!

The guard then made a polite gesture, inviting them in.

The ground-floor hall had a circular layout, filled with numerous independent counters. Each counter was staffed by a clerk and separated by thick glass, reminiscent of a bank’s design.

Looking around for the first time, Yi Chen noticed there were no visible stairs or elevators leading to the upper levels.

"Is there no direct way up from the ground floor?"

"There is… but only if our [Persona Rank] is sufficient. You’d need to apply through one of the clerks here, and they would guide you to the middle or upper levels to take on higher-security, more challenging missions.

But that’s something for the future."

---

The group approached the nearest counter.

Edmund, appearing well-acquainted with the process, gestured toward Yi Chen behind him.

"Our squad would like to add a new member. Can we complete the registration here?"

"Please present the necessary documentation."

Yi Chen promptly handed over his student ID, issued by the academy.

The ID drew attention for two notable details:

1. A stamp approving a maximum six-month mission delay.

2. A stamp from the "First Gentleman" as an official sponsor.

The clerk couldn’t help but take a closer look at this special new gentleman.

"Please wait. Adding a member requires recalculating the squad’s [Overall Index]. It should take about ten minutes to provide you with a new mission list suitable for your team’s level."

After saying this,

the clerk hung a “Service Suspended” sign and headed to the upper levels to report the situation.

The unique student ID quickly caught the attention of a senior manager.

"Hmm?

A rare ‘First Gentleman’ sponsorship? For such a talented newcomer, why spend six months idling at the academy? And why was the delay application submitted by the infamous ‘White Owl’ squad?

Additionally, this team comprises three top students, all with exceptional performance. Their first five missions were completed with superior ratings.

Alright, here’s the decision:

Incorporate this individual into the team under a tripled new gentleman index,

and assign them some particularly special missions."

"Understood."

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