Card simulation, starting with the Goblin Deserter

The classroom door was pushed open, and Professor Grace walked in carrying a book thicker than her head.

Without looking at anyone, she walked straight to the podium, slammed her book down with a "thud," and kicked up a cloud of chalk dust.

Only then did her eyes sweep over the entire class like searchlights.

"Everyone, turn to page seven of 'Basic Alchemy Illustrated.' We'll begin class now..."

Without any pleasantries or "self-introductions," Grace got straight to the point and began the lesson.

The whole class, including Linda, opened their textbooks and listened attentively, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

Professor Grace's reputation as an "iron-faced teacher" had already spread throughout the entire college from the upperclassmen.

No matter your talent or background, if you make a mistake in her class, this professor will never turn a blind eye.

Of the more than fifty students in the class, only Hayes looked around absentmindedly.

He was certain he hadn't misheard; there was at least one person in this class who had designs on him.

Who is that person?

Like Jenkins, they mostly belonged to the noble group in the southern region of the kingdom.

Thinking of this, Hayes poked Linda with his black pen and asked in a low voice.

"Which students in the class are from your uncle's side?"

He planned to narrow down the scope first, and then identify the owner of the voice one by one.

However, Linda ignored him and instead looked intently at the podium, seemingly engrossed in the lecture.

Just as Hayes was wondering what was going on, he saw a familiar, magical hand slam down on his desk, making a sound that startled the entire class!

At the podium, Grace stared at Hayes expressionlessly and spoke.

"Patton Hayes, answer this question."

The thick, magical finger pointed to Hayes' textbook. It was a question that wasn't complicated, but it was enough to stump Hayes. Fortunately, it had three options: A, B, and C.

A third of a chance to score a touchdown...

Hayes stood up, pondered for a moment, and then said in a deep voice.

Choose C!

Grace raised an eyebrow: "Why did you choose C?"

Hayes was overjoyed, thinking he had answered correctly. Just as he was about to make up a reason, he saw Linda quietly raising a finger at him from her desk.

Hayes understood; she meant the answer should be A.

Hayes, who hadn't guessed correctly, had no choice but to admit it honestly.

"I guessed."

Grace was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Hayes to be so frank, and after two seconds she let out a cold snort.

"You'll be standing for this lesson."

Hayes happened to be sitting in the last row, so even if he stood, he wouldn't be able to block his classmates from listening to the lecture.

However, five minutes later, Gentry, who was sitting in the front row, was woken up by Grace because he was dozing off. In order to ensure the quality of the class for the students in the back row, Hayes and Gentry were asked to go outside the classroom together.

Standing at the window facing the classroom, Gentry, unashamed, yawned and asked Hayes.

"You couldn't even answer such simple basic alchemy questions, how did you pass the written test?"

Hayes rolled his eyes, not one to back down, and retorted.

"At least I didn't sleep in class!"

Upon hearing this, Gentry chuckled.

"I'm a student with connections, isn't it normal for me to sleep in class?"

Hayes was surprised; it seemed to make some sense!

Grace overheard their conversation through the window; her face darkened and her voice turned icy.

"You two outside, go listen to the lesson in the next classroom!"

The surging magic emanating from the window made the two of them tremble. They dared not say a word and quickly took their textbooks and obediently walked to the window of the second class next door.

The teacher inside, who was giving a lecture, wasn't surprised to see the two of them and chuckled.

"Professor Grace invited you here, didn't she? It's a tradition she keeps every semester."

The students in Class Two looked at the two with great curiosity, including Soraka, who waved to Hayes with a smile.

Feeling uncomfortable under so many gazes, Gentry hid behind the wall, while Hayes was quite open and greeted Soraka openly before listening to the second-grade teacher's lecture.

Although he didn't have the relevant textbooks, Hayes could barely tell that the other person was taking a theoretical subject like "Advanced Mathematics".

Hmm... I listened very carefully, but I didn't quite understand it.

As for Gentry, he leaned against the wall and found a slightly more comfortable position, and soon he even started snoring.

"Let's look at this problem. It seems like a simple formula problem, but there's a trap hidden inside..."

The science teacher's voice was so soothing that not only Gentry, but nearly half the students in the classroom also dozed off.

Hayes was pretending to listen to the lesson but was daydreaming when suddenly, the "Preemptive Strike" command was activated again in his ear, coming from the classroom of Class Two.

"We'll get to the practical session this afternoon, and then we'll go over the plan again at noon!"

The owner of the voice seemed to be talking to someone... Hayes perked up and observed every corner of the classroom, quickly noticing a man and a woman at the back of the classroom passing notes.

Hayes narrowed his eyes, noticing that the couple would glance at him every now and then.

Although the audio he read didn't seem to have any specific target, he was almost certain that the "target of action" the two were discussing was himself!

Hayes shook Gentry awake, pulled him to the window, subtly gestured to the couple, and asked.

"Do you know these two people? Are they Southern nobles from Stern's group?"

Gentry was still asleep. It took him a while to open his eyes. He looked at the two men and pondered for a moment before mumbling something incoherently.

"Who are those two? I don't know them."

Although he was the son of the vice president of the Chamber of Commerce, there was a natural class divide between merchants and nobles.

Most nobles and merchants also had their subordinates act as intermediaries when they traded, and in the eyes of the former, the latter were just commoners with a little money, still in the "lower class" group.

Hayes nodded slightly disappointedly. It would be more appropriate to ask Linda, who was also a noblewoman, or Soraka, who was good at socializing, about this kind of question.

He wondered if the "practical training" the man and woman were talking about and the "dying outside the academy" he had just heard were the same thing.

According to the information Linda provided, the nobles currently targeting him within the academy are likely Stern's group.

But practical training is also conducted at the training center, so it can't be considered "outside the academy".

If these two groups are working together, how can we get Hayes outside the academy during the afternoon practical class...?

While deep in thought, Hayes suddenly recalled the familiar mechanical sound of the simulator—

[A large-scale secret realm has been detected—the "real" Zuma Academy]

[WARNING: This secret realm has been forcibly equipped with a "smuggling" function by unknown means, greatly increasing the danger level!]

[Assessing player's current overall strength; danger assessment in progress]

[Assessment Result: Crisis and gains coexist; it's worth a try]