102. Friendly Assistance (Physical)
"They are really going at it," Hobbs scratched his head. "And they're Siriusian too, which makes things complicated. They're our Crystal Tower's steadfast blood allies, warriors always on the frontlines. Tough and aggressive, this might end in a fight."
"Students are making a scene here. Why hasn't anyone called security?" Li Aozi asked.
As soon as he spoke, a passerby next to him sneered:
"Ha? Do you think some low-paid security guard would dare step in and mediate among these foreign, off-planet folks?"
"Exactly. Given the unique status of the students here, campus security is essentially handled by student groups like the student council. If they can't be there, private duels or conflicts are just left to sort themselves out."
Hobbs shrugged:
"Besides, the student council members are probably busy guiding the freshmen. They won't be here any time soon."
Every place has its own political ecosystem; it wasn't surprising.
The passerby grumbled, "Arguing is one thing, but blocking traffic—that's just too much."
Li Aozi nodded, but before he could respond, the Siriusian man and woman had started up again.
"I'll give you a chance, Lucite Kaostro—leave the university right now, and I might forgive you for showing up in front of me again. Otherwise, I won't hold back like usual..."
"Leave now? Where would I go?"
"Anywhere that keeps you out of my sight—somewhere like the sewer. After all, as a partially evolved armored breed, you could probably survive just fine down there."
The Siriusian woman named Beizhong Guiming sneered, tossing her luggage aside and flexing her fists. Despite the barrage of insults, Lucite remained calm and collected. He seemed to notice Li Aozi and Hobbs observing and nodded slightly as if to apologize.
"Sorry for the trouble, everyone. My apologies."
"Playing the gentleman, are you? Come on, fight me! Let everyone see you, this perverted freak, this filthy monster, trailing me all the way because you couldn't have me!"
Beizhong's tone was exaggerated, her voice sharp. But after all, she was an attractive woman—an exotic beauty with a slender figure, richly dressed, clearly from a distinguished family. For young men full of hormones, she had an undeniable allure.
A few words from her painted Lucite as a lecherous stalker, following her all the way to the university. Even to the guys, this was despicable behavior. Lucite's grotesque appearance contrasted sharply with Beizhong's beauty, making it easy for anyone to sympathize with her.
"That's enough, can't you see she's unwilling?"
"Yeah, someone ought to teach this guy a lesson. It's the interstellar era, if you can't keep it in your pants, go back to the zoo—they've got people to help with mating."
"You're so cool, sis! You can't let this slide. Seriously, just look at his half-evolved human form—it makes me sick to think we're attending the same school. Gross."
Seeing the crowd siding with her, Beizhong posed confidently, hand on her hip.
"Well? What else do you have to say?"
"You're asking me?"
Lucite turned his head slightly, clenching his fists, the red glow in his eyes flickering:
"If a single word from you can get someone expelled, then it's not me they should fear. I can be expelled—but who they should truly fear is you, Miss Beizhong Guiming."
"You!"
"At least be cautious, everyone. I, Lucite, might be repulsive enough to make children cry at night, but I'm not frightening enough to get people expelled."
Lucite retorted sharply:
"But those who cross paths with Miss Beizhong Guiming end up going home packing."
"You incomplete armored breed—you really think you can insult me? You want to provoke me? Fine, as you wish!"
Beizhong raised her voice, taking an expensive SPA card from her pocket and tossing it to the ground:
"Come on then! Don't back down. If you dare, let's duel—with magic!"
At her words, the crowd, initially indifferent, erupted into excitement.
"Whoa! Are we really getting a duel on the first day?" A student next to Hobbs exclaimed, causing a stir, and people started discussing fiercely.
Even some second-year students passing by weren't surprised by the scene, and a few even started livestreaming.
"Awesome, let's see some bloodshed!" A student on Li Aozi's left was so excited that it surprised him—was this the usual reaction for just another public event?
Amidst this crowd, Li Aozi found himself thinking that even when he livestreamedVelazi's detonation a few days ago, it hadn't drawn as much attention as this argument.
He tugged on the calmly standing Hobbs and asked:
"Hobbs, new students haven't even received combat magic training—what's the big deal about this?"
"Simple," Hobbs said, "because dueling can earn you points."
"... What?" Li Aozi thought he misheard.
"I mentioned before, under the workshop system, mentors have great power and expectations over students, right? But every mentor here is also a busy industrialist or academic researcher; they can't get to know every student in depth."
Hobbs explained:
"In traditional academies, duels, competitions, grades, and notable events are all used by mentors to select students. Dueling directly shows a student's combat skills, psychological resilience, and drive—so it counts for quite a bit in terms of bonus points."
"Fighting itself isn't unusual, but if someone duels impressively, they might become a competitor. And since there are so many witnesses, when it's your turn to duel, people will stop to watch, to witness it."
Li Aozi immediately saw through it.
"So it's just another self-regulating campus mechanism? Maintaining order through these tacit rules among the students."
Hobbs laughed, "Right, and Leoz, buddy, I've noticed whenever it comes to competition or internal conflict, your mind gets sharp as a tack."
"Nah, my brain's always a bit slow," Li Aozi said dismissively.
In fact, he had been observing Hobbs.
From his unusual behavior during registration, the mysterious mental energy ring, to his deep understanding of school rules—everything indicated that Hobbs wasn't just an ordinary student.
Hobbs noticed Li Aozi's gaze and smoothly shifted the topic:
"Still, that woman Beizhong is ruthless, challenging an armored breed to a magic duel."
"What's the issue?" Li Aozi didn't know much about this race.
"A pretty big issue..." Hobbs said, "It's like a rabbit asking a tortoise to run a race or a tortoise asking a rabbit to swim."
"Beizhong Guiming, from her name, must be from the Beizhong clan of the Siriusian race—a significant clan. They've provided us Tanasian people with considerable aid."
"Armored breeds of the Siriusian race have very weak innate spellcasting abilities. Few of them can use magic, and in their civilization, most work as laborers or soldiers, receiving little education."
"Imagine asking someone from that background to compete in magic? Even if they have the talent for magic, the kind of education and practice they've had is worlds apart."
"What a sore loser—has this woman ever won a game in her life?" Li Aozi remarked dryly.
"Maybe she really can't take a loss," Hobbs chuckled.
Initially, he had been impatient and just wanted to get their books, but after Hobbs' explanation, Li Aozi's curiosity was piqued.
But it wasn't Beizhong Guiming's radiant beauty that intrigued him—it was the 'perverted armored breed,' Lucite Kaostro.