"Broken Halo. You have been assigned a mission outside the academy."
The class was already quiet, but it became even more quiet because many students forgot to breathe the moment they heard the words of their class instructor.
Even Simon was stunned, and he didn’t know how to react for the first five seconds.
And there was a good reason for this.
First years were never given outside missions mainly because they were considered inexperienced and too weak to be used to be used in those kind of missions.
An Initiate’s third year was mainly comprised of missions and very little classes.
Only the most talented second years were given missions, and this is after they were tested and approved by their instructors.
The only missions a first year could do were minor internal missions, and everybody knew this.
So why was Simon assigned an outside mission?
Simon looked at Instructor Valdin with slightly narrowed eyes.
"Why am I being assigned an outside mission?"
Instructor Valdin released a soft sigh.
"Because you fit the requirements."
Simon raised a brow. "The requirements? I’m a first year, a slave, and a Fiend. What external mission could I possibly partake in with my low status and poor abilities?"
Instructor Valdin’s lips could not help but twitch when he heard Simon’s words.
’You might be a slave, but I know about the silent war that’s been going on between you and Caesar.’
’Your status is definitely not as low as you make it to seem, and your abilities are definitely not poor at all.’
Valdin merely shook his head at Simon.
"We all know that your status is anything but low, and your abilities even exceed some of your seniors. Your abilities are the main reason why you’ve been chosen to partake in this mission."
Simon narrowed his eyes, and though he had no proof, he was certain that this was a move from Caesar.
And it was definitely a shocking move.
"What are the details of the mission? What do I have to do? Where am I going? What do I need to know?"
Valdin shrugged nonchalantly while raising his hands.
"You’ll have to get all the details from your teammates."
Simon was genuinely taken aback.
"Teammates? I’m not going alone?"
Valdin chuckled softly.
"Even though you’re an exceptional kid, there’s no way we’ll entrust the reputation of the academy in your hands."
"The Shadowgrave Clan rarely fails the missions given to them, and we’d love to keep it that way. You’re too inexperienced when it comes to assassination."
Simon scoffed. "Then why do you want me to join a mission when I’m so inexperienced?"
Valdin tilted his head slightly and began tapping the instructor’s table in the classroom.
"You don’t seem to understand. According to the mission and the reports of your soon to be teammates, somebody like you who doesn’t behave completely like an assassin but is still powerful and has some experience as an assassin is needed for the mission to be a success."
"There are other details, but you can ask your teammates for them when you meet them."
Simon narrowed his eyes, and he could not help but give Instructor Valdin a strange look.
Instructor Valdin had been neutral to his battle with Caesar, but for some reason, Simon was beginning to suspect that Valdin was now tilting toward Caesar.
It would not be surprising to him since Caesar genuinely had far more resources than he did, but it was still a little bit worrying that his class instructor was now supporting his enemy.
Because by all means, Valdin should have disallowed the academy from using him, a talented first year, for a definitely dangerous external mission.
’It is what it is. And it should not be so surprising since no faction has made an attempt to recruit me.’
He released a soft sigh, then he asked another question with slightly cold eyes.
"And who are my teammates."
Valdin remained silent for a few seconds, then he also released a sigh.
"You’ll meet them, but they are members of the Obsidian Thorns, Sanguine Fang, and Iron Ledgers. Five teammates in total, you’ll be the sixth."
Simon’s lips curled up into a smile beneath his mask, then he released a soft chuckle.
"He’s not even trying to hide it."
He shook his head softly.
"I refuse to participate in the mission, Instructor Valdin."
"It’s mandatory that you participate." Instructor Valdin replied immediately.
Simon chuckled. "Of course it is."
Instructor Valdin looked at Simon for a few seconds then he released a soft sigh.
"You don’t have to see this as a bad thing, Broken Halo. You can see it as an opportunity to learn from your seniors."
Simon shook his head and replied with a disappointed tone.
"Just stop Instructor Valdin. If you keep on spitting out nonsense like that, I’ll just be more and more disappointed in you. Don’t let the little respect I have for you vanish."
Simon’s classmates looked at Simon with an utterly baffled and shocked expression.
The sheer arrogance.
The sheer indifference.
They were all used to it, but this was different.
Simon was just a kid, but he believed that a demon that was far older and far more powerful than him would care about his respect and disappointment?
What was this?
What was going on?
Even Instructor Valdin was taken aback by Simon’s words, and he didn’t know what to say.
’Does this brat think that because he’s the leader of a gang, he can speak as he wants to me?’
’Me? Valdin? A Velari?’
If Valdin’s face could be seen, they would all see the veins that were threatening to pop out of his face as he stared at Simon with barely restrained anger.
As for Simon, he could barely care about the feelings and thoughts of his classmates and Instructor.
Right now, all that was on his mind was how to survive.
’Caesar oh Caesar. You truly are an interesting kid.’ Simon smiled slightly beneath his mask.