They don't want me to try anymore.

As for Richard, in addition to his level, he also successfully attempted cross-dimensional communication and obtained a batch of new summons from the elemental realm—the four low-level elements of earth, water, fire, and wind, all of which were roughly at the bronze rank.

Previously in Connaught, because of the short time since his job change and the lack of a dedicated summoner to guide him, he was unable to fully utilize his abilities, resulting in him summoning common wild game from the forest and essentially becoming a druid.

Now we've finally turned things around!

The elemental creatures have far greater attack power and attack methods than most forest animals!

"Your Highness, Miss, the carriage prepared by the Ambassador has arrived."

At this moment, the maids reminded Richard and Zoe, so they took a bath, changed their clothes, left the school, and went to a dinner party.

...Although Richard doesn't have much of a social life on campus these days, there are some events he can't avoid even if he doesn't want to go, such as the weekend evening banquet hosted by the Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs specifically for foreign students in the capital.

After traveling for half an hour through the bustling and magnificent streets of the capital, they arrived at a spacious and bright high-rise building—once the private property of a count, which was later transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by the empire because the count had no heir.

The familiar ambassador, a government official with family members living abroad, immediately came forward and introduced the brother and sister to several imperial officials.

During the process, Richard could clearly feel...

They don't value themselves.

Once he entered the banquet hall, he became even more certain of this.

The officials in the Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs mostly interacted with students from other major powers, such as Vatican City in the southeast and Vyacheslava in the north.

It seems that Connaught was just someone who came along at the party.

In this era where international law is disregarded and aggression is not condemned, small countries have a lower status than they did in the United Nations in previous eras.

Just right.

Richard himself was too lazy to engage in pleasantries with these people and focused on enjoying the food with his sister.

Putting aside everything else, this vast country spanning multiple climate zones always offers satisfying cuisine.

However, he encountered some minor mishaps along the way...

"Sir, don't you have a dance partner?"

"Oh my, your eyes are so captivating!"

"There's a concert by the Elf Master tomorrow, and my sister happens to have two tickets..."

At any banquet in the empire, there is never a shortage of hunters, both men and women, seeking lovers.

Richard's charm, combined with his characteristics as an older man killer, created a dramatic ecological reaction in this special environment.

As more and more wealthy women gathered around her, Zoe was the first to lose her temper.

"Excuse me, my brother needs to go to the restroom!"

The little girl suppressed her anger, tossed her ponytail, grabbed Richard's hand, and ran to the balcony.

After confirming that the ladies hadn't followed, she crossed her arms over her ample bosom and said, "Richard, those are all manipulative and wicked women. You should stay away from them!"

"Okay, I understand, but... this doesn't look like a toilet."

"Richard!"

"Just kidding~"

Although she explained it was a joke, the little girl's wariness didn't diminish at all.

She looked at the laughing and chatting ladies outside and murmured to herself:

"Why is Richard so popular... these shameless bastards... if only they could never talk to Richard again... what can I do..."

Uh……

The person in the audience couldn't help but scratch his head.

I always feel like my younger sister is thinking about something scary.

But... it probably doesn't matter.

He turned his head to look elsewhere.

The college entrance exam taker from another world, focused solely on studying, has no interest in developing a romantic relationship and doesn't mind spending a little more time on the balcony.

...especially when he saw the two suspicious-looking people in the back garden.

Using his professional-level senses, Richard half-hid behind a marble column, observing secretly.

He guessed that this was mostly directed at the wealthy woman who had already succeeded and the young man disguised as prey...

and many more……

Why is it Tom?

Didn't he say before that he was going to the city to buy necessities on a weekend evening?

"Mom? What are you doing here?"

In the grove, Tom looked around to make sure no one was watching before cautiously approaching a woman dressed as a servant. He lowered his voice and said, "My classmates are in the guild hall over here. We might get seen if we're not careful!"

His voice trembled; he was clearly very nervous.

But noticing the sweat on the woman's face, his tone immediately softened: "Let's... let's come this way..."

"Mr. Enrique is coming to the capital to hold an art exhibition, so I came along. It's just that I haven't seen you in a long time and wanted to see you."

As the middle-aged woman spoke, she asked with a worried expression, "Are you doing well at school? Will you have any problems graduating this year?"

"……no problem."

Tom pursed his lips, then exaggeratedly puffed out his chest and laughed, "You wouldn't believe it, I'm doing really well at school because I know so much! Lots of new students come to ask me questions and they really respect me!"

"Don't worry about graduating. I'm only five credits short, but I can easily get them."

Richard remained silent on the balcony.

He could tell, of course, that Tom was lying.

For ordinary students to thrive at St. Goethe, there are only two options: either possess exceptional talent and ability, conquering others with their grades, or willingly become the lackeys and clowns of the aristocratic students, much like Granny Liu in Dream of the Red Chamber.

Tom, introverted and somewhat insecure... doesn't belong to either category.

He was even a repeat student, and was actually more miserable than Richard in school.

As for graduation...

That's even more difficult.

Tom's talent was not bad to be able to get into St. Goethe, and in theory, graduating in four years should not be a problem.

Unfortunately, he contracted polio during the practical assessment of exploring the fantasy world two years ago.

It is a disease that greatly affects the magic perception and storage of professionals below the Silver rank. It is said to be related to a curse of an ancient god. There is no 100% effective treatment, and patients often have to endure it on their own.

Tom was unlucky and couldn't pull through. His strength plummeted from high-level Bronze to mid-level Bronze after his illness, and he could no longer improve.

St. Goethe School does not have strict requirements on the graduation grade of students; even a Bronze grade is acceptable for graduation.

Unfortunately, many required credits need to be earned through practice, which is incredibly difficult for Tom, whose level has dropped and who is not good at skills like alchemy and potion-making.

Therefore, in Richard's memory, Tom was not exactly full of confidence about graduating; at the very least, he was utterly hopeless.

But this kind of thing...

There's really no need to tell Mom.

Looking at the senior students below, forcing a smile, Richard recalled a saying he had heard in his past life:

Don't talk to your mom about sad things; she can't help and will just have trouble sleeping...

"It's okay."

Hearing Tom's words, a smile appeared on the woman's tired face.

She took out a small cloth bag from her bosom and said, "I've saved up my wages over the past five months. It's not much, only fifty silver coins, but you can keep it for now."

"Mom is getting old, this is all she can offer. You can go and buy some more pork chops to eat."

"Mom, I have enough money..."

"Take this first, I haven't finished talking yet... Remember to go to bed early at school, don't stay up late..."

Seeing that Tom had tears in his eyes, Richard looked away and pulled his sister outside.

Zoe asked, puzzled, "Huh? Where are you going?"

"Let's switch to the balcony across the street. There are some things we shouldn't be looking at."

The banquet lasted until late at night.

Magic crystal lamps and hundreds of candles were placed throughout the hall, and the various colors of light made the whole environment look like a dream. The lighting costs for just one night were enough to bankrupt families who could only afford candles that produced black smoke and smell.

In this era, staying up late is actually a right.

Just as Richard found yet another hiding place, where the ladies, who had been desperately seeking him but had been inexplicably inspired to fight, he saw Tom's mother.

The other person appears to be being reprimanded for accidentally soiling the guest's clothes.

Having found the important matter, Li immediately declined the invitations from the women in their twenties and thirties around him and moved closer.

Then he discovered that it was Hamilton who was making things difficult for Tom's mother...

Ah, this absolutely needs to be addressed!