Chapter 198: Double Standards

Words : 1208 Updated : Sep 23rd, 2025

Chapter 198: Double Standards Meanwhile, while several pilots were evaluating their upgraded piloting conditions, one pilot was out there trying to pass a class. One where the teacher looked down upon those students with ’poor’ spiritual power results. Like one little chipmunk who only got a C-rating to show for. Instructor Max. Or, if you ask him, Retired Colonel Maximilian "Max" Thaddeus Starhawk, Combination Mecha Pilot Instructor, Certified Combat Strategist, and Honorary Fleet Commander. But maybe don’t, or he would not stop regaling the tales of his bravery and medical discharge due to a problem with his pinky toe. However, that was for students he liked or deemed good enough. And not for the students he classified as waste or nepotism babies. At first, Luca didn’t take this to heart. He had expected this, and every now and then, he would still get a few looks of wonder, but after several broadcasted incidents, they’ve mellowed down a lot. But just because the students were up-to-date didn’t mean that the teachers were. And one such rock dweller was Instructor Max, who was now taking it a bit too far. It was too far in the sense that he was obstructing Luca’s test permit from being signed. First, it was his lack of required hours, which Luca tried to fix by attending more classes. Second, it was his lack of virtual pod training hours. And now, it was his lack of practical experience. Now, while all of those sounded valid, there were even students who had none of those and were able to take the exam, which, of course, caused them to fail. Only to be allowed to retake the exam until they passed by hanging on by a thread. But Luca, the little hard worker, figured he was really lacking based on the required items and made sure to compensate. And compensate he did. Luca attended all the classes, which were basically a show-and-tell of the Instructor’s past heroic deeds. The instructor also repeated that those with sub-par spiritual abilities should just quit this early, as the military was not a game for ’little landlords.’ And it was a mantra he stood by even when faced with Luca’s excellent virtual pod results. But maybe it was fortunate that one honest boy couldn’t correlate himself with this sub-par spiritual ability description and would always just attend class like normal. Much to the amazement of all the other students, who could only flinch knowing who was being targeted. Who wouldn’t know when the confidential results were posted on the Holo board every day as a solid reminder for everyone? However, Instructor Max could only get more and more frustrated as the waste would keep on coming to class dedicatedly, never late, and sometimes even too early. He continued coming with that blasted smile on his face, greeting, "Good afternoon, Instructor Starhawk. Thank you for instructing us today." It was detestable. That kid was detestable. Or maybe that student was an idiot who couldn’t take a hint. So, Instructor Max tried turning everyone against the student. "Today, we’ll have an opportunity to get several people into the testing phase. Everyone must pick an opponent for a duel, and upon winning, I can sign the testing slip." Boomed the Instructor, who had more or else glanced at the suspected imbecile. "However, lose the match, and you will be barred from taking the exam this month." smirked the Instructor, who turned it into a pretentious-looking grin. This was easy, and he even reminded everyone to note the posted ratings and pick their opponents conscientiously. Surely, this time, someone would take him out, no? Because Max hated these weaklings who always seemed to get what they wanted just because they were born into good families. Like this boy’s equally disgusting Father. Even now, Instructor Max could not forget the humiliation of going after the love of his life only to lose to a scrawny, wide-eyed boy who looked like he was born to be a toothpick. Obviously, Max was a hot-headed soldier who couldn’t understand just how it was possible for him to lose to such a guy. Until he learned about that heir’s spiritual ability rating. S-class. No, it was an S-class bordering on SS-class. And Max grew to be obsessed. He was an A-rank user who had always been treated well because of his inborn luck. From the moment he learned of this gap that couldn’t be breached, he had no choice but to surrender. It was a blow to his ego and to his heart, which yearned for his one-sided love. But he knew that spiritual abilities divided people, and this division would always put people in their proper place. And now, this was the perfect opportunity to get back at this family. Especially when Instructor Max thought about how Karma worked in his favor. Who would’ve imagined that a Duke with a near SS-rating and a Duchess with an S-rating for spiritual abilities would yield an embarrassing C-class who didn’t even have enough physical brawn to compensate for lacking as a person? And so, one Instructor felt validated as he tried picking on Luca Soren Kyros, who was likely the Duchy’s dirty laundry. But to his surprise, when the murmuring students started looking for opponents, no one went to that godforsaken student! Were they all too mindful of their reputations to avoid looking like a bully? Or were they just too nice? Impossible. In this day and age, no such idiot would survive today without stepping on other people. Were they all weaklings who were too scared to touch the heir to the Duchy? So, the instructor tried to remind the students. "In the Academy, no one can be treated preferentially just because they are nobles of higher pedigree. And so, you must all learn to treat everyone equally as you would once you join the military ranks." The students were mostly sophomores and even a few juniors and seniors, save for that one freshman, Luca. And they all knew, save for the oblivious student, that the Instructor was inadvertently pushing them to duel with the freshman. But none of them lived under the rock like Instructor Max. No one was challenging the student because no one wanted to be eliminated and dismantled in front of everyone. Not by a freshman who had ranked in the Top Ten of the last mercenary licensure exam. If he was so desperate to eliminate Luca so badly, why not fight the kid himself? Thought several students who valued their mental states and their poor mechas. And maybe the instructor was a mind-reader of sorts because he realized that the class was oddly numbered and one student would definitely not get an opponent. By the looks of it, that boy would be left ripe for the picking. For his picking. How splendid was it to have an excuse to do this himself? And if anything, this boy should be thankful for being taught an expensive lesson personally. At least after this, he would know just what kind of life he deserves to live. The world isn’t kind to the weak. Not anymore. And one person was just about to learn this valuable lesson.

Chapter 198: Double Standards

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