In the Old ti, going on a date was not a ve affair.

  After all, this was a world without telephones or the i.

  Every time, either Annie waited outside Kilmainham Prison, or Charlot went tias Uy to find her.

  Holy, all these years after graduation, Charlot had visited Gias Uy far more times than he had returo his alma mater, Sheffield Uy.

  Seated in “his” carriage, Charlot gazed at the sery of Strasb with a peculiar feeling. Previously, he had always thought that the roads built in this a try were excessively wide—wider, even, than many roads oh. At this moment, however, he realized that without such spacious roads, carriages simply couldn’t operate, particurly the dignified four-wheeled ones.

  Though the carriage was only two pimi wide, it was still much lohah’s private cars or SUVs. While the carriage itself wasn’t signifitly rger, one also had to sider the horses pulling it. Add iurning radius, and its maneuverability was far inferior to modern vehicles with all their teical enhas. Without wide roads, many areas would be inaccessible tes.

  Moreover, the Old ti of this world—prising the Five Great Empires—likely had fewer than a hundred million people, yet its nd area far surpassed Europe, possibly parable to the bined size of Europe and Africa.

  The Upper Seven Districts of Strasb were home to numerous nobles, many of whom occupied mansions so vast that a single family could take up aire block. Each of these mansions was built like a beautiful garden, making the sery along the way rather delightful.

  Upoering the Val-de-Vas District, the buildings became noticeably grander. Although all seven districts were nominally on equal footing, the Val-de-Vas District was clearly more exceptional thahers.

  From a distance, one could see the rooftops of the royal pace, as well as various gover institutions. Passing by the tral Gover Office, Charlot couldn’t help but feel a slight pang of emotion. If he had stayed there, he might have been promoted to Sed-Css Clerk by year, earning an increase of several times in his sary.

  Perhaps, after a few more years of hard work, he could even sider buying a small apartment—but a private carriage would forever remain out of reach.

  Mrs. Nancy’s voice came through the copper tube installed in the carriage:“Mr. Meburg, we’ve arrived at Gias Uy! Which teag building are you headed to?”

  Charlot pushed open the carriage door and disembarked gracefully, replying, “Just wait for me here. I’ll likely return quite te, so don’t worry about me.”

  The imperial uies didn’t allow outsiders to enter freely. Mrs. Nancy’s question about the teag building hihat her previous master likely had some special privileges.

  Charlot, however, rraduate of Sheffield Uy, where he had a perma entry permit. As a minure among the empire’s lower-ranking nobles, it hadn’t been difficult for him to obtain a multiple-entry permit fias Uy through a little greasing of the wheels.

  In fact, he had already obtained one long ago.

  However, a perma entry permit was another matter entirely. That was far more challenging to acquire, though Charlot didn’t particurly —after all, Annie would graduate in another year.

  The multiple-entry permit allowed him to ehe uy alone, but he couldn’t bring anyone else or drive his carriage onto campus.

  Having visited several times before, Charlot was quite familiar with the yout. He easily found the building where Annie Bretagne was attending css. Knowing she had a lecture this m, he didn’t interrupt but instead found a long bench outside her and sat down to study his diary.

  Charlot was deeply ied in Swiftstep Teique and Fme Dragon’s Hand, but he prioritized the Swiftstep Teique. This teique would prehensively enhance his running speed, jumping ability, agility, and reflexes, providing a foundational boost to his bat prowess.

  “I wonder if I master the Agility Rune before receiving the duel challenge,” Charlot murmured.

  After flipping through the diary for a while, Charlot felt somewhat stifled and put it away in his coat. Just then, a girl passed by in a hurry, her expression tinged with worry.

  She had a pair of deep blue eyes and an exceptionally beautiful face. Her hand-embroidered tea dress atuated her graceful figure, as elegant as a narcissus flower.

  Her beauty was of the kind that, oh, could easily attract millions of followers on short-video ptforms and streaming sites.

  Charlot, having frequented Gias Uy, naturally reized this dy—after all, she was incredibly famous.

  Gias Uy had a tradition of seleg twelve “Goddesses” from among all its female students. Ially, Sheffield Uy had the same tradition.

  Annie Bretagne was the curre Wind Goddess, while Dolores Soumet was the Laurel Goddess.

  That’s right—this beautiful girl was also Menielman’s cousin. The Soumet family was an iial .

  While Charlnized her, he didn’t think Dolores would know him. Thus, he had no iion of greetireating her instead as nothing more than pleasant sery passing by.

  To his surprise, Dolores paused slightly as she walked past him and asked, “Are you Mr. Charlot Meburg?”

  Startled, Charlot nodded. “How do you know me?”

  Dolores replied calmly, “A man who date the West Wind Goddess—there’s not a soul at Gias Uy who doesn’t know. That’s not fttery; it’s just a fact.”

  Charlot smiled faintly and asked, “Miss Soumet, may I help you with something?”

  Dolores appeared to hesitate. After a long pause, she said, “My brother and Annie’s cousin are good friends in the military.”

  “Not long ago, Annie’s cousin visited my home aioned you.”

  “Well, I won’t repeat his exact words.”

  “I’m just here to inform you that two High-Rank Transdents will soon challenge you.”

  Charlot’s shock was unmistakable, his posure momentarily slipping. He hadn’t expected to suddenly be targeted by two High-Rank Transdents.

  Just as he was about to ask for more details, Dolores turned and walked away.

  Hurriedly, he called after her, “Thank you, Miss Soumet!”

  Dolores replied indifferently, “I just wao see the look of sho your fao o thank me.”

  “Oh, and… those two are also here at Gias Uy today.”

  Charlot immediately sidered leaving, but out of the er of his eye, he saw Annie walking out of the with a group of cssmates, waving to him from afar.

  There was no way Charlot could just turn and leave now. pared to fag two High-Rank Transdents, the sequences of walking away now would be far more serious. Resigned, he braced himself and walked toward her.

  Annie looked at him curiously and asked, “What did you and Dolores talk about?”

  She was indeed curious. When she came out, she had seen her “lifelong rival” Dolores Soumet talking to Charlot and very much wao know what they had discussed.

  Charlot dared not lie and answered holy, “She said her brother and your cousin are friends, and they’ve arrao duel me.”

  Annie’s beautiful eyes widened in astonishment.