North Starship Military Academy, Class 8, Third Year.
"Oh, Student Zachary Chase from Class 8 didn't come to class again today. Could it be that he's scared and hiding, not daring to show up?"
A mocking voice drifted into the Class 8 classroom, which was currently on a break.
Hearing this voice, the students in the classroom all showed displeased expressions. Without guessing, they all knew who the newcomer was—Victor Hargrove from Class 2, Third Year, and his group of friends.
Ever since Zachary and Victor agreed to a starship duel, Victor often came to Class 8's classroom to show off. After not seeing Zachary's figure several times and learning that Zachary had taken a long leave since that day, he became even more arrogant. He believed that Zachary was afraid of him.
"Victor Hargrove, this is our Class 8 classroom. If you have nothing to do, please return to your own Class 2!" A cold-faced girl walked up to Victor and said with a cold gaze.
"Please, school rules don't forbid visiting other classrooms during free time. Besides, I'm here to find your dear Zachary Chase. He made an appointment for a duel with me, and it's almost the end of June in just a few days. I'm just worried he forgot about the duel and wanted to come over and remind him." As Victor spoke, his eyes sized up the class beauty of Class 8, who was also the Class President, Serena Frost.
Serena coldly said, "Zachary hasn't been to class for over half a month. If you want to find him, please figure it out yourself; don't disturb us."
"Oh, aren't you Class 8 a team? It sounds like Zachary isn't a member of your Class 8," Victor laughed.
At this moment, Victor's followers behind him also scoffed one after another.
"I think that Zachary kid is scared and hiding, not daring to see people."
"Once June is over, it's vacation. Our Baron wants to sneak back to his territory in disgrace."
"Coward! If he's afraid to duel, why did he challenge our young master Victor in the first place?"
"If you ask me, our young master Victor is magnanimous. When the time comes, just let that Zachary kneel and call him 'Daddy, I was wrong' a few times, and that'll be it. Hahahaha…"
Hearing this group of people mocking at the classroom door made the students of Class 8 very unhappy. But unfortunately, the students enrolled in Class 8 generally had ordinary backgrounds and average grades. Whereas Class 2, where Victor was, consisted of students from good backgrounds.
This led to Class 8—apart from the habitually strong-willed and excellent student Serena Frost, the class beauty, daring to confront them directly—other students could only swallow their anger.
This caused the students of Class 8 to feel some rejection toward Zachary in their hearts. This guy was simply an embarrassment. It was one thing for him to be ostracized within the class due to his incompetence before, but now he was causing trouble outside, dragging them all down. Such a guy should just drop out quickly.
"Victor, if you're so capable, duel me! What kind of skill is it to yell here? Besides, the duel is set for the end of June; the deadline hasn't even arrived yet!" Levi Warren couldn't hold back and walked up to Victor to retort angrily.
Although his father, as an interstellar merchant, had repeatedly cautioned him to be low-key in his actions, his brother was being mocked and bullied, and he really couldn't stand it anymore.
"Levi, what… do you want to stick up for your useless brother? Honestly, your choice of friends is really bad. What use is such a useless Baron?" Victor didn't respond to Levi's words, only continuing to mock Zachary.
"You…" Levi's face was filled with anger.
"Since someone is already impatient to go through the withdrawal procedures, then I'll be kind enough to grant his wish."
At this moment, a leisurely voice came from outside the door.
Everyone's eyes were drawn over.
They saw Zachary, who hadn't been seen for some time, walking in leisurely, looking at Victor and his group mockingly.
Zachary, who had been missing for almost a month, actually appeared!
"Oh, I thought you were hiding and didn't dare to show up." Victor looked at Zachary with some surprise, but he wasn't worried. In his eyes, Zachary was nothing more than an ant—he could crush him however he wanted.
"I was just resting for a few days. I didn't expect someone to be so impatient for a beating. Since that's the case, let's set our duel for tomorrow. How about it, young master Victor?" Zachary said calmly.
Levi quickly walked to Zachary's side and whispered, "Zachary, calm down. This starship duel is no small matter. Once it starts, there's no right to regret."
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Zachary patted Levi's shoulder.
"Stubborn. Then let's officially set the duel time." Victor took out his student ID card and looked at Zachary provocatively.
Zachary didn't hesitate and also took out his ID card.
Under everyone's gaze, the two officially set the duel time.
Tomorrow morning at ten o'clock, North Starship Military Academy's No. 2 Starship Simulation Duel Arena.
"Since everything is confirmed, please take your lackeys and get out. Don't disturb our classmates' studies." Zachary issued an eviction notice.
Victor's followers glared, each with eyes wide in anger. This good-for-nothing Zachary actually dared to curse them.
Victor stopped his followers. Now that the duel date was set, there was no need to waste more words here. He just needed to wait until the duel, win it in front of everyone, and then he could make this Baron lose face and drop out in disgrace.
"Then I'll be looking forward to a wonderful battle tomorrow. Don't disappear again when the time comes." Victor didn't forget to provoke him one last time, then turned and left with his people.
Zachary calmly returned to his seat.
The other students in the classroom were discussing animatedly at this moment. But most of them were cold remarks.
"Zachary is really crazy. What ability does he have to duel Victor?"
"It's not even certain if he has a starship. I heard that Victor has a brand new T2 starship!"
"It's one thing for Zachary to lose face and drop out, but it's his fault for making our Class 8 also lose face and be embarrassed."
Zachary turned a deaf ear to these words. Only the outcome could shut these people up.
Levi sat next to Zachary, just about to speak, when someone else spoke first.
"If a person doesn't have enough strength, then whatever he does is wrong. After all, you are a member of our Class 8, and I don't want you to be nailed to the pillar of shame. Your sister is a genius student. Using her connections should be able to resolve this matter." Serena stood in front of Zachary and said coldly.
Zachary looked at the beautiful class president from a commoner background: "Class president, you don't believe I can win either?"
"What do you think?" Serena retorted unceremoniously.
Zachary shrugged: "Then let's wait and see."
Seeing that she couldn't persuade him, the indifference in Serena's eyes grew stronger, and she turned and left.
"Old Zach, are you really going to duel Victor?" Levi looked at Zachary seriously.
"Confirmed, certain, and not denied." Zachary was already getting tired of such questions. For the convenience of future actions, it was time to show off his strength.
Levi looked at Zachary. He felt that his brother's temper seemed to have changed greatly since a month ago: "Since you've decided, then how about this? Tomorrow, you use my T2 Hyena for the battle. My vice captain is a starship captain with twenty years of Imperial Army T2 starship combat experience. You just need to hand everything over to him."
"You don't have to worry. I have a starship," Zachary said helplessly.
"Those three broken… starships… you exchanged—how could they possibly win!" Levi looked at Zachary, who couldn't be persuaded, and was really anxious.
Zachary knew it was useless to explain to Levi now, so he said no more, found an excuse, and left the classroom.
Now, probably no one believed that Zachary would win this duel.
Then Zachary would just have to win and show them!