Endurance alone could wear down an opponent. That was why, even though Arthur wasn’t as skilled as Devon, he had managed to hold his own for so long. Hearing Arthur’s words, Devon burst into laughter. “Hahahaha! That’s exactly why I’ve got my eye on you! A true man!” Devon admiration for Arthur grew stronger by the second. Watching their lively exchange, Sebastian felt increasingly uneasy. “Wait a minute! I was here first! Devon, you need to respect seniority!” Sebastian was getting desperate. How had Arthur bonded so quickly with this brute? “Hah! What kind of nonsense is that?” Devon scoffed. “There’s only one Arthur! What’s seniority got to do with it? What, you think you can magically create another Arthur just for yourself?” If he had the ability, he would’ve cloned an entire school full of Arthurs by now! These days, students lacked resilience. The moment they faced pressure, they broke down. Some even threatened to jump off buildings at the slightest setback. But Arthur, strong-willed, unwavering, and absurdly talented, was the kind of student every university dreamed of recruiting. Just as they were bickering, the sound of approaching footsteps came from the courtyard entrance. “Is Arthur here?” A woman’s voice! Devon and Sebastian instinctively exchanged glances. At the same time, the same realization struck them Oh no! That voice was unmistakable. They could recognize it in their sleep. It was Rowan! Rowan, a renowned professor at Aetherflow Institute, was a legend in the world of science. Known for her eccentric personality, she was wholly devoted to research. Despite being nearly thirty, breathtakingly beautiful, and possessing an enviable figure, she had never been in a relationship. Why was she here?! Aetherflow Institute typically only recruited university and graduate students. They never accepted high schoolers. What did she want with Arthur? Neither Devon nor Sebastian had the answer, but their instincts kicked in. In perfect synchronization, they moved to shield Arthur. Not only that, they immediately signalled their team members to close ranks, forming a solid wall in front of Arthur. Rowan had barged in without knocking, leaving them no time to hide him! Arthur found himself suddenly surrounded, unable to see past the blockade of bodies. Before he could even ask what was going on, Devon flashed a wide grin at Rowan. “Well, well! Rowan! What a coincidence! What brings you here?” Rowan scanned the room, surprised to see them. “So, you two got here first.” She had been receiving reports about Sebastian and Devon tracking Arthur down. She had rushed over, only to find that they had beaten her to the punch. Sebastian quickly put on his most convincing smile. “Total coincidence! But Arthur isn’t here. He ran off somewhere. We missed him.” Behind them, Arthur: "..." Ran off? Ashley, watching from the side, was equally speechless. Why did Sebastian sound like a wife complaining about her husband sneaking out at night? “Oh?” Rowan swept her gaze over the group, her sharp eyes missing nothing. Devon nodded emphatically. “Yeah! We just got here, but he’s nowhere to be found.” “Then what happened to your face?” Rowan asked suddenly. “Huh?” Devon was momentarily caught off guard. He gestured vaguely at Sebastian. “Got into a fight with him.” Sebastian "..." He should’ve just stayed quiet. Rowan "..." “Do you even hear yourself?” she deadpanned, rolling her eyes. Devon scratched his head awkwardly. He had always been straightforward and never one for deception. This flaw had cost him plenty of times before. Rowan pointed at Sebastian. “Look at him. Do you really think he could’ve done that to you?”Lin "..." “First of all, I said nothing. Second of all, I said nothing! Please stop attacking my dignity!” Sebastian frustration boiled over. “What do you mean, someone like me! What’s wrong with me!” He was, after all, the dean of Fusion University! Sure, compared to these two, he might not be much, but was he really that unimpressive??? Rowan rolled her eyes mercilessly. "A fragile guy like you calls himself a man??" Sebastian "..." "I may not have trained, but I'm still considered strong among men, okay?! What do you mean by fragile?! Do you even know what fragile means?!"