Although Hugo couldn’t quite recall who Scott was, he was still pleased that one of his former students had done well for himself. Seeing this, Rocco hurriedly stepped forward as well. "It really is you! Mr. Hugo, hello, hello! I've heard so much about you. I'm Rocco, the Director of Education for South City. I had the honor of attending your lectures in the past." As he spoke, Rocco quickly extended both hands. Hugo, not one for unnecessary formalities, extended his hand and shook Rocco’s. "You’re doing well. Education is the foundation of a nation’s future—do your best and live up to the country’s expectations." Hearing these words, Rocco was instantly overwhelmed with emotion, his eyes welling up with tears. He nodded solemnly. "Yes! I will follow Mr. Hugo’s teachings!" The people behind Rocco were utterly stunned by this sight. Rocco was always composed and serious, yet now, in front of Hugo, he looked exactly like a schoolboy standing before his strict homeroom teacher. Unlike Rocco, these people had never met Hugo personally. To them, Hugo was a distant legend. They held deep respect for him, but they lacked the personal connection that Rocco had. After a few more polite exchanges, Ashley led them toward the courtyard. Devon, Rowan, and Sebastian had been on high alert the whole time. When they saw that Hugo had truly arrived, their entire demeanor stiffened. But formalities couldn’t be ignored. In the presence of this towering figure in both law and education, they quickly stepped forward to greet him. "Mr. Hugo, what brings you here?" "Mr. Hugo, it's an honor to meet you!" Though their words were warm and their faces betrayed their excitement, not a single one of them stepped forward to shake Hugo’s hand. At a time like this, offering a handshake was the most basic courtesy. Hugo studied them, standing in a perfectly neat formation as if they were part of a lineup. His expression turned serious. "Where is Arthur?" At this question, their postures tensed even further! As if on cue, they all shook their heads.They respected Hugo immensely, but compared to that, securing Arthur as their student was their top priority. The handshake could wait. Hugo could only roll his eyes at the sight. He shot them a sharp look. "Ridiculous! I know you are all here for Arthur, but we must respect his choice! Everyone has their own ambitions, and we should not force him into a decision!" His words were powerful, striking deep into their hearts. The weight of his authority sent a visible shudder through them. He was right. They had been so focused on competing for Arthur that they had never even asked for his opinion. But… even if Arthur hesitated, they still wanted to take him under their wing! Though they knew Hugo was right, they were still unwilling to step aside. Hugo, however, was no longer the kindly elder they had seen moments ago. His expression grew stern, his presence overwhelming. These little rascals, did they really think they could compete with me for a student? He took a step closer, his movements slow but heavy, like the Grim Reaper himself approaching his next target. Standing at the edge of the group, Sebastian felt his legs go weak. That is Mr. Hugo! These people were all legends! Who am I to compete with them for a student? He regretted coming here. He should have let a more senior professor from his school handle this! Maybe even two! As Hugo advanced, the group unconsciously stepped aside. Faced with absolute authority, none of them dared to stand in his way. Fine. Hugo had a point—Arthur should be the one to choose his future path. Scott and Rocco, seeing the others, abandoned all hesitation and stepped forward to introduce themselves. These men were highly esteemed figures in Lioran. It was only proper for them to offer their greetings first. They could hardly believe it. Thanks to Arthur, they were witnessing such a gathering of renowned figures right here in South City. As both sides exchanged pleasantries, Ashley busied herself setting up chairs and tables. Their small living room wasn’t spacious enough to accommodate everyone, so rather than cramming everyone inside, she decided to move everything outdoors.With chairs placed under the shade of the trees and fresh tea poured, the cool breeze made for a refreshing setting. There was something peaceful about sitting outside in the open air. No one minded in the slightest. They weren’t here for comfort—they were here to take Arthur as their student. Hugo, Devon, Rowan, Sebastian, Scott, Rocco, Arthur, and Ashley sat together in a circle. Rocco and Scott looked at Arthur and Ashley with pride gleaming in their eyes. Rocco patted Arthur on the shoulder. "Good kid! You’ve really made a name for yourself! You both have—you’ve brought great honor to South City!" Scott added, "Keep working hard, and you’ll accomplish great things in the future!" Arthur’s name had long since reached Scott’s ears. However, Arthur had never expressed any interest in meeting him. And as the City Lord, Scott couldn't just shamelessly seek him out.