Heaven's Greatest Professor

The meeting went on for a couple of hours. Jessica was intrigued at the beginning by their finding of an essence vein and an ancient inheritance ruin. However, the intriguing part ended pretty early as they began discussing how to proceed to get the inheritance.

Higher rankers were reluctant to get into it after they studied the entrance. Apparently, the suppression present inside the ruin should be strong enough to put all higher rankers vulnerable to even iron rankers. Most gold rankers wouldn't want to put themselves under such disadvantaged circumstances.

Jessica wasn't particularly surprised by that. What surprised her was how the imperial family and many noble houses took an interest in it. The discovery was made only a couple of days earlier, verified yesterday, and yet they already got wind of the news.

They would be sending their younger generation as a training drill into this ruin. It wasn't the first time they were doing it, actually; they took part regularly, using the resources from the military to get the riches. Jessica hated this kind of practice, as all it did was undermine the common soldier's effort who risked their life on the frontline.

"Hopefully, they wouldn't send me to babysit a bunch of noble kids," she had groaned inwardly, wishing for the discussion to be ended. Whom she was kidding, they would really ask them to make sure of the safety of their pissant younger generation, who'd also take their service for granted. This was exactly what noble snobby kinds were like.

She hated to admit it, but she had been exactly like them when she was younger. Well, somewhat.

The discussion finally came to an end. Jess would have gladly departed with fifteen other captains. Unfortunately for her, the Major General wanted to get into her pants. He stopped her and began discussing mundane things as if they had been a couple, only divided by their work and ranks. The guy couldn't even read the room.

That she didn't want anywhere near him. But he was the Major General, two ranks higher than her; she couldn't just disrespect him blatantly. Even so, she did throw a few venom-induced words to tire him out. She had been getting better at it, and she only had Terel Walt to thank.

The nerve-wracking talk ended after about half an hour. Aerel had departed when she got the chance, so it was only her to tread the path alone.

Stifling a sigh, Jess moved into the part of the camp she was in charge of. Sometimes she just wanted nothing but to ignore all this tiring business and lay down. She probably could have if she wanted. She had amassed enough reputation and wealth to do it. But then what? Become an adventurer and move around from place to place.

There was a certain charm to it, but Jessica wasn't a creature of solitude. She could not deal with everything on her own; being alone bored her as much as it unnerved her. I wonder if Aerel will join me if I ask her.

The answer would probably be an affirmation, but the position of sergeant was something big for Aerel. She had put a decade into it and had a good chance of becoming a captain—just needed a post to open for her.

Before moving into her quarters, her eyes darted to the badly woven tropical garden. The garden had withered into something barren, with merely a sign of a garden, with nobody having enough time or resources to take care of it. She found a couple of figures there. With a light construct dazzling the surroundings and the garden, she had no problem making out someone working on repairing tools.

"Oh, Jason's friend," she remembered. The guy seemed older than Jason, at least by half a decade. While it was hard for one to judge one's age with the essence of power slowing down one's ageing process, Jessica had the knack for judging one's age through their expression, demeanour, and the intensity of their aura.

This man was closer to her age than her brother, and the age difference between the two siblings had only grown since she joined the military and posted on the front lines.

Jessica thought of making an acquaintance with her brother's friend; she remembered him having a weird name that sounded like a class title. Warden-, no surname too.

She only took a step as her eyes moved to the other figure, recognizing who it was. Agnes Triani, the captain of the 16th infantry. The frosty beauty took over the condemned of the 16th infantry and gave them structure in the army.

Before her, they were merely some loose forces at the disposal of other captains. Well, it was still true, but the frosty girl had straightened the condemned a lot and almost made them into a respectable bunch. Of course, the 16th infantry could never compare to any other squadrons, as all of them had ten times the resources and soldiers compared to them.

Still, Jessica couldn't help but admire what the girl had accomplished with the tools she had.

Now the question was what she was doing in the camps of the 3rd infantry. Although Agnes was a fellow captain like her, Jessica's interaction with her had been minimal, perhaps crossing paths and conversing a couple of times. Agnes had a free spirit about her, but the front line had crushed the spirit within months of her joining.

She had become more frosty and practical over time, never involving herself with anyone.

There had been countless young men, qualified men, who wanted to court her. Condemned as she might have been, the girl was gorgeous, accomplished, and her figure. . . Jessica licked her lips. It has been so long —

Jess took in a deep breath and didn't let her deviant nature get the better of her. She had grown, damn it.

Agnes was actually the one who discovered the inheritance ground, which had earned her some more recognition in getting the chance of completing her service early. She hadn't shown much expression, much less happiness during the discussion. Yet here she was, in the cover of night, came to visit a young man. And she was smiling. . .

Is this budding love or what? Jessica's romantic heart thrilled, and she didn't think twice before eavesdropping on them.