Universe Infinite Canteen

Feng Ziwen left, and Cao Youyi actually spoke up for him.

"Director Feng isn't a bad person, really, just like he said himself. As a director in Ping City's Ministry of Education, even though he holds some power, there are others above him: the director-general, the deputy director-general, the mayor, not to mention the Ministry of Education...

"The power of The Hero Group is immense, and they have connections even in the cabinet. It wouldn't be possible for Director Feng to openly defy the commands of these people, so there is a limit to what he can do.

"Hou De's establishment is also nearly a century old, especially here in Ping City, they still have some connections. In fact, apart from my brother's and the teachers and students' efforts, donations from alumni like Director Feng are crucial in keeping the school afloat.

"It's just that these people all have family businesses and dealings and dare not openly oppose The Hero Group."

"No problem, as long as they can help us in secret, that will do," said Ma Lu. "Teacher Cao, I plan to go out to recruit students right now, but I'm not familiar with Ping City. Could you send someone to accompany me?"

"Sure, I will go with you," Cao Youyi nodded. "Those old alumni will still give me some face."

"I've got several names here, all newcomers in Ping City who meet the enrollment requirements, but I don't have any more information than their names and ages. I don't know how easy they will be to find."

"It should be possible. Just give me the names."

Ma Lu, having dared to take on this delicate task, naturally had the tools for it—his school management system included a feature for recruiting new students.

This function worked just like drawing cards—one click to refresh, and it would bring up seven nearby students who met the admission criteria. The downside is the same as drawing cards—only the first refresh is free, then further refreshes would cost education points.

In addition to the names and ages of the new recruits, Ma Lu could even see their qualifications.

Three were Grade E, two were Grade D, and there was one Grade B.

No Grade A.

Ma Lu wasn't surprised by these results. It wasn't that he was unlucky; it was because this year's recruitment period was nearly over. Any truly qualified candidates were likely already picked up by prestigious schools.

Finding a Grade B was already quite difficult; this was probably because children from poor families couldn't afford the testing and were overlooked, allowing Hou De to pick them up.

Cao Youyi had always given Ma Lu the impression of being very composed; she did not easily show her emotions. Even upon learning of her elder brother's bad news, she did not cry out loud like an ordinary woman, and she quickly accepted Ma Lu becoming the new principal.

When the latter mentioned about recruiting, she didn't ask anything extra, not until she saw the list and a trace of surprise briefly crossed her face.

"Five people? That's quite a lot."

"No, it's seven. The other two we'll find ourselves." Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire

After the previous incident where students were snatched away, Ma Lu also decided to proceed with caution. The network of Hou De's old alumni could be useful, but he also had to guard against being betrayed again.

As for why not find all seven by himself, of course, it was because there wasn't enough time left.

Cao Youyi took the list, yet she couldn't help but ask, "Didn't you say it's your first time in Ping City?"

"Didn't you also say I am an education expert?"

Ma Lu made a little joke to lighten the mood, but unfortunately, Cao Youyi seemed to be born without much of a sense of humor. She took his words seriously and still wore her businesslike demeanor as she replied.

"You are the principal of Hou De; I naturally have to stand up for you in front of others."

"Hmm." Ma Lu touched his nose, answering somewhat awkwardly.

Cao Youyi then took Ma Lu to visit several of Hou De's old alumni, including the owner of the Carriage Shop, a well-known doctor, and even the chief editor of a newspaper...

Even though it was already late, these people still got out of their warm beds to meet the two, then made many phone calls to wake up even more people.

Cao Youyi certainly learnt from the past. Ma Lu gave her only five names on the list, but with a grand gesture, she added twenty-five more, making up a list of thirty people.

This way, even if The Hero Group were to find out, there wouldn't be enough time to investigate so many people.

This night, many in Ping City were destined to go without sleep.

After visiting those old alumni, Cao Youyi and Ma Lu embarked on their journey to find people.

The two searched all night until nearly noon the next day, finally finding their targets—a waiter in a restaurant and a beggar begging on the street.

Cao Youyi then immediately processed their admission on the spot, signing the contracts.

Talisman master schools differ from ordinary schools because training a Talisman Master is costly. Therefore, schools typically establish contracts with new students: during their four years of study, students must obey the school's orders and fight monsters in the catastrophe belt.

If they become very popular, they must also cooperate with the school in relevant commercial activities.

Yes, when Ma Lu first heard about it, he also found it novel; in this Plane, talisman master schools are not just educational institutions—they also act as companies and agents, needing to create profits wherever possible. Only then can they fund the training of more powerful Talisman Masters.

Ma Lu saw the Talisman Master figures and newly released movies as products of this system when he first arrived.

After students graduate, their alma mater gets the priority to sign work contracts with them.

If another company or school wants to poach them, the alma mater can choose to match the salary and forcibly keep them.

Hou De has been primarily serving to supply talent to society these past years because it hasn't been doing very well.

To put it simply, they don't have money to keep people.

The Cao Family used to have a small amount of wealth in Ping City, but in recent years, all the family money was spent by Cao Jinhua to subsidize the school. Even with that, they couldn't sustain it for many years and still have relied on alumni donations and continuous reduction of recruitment to barely maintain operations.

After hearing this, Ma Lu felt that the Cao siblings had indeed done all they could for Hou De. If he hadn't come and sold the school to The Hero Group, it would have been a release for others, at least for those two.

But now that he had arrived, and with assistance at hand, there was no reason for Hou De to continue to flounder.

Ma Lu was primed for action, ready to make a big splash, but soon after he and Cao Youyi returned to the school, trouble followed.

Feng Ziwen came up the mountain again, but this time he wasn't alone. He was following behind a portly middle-aged man dressed in a long robe and a mandarin jacket, deliberately walking half a step behind, respectfully holding an umbrella over the man.

"Director Hou, the sun is so intense, you didn't have to come all this way for such a minor matter. You could have let us subordinates handle it," Feng Ziwen said.

The middle-aged man addressed as Director Hou glanced at Feng Ziwen, who walked beside him, nodding and bowing, and said with a half-smile, "Director Feng, if I remember correctly, you graduated from Hou De, didn't you? Why didn't you continue as a Talisman Master?"

"My talent was insufficient; I'm only a Grade D." Feng Ziwen replied with an apologetic smile. "The catastrophe belt is too dangerous for me. I don't have those high-level talents and magical skills, but I still wanted to serve the country. Fortunately, Master He recommended me, and I managed to find a position in our Ministry of Education."