Street Thugs Can Fight (1)

On that sunny day, the voice from behind him on the East Guard Academy's lawn had been the one that illuminated his confusion while making a one-star illusion card. Although the explanation in the mysterious card was more detailed and profound, Chris still remembered that voice very clearly. His gaze abruptly shifted toward that direction.

Around Aragon, his entourage started to stand up, eyeing Marian with ill intent. By now, the classroom had emptied out, with only a few students remaining. At this moment, someone from Aragon's group noticed Zoe and Hunter in the last row and immediately turned pale, hurriedly tugging at Aragon. Aragon, noticing Zoe, also changed his face. He had heard of Zoe's formidable reputation since entering the school and had been cautious to avoid any conflict with him. It seemed that the confrontation was inevitable.

A loud thud echoed as Zoe slammed shut his book and stood up, his expression impassive: "I am Zoe from the Disciplinary Committee. Your actions have violated Article 17, Article 49, and Article 142 of the school regulations. Additionally, they contravene Article 1, Article 9, and Article 32 of the Temporary Management Regulations issued three days ago. The situation is serious, so please come with me to the Disciplinary Committee."

The faces of the crowd changed in unison. Zoe's fearsome reputation was well-known throughout East Guard Academy.

Aragon's face darkened, but intimidated by Zoe's fearsome reputation, he responded politely, "Zoe, this seems a bit excessive, doesn't it? We see each other every day, no need to take it so seriously."

Zoe ignored him, his expression remaining unchanged: "No more talking. Follow me to the Disciplinary Committee."

Ray nudged Chris and gave him a signal to leave. Both were accustomed to such scenes and knew that staying out of trouble was the safest course. Besides, Ray didn't see much value in getting involved in this mess, as he thought neither side was particularly noble.

Chris, however, stood still like a still wood, which surprised Ray greatly. What had gotten into him today? Ray knew that Chris was never one to exhibit any chivalrous spirit. If someone had lived through a childhood like theirs and still held onto chivalry, Ray would consider them either a fool or an ambitious schemer. Neither he nor Chris fell into that category. Chris's unusual behavior today puzzled Ray, but since Chris wasn't moving, Ray naturally followed suit. Both Ray and Chris were steadfast in their mutual support.

Aragon's face darkened noticeably. He hadn't expected that Zoe would show him no leniency at all. It was clear that Zoe was targeting him specifically. Aragon was accustomed to having his way at school, and the fact that Zoe had taken this step was already a significant concession.

"So, it seems that you, Zoe, are not going to give me any respect?" Aragon's expression turned cold, and his tone grew menacing. Almost as soon as he finished speaking, his entourage stood up, their expressions turning hostile.

"Well, well, it seems there are still some fearless souls around, huh?" Hunter slowly stood up, his tone dripping with sarcasm. His left hand casually brushed against the degree meter on his right wrist, seemingly at ease. He couldn't resist taking a jab at Zoe as well. "Zoe, it looks like people aren't taking you seriously anymore. Have you really fallen this far?"

Hunter was also a well-known figure at East Guard Academy, though his reputation couldn't quite match that of someone as notorious as Zoe. His fame stemmed from his formidable strength. As the leading figure in the Academy's card cultivator division, his abilities were rumored to be unfathomable, even comparable to some professional card cultivators. Judging by the current situation, those rumors seemed to hold some truth.

One of the card cultivators standing next to Aragon noticed the position of Hunter's left hand, and his expression subtly shifted, growing more serious. This man, clearly over thirty, was obviously not a student. It was highly likely that Aragon's father, well aware of his son's penchant for getting into trouble, had assigned this capable bodyguard to protect him. Such arrangements were common among the sons and daughters of the wealthy, and the school generally turned a blind eye to it.

Hunter, with a faint smile, observed the card cultivator with a hint of amusement. Between the fingers of his left hand, two small, fiery red dragons danced playfully. These tiny dragons were no thicker than a thumb, their scales sharply defined. The card cultivator, clearly recognizing the threat posed by these miniature dragons, tensed up, as if preparing for a serious confrontation. Seven glowing green orbs floated around him, like fireflies hovering in the air, ready to respond to any threat.

Chris was witnessing a card cultivators' battle for the first time, and his curiosity was piqued. Hunter's little dragon must be a mini version of the flame dragon card he created. The card cultivator on the other side had seven glowing green points floating around him, far fewer than the cascade of colorful meteor showers he'd seen in advertisements.

Suddenly, Hunter's eyes flashed, and with a flick of his left index finger, one of the tiny dragons shot forward like lightning. So fast! Chris was startled. Thanks to his practice with fitness routines, his reflexes were much faster than before, but he knew he couldn't dodge something this quick. The opposing card cultivator wasn't weak either; three of the green points darted toward the dragon, leaving long trails of light in their wake, creating mesmerizing streaks on Chris's retinas.

Pop! A sharp explosion erupted as the energies collided, the resulting shockwave making everyone's ears ache. Chris felt like someone had pushed him, nearly losing his balance. Others in the classroom fared worse, stumbling and falling. The two opponents didn't continue fighting, and the situation returned to a standoff. As Chris watched the battle, a trace of envy flickered in his eyes.

The nearly empty classroom made Chris and Ray stand out even more.

"These two friends look unfamiliar. Which department's masters might they be?" Aragon suddenly turned to Chris and Ray, smiling. Though he didn't know how strong they were, it was clear that having fewer enemies would increase his chances of winning.

Chris remained silent, acting as if he hadn't heard anything, and Ray kept his mouth tightly shut as well.

Aragon's smile vanished instantly, replaced by a look of genuine anger. If Zoe and Hunter didn't show him respect, he could understand that—they had formidable reputations that preceded them. But these two? Just by their appearance, it was clear they came from ordinary backgrounds with no significant backing. Yet, they dared to play the hero in front of him? How could that not infuriate him?

He shot a glance at two of his henchmen standing nearby, signaling them to take action.