Oliver was pissed at what had just happened; he immediately decided not to hold back at all.

"I'll show you the power of a noble, you piece of shit!" Oliver yelled out, his blade engulfed in flames.

He held his flame-covered blade with pride and then slashed at Silva, releasing a powerful flame arc.

"This is just pitiful," Silva said. He made a simple slash motion with his sword, and the flame arc dispersed.

"You're weak," Silva said and then charged at Oliver. He wanted to win with a smashing victory, regardless of what troubles it might cause.

He was so fast that Oliver was unable to see him. Silva went for a slash at the neck, ready to cut him down.

"Stop!" The Duke's voice boomed, and Silva stopped immediately. He didn't know why, but the voice carried a force that stopped him.

"Your strength is indeed something else, Silva. My son is considered a prodigy, and here you have defeated him," the Duke said.

"Master Oliver must have gone easy on me. I am undeserving of such praise," Silva said with his head bowed.

The Duke frowned because he understood what Silva was doing here; he was insulting him even further.

Everyone could see that Oliver didn't hold back; he was simply subdued.

After the fight, Silva quickly found a corner to stay in for the rest of the whole event. He had done what they had asked of him.

The Viscount had asked that he show off a little, and he was sure that this was enough showing off, no matter how you looked at it.

This fight would cause issues for him for sure, but he was ready for what would come. As long as an evolved did not come after him, he was certain he would survive any fight.

As he stayed in his corner, an old lady approached him. She held a glass of wine and carried herself in a dignified manner.

But one thing was certain when Silva looked at her: she was strong, maybe as much as the Duke, or even more.

He could tell that her power was great, but he could not get a good grasp on it.

"It is a beautiful night, isn't it?" she asked Silva.

"Who are you?" Silva cut to the chase. He could tell she wasn't here to make small talk.

"Oho, my name is Matilda, but you can call me Grandma," she said with a smile.

"Why would I do that?" Silva asked.

"Haha, I was just joking. I am the Director of the Blacklight Academy. After your performance today, I'd like for you to join my academy," she said.

"No, I don't think I want to go," Silva said. "Also, I am only twelve. There are still two years before I think of school," Silva said.

"Well, with your abilities, accepting you early is not an issue. In fact, there are always those we accept early every year. You will be one of them," she said.

"Stop speaking like I have accepted to go. I am not going," Silva refused.

"Then we won't let your sister in as well," Matilda said.

Immediately she spoke, killing intent seeped out of Silva. He looked at her with a face that said, "Try that and I'll kill you."

"You're strong, but I doubt even with your strength you can defeat the academy and the city.

I also saw how you looked at the Duke. It seems you have some business with him. You can get closer to his children through the academy.

I am offering you this now because of my own personal reasons. I have known about you long before you came here, and also your sister. That is why I know she wants to join the academy.

If you refuse my offer, then I'll have no choice but to refuse her. Will you stand in the way of her dreams because of your selfish reasons?" Matilda said, walking away.

Silva stood there and watched her leave. These were the reasons he ran from politics. A single man can be strong, but not stronger than politics.

It was an alliance made of not only the strong, but the wise. It brought the most demonic and evil brands of humans.

Even with all your strength, it is impossible to fight against them. Even the strongest men are tied by politics.

Silva wanted to go to the academy, but he wanted to do it at his own pace. He knew that his dreams were leading him to the academy, and he would surely go.

But still, he wanted to be in control. When the director came up to him, she took away that control and made him move at her pace.

The issue was not in going to the academy. The issue lay in the rope that had been set around his neck.

Matilda knew that Silva would not budge and that he was a hard nut to crack, so she immediately hit him where it would hurt the most—Lia.

If he refused what Matilda said, he would kill Lia's dream, and if Lia ever found out, she would be devastated and might never forgive him.

The solution was simple: he had to do what Matilda said. He would just have to go to the academy.

"It's just a matter of time. Soon, no one will be able to control what I do. For now, I'll keep quiet and slowly build my own army in the shadows.

Waiting for the right time to use them, that time will be to complete whatever task Ophelia gave me.

And after that, I can do whatever I want."

---

Note from the author:

[Sorry to put this here, SSS Ranked Reincarnation has been going for a bit now, and I'd love if you, my readers, could drop a review about the novel.

Your reviews help me to make the novel better, so please drop a review for the novel, thanks in advance]