The Sovereign System.

Luke cursed inwardly, realizing his mistake. He had completely forgotten that Kayson was also in this class and would be residing in the same building.

He had hoped the earlier incident hadn't caused any injuries, but judging by Kayson's high-pitched voice, it was clear that his training arrow had done some damage.

'I need to stay calm…' Luke thought, trying to steady his racing heart. 'I'm sure he can't act however he wants in the Military Academy, even with his status.'

"Kayson, it's good to see that you're okay. I was quite worried for a while there," Luke stated, placing his tea down calmly before turning to face him. If he wanted to reconcile, he needed to show some courtesy.

"O-Okay?!" Kayson stammered, his voice rising another few octaves in disbelief.

With a fierce expression, Kayson moved toward him, his face twisted with anger. If it weren't for the limp in his gait, his approach might have been even more intimidating.

"You may have beaten me in the duel, but on my honor as the Viscount's son, I challenge you to a game of Chess." The words were dripping with malice as he slammed his hand down on the table. Luke's tea, which had been an innocent bystander, spilled its contents.

Luke's heart sank, but he did his best not to show it. 'Chess? I don't even know the damn rules!' he cursed inwardly. But his panic deepened when Kayson added his next words.

"The loser will become the winner's subordinate from this point onward," he declared with a sharp, menacing tone.

A vivid image of him serving as Kayson's footstool flashed in his mind, quickly replaced by a more terrifying thought.

He was in a world akin to the warring states of China. Being a subordinate here meant that his life would be at the mercy of his master. If someone like Kayson had control over him, wouldn't he just send him on a suicide mission as payback?

'Oh fuck… I'm gonna die,' Luke cried inwardly.

There was nothing he could do but decline. He had endured wounded pride many times before, but at least he still had his life.

But just as he was about to open his mouth, something inside him froze. Inspiration suddenly tugged at his mind, and a barely noticeable smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

'What if I won? Wouldn't that solve everything?'

He had just been lamenting the loss of his loyal butler, Sebastian's protection. If he could secure the Viscount's son as a subordinate, who would dare mess with him at the Academy?

'Kekekeke~'

"Alright, Kayson, I accept your challenge," Luke said, composing himself. "But you're not in the right frame of mind to play Chess right now."

Kayson's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing as they locked onto Luke.

Luke met his gaze calmly, his countenance unshakable. "Your anger will only dull your thoughts, leading to your inevitable defeat."

"What are y—" Kayson faltered, before considering the words carefully. He seemed dazed for a moment, then closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. "You're right. Anger is not something that will benefit me."

But before Luke could breathe a sigh of relief, Kayson spoke again, his voice now firm. "The match will begin in five minutes." His eyes snapped open, his gaze now sharp and focused, the earlier anger subdued, replaced by fierce determination.

'It worked?!' Luke almost jumped for joy, praising his bluffing skills. If Kayson had insisted on playing immediately, Luke would have been absolutely screwed.

With a new lease on life, Luke casually got to his feet and made his way toward the East Hall.

"Where are you going?" Kayson's tone was harsh, a hint of suspicion in his voice.

"I need to meditate," Luke responded, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Only with an empty mind can one truly bring out the best in their armies."

After hearing no reply, he continued to his room, closing the door behind him. 'Damn it, that was close…' he cursed inwardly.

But there was no time to waste.

"Shit, shit, shit," he muttered, heading straight for the bookshelf in his room. This was the reason he had brought up Kayson's state of mind—to buy himself a little time to learn the rules of Chess.

"Chess… Please be here," Luke muttered, rifling through the books on the shelf, discarding the ones he didn't need. Book after book was thrown onto the floor, until, finally, he found what he was looking for.

"Oh, thank the gods," he breathed a sigh of relief. But as he saw the title of the book, a frown tugged at his face.

"Beginner's Guide to Chess? Will it be enough?" Luke mused, though he didn't have much choice. At least it was better than nothing.

In just a few seconds, Luke flipped through the pages, absorbing the information from the book. His only saving grace in this moment was his Scholarly Pursuit skill; without it, he stood no chance.

As he reviewed the information, the rules were now imprinted in his mind, along with a few basic openings and counters. Most importantly, he now understood the role and movement of each piece.

With this knowledge, his Scholarly Pursuit skill should allow him to intuitively analyze his opponent's moves and understand their implications. Whether it would be enough to beat Kayson, however, remained to be seen.

Taking a deep breath, Luke tried to calm his racing heart. In a game like Chess, outward appearance was just as important as the moves themselves—particularly when face-to-face with an opponent. If he looked nervous, not only would he be exposing himself to scrutiny, but he might also lose the reputation he'd earned from defeating Kayson in the duel.

'It's time to put on an act…' he thought, mentally preparing for the challenge ahead. He needed to portray someone who was both calm and authoritative.

A figure appeared in his mind— a general. In fact, this person would thrive in this world filled with war. The problem was, he only knew the general from a mobile game he once played.

'Cao Cao… Don't fail me now.'

In the next moment, Luke's body relaxed, his entire demeanor shifting. A cold and ruthless calm settled over him, surprising even himself. It was as though he were now a spectator, watching himself from above.

With a steady gait, Luke returned to the living area, only to find a crowd had gathered. The other students had likely heard the commotion and left their rooms to investigate.

"That sure was quick," Kayson sneered. "And here I thought you were going to renege on the challenge." The calm and composed aura he had exuded before their duel had all but faded, revealing his true colors.

Luke smiled, unconcerned. "Why would I flee a battle that is easily won?" he replied confidently. As if to emphasize his arrogance, his Domineering Air skill activated, causing the other students to shrink back in a mixture of fear and awe.

His gaze turned to Kayson, who appeared unaffected by the skill. Instead of surprise, Luke felt a sense of relief. If Kayson's will had been weak enough to be swayed by such a minor display, securing him as a subordinate would've been pointless affair.

"Well? How long are you going to keep me waiting?" Kayson's impatience was evident as he sat at the chessboard, red pieces positioned in front of him.

Luke shook his head calmly. "One moment of patience may ward off great disaster, while a moment of impatience may ruin a whole life."

His words echoed through the living space, and though no one responded directly, Luke could tell they were considering his advice.

Turning back to Kayson, he was surprised to see the Viscount's son's face light up, as if he'd just received enlightenment. His earlier annoyance had vanished, replaced by gratitude.

Before Luke even reached the table, Kayson stood, clasped his fist, and bowed slightly. "Your words have resonated with me, Luke Drakon. I appreciate your teachings."

Luke was stunned. 'He really bought that? That was just a line from Cao Cao in a mobile game I used to play…'

"I-It's no matter," Luke stammered, waving it off dismissively.

Without wasting any more time, Luke stood across from his opponent and clasped his fist, returning the bow. "I look forward to playing you," he said respectfully, a formal greeting from the beginner's guide to Chess he'd just read in his room.

"Likewise," Kayson replied, taking his seat.

Luke settled into his own chair and gazed at the pieces in front of him with a serious expression. Various openings and defenses raced through his mind, playing out on the board as if he were watching someone else play.

The atmosphere around him shifted, prompting a short gasp from Kayson. The sound broke Luke from his trance, and he gestured toward the board. "Red plays first."

Slightly taken aback, Kayson took a moment to compose himself before moving his central pawn ahead. Luke could tell by the way Kayson moved the pieces that he had played many games of chess.

After a few moments of thought, Luke mirrored the move, advancing the opposite pawn one step forward. While it was a cautious and somewhat defensive move, there was no harm in playing it safe for now.

The game continued passively for a while, with both players making their moves. Kayson's face grew grave as he pushed one of his pawns forward. The move took longer than usual, and he didn't seem entirely satisfied with it.

'Hmph, that was a bad move,' Luke thought, silently studying the board. Kayson had been playing aggressively from the start, forcing him to spend most of his time defending against potential attacks, but with this move, the tide had begun to turn.

With his beginner knowledge, Luke was ill-equipped to initiate a complex offensive. However, after moving his pawn, Kayson had left his position vulnerable, offering a chance for a counterattack.

Luke reached forward, grasping his trebuchet and pushing it into enemy territory, pinning Kayson's horse. A few murmurs from the spectators broke the silence—they too seemed to have noticed the flaw in Kayson's formation.

Looking up, Luke saw Kayson's vexed expression, clearly not expecting such a shift in strategy. After playing so passively, Luke's sudden counterattack had left him rattled.

A few moments later, Kayson moved his chariot forward to defend, but this only worsened his position.

With calm precision, Luke moved his elephant into play, skewering the vulnerable chariot that had just come to its defense. With two of Kayson's pieces now essentially trapped, his uneasy expression grew more frantic.

Kayson's next move took the longest yet, but it was desperate. Moving his trebuchet, he placed it in the open, threatening to capture Luke's advisor.

However, Luke saw through the bluff. While the advisor was important for defense, it only mattered when the king was at risk.

'He's grasping at straws. Even if he takes my advisor, his army is in shambles. As long as I press the attack, it's only a matter of time.' Luke thought, unfazed. He moved his next piece with unmatched aggression.

"No way…" The murmurs from the onlookers grew louder, their expressions a mix of admiration and unease. Luke paid them no mind, focusing entirely on his opponent.

As long as he won, he'd secure a powerful subordinate.

The sound of grinding teeth reached Luke's ears as Kayson leaned over the board, staring at his pieces, his face etched with indecision.

"Damn it," he cursed under his breath, hesitating to move a piece.

Luke watched, a smirk threatening to tug at his lips as Kayson went through the five stages of grief. The look of helplessness on Kayson's face rekindled Luke's old habit. A hollow chuckle escaped his mouth as he sat comfortably in the winning position.

This was just like crushing free-to-play players back on Earth. Though he couldn't see their expressions upon defeat, Luke enjoyed imagining their anger and despair.

'This is great… Maybe I've found a way to scratch this itch,' he thought, savoring the inevitable victory.

"It's over, Kayson. You fought valiantly, but you were too eager to breach my defenses," Luke said matter-of-factly, trying to keep his tone courteous, knowing Kayson would soon be his subordinate.

"No, it is not over yet!" Kayson shouted, picking up a piece and placing it down with authority.

Luke only needed a glance to know the move was futile. With a flourish, he grabbed his horse and placed it at the center of his attacking forces.

"Check."

"It's over. There's nothing he can do to close the breach."

"He was far too aggressive."

The murmurs of the crowd were audible, their words causing Kayson to flinch. He paused, his eyes flickering with doubt. He lifted his hand to his chin, deep in thought, as if calculating any possibility of rallying from the jaws of defeat.

However, only a few moments later, his shoulders slumped in defeat.

"I concede," he muttered.

Luke felt the urge to celebrate but reined it in. There was no point in antagonizing him further—especially when they would soon be on the same team.

[DING]

[You may now view Kayson Diego's subordinate tier.]