The air in Shrek Academy that morning was still fresh, carrying the scent of dew and burnt wood from training grounds not far off. A few birds chirped lazily in the trees as students wandered to and from breakfast or casual morning sparring. The academy was always a bit chaotic—but not in a bad way. It was more like organized wildness, much like its founder.
Li Wei walked calmly across the inner courtyard, hands tucked into his sleeves, the tail end of his uniform brushing lightly against his calves. His expression was neutral, but his mind was focused. He had something important to settle today.
Today, he would meet Flender.
Shrek Academy, for all its unassuming appearance, held great potential. He could already feel it. There was a strange magnetism to this place, raw and unpolished. The students were wild, the teachers loose, but the structure had bones—a foundation that could be refined and turned into something truly great.
But if I'm going to be involved here… then I need to ensure I can steer it.
That meant gaining influence—not through force or manipulation, but through investment. Through leverage. That was something he understood very well.
He approached the small, slightly leaning building that served as the staff hall. It was oddly modest, with creaking steps and peeling paint. A far cry from the well-funded sects and noble-run academies scattered throughout the continent. But that was what made it perfect.
Li Wei knocked twice on the door.
A voice inside called out. "It's open!"
He stepped inside and saw Flender at his desk, lazily leaning back in his chair, one leg propped up, reading some scrolls with a slightly annoyed frown. The man had wild black hair with streaks of gray at the edges and sharp glasses perched on his nose. He looked more like a drifter than a school headmaster, but the aura he gave off was unmistakable—sharp, powerful, calculating.
Flender looked up. "Oh? You're the new kid. Li Wei, right?"
Li Wei nodded, bowing slightly. "That's right. I hope I'm not disturbing you."
Flender gave a casual wave of his hand. "Nah, I was just skimming old budget records. Nothing important. What can I do for you, boy?"
Li Wei stepped forward, slowly. "Actually, I came to talk about something a bit more… serious. I'd like to discuss a potential investment."
Flender blinked. "Investment?"
The word hung in the air, foreign and a little out of place in this academy built more on grit than gold.
Li Wei continued, "I'm not interested in donating money without a purpose. But I see value here. In this academy. I'd like to offer 200,000 gold soul coins in funding."
Flender sat upright slowly, his chair creaking under the shift.
Li Wei didn't pause. "In return, I want 50% ownership of Shrek Academy. You will continue to operate the academy however you like, but if there's a policy or practice I disagree with, it cannot be implemented."
For a long moment, the room was quiet. Flender stared at him, the unreadable expression of a seasoned warrior-slash-merchant trying to figure out if he was being mocked.
"Kid," Flender finally said, voice low, "do you know how much 200,000 gold soul coins really is?"
Li Wei's expression didn't change. "I do. That's why I'm offering it."
Flender sat back, hands folded now, completely focused. "That kind of money could build official low rank academies from the ground up. Why Shrek? Why this broken-down place?"
"Because this broken-down place is real," Li Wei said. "It trains talent the world overlooks. You value potential over background. And I respect that. But potential alone isn't enough. You need resources. You need influence. You need someone who sees the future and is willing to help build it."
Flender's gaze sharpened.
This boy… is only thirteen? He speaks like a noble investor in a court of elders.
But it wasn't arrogance he sensed. It was confidence—quiet and steady. There was something dangerous about that. Something reliable, too.
"What exactly do you want to influence?" Flender asked, voice more serious now.
"I won't interfere with your methods unless I feel they're dangerous or wasteful," Li Wei replied. "But I won't sit idle if I see you planning something foolish—like handing over leadership to someone unfit, or compromising the values that make this academy unique."
Flender raised a brow. "You say that like you've seen it happen before."
"I've seen many things," Li Wei replied softly.
The room went silent again, the kind of quiet that comes when two strong minds meet.
After a long pause, Flender gave a snort. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. And brains. You're not like the other students. You've got that… old soul thing going on."
He stood and walked to a small cabinet, pulling out a bottle and two cups. He poured a splash of wine into each and handed one to Li Wei.
The boy took it calmly, not drinking but not refusing either.
"To partnership, then," Flender said, clinking his cup lightly against Li Wei's. "You put that gold in, I'll draft the contract. You'll get 50% ownership—though you'll have to keep your name off the public registry. For now."
Li Wei nodded once. "That's acceptable."
They both sipped.
Flender eyed him again. "So tell me the truth—are you really only here to invest? Or are you chasing something else?"
Li Wei paused for a moment.
Am I?
He had his reasons for coming here. Some were connected to the future of this world. Some were personal.
"…Both," he said quietly. "But for now, let's start with this."
Flender grinned. "Smart answer."
Outside the room, wind stirred the branches. A few young students darted past the building, laughing and kicking up dust. Li Wei heard them. He turned slightly, watching the world outside that he was about to help shape.
And Flender, standing behind him, watched Li Wei instead.
This boy's going to change more than just this academy, he thought.