Arial, who was at the end of the line, now held his pouch. Curious, he opened it to see what was inside.
- Energy Crystals 10,000,000
"Insane... what kind of reward is this?" Arial exclaimed inwardly. An Epic Chest? A Silver Ring? He had never even heard of those before.
Not far from Arial, Zaki and the other top students also looked at the contents of their reward pouches with wide eyes. They all gaped in amazement.
"Don't tell anyone about the contents. If you feel someone is trying to do you harm, contact the city's mayor immediately," Lein said to the eight students. He certainly didn't want their lives to be threatened or terrorized by greedy rulers out there just because of the rewards he gave.
"What's in those pouches? I'm so curious!"
"Haha... Never mind, it's a secret of the top students."
The students' discussions reached Lein's ears, and he could only smile slightly. He then turned his attention to the audience.
"Relax... you all get something too."
"Each student will receive a level 20 blue gear of their choice. You can ask the principal for distribution."
"You'll also get 10,000 energy crystals as academy fees per student."
"The top 1,000 students at the end of the school year will receive a silver badge."
Lein announced everything at once without pausing. He deliberately provided these many benefits to boost the students' spirits and give them the resources to grow.
A loud cheer from the students immediately echoed throughout the academy hall.
"Wow... awesome..." shouted a male student hysterically.
"10,000 energy crystals? I'm rich... Mom, I'm rich!" shouted a male student in plain, worn-out clothes.
"Huh... Thank you, island owner. Thank you so much," a female student cried in gratitude upon hearing every word from Lein's mouth.
The teachers, on the other hand, looked at the students with pride. It could be said that they had succeeded, especially since Lein was providing such benefits to their Star Academy.
"Calm down, calm down," Lein waved his hand casually, then he called out to Grace and Joy, who were standing in the distance. Grace and Joy immediately leaped and stood right next to Lein, one on his right and the other on his left.
"From today, from this very moment, Grace and Joy are the 11th and 12th core members of the World Market Trade Alliance," Lein announced in a loud voice.
Once again, the students in the audience cheered with joy. Everyone clapped without exception. Two people from their academy had become core members of the World Market Trade Alliance, which meant their academy's position as the best would be secured for a long time.
"Congratulations, Grace! Congratulations, Joy!"
"Don't forget our Star Academy. Best of luck to you both."
Many students offered their full support to Joy and Grace. They were genuinely happy, especially their close friends.
After announcing Grace and Joy's appointment to the students and everyone present, Lein looked at Grace and Joy, then nodded at them. He then walked towards the teachers who were standing in the same place as before. Grace and Joy obediently followed him from behind.
"Mr. Yusuf, thank you for your warm welcome. I hope the Star Academy continues to advance and produces many powerful human rulers," Lein said to the head of the Academy, Mr. Yusuf.
"Hahaha... It's not a difficult task, Mr. Lein."
"Indeed, indeed... Our humanity will shine among the other realms in this universe."
Mr. Yusuf smiled warmly and accepted Lein's praise humbly.
Lein gave a light nod, then he pulled out another pouch from his storage space and handed it to Mr. Yusuf in front of him.
Mr. Yusuf accepted it without hesitation and immediately put it into his own storage bag, not intending to check its contents at the moment, to avoid drawing unnecessary attention.
Lein observed how Mr. Yusuf accepted the pouch with calmness and caution. Mr. Yusuf was a wise and composed individual, so Lein entrusted the pouch to him without any doubts.
The pouch itself contained the promised rewards for the students, as well as some materials for the development of the academy and for the teachers.
After the matter was settled, Lein nodded once more, this time more firmly, as if to signal the end of their meeting. "I entrust these students to you, Mr. Yusuf. Guide them well. The future of humanity rests in all our hands," Lein said with a calm yet meaningful voice.
He didn't forget to nod at the other teachers behind Mr. Yusuf as well.
Mr. Yusuf nodded respectfully, still smiling warmly, but with a clear determination in his eyes. "Don't worry, Mr. Lein. They will be ready to face any challenges that await them out there."
With a simple yet meaningful farewell, Lein turned around and began to walk away from the platform. In the distance, two figures were waiting patiently. Grace and Joy, the two academy students who had just been recruited as core members, were ready to return with him.
Grace, with her always-enthusiastic and slightly arrogant eyes, and Joy, with her flat, almost bored smile, stood tall as Lein approached. "Let's go," Lein said briefly, and the two students immediately followed without a word.
They walked together towards the exit of the Star Academy, leaving behind the grand and energetic atmosphere. The students still in the arena could only watch their departure with respect and admiration.
Lein, along with Grace and Joy, stepped out of the academy building, followed by the admiring gazes of many students. It might be a long time before someone like Lein visits their academy again.
After five minutes, Lein and the two students arrived at the highway area. Two cars were already waiting for them there.
Lein stopped and turned to Grace and Joy, who were standing behind him. "For now, return to your respective homes. I will summon you in a few days for the core member induction ceremony."