Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons novel Chapter 626

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Chapter 626: Chapter 626 - Taming the Fifth Year - Tutor - 2

"But you probably thought it," Aldric smiled, without malice, just amusement.

His eyes crinkled at the corners in a way that suggested he found the whole situation entertaining rather than offensive.

"It’s understandable. A tutor from another academy, assigned to be ’impartial’, who just happens to be the father of one of the main candidates to obtain Starweaver territories or... Goldcrest ones, if he distinguishes himself enough. The math isn’t difficult."

"Lord..."

"Just Aldric."

"Aldric," Ren corrected, feeling his defenses beginning to lower unwillingly. The man’s casual demeanor was disarming in a way that felt almost dangerous. "I don’t want to assume..."

"But you do assume, and it’s normal," Aldric set his cup on the table, his expression becoming more serious but not cold. There was understanding there, acknowledgment of the political realities they both existed in. "Let me be completely honest with you, Ren. I could make things very difficult for you to try and make you fall. But I’m not going to do that."

Ren blinked, the statement so unexpected it took him a moment to process. "You’re not?"

"No." Aldric leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table in a posture that was almost conspiratorial. His green eyes held Ren’s gaze steadily, no deception visible in their depths. "Look, I’m going to explain something about noble politics that perhaps no one else will tell you. There are two types of nobles: those who play the long game, and the idiots who think every small advantage matters."

He took another sip of tea before continuing, letting the words settle.

"The idiots are the ones who try to sabotage every potential rival, who make unnecessary enemies, who burn bridges for temporary victories. And they generally end up destroying themselves because eventually you run out of allies and have too many enemies."

"And you...?"

"I play the long game," Aldric smiled, but there was something calculating in it now. The smile of someone who’d survived decades of noble politics by thinking ten moves ahead. "Which means I recognize fundamental truths. You’re incredibly valuable to the kingdom. Your cultivation methods have transformed society. Making you an enemy would be stupid when I could make you an ally."

The word "ally" hung in the air between them, loaded with implications.

Aldric leaned back again, his expression softening into something that looked almost paternal.

"So here’s my proposal: I teach you noble protocol properly. I help you navigate this year without making a fool of yourself in the evaluations. I give you honest advice when you need it. And in return, you actually try to learn instead of assuming I’m sabotaging you."

"That seems... generous," Ren said slowly.

"It is, I shouldn’t, but my son is better than that," Aldric began, taking a sip before setting his cup down with a soft clink against the saucer. "So let’s begin. I imagine you’re a bit nervous about all this."

"A bit," Ren admitted, which was a massive understatement. His stomach had been twisted in knots since yesterday.

"It’s completely normal," Aldric said with an understanding tone that actually sounded genuine. "Noble protocol has this terrible reputation of being impossibly complicated. Years of archaic rules, ridiculous expectations, old nobles waiting for you to stumble."

He made a dismissive gesture with his hand, as if waving away centuries of tradition.

"The truth is that most of it is theater. Much noise about nothing."

Ren blinked, certain he’d misheard. "Theater?"

"Theater," Aldric confirmed with conviction. "Ancient nobles make it seem more complicated than it is to keep others out. It’s intimidation, nothing more. But between you and me," he leaned in conspiratorially, lowering his voice as if sharing a precious secret, "once you understand the basic tricks, the rest is just... acting with confidence."

He took another sip of tea, letting that settle. The silence stretched comfortably, not pressuring Ren to talk immediately.

"Look, most tutors will overwhelm you with unnecessary details. They’ll make you memorize protocols that no one’s used in decades. They’ll drive you crazy with distinctions that don’t matter in practice."

"And you won’t?"

"I prefer the practical approach," Aldric smiled, and it seemed genuine. "I’ll teach you what you really need to pass the evaluations. No unnecessary filler. Just the essentials."

He stood and walked to the shelves, pulling out some books. Not many, just three slim volumes. The movement was casual, unhurried, as if they had all the time in the world.

"These cover everything you need to know," he said, placing them in front of Ren. The books landed with soft thuds on the polished wood. "Basic protocol, etiquette at formal events, and territorial management. Simple, direct, no complications."

Ren looked at the books. They were noticeably thinner than the tomes he’d seen in the library, the ones Larissa had mentioned with dread in her voice. These looked almost... manageable.