Chapter 98: Imperial Phoenix Military Academy
When he achieved what he wanted at Starlight Drive Yard Industries, Arcturus was rather pleased that he obtained a relatively good amount of benefits from the deal with the corporation.
Even though the 5% of the overall turnout didn't seem like a high number, and certainly there was room for more in-depth negotiations with the Starlight Drive Yard Industries, and even the Senior Executive Kaelor Alvix would be open to it, Arcturus deemed it as rather a useless thing for now.
In the end, he still kept in mind that he was just capitalizing on the research of the Starlight Drive Yard Industries as he was basically selling them upgrades for their own Battle Drroids and the ABD-Spectre MK II. Battle Droids was nothing more than just a revamped version of the initial ABD-Spectre MK Battle Droid.
Out of courtesy and a certain degree of self-preservation, he chose a very low number as there was no need to provoke some people. He was rather sure that not everyone would be pleased that Starlight Drive Yard Industries would be giving him 5% of the turnout from the sales of the ABD-Spectre MK II. Battle Droids.
It remained an unspoken secret between all parties of the contract, so when he signed the papers and obtained the materials that the company had on hand while the rest would be delivered over time, Arcturus bade farewell to the Senior Executive Kaelor Alvix as the elderly man personally went to see him off.
"If I may ask, why have you arrived at the Phoenix Prime? It is rather not the usual location for the Star Mercenaries and Bounty Hunters; not many would go to the capital or even the Core Worlds of the Empire."
As they were heading toward the entrance, Arcturus pondered over the question, not really surprised by the man asking this. Because, someone of his occupation, was really like the curiosity exhibit in the circus or museum if put in this world.
Star Mercenaries and Bounty Hunters were very rare across the Core Worlds of the Eternal Empire of the Asurya. Mostly because there were no real jobs for them and also due to the rather strict regulations and security within the Core Worlds, which was one of the most secure places in the Andromeda Galaxy.
"Imperial Phoenix Military Academy, I asked my master for him to help arrange admissions to the Special Course Class."
Arcturus answered truthfully because there was not really anything to hide about the attendance of the Imperial Phoenix Military Academy. Still, hearing that, the elderly man was rather surprised as his brows furrowed when he heard the answer.
He didn't predict that the young man would come here to attend the Imperial Phoenix Military Academy and Special Course Class at that.
It was something unheard of, and the requirements of the Special Course Class were extremely strict, and only people with really unique circumstances were admitted to the SCC of the Imperial Phoenix Military Academy.
"Then it seems that you would be classmates with my granddaughter as I have no doubts that someone of your capabilities would be admitted strength away even amidst the semester."
The elder was indeed speaking the truth because if it was Grandmaster Arsit Byrmellir who was helping him to arrange the admission tests for the Special Course Class of the Imperial Phoenix Military Academy, then there was no doubt about Arcturus's capabilities.
"Maybe I need to pass through the admission tests first, Sir Alvix."
Arcurus said, but he also felt that he would be admitted without any problems. The only thing that would be problematic was the written exams, but due to the special permit that he received from Lord Padishah-Marshall and the recommendation from his master, the written exam won't be taken into consideration in his case.
That was because it was clear that his knowledge was lacking, so the written exam was more like just a formality to gauge his education level and to see how he was in terms of the standard Imperial Education Classes.
He would have a lot of things to catch up on when he was finally admitted to the Imperial Phoenix Military Academy.
But that was also the part of the SCC.
From what he understood about the SCC of the Imperial Phoenix Military Academy, it was made for people with special circumstances, and it was one of the very few courses where one could be admitted with just a partial score or partial admission exam like the one he would be going through.
"Your granddaughter is also a student in there?"
He wasn't really that surprised by that revelation and asked more about the common courtesy than anything else, as the Imperial Phoenix Military Academy was more like a gathering for the elites of the younger generation across the entire Eternal Empire of the Asurya, if anything.
"Yes, Zehal was admitted this year into the Special Course Class; she is one of the rare people among the family who is not focused on business as their utmost priority but wants to divide her attention on training and becoming a powerful Psyker..."
He said with a soft voice and almost bits of hope because many within the House Alvix were betting on her becoming a very powerful Professional to elevate the status of the House Alvix into the Bloodline Aristocratic House.
Till now, all of the members of the Alvix Lineage were spending all of their time tending to the family business, so practicing their Psionics was rather just a hobby for them, but Zehal was born with a very powerful Psyker Ability, and her attunement for Psionic Energy was highest that the House Alvix has ever seen.
So for many Elders of the Alvix, this was an unprecedented opportunity for their Alvix Mercantile Clan to become true Bloodline Aristocratic Lineage with the Zehal, if she achieved considerable merit, became powerful enough, and her descendants inherited at least part of her talent and ability.
Many of the Mercantile Clans wanted to get rid of being just the Mercantile Clans and elevate their status to the higher order, but that was much easier said than being done as it required significant power and effort.
Not many of them would be doing it.
The results were most often uncertain at best.
***
The building of the Imperial Phoenix Military Academy was rather an imposing sight. A futuristic megastructure situated at the center of a sprawling, high-tech cityscape.
It was built in the shape of five enormous towards, one large central tower that reminiscing the Imperial Citadel in its shape, and four side towers of various heights that surrounded the main tower. They were tall, sleek and constructed with an advanced architectural design that tapers upward into a sharp spire.
Multiple surrounding towers, connected by bridges or walkways, enhance the central structure's grandeur and hint at its significance, as it was the most premiere Imperial education institution.
The highest office, located on the topmost floor of the Stygian Tower, which was the name of the main tower of the Imperial Phoenix Military Academy, in a circular room featuring an ornately lit, futuristic or steampunk-styled environment with warm, glowing lights that highlighted the grandeur of the setting, a meeting was taking place.
Behind a huge table watching multiple holographic projections, there was an older man with a distinguished appearance, with a well-groomed, gray mustache and beard, neatly styled silver hair, and a serious, confident expression.
He was dressed in an elaborate uniform with metallic details, likely signifying a position of authority or leadership, such as a military officer or high-ranking official, which was indeed true, as he was Bashar-General of the Imperial Military, former leader of the Medjay Military Branch and current Headmaster of the Imperial Phoenix Military Academy Natril El-Amini Kane.
Several moments ago, Arcturus arrived at the Imperial Phoenix Military Academy together with the members of the Imperial Knights Order; they headed directly to the office of the Headmaster that was at the top of the Stygian Tower.
He was rather fast and arrived a few minutes earlier at his appointment with the Headmaster of the Academy. He didn't want to be late for the meeting, thus he came around ten minutes in advance to meet with the Headmaster personally who would be overseeing the Admission Tests into the Special Course Class.
Yesterday at evening, he read something about the current Headmaster of the Imperial Phoenix Military Academy, Natril El-Amini Kane, who was also the Bashar-General in the Imperial Military and formerly was the leader of the Medjay Branch of the Imperial Military.
He was a very accomplished General with countless victories to his name against the Veren Republic and was also hailed as one of the most bloodthirsty ones in Imperial history due to his stance on the opponents that refused to surrender.
Nowadays, he was Headmaster of the Imperial Phoenix Military Academy, cultivating the next generation of the Asuryani, especially focusing on the cultivation of the military officials for the Medjay and Navy, but he was also teaching aspiring Psykers and Psionics.
At the same time, he was also in charge of the Impera Legion, which was in charge of the protection of the Phoenix Prime, one of the most elite units of the entire Imperial Army.
On top of everything, he was also a very powerful Psyker and someone with Super-High Risk Psyker Ability, albeit apparently not that destructive like Arcturus's own or that of Grandmaster Arsit Byrmellir.
"I read the file that was sent by the Imperial High Command and also Arsit."
It didn't escape Arcturus that he called his master by his first name, so it confirmed his assumption of him being Beyonder and at the same time, he was for sure someone pretty old to be on the first name basis with his master.
"You are indeed fitting all the requirements for admission to the Special Course Class, young, Highborne of the 1st-Generation at that which is indeed very rare... possessing the Super-High Risk Primal Psyker Ability as one of three people in the Empire, having Superior-Level Attunement for the Psionic Energy and also being talented swordsman on Arsit's level..."
Headmaster Nathril El-Amini Kane stated as he read from the papers that were delivered to him, and he was rather impressed by the quality of his; rarely they had such good seeds coming to the Imperial Phoenix Military Academy.
Just one of Arcturus's qualities would be enough for him to secure a spot in the Academy, but he got several.
"You will go through the standard admission tests in one hour. The written exam won't be taken into consideration, but if you are admitted into the Special Course Class, you will be given one year to bring your score to the level of the standard Imperial Citizen and then one additional year to bring your score to the above elite level."
Hearing that made Arcturus nod, as he knew that the Imeprial education stadarts were very high, like really, really high. That was something that he learned the hard way, though, because even Irene called him stupid several times.
Most of the people were highly educated, and they had extremely diverse educations ranging from everything like advanced mathematics and quantum physics to philosophy and the history of various High-Level Civilizations and High-Level Star Nations or other notable figures across the Cosmos.
"Also, when the practical combat test would be adjusted, and difficulty increased to the maximum level considering the fact that you are basically even above the standards of the S-Tier a bit in several regards. Any questions?"
When the Headmaster Nathril El-Amini Kane finished with his lengthy explanation about all the things that were necessary for him to know, he closed the holographic projection that was displaying Arcturus's information and looked at the young Highborne Asuryani with a neutral yet deep scrutinizing look.
"Only two. The first is, are there any guidelines for the Academy where information that is needed to know is in one place? And the second, from where you know my master as I noticed that you are on the first name basis with that grumpy old man."
He asked only these two questions because he was rather sure that the Imperial Phoenix Military Academy for sure had something like introductory booklets or guidelines for new students so he would find all the necessary information there.
The second one was probably even more self-explanatory.
"Yes, there is a guide; it would be automatically given to you in the physical form once you are admitted as a student. For the second question, we once again studied together at the Academy in the SCC, and then we also served together in the Imperial Military, especially in the wars against the Veren Republic and the Arachnids."
The Headmaster, Nathril El-Amini Kane, gave him a rather simplified version of the answer and didn't specify anything else. Arcturus was rather surprised that they would be giving it out in physical book form but decided not to comment on that.
"Now, if you don't have anything else, we will be starting with the written exam in one hour. My secretary would take you there and soon enough of the Professors would join for oversight."