CHAPTER 545: A VERY EARLY GRADUATION

Well, who wouldn’t cry?

Especially when a certain parent ended up doing it for everyone.

Duke Leander Kyros, a man known for his spiritual prowess and dramatic flair, had just learned that his baby was about to "graduate" ahead of schedule.

Because poor Duke Leander couldn’t even use the classic excuse of finishing school before thinking about relationships. Not when his precious son was apparently so gifted he was scheduled for a licensure exam—before even graduating.

Or in Luca’s case... before even officially enrolling.

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The moment Luca and Ollie returned to the estate, it didn’t take long before the House of Kyros gathered around them like moths to a flame.

Duchess Amelia was the first to ask, "Son, how was your day? Did you manage to get your license?"

Luca brightened. "Hello, Mom! Well, they did say I’m good for the mercenary license, but... they also asked if I’d be willing to take a special licensure exam."

"Huh?" said Amelia, pausing mid-tea pour.

"For what?" Leander blinked.

Luca scratched his cheek. "Well, Papa, do you remember what Master Quinn said about being a full-fledged mechanic? Earlier, the instructors told me I could attempt to get a license provided I passed the test."

The entire hall froze.

Even the staff tried not to blink too loudly.

"...Did they say what kind of test?" Leander asked, now very much invested.

"They did, but... it wasn’t really a test. I think it’s more like a showcase."

The crowd looked at him expectantly, and so he figured he’d tell them about what happened earlier.

Apparently, it was a controversial one.

Because the moment Luca and Ollie entered the designated room, they were greeted by a small crowd. Not just instructors. Not just proctors. But masters. Plural. And from the looks on their faces, none of them were mentally prepared.

Instructor Moore cleared his throat and explained that this wasn’t going to be a regular exam. "Cadet Kyros," he said, "due to your, ah, exemplary performance earlier, several of the attending master mechanics have requested to witness your capabilities during a special licensure evaluation."

"...Oh," Luca blinked. "Thank you, Sir."

Moore gave a weak chuckle. "No need for thanks. Because we’d probably have to apologize for a few things."

The sheepish instructor coughed. "Normally, examinees are given months to prepare. But we were hoping... perhaps a few weeks? We’re hoping you’ll be able to finish within that time frame."

Luca’s eyes widened.

A few weeks?

Internally, he was already panicking. Weeks? That was long. That was so long. He still had so many things to do, mechas to build, parts to fabricate, prototypes to test, farms to check and babies to see—

So in all seriousness, he asked, "Sir, if it’s weeks... how many mechas do I have to make? Would it be possible to stack the builds to save time?" Luca could only bite his lips in distress.

Silence.

The kind of silence that physically cracked.

One master dropped his tablet. Another coughed into a choking fit. Moore, poor Moore, nearly stumbled back.

"Cadet Kyros, wh-what do you mean by how many?" Moore asked, horror creeping into his voice. "Just one! Obviously!"

"Oh," Luca tilted his head. "Just one?"

That sounded...odd?

He blinked up at them, wondering why it would take that long to make one.

Was it something really unique? Like, even more complicated than a biomecha, which does take a few weeks!

Ollie, who had been quietly observing, finally stepped in before anyone dropped dead. "Instructor Moore, if it’s just one mecha, then when could my brother take his exam? Is there a required build time, or can he just finish it quickly?"

"What are you talking about, Cadet Mylor?!"

Luca hesitated. "Sir, I don’t really have a lot of available time. Would two days be alright?"

Dead silence.

This time, no one even dared breathe. The kind of silence that came before the collapse of empires.

Luca misread the panic.

"I’m sorry," he added earnestly. "I actually wanted to finish it in a day, but I figured no one would want to stay awake for that long, so...I figured two days would be better?"

"HUH?!"

Someone almost fell out of their seat.

From the back, Master Colton stood up with the slow, shaky dignity of a man barely clinging to his sanity. "Kiddo, it’s to build a mecha from scratch! It’s not assembling a pre-packed toy kit! Sure, you’re allowed to prep some minor components, but the real build—core systems, armor plating, calibration—must be done during the exam."

"Oh," Luca nodded, "I thought I was supposed to make everything during the exam. So I am allowed to bring some parts?"

One master made a sound like a kettle boiling over.

"Wait, wait!" someone barked. "So you’re saying—you’re actually building the mecha in two days?! Not assembling?"

"Well... ideally, Master. Unless you have a specific design in mind for me to build? Or am I free to use my own?"

Moore stared at Luca’s sincere, glowing eyes. He looked at the masters. They shook their heads like dazed bobbleheads.

"You may build whatever you want, Cadet," Moore managed.

"What grade should the mecha be, Sir?"

"Grade?" Moore repeated faintly. He turned to the masters. No one answered. Finally, he whispered, "No grade requirement. Build what you think is appropriate."

Luca’s eyes lit up like a child gifted a planet. He looked genuinely happy, like someone just gave him permission to live his dream.

Moore swallowed. Loudly.

Then, cautiously, he asked, "Luca, when do you think you’d be ready to take the test?"

"Well," Luca said thoughtfully, checking his terminal. "Today would’ve been fine, Sir, but it’s a bit late now... Would tomorrow work?"

"WHAT?!"

Four masters stumbled forward.

"Tomorrow?! We just called the rest!"

"Do you expect us to fly in twenty master mechanics overnight?!"

"Oh." Luca looked down, guilt flickering in his eyes. "I just thought it’d be better not to keep you waiting..."

A collective gasp of guilt echoed through the room.

Master Colton coughed into his sleeve. "Ahem. Two days from now. We’ll do it then."

"Okay, Sir. Thank you for giving me a chance."

Luca bowed.

It was too much. They weren’t ready for this kind of humility from a walking anomaly.

Then Ollie’s hand shot up.

"Sir! Just like the official exam... are friends and family allowed to watch?"

Luca turned to look at him, eyes glowing with hope.

The masters froze.

They looked at each other. Then at Luca’s hopeful face. Then at Ollie’s cute, determined smile.

"...Yes," one said faintly.

"Of course," another muttered.

"It’s an exam. Anyone can watch..." someone added quickly, as if remembering their own words were being recorded.

Luca and Ollie shared a proud and thankful look.

If only it were just Ollie.

Because if they had heard the subtle clacking of Duchess Amelia’s heels down the hallway and the explosion of excited messages from House Kyros...

They were going to need a much bigger venue.

Meanwhile, one excited house was trying to figure out what kind of lottery or competition they would use to determine the lucky group who would support their Young Lord in his quest to be the best heir in the Empire.

Ehem.