137: Chapter 137 Helena's Rating! Highest Level! S-Rank!

Outside the gates of the Hengshi Code Academy.

In front of the registration point for the Morning Dew Chamber of Commerce, the crowd was surging.

When Helena's figure appeared in the crowd, it was as if an invisible force had caused the clamor to die down a little.

Many gazes were involuntarily drawn to her, regardless of whether they were male or female.

She was too outstanding.

That unique charm, a blend of her elegant appearance, calm temperament, and the scholarly aura cultivated by the academy, seemed out of place yet exceptionally dazzling in the slightly noisy surroundings.

Several sharp-eyed employees of the chamber of commerce spotted her almost simultaneously, their eyes instantly erupting with a gleam of pleasant surprise!

Experience told them that this was definitely a big catch!

It might even be an S-Rank rating!

"Young lady! Are you here to inquire about the beauty pageant? Please, this way! It's less crowded over here!"

A female employee who looked like a minor supervisor reacted the fastest, immediately squeezing out of the crowd and enthusiastically leading Helena to a quieter temporary tent on the side.

Inside the tent, a small charcoal brazier was burning, making it much warmer.

The female employee asked Helena to sit down and poured her a cup of hot water personally before beginning detailed inquiries, though her gaze was like the most precise ruler, quickly and covertly measuring Helena's appearance, figure, skin, hair quality, demeanor, and mannerisms...

Helena was a bit nervous, but her good upbringing allowed her to remain composed and answer one by one.

Name, age, academy, major, family situation, grade point average, and whether she possessed any special talents.

She mentioned her proficiency in document organization, shorthand, and her understanding of imperial commercial law and local tax regulations...

The more the female employee listened, the brighter her eyes became, especially when she saw the grade point average certificate stamped by the academy; the smile on her face was almost overflowing.

She immediately signaled the young employee in charge of recording to write down the letter representing the highest rank in the comprehensive evaluation column of the assessment form—S-Rank!

"Miss Helena, your qualifications are truly excellent!" The female employee's attitude became even more fervent, even carrying a hint of respect:

"According to the standards set by The Count and our chamber's rating system, you are preliminarily rated as S-Rank!"

"This is the highest rank!"

"It means that as long as you participate, you will definitely be able to enter the final selection stage!"

She began to explain the benefits of S-Rank in detail.

Optimal travel subsidies, the ability to ride in more comfortable carriages, staying in designated high-class inns during her time in Gino City, having a dedicated person responsible for liaison, and so on.

Finally, she lowered her voice and said with a seductive tone: "Miss Helena, to be honest, for an S-Rank rating like yours, as long as you ultimately decide to participate and sign this letter of intent, our chamber of commerce will provide you with an additional twenty gold coins as a good faith deposit."

"Regardless of whether you win a prize later, the deposit does not need to be returned. Furthermore, if you can place in the pageant, our chamber of commerce has additional gifts."

Twenty gold coins as a deposit!

This was almost equivalent to the total income of Helena's entire family for four or five years!

Helena's heart began to beat uncontrollably. But she still forced herself to calm down.

"Thank you very much for your recognition."

"However... this matter is of great importance to me, and I need to return home to discuss it with my parents before I can make a final decision."

Helena stood up and said politely but firmly.

"Of course, of course! It's only right!" The female employee hurriedly said, stuffing a detailed set of regulations and a blank letter of intent into Helena's hands:

"These are the pageant regulations and a sample contract; take them back to read slowly and discuss thoroughly with your family. We will continue recruiting here for three days."

"Miss Helena, please be sure to consider this seriously; this could be an excellent opportunity to change the fate of you and your family!"

Clutching the stack of papers that still smelled of ink, Helena felt they were heavy.

She thanked the female employee, turned, left the tent, and merged into the flow of people on the street.

The cold winter wind blew against her face, cooling her burning cheeks and chaotic thoughts slightly.

She did not return to the academy but headed straight for the crowded, noisy, soot-filled, and lively commoner district in the west of the city.

Her home was at the end of a narrow alley, a low, stone-built cottage.

Pushing open the creaking wooden door, a slightly damp smell and the scent of medicinal herbs greeted her.

Her father had finished work and was sitting on a chair resting, while her mother was busy by the stove.

Her younger brother, Aidan, was half-leaning on a simple wooden bed in the inner room, trying to repair an old tool by the dim daylight from the window.

Seeing Helena return suddenly, all three of them were somewhat surprised.

"Helena? Why are you back at this hour? Is everything alright at the academy?"

Her mother put down her work and asked worriedly.

Helena shook her head, walked to her brother's bedside, looked at his still-swollen calf, and felt a pang of sorrow in her heart.

She took a deep breath and, under the puzzled gazes of her parents and brother, recounted everything she had seen outside the academy, as well as the S-Rank rating and the generous conditions.

Finally, she took out the letter of intent.

After she finished speaking, Helena lowered her eyes and remained silent.

The room also fell into silence.

A moment later, Aidan on the bed sat up abruptly. Because the movement was too sudden, it affected his injured leg, causing him to wince in pain, but he didn't care and said urgently:

"No! Sister! You can't go! What kind of beauty pageant is that! It sounds wrong!"

"That The Count is spending so much money to find women, how could he be a good person? Even if I'm crippled for the rest of my life, I wouldn't..."

"Aidan!" Her father suddenly shouted in a low voice, interrupting his son's words.

He raised his head, looked at his daughter's familiar, elegant face, and said: "Helena... do you... really want to go? Have you thought it through?"

Helena looked at the pain in her father's eyes, the silent weeping of her mother, and the agitated face of her brother.

She nodded gently, her eyes brimming with tears, but her gaze was exceptionally firm:

"I have thought it through, Dad, Mom, Aidan. This is an opportunity. Not just to get the money to treat Aidan's leg, but also for myself."

"Ten thousand gold coins, even if it's just the two thousand gold coins for the top ten, would be enough for our whole family to move out of here, hire the best physician for Aidan, let him stand up again, and let you live a life that isn't so hard."

"And for me... if I can really become a female official, perhaps that is also a way out."

"The people from the chamber of commerce said it's not just about beauty, but also about ability. What I learned at the academy might be useful."

"But your reputation..." her mother choked out.

"Reputation..." Helena smiled bitterly, "If Aidan's leg cannot be healed, and if our family stays like this, what is my reputation worth?"

"Besides, this is The Count openly recruiting female officials; nominally, it is not a dishonorable matter."

Aidan wanted to say something else, but his father waved his hand to stop him.

He picked up the letter of intent on the table, although he couldn't understand the complex clauses on it.

But he knew that these few light sheets of paper might be their last hope.

"... Go." After a long time, her father spat out the two words from his chapped lips, as if he had exhausted all his strength, "Child, the family... has let you down."

"But... the path is one you chose yourself. In the future... no matter what happens, don't forget to come home."

"Father!" Aidan closed his eyes in pain, his fist slamming hard against the bed board.

Helena nodded.

She hugged her parents and gently touched her brother's head. "I will be careful. I will place in the ranking and heal your leg. Wait for me."

"No, I don't want that!" Aidan slapped Helena's hand away.

Seeing this, a flash of sadness crossed Helena's eyes.

Then, she turned and left.

That evening, Helena returned to the registration point outside the academy.

When the female employee saw her return, her eyes erupted with huge surprise.

"Miss Helena, have you decided?"

"Yes, I will participate."

Helena's voice was calm.

"That's great!"

The female employee hurriedly took out the official contract, instructing Helena to sign and press her fingerprint in the designated places.

Subsequently, she counted out twenty gold coins on the spot, packed them in a small cloth bag, and handed it to Helena.

She also gave her a certificate stamped with the joint seal of the Morning Dew Chamber of Commerce and The Count's mansion in Gino City.

"Miss Helena, this is your deposit and certificate. Please keep them safe."

"We will send someone to the academy to notify you of the specific departure date and meeting point within three days."

"I wish you great success in Gino City!"

...