"...So that's about it."
"Hmm. It's fine. I kind of expected this to happen anyway."
Quinn and I were right outside our class, talking in a tone barely above a whisper.
What were we talking about?
Well, Kai decided to meet Alberto, Grace, and Quinn this morning. He wanted a detailed report about what happened in the Mock War and all.
Right now, Quinn is catching me up on what he did in the meeting. Apparently, Grace received one hell of a beating from Kai.
Good.
This means, soon she will be kicked out of the Young Elites. In no time, she will be alone and vulnerable, with no friends or allies by her side.
Then, and only then, I will put on a display of mercy and lend her a helping hand out of the sheer kindness of my heart.
Heh.
Anyway, aside from this, Quinn alerted me about the fact that Kai was soon going to come after me.
Even though Quinn tried directing his attention away from me, Grace, in a fit of fury and madness, begged him to come after me.
Of course, I expected it to happen. Even though I told Quinn to convince Kai about there being a hidden mastermind in our class, I knew Grace would stick her nose in between.
After all, Grace did know that I was the one Kai should look out for.
It's fine though. Grace is a variable I can't control yet. I did a good job by letting Quinn put the idea of a possible secretive mastermind in Kai's head.
"You expected it?" Quinn furrowed his eyebrows in a frown. He was clearly confused.
"By now, you should know one thing about me, Quinn," I looked at him with a slight smile visible on my lips. "I'm the kind of guy who always tries to think ahead and anticipate what might happen. I like to consider all the possible outcomes before making a move. It helps me stay ahead in the game and ensure that the conclusion turns out to be my victory."
I chuckled lightly. "I don't mean to sound too dramatic, but that's just the way I approach things. I like to be prepared for any situation, so I can stay in control and come out on top. It's just my way of doing things."
Quinn gave me a long look before sighing. "Yeah, so do you have anything ready for Kai? Do you know how you'll approach him?"
"Not yet," I replied.
"Didn't you just say you like to stay ahead, though?" Quinn arched an eyebrow.
"No," I shook my head. "I mean, I will not yet approach him. I'll let him make the first move."
"Won't that put you at a disadvantage?"
"Mhmm. It won't. Every move that he can make and every step that he takes are all already accounted for. Don't worry. He will lose."
"...I see."
Nodding my head after convincing Quinn that everything was under control, I turned around and started to leave for the class.
However, before I could even take a step, Quinn's voice called out to me from behind.
"Lucas," he called, making me halt. "Those marbles that you used to concuss me… when did you put them in the graveyard?"
Oh? It was still on his mind.
"Didn't I tell you already?" I said, without bothering to turn back. "Every action my enemies take, I predict them all in advance. You calling me out to the graveyard was a possibility I had considered as soon as the Mock War ended. After all, that is the only place with no people around, even on weekends.
"So, after leaving the Virtual World, I went straight to the graveyard and dug up the ground to hurry those marbles there.
"After you called me there, I deliberately arrived early and stood before the spot where I had buried the marbles so you would stand right on top of them. It was only a matter of making you believe that you had won before I would show you the disparity of going against me."
I didn't even need to turn around to see that Quinn had a mix of 'Fuck you' and 'Wow, that was smart' look on his face after I made the reveal.
Click—!
Smirking, I clicked open the classroom door and went inside without a hitch. Today is going to be a big day, after all.
Today the Class Trip arc will start – the first main arc of the story.
†
"How are you, Kent?"
"Ah… I-I am… g-good?"
"Oh, you are? Don't worry. You won't be for long! Kewehehehe!"
"Dude, don't laugh like that!"
Currently, I am sitting right next to Kent.
As I greeted him, a creepy smile slowly emerged on my face.
Seeing me acting this way, Kent started sweating profusely, clearly on edge around me.
What's going on, you ask?
Well, during the Mock War, Kent initiated a punch bet between us. And since my contribution ranking was higher than his, he'll have to let me punch him five times!
He was stupid to make that bet in the first place. I was the one who was commanding the flow of the battle. So it's no surprise that I was ranked higher than him.
Well, in his defense, when he made that bet, Amelia was set to be the head strategist.
He thought he would rank higher than me since I had not much to do. Heh, this poor fool.
Ahh~
Just the thought of punching him right in his stupid face makes me tingle in excitement!
"Okay, fine," he said resignedly, sitting up straight and leaning his face toward me. "There, punch me five times."
"Oh, Kent," I said, shaking my head in mock sympathy. "You have no idea what you've just gotten yourself into. You think a few punches right now is all you have to worry about? Think again, my dear friend. Because I have something much worse in store for you."
Kent's expression shifted from defeat to confusion as he tried to process my words. But before he could say anything, I continued.
"I won't set you free right now," I said, my smile turning into a twisted grin. "No, that would be too easy. Instead, I'll trap you in a lifetime of misery. Every time you see me, you'll be filled with dread. You'll never feel safe again, never be able to relax. I'll be like a shadow, always lurking just out of sight, ready to punch you in the face at any given moment. And when I do, you'll wish you had never crossed me."
I could see the fear growing in Kent's eyes, only adding more to my ecstasy.
"At the end of it all – When I'll deal you the fifth and final punch," I continued, my voice low and menacing. "You'll be driven to the brink of insanity, unable to bear the mental torture that I'll put you through. And then, and only then, will I let you go."
Kent's eyes widened with fear as he realized the grave mistake he had made in challenging me.
He had thought it was just a harmless bet, a little game to pass the time. But now, he found himself staring into the face of pure evil.
"Ahahahahaha! Hahahaha! Muahahah–"
"Can you guys please shut up?"
As I was right in the middle of my villainous laugh, Amelia, who was sitting right behind us, interrupted.
"And besides, you can't drag a bet for a lifetime," she said, resting her chin over her hand.
"Of course I can," I frowned. "We didn't make a rule opposing it."
"No, I mean, you possibly can't," Amelia explained. "At most, you can only drag it until six months before you'll either forget about it or have punched him five times by then."
"Heh," I scoffed. "You underestimating me is nothing new. But don't worry. I'll prove you wrong."
"Whatever. By the way," Amelia turned to Kent. "What was your contribution ranking anyway?"
"Sixty-nine!" Kent exclaimed in an overly proud tone as if he had accomplished a divine feat.
"Awrgh."
"Noice."
"Hehe, right?"
Amelia rolled her eyes, but I was proud of him. Heh.
"So what do you guys think the Vice President will reward us?" Kent asked in a curious tone.
"Hmm," Amelia stroked her chin. "Maybe early access to the academy's AI, Athena?"
"Most definitely no," I shook my head at her answer.
"Why?"
Both Kent and Amelia asked in unison.
"After the Mock War when Grace filed a false complaint against me, as compensation for wasting my time and degrading my reputation, I asked for early access to Athena. But Yelena denied it because I haven't even completed the first semester yet, so I don't deserve it." I explained. "Basically, getting access to academy AI is impossible until after the first semester."
For a second, both Amelia and Kent had an expression on their faces that screamed, 'You have a reputation?'
Before I could pass any comment on that look, however, Amelia mocked in a teasing tone: "Heh, that complaint was false? Are we sure?"
I looked at Amelia with an 'I am so done' look, "Haha. Very funny."
"Though, on a serious note, maybe she just didn't give you the access because she doesn't like you?" Kent commented.
"Yeah, it's a possibility. She does hate me after all," I nodded. "But I know what she'll offer and it's not early access to Athena."
"Oh, you do? Tell?" Kent asked excitedly.
"She'll give us a three-day Class Trip to a city of our choosing anywhere in the world. She'll also reward us with Merit Points based on our contribution rankings. The higher your contribution was, the more MP you'll receive."
"Eh? Class Trip? And we can go anywhere in the world for three days? I mean, isn't it going a little bit overboard? I don't think she'll do something like that." Kent replied in a skeptical tone.
"Wanna make a bet?" I suggested. "If she doesn't offer us anything like that, our punch bet will be canceled, and I'll treat you to a party instead in any club you want. However, if she does give us what I said, our punch bet will be doubled. Meaning, you'll let me punch you ten times."
"Please don't do it, Kent." Amelia tried to save Kent from a fate much worse, but the greed of escaping this bet blinded the blue-haired elf.
"I accept!"
And just like that, Kent made another decision that he'll come to regret while Amelia could only sigh in the back.
Click–!
Swuuu–!
Just then, the door to the classroom clicked open, and a chilly wind washed over the whole classroom, signaling the arrival of the Queen.
