The VP’s office wasn’t as big as the Principal’s, but it was more exquisite, though exquisite could be interpreted by personal preference because the Principal’s office was the best a corporate design could offer, but the VP’s was a touch more polished.
Comfortable couches, luxurious curtains, an elaborate carpet, and even that bear rug that usually signalled wealth.
The Vice Principal was seated in his chair behind his desk. On his desk were a PC, other devices, and documents.
On his couch were clerks, their hands full of paperwork or screenwork.
Adrian and co. entered the office and made themselves comfortable, joining these clerks on the couch.
The VP even allowed them to have drinks and biscuits, treating them like guests worthy of praise, when they were the opposite.
"Vice Principal Howard. I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for us," Adrian said with his legs crossed. "I will see to it that my father blesses your family and your line handsomely."
"Oh, Adrian. You flatter me," Howard replied. "Grace from the Kingsleys? I have been getting that just by living in your city. This will only flood my bowl."
"No, you’re wrong. You need to be Principal. Why be the deputy?" Adrian said, thinking about it. "Why let that bitch be the head? You’re older and even more experienced."
"Adrian—"
"This academy needs some adjustments."
Howard’s mouth was open, but since Adrian interrupted him, he closed it and exhaled.
He was acting as if he didn’t like where Adrian was going with this, when he did like it.
You see, Howard had always wanted to be the Principal of Montclair Academy, but he could only get the Vice Principal. He was older than Claris and even more experienced in handling the job, but to be Principal required a systematic method that he didn’t follow.
Claris followed that method.
But Howard’s sad story is that Claris’s method was indoctrinated when he was following the old method to become Principal.
Howard finished his studies at Luminara El Caria, graduated, and pursued something called an EX-Summoner degree... only to find out that they had started choosing the new Principal through appointment to serve in joint terms.
A very cheap, useless criterion!
He couldn’t believe it!
Claris became Principal while his EX-Summoner degree took him nowhere.
The Confederacy offered him the position of VP instead, and Howard reluctantly took it, hoping one day he could get the position he wanted because being the VP was the closest thing to it.
Now with Claris gone, his dreams might come true. If the Kingsleys intervened the right way, he could become the Principal. But he had to be careful not to show his true colors.
If he showed his true colors, and the Kingsleys weren’t successful, then Claris returns...
She would mark him as a rival because he had been good at hiding his intentions all this while. She doesn’t even know about his degree story!
"Vice Principal Howard. How do we keep up with other students? We got our points deducted when he had no points in the first place, and we were absent during the induction. We have no idea how to handle the Trials."
"Good question, Miquelon. But don’t worry, I will reverse the deduction, meaning you will start from zero like other students—not negative," Howard said. "And since you were absent at the induction, I will aid you with materials to kick-start your participation, including the coordinates of monster zones."
"That’s so generous of you, Vice Principal!"
"We are thankful!"
"Wow!"
Adrian and his lackeys were being grateful for a favor they did not deserve.
Negating their deduction means they don’t start from behind. And giving them coordinates of monster zones was just the cherry on this cake of corruption.
At least one of them seemed cautious about this. It was Chloe.
Since she was the weakest, she had more to lose should circumstances deteriorate.
"But if you undo our points deduction, won’t other students notice?" she asked nervously.
"No, Chloe. You are very low on the leaderboard for anyone to notice. This will be fast and discreet," Vice Principal Howard answered her assuringly. His eyes also checked the clerks working unintrusively, ensuring they were on the same page. "We just have to do the work, then you and your friends are free to hunt.
These clerks here have taken your IDs and will begin the process. In the meantime, I’ll call the Principal’s apprentice to help us with your drones and weapons of choice."
Howard called someone on his telephone, and the person agreed to be there in a jiffy.
The person arrived a while later and greeted the Vice Principal upon her entry. It was a girl, dressed from head to toe in a semi-formal dress and black hose that emphasized the framework of her legs.
This girl seemed to be in a fair mood until her eyes fell on the students in the Vice Principal’s office. Even Adrian and co were surprised by how quickly her mood changed.
Camilia looked at Howard and the former, then repeated the glance.
"Excuse me, sir, but what are they doing here?" she asked in a stern voice. "Adrian Kingsley is serving a suspension, and so is the rest. Am I to understand their punishment has been lifted?"
"I can see your brain is still sharp after these past few days of excessive work, but that doesn’t give you the right to speak in that manner in my office, Camilia," Vice Principal Howard said, dropping his writing materials and relaxing in his chair. "I called you here to help with something. What business do you have with them?"
??
Camilia snapped her head to Vice Principal Howard like he was nuts.
Was that supposed to be a question?
If she was going to be the next Principal of this academy, shouldn’t matters like this be her concern? Whether or not a student served their punishment is definitely within her scope.
For Vice Principal Howard to ask her like it was a rhetorical question meant tyranny had developed roots in the academy, and it all started when the Duchess made changes.
"Sigh. Another Miss Prim and Proper," Adrian exhaled like Camila’s presence was tiring. "Look, don’t get ahead of yourself. You’re but an apprentice. Now go ahead, be a good girl, and get us our gear."
Camilia clenched her fist as her heart rate picked up. She looked at everyone in the office. Adrian’s stupid face. Chloe. Miquelon’s stupid face likewise. The detached clerks and Vice Principal Howard.
Knowing she was outnumbered socially, Camilia swallowed her upbraid and stormed out of the office.
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