"...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 et 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 up on what he did in the eting. Apparently, Grace received one hell of a beating from Kai.
Good.
This ans, soon she will be kicked out of the Young Elites. In no ti, 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 rcy and lend her a helping hand out of the sheer kindness of my heart.
Heh.
Anyway, aside from this, Quinn alerted about the fact that Kai was soon going to co after .
Even though Quinn tried directing his attention away from , Grace, in a fit of fury and madness, begged him to co after .
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 , 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 outcos before making a move. It helps stay ahead in the ga and ensure that the conclusion turns out to be my victory."
I chuckled lightly. "I don't an 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 co out on top. It's just my way of doing things."
Quinn gave 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 an, 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 from behind.
"Lucas," he called, making halt. "Those marbles that you used to concuss … 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 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 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 ."
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 erged on my face.
Seeing acting this way, Kent started sweating profusely, clearly on edge around .
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 punch him five tis!
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, Alia was set to be the head strategist.
He thought he would rank higher than since I had not much to do. Heh, this poor fool.
Ahh~
Just the thought of punching him right in his stupid face makes tingle in excitent!
"Okay, fine," he said resignedly, sitting up straight and leaning his face toward . "There, punch five tis."
"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 sothing 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 lifeti of misery. Every ti you see , 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 mont. And when I do, you'll wish you had never crossed ."
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 nacing. "You'll be driven to the brink of insanity, unable to bear the ntal 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 .
He had thought it was just a harmless bet, a little ga to pass the ti. 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, Alia, who was sitting right behind us, interrupted.
"And besides, you can't drag a bet for a lifeti," she said, resting her chin over her hand.
"Of course I can," I frowned. "We didn't make a rule opposing it."
"No, I an, you possibly can't," Alia explained. "At most, you can only drag it until six months before you'll either forget about it or have punched him five tis by then."
"Heh," I scoffed. "You underestimating is nothing new. But don't worry. I'll prove you wrong."
"Whatever. By the way," Alia turned to Kent. "What was your contribution ranking anyway?"
"Sixty-nine!" Kent exclaid in an overly proud tone as if he had accomplished a divine feat.
"Awrgh."
"Noice."
"Hehe, right?"
Alia 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," Alia 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 Alia asked in unison.
"After the Mock War when Grace filed a false complaint against , as compensation for wasting my ti and degrading my reputation, I asked for early access to Athena. But Yelena denied it because I haven't even completed the first sester yet, so I don't deserve it." I explained. "Basically, getting access to academy AI is impossible until after the first sester."
For a second, both Alia and Kent had an expression on their faces that scread, 'You have a reputation?'
Before I could pass any comnt on that look, however, Alia mocked in a teasing tone: "Heh, that complaint was false? Are we sure?"
I looked at Alia 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 comnted.
"Yeah, it's a possibility. She does hate 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 rit 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 an, isn't it going a little bit overboard? I don't think she'll do sothing 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. aning, you'll let punch you ten tis."
"Please don't do it, Kent." Alia 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 co to regret while Alia 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.
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