The first-year students were completely astounded by this turn of events.
They had witnessed a direct challenge to the Academy’s established order a brutal retaliation and now a judgnt so severe it was almost unthinkable.
Two of the most powerful and influential upperclassn in the entire United Academy had just been sentenced to permanent expulsion.
The Principal then turned his gaze back to Adam. "And," he declared his voice ringing with a final irrefutable authority "I hereby rescind the punishnt levied against Eric. He is not expelled."
He then looked past Adam. His gaze fell upon Ryan who was still standing nervously with the other mbers of The New Warriors. "And let make this perfectly clear to everyone here," the Principal announced his voice now a cold nacing warning directed at every single student in the cafeteria.
"If anyone from any group threatens the family of Ryan or the family of any mber of this new group their fight will not be with this boy. Their fight will be with . And with the Emperor himself. Because I will be reporting this entire incident to the Emperor myself today."
This final threat was a masterstroke. A wave of cold sweat broke out on the faces of the mbers of the Red Team and especially the mbers of the Black Team.
The Black Team had been entertaining similar plans of their own. They had been thinking of using their influence back in their ho kingdoms to intimidate the families of these upstart commoners who had joined Eric.
The Principal had not only seen through their plans but he had also cut them off at the knees. They could not use that tactic now.
Somya the Red Team’s brilliant strategist was completely baffled. How could the Principal have possibly known about our plans about our actions? It was impossible. She felt a chilling sense of dread creep over her. This Eric was more dangerous than she had ever imagined.
Shreya the other strategist and Simon the powerhouse both stepped forward. Their expressions were a mixture of desperation and a last-ditch attempt at damage control. "Mr. Principal—" they began to say at the sa ti.
But the Principal cut them off his gaze a tempest of cold fury. He held up a hand silencing them.
"If you wish to apologize," he snarled "do not apologize to . You should be apologizing to Eric. And especially you should be apologizing to Ryan." He then fixed his gaze on Simon. "I do not yet know the full extent of your involvent in the attack on Ryan," he said his voice a low dangerous growl.
"But if I find even a shred of proof that you were involved I will take action against you as well. And Simon," he added his voice dropping even lower "do not think for a mont that because you are a fourth-year student you are untouchable. Your father is still a good friend of mine. I suggest you conduct yourself very very carefully from now on."
Hearing the Principal’s words a look of genuine palpable fear appeared on Simon’s face. If there was one person in this entire world whom Simon truly feared it was his own father. The Principal’s threat was not an idle one. He knew the Principal would tell his father everything.
The Principal having delivered his final judgnt turned to leave. But just as he and the other professors were about to depart from the stage Adam stepped forward once more.
"Mr. Principal," he said his voice calm and respectful "may I make a request on behalf of my entire group?"
The Principal who had already started to walk away paused and turned back. The professors behind him also stopped their attention once again fixed on this enigmatic first-year.
The students in the cafeteria who had thought the drama was finally over also watched with bated breath. What is he trying to do now? they all wondered. Hasn’t he already caused enough of a storm in his first two days at this Academy? What more could he possibly want?
Adam simply smiled. He looked at the Principal and said "I would like to request that you do not expel the two mbers of the Red Team Samba and Cian."
His words were t with a fresh wave of stunned silence. No one could believe what he was asking.
"Instead," Adam continued his voice still calm "as their punishnt I would like for you to assign them to work under the mbers of my group." He let the suggestion hang in the air for a mont.
"I believe this punishnt would be far more... effective. And it would send a clear ssage to all the other students. If they take any unnecessary action against my group they too might find themselves in a similar situation."
The Principal was genuinely taken aback by Adam’s audacious request. He remained silent for a few long seconds considering the implications. Why would this boy this "Eric" make such a request? What possible benefit or detrint could co from having two powerful resentful upperclassn serving as his underlings?
But then the Principal rembered the mory Adam had shown him. He rembered the brutal calculated nature of the attack on Ryan the utter lack of remorse. He smiled a slow knowing smile. He understood Adam’s plan.
"If I had not seen that mory," the Principal said his voice now a low almost amused rumble "I would never have agreed to such a proposal. But because you have shown the full extent of the incident I will agree to your terms."
He then turned to the other professors on the stage.
"Until they graduate," he announced his voice once again ringing with an absolute final authority
"those two Samba and Cian will serve this new group. From the mont Eric returns with the Emperor’s signature until the day of their graduation they will be at the beck and call of The New Warriors. They will be their servants. And if they fail to comply or if they cause any more trouble," he added his gaze a cold hard warning "they will be expelled from this Academy imdiately."
With that final stunning pronouncent the Principal turned. And without another word he left the stage the other professors following in his wake.
The entire cafeteria was silent. The students’ eyes were wide with a mixture of shock awe and a dawning profound fear of Eric. Adam had not just won. He had achieved sothing far greater.
He had taken two of the most powerful and influential students from the most arrogant faction. And he had turned them into his personal servants. It was a move of such political and social brilliance that the Red Team would likely never be able to move against him again.
And the other factions the Blue the Black and even the Golden would now have to think a hundred tis before even considering making a move against this strange terrifyingly powerful new group.
The balance of power in the United Academy had just been irrevocably and dramatically altered by a single first-year student on his second day.
The legend of Eric was growing.
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