I suppose it’s starting now.
How to control a crowd, or rather, how to make lazy people work hard.
In my past life I was indeed a lazy person, only doing things when they interested or if I was forced.
However, I still knew how to control masses.
A central villain.
If different people with different ideals had one person they could call a villain, then they would band together, train, and work hard to defeat that person.
Of course, if that said person were to die then they would fight each other again.
But I was that said person, and I wasn’t planning on losing to anyone.
My eyes darted around the frozen crowd.
They were stunned.
The Apex of every year was ant to be a leader and motivator.
But I wasn’t just any Apex.
I was Allen Vanderbilt.
If Alicia needed an inspiration so badly, then I would show her how the Night_Hawks did things.
Consciously darkening my gaze, I muttered, "You all seem oddly quiet; it’s rather strange not hearing the noble people booing."
Even though I said that I still had my own fears.
What if the people I cared about vanish because of this—can I bear it?
I had already dealt with the pain of losing my previous family and couldn’t bear to lose anyone else.
But...
I knew sowhere inside that those who were truly close to you won’t vanish just because of a few words.
I forced a smile, and I could see so students quiver in their seats.
"Did you actually think I was going to smile and be lenient with you all? Give so fancy speech?"
From now on, I was going to play the villain of the story.
No, I would be both the hero and the villain.
I would fill the gap Jake Kim left in the first year while being their goal, a being they want to take down.
"You know what you all think: being in Apex is a roadmap to a good life. So of you, even after hearing all the words from the student council, will still live diocre lives."
I raised a finger. "’I have a month of pardon, I can make points with my friends, I can leech on a high ranker’ — that’s what so of you are thinking, right?"
"’If I get enough points, I’ll never be expelled.’"
I gave a mock chuckle. "But is that really what it ans to be in Apex?"
I paused as if a thought just flashed through my mind.
"Why don’t I fix that ntality, then?"
I snapped my fingers and the Quilbot in charge of the holographic image activated.
"Quilbot, use my points to expel those four sitting over there."
[Understood]
[You have spent 1,000,000 points]
All the students froze as the hall grew heavy.
"You four over there, you can leave now; from now on you aren’t students of Apex anymore."
One of the four yelled out.
— "What the hell, you have no right to—"
I raised a hand to cut him off. "I do, actually."
My lips curved slightly. "Apex runs on points, did you forget?"
The boy snapped back.
— "Even still this month we are—"
I laughed, low and cold. "Are you stupid? Even rules can be broken here. Did you think you’re worth a million? Those points were mainly to break a rule."
One of the four, a girl with blue hair and eyes who was practically trembling, raised a hand.
— "Please, can you have rcy? I will do anything, I don’t..." She whimpered. "I don’t want to go back ho."
I stared at the girl for so ti.
Perhaps I could have decided to have rcy on them, but that would defeat the entire purpose.
This was my mask and I couldn’t let it slip.
"No," I answered flatly. "You aren’t even a student anymore, and I can’t waste my points on people who only fill space."
No one objected again and just sat on their chairs in silence.
Alicia hadn’t announced how many points I had, so for them I could have an infinite amount.
As long as they believed that, none would act.
Allies? Friendship?
I wasn’t planning on doing any of that.
The first years from today would have one enemy: .
"If you guys hate so much... then."
I paused briefly, looking into their eyes. "Beat . If any one of you can push from first place, then I will step down as Apex, leave this academy, and shatter my core."
Their eyes suddenly flashed with sothing primal.
"Not once did I take any of you as my allies or friends; you are nothing but tools to .
I will expel those who cross , and leave those who do their best. As long as you are useful to you have a chance, so..."
I tilted my head slightly, my gaze darkening. "Bring down if you can; if not, you all die."
Silence swallowed the hall, and for a second I heard my own pulse.
Alicia didn’t say a word throughout all this, but I could see her lips curve up a little.
After a mont of silence I turned my back on them and left through the backstage.
All the students could only stare at my back as I walked away.
A back they wanted to catch up to, soone they wanted to pull to the ground.
That was , their greatest foe and the reason they would continue to fight.
***
"... If not, you all die."
What the hell is going on?
Allen... what is he doing?
In the ga, Allen was ant to be a leader for the first years.
So why was he doing this?
Has he turned to the dark side already?
Step. Step. Step.
The gorgeous young man walked past and spared a glance before going backstage.
A mask.
I was sure of it.
Just like that person, Allen Vanderbilt had put on a mask.
"Looks like my fate has already started to change."
It had happened way too fast.
A villain to kill, and the devil of the arctic.
The only man no one could even dream of touching.
His story had already started.
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