Chapter 34: new hunt
The following day. No, a few minutes after Severin left the Class Five dorm, the Academy found out about the incident. The amount of power that the Scar member used was enough to draw attention.
And they started an investigation immediately. In fact, the Head Instructor himself went down to the black market and sent people into the Field Zone.
But the Field Zone is a very large place of mostly undeveloped forest filled with monsters. If a criminal organization was hiding there, it would take them time to root them out.
The rest of the Academy learnt of the news the next day, and a warning was issued: don't go into the Field Zone. Even the Houses that made part of the Field Zone their territories were warned to be careful.
The number of guards in each dorm also increased, and the upperclassmen were formed into patrol teams.
Everything made a kind of strange hush atmosphere fall on the Academy. There was tension and fear in the air that made the students uncomfortable.
The Academy authorities weren't happy either. How dare a criminal organization try to mess with their students? Not only did they almost steal the Key, they killed a lot of researchers, and now this?
Only they could mess with their students, not some criminal organization.
Even classes the following week were so-so because the instructors themselves were out investigating. Severin went to his classes as usual, learning what the instructors taught but finding it hard.
Especially for the combat classes and Talent Ability development, where they taught how to use different abilities.
Severin was hopeless in both. He had no talent for combat, and his Talent Ability gave him no direct power. For those classes, he just sat back and observed.
What he needed to do next was what filled his head. He needed more people in his circle. Not necessarily House members, because he knew the House wasn't something he could just kick off the ground like that.
"...for now I can still make use of Ethan and Derrick, but they both lacked something... the brain... although they're smart, they aren't the strategic type... I need someone that can think... really think..."
And he had just the person in mind.
In the Academy, not a lot of people were admitted because of their raw powers. There are some who were there because they fell under the "unique" type of power. They didn't have the strength, but they had something else.
One such person is Julius Crane. He's in Ethan's class, but he was also one of the most bullied people. Just like Severin, he lacked raw power, but unlike him, his Talent Ability Rank was that of a solid A.
Severin had observed him for a week, mostly at night. He gained access to the Class Two dorm through Ethan. And after the end of that week, he knew enough to make a move.
"Hey, you little shit, you don't deserve to be in Class Two. You're too weak, something that breaks easily," a tall boy sneered, his eyes filled with hatred.
"I think he bribed the Academy. Or do you think his mother slept with one of the board members?" another boy said with a laugh, leaning forward.
Julius Crane had been cornered against the door. He was a thin, frail boy with big dark eyes. He wore glasses, and his overall look made him look like a nerd that should be bent over a computer stained with noodles.
Severin didn't quite understand how he'd managed to survive in the Academy so far. But with the guy's ability, he wasn't that surprised.
Julius's thin frame shook, and he looked as if he might throw a punch, but he was smart enough to hold it back. Right there in the hallway of the dorm, he'd just be beaten until blue.
"Look at this little guy, he wants to throw a punch! You don't like us making a joke about the whore?"
"Then pay us. Give us all the credits you have."
Julius bit his lip, and anger flashed in his eyes. But still, he did nothing. He was weak, and they were strong. It had always been like that.
"You two are fools," a voice cut through the air like a sharpened blade. A cold blade.
The two bullies stiffened and turned to the sound of footsteps approaching them.
Julius Crane turned as well, and his eyes widened. "Severin Reignhart?"
The two of them focused on him immediately.
"Eh? This is the one that just created a House?"
"The weakest student in the Academy? What's he doing here?"
"The weak backing the weak, eh?"
"Hey, he must be rich as well, with all that House creation and all. Why don't we beat him up as well? He'll cough up some credits as well."
"Don't forget about Ethan Aldrich that day!"
A snort. "That was just a fluke."
They talked as if Severin wasn't standing in front of them, but he didn't care. His eyes flickered toward Julius and then the two.
He continued to speak, unhurried and slowly. "You two are fools. Julius Crane is in Class Two, but he lacks power. But does he actually lack power?"
"What are you talking about? You want to die?" one of them stepped close, so close that his pressure felt like heat enveloping him.
Severin continued, unblinking. "Somehow he's in Class Two instead of Class Five or Four. That means there's something that's keeping him in Class Two. Something strong."
"Yeah, his mother slept her way for him." But this time there was unease in his voice and their stance.
"Julius Crane might not report to the powers backing him about the bullying, but I can. And what will happen if his mother actually slept her way through and you're torturing her dear boy? It won't be anything good then."
People do lots of things at times without thinking them through. What Severin wanted to do was help them analyze their actions and the consequences. He needed to let them see what they didn't want to see.
"It's simple. How can a weak student remain in Class Two?"