Chapter 50: Who Will Take Their Side?
Sabel and Vesper immediately understood how absurdly lopsided this arrangement was.
"How is that a fair one-on-one?!" Kane demanded, his fists clenching so tightly his knuckles turned white. "Have you lost your mind? The three of you are all high-ranked Sentinels--one B-rank and two C-ranks! Our rank don’t match yours at all!"
From the very beginning, this wager had been rigged. Now that the terms were laid bare, they could barely sense the deep malice hidden behind it.
Across the field, Corwin merely shrugged, completely unbothered by the accusation. "How is this unfair? After all, your side has an A-rank Sentinel. Besides, it’s three of us against four of you. If anything, we’re the ones at a disadvantage."
Vesper was far from an unknown figure in the academy.
In fact, it was quite the opposite. With his high rank and explosive personality, he had long caught the attention of the entire student body.
Then, with a slow, deliberate smile, Corwin added, "If you refuse this debt, I’ll find a way to ensure every single one of you is expelled from this academy."
Vesper scoffed loudly, "He’s bluffing!"
Yet, neither Sabel nor Kane uttered a single word in response.
The cruel reality was that they were cornered either way. Judging by the confidence and lack of fear in Corwin’s eyes when he threw out the threat, Kane was certain the guy had the background to back it up.
Even if he couldn’t get them all expelled, ruining the future of at least one of them would be as easy as flipping his palm.
A heavy pang of regret settled deep in Kane’s chest. He should have just swallowed his pride and done what Corwin demanded in the first place, before things spiraled into this unmanageable mess.
"Are you seriously falling for his empty threats?" Vesper muttered, glaring at his silent companions. "Don’t forget, we have Aisha and Sabel with us. Even if those guys have backing, both of them come from wealthy families, too. It’s not like we’re entirely powerless against them!"
His words actually carried a shred of logic.
Yet, nobody stepped forward to agree with him.
Sensing the heavy silence, an uneasy feeling finally began to creep into Vesper’s heart.
"It might have been that simple if that were truly the case," Kane finally spoke, looking back across the training grounds with a heavy sigh. "But one of them is the dean’s biological nephew."
Those words silenced Vesper instantly, stripping away his aggressive momentum.
Aisha stood quietly to the side, her mind spinning as she weighed their options. She wasn’t the least bit worried about losing the duel itself. What truly concerned her was the precarious position of her three classmates. If this matter concluded poorly, they could be stripped of their standing entirely, destroying any hope of graduation.
It hadn’t been long since she transmigrated into this world. Yet, somewhere along the line, she had actually grown accustomed to her life as an academy student. She had even begun to look forward to the day she would graduate.
How could they make this troublesome situation vanish without paying any price?
Suddenly, a face surfaced in her mind. Pale skin, golden blond hair, and an exquisitely handsome face--paired with a presence that radiated absolute authority and cold elegance.
Zeke.
Their mysterious new combat instructor.
Although his administrative rank within the academy couldn’t compare to the dean’s, Aisha was certain his true status within the Sentinel and Guide Association was anything but ordinary. At the very least, even the dean wouldn’t dare to brush him aside carelessly.
"Fine. We accept the bet."
Her companions whirled around, completely startled by her sudden declaration.
Even Corwin and his lackeys across the field looked momentarily stunned that she had actually agreed to the trap. However, their expressions quickly twisted into satisfied grins. This was exactly the outcome they had been hoping for.
Crushing a handful of lower-class students would give them a prime opportunity to make a name for themselves. Humiliating their opponents badly enough that they would never dare show their faces at the academy again would be the sweetest reward.
Although they were somewhat wary of Vesper’s high rank, they had already formulated a counter-strategy to handle him.
Finally, both sides settled on a specific date and time for the duel.
***
By the time they returned to their classroom, another professor had already commenced the lecture. He didn’t reprimand them for their tardiness, merely leaving behind a reading assignment before vanishing from the room.
With no teacher around to supervise them, Kane finally brought up their predicament. "So, what exactly are we going to do about this?"
Vesper raised an eyebrow, a teasing smirk playing on his lips. "So proactive now? I thought you were dead set against the whole wager in the first place."
Kane rolled his eyes in annoyance. He could’ve chosen to stay out of it, but...
"I’m not the type to abandon my comrades."
Sabel nodded, silently appreciating Kane’s loyalty. "Let’s just crush them. Problem solved!"
Vesper grunted in agreement, thoroughly satisfied with that straightforward plan.
"It won’t be that simple."
Aisha’s sudden intervention caused the three of them to turn their heads toward her.
Receiving their undivided attention, she calmly explained, "Those people definitely have backup plans. If we end up winning, there’s a very high probability they will simply go back on their word.
Kane and Sabel frowned, considering her words seriously.
"You’re probably right."
It wouldn’t be the first time such an incident occurred. Over the years, countless students from the lower classes had ended up expelled or suspended over rigged disputes exactly like this one.
"Therefore, I already have a plan."
Aisha’s words instantly ignited a spark of hope among them.
"Since they have the backing of the dean, we simply need to find a backer of our own," Aisha revealed calmly.
The three of them gasped in surprise upon hearing this. For a moment, they even suspected she was joking. However, observing her perfectly serious expression, they realized she wasn’t kidding at all. Could it be that she knew some powerful figure? Or was she genuinely intending to drag someone into their wager?
Kane knitted his brows in worry. "Where could we possibly find someone willing to back us?"
They just couldn’t find anyone. They had to be someone working in the academy.
Most of the professors in this academy held nothing but disdain for their lower-class status. The limit of their goodwill was tolerating their presence in the classroom and ensuring they learned the bare minimum. Kane was highly skeptical that any faculty member would willingly tie themselves to their sinking ship.
Was she perhaps planning to use a bribe?
Sabel shared the same train of thought and quickly said, "Maybe we can try approaching the professor from last time. I can chip in some funds to sweeten the deal."
She was referring to the instructor who had stepped in to break up the fierce class between Vesper and Reign a month ago. If they pooled enough money together, they might actually stand a chance at swaying him.
However, Kane shook his head, instantly shooting down the idea. "That won’t work. If we can use money, their side can easily throw ten times as much."
Vesper’s temper was already flaring from the suspense. Frowning deeply, he pressed impatiently, "Aisha, stop keeping us in suspense. Who exactly do you have in mind?"
Since she had brought up the concept of taking someone into their side, she must have a specific candidate in her heart, right?
Aisha didn’t offer an immediate response.
She hesitated for a brief moment, weighing the consequences of uttering that name. But looking at the dead end before them, they truly had no other choice.
"Instructor Zeke."