Chapter 484 - 484
All those present could not believe what they saw. Baker won over his opponents with great difficulty for 45 minutes, and then it suddenly turns out that he was pretending?! Was he hiding his true power to cheat the dumb disciples?! Motherfucker!
Elsa rubbed her eyes, but nothing changed. Dick threw her boyfriend out the window like a bag of trash! Damn fat man, he deliberately decided to make a laughing stock out of Rose?!
«Hurray, I won! Oh, I need to go to the toilet…» – clutching his stomach, Kyon hurriedly ran away.
Three seconds later, a blushing Rose rushed over: «Where is this fat swindler?!»
«He ran away…» – Elsa whispered, absentmindedly removing a strand of hair that had fallen on her face.
«Why didn't you catch him?! Obviously, he won dishonestly!»
«Do not shout at me.» – the girl asked. – «I didn't have time to react.»
«Damn it, why aren't you doing anything?!» – Rose said furiously. – «Find him!»
All the students from the Valentine family came out of their trance and rushed to catch the deceiver: «Catch Dick Baker!» … «He insulted Rose Valentine!» … «Find the sneaky fat guy!»
The audience understood Rose's anger. It would be strange if he behaved differently after being humiliated by the superior phaser in front of the girl. No one doubted that Baker had signed his own death warrant. Even if he immediately decided to run as fast as he could from the order and Rosarrio, he would still not be saved.
If during the clash between Roman and Dick, the students preferred the second one - since the bully was secretly despised by almost everyone - now they completely sided with Rose, because he is an ideal among ideals, the pride of the order. Thus, one can say with complete confidence that Baker is henceforth the main villain for all students, especially for those whose points were removed from the account for yesterday's deal, and only some fans of Elsa had a different opinion.
Kyon ran into the lecture hall and landed on a bench very close to the teacher's table. The previously bribed student took a desk for him. There are only 100 desks in the hall, so latecomers usually have to stand.
The bell rang.
A long-haired middle-aged man in a snow-white master's robe named Feng Russell looked around the half-empty hall in bewilderment and thoughtfully asked: {Why are there so few students? Maybe not everyone got the news that I am teaching today?} – he is used to a crowded lecture hall full of even standing students.
A second later, a group of the Valentines burst into the hall and, unanimously apologizing with a mean bow, surrounded Baker's desk with a solid ring. They did not dare to do anything during the lesson of the respected master Feng. They could only burn the fat man with contemptuous glances.
A little later, the others also appeared.
«Sorry for being late, master Feng. We are all to blame.» – Elsa bowed low, almost to the floor.
«Even if my student is late, then, apparently, something important has happened.» – the master smiled condescendingly, shifting his gaze from the girl to Rose, and then to Dick, who was surrounded by a clearly unkind crowd of the Valentines.
The lecture began.
In the ring of ill-wishers, Kyon felt, to put it mildly, uncomfortable. However, everything went according to plan. For a greater harvest of darkness, it is necessary to prepare the soil. Should he be wary of Rose? Definitely. Dealing with him is risky, but everything is under control.
Elsa and Rosa sat together a few rows above Baker: they were given seats.
Valentine did not take his icy gaze off the figure of the fat man spreading on the bench. He dared to insult the future patriarch of the first family, exposed him as a weakling in front of the entire order and his future wife… Just what had he expected? He will not live.
On the other hand, the young man seemed to Stone an incomprehensible mythical being, she tried to understand where such an absurdly huge physical strength could have come from. The more she learned about him, the more mysterious he seemed, and, as a result, her interest only grew.
However, all this did not cancel out the girl's anger, yet this ugly rascal deliberately turned her boyfriend into a laughing stock, which means, partially, her too. Even if he is much stronger than Rose, what prevented him from winning "with difficulty"? Why humiliate Valentine so much by pointedly throwing him out the window? Prick! He seems to be a brilliant investigator, but he has no brains at all. Now, because of his stupidity, he got into such trouble that no one will envy him. Serves the fool right.
All the other students have already mentally said goodbye to the fat man. He is both alive and dead at the same time.
The lecture was held at the highest level. The knowledge taught by the master was really impressive. Kyon noticed only some inaccuracies, and this was commendable.
The bell for the end of the lecture rang.
Master Feng spread his arms in invitation: «Students, as you know, I teach three classes a week to ten lucky ones. At the moment, there are five vacancies available. The cost of training is fifteen thousand points per week. Come to me if you want.»
Even despite the highest price of training, the best alchemist in the order has always been popular, so several dozen students immediately rushed to him.
Kyon took the most comfortable seat, so he materialized next to the teacher first: «Mr. Feng, it will be a great honor for me to learn from such a brilliant master of alchemy like you!»
The man learned not to judge a book by its cover a long time ago. Smiling, he nodded and was about to accept the payment, but suddenly someone pulled the fat man's hand to take him somewhere.
Several Valentines decided to pull Dick out of the lecture hall quietly and then solemnly lynch him in the name of Rose, or give him to their master to be torn to pieces, but…
«A-AA-A-AA-AA! I'M BEING KIDNAPPED!» – Kyon screamed deafeningly and shamelessly.
«What kind of mess is this?!» – the lecturer frowned with displeasure.
The students went to the sides, revealing the overview. Under the heavy gaze of the man, the Valentines let go of the fat man's hand and walked away from him three steps with guilty smiles.
As if nothing had happened, Kyon walked up to the lecturer and bowed: «Thank you for saving me, sir. I would like to sign up for your lessons. I have big ambitions. I have been studying alchemy since I was a child and I want to learn more!»
{What ambitions?! To survive - already sounds overly ambitious for you!} – that's about what every student in the hall thought.
Master Feng nodded and held out his hand, but again someone intervened.
Elsa came up and said with a bow: «My master, your student is against this young man studying with you. Please heed my request.»
Kyon burned his stepsister with a hostile look, to which she reacted with a cold snort. Some puppy dares to yap at a proud lioness!
«Since you are asking for this, how can I refuse…» – Master Feng turned to the fat man. – «I don't know what you have done, young man, but you have big problems, since even my best student is against your presence in my classes.»
«Mr. Feng, please give me a chance! If you are satisfied with my work, then I ask you to reconsider your decision!» – Kyon held out the usual "Enzymes" medicine pill along with a note with the frequency of his sound transmitter.
The young man's attempts made Elsa roll her eyes. As if there could be even the slightest chance that his work would interest the master so much that, despite the request of his best student, he would take him for training. Absolutely excluded!
«Hmm… Interesting proposal. Let's try. But I don't promise anything.» – with a polite smile, the alchemist took the pill and the note. Although, to tell the truth, he had no hope that the guy's work would attract his attention.
Meanwhile, the Valentines were expecting a fight, and evil crooked grins bloomed on their faces. Now the fat man is definitely not going anywhere! No one will save him. The hour of reckoning has come.
«Thank you.» – Kyon thanked master Feng and calmly walked out of the hall.
A group of the Valentines followed Baker like a gloomy motorcade at a funeral. The disciples watching this sighed and shook their heads: now he is definitely finished. Rest in peace, you idiot who dared to insult the representative of the 1st rank family.
Rose also followed the procession, clenching his fists.
«Please don't kill him.» – Elsa asked affectionately, touching the guy's shoulder.
«Are you on his side?» – Valentine turned, puzzled.
«No, he just… He… Well…» – the girl could not find the answer, which made her words sound as if she admired the fat man, which, of course, is ridiculous. But she couldn't say that Baker was actually Stone, working undercover.
«He deceived and insulted the future patriarch of the Valentines. If I let him get away with it, how will the others look at me? I have to show everyone by his example what will happen to those who dare to insult me.» – Rose said decisively.
«Honey, I don't want you to be considered a cruel tyrant… You're not like that. Be merciful. Don't kill or maim the fool too much, please.» – Elsa asked pitifully, folding her palms in a gesture of supplication.
No matter how angry the lady was at Dick, she did not want the life of a truly brilliant representative of the Stones to end so absurdly. It is also important that she has not yet figured out whether he is somehow connected with the escape of "The Dark Baron".
Valentine hesitated for a while, but against the puppy eyes of his beautiful betrothed he was completely defenseless: «Okay, I'll try not to kill him, dear.»
Elsa smiled and kissed him on the cheek.
Rose turned around and frowned in puzzlement: «What's the matter? Where is he?»
A group of the Valentines with lost faces returned to the hall: «Sir, he… He disappeared!» … «We barely turned the corner, but the fat guy was already gone!» … «I felt his presence, but after a moment – nothing! He's gone!» … «This is not invisibility… If he had become invisible, we would have easily felt it!» … «During the disappearance, we felt a surge of pure energy… Too strange.»
{Has he escaped?!} – Elsa widened her eyes in shock. It is certainly inconceivable for the practitioner of the superior phase to sneak away from the group of royal phasers, but did Dick really all this time keep the situation under his complete control?! Maybe he humiliated Rose on purpose too?! Why?! Now the girl could not predict his actions at all. He's too… Too mysterious.
«What should we do, sir?»
«Find him, grab him and deliver him to me!» – ordered the already outrageously enraged Rose.
«It will be done.» – The Valentines bowed and disappeared to obey the order.
A little earlier, Kyon moved to the clone he created on the way to the lecture hall. Now he was sitting in his house, leisurely sipping black tea with lemon and filing complaints about the violation of the terms of the deal against Roman and Rose. Everything that happened can be confirmed not only by the students and the formations on the wrist (that is, the sound recording), but also by the visual formations that the bribed student was holding in his hands. Considering how the order cares for its reputation, the debtors will pay. They will lose 1.5 million, he will get 75 thousand.
~boom-boom~
«Open up, you bastard, Mr. Rose wants to talk to you!» … «Come out voluntarily, or it will be worse for you!» … «You will not escape from the consequences of your deception!» – The Valentines surrounded the house at number 333. They cannot go inside without destroying the protective formation. If they destroy it, then the guards of the order will come here, and then they will all be excluded indiscriminately. The rules are very strict.
«What annoying…» – Kyon muttered, took out the sound transmitter and dialed the frequency.
«I'm listening.» – the insinuating voice of the patriarch of the Valentines rang out.
«Mr. Monty, hello, this is Dick Baker.»
Strange sounds were heard from the sound transmitter: «…What's the matter?»
«During our last meeting, you said that the Valentines know how to be grateful, and that you are ready to patronize me. So I need your help. Nothing complicated. A single call from you will be enough.»
*irritated mumbling*
«If you are talking about one call that will not oblige me in any way, then I am ready to help you.»
«Thank you! Today I competed with the students on the strength of the right hand. Many young people approached me, even Roman, but they all lost, because, you see, I am very strong. So, your youngest son, Mr. Rose, also decided to try his luck, and when he lost, he not only refused to pay points, but also harbored a grudge. Moreover, he slandered me for cheating, although any student will refute this.»
«I can understand the young gentleman, yet his pride received a serious blow from losing in front of his girlfriend and hundreds of students, but this is not a reason to behave like this. Now my house is surrounded by a pack of Valentines, and they demand that I go out and "accept my fate". I have no choice but to appeal to you for the restoration of justice.»
«Did my son… Lose to you?» – Monty asked incredulously.
«Yes. Everyone lost to me. I have a very… Very strong right hand. Don't ask why. The only important thing is that Mr. Rose does not know how to accept his defeat. Please, Mr. Monty, influence him. This will only help him in the future.»
«I'll figure it out.» – the man said briefly and dropped the connection.
After 10 minutes, Kyon received a call from the patriarch: «I'm listening to you, sir.»
«You insulted my son, Dick. The Valentines don't forgive that. However, since you are the virtue of my family, we will make an exception once: Rose will stop hunting you, and you will forget about the reward of one million points. Otherwise, blame yourself. Now all my family's debts to you are closed. Don't wait for more help.»
«I understand you, sir. Thank you and all the best.»
The connection was cut off.
A minute later, the annoying knocking stopped.
Kyon leaned back in his chair and smiled broadly: everything was going according to plan. The contract with Monty is nothing more than a postponement of an open feud with Rose. Valentine's hate isn't going anywhere. There is a high chance that he will continue to try to eliminate the offender by secretive methods. Forewarned is forearmed.
As for the bid, a complaint can be filed within a week from the moment of the violation. It makes sense to wait until the last day. This time is just enough to find a new patron in the person of master Feng with less risks.. He was wondering how Elsa would react to the imminent presence of Dick in the classroom.