Chapter 130: The Principal [2]

"That takes care of that."

The Principal dusted his hands afterwards, softly smiling as though he had not just utilised an overpowered affinity.

Adam could only swallow nervously. The subtle display of might was not lost on him. His master was already powerful enough, but the Principal was an entirely different monster.

He was standing before an Eighth Realm awakener, the most powerful being he had encountered to date.

"Snap out of it, pretty boy." Lenora elbowed him once more, pulling Adam out of his daze.

"Ah, sorry." Adam chuckled sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head. "It’s not every day you get to meet an Eighth Realm expert."

Lenora and the Principal were momentarily taken aback, surprised that Adam could tell.

"That’s some powerful senses you’ve got there, Adam. Most people aren’t capable of telling what my realm is." The Principal praised him with a gentle smile.

"Yeah. You’re truly more than meets the eye, pretty boy," Lenora added, the look in her eyes giving Adam the chills.

The way the captain was looking at him was different from what he remembered.

"It’s all in a day’s work." Adam downplayed the praise, grinning softly.

"Haha. I beg to differ." The Principal shook his head and turned around. "Walk with me, Adam."

Adam nodded and followed after the Principal, Lenora by his side. The captain would occasionally glance at Adam and smile softly, her eyes gleaming with something specific.

"Do you know why I summoned you?" The Principal asked.

"I have guesses. But that’s all they are; guesses."

"Fair enough." The Principal chuckled softly, his hands clasped behind him. "But I’ll say your guesses aren’t far off. You’ve been in the limelight for a while now. It would be a shame if I did not personally call for you."

The man looked over his shoulder.

"And I have to say... I like what I see."

"Thank you, Principal." Adam nodded.

"Many of my friends would like to personally meet you, Adam." The Principal continued. "But your master has been holding them back. It won’t last for long, though."

"What do you mean?" Adam narrowed his eyes.

"I see..." The Principal muttered thoughtfully. "He hasn’t mentioned anything to you. Well, that’s no surprise. Your master’s family is pressuring him, Adam. They want him to bring you to them."

"The...They’re pressuring him?" Adam did not like the sound of that.

"Why do you think you can’t reach him?" The Principal looked over his shoulder again, a knowing look in his eyes.

Adam swallowed, realising he had been under surveillance the entire time.

"Wha...What about you?" Adam asked.

"What makes you think I have an agenda?"

"You just said your friends wanted to meet me. And someone like you would have very powerful friends." Adam stated.

"Hahaha. Indeed, Adam. Indeed." The Principal laughed as he stopped at a hill overlooking the wider field. "Old folks like me do have agendas. But mine is a bit more friendly."

"Is there something you want from me?" Adam swallowed, knowing they were getting to the crux of the matter.

The Principal looked over his shoulder again and said, "You don’t have to overthink it, Adam. What I need from you, I will also need from other students. For now, however, I’d like you to accompany my niece."

Adam looked at Lenora.

The captain was already staring at him, her arms crossed over her chest and a smirk on her face. "I’ll be graduating in a few weeks, pretty boy. But to do that, I’ll need to complete a mission."

"Okay..."

Adam could already tell where this was going. He glanced at the Principal and saw that expressionless face. That was not the face of a man asking for a favour; that was the face of a man demanding his services for holding back ’his friends.’

"That’s where you come in, Adam," Lenora added a bit shyly. "I’m allowed to bring someone to aid me, and you’re the perfect choice."

"Why me?" Adam asked despite already knowing what the answer would be. "You could ask any second-year student with a lot more mission experience."

"You’re funny, Adam." Lenora shook her head like she had heard the most silly excuse. "You defeated me in less than a minute. You’re more capable than almost all the students in this academy."

"But I—"

"It will just be a few days, Adam." The Principal cut him off. "And if your luck is good, you could finish and return a day after you leave."

Despite the friendly smile on the Principal’s face, Adam knew there was nothing friendly about it. The man might look carefree and easygoing, but that was only a front.

’I guess I’ll have to think of something regarding Battle Clash.’ Adam inwardly sighed.

"Fine." He actually said, putting a smile on Lenora’s face.

"Haha. I knew you’d say yes." She punched him in the shoulder.

Adam rubbed his shoulder with a helpless smile.

"Excellent, Adam." The Principal nodded with approval. "I’m sure you’ll find the mission fulfilling."

He glanced at his niece, who looked away shyly. Returning his gaze to Adam, he continued, "You don’t have to worry about anything for the time being, Adam. Just focus on the mission."

"I understand, Principal." Adam nodded.

"Call me Rhodes."

"Yes, Principal Rhodes."

The Principal hummed in satisfaction. "You can return now. I’m sure you have things to do."

Adam nodded and looked at the captain. "I’m sure you’ll find a way to reach me, Lenora."

"Mm. I’ll send you the details later." She nodded with a bright smile. "See you in two days, pretty boy."

Adam nodded at the two before turning around to leave. And the moment he turned around, his expression turned dark.

The Principal’s timing could not have been perfect. He summoned him just as his master was out of the academy. Had the man decided to take him to ’his friends’, he would have been in deep trouble.

’I need to speed up the multicore synthesis.’ Adam thought grimly. ’It’s the only way.’

Meanwhile, the Principal calmly watched as Adam left the golf course. He had seen enough to understand why that person was so hell-bent on claiming Adam as a retainer.

The way Adam’s speed and power had increased soon after receiving that first blow was something extraordinary. He had seen enough physical affinity holders to know what Adam did had nothing to do with augmentation.

For now, however, Adam’s talent was needed by the academy. Once that was done, he would no longer care.

"Than...Thank you, Uncle." Lenora whispered beside him, having no clue as to the thoughts swimming in her uncle’s head.

"Hehe. No problem, dear niece." Principal Rhodes smiled sweetly. "Though the rest is up to you. But a young—"

"Uncle!"