CHAPTER 297: A WIN-WIN SITUATION

With exchange students coming from the Solara and Faelarun Academies, the campus grounds had to be at their best. Guided by the Student Council, the student body all helped with cleaning and repairing.

For the Student Council President, the timing was perfect. He’d been wanting to use free manpower—err, ask for volunteers to help with fixing the facilities, but the plan had to be put on hold due to the succession of events that kept everyone busy.

Coincidentally—or not—some of these events had something to do with Endless Horizon Club, the Battle Royale and Alex’s public blackmail and extortion of most of the Crest Clubs.

Even the Headmaster and the Professors agreed to cancel all classes for a week. They wanted everything to be orderly and flawless by the time their guests arrived, and that could only be achieved if all students were exempted from classes and "voluntold" to be ordered around by the student council.

(A/N: Voluntold is military slang, which is also used in corporate/organizational settings, that means: "You didn’t volunteer, but your superior volunteered you anyway.")

The students didn’t mind this exchange. After all, they had collective pride for the academy and wanted to ensure that the elite students wouldn’t find anything to nitpick.

"I gathered all of you today to discuss who will act as a guide for the students of the Solara and Fealarun delegation," the student council president, Theo Asborne, said with a smile.

Inside the conference room were the representatives of Class A and Class C.

Alex wondered how he even got included in the list of representatives drafted by Theo.

He didn’t know if the Third Year was just trying to get back at him for his previous offenses or what, but since he didn’t want to make a scene, he simply glanced at the other people inside the room with him.

Standing by his side were Nessia and Vaan, also chosen as the representatives of Class C.

For Class A, it was Astrea, Lapiz, and Prince Edward.

"Can I make a suggestion?" Nessia raised her hand. "I think Class C should be the guides of Solara Academy’s delegation."

Theo pondered for a bit before nodding in agreement. "You’re really smart, Ms. Nessia. I’m assuming you proposed this because of Ms. Lapiz. Am I right?"

"Yes," Nessia replied. "Ms. Lapiz is most suited to guide the students from Faelarun. After all, she knows more about their culture."

Theo glanced at Lapiz and asked her if that arrangement was fine with her. The young lady hesitated for a bit before glancing at Alex, as if asking him for help.

’Oh, right. Lapiz is not very social, so asking her to be a guide might be a stretch,’ Alex thought.

After some careful consideration, Alex thought of an idea that was a win-win situation for him.

"How about we do something like this, Mr. President," Alex said. "I’ll team up with Ms. Lapiz and Ms. Astrea to become the guide of the delegation from Faelarun. Then Prince Edward will team up with Nessia and Vaan to guide the students from Solara Academy.

"Since the Kingdom of Avalon is closer to them, having the Prince as their guide is a much better choice. Nessia and Vaan are also well-versed in socializing, so they can effectively assist him without problems."

Of course, Alex didn’t add the true reason for this arrangement—that it was coincidentally convenient that he could form a team with Lapiz and Astrea, his two Queens.

For Alex, this was a win-win situation that he wouldn’t want to miss.

His class was different from theirs, so he rarely had the opportunity to talk to Astrea without having her older brother, Cassian, treating him like some kind of pest. Since his chance basically approached him and even knocked on his door, how could he not accept it? Wasting blessings was rude!

"Hmm..." Theo narrowed his eyes as he gazed at the young man, who was looking back at him with a smile.

He then shifted his attention to Prince Edward and asked for his opinion.

"I think that’s a very sound proposal," Prince Edward commented. "I also want to have an opportunity to form closer ties with the delegates from the Solara Kingdom."

"Very well, we will go with this arrangement." Theo took a few documents from his table and handed them out to Alex and the others. "This is the program we have prepared for them. Take them to some of the major attractions of the academy.

"If they insist on taking a stroll in the city, inform us in advance. The Student Council will ask some Sentinels to act as escorts. Also, ensure they clearly hear the rules of our academy lest they use it as an excuse when caught breaking them."

Nessia skimmed the document and found nothing wrong with it.

Just as she expected, they were meant to guide their guests to the Training Grounds, Spellcasting Halls, and Alchemy Tower, as well as the other major attractions of the academy.

"I see. So we are meant to guide them to the places where they can freely spar or hold duels against our fellow students," Alex said.

"That’s right." Theo nodded. "Although I don’t think they will challenge you as their guides, the discretion to accept their duel is up to all of you. You don’t have to worry about winning or losing. Just do your best.

"Also, Alex, please don’t do anything to hurt our guests, okay? I don’t want them leaving our academy thinking that all our students are just like you."

Alex blinked in confusion. "Is that your way of praising me, Mr. President?"

"Of course." Theo smiled. "You are a model character of the academy."

The main reason Theo chose Alex as one of the representatives to guide the exchange students was ‌his ability to adapt to the situation.

A person who could blackmail the Crest Clubs and stop the Demon Worshipers’ plan of slaughtering the students would certainly not lose to the provocations of their guests.

At least, that was Theo’s firm belief. So, against all opposition, he added Alex to the list of representatives of the First Years.

After saying a few more reminders, he wished everyone good luck and escorted them out of the door of the student council room.

When Theo returned to his office, his secretary, Cassandra, poured him some tea.

"Are you sure letting Alex guide our guests is a good idea?" Cassandra asked. "Won’t they have a bad impression of our academy if that First Year were to blackmail them or something?"

"It doesn’t matter, Cassandra," Theo replied after taking a sip of his tea. "I’m sure the delegations only came to spy for the Inter-Academy Tournament that will be hosted in half a year.

"Alex is good at finding the weaknesses of others, so I’m hoping he will allow us to see what our guests are capable of doing."

"You haven’t changed, Theo," Cassandra sighed. "You’re a prince of the Solara Kingdom, yet you are too hard on your own subjects."

Theo shook his head before sipping his tea.

He knew he didn’t have a chance of becoming the Crown Prince of his kingdom unless his two brothers decided to step down and reject the crown.

Because of this, he simply wanted to enjoy his academy life while he was still at Frieden Academy.

"I came here without any expectations," Theo said. "But being here made me feel complete. Maybe I should consider being a professor here when I graduate. What do you think, Cassandra?"

Cassandra didn’t say anything. Instead, she walked closer to Theo and hugged his head.

"It doesn’t matter what choice you make, Theo," Cassandra replied. "I’ll be with you wherever you go."

"Thank you, Cassandra," Theo replied, feeling her warmth and softness. "Meeting you is the best thing that has happened in my life."

The two then glanced at each other and smiled faintly.

When they first met at the academy, the two didn’t really get along with each other. Only after experiencing many trials together did their relationship grow closer until they became inseparable.

———

Somewhere in the academy...

A sigh escaped Eleanora’s lips as she finally stopped feeding on Caspian’s blood.

"I’m still surprised that the blood of someone as arrogant as you has such a refined taste," Eleanora said. "I wonder, does your brother taste the same?"

"Don’t speak of that half-blood in front of me." Caspian glared at Eleanora, who only giggled back at him.

"Oh dear, are you feeling jealous?" Eleanora asked in a teasing tone, caressing the young man’s cheek. "Have you forgotten how much you bullied me in the past?"

"I’m sorry for bullying you," Caspian replied apologetically, while gazing at Eleanora’s red eyes, which glowed faintly in the darkness. "I won’t bully you again."

"Of course, you won’t bully me from now on." Eleanora smiled sweetly. "After all, my wish is your command, yes?"

"Yes..." Caspian allowed himself to be pulled closer to Eleanora’s embrace.

The vampire lady had used a subtle charm skill on Caspian, making the latter think that he had fallen in love with Eleanora on his own accord.

Having a willing blood donor would solve most of her problems, so Eleanora planned to keep Caspian until she got bored with him.

’It’s a shame, but I need to keep a low profile for now,’ Eleanora thought. ’I feel sorry for Eva, who only consumes blood pills as nourishment. Should I help her find a willing donor?’

The image of a certain student appeared inside Eleanora’s mind.

’Alex Stratos,’ Eleanora thought. ’I wonder what your blood tastes like? I hope it will be to Eva’s liking.’

The young lady smiled faintly while her new toy hugged her gently, as if he wanted their bodies to merge together and become one for all eternity.