Chapter 21 (1/2)
A storm was brewing in the College thanks to Isaac’s upcoming graduation. The students had 2 years to prove themselves to be better than Isaac. Students who were never expected to graduate before Isaac made a sigh of relief, while students who were expected to graduate in the next 2 or 3 years were stunned. At first, they denied the reality, but they soon changed heart and began to study as if their lives were on the line.
While the College fell into a frenzy for graduation, Isaac was having the best time of his life. If anyone from the College were to see him now, they would surely swear vengeance with blood in their eyes.
“It’s a quiet night for once.”
Isaac muttered to himself as he looked out the window. The sea, which sat beyond his window, could not be seen through the veil of the night. It was midnight of the new moon, and Isaac was alone for once. Reisha and Kunette refrained from visiting the port, as they noticed that the atmosphere had suddenly become very agitated – even hostile.
“I’m d.a.m.n lucky to be able to smoke like this.”
The room was pitch black and all that could be heard was the gentle lullaby from the cras.h.i.+ng waves. Countless stars were arranged like the Milky Way in the sky, like the powder of gems tossed onto black silk. It was enough to get even Isaac emotional.
“Ah, I’d love a drink right now.”
Watching the moon and the stars would have been the perfect excuse to get wasted. But with Rivelia on constant vigil in search for any excuse to bring justice on Isaac, bringing in alcohol was something he needed to refrain from.
“On a night like this, you’d at least need some music to go with it.”
After throwing away the burnt cigarette out the window, he grabbed the instrument that was on his desk and sat next to the window again. He was starting to get bored of fis.h.i.+ng. After a long time considering the options as to what he could waste time with, he decided to learn how to play music.
At first, he wanted to learn something like a saxophone which held the image of masculinity, but this world didn’t have any instrument close to that. There was something like a piano, but bringing it over would have been troublesome; he wanted something that was easily portable. He ended up with an instrument that was similar to a violin.
Named the biolen, it had a similar shape and name in general. Even if there was a difference, Isaac would never have noticed since he’d never held a violin in his life.
Finding someone to teach him was an easy task as he made a suitable payment for some of the students in the arts department to teach him. He was planning to learn from the basics up, but there was a problem. Isaac didn’t have talent for music. He was in fact, horrendous.
Screech! Screek! Screech!
Isaac played his instrument as if he was the lead of the orchestra, but all that was coming out was a sound similar to the metal scratching a blackboard. He had learnt the basic notes and was playing a children’s hymn intended for the newest learners, but the result was a symphony of torture.
Isaac was only satisfied after finis.h.i.+ng his encore.
“In a dreamy night with the stars lighting the stage, I stand on the front to play magnificent music! d.a.m.n, it feels good. I’d bet if there was a girl here she’d be all over me at this point! That’s just too bad!”
After singing out ludicrous praises for himself, he threw the instrument onto his desk and jumped onto his bed. His breaths became shallow and then turned to a snore as he entered a deep sleep.
“This is the first time I’ve seen such a lunatic in my life.”
“Me too. I thought that was just an act of taunt after spotting us. I was moments away from trying to kill him.”
One by one, heads began to rise from the sea next to the port and began complaining to each other.
“Is that the so called Isaac I’ve been hearing lately?”
Tens of people who had gotten up to the port hurried themselves into a neat line.
As soon as the middle-aged man who seemed to be the leader of the group muttered, his second-in-command nodded.
“Yes. That’s why these kids who hate physical labour are so motivated for their training.”
The middle-aged man scanned the group with an ominous stare. Each person flinched whenever their eyes met with his.
“I had thought that their motivation was because they finally grew up from their immaturity, but it was because of this? I guess despite what you look, you lot still have some pride inside.”
“They can make up for the lack of their grades from written exams by performing hands-on training instead.”
“I guess I’d feel quite unfair too if I was on the receiving end.”
The agents who had lined up seemed to be relieved after hearing this, but it soon turned upside down when the middle-aged man spoke again.
“Since it’s come to this, we should use this situation to its fullest.”
“How so?”
“What if he actually becomes their sunbae instead of just acting like he’s one?”
“Kukuku. That’d be a sight to see. I’m sure they’ll be scared s.h.i.+tless.”
“Right?”
“But if we did that now, the Campus will rise against it.”
“I can imagine that myself. Is there some way to make it happen?”
“We can simply make him join just before his graduation instead of doing it now.”
“Oh! A splendid answer!”
The middle aged man seemed to be pleased with his second-in-command, while the students who were lined behind him despaired as to what had happened.
“Hm? Do you feel cheated?”
Of course they felt cheated. Skipping grades in College wasn’t something that was obtained simply by being talented. It was only achieved by completing all of the year’s task before the year finished.
The College’s basic curriculum was designed for 15 years of study. And this wasn’t just a leisurely study schedule, but one that would kill an ordinary man. And these geniuses were people who would skip their grades despite the harsh curriculum and graduate in 9 to 12 years on average. Yet Isaac was going to get the same degree after playing around for 5 years.
“They look like they’ll commit suicide once we give him 5 stars.”
“Huh? Five stars?”
Even the middle aged man seemed surprised, while all the students were shocked as if they’d been struck by lightning.
“He’s a five-star since he graduated in 5 years right?”
“Hm, you are correct, but isn’t that going too far?”
There was a glimmer of hope in the students’ eyes. If the middle-aged man was against it, maybe it would not come to pa.s.s.
“What difference would it make anyway, since we split who is Sunbae and Hubae based on which year they graduated.”
“You have a point. Fine, proceed as you said.”
The look on the students only sunk deeper into depression as the middle aged man nodded in agreement.
“But will Duke Corduroy let this come to pa.s.s?”
“Ah, don’t worry about it. He’d been receiving requests from those in the field of operations for more recruits. In fact, he’d be delighted to hear about this.”
“The problem then is security.”
“That’s right.”
Flinch!
The middle aged man turned to the students with menacing eyes.
“I’m sure you guys already know, but I’m saying this just to make sure so shut up and listen. If this decision is to leak beyond the College, then the Central will remove your existence in its entirety. Not just you but your families and relatives as well. But you know that right?”
All the students quivered at the middle-aged man’s blackmail. These students who had been handpicked after multiple screenings within the College saw a glimpse at the truth of this world. Fame and riches were to follow, but it came with heavy responsibility.
The students replied by saluting at the man by placing their right hand on their left chest.
Rivelia’s Scheme
As the day reached noon, Isaac realised he no longer needed to perform the tedious ch.o.r.e that was cooking. Isaac thought Rivelia would continue her pestering with whatever excuse she could find, but she had strangely confined herself in the College. Kunette and Reisha found it difficult to come to the port because of the hostility from the students. With the two of them no longer there to bother him for food, Isaac was free to visit the cafeteria instead.