Chapter 47: This Is Not a Request (2/2)

”He took me for a green gullible teenage girl!” Samantha hissed in her mind.

Although Samantha knew very well that it was a bait, the reward was tempting enough for her to consider accepting the challenge. The day that Ayrlarng lost the privilege of fighting with the S-Class academies decades ago had marked the turning point from which it had started to fall apart and eventually reached the state so decadent that none of the original sponsors were willing to continue their funding. On the contrary, the Academy of Bernabeu had benefited greatly by sharing the same stage with S-Class academies; the development had also helped their new principal at the time, Martyrus, to establish his authority and rise to power.

Samantha didn't accept the challenge on the spot and asked for more time to consider the matter. However, after she had given it much thought, and in a bout of vindictive rage, Samantha made up her mind to accept the challenge. But before she announced that to Martyrus, she needed to speak to the student that would play the critical role in her plan of revenge.

Samantha straightened her eyeglasses and felt invigorated by the duty of the principal to right what had been wronged for so many years. Should Ayrlarng win the tournament, it would bring a much-needed confidence boost to its students, and with the right to compete with S-Class academies being restored, Ayrlarng would eventually be able to resurface out of its slumber.

Martyrus had outlined the condition of the match: Five winning games were required for the final victory, but Hu Yangxuan and Ma Xiaoru each were allowed to attend only one round. Samantha reckoned that the only person that she could count on to bring in three more wins was Wang Tong, her secret weapon. It seemed like that her personal retribution might have to wait until the tournament was over.

Wang Tong showed up at the door and disturbed Samantha's train of thoughts.

”Principal, you were looking for me?”

”Hehe, yes. Please, grab a seat and help yourself to some tea,” Samantha said politely.

”Thanks, but what is it?” Wang Tong was direct to the business. He knew Principal Samantha wouldn't invite him to her office just for some tea.

”Some of your classmates had accused the school of giving you special treatment, and I do see where they are coming from. I know that there are no other available rooms, but you see, most dormitories were shared, not only you have an entire room to yourself, but also it is uncomfortably close to the girl's dormitory number five.”

Wang Tong seemed unruffled by her questioning tone. He didn't choose to live there, it was Mr. Simon who had offered him this room in alignment with the school's promise to meet student's basic needs. Wang Tong wanted to argue with Samantha like he always did, but he felt his words melted away in his mouth as Samantha's alluring eyes locked onto his. ”What do you think I should do?” Wang Tong heard himself asking her meekly.

Wang Tong's compliant response caught Samantha off guard. ”He wants to butter me up because I am Ma Xiaoru's friend.” She chuckled in her mind.

”I understand that you have many difficulties in your life so how about this: you can stay where you are, but you will have to take up the responsibility as the caretaker of building number five. It should be an easy job for someone capable like you.”

She paused for a second, allowing her words to sink in, and then she said in a stoic tone, ”I hope you understand that this is not a request.”