[Raul PoV]
Next week is the final exam, followed by the Main Tournament of Grunbelt Academy. The third-year students will also return to undergo their qualifying rounds once the first and second-year students have finished.
Currently, I am heading to the Lancer Club office to confront them regarding their club budget, which will be reduced starting next year.
"Senior... what if they don't accept this decision?" Miria asked, walking beside me.
"That is our job—to make them accept it, isn't it?" I answered her casually.
Actually, I already have a plan for this that will focus their hatred onto me. If the plan succeeds, I will be able to unlock the second skill of the Profound Codex I possess: Mirror Force.
"Just do your job of delivering the Student Council's report regarding the club," I told her. "I will handle them if something undesirable happens."
Hearing my words, Miria only nodded in resignation.
Not long after, we arrived at the Lancer Club room. We saw several members relaxing while reading books on magic or martial arts. It seemed they were preparing for the final exams.
"S-sorry to disturb your time," Miria said, looking a bit nervous. "We are from the Student Council and wish to speak with the Club President."
Upon hearing Miria's words, all the Lancer Club members stopped their activities and crowded around us. It seemed they already knew the reason for our visit.
"President Emilia isn't here; she is currently doing field practice outside the academy," one member answered.
"So, what does the Student Council envoy want here?" another member asked in an intimidating tone.
Miria looked increasingly nervous being stared down by all the students in the room. Honestly, if Miria wanted to, she could defeat all these surrounding students with her plant magic. However, due to her shy nature, she is never aggressive in combat.
"W-we are here to announce that your club budget will be cut starting next year!"
Ughhh ... straight to the point. With communication skills like that, I hope Miria never becomes an Imperial Diplomat!
"What did you say! How can this happen!? Our club is fine and without problems!"
"Exactly! Why did the Student Council suddenly cut our budget unilaterally!?"
"This is unfair!"
It was obvious all the Lancer Club members would be angry hearing this. However, the more they were carried away by emotion, the more successful my plan would be. Keep it up, Miria! Your Senior is proud of you!
"B-but, we have data showing that Lancer Club graduates over these past few years have increasingly failed to enter prestigious Knight Orders," Miria said, providing the reasoning behind the Student Council's decision. "In the last three years, only 14 Lancer Club graduates entered prestigious Knight Orders out of a total of 129 graduates."
The Grunbelt Academy graduates who most frequently enter prestigious Knight Orders in the Empire are students from the Swordmaster Club. I think it's quite natural, considering that the fighting style using a polearm or spear isn't popular in this country; thus, the development of its martial techniques isn't as rapid as the more popular sword-fighting styles.
Currently, the countries most famous for polearm or spear combat are the Kingdom of Francia, known for its mounted knights, and the Kingdom of Pulishia, whose soldier composition is somewhat dominated by cavalry.
"But two Lancer Club graduates last year became Squires for famous Knights!"
"That's right! Even now, Senior Emilia is almost certainly able to enter the Order of Calvatra Knights!"
What they said was true, but the academy preferred to see many of their graduates succeed evenly rather than just a few having good careers.
"B-but, aren't you ashamed to hide behind their names? The academy does not tolerate clubs whose membership consists of incompetent students," Miria replied in a very soft voice.
Uwaa... her words are incredibly sharp, contrasting with Miria's cute face. It seems Miria has no intention of putting out the forest fire; instead, she's dousing it with oil to make the flames grow larger.
"What did you say!? Take back those words!"
"You're calling us incompetent!"
The Lancer Club members began to approach Miria. I quickly stepped in front of my junior to protect her.
"Stop right there," I warned them. "Otherwise, I will give you the same horror you experienced during the survival exam."
Hearing my threat, they backed away. It seemed they still remembered how I crushed the alliance of second-year students during the survival exam.
"We still do not accept this decision!"
"We will hold a demonstration if this decision is implemented next year!"
As expected, they would strongly reject this decision. Especially with Miria's poor diplomacy, it seemed there was only one way the Student Council could make them understand. It was time to start my plan.
"Fine, if you don't accept this decision, how about we make a deal?" I offered them.
"Huh? What kind of deal?"
"If anyone from your club can defeat me in the main tournament later, the Student Council will cancel this decision," I said, explaining the conditions of the agreement we would make. "If none of you can defeat me, this will serve as proof that the Lancer Club is indeed not worthy of being fully facilitated by the academy."
They could only fall silent hearing my challenge. It seemed they needed time to discuss it.
"Miria, let's go to the next club," I invited her. "Our job here is done."
"A-alright."
We left the Lancer Club room to head to the next problematic club. From outside, we could hear the Lancer Club members beginning to discuss my offer.
"Senior, do we have the authority to make that deal?" Miria asked, looking uncomfortable. "What if you lose?"
I won't lose, but getting battered is a possibility. That's because I have to give them high hopes before I drop them to the bottom of the abyss.
"Don't worry, Miria. I'm sure President Elena will agree to my deal."
***
[3rd PoV]
After Raul and Miria left, the Lancer Club members resumed discussing Raul's previous offer.
"What do you think of that man's offer?" one member asked.
"Of course we'll take it! If we defeat that man, our budget won't be cut by the Student Council," another member argued.
"But if we lose, the Lancer Club will be forced to accept this budget cut," said another member.
The doubt held by some members was not without foundation. It was because they knew Raul's true capabilities from the first stage exam.
"But... if it's Senior Emilia, I think she can defeat that man," one member blurted out.
"Right! Senior Emilia can definitely beat him! She is one of the strongest in the third year!"
Emilia is the President of the Lancer Club. Currently, she and the other third-year students are still undergoing field practice and will only return before the final exams are held.
"It's better if we wait for Senior Emilia and discuss this with her before accepting the offer."
***
[Vlad PoV]
It has been several days since I manipulated that loser, yet there hasn't been a single report of his success in killing the people who bullied him. I only heard news yesterday that two students suddenly ended up battered and experienced short-term memory loss.
That means the loser has carried out his actions and used the potion I gave him earlier. However, why didn't he kill them as I instructed? Does he not have the guts to kill someone?
"Vlad, how was your first match during the qualifying round?"
Currently, I am with Princess Elena in the academy cafeteria, talking about my experience here. It seems the Emperor assigned her to accompany me while I am a student here.
"Ah, I won it yesterday," I answered her kindly. "I think the students at this academy have a better standard of ability than in my homeland."
Elena smiled proudly hearing me praise the Imperial academy.
Cih, I hate pretending to be an idiot like this in front of someone. If it weren't for the fact that I want to get close to you, I would have shown my dominant attitude toward the prey I'm targeting.
"....!"
While talking to Elena, I was surprised to see a familiar woman walking with a man in the cafeteria. Long silver hair, blue eyes like ice crystals... there was no doubt, she was Princess Alisha Romanova from the Slavic Tsardom!
What is she doing at this academy!? Is the Empire also planning an alliance with that land in the far north? If that's true, my Kingdom must realign our strategy ahead of the upcoming war between the Empire and the Venetian Republic!
"Ah, are you noticing Princess Alisha?"
Elena's words snapped me back from my thoughts.
"Indeed, Elena. What is Princess Alisha doing at this academy?" I asked her. She should know the reason the Heir of the Slavic Tsardom entered this academy.
"Actually, the Empire did not officially invite her here," Elena replied, her tone turning sad. "If I'm not mistaken, Princess Alisha came here at the request of Duke Alvaro."
Huh? Duke Alvaro? Isn't he the Head of the Imperial Intelligence Agency? If I recall... he's the father of that man I want to destroy, isn't he?
"Of course, we would accept it if a family member of a nation's leader wanted to study at this proud academy of the Empire," Elena added. "This will make the name of Grunbelt Academy better known worldwide."
So Princess Alisha didn't come at the Empire's request, but rather by the invitation of Duke Alvaro de Garcia, huh...? That means the Empire has not made any political agreements or alliances with the Slavic Tsardom.
This indicates...
"Did Princess Alisha come here as a potential bride for Raul de Garcia?" I asked Elena.
Hearing this, Elena's expression changed very visibly. It seems true—Raul de Garcia holds a significant influence in Elena's life right now. If I want to rule this country from the shadows, I must make Elena depend on me and not that man. I think it's time to wage some psychological warfare against Raul de Garcia.
"President, may I have a moment of your time?"
While I was thinking of ways to distance Raul's influence from Elena, I suddenly heard a familiar voice. Elena and I turned and saw a man with the same hair color as mine, walking toward us with a flat expression.
This man... always interfering with my time alone with Elena. This time, the look he gave me was different than usual. If I'm not mistaken, he is also the leader of the disciplinary committee in this academy. If the man I manipulated earlier can kill those bullying students, this man's reputation will also fall further.
Allowing me to more easily influence Elena later.
"What is it, Raul? Have you and Miria confronted those problematic clubs?" Elena asked, her expression turning cheerful again in front of this man.
"Of course, President. There are a few things I want to convey regarding that," the man answered, turning his gaze away from me.
"Alright, let's talk in the office," Elena said, now turning her gaze to me. "Sorry, Vlad, there are Student Council matters I need to settle. Let's talk another time, okay?"
"Alright, Elena."
She smiled at me and then left with that man. I watched their backs from behind. Elena started chatting with the man as they walked side by side.
I must destroy this man... I think the Tournament is the right time for that. I also need to meet the loser I manipulated earlier so he doesn't waste time and immediately kills the people bullying him, so that Raul de Garcia's reputation is ruined for being unable to maintain security in this academy.
I think after the Tournament is over, I will give him the Devil Fruit I promised to kill the students in this academy.