The Principal, Elder Stillwater's boots clicked against the tiled floor of the school, each step a swift press forward.
The encirclement of students knew better than to block his path; they stepped aside, making a narrow corridor for him to pass.
Upon seeing him, Daseos dislodged himself from the dented metallic school gate and hit the ground, clawing his way towards Elder Stillwater's feet as if each breath could be his last.
"Save…me… Rex Greyson… sent his Tier 1 Villain goons to finish me off!"
Elder Stillwater's gaze shifted sharply toward Rex, who was now visibly shaken.
Rex's eyes flicked nervously to the cellphones raised in his direction, his face tightening as if each lens was a loaded gun.
"He's acting! I just wanted to teach him a lesson! I—"
Elder Stillwater looked down at Daseos, who was making a show of his desperation.
'Hmph! This kid could have a future in acting,' he thought.
Bending down, Elder Stillwater clasped Daseos by the shoulder.
"Are you okay?!"
Leaning in close to Daseos's ear, he whispered,
"50%."
Daseos's act faltered for a split second before he screamed melodramatically,
"I know it's your job as the school's principal to protect your students, but they are both Villains! Run—save yourself!"
With a side-eye, Daseos lifted one finger, gesturing subtly.
'10%! That's my final offer!'
'Sly geezer. Wants half the cut, eh?'
Daseos's inner voice grumbled.
'Talk about being shameless!'
Elder Stillwater studied Daseos's face for a moment.
'Heh! I knew it! Brat, the wounds on your face are obviously not from today.'
Pretending to check on Daseos's wounds, Elder Stillwater raised three fingers subtly.
'Seriously?! Extorting his own student! What the hell!'
Daseos seethed in his thoughts.
'This old fart has zero shame!'
Seeing Daseos's continued silence, Elder Stillwater's lips twisted into a sly grin.
"Hmmm... it seems like your injuries aren't that—"
Before the old man could finish, Daseos jammed two fingers into his gut, his eyes fierce and unyielding.
'20%! Take it or leave it, you shameless fossil!'
Elder Stillwater's face melted into a look of exaggerated concern.
"Oh my devils, your internal organs are a complete mess!"
His demeanor of a nurturing elder abruptly transformed into stern anger as he helped Daseos to his feet.
Daseos, seizing the moment, went pale and spat out a mouthful of blood to sell the act.
Just then, Lilith burst through the crowd, her eyes clouded with fabricated concern.
She ran up to Daseos and practically threw his arm over her shoulder.
Her face was awash with concern, and her eyes were watery as if holding back a torrent of tears.
For a split second, Daseos felt a tinge of guilt. But as she secured his arm, she shot him a quick wink and smirk.
'Fuck… Was I that obvious? Gotta work on my acting,' Daseos thought.
Elder Stillwater, seizing the momentum, raised his voice, lacing it with righteous indignation.
"The Greyson family's arrogance knows no bounds! Sending fully-fledged villains to assassinate a high-school student? Do I need to involve the Order of Shadows in this?"
Rex and his two bodyguards trembled at the mere mention of the Order of Shadows
After all, villain or not, some foundational structures of society were indispensable, else Antagonia's controlled chaos would spiral into utter anarchy.
The Order of Shadows were like the policemen in this World of Villains, but unlike the friendly civil servants of human society, they were Villain assassins.
There was no ticket, no scheduled court date and most times barely even an investigation…
If you were deemed to have broken the law, these reapers WILL claim your life.
Rex knew this and understood what invoking the Order of Shadows meant: death, or worse. He glanced nervously at his bodyguards, who were now pale as ghosts.
The crowd held its breath, phones still raised, capturing every development.
Rex dashed over to Elder Stillwater, panic replaced by desperate sincerity.
"Dear Principal, there's no need… We were just messing around! Right? Daseos?"
Daseos barely glanced at Rex.
Draped over Lilith, he seemed more interested in copping a feel than anything else.
"Hnngh~ Das! Really?!"
Lilith's cheeks reddened as she slapped his wandering hand away.
Daseos grinned, unfazed, and shifted his gaze skyward as though he hadn't just sneakily squeezed Lilith's …
Finally, Rex surrendered.
"What's your price?"
Ignoring Rex for a moment, Daseos leaned into Lilith, blowing lightly into her ear and earning a giggle.
Then, he extended an open palm toward Rex.
Rex scowled. "$5,000? Done."
Daseos froze, giving Rex a look that screamed 'are you an idiot?'.
A moment later, his knees buckled, and he sagged onto Lilith's shoulder as if he had 'fainted'.
"Wait, what?! You want $50,000?! Are you mad?! Impossible! And for fucks sake stop your acting!"
Daseos nuzzled Lilith's neck as if rousing from a deep sleep.
"Did I ever tell you that you smell… delicious?"
"Daseos, concentrate!" Lilith's eyes rolled, but her blush deepened.
Daseos drank in Lilith's scent one last time as his gaze lingered on her chest.
'Mhmm~ It's grown bigger'
He snapped back to Rex with a grin that screamed trouble.
"You put a $10,000 bounty on my head, $5,000 for each Villain, the entire crowd heard ya…"
He paused, letting the tension build.
"Tell you what, I'm feeling magnanimous today, double it… $20,000 and we'll call it quits!"
On the sidelines, Elder Stillwater smirked inwardly.
'Twenty grand? From a Greyson? Does this kid know the risks he's taking? Well, better for me as long as I get my cut without anyone knowing.'
Rex's face twisted in visible annoyance.
Daseos' audacity had just reached new heights.
"You're out of your mind!"
Daseos feigned surprise, opening his eyes wide.
"Oh, am I? Because you see, it's not just your life we're talking about here. It's your family's reputation, too."
Elder Stillwater, the consummate performer, stepped in.
"Are you questioning the value of your family's standing, Rex? Seems cheap to haggle over a sum that, to your family, amounts to chump change."
Rex's jaw clenched.
The old man was right; twenty grand was nothing compared to the reputation damage they'd face.
And the Order of Shadows? Forget it. Once they were on your tail, the road only led one way: down.
Rex grumbled but finally conceded.
"Account details. Now."
Daseos flashed his phone, Rex scanned it, and—
Ding!
[You have received $20,000 from Rex Greyson Acct No: …]
Daseos's eyes lit up like a kid on a sugar rush.
Letting out a hearty laugh, he slung his arm around Rex, forgetting the weak act he'd pulled earlier.
"HAHAHA!! We're obviously just playing around!"
Unable to contain his glee, he planted a kiss on Rex's cheek
"We're best friends after all!"
Disgusted, Rex shoved him off.
"Watch yourself, Daseos. My father will hear about this."
He spun on his heels, ready to storm off, when Daseos's voice stopped him cold.
"Do you want me to transfer your 20% cut to you or give it to you in cash Dear— Principal— Stillwater—"
Rex stumbled, swiveling to lock eyes with Elder Stillwater.
"Are you an enemy of our Greyson clan as well?!"
Elder Stillwater's jaw clenched; his eyes seared into Daseos.
'Why this cunning little shit! FUCK!'
Lilith couldn't help but chuckle from the side.
'Das, you're one crafty devil. Checkmate!'
Fuming, Elder Stillwater snapped,
"Nonsense! As the esteemed principal, I don't take sides in petty student squabbles! Let alone bribes. Daseous for the SLANDER and Rex, for making such accusations, detention for the next week!"