Or, at least, that's what I believed. Yet, when I turned my gaze to him, he appeared unfazed. In fact, his expression was inscrutable, cold, devoid of any visible concern. It was as if my possession of such a photo held no weight for him.
"How did you get this?" his voice trembled.
Oh. He might have seemed indifferent, but it appeared my initial assessment was just a mere illusion.
"That isn't important," I replied dismissively. "What matters is that you could be in serious trouble if this picture circulates. Imagine what the school would think. A student from their prestigious institution caught visiting a brothel. The Academy strictly prohibits such behavior, right? It's clearly stated in the Book of Rules under number 136 that no student shall engage in or be associated with acts of prostitution. The penalty is immediate expulsion. I presume that's not an outcome you'd desire, is it?"
There existed a loophole in this rule, however. As long as one avoided getting caught, engaging in such activities wouldn't lead to expulsion. This meant that if there was no concrete evidence of one's actions, they could safely indulge in such pursuits. Many students, especially men, took advantage of this loophole. However, the caveat was that as long as there was no evidence and no one could prove it, everything would be deemed fine. This detail was explicitly outlined in the rules; lack of evidence equated to no wrongdoing. But as he could clearly see, I held evidence in my hand, rendering that loophole ineffective.
Mr. Leon attempted to snatch my phone away, but I skillfully evaded his grasp. He shot me a look of contempt.
"I see. So this is what it's all about, huh?" he remarked. "You plan to blackmail me. And for what? To use me as a pawn, just as you mentioned earlier?"
"That's correct," I affirmed, sliding my phone back into my pocket, out of his reach. "I figured asking you politely wouldn't yield any results, so I had to resort to this."
"Were you tailing me earlier this morning, hoping to find something to use against me? I never thought you were such a passionate individual, Miss Shredica."
"I am always passionate, as I strive to achieve my desired outcomes. And for the record, I wasn't tailing with the intention of finding dirt on you. This is merely something I stumbled upon by pure coincidence while shadowing you."
"Why were you tailing me, coincidentally?"
I had only been investigating him, attempting to glean more information, but stumbled upon this situation by chance. Hence, I captured a photo of him entering a brothel, just in case I might need leverage. But of course, I wasn't about to tell those details to him.
"Do you really think I'll tell you? Not even a stalker would open their mouth, you know?"
Ironically, if he hadn't taught me how to use a smartphone, I would probably have nothing to hold against him. So, I suppose I should thank him for that. Just in my thoughts, though...
"I guess I underestimated you. I never expected to be trailed so early in the morning, and I let my guard down. To think that a classmate would be shadowing me..." He placed his hand on his forehead, sighing as if lamenting this unforeseen situation. "But do you truly have proof that I did something there?"
"That's a good question, and unfortunately, I don't have a direct proof, but this picture speaks volumes on its own."
"That's flimsy evidence, if you ask me."
"Then let's strike a deal. How about we unleash this photo on the masses and see the fallout? What will they think? Will they demand more evidence? Imagine their minds racing as they witness you entering a brothel. Do you believe they'd dismiss it as a mere wrong turn? No, of course not. Humans, in their raw instinct, will swiftly jump to the conclusion that you ventured into that den of pleasure to indulge in the company of a woman. It's the only logical assumption. I mean, what other pursuit befits a place devoted to pleasure and lust?"
Mr. Leon just gazed at me in silence, seemingly unable to conjure any alternative purpose for a visit to a brothel.
"People anchor their decisions based on expectations, casting aside anything that contradicts their preconceived notions. That's the raw, unfiltered truth of human nature." I locked eyes with him, ensuring his gaze wouldn't evade mine, wouldn't escape me. "It's only natural for people to jump to the conclusion that you went there to bed a woman. It's the only logical, natural assumption. Do you really think they need anything more than that photo to know your intentions?"
I kept looking at him. I refused to let him off the hook, and he wasn't looking away either. In those eyes, I could sense smoldering anger. "You sure know how to back someone into a corner. Your research was spot-on. People are rife with expectation biases. The moment someone steps into a brothel, it's immediately assumed they're there for a roll in the hay with a woman. But I guess that's the beauty of being human. They screw up all the time."
"To err is human, as they say. And with that evidence, I can deduce that you're human too. You made a mistake."
"What have you thought of me until now, then?"
"A robot. A programmed person with a fake smile."
"Hey, I do genuinely smile sometimes. Although, as you mentioned, it's something coaxed out by someone I'm comfortable with," he said. His lips curled into a smirk, "So, spill it. What wicked plan do you have for me? That's your game, isn't it?"
"That's right. Let's cut to the chase. I need your help to climb up to the gold class," I stated.
In that fleeting moment, a glimmer of surprise danced in his eyes. "You want me to... assist you in reaching the gold class?"
"That's right," I confirmed, my tone unwavering. "But this isn't the place for such discussions. We need a more discreet setting."
"Good idea."
Once we settled into a spot for our discussion, a bench intended for two people, though I was the only one sitting while Mr. Leon remained standing, I laid out the purpose behind my attempt to blackmail him.
"I'm aiming for the gold class. No matter what it takes."
"That's quite a broad objective. Care to share why?"
"You don't need to know."
"How do you expect me to cooperate if I have no idea what you're scheming?"
"By revealing the photo to the public."
"...You're a hell of a lot more cunning than I initially gave you credit for," Mr. Leon grumbled. "Can't you pull this off on your own? I mean, you've got the strength to climb up there solo, right? Why the hell do you need my help?"
"I thought you'd be slow on the uptake and ask these questions, but I didn't expect you to be even dumber than I thought, throwing them at me so early," I shot back.
Mr. Leon clicked his tongue, irritation simmering. Oddly enough, it only fueled my desire to mess with him more. "...Well, well. Seems like you're a more interesting woman than I gave you credit for. Anyway, are you gonna spill the answers or not?"
"Don't worry. I'll answer your questions," I said. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, then exhaled before fixing my gaze on him. "The answer to your first question is straightforward. Yes, I can do it on my own. However, the administration doesn't fancy the idea of a skillless woman like me ascending. In simpler terms, it's not a matter of capability; I'm deliberately being held back."
Mr. Leon's expression remained stoic, showing no surprise at my revelation. "I guess that's par for the course. After all, they only recently allowed us skillless in. The administration probably isn't exactly rolling out the red carpet for us. I'd bet it'll take a century before they warm up to the idea. They're likely holding you back as a matter of pride."
"That's the harsh reality of it. I went to Professor Irene and vented my frustration, but she made it clear it wasn't her call and that her hands were tied. Same story when I approached Professor Gabrielle. It seems the professors can't do much, so I thought I'd showcase my raw skills and strength, hoping to catch the administration's eye. But no matter how hard I pushed, they stayed indifferent." I glanced down at my clenched fists, a brief moment of frustration flashing across my face before I locked eyes with him again. "And that's where you come in."
He maintained his silence, his gaze unwavering, prompting me to continue.
"Mr. Leon, I need you to flaunt your capabilities too, so the administration can't turn a blind eye to us skillless any longer."
Mr. Leon didn't even flinch and promptly responded, "That's not gonna happen."
"I expected you to say that," I remarked, pulling out my smartphone once again and presenting the photo. "But there's absolutely nothing you can do about it except follow my lead, is there?"