The man known as Damien Knight appeared to be around twenty–seven years old, dressed in an expensive black suit. His slender figure resembled that of a model as he confidently walked toward everyone.
His features were exquisite, with thin lips and eyes as dark as ink, occasionally flashing a sharp light, announcing to the world that he was not just a charming gentleman, but a ruler of men, a master strategist.
He had only just made his appearance, and many girls were already swooning over him, their hearts fluttering with love.
However, he paid no attention, remaining aloof and indifferent.
"Vice Principal Robert, it seems you've done quite a lot of good things at Powell High School during the three years I was studying abroad," Adrian said as he walked towards the vice principal on the stage.
Although he was not tall due to his physical disability, his presence was by no means weak.
Yet, against the backdrop of his baby–faced appearance, there was always a strange and captivating sense of discordance.
"P–P–Principal, didn't you say you would rest for a day after getting off the plane and only come back tomorrow?" The vice principal took a step back.
"Just as I got off the plane, someone forced me to come to the school. I had no choice." As Adrian spoke, he cast a sideways glance at Damien, his eyes filled with deep grievances.
Damien responded with a smile.
He turned his head to look at Kendall.
The girl stood tall, wearing inexpensive clothes, her head held high, arrogantly surveying the crowd. She looked nothing like the obedient girl in the file photo.
But now she looked more like the person who could save his grandfather.
He had arrived at Powell High School before the faculty and student assembly.
Seeing that she was in trouble, he contacted his old friend and the principal of Powell High School, Adrian. And Adrian was the best one to handle this matter.
And now, here they were. The girl had already solved the problem.
Damien, who had witnessed the entire process, wasn't very surprised.
After all, someone who could kill an Italian assassin barehanded wouldn't be a helpless victim waiting to be slaughtered.
Sensing Damien's scrutinizing gaze, Kendall began to observe him as well.
First, she noticed that the man had a handsome appearance.
Second, his appearance bore a resemblance to that of Anos.
Connecting this with their shared last name, "Knight," Kendall made some speculations about his purpose for coming to Powell High School.
So she looked away.
Besides completing her mission, she didn't want to get involved with unrelated people.
Damien raised an eyebrow.
Did she just glance at him?
Meanwhile, Adrian continued to question the vice principal, "I once said that Powell High School would never provide any shortcuts for corporations or families, and students would be placed in classes
based on their grades."
He had only been abroad for three years, yet his subordinate disregarded the rules and let Kendall in.
They even ignored her grades and placed her in Class 2, which had the second–highest average.
It annoyed him.
"One of the trustees, Stephen, has begged me too many times. I had no choice…" The vice principal's temples were dripping with cold sweat.
He couldn't possibly say that Stephen had given him too much money.
"When a student gets into trouble, you don't inquire about the details or verify the truth, but simply issue expulsion as a punishment. Is it because Lisa begged you too many times?" Adrian pressed on.
"I… I…" The poor vice principal, who was well into his old age, stammered and stuttered for a long time but couldn't find the right words to say.
"You're fired." The baby–faced principal showed no mercy, turning around and pointing at the students in Class 2 of the senior year.
"Everyone in Class 2, suspend your studies for half a month and write a 10,000–word self-reflection!"
"Lisa, expelled from the school board!"
"Jaxon, expelled!"
Finally, Adrian approached Kendall, his tone much softer.
"Technically, you've been wronged. It's your right to release or not release the recorded video.
But, as the principal, I don't want the school and its students to suffer controversies and criticism just because of a small group of people.
So, if you don't release it, I can make an exception and let you continue staying at Powell High School. But based on your previous grades, you can only go to Class 7 of the senior year. Are you okay with that?"
"Sure," Kendall nodded.
Her goal was simply to stay at Powell High School and win the monthly exam championship. Which class she ended up in didn't matter.
"OK." Adrian nodded, "Except for Kendall, you all go back to your class and carry on with your duties."
When most people had dispersed, Adrian called out to his friend, "Damien, come to the principal's office later. I'll treat you to the coffee I brought back from overseas. I heard it's the favorite drink of their country's queen."
"Looks like I'm in for a treat," Damien's thin lips curled up slightly.
He strode away with his long legs, passing by Kendall and handing her a business card. His voice was low and elegant.
"Thank you for saving my grandfather. If you get into trouble again, call me."
Coming from someone else, this statement might sound laughable and pretentious
But when it came from Damien's mouth, it was like a golden ticket to safety.
Kendall didn't play coy and simply accepted the business card before leaving.
Damien watched her retreating figure and couldn't help but admire her.
In the face of danger, she remained calm and collected, with both courage and wit and exuded a confident and bold aura.
Few girls could boast so many qualities at once.
"What? Falling in love with her?" Adrian teased.
"Her personality does seem to suit you. How about you make a direct move and repay her for saving your grandfather?"
Damien glanced at him and didn't bother to reply.
"I put her in the worst–performing class, and you are okay with that?"
He thought Damien would find a way to get her into Class 1 or another better school.
"Cream always rises to the top. Class 7 can't hold her down," Damien calmly responded, his narrow eyes glinting thoughtfully.
"You think highly of her!"
When Kendall returned to Class 2 of the senior year, the classroom was already empty.
Those students must have felt embarrassed and afraid to face her, so they hastily packed their things and left.
She gathered her textbooks and headed towards Class 7.
Class 7 was a bit different. It wasn't located in the newly built teaching building, and that was because of Adrian.
Before the school renovation, there weren't many students, but under Adrian's leadership, Powell High School's reputation grew, attracting many new students.
This led to a situation where there were too many senior–year students to fit into the new classrooms after the renovation.
The higher–ups had a meeting and decided that the old teaching building could still be used. The facilities were a bit outdated, and it was a bit farther from the cafeteria and the sports field, but other than that, it was fine.
Therefore, it was only natural to assign the underperforming Class 7 students to the old teaching building, separated from the other classes by a small grove of trees.
Kendall walked through the grove along the cobblestone path, when her phone vibrated in her pocket.
She took out her phone, and the words "Low battery. Shutting down" appeared on the screen.
As a cheap knockoff phone, being able to record a video for such a long time was already pushing its limits.
The screen quickly went black, like a mirror reflecting her tired face.
She hadn't slept since saving Anos last night.
It was ironic that the insomnia she had in her previous life now carried over to her new body.
"I guess I need to buy more sleeping pills," Kendall murmured to herself as she put the phone back into her pocket.
Sleep was a luxury for her without the aid of medication.
Someone brushed past her, and the wind carried a faint and peculiar fragrance.
It wasn't like flowers or any kind of chemical scent. At first whiff, it was easy to overlook, but upon closer examination, it brought tranquility and calmness to the mind.
Kendall immediately felt a feeling of drowsiness, and it seemed more effective than ten thousand sleeping pills combined.
Kendall instinctively grabbed the wrist of the passerby, wanting to hold onto that fragrance. When she looked up, she met a pair of ink–like eyes.