Free Web NovelChapter 28: Too Much Into Character
Iska Befot, a proud lady with decisive looks, walked across the vast halls of the academy where the school clubs resided.
Her steps were steady, yet they gave an air of a person with authority. The students she passed by gave her space, afraid that they would cause slight problems.
She continued walking in, clearly having the Investigative Crew in her head, which is her destination.
The club, which was recently made, didn’t have any notable achievements yet.
But having a business-minded head from her parents, Iska can instantly recognize if a product or a business would bloom or not.
And she was inclined to think it would be the former.
When she first walked into the club, she didn’t expect anything at all. Just like the dozens of school clubs she visited that could help her or the gang’s growth, it was the same emotion that she had felt.
But for some reason, facing the president of the Investigative Crew Club makes her reevaluate the place entirely.
’Cillian Sparrow,’
It was her first time meeting Cillian on that day.
Of course, she knew the rumors circulating around him, and all of them were up to no good. Yet she had to dismiss the idea of believing those rumors because of one factor.
Cillian Sparrow is goddamn smart.
Iska hadn’t yet witnessed what made her think like that, but the way he spoke in a confident tone and a demeanor that could make someone let their guard down just from their previous interaction made her evalutation to him high.
And now, she received news from him that he got what she wanted.
At first, Iska expected to see a prank note at the end of the letter, but she didn’t see anything. Her men couldn’t even sniff a single note regarding the tournament, and Cillian held that information?
She couldn’t believe it.
That’s why she went on this day, something to be called a rest day since it was Sunday afternoon, to confirm her suspicions. If she found him lying, she knew what she had to do.
Finally, she turned right into a hallway since she was almost there at the Investigative Crew Club. It was located at the farthest corner of the hallway, far from the usual spot where clubs attract the attention of students to join them.
And she saw a line.
Six people are sitting on an available chair they can see in front of the room, wearing different kinds of casual clothes. Four of them were male students, while the other two were female. Simultaneously, when they saw another person coming from the aisle, their expression darkened.
’What the...’
Iska watched those people with a disoriented gaze, seemingly at a loss as to why these powerful first years were here.
Just like her, the people currently on the line were supported by a powerful backer. Whether their gang or society is held by a second-year or third-year leader is unknown even to her. As for Iska’s group, her leader was a second-year student.
She quietly joined the line but was stopped by the woman sitting alongside her.
"You’re Ms. Befot, right? Mr. Sparrow is looking for you. Go in first. Everyone here is... waiting for their turn, you see, but if not for you getting here so late, we would’ve barged our way inside. So please, go."
’You’re not here to fight, torture, and put him back to his place, but... talk to him?’
Iska pondered inwardly before nodding once before the same woman spoke again, this time, a not-so-friendly tone added to the mix.
"But if you be so kind, whatever business you have with him, do it fast."
Iska took a mouthful of gulp from her mouth before walking hastily towards the club’s door. Feeling the sensation of being watched by those impatient and dangerous eyes, she barged her way inside.
"You didn’t knock."
Cillian stared at her with an amused expression as he chuckled.
"Last time, you didn’t knock because you thought nobody was inside. This time, though, you’re fully aware that we’re present inside, yet you still didn’t knock. Ah, what an irony. A silly one, though."
"You..."
Iska walked to his table with heavy footsteps as Vin tried to stop her from going flare up, but Cillian stopped him from interrupting.
Staring at him with deadly eyes, Iska forcefully tapped on his table and explained.
"You let those people wait outside because you have an appointment with me. And as for what reason it is, you didn’t tell them yet."
Cillian’s lips grew wide.
Seeing the smug lips playing on his face, Iska grew irritated and coldly added.
"You are a bastard.
Seeing that she was done, Cillian replied with a shrug.
"Sit down and hear the intel I have regarding what you asked. And I’m basing it on the amount of money you’ve given to me. We should hurry, you know?"
Clicking her tongue, Iska seated down disgruntledly before she heard Cillian begin informing her about what she was supposed to know, which amounted to the payment she had given.
He explained the theme, the rules, and how the exam on Friday will affect the pickings for each class. Whether she understood them or not wasn’t Cillian’s problem.
In fact, he hastily spoke and watched Iska immediately take notes that Phillip had given to her when she was asking for a paper.
The way she greedily and continuously recorded the notes with the use of a pen made Cillian giggle.
She was making funny expressions.
’Ah, humiliating someone like this is fun. I want to do more. Kuh, I’m parched.’
Finally, after a few minutes of unending chatting, Cillian greedily drank water from the side that Phillip had given him.
Once silence settled over the room, Iska and Cillian looked at each other.
The former had her hands submerged in pain, knowing it had been a while since she had been put in that state of haste, while the latter had his throat sore due to the nonstop speaking.
After a minute of relaxing, Cillian lightly coughed as he pointed out.
"Now, I’ll be receiving all the payments next. That is four merits, three points, a tier one sorcery spell, and a free training ground, correct? Did you bring it?"
"I don’t have it..."
"Oh, I see,"
Cillian giggled, unfazed by the answer.
"You think I was lying, didn’t you? You hoped that I was wrong. You think I will fail. After all, if I failed, you’ll use the three advanced merits and use them against me? That’s how you operate, right? Well, sad to say, but none of it is happening today. As you can see, I have succeeded."
"Can I get out now?"
Iska interjected, not wanting to take her time inside any longer, knowing there were six people outside with business with him as well.
Who knows if she’ll be slapped once she steps outside if she takes any longer?
"Why the haste? I have other questions as well. For example, what do you know about those people outside? Any other intel would be great."
Iska let out a crooked smile and replied.
"Look, if you think I provoked you in our previous chat, which I’m not aware of, then I’ll apologize. And to make up for it, I’ll give you detailed data about these six people with payment. I’ll deliver it tomorrow, mark my words."
’Huh, why is she thinking I was provoked by her?’
Cillian tilted his head slightly to the side.
’If she thinks that I am just trying to make fun of her, will she collapse on her spot?’
Cillian considered the idea before shaking his head.
’No, it’s better this way. If she thinks she’s sorry when I didn’t do anything in the first place would not look like we’re on equal terms. Whatever she’s thinking, I’ll leave it at that. This misunderstanding’s fine.’
Cillian scoffed.
"Okay, sure,"
Iska stood up from her seat and hurriedly left the club room. She didn’t even notice the changes happened inside the club, which left Cillian somehow disheartened.
’Humph, I guess there’s no room for compliments. Haha.’ freewēbnoveℓ.com
Cillian humored inwardly before looking sideways and saw Vin fidgeting on the side. Phillip, who also realized what was about to come next, also couldn’t help but feel nervous as well.
"Relax, I know Ethan invited the... real deal, but we should appear confident as well. I don’t like them thinking of us as small fries."
Cillian chuckled nervously as well.
"To be honest, I don’t know what he did, but this is going to be beneficial... if we do this right."
Cillian stood up and walked towards the club room’s door, and couldn’t help but shiver with cringe.
’Have I been too engrossed in doing this shit? Holy fuck, acting like this doesn’t suit me. I just wanted to think, manipulate, and most of all, have fun.’
Shaking his head in disbelief, Cillian twisted the knob and opened the door.
Meeting those discerning eyes that watched him impatiently, he let them come inside.
"I apologize for keeping you guys waiting. Let’s talk now."
