Awaiting soft rains(An extra's novel)-Chapter 90: Negotiations

I pushed myself upwards, taking a brief moment to stabilize my gait against the table. Shin glanced at me curiously; I answered before he could put any questions forward.

"I need to see what’s up with Rowan."

The wolfman nodded understandingly.

"Have you been checking with Gustav lately?"

"No. Not really."

I’d kind of forgotten about him, honestly.

"I think he’s being bullied."

"Bullied?"

"Yeah."

’How strange.’

Why would he be bullied? I mean, sure, cadets could be assholes, but they wouldn’t go around bullying people for no reason.

"Did he tell you this?"

"No. But he’s been hiding bruises."

"Hmmm... It might be best to monitor the situation for now. See if you can get some info from his classmates."

Shin stroked his light mane.

"Not a bad plan, but I’ll tell you, though. I’m not exactly the most sociable person."

"Nonsense, I’m sure you’ll be fine."

If anything, with his wolf form, politely inquiring would be enough to terrify the lower-ranked cadets into giving him information.

With that, I left the wolfman’s side, my mind still wondering about Gustav’s situation.

I’d been paranoid about him earlier, wondering if the plot had changed based on how he’d approached us. But in the few times I’d interacted with him, he didn’t strike me as a bad person. He wasn’t a skinwalker, either.

’Maybe I can check it out while harass... uh, I mean investigating the nobles.’

Rowan waved at me as I approached his desk, with Racheal merely watching me with interest. Or was it interest? It was hard to tell with her largely impassive face.

Her deep, undulating black eyes unnerved me a lot less than they probably should have, compared to spending yesterday right next to the monsters that were Alice and Bukayo.

I lowered myself onto a seat right in front of them. Rowan spoke first.

"What’s up? Didn’t take you as the type to actively approach others. Especially... you know..."

The white-haired boy glanced briefly at Racheal. He was swiftly rewarded with a light blow to the shoulder.

"Ow."

Racheal looked at me earnestly.

"It’s been a while since the simulation, Victor. Hasn’t it? Have you changed your mind on ’that’ matter?"

"I’m afraid not."

Racheal didn’t seem all too disappointed, nodding.

"I’m sure you’ll come around to it soon. So what do you want?"

"Come on. I might’ve just stopped by to greet the council president and my good friend, Rowan."

Both remained deadpan. Racheal I could understand, but even Rowan?

’Traitor.’

I was almost hurt. Almost.

To make things worse, it was he who broke the silence, blatantly ignoring the eye signals I was giving him to side with me.

"You’re not fooling anyone, Victor. What do you want?"

"Right, we’ll talk about your loyalty later. I came to make a deal."

I shifted my attention to Racheal. The girl gave me a look asking for more details, to which I easily obliged.

"I need to borrow some of the disciplinary members of the council."

"Why?"

Fortunately, I already had an excuse prepared.

"I want to harass some nobles."

It wasn’t the most elegant, justifiable, or even the sanest reason. But it was understandable, especially if one considered how much they’d been annoying me recently.

’Understandable for some people, at least.’

Rowan spoke up, stumbling over his words a bit.

"I’m sorry, but did you say harass? Isn’t that against the rules?"

"Shut up, traitor."

Racheal, on the other hand, seemed a bit taken aback by the reason, but she wasn’t in a rush to turn me down.

Finally, she spoke.

"Why should I allow that? It is against the rules, and I would be putting my reputation on the line in doing so. Though, it would be an entirely different case if you reconsider my offer."

I shut her down instantly.

"No. Not happening."

Although Racheal was currently the strongest cadet, and I tried to be cautious around her, I still had to show some backbone; else, she’d just keep pushing until she got what she wanted.

"Then I’m afraid I can’t—"

"I didn’t come here empty-handed."

There was still one bargaining chip I had. It was something I’d already planned on doing regardless, but now I could frame it as a sacrifice on my part.

I glanced at Rowan sitting nearby before deciding to send a message to her using the interface. Her eyes widened a little at the message, and she glanced at Rowan as well before sending a message back.

We went back and forth for a while, occasionally pausing to glance and gesture at Rowan.

The boy in question grew increasingly nervous.

"Why do you keep looking at me like that? What are you talking about? Say it out loud."

We both ignored his pleas, and soon enough, Racheal let out a small sigh.

"Very well, we have a deal. You can use the disciplinary department for your wishes."

"I’ll keep my end of the deal as well. You just have to wait a bit. Plus, I only need two members."

Rowan remained on the sidelines, looking even more confused. I flashed him a very smug smile.

"Best get to training; you’re going to need it very soon."

"Wha—"

"Who exactly do you need?"

Racheal cut his reaction with a question.

I’d already looked through the appointments she’d made and had long settled on my choices.

"Rowan and Alexa."

Yes, that very same Alexa that brutalized some poor kid in our very first class with Kaito.

Racheal nodded.

"Done."

Rowan finally burst out.

"You want me to go around harassing nobles with you? Yeah, no wa—"

He was cut off by a knowing look from Racheal, eventually sighing before grumbling.

"Fine, I’ll do it. But I’m not doing anything crazy."

I gave him an innocent smile.

"Don’t worry. I won’t go overboard."

"Bullshit."

I acted like I didn’t hear the last part, shifting my focus to Racheal once again.

"Do you know where I can find Alexa?"

I needed to get to work as soon as possible, and she wasn’t in class.

Racheal’s eyes flashed blue, and a message displaying her location popped up before me. I wiped it away before standing up.

"Please, make sure you inform her about the deal before I get there."

"Already have."

"Pleasure doing business with you, then. Now..."

I patted Rowan on the shoulder.

"Let’s go find Alexa."

The boy sighed exaggeratedly before pushing himself up and following me to the door.

On the way there, he couldn’t help but ask.

"Mind telling me the deal between you and Racheal?"

"Yes, I do mind telling you that. Very much, actually."

Besides, it wouldn’t be long before Racheal told him herself. Especially when the deal so heavily involved him.