Ghost Billionaire-Chapter 46: Rules and Regulations

"Hitting someone is never okay," May glared at Matthew. "But hitting someone who only wanted to give you the pointers for the exam is especially cruel." When Matthew said nothing, May continued, "So annoying! Hey, are you listening?"

Matthew said nothing as May hovered in front of his desk. He had always disliked her fox-like eyes and found her voice even more irritating, but he chose to ignore it this time.

He sat at his desk, a book open in front of him, flipping through it slowly.

"He should be suspended," Elisa muttered from behind May.

Meanwhile, Catherine stood near the door, arms crossed, whispering to one of the other girls, clearly still fuming.

Matthew ignored them. His fingers turned another page. Mrs. Johnson must have thought that he was some worthless young master raised by the Lindberg Family, just like most people here.

But who could blame them?

Matthew’s father rarely show himself in public. Besides, his father thought it would be better to make everyone misunderstood Lenox as this would also protect Matthew from the people who might have an interest in the Linberg Family’s wealth.

He sighed inwardly as he looked up and scanned the room, his gaze landing on Lenox. The guy had been quiet ever since entering. Not a single word. Just sat there, pretending like nothing happened.

"Lenox," Matthew called without raising his voice. "Nan you keep your dogs’ mouths shut for a minute? They’re yapping again."

May let out a sound, stepping forward, but Lenox raised his hand.

"Matthew," Lenox said, finally speaking. "Why are you trying to make some trouble for everyone?"

Matthew didn’t answer. He turned a page and kept reading.

He wasn’t expecting Lenox to tell the truth. Not now, not ever. He remembered this exact same behavior from before. Lenox always acted like the reasonable one. Always played the role of the calm peacemaker, while letting people believe what they wanted.

Matthew had been stupid enough to defend him in the past.

He leaned back in his seat.

Then, the classroom door opened.

The voices immediately quieted.

A man stepped in, adjusting the sleeves of his coat as he entered.

"Apologies for the delay," the man said.

Matthew looked up.

His eyes immediately narrowed.

Dr. Muni.

That name alone stirred something in Matthew. He hadn’t expected to see him here. Wasn’t he somewhere in Spain at this time? Just days ago, he’d asked Cristoff to confirm the man’s location. And he confirmed that Dr. Muni was in Spain doing some lab work. Matthew had even told Cristoff to find a way to keep him there.

It was supposed to stop Dr. Muni from crossing paths with Lenox.

Apparently, that plan failed.

Matthew adjusted his grip on the strap of his bag and moved forward. Fighting timing was pointless now.

Dr. Muni scanned the room, then set a folder down on the teacher’s desk.

"I’ll be overseeing this exam. No talking. Phones off. Bags to the front. You have two hours. Start when you receive the papers."

"Sir, I apologize for interrupting—" Catherine immediately tried to intervene, but Dr. Muni cut off the rest of her sentence.

"If you want to talk, then get out. I have no time for pleasantries," Dr. Muni looked at the rest of the students. "If you want to continue talking, then get out. Stop wasting my precious time."

"Sir, Miss White only wanted to tell you that we cannot start with the exams yet because someone—"

Dr. Muni didn’t even glance in May’s direction after the question.

"If someone is sick, leave," he said flatly. "If someone is about to die, leave. Otherwise, sit down and shut up. I’m not repeating myself. One more interruption and you’re banned from this exam."

Silence took over the room instantly. Then almost immediately, the students started moving. May stepped back. Catherine returned to her seat near the middle row without another word. Even Lenox looked down, hands folding neatly on top of his desk.

Matthew watched it all with vague amusement. This was the Dr. Muni that he knew.

Dr. Muni didn’t bother explaining the rules again. He simply opened the folder and began handing out test papers. No time for pleasantries, just like he said.

Matthew took his paper when it came to him and flipped through the pages.

Statistics.

He picked up his pen and got to work. The formulas, theories, case scenarios—they came easily. Not just from his recent study sessions with Teddy, but from his past life too. He remembered failing this subject once and then acing it later after digging through textbooks for days. Now, all of it sat neatly in his mind. Names, concepts, graphs, clear as day.

His pen moved quickly as he focused on tapping into whatever spiritual energy he had left to recall everything. Unfortunately, he still had no idea how to control it, and it was too late to ask that ghost for help now. Still, the fact that he could absorb ghosts to replenish his strength slowly calmed him down.

He barely noticed the time passing.

By the thirty-minute mark, he had already filled the last page. He went back to double-check, made a few clean corrections, and stacked the sheets in order.

He stood up, holding the paper in one hand as he approached the front.

But just as he reached the desk, the classroom door opened again.

Matthew turned his head and immediately saw Mrs. Johnson step in, her face tight with irritation. Behind her stood a man in a navy suit, clipboard in hand—this should be one of the staff working under the Principal. What was his name again? Matthew wondered. Right. Spencer!

"Excuse me," Mrs. Johnson said. "We need to remove one of the students before the exam continues."

Dr. Muni didn’t even look up at first. He was busy checking through a set of papers.

"That was fast," Dr. Muni said.

"I’m here to take a student to the principal’s office," Mrs. Johnson said. "Matthew Lindberg. He assaulted another student this morning—"

"Sit down," Dr. Muni interrupted.

Mrs. Johnson blinked. "Excuse me?"

"I said sit down," Dr. Muni repeated as he looked at Matthew. "No student leaves this room until they’re done. You’re interrupting an ongoing exam."

Hearing this, Matthew stood there, shocked. Did Dr. Muni think he was going to the restroom or somewhere else?

However, Mrs. Johnson stepped forward. "Sir, the principal gave us permission—"

"You can report this to your principal," Dr. Muni said, finally looking up. "The student will be available after the test. If anyone crosses this door before then, I’ll mark it as an automatic fail."

No one said a word. It was hard to believe someone had actually managed to shut down Mrs. Johnson like that. But since Dr. Muni hadn’t introduced himself, all they could do was sit there and wonder who he was.

Except Matthew. He calmly looked over at Mrs. Johnson.

She looked like she wanted to say more, but the staff gently touched her arm, leaned in, and whispered something.

Whatever it was, she frowned, then nodded stiffly and turned to leave.

"Uh... actually... I am just about done," Matthew said.

He stepped forward and set his paper down in front of Dr. Muni.

"I figured I should see the principal since I’ve finished."

Dr. Muni didn’t take the paper immediately. He stared at it for a second, then slowly lifted it and flipped through the first couple of pages. His expression shifted, like something had annoyed him before he even read the answers.

"What’s your name?" he asked without looking up.

"Matthew Lindberg," Matthew answered.

Dr. Muni paused again. "Why haven’t I heard of you before?"

Matthew opened his mouth, ready to fire off something snide, something about Dr. Muni spending most of his time buried in research or locked inside his lab like a crypt keeper. But he stopped himself at the last second.

"Probably because I’m not very popular," he said instead.

Just then, a sharp pain stabbed through the side of his head.

Matthew winced slightly.

It wasn’t as bad as before, but it was there, persistent and familiar. The same pressure from earlier. That same dull throb behind his eyes.

So the effect of absorbing ghosts only lasted about thirty minutes if he used it to answer test questions.

Good to know, he thought as he straightened up and tried to shake it off.

Behind him, Mrs. Johnson cleared her throat. "Dr. Muni, Matthew will explain himself in front of the principal. I think we’ve taken up enough of your time. Since he’s already done, please allow him to go."

For a moment, Dr. Muni didn’t move. Then he turned to her, still holding the test paper. "What exactly did Mr. Lindberg do this time?"

Mrs. Johnson took a half step forward. "He hurt another student. It was witnessed."

"Was it caught on camera?"

"No, but—"

"Any recording?" Dr. Muni interrupted again. "Written reports? A filed complaint? Or is this all hearsay?"

Mrs. Johnson looked irritated. "Matthew will explain in front of the principal."

"Which means," Dr. Muni said. "There’s no formal proof."

Mrs. Johnson opened her mouth, but he cut her off again.

"And since he has just submitted his paper, I’m afraid I can’t let him go."

Matthew blinked.

Even Mrs. Johnson looked thrown off.

Dr. Muni placed the paper neatly on the pile and spoke without turning. "Once an exam is submitted, I’m required to supervise the student until the session ends. If I let him out, I risk a violation report. School regulation. You can check out the Rules and Regulations. It should be around page fifty two."

He tapped the desk with one finger.

"He stays until everyone is finished."

Matthew blinked. He glanced at the older man, who stood there with complete confidence and a subtle smirk on his face. It was as if everything was going exactly as planned and that he’d just won a chess match no one else was playing.

"With all due respect, Dr. Muni... Matthew is,"

"Before you finish that sentence and embarrass both of us," Dr. Muni cut in. "Let me stop you right there."

He looked up at the room.

"Everything about Mr. Lindberg is absolutely my concern... because he’s my intern."

Matthew blinked.

Intern?

Since when?