The Academy's Doomed Side Character-Chapter 149: Special Quest [3]

[You’re aware this line is monitored, correct?]

"Oh, completely," I replied, keeping my tone casual. "That’s why I’m only saying what I’m authorized to say as a responsible cadet. For example, that I have extremely good reason to believe Ethan escaped during transport, and that Kai Foster may have orchestrated it."

[...You’re basing this on what? A rumor? Your gut? A dream?]

"Let’s just say," I said, walking to my desk and flicking through a folder of old reports I didn’t actually need, "I have an informant. Don’t you remember about that talk once we had before?"

Of course, I’m talking about time when I told her that I know but of future information.

Which was true and she even believed.

But I can’t say all of it here. Since our call is monitored. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

[An informant? That one]

...And she’s also like acting like clueless.

"Yep that one. One I trust."

[This better not be about your ’intuition,’ Cadet Evans.]

I paused. Then laughed softly. "Would it help if I said I’m 99.9% certain they’re going to make a move today—during the commendation ceremony?"

That did it.

I heard a rustle of papers on her end. She was standing now.

[You’re telling me you believe the Academy is about to be attacked today, during an event attended by top brass, key staff, and the student elite—and you decided to call me?]

"Well, yeah," I said, scratching the back of my neck. "You’re the chairman. I figured if anyone could turn this around, it’s you."

A pause.

[Where did you hear this, exactly?]

"Look, I can’t say much more over the phone. You said this line is monitored, right?"

[You’re incredibly irritating, Evans.]

"I get that a lot."

[Come to my office. Now.]

"Right away," I said, already grabbing my coat.

[And wear your uniform properly this time.]

Click.

The line went dead..

----

By the time I stepped out into the corridor, the halls were already stirring with early movement. Cadets in polished uniforms hurried past, some whispering about the ceremony, others too focused on perfect creases and mana readings to care. I, on the other hand, was still trying to smooth out my crumpled collar while power-walking like a man on borrowed time.

As I reached the Chairman’s office on the top floor of the administrative building, the guards at the door gave me a glance that said you better have a damn good reason for this.

I nodded, trying to look confident and not like someone about to drop a metaphorical bomb.

The doors opened with a soft hum of mana.

And there she was—Chairman Serena Claudia, standing behind her desk like she’d been sculpted out of moonlight and judgment. Silver-platinum hair tied in a severe braid, high-collared robe without a wrinkle, and those eyes—like crystal daggers.

"Cadet Evans," she said coolly, without even looking up from the reports on her desk. "I assume you’re here to do more than waste my time."

I stepped forward and stood at attention.

"Yes, ma’am. I believe I know the general outline of today’s attack."

That got her attention.

She looked up, her gaze sharp.

"You said Kai Foster and Ethan were working together," she said. "Explain."

I nodded.

"They’re not just working together. Ethan escaped, and Kai had every reason—and resource—to make that happen. I believe today, during the commendation ceremony, they’re planning to make a public move. Something big. Maybe a hostage situation, maybe worse. They want to send a message."

"A message to whom?" she asked, her fingers steepling.

"The Academy. The Council. Anyone who’s been watching them lose." I hesitated. "They won’t hit the school just for revenge. This is about power. Reclaiming it. Proving they can."

Serena Claudia expression didn’t change, but the air in the room shifted—like the mana around her had tensed up.

"And you know this because of your ’informant’?"

"Yes, ma’am."

She tapped her desk lightly, thinking.

Then—"We’ll tighten security at the ceremony. But we can’t cancel it—not without tipping our hand. If they’re expecting a crowd, we’ll give them one. And we’ll be ready."

A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

"You’ve done well, Cadet Evans. Irritating, but useful."

I blinked.

Is that the praise right? Of course it is.

"I’ll get going now, chairman. I also have to prepare."

"Sure, go ahead."

---

As I stepped out of her office, my hands were cold.

But my mind was burning.

Eight hours to go.

This time, I wasn’t going to wait to be a pawn.

This time, I’d be ready.

---

Meanwhile, deep beneath Dreswyn, in the hidden base cloaked by the forest—

Ethan leaned back in a chair that wasn’t designed to recline, making it creak under the strain. One leg dangled over the side. In his hand, he spun a scalpel like a coin between his fingers, the blade flashing every time it caught the soft blue light of the runes embedded in the walls.

Kai Foster stood at a console nearby, watching streams of encrypted data scroll across a floating interface. The hooded man had vanished again—not disappeared, just gone, like he always did when preparations reached a critical phase.

It was fine. Kai preferred it that way.

"You know," Ethan drawled, eyes half-lidded, "I thought breaking out of Lock was the fun part. Turns out the fun part is actually watching you type like a nervous librarian."

Kai didn’t look up. "Try breathing through your nose for once. Maybe it’ll stop you from sounding like you just murdered a joke."

Ethan snorted, clearly entertained.

"Come on. Lighten up. We’re this close," he said, holding two fingers barely apart. "This time, we do it right. No distractions. No last-minute cadet miracles. Just clean, surgical chaos."

Kai’s fingers slowed on the interface.

His jaw tightened slightly.

"I don’t care about chaos," he said, voice low. "I want the Academy to burn for what it did."

"You’re still so bitter," Ethan grinned. "I thought I held a grudge, but you—you’re on another level."

Kai said nothing.

He zoomed in on one of the Academy’s blueprints, highlighting the dorm sectors and the underground research wing.

"we will begins in few hours," he said.

Ethan’s grin widened.

"Oh? What’s first? Fireworks? Plague gas? Exploding cupcakes?"

"Just you wait, it will be interesting."