Alistair was about to snap back when he remembered his "Power" was currently unreliable. If he let [The World] handle it, he might turn them into red paste. The only option was to retreat!
Run!
Alistair didn't hesitate; he bolted toward the end of the hallway where the stairs and elevators were.
The girls in the room were stunned. Usually, people either hesitate or talk back before running. Alistair had just turned and vanished without a word.
"Don't just stand there! Sae, you're fast. Go after him. He looks soft; he can't outrun you. Bring him back if you can, or just pin him down until we catch up."
The leader kicked the chubby boy aside and spoke to the tanned girl.
"Aye, aye! I love a good chase! Watching you bully people here was getting boring anyway." Sae loved the thrill of the hunt. She dashed out of the room, leaving a gust of wind in her wake.
"Eh? Where is he?"
Sae reached the hallway and looked toward the stairs. There were only a few girls in sight. The hallway wasn't that short; even at top speed, he shouldn't have vanished.
"Why are you standing there? Go!" the leader yelled from the door.
"But where is he? I don't see him!"
"How should I know? We were in the room! This hallway is long; how can you not see him?"
"I'm telling you, he's gone. He couldn't have cleared the hallway in seconds." Sae threw up her hands.
"Sigh. If he didn't clear it, he ducked into another room. We'll just check them one by one. Izumi, you're getting as dumb as her." The flaxen-haired girl, Minako, rubbed her temples. Sae was athletic but dim, and she had a way of dragging others' IQ down with her.
"Right. My bad. Sae, your stupidity is contagious." Izumi (the leader) grumbled.
"What? It's your own lack of resistance!" Sae shot back.
"Enough. Let's find the redhead. I don't remember any redheaded boys in our school. How did he get in?" Minako asked.
"Security is tight. There was an exchange student missing this morning. He must be the one," Izumi said as she led the way.
"That makes sense. I didn't know the boys' school had such cuties," Minako noted.
"Do you really remember every boy, Minako?" Sae asked.
"Of course. There are only about fifty boys here. Even if I don't know them all, I recognize the faces. No boy in this school has dark red hair. He's definitely a 'guest.'"
"Not in this one. Next!" Izumi ignored them, checking the first classroom.
A boy was a rare sight here, especially one with dark red hair and a face that pretty. He was like a beacon. If the "Buyers" found him, they'd eat him alive. She wanted to play with him herself before anyone else got a taste.
"Not here either."
"Gone! He's gone!"
They checked every room and asked the students. Everyone said they hadn't seen him. Even the people in the hallway claimed they were looking at their phones and missed him.
"How? Is he a world-class sprinter?" Sae was baffled.
Meanwhile, one floor below.
"Excuse me, you're a new face. Are you a transfer student?"
Alistair looked up instinctively. His view was immediately filled with a pair of flesh-pink panties.
"Ah! You're so lewd~!"
The girl hurriedly covered her skirt and backed away. To Alistair's ears, it sounded more like a playful pout than a real accusation.
Alistair rolled over and got up, dusting himself off before looking at the girl.
She had brown hair in a bob cut, a round face, and a pure, innocent look—mixed with a touch of ditsy charm. Her figure was plump and soft, and her chest was very "well-nourished."
The classroom was empty except for her, otherwise his sudden appearance would have caused a riot.
"Hello. I'm Tomomi Sakurazawa, the class representative. Are you a new transfer student?"
Tomomi looked at Alistair with wide, curious eyes, seemingly devoid of any suspicion.