Chapter 52: The threat of an obese politician? I'll teach you a lesson right here!
Days passed, and the number of battles erupting in Hagun Academy's arena grew fewer.
After repeated practical combat, even the most stubborn students gradually realized the strength of the main representatives.
Arthur and the others received challenges from students of different ranks and grades every day, and they never lost.
The students acknowledged the six individuals, confident that they could bring back the long-absent Seven Star Sword King trophy for Hagun Academy.
Just as the campus was harmonious due to this shared expectation, undercurrents from the outside world had already surged, bringing new pressure.
Inside the campus café, Arthur arrived for a meeting at the committee's invitation.
As he stepped into the suite, where lazy blues music drifted, a figure as plump as a pig, exuding the stench of money, came into view—
It was Akaza.
"Welcome, welcome. You must be Hagun's most renowned Radiant Dragon Holy Sword, please, have a seat, what would you like to drink?"
Akaza's face, full of fat, squeezed out a seemingly warm smile, his voice oily.
Arthur acted as if he didn't see the person, walked straight to the seat opposite Akaza, glanced at the bar, and spoke in a flat tone.
"I'll have a darjeeling, then."
Akaza scrutinized the calm and composed young man before him, who showed no signs of shyness. A nearly imperceptible hint of mockery flashed in his small eyes behind his sunglasses.
"Of course. I didn't expect Arthur to have such an interest in beverages?"
"As long as it's drinkable, plain boiled water is fine."
Arthur said, taking the darjeeling from the waiter and sniffing it lightly.
It smelled good, but it wasn't the taste he remembered.
"Let's get straight to the point, Mr. Akaza."
Arthur put down his teacup and looked directly at the other party, who wore a fake smile.
"As a high-ranking member of the committee, what do you specifically want to discuss with me?"
"Of course."
Akaza's fleshy face pulled into a smile he thought was amiable but was, in fact, extremely ugly.
"Actually, our committee is particularly concerned about the Seven Star Sword Art Festival, so we are collecting the basic information of each academy's representatives in advance, but—"
Akaza grinned widely, revealing a mouth full of yellowed teeth, his smile appearing increasingly hideous in Arthur 's eyes.
"But we found that Arthur 's basic information seems to have some… well, not insignificant problems."
"After I learned of this situation, I rushed to Hagun Academy immediately, hoping that Arthur could provide us with a reasonable explanation."
Arthur took a sip of tea, a faint, unreadable smile playing on his lips, understanding dawned on him.
So that's it, they plan to play this game.
Was his basic information problematic?
Naturally, it was, as he hadn't filled in his nationality.
But such minor details were utterly insignificant.
Unless the high-ranking officials of the O洲 Branch had collectively lost their minds and intended to surrender a promising Rank A Knight to another country for a trivial reason?
So Arthur was not in a hurry at all. He leisurely savored the darjeeling in his cup, waiting for Akaza to continue his clown-like performance.
His composure, however, was interpreted by Akaza as feigned calmness. The latter immediately put on a smile that suggested everything was under his control and said,
"How troublesome. It seems Arthur finds it difficult to answer this question."
"However, our committee is not so pedantic. As long as Arthur can help solve a small matter, then everything can be discussed further."
Arthur put down his teacup, the hint of mockery in his smile deepening. He spoke unhurriedly.
"Let me guess, the small matter you want me to resolve is probably to expel Kurogane Ikki from Hagun's representative team, right?"
Akaza's smile suddenly froze, and a clear look of surprise appeared in his eyes.
When he looked up at Arthur again, it was as if he was looking at a high-and-mighty judge. A sudden sense of panic rose in his heart, and he quickly interjected.
"Th-that's right!"
"If Arthur is willing to abandon Kurogane Ikki, then he will be a friend of our committee forever."
Arthur 's tone was light, as if he were making a harmless joke.
"What if I don't want to be friends with you?"
Akaza's brows instantly furrowed, his voice suddenly rising as he sternly shouted.
"Then we must seriously review your basic information! If the circumstances are severe, expulsion from school and deportation are all possible!"
Upon hearing this, Arthur couldn't help but laugh, shaking his head repeatedly.
"Expulsion? Deportation?"
He stood up from his chair, looking down at the corpulent Akaza and the group of Blazers trailing behind him.
Boom—!
The air suddenly trembled, and scarlet magical power, as if substantial, transformed into a swirling tornado connecting heaven and earth!
Amidst the raging winds, the furnishings in the café shook violently, and the ceiling and floor groaned under the strain, teetering on the verge of collapse!
Akaza and the others, who were closest, their legs giving way under the terrifying pressure, collapsed miserably onto the ground.
Almost at the same time, sensing this overwhelmingly powerful magical energy fluctuation, all the teachers and students within Hagun Academy looked up in astonishment, their eyes fixed on the direction of the café.
"This magical power… is it Arthur 's?"
"Brother, is it those rebel guys again?"
"That guy's magical power… is it really higher than mine?"
"Oh my ~ This is no joke. Who pissed off that silver-haired brat?"
Shinguuji Kurono glared irritably at Saikyō Nene, who was beside her, seemingly eager for chaos.
She quickly pulled out her long-unused Noble Phantasm, and with a flash of her figure, she shot out of the Chairwoman's office like an arrow.
Saikyō Nene let out a series of strange chuckles, and with a shift of her feet, she transformed into a blurred phantom, following closely behind.
…
In the café, Arthur looked down at Akaza and the others, who were completely suppressed by his colossal magical storm, unable to even catch their breath.
The other party's face turned from white to green, then from green to purple, yet they couldn't even squeeze out a single word of plea.
"Fools are indeed good at making people laugh."
"As long as I am here, Hagun Academy will be the champion. I will be the Seven Star Sword King."
"Do you think the Alliance would abandon a Rank A Knight for the few slanderous words of a fat, shortsighted politician like you?"
As he spoke, Arthur slowly walked up to Akaza, who was sweating profusely and trembling like a sieve.
His gaze was as cold as if he were examining a dead pig on a cutting board, considering where the best place to cut would be.
Hum!
The school-wide, heart-stopping magical storm gradually subsided.
Akaza, still on the ground, was reluctantly helped up by his subordinates. His legs continued to tremble violently and uncontrollably, and a dark wet patch was faintly visible on his crotch.
Arthur waved his hand impatiently, as if shooing away flies, and sneered.
"Truly an eyesore. Get lost, you scum."
Akaza, thoroughly terrified, dared not utter even a single harsh word of defiance. He and his equally disoriented followers fled the café in a panic.
Arthur walked to the café bar, gently tapped the counter with his finger, signaling the waiter, who had been quite frightened, to come out.
"I'm sorry, I scared you just now."
He handed over his mobile device and tapped it twice.
"This is compensation for the shop. The darjeeling was very good. Goodbye."
After completing the transfer, Arthur walked out of the café without looking back.
When he came out of the café, he saw Shinguuji Kurono from afar, holding cool-looking magical twin guns and exuding a sharp, murderous aura, rushing towards him at an astonishing speed!
"Kid, where are they?!"
Her voice arrived before she did!
"I want to see which fool dares to come to my Hagun Academy to seek death!"
Arthur quickly raised his hand, signaling the Chairwoman, who was clearly on the verge of a rampage and possibly in early menopause, to calm down. He explained softly,
"Don't be impulsive, Chairwoman."
"I just met with those guys from the committee. As you can see, the process wasn't very pleasant."
"The committee!?"
Shinguuji Kurono's murderous aura instantly solidified a few more points. She gritted her teeth and squeezed out two words.
"Akaza?"
Arthur nodded with a smile: "It was indeed that fat guy."
"He tried to use my identity information as blackmail, either to make Kurogane Ikki withdraw from the competition or to make me withdraw from school."
Upon hearing this, Shinguuji Kurono was so angry she laughed.
"Ha—! They really dare to think that! Where are those lawless bastards?!"
Arthur pointed casually in the direction they had left, teasingly.
"You're too late. They all tucked tail and ran."
Hearing this, Shinguuji Kurono felt a significant easing of the anger in her chest.
She patted Arthur 's shoulder with a look of relief, encouraging him with a smile.
"Well done, kid! Don't worry, I've got your back at Hagun Academy!"
"Once you gloriously win the title of Seven Star Sword King, those clowns like Akaza won't dare to do anything to you!"
Arthur 's eyes narrowed slightly, a sharp glint flashing within them. He replied seemingly carelessly,
"Thank you for your kindness, but I don't have the habit of being provoked and not retaliating."
"The second phase of the plan needs to be moved up."
Shinguuji Kurono was startled at first, then completely let go.
She spread her hands, making an expression of "it has nothing to do with me, do as you please."
"Alright, alright, you call the shots."
"If you need support, just say so. I want to see what kind of commotion you're going to stir up this time."