As Simon’s intimidating aura and presence towered over his classmates, the sound of footsteps disrupted the silence and in the next moment, three individuals suddenly appeared a few meters opposite Simon.
Simon calmly turned to his right, and he saw Sunless, Merath, and Jorra standing on the cliff wall, just like him.
Sunless with her plain white mask. Jorra with his plain grey mask, and Merath with her glossy red mask with vein-like carvings on it.
The official top three students of the First Years stood before Simon with visible displeasure in their eyes.
They didn’t emit any pressure or any of their aura, but Simon felt a faint sense of pressure coming from all three.
His instincts were warning him that all three were dangerous, including Sunless.
If he had to fight them, he’d have to be extremely careful.
Meanwhile, when their remaining classmates saw Sunless, Merath, and Jorra, their eyes brightened in relief and excitement.
Many had never heard of Storm Reaper and this was the first time they were witnessing him in a battle.
And rightfully so, many believed that he deserved to be the fourth rank student of their class.
He was strong.
However, many knew of how Sunless was.
Merath and Jorra were the second and third ranked of their class, but none had witnessed them fight, so they were not certain about their strengths.
However, the fact that Sunless had a S grade shadow affinity and her performance in the few classes they’ve had, made them to believe that if there was anybody that could teach Simon a lesson and put him in his place... It was her.
They knew that Simon had not spared even the top three from his blatant extortion.
Simon was definitely in trouble... They thought.
No words were spoken, and the air was tense as the top three students stared at Simon.
Eventually, Sunless took the initiative to speak.
"You’ve gone too far, Broken Halo."
Simon looked at her with a slight tilt of his head.
"How?" He asked calmly.
This time around, it was Merath who spoke.
"You’re really asking how? Taking fifty percent (50%) of weekly stipend is not you going too far?"
Simon shook his head. "No. It’s not. In fact, I feel like I’m going to easy on you guys. Maybe I should have collected 80% of your weekly stipend while telling you to transfer whatever extra stipend you have left."
Sunless, Merath, and all the other Initiates of their class were stunned.
Eighty percent?
Eighty percent?
Did Simon just say that he wanted to collect 80% of their weekly stipend instead of 50%?
Had he gone mad?
Who does he think he is?
These thoughts and questions appeared in their minds, and they were beginning to see Simon in a different light.
A truly insane and audacious slave.
"I don’t believe the academy would stand by and allow you to do such a thing." Sunless said with a frown behind her mask.
Simon raised his right index finger and waved it.
"You’re wrong, but you’re also right."
Everybody frowned.
"You are right if you’re saying that the academy would not allow me to take 80% of your weekly stipend."
"But you’re wrong if you say that the academy would not allow me to take 50% of your stipend."
"I have broken no rules of the academy. There is nothing that says one cannot bully or extort from their classmates. But I must not go to far, and 50% is not going too far in the slightest."
To their surprise, Simon suddenly released a soft sigh of disappointment.
"Unfortunate for me, I’m a slave. So, if I go further than 50%, I might get punished or reprimanded. But since I only collected half of your stipends, then it’s okay."
Merath, Sunless, and the others frowned when they heard Simon’s words.
Some did not believe Simon’s words, fully expecting Simon to be punished by tomorrow or even anytime from now.
They believed that the academy would not allow a mere slave to be allowed the freedom to do such a thing.
However, there were others who were wiser and more sensible.
They had dark expressions behind their masks.
Sunless was one of them.
"Do you believe that you’re above the academy?"
Simon raised his brows, then he chuckled.
"I’ve been arrested by the academy twice in less than three days. If the academy wants to kill me, then what can I do?"
"I’m just following their rules and regulations." He shrugged nonchalantly.
This time around, Merath spoke with barely suppressed anger.
"I borrowed you some merits, but you still decided to extort half of my stipend?"
This was what truly pissed off Merath.
She was not bothered by the fact that half of her stipend was gone.
No.
What pissed her off was the fact that she had been kind to Simon one too many times recently.
She borrowed him some of her merits, and she also offered to help him fully awaken his Daemon bloodline.
But Simon had repaid her kindness with wickedness.
She was very angry at her foolishness and at Simon’s character.
Meanwhile, Simon chuckled softly hearing Merath’s words.
He sort of expected it.
"I’ve paid you back, haven’t I?"
Merath clenched her fists in anger, and the anger she was restraining was struggling to break free.
The indifference and teasing in Simon’s voice infuriated her.
Sunless glanced at Merath, then she spoke.
"And what about me? I thought we were about to become friends? We had a meal together."
Those who were just hearing this for the first time gasped in disbelief and shock, but Simon laughed softly.
"Having a meal together does not make us friends."
"I see." Sunless mumbled as she looked down.
Simon shook his head softly, then he looked at Jorra.
Jorra had been silent all along, and Simon was a little bit surprised.
His eyes were calm, but Simon knew that hidden in those eyes of his was anger.
’I guess Merath told him not to do anything.’
He shook his head, then he spoke.
"By the way. All of you are angry at me, but you don’t know that I’m actually protecting you guys."
"What I collected is just a protection fee."