"I will ensure that all participants of this bet fulfil their parts of the bet. I’ll act as a witness to this bet."
When the First Years heard these words from their class instructor, they went silent because this meant that neither Simon, Jorra, Tempest Strider, Ice Tyrant, Storm Reaper, or Flaming Star could back out from the bet no matter the outcome.
Some also realized that for Simon to willingly expose Instructor Valdin, then it meant he had a certain level of confidence that he would win the bet.
If there was no instructor or employee of the academy involved, then Simon could be shameless and refuse to pay for losing the bet.
But he didn’t.
Those who had these thoughts were suddenly worried about their lives.
What exactly would they need protection from?
The most likely answer was the Iron Fangs, but could things be that simple?
Jorra was very pleased by the fact that Simon could not run away from their potential life or death battle.
Merath even had a stronger urge to beat the shit out of Jorra.
Jorra’s pride and anger was blinding him from noticing several odd points about the bet.
If Simon was not confident about winning the bet, then why would he make it official by exposing their class instructor?
If it was like before, Simon could decide to renege on the terms of the bet, but he didn’t.
HE involved Instructor Valdin, bringing the bet to a point of no return, but Jorra was glad that the bet was now official and that Simon had no way out?
How foolish!
How could Jorra be so foolish?!
Jorra was usually calm and when it came down to it, he could asko scheme against other people.
But his pride and anger toward Simon placed a veil over his eyes. A veil that would be very difficult to remove.
’Losing a thousand merits might sting a little bit, but no matter what, I am not allowing this fool to expose himself. I must prevent him from ruining the mission.’ Merath gritted her teeth in anger and frustration.
She shifted her gaze toward Simon. ’And it’s all his fault.’
While Jorra, Merath, and the remaining First Years had their thoughts, Instructor Valdin was extremely displeased with the entire situation.
And most especially, he was displeased at Simon for exposing him.
The others might not know, but Simon had accomplished a few things that went against his plans by doing this.
When Simon said that he was not breaking any rules by extorting his classmates, and that because he only took 50% of their stipends, he had not gone too far, he was right.
He had broken no rules and he had not done anything wrong.
But that did not mean that Instructor Valdin could not reprimand him.
Valdin knew that he could not punish Simon, but he could reprimand him and tell him not to do it again.
This was what he planned on doing the following morning, but Simon had ruined everything.
Valdin was actually stuck between a rock and a hard place when he was asked to be a witness to the bet.
If he agreed to become a witness to the bet, what it indirectly meant was that he was legalizing Simon’s extortion.
He was saying that Simon’s extortion was okay and the academy was not against it.
He was also acknowledging the fact that Simon was not in the wrong for bullying and for extorting his classmates.
But if he refused to be a witness to the bet, then questions would be asked.
If you’re not in favour of the bet, why didn’t you interfere and stop Simon a long ago?
Why did Simon have to reveal your location before you revealed yourself?
What sort of an Instructor was he?
Why would allow his students to be treated in such a manner?
Was he competent enough to be a Class Instructor?
All these questions would be asked not only by his students, but by other Instructors. Especially Instructors who wanted his position.
They would take advantage of this and question his competency, and it would reflect badly on his record.
It would not cause any substantial harm to him, but he liked his excellent record in the academy. It was why the Academy Head chose him to be the class instructor of the First Years.
Accepting to be a witness would indirectly mean that he was legalizing Simon’s extortion and bullying.
Refusing to be a witness would lead to his students and peers questioning his competency.
Before giving his answer, he truly thought deeply about it, and he realized that accepting to be a witness was the better option.
At least, if he was a witness and if the bet was made official, he could ensure that the bet was not taken too far.
And if his peers questioned him and accused him of allowing such a bet to happen, he could use the rules and regulations to counter their argument.
After all, there was nothing in the rules that forbade Simon from doing what he’s doing.
And he could also bring up a case of his competency by ensuring that the bet was not taken too far.
With this, none would be able to question his competence, and his record would remain excellent.
This was the best outcome in the mind of Instructor Valdin, but he could not help but give Simon a strange light.
’Did he plan this? Or was this just a coincidence?’
Instructor Valdin eventually shook his head and dispelled the thought that Simon had planned this.
How could a sixteen year old plan such a thing?
Unfortunately for Instructor Valdin, Simon was no sixteen year old, and he had planned this from the very moment Jorra said these words.
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"You believe that there’s something you can protect me from? You believe that a lesser hybrid like you can protect me from something?"
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His main reason for proposing a bet was not to make money, but to gain protection.