[A/N: For those of you that don’t know, a causeway is also a bridge.]
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Despite the fact that Tibat, Balafar, and Agramormos did not trust Akaza, they couldn’t deny that his suggestions were actually... very good.
If the three gangs placed more individuals to observe and prevent the Iron Fangs from interfering in the battle, then all three gangs would be able to attack the First Years without worrying about the Iron Fangs.
And the idea of battling on the causeway was ingenious to them.
They had never thought of it, and they could not help but wonder why.
The academy only had one entrance which was also their exit, and the First Years would not be able to escape even if they wanted to since it was a bridge with nothing on both sides.
Extorting the classmates outside the academy entrance and on the causeway would also be easier for the three leaders.
They thought deeply about everything, and they even tried to think of things that could happen.
But everything was... good.
As for Simon?
He was strong, but there was no way he could defeat all three of them, so they weren’t worried about him.
’When Geryan was the true leader of the Iron Fangs, they were a bunch of losers and everybody used to look down on them.’
’But ever since Akaza took control of the Iron Fangs, they have gained more influence and they’ve been more difficult to control.’
’A few gangs in the past who challenged the Iron Fangs and humiliated some members of the Iron Fangs would suddenly be no more the following day.’
’I guess Akaza is not just a brute. He knows how to plan battles. No wonder my backer and the others behind the scenes were wary of him.’
Tibat stared at Akaza with a slightly furrowed brows, the gears in her mind spinning rapidly.
Balafar and Agramormos also had their own thoughts regarding everything.
However, their thoughts were mainly on the money they’d be making soon enough from the poor First Years.
Unlike Tibat who was more cautious and wary of the offer Akaza was giving them, they were careless and more prideful.
They believed that Akaza and the Iron Fangs could not do anything to them.
"Your suggestions are...good, and I have no problems with them." Tibat said with a slight nod of appreciation.
Akaza nodded back, then he shifted his gaze toward Agramormos and Balafar.
Balafar scoffed with a roll of his eyes. "I also have no problem with it."
Agramormos nodded. "Same here."
Akaza nodded calmly after receiving their responses.
He snapped his fingers, then a black book appeared in his hand.
The trio were baffled.
Akaza wasted no time explaining.
"This book contains the names of the First Years that have a lot of money. It also contains the hidden abilities, abilities, and bloodlines of some."
Balafar, Tibat, and Agramormos raised their brows with even more baffled expression behind their masks.
"Okay? So, you’re giving us that book?" Agramormos asked with a baffled tone.
Akaza nodded. "Yes. But not for free."
"Huh?" Balafar exclaimed with a confused tone. "We are... paying to read a book that has a list of the richest kids among the First Years, and also a list of the abilities of mere First Years?"
Akaza calmly nodded once again, stunning Balafar.
He looked at Tibat and Agramormos.
"Am I hearing things? Or is this just a joke?"
Agramormos shrugged, and Tibat gave no response. Her gaze was on Akaza.
"Why do you think we’ll need to buy that book from you? We don’t need a list of the rich First Years since we’re going to extort every First Year that steps out of the academy, rich or poor."
"And we don’t need a list of their abilities. They’re still Fiends while majority of our gang members are Archfiends. Why would we need a list of their abilities? What abilities could they possibly have?"
’I once had the same thoughts as you when the bastard came to attack the base of the Iron Fangs.’
’Guess what... A mere Fiend decimated me and my subordinates.’
Although Akaza had these thoughts, he’d definitely never say them out loud.
"If you’re not careful, you might miss one of the rich First Years."
"Aside from that, I fought the rank one, two, and three of their class. I can tell you with certainty that none of them are normal."
"They are very...strange, and my instincts warned me about the three of them."
The expressions of Balafar, Tibat, and Agramormos was instantly one of surprise and disbelief.
They knew just how powerful Akaza was, and for Akaza to say such words, it carried a lot of weight.
However, they had this pride and belief ingrained in them that made it difficult for them to believe that mere Fiends could be so strong.
They were all Supreme Archfiends after all.
A few seconds later, Balafar’s familiar scoff resounded in the classroom.
"To me, it sounds like you’ve gotten weak. So, you want to tell me that four First Years have gotten the better of you?"
"If it was just one or two First Year Initiates that gave you this feeling, then it’d be understandable since there’s usually a monster or two in a class."
"But for you to say that four First Years triggered your warning instincts, then it means you’ve gotten weak."
Akaza merely frowned at this comment and did not get angry at it since such thoughts had crept its way into his mind recently.
He realized that he had been slacking off for a long time now, and it was probably one of the reasons why he lost to Simon.
’I guess I needed a wakeup call.’
As soon as Akaza had this thought, Tibat spoke.
"I’ll buy the book. How much is it?"
Balafar and Agramormos were stunned, and they looked at Tibat in disbelief.
"You’re actually buying that nonsensical book?" Balafar asked with a tone filled with disbelief and confusion.
Tibat ignored him, her gaze remaining on Akaza.
Akaza’s eyes flickered with surprise, then he answered.
"Two thousand merits."
Before Balafar and Agramormos could react to the absurd price of a mere book containing information on a bunch of First Years, Tibat nodded calmly.
"No problem. I’ll pay."