An old man sat behind a large wooden desk, hands clasped tightly together in a futile attempt to stop them from shaking. His face was pale and despite of the air conditioner running at full blast, beads of sweat continued to gather on his forehead.
Every few seconds, His eyes darted nervously toward the television mounted on the wall, where a news was playing quietly in the background.
"-tragic end to what authorities are calling a brutal gang-related incident. Coach Tougou Tsuyoshi, a well-known figure of a local high school sports, was found dead at an abandoned park late last night. Police believe it was the result of a violent clash between rival groups due to the messy bloodstains found everywhere in the area. No suspects have been identified yet-"
The principal's throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. His fingers dug deeper into each other, knuckles turning white.
Across from him, Adrian sat relaxed in the guest chair calmly sipping a cup of coffee.
Adrian took another slow sip, before he set the cup down with a soft clink.
"Terrible news about Coach Tougou, isn't it?" He said conversationally, voice smooth and pleasant. "Such a shame. He was quite the influential figure around here. I heard he had a lot of… connections elsewhere."
The principal's eyes snapped to him, with barely concealed panic flashing across his face. When he finally spoke, he forced his voice to remain steady.
"Y-Yes… a terrible loss for the sports community. We're all in shock."
Adrian nodded unsympathetically, leaning back in his chair.
"I wouldn't say loss exactly, but I guess even as lecherous as he is… Losing a competent coach like that would be a terrible thing to those in need of his service, add it with the whole soccer team situation. You must be under a lot of pressure right now, Principal."
The old man's hands trembled visibly on the desk. He quickly hid them under the table.
Adrian smiled gently, as if they were old friends discussing the weather.
"You know, I've been thinking about how things have been lately in this school. The hearing, the rumors, the sudden… accidents. It's almost like this school has been trying to make my life very difficult."
He paused, letting the silence stretch.
The old man lowered his gaze, forcing out a strained smile.
"I'm afraid I don't understand what you're trying to imply."
"Really?" Adrian's tone remained light.
"I would've thought someone in your position would be much more perceptive."
He reached for his coffee again, taking another unhurried sip before setting the cup back onto its saucer.
"You know... I've always admired people like you."
The principal blinked.
"...Excuse me?"
"People who do everything subtly," Adrian said with a faint smile. "People who rarely dirty their own hands and simply convince someone else to do it for them. Getting away with massive crimes by pinning the blame on others."
The principal's face had gone from pale to ghostly. His hands, now hidden beneath the desk, were shaking so badly that Adrian could see the tremor in his shoulders.
Adrian's smile didn't waver. He let the silence stretch for a few long seconds, watching the old man's discomfort grow.
Then, calmly, he spoke.
"I know everything."
The words landed like a death sentence.
The principal hesitated, his lips trembling as he struggled to find the words. When he finally spoke, his voice came out hoarse and strained.
"I… I don't know what you're talking about-"
Adrian raised a hand, cutting him off gently.
"No need to lie. It's tiring for the both of us."
He pulled out his phone, tapped a few times, and slid it across the desk. The video started playing automatically.
The principal's own voice filled the quiet office.
"That little bastard… He thinks he can threaten us? After everything I've built here?"
The old man's face drained of all color as he watched himself pacing, ordering Tougou to make sure Adrian got into a long coma.
When the video ended, the principal looked like he might faint. His breathing was shallow and ragged.
Adrian leaned forward slightly, elbows on the desk, voice still calm and friendly.
"You see, Principal… I don't like being threatened. And I most definitely don't like people trying to put me in a coma."
The old man's hands finally rose from beneath the desk, trembling uncontrollably as he held them up between them in a desperate gesture for Adrian to stop.
"I-I can explain-"
"No need," Adrian cut in smoothly. "I'm not here to argue. I'm here to make a simple proposal that won't lead to our mutual destruction."
Adrian hid the faint amusement that threatened to reach his lips.
'Mutual destruction? As if I'd ever willingly throw my own life away just to drag someone else down. If I ever found myself cornered, then sure, I'd happily take everyone down with me, but deliberately choosing self-destruction when there were better ways to ruin someone was simply idiotic.'
Last night, he had upgraded his Hacking skill and wasted no time putting it to use. He produced an edited copy of the original recording, where he meticulously erased every trace of his own involvement and replaced it with a fabricated sequence of events that portrayed the principal as the one who orchestrated the gang war.
He tapped the phone.
"If anything happens to me, this video is released automatically. I don't think I need to explain what happens after that."
The principal's face was slick with sweat. His voice cracked.
"Please… I have a family! I-I..."
Adrian's smile faded, replaced by a cold, steady gaze.
"Then you should have thought about that before you ordered someone to crack my skull."
He leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs.
"Of course, if you behave… if you keep your head down and stop interfering with me, while also making sure no one else tries anything stupid… then this video stays between us. You'll keep your position, I'll keep my peace and everyone wins."
He smiled again, though it didn't reach his eyes.
"Simple, isn't it?"
The principal stared at him for a long time, fear and calculation warring in his eyes. Finally, his shoulders slumped in defeat.
"…What do you want from me?"
Adrian stood up, straightening his uniform.
"Our interests don't have to conflict. Stay out of my way, and keep anyone connected to Tougou from becoming my problem. That's all I ask."
The old man nodded weakly, voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes… I understand."
Adrian smiled, satisfied with the response. But just to be sure, he activated his upgraded skill.
[ Advanced Mental Command. ]
Using the principal's overwhelming fear as a conduit, he planted deep suggestions of obedience and terror.
The old man's eyes glazed over for a moment.
Adrian watched quietly. The recent increase to his Soul attribute had strengthened Advanced Mental Command, extending its duration from five minutes to eight. It wasn't absolute mind control, but combined with the fear already rooted in the principal's heart...
He was now about seventy percent certain the principal wouldn't do anything stupid.
Adrian turned and walked toward the door with a pleasant smile.
Adrian stepped out of the office and closed the door softly behind him.
Nagisa was waiting in the hallway, leaning against the wall with her hands overhead. The moment she saw him, a cheeky smile spread across her face.
Adrian returned the smile and walked over. He gently held her chin, tilting her face up as he leaned in close, whispering against her ear.
"The plan will happen tomorrow after school."
Nagisa's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Hehe, Wonderful~"
Adrian released her chin and walked away, hands in his pockets, a calm but dangerous aura surrounding him.
Tomorrow after school, the plan with Natsuha would finally begin.