Sakamaki Kazuma quickly paid 20 million Personal Points, saving Ryuen Kakeru and six others from expulsion.
Akasaka saw the points he had received. With the additional 10 million from earlier, he now had 30 million.
Adding his own 4 million and change brought the total to over 34 million. He was one step closer to paying off his debt, but...
Akasaka glanced at Horikita Manabu, who looked back at him as if waiting for something.
With a sigh, Akasaka had no choice but to carry out the Third Plan and lose 10 million.
Akasaka called out to Sakamaki Kazuma and Ryuen Kakeru, who were about to leave.
The two immediately stopped in their tracks, suddenly struck by an ominous feeling that shot straight to their heads.
Sure enough, Akasaka's next words confirmed their suspicions.
Akasaka's demonic voice rang in Sakamaki Kazuma's ears once more. Sakamaki's face filled with terror.
All he heard Akasaka say was, "I forgot to tell you, Ryuen. The First Signed Contract we made is invalid. I'm going to pursue the matter with Yamauchi now."
Akasaka waved the contract in his hand. It was the one written with invisible ink, concerning Yamauchi Haruki.
Ryuen was about to call bullshit when Akasaka helpfully reminded him, "I suggest you take a good look at the contract and check whether it has both your name and mine on it."
Ryuen's eyes widened, as if he had realized something. He hurriedly pulled out the Duplicate Contract and read it. His expression immediately stiffened.
Seeing Ryuen's reaction, Sakamaki Kazuma knew something was wrong.
Ryuen looked at Akasaka Ryunosuke with a grim expression, gritting his teeth as if he wanted to tear him limb from limb.
"You bastard! You planned this from the very beginning, didn't you?!"
In front of everyone, Ryuen tore the contract to shreds, scattering pieces all over the conference room. But he didn't regret it. The contract was useless now—nothing but a piece of wastepaper!
Akasaka yawned, then tore his own contract in half in front of everyone. His expressionless face gave nothing away.
"That was my plan from the start."
"First, I made a deal with you to buy some time and accomplish one of my goals, while also throwing off your investigation."
"My second goal was to make a deal with you regarding Totzuka Yahiko from Class B."
"I used your video accusing him to extort another batch of Personal Points from you."
"Of course, this time I was after the teacher. You couldn't come up with 20 million Personal Points anyway."
Sakamaki Kazuma was about to swear, but Akasaka stopped him.
Akasaka raised a hand to cut him off. "I'm not done talking. Don't interrupt me."
"Fuck me!" Sakamaki Kazuma nearly spat up a mouthful of blood. He sank trembling into a chair, staring lifelessly at the ceiling and muttering over and over, "It's over. It's over. Class C is finished..."
Sakamaki Kazuma knew all too well that Akasaka had given up the First Signed Contract with Ryuen Kakeru. Although he had lost 10 million, the trade-off was that seven Class C students would be expelled.
Each expulsion cost 300 Class Points. Two expulsions would bring the total straight down to zero... and there were seven.
That was why Sakamaki Kazuma was in despair.
Not only had Akasaka swindled him out of 20 million, he had also destroyed his entire Class C.
Starting next month, his class would drop straight to Class D, while the class that had originally been in Class D would rise to Class C.
This wasn't just killing two birds with one stone—or even three. It was killing so many birds at once that you couldn't count them all.
Horikita Manabu must have had something to gain from helping him, too. It was probably his younger sister, Horikita Suzune.
Then again, it made sense. They were siblings, after all. Of course he would want his sister to move up a class as soon as possible and have a better life.
He might act indifferent most of the time, but in reality, he had always been keeping an eye on his younger sister.
"Heh."
Sakamaki Kazuma gave a cold laugh.
"Impressive work! I've taught students for years, but I've never encountered a monster like you!"
"Then I'm honored by the teacher's praise."
"I'm not praising you, you bastard!"
Sakamaki Kazuma angrily sprang to his feet, grabbed Akasaka by the collar, and lifted him off the ground.
Horikita Manabu and Suzune wanted to stop him, but Akasaka raised a hand to hold them back.
He taunted the Class C Homeroom Teacher in front of him, wearing a mocking smile.
"Are you actually going to hit me, you coward...?"
Sakamaki Kazuma had clearly lost his head. He failed to realize that he was being provoked and punched Akasaka.
Akasaka fell to the floor and lay there expressionlessly, waving at Ayanokoji.
Ayanokoji understood what he meant. He lifted Sakamaki Kazuma with one hand and tossed him aside, then looked down at Akasaka Ryunosuke, who was still lying on the floor. His expression remained blank.
"Did you accomplish your goal?"
Akasaka was slightly surprised by Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's question. "You know what I was trying to do?"
"I figured out part of it," Ayanokoji replied calmly.
Akasaka didn't seem all that surprised. After all, Ayanokoji was the White House's greatest masterpiece.
He brushed the dust off himself and stood up, then swept a cold glance toward Sakamaki Kazuma. From the area near his chest, he took out a Pin-hole Camera.
Sakamaki Kazuma's face turned ashen. He had already guessed how things would end for him.
Akasaka handed the Pin-hole Camera to the Student Council President, Horikita Manabu. "Will this little thing be enough to make this teacher disappear from the school?"
"You sure have a terrifying way of putting things, Akasaka Secretary..."
Horikita Manabu accepted the Pin-hole Camera, then added a quip of his own.
"You're ruthless, toying with even a teacher as if he were in the palm of your hand. But you're not wrong. This is more than enough."
Hearing that, Sakamaki Kazuma fell to his knees in despair and clung to Horikita Manabu's leg, pleading, "Please, let me go! I'll give you anything you want! I can hand over seventy percent of my future salary. Please don't make me leave This School!"
Horikita Manabu kicked him away in disgust and replied coldly, "You're no longer a teacher at This School. I'll report everything as it happened. Wait for the notice."
"I'm sure the Chairman has zero tolerance for teachers assaulting students. Get ready to pack your bags and leave."
After saying that, Horikita Manabu strode away, leaving behind a despairing Sakamaki Kazuma and a grim-faced Ryuen.
Akasaka didn't care what happened next.
He had done what needed doing, collected the money he was owed, and saved the people he wanted to protect...
Speaking of which, Akasaka thought of Shiina Hiyori...
Sigh... In the end, I let my feelings get the better of me...
With his hands in his pockets, Akasaka walked at the front of the group, leading Kato Megumi in the middle, Horikita Suzune on his left, and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka on his right. He strode away like a king.
The three behind him followed like loyal subjects, without a single complaint.
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