The incident at the graduation ceremony had stunned the wealthy Manhattanites in the audience.
Who else had a kid who needed to spill blood just to get a diploma?
Alvin was pretty laid-back about it. He'd been watching the show when Fox gave him a shove, and only then did he reluctantly pick up the microphone again. Looking at the wealthy parents chattering among themselves, he smiled and said, "Don't be surprised. This is just our style.
"We may not be able to produce the very best students, but our students are sure to have the most personality.
"If you're having second thoughts, the door's right there. But we won't be refunding the fees you've already paid..."
As the Hell's Kitchen troublemakers watching the spectacle burst into gleeful laughter, Alvin waved them off with a smile and said to the parents, who were looking at one another in confusion, "I was joking. Of course we won't refund your money, because I've arranged an eye-opening opportunity for these kids.
"I used to think things like this weren't as important as studying. But a lot has happened since then, and I've realized that I don't understand education as well as I thought I did.
"The world itself is diverse. I have the best resources, so I can create the best conditions.
"And a person's horizons determine how ambitious they can be!"
As he spoke, Alvin looked at the group of dazed children and smiled. "Hell's Kitchen isn't the whole world. It's home to some of the world's worst traits, and the most typical of those is 'poverty.'
"That's what wears down a person's will the most. Getting used to poverty isn't a virtue.
"Wherever you come from, take a look at how your new friends see the world around them. Learn from