Chapter 308 How To Fight Fire With Fire
Hera’s eyes welled up with tears as she looked at the girl, her face a portrait of fear and worry. She nodded slowly, answering the question with a trembling voice. "Yes, I am a university scholar," she confirmed, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Can you please do me a favor?" Hera continued, her voice cracking. "Could you take a clear picture of me and repost it on the voting page so that others can see? And... what should I do to clear my name on the campus forum? Everyone believes these awful things about me, and I’m terrified about how this could affect my scholarship—or worse, lead to my expulsion."
Tears streamed down her cheeks, her distress palpable as she grappled with the fear of losing everything she had worked so hard for.
Everyone’s thoughts converged on one point: anger towards those who started the rumors about Hera. The students watching the live feed, including some computer science majors skilled in hacking, were particularly incensed. These students were known for their competitive spirit in hacking contests, often probing the firewalls of security companies to identify vulnerabilities. They were deeply troubled by the injustice being done to Hera and were already considering ways to use their expertise to address the situation.
These students, who were among Hera’s supporters and had voted for her as Campus Bell, had expected the university to address the situation promptly, given Hera’s high academic standing. They assumed that the university would advocate on her behalf. However, their expectations were dashed when no action was taken. The situation escalated further when, just as Hera was speaking, an announcement came over the university’s loudspeakers, summoning her to the dean’s office. This was the final straw for many, heightening their concern and frustration.
Many of the freshmen who had participated in slandering Hera were now beginning to second-guess their actions. They realized they had gone too far, fueled by rumors and without knowing the full story. They had been swept up in the collective frenzy, and the realization of their misguided actions was starting to set in.
The computer science students, enraged by the situation, rallied together and began working on hacking into the university’s system. Their goal was to identify the source of the malicious gossip about Hera and hold them accountable.
Hera, upon hearing her name called over the loudspeaker, was overwhelmed with emotion. Tears streamed down her face as she looked around at the people surrounding her, her lower lip trembling as she struggled to find the right words. Logan stood beside her, his hand gently rubbing her back. He wanted to offer her a comforting hug, but he hesitated, worried that such an action might be misinterpreted and potentially fuel the animosity of those targeting Hera.
"Senior, please don’t cry," Logan said softly, his voice filled with concern. He felt helpless, unsure of how to offer proper comfort. The other freshmen, too, lowered their heads in shame, acutely aware of why Hera was being summoned to the Dean’s office. They felt a pang of guilt for their part in the situation, realizing the weight of their actions.