Chapter 13: BLACKTHORN SELECTION.
The grand hall was packed; every student was standing as Jian, the headmaster, stood before the towering screen displaying the latest point rankings. The atmosphere was tense, but none were as visibly shaken as the students of Section A.
With only forty-five thousand points in total, it was glaringly obvious that they would be the ones sent as Blackthorn Academy's representatives. Murmurs of frustration rippled through their ranks, some students casting resentful glances at the screen while others slumped in silent despair. No one wanted to be sent away.
Jian, ever the theatrical headmaster, raised a hand to quiet the hall. "So, my dear students," he began, his voice laced with a deceptive warmth. "The results are in! But—"
Hua Rong stiffened. There was always a 'but' with this man.
"Do all of Section A's students truly deserve to go?" he asked, a smirk creeping onto his face. His words made everyone in Section A go rigid. But then, he continued, "And do all of Section B's students truly deserve to stay?"
A nervous hush spread across the hall, students exchanging anxious glances. A teacher stepped forward, handing Jian a piece of paper. He glanced at it, then theatrically cleared his throat.
"In this academy, each student holds an average of 700 points," he announced. "However, there are some among us who don't even meet that threshold—students who, if we followed the original rule, would slip away unnoticed while their classmates bore the burden."
He let that sink in before sharply adding, "And can I allow that?"
Silence. Then—
"Obviously not!" he declared, tossing the paper onto the podium. "Therefore, only the ten students with the lowest points will be sent as our representatives."
A loud commotion broke out among the students.