Chapter 189: Aldric Blackwood’s Offer
Aldric slammed his fist on the desk so hard the wood cracked.
"This... this is madness!" His voice shook with both fury and disbelief. "First the Sterlings, now the Harts, and the Kanes caught in the crossfire? Do you understand what this means, Xavier? The academy is being dragged into the dirt by your cursed orbit!"
Xavier leaned back in the chair, arms folded, his smirk sharp as a knife.
"My cursed orbit? I didn’t put a gun in Maximilian’s hand. He pulled that trigger himself. Don’t blame me because your precious elites can’t handle their own rot."
"Rot?" Aldric barked, standing. "These families held power for generations! The Sterlings, the Harts, the Kanes—legacies that shaped this city! And now, one by one, they’re unraveling!"
Xavier chuckled under his breath, tilting his head like he was savoring the chaos.
"Unraveling? More like exposing themselves. You elites keep thinking money and status keep you untouchable. But look at the screen, Aldric. Look at how pathetic they are when the mask slips."
Darius glanced nervously between them, sweat running down his temple. The holo-feed kept rolling—breaking into raw livestream snippets and media commentary.
Reporter: "This footage confirms Leonardo Kane was killed by Maximilian Hart during what appears to be a reckless shooting game. Public outrage is spreading fast."
Social media feed:
"Maximilian Hart is a psycho—first his dad covers for the Sterling scum, now his son kills Leonardo???"
"Rich brats playing with lives like toys. Kane family deserves justice."
"Why are all the elite families collapsing around Xavier... is he cursed, or is he a demon?"
"Nah, this is karma. Xavier’s just the spotlight exposing them."
The holo-feed split into screaming crowds gathering outside Kane Medical Tower, protesters already holding up signs that read: "Justice for Leonardo!" and "No More Elite Immunity!"
Reporter: "According to our latest intel, Maxmillian Hart is on the run. When the police went to the late commissioner’s residence, it was empty."
Aldric’s jaw clenched tighter, his hand trembling over the edge of his desk.
"This... this will destroy everything. The Blackwoods will not be next. I will not allow Lucas to be dragged into your storm, Xavier."
Xavier just grinned wider, tapping his fingers against the armrest.
"You might not have a choice, old man. Storms don’t ask permission before they hit."
Aldric finally broke the silence, his tone half-pleading, half-commanding.
"Why are you doing this, Xavier? There is no need to take it this far. Lucas, Ethan, Maximilian, Leonardo—they’re just boys. The same age as you. So what if they bullied you a little? Children fight, they argue, they compete. But this? Destroying their lives, their families, their futures? You’re going too far."
He paced behind his desk, his voice hardening.
"You should forgive and forget. Move on. As long as you remain in Astraeus Academy, I will personally ensure no one touches you, no one even dares think of harming you. And when you graduate, I will offer you a high-ranking position in Blackwood Corporation. Wealth, influence, security—your life will be set. You’ll never need to worry again."
Xavier sat still in the chair, staring at Aldric with an unreadable expression. The room was thick with tension, even Darius held his breath. For a long moment, it looked like Xavier was actually considering the offer. His eyes were calm, almost too calm.
Then it came.
A burst of laughter, sharp and unhinged, spilling out of him like a dam had cracked. He leaned forward, clutching his stomach, his laughter echoing through the office like a demon had taken residence in the academy itself.
"Forgive and forget?" Xavier repeated between laughs, his tone dripping with venom. "A little bullying, huh?" He slapped the arm of the chair, nearly doubling over, laughing harder and harder until his voice turned ragged.
"A position at Blackwood Corporation? You’ll make sure no one touches me? My life will be set?" Xavier threw his head back, the sinister laugh rising again, filling the room like thunder.
He leaned in, his grin razor-sharp, eyes glinting with malice.
"Old man... you really think I want your scraps? You think I crawled through hell just to beg at the Blackwoods’ table?"
Xavier’s laughter finally faded, but the grin stayed. His voice came low, cold, sharp as a blade.
"You don’t get it, do you, Aldric? You sit there behind your mahogany desk, thinking you can bargain with me like I’m some desperate stray begging for a bone. ’Forgive and forget.’ ’I’ll give you a seat in Blackwood Corporation.’"
He leaned forward, eyes narrowing.
"That’s the difference between me and you. You think safety, money, and a job is the pinnacle of life. You think power is an office, a title, a guaranteed salary. You think handing me leftovers will make me wag my tail and thank you."
He shook his head slowly.
"I don’t want to be part of your world, Aldric. I want to crush it. Rip apart the little thrones you and your friends built out of lies and corpses. Your grandson, his friends, their fathers—they thought they were untouchable. And look at them now."
Xavier’s grin widened.
"You ask why I do this? Because it’s not enough to survive. I want them broken. I want their names erased. I want the people who once laughed at me to tremble when they hear mine."
Silence. Aldric’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t speak. There was nothing to say.
Xavier stood, adjusting his jacket like he was brushing off dust. He walked toward the door slowly, every step deliberate. At the threshold, he turned back, his smile darker than ever.
"You think keeping Lucas out of the academy protects him?" Xavier’s voice was low, lethal. "I’ll find him. I’ll always find him. No one is untouchable. Not your grandson, not your precious students..."
He let the words hang before driving the nail in.
"...and not even you."
Aldric stiffened, rage and unease fighting on his face.
Xavier tilted his head, mock sympathy in his tone.
"Instead of worrying about Lucas, maybe worry about yourself, Aldric. What makes you think you’re safe here? What makes you think your life isn’t dangling by a thread already?"
He smirked, then walked out, leaving the office in a silence so heavy it almost screamed.