CHAPTER 5 Act 2

"What do you want to talk about, Mr. Seid?"

"I will keep this short. I need all of the students' information here."

Hans responded without a second thought.

"...Information, huh? Why though?"

"There's someone I'd want to look for and meet."

"I'm startled by your honest answer, Mr. Seid, but do you believe you can simply obtain information like that?"

"I don't know. But I hope I can convince you."

"..."

We're now in the Light Family's office, and Zei was also here, a little far away, calmly and silently listening to my conversation with Mr. Seid. I looked at her but she didn't even bother looking at us.

I know she was here, but I don't get it. Why did she acquiesce so quickly? Is she waiting for something to talk about? Or is she interested in Mr. Seid?

"So you're looking for a needle in a haystack?" I said right after.

"Somehow."

"Why us? Did you first inform the President?"

"No."

"Wha—?"

"Erm..." Zei cut in, "Are you pressed for time, Mr. Seid?"

"Sort of."

"Can you explain why you want such information? The school cannot simply reveal its students' information if it will cause trouble later."

"I am aware; and if you're wondering why, it's because of that letter."

"A letter?" I asked.

"..." Zei hasn't said anything in response.

"It was starting to get bothersome if you got letters day after day," he said.

"By letter, do you mean...love letter?"

"No."

He rejects it right away. Though I'm not surprised if he received at least one.

"Then what's the problem? Do you have a stalker? It's understandable given your popularity at school."

"Rather than being a stalker, he appears to be very familiar with who I am."

"That's what stalkers are good at; they know you well."

"..."

"Then why did you contact us?" Zei said, adding, "You didn't realize we may be the ones sending you letters."

"Based on Mr. Steve's reaction, he wasn't the one who sent it, and if it was you, Ms. Zei...I'm screwed."

I would be surprised if Zei wrote those letters. But I don't believe Zei will do that because, like Mr. Seid, she is a forthright person who wants to go and tell that person directly.

"Pfftt... Haha..." Zei chuckles softly, which surprises me, but then she continues, "What a joke, Mr. Seid. You'd know that if it were me, wouldn't you? Currently, you don't ask us here if you have any doubts."

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"You're wrong. I don't know if I can trust you all. I'm just lucky that you two aren't the people I'm looking for."

"I see... Alright, so why did you come to us? Do you guarantee that we will assist you?"

"I hope so. Leaving the President, I simply wanted to let you two know because you were the people who could easily access the principal. So even if you don't give me what I want, at least I wanted to inform you and deliver that word to your mother. She can give me the information I need."

He's logical. The quickest approach to obtaining information is to contact us and the principal straight ahead.

"We'll inform the Principal later. If you don't mind me asking, what is the purpose of this letter and why was it given to you?" I asked.

Naturally, there is a reason for this, and I must first hear it from him.

"The thing is, I don't have an idea."

"What?"

"It happened when I first came here."

"Seems like it knows a lot about you, Mr. Seid," Zei said while making a small grin.

"Pretty much, but then day after day, I received something from unknown, with strange messages and warnings, and later that evening I received from him that I should be on guard for today's exam."

As far as dealing with it every day, it seems tough and aggravating. I can feel his eagerness to know that person immediately.

"I don't see why you need information. Instead, trust the school to solve this problem for you, Mr. Seid."

He's clever, but I doubt he can easily find that person.

"I didn't indicate I was seeking assistance, Mr. Steve; I emphasized before that I only needed all of the students' information, nothing more. I want to solve this on my own."

"But—"

"...That's correct," Zei stepped in, continuing, "You want information? Then what are you going to pay, Mr. Seid?"

It looks like Zei is willing to help him. This is merely a deal rather than a help. I thought he was going to trust school for this issue. He was well aware that everything was not easy to deal with, yet he insisted on working on his own.

What's his real objective anyway?

"I'm considering it, but I don't have an option; I'm not going to pay anything, Ms. Zei; instead, I'm going to accept your proposal. Remember what you said that day?"

"Hoh..." Zei says with a newfound smile, "Of course."

"Wait, what are you two talking about?"

After that day, I never saw Zei smile again, but I saw something fascinating here. This was their agreement, and I was no longer involved.

What was happening here? What was their plan?

"...If you're curious, it's—"

"He's starting his own family, Steve; you don't need to know anything more," Zei replied hastily before Hans could respond.

"This..."

My brain has gone blank, and I am unable to process information. That is not something Hans will do. This is actually unexpected.

If I'm correct, Zei proposed this to Hans. How come?

One thing I could say...

"Mr. Seid, this is unforeseeable."

"..."

They remained silent for a moment, and then I realized something.

"Then why am I here? I don't believe it was necessary for me to be here in the first place."

"It's alright since Mr. Seid wanted to confirm if you knew something about the letter," Zei explicitly said.

"Kind of, but I'd like to speak with Mr. Steve about the Gale Family issue."

"Ah, don't worry about that; we've finally cleaned up your mess. Essentially, I don't want to get involved with your business, Mr. Seid; speaking with them takes time, you know?"

"Isn't my problem now, right?"

"...Yeah."

When it came to certain matters, he was extremely cautious.

"It's bugging me the whole time, Mr. Seid, but I noticed, why would you call us by our first names? Isn't that rather surprising?" Zei said with a casual tone.

I've noticed the same thing, and it took me by surprise.

"It's easier for me to remember your name. Besides, you two have the same surname."

"Is that so? Well, there's nothing to speak about here, so I'll leave for now. I need to prepare something for you, Mr. Seid. If you want to see me, you can contact me at any time using that phone number. You've remembered it, right? We can now have time to chat alone. Well, then."

Zei promptly leaves, as if she was in a rush.

"Is it typically for her to leave first?"

Mr. Seid asked me out of nowhere.

"Beats me. Oh, there's one more question I'd want to ask you."

"..."

"How do you feel about the exam situation?"

"What do you mean?"

"That little game."

"...Honestly, I don't know."

"Just I thought, you're not interested in it."

"..."

"But what if that individual who took the highest score tries to take advantage of you? Remember the request will be granted."

"Granted, huh?...Then I don't have a choice since I am compelled to participate."

"Then what would you want if you were that person?"

That wish will only be decided upon in class and only in class because all agree. Thus, anything outside of the class demands will be automatically void.

"I'm not looking for anything in particular."

"You can earn influence and power with just a single request; don't you desire anything?"

I'd want to know if Hans desired that request. However, he said that he didn't want anything. But what if he was the one who received the highest score?

I don't know.

They can do whatever they want to Hans, but I can tell that Hans can also do unimaginable things to them.

Everyone has the chance to take out the other person, including myself.

So things will be interesting following this test.

"Power you say? I wonder..."

He didn't exactly say what he thought, but I could tell by his steely eyes that things weren't going to be easy.