Everyone, including Wendy Queen, deemed Alex Watson's decision as utterly reckless. Wendy, already trembling, now seemed to shrink even smaller, if possible.
Yet, Alex could distinctly observe the shift in the digits floating above Wendy's head.
「Wendy Queen Loyalty: 55」
A swift fall of 5 points! Alex sighed internally. Wendy's lack of self-assurance was apparent. Or, perhaps... she was entirely unaware of the vast potential residing within her!
Oscar Mills, momentarily taken aback by Alex' agreement, had initially expected Alex to deflect the challenge with excuses, withdrawing from the recruitment fair in embarrassment.
A defeated dog should look the part, after all!
But Alex' bold acceptance caught him off guard. In Oscar's eyes, Alex' decision bordered on lunacy. Yet, Oscar was not about to let Alex' "misstep" pass without exploitation.
He had long harbored intentions to obliterate the "Omni-Class" from Santania School's roster.
After pondering briefly, Oscar suggested with a smirk, "Let's do this: If Mr. Watson's Omni-Class wins this contest, he can freely choose any student from Warrior Class A, bypassing me entirely. Should Warrior Class A emerge victorious...," he paused, feigning concern before continuing with a humble smile, "I wouldn't want to impose too harshly. So, I'll offer you two options. One, Wendy Queen joins Warrior Class A under my guidance. Or two, Mr. Watson could assist in Warrior Class A, given my overwhelming student load. Naturally, choosing both is permissible."
Oscar gestured towards the back of his head, portraying himself as making a significant concession. To the onlookers, it appeared Warrior Class A's victory wouldn't significantly benefit them, inadvertently seeming to aid Alex and Wendy.
Yet, on closer scrutiny, both options were laced with malice. Opting for the first would result in Wendy's transfer to Warrior Class A, stripping Alex of his only student, leading to his dismissal and expulsion from the school.
The second option, beyond leaving Wendy classless and facing expulsion, would position Alex in a subservient role within Warrior Class A, where Oscar would hardly make his tenure pleasant and could dismiss him at whim, effectively dissolving the Omni-Class.
The essence of both choices would lead to the expulsion of both Alex Watson and Wendy Queen. Alex, fully aware of the stakes, merely smiled in response, "Well, since Mr. Mills proposes such terms, let's proceed accordingly."
He then turned, escorting Wendy away from the scene. Instantaneously, the crowd converged around Oscar, showering him with adulations. "Truly noble of Mr. Mills. Mr. Watson stands to lose nothing from this arrangement."
"On the surface, it looked like just a bet, but in reality, it was a way of showing care. Mr. Mills' generosity knows no bounds."
"Without Mr. Mills' shelter, Alex Watson's days at the academy were numbered. The backstory is surprisingly touching."
Surrounded by the adoring comments from his peers and teachers, Alex Watson could only muster a forced smile, saying, "You guys should really stop making fun of me."
Yet internally, he was brimming with disdain.
"Will this be the end of you, Alex Watson?"
...
In the Omni-Class
In the spacious classroom, only Alex Watson and Wendy Queen were present, casting a stark, almost desolate air around them.
Embarrassment painted Wendy Queen's face, still caught in the aftermath of their wager, her attention scattered.
Alex Watson, in contrast, sat quietly at the front, busily scribbling away.
The classroom was filled with the soft sounds of writing, an almost comforting background noise that only seemed to intensify Wendy Queen's discomfort.
Time dragged on until Wendy Queen, mustering up her courage, timidly said, "Mr. Watson,I'm not feeling too well; I think I need to rest a bit."
Her voice faded to a whisper by the end of her sentence.
Without even glancing up, Alex Watson softly replied, "Just a minute more."
With the conversation at a standstill, Wendy Queen sat back down, resigned to wait out the last minute before she could escape to the solitude of the practice room.
This solitary practice was, after all, her initial reason for joining the Omni-Class.
Despite her struggles, Wendy Queen was no fool.
A trainee teacher, hardly recognized by anyone at the academy, couldn't possibly offer her much in terms of learning.
She figured it was better to push herself for another year, hoping for a breakthrough, rather than take her chances with whatever Mr. Watson could offer. After all, it beat being expelled.
Wendy Queen had never really planned to take her studies under Alex Watson seriously.
And Alex Watson was painfully aware of this.
As the minute finally passed and Alex Watson looked up, Wendy Queen's loyalty had plummeted to 25 points.
Clearly, everything Alex Watson had done up to this point had only served to lower Wendy Queen's opinion of him.
From accepting Oscar Mills' challenge to now, just wasting Wendy Queen's time, it was all a series of deductions in her eyes.
Yet, seeing Wendy Queen so burdened, Alex Watson didn't react with frustration but offered a reassuring smile, "Take this piece of paper on the podium; it outlines a practice regimen. Just follow it during your daily training."
He left the classroom without waiting for her reply, leaving Wendy Queen in a state of confusion.
So, the notes Mr. Watson had been working on were meant as guidance for her practice?
But quickly, Wendy Queen's optimism faded to skepticism.
Without even bothering to inquire about her current situation or the specific techniques she was working on, how could Mr. Watson's advice possibly be of any value?
With a heavy heart, Wendy Queen sighed. In the end, it was up to her to make the difference.
She picked up the piece of paper from the podium without so much as a glance and tucked it away, then headed for the practice room.
It wasn't that she was considering Mr. Watson's suggestions; she simply didn't want any bad blood between them should he notice the paper untouched upon his return.
Even if she was to be transferred to Mr. Mills' class after a week, they'd still have to coexist till then.
Wendy Queen preferred to avoid unnecessary conflicts.
She soon found herself in her usual spot in the practice room, embarking on the familiar routine she had maintained for two years, feeling ever so close to a breakthrough. Maybe, just maybe, she could advance her skill level in the next seven days.
Meanwhile, Alex Watson, alone in his office, gazed at a book with no words, a look of mild concern etched on his face.
"Wendy Queen is still practicing incorrectly. She hasn't considered the training advice I offered. This way, she's on a path to potentially harming herself."