บท 83: Kind Offer
Zed didn't know whether to be offended or amused at the situation. In the end, the officers thought their stay in the city would be a lot of fun.
"I hope your stay is pleasant!" Zed told Loren as her breakfast arrived.
The waiters brought fruit juice for Felicity and Jessica while Zed was served with a cappuccino.
"Thanks," Loren replied as she started her breakfast.
[[Student Zed, you are urgently summoned to the principal's cabin.]] A notification panel suddenly popped up on the table.
Zed was startled by the notification.
"Why am I being summoned?" Zed wondered.
"The principal changed a week ago, but that wouldn't explain the summon," Jessica narrowed her eyes.
"New principal?" Zed asked.
"Yeah, his name is Owain. From what I know, he is from another city," Jessica answered.
"I will have to answer the summon if he is new here," Zed said, taking a sip of the cappuccino. He was rather laid-back about the situation.
****
Principal's cabin.
The cabin was large, with walls decorated with various art pieces. There were sofas and glass tables in the corners for relaxation, and at the center, there was an office table.
Owain sat in the chair, browsing through some files. He was a middle-aged man with a beer belly and long black hair.
"It doesn't make any sense at all!" Owain thought as he browsed a detailed report on Zed.
*beep*
The female receptionist informed him about Zed's arrival.
"Send him in," Owain ordered.
A minute later, Zed stepped in. He was rather unfazed for a student entering the principal's cabin.
"You called for me?" Zed asked in a neutral tone. He was neither arrogant nor servile.
"Yes," Owain nodded and then signaled him to have a seat.
"May I know the reason?" Zed asked as he sat down.
"Of course," Owain replied with a smile, "I have called you to personally inform you of my decision. I wish to avoid any possible misunderstanding."
Zed didn't react. He waited to know the so-called decision and how it concerned him.
"I am transferring you to Raffles Academy," Owain explained, "It is for your own good... so I hope you will politely accept my decision."
"Hahaha!" Zed started laughing.
"Did I say something funny?"
Owain asked in a stern manner. He expected Zed to be shocked or angry, but definitely not amused.
"Yes! Your hypocrisy of my own good brings back memories of people who claimed the same!"
Zed answered.
"Hypocrisy?" Owain's expression turned cold.
"Come on, drop the act," Zed continued with an amused expression, "You wish to transfer me in order to accommodate the transfer students."
The best academy in the city would obviously have a limited number of students. It was both to maintain quality and also to show the standard of the institution.
By this, the wealthy parents could be assured that the limited number of students would mean the best exposure for their child; unlike the overcrowded public academies where the poor and middle-class children studied.
The academy was already full with the required quota of students. So to accommodate the transfer students, the academy had to remove the existing students.
Zed was sure Owain had already removed some students seeing Loren and other transfer students. Of course, to do so, he had to be extremely polite and aboveboard since almost everyone here had an influential background.
The only people who didn't have powerful backgrounds were scholarship students like Jessica. But they were immune since the academy had to maintain its reputation of being magnanimous to the lower class.
"I refuse your kind offer," Zed informed him of his own decision.
"It is an order and not an offer!" Owain clarified. He was anything but pleased by Zed's attitude.
"Last I checked, the principal doesn't have such authority," Zed reminded him with a smile.
"I do have the authority!" Owain brought a file from the drawer and gave it to Zed before continuing, "You don't meet the standards of our academy so I am being kind!"
Zed opened the file to see the papers inside.
"You are top in academics and sports, but that doesn't matter since your admission was illegal in the first place!" Owain said as Zed read the file, "A student wishing to join the academy has to have educated parents, with certain background clearance, even if the admission was through a scholarship."
Zed closed the file and tossed it away. He understood the reasons Owain wanted to use to remove him from the academy.
Many top elementary schools had a requirement of parents being educated. Not only wealth but background mattered in the admission to such institutes.
"I am aware your parents died when you were young," Owain's voice contained a trace of pity, "Since they were from slums, I am sure they didn't meet the qualifications of our academy. So you can understand..."
"I do understand," Zed's expression turned to that of mocking as he continued, "But you are the one who is not understanding the trouble you are creating for yourself."
"Trouble for myself?"
It was time for Owain to laugh. He had checked Zed's files, so he was sure there was nothing for him to fear.
Zed was just a slum insect who got lucky and made a fortune. He had no background to speak of, so removing him had no drawback, unlike the others.
Sure he was rich, but there was no lack of rich people in the city. Not to mention, giving admission to the children of influential officers would help Owain.
"I hope you can laugh in the future," Zed said as he left the chair. He took a brief pause before adding, " There is something I wish to ask before I leave."
"What?" Owain was curious.
"Have you informed the academy's governing council about this decision?" Zed turned towards the exit so the principal didn't notice his smile.
"I don't need to inform the council of such small things," Owain leisurely answered.
The day-to-day activities were handled by the principal, but the overall management policies were overlooked by the governing council.
"..." Zed walked to the exit but then he suddenly stopped.
"There is something you wish to add?" Owain asked.
He was sure Zed was going to beg forgiveness. This brought a smile on his face. He couldn't help but look forward to seeing the sorry expression on Zed's face.
"You were so kind to personally inform me," Zed turned towards him, "So let me return the kindness by giving you a piece of advice."
"Advice?" Owain was confused. Shouldn't Zed be begging for leniency?
"Yes," Zed's voice was filled with sincerity as he stated his advice: "Better search for a new city and a new job!"
If he was Kiba, he would have added: "And a new wife as well!"
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