"Let the presentations begin now. We don't have much time left as we have to visit other schools," A gruff voice reverberated through the speakers in the hall and the students quietened.Jed turned his gaze to the stage. The first presentation was starting and the students were pretty excited. There were three judges in total. One woman and two men. One of the men looked like an Asian-breed while the other two had the distinct features of Americans.The principal was sitting beside them followed by a few teachers who were in charge of the selection of candidates.Jed smiled coldly when he noticed Mrs. Henshaw was sitting next to the principal like she was entitled to the post, causing other teachers to be comfortable.Jed shook his head; her pride and overconfidence was going to play a huge role in her downfall. His eyes shifted to the stage just as Cullen and his companion, Tim stepped on it.He wanted to see what they had prepared."Hello everyone, my name is Cullen Jetti and this
'User will be rewarded two points upon completion of the task. There is no deadline but the current task will expire when a new task arises.''Vendetta, aren't you being too selfish? I need just three more points to unlock the combat skill. Why can't you give me three reward points instead of two?' Jed couldn't help complaining.Vendetta's robotic voice was witty as he responded,' Life is never fair, dear user. Everything isn't gotten easily. You have to work hard for it!'Jed gritted his teeth. This damn system! Why doesn't it just say it wants him to suffer a little?Hearing his thoughts, Vendetta added,'Your system is a generous one. Who knows? You might actually get more than two reward points.''Hmph! Generous indeed. Sounds to me like...' Jed was saying when one of the judges' voices filled the hall. It was the female judge this time."We have the results with us and would like to announce the candidates we have chosen to participate in the next STEM season."Jed caught Cullen g
All the students were dismissed to their various classes. As Jed walked out with Ben and Eric, he felt someone staring at him intently.He turned around with the textbook firmly placed underneath his armpit. That was when he noticed Mr Bo standing at a far end of the hall, away from the area the teachers were sitting.As their eyes met, Mr Bo gave him a small smile and thumbs-up. It felt weird seeing a smile on the face of a stern teacher but Jed nodded his head in acknowledgement before leaving.The class erupted with another bouts of cheers. Some of the students even rushed to Liana. Jed was completely ignored."Liana, why didn't you tell us earlier that you had a beautiful presentation secretly planned like that?""Liana, do you know how cool you were on stage?" It was Henry, the class bully that said this with an infatuated look on his face."I have always wanted to show those arrogant students from elites' that they won't remain on top forever. Thank you Liana for fulfilling my w
Cullen ruffled his hair angrily but didn't respond. Tim's anger wasn't like what he was feeling right now.Tim clapped. "I was planning to settle scores with you but then, I realized someone else already did."Cullen's fists tightened at the words that followed, "I thought you were the all-powerful Cullen Jetti yet you stood no chance to your half-brother."Tim noticed he was getting riled up and continued,"Didn't you all say that boy is dumb... That he is a dullard but he passed... What does that make you then? The real dullard?""Ah! You are going too far!" Cullen swung his fists which Tim hurriedly dodged."Let me tell you... Watch your back. The entrance exams won't go as you planned and this boy you have constantly bullied and called names will slap you so hard in the face that you won't realize it!"With that, Tim walked away. Cullen carried a wooden chair nearby and smashed it with a loud 'ah!'When he was done venting his anger on the chair, he brought his phone and called som
'Can you research Finn's dirty deeds for me?' he asked. 'After the exams tomorrow, I'll be halfway through with the evacuation of my revenge on Cullen. Finn seems the next easiest target for me and I figured the best way to deal with him is airing his dirty laundry in public.''User's plan sounds like a great idea but don't forget you would be going against Alan Jetti and even the entire Jetti's family. The cops have been searching for evidence to detain Finn for so long but he has always escaped. Would your revelation make any difference this time?'Jed fell silent. Vendetta is right. Even if he airs Finn's dirty laundry in public, Alan could easily have the news buried with his status and wealth.The cops won't even stand a chance against him.But he shook his head and assured Vendetta,'Just gather as much information about him that you can get and leave the rest to me.''Okay. Vendetta will have the data transmitted to user in two minutes.'Jed was startled. Sometimes he forgets h
"Mister, what is wrong with the car?" Eric asked impatiently. He didn't realize something was off about the chauffeur's countenance, nor did he notice the man's hands were trembling slightly as he held the phone.Ben and Jed looked at the chauffeur through squinted eyes. They already figured out something was wrong."Damn it! Why is there no network signal?" The chauffeur raised his phone in exasperation. The call didn't go through because he suddenly lost signal.Jed and Ben brought out their phones. There was not a single bar in the network signal notification.'Something's definitely wrong,' Jed heard Ben's thoughts as the latter turned to look out through the closed windows.Jed followed suit. The highway was unusually deserted and there was not a single soul.But on a quick glance, Ben discovered unusual movement behind the scattered trees by the roadside. But he couldn't see anything as he was faraway."Sir, what's the matter?" Jed asked the chauffeur.Before the man could repl
"Young master!" A troop of uniformed men surrounded them. The badges on their uniforms indicated they were from the army. Some of them rushed to Ben to check if he was unhurt because if he was really hurt, their commander would skin them alive!While others acted to apprehend the assassins something surprising happened. All the assassins brought out a little gourd."Stop them!" One of the soldiers quickly realized what they were trying to do but before his colleagues could react, the assassins already emptied the contents of the poison into their throats.The angry instructor grabbed the assassin next to him and choked him, trying to stop the poison from flowing down which would make him spit it out.But he calculated wrongly because a 'slash!' sound filled the air. The assassin had removed a knife he had hidden and stabbed himself with it."Sergeant," One of the soldiers called out minutes later when the highway was finally silent. "There is no survivor."All the assassins had commi
When Jed woke up again, the first thing that greeted him were the familiar white ceilings."Not again," He murmured. Why was he in the hospital again?"Don't worry. It's nothing serious. He only passed out due to stress. He just had a head injury yet took the exams that overexerted his brain's strength."He looked at the direction where the voice came from. Ben, Eric and two soldiers were standing next to a nurse."Jed, you are awake!" Eric was the first person to notice. He rushed to the small sick bed which was attached to the wall."Did we scale through the exam?" Jed suddenly asked. He couldn't remember what he had done in the exam hall."Yes, the exam was over three hours ago," Ben was the one that answered. Suddenly, he couldn't face Jed as he said,"Jed, I'm sorry."Both Eric and Jed were puzzled. What's the apology for?Ben's fists clenched as guilt engulfed him. He recollected the conversation he had with his father after the exam. Turns out, the assassins were sent by one of