World Domination System

14. Danger In The School Grounds

The next morning, Leonard woke up in high spirits, ready to tackle the day ahead. He had made up his mind to confront Edgar and put an end to the torment once and for all. 

As the morning sun rose, Leonard got dressed quickly and headed to school, arriving earlier than usual.

Walking through the school gates, Leonard couldn't help but notice the beautiful colors of the blooming flowers and the chirping birds in the nearby trees. The environment seemed to reflect his newfound optimism, filling him with a sense of happiness and confidence.

Finding a quiet spot on the school lawn, Leonard took a moment to collect his thoughts. He reminded himself of his worth and the strength he possessed especially now that he had a power sitting deep within him. 

He repeated words of encouragement in his mind, standing on the belief that he didn't have to listen to Edgar's harsh words anymore just because he was a scholarship kid. 

Today was the day Leonard would stand up for himself and he would make sure that he thought Edgar the lesson of his life.

[System warning- do not overreact]

Leonard stopped for a minute to think about what the system said and he knew it had given him a warning which was in fact the first official warning.

"I'll try." He clipped.

He wasn't going to promise himself to be gentle because he knew that when Edgar was dealing with him, he was far from gentle.

As the minutes ticked by, the school gradually filled with students. Leonard spotted Edgar among the crowd, swaggering with his usual air of arrogance but this time, instead of feeling fear or intimidation, Leonard felt a fire full of anger within him. 

He had made up his mind that he wouldn't let Edgar's words or actions control his happiness any longer. Enough was enough and he was ready to show him the stuff he was made of.

Taking a deep breath, Leonard approached Edgar with a lot of seriousness in his eyes. He stood tall, looking straight into Edgar's gaze, refusing to be intimidated. It was clear that something had changed in Leonard, and Edgar could sense it. 

There was this newfound sense of boldness within him that wasn't there before and now, he knew that there was a problem. He might not be able to intimidate him any longer, his time was up and he knew it. 

With calmness and patience he didn't know he had, Leonard spoke to Edgar, not with anger or aggression, but with a firm yet respectful tone.

"Do not ever try to intimidate or try to talk me down ever again just because I'm a scholarship kid."

There was silence even as a lot of the students gathered around them, trying to get every single thing that was being said. 

They didn't want to miss a single thing and Leonard could already imagine Daniel blogging about it in the school's gossip website.

''And if you ever try to do any of that, I will show you the stuff I'm made of.'' he seethed.

Edgar, taken aback by Leonard's bravery, hesitated for a moment. 

He could see the fierceness in Leonard's eyes and recognized that he couldn't push him around anymore. Reluctantly, Edgar backed down, realizing that his days of tormenting Leonard were over.

"You think you're brave now huh? I'll get you and when I do, you'll wish you never crossed paths with me. Let's go boys." Edgar seethed.

Before he could go, Leonard added, “Don’t forget to call me your master when I get into the top university too!” 

Edgar’s face darkened even more but he said nothing as he walked past Leonard, making sure to bump his shoulders painfully before finally walking away.

''I really did it,'' Leonard said proud of himself. The first time he had stood up to Edgar was under the system’s nudging but this time, he had done it by his own freewill. Not because he was scared of some punishment or losing money. 

For him, it was an important milestone. Now, nobody. Not Edgar, not Madame Diane could stop him!

*********************

Later on, at lunchtime in the school's cafeteria, Susan leaned in close to Leonard, a glimmer of admiration sparkling in her eyes. 

With a gentle smile, she tenderly pecked his cheek, feeling the warmth of her affection radiate through the touch.

"Leonard," she whispered softly, her voice filled with warmth, "I just wanted to let you know how proud I felt seeing you stand up against Edgar. You were incredible out there, and I couldn't be prouder of you."

Her words carried a genuine love for Leonard's courage, a sense of strength he had shown in what had to be the boldest thing he had ever done.

"You showed him that you won't be pushed around," she continued, her voice growing stronger. "You stood tall, with boldness and it was truly inspiring. I've always believed in you, Leonard, but today you surpassed even my highest expectations."

Susan's hand gently cradled Leonard's cheek, her touch carrying both tenderness and admiration. 

She could see the transformation in him, the rise of confidence and self-assurance that came from standing up for himself. 

It was a good feeling and she was happy that he was able to unlock that aspect of himself. 

Born into a rich family, confidence and pride was something that they were born into. She didn’t understand what it meant to bow her head down for someone all the time. To live as a lesser person. 

She had no idea and even though she had tried her best to understand Leonard’s position all these while, she was happy to see him stand up for himself. 

"I want you to remember this moment, Leonard," she said, her voice filled with hope. "Remember how it feels to face your fears and conquer them. You are so much stronger than you realize, and I will always be here to support you every step of the way."

As her words settled in the air, Susan's gaze lingered on Leonard, expressing a deep sense of love for his resilience. 

In that fleeting moment, her peck on his cheek meant not only her love for him but also her belief in his ability to overcome any obstacle that came his way.

''Thank you Susan and I promise to always make you very proud.'' he smiled.

As he ate his food, Leonard thought about what he had done and he knew he had to give it to the system for putting that act of bravery within him.

Just as he was about to leave the cafeteria, he stopped abruptly, sensing something going on within his body. Leonard had no idea what was that and he could only hope that it didn't affect him.

[New task unlocked- danger within the school grounds, find it!]