The atmosphere broke. Murmurs rippled amongst the crowd.

"A noble, Kowtow before a commoner. A clown. Is he crazy?"

"Maybe one of those Eldritch beasts he fought in the Orientation garden must have eaten his brain."

Soren could hear the remarks, but he still kept a straight, almost 'I have been wronged' kind of face.

Li, on the other hand, looked at him with restrained fury.

One of the cadets behind stepped forward. A girl. She was tall and toned, with brown hair in a bob cut hairstyle.

She slammed her fists together.

Boom.

"Boss, Li. Let me teach this commoner punk a lesson."

But before Li could speak, Soren was faster.

"Didn't Goldsworth tell you?"

Soren shrugged. "We made a bet. If I learned the First Form before reaching the academy, he'd kowtow three times."

Soren's eyes gave a dangerous, cocky glint.

"In front of the academy."

As expected, the whispers increased. "Really, did they have such a bet?"

"Well, if they did, and he made it to the academy, doesn't that mean that he lost?"

Li turned to Goldsworth.

"Is this true?" he asked.

Goldsworth responded. "Urh... Senior Li, you can't possibly believe this... trash—"

Boom...

Soul pressure from Li blasted around the place.

Soren and the others protected their eyes from the dust.

"Answer." Li frowned.

Goldsworth nodded. "Yes... yes, we did."

Instantly, the crowd conversed even more.

And then.

Ding.

[Golden Finger: I'll donate 20 points to Goldsworth if he refuses to bow to the commoner trash.]

The cadets' attentions were quickly pulled to their issued wristwatches.

"It's the sponsors."

"Someone does not want Goldsworth to kowtow."

[Cliff Hanger: I'll donate 50 points to Goldsworth if he refuses to bow to the commoner trash.]

[Fan That Rotates: I'll donate 10 points to Goldsworth if he refuses to bow to the commoner trash.]

....

And they just kept coming.

Soren turned to Pencil, whispering. "What is going on?"

Pencil whispered back. Explaining what was happening.

Apparently the school operated on a point system just like the prison.

In fact, Soren learned that most establishments within the empire ran on the point system.

Gold and resources from the outside world were converted to points that were awarded to the cadets when sponsors were impressed with a certain outcome. And in turn, the sponsors took shares of the profit that the cadets made.

"Profit?" Soren asked.

Pencil nodded.

Soren wanted to know what kind of profit students could make to pay back the sponsors, but then a different alert caught his attention.

[Silent Song: 300 points to Soren if Goldsworth the noble boy, kowtows to him.]

Sorens eyes shone. He had been to the prison and understood how valuable Points were over there.

Now, he had no idea how the value equated here. But he could clearly see the reaction of the students.

300 points was definitely valuable. It seemed like someone out there wanted to see Goldsworth humiliated.

Yes. That was what it was.

Humiliation.

Even though it had been a silly bet amongst children, in the eyes of those above, it was something more.

Something significant.

A noble bowing to a commoner.

Even though Soren was now suspected to be a Waterfell, it had not been confirmed until he made his way to the Waterfell ancestral graveyard.

Even Boyed had highlighted this fact to Soren.

Therefore, Goldsworth would not be bowing to a Waterfell, which was understandable considering the family's history.

But rather to a mere commoner.

This would be a slap, and not just on Goldsworth's face, but on the face of the family he came from.

However, Li's next statement shocked everyone present.

"Do it."

[Cliff Hanger: I'll donate 200 points to Goldsworth if he refuses to bow to the commoner trash.]

[Golden Finger: I'll donate 500 points to Goldsworth if he refuses to bow to the commoner trash.]

The stakes were getting higher now.

While all eyes were on Goldsworth, with some students whispering for him not to do it,

Goldsworth had his eyes on someone else.

Li.

Those fierce eyes. Goldsworth could tell Li was angry. But he meant those words.

Why?

Because even though it would hurt Goldsworth's reputation as a noble if he bowed to a commoner, it would hurt Li's reputation even more.

And Li was a very, very proud noble.

Li turned to the girl with the bob cut.

"Cinder."

"Yes, boss."

"If Goldsworth does not bow in the next sixty seconds, amputate his limbs."

Cinder stepped closer to Goldsworth. "Yes, boss."

Goldsworth felt like the weight of the heavens was on his shoulders.

Sweat soaked his uniform. Eyes pleading.

He wanted to say something. Or escape.

But he also knew that those thoughts were foolish.

Soren's stomach tightened.

This wasn't what he'd wanted.

He'd imagined humiliation. A little justice. Maybe a bruised ego.

Not this. Definitely not blood.

This was the first cold and heavy lesson Soren learned in the academy.

His words had weight here. And weight could crush people.

Still, he needed to be sure.

Soren whispered into Pencil's ear. "Is he serious?"

Pencil nodded. "It is said that Li enjoys the leadership position by amputating the limbs of the former party leader.

That was his elder brother.

Even more, rumors have it that his words have never touched the ground. When he talks, he will follow through even if it costs him his life."

Soren's gaze focused.

The gaze in the eyes of cadets following Li.

He could tell.

These were a people whose leader's words had won their loyalty to him.

Even now, many more sponsors had been attracted to what was happening, and the points they claimed to gift if Goldsworth did not bow had reached 5000 points.

And yet, Li's gaze did not shift.

For a moment, even Soren admired him. No, he respected him.

Goldsworth had no choice.

Slowly, he went on his knees.

The stone bit into his kneecaps.

His hands trembled as he pressed them to the ground.

His forehead touched the floor.

Once.

The crowd went silent.

Twice.

His teeth clenched so hard his jaw ached.

Three times.

When he lifted his head, his eyes were wet.

Not with tears.

With rage.

Li nodded. "The Lion Heart's party is a proud one. We bow to no one. Goldsworth, henceforth, you have been banished from the party."

After this he raised his head to Soren. "We will be coming for our pride..."

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