Chapter 223 Deviation
"Hmm, why not start with the Head of the Duel Committee?" Jayden suggested, and his suggestion made Leonard and Raelyn frown.
Usually, one of them would have been selected to choose first, but this time it was Asher Greville.
"Well, you can start with your introduction," Jayden looked in Asher's direction.
He was the one in charge of this meeting, and he could decide the order in which each of them could introduce themselves.
Listening to Jayden, Eric started explaining what the Duel Committee was.
"As first years, you have not experienced it yet, but most of the quarrels or differences in opinion are handled by duels," Eric said.
"After your midterms, you can challenge others for duels for their ranks, or something that you both disagree on," Eric said.
"Every duel needs confirmation from our committee," Eric announced.
Asher currently held the power to decide whether people could duel to change their ranks or not. He could even single-handedly force someone to accept the duel, regardless of what they wanted.
"Although committees come under the Student Council, we act independently from them," Eric said.
Anybody from the Duel Committee held a lot of power, and the only committee that held similar power was the Discipline Committee.
There were only 30 members in the Duel Committee, and most of them were the top 30 rankers of their respective years.
One of the Student Council members stepped out as he spoke.
"Those who wish to join the Duel Committee can raise their hands," he announced.
Some of the people raised their hands, and this was due to a recent incident that happened.
Usually, they would have chosen the Core Team of the Student Council or Leonard based on their status, but Asher's fame made them rethink their decision.
"So, who will you choose?" Jayden asked Asher, looking for his response.
Asher tapped his fingers on the table as his indifferent eyes looked at all the students who had raised their hands.
"Amelia Greville, Damian Seymour, Sam Allister, Venessa Baker," Asher said, but they were only four.
"We will not accept any more members, so don't waste your time applying," Asher said as he looked at all the First Years present before him.
Jayden was confused about why he refused to bring in more members, as the hierarchy between the committees was maintained by their members.
Soon the turn changed as Asher had announced his decision, and nobody could tell him to change it.
'It's only two of them,' Leonard looked at the two people that Asher had taken.
Sam Allister and Venessa Baker were both rankers, but it still made things easier for him.
'Thanks for the chance, I will use your arrogance wisely,' Leonard smiled.
"Now the Blood Faction can choose," Jayden said after the Discipline Committee accepted the members.
Surprisingly, Lishia was the only ranker that entered the Discipline Committee.
"I am Leonard Tarvian, the son of the Chairman of the World Association," Leonard said.
"As you know, I am the head of the only faction in the World Academy," Leonard introduced himself.
"We want to change the system in which one person in the Student Council holds all the power, and to change it, we only need those who are strong enough for this purpose," Leonard said.
He explained the benefits of choosing the Blood Faction and how many clubs were under his authority. But the recent incident with Blake showed his effect, as not many students raised their hands.
It irked Leonard greatly, but he had expected it.
But he still gained a powerful hand, and it was Matthew who basically had no choice but to join Leonard and the Blood Faction.
And there were others like Gavin Neville and Alan Astaria, and a few others who were quite strong.
"Let's see now, Raelyn, you can choose the Core Team members, and then we will distribute them equally among the four groups," Jayden said as he excluded the Duel Committee, as Asher didn't want to.
Even before many people knew, the choices of the Student Council President were going to be.
"Kevin Whiteheart, Elena Rothschild, Eva Williams, Ria Adler, Kelsey Ward," Raelyn announced the names, and they were all rankers except the last name, which belonged to the 16th rank girl.
After the names were decided, Jayden looked at the list and neutrally distributed the others so that no side had more power than another.
Jayden's presence made it difficult for both Leonard and Raelyn to gather more students to their side.
The meeting soon concluded as the first years were told to leave.
And now only the committee heads with their few members and Jayden were present in the hall.
Leonard put the document on the table in front of him and looked at Jayden.
Jayden noticed Leonard's gaze and smiled back at him.
"My work is done here, so I should leave," Jayden stood up.
Jayden left with the other fourth years, and none of them tried to stop him.
'Seems like it failed,' Leonard noticed Jayden's action.
Unlike Asher, who was still a first year, Jayden was a fourth year student, so both Raelyn and Leonard treated him more carefully, knowing he was the current heir of the Hargrave Family.
Seeing Jayden leave, Asher also stood up.
"Let's leave," he told Eric, who nodded and followed Asher.
"Isn't it great that Jayden Hargrave supported us?" Eric said to Asher as he followed him.
"He is not someone who supports others, just ignore any requests from his side," Asher said, and his words confused Eric.
Didn't Jayden Hargrave just support Asher against people like Leonard Tarvian and Raelyn Whiteheart?
'Well, if Young Master says so, I can't really do much,' Eric thought and didn't mention the topic anymore.
Asher noticed Eric's confusion, but he didn't correct it.
Most of the time, people hid their true selves, and Jayden was one of those people.
And Asher didn't want to ally with Jayden, as doing so would make him lose the next person he was going to recruit in Zephyr.
'Last time it was Kevin Whiteheart who got his support,' Asher remembered his previous life.
***
In the Fourth Year Area, Jayden was going towards the Rankers Dorm.
"Why did you support Asher Greville there?" one of his friends behind him asked.
"Why not? We at Hargrave believe that the strongest Hargrave becomes the heir of the family, and I live by that belief," Jayden replied.
"And the Grevilles are gathering more power, it won't hurt to ally with them," Jayden added.
But Jayden didn't reply truthfully.
His actions were not because he was simply impressed by Asher's talent.
If anything, Asher's terrifying talent made him more cautious about the Greville family. He only showed his support openly because it was better to keep such people as his allies.
"What is that brother of mine doing?" Jayden asked, remembering his brother.
"I heard he's still maintaining his Research Club, so not much has happened," his friend replied.
"Hmm, tell Leonard Tarvian that I won't consider the deal," Jayden told him.
"What deal?" his friend became curious.
"Don't stick your nose where it isn't needed," Jayden warned him with killing intent.
"I-I'm sorry," his friend replied, lowering his head.
Seeing Jayden being casual, he forgot that there were times when Jayden was quite scary.
"What's our next assignment?" Jayden asked.
"It will be an A Rank Dungeon in Fashia's capital," his friend instantly replied.
***
Asher left Eric in the Third Year Area as he went towards a specific place where Damian, Amelia, Sam, and Venessa were waiting.
"Oh, here he comes," Damian, who was talking with Sam, looked at Asher.
"Did Eric go back?" Damian asked.
"Yeah," Asher replied.
"So, will we have no extra people on the team?" Amelia asked.
"No," Asher replied.
"I want you all to practice with each other and improve your synergy," Asher said.
"Practice with each other and spar, but make sure you know your strengths," Asher said.
"What about you and that Astaria girl?" Amelia said as Asher stared at her.
"You can ask her, but I won't be joining you for the practice sessions," Asher said.
After telling them, Asher soon left, leaving them to discuss the rest among themselves as he went to the Rankers' Dorm.
Sitting in his room, Asher looked at the current state of his magic.
"This much should be enough to implement that technique," Asher sensed his current mana, which was enough to implement the technique that Lucas in his previous life had told him about.
It was his way to ensure that he could cast various spells in succession, but only he could do so because of the massive mana pool he had.
But Asher could replicate the technique with his current mana pool, which had increased sufficiently.
Ping!
He looked at his ID Bracelet as a notification arrived.
<Mid Term Examination Schedule Confirmed>
"Two months from now," Asher saw the dates, and it was a month before the Kalvas Gala would happen.