Hera realized her earlier approach wasn’t working with the Dean, so she decided to change tactics and confront him directly while maintaining the support of the student body. She was effectively ying both sides. She suspected that the Dean was shielding someone, and if it was Alice, it made sense. Alice was seen as the chosen one, and her actions were likely protected and guided to ensure favorable oues for her.


    The Dean’s anger was evident; veins bulged on his forehead, and his eyes were bloodshot as he red at Hera with a look that suggested he wanted to devour her. Logan, noticing the Dean’s vtile reaction, quickly stepped in front of Hera, shielding her with his body. At first, the other students didn’t perceive the gravity of the situation, but as they saw the Dean’s erratic behavior, they realized something was amiss. His loss ofposure was palpable, and many students, especially those livestreaming the incident, caught the Dean’s unmasked fury.


    "You can’t do this! I’m the Dean, and I am the one who decides how this issue is handled! You have no right to make decisions for my university!" the Dean roared at Logan, though his anger was clearly directed at Hera.


    "Sir, if that’s the case, you should have prioritized protecting your student. The moment you failed to do so, you forfeited the right to make decisions about her. It’s her life on the line, not yours. You should have considered all the consequences she might face if you failed to safeguard her," Logan said, summoning all his courage despite his trembling. His fear was palpable, but his determination to stand up for Hera, just as she had protected him, kept him resolute.


    "The kid’s right!" a man’s voice boomed through the hallway, cutting through the tension and silencing the crowd. The students parted to make way as they saw the police nking the man, their presence adding an authoritative weight to his words. "You no longer have the right to call yourself the Dean of this university when you’ve failed to uphold your duties," he dered.


    "Who the hell are you?" the Dean bellowed, his face flushed with fury as his authority was challenged and his ns unraveled. He bristled at the intrusion, having prided himself on his long tenure and numerous achievements, which had earned him des and respect. The sudden shift in power made him feel as though he was being unceremoniously thrown off his pedestal.


    "Apologies for thete introduction," Gerald began, his voice calm but authoritative. "I’m Gerald Troy from the Avery Consortium, the primary and biggest shareholder of this university since its inception. We’ve been informed that one of our top achievers and schrs, Ms. Ainsley, is embroiled in a serious predicament. It appears that the Dean was not fully aware of the ongoing online nder that has thrust her into the spotlight of this scandal. I’ve been sent to investigate and address this issue directly." He stopped next to Logan, with the police standing behind him, their presence adding weight to his words.


    The Dean was taken aback upon hearing that Gerald was from the Avery Consortium. The university had long been considered a cornerstone of the Avery family’s legacy, as they were the founders of this prestigious institution. Unlike the Royal Academy, which only admitted royalty and aristocrats, the Avery Consortium’s university weed bothmoners and nobility alike, embodying amitment to merit and opportunity that set it apart.


    If the female Director had merely intimidated him momentarily, the presence of Gerald Troy struck sheer terror into the Dean. The Avery Consortium’s judgment would undoubtedly shape the trajectory of his career, and the fact that Gerald, an aide to the current generation’s heiress, was personally overseeing the situation indicated the seriousness with which they were treating it. The Dean now feared that the girl, Hera, might possess connections or influence he had not previously anticipated.


    The Dean knew that Gerald had ess to the Avery Consortium’s intelligence department, which only heightened his fear. He realized that Gerald likely held crucial information that could be used against him. Trembling and drenched in sweat, the Dean stood immobilized, his knees buckling under the weight of his anxiety.


    But Gerald came in prepared.