All of the students were looking at the old woman that destroyed the Academy's gates. No, not only the Academy gates but also the Academy's prided barrier.
Some of the students were unaware of who she is and were whispering with each other. But those who knew who she was, all remained quiet. They all initially thought that there was some sort of monster outside. And now that the one that was making thunder revealed herself, they found out they were right.
It is a monster.
"Grandmother!? Why… what are you doing here!?"
Victoria was the one to break the silence that suddenly shadowed over the Academy. Even with her emotions limited due to her using her skills, her face was still filled with shock.
"I heard your boyfriend is in trouble. Where is the boy, anywa--"
Charlotte's words instantly ended as soon as she saw a student completely wrapped in chains. Or at least it looked like a student from the parts that she could make out. But after a few seconds of staring at it, a huge and unshackled breath came out of her nose.
"Who… tied him up like that?"
Charlotte's words were almost like a whisper, and yet every member of the Explorer Association and the city guards could hear her as if she was breathing on their neck. They could not even dare to look at her, their backs almost drowned by their own sweat. Perhaps the most nervous one of them all was Chris, as for some reason, they were all looking at him.
And of course, Charlotte noticed this and was already on her way towards him. However, before she could take six steps, Angela Elton blocked her path.
"Don't cause any trouble here, muscle demon."
"Oh, what's this? Why is a midget potato talking in front of me?"
Charlotte very slightly stepped back as Angela suddenly stood in front of her, both staring at each other's eyes.
Everyone let out their individual gasps, their voices now echoing more due to the opening that was made by Charlotte. Most of the students were unaware of who Ms. Elton was, and so they were utterly shocked that someone would be brave enough to even stand in Charlotte's way.
The nervous beating of their hearts drummed through their ears. Their legs were trembling, even as if they were right in the middle of Angela and Charlotte.
It didn't help that the two weren't saying anything and were just staring at each other, with their fists closed. But finally, after a few seconds, Charlotte opened her mouth.
"Isn't he supposed to be under you? You let a student under you get dragged like this for the other students to see!?" Charlotte said as she slightly tilted her head upwards. She was already looking down on Elton due to their height difference, but now she was also looking down at her, figuratively.
"You know I can't intervene."
"Oh? Who am I talking to right now? Bring out the midget potato."
"We can't. We're resting."
"Tch. You and that baldy really need to stop playing these games of yours." Charlotte shook her head as she looked at the Headmaster.
He was the one that notified her of what was going on in the Academy. But right now, he was probably the one that's avoiding her gaze the most.
"You need to leave, walking biceps. Hearst is currently on his way here."
"!!!"
Everyone's eyes widened as soon as they saw Angela grab Charlotte's hand. They all took a nervous gulp as they awaited for the shitstorm that was about to happen. But it didn't come. The only thing that came out of Charlotte was a long and deep sigh.
"Why do I care if that old fuck is on his way? Move." Charlotte calmly said as she gently pushed Angela out of the way. Angela, on the other hand, could only click her tongue as she returned to the Headmaster's side, whose bald head was already sweating buckets.
'What even got to you for you to even think about notifying her, of all people?' Angela's thoughts once again resounded in the Headmaster's mind.
'I… just wanted to scare the other side. They might back out if they knew that Charlotte is on our side.'
'Stupid… you're so stupid. She has always been insistent in her neutrality in our manners, and you drag her here? Why did you think she's been adamant to stay neutral all these years? Stupid. You're so stupid. Stupid.'
'...Please stop using my skills.' The Headmaster's sweat almost became tears as Angela's insults continued to echo in his mind, continuously.
With no one blocking her path, Charlotte continued to walk towards the chained Van. Charlotte could still remain calm as she could hear that Van's heart was still beating, albeit abnormally along with his breath. But when she saw him earlier, it took her best effort to calm herself down.
She was grateful that Angela Elton blocked her path and calmed her down, most likely copying her granddaughter's skills when she grabbed her hand earlier. She hasn't even repaid Elton for what she had done for her before, but now she owes her another debt, she thought.
"M...madam Gates!"
And as her thoughts wandered while approaching Van, Chris blocked her path as well. Not entirely, of course, just enough for him to be noticed by her. The only reason Chris was this brave was that their Chairman was on the way. It would also be bad for his reputation if he didn't at least try to stop Charlotte right now.
"This… this boy has been charged for killing his father and two others--"
"I know of what the boy did. And so? I have killed a lot more than the boy, and the Explorer Association has been more than welcome to treat them as collateral. Are you going to arrest me too now?"
"I--"
"Let the boy go."
"I… can not do that. Even… even with your privileges as a Platinum Explorer are not--"
"That wasn't a request, boy."
Once again, Chris could not even finish his words before Charlotte's somewhat calm and quiet voice overpowered his. He was about to open his mouth again, but Charlotte suddenly placed her palm on his shoulder.
Chris' breaths instantly became stuttered as he felt Charlotte's hand on him. She placed her hand slowly and gently. But even then, even though there wasn't any weight on her hand, it was as if a Portal itself was sitting on Chris' shoulder.
"The… the Chairman is on his way right now," were the only words that could come out of Chris' nervous mouth. There were not many people in this country that he feared, but the old woman in front of him was definitely at the top of his list, second to the Chairman, of course.
Hearing Chris' words, Charlotte could only shake her head as she let out another loud sigh. She then nonchalantly turned around, no longer minding Chris any mind as she continued to walk towards Van.
She was almost about to rip off the chains that were wrapped around his body, and not even a single person in the entire Academy was willing to stop her… only herself. As her hands were only a few inches away from Van, she hesitated.
What if she couldn't control her strength and accidentally harm the boy? She thought as she retracted her hand. She then looked towards Harvey and beckoned him to be the one to remove the chains.
Harvey was surprised at suddenly being called at first, but after a few seconds, he nodded and quickly ran towards Van.
Killed his father? Killed two other men?
Harvey knew of the reason why he did those things, and he would be damned if he didn't even try to help his best friend. And so, as soon as the chance to help him arrived, he instantly took it.
And so, with an excited look on his face, he removed Van's blindfold and started pulling apart the chains that shackled his entire body.
"H… Harvey? Is… is that you?"
"Oh fuck! You were awake? It's alright… I got you, man."
Harvey lightly bit his lip as he stopped the urge to burst into tears as soon as he heard Van's voice. His voice was rasp and trembling, clearly exhausted from having to run for hours and hours.
"I got you. Just rest, we're going to get you out of these chains." Harvey let out a smile as he continued to rip off the chains from Van's body.
"T… thank--"
"!!!"
But before Harvey could take off the last of the chains, Harvey's vision was instantly dyed in red. His hands trembled as he still tried to take off the last of the chains that were wrapped around Van. But alas, he found himself no longer able to move.
He then could only watch as Van's whole body was swallowed by… blood. He wanted to shout for his friend, but alas, even his voice had left him.
He could only watch as Van stared at him, his eyes, asking for help. The last hope that was in them... now completely gone.
"Clark!"
Charlotte's roars drowned the ears of all the people as she turned her body towards the entrance of the Academy. And there, an old man was standing. His beard was grey, and a huge scar similar to Chris adorned his face.
"Hm, if I knew another Platinum Explorer would be present here, I would definitely not have been as late as I have…
...It has been a long time, Charlotte."
Clark Hearst, the Chairman of the Explorer Association, and also the only other Platinum Explorer in the country, has joined the fray.