Harrison, too, was a swordsman, and within the halls of the "Buzhadi Demon Martial Academy," he was undeniably a top figure!
His instructor claimed Harrison possessed slightly greater strength than Angeliya, but since this assertion lacked concrete proof, few people truly believed it!
The reality was that Harrison’s power did indeed surpass Angeliya’s, yet despite this, he remained far less famous. One reason was simple: Angeliya was a stunning beauty, and the halo effect of good looks provided incalculable publicity, whereas Harrison possessed nothing more than an utterly unremarkable, common face.
The other, perhaps the true, reason related to Harrison’s luck—or lack thereof. One had to admit Harrison’s fortune was terrible; he had managed to clash with Austin from the premier institution, the "Xiahuyu Demon Martial Academy," for two years running.
Austin, the reigning champion for two consecutive years, possessed strength that could only be described as "immeasurably deep"!
As a result, the unlucky Harrison was eliminated before even reaching the semi-finals each time due to encountering this monstrous opponent, his run of bad luck akin to being shadowed by a malevolent star!
It was precisely because of this that the impression was cemented that Harrison was inferior to Angeliya! (One must remember Angeliya consistently reached the final four!)
Harrison naturally refused to accept this conclusion, but he was helpless, forced to swallow the bitter pill in silence—a suffering known only to himself!
Though he desperately wished to settle the score with Angeliya, he knew it was impossible; the academy would never permit the two to duel. A clash between two top talents was bound to result in injury, something the administrators certainly did not want to see. These cunning minds understood that one shouldn't waste their strongest assets on meaningless feuds. Steel should be reserved for the true battleground—they grasped that principle well!
To actively prevent any friction between Angeliya and Harrison, the academy leadership went to extraordinary lengths. They not only convened special seminars but also visited both sets of parents repeatedly, finally producing a feasible contingency plan:
I. The two shall not be placed in the same class, and their course schedules must not overlap. II. Any student spreading the rumor that Harrison is inferior to Angeliya will receive a severe demerit. III. The homeroom teachers for both must closely monitor the psychological state of the students and conduct regular counseling sessions. IV. ... A sweeping total of ten major points, all aimed at nipping any potential conflict in the bud.
Today, it was purely by chance that Angeliya happened to be eating in the mess hall; otherwise, the probability of her and Harrison meeting would be lower than passing the "Civil Service Exam"!
It was truly the irony of fate; no one expected such an incident to erupt from a simple first encounter!
"Apologize!" Robin looked up at a somewhat startled Harrison!
"Let go!" Harrison retorted coldly.
He detested women, a dislike that had curdled into outright contempt within him!
"Apologize!!" Robin inexplicably tightened her grip!
Harrison’s expression visibly froze again; he had clearly registered the sudden increase in pressure from Robin’s hand!
Harrison could hardly believe his eyes. Who was this girl? How could she possess such strength? And what was her connection to Angeliya?
A host of questions swirled in Harrison’s mind. Facing Robin’s rather icy gaze, Harrison suppressed the shock within him and spoke with a hint of controlled anger, "Let go!"
His voice must have carried, immediately drawing the attention of the surrounding students!
Student A asked, "What’s happening over there?"
Student B glanced over and exclaimed in surprise, "Heavens, isn't that Angeliya and Harrison? Wait—who is that little girl?"
Student A inquired again, "The atmosphere looks tense. Are they about to fight?" He displayed an expression of keen anticipation.
"Oh my god! Angeliya is going to square off against Harrison? This... this is massive news! I can't miss an opportunity like this." Saying that, Student B abandoned his meal and began moving toward Angeliya's table.
He wasn't the only one who spotted Angeliya and Harrison. Students at other tables noticed as well.
At another table, slightly distanced from Angeliya’s group:
"H, YGD! Isn't that Harrison? Good grief, Angeliya is there too. What’s going on? Why is everyone rushing over there!" Student Jia’s chopsticks froze mid-air.
"Looks like a fight is brewing? I always heard Harrison harbored animosity toward Angeliya. Looks like we’re in for some real drama today!" Student Yi said with an air of knowing everything.
"Th-that little girl holding Harrison’s arm—who is she? Do you know?" Student Jia asked again.
"I heard Angeliya has a sister."
"You mean she's Angeliya’s sister?" Student Jia’s eyes widened.
"What else would she be?" Student Yi countered.
"This is huge!" Student Jia exclaimed while rising to his feet.
"Where are you going?" Student Yi asked.
"To join the crowd, of course! A chance like this won't come twice!"
"Wait for me!" Student Yi quickly finished two mouthfuls of rice, dropped his chopsticks, and followed suit.
Similar conversations were unfolding across the hall...
In a short time, the area around Angeliya's table was completely encircled by onlookers!
Betty watched the surroundings with shock, amazed at how quickly the area had become tightly packed. What surprised Betty even more was that the faces of the gathered students clearly displayed an eagerness—an unspoken "Fight! We support you!"—with not a single person stepping forward to mediate!
Betty felt a wave of dizziness coming on, though she was still a distance from actual shock. To be honest, she was incredibly tense, not for herself, nor for Angeliya, but for Robin!
Robin’s small hand was still clamped tightly around Harrison’s wrist, her eyes locked firmly on him, refusing to yield an inch!
"Little Sister Robin, please let go," Betty urged in a low voice.
But Robin merely turned her head, said, "He hasn't apologized," before her gaze snapped back to Harrison, fixing him once more.
Betty was nearly frantic. She had once asked Angeliya if she thought she could defeat Harrison in a contest. Angeliya’s answer then had been: a thirty percent chance of winning.
It was at that moment that Betty realized the rumors surrounding Harrison were not entirely baseless!
Furthermore, Betty had heard that Harrison possessed an extremely arrogant temper; he would resort to force to resolve issues with anyone who provoked him, regardless of gender!
What to do? What to do?? What to do???
Betty was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, and she couldn’t help but look pleadingly toward Angeliya.
But when she saw the expression on Angeliya's face, Betty was momentarily stunned. Angeliya’s expression was clearly not one of concern for Robin, but rather seemed weighted with worry for Harrison!
Had Angeliya lost her mind?
As Betty pondered these wild thoughts, a single statement from Robin jolted her back to the present, only to leave her utterly bewildered upon her return.
"Apologize, or I’ll cripple you!" Robin said coldly to Harrison, her face serious and intent!