Chapter 172: Alex Versus The Student Council "So, you’re Alex Stratos," Theo said as he looked at the young man, who was sipping his tea like a boss. The other members of the student council had also gathered in the room, making Lavinia, Charles, Renard, Chuck, and Nessia feel pressured. Alex had told Cassandra that if she wanted this to be settled peacefully, she would need to set up a meeting so that the members of Endless Horizon could talk to the president. However, the club members—with the exception of Alex and Dim Dim—didn’t expect that the entirety of the student council would be present during the discussion as well. "It’s nice to be popular, because I don’t have to introduce myself to others," Alex replied. "Well then, I’m a very busy person, so let’s go down to business. I know you hate commoners and scholarship students. "And I’m sure that you have a reason for doing so. But, that is that and this is this. If you are going to abuse your authority as the student council president, I’ll just take this matter to the Headmaster and let him mediate." "Do you think," Theo asked with confidence, "that the Headmaster is bored enough to handle something as insignificant as this?" "Maybe yes, maybe no," Alex answered. "However, no one will know unless I try, right? If the Headmaster won’t see me, I’ll just launch a protest and shout that we haven’t been given fundings and a club room even though we are an official club whose application has been approved. "I’m sure that the reporters of the Frieden Times will have a field day with that. I can already see the headlines. ’Student Council President Bullies Scholarship Students. Is Frieden Academy Really A Place That Values Equality?’ I’ll make sure to get a copy, and make it my family’s heirloom." The members of the student council all frowned because their intimidation tactic—which worked on other First Years—was obviously ineffective against Alex. "I like this kid," a Fourth Year, who was at least two-meters tall, said with a smile. "I just don’t know where his confidence is coming from." "Would you like to find out?" Alex chuckled. "You might wet your pants if you do." "Oh?" the Sergeant at Arms of the student council, who literally used force to settle disputes, arched an eyebrow. "Do you think I will?" "Yes." Alex nodded. There was no way that he could say that the one who had sent him to Arcana was a God, and that the little bun perched on top of his head was another God. However, since he was the Oathkeeper, he also had the backing of the Hartwell Clan. And the Patriarch of the Hartwell Clan, Ramza, was a close friend of the Headmaster. ’This is the power of connections!’ Alex smiled as he placed his cup on top of the table, looking very relaxed and not the least bit intimidated by the glares of the people in the student council. Frankly, there was no need for him to be scared of them. In fact, they should be scared of him! He knew a lot of secrets about these people since they were characters in the game! Just like how he was able to play with Cassandra, he was confident that he could make these arrogant young men and women understand that their authority was not absolute. "Alex Stratos," Theo stated. "You appeared at the Floating Islands of Thaloria and applied as an adventurer three months ago. You have also become the Oathkeeper of Clawford Tribe, which is one of the powerful factions in the Kingdom of Avalon. "Is that the reason why you’re acting very confident right now? Do you think your backing is strong enough?" Theo gave Lavinia a brief glance before shifting his attention back to the young man, who looked very smug right now. "Are you not curious?" Alex said as if he wasn’t too surprised about Theo doing a background check on him. "Curious about what?" Theo asked back, looking like a true noble who was very proficient in wordplay. "Are you not curious that even with the help of the Shadow Union and the Whispering Tower, you are unable to learn anything about me aside from the fact that I first appeared in the Town of Thaloria three months ago?" Alex inquired. At the mention of the two powerful organizations that ordinary people didn’t know about, Theo and Cassandra couldn’t help but give Alex a second look. "I’m very disappointed." Alex sighed. "I’m this famous, and yet you know very little about me. Are you sure you want someone like me as your enemy?" "I admit that I have underestimated you." Theo rested his chin on the back of his intertwined fingers. "So, you do have some sort of backing for you to be this confident in facing me." "Why should I be afraid of the eldest son of a mere Ducal Family from Solara?" Alex answered. "You’re not even a Prince, so why are you acting like one?" Alex wanted to create an image of someone that had a very powerful backing so that Theo would stop messing with him in the future. The student council president only understood the words of power. Only those who possessed it were the people whom he treated as equals. This was the reason why Alex couldn’t look weak in front of him. The fact that he knew about the two intelligence gathering organizations—the Shadow Union and the Whispering Tower—was enough to make those with power understand that he was also a part of their world. "What do you want?" Theo asked, no longer wanting to continue the farce that he had started. "Do you want funds for your club and a club room that is second only to what the Crest Clubs get?" "Neither," Alex replied. "What I want is permission to build a clubhouse in the Mistral Weave Forest." "What?" Theo frowned. "You plan to build a clubhouse in the forest that belongs to the academy?" "Yes." "No." Theo shook his head. "That is private property, and I don’t have the power to give you permission to use it." Alex looked like he had expected the president’s answer. In fact, he didn’t believe that he would be given permission to build anything in the forest that was teeming up with Spirits and Monsters. ’Welp, it was worth a try,’ Alex thought. ’I guess it’s too early to gain access to that location.’ One of the places that he wished to visit with permission from the academy was the Mistral Weave Forest. Certain events revolved in that location, and if possible, Alex wanted to monopolize them before others could discover its secrets. "Then, I want access to it," Alex decided to try his luck. "No." Theo’s reply was firm. "The only time that students are allowed to enter the Forest is when they are under the supervision of a Professor, or if there are any exercises that require students to explore it. "Even the Obsidian Fang have to submit the required paperwork before they can enter the forest, and even then, their requests are not automatically approved by the academy." Alex then asked for a few more things, but Theo rejected all of them. "Why are you asking for access to the places that are forbidden to students?" Cassandra glared at the young man, who kept on making ridiculous requests. "Are you testing our patience?" "Fine." Alex shrugged helplessly. He accepted that none of the areas he wanted to go were accessible at this time. "I have two conditions. The first is that you guys will not make things difficult for us. "I know we started on the wrong foot, but we are not enemies. In fact, Endless Horizon might become the student council’s greatest ally during this year. Of course, I know that my words are hard to believe, but I assure you that we will be fighting on the same side. "Lastly, I want our clubhouse to be in the clock tower. You will approve of this right? If not, I’ll just go ask the Headmaster. I’m sure that he will understand my circumstances." Alex wasn’t aware that the Headmaster was observing him at this very moment, alongside the young lady wearing a fox mask. Rowan wanted to know how this confrontation with the student council would end. However, he didn’t expect that he would be able to gather some information about the mysterious young man, who was currently acting as if he had complete control of the discussion. "The clock tower?" Theo pondered for a bit before agreeing. "Fine. From now on, you can use the clock tower as your clubhouse. I’ll handle the paperwork. You guys can go now." "Thanks, president." Alex remembered to be gracious and signaled for his club members to follow him. Only when they were a safe distance away from the student council room did Chuck grab hold of Alex’s arm and look at him as if he was some kind of deity. "Damn! You were so cool earlier!" Chuck exclaimed. "You managed to hold your ground against the president! No one in the academy would dare to do what you did! Are you perhaps a prince that is hiding his true identity?" Chuck might not be thinking too deeply about this, but their friends’ ears perked up at his words. They didn’t show it, but they all wanted to hear Alex’s reply. "No comment," Alex replied with a smile. "Just know that if you follow me, I will take you flying." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚 "From now on, you are my sworn brother," Chuck declared. "I’ll follow you!" Alex chuckled because he was starting to get used to Chuck’s antics. Although he didn’t manage to gain access to some of the exclusive locations in the academy, he was still able to get the room in the clock tower that he wanted. One of the Major Events in the academy would happen in the clock tower. If Alex could get there first, he would be able to make enough preparations to prevent a calamity from descending into the academy.