Chapter 55: The Golden Revolver's Warning
In Hana's classroom, the morning English period was underway. The teacher sat at his desk, a thick file open in front of him. He ran his pen down the list of names, ticking off thirty-six students one by one. His pen stopped at a single name left unmarked.
"Hana Vority?" the teacher called out. "Is she absent again? I told everyone that today was the test. Did she not know?"
The class topper—the same girl who had mocked Hana before—let out a loud, mocking laugh. "Sir, she probably doesn't even know how to read! After the Math teacher gave her that slap yesterday, she's probably at home crying with her half-blind brother. What else can losers like them do?"
The entire class erupted into laughter, the sound echoing cruelly in the room.
"SHUT UP!" the teacher roared, slamming his fist on the desk. "You might be the topper, but you have zero respect! You kids come here to learn, but you act like savages. Get out of my class! Now!"
The topper didn't move. Instead, she leaned back in her chair with a smug smile. "You can't kick me out, Sir. Every teacher in this school follows my lead. Do you even know who my father is? One phone call and you'll be looking for a new job in a second."
The teacher stood up, his face red with anger. "You arrogant little—"
BOOM!
The classroom door didn't just open; it exploded off its hinges, flying across the room and crashing against the far wall. The laughter died instantly.
Ren stepped through the dust and debris. His hair was messy, his eyes were cold and piercing, and in his right hand, he gripped his Golden Revolver.
The students shrieked, diving under their desks in pure terror. Only the topper remained in her seat, a confused, arrogant smirk still on her face, seemingly oblivious to the danger. The teacher froze, his hands trembling.
"R-Ren? What are you—"
BANG!
Ren pulled the trigger. The bullet hissed through the air and buried itself deep into the floorboards just inches from the teacher's desk. The smell of gunpowder filled the room.
"Where is she?" Ren asked, his voice low and vibrating with a dangerous Vane energy.
Three school security guards rushed into the room, their weapons drawn. "Drop the gun! Now!" one of them shouted, aiming at Ren's back.
Ren didn't even turn his head. He slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out his official Vaner Identification Card, flipping it open for them to see.
The guards froze. Their eyes went wide as they saw the rank and the Academy seal. In an instant, their aggressive posture vanished. They lowered their weapons and snapped into a crisp, terrified salute.
Ren turned back to the trembling English teacher. "I'm going to ask you one more time. Where is the Math teacher who laid a hand on my sister?"
"She... she's the Principal's wife," the teacher stammered, his voice cracking. "She doesn't stay in the staff room. During her free time, she's always in the Principal's private office on the top floor."
Ren didn't say another word. He holstered his revolver and walked out of the ruined doorway, his footsteps echoing like a death knell in the silent hallway.