“Well, I guess there’s not much else we can do on that end.”

Stella brought her hands to her face and massaged her forehead.

It’s not like I can suddenly repay everyone that have… voluntarily given me their money.

“You’ll just have to slowly repay back what you’ve taken from others.”

“Is there anything else?”

I lay back on the chair I am sitting on. Right across from Stella, with her desk the only thing separating us. Her desk has a computer and several tablets laid about. There is a small stack of papers to the side of her computer. It’s rare to see paper nowadays. I don't see the reason why we need paper if we do everything on our tablets and computers. Well the school is well-off so they can probably afford spending on this kind of unnecesary luxuries.

Stella looks out the window to her right.

“Honestly. I should just report you to the police and be done with it.”

She wouldn’t.

“But that’s not going to help anyone. It’d be such a waste…”

A waste? Am I some tool to be used?

She sighs and looks back at me.

“Oh yeah. Where do you get all of your information on all the students?”

I raise an eyebrow.

“You want to know?”

Looks like she’s curious after all.

Well, nothing that can be helped. The masterpiece of my information network is something that anyone would admire. I’ll tease her just a little bit of the extent of my power.

“I’ve build this network over the last four years. I have 4 students working full time on information gathering with 40 others to assist with the grunt work. If there’s anything I want to know, I’ll know it.”

“So, where do you keep all that data?”

“Hmph. On this.”

I pull out a flash drive.

“Photographs. Screenshots. Links. Report cards. Friends, family, acquaintances, pets, and strangers they were in contact with. Video and audio files. Home addresses and the locations they frequent. Their online history and social media accounts. Their IP and MAC addresses. 400 Gigabytes of data, all at my - ah! Hey!”

She grabbed the flash drive from me.

“Yup! Confiscated!”

“This isn’t exactly against any rules, is it? It’s just collating a profile on individuals. Nothing illegal about it at all! Besides, most of the information were already provided from what they publicize and post on their social media accounts.”

“That’s true. But I’m going to have to check this in case there is something that you shouldn’t have.”

She opens a drawer in her desk and places the flash drive inside.

“If you don’t want to get expelled or worse, then you’re going to have to do what I say.”

It’ll be a waste of my time to argue against that. I’ll keep quiet about the main databank I have stored in the cloud. I’d have to buy another flash drive for my back-ups, however…

Stella continues talking,

“You still have to dissolve these shadow networks you have. Like we already talked about, all favors and debts owed to you are nullified. From now on, you cannot accept money or favors from other students. No matter what the case is. Even if it is out of true goodwill, you must decline. Everything that you have been doing is going to stop.”

“Is there anything else?”

“I don’t really have anything else for you right now. I’ll have some work for you later, however. Prepare to get worked to the bone, Kastille.”

---

I open the door of the student council room and enter the hallway. Rhys, who had been guarding the door for the entire time I was in the room conversing with Stella, gave me a look. After that, he went into the room that I had just opened and closed the door in front of me.

“Humph.”

I start walking.

She thinks I’m just going to roll over and do everything she commands? Like some domesticated animal?

Laughable.

For now, I’ll feign loyalty. I’ll have to rebuild and repair what I can. Once my control over the school has returned, I’ll throw that stupid girl out.

Perhaps she might even have some use I could take advantage of. But, not before I have her grovel before me.

I’ll keep up this little farce. It might take me some time, but I’ll be able to take her down. If it took me four years to have gotten this much control over the students, then it should be faster the second time around since I had established myself already. However, I must be careful to not be noticeable this time around. First step is for me to recover as many people working under me as possible without raising suspicion. I’ll have to act as if they’re truly friends of mine.

The number of useful people I have would then determine the time it would take me to re-establish myself with the student body.

It could take about 2 years. It’s too early to tell now.

Damn that girl! Having me sneak around like a rat. I must endure it for now.

“Kastille?”

I snap out of my deep thinking.

“Dale? What are you doing here?”

“What do you mean? You were standing in front of the photography room for a while now. Did you need something?”

“Ah, I seem to have thoughtlessly brought myself here. Forgive me, there’s no meaning to it. I was lost in thought.”

I turn away.

“Wait. Kastille.”

Ugh. Don’t bother me.

“Yes, what is it?”

“I don’t really know what to say, but I’ll just say it anyway. I’ve been hearing some rumors going around. Don’t worry, I don’t believe a single word they’re saying!”

What is this idiot talking about? He should mind his own business.

“You’ve helped me through a lot, so I’d like to help you, too. We’re friends, right? If there’s anything you need, don’t be afraid to ask! If you need someone to talk to, I’ll be here for you.”

Huh? I almost couldn’t stop myself from opening my mouth agape.

This boy thinks he can help me? I don’t need the help from some weakling. I was the one who nurtured him in the first place. Unlike him, I’m perfectly capable.

The audacity... I manage to force a smile.

“Thanks, Dale. But, I’m alright. You don’t need to worry.”

“Are you sure? I really don’t mind. Anything at all?”

Dale has been doing a decent job getting data for me. Rebuilding the information network isn’t my top priority, but I’ll have to get to it later down the road. He will prove useful.

“Okay. I’ll be counting on you then. I have some things to get done, so I’ll see you around.”

“Yeah. Later, Kastille.”