Lewd System: Every Scream and Moan is EXP

Chapter 288: Chapter 288: We’ll Talk Next in the Arena

Lysandra’s jaw dropped. She composed herself quickly and said. "What do you mean by that, Professor? You can’t—"

Zharina interrupted. "I definitely can. Thirty years ago, Professor Himmel and Professor Tudar fought each other when they faced a similar situation of a tie among the actual matches planned."

Lysandra said. "But the situation was different. They were allowed to fight only because most of their students were unable to compete. In your case, I can see each of your students doing perfectly fine."

Zharina shook her head in disagreement. "Headmistress, that’s exactly what I’m saying. They didn’t have the choice to pick from their squad. And that’s the same situation we’re facing today."

She gestured toward Jax’s side.

"You’re right that my students are in perfect condition. But we can’t say the same for Professor Jax. As you know, his top students won’t be able to participate. Student Lilith is restricted. Student Elira’s mana core is disrupted. That narrows his options down to almost nothing."

She looked at Lysandra directly. "Tell me, Headmistress. Do you really think that’s fair? Do you really think this format will serve justice to the ones who fought their way to the top only to be robbed at the finish line?"

She straightened her posture.

"If you insist on proceeding as is, then I’m sorry but I will refuse to participate in this decider. I refuse to be the one who walks away with an unfair trophy. I won’t allow myself to touch it while carrying the stain of a rigged or robbed victory."

She paused to let that settle.

"Even you must know how excited the audience was to see their favorite Lilith. Or Princess Elira after her dominant performance. Those viewers are being denied the show they were promised."

She concluded. "So we stand in a situation identical to thirty years ago. Where the professors continued what their students started and honored their contributions while keeping everything fair. I want a fair fight. And that means Professor Jax as my opponent."

Lysandra thought for several seconds. She knew Zharina’s point was absolutely solid. But her mind kept circling back to the academy’s principles and reputation.

A battle between professors could either stand as proof of the academy’s strength or become a spectacle of disgrace. Because Lysandra knew exactly what the relationship between these two professors looked like. And she was certain that Zharina was manufacturing an excuse to fight Jax and humiliate him in front of millions of eyes.

But the point was undeniably valid. And now that it had been declared publicly during a live broadcast, declining it would create its own set of problems.

She was defeated by the egos of these two idiots and she knew for certain their fight wouldn’t be honorable or good for the academy’s future. But she had run out of moves.

So she thought. ’I can still manage this if I turn off the communication runes so the spectators can’t hear their egoistic trash talk during their fight. Also I can lecture them beforehand to keep things civil.’

Then she pictured Jax’s face and thought. ’Nah, there’s no getting through to that one. I’d rather release my frustration on Zharina and tell her to make the fight as clean as possible.’

She sighed. "I agree to the idea of a duel between professors. But first, let’s ask the other party whether they accept the terms or not."

All eyes turned to Jax who was still genuinely confused about what was happening. Why was Zharina changing the odds? Picking Karina would have been the guaranteed win and the perfect revenge. This made no strategic sense.

He said. "I’ll accept. However, first I’d like to ask Professor Zharina what exactly is going on inside her mind."

Lysandra signaled the staff to cut off the broadcasting setup.

Zharina said. "Does it matter? I’m giving you a chance. And if you’re so eager to know the answer, then why not communicate it through punches?"

Her eyes carried something that went beyond rivalry.

"Because my master once told me that the deepest conversations between two warriors are always written in bruises. And I’m eager to have that conversation."

Before Jax could respond, a voice exploded from the stands.

"LYSANDRA! DON’T YOU DARE ALLOW THIS! I SWEAR YOUR FRIEND WILL DIE RIGHT HERE IN THIS ACADEMY BY JUMPING FROM THE ROOF AND I WILL PUT THE BLAME ON YOU!"

It was Zoraven N. Eisfeld. Guild master of Remnant Hall. He was shouting from the commoner section since the broadcasting had been cut off, meaning only the people physically present could hear his mental breakdown.

He was absolutely furious because he had taken a massive loan from Claude Aleris to cover his previous gambling losses. And now the guaranteed bet he had placed was being dismantled by the very person he bet on.

Lysandra recognized her old batchmate’s voice immediately. She knew this nuisance was in deep trouble, either from his crippling betting addiction or whatever financial disaster he had walked into this time. So she ignored him completely.

Zoraven wasn’t done. He redirected his rage toward Zharina. "HEY ZHARINA! Don’t give me any more pain! You’ve given me enough already, you dumb dragon! First you chose the academy over my guild! Then you gave some idiotic strategy to your idiotic students in the last fight! And now your stupidity is reaching its absolute peak by giving up an easy win!"

He was on the verge of a full public meltdown when his daughter Evangeline appeared beside him, grabbed his arm, and started physically dragging him away from the railing.

Zoraven resisted. "My daughter, let me finish! Your daddy is fighting between life and death right now!"

She said while hiding her face from the surrounding spectators and still dragging. "What have you done this time? Don’t tell me you placed another bet—"

He let it all pour out. "I made a mistake again! I was tipped off about which students the professors would be choosing! So seeing the chance I went all in to cover my previous loss! And now this fool has changed her mind! Everyone here is a scammer! I’ve been played today!"

His voice cracked with genuine despair. "You don’t have a single clue what happens if your mother finds out about this. In the best case scenario, if she lets me live, I won’t be able to sit or stand properly for a month."

His mind produced a vivid image of his wife standing in their kitchen holding a burning candle in one hand and a heated iron rod in the other. Smiling sweetly. Asking which treatment he would prefer tonight.

He gulped.

Meanwhile back on the stage, another voice cut through the chaos. "Professor Zharina, don’t be foolish. It is none of your business to meddle with affairs that belong to the students."

It was Matriarch Sianna. She was visibly frustrated because Zharina’s move was directly threatening her bet. What was supposed to be a guaranteed victory with Karina was now being thrown into uncertainty by this woman’s sudden attack of principles.

Zharina ignored her completely.

Sianna hissed and pushed harder. "Drop your request. And in return, I will give you whatever you name. Treasury. Land. Titles. Relics. Anything."

Zharina’s smile gave her the only response she needed. Not interested.

She looked at Jax. "So what do you say?"

Jax studied her face. Something about this woman had changed. Or she was plotting something his mind wasn’t able to see yet. But either way, the outcome was the same for him. This was a win-win.

So he said. "Look around yourself, Zharina. Look at your student Karina whose face is sick with worry. Look at the rest of the students whispering in panic. Look at Lady Sianna. Look at that random guy in the stands who was just threatening to jump off a roof."

He spread his arms.

"They are all desperately praying for your victory. And yet the mere thought of me stepping onto that arena against you has paralyzed every single one of them with fear."

He tilted his head. "Doesn’t that tell you something?"

Zharina grinned. "I thought you had changed. But you’re the same arrogant bastard who thinks the world was built around him."

Her grin sharpened. "And backing off? My ass. I still have my revenge to collect."

Jax grinned harder than her. "Then let’s meet at the arena. And see who shuts whom."

Neither of them liked the arrogant look on the other’s face. But deep down, buried beneath layers of ego and pride and mutual hatred, a tiny bit of respect toward the other had quietly slipped in without either of them noticing.

-x-X-x-

[A/N: Thanks Ordici_T, Outsxder, Leo_Muhammad and tony_adams_4787 for the golden tickets

(づ*ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)づ♡]