Chapter 202
On the other side, Lane hung up and told Erza, “Mr. Hall said not to worry. Miss Wilson will just make a statement and be back this afternoon.”
Erza nodded silently, his gaze cold as it swept over Celia and Riley. He felt profoundly depressed since returning from Yenovia, particularly after the organizing committee's involvement and his grandfather sending Emma to the police station. No one yet suspected his troubled mental state, but the mounting pressure demanded an outlet.
“Celia, is it? You enjoy bullying people at school?” Erza asked.
Celia stammered, “I didn’t mean to target anyone. I just saw them using their phones…”
Erza cut her off. “You weren’t deliberately targeting anyone when you were flipping over trays in the canteen?”
Celia fell silent. Erza looked down at her, a wicked glint in his eye. “I’ve fought many times, but I’ve never bullied classmates. Since you enjoy it so much, I’ll let you experience it.”
Celia and Riley panicked. Riley hastily interjected, “Erza, Celia didn’t know Lane had an emergency. She thought Lane was playing with her phone. We’re all classmates. You and Emma’s results are far better than ours. You don’t want to be punished over this, right?” The words “better than ours” stung, as she considered Emma a rival, but her provocation left her no choice but to swallow her pride.
Unexpectedly, Erza snapped, “Shut up, bitch. Don’t play the innocent card.”
Riley’s face paled, her thoughts laid bare. Celia, already chilled, whispered, “What do you want?”
Erza smirked. “Simple. Kneel here and retrieve Lane’s phone. Fail, and you’ll eat and sleep here under my watchful eye. How does that sound?”
Celia gritted her teeth, unwilling to kneel yet afraid to leave. Soon, a crowd gathered. Under their scrutiny, Celia felt a fresh wave of humiliation; the memory of Emma's earlier lesson and the indignity of retrieving a dinner roll from the floor remained vivid. Her friendship with Riley, sought to regain respect, had backfired spectacularly. Now, Riley stood silently aside, wary of Erza's reputation. The Westrave High bully had few friends; only the young genius, Bob, was close to him.
Riley, secretly in love with Erza for years, much like Faith, had rigorously trained, inspired by his dedication. This secret remained unknown to others.
The autumn weather shifted capriciously. Minutes later, rain began to fall. Riley held an umbrella. “Lane, it’s raining. The phone’s there. Don’t get wet.”
Lane, dazed until shielded by Riley’s umbrella, finally snapped back to reality. She hadn’t held a positive view of Erza, but recent information had shocked her with its revealing contrast. Remembering this, she approached and gently took Erza’s hand. “Forget it. It’s raining; the phone will be ruined.” She lowered her gaze, concealing her emotions. Seeing his drenched back, she felt a strange pang; she wished she could have shielded him with an umbrella… or perhaps shared the downpour with him.
Erza remained motionless for another ten minutes, until Celia wept in the rain, his own body soaked. Lane tugged at him again before he finally uttered coldly to the two girls, “Don’t let me see you again.”
At the police station, Emma's statement concluded with an unusual atmosphere. Silence hung heavy as everyone followed her, exchanging furtive glances. As she neared the exit, the senior officer finally spoke, his words hesitant. “We… won’t see you out. Have a safe journey… I mean, get home safely.”
The officers' respectful demeanor was striking. Emma, in her black jacket, Dr. Martens, and blue jeans, remained unfazed. “Got it. Roads will be slippery. I’ll take it slow.”
“Shall I walk you to your car with an umbrella?” the officer asked.
Emma pursed her lips. “No need.” She’d taken a taxi, forgoing Liam's pickup due to his meeting. She knew nothing could happen; she had revealed her identity: Blaze, a key member of the King’s Association.
The name silenced the station. Everyone in the military knew Blaze, the name on Charon Military School’s Hero Rank badge. A wrestling champion, she had dismantled drug dens and confronted gangs. Though involved in the black market, she operated discreetly, adhering to a strong moral compass, always acting for the benefit of the country and its people. Her fame stemmed from a victory at seventeen over a Nuverland opponent who scorned traditional boxing.
Upon learning Emma’s true identity, the officers’ statements became curt. Blaze’s contributions overshadowed any past association with the King’s Association. The awkwardness escalated into a group escort to the entrance.
“Oh, right,” Emma said, opening her car door and turning. The officer at the entrance jumped. “I–Is there anything else?”
Emma raised an eyebrow. “I don’t want my identity as Blaze publicly revealed so soon. Can you keep it a secret?”
“Yes, yes, of course,” the officer stammered, then hesitated. “But we might need to record your identity… because you’re… amazing… Is that alright?” He was flustered, unsure how to explain that such exceptional individuals were national assets, readily accessible in emergencies.
Emma understood. Holding the car door, she said coolly, “Up to you.”
The officer breathed a sigh of relief as she drove away.