Chapter 78
Aurora frowned at the bucket. The handle was too short to distribute the water evenly. Just then, a group of people ran from the distance, yelling, "Buckets and mops! Professor Crawford, use this!"
Erik and his classmates from Class F arrived, carrying buckets of the same foul concoction. They pushed through the crowd, offering Aurora more effective tools. Aurora raised an eyebrow, her gaze lingering on one particular person. The student from Class F who had earlier seemed to flee had actually gone for help.
She chuckled softly, lowering her head. Her eyes reddened slightly. The feeling of having backup warmed her. She wasn't alone.
Aurora grabbed a mop, its fabric unfurling. The veins on her hand bulged as she gripped the handle tightly, plunging it into the bucket of filthy water. The liquid splashed, and a horrible stench filled the air as she stirred the mop.
Some quick-thinking students sensed trouble. Those facing outward picked up their mops. Their instincts were right. Aurora, wielding the dripping mop, swung it at the crowd.
Cold, foul-smelling droplets splashed onto the onlookers' faces, necks, and clothes, snapping them from their stunned silence. "Ugh! It stinks! Get away!" a man bellowed, recoiling. A woman shrieked, "Aurora, knock it off!"
Shouts rippled through the crowd, quickly dissolving the tightly packed mass into chaos. It was just an ordinary mop, but in Aurora's hands, it became a fearsome weapon. She wielded it like a warrior, driving people away. The spray of water might as well have been poison.
The denser the crowd had been, the harder escape became. People stumbled and fell, trampled in the panicked rush. Cries of pain pierced the air as bodies were crushed and limbs twisted.
Aurora plunged the mop back into the bucket. Only a shallow layer remained. Seizing her chance, she gave Alison and her crew an impromptu face wash, ensuring those who had earlier thrown things at her received a special dose of her "mop service."
Erik and Jimmy each grabbed a security guard, feigning fear and begging for protection—a ruse to prevent interference and give Aurora center stage. The rest of Class F joined in, swinging mops wildly, uncaring if the dirty water splashed them.
They knew Aurora had pulled them from their hopeless situation, uniting Class F and leading them to surpass Class A. They wouldn't let anyone bully the best teacher in the world. Chaos erupted. Those who had looked down on Aurora earlier scampered away like frightened mice.
The morning sun broke through the clouds, bathing the ground in golden light. Mercida High School's towering buildings gleamed. Aurora's mop had scattered the darkness, dissolving it like fragile bubbles in the sunlight.
The once-pristine floor was awash with dirty water, leaving behind a foul stench as the moisture evaporated. Alison and her crew were covered head-to-toe in mud. Dried muck clung to their eyelashes, obscuring their vision. The more arrogant Alison had been, the more humiliated she felt. Aurora had "rewarded" each person according to their actions—true equality in retribution.
Alison felt dazed. She couldn't understand how she'd gone from having the upper hand to this sorry state. A nearby five-star hotel had some unusual guests: a group of mud-covered, foul-smelling students. Their stench lingered long after they'd left.
"Kids these days," the lobby manager muttered, instructing the cleaning staff to add perfume to their mop water. Frank sat in the lobby, massaging his temples. Across from him was Ruby, Class A's teacher.
He'd rushed over with his team, but it was almost over by then. Aurora stood in the center of the chaos, leaning on her mop like a battle-worn general. Around her, people were sprawled on the ground. Students from Class F patrolled, ready to smear mud on anyone who dared to stand.
Aurora, the only one standing, looked victorious. When she spotted Frank, she waved. Frank nearly fainted. He couldn't take them to the administration office looking like this; he had to find a nearby hotel for them to clean up.
Ruby fumed. "Mr. Gill, the students from Class F have gone too far! They have no respect for school rules. We must expel them!"
Frank slumped onto a couch, feeling drained. "Ms. Bates, we can't jump to conclusions."
Ruby was livid. "Mr. Gill, everyone saw it. Aurora threw the first punch. What else is there to ask? Are you protecting Aurora because she's the top?"
If Frank dared to shield Aurora, Ruby threatened to report him. Frank's face darkened. "Ms. Bates, it's been a month since the monthly exams," Frank said coldly. "Are you still unable to accept that Class F's average score surpassed your class? As an educator targeting students you dislike, I don't think someone as selfish and petty as you should continue in this profession."
Ruby's breath caught. She hadn't expected such bluntness. "Mr. Gill, what are you talking about?" she mumbled, avoiding his gaze.
She forced a weak smile, clutching her handbag. Frank gave her a long look. He decided against burning bridges completely, offering pointed advice: "Ms. Bates, as teachers, we should guide our students. The college entrance exams are just a month away. I don't want to see this kind of disturbance again."
"O-okay, I understand," Ruby replied weakly. Frank felt relief. He'd spoken to Ruby beforehand to prevent her from joining forces with other parents. The thought of dealing with them made his head throb. This was no time to relax; a tough battle lay ahead.