*Ciel's POV*
Me and Jack were back at my dorm, Jack was taken aback by how it was starting to look more like a an actual dorm. I told him that it was a slow process but so far we have access to the second floor, I had him sit on the couch in the lounge as I made some tea. After a couple of minutes, I cam back with the tea and cups as I hand him one before I placed the tray onto the table. I sit down next to him as I sip some of my tea to calm my nerves. Then, we began to process what had happened and Azul's connection.
"I think it's safe to say that everybody with an anemone stuck on their head...gambled on Azul's contract and lost. The terms of said contract were apparently to place in the top 50. But with the sheer number of students signin' on most of them never stood a chance of getting in at all. That was Azul's game from the start." Jack stated
"I did find it weird that Grim managed to score over 80 on a test... Talk about a racket." I said while rubbing my forehead.
"I mean, c'mon! If you're gettin' good grades off someone else's work, what does that even prove? You're throwin' away a perfectly good opportunity to show others what you're capable of. Frankly, you're cheating yourself." Jack said in annoyance as I nod in agreement.
"If the rest of the student body here were as principled and tedious...I mean, as "serious" as you, it would spare me such grief!"
Me and Jack jumped, which thankfully we finished our tea or else we may've spilled it on ourselves and that would've hurt. We quickly got up and turned around to see that it was none other than Crowley standing in the lounge. I calmed down very quickly since this wasn't uncommon, while Jack didn't.
"WHOA! Headmage?! You startled me!" Jack stated
"Crowley? What are you doing here?" I questioned as Crowley had a disheartened look.
"*Sigh* So transpires another year of me being unable to clamp down on Ashengrotto's little 'side business.'"
"'side business'? Do you know something about this, Headmage?" I asked, earning me a nod
"Azul Ashengrotto: Sophomore. Housewarden of Octavinelle Dorm. Much like Rosehearts, he is a highly capable student already running a dorm as a sophomore, but... He's a bit-no, I daresay QUITE a bit troublesome." Crowley informs us.
"Are you talking about him swindling people? Seems to me like one word from the headmage could put a stop to this whole thing." Jack suggested
"Yeah, Azul would have no choice but to listen to you. Unless there's a reason you can't?" I asked
"Ah, but it is precisely BECAUSE I am in a teaching position that I cannot prohibit his actions." Crowley states, which confused us.
"Why not?" Jack asked
"Here's the thing about those study guides that Ashengrotto handed out to the students. There was no illegitimate activity involved in their production. Nobody snuck looks at test questions or answers beforehand. It was crafted exhaustively by hand, after researching the past century's worth of Night Raven College exam questions and their patterns. In other words, it's an entirely legitimate study guide." Crowley explains
"A century's worth of test questions?! That's actually amazing!" I stated in awe, even though the guide is being used for selfish reason.
"Huh. Well, I'll be. If he did that all by hand, the guy's got chops. Hm? Wait... So the problem is that there IS no problem with it?" Jack said in realization as Crowley nods
"You strike right to the heart of the matter, Howl. As a teacher, I can hardly prohibit a student from crafting an exam study guide via honest work. Nor I can prohibit a student from 'kindly' sharing their notes with friends."
"If you did, you'd basically be tellin' students, 'no studying' AND 'no helping your buds.' Grr... Talk about a seriously briny pickle." Jack growls in annoyance.
"That is most certainly is." Crowley agrees
"And earlier, you said 'another year,' yeah? Did the same thing happen last term?" Jack questions, remembering that small detail.
"Yeah, it seems you are used to Azul doing something like this." I said as Crowley had a serious look on his face.
"Indeed it did. Of course, last year his study guides didn't have quite the reputation they carry this year. So the commotion was much more contained, relatively speaking. This year, on the other hand, rumors abounded throughout campus that if one wished to score well on a test, they should visit the Mostro Lounge."
"And I'm guessin' the nasty little caveat in the contract in the event of a breach stayed hush-hush because of that binding NDA." Jack stated
"That seems to be the case, I did recently heard about this guide but not the past one." I stated as I remembered hearing about the guides by others.
"So it would seem. Thus did Ashengrotto have a steady stream of students lining up to accept his bargain this year. And the test average across all subjects and years has jumped above 90, much to my chagrin. Of Course, I would be even more chagrinned if all our subject averages were failing grades. But still!" Crowley said, a bit mad towards Azul
"What you're saying is that most of the student body cheated." I said with my arms crossed, while Crowley nods.
"Does that mean that there are guys from last year who lost the bet and still haven't gotten their powers back?" Jack asked
"Actually, he returned the powers he took from students last year as part of an arrangement he made with me. In return, I granted him permission to run the Mostro Lounge on school property." Crowley stated, causing me and Jack to be shocked.
"Excuse me?!" I exclaim
"WHAT?!" Jack shouts
*Flashback, third POV*
Last year, two individuals were present in the Headmage's office because of the actions the student has done. They were Crowley and Azul, Crowley was sitting behind his desk while Azul was standing in front of him. Crowley had a serious look on his face while Azul had a smile on his face. Crowley called him into his office to get him to return the magic he taken from the other students but to no avail. Azul knew he was in a stump, so he decided to suggest something to the headmage that will benefit them both.
"Night Raven College is a historic and prestigious institution famed for producing the finest of magicians. Yet now the campus is replete with students capable of only minor feats of magic-a fact I'm sure you're none too pleased about, Headmage. Which is why I have a proposal...and it's one I think you will find to be quite beneficial."
*Flashback end, Ciel's POV*
"That was how he framed it." Crowley finishes as me and Jack didn't know what to say.
"Talk about brazen. I mean, blackmailing the headmage into a deal? No wonder Leona wants nothin' to do with this guy." Jack growls as I rubbed his back to calm him down.
"And when he offered to contribute 10% of the proceeds to the school... Why, how could I say no to such a mutually beneficial arrangement?" Crowley states
"Wait, so you're gettin' something from it?" Jack questions in surprise.
"To be fair, it is somewhat a punishment for Azul's actions even if it's not much..." I said with a sweatdrop.
"Dear oh dear. I can only wonder what demands he'll make of me this year. Whatever he wants, I will undoubtedly be forced to acquiesce. What else can I do for our idiotic-ah, that is, our poor, unfortunate students? My immense kindness always gets the better of me. Ashengrotto 'merely' studies diligently, then shares his rightfully earned knowledge with other students out of the kindness of his heart... If wouldn't do for a teacher to discourage such earnest behavior. Why must every student in our school arrive with some amount of baggage to sort out?! Oooh, woe is meee!" Crowley cries out
"I'm getting a bad feeling about this..." I mutter, knowing what he's gonna do next.
"And that's where you come in, Ciel. Would you be so kind as to persuade Ashengrotto to cease this little game of his?" Crowley asked, surprising Jack
"I don't think anybody could 'persuade' him to do anything, please don't ask the impossible." I said, not sure how someone like me can convince such a man.
"Incidentally, Ramshackle Dorm's food expenses have been mounting as of late, as I recall. You must be terribly strapped for cash... And alas, I'm so preoccupied researching a way to return SOMEONE to their home, I have so little time to address other problems... Oh but don't worry about me, really. I am, as you know, a philanthropist to the core." Crowley states as Jack looked at him in disappointment.
"With teachers like this, no wonder our students are the way they are."
"...You drive a hard bargain. I suppose I can't say no. I'll do what I can." I answered, which made Crowley smile.
"You'll accept my request, then? Wonderful, Ciel! I knew I saw potential in this prefect! Then I'll be going now, as I am a very busy man. I'm counting on you!"
The headmage turns around and leaves, very grateful that I accepted the request, even though he sort of blackmailed me. After he left, Jack sat back down on the couch while rubbing his forehead with a sigh, annoyed with Crowley. I look back at him with awkward smile before sitting on the couch as well.
"Boy, you never know when the headmage'll pop up. Okay, so what exactly is your plan here. Because you're kinda right-just going up to Azul and askin' him nicely isn't gonna get you anywhere." Jack said as he looks at me.
"A good investigation starts with observing the target. Meaning, gathering intel seems like the place to start." I inform him
"True. A successful hunt starts with learnin' all you can about your target. You actually know your stuff. Besides, letting Ace and the others stew in the mess they made might help 'em learn something from this."
Me and Jack began to think about who to observe first, to see what we can learn about the Octavinelle trio. After all, there wasn't much knowledge we had on the trio that could help us in the long run if we want to save those students. Plus we can't ask others for help or else we'll be seen a suspicious as I have a feeling that there's a chance the others don't know of the situation. I can already imagine Riddle's pissed look, along with Cater and Trey's disappointment, while Leona probably would be indifferent and Ruggie will be laughing. I shake my head from those thoughts as me and Jack came to a conclusion on who to observe first, we got up with determined looks.
'Time to see what intel we can get.'
YOU ARE READING
An Earl in Night Raven College (Book three)
Fanfiction(Black Butler x Twisted Wonderland) Some time after the events of the Spelldrive, the time has arrived for Ciel and his friends to take their final exam. Much to Ciel's surprise, Grim, Ace and Deuce are all oddly confident, and when grades roll in...
