Even Geoffrey was taken aback by Principal Sophia's piercing gaze, breaking out in a cold sweat in an instant.
He felt his back drenched with cold sweat; the pressure from a semigod-tier powerhouse was terrifying indeed!
Though Principal Sophia had been gravely injured before, nearly falling from her semigod-tier status, her strength was still formidable!
If it came to a fight, he certainly wouldn't stand to gain anything!
"Speak!"
Geoffrey found himself at a loss for words, while Principal Sophia's expression grew increasingly fierce.
Her eyes fixed intently on Geoffrey, it seemed that unless he disclosed the full story, this matter would not be easily resolved.
"Principal, please, don't be upset, this matter... practically everyone knows about it now."
Percival tried to smooth things over, but Sophia's gaze only sharpened.
Everyone knows? What does that mean?
Geoffrey could tell that Sophia was desperate to know. He stepped back slightly, avoiding the suffocating aura she emanated.
"John had been unconscious before being taken to the hospital by the nobles, and everyone knows now that his mind power has been severely damaged."
"It's unclear who spread the word, but it's said that you've lost control over the secret realm, and he was the last to receive the power of control and also survived, so now the entire secret realm is in his hands."
"Meanwhile, the parents of the children who didn't make it out alive are causing trouble for me, demanding answers from us."
As Geoffrey spoke, he couldn't help but let out a wry smile.
Initially, managing to lead so many children out had been no small feat, yet there were always some imperfections.
After all, some children indeed perished within, and the situation had turned out worse than they had anticipated.
Where some rejoice, others mourn.
Now, the major nobles were demanding explanations!
The principal had also been severely injured. Though they tried to keep a tight lid on it, you can't hide the truth forever.
In a few months, there would be the inter-school competitive tournament, and the principal was bound to attend!
If the other schools' principals noticed anything amiss by then, the situation could truly worsen!
"Principal, so is this matter true?"
Percival also asked with some doubt.
They knew about Principal Sophia's severe injury, but surely it wasn't bad enough to lose control over the secret realm.
As one of the few in the alliance who possessed a secret realm, Principal Sophia surely understood what this realm meant to them!
It was their own personal domain!
It meant that all the treasures and geniuses within this realm were theirs for the taking!
Most crucially, their school's annual trials were held within the principal's private secret realm. If it really had been handed over to John, what would happen to future student selections?
And what about the competitions between schools afterward?
Geoffrey was terribly anxious but dared not speak, forcibly holding himself back.
Percival was more direct and straightforward, posing the question outright.
Principal Sophia did not explain but simply sat quietly in her seat, an action that only increased Geoffrey's anxiety!
No explanation implied the truth of the matter!
The principal's secret realm had indeed been given to John!
Geoffrey gritted his teeth, internally frantic, but ultimately, he too had to suppress his feelings.
"Principal, what should we do now?"
Seeing no response from Principal Sophia, Geoffrey couldn't hold back any longer and asked.
Principal Sophia gave him a faint glance, a look that immediately silenced Geoffrey.
"What else can we do? Nothing!"
Now that she indeed no longer had the secret realm, further talk was useless.
"But... what about the Academy Competition?"
Geoffrey immediately thought of this, as the Academy Competition was only three months away!
Previously, their Star Cluster Academy's top position was largely due to Principal Sophia's possession of the secret realm.
This secret realm, besides being used for student assessments, was crucial because it contained endless resources!
A secret realm was essentially like a miniature world.
The competition between their schools was fundamentally a battle for resources.
A school could only nurture its students better and secure its ranking by possessing more resources!
Now that the principal no longer had her private secret realm, what were they to do next?
Although Percival also realized this, he remained optimistic at heart.
"With so many proud talents in our school, are we really afraid of the other schools?"
Percival laughed heartily.
Their school had been first for so many years, surely because of their own merit, not just the principal's.
Besides her, it was because their students were genuinely outstanding, always ranking at the top among their peers.
Even if they were to compete with other schools, how could they possibly fall short?
Geoffrey hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back.
While their school had mostly secured the first place previously, this time was different.
They no longer had the secret realm, and indeed, they couldn't recruit as many students this time.
Most importantly, the major nobles were demanding explanations.
Over a hundred children had been lost in the secret realm, several of whom belonged to families ranked in the top ten of the alliance!
Now, they were all seeking answers, and he was almost at his wits' end, completely unsure of how to handle the situation.
The annual funding for their school was diminishing each year, and if this continued, they might not be able to maintain their top position.
"Principal, we really need to find a solution."
Geoffrey was extremely anxious, desperate to resolve the issue, but he found himself without any options!
"This time, we haven't admitted any students with potential, and even if we were willing to accept them later, they might not choose to come."
"Moreover, our school's reputation has already been greatly damaged, and with the Dusk Sect stirring trouble... I fear the other three schools might take this opportunity to crush us."
Principal Sophia gave him a faint glance.
"You seem very concerned about this ranking."
Geoffrey paused, his face flushing red—it was impossible not to care.
Star Cluster Academy had held the top spot for a full decade!
If they truly didn't care, how could they have fought so hard for resources all these years?
A soldier who doesn't wish to be a general is not a good soldier, and a school that doesn't strive for first place is not a good school!
Moreover, securing the top spot usually means some cooperation with the military—this is an unwritten rule!
Could they really afford to lose such resources?
No!
Absolutely not!
"Principal, our reputation has already been tarnished. If we don't manage to recover it, things will only get worse."
"If rumors continue to spread, who would dare apply to our Star Cluster Academy then?"
If it really came to that…
The reputation of Star Cluster Academy would truly be ruined!
Principal Sophia's gaze lowered, silent.
Her petite frame nestled into the large chair, appearing so fragile.
But only those who truly knew what level of person she was would understand that all this apparent frailty was merely an illusion.
"I understand."
Her brief words cut off Geoffrey just as he was about to speak, forcing him to swallow his words.
His face flushed red, yet he found himself at a loss for words.
She understands? Understands what?
What comes next?
How are they supposed to handle this situation?
"Alright, you may leave now. I know what to do about this matter."
Geoffrey was terribly anxious, but ultimately, he could only bow resignedly and leave the room.
Percival followed, smiling.