The Black Swan Behind

284 Trouble in Ballet Class

For some reason, the Black Hole suddenly attacked all major groups, as if they had planned it a long time ago. Black Hole took the four most influential groups in Handway City. Whereas they only had one branch group called Dragger before.

Perhaps Black Hole was dissatisfied with just having Draggers and their own business. The leader had such big ambitions that he wanted to lead the four groups that had the most promising businesses in Handway City.

Finally, the Black Hole attacked the four groups; Hell Gate, Creeper, RJC, and Beast Empire. The four groups lost at the hands of the extraordinarily strong core team of Black Hole. Therefore, they had to bow down to the monster and were forcefully dragged into The Deadly Square.

Like leeches, Black Hole forced the five groups within its area to make mandatory payments regularly. Black Hole’s source of income was the five groups they had defeated.

However, when one by one the Deadly Square groups fell, it meant that Black Hole’s source of income was also decreasing. Black Hole had to make a new policy, so that money continued to flow into their pockets.

When the first group fell, Black Hole decided to increase the mandatory fee rates. But unexpectedly, it turned out that the other groups had also fallen because of the appearance of Handway’s heroes whom they had always underestimated.

It seemed like Black Hole realized that they couldn’t just keep increasing deposit rates because it would actually kill the businesses belonging to all the remaining groups. Therefore, when the RJC eventually fell, Black Hole seemed to be silent.

RJC had differences from the other three groups. Of all The Deadly Square groups that have been knocked down by the heroes, only RJC was still able to stand back up.

Jita Kyoei and Black still let RJC stand because they were not against each other. It was just that each of them had goals that collided with each other.

.....

When Underground Cave eventually closed, RJC only had the business of managing Redvalley Street, which was not a dirty business. It was a business that did not harm either side. It was a pro-civilians business. For this reason, RJC was no longer attacked by hero groups.

After a long silence, Black Hole reappeared with its new policy.

Black Hole decided to take over all the businesses belonging to the entire group of The Deadly Square. They did not care whether the business had been destroyed or was remaining.

Black Hole believed they could easily revive all the business again, just like saving a withered plant. It already had roots and just needed intensive care, then it would be fresh again.

Then what about RJC whose status was still operating?

Black Hole asked RJC to pay the fee again, just like it used to, without any free waivers as if RJC still had a big business like Underground Cave.

Certainly, RJC couldn’t do that. Not even Marcel could profit a dime for himself from the business that RJC was running now. Redvalley’s managing business had so little profit that it ended up only being used for RJC group’s own needs.

Marcel worked hard as a model because he knew that he could no longer expect income from the RJC business. He had to support his grandmother and himself using money that came from work outside of RJC’s business.

The fee rate that Black Hole asked for was a lot of money – Money that only groups that had huge and profitable businesses could give. RJC couldn’t possibly afford that.

Then, what would happen if the RJC did not comply with Black Hole’s request?

RJC would be destroyed by Black Hole and the business they own would be taken over by the monster group; Either Underground Cave or Redvalley Street. They would take everything.

Marcel’s hands clenched tightly. It didn’t matter if the Underground Cave, which had been closed for a long time, was taken over by the Black Hole. For him, it was none of his business anymore.

But what about Redvalley Street? Its people were what Marcel was most worried about.

If Black Hole were to take over the business of managing Redvalley Street, it was certain they would colonize the street. The same incident as when Apollo was still standing would happen again.

Marcel went to Kenny’s number and called him. It didn’t take long for Kenny to answer the call.

“Yes?” Kenny answered.

“I’ve read your text. Looks like we have to do an all core team meeting,” Marcel said, lightly massaging his forehead.

**

Nicko stared at the small doll in his hand. He stood while leaning against the wall, waiting for someone.

After waiting for a long time, finally the person Nicko was waiting for appeared.

“Hey,” Nicko immediately called the girl with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Britney and Crystal stopped the talk they were having while walking out of the classroom.

“Hey...” Britney answered awkwardly.

“May I ask something? Is this yours?” Nicko held out the keychain doll in his hand.

Britney’s eyebrows rose high when she saw the object that Nicko gave her. She exchanged glances with Crystal with meaningful stares.

“I found it when we all met in the campus garden that time. I thought that this was yours,” Nico explained.

“Y-yes. It’s mine.” Britney took her key chain which she realized had suddenly disappeared.

“Oh? You have one, too,” Nicko stared at the same key chain that hung on the side of Crystal’s bag.

“Y-yes. We bought it together.” Crystal answered.

The black swan doll key chain was owned by all members of the Black Swan group. Coincidentally, Cecil had an older brother who owned a knick-knacks business. Then, she made lots of small accessories like these for all group members.

“Thanks for keeping it for me,” Britney said.

Nicko nodded and smiled while holding out his hand. “I’m Nicko Coffey from the Engineering department,”

“Britney Jassey,” She returned Nicko’s handshake.

“Good to know you,” Nicko said as he pulled his hand back, then he cleared his throat, “Well, I better go now,”

“Sure. Bye,”

“Bye,” Nicko walked away.

“I think he likes you,” Crystal nudged Britney’s arm when the bespectacled man had walked far enough.

“What are you saying? We even just met,”

“Well, he didn’t even glance at me at all,” Crystal said with a chuckle.

Crystal recognized Nicko’s face because when she was being held captive in the Beast Empire’s main warehouse, Nicko was the one who broke down her cell door. She admitted he was a cool guy.

“Anyway, this isn’t anything serious, is it?” Britney asked in a low voice.

“Do you mean the keychain?” Asked Crystal, who had now joined the Black Swan group.

Britney nodded with a slightly worried face.

Crystal shook her head confidently. “A key chain like this wouldn’t be a reason for someone to be suspicious of us. Who would have thought that a keychain like this meant that you belonged to a hero group? You don’t need to think about it.”

“I guess you’re right,” Britney muttered.

Then, they continued to the ballet classroom.

But when they opened the door, it turned out that the conditions inside were quite lively than they thought even though they came there too early.

“What is this?” Crystal asked the girls who were gathered with serious expressions on their faces.

At the same time, Emma and Rachel also entered the room.

“You guys came too? Did something happen?” Britney asked when she realized that Emma and Rachel had joined the crowd. They always come to ballet class at a tight hour because they were always busy.

“We heard there was a commotion in the ballet class. That’s why we came.” Emma shrugged, “What exactly happened?”

As it turned out, Poppy and Linda were there too. As usual, Poppy felt that she had a responsibility in the class her aunt had raised before. Even though she no longer had any duties in this ballet class, she couldn’t fight her instinct to get into it.

“Miss Tania is up again, Emma,” Linda said with a small laugh on her lips. “That annoying woman doesn’t deserve to be our instructor. I already knew it would turn out like this.”

“Grace resigned from being an instructor assistant and from this class at the same time. Previously, she was involved in an argument with Miss Tania.” Poppy explained.

“That’s bad news,” Emma muttered to herself, “Then, why is everyone here?”

“Do you remember the petition to replace Miss Tania with another instructor, which I asked you to sign?” Linda asked, and Emma nodded.

Then Linda chuckled in annoyance before continuing, “The petition was flatly rejected by the university. They gave various unreasonable reasons and instead turned on us. They accused us of bullying that woman. They even said that the bullying could be brought to justice.”

“Therefore, we are thinking of dropping out of this class. Miss Tania has never been good at giving grades. She also always makes things difficult for girls she doesn’t like.” Tilly said.

“If you guys go out together like that, then this ballet class would be closed due to a lack of students.” Poppy looked worried.

“We’ve held on as best we can, Poppy. Why do we have to stand being annoyed by that crazy woman for so long? Moving to another class is our last plan and she forced us to take it.” Tilly answered.

“Actually, when it comes to grades, Miss Tania doesn’t have much influence. In the end, the final grades will be given by judges from outside the campus on the art stage.” Rachel said.