novelraw Chapter 100: The Board of Directors Has Arrived
Chapter 100: The Board of Directors Has Arrived
"Talk things over?" Fly was a bit bewildered. What was there to even talk about in a situation like this?
This was a state-level league. Shouldn't the administration of Star City High be throwing their full support behind it?
"Sigh, it normally would be," Mr. Carter replied, his tone tinged with helplessness. "But you know how it is. Star City High's track record in The Jade State League has always been lackluster. So, the higher-ups feel that since they've spent so much money and poured in so many resources in the past only to yield mediocre results, they might as well cut back on their investments and make every penny count."
"Therefore, seeing how confident you were, I went to Dean Sterling and teamed up with several other freshman homeroom teachers to bring this matter to the administration's attention."
"They were quite surprised at first. After a round of discussions, they didn't make an immediate decision. Instead, they wanted to meet you first."
"They want to evaluate your determination and performance before deciding whether to fully back your plan."
Although Mr. Carter's tone had gradually calmed down, it wasn't hard to tell that he was still feeling incredibly anxious. The school's higher-ups were currently waiting for Fly to come over for a talk.
"Did they not watch my performance in the Freshman Invitational?" Fly furrowed his brows slightly. These people were the administrators of Star City High, after all. Did they really not even care about their own students' matches?
"Of course they watched it," Mr. Carter answered. "But in their eyes, you're merely a genius within Star City High. Compared to those terrifying 'monsters' from Sovereign High, you still pale in comparison. In the end, I had to drop the news that Grandmaster Muse took you in as his apprentice just to convince them to reluctantly give you a chance."
Although he didn't know how things were going on Fly's end, he had to admit that Fly was undeniably the most talented student Mr. Carter had ever seen in his entire teaching career.
And Grandmaster Muse was his absolute idol!
With the two of them joining forces, perhaps some miraculous chemical reaction could occur.
Otherwise, Mr. Carter wouldn't have gone through all this trouble to argue so fiercely with the school administration.
"So that's how it is." Fly finally understood the whole story, but his feelings were quite complicated.
Supporting their own students in a competition, yet still meticulously calculating the gains and losses.
Only offering their full support after being guaranteed a good placement.
This bunch of school administrators really had a knack for business!
Fly lamented internally.
"Have Cynthia drive you back to school," Muse said. Having grasped the situation, he didn't force Fly to stay.
"Then what about the coaching position?" Fly's eyes flickered.
If it hadn't been for Mr. Carter's sudden phone call, Muse might have agreed just a moment ago.
Still, Mr. Carter was only doing this to fight for resources on his behalf.
He could only chalk it up to bad luck.
"Handle your school affairs first," Muse replied without giving a direct answer.
And just like that, Fly had no choice but to leave Muse's villa, with Cynthia driving him back to Star City High.
In the car, Cynthia gave Fly her and Muse's contact information, telling him to just call directly if he had any questions.
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"To be completely honest, ever since my father retired, his spirit has been rather depressed. Most of the time, he just locks himself in his study, completely ignoring the outside world."
"I was really worried about him for a while, afraid that the psychological pressure was too much for him to snap out of it."
"Thanks to you, Fly. This is the first time in ages I've seen my father this happy."
As they parted ways, Cynthia expressed her sincere gratitude to Fly.
It was Fly's appearance that helped Muse find a new glimmer of hope in life.
"It was nothing, really." Fly scratched his head, a bit embarrassed, while internally wondering: Is this as happy as Grandmaster Muse gets?
After returning to campus, Fly used his phone to contact Mr. Carter. Within moments, Mr. Carter came jogging over to greet Fly, leading him straight toward the school's main building.
"In such a rush?" Fly glanced at the time. Not only was it the weekend, but it was also nearing evening.
He had assumed the school administrators would schedule the meeting for tomorrow. He never expected them to be in such a hurry to see him.
"There's less than half a month left until The Jade State League, and coordinating all those resources takes time. Do you really think we have time to spare?" Mr. Carter said in exasperation.
"But, we also have Principal Penn to thank for her help this time around," Mr. Carter added.
At the end of the day, Mr. Carter was just an ordinary teacher. Even with Dean Sterling by his side, they could only report the issue to Principal Penn. Trying to directly persuade those old fogeys on The Board of Directors would have been quite difficult.
"The Board of Directors?" Fly paused. Wasn't the principal the highest-ranking administrator at Star City High?
Was there actually someone with more authority than the principal?
"Of course," Mr. Carter nodded. "The Chairman of the Board."
"The Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman, Executive Directors, Independent Directors..." Mr. Carter listed out the school leaders attending the meeting one by one for Fly.
"That many people? Waiting for just me?" Fly couldn't help but feel his scalp tingle.
Good grief, the entire top brass of Star City High had shown up.
"To be honest, I didn't expect things to blow up this much either..." Mr. Carter reached up to wipe a bead of sweat from his forehead.
He originally thought a simple chat with the principal would be enough.
He never imagined that even The Board of Directors would be alarmed.
But, Mr. Carter only figured it out after the fact.
He wasn't the only one who saw Fly's potential.
Principal Penn had long held Fly in high regard.
If it were just Principal Penn giving the nod, she could only mobilize Star City High's standard resources.
But if she could convince the truly powerful figures on The Board of Directors, the resources at their disposal would be vastly greater.
"Fly, an opportunity like this doesn't come around every day."
"You have to make sure you seize it."
Mr. Carter patted Fly on the back, signaling for him to put on a good showing.
"Don't worry, Mr. Carter." Although Fly felt a considerable amount of pressure, a surge of anticipation also rose within him.
In no time at all, the two of them arrived at the school's conference room.
The room spanned over a hundred square meters, with ceilings soaring to four meters high. Although the overall decor leaned toward a minimalist style, it only served to make the space feel even more dignified and imposing.
The Directors Mr. Carter had mentioned were currently seated high up at the conference table on the dais. In front of each Director sat a microphone.
Hanging on the wall behind them were the emblem of Star City High and the national flag of The United Federation.
Dean Sterling, along with Mr. Ironside and the rest of the freshman homeroom teachers, were seated on the benches below the dais.
The conference room was deathly quiet.
Even the slightest cough could be heard loud and clear.
Fly strode forward purposefully. Although he was often surrounded and photographed by his peers at school, facing the members of The Board of Directors in this moment felt entirely different.
What an intense, oppressive aura.
Fly thought to himself.
"Don't be nervous, Fly," Principal Penn encouraged with a warm smile, trying to put him at ease.
Subsequently, she began to introduce the key figures of The Board of Directors to Fly.
The Chairman of the Board of Star City High, Reginald Cross; the Vice Chairman, Alistair Graves; and several other bigwigs on The Board.
Following that came a long string of other members of The Board.
After the introductions were finished, Fly couldn't help but focus his gaze on an old man sitting in a wheelchair in the corner.
His figure was hunched, with a white beard and hair. His eyes were either squinted or completely shut, making him look as if he might pass away from old age at any given moment.
Fly just found him familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before, but he simply couldn't recall where.
Furthermore, when Principal Penn was introducing the Directors just now, she hadn't mentioned his name at all.
The vibe he gave off was like dust in the air—no one in the conference room paid any special attention to him. Yet, there seemed to be a unique aura about him that inexplicably drew Fly's focus.
Right at that moment, a composed yet slightly interrogative voice shattered the silence of the conference room.
"Fly, what gives you the confidence to believe you can secure a top-four finish in The Jade State League?"
The voice belonged to the Chairman of the Board, Reginald Cross.
Fly: "???"
What top-four?