Chapter 168: Chapter 168:Ranking Up [4]

Staying in my seat with Zach slumped on my shoulder, I watched as Kevin staggered to get up, staring daggers at Liam's back.

This carriage... is going be destroyed.

Well, that's actually an... understatement.

I wouldn't be surprised if this entire area was decimated to pieces as a result of the fight was about to take place.

Liam, ignoring Kevin's gaze and approaching figure, continued staring directly at Lily before once again asking.

"Did you know that there was even a slight possibility that this would happen?"

Watching her frantically search her mind for a response just to end up with nothing, I sighed.

How could she have known?

She didn't come up with any plan... I just told her to do something, and she followed out of desperation without knowing anything about what would happen next.

Well, she wasn't exposing me or anything, so I guess that was a decent sign.

Seeing Kevin grab his bag and take out his sword before preparing to charge at Liam, I finally moved.

These people had been risking their lives for each other and relying on each other for over three months at this point.

All of them would risk their life for each other without hesitating for even a moment.

All of them completely trusted each other.

If Lily had told Liam that she had no idea that Zach would end up like this right now, then Liam would instantly believe her.

That would resolve the entire situation.

Yet, Lily didn't do that.

She kept silent... because I presumed she didn't want to lie.

If she lied, their entire foundation of trust that had been slowly built up through countless events where they worked together to save others... and even themselves would break.

Even if no one besides Lily knew it was breaking, it was still broken at the end of that day.

So, Lily kept silent out of fear that the foundation of trust would crumble and collapse.

It was interesting how a bond of trust formed amongst them that took countless near-life experiences and days spent together could be broken... by just a single lie.

It was as if the pyramids in Egypt, the greatest human technological achievement at that time and taking years to create, could crumble just because a single small rock was thrown at them.

A friendship could take years to make but a single second to break.

Well, it wasn't even a lie.

Yet, I guess Lily still considered it lying.

After all, she had decided to listen to my plant, so she had probably considered the risk that came with that, one of them probably having to do with the main cast members getting hurt.

Seeing Kevin about to confront Liam with his sword in hand, I stood up from my seat, slowly allowing Zach's head to fall on the cushion of my seat.

However, no one even noticed me as everyone's gazes were locked on Kevin, Liam, and Lily.

Ruby and Irene were simply huddled up in a corner with their wands ready to attack, while Alya wore a dreaded expression while staring ahead.

Ruby and Irene could be considered outsiders, so they had no obligation to help resolve this issue... not that they could even if they tried.

As Kevin was about to attack Liam's defenseless back, I spoke in a loud and emotionless tone, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

"She didn't know. It was my plan from the start."

Dropping his sword mid-swing, Kevin stared at me while Liam slowly turned around to face me, his eyes burning with anger.

Lily didn't budge as her gaze remained locked on the ground while she desperately tried to think of something, and the other three girls simply stared at me as well.

Still standing beside Lily, Liam's hand began to shine a bright blue as he stared at me.

Raising his fight into the air, Liam's eyes flickered a bright red for a moment before he replied.

"Repeat that." S~eaʀᴄh the ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Leaning against the carriage wall, I shrugged my shoulders and cockily replied.

"You heard me. I did it; your friend over there had no idea."

Seeing the anger begin to light aflame in Liam's eyes, I chuckled and continued.

"It was actually quite funny, you know. She had no idea that one of her precious friends was going to hurt while following my orders like an obedient puppy."

"She really thought her friends were going be saved without even realizing that she was going to be the reason one of them almost died."

"Desperation really does a number on the human brain, doesn't it?"

"..."

"..."

As my final words escaped my mouth, everyone in the carriage remained still, their gaze locked on me.

Everyone seemed starstruck as their mouths were wide open; even Lily and ALya seemed shocked.

Yet, one person remained still with their mouth closed, silently staring at me.

The entire carriage remained silent for a moment; not a single soul dared speak.

Only a soft chuckle that escaped from my mouth eventually broke the silence.

Raising my chin up high, I matched Liam's gaze, looking directly into his eyes with a smile.

"I mean, even now, she doesn't know. The smartest student in the school? *HAH* I've seen beggars smarter than her."

...oh yeah, I hadn't replied to Raven's messages in over a week, had I?

Before anyone could react further, Liam charged toward me, his fist covered in a light-blue divinity and already swinging toward me.

Standing directly still, I simply used the dash I had prepared earlier, appearing ten meters to the right.

Stopping his strike mid-slash, Liam continued his relentless attack, charging right at my new location.

This match-up really was the best for me.

I knew Liam's every single attack, ability, behavioral pattern, personality, and trait.

After all he was the protagonist of a book I had read for over a year...I knew everything about him.

Causing the carriage to shake further, Liam jumped into the air, closing the distance between us.

Recognizing his "Sky Plunge," or the second movement of his art, I smiled and raised my hand to my eye, instantly slowing my perception of time.