Chapter 121
Right now, the way Leopard was looking at Jaxton could probably kill a man.
It wasn’t enough that Harvey had just told him to “teach Raven a lesson.
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Now Jaxton had the nerve to order him not to let Raven walk off that field in one piece–unless he wanted to lose his job as an instructor.
Leopard was furious. What the hell had he done to these people? Killed their parents? Dug up their ancestors‘ graves? Why were they all so eager to see him dead and buried?
The cadets, sensing the icy storm brewing around him, fell momentarily silent. But it didn’t take long before all eyes turned to Raven again.
Their gazes gleamed with schadenfreude.
If Leopard was that pissed, it could only mean one thing–he felt his authority as an instructor had been insulted. And Raven was the cause.
This idiot was about to be run straight into the ground. No one doubted it.
Jaxton glanced at Leopard, then sneered at Raven. “Let me give you a piece of friendly advice,” he said. “Either drop out now -or get on your knees and beg Leopard for mercy. Your choice.”
The class collectively sighed at Jaxton’s kindness. Even after being insulted by this idiot, he still bothered to warn her?
Of course, none of them actually wanted Raven to apologize. Not really.
They were dying to see her–this prideful, arrogant girl–get utterly broken on the training field, until she had no choice but to beg.
But just as everyone was holding their breath, eagerly anticipating the downfall of Raven, Leopard suddenly turned and punched Jaxton square in the face.
The blow sent him staggering back five, six steps.
The cadets around them froze, stunned by the sudden violence.
Jaxton steadied himself with difficulty, clutching his cheek, utterly bewildered. “Sir… you…”
Leopard stared him down, chest rising and falling as he struggled to steady his breathing..
It wasn’t fear of Jaxton–it was the sheer pressure building inside him from being forced to hold back.
Harvey was untouchable. He couldn’t lay a hand on him in public. He’d have to wait until after class, when Raven dragged him into the dean’s office, and then maybe–just maybe–he’d get a chance.
But Jaxton? Jaxton was just a student. Fair game. And that punch?
That was just interest. The real debt would be collected during the military training drills.
Leopard took a step forward, eyes locked on Jaxton as the entire class stared in shock. His voice was calm, deliberate.
“I just heard you say that as long as I agreed, you’d take on the tenfold training load in Raven’s place, right?”
He smiled coldly. “That punch–was just to test your physical fitness. I was worried your body wouldn’t be able to handle it. But lucky for you, you passed. So now, I’m officially accepting your offer. You’ll be taking on Raven’s tenfold training load,”
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Chapter 121
For a moment, everyone stood there blinking, unable to process what they’d just heard.
Anyone with a brain could tell Jaxton had just been bluffing.
But Leopard–he’d taken it seriously. Deliberately.
Jaxton gaped. “Leopard, sir… there must be some kind of mistake.”
Leopard laughed softly. “Mistake? Didn’t you just say it? As long as I agree, you’re in.”
Jaxton opened his mouth, then shut it again.
Finally, forcing himself to speak, he mumbled, “I was just joking. Sir, I—”
But before he could finish, Leopard cut him off coldly.
“Harvey made one thing very clear: Regalhold doesn’t need students who can’t stand by their word. If you back out now, that’s fine–but you’ll be expelled.”
Jaxton was speechless.
Right then and there, he realized he absolutely deserved that punch. Hell, if he could, he’d slap himself too.
Why had he run his mouth?
If he hadn’t said anything, Leopard wouldn’t have had anything to grab onto, and he wouldn’t be stuck in this impossible position.
The class watched in silence. No one dared to speak up for Jaxton.
But what did shift, subtly and unmistakably, was the growing resentment in their eyes–directed straight at Raven.
Why?
Why was it that Raven got to make some ridiculous demand for tenfold training–and then got someone else to take the punishment in her place?
But before they could wallow too long in their indignation, Leopard opened his mouth again–just in time to make it even
worse.
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