Chapter 85: IS IT REAL CONTROL ?

Chapter 85 — WHEN ADULTS PRETEND THEY ARE IN CONTROL

The meeting room was designed to be intimidating.

High ceiling. Thick stone walls. Soundproof formation layers etched directly into the structure. A massive oval table carved from a single slab of spirit-reinforced rock sat at the center, polished to a dull sheen that reflected light without warmth.

It was supposed to inspire authority.

Instead, it inspired headaches.

Mei Ying stood near the window with her arms crossed, posture rigid, gaze fixed outside toward the distant outline of the Vermillion Grand Arena. She had been standing there for a while. No one had asked her to sit. More accurately, no one had dared.

Around the table sat instructors from multiple academies, their expressions ranging from tightly controlled concern to open disbelief. Cups of tea sat untouched in front of them. Someone’s notes had already been crumpled and uncrumpled twice.

“This is reckless,” one instructor finally said, rubbing his head. “A full battle royale. No teams. No alliances enforced. No structural safety beyond referee intervention.”

“It’s innovative,” another instructor offered, clearly trying to sound optimistic.

The first instructor turned slowly. “That is not a synonym for suicidal.”

Before the argument could escalate further, the doors slid open with a heavy, unnecessary thud.

The Dragon Turtle Academy dean entered like a natural disaster.

He ducked slightly through the doorway, massive frame filling the entrance, his broad grin already in place as if he could smell conflict from three corridors away.

“WOW,” he boomed. “LOOK AT THIS ROOM. I CAN FEEL THE STRESS FROM HERE.”

No one laughed.

Mei Ying didn’t turn around.

The Vermillion Phoenix Academy dean followed him in with considerably more grace, crimson robes flowing softly, expression calm and composed. She glanced around the room, took in the tension, and smiled faintly.

“This is lively,” she remarked.

The Azure Dragon Academy dean entered last. He closed the doors behind him carefully, as if hoping the soundproofing might also work on stupidity.

He exhaled.

“Why,” he asked no one in particular, “are we always like this.”

The Dragon Turtle dean slapped one massive hand on the table.

“BECAUSE IT’S EXCITING.”

The table groaned.

A thin crack appeared near the edge.

Several instructors flinched.

Mei Ying’s eyebrow twitched.

“This,” she said without turning, “is not a tavern brawl.”

The Dragon Turtle dean waved a hand dismissively. “THEY’RE STRONG KIDS. THEY’LL BE FINE.”

“And the ones who aren’t?” an instructor snapped. “The ones who hesitate? The ones who trust their teammates out of instinct?”

The Vermillion dean raised a hand slightly. “No one is forcing them to fight without thought. They’ve been given preparation time.”

Mei Ying finally turned.

“Two days,” she said flatly. “To unlearn years of training. To suppress cooperation. To look at familiar faces and treat them as threats.”

Her gaze swept the table.

“Do you have any idea how difficult that is for disciplined fighters?”

The Dragon Turtle dean laughed loudly. “YES. THAT’S WHY IT’S GOOD.”

The Azure Dragon dean pinched the bridge of his nose. “You are enjoying this far too much.”

“I AM ENJOYING IT. AN APPROPRIATE AMOUNT,” the Dragon Turtle dean replied.

An instructor from a smaller academy raised a hesitant hand. “Are we… allowed to advise our students to form temporary alliances?”

The Vermillion dean’s smile was polite. Dangerous.

“You may advise them however you wish,” she said. “It will not protect them.”

“That’s not comforting,” the instructor muttered.

“What about interference?” Mei Ying asked immediately. “External support. Silent formations. Equipment triggers.”

The Vermillion dean shook her head. “Forbidden.”

“And extraction?” another instructor pressed. “Critical injuries?”

“Handled by referees only,” the Vermillion dean replied. “Any external involvement results in immediate disqualification.”

The Dragon Turtle dean leaned forward. “AND PUBLIC HUMILIATION.”

The Azure Dragon dean shot him a look. “Stop adding rules.”

“I’M ADDING CONSEQUENCES.”

Silence followed.

Then Mei Ying spoke again, quieter this time.

“You’re not testing strength,” she said. “You’re testing character.”

“Yes,” the Vermillion dean agreed calmly.

“And when character breaks?” the Azure Dragon dean asked.

The Vermillion dean met his gaze without flinching. “Then we learn something important.”

The Dragon Turtle dean nodded enthusiastically. “EXACTLY. BETTER HERE THAN IN A REAL WAR.”

“That,” Mei Ying said, “is not reassuring.”

“It’s honest,” he replied.

Another instructor leaned back in his chair, sighing. “So what are we supposed to do for the next two days.”

Mei Ying answered immediately. “Observe. Prepare. And stop trying to control outcomes.”

The Dragon Turtle dean laughed. “SHE GETS IT.”

Mei Ying glared at him. “Do not encourage me.”

The Vermillion dean folded her hands. “For what it’s worth, Instructor Mei, your students are… interesting.”

Mei Ying didn’t hesitate. “They’re idiots.”

The Azure Dragon dean nodded. “Talented idiots.”

“THE BEST KIND,” the Dragon Turtle dean declared proudly.

A ripple of reluctant amusement passed through the room.

The tension didn’t vanish.

But it softened.

As the meeting began to break apart, instructors filing out in quiet clusters, the Azure Dragon dean lingered by the door.

“This tournament,” he said quietly, “is going to change things.”

The Vermillion dean nodded once. “That was always the point.”

The Dragon Turtle dean laughed as he walked out. “CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHO SURVIVES.”

Mei Ying remained behind, staring out the window toward the arena glowing faintly in the distance.

“…Get back alive,” she muttered.

The Dragon Turtle Academy dean was the first to break the silence.

“So,” he said cheerfully, leaning back in his chair until it protested audibly, “ANYONE WANT TO TAKE BETS ON HOW MANY STUDENTS TRY TO FORM ALLIANCES IN THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES?”

The Azure Dragon Academy dean didn’t even look at him.”Zero,” he said flatly. “And then immediately followed by regret.”

Mei Ying snorted before she could stop herself.

The Vermillion Phoenix Academy dean raised an eyebrow. “Instructor Mei, was that amusement?”

“It was disbelief,” Mei Ying replied. “Closely related.”

One of the junior instructors cleared his throat. “Should we… issue guidance? You know. On sportsmanship.”

The Dragon Turtle dean stared at him.

Then burst out laughing.

“SPORTSMANSHIP?” he boomed. “IN A BATTLE ROYALE?”

The instructor shrank back. “I just thought—”

“You THOUGHT WRONG,” the Dragon Turtle dean said happily. “THIS IS WHERE THEY LEARN WHAT THEY’RE WILLING TO DO WHEN NO ONE IS HOLDING THEIR HAND.”

The Azure Dragon dean sighed. “You enjoy this far too much.”

“ABSOLUTELY,” the Dragon Turtle dean replied. “I’M NOT EVEN HIDING IT.”

The Vermillion dean smiled thinly. “At least pretend to be responsible.”

“I AM RESPONSIBLE,” he said. “I’M RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THEY DON’T GROW UP BORING.”

Mei Ying crossed her arms. “If one of my students comes back missing a limb—”

“They WON’T,” the Dragon Turtle dean said immediately.

She stared at him.

“…Probably,” he added.

The Azure Dragon dean rubbed his temples. “I knew this was a mistake the moment you laughed during the announcement.”

The Vermillion dean shrugged lightly. “I laughed internally.”

“That’s worse,” he muttered.

Another instructor spoke up, hesitant. “So… what do we do if they all decide not to fight.”

The room went quiet.

Then the Dragon Turtle dean leaned forward, eyes gleaming.

“THEY WON’T.”

“How do you know?” the instructor asked.

“BECAUSE THEY’RE YOUNG,” he replied. “AND PROUD. AND WATCHED BY THOUSANDS.”

The Vermillion dean nodded. “And because winning means something.”

Mei Ying exhaled slowly. “…That’s what worries me.”

The Dragon Turtle dean hopped off the table, stretching. “RELAX. THEY’LL SURVIVE. MOST OF THEM.”

“Most,” the Azure Dragon dean repeated flatly.

“DETAILS.”

As they began to disperse again, the Vermillion dean paused at the door.

“Oh,” she added casually, “try not to interfere no matter how tempting it gets.”

Mei Ying didn’t answer.

The Azure Dragon dean didn’t answer.

The Dragon Turtle dean laughed loudly.

“THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT.”

When the room finally emptied, Mei Ying stayed behind for a moment, staring at the distant glow of the arena.

“…Idiots,” she muttered.

But there was a trace of a smile.

Outside, the final stage waited.

And for once, even the adults weren’t pretending they could control what came next.

[Chapter ENDS]

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