Bully Lord

Part-102

Reaching into his pocket, James instinctively clenched his phone, the familiar device a grounding presence.  He yearned for more information, a user manual, anything to understand the System's limitations and safeguard himself from potential harm. He wished there was information about his system on Google, just like there is for games.

Suddenly, a new question popped into his mind.  Could he even activate the Complete-Auto mode for a simple task? Perhaps the mode was only triggered by such circumstances.

James' heart hammered against his ribs as he rounded a corner, only to come face-to-face with Limon, the school bully.  His initial fear was quickly replaced by confusion, however, as Limon wasn't looking at him.  Instead, he was engaged in a heated conversation with none other than Robin, the student council president.

Limon, notorious for his swagger and sneering demeanor, seemed surprisingly subdued.  His usual bravado was replaced by a nervous twitch in his jaw, and his voice lacked its usual edge.  James couldn't help but eavesdrop, his curiosity piqued.

"...and I told you, it was all a misunderstanding!" Limon pleaded, his voice laced with desperation.  "That phone, it just… well, it fell into my pocket by accident!"

Robin, a tall, athletic student with a reputation for fairness, stood unflinchingly, his arms crossed.  "An accident, huh?" he questioned, his voice a steady baritone.  "Funny, because Mintu claims he saw you snatch it from his hand."

James watched, fascinated, as the exchange unfolded.  Why was Limon approaching Robin, the epitome of student authority?

"Look," Limon continued, his voice cracking slightly, "I'll pay him back, alright?  Double what it's worth.  Just please, don't tell the principal!"

Robin's gaze remained impassive.  "That's not how this works, Limon.  You bullied member, stole his property.  There will be consequences."

Limon's face flushed a deep crimson.  He shot a glance at James, who quickly looked away, feigning disinterest.  Limon's eyes narrowed for a fleeting moment before returning to Robin.

"Fine!" Limon spat, his voice laced with a hint of defeat.  "But this is between us, alright?  No one else needs to know about this."

Robin nodded curtly.  "Are you telling me what to do? Do you really think that just because you're with Firefly, you can ignore my warning? Well, we'll see about that," he replied, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Limon didn't answer anything... With a final glare in James' direction, Limon stormed off, his swagger considerably diminished.  James, still processing the unexpected encounter, watched him go.

The unexpected encounter with Limon left James stunned. He watched Robin, the picture of calm authority, as the student council president dismissed the flustered bully with a curt nod. Finally, Robin's gaze shifted towards James.

Even though Robin was a year senior, James never felt intimidated by him. In fact, Robin always exuded a welcoming atmosphere, unlike the oppressive aura Limon carried around him.  A genuine smile played on Robin's lips as he met James' eyes.

"Hey, James," Robin greeted, his voice friendly and warm.  "How's your training going?"  This wasn't just small talk.  Robin had noticed James' growing interest in Judo and had even complimented his skills during a recent pep rally.