The Ace and The Four kings

Xyrine Jean's POV

"Xyrineeee Jeaaaan!"

"Argh. What now?" I groggily got up from my bed.

"Xyrine, I'm begging you, don't go to school today. I'm sure something bad is going to happen to you."

For Pete's sake, I still want to sleep. "Can you please just mind your own business, Ella?"

"Xyrine. I'm not kidding. Please, don't— Ack!" I didn't let her finish talking and shoved her out of my room.

It's too early to deal with this kind of crap.

[ Ring ring ]

Uncle Julyo is calling...

I stared at my phone when I saw who was calling.

'Ha, you finally called.'

"Hello, Uncle, are you going to send me back?" I immediately greeted him even though I knew he wasn't going to say that.

"No."

I frowned. "Haven't you realized yet that I shouldn't be here and that I belong at the headquarters?"

"No."

"So why are you calling me then?"

"Just giving you an order."

"Order? What do you mean by that?" I asked, even though I already had an idea of what he was going to say.

"Why did you kill?"

"...."

As expected, I knew he would eventually find out what I did.

"Having been a professional assassin for more than half of my life, isn't it ironic that you're asking me that question?"

"Montreal University is exclusively attended by heirs and heiresses of major companies, influential families, and elite conglomerates."

"And so?"

I heard him sigh before speaking again, "You are no longer an Assassin, XJ."

It felt like my heart stopped beating because of what he said. 'Why did he have to blurt it out like that?'

"From now on, you are not allowed to use any skills you acquired through the organization to kill anyone."

"But—"

"That's my final order."

Before I could respond, he hung up.

'Ha! Does he even have an idea how terrible Montreal University is? Those heirs and heiresses he's talking about are toying with ordinary people's lives! As if forgetting that I'm an assassin wasn't enough, it's like he's thrown me into a cage with furious kittens with my hands and feet bound.'

'Order? Impossible.'

[ Montreal University ]

Look right.

Look left.

I've already taken several steps but nothing bad has happened yet. I took another step, and it was a success. I took a few more steps when I felt something hit my back. I frowned when I felt something slimy and foul-smelling on my back.

'An egg? What a childish prank.'

"And who's the idiot who threw this at me?"

"It's me, you got a problem with that?"

I've been in a bad mood all morning! 'This is so annoying!'

I was about to walk towards him when suddenly, a group of his friends came out from somewhere, all holding eggs.

'Ha! Are you serious? Are they teaming up against me? What are they, pre-schoolers?'

I clenched my fist and was about to move again when I suddenly heard Uncle Julyo's voice echoing in my head. "Don't kill anyone." I froze.

'Damn it!' I clenched my fist and exhaled. 'Okay, Xyrine, count to three, you know what to do.'

One

Two

Three

Run!

Right, I ran as fast as I could. If not for that 'order,' I wouldn't have run like this.

I ran and ran until I reached the girl's washroom. I entered one of the cubicles to hide and rest. I almost felt like throwing up while cleaning the splattered eggs on my back.

"Those bastards! They're going to pay for this. Just you wait!" I was about to leave the cubicle when I felt something dripping on my head.

'What the heck? What is this now?' I slowly looked up and saw a bucket on top of my head, with yellow liquid dripping from it. 'Ugh. Is this pee?'

I almost clenched my fist in frustration. 'Shit. Out of all the things they could pour on me, it had to be pee! Damn it!'

I immediately grabbed a bucket of water to pour on myself, hoping to reduce the stink, but damn! It still smelled awful! I just felt cold from what I did. Arg!

"Fuckers! Don't you dare show yourselves to me!" I screamed as I exited the washroom.

"There she is!" One of the girls shouted.

'Acck. Wrong move. Xyrine, run!'

Even though I was beyond furious, there was nothing I could do but run. I ran and ran until I reached a secluded part of the university. I froze when I saw what lay ahead—a maze garden.

'This is cringe, why does this university have something like this? It's so cringy, I feel like I've shifted into a fairytale setting.'

I entered and sat down on the carabao grass flooring. I rested my head against it and closed my eyes. 'Sigh, it's my third day here and nothing has happened right in my life. When will this end?'

"Brrrr~"

I felt cold as I was still soaking wet. Even though I'm shivering, I couldn't stop myself from getting sleepy, probably because I was exhausted and the peaceful ambiance around me was relaxing. Slowly, my eyes closed when I heard someone singing behind me.

"Has anyone fallen in love with you? If not, let me be. I'll give you everything without hesitation."

 I can hear someone singing faintly from the other side of the maze and I couldn't help but get sleepier at the sound of his voice.

"Wish my heart would get some attention. That's why I'm asking, has anyone fallen in love with you?"

'Has anyone fallen in love with me?' I wanted to laugh. The word 'love' didn't even occur to me until now. 'Cringe.'

"...I guess I'll be the one then."

Before I completely fell asleep, I open my mouth.

"Alright, you can be the one."

[After 6 hours]

'Brrrr~ Arg! It's so cold!'

When I opened my eyes, I was a little shocked to see it was already getting dark. 'Wait, what time is it?' I checked my watch, and it was already 6:30. Surely, everyone else has gone home by now.

I had only taken a few steps when I suddenly felt something shoved into my mouth, causing me to lose consciousness.

....

"Arg. Where am I?"

I scanned my surroundings to figure out where I was, but the only light I could see was from the moon shining through the window. Everything else was dark.

"It's your fault. You wouldn't be here if you knew how to act properly."

From somewhere, a few men appeared in front of me.

'Is this about the 4 kings again? I'm so fed up with them! As soon as I get out of here, I'll deal with them too!'

"Untie me," I calmly ordered.

They all just laughed at what I said. I furrowed my brow at their laughter. I tried to untie myself, I smiled when I realized how foolish they were. There was just one loop left to untie when I saw a familiar face among them.

'Jacob? Wait, why is he here? Is he in on this kidnapping? But no! He doesn't have time for this nonsense. Plus, some of the guys with him are wearing Montreal uniforms. Could it be? Don't tell me Uncle sent him here to spy on me?'

'Seriously? Is he this serious about the "order" he's giving me? I'm in danger, but I still need to hold myself back? is that the case?'

I counted how many men surrounded me.

'One, two, three. Damn, thirteen!'

"Don't kill anyone."

Ugh, it looks like I have no choice but to take a beating because if I don't, I might never return to the Black Brother Ass. Group.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

'Fine.'

"What are you guys doing? Are we just going to stare at each other here?" I yelled while glaring at Jacob. 'Isn't this what they want? Then i will give what they want. 

"Sorry, I was just ordered to do this," one of them said as he raised the baseball bat he was holding.

'Ah shit! This is going to hurt.' I swallowed a few times before closing my eyes again.

I was waiting for the bat to land on me when I suddenly heard something fall in front of me, causing me to snap my eyes open. In an instant, a tall man appeared in front of me.

"Are you ok?" he asked.

I didn't fully comprehend what was happening when he suddenly leaned his face toward mine, making me quickly look away.

'Shit. Is he going crazy?! Why is he getting this close? Doesn't he smell me?! And Who the hell is this guy?'

"Can you please wait for a while?" he asked with a smile, which made my mouth drop open. Suddenly, something thumped in my chest.

"Isn't that a bit much?" I heard him ask the men.

"Sir Louren, please leave," one of them replied.

'Louren? Why do I feel like I've heard that name before? I just can't remember.'

"Uhm, looks like we're going to have a problem with what you said," he said, scratching his forehead. "Can I have this one?"

'Ugh. I don't know if I should cringe or what.'

"It seems like there's nothing we can do.." The apparent leader of the group looked at his companions, then swung the pipe he was holding. "Charge!" he shouted, signaling all the men surrounding us to attack.

A few minutes later, chaos broke out in front of me. I watched as the man who had been helping me fought back. I don't know why, but it wasn't just his name that seemed familiar—his fighting style also felt strangely familiar to me.

'I'm sure I've seen him before, but where?'

Things happened so quickly that I didn't even realize it was over until everyone who had been standing in front of us earlier was now lying on the ground.

"Sorry, I might have kept you waiting," he said, turning to me.

'Kept me waiting? I think it took him only 15 minutes or less to take them down.'

My heart suddenly raced as he walked over to untie the rope from my hands.

'Damn. Why is he getting so close? And what is this thumping in my chest? Am I having a panic attack?'

Before I could calm myself, he suddenly grabbed my hand. "Let's go before they wake up."

My heart thudded loudly, making me instinctively hold my chest. "Shit! What's this?" I asked sharply. "Wait, what's going on? Who are you? Why did you save me?!"

"We've already met earlier, you even told me to love you," he said, smiling.

'Am I losing my mind, or is he the crazy one? What is he talking about, and why is he smiling out of nowhere? he's cringing me to the core.'

"You know, whoever you are, I don't know what you're talking about, and I don't care why you saved me. So I'm not thanking you. Besides, I don't have time for this. So just go, and I'm leaving!" I yanked my hand away from him and started running.

"See you around," he called out.

I didn't look back at him because I was starting to feel really bad. When I got home, I immediately took a shower and went straight to bed because I felt absolutely awful. Just before I closed my eyes, the man who saved me earlier suddenly popped into my mind.

I shook my head. I should be thinking about the person responsible for all this mess!

"Spade. You're dead."

[The Next Day]

My head still hurts as I get up and prepare to go to school. I've made up my mind. That Spade! He has to pay for everything he did to me yesterday.

There are only two possibilities. Either he'll kill me, or I'll kill him.

[Montreal University]

I was walking down the corridor when I noticed all the students were glaring at me.

'Ha, go ahead, start something, I'll finish all of you off.'

But what's strange is that despite walking for a while, nothing bad has happened to me yet.

After a moment, I saw students running toward the pavilion.

"The 4 kings are at the pavilion!" shouted one student.

"Tong and Ella are being punished by the 4 kings!"

I froze at what I heard. "Ella and Tong?"

I didn't waste any time and ran straight to the pavilion. When I got there, I could hardly believe what I saw.

'What madness is this?'

Ella and Tong...

Tied up in the middle of the pavilion.

While kneeling.

"Spade, I beg you. Do whatever you want to us, just don't kick us out!" Ella pleaded, crying.

"Why would I do that? Just bring your cousin here, and it will all be over," Spade said while sitting with his legs crossed.

I clenched my fist. This guy really is thick-skinned.

"Just kill us, Spade!" shouted Tong.

He looked at Tong and said, "For someone so insignificant, you talk way too much."

He raised his hand, silencing the crowd in the pavilion.

"Attention, everyone. These two trash standing before me are no longer students of Montreal University. But before they leave, let me give them a parting gift they'll never forget." With that, he motioned to a student carrying large canisters.

'Wait, what is that? Gas? Is he really losing his mind?'

I looked around. Most of the students seemed to be enjoying what was happening. Two of the 4 kings were just watching as this all unfolded.

'What kind of place is this? Isn't there anyone who will stop this madness?! No committee or higher-ups, or anyone to put an end to this insanity?'

"They are the rulers."

Tong's words echoed in my ears. I clenched my fists, my jaw tightening. I thought being an assassin was bad, but I didn't realize that people like this existed.

'I'm the one he needs, right?'

Slowly, I walked toward them.

This has gone too far.

Enough is enough.

Spade's POV

"Enjoying this?"

Even though I couldn't see her yet, I knew who it was. Slowly, I turned to face her. She looked the same. Long black hair, black hat, a blouse that looked like it wasn't ironed, and a skirt up to her knees. The only difference now was her irritated expression.

'Why are you glaring at me like you're inviting me to make things worse, and mess you up?'

But I have to admit, this girl really impresses me. I didn't think I'd see her again this morning.

I moved closer to her, but to my surprise, she suddenly grabbed my collar and pulled me toward her, catching me off guard.

"If you think you have all the students here is under your control, you're wrong," she said, staring intensely into my eyes.

I couldn't help but smirk at her words. "All the students here belong to me. Including you," I grinned.

Her narrowed eyes sharpened at my statement. 'Common. Don't be that cute, it's annoying.'

I was about to remove her hands from my collar when suddenly, a punch landed on my face. In an instant, I was flat on the ground. I felt like my jaw had dislocated from the force of her punch. Before I could recover, she came closer again.

"None of them, and especially not me, are yours to own, understand?!"

Her words made my ears burn. I stood up and pulled her closer to me. I made sure there was only a small gap between us before I smirked. Let's see if you can still talk.

"What now?" I asked. "Intimidated?"

Instead of getting angry, she smiled, and I was taken aback when she pulled me even closer.

"Arg, fuck!" I could almost feel her breath against my chin.

"What now?" she repeated my word, as the space between us became nearly nonexistent.

'Woah, this girl is really something,' I almost said out loud.

After saying that, she pushed me away, then walked toward her two friends and untied them.

I was about to grab her arm to stop her when suddenly – BOGSH!

My vision almost doubled when she suddenly tossed me aside.

'Damn this girl! Does she have Amazonian blood in her? I'm almost 6 foot 3, and yet she flipped me over so easily.'

I slowly got up while rubbing my hips. I still felt the pain when I saw the three of them leaving.

"The three of you, stop!" I shouted. They stopped and looked back at me. "The three of you! You're out!"

"What?" one of them asked.

"You are no longer part—"

"Spade. You can't do that."

We all looked at the person who spoke. It was Louren.

Not him, if he hadn't interfered, my problem would have been over last night.

"And why not?" I asked him seriously.

"She is the new member of Class A."

I stared at him, "What? What did you just say? She's... a member of Class A?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, I just received her admission form from admin."

'What does that mean? Is she an heiress too? But from which family? I've never heard her name before!'

"And what makes you think that fact will stop me?" I asked in irritated tone. 

"You know you can't insist on that, especially when it comes to Class A," Louren said seriously.

What he said made sense, and I couldn't ignore the fact that she was a member of Class A. However, I wouldn't let her slip out of my grasp.

"Let's make a deal," I said, running out of options.

"Deal?" he asked back.

"Yeah, and since you're on their side, I'll let you be their companion. If you all win, they can stay. But if we win, don't even think about showing your faces here again," I said to all four of them.

"Including you, Louren."

"Call," he answered with a smile, which only made my blood boil.

'Tss. If it were just him, the chances of him winning would be higher, but with those trash, it's impossible.'

"What do you say?" I asked the amazonian girl.

"Such a childish act. So, what are we going to do?"

"Car racing."