Time Turner

Almost immediately, the search began while Vianzo was still talking about his suspicions. After he explained it to them, Dioz who had his back on them turned around in surprise.

Actually, Dioz didn't want to join them today. He was sneakily trying to get a little time alone with Aurina. Unfortunately, a glare from Alfizar alone was enough to get him dragged back on his own feet without anyone actually dragging him.

But it looks like it's not a total waste, coming here with them.

"Wait...in OUR class?! Don't tell me it's..." Dioz was surprised, his voice gradually softened.

"It's him?! But, isn't that just a little too obvious?" Frans was full of doubt.

"Are you sure that it's him?" Sharile said with a deep voice, "Isn't that a bit too easy to guess? He already has a bad reputation."

"I don't know, but I'm pretty sure it's Harloz," Vianzo said with much certainty. Harloz Sweinzrev, probably no one has an even worse reputation than he has.

He was someone that even the teachers hesitate to confront. After all, he is the son of Sweinzrev Group, one of the biggest military base companies; they supply the military of Reapdown country with various items that they need for military activities.

They are also one of the biggest contributors in the world's greening ten years ago.

"Shush!" Alfizar's voice garnered their attention almost immediately.

"We're not sure yet. We can't accuse him without any evidence!" Franz looked at Alfizar in surprise, but that dumbfounded expression quickly turned into confusion, then to silence, as Frans fell into deep thought with his fingers and thumb on his chin in a thinking manner.

Alfizar's eyes narrowed. 'Something feels off,' he thought.

"But you can't really blame me for suspecting him either," Vianzo said quickly. "With his reputation, anyone would have come to the same conclusion!"

"Well I didn't," Frans said in an innocent manner soon after he got a smack on the head, thanks to Vianzo.

"Read the situation!" Vianzo shouted a bit too loud, he looking slightly frustrated.

"We really can't be sure about this. Let's look for Harloz's work," Rachzi said. They did as they were told and soon enough, they found a landscape painting with a "Sweinzrev" written on it.

Vianzo quickly took out his phone to compare the picture on it with the sign on the painting.

"Oh my..." Sharile was the first to break the silence. She already knew that Harloz was probably the one who did it just by listening to their discussion. But seeing the proof with her own eyes, it was actually quite unbelievable.

Harloz might have bad rumors going on around him, but no one had witnessed anything concrete for themselves.

Alfizarwas confused. There was a weird feeling in his c.h.e.s.t and his head. He had a sudden need to remember something. Something that he forgot, something important and he must remember.

His attention falls onto the spectacled black-haired girl, Frida Vonzuck, who had become very familiar to him. Her usually soft and gentle eyes narrowed; it was something Alfizar can't fathom. But that sharpness hidden behind her glasses disappeared as soon as she takes a look at Vianzo.

"This doesn't feel right." Frida shook her head as sherested her forehead on her palm.

"What do you mean?" Vianzo questioned.

"I know this sounds ridiculous, but call it a woman's intuition. I think Harloz is not the culprit." Frida said with finality that dared anyone to say otherwise. Unfortunately, Vianzo was rather adamant with the evidence.

"Doesn't this prove it?"

"But it's also possible that someone was purposefully targeting Harloz." Alfizar suddenly said as he agreed with Frida. Yet his exclamation was received with disbelieving eyes from Vianzo.

"Let's go with the logic that Harloz was framed by someone. Then how did the real culprit make a threat message with Harloz's handwriting?" Vianzo did have a point since his words convinced Dioz.

"Vianzo's point is logical. If he was not the culprit himself, then who can make a threat message with his handwriting? Did someone force him?" Dioz leaned closer towards the painting, muttering praise for the good painting. He tried to look like he was interested in the painting, while in fact, he didn't want to make any eye contact with them.

"You seriously don't want to side with Alfizar, Dioz? I can't believe it! If I were you, I will do my best to be on his good side!" Frans exclaimed in a mock surprised manner, his palm on his c.h.e.s.t as if he tried to calm himself from the surprise.

As usual, Frans ended up with an unusually hard smack on the head by Dioz. Alfizar said that they don't have to side with anyone since they were only discussing the possibilities. But they reassured him a bit too late. Dioz was already staring at Alfizar with eyes full of regret. He definitely regretted not taking Alfizar's side, despite what Alfizar said.

"But, Vianzo, weren't you and Harloz childhood friends?" Alfizar asked out of the blue. He remembered that Vianzo told him that Harloz was an Academic Star Killer. It sounded stupid, considering the fact that Vianzo was the class' top student. It was understandable, Vianzo said that because they were childhood friends.

Vianzo's bright eyes dimmed almost immediately, Alfizar can't tell what's in his head.

"Vianzo, you have to be more careful with your words. If not for the fact that we know you better than anyone else, that Academic Star Killer reputation will definitely fall on your face." With a pat on the shoulder, Rachzi advised him with a serious face. Beside him, Frans shook his head amused.

"And everyone always told me to mind my words. Maybe the same thing also applies to you." Frans humorlessly laughed, his eyes sharp with a hidden intent between them.

"Makes sense," Sharile nodded her head, she was staring at Vianzo with much seriousness. "Being the top student in the class really makes you suspicious, especially if we go with the logic that someone tried to frame Harloz."

Vianzo glared at her, "So I'm the culprit now?" Then he proceeded to glare at all of them. His arms folded across his c.h.e.s.t, clearly offended.

Frida quickly try to melt the freezing atmosphere, "That's not it! You are just a bit...too excited about this. That's all." Her words didn't help at all.

"We are not getting anywhere with this." Alfizar sighed, even if they had evidence, they can't use it since the theory of whether Harloz really did it or not was left unanswered. They could only wait for Aurina to finish reprogramming her device.

They decided to return to their respective clubs and practice since the tournament will happen in less than a month.

Just before they go to their own separate ways, Alfizar called his sister to ask about the device.

"Aurina said that she could infiltrate the backup database in at least 4 days," Alfizar said as he turned off his phone. Alfizar never noticed that not far away from him, someone's eyes glinted with hostility.