A Regressed Villain: Heroines, Villainesses and Me?

Chapter 45: 47 - Money is Almighty

"Haah... Haah... F-face recognition AI!" While breathing heavily, Rihane replied, explaining how she was able to search for the particular student by using facial recognition artificial intelligence, entering the details of pink hair and eyes while accessing the academy's servers with the director's permission.

She also made sure that the director or anyone else couldn't check which particular student she was searching for. This was why she had run several different kinds of facial prompts before doing it for the pink one, including black hair, blue hair, white hair, etc., to confuse the director as per the Marquess's orders.

"Well done. Now, should we go to the director's office?" Avendial, closing his eyes and holding a smile, appreciated her hard work as he passed beside her, causing Rihane to stare blankly. As she turned towards them, she saw them moving in the same direction from where she had come while running.

'It's my first day on the job, and I'm getting overworked!' Rihane inwardly yelled before slowly starting to move towards the director's office, following behind them with her head lowered. Her exhausted appearance was evident from her lowered glasses and messy curly hair as she calmly followed behind.

Passing through the mostly empty corridors and entering the main building, Avendial walked beside Aecilia, who remained composed, only thinking about finding a place to sleep since she was also fatigued from waking up the previous night.

"May I enter, Director?" Arriving outside the director's office, Avendial knocked on the door, which was already open, revealing a wide room filled with books and a sofa set in the middle. In the farther corner was a desk where the director was sitting, surrounded by his assistant and three CEOs' secretaries. They all stood, noticing Avendial's arrival.

"P-please don't embarrass me, sir. Please, enter," the director said as he moved towards them, clasping his hands. His white beard gave him the appearance of an experienced older man. All three CEOs also bowed before taking the documents from the table and moving towards Avendial, adding, "As you have ordered, we have arranged the students based on their hair color."

"....I see." Avendial glanced toward the corridor where Rihane had just entered. He turned as she gasped and looked toward him, making him realize that she had lied to everyone about searching for students names based on their hair color category, revealing that she was meticulous in her work.

"I have given Rihane a chance to prove herself. Now it's all of your turn." Avendial moved towards the desk, grazing his hands over the sofa as Aecilia also followed him before taking a seat on the sofa. Relaxing her head felt somewhat relieving, and she was glad to find a place to sit.

On the other side, all the people present in the room, including the director, his assistant, the three CEOs, their secretaries, and two other professors, excluding Rihane, stood looking at Avendial with an expectant gaze. Their bodies were straight and firm, wanting to hear what tasks he would assign them to prove themselves.

If anyone were to observe their actions, resembling disciples waiting for their master's orders, they would think it was some kind of joke. But in reality, there is only one thing that is the strongest in this world—money.

There are several sayings in the real world that suggest money cannot buy happiness or life. However, the truth is that, despite these rumors, one can buy many things with money to make themselves happy, and they can also buy things to prolong their life. This cannot be overlooked.

Philosophy and reality are two completely different things, which is proven by the actions of the individuals in the room, all looking at the solitary man moving with steady steps before taking the seat of the director of the Elite Academy.

A seat that had not seen any change for 40 years or allowed anyone else to sit in it while providing the world with several entrepreneurs, businessmen, and prodigies who were honed inside the elite academy.

This was also true for the three CEOs, holding positions far stronger in comparison to the entire academy. Each of their companies held a significant share of the economy in City A. With just a hiccup from any of them, the whole economy would collapse.

This may sound exaggerated, but holding a market share of 67% in IT, 58% in pharma, and 86% in construction plays a major role in City A's economy. These figures are already significant on their own, and this is only their market share in City A. Around the world, they are still counted among the top ten companies in their respective fields.

The professors of the academy and the secretaries of each CEO were talented individuals who had reached those positions, but all of them looked toward a single man, intent on hearing his words and the orders he would assign them, including Aecilia, who, though pretending to be asleep, kept her ears awake to listen for any information that could help her gain favor.

"Leave the room and come in one by one," Avendial said as he took the seat in the chair, folding his legs and resting his elbow on the armrest with his hand supporting his chin, giving a cold gaze at all the individuals, causing them to nod as they started to leave the room.

"Rihane, come here. As I call, send them in one by one," Avendial gestured for Rihane to enter and stand near the door as they all left the room. She nodded, feeling it was her second task, which was considerably easier than the first.

"Are you not going outside, Miss Aecilia?" Avendial glanced toward Aecilia, seated on the sofa, who appeared to be sleeping while sitting. Without opening her eyes, she exhaled and was about to stand.

"Though if you want, you can sleep," Avendial remarked, realizing she might not have slept well. He still needed to inquire about which Royal was responsible for yesterday's aphrodisiac incident, but he decided to focus on the immediate issue at hand.

Even if he learned the name of the royal involved, taking any action would be impossible right now due to a lack of evidence, strength, and time.

"....Okay," Aecilia said, not taking his words as formality but settling herself down on the sofa while folding her hands, falling asleep yet keeping her ears awake in case she could glean information about future investments or anything that could benefit the Sertsul family.

Of course, she had a favorable impression of Avendial, and given that they were on a date, she was curious why he came into an academy instead of taking her for a drive.

"Send the IT one," Avendial ordered, having already noticed that there weren't any CCTV cameras or anything inside this room, given it was the director's office. He was at ease, and even if things got out, he didn't care much as he issued the order. Rihane nodded before calling that particular man.

The IT CEO stepped forward as Rihane called him into the room. Adjusting his tie and offering a formal bow, he respectfully greeted Avendial.

"Sir Avendial, it is an honor to meet you. I am here at your service. Please kindly provide your instructions." The man's voice held respect and a composed demeanor while he kept his head lowered in a bow.