NOVEL NEXT Chapter 31: Can I Join?
Xanthia had finally realized something important: having reliable tools at one's disposal was much like the regret of having too few books when knowledge is needed. In her case, it was that the "coins" in her piggy bank were not plentiful enough!
One-time task tools could be discarded after use, but what she really lacked were the permanent, obedient ones.
Of course, it wasn’t entirely her fault. How could a lifelong single from her past life, after transforming into a beautiful girl, instantly become a master at social manipulation?
Even her "innocent girl" act was quite stiff, barely enough to fool those with lower levels of experience.
One had to admit that true high-level social manipulation required innate talent. The more naturally one could play their part, the more likely they were to succeed. Overly contrived actions only led to subpar results.
Xanthia had never seriously pondered these matters. Occasionally playing the "innocent girl" was just her indulging in a bit of acting, pretending to be the image she had in her mind for a bit of fun. As long as she achieved some effect, it was considered a success.
Ultimately, she believed in "overwhelming numbers" and "brute force." As long as she maximized her "beauty" and "charm" stats, there would be no need for social manipulation. The coins would come to her piggy bank voluntarily.
At this moment, Xanthia casually packed up her belongings and headed out of the school alone.
At the grand entrance of Thessaloniki First High School, a variety of private cars were parked, waiting to pick up students, including several luxury cars.
Many students, having been imprisoned in this "jail" for so long, were finally seeing their parents again, their faces lighting up with genuine smiles.
The parents missed their children too. At the beginning of the long holidays, they would pamper their kids endlessly. However, the longer the kids stayed at home, the more the parents' attitudes would shift, eventually wanting to send them back to school as quickly as possible.
As Xanthia reached the school gate, she noticed Dionysios already some distance ahead, having just left the school.
Upon exiting, he was greeted by a waiting driver who smiled and eagerly helped with his luggage. Flanking him were two burly men who were unmistakably bodyguards, both wearing sunglasses. Adding to the spectacle was a Rolls-Royce Phantom parked by the roadside, its Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament gleaming conspicuously.
Dionysios El Papadopoulos, with such an entourage, naturally attracted the attention of the surrounding students.
Many students had only heard rumors that Dionysios was a "rich heir" but had no concrete idea of how wealthy his familia was.
Now, seeing this scene, they were truly shocked—
"Damn, this is the first time I've seen a real-life bodyguard escort. What an eye-opener."
"So this is what it looks like to be the male lead in a campus novel?"
"Who would've thought a top-tier tycoon's heir was in the same school as me..."
"Monsieur Dionysios El Papadopoulos seems approachable in class, but outside school, his aura is completely different!"
"Hmph, the Papadopoulos familia is so ostentatious. Newly rich people are really something. A true noble should blend in with the common folk, right?"
In this parallel world, the wealthy were indeed more flamboyant compared to Xanthia's previous world. After all, this was a purely capitalist country where wealth equated to power, and there was no fear of ending up on some "target" list.
As Dionysios approached his luxury car, several boys eagerly greeted him. Leading them was a boy named Marcus El Postacio, dressed head-to-toe in branded clothing, with a flashy hairstyle and an air of arrogance that made him seem like a school bully, someone not to be messed with.
"Brother Papadopoulos, can we hang out during the holidays?" Marcus approached with a low posture, smiling ingratiatingly.
"Marcus, it's you. How are things in Class Three? We can definitely get together during the break. After all, we were classmates for three years in junior high," Dionysios responded with a warm smile.
Feeling the surrounding attention, Marcus puffed up with pride at Dionysios's response. He basked in the admiring glances of those around him.
He then solemnly replied, "Class Three is doing well. If anything comes up, I’ll let you know first, Brother Papadopoulos."
Dionysios patted his shoulder with a gentle smile, "Don't get too distracted. high school studies are important. What you learn now will be useful later."
Marcus nodded awkwardly. If anyone else had told him to focus on his studies, he would've snapped at them. After all, he had infamously ranked last in the entire grade during the last preliminary exams.
It couldn't be helped; he was utterly clueless about academics. However, his physical fitness was exceptional—an epitome of the strong-bodied, simple-minded type. Despite this, he didn't pursue a career as an athlete because his familia was wealthy, and there was no need for him to endure the hardships of sports training. Why should a rich kid like him suffer like that?
Marcus, despite his poor academic performance and his roguish demeanor, managed to maintain order in Class Three. He commanded a certain level of respect among the "problem students," who looked up to him and refrained from causing trouble. This, in turn, contributed to a more disciplined and less chaotic environment in the class.
Emmanuel El Alcantara, the homeroom teacher, valued Marcus highly. Having such a "special talent" in the class significantly reduced the number of headaches. Some students, who couldn't care less about the teachers, would still listen to Marcus.
"Monsieur Dionysios, you know that asking me to study is the biggest torture you can inflict on me... In this regard, I truly admire you. Not only are your grades excellent, but you're also willing to endure the hardships of being a boarding student," Marcus said sincerely.
In this world, the only person Marcus truly respected was Dionysios. They had a bit of history from their junior high days, where Dionysios had bested him repeatedly, leaving him humiliated and subdued.
Eventually, Marcus had no choice but to acknowledge Dionysios's superiority—not just in terms of familia background or academic prowess, but also in physical confrontations. Dionysios was trained in imperial russia and fought with no holds barred. He would attack by surprise, strike with brutal efficiency, and wouldn't hesitate to gang up if necessary. His popularity and ability to unite people meant he always had allies willing to fight for him.
Given all these factors, Marcus had no choice but to submit and, over time, even found joy in following Dionysios. Being able to associate with him was a privilege.
After a few more casual exchanges, Dionysios got into his car and drove away, leaving behind envious gazes. Who wouldn’t want to ride in such a luxurious car?
Marcus surveyed the surroundings with a proud look and said to a few new friends from Class Three, "See? I never exaggerate. Monsieur Dionysios is my close buddy."
The boys quickly showered him with compliments, boosting his mood even further. With a grand gesture, he decided to treat his friends to a lavish meal.
"Marcus, if you're treating everyone to a meal, can you add me to the list?"
A soft, melodious voice suddenly chimed in. It was none other than Xanthia La Papadopoulos, whose "Social Butterfly" trait had just activated.
At the sight of Xanthia, the previously confident Marcus appeared as if he'd seen a ghost. Instead of immediately agreeing to her request, he instinctively reported to Dionysios.
"Monsieur Dionysios, there's a major issue! Your sister is asking to join our meal!"
Unbeknownst to Marcus, Xanthia was actually Dionysios's elder sister. He only knew she was part of the Papadopoulos familia and that Dionysios doted on her immensely. She wasn't just pampered; she was treasured like a precious gem.
Naturally, Marcus dared not make any decisions on his own regarding her or even make negative notion towards Xanthia that will compomise his relationship to his idol.
