My Borderline Supervillain-Slash-Hero System

The silent drama of Asphalt asking Zane to join his team, Zane's clever refusals, and the eventual power play between them—all unfolded with crisp subtitles. Every sarcastic reply, every subtle taunt, every smug grin—now fully understood by the watching masses.

But what really set the crowd ablaze was the recap of how Zane opened the Titan Ruin's entrance gate, and immediately turned it into a business venture of cunning extortion.

"Entry Fee Required."

"Loan Options Available."

"No Exceptions."

– People's Bank, Entrepreneur Extraordinaire.

Even the nobles and high-ranking officials began to argue heatedly among themselves.

Some cursed Zane, Asphalt, and the twins, calling them scoundrels in fresher uniforms, openly disgusted by how they swindled others.

"Who raised these kids?! Daylight robbery, and they're proud of it?" someone fumed.

"Exactly! They're freshmen, not mafia lords!"

But just as many defended Zane's tactics.

"That was genius. They took initiative. No rule says you can't capitalize on opportunity," said one woman, a local merchant.

"If I were there, I'd invest in that bank," joked a teacher, sipping from a cup of tea while watching Teacher Ronaldo fall into the trap, tricking even his fellow faculty into signing those ridiculous loans.

Meanwhile, third-year students and teachers who had declined the mission to Mars quietly sighed in relief.

"Dodged a bullet," someone muttered.

On the stage, Pudge moved his rook piece and glanced at Aaron.

"You seem awfully happy watching those four brats commit broad daylight robbery," he said, narrowing his eyes.

"You really planning to let this slide?"

Aaron leaned back and grinned.

"Hey, nothing they did violates Academy rules or the conditions of the Ranking Tournament," he replied.

"Cunning, strategy, business sense—those are traits of capable students. If they're bold enough to pull it off, why would I stop them? Not like I lost a single penny."

Pudge chuckled as he tapped the board.

"Aren't you going to move your piece? You're stalling again."

"Well, what can I say? You're a sneaky, cunning strategist—especially in chess," Aaron replied with a smirk, finally making his move.

But Pudge wasn't done.

"You know," he said, "there's still a lot that doesn't add up about this Titan Ruin stunt of yours."

Aaron raised a brow. "Go ahead. Spit it out."

"Fine," Pudge said, leaning forward. "We both know the true challenge of the Titan Ruin is decoding the murals on the 140 pillars around the pyramid. That's supposed to be the entrance test for the participants."

"And yet… Zane bypassed all of that by pulling out a mysterious golden key. You didn't see that coming? Or did you just want to spice things up and watch your teachers fall into a massive debt trap?"

Aaron shrugged, a smile touching his lips but never quite reaching his eyes.

"You're right. But hey—what can I say? Even I didn't see that part coming."

Pudge leaned back, rubbing his chin.

"You know, I'm thinking about buying a share of that 'bank' they've set up. Sounds… entertaining. What about you?"

Aaron gave a small chuckle.

"Maybe. But my balance took a hit after I bought that twenty-five percent share in House Drakon."

He tipped his head toward the display of Zane on the big screen. "Still… why not? They're bright, and I see nothing but progress and competition ahead of them."

Pudge's gaze lingered on the image.

"Alright, I've got one question. Why are you so obsessed with that kid?" He pointed directly at Zane's face frozen mid-motion on the feed.

Aaron snorted.

"Wrong question. I'm obsessed with the improvement of my students. After all, I'm the Director of the Academy, no?"

Pudge rolled his eyes.

"Oh, stop lying through your teeth. You've got a giant high-resolution display dedicated to him alone. Even the teachers down below can see you've got a favorite."

Aaron smirked.

"You can see that?"

"It's written all over your face," Pudge said flatly. "And considering the controversy around him because of his father, I don't think spotlighting him like this is a good idea."

Aaron's expression cooled, though his tone stayed casual.

"Simple. We both know he has the potential to shine. Background doesn't matter. My job is to do what's best for him—or for any other student."

Pudge moved his pawn forward, knocking out one of Aaron's, and leaned back with a grin.

"Checkmate. Three–one now."

He let out a booming laugh. Aaron waved his hand, and the chessboard dissolved into motes of light, vanishing into the air.

The Director tossed him a beer can.

"Still four days left—four more games to play. I can still catch up."

"Dream on. Just admit you're terrible at chess." Pudge cracked the can open, still grinning.

Aaron took a long swig before asking,

"You ever been to Titan Ruin No. 3345, Pudge?"

"Of course," Pudge said with a shrug. "Me and my master have visited almost every ruin the Titans left behind. 3345 was no exception."

"What's your take on it?" Aaron asked.

Pudge's eyes narrowed slightly.

"All the ruins exist partly in pocket universes—a sort of miniature world. The Titans built them as retreats after suffering heavy losses against the Divine Tree… or maybe it was the other way around. Nobody knows the truth. In 3345, we pushed all the way to the seventy-fifth city."

Aaron's brows rose sharply.

"Seventy-fifth? The official record says humans have only reached the twenty-fifth. Even I've never gone further than that. That's a massive leap for humankind."

He wanted to press for details, but he knew—information past the twenty-fifth city wasn't meant for his ears.

Pudge continued matter-of-factly,

"Ruin 3345 is perfect for young people seeking growth through hardship—but the danger is extreme. I still say your freshers aren't ready."

Aaron hesitated before asking,

"Did you meet any intelligent humanoids?"

Pudge nodded slowly.

"Yes. Beyond the thirtieth city. And not just intelligent—many of them are powerful."

Aaron leaned forward. "I don't like to pry, but I'm all ears if you want to share more details. Are they similar to humans, or do they have entirely different habits?"

"They're just like us humans," Pudge replied. "Only a few physical differences—hair, ear shapes, skin texture, that sort of thing. My master always says we share the same genetics with them... maybe even the same ancestor."