Hillcrest Academy stood on the outskirts of the city, far from the noise—and far from accountability.
On paper, it was an educational institution.
In reality, it was a dumping ground.
Low fees. Luxury facilities. Fully furnished hostels behind the main campus.
Everything a student could want—except discipline.
Classes existed, but learning didn't.
Rules were written, but never followed.
And most students who enrolled here had only one thing in common:
They had no intention of studying.
Of course, there were exceptions.
There always were.
But exceptions didn't survive long at Hillcrest.
Among the students, three names carried weight—almost fear.
Leon Cross.
Ethan Vale.
Marcus Reed.
Together, they were known as the Devil Trio.
Sons of powerful businessmen. Untouchable. Reckless.
The unofficial rulers of Hillcrest Academy.
No principal lasted long here.
The last one had resigned within two weeks.
The one before him? Even faster.
For the past year, Hillcrest hadn't had a principal at all.
And no one cared.
That changed the day a black luxury sedan rolled through the rusted front gate.
Students lounging near the canteen barely glanced up.
"Another visitor," someone muttered.
"Probably here to enjoy the food."
The canteen was famous—for being open to everyone.
The car stopped near the administrative building.
A man stepped out.
Early thirties. Sharp posture. Calm eyes.
Dressed simply, but neatly.
He made a brief phone call, then turned to the watchman.
"I need the keys to the principal's residence."
Silence.
The words didn't register at first.
"The… principal's flat?" the watchman repeated.
"Yes."
Within minutes, the entire campus knew.
A new principal had arrived.
Laughter followed.
"He won't last a week."
"Three days. Max."
"The Devil Trio will handle him."
The man collected the keys and walked toward the residence with his luggage, accompanied by Raymond, the canteen manager and hostel supervisor.
Raymond said nothing—but watched carefully.
Two days passed.
Nothing happened.
No chaos.
No threats.
No retaliation.
Neither the Devil Trio nor the new principal made a move.
On the third day, a notice appeared.
Mandatory meeting.
All professors and staff.
3:00 PM.
The meeting ended at 6:00 PM.
No one spoke about what happened inside that room.
But the next morning, something felt… wrong.
Every professor was in class.
On time.
Teaching.
Students stared in disbelief.
Meanwhile, Leon, Ethan, and Marcus sat comfortably in the canteen, laughing.
Until Raymond refused to serve them.
"I have orders," he said calmly.
"A list of students not attending classes. No food service."
The laughter died instantly.
"You know who we are, right?" Ethan snapped.
Raymond nodded. "Yes. That's why I'm following orders."
Marcus scoffed. "Forget it. We'll order from outside."
Leon stood up.
"Everyone here eats on us today. Write down what you want."
Food arrived. The canteen turned into a feast.
Later that night—
"Time to teach the principal a lesson," Marcus said.
Leon smiled. "Let's see what he's made of."
12:00 AM
Two men slipped over the compound wall.
They entered the principal's residence.
The fight that followed was fast. Violent. Brutal.
By the end of it—
No one inside the academy heard screams.
8:00 AM
Raymond knocked on the door with a first-aid kit.
The door opened.
The principal stood there—perfectly fine.
"Come in," he said casually.
Raymond stared. "Sir… were you out last night?"
The man smiled.
"No. But the guests sent by your Devil Trio are currently in the hospital."
Raymond swallowed.
"My name is Dr. Adrian Cole," the principal continued.
"Tell me about those boys. Why don't they study?"
Raymond hesitated, then spoke.
"They were ignored while their fathers built empires.
Now no one knows how to bring them back."
Adrian nodded. "So they were abandoned… conveniently."
Silence followed.
"Sir," Raymond said quietly, "please don't stop their food. It causes wastage."
"I'll handle it," Adrian replied.
Food service resumed.
But classes still felt optional.
Until one afternoon.
4:00 PM. College ground. Mandatory assembly.
Dr. Adrian Cole stood on the stage, microphone in hand.
"From today," he announced,
"the first three students in every class who attend all lectures will receive medals."
Murmurs.
"Collect twenty medals," he continued,
"and you'll earn rewards—cash, trips, exclusive privileges."
A complaint box was installed outside his office.
Questions followed. Mockery. Insults.
Adrian answered none of them.
He simply walked away.
The next day, attendance increased.
Not much—but enough.
Those who tried to leave found the main gate locked.
"Principal's orders," the watchman said.
That night—
The Devil Trio struck back.
His car was destroyed.
Garbage was dumped inside his residence.
More men jumped the wall.
This time, Adrian was injured.
No one helped.
By morning, he slept in his ruined office.
The campus whispered again.
He's finished.
He finally understood their power.
But one question remained—
Would Adrian Cole resign like the others?
Or had Hillcrest Academy finally met
the man it couldn't break?
To be continued…