( Sophia''s POV )


    The treatment that the students gave Sophia post the death of Principal Liam went from that of indifference to that of open hostility.


    Sophia had not wished for the death of Principal Liam, however, for the majority of the students, she became one of the chief viins resulting in his death.


    Interactions with her were never pleasant for most students, however, they turned openly hostile post the death of Principal Liam as university life turned into a living hell for her.


    On one hand, Perseus had stopped responding to her letter when she did finally respond to him after months and on the other, everyone, with the sole exception of Rocky and Buhara, treated her coldly within the university, making her feel alone and on the edge.


    Gone was the charm of a Champion.


    Gone was the treatment akin to that of a princess.


    As even those who worshiped Olympian Gods and were extremely respectful of Sophia before, ignored her now.


    "Get away from me, murderous bitch"


    "Principal Liam was better than any Olympian God…. You better watch your back in your sleep bitch, I might just off you-"


    "There''s nothing special about you anyways…. And I will prove it by defeating you in the swordsmanship ss…. You''re not Rocky and you''re not as good as you think"


    This was how Sophia was greeted everywhere she went and sadly the new Principal Maven did nothing to stop it.


    Drowned in his own sadness, Maven only wanted toplete this semester as fast as possible, as he even preponed the final exams by two weeks.


    The only contact that she had with the outside world apart from her brother, was the safe-man of her family that she could write to any time for help, however, this time as she contacted him, asking if leaving the university and returning home was a good idea? The safe-man immediately shot that idea down.


    Informing her about the meeting between Escanor and Perseus and how his brother''s life itself was hanging by and edge, the safe-man advised her to weather the storm within the university for as long as possible and only to surface when things became calmer.


    Almost as soon as Sophia read about the encounter between her brother and father, she felt her body starting to shiver, as this was the exact fate that she had previously envisioned for herself as a child.


    Having witnessed the cruelty of her father in disposing off even the most loyal underlings who had served him for years for the most minor mistakes, Sophia had nightmares of suffering this exact fate as a kid, and it was now alling true.


    Although she wanted to go back home to escape the cruel treatment that she faced at the university, Sophia realized that going back home was no longer an option, because the second she took a step into that cursed ce, she was going to be tortured and humiliated by either her brother or her father, with her own survival not being a guarantee.


    Under such circumstances, Rocky became herst avenue to receive emotional support as she had no-one else she could turn to anymore.


    **********


    ( Meanwhile the True Elites )


    "Are you sure that a prisoner fitting the exact description of Riva is being held under the floor21 pce?" Karna asked, his voice sounding shaky as he could not believe that after all these months of waiting, they had finally found Riva.


    "Yes, guildmaster, we are 100% sure it''s Riva and no-one else….. Fred had gotten himself captured as a notorious criminal within floor21 and is currently being held in the same prison as Riva.


    He is the one who has given this confirmed report of her in there, so there is no question about its authenticity" The true elites guild chief scout said, as he proudly presented the results of his investigation after months of tirelessly searching for Riva.


    "Good job Mark…. You and your team have worked hard….. Also pass the message on to Freddy that we areing to save him alongside Riva.


    That although he sacrificed himself for the guild, we haven''t forgotten about him" Karna said, as he stood up from his desk and began pacing around his room.


    "This is it Karna…. That brat Perseus is in disarray. His empire is crumbling. We need tounch a floor raid before he can recover.


    It''s now or never" Neatwit said, as he reminded Karna that the current situation seemed optimal for the Elites tounch an attack on floor21, although it was two months before their expected raid time.


    "I know it''s the optimal time… infact as tragic as Liam''s death is, I won''t lie that it excited me deeply, knowing that we can now capitalize on what he started and finish the damn job.


    However, there are real lives at stake here Neatwit…. I can''t throw the guild into a war we are not ready for" Karna said, as he reminded Neatwit that a decision as big asunching a floor raid could not be taken in haste.


    "It''s exactly because there are lives involved that I''m suggesting this Karna, I''m not a moron.


    If we attackter when they are more prepared, it''s going to cost us more lives…. This is genuinely our best chance" Neatwit countered, as Karna fell into deep contemtion listening to the vice guildmaster''s logic.


    His words did make sense and with the head scout having confirmed that Riva was indeed being held there, they no longer had any reason to hesitate inunching this raid.


    After thinking about it for a while, Karna eventually nodded his head as he said "Fine…. Write a letter to Rocky and inform him that we are going tounch a floor raid in exactly 24 days from now, as soon as the 30 day cooldown period for floor21 ends.


    Tell him to be prepared…"


    "What am I your secretary/ wife? Tell Amelia to write it for you…. Huh" Neatwit snapped back as he found jobs like writing letters beneath himself and his post.