God Of The Omniverse-Chapter 341: It’s All A Game (Part 6)

As the convoy pulled into the parking lot of Ark Academies, the black vehicles coming to a smooth stop, the students outside pressed closer, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the man inside.

The muffled sound of excited voices filtered into the cars, rising steadily with every second of delay.

The door of the lead car opened, and Cheshire stepped out first, her heels clicking against the pavement as she stretched casually. She let her sharp gaze drift lazily over the crowd, her signature smirk creeping onto her lips as if she found their enthusiasm amusing.

Tala followed right after, her movement careful and elegant, though her expression showed the faintest hint of disdain as she glanced at the noisy gathering. "Hmph," she muttered under her breath, folding her arms tightly.

"Arias! We love you!"

"Mr. Markovich, over here! You're amazing!"

The shouting only grew louder as the Arias stepped out. His posture was relaxed, his sharp suit perfectly tailored, and his calm demeanor evident. If he noticed the deafening cries or the security team struggling to hold back the students, he gave no sign of it.

"Wow, boss," Cheshire teased as she turned toward him, her green eyes glinting with amusement. "You sure know how to draw a crowd."

Arias glanced around at the sea of eager faces before flashing his practiced smile. "Thank you, everyone," he said, raising a hand in a smooth wave. "Your support means everything."

The response was immediate—louder cheers and several students holding out notebooks, phones, and whatever else they could find for him to sign. Others pushed against the line of security guards, hoping to get closer, their shouts turning into a chaotic mess of declarations.

Arias ignored most of it, turning his focus to the path ahead as he began walking toward the main entrance. His movements were casual, his presence passing through the madness like a celebrity arriving at an awards show.

Cheshire followed beside him, her smirk never fading, while Tala trailed slightly behind, casting glances at anyone who got too rowdy.

Once inside, the atmosphere shifted instantly. The noise from outside was muffled as the heavy doors shut with a soft thunk, leaving the cool hum of the air conditioning to fill the silence. The polished floors gleamed under the artificial lights, and the air was crisp and faintly sterile.

Lining the hallway were members of the academy's staff, each waiting to greet him. Some looked genuinely enthusiastic, while others wore forced smiles, their hands stiff as they extended them for quick handshakes. Arias moved down the line, shaking hands with polite efficiency but never lingering.

At the center of the group stood Dr. October, her arms crossed as she watched him approach. Her face carried the unmistakable look of someone resigned to dealing with an unavoidable nuisance. "Please tell me this won't be a regular thing," she said flatly as he reached her.

"It won't," Arias replied smoothly, clasping her hand with just enough warmth to soften the exchange. "Think of it as a necessary evil."

Dr. October sighed but didn't press the issue, stepping aside as Arias continued forward.

Further down the hall, Lois Lane waited, arms crossed and clearly unimpressed. She stood beside a man who was awkwardly fiddling with a camera, his grip so unsure it looked like he'd never held one in his life.

"I have my own professional crew, you know," Lois said as Arias neared, her voice carrying a faint edge. "No offense, but he doesn't look like he's handled a camera before."

Arias didn't even glance her way as he walked past, his tone light but dismissive. "Blame the government. They insisted on overseeing the recording to make sure the content is... appropriate."

Lois frowned, her heels clicking as she tried to fall into step beside him. Unfortunately for her, neither Cheshire nor Tala moved to give her room, forcing her to trail awkwardly behind.

"Appropriate, huh? Sounds like they're afraid you'll say something you shouldn't," she said, her voice sharpening. "Now I'm curious."

Arias let out a low chuckle. "In this case, Miss Lane, it's best to resist the urge to be curious."

Lois narrowed her eyes, clearly unsatisfied, but she didn't get the chance to push further. They'd reached the end of the hall, where two students stood waiting—Billy Batson and Barbara Gordon.

Billy looked as excited as someone who'd won the lottery. "Mr. Markovich! The classroom is all cleaned up and ready!" he said, nearly bouncing on the balls of his feet.

Barbara, standing beside him with her arms crossed, was far less enthusiastic. She barely acknowledged Arias, her gaze flickering instead to Cheshire and Tala, taking in the company he kept.

Lois glanced between the two students, her journalist instincts stirring. There was clearly something notable about them, though she couldn't quite piece together what.

Before the atmosphere grew any tenser, Arias took control of the situation with a practiced ease. "Miss Lane," he began, his tone calm and composed as he gestured toward the students. "Meet the current student body heads. This is Miss Barbara Gordon and Billy Batson. They helped prepare the space for the interview at my request."

Barbara acknowledged the introduction with a slight nod, her arms still crossed. Billy, on the other hand, practically jumped forward, his enthusiasm overflowing as he extended a hand toward Lois. "Of course we know her! I'm a huge fan of Miss Lane!" he said, his voice practically squeaking with excitement.

Barbara rolled her eyes at his display, muttering just loud enough to be heard, "Wow, Billy. I didn't realize you were such a deep follower of the news."

Billy wasn't even slightly fazed by the jab. He turned to her with a wide grin, shrugging as he said, "I'm not. I just make sure never to miss Miss Lane's segments."

Arias allowed himself a small, amused smile at the exchange. "It seems you're quite inspiring, Miss Lane," he said, his voice carrying a touch of light humor.

Lois's lips curved into a tight smile, though the flicker of unease in her eyes showed her discomfort. She reached out to shake Billy's hand, her movements brisk but polite. "Thanks, kid," she replied.

Billy's grin only widened, and he quickly corrected her, "I'm not a kid. I'm almost 16!"

Lois chuckled lightly, playing along as she said, "Young man, it is. Anyway, shall we get this interview started? I'm sure Mr. Markovich has a busy schedule."

"As entertaining as this has been," Arias interjected, "that is true." He shifted his gaze toward Lois and gestured toward the classroom door. "Shall we?"

Lois nodded, stepping toward the door as Arias turned to his two companions. Tala stood with her arms stiffly at her sides, her annoyance practically radiating from her sharp glare at Billy, whom she clearly regarded as a pest.

Cheshire, in on other hand, leaned against the wall, casually chewing gum. Her relaxed demeanor was deceptive; because her sharp eyes darted across the room, subtly observing every movement with the precision of a trained assassin.

"Wait here," Arias instructed, his tone firm but calm as he addressed them. "The interview shouldn't take more than thirty minutes."

Tala gave an irritated grunt but nodded, folding her arms as her gaze shifted toward the nearest corner, clearly uninterested in anything else happening nearby. Cheshire blew a small bubble with her gum, letting it pop softly before flashing a lazy grin. "Whatever you say, boss," she replied, though her eyes lingered briefly on Lois before returning to her casual scan of the hallway.

With the matter settled, Arias stepped toward the classroom.