Arthur and Ashley were both confused. So all that effort Finley put into building his perfect reputation... wasn’t exactly working. Arthur had to wonder—how would Finley react if he found out he spent all that money, and people still weren’t buying it? At the mention of Finley, Hudson’s frustration boiled over. “Come on, everyone knows Finley’s just putting on a show. He talks a big game and acts like he’s better than everyone else. Anytime someone else shines, he finds a way to take them down. Do you really think we don’t see through that? He walks around like he’s some kind of saint—give me a break. Only those clueless fangirls fall for it. Everyone else can see right through him.” Arthur and Ashley exchanged glances. “But he really did pay for a few students’ tuition,” Arthur said. “And let’s be honest, he’s got a lot of support on campus. There are plenty of people who back him.” Hudson scoffed, the bitterness clear on his face. "Oh, you mean the ones he sponsored?" He couldn’t hide the anger in his voice. "He only picked them because they’re easy to control—he just wanted a bunch of underlings. There are students here who are really struggling, some on the verge of dropping out because they can’t afford tuition. But does he help them? Not a chance. If you’re not willing to follow him around like a loyal lapdog, he won’t give you a dime. Worse—he’ll send Kent and Henry to humiliate you for it." Once Hudson started, he couldn’t stop. Everything he’d been holding back came pouring out. Arthur and Ashley were genuinely stunned. That wasn’t what they had heard at all. Are there really that many students struggling to pay for school? Arthur honestly hadn’t known. He voiced the question on his mind. “Are there that many students struggling to pay? Why don’t they apply for financial aid?” The school had a clear policy—if you could prove you needed help, you could apply. There was no limit to how many students could qualify. Principal Mateo had made that clear during orientation. It was during orientation week, right after Arthur had been set up—and the truth came out. Mateo had stood right there and made the announcement himself. So the whole school should know that by now.Hudson let out a frustrated sigh. “I’m one of those students. My parents died in a car accident when I was little. My grandpa’s the only family I’ve got, and he raised me on his own.” Talking about it brought a heaviness to his voice. He pictured his grandfather’s gentle smile… And with Henry now targeting him, he wasn’t even sure how much longer he could stay at Governance University. He knew exactly what kind of person Henry was. Sure, Arthur had stepped in today and chased them off—but knowing Henry, he’d definitely be back. Arthur could help him once, but not forever. He might never escape Henry’s shadow. His grandpa had worked so hard to get him into this school. And now, thinking that he might not be able to hold on… Hudson’s eyes started to tear up. Hudson sniffled and kept going. “There are a lot of students like me at this school. We all applied for financial aid when we enrolled.” Arthur and Ashley exchanged a confused look. If they applied, then why were they still struggling to pay tuition? As far as Arthur knew, the school wasn’t too strict about financial aid. If someone really needed help, the school usually approved it without much hassle. Governance University didn’t just cover tuition for students in need—they also gave out living stipends to help them make it through to graduation. That’s exactly why Governance University has stayed the top school in all of Lioran. Hudson caught the confusion on their faces and kept talking. “The real problem is Finley. That’s where it all starts. Before any financial aid request reaches the academic office, it has to go through the student council first. They’re the ones who check everything and pass it along. And Finley—he’s been the student council president this whole time. Because we wouldn’t play his game—wouldn’t follow him around like loyal lapdogs—he shut down all our aid applications.” By the end of his explanation, Hudson was visibly angry. Just thinking about the injustice of it all made his blood boil. “Didn’t you tell any of the teachers?” Arthur asked. “There are plenty of professors around, and the principal’s always on campus. Couldn’t you talk to someone?” Hudson let out a long, exhausted sigh. “We tried.”