Dante led us to the school from where he found us, and not once did he let go of Scarlett. Odd, considering he was one of the people that torched her house, but I digress. Now's not the time to worry about details like that. Fact was I was about to finally come face-to-face with Arthur Hawkwood. Despite the endless amount of questions, I need to shuffle through, I have to keep in mind what Gramps told me. This'll require an obscene amount of caution.

Time to come up with my best poker face.

We went inside the front of the Academia building, past students who lingered outside, fixating on us like security guards. The hallways were no better, surrounded by more students and lingering whispers. Seems like gossip travels like wildfire at this school, given the common topic all tied to Scarlett and the current situation of the Estate, as if she didn't have enough on her mind. Honestly, despite what happened, you'd think they would show her some respect given her status and all. Gotta hand it to her though; she's keeping calm despite it.

We approached an elevator and Dante held his Crest up to the scanner against the door. The pad read the Crest and lit up green, acknowledging the identification. The doors slid open and we stepped inside. Pressing the upmost button on the display, it brought us roughly five stories from ground level, which meant we were about three floors higher than students are permitted to go normally. Once we hit the top, the door opened.

We stepped out onto a sage-green rug and into a sleek, pristine office area. A secretary sat at her desk typing away, and when she noticed us come through, she simply motioned to the door before going back to work. Dante finally detached himself from Scarlett, but the latter latched onto his sleeve anyway. They ended up sticking to one another. As they took point, I followed behind, watching them push the doors open to the office.

The interior of the office sported pale, lavender walls to the left and tall, stainless windows directly in front and to the right side of us. Three couches that each sported a lighter sage color separated by a coffee table between them took center stage in the spacious room.

Directly ahead of us, there was a wooden desk, a computer and a holographic projection display stationed upon it. Regarding the display a man dressed business casually was being projected, his back turned from our angle. As the holographic man concluded his statement, his light english accent lingered in his static-laced voice.

"I look forward then to your arrival. We shall speak more as the days lead up to it." The man standing at the window said, as he watched students pile into the Academia building from his wide view of the island outward.

"Headmaster Hawkwood," Dante said, as the pair took a knee, leaving me as the odd one out.

Hawkwood turned his head, myself immediately recognizing his face from the pictures I found of him in my initial research of the school. "Good Morning, you two," he said, rather casually. "You must be Chris."

Hawkwood turned fully around. Now that I'm meeting him in person, I had a clearer image of the man now; and as expected, his appearance screamed "honest billionaire façade."

That being said, I'm not wasting time.

"I would say it's a pleasure, but…I'd be lying." I said.

Hawkwood simply smirked, allowing the comment to slide off him. "You are Theo's grandkid without a doubt. You both much rather save formalities when you deem them important."

I hate him already.

"I apologize for not greeting you yesterday, Chris. I was off campus, finalizing plans for a foreign exchange student arriving within the next few weeks. I was talking just now to the chaperone who will be accompanying them."

"Foreign exchange students need chaperones?"

"The schools I've designed enforce honor and respect amongst the students and faculty. This also pertains to cultural programs such as this." He chuckled again. "Excuse me, I'm getting off topic."

"No, no, it's fine. Personally, it's giving you time to come up with a good cover story as to why you hired an Apex to keep your hands clean."

Scarlett and Dante shot looks at me from below, as if I were insane. And right now, I could very well be. I was feeling tense, anxious and I wanted answers.

Hawkwood was almost taken aback by the accusation, but chuckled and recognized what I was saying. "You must forgive me, for I am under the impression that you expect me to give you an explanation for my actions."

The atmosphere in the room shifted. It was as though it was just us in the room, in the middle of the world's most intense staring contest. I really misplayed that and now with the ball in my court, I had to play my next few words carefully.

"I mean…it would only be fair, right?" I tell myself to play it carefully and I'm still taking a chance with my words. "What I mean is…" I took a deep breath and thought really hard how to follow up. I exhaled and let the words trickle out delicately, but seriously. "With so much happening in the last week, you are the only person I can think of who know what's really going on. And assuming the Apex are as big a threat as I understand them to be, our goals should be the same, right?"

"That statement would only be valid if you yourself knew what your own goals were."

I held up the Crest, "my Grandfather left me with this, without any real instructions on what it means and how to use it. You, invited me to this school, and I accepted, thinking that it would shed some light on the family secrets surrounding it."

"And once you confirm those secrets, what is your plan going forward?"

"Once I did, my plan so far was to ask you questions. Starting with my Grandfather. He and the King of Hearts were suspicious of you all these years, weren't they? That's why you had that Apex kill him."

Hawkwood crossed his arms and sat on his desk. "Hypothetically, if that were the case, what would I have to hide? Why would I go through such lengths to bring harm to one of my closest allies, knowing the severe consequences I'd bring on myself and everything established?"

He had a point, but once again I decided to take a chance with the only thing that made sense in my head. "I think…you figured it was worth the risk anyway. I get the feeling that anyone that associates themselves with the name 'Joker,' is an automatic threat to whatever you're planning. Or am I wrong?"

Hawkwood laughed. "Quite the imagination. I am far from insecure, young man."

"Says the one who designed a school to be in direct opposition to my very existence."

Hawkwood sighed. "Naturally neither of them would've told you of what the Joker really is. Furthermore, by knowing its true nature it wouldn't be in my best interest to put myself in the line of sight of such a person."

That's a fair point. After all, Gramps did say that he'd deal with Hawkwood if Maria was axed because of him. How Gramps means to do that, that's still in the air.

Regardless, I kept pushing. "Well, whatever it is, I'm fully confident in saying that you're really afraid of what I am."

He stood up and walked back around his desk. Returning to the window, he looked out, taking note of the few stragglers remaining in the courtyard. "Not afraid, but tactful. After all, it's because of my tactfulness that humanity's hope for a better world is closer to fruition."

I paused for a moment. "Wait-wait-wait; You killed the King of Hearts and sided with the Apex for humanity's sake…?!"

"Whether you believe my words or not, know that all my actions, past, present and future, are for the sake of preserving humanity. In our line of work the end justifies the means. Always."

I grew quiet, the honesty inflected in his voice hitting me. I looked at Scarlett, who was trying hard to hold it in. I could feel the tightness of keeping her feelings bottled inside. The lingering memory of my own family keeping the secrets from me about my mother leaving me and all were resurfacing in me, and just making me angry at Hawkwood's flawed justification for murder and manipulation.

"The day will come when you'll be in my position," he turned back to us, "When you have to decide what you hold more value in. Your bonds, or your duty. I can only pray, as the new Joker, that when that time comes, you'll be able to make the right choice."

"…Yeah…okay." I exhaled, taking this in. "You know, I think I understand things a bit better now."

He moved behind his desk, took a seat and crossed his hands. "Enlighten us."

"Oh, that's okay. Just know I've decided on things going forward." I smiled.

Hawkwood grinned. "Enjoy your semester here, Mr. Henderson."

"Thank you. I plan to make the most of it."