**Chapter 353: The Board, Fantasy Value About to Break Twenty Thousand**
However, the subsequent development of events was different from what Xia Shang had expected.
A week later, Vought International announced that Professor Richard Brinkerhoff would be promoted to be the new Principal of Godolkin University, and concurrently the Dean of the Lamplighter School of Crimefighting.
"Professor Brink, this is your appointment letter. No, wait, now I should call you Principal Brink."
At the School Board meeting, Ashley Barrett, elegantly dressed with a head of thick blonde hair, stood up smiling and handed the document in her hand to Professor Brinkerhoff on her left.
Although Professor Brinkerhoff had been met privately by Ashley Barrett before this and had learned in advance the news of his impending promotion, at this moment, he was still feigning an expression of great surprise. He quickly stood up and, amidst the applause of the surrounding Board members, solemnly received the appointment letter handed over by Ashley Barrett.
"I really don't know what to say, it's too unexpected, I was completely unprepared." Professor Brinkerhoff was also a true master actor. The surprise and bewilderment in his eyes were fully evident, and even his slightly trembling voice was perfectly rendered. This acting skill, if paired with a director's astonishment, would simply be perfect.
"Your qualifications and knowledge are second to none in the entire Godolkin University, so Vought, other than you, has no other choice," Ashley Barrett said with a smile.
"Thank you Vought for the trust you have placed in me, and Ashley Barrett for your help," Professor Brinkerhoff promised with a solemn expression. "I have enough confidence to guarantee that, like the late Dean Indira Shetty, I will do my utmost to manage Godolkin University well for Vought."
Regarding this result, Xia Shang, sitting in his seat, was not surprised.
This also indicates that Homelander is just the figurehead leader of Vought International; the manipulator behind the scenes is still Stan Edgar. If there had been no clear instructions from Stan Edgar, Homelander would most likely have promoted him to be Principal of Godolkin.
It can only be said that Stan Edgar is currently not at ease entrusting Godolkin to Xia Shang, after all, the school hides an unspeakable Underground Laboratory.
[Congratulations player for significantly changing the original plot, you have gained 1530 Fantasy Value points]
The suddenly popping up Panel pop-up window meant that Indira was a plot character of considerable importance. Seeing this, Xia Shang slightly raised the corner of his mouth. In fact, whether or not he became Principal of Godolkin was not important to him. Moreover, Professor Brinkerhoff was just an ordinary old man; Xia Shang wanting to control him was simply a matter of minutes.
Frankly speaking, the true Manager of Godolkin is him, Xia Shang, and can only be him, Xia Shang!
He opened the Panel to check the current Fantasy Value.
[Current Fantasy Value is: 18800]
Looking at the data displayed on the Panel, Xia Shang felt that twenty thousand Fantasy Value was beckoning to him.
After handing the appointment letter to Professor Brinkerhoff, Ashley Barrett sat back down on the chair.
"Next, we should discuss how to handle this student, Golden Boy," she said. "Although he is somewhat famous and has many fans supporting him in the Outside World, the impact of this incident is too severe, even causing some of the public to feel panic, believing that our Godolkin is not a qualified Supe university. And they are also worried that Supe students graduating from Godolkin University will become Supervillains harmful to society."
Ashley Barrett, with a serious expression, knocked on the table with a leadership demeanor.
"We must take this issue seriously and with the fastest speed, quell the public opinion storm brought about by this incident."
Her gaze swept across everyone's faces, but she deliberately avoided Xia Shang. "I do have a good plan," Professor Brinkerhoff said.
"Please speak."
"First, we should be thankful that the scene had no casualties, which means that Golden Boy did not commit a very serious mistake. The reason he lost control was just because alcohol paralyzed his brain.
A young man losing control due to heavy drinking is certainly wrong, but we shouldn't dwell on this point indefinitely. Ask ourselves honestly, who among us hasn't made mistakes when they were young? Sometimes it wasn't intentional. So, like us when we were young, Golden Boy also needs to be forgiven. I will later have Golden Boy publicly apologize online and admit the mistake he made. At the same time, I believe that everyone will generously forgive him.
Golden Boy is very outstanding and may even enter The Seven in the future. For such a young man with a promising future, I, as a professor at Godolkin, truly do not wish to see him destroyed by public opinion.
Of course, everyone must take responsibility for the mistakes they make, and Golden Boy is no exception."
Professor Brinkerhoff paused at Ashley Barrett's nod and continued speaking:
"I have decided to revoke Golden Boy's first place position as a form of punishment. At the same time, Andre Anderson performed well during the incident, I think his ranking can be raised..."
"It's decided then, let Andre Anderson be ranked first."
A somewhat annoyed Ashley Barrett interrupted Professor Brinkerhoff's remarks.
"That child Anderson indeed performed well, this is what he deserves." Polarity, who was also a School Board member along with Xia Shang, expressed agreement with this. "Fortunately, Anderson was there to stop him at the time, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable. This is a classic superhero story."
Perhaps realizing that his words were a bit biased, Polarity quickly added: "Of course, this credit cannot solely belong to Anderson. Jordan Li and Marie Moreau were also present at the time and both contributed some strength, so the reward should include them."
"Alright, next we will hold an interview event centered around them. I will invite Courtenay, the Host of the Superhero Segment, to interview them. This matter will be handed over to Mr. Jer... Professor Brinkerhoff to be responsible."
Ashley Barrett had originally handed the matter over to Mr. Jervis to handle, but the lingering fear of Mr. Jervis in her mind had not yet dissipated, so in the end, she still said Professor Brinkerhoff's name.
"The meeting ends here, I have something to discuss with Principal Brink privately."
Even though Xia Shang walked out of the Room, fifty meters away from the Meeting Hall, he could still hear Ashley Barrett's angry roar.
"Shit! Do you know how much Golden Boy merchandise I stockpiled at the Port of Los Angeles? It's fucking worth forty-five million US dollars! You lowering Golden Boy's ranking now, do you want me to go bankrupt?!" Ashley Barrett's spit was flying, her expression exceptionally angry. After all, that was most of her net worth; even the slightest risk of loss was enough to make Ashley Barrett furious.
"This is the best solution, otherwise, we cannot give the public an explanation. But don't worry, when the limelight is over, I'll find a reason and suppress Anderson a bit, making him obediently hand over the first place position."
Professor Brinkerhoff's expression wasn't very pleasant either. He was at least a well-known celebrity, but now he was being pointed at the nose and cursed by a Woman.
"You better follow through on your word, otherwise I can make you Principal, and I can also make you roll down from this position."
Afterwards, Ashley Barrett angrily walked out of the Meeting Hall, leaving behind only Professor Brinkerhoff, filled with anger, sulking in the Room.
(End of this Chapter)