The Shadow of Great Britain

379: Chapter 226: Education Issues (4k2) 379: Chapter 226: Education Issues (4k2) London, Westminster, Whitehall 4.

Arthur sat in his office, arms crossed, looking at the two mischievous kids sitting obediently before him, while in front of him lay two feedback reports sent from Greenwich Grammar School to Scotland Yard.

The office was so quiet that Arthur didn’t have to say a word, merely a sweep of his gaze was enough for the two kids to shamefully lower their heads.

As Arthur fiddled with the feedback reports, he read aloud, “Tearing up someone else’s script, fighting with classmates, and even cursing at teachers, Adam, Allen, do you two have anything to say about this feedback report?”

“Mr.

Hastings, I…” Adam, with a black eye, looked up at Arthur then turned to glance at Pinkerton, whose left cheek was bruised blue, his face expressing hesitation, “I…”

Pinkerton suddenly jumped from his chair, defiantly flung his hat to the ground, “Sir, if you really want to pin the blame on someone, come at me.

It was me who started this, it has nothing to do with Adam.

He’s a wimp, he wouldn’t dare oppose the teacher without my backing.

You understand, just like how you support Miss Fiona.”

Arthur, hearing these words, just quirked an eyebrow, “Allen, if only you learned spelling and arithmetic this quickly as well.”

Red Devil, overhearing this conversation couldn’t help but burst into laughter, wafting a breeze with his hand that lifted the little yellow hair on Pinkerton’s head, “Look, Arthur, this kid’s definitely going places in the future.”

Pinkerton spoke, “Sir, you have no idea how crappy the grammar school is!

They underestimated Adam and me, thought we were the type of gents who always back down.

They needed to understand, I was mixed up in Glasgow and Adam came from Saint Giles, if it weren’t for the teachers stopping us, we would have twisted off those power-tripping bastards’ ears!”

Arthur, listening to this, had words come to his lips, then swallowed them down and sipped his tea before asking, “Sounds like there’s something going on here?”

“Of course!”

Pinkerton spoke bitterly, “The grammar teachers dislike me and Adam, perhaps because they think we don’t listen to them.

They’re always finding faults, first it was spelling mistakes, then grammar errors, later they said our handwriting was sloppy.

After we corrected all that, one day in class, they suddenly called Adam and me up to recite what they had just said.

When Adam and I failed to recite it, they made us wear a dunce cap and hung a sign around our necks filled with all sorts of humiliating words.

After class, those power-tripping kids kept buzzing in our ears and even sang songs mocking us.

I couldn’t hold back and ended up tearing their scripts and gave them a couple of solid punches.”

Adam, also hurriedly chimed in, “Mr.

Hastings, I actually wanted to calm Allen down a bit because I had attended a poor school for a few days where the environment was much worse than the grammar school.

The teachers there were two old sailors who were often drunk and taught us nothing, just kept us quiet.

Except for often being hungry during lunch, the grammar school was much better.

But Allen was already furious, he wouldn’t listen to anything, just focused on giving those bastards what they deserved, so…”

Arthur asked, “So…how did you get involved?”

Adam, embarrassed, responded, “Allen was on top of one kid, beating him to death, that kid was our junior teacher.

Mr.

Hastings, do you know about junior teachers?

A junior teacher is a college student, the most educated among us, who takes over the class when the teacher is absent and he gets four pennies a week for it, so he’s very obedient to the teacher.

The teacher didn’t like me and Allen, and he would also exclude us.

That’s why Allen caught him and beat him up.

But the junior teacher had his lackeys, and when they saw their leader getting thrashed, they rushed in one by one to color up Allen.

At that moment, I thought: My goodness!

These scoundrels are coming after my old buddy!

If I can’t look after Allen, how would I explain it to my mom and dad at home?

How would I have the face to report to you, Mr.

Hastings, at Scotland Yard, letting you know I’ve lost a good man?”

Arthur, hearing this, just shuffled the papers in his hand, “Adam.”

Adam innocently asked, “What’s up, Mr.

Hastings?”

Arthur looking at him, began, “Seems like Allen isn’t wrong to keep you around for treats, you really do step up when needed.”

Adam, puzzled, “Sir, are you praising me?

I thought you were going to scold us at least.”

Arthur, leaning back in his chair, said, “If all that you two have just told me is true then yes, I am praising you.

Although hitting others is definitely wrong, considering you tried to find the proper methods to resolve issues, improve your spelling, grammar, and sloppy handwriting, and given that you had no better options at the moment, it’s done.”