Falcon Corps Dormitory – 3:50 PM
Noah stood outside his room.
Arms slack.
Eyes unfocused.
His mind was a storm.
Who is Brian, really?
From the moment they met, Brian had been calm. Collected. Mature.
But Noah had known people like that before.
The ones who never raised their voices—but still owned the room.
The kind who didn't threaten you.
They made you afraid without trying.
Was Brian one of them?
He exhaled slowly.
Time to find out.
Café – Falcon HQ Grounds
The café was quiet.
Empty, but not peaceful.
It felt like the silence before a storm.
Noah stepped inside.
Brian wasn't there yet.
He scanned the room instinctively—booths, corners, shadows.
Old habits.
Old instincts.
Is this some kind of test? Is he making me wait on purpose?
Then—
A chill.
A presence behind him.
He turned.
Brian was already there.
Standing still.
Too still.
Noah's heart skipped once.
How long has he been watching me?
Brian folded his arms. Expression unreadable.
Then came the slight grin.
"What's good, Noah?"
His tone was casual. But the weight behind it pressed down like gravity.
"Didn't expect you to come this early. Good. Punctuality's a nice trait."
He gestured toward a booth.
"Come—let's talk."
Brian didn't wait for a reply.
Noah followed.
They sat at a booth near the corner.
Still no small talk.
Just silence thick with intent.
A waiter appeared.
"What would you like, sir?"
Brian glanced at Noah.
"You first."
Noah blinked.
"Uhh… cold coffee's fine."
Brian nodded. "One cold coffee. Two glasses of milk. Less sugar."
Noah blinked again.
Who the hell orders milk at a café?
Brian caught his look and smirked.
"Relax. You look tense."
Noah exhaled but didn't answer.
Because he was tense.
And Brian wasn't the kind of guy you could read. At least not easily.
Then Brian's voice dropped a note.
More serious now.
"Noah. What I'm about to tell you is serious."
A pause.
"It may hurt. "but this isn't the time for being emotional .Listen carefully."
Noah straightened slightly.
Brian's eyes locked onto his like twin spotlights.
"Noah. You're too weak."
Silence.
No hesitation.
No sugar-coating.
Brian continued. "Veron wasn't wrong. You don't have enough training. Right now, in Falcon Corps, you wouldn't survive."
Noah didn't flinch.
But something in his chest twisted.
I know I'm not ready.
I know I fall short.
But I'm not giving up.
"I defended you," Brian added. "But don't mistake that for protection. Being part of our team doesn't mean we'll shield you."
A long beat passed.
Brian leaned forward.
"The Chairman will announce this soon. But I'm telling you early."
He looked directly into Noah's eyes.
"Your first real task… is to join Meridian High."
Noah froze.
Meridian High…
He'd heard of it before.
Top-ranked school in the country. Home to the sons and daughters of politicians, executives, foreign investors—and even syndicate families.
He swallowed.
Brian wasn't done.
"That's the image it sells."
Pause.
"But beneath the surface—it's an arena."
Noah's pulse climbed.
What does that even mean?
Is it really a school? Or just another battlefield in disguise?
"Strength and knowledge decide who sinks and who survives."
Another beat.
"If you go there now, the way you are—you'll be prey."
Noah stayed quiet for a long moment.
Thrown into the lion's den. Again.
But this time with people who didn't even pretend to be lions.
Then—he inhaled.
And answered quietly.
"If that's the case… then I need to get stronger."
Brian's grin was small, but real.
"Good answer."
Noah hesitated.
But where do I even begin?
Brian picked up on it instantly.
"You need help?"
Noah nodded. "Yeah."
Brian smiled again—genuine this time. The first real one.
"You remind me of my little brother."
The moment softened. Briefly.
Then Brian's expression hardened again.
Clinical now.
"You need to build strength."
"A combat mentor will be assigned later. But for now—I'll handle your physical conditioning."
Noah straightened.
Brian continued.
"Your muscle density is low."
"Your core strength is weak."
"You need endurance. Explosiveness. Grip strength."
"I'll help you develop that foundation."
A pause.
"You start gym work today."
Noah blinked. "Gym?"
Brian pulled out his phone. "I'll send you a program. Add my number."
Noah obeyed.
Contacts exchanged.
Workout plans downloaded.
At least it was something he could control.
Their drinks arrived.
They drank in silence.
As Brian left, he said only one thing:
"See you around, Noah."
No fanfare.
Just action,
Just meaning.
**
Falcon Corps HQ – Server Room
Nightfall
Only the soft glow of monitors lit the space.
Rows of machines hummed softly.
Blinked in synchronized rhythm.
A man in his thirties sat hunched in front of a glowing screen.
Sweating.
98%...
99%...
"Come on, come on—why is this so damn slow?!"
Then—a voice behind him.
Smooth.
Amused.
"It's quite slow, isn't it?"
The man froze.
Turned.
Tadashi stood there.
Calm.
Hands in his pockets.
That thin, unsettling smile on his face.
"You thought you were clever?"
He pointed behind the man.
The man's eyes followed—to the glowing Falcon Corps logo at the bottom of the monitor.
A red dot blinked inside the 'O'.
A camera.
"You've been watched for two days."
The man's breath hitched. "No… this can't be—"
He lunged.
A wild punch.
Tadashi caught it like it was nothing.
Wrist twist.
Snap.
The man screamed.
Tadashi flung him across the room like some trash.
He hit the floor, gasping.
"If you kill me…" the man panted, "Black Mamba… won't let this slide…"
Tadashi stepped forward.
Calm.
Deliberate.
"A falcon losing to a snake?" he said softly. "Makes me want to crush you more."
Boot pressed against the man's face.
Slowly.
The man thrashed. Clawed. Gasped.
Tadashi's eyes didn't change.
Just pressure.
Bones creaked.
Then—CRACK.
A spasm.
Then silence.
Blood pooled fast.
Tadashi sighed.
"Damn. You died too fast, Real mess—I might need a mop."
He bent down.
Unplugged the USB.
Lifted the entire CPU.
Then walked out.
Business as usual.
***
Falcon Corps Dormitory – Later That Night
Back in his room, Noah stared at his phone.
Brian's program was brutal.
Workouts. Meal plans. Timetables. Rest hours. Supplements. Mobility drills.
It was all there.
Noah swiped through it.
Then turned the phone off.
I'm doomed.
He dropped onto the bed.
Renzo's face flashed in his mind.
Would you have laughed if you saw me now?
Training schedule. Elite school. People watching my every move.
He closed his eyes.
This wasn't just survival anymore.
This was war.
And he hadn't even touched a weapon yet.
But maybe…
Maybe strength isn't just about weapons.
Maybe it starts with knowing when to stay silent.
When to listen.
When to rise.
Even when the world says you should stay down.