The city felt different.
Not because of the weather, not because of the neon lights glowing through the night streets, but because of the silence—
The silence of fear.
Every middle school and high schooler in Gwangseong knew the truth.
The Quartet had fallen.
And the boy who crushed them, Daniel Park, now stood above them all.
---
The Gathering of Schools
In a rented auditorium, large enough to hold hundreds, the leaders of every conquered school faction sat restlessly in rows. Some whispered nervously, others sneered as if still unwilling to bow, but none dared to leave.
At the center stage, a single chair awaited. Empty.
Then the doors opened.
Daniel entered.
Not flanked by guards, not surrounded by cheering underlings—
He walked alone.
His steps echoed, calm and deliberate, his gaze unwavering.
Yet his presence filled the room like a storm rolling in.
Some students shivered without knowing why. Others clenched their fists, swallowing the urge to challenge.
Daniel took the stage, sat in the chair, and crossed his legs. Silence thickened.
He spoke. His voice was not loud, but every word cut through the air.
"You're all here because I allowed you to live."
Murmurs rippled. Daniel's cold eyes swept across the room, shutting them up instantly.
"The Quartet thought they were kings. You saw what I did to them."
He leaned forward slightly, tone sharper.
"Now I'll make this clear—there will be no kings but me."
---
The New Order
Daniel unfolded a paper and placed it on the table before him.
"This is the structure of the Union."
Former rival leaders were now executives, their rank dependent on loyalty.
Territories were mapped and assigned; no overlap, no disputes.
Profits from business fronts—cafés, karaoke rooms, gyms, internet clubs—would be centralized, taxed, and redistributed.
Anyone caught skimming, betraying, or freelancing without permission would be erased.
"You will fight when I tell you to fight. You will profit when I tell you to profit. You will rise only if I allow you to rise."
He looked around, calm yet ruthless.
"And if you think that makes me a dictator…" He smirked faintly. "…you're right. The difference is, I win."
No one spoke.
Some lowered their heads out of fear.
Some clenched their teeth, already plotting.
Some, quietly, began to admire him.
---
Unification by Charm and Fear
When the meeting ended, Daniel remained behind. Executives filtered out, whispering nervously. Some swore loyalty. Some cursed his name.
But all of them obeyed.
Outside the hall, students gossiped.
"They say he's younger than most of us… but when he speaks, it's like he's twenty."
"Did you see his eyes? He wasn't bluffing."
"He beat the Quartet, man. He could crush us without lifting a finger."
Daniel stepped out last, hands in his pockets, the faintest of smiles on his lips.
Fear bound them.
But so did something more. His aura wasn't just brutality—there was charisma, intelligence, an unspoken promise of victory.
The Union wasn't just a gang.
It was becoming something greater.
---
The Hidden Threats
In the shadows, rival groups beyond Gwangseong muttered about this new order.
"A middle schooler leading high schools? Pathetic."
"Give him a year. He'll implode."
"…Or maybe he won't."
And high above, men of true power—mercenaries, gang leaders, and corporate figures—began to watch him carefully.
Because Daniel Park was no longer just a boy leading a faction.
He was building a system.
An empire.
---
Daniel's Vision
Late that night, Daniel sat alone in his office. The city lights reflected in the glass walls, his reflection staring back at him—calm, calculating, dangerous.
He whispered to himself.
"Middle school. High school. This city is mine."
He leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled.
"Next… the province."
---