The same footage is playing again.
But this time another screen shows something else:
Counselling appointment cancellations.
Someone is watching both systems.
The operator mutters quietly:
"They're moving faster than expected."
Screen goes black.
--
At acadmey gate ,
Lucas stared at the register in front of him, but his eyes weren't really reading the entries.
His thoughts kept circling the same question.
What if the Principal finds out?
What if he checks the CCTV clips…
What if I get suspended?
Samuel suddenly shook his shoulder.
"Lucas?"
Lucas blinked.
Samuel frowned. "What happened? Why are you daydreaming like that?"
Lucas exhaled lightly and waved a hand.
"Nothing. Leave it."
Then he tilted his head slightly.
"Tell me something instead. Why did you take leave like that?"
Samuel shrugged casually.
"It's nothing serious. Just normal work." He added, "And don't worry—I informed the Principal earlier."
Lucas nodded slowly.
"Hm…"
Samuel didn't stay longer. After a brief nod, he left.
Lucas watched him go.
Then he muttered quietly to himself,
"Focus on your work."
He opened his register again and straightened the pages.
The pen moved across the page.
Entry after entry.
But Lucas's mind kept returning to the same door.
The sealed store room.
The broken phone.
Marcus's silent observation.
Leon walking through the room like he owned it.
And Ethan kneeling beside the destroyed device.
Lucas exhaled slowly.
"Why did I agree to that..."
His hand paused again.
If something went wrong, none of those students would be blamed.
The responsibility would fall on him.
Lucas closed the register for a moment.
Then opened it again.
Work first.
Worry later.
---
At the Canteen
Raymond had been observing Lucas since morning.
Something about Lucas's behavior felt… off.
Too distracted.
Too tense.
Raymond poured a fresh cup of coffee and placed it in front of him.
"What happened?" Raymond asked.
Lucas barely looked up.
"Nothing."
Raymond leaned against the counter.
"Then why aren't you focused? A few students entered the campus earlier without making entry."
Lucas rubbed his temple.
"Just a headache."
Raymond nodded slowly.
But he had worked around students and staff long enough to recognize something simple.
People who claimed headaches rarely kept checking the same corridor.
Raymond wiped the counter slowly.
---
At the canteen, a few students were whispering among themselves.
At another table, a few students were whispering among themselves.
"Eden's father left the campus today evening…"
"Maybe Eden will leave with him too."
"But it's still not clear why Eden did that in the first place."
Marcus caught fragments of the conversation.
He exchanged a brief glance with Leon.
Before either of them could say anything—
Marcus noticed something first.
"Ethan's back."
Leon followed his gaze.
Sure enough, Ethan had just entered the canteen.
Marcus and Leon walked toward him.
Leon spoke first.
"What did you find?"
Ethan leaned back against the table.
"It needs time."
"How much?" Leon asked.
"Three to four days."
Leon frowned slightly.
"Why?"
Ethan tapped the table lightly.
"The chances of forceful destruction are high."
Leon looked confused.
Before Ethan could elaborate, Marcus spoke calmly.
"It means someone destroyed that phone intentionally."
Ethan nodded once.
"Exactly."
He lowered his voice slightly.
"Until we get something solid… no one talks about this."
Marcus and Leon both gave a small nod.
Agreement.
---
Unknown to the Devil Trio
From inside the principal's cabin, Adrian was watching them.
He couldn't hear their conversation.
But expressions were often enough.
Gestures.
Eye movement.
Body language.
Sometimes those revealed more than words.
Adrian leaned slightly back in his chair.
Interesting.
His gaze shifted toward his phone.
A chat window remained open.
---
A Few Hours Earlier
Keris:
Sir, Ethan, Marcus, and Leon are heading toward the restricted store room. Lucas is with them.
Adrian:
Observe. Do not intervene. And do not let them know you are present.
Keris:
Should I record video?
Adrian:
No. Just observe and report.
A pause.
Then another message appeared.
Keris:
Sir… there's another shadow on the other side of the corridor.
Adrian replied almost immediately.
Adrian:
Do you have another phone?
Keris:
Yes sir. An old one. Why?
Adrian:
If you feel another presence, leave it there with recording on.
A moment later:
Keris:
No… no need.
Adrian: Tell me what happens inside.
A few minutes later, Keris replied
Keris: They're checking everything
Adrian: Carefully?
Keris: Yes sir. Especially Marcus.
Adrian: And Lucas?
Keris: Slightly Nervous.
Adrian : Did they find anything?
Keris: A damaged phone.
Adrian: Condition?
Keris: Battery removed. SIM removed. Screen cracked.
According to Ethan, the tech isn't very old.
Adrian : Anything else ??
Keris : They searching ..
After few minutes.. keris replied again ..
Keris : They didn't find anything else .. lucas requested them to leave..
Adrian : Leave before they exit.
Keris : Okay.
---
Present
Adrian closed the chat window.
His gaze briefly lifted toward the CCTV camera mounted in the corner of the room.
A knock interrupted the silence.
"Come in."
Samuel stepped inside the cabin holding a file.
"Sir, this is the equipment list for maintenance."
Adrian glanced at the papers.
"It's early," he said calmly. "You just returned from leave."
Samuel nodded.
"I made the list earlier. Due to unavoidable work, I had to take leave."
Adrian flipped through the pages slowly.
"In the past, you were responsible for purchasing all maintenance equipment?"
"Yes, sir."
Adrian closed the file.
"You can continue handling it."
Samuel nodded.
"Understood."
"Place the purchase order day after tomorrow."
"All right, sir."
Samuel turned to leave.
But Adrian's eyes stopped on something.
His boots.
"Samuel."
Samuel paused.
"Yes, sir?"
Adrian gestured slightly.
"Where did you purchase those boots?"
Samuel glanced down at them.
"Oh… these?"
"I bought them online."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"I like collecting boots. It's a hobby."
Adrian's gaze remained calm.
"They look expensive."
Samuel shrugged lightly.
"I save for them. It's the only thing I really spend on."
Adrian nodded once.
"I see."
"You may go."
Samuel left the cabin.
The door closed softly.
Adrian murmured to himself,
"Interesting hobby."
---
Five minutes passed.
Another knock sounded.
"Come in."
Eden's father entered the cabin.
Adrian folded his hands on the table.
"You may take Eden with you," he said calmly.
"After things settle, if he wishes, he can continue here."
Eden's father gave a dry smile.
"I know."
"And I don't need your permission to take my son back."
Adrian didn't respond.
The man continued.
"My son refuses to come with me."
Adrian's gaze sharpened slightly.
"You tried forcing him?"
"Yes."
"It didn't work."
"Why?" Adrian asked.
Eden's father sighed.
"Because he believes he's safe here."
A pause.
"And he doesn't want to run again."
Silence filled the room.
Adrian finally asked,
"What do you want?"
The man met his eyes.
"My son's safety."
Adrian leaned back slightly.
"And you trust me with that?"
Eden's father gave a quiet, tired laugh.
"I don't have a choice."
He rubbed his forehead.
"Eden refuses to leave."
"And I have a job. I can't stay here forever."
Adrian studied him for several seconds.
Measuring.
Observing.
Finally, he spoke.
"You have my word."
"Your son will remain safe here."
Then he added quietly,
"But make sure you call him regularly after you leave."
Eden's father nodded.
"Hm."
Without another word, he left the cabin.
The door closed.
The cabin remained silent after Eden's father left.
Adrian sat still for a few moments.
Then he opened the drawer of his desk.
A thin folder lay inside.
He pulled out a sheet of paper.
A list of names.
Several of them were already circled.
Students.
Adrian studied the list quietly.
Marcus.
Leon.
Ethan.
His pen moved.
A single line crossed through Ethan's name.
Not violently.
Just a precise stroke.
Adrian closed the folder again.
"One less variable," he murmured.
---