The afternoon sun hung high above the courtyard of AUMC, casting long shadows across the stone walkways that connected the different academic buildings. Students gathered in small groups during the break, chatting about lectures, exams, and rumors spreading through the campus.
From above, the entire scene looked calm.
But from the balcony of the second floor, four individuals watched the courtyard with very different thoughts.
Akshat stood near the railing, his arms resting casually as he observed the students below. His gaze eventually settled on the scene near the courtyard entrance where Ryuki had just confronted the group of bullying girls to defend Aavya.
Not far behind him stood Alexander, leaning slightly against the wall with his arms crossed.
Beside him was Tae Jin.
The tall Korean student watched the courtyard with narrowed eyes. His sharp gaze followed Ryuki as she stood beside Aavya, her presence alone enough to scare away the girls who had mocked them earlier.
Tae Jin slowly turned his head toward Akshat.
The expression on his face looked almost as if he had just discovered something impossible.
"So the leader of Hostel 6 has become this loyal to you," Tae Jin muttered quietly.
His tone carried disbelief.
To him, the situation felt absurd.
Ryuki had a reputation across the campus as someone who rarely followed anyone's orders.
She had defeated multiple senior students in open fights and never seemed interested in joining any faction.
Yet now she stood protectively beside Aavya, indirectly acting under Akshat's influence.
Tae Jin stared at Akshat as if trying to understand what kind of person he truly was.
Alexander, however, seemed far less surprised.
His focus shifted away from the courtyard as he spoke.
"There's something more important."
Akshat glanced at him briefly.
Alexander stepped forward slightly, lowering his voice.
"I've been researching certain underground networks connected to this university," he said calmly. "And I found something disturbing."
Akshat remained silent, listening.
Alexander continued.
"There's an auction operating in the shadows of this city."
His expression hardened slightly.
"The name is Fallen Star Auction."
Tae Jin frowned.
"An underground auction?"
Alexander nodded.
"I can't access the full buyer records," he explained, "but according to the fragments of data I managed to gather, the items sold there are far beyond normal black market goods."
Akshat turned toward him now, clearly interested.
Alexander spoke slowly.
"Humans."
The word hung in the air.
"Illegal weapons."
Another pause.
"And according to some rumors… even military-grade equipment."
Tae Jin scoffed slightly.
"You're telling me someone is selling weapons powerful enough to start wars?"
Alexander's eyes remained serious.
"There are whispers that even nuclear materials have passed through that auction."
The balcony grew silent for a moment.
Below them, students laughed and talked without knowing anything about the dark possibilities being discussed just above their heads.
Akshat looked back toward the courtyard.
His expression remained calm, but his mind was already analyzing the information.
Alexander leaned closer.
"The real problem isn't the auction itself," he said quietly.
"The problem is its connection to this university."
Before Akshat could respond—
A voice suddenly appeared behind them.
"Hey guys."
The three turned around.
Standing at the entrance of the balcony was a tall, striking young man with smooth black hair and sharp features. His posture carried quiet confidence, and his calm eyes reflected a level of intelligence that made him stand out immediately.
This was Shintae Megami, the leader of Hostel 2.
He gave them a relaxed smile.
"Mind if I talk for a moment?"
Alexander's gaze sharpened slightly.
Shintae's arrival wasn't exactly unexpected. Leaders of different hostels often monitored each other, especially after recent conflicts across the campus.
Alexander stepped forward calmly.
"Depends on what you want to talk about."
Shintae leaned casually against the railing.
"Let's say… something related to the auction you were just discussing."
Alexander's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You were listening."
Shintae shrugged.
"You weren't exactly whispering."
Akshat studied him carefully.
Unlike many other hostel leaders, Shintae didn't carry an aggressive aura. Instead, he looked more like a strategist than a fighter.
"Go on," Akshat said.
Shintae nodded.
"I've been investigating something similar," he said. "And I think Hostel 1 might be connected to it."
Tae Jin frowned.
"Hostel 1?"
That hostel had always remained distant from most conflicts on campus. Its leader rarely appeared publicly, and its members operated quietly compared to the more aggressive groups.
Shintae continued.
"In the past few months, several students connected to the university have gone missing."
Alexander crossed his arms.
"Missing inside campus?"
Shintae shook his head slowly.
"No."
His eyes became more serious.
"Outside the university."
The air on the balcony suddenly felt heavier.
Shintae explained further.
"Most of them were orphans," he said. "Students with no strong family connections. People who wouldn't attract immediate investigation if they disappeared."
Akshat's gaze darkened slightly.
"Convenient targets."
Shintae nodded.
"Exactly."
Alexander spoke quietly.
"You think they were taken for the auction."
"It's a possibility."
The group fell silent again as the implications settled.
Then Akshat suddenly spoke.
"Join us."
Shintae looked at him.
Akshat continued calmly.
"If Hostel 1 is involved with something like this, we'll need cooperation."
Shintae stared at him for a few seconds.
Then he smiled faintly.
"I'll pass."
Tae Jin frowned.
"You're refusing?"
Shintae shrugged slightly.
"Not permanently."
His gaze returned to Akshat.
"But I doubt your strength."
The statement caught everyone's attention.
Shintae's tone wasn't mocking.
It was simply honest.
"Akshat," he said calmly, "you really don't know anything about fighting."
Akshat's expression remained neutral.
Shintae continued.
"You rely on physical strength and instincts," he explained. "That works when you're facing multiple untrained opponents."
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"But against a single skilled fighter…"
He paused.
"You'd struggle."
For the first time during the conversation, Akshat's eyes widened slightly.
Alexander immediately spoke.
"Master knows better than anyone here."
But Shintae only smiled.
Without another word, he turned and walked away from the balcony.
His footsteps slowly faded down the hallway.
Silence returned.
Alexander looked at Akshat.
"Is it true?" he asked.
Akshat leaned against the railing again, staring down at the courtyard.
After a moment, he answered honestly.
"Well…"
He shrugged casually.
"I mostly fight using strength and instincts."
Alexander blinked.
Akshat continued.
"I trained my endurance for years. I know how to knock out groups quickly."
His voice remained calm.
"But if I fought one skilled martial artist in a proper one-on-one fight…"
He paused.
"There's a good chance I'd lose."
Alexander stared at him in disbelief.
Below them, Ryuki and Aavya were walking across the courtyard, unaware of the dangerous secrets slowly surfacing around the university.
Akshat watched them quietly.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
For the first time since arriving at AUMC—
He realized something important.
Strength alone might not be enough for the battles waiting ahead.
_________
In a hidden underground hall known only to the elite, the chamber of the Fallen Star Auction stood silent.
The luxurious seats were empty tonight, yet the air still carried the cold tension of deals that could destroy nations. At the center of the dimly lit hall stood Shogun Kurogami, his tall figure wrapped in calm authority. Behind him waited two women—Annie and Clara, their expressions unreadable under the faint golden lights.
Kurogami slowly looked across the empty stage where auctions normally unfolded. A faint smile appeared on his face. "So… the game has begun," he murmured quietly.
End of ch 45
To be continue...
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