Silas and Commander Roy entered a restaurant.
The waiter welcomed them politely.
"Welcome, Commander."
Roy replied calmly,
"Two VIP seats."
"Yes, sir. Please follow me."
After they sat down, the waiter asked,
"What would you like to order?"
He handed them two menus. Silas looked at his menu, but he couldn't read a single word. After a moment of hesitation, he said quietly,
"Commander Roy… please order for us."
Roy nodded and ordered the food.
When the dishes arrived, Silas began eating immediately. The way he ate was elegant—almost royal.
Commander Roy smiled slightly.
"I thought you wouldn't know how to eat city food. Where did you learn this?"
Silas replied honestly,
"I haven't seen humans before… but it just feels like this is the right way to eat."
Roy raised an eyebrow.
"Did the old man teach you?"
"No. He didn't."
Roy thought to himself,
This boy doesn't look like someone who lived without humans for years. His manners and behavior feel like someone raised among the wealthy.
Roy then asked,
"Do you have any special powers?"
Silas nodded.
"Yes… but I don't know how to use them. I don't even know what they can do."
Roy leaned forward.
"Do you want to learn?"
Silas was surprised.
"Hamza told me you can't read or write. That's why you asked me to order."
Silas laughed softly, embarrassed.
"Yes, I can't read or write. Is that a problem if I want to learn my powers?"
Roy shook his head.
"No. You can learn your abilities—but first, you must learn how to read and write. Knowledge is power. From what I see, you're intelligent. Once you learn the basics, you'll be able to teach yourself."
Silas returned to eating. The food tasted incredible—nothing like anything he had ever eaten before. He ate faster without realizing it.
Roy laughed.
"Slow down. No one's taking your food."
After a moment, Roy continued,
"Hamza asked me to give you his reward."
Silas froze.
"A reward?"
"At first, we planned to give him a house and some money. He's retiring due to family matters."
Silas shook his head.
"A whole house? I can't accept that."
Roy replied calmly,
"Hamza earned it. It's his reward."
Silas lowered his head.
"After this… I can't take anything else. He already did more than enough for me."
Roy sighed.
"Don't worry. He was rewarded. He only refused half of it."
Roy explained that it was the law: anyone who became a Hunter or joined R.K. to protect people would receive a house and financial support.
"But Hamza is already wealthy," Roy continued.
"He became a Hunter because he lost both his parents during the Collapse. He didn't want others to feel the pain he felt."
Silas nodded slowly.
"Then… I'll accept it."
Roy smiled.
"Tomorrow morning, a car will take you to your new home. Someone will live with you—he'll protect you and teach you about city life. He studies at the academy I want you to attend."
Silas stood up.
"Thank you… for everything."
Roy waved his hand.
"It's nothing. I'd do the same for anyone in my city."
Silas returned to his room.
After he left, Roy paid the cashier and said quietly,
"The boy you saw today—add him to the highest security list. He's not ordinary."
The cashier replied nervously,
"Yes, sir."
---
Silas walked through the city, observing its beauty and structure. Suddenly, he remembered the man in black destroying the city in his dream.
"It was just a dream," he whispered, and kept walking.
Suddenly, he bumped into a young girl.
"Watch where you're going!" she shouted.
Silas rubbed his head.
"I'm sorry. I was distracted."
Two men in black suits chased after her.
"Miss, come back! The master will be angry!"
The girl grabbed Silas's hand.
"Sorry won't fix this. Hide me—or I'll tell them."
Silas looked confused.
"You're the one running. I already apologized. Why should I help you?"
The girl stared at him, then said,
"Fine. I'll pay you. How much?"
Silas didn't understand the word money. He waved his hand dismissively.
"I don't want it."
The men caught up and dragged the girl away. She looked back at Silas and said,
"Pray we never meet again."
Silas returned to his room, thinking deeply.
Now he understood why Hamza had been kind to him.
We're the same, he thought.
Two boys who grew up without parents.
"If I ever see him again… I'll thank him properly."
---
The next morning, a car arrived. Silas got in and was taken to his new home.
Inside the car, the driver asked,
"What's your name, young man?"
"Silas."
The driver laughed softly.
"That's a strange name. When we arrive, you'll meet Aiden."
He continued,
"Aiden is in Class 6. Only two classes left until graduation. He's older than you—respect him. He's Commander Roy's son."
Silas was shocked.
They arrived.
Inside the house, they saw a boy sitting casually.
"I was waiting for you," he said. "I fell asleep. Welcome. I'm Aiden—your roommate."
"My name is Silas. Thank you."
Aiden smiled.
"I like your name."
Silas froze. No one had ever said that before.
"Thank you," he replied quietly.
Aiden asked,
"Where's your luggage?"
"I don't have any clothes."
Aiden stood up.
"Then let's go buy some—before academy life starts."
The driver opened the car door. Silas asked,
"Are you driving us?"
"Yes," the driver replied. "It's my job."
He added quietly,
"And to protect you."
They went shopping. Afterward, they returned home.
Aiden said,
"We rest today. Tomorrow, I'll teach you what it takes to be a student at Iron-Gate Academy."
He explained that there were four major academies in Rifle City, competing every two years.
Iron-Gate – the academy they were heading to
Ark-One – equally powerful
Flow-Lab – focused on speed; Ripper graduated from here
Ether-High – the strongest, but full of arrogant elites
"Never argue with someone from Ether-High," Aiden warned.
Silas asked what he needed to join Iron-Gate.
Aiden replied,
"Four requirements. You already have two—age and recommendation. What's left is proof of power and a written exam."
"The exam is next month," Aiden continued.
"You can't read or write. Can you learn in one month?"
Silas nodded.
"Yes. I'll learn."
He didn't know yet…
Learning would be harder than running from robots.
And the next month would change everything.