After weeks later, The campus of AUMC College had transformed into something almost unrecognizable.
Bright banners stretched across buildings, music pulsed through the air, and colorful lights reflected off every surface, turning the usually serious academic environment into a vibrant festival ground. Students moved in groups, laughter mixing with the distant echo of performances and announcements. Food stalls lined the pathways, and competitions were being held at every corner, each trying to outshine the other.
On the surface, it was just a college festival.
But beneath that surface, invisible threads were already beginning to tighten.
Near the main entrance, a sleek black BMW rolled to a smooth stop, its polished exterior reflecting the festival lights like a mirror. The sudden arrival of such a car didn't go unnoticed. Conversations slowed, heads turned, and curiosity spread like wildfire among the students nearby.
The rear door opened.
A young woman stepped out.
Her presence alone shifted the atmosphere.
She carried herself with a calm confidence that didn't demand attention, yet somehow commanded it anyway.
Her posture was flawless, her expression composed, and her eyes held a quiet sharpness that made people instinctively cautious. She didn't look around to seek validation. She didn't need to.
This was Adeline Alexanderia.
Behind her, stepping out with controlled precision, was a tall figure dressed in black. His expression was neutral, almost emotionless, yet the moment he appeared, the air itself seemed to grow heavier.
This was no ordinary bodyguard.
This was Shogun Kurogami.
He didn't move much. He didn't need to.
His eyes alone were enough.
A group of boys, clearly emboldened by the festival atmosphere, began approaching Adeline with confident smiles and poorly rehearsed lines. One of them had just opened his mouth to speak when Kurogami's gaze shifted toward them.
It wasn't aggressive.
It wasn't loud.
It was just… there.
And that was enough.
The boys froze mid-step, their confidence collapsing instantly. One of them awkwardly cleared his throat, another scratched his head as if suddenly remembering something important, and within seconds, the entire group quietly retreated without saying a word.
A faint silence followed.
Adeline didn't even look back at them.
Instead, she adjusted a strand of her hair and spoke calmly, her tone almost bored. "You scare people too easily."
Kurogami replied without expression, "They scare themselves."
There was a brief pause before Adeline let out a soft, amused exhale. "Fair enough."
Her eyes moved across the crowd, scanning faces with quiet precision, as if searching for something specific.
Then she found it.
Not far from the central stage area stood a group of students gathered casually, their presence noticeably more grounded compared to the chaotic energy around them.
At the center of that group was Akshat.
Beside him stood Alexander, along with Ryuki, Thomas, and a few others. Their conversation was relaxed, but there was a subtle awareness in their posture that separated them from the rest of the crowd.
They weren't just enjoying the festival.
They were observing it.
Adeline's lips curved slightly.
"Stay here," she said.
Kurogami didn't respond. He simply remained where he was, his presence still anchoring the space around him.
Adeline walked forward alone.
Alexander was in the middle of saying something when his expression suddenly froze.
His eyes locked onto the approaching figure.
For a brief moment, he didn't speak.
Then his brows furrowed, disbelief slowly replacing his usual composure.
"…What the hell?" he muttered under his breath.
Ryuki followed his gaze, her expression immediately sharpening as she assessed the approaching girl. Thomas glanced between them, sensing the sudden shift in tension.
Akshat, however, remained calm, his eyes settling on Adeline with quiet curiosity.
She stopped in front of them.
Up close, her presence felt even more controlled, almost surgical in its precision. She didn't waste time with greetings.
Instead, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small pendrive.
Without hesitation, she placed it in Alexander's hand.
"I need you to take a look at this," she said calmly. "And yeah… thank me later, half-brother."
The words landed.
Alexander blinked once.
Then twice.
"…Half… what?" Thomas muttered, looking between the two in confusion.
Akshat's gaze shifted slightly toward Alexander, clearly waiting for an explanation.
Alexander let out a slow breath, running a hand through his hair as if trying to process the situation himself.
"She's… my half-sister," he said.
There was a pause.
Ryuki raised an eyebrow.
"You're just saying that like it's normal," she said flatly.
Alexander gave a small, tired smile. "It's not."
He glanced at Adeline before continuing, his tone slightly more composed now. "My mother… used an ovum from Olivia Alexanderia. That's why I call Olivia my godmother."
Thomas blinked slowly.
"…Okay, I'm going to pretend I fully understood that," he said.
Ryuki crossed her arms. "So basically, rich people science."
"That's one way to put it," Alexander replied dryly.
Adeline didn't react to the exchange. She simply looked at Alexander, her expression calm but firm.
"Just check the data," she said. "You'll understand why I came here personally."
Akshat finally spoke, his voice steady.
"And why involve us?" he asked.
Adeline's gaze shifted toward him.
For a brief moment, there was a subtle change in her expression, as if she was evaluating him.
Then she answered.
"Because," she said quietly, "this doesn't concern just him anymore."
A faint breeze passed through the area, carrying distant music and laughter from the festival.
But around them, the atmosphere had changed.
"Be careful who you trust," Adeline added, her tone still calm, but carrying a slight edge now. "Things are already moving faster than you think."
Ryuki narrowed her eyes slightly. "That sounds like a warning."
"It is," Adeline replied.
There was a brief silence.
Then she turned.
Without another word, she began walking back toward the entrance.
Kurogami was exactly where she had left him.
His eyes shifted toward her as she approached, but he didn't ask any questions.
"She'll get involved," Adeline said.
Kurogami's voice was low. "She already is."
Adeline glanced back once, her gaze briefly landing on Akshat's group.
Then she looked forward again.
"Good," she said softly.
Back at the group, Alexander stared at the pendrive in his hand.
The weight of it felt… wrong.
Not physically.
But in a way that made it clear that whatever was inside it wasn't something simple.
Akshat stepped closer, his expression calm but focused.
"Well," he said, "she gave it to you."
Alexander exhaled slowly before nodding.
"…Yeah."
He looked at Akshat.
"You should take a look at it, Master."
There was a brief pause.
Then Akshat reached out and took the pendrive.
For a moment, the noise of the festival seemed distant.
The lights, the music, the laughter—it all continued as if nothing had changed.
But something had.
Because whatever was inside that small piece of storage…
Was about to pull them deeper into a world they were not fully prepared for.
End of ch 49
To be continue...
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