An abandoned alley near Westbridge University.
Four university students stood with their heads lowered.
None of them dared meet Adrian's eyes.
Adrian calmly adjusted the cuff of his suit.
His expression remained gentle.
But the atmosphere was suffocating.
"You all came back…..without completing the task I gave you." His voice was calm almost emotionless like tyrant.
The student leader swallowed hard fear over written on his face.
"Y-Young Master..."
"L-Lucas wasn't the problem."
"Another freshman interfered."
Adrian looked at him quietly.
"The freshman recorded us."
"We had no choice but to retreat."
After finishing his explanation complete silent around them.
Adrian slowly walked toward them.
The students unconsciously stepped backward.
"Recording?" Adrian asked softly him while looking into his eyes.
"Yes..." He replied in trembling voice.
'He asked in soft voice but still I can feel fear by his cold and blood eyes.' leader of student thought.
"Video recording?" He asked again while wearing a gloves.
"Y-Yes." He replied confined yet nervous tone.
Adrian stopped directly in front of him.
Then he asked another question.
"Did you see the video?"
The student froze like lightning strike them. He try to explain him situation.
"N-No..."
"But he said—" before he could finish his sentence.
Slap!
A sharp slap echoed through the alley.
The student stumbled to the ground, holding his burning cheek.
The other three students immediately knees down and lowered their heads even further.
Fear filled their eyes like they're face monster.
Adrian looked down at them calmly there wasn't a trace of anger on his face only disappointment show.
"So...You never confirmed whether the recording actually existed."
The student trembled due his presence give them chill to there spines.
"I..."
"You simply believed his words."
Adrian crouched in front of him and grab his neck.
His smile remained gentle.
"You allowed yourselves to be frightened away...by a bluff."
The student's body shook violently because he can't breathe properly.
"I'm sorry, Young Master..."
Adrian relase him and stood up.
Leader of student take deep breaths.
"You know what disappoints me the most?"
He looked at all four of them. Four of them understand and said with relief that they're alive.
"It isn't your failure."
"It's your inability to think."
He take out his gloves and adjusted his sleeves once more. Then he explained where they get failed in the task and what they need to learn from this mistake.
"If someone claims to have evidence...Verify it."
Then throw the gloves on dustbin and walk towards the table.
"If someone threatens you...Assess the risk. Never panic."
He grabbed and hang bag on his shoulder.
The four students remained completely silent to him.
Adrian turned toward the alley exit.
"I don't keep useless people around me."
He said them before he leaves.
"Throw the fake uniform and stayed away from University. Wait for next task until."
Those words alone were enough to make their faces turn pale.
Without looking back, Adrian walked away.
His footsteps echoed through the empty alley.
The four students remained frozen in place.
Only after Adrian disappeared did one of them whisper in fear,
"...Young Master Adrian is much scarier than Ethan Vale."
The others silently nodded with agreement.
None of them dared disagree.
Next day.
After the basketball match ended, the crowd gradually dispersed from the court.
Ryan left with Jack and Lucas towards the to attend the class.
Ethan returned to the Basketball Club with other members.
Sophia and Emily walked toward the main building.
Only Adrian remained standing there in the distance and quietly watching Lucas laughing with his new friends before he turned around and left from there.
He smiled faintly then his eyes become serious.
"...Interesting."
As he walked toward the parking area, yesterday's events replayed in his mind where he failed to teach Lucas a lesson.
The night was calm.
Moonlight filtered through the windows of the Carter residence.
Inside his room, Ryan sat at his study desk with a laptop open in front of him.
Several notebooks lay scattered across the table.
Studying notes for his lecture tomorrow instead he was typing rapidly.
Click.
Click.
Click.
A title slowly appeared on the screen.
The Dragon's Path
Ryan leaned back in his chair and folded his arms then a faint smile crossed his face.
"This novel became one of the biggest bestsellers in my previous world."
He tapped the keyboard again.
'Fortunately, inside this novel…in this world it's real world because I feel pain so, it's real.
This novel didn't exist nor did its author. So, the story of this novel is going to my copyright.' he thought.
Ryan wasn't writing it out of vanity.
"The Carter family's company was worth only a few million. It was a comfortable and easy life but still this Empire that my father one day I inherited then if I do not have an ability or connection to grow to a new height then this Empire will fall.'
He had a clear goal.
"Create his own Empire."
But insignificant compared to families like the Laurents, Reeds, Andersons, or Vales.
Writing a bestselling novel could become the first step.
He cracked his fingers before continuing.
"This world may have changed..."
"But a good story is still a good story."
The sound of typing filled the room once again.
At the same time...
The Reed Family Mansion.
The entire family had gathered around the dining table for dinner.
Unlike the previous morning, the atmosphere was noticeably more relaxed.
Lucas quietly ate while listening to the conversation.
His father, Zane Reed, occasionally discussed company matters with Adrian.
Eva remained silent as usual.
Then Zane suddenly looked toward Lucas and Adrian.
"So..."
"Both of you, how was the first day?"
Lucas smiled lightly.
"It was good."
"I made a few friends."
"Oh?"
Adrian looked genuinely interested and excited.
In front of family he act like kind-hearted person.
"What are their names?"
"Ryan Carter and Jack Smith, they're both freshmen."
Adrian nodded slowly.
"I've met Ryan before."
Lucas looked surprised.
"You know him?"