[Location: Code Geass – Area 11 – Ashford Academy – Private Building.]
Lelouch Lamperouge, a high school student, lay reclined on his bed, one hand resting over his forehead as he immersed himself in thought.
It had certainly been an exhausting day.
Just minutes ago, upon returning home, he had thrown up everything he'd eaten. He took off his stained jacket, wiped his mouth, and after a shower to wash away any trace of grime, collapsed onto the bed.
Not only had he acquired an extraordinary ability capable of controlling people—though it required direct eye contact to activate—but he had also launched his plot for vengeance against his father and the Holy Britannian Empire.
The memory of his recent victory over his older brother filled his mind with endless possibilities.
Although he had successfully executed that opening move, Lelouch was acutely aware that it was merely the first piece set in motion on the vast chessboard he had begun to navigate.
The power of Geass had carved out a path toward his revenge, but he knew he would need far more than that to confront the colossal empire.
The white Knightmare—the Lancelot—had forced him to realize that despite the formidable nature of his Geass, there were obstacles he could not overcome with that power alone. He would need resources, allies, and an infallible strategy.
Ding!
Just as he was weighing his next moves, a strange chime shattered his thoughts.
Immediately following it, a holographic text window materialized right before his eyes.
[You possess a truly remarkable ability. But it can be easily neutralized.]
Lelouch's eyes narrowed, carefully scrutinizing the window.
Peculiar as the event was, he showed little outward surprise; after all, his day had already been filled with far more staggering revelations.
In his world, holographic technology wasn't entirely unheard of, though it remained highly elitist.
What truly concerned him, however, was that someone appeared to be watching him—and, most disturbingly, possessed intimate knowledge of his ability.
It meant his anonymity might already be compromised.
A terrifying thought.
'An enemy? An ally?' he thought, sitting up slowly on the bed as his mind rapidly calculated the potential ramifications.
He kept his facial expression strictly in check, feigning indifference to the dire scenario.
If someone knew about Geass, he needed to determine quickly whether they posed a threat or could serve as a useful pawn in his plans.
But if they knew his true identity...
Ding!
[In that case... Do you want more power?]
[Yes / No]
A new holographic window overlaid the previous one, presenting him with a concise, direct question.
His eyes locked onto the floating screen.
"More power?" he murmured to himself.
The question was intriguing—tempting, even. But Lelouch was not one to act on impulse, least of all when faced with something so ambiguous.
First, he analyzed the window's origin. Though familiar with holographic technology, what he saw didn't seem to emanate from any conventional device.
This implied that whoever was behind it possessed vast resources and highly advanced knowledge, likely far beyond known technological boundaries.
'Neutralized...' He replayed the word from the first message in his head.
The suggestion that his Geass could be countered wasn't shocking, but it was deeply concerning. He had already accounted for potential limitations to his power, yet he hadn't expected anyone to confront him about them so directly, let alone this soon.
The message wasn't an outright threat, but it served as a stark reminder of his vulnerability.
Anyone privy to his power could prove to be an obstacle in his path toward vengeance. The core question was whether the voice behind the screen was friend or foe.
His focus pivoted to the offer itself.
'More power.'
Lelouch knew that raw strength was essential to his plan.
Though he possessed intellect, his Geass, and a strategic mind that made him a formidable player on the board, he had to remember that those alone were insufficient against the Britannian Empire.
But what price would this power demand? The terms were unstated. Accepting blindly meant playing by someone else's rules, and that went entirely against his nature.
Finally, he addressed the message in a cold, calculated tone, never breaking gaze with the floating window.
"What kind of power are you offering? And what is the cost?"
Lelouch knew it was unwise to answer the question immediately.
Rather than rushing in, he attempted to draw out more information—playing the hands available to him to force whoever stood behind the window to reveal their position.
To Lelouch, accepting or declining outright was like making a move without surveying the board.
A mistake he could not afford to make.
Yet, contrary to his expectations, nothing happened.
He waited several minutes before concluding that the other party would yield no further information.
"...".
Lelouch let out a sigh, though his expression remained unchanged. He leaned back onto the bed once more, closing his eyes as his mind continued to race.
'No matter...' he thought, evaluating the outcome. If whoever was behind that holographic screen expected a quick reaction, their silence could just as easily be a psychological ploy or a test. Either way, Lelouch knew that refusing to act impulsively was his strongest defense.
The fact that the window neither faded nor responded merely confirmed one thing.
This entity, whoever it was, could not force him into anything directly. Control still belonged to him.
'If they are playing a game with me, I will simply have to uncover the rules myself.'
For now, he chose to ignore the window. His immediate priority remained solidifying his position in Area 11, testing the limits of his Geass, and above all, shielding his identity.
Finally, he spoke once more, a faint, wry smirk gracing his lips. "If you intend to tempt me with power, you'll have to do better next time."
With that final declaration, he closed his eyes, allowing himself to rest while plotting his next moves on the chessboard of his life.
He assumed this wouldn't be the last time the entity attempted to reach out, and when it did, he would be ready to meet it on his own terms.
Ding!
[Truly impressive. Since it would be boring without you anyway, I'll ask you one last time. Do you want more power?]
[Yes / No]
Lelouch's eyes opened slowly, fixing once more upon the floating text. This time, the tone of the message felt subtly shifted, as if the party on the other side were gauging his resolve.
He sat back up on the edge of the bed, resting his elbows on his knees and lacing his fingers together in front of his face—his signature posture for deep contemplation.
"One last time, is it?" he murmured, not bothering to hide the irony in his voice. "An interesting choice of words."
He knew accepting more power invited risk. No one offered such gifts without expecting something in return, and the cost remained unknown. Yet Lelouch also understood that without calculated risks, his ambition would remain forever out of reach.
He gritted his teeth slightly as his mind mapped out every possible permutation. If this entity could truly offer him something that brought him one step closer to tearing down Britannia, he could not afford to pass it up.
Finally, with a sharp glint of resolve in his eyes, he spoke: "Power without control is useless. If you are going to offer me something, it will be on my terms. But since you insist..."
He extended his hand toward the holographic screen and selected "Yes."
As he did, his gaze hardened. "Do not forget who I am. If you think you can use me, you will soon learn that I am always the one who controls the board."
[Yes (Selected) / No.]
[Finally! You really took your time. Anyway... Welcome to the "Part-Time Workers Group"!]
A wave of bewilderment and irritation washed over him.
And immediately upon finishing those words, everything turned white.
_____
[Location: White World - Waiting Room.]
The space appeared infinite—a white canvas devoid of shadows or defined edges.
Lelouch Lamperouge materialized in the center of the void, thrown off for merely a split second before instantly regaining his composure.
His eyes swept the surroundings, quickly taking in two figures sitting just a few paces away.
Both sat in plush armchairs that looked entirely out of place given the stark emptiness around them.
Lelouch rapidly assessed their postures and expressions: one of them, boasting slightly messy, medium-length brown hair, seemed relaxed yet vigilant, a keen calculation shimmering behind a surface smile.
The other, also brown-haired but possessing deadened, indifferent eyes, emanated an almost eerie calm, as if observing everything from an absolute vantage point.
Without a word, Lelouch stepped forward, maintaining an easy posture even as his mind raced feverishly. 'They look like high school students... Yet this place... there is clearly more to them than meets the eye.'
"It seems I am not the only one brought here," he said at last, his tone suave yet loaded with intent. "This is quite interesting, wouldn't you say?"
The young man with the styled brown hair—Light Yagami—observed Lelouch with a polite smile, though his eyes meticulously evaluated the newcomer's every move. 'Another one... and he doesn't look like an amateur. That gaze, that posture... he seems far sharper than this impassive guy.' Still, Light maintained a genial, almost friendly composure.
"Ah, another newcomer," Light remarked, leaning slightly forward. "It appears we are all gathered here for a reason...".
The comment, innocent on the surface, was a transparent attempt by Light to seize the upper hand, dissect the newcomer, and potentially bend him to his will.
Kiyotaka Ayanokouji, who had remained silent until now, spectated the dynamic with thinly veiled interest. Though appearing utterly detached, he was actively analyzing both Light and Lelouch. 'Both are testing the waters, like wolves sizing up the pack alpha. There's no need to interrupt them...'.
Lelouch picked up on their underlying motives instantly—namely, that the former was attempting to dictate the flow of the conversation, while the latter acted as an observer content to remain in the shadows.
He could not afford to underestimate either of them.
With a faint smile, Lelouch refused to yield control so easily. He gracefully took a seat in one of the vacant armchairs, crossing his legs with natural sophistication.
"True enough, but..." he answered smoothly, his eyes flitting between Light and Kiyotaka, searching for cracks in their armor. "...what appears to bind us here is something far more... significant." He paused deliberately before dropping the word. "Power."
The word hung heavy in the air, dense with intent. Lelouch carefully gauged their reactions.
Light kept his composure, but his mind raced to parse every variable. 'It seems he won't fall for cheap tricks... Does he know about the Death Note...?' Outwardly, he responded in a tone blending smooth understanding with underlying caution.
"Power... indeed, a fascinating concept, yet dangerous in the wrong hands. I believe the real question is how one chooses to wield it."
Kiyotaka, who had been listening in silence, finally chimed in, maintaining his completely flat tone. "Wow... You two sound awfully intense."
While Light's remark was a subtle provocation designed to probe Lelouch's ambitions and depth of knowledge, Kiyotaka's words functioned as a deliberate smokescreen—an effort to fly under the radar and appear entirely harmless.
Lelouch tilted his head slightly, the ghost of a smirk crossing his features. 'Heh... Both are dangerous in their own right, and fascinating all the same...'.
"Power," Lelouch continued, his voice soft yet unyielding, "is a resource, like any other. What matters isn't merely how it is used, but who controls it. And more importantly... who controls those who think they possess it."
Light maintained his neutral facade, though that final statement struck a nerve. 'Are you implying you can win this ridiculous game of manipulation? Just who do you think you are?'
Kiyotaka, for his part, observed the dynamic with a blend of mild curiosity and detachment. 'He seems to control his composure better... yet he's fairly predictable...'.
The ensuing silence was broken by yet another presence. A new figure materialized in the distance, emerging out of thin air.
All three turned toward the newcomer, each mentally fortifying themselves for whatever was about to unfold.