Chamber of the Stone Family
The Stone family's private viewing chamber was as grand as their reputation—polished marble floors, towering windows, and a single row of stately seats. At the center, Lara Stone—elegant and confident—sat rigidly, eyes locked on her father's stern face.
She broke the silence, voice edged with frustration. "Father, Will disappointed me a lot today. When I took the entrance test, I got first place, but Will… he didn't even rank in the top three."
Her father, the head of the Stone family, turned to her with a dismissive gesture. "Enough, Lara. That's not our focus today. The real story here is that Ray kid—he secured first place. He could be a valuable asset. I've already told one of our informants to dig into his past, his family, everything. We'll know who he is soon." As if on cue, his phone began to ring, the shrill sound slicing through the thick air.
Chamber of the Colin Family
Across the auditorium, the Colin family's chamber was more understated—a view from above, simple furnishings, and an air of tradition. At the window, an old man watched the ceremony below. Behind him, his son lounged on a soft sofa, legs crossed.
The old man beamed proudly. "Son, did you see that? My granddaughter came third! She's the best, no matter what the world says."
His son laughed, shaking his head. "Father, you spoil her too much. Third is good, but it's not enough if she wants to lead the family one day. She'll need to work much harder."
The grandfather waved a hand dismissively. "That doesn't matter. If she marries someone capable—like that boy who took first—she could still become family head. In fact, I already asked for a background check on him. We'll have the answer soon." At that very moment, his phone rang out, the old man raising an eyebrow in expectation.
Chamber of the Hawke Family
The Hawke family's room was filled with warmth and quiet comfort. A man and woman sat close together on a broad sofa, glancing occasionally at the screens showing the auditorium stage.
The man said with a gentle laugh, "Well, it's not so bad. She placed fifth—that's good enough for me."
His wife smiled and squeezed his hand. "She did her best, considering how late her awakening was compared to the other families' children. You're a good father, you know."
He squeezed her hand back, grinning. "No, honey, you're the great mother."
She smirked. "Of course I am. But—don't you think that boy who took first place… he looks familiar? Maybe a friend of yours from the past?"
The man's eyes narrowed as he stared at Ray on the screen. She sees it, too… he thought. I've already sent someone to look into the boy's parents, just in case.
At that moment, his phone began to ring.
The Warning
In each chamber, the family heads answered their calls almost simultaneously. At first, each expected a mundane report—but their faces shifted instantly as voices on the other end, strained and fearful, delivered the same chilling news.
"Sir, I regret to inform you—our informant has been killed."
"There was an… incident. All contacts searching for Ray's background have been eliminated."
"The message left is clear: do not try again. To pursue information on Ray will put your family in danger."
"If you continue, you'll attract the attention of a group called DEREX. You know what that means. Even for us, it's a risk."
Shock, anger, then a pulse of fear rippled through each chamber. The Stone patriarch gripped his phone tighter, jaw set. The Colin elders exchanged alarmed glances. The Hawke couple sat in stunned silence, dread settling into their bones.
Across the grand auditorium, the shadows lengthened. The name "DEREX" lingered in the air like a curse—an unknown force powerful enough to silence even the greatest families.
In that moment, all ambition and curiosity about Ray gave way to something else: caution, and a dawning sense that the boy at the center of the tournament was a mystery tied to secrets far more dangerous than any of them had guessed.