Marcus and Leon reached the club almost at the same time, pushing through the loud music and flashing lights with growing unease.
"Search separately," Marcus said, scanning the crowd. "You check the south block."
Leon nodded and moved quickly toward the staff corridor.
"Hey," Leon asked a club staff member, trying to keep his voice steady. "Have you seen Ethan? He came here about two hours ago."
The staff member shook his head. "No, sir."
Leon didn't stop moving. He checked near the swimming area, then the bar counter, his eyes moving from face to face. No sign of Ethan.
On the other side of the club, Marcus questioned security.
"Did Ethan come here tonight?" Marcus asked.
The guard frowned, thinking carefully. "No… I don't think so."
Marcus pressed again. "Try to recall."
The guard shook his head firmly. "No, sir."
Marcus dialed Ethan's number. Still unreachable.
Leon returned a minute later.
"You found him?" Leon asked.
Marcus shook his head. "No."
"You checked the sweepstake section?"
"Not yet."
Leon immediately headed there, but the section was nearly empty. Ethan wasn't there either.
Both of them finally moved toward the parking area, tension silently building between them.
Rows of cars stretched under dim lights.
They searched one lane, then another.
Ten minutes later—
"Marcus!" Leon called out. "This is Ethan's car!"
Marcus hurried over.
Leon unlocked the door using the spare key.
Inside, Ethan lay unconscious in the driver's seat. Several empty alcohol bottles were scattered nearby.
Relief washed over both of them instantly.
Marcus noticed Ethan's breathing was uneven, slower than normal.
The smell inside the car wasn't just alcohol — something bitter lingered in the air.
Marcus opened the car door wider to let air in.
For a second, he wondered if Ethan had drunk more than alcohol.
But he said nothing.
Not yet.
Leon exhaled. "Here's our drunk man… scared us to death."
Marcus didn't respond. He just stared at Ethan for a moment, his expression unreadable.
Leon continued, "He must've heard about the share drop."
Marcus gave a quiet nod.
They carefully shifted Ethan into the passenger seat. Marcus drove Ethan's car back to the dorm while Leon followed behind.
The night ended without conversation.
Exhaustion spoke louder than words.
---
The next morning, Hillcrest's canteen buzzed with low whispers.
Students discussed the individual counselling sessions starting that day. Others whispered about the principal still being in police custody.
Keris stood near Luther. Eden stood beside his father. The Devil Trio sat together at one table.
Ethan looked tired and distracted.
Marcus silently considered enrolling for counselling.
Then a black luxury car entered the Hillcrest grounds.
A well-dressed man stepped out and walked directly toward the canteen.
Raymond noticed him first.
"Sir," Raymond said politely, "outsiders are currently not allowed to use canteen services."
Students nearby exchanged curious glances.
"Don't worry," the man replied calmly. "I'm just here to meet a friend."
"Your friend?" Raymond asked.
The man smiled slightly.
"I'm the principal's best friend. Dr. Sebastian Vale. Now tell me — where is he?"
His voice carried the quiet confidence of someone used to solving problems others couldn't.
The word "best friend" spread through the canteen like electricity.
Professor Finch stepped forward. "When did you last contact him?"
"About a month ago," Vale replied. "Before he joined Hillcrest."
All eyes were now fixed on Raymond.
He chose his words carefully.
"Sir… Principal Adrian was arrested three days ago."
Vale's expression changed instantly.
"What?"
"A student attempted self-harm," Raymond continued. "Police suspect harassment within the academy."
But Vale was already dialing a number.
"I'm sending you the location. Bring the bail papers immediately."
He turned and left without another word.
The Devil Trio watched him go.
"He looks confident," Marcus said.
Leon nodded. "Very."
---
At the police station, Vale entered without hesitation.
"Who's in charge here?" he demanded.
The inspector looked up. "What's the matter?"
"On what grounds did you arrest Dr. Adrian Cole?"
"And you are?"
"Dr. Sebastian Vale. His friend."
The inspector leaned back slightly.
"So someone finally came."
He continued, "Bullying and harassment have become normal in his academy. A student attempted self-harm."
"He joined only a month ago," Vale replied calmly. "You're making him responsible for an existing system."
"You can't defend him that easily," the inspector said.
"Do you have evidence that directly links Adrian to harassment?"
"In his office, we found a broken phone and a revolver."
"That could be planted."
Before the inspector could respond, a lawyer entered and handed over documents.
"Bail papers for Dr. Adrian."
The inspector examined them, then sighed.
"You can take him. But he cannot leave the state."
Vale nodded.
Moments later, Adrian walked out from the corridor.
Both men froze for a second upon seeing each other.
Then Vale noticed Adrian's injured shoulder.
"What happened to you?" Vale asked sharply.
"Nothing," Adrian replied. "Just a cramp."
Vale's expression darkened.
"Let's go," Adrian said quickly.
---
Inside the car, silence lasted a few minutes.
"Why didn't you call me?" Vale finally asked.
"I… didn't remember your number."
"You're terrible at lying."
Adrian didn't respond.
"Why are you here?" Adrian asked instead.
"I came to Hillcrest to surprise you," Vale said. "Looks like I got surprised instead."
Adrian sighed quietly.
---
When the car entered Hillcrest, Lucas at the gate immediately messaged Samuel and Raymond.
Within minutes, everyone in the canteen knew.
Vale stepped out of the car, followed by Adrian.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Students, professors, and staff all felt the same quiet relief.
Adrian looked at them calmly.
"From today," he said, "individual counselling sessions will begin. I hope many of you enroll — and keep your ego aside."
Eden lowered his head slowly.
He didn't dare look at Adrian.
Because gratitude and guilt together felt unbearable.
No one clapped.
No one welcomed him back.
But no one questioned him either.
Students whispered.
"He looks normal…" "He just came from lockup…"
Keris muttered quietly, "Some people are good at hiding things."
Behind Adrian, Vale spoke softly.
"You need counselling more than them."
Adrian glanced at him.
Vale looked away, controlling his expression.
They walked toward the principal's quarters.
Students begin leaving the assembly area.
---
Keris walked across the maintenance corridor, notebook tucked under his arm.
The hallway smelled faintly of paint and metal polish.
Samuel was crouched near the electrical panel, pretending to tighten something with a wrench.
Keris slowed.
Not because of Samuel.
Because of the boots.
Black leather. Heavy sole. Clean stitching.
Not maintenance boots.
Too expensive.
Too new.
Samuel noticed Keris looking and immediately stood up.
"Something wrong, sir?"
Keris shook his head.
"No."
But his eyes dropped once more to the boots.
Maintenance staff usually wore academy-issued gear. Rough. Worn. Identical.
These weren't.
Samuel smiled politely and returned to work.
Keris walked away.
But slower now.
Uneasy.
Keris didn't know why the detail bothered him.
But it did.
---
The Devil Trio remained seated.
Leon spoke first. "This doesn't connect."
Marcus nodded.
"Three days without bail," Leon continued. "Then this man arrives and gets it done in two hours."
Ethan leaned forward. "Something feels wrong."
Marcus spoke slowly. "Five days ago, everything felt like it was moving too fast. Now… it feels like it's slowing down."
Leon suddenly remembered something.
"Mr. Lee said Adrian never applied for bail."
Ethan frowned. "Meaning?"
Leon looked between them, unsure whether they were overthinking — or finally understanding something.
Marcus finished the thought.
"He wanted to stay in lockup."
Silence followed.
"Why?" Ethan asked.
Marcus looked toward the academy building.
"It's like a spider web," he said. "Too many layers."
---
Inside the principal's residence, the room felt unusually quiet.
Vale leaned against the table.
"You suspect someone."
Adrian poured tea without looking up.
"I confirmed something."
Vale straightened.
"What?"
Adrian placed the cup down.
"The CCTV footage from the night Eden was framed."
Pause.
"Deleted."
Vale didn't speak for several seconds.
Even the ticking wall clock sounded louder.
Vale's eyes narrowed.
"System failure?"
Adrian shook his head.
"The deletion happened from an internal terminal."
Silence filled the room.
"That means," Vale said slowly, "someone inside Hillcrest—"
"Has access beyond their authority," Adrian finished.
He looked toward the dark window.
"And they're careful"
---
Luther stood outside the administrative building.
Eden's father was speaking with a staff member near the gate.
Luther didn't mean to listen.
But the tone felt wrong.
Too polite. Too controlled.
Eden's father smiled as he spoke.
But his fingers were clenched.
Tight.
As if holding something back.
"Thank you for your concern," he said softly.
Then he turned and walked away.
The smile vanished immediately.
His face looked tired.
Older.
Worried.
Luther watched him leave.
A strange thought crossed his mind.
That man didn't look like someone angry at the academy.
He looked like someone afraid of something.
And for the first time, Luther wondered if adults were hiding things too.
---
Elsewhere, far from Hillcrest, inside a quiet room—
Avein received a message.
Principal back at Hillcrest.
Avein smiled.
"Good," he whispered.
Then he typed:
Phase Two continues.
The message was sent.
And somewhere inside Hillcrest —
something was already moving.