That morning, the atmosphere at school was tense. Inside the principal's office, the phone rang sharply.
Principal (standing, nervous):
"Ms. Jae-hun? I—I apologize… we're currently investigating the forum post as well—"
Angry voice from the other end:
"Protect my son's reputation! And protect this school's name. If not, I'm pulling all of our funding!"
The principal clenched his fists in silence, overwhelmed by the pressure from the elites.
Inside the classroom…
Do Yoon sat calmly, scrolling through the forum on his phone. The seat next to him remained empty—Lucas hadn't arrived.
Suddenly, the door burst open. Roby walked in with his usual cocky style, but his expression was different—he held up his phone, staring at the screen.
Students whispered:
"Hey… Roby, are you okay? About… that post?"
Roby grinned, sliding into his seat casually.
Roby:
"Do I look like a victim to you, huh?"
Some students gave an awkward laugh. Do Yoon approached, showing his screen to Roby.
Do Yoon:
"It's Ji-seok. They're saying he's the suspect now. But honestly… it feels off."
Roby (raising an eyebrow):
"Ji-seok? The quiet one?"
Do Yoon:
"He always hangs around Tae-yang and Min-gyu. But out of the three, Ji-seok never touched Ji-hoon. Never threatened him. He just… stood there. Tae-yang was the real bully."
Right then, Seo Min-gyu and Oh Tae-yang walked into the classroom. Their faces were stiff. The class went dead silent as their presence filled the air with tension.
Roby narrowed his eyes at them, then leaned over to Do Yoon, whispering.
Roby:
"Pretty sure it's Seo Min-gyu."
Do Yoon:
"Possible. But his sister… she's got power. She could bury the truth if she wanted to."
Roby:
"His sister?"
Do Yoon:
"Seo Yoon Ji. The top-tier girl in this school. Gorgeous, smart, loaded. She's Hae-jun's girlfriend and best friend. She's the one who quietly handles every school scandal behind the scenes. Even the principal respects her."
Roby (silent, then mutters):
"So… what if she and Hae-jun are just pawns too? Or… what if they're the ones pulling the strings?"
Do Yoon:
"Maybe. Or maybe they're protecting someone else. Someone untouchable. Someone bigger than this school."
Roby (murmurs quietly):
"Then who's hiding in the shadows?"
At the exclusive upper-class floor…
Hae Jun leaned back, calmly scrolling on his tablet. Beside him, Kang Dae Hyun and Min Jae-suk chuckled while reading the latest gossip on the school's secret forums about Ji Seok.
Min Jae-suk (half-laughing):
"Bet Ji Seok's reputation is dead after this."
Dae Hyun (grinning):
"Even the underclassmen are roasting him in their group chats."
Suddenly, Hae Jun's tablet vibrated.
It was a call from his family lawyer.
Hae Jun (flatly):
"Make sure Ji Seok is officially named as the suspect. And clean up the school's image. Now."
Dae Hyun stopped smiling. His face shifted to a blank stare before curling into a cold, thin smirk—like he knew something the others didn't.
Meanwhile, downstairs outside Roby's classroom…
A student rushed into the room, slightly out of breath.
Student:
"Tae Yang… someone's looking for you outside."
Tae Yang stood up, irritated but curious, and made his way out.
At the front gate of the school…
A motorcycle pulled up. Two guys hopped off, wearing flashy jackets and thick boots. One had a split-dyed hairstyle and a permanent smirk that screamed trouble.
It was Lee Hwang Woo—Roby's cousin—and his friend Jin Gook, a former tech school delinquent who once went viral for punching a government official's son. That son? None other than…
Jin Gook (looking at the school):
"This is the school now? Seriously? Your cousin's stuck in this snake pit?"
Lee Hwang Woo (grinning):
"It ain't me. My cousin enrolled here. I'm just… visiting."
Jin Gook:
"Why drag me to your enemy's playground then?"
Lee (stepping closer, voice low):
"You remember Kang Dae Hyun?"
Jin Gook (freezes):
"The agency heir I decked in the face? That brat?"
Lee (laughs):
"Yep. We're making sure he remembers your face today."
Tae Yang arrived, spotting the two standing near the entrance. His instincts flared up—he didn't recognize them, but they didn't look like the friendly type.
Tae Yang:
"Who the hell are you guys?"
Lee (stepping forward):
"Old friends… from a life you don't belong to."
Jin Gook:
"There's an old debt that hasn't been paid."
Tae Yang clenched his fists, unsure if this was a fight or a message.
From a second-floor classroom window, Roby watched the encounter unfold. He spotted Hwang Woo, Tae Yang, and Jin Gook squaring off. Roby grinned.
Roby (murmuring to himself):
"Let the show begin."
From the second-floor window, Roby leaned out casually, eyes tracking the scene below. Lee Hwang Woo and Jin Gook stood calmly across from Oh Tae Yang, who looked tense and confused.
Beside Roby, Nam Do Yoon narrowed his eyes, watching.
Nam Do Yoon (in a low voice):
"Aren't you even a little worried? Lee Hwang Woo almost wrecked Tae Yang's gang just now… and now he brought that friend. He looks... unhinged."
Roby (grinning, still watching):
"Worried? Nah. That's all part of the plan."
Do Yoon (snapping his head toward Roby):
"Plan? What plan now?"
Roby (turning to him, mock whispering):
"To bait Dae Hyun."
Do Yoon:
"And…?"
Roby (cool but dead serious):
"And once he's watching, Hae Jun will start sweating too. The two biggest fish in this corrupt pond will rise to the surface. All we have to do is set the net."
Do Yoon (squinting):
"You know Dae Hyun isn't someone to mess with. He's manipulative. Quiet. One wrong step, and he'll make this whole school fall without lifting a finger."
Roby:
"Exactly. Word is… he's hiding something. Not just some regular secret. Something darker. Trauma… obsession… maybe even a little psycho."
Do Yoon:
"You're serious?"
Roby (grinning wide):
"And my friend Jin Gook? One of the few people who ever punched Dae Hyun in the face and lived to tell the story."
Do Yoon (jaw dropping):
"…You brought hell to this school."
Roby (shrugs):
"Not hell. Justice. With a little spice."
Down below...
A few students ran past shouting, "Teacher's coming! Scatter!"
Lee Hwang Woo and Jin Gook casually stepped back and hopped on their bikes.
Lee (calling out to Tae Yang):
"Tell Dae Hyun—we're not done."
Engines roared, and they sped off, leaving the crowd buzzing in silence.
Back upstairs…
Do Yoon (quietly):
"If they come back and Dae Hyun reacts… things could get messy."
Roby:
"Mess is good. In the middle of chaos, truth tends to slip out. Like dirty laundry getting caught on a fence."
Do Yoon (eyeing Roby like a puzzle):
"…Sometimes I can't tell if you're a genius or completely insane."
Roby (grinning):
"Both. Keeps it exciting."