The quiet after the Shinjuku fight was louder than any explosion. As the trio walked back to the academy under the cover of a deepening dusk, their thoughts swirled heavier than the sky above.

  Jonathan kicked a piece of rubble aside, his voice cracking through the silence.

  Jonathan: "Man, I can't believe we let them escape!"

  Emma: (quietly) "It was my fault. I underestimated her. Got sucked into that hurricane..."

  Jonathan: (sharp) "Well, at least you can admit it."

  Hiruzen: (calm but firm) "Complaining won't bring them back. We need to understand why A&M sent hired mercs to raid the academy. Something doesn't add up."

  Emma: "They're the biggest science corporation in the world. They practically own half the tech satellites. Why would they need to steal anything—especially from their own son's division?"

  Jonathan: (gruffly) "Maybe Logan isn't feeding them info anymore."

  Hiruzen: (turns to him) "Explain."

  Jonathan hesitated, scanning their surroundings as if afraid of being overheard.

  Jonathan: "Rumor is... Logan shares student data with his parents—specifically anyone who goes through his amp procedures. In return, A&M funds his side experiments. Stuff not even the faculty knows about."

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  Emma: (disgusted) "So he’s using us like guinea pigs for personal gain?"

  Hiruzen: (resolute) "Then we confront him. Now."

  The lab was tucked into the far corner of the campus. A stark, steel monolith humming with arcane tech and isolation. Inside, Logan stood alone before a containment tube. Suspended in fluid was a severed arm—twisting, pulsing with unnatural power.

  He adjusted his glasses and scribbled a note onto his datapad.

  Logan: (to himself) "Fascinating... Asura, what exactly did you uncover out there? This energy signature... it’s not demonic. It’s something older. Something... hungry."

  Suddenly, the lab door hissed open.

  Hiruzen (off-screen): "Logan."

  Logan’s fingers darted to a hidden switch under the desk. The containment tube sank beneath the floor instantly, vanishing into the lab’s underbelly.

  Logan: (turning, annoyed) "Who dares enter uninvited?"

  Jonathan: (smirking) "Relax, Einstein. Just came to ask you some questions."

  Hiruzen: (firm) "Are the rumors true? Have you been leaking student data to A&M?"

  Logan: (outraged) "WHAT?! How dare you accuse me of that! Who told you such lies?!"

  Emma: (calmly) "Does it matter? Just answer the question."

  Logan: (voice rising) "Absolutely not! When my beloved parents placed me here, I signed a waiver binding me to absolute confidentiality. I’m not allowed to share information with anyone—not even the Dean."

  Hiruzen: "Then what about your after-school projects? The ones A&M funds off-record?"

  Logan: (cold) "Those are private. Personal research. Unless you're breaking into my files, you have no grounds to ask. Now—tell me—who started these baseless rumors?!"

  Jonathan: (stepping forward) "HEY! Cut the yelling! You’re the shady one holed up in this sketchy lab!"

  Logan: (eyes narrowing) "Says the failure who nearly burned down the east wing on his first day. Should I remind you what you were doing in the boiler room?"

  Jonathan froze. His bravado vanished, eyes wide. He looked at Hiruzen and Emma—embarrassed, betrayed—and bolted out the door without a word.

  Hiruzen: (quietly) "That was low."

  Emma: (coldly) "This conversation isn’t over."

  They left, leaving Logan alone. He turned, sealing the lab behind them.

  Logan: (muttering) "Ungrateful fools. How did that rumor leak? Only three people know about my experiments... the Dean... Mrs. Zinc... and..."

  He paused. His pupils shrank.

  Logan: (snarling) "Asura..."

  He turned to the console and pulled up a locked file. The holographic image of the arm returned to the screen, pulsing violently.

  Logan: (to himself) "You were never just a failed experiment... were you?"

  End Chapter