The discovery of their shared academic weaknesses had forged a tighter and stronger bond, but for Niles, the puzzle of Blackwood was a constant, gnawing demand. He needed data. Hard, objective data from the source.
He waited until the dead of night, the school silent around him, before slipping out from his dorm room. His target: the faculty offices. He knew their network security; the physical terminals in the offices would have fewer restrictions, a quieter digital footprint.
Niles moved like a shadow toward the faculty wing, his lock picks a cold comfort in his left palm. He was so focused on his target that he didn't hear the soft footfall behind him until it was too late.
A hand clamped on his shoulder firmly.
Niles jumped and spun, heart leaping into his throat, to find Leon staring back at him, his face pale in the gloom. He was in his prefect's uniform, a duty roster clutched in his other hand.
“Niles, what on earth are you doing?” Leon hissed, his voice tight with alarm. “Are you insane? If anyone else had found you—”
“I need to see our files,” Niles whispered back, undeterred. “The real ones. Not the fake transcripts they show our parents. They're in the faculty office.”
Leon's eyes widened. “That's not a risk, Niles, that's a literal suicide mission! Professor Crawford's office is right next door!”
“Then it's a good thing you're here,” Niles smirked, a reckless idea forming. “You're on duty, Leon. If we're caught unfortunately, you can tell them that you have caught me breaking in. It's the perfect cover. Your loyalty is proven, and I get the data I need.”
Leon looked torn, the prefect and the ally at war within him. He glanced down the empty, silent hall, then back at Niles's determined and grim face. 36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfrJWGkzRn
The gamble was immense. Finally, with a sharp, frustrated sigh, he gave a curt nod. “Five minutes. If I give the signal, we abort. And you... will be my prisoner.”
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpmPluxQsC
It was the work of a moment for Niles to pick the lock on the main faculty office. Inside, they moved quickly to the computer terminal. Niles's fingers flew across the keyboard, bypassing security with practiced ease. He found the student records database and pulled up their files.
The data was stark. Niles was ranked first, Leon third and Alice fourth. But it was the comment section that made the blood drain from their faces.
“Leon, look at these!” he pointed at the comment sections. 36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFTLIrL9Aa
“N-01 (Fulgencio): Cognitive and abstract processing exceeds baseline. High risk of meta-cognitive awareness. High-level monitoring required for systemic manipulation.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiR9jF6qvEz
“L-03 (Collingwood): Useful stabilising influence. Mathematical deficiency is a confirmed blind spot. Compliance remains high.”36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuoASmaH3B
“A-07 (Solace): Profound kinetic and spatial intelligence. Economic abstraction is a successful control variable. Emotional permeability is a confirmed and useful leverage point.”
They weren't students. They were subjects. Labeled, cataloged, and analysed. “Control variable", “Leverage point", these words were a clinical violation.
“Compliance remains high...” Leon's whole body froze the moment he read his comments, he realised in the teachers' eyes, he was just a mere puppet that can be manipulated with ease.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHNjAyQNpC
Niles quickly printed the pages. The mechanical whir of the printer sounded like a gunshot in the silence. As the warm pages slid into the tray, a floorboard creaked in the hall.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVxEkBA1wM
Leon's head snapped up instantly. “Signal. Now!” he whispered, his voice strangled.
36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpVCUJeCR4
Yet, it was too late. The door swung open slowly, framing the tall, grim figures of Professor Crawford and Professor Draven. Their expressions were not of surprise, but of cold, predatory satisfaction.
“Well, well, well...” Professor Crawford said, his voice silken and dangerous. “The prodigy and the prefect, together inside my office. A very... unlikely partnership.”
Professor Draven eyes narrowed, and his gaze fixed at Leon. “Explain this, Mr. Collingwood.”
In that split second, Niles saw the trap snap shut. He met Leon's panicked gaze and gave a single, almost imperceptible nod.
Now.
Leon’s face, which had been a mask of shared terror, hardened into an expression of stern authority. He took a deliberate step away from Niles, pointing an accusatory finger.
“I-I caught him, sirs,” Leon declared, his voice ringing with convincing outrage, yet slightly trembling. “I-I found Fulgencio skulking in the halls and followed him. He forced the lock. I was about to apprehend him w-when you arrived.”
The lie was delivered perfectly. Professor Crawford's gaze flickered between the boys, a calculating look in his eyes. Meanwhile, Professor Draven seemed to buy it completely, nodding in approval at Leon's diligence.
“An excellent piece of work, Mr. Collingwood,” Professor Draven smiled at him, placing his hand on Leon's shoulder. “Your vigilance is noted.” He turned his attention to Niles, his expression turning to ice. “As for you, Mr. Fulgencio... your little game is over.”
As the two figures marched a “resisting” Niles away, Leon was left standing alone in the doorway of the violated office. 36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BJmwDaAPo
The moment their footsteps faded, the rigid prefect posture collapsed. Leon slumped against the doorframe, his face ashen, the printed pages with his own damning assessment feeling like a brand in his pocket. 36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoDMK6YOff
He had saved his cover, but the cost was a chasm of guilt, and the sickening certainty that he had just handed his friend over to the wolves.36Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVE3nFQqPk
and then Add to home screen.