The Author's POV

"Sorry for my tardiness"

-Swoooosh!

Opening the door and scratching the back of my head, on the other side of the door, I saw three people standing with their backs straight. As soon as I opened the door, a surge of powerful aura came crashing in, creating a powerful gush of air that reminded me of a typhoon.

Feeling the gush of air brush past me as my clothes fluttered lightly, I tried my best the keep my smile on my face as I looked at the people before me.

Taking a closer look, there were three people.

The three people looked to be in their twenties, however, considering that they were all wearing Lock uniforms, they were still not there in terms of age.

Their ranks looked to be at around the rank region, with the weakest of them being . They each wore green-colored uniforms indicating that they were in their second years and the one leading them, the strongest one of the lot, I could feel his rank being at around .

The reason I knew this was because they didn't shy away from releasing their oppressive aura.. Their intentions were obvious. Intimidate me.

...well, it was supposed to suppress me, but it really had no effect on me at the moment. Still, I pretended to grimace under their pressure.

"kkhh...who is this?"

'Observe before acting'

Seeing my reaction, keeping the pressure for a couple of seconds before removing it, the leading youth looked at me as he said in a solemn voice.

"You're the one that just moved in?"

Pretending to catch my breath, I slowly nodded my head and responded.

"huff..huff...Indeed."

As I responded to them, I tried my bests to hold back. Although the way they talked and behaved irked me, I had to hold it in until I found out who their backer was.

Chances were that they were someone I should probably not offend for the time being.

After making sure he had exerted his 'dominance' over me, the leading youth briefly glanced at his two lackeys behind him before looking back at me and saying

"My name is Noah Riley, a fellow student who resides in this building. Currently, I am gathering all of the people in this building for our usual end-of-the-week meeting. Seeing that you are here, you should also come and introduce yourself."

"Don't worry, he just wants to get to know you better and help you adapt to this place faster..." said Noah in a casual manner.

Although he claimed that he was requesting for a word, his tone didn't contain any trace of request.

It seems like something annoying was about to happen.

Overbearingly stepping into my room without asking for my permission, Noah and his lackeys glanced around the room before a smirk emerged on their faces as they saw the two people inside of the room.

Turning his attention towards them, crossing his arms, Noah snorted as he spoke

"hmph, it seems like Leo and Ram are also here, perfect, you guys must come with us too"

Silently clenching their fists beneath their clothes, Leo and Ram both smiled towards Noah and stood up.

"...Yes"

"Understood"

Nodding his head in satisfaction, Noah calmly watched as Leo and Ram left the room with their heads hung low. Thereafter, turning his attention towards me, he said

"Hurry up as we don't have much time to waste"

"...alright"

Watching from the side, I calmly observed everyone present in the room. From the way that the trio was looking down at Leo and Ram, and by how they both refused to retaliate.

Although I wanted to help them, as they were the first people I actually got along with in this academy...now was not the time.

...from the way I saw things, it seems like whoever was backing the trio was rather powerful. To give his lackeys that much confidence. From the way they spoke and talked, it looked as though they owned the place...this situation may indeed become troublesome.

After making sure Leo and Ram went out, looking at me, nudging me with his head, Noah coldly said

"Follow along"

Smiling amiably, I nodded my head.

"Sure"

"...good choice"

Seeing me nod, Noah turned around and left. Nodding his head towards his two lackeys, Noah directly turned right and walked through the long corridor that seemed to stretch to no end.

As I looked at Noah and the rest from behind, for a split second my eyes narrowed. Thereafter, an amiable smile appeared on my face as I closed the door behind me.

-Clank!

to who the person they

...

floor, we soon arrived in front of a large wooden door

two lackeys carefully fixed their

head to the side, I soon notice Leo and Ram shivering slightly as they had their heads held down. Observing everyone around me, I carefully imprinted everyone's behavior in my

get an idea of who I

"Alright"

fixing his hair, Noah carefully knocked on

-Knock! -Knock!

on the door, opening the door was a young man dressed in

young man that looked to be in his mid-twenties came

"Please come in"

"Thank you, Chris"

Chris, Noah entered the room followed by his two Lackeys. Shortly

vibrant colors matched with the nicely decorated room, the arrangements of the furniture and plants, made this modern and multi-functional living

and the dark wooden floors acted as a blank canvas that further emphasized the color introduced by the furniture and accessories such as the paintings on the wall and the green plants placed

of light that warmed the colors of the room. There also seemed to be a second floor as by the side of

was by far a lot better than the room

this place made

these

walking forward, a youth with

"Yes"

raised his brow

seems like we have someone new

Noah calmly introduced

that has just arrived

introducing me, I observed the youth next to him from

another reason I could tell that he was from a prominent family was his

or imperfections. The most notable feature of the youth were his pair of eyebrows that were akin to a sword's edge as they made

observing him, the

after, after observing me for a couple

after seeing Noah nod, the

the new student?

friendly smile on his face, the youth

my name is Gerrard Lim, and I am currently in my third

extending my hand towards him, I shook his hand and introduced

very nice to meet you. My name is

"Haha, great, great"

hands for a couple of seconds, I soon noticed that something wasn't right as a cold glint flashed past Gerrard's eyes

"kh...."

he was doing and put on the greatest performance I could

-Thud

I 'fearfully' looked at Gerrard from the ground. My hand shook

"Kh..what's going on?"

and fear in my eyes, letting go of my

joking there is no need to look at me

the back, he along with the others laughed

what a nice

"hahah, that was funny"

towards Gerrard, I thanked him for helping me

"T-thank you..."

... rank

that brief moment that he exerted his strength, I noticed that his strength was rank. Just

matter. All I needed was a couple of seconds and his head would be rolling on

about that prank of mine. Here,

the second floor of the apartment. It also seems that Leo and Ram who were with me moments before

"Y-es"

to still be shaking from the incident and slowly walked upstairs. Slowly walking upstairs, from the corner of my eyes, I managed to see Gerrard nod to Noah and the others in

the corner of my mouth inadvertently

wait...just you wait, I'll pull an even better prank

the room. I soon spotted Ram and Leo standing quietly in

I found them both quietly moving towards me to check if I

what happened are you

"Are you hurt"

shook my head and

to be worried

I wasn't lying.

was indeed higher than mine, his pressure wasn't actually affecting me that much. As I thought back at Gerrard who was still downstairs talking to his lackeys,

around him? Isn't he just rank? Although that is indeed an impressive rank...for a third year that's rather, mhh, how should

Ram putting their hands on my mouth as they tried to

do you want

look at them in confusion as

"...what's wrong?"

paying attention to them, lowering his