Theo turned the doorknob and opened the door. Instructor Park's office was exactly as he remembered it from the last time he was there with Nayun. It was a functional, organized space filled with the latest technology. The same large wooden desk occupied the center, with stacks of reports and countless holographic screens hovering above it.
The only difference was the people sitting in two chairs across from the desk.
"Hey, Suho and President. You two are here too."
Nayun said, surprised, not expecting to find them there.
Kim Suho turned around when he heard his name, a friendly smile on his face.
"Ah, hello, everyone."
"Hey Suho and President."
Theo and Yeonha greeted them back with a nod.
Theo, Nayun, and Yeonha approached, greeting the instructor who was sitting behind the table. "Good morning, Instructor," they said in unison.
Instructor Park, a stern-looking man with eyes that contained sharp intelligence, turned off the holographic screens and stood up.
To everyone's surprise, especially Suho and the class president, he walked around the desk and extended his hand directly to Theo.
The instructor's voice was deep and laden with genuine respect and gratitude.
"On behalf of Cube, I would like to thank you. What you did yesterday at the training ground prevented what could have been a tragedy."
Theo shook the instructor's hand.
"I just did what was necessary, sir."
"You did more than that."
The instructor continued, releasing his hand.
"Thanks to your intervention and the information you provided, we discovered that the artificial dungeon for the practical class had indeed been sabotaged. You saved the cadets from a possible massacre."
The instructor returned to his desk, his expression serious.
"Cube does not leave acts of bravery and competence unrewarded. To thank you, the board has agreed to grant you one of the three Premium dormitories."
The room fell silent. The Premium dormitories were the height of luxury and status at Cube, intended only for the top three cadets.
Theo remembered the novel. Originally, Kim Suho, as the top-ranked cadet, was entitled to one of these dorms, but he refused it, thinking it would be an unnecessary luxury for him. With his refusal, the dorm ended up being offered to the cadets who came next in the rankings: Shin Jonghak, Rachel, and Chae Nayun herself.
"The dorm that belonged to Shin Jonghak is now vacant."
The instructor explained.
"It's yours, if you want it."
Suho, Nayun, and Yi Yeonghan looked at Theo.
Unfortunately for their expectations, Theo smiled politely and shook his head.
"I appreciate the offer, instructor, I really do. But I'm fine in my current dorm room. I'm used to it now, and it would be a hassle to have to move now."
The refusal was so casual that it took the instructor by surprise. He frowned.
"Are you sure, cadet? It's a significant improvement. It's more spacious and has an exclusive personal training room. It's like staying in a five-star hotel, it will be great for you."
"I'm sure, sir. I appreciate the consideration, but I'm happy where I am."
If it had been at the beginning, he might have accepted, but now that he had modified his dormitory so much, he refused without thinking. His current dormitory was better than any five-star hotel room or house in the world.
Instructor Park studied him for a moment, then nodded, seeming to respect his decision.
"I understand. In that case, let's settle this with a generous amount of Academy Points instead of the dormitory. I'll discuss it with the director and let you know."
He leaned back in his chair, clasping his hands on the table. The air in the office grew heavier, the real reason for the meeting about to be revealed.
"Now, let's get to the main reason I called you all here."
The instructor's gaze passed over Theo, Nayun, Yeonha, and Suho.
"As you know, two cadets have disappeared between last week and now. Cube's internal investigation has not yielded many results. We believe these disappearances are directly linked to a Djinn, who is infiltrated among the cadets."
He paused, letting the gravity of the situation sink in. And then, he got to the point he wanted to make when he summoned everyone to his office.
"You are, without a doubt, the most competent and promising cadets in this institution."
He looked at each of them, and with a shallow sigh, he remembered.
'It's a shame that Cadet Rachel didn't agree to participate. With her intelligence, this team would be even more incredible.'
He had invited Rachel, but because she was too busy with her studies and training, she promptly declined without even considering the benefits.
We would like you to form a special investigation team. Unofficial, of course. You will have access to Cube resources and the authority to bypass certain bureaucracies. Your mission is to obtain any information related to the disappearances and pass it on to us. Don't worry, you will be rewarded accordingly."
The entire room remained silent, some with expressions of surprise and others already imagining what steps to take next.
Yi Yeonghan raised his arm, wanting to ask the instructor a few questions.
"Um. Instructor, are you sure it's right to leave something to us? I mean, even if it's not to raise suspicion, isn't it better for Cube to do this? We are still cadets, and consequently some things may get out of hand."
Yeonghan's voice echoed in the office. He was not questioning his own ability, nor that of others, but the logistics behind the mission.
Instructor Park nodded, appreciating the sensible question.
"A valid point, Cadet Yeonghan. However, the Cube is already conducting its own investigation, openly. The presence of instructors and security agents questioning everyone and investigating every inch of the campus is obvious and is creating a climate of paranoia. The individual or group behind this is surely hiding, being more cautious. A team of cadets, especially a group that naturally socializes and moves around campus, can observe and hear things that our agents, however discreet they try to be, could never. You are our parallel investigation, unseen by the enemies."
He paused, his serious gaze sweeping across each of their faces.
"As for things getting out of hand, that's a calculated risk. But we believe that with the combined skills of the five of you, it's a minimal risk. Kim Suho and you are incredibly talented cadets. Yoo Yeonha possesses unmatched strategic intelligence and an information network. Chae Nayun, your perception and support skills are excellent-even if you have abandoned the bow. And Theo..."
Park paused briefly, his eyes fixed on Theo.