In Cadet College, the bell shrilled, signaling the end of classes and the start of break. Students surged from the classrooms, a torrent of youthful energy, as if the school itself were a captor and freedom beckoned just beyond the doors. Yet, an anomaly sat still at his desk. Victor, unperturbed by the rush, waited patiently for the exodus to thin, avoiding the inevitable struggle for the doorway. The lecturer, who had quietly observed him throughout the class, smiled. This boy acts so mature, gentle, and aloof for his age.
"Victor, aren't you going out for break?" she asked.
"I would, but not now. I still have things to do," he answered, his voice calm and even
In Cadet State, it was widely known that only three distinguished young men held such prominence that the Major Families would be profoundly fulfilled to have any of them as a son-in-law.
Among them was Michael, known as "the God of War." A strong, handsome young man with an exceptional battle record in the military, it was widely believed that, given enough time, he was destined to become a Major General.
Second was Davis, "the Business Tycoon." A young, handsome, and remarkably successful businessman, he was one of the wealthiest individuals in Cadet State, a true powerhouse in the open business world. However, among the upper echelons of society, it was whispered that the mysterious White Deity could rival him in the shadows.
Lastly was Victor, "the Apprentice Lawyer." A young, handsome man with an undeniable bravado, he was already sought after by numerous prestigious law firms. This was because, as a mere apprentice, he had managed to defeat a highly refined and experienced lawyer in a case where the latter had been utterly convinced of victory. It was said that the judge presiding over the case had initially been in collusion with the opposing lawyer, fully intending to rule in his favor.
Victor had been disheartened by the perceived corruption of the law at first, but he refused to give up. He decided to reinvestigate the case himself, having previously paid a private investigator to gather evidence. To his dismay, he discovered that even his hired investigator had been complicit, feeding him only carefully curated information.
Enraged but refusing to let his anger cloud his judgment, Victor decided to "play the pig to eat the lion." He laid low for an extended period, meticulously gathering every piece of evidence against them. When he finally surfaced, he sued all of them at once: the lawyer, his client, the judge, and the private investigator. With an overwhelming mountain of evidence, he sent them all to prison. His poor, innocent client, overwhelmed with gratitude, couldn't believe someone would go to such lengths for her without ample compensation. After being released, she publicly thanked Victor in front of the media. It wasn't long before different versions of the story spread, painting Victor as a hero who served justice to all, regardless of status, and protected the poor and weak.
This act made Victor a sensation. Every law firm clamored for him because, at such a young age, an apprentice lawyer had sent a judge to prison. One could only imagine his future—a renowned lawyer, perhaps even a high judge one day, a testament to his formidable reputation. That's why, even though he was still learning, other lawyers didn't see him as a common apprentice, but as a fully fledged lawyer in the making, eager to recruit him while he was still young.
When Victor finally left the classroom, he headed straight for the library to research some things. Along his path, some girls, desperate for his attention, would subtly or even overtly make funny noises or feign clumsiness, hoping to make him look their way. But Victor walked as if he existed in another dimension, completely oblivious to their antics.
Victor was already accustomed to people vying for his attention—teachers and students alike. He was exceptionally skilled at sidelining girls, which only made them try to win him over or engage him in conversation even more. He was even nicknamed the "The Unfazed Prodigy". The girls behaviour extended to intentionally blocking his path, pretending to be unaware, just so Victor would have to gently nudge them or ask them to excuse him. By doing so, they could later brag that one of the hottest boys in school had initiated a conversation with them. The worst offender among them was Ivy.
On one such occasion, Ivy, attempting to mark her territory, used oil paint to repaint Victor's locker, knowing full well that some other girl might try such a "dirty trick" on Victor—"her man." In Ivy's mind, she didn't care a dime about anyone else. She simply declared that she liked Victor, and therefore, he was hers. She had thus warned everyone to stay clear of him.
Emma, one of the attention-seekers, ran to Victor's locker with her friend during break, intending to "replay" the trick and lean casually against it. Victor arrived and saw them, but what truly caught his eye was the locker itself. It looked as if it had been recently painted. He took a piece of paper from his pocket and carefully wiped a small section of it. Emma's friend, noticing the paint transferred to the paper and Emma's clothes, frantically dragged her away from the locker, but it was too late; Emma's clothes were already a mess. The surrounding students erupted in laughter, a chorus of mockery directed at Emma. Victor didn't say a word. He simply took what he came for from his locker and left, leaving Emma humiliated. Ivy then emerged with her group of friends and gleefully added salt to the wound.
"I thought I warned you not to go close to my man," Ivy sneered, a triumphant smirk on her face. "This is but the tip of the iceberg. The next time you try me, I'll show you I'm not one to be messed with. Let's go, girls."
Emma was seething. She now knew exactly who had done this, but she was powerless to retaliate.