**"Hahahahahahaha!"**
A group of youngsters stood in the courtyard, whispering among themselves as they stared at a twitching body on the ground, their laughter cruel and unrestrained.
**"I can't believe this trash dared to pick a fight in the academy. What a waste,"** sneered one young man, his face twisted in disgust.
**"Did you see that? He couldn't even take a single strike!"**
**"Hehehe,"** a girl giggled behind her hand, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
**"Shush... Don't speak too loudly,"** someone hissed.
**"Why?"**
**"D.... Don't you know?"**
**"Know *what*, David?"**
**"He's the Young Master of the *Sparta Clan*,"** the boy muttered.
**"Whaaat?!"**
**"Tsk, what a joke!"** A flirtatious girl stepped forward, her revealing robes clinging to her curves, drawing gasps from the crowd. The young men's eyes burned with desire as they stared at her figure. **"You must be jesting. How could such a great clan have a Young Master like *this*?"** She scoffed.
**"You...."**
**"What me*? David, you must be mistaken. The *real* Young Master is Bridge Sparta."**
**"Bridge Sparta?"**
Murmurs spread, many had never heard the name.
The girl smirked, her cheeks flushing slightly, making the boys' breaths quicken.
**"He's new to the academy."**
**"Wait.. is he the one who beat this guy up?"** a girl asked, her eyes shining with admiration.
**"Yes,"** the seductive lady replied, her tone reverent.
**"But shouldn't they be from the same clan? Why would they fight?"**
Silence.
**"This…"**
It *did* make sense, why *would* clan members turn on each other?
**"This fool was a nuisance to the clan,"** the girl explained, flipping her hair. **"Bridge Sparta had to teach him a lesson."**
**"Ohhh, now we understand!"**
**"H.. He…"** David suddenly choked on his words.
**"He *what*?"**
**"Is he… *dead*?"** he finally blurted out.
The laughter died instantly.
Only now did they notice—the twitching had stopped. The body lay utterly still.
**"This…"** Shock rippled through the group as they hesitantly approached, checking for a pulse.
Nothing.
A corpse.
**"H...He killed his own clan member… Won't he be punished?"** someone whispered, trembling.
**"I…"** The flirtatious girl paled.
**"We *won't* get involved, right?"** David asked, fear etched on his face. The *Sparta Clan* wasn't to be trifled with, they were the undisputed rulers of Boundless City, akin to royalty.
**"What do we do?"** a bulky youth muttered.
**"Simple,"** the woman said after a steadying her breath, before forcing a smile. **"We act like we were never here."**
**"But that's impossible! The Spartas will definitely investigate this matter!"** David protested.
She sneered. **"David, I didn't take you for a fool. A talentless wretch like him? Do you *really* think the clan cares?"**
David hesitated, scratching his head—but unease gnawed at him. *Something wasn't right.*
**"Good. You understand."** She flicked her wrist. **"Now let's *go*."**
Without a backward glance, they abandoned the corpse, already dismissing it as worthless.
Moments later, a young man came to view, as he stared at the lifeless body with a smirk.
**"Now that you're gone… there's no one left to vie for the clan leadership with me in the future."**
He studied the corpse, its features bore a faint resemblance to his own, though *he* was far more handsome. A flicker of envy crossed his face.
**"Pity. You took that striking face of yours straight to hell."** He sighed. **"But brother… you have only yourself to blame."**
**"After all… you were always Father's favorite."**