THE PLATINUM'S GAZE
The woman in white robes studied Yoo with cold eyes, which at the same time was not hostile, examining Yoo like some sort of specimen under the glass.
"Eight months of physical development," she murmured. "In ten weeks chronological time, Truly remarkable."
Jae-sung stepped between them.
"Who are you?"
"Ah. Protective instinct, Understandable." She lowered her hood, revealing a face marked by ritual scars, thin lines across both cheeks, she then looked up
"I am Instructor Kang Min-ji, Platinum Rank 43, I represent the Vanguard Academy."
'I don't care about the name but the energy is really making me uncomfortable'
"Platinum-rank entity confirmed," Akasha reported. "Power differential: extreme. Recommend: extreme caution."
'No kidding.'
"An academy?" Jae-sung's voice was carefully neutral. "For what?"
"For children like yours, prodigies who develop abilities beyond the norm." Min-ji's gaze never left Yoo. "We've been tracking your son since birth. The self-delivery, the spatial abilities, the accelerated growth, all documented."
Shit.
"Surveillance confirmed. Multiple observation points. Recommendation: assume all activities have been monitored."
Jae-sung's hand dropped to his weapon.
"You've been watching my son?"
"Watching, yes but not interfering. Dr. Choi, the medical officer around this area, is one of our informants. Though it seemes he's grown... protective."
Min-ji smiled slightly. "He's deleted more reports about your son than he's submitted, admirable loyalty."
"If you're here to take him—"
"I'm not." She raised a hand. "Our Academy doesn't conscript, we only offer training opportunities, protection, and resources, in exchange for future service."
"Future service?"
"The cosmic game is approaching endgame. Three years, we estimate, when Aethon and Chaos make their final moves, reality will restructure, humanity needs strong representatives, champions, your son... " she gestured at Yoo "... has potential to become one."
Yoo wanted to laugh.
He was ten weeks old, champion of humanity? Absurd, but Min-ji's expression was dead serious.
"What's the catch?" Jae-sung asked.
"Catch?"
"No one offers something for nothing, especially not Platinum-ranks to us living in the slum, what do you really want?"
Min-ji's smile widened.
"Perceptive. The truth: Vanguard Academy is researching anomaly children, trying to understand what creates them, your son is unique, soul, with spatial abilities, accelerated development, we want to study him."
"You mean experiment on him."
"Study, observe, document non-invasively." She pulled out a tablet, displayed a contract. "In exchange: full scholarship when he's old enough, access to our training facilities, and protection from other factions who would be less... gentle."
"Other factions?"
"Three organizations are tracking anomaly children, we're the benign one. The others?"
Min-ji's expression darkened.
"If one wants to weaponize them, another wants to dissect them, we just want to understand."
Jae-sung didn't trust her.
Yoo could see it in his father's stance, weight shifted, ready to fight despite impossible odds.
But Min-ji had a point.
If multiple factions knew about Yoo, running would only delay the inevitable.
'We need allies, even temporary ones.'
Yoo made a sound, drawing his father's attention, and nodded slightly.
Trust her. For now.
Jae-sung read the gesture.
"What are your terms?"
"Monthly check-ins, medical scans, developmental tracking, when your son reaches age five, chronologically, not physically, he enrolls in our academy, this is non-negotiable."
"And if I refuse?"
"Then we leave you alone, but the other factions definitely won't."
Min-ji's voice was matter-of-fact.
"You're Gold-high now, although you're strong, but that's not strong enough to protect an anomaly child from coordinated Platinum-rank assault, accept our offer or watch your son disappear into someone's laboratory."
Silence.
Yoo cursed 'I really want to argue right now, but my vocal cords are not developed for complex negotiation'
Akasha. Analysis?
"Probability that refusing leads to worse outcome: 84%.
Probability that accepting provides temporary safety: 67%.
Recommendation: accept with modifications."
What modifications?
"Negotiate for father's inclusion. Joint enrollment. Protection for both."
Yoo made another sound, he tugged Jae-sung's shirt, when his father leaned down, Yoo forced words out:
"You... too, pro... tect... both."
Jae-sung's eyes widened.
"You want me to join?"
Nod.
Understanding dawned.
If Jae-sung enrolled as academy hunter, he'd have access to resources. Training. The ability to grow strong enough to actually protect Yoo.
Min-ji observed. "Yes. We can extend the offer, Mr. Lee Jae-sung, Gold-high rank, combat veteran, you would be valuable as an instructor, and this also keeps you close to your son."
"What's the catch for me?"
"You teach and you fight when we need you, you accept that your son will be studied, and you never, ever interfere with our research."
"Define 'studied.'"
"Scans, observations, developmental tracking, no surgeries, no invasive procedures, no harm. We're scientists, not butchers."
Jae-sung looked at his son, What do I do? his expression asked.
Yoo nodded firmly.
'We need this, the world is too dangerous. We need allies'
"Fine," Jae-sung said. "But I add one term."
"Which is?"
"If I ever find evidence you've harmed him, experimentally or otherwise, I kill you. All of you, I don't care about rank differences, I'll burn your academy to the ground."
Min-ji studied him, saw the absolute sincerity, and strange confidence.
"Acceptable. I'll add that to the contract:
"If harm comes to Subject Yoo Seung-yoon through academy actions, Lee Jae-sung is released from all obligations and may pursue retribution without legal consequence."
Agreed?"
"Agreed."
She produced a second tablet, made the modification, both of them signed the biometric authentication, binding contract under current hunter regulations.
"Excellent, first check-in is tomorrow, bring your son to Sector 7, Building 12, we'll begin baseline assessments."
Min-ji turned to leave, paused and looked back at Yoo.
"One warning, child.
I know you understand me.
Whatever you are, reincarnated soul, cosmic accident, miracle whatever make sure you remember this: you're valuable because you're useful. The day you stop being useful is the day everyone stops protecting you.
So become strong. Stronger than anyone. That's how you survive."
She left.
Jae-sung exhaled shakily.
"Did we just sell your soul?"
'Maybe, but it's better than the alternative.'
Yoo couldn't say that aloud.
So he just made a baby sound and hoped his father understood.
He did.
"Okay. Tomorrow we meet these academy people, tonight?"
Jae-sung picked up Yoo.
"Tonight we prepare, if they try anything, we disappear into your pocket dimension and run as far as we can, do you understand?"
"Yes," Yoo managed.
First full word his father could clearly understand.
Jae-sung smiled despite everything.
"You're going to be trouble, kid. I can already tell."
'You have no idea.'