Chapter 242: The deal

Words : 2307 Updated : Sep 27th, 2025

Noah pushed open the door to his dorm room, his mind still replaying the bizarre encounter with Lila. The room was bathed in an eerie green glow, coming not from the standard-issue lighting but from Kelvin's fingertips as they danced across multiple holographic screens hovering in midair. "Honey, I'm home," Noah announced flatly, dropping his training bag on the floor. Kelvin didn't look up. His eyes glowed the same neon green as his fingertips, lines of code reflecting in his pupils as he manipulated data streams with gestures that looked part orchestra conductor, part street magician. "Hey, sooo did you get anything fresh that could help us?" He asked still not looking away. "No, but I ran into her though. Lila, I mean" Noah said the last part in a low voice because he knew what was coming next. "Oh, I know what you mean. How was your date with Crazy Eyes McSmileypants?" Kelvin asked, still focused on his screens. Noah collapsed onto his bed. "It wasn't a date." "Right. And I'm not currently hacking into financial records that could get us both expelled or, you know, executed for treason." Kelvin finally swiveled in his chair. "Spill it, Eclipse," he chuckled for a bit, "Saying "Eclipse" like that sounded a lot like our hot homeroom teacher. But anyways, you look like someone who just found out their pet goldfish has been a Russian spy this whole time." "Lila freaked out on me. Like, full-on meltdown." Kelvin's eyebrows shot up. "The clown queen herself? Miss Perfect-Hair-Even-During-Apocalypse-Training? What'd you do, wear the wrong shade of regulation uniform?" "It was about that chi technique I used in the round of 16 match." Noah rubbed his temples. "She taught it to me, but apparently I wasn't supposed to use it where people could see." "Ah yes, the move that made Master Anng look like he was going to have an aneurysm mid-match." Kelvin twisted his fingers, minimizing his screens. "The one that's apparently on the 'techniques that might be evil but look cool as hell' list?" "Yeah. That one." Kelvin whistled. "And Blondie McBipolar taught you that?" His expression turned serious. "Noah, my dude, has it occurred to you that your side chick might be bad news?" "She's not my side—" "Save it for someone who hasn't seen Sophie's face every time Lila does her 'Oh, Eclipse' thing." Kelvin mimicked a high-pitched voice while batting his eyelashes. "Your actual girlfriend, remember her? The one who currently thinks you're playing a two-woman tournament?" Noah groaned. "Come on, Sophie didn't tell you that." "Oh really? Then why did she ask me—and I quote—'Is Noah cheating on me with that psycho Barbie, or does he just enjoy making me feel like garbage? Tell me kelvin. You are his best friend and I believe anything he does, you are backing him. You are a horrible person and I'll make sure you never get laid!!!'" Kelvin shut down the last of his screens with a flick of his wrist. "For a guy who can see attack patterns three moves ahead, you're remarkably blind to the soap opera you're starring in." "It's complicated." "So is quantum physics, but even that makes more sense than whatever you've got going on with Lila," Kelvin's eyes finally returned to their normal brown as his technopathic connection disengaged. "Speaking of complicated, want to hear something that'll really bake your noodle?" Noah sat up, grateful for the change of subject. "Please." Kelvin's fingers started glowing again as he pulled up a new set of screens. "Remember Antoine Gregor? Former headmaster of Academy 8, identified as Purge operative? The one we may or may not have helped...escape?" "The guy they found with all those messages? Yeah what about him?" "Well, I've been tracking financial irregularities across the academies—don't give me that look, I was bored and the academy firewall is practically vintage—and guess what I found?" Kelvin expanded one screen showing transaction logs. "In the three months before Gregor was exposed, headmasters from seven of the twelve Eastern academies made substantial transfers to the same offshore account." Noah moved closer to the screen. "They were funding the Purge?" "That's the weird part. It looks like they were paying in, not getting paid." Kelvin pulled up another screen. "We're talking serious credits here. Like, 'buy your own private island and retire from teaching hormonal superpowered teenagers' money." "Why would they pay to join a terrorist organization?" "EXACTLY!" Kelvin's shout was so loud that Noah flinched. "Sorry, but yes—exactly! These are some of the most powerful individuals on the planet. The kind of people who get invited to dinner with the Global Defense Council on the Ark! Why would they funnel money to a group whose stated goal is to 'See that the will of the Harbingers be done"?" Noah frowned. "Maybe they believe in the cause?" "Then why pay? Terrorist groups recruit the true believers for free and pay the mercenaries." Kelvin's fingers flew across the screens. "No, this smells like duress. Blackmail. Something hinky." "You think someone's forcing academy headmasters to fund the Purge?" "I think someone's forcing them to do more than that." Kelvin pulled up another file, this one showing surveillance footage of a woman Noah recognized as Headmistress Bella from Academy 3. "Look at the timestamps on when these transfers happened. Each one within 48 hours of a private meeting with..." He trailed off as his fingers worked furiously, code reflecting off his glasses. "With who?" Noah pressed. "That's the million-credit question. The visitor logs have been scrubbed clean. Like, professionally scrubbed. We're talking digital bleach and an S class hazmat team level of clean." Kelvin's eyes narrowed. "Someone doesn't want anyone knowing who's visiting the headmasters before they suddenly decide to donate to Terrorists-R-Us." Noah stood up, pacing the small room. "What about Commander Owen? Our headmaster? Is he involved?" Kelvin's expression grew serious. "I don't know yet. His files have encryption that makes the others look like child's play. It's like trying to pick a lock while wearing oven mitts... that are on fire... underwater... while being chased by sharks." "So you can't crack it? I mean I wouldn't be surprised. You've hacked into the school system so many times they might have kelvin proofed it and maybe Commander Owens took precautions against your curiosity," "I didn't say that." Kelvin looked offended. "I just need more time. And maybe some energy drinks. And definitely for you to stop bringing Forbidden Chi techniques into the academy where people can see them." Noah ran a hand through his hair. "You really think all this connects? The Purge, the headmasters, Lila's freakout?" "I think coincidences are for people who aren't paying attention." Kelvin's screens disappeared as the door chime sounded. "And speaking of paying attention, that'll be Sophie." Noah froze. "You invited Sophie here? Now?" "No, YOU invited Sophie here. Some hours ago. For movie night." Kelvin's grin was pure evil as he moved to open the door. "Which I'm suddenly remembering I have to miss because of... urgent technopath stuff. Very important. Can't be rescheduled." "Kelvin, don't you dare—" "Hey Sophie!" Kelvin's voice was suddenly cheerful as the door slid open. "Noah was just talking about you! Something about how much he appreciates your understanding nature and forgiving heart? Anyway, gotta run—the digital realm calls!" He slipped past a confused-looking Sophie, shooting Noah a thumbs-up behind her back before disappearing down the hallway. Noah stared at his girlfriend, whose expression suggested movie night might turn into interrogation night instead. Some battles, even for a rising star of Academy 12, were unwinnable from the start. Sophie stood in the doorway of Noah's dorm room, her expression unreadable. Her cadet uniform was replaced with civilian clothes—simple jeans and a navy sweater that somehow made her look both casual and intimidating. "Aren't you worried about getting caught with a girl in your dorm?" she asked, not moving to enter the room. Noah gestured her inside. "We're off-grid here. Kelvin's setup makes sure of that." "You're sure about that?" Sophie raised an eyebrow. "Well, not absolutely sure," Noah admitted. In truth, he just had faith that ut was something kelvin who pulled all this move would have accounted for. "But honestly, even if they did catch us, I don't really care." Sophie let out a short, humorless laugh. "Yeah, I'm not surprised. You're getting pretty good at breaking rules." She stepped inside, letting the door close behind her. "And breaking other things too." The weight of her words hung in the air between them. "Kelvin left snacks," Noah said, changing the subject as he moved toward the entertainment system. "What do you want to watch? I downloaded that World War I documentary series you mentioned last month." "Sure. Whatever." Sophie sat at the edge of Kelvin's bed, maintaining as much distance as the small room would allow. Noah queued up the documentary, the tension in the room thicker than the academy walls. As the opening credits rolled, he tried again. "How was your day?" "Fine." "Did you hear about the Oba thing?" "Yeah..." Noah sighed. "Are we going to talk at all tonight?" Sophie kept her eyes on the screen. "We're talking right now." "You know what I mean." The documentary narrator droned on about trench warfare as Sophie finally turned to face him. Her eyes, normally warm, had hardened to glacial blue. "The only reason I accepted this invite was because I thought maybe—just maybe—you'd have something different to say this time." She folded her arms. "But clearly, you don't." "What do you want me to say, Sophie? That sleeping with Lila was a mistake? I can't say that." "At least you're honest." "I care about both of you. It's... complicated." Sophie's laugh was sharp and cold. "Complicated. Right. Let me simplify it for you: you don't get to have both. That's not how relationships work." "Sophie—" "I don't share, Noah. I'm not built that way." Her voice was steady, controlled. Not a hint of pleading or desperation. "And I refuse to be the consolation prize while you figure out your feelings for the academy's resident psychopath." Noah winced. "She's not—" "Save it." Sophie stood up. "You're clearly not ready for this conversation, and I'm not going to sit here pretending everything's fine while you—" The door chime interrupted her. They both froze, exchanging alarmed glances. "Did Kelvin forget something?" Sophie whispered. Noah shook his head, moving cautiously to the door. "He never forgets anything." He pressed the panel, and the door slid open to reveal the absolute last person who should be standing there. Lila leaned against the doorframe, her academy uniform discarded in favor of a tight black dress that left little to the imagination. Her blonde hair cascaded over one shoulder, and that ever-present smile played on her lips—though it faltered slightly when she spotted Sophie behind Noah. "Eclipse," she purred, seemingly recovering quickly. "I thought we could continue our... discussion from earlier." Her eyes flicked to Sophie, then back to Noah. "But I see you're busy with your... friend." Sophie stepped forward, positioning herself next to Noah. "Girlfriend. The word you're looking for is girlfriend." "Is it?" Lila's smile widened, her head tilting in that uncanny way that made her look both innocent and predatory. "How fascinating. Noah and I had quite a different conversation about your... status... just last week." Noah felt a headache forming behind his eyes. "Lila, this isn't a good time." "It never is, with you two." Lila's gaze lingered on Sophie. "Don't worry, I won't interrupt your little documentary date. Historical warfare, how romantic." She gestured to the paused screen. "Though I suppose some fights are more immediate than others." Sophie's posture straightened, her chin lifting slightly. "You should go. Before a security member spots you in that dress and has questions about why you're prowling the boys' dormitory after hours." "Are you threatening me?" Lila's smile remained, but something dangerous flashed in her eyes. "Just stating facts." Sophie didn't flinch. "Unlike some people, I don't play games." The two women stared at each other, the tension boiling high between them like misaligned energy fields during training exercises. Noah cleared his throat. "Lila, we can talk tomorrow." "Can we?" Lila's eyes never left Sophie's. "Or will your handler here have you on a tighter leash by then?" Sophie laughed, the sound genuinely amused this time. "If you think anyone can put Noah Eclipse on a leash, you don't know him at all." She turned to Noah, her expression softening just slightly. "I'm leaving. Enjoy your night with whoever you choose." Without waiting for a response, Sophie walked past both of them into the hallway. "Sophie, wait!" Noah called, reaching for her arm. To his surprise, she stopped, though she didn't turn around. Lila laughed softly. "Oh, how sweet. The puppy chases after its master." Sophie spun around, her eyes blazing. "You know what, Rowe? I always knew you were scum. But I was a fool to think you'd actually see our deal through." Noah froze. "Deal? What deal?" Lila's smile sharpened. "Sophie's being dramatic. We had a little girl-to-girl chat months ago. Nothing for you to worry about." "Nothing?" Sophie scoffed. "You promised~"

Chapter 242: The deal

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