CHAPTER 456: CHAPTER 456: DECISIONS, DECISIONS (PART 6)

Don didn’t answer immediately. The request had caught him still, and Charles—already mid-turn toward the hall—slowed, head angling back in curiosity.

The others gave their own looks. Subtle, but there. Thunderclap tilted his chin slightly; Phantom Strike’s eyes narrowed behind the balaclava; Frostbite lingered with a faint stillness, as though weighing something.

Don let it hang only a moment longer. "Not a problem," he said at last, turning slightly to Charles. "I’ll meet up with you later."

Charles gave a faint nod. "Not a problem." With that, he adjusted his aviators and strode out, his silver hair catching the office lights in streaks.

Don stepped deeper into the office. Behind him, Xiao’s smile spread. "May I bother you all to grant us some privacy? If you still have questions, I’ll still be available to answer afterward."

The elites filed out one by one. Thunderclap left with his arms still crossed, boots heavy against the floor. Phantom Strike moved almost noiselessly, hoodie brushing the frame as he passed.

Starboy waited until he reached Don, his shoulder brushing a little too close as he muttered low, "This isn’t over." His voice cracked with bruised pride, ego stung raw.

Frostbite was last. She paused at the door, eyes flicking back. At who, Don couldn’t be certain—him or Xiao. Then she left, heels tapping a cold rhythm against the floor.

Don exhaled slowly, his focus sliding back inward. He reached out with his mind, tugging gently at the chair Frostbite had abandoned.

scrrrk~

It slid across the floor toward him, legs scraping marble until it rested by his side. He sat down, posture casual but eyes never leaving Xiao.

Dean Sanchez hadn’t moved. He stood still, lips pursed, gaze bouncing between the cracked floor and the toppled bookshelf.

Xiao didn’t look at Don first—he turned his head toward Sanchez, voice smooth. "We won’t be long, Dean. I suggest you call for someone to tidy your office."

The phrasing was polite, but the weight behind it was dismissal. Even Don saw that much.

Sanchez’s face brightened stupidly, as though he’d been given an order he was glad to obey. "Ah—oh, of course, Chairman. I shall only be a moment." He turned and hurried out, shoes scuffing clumsily across the hall.

Neither Don nor Xiao spared him a glance.

When the door shut~ and silence fell again, Xiao’s smile widened.

There was something to him in moments like this—an unsettled presence, one that pressed faintly without source. Don wondered if this was what others felt when caught in his own traits, the weight of something not entirely natural, not entirely visible.

He didn’t dwell.

"Well," Xiao said at last, folding his hands at his front. "Congratulations again. Though, I couldn’t help but notice you didn’t seem as... keen as the rest. Are you not interested?"

Don wasn’t surprised at being seen through. He didn’t have a clear sense yet of what this "opportunity" truly meant, not beyond the slogans Strauman had handed out. And until he did, he wasn’t about to feign excitement.

"It’s hard to say," Don answered, deliberately vague. "I have other variables to consider."

It was his way of closing the door on casual talk.

Xiao didn’t press. His smile sharpened, but he only nodded. "Understandable. As great an opportunity as it is, diving in without understanding what’s needed tends to prove disastrous."

Don leaned back faintly. "You sound like you’re speaking from experience."

A chuckle. Soft, low, practiced. "Not personal," Xiao said. "But I have seen enough great talents... fall short."

He shifted, leaning just slightly forward, voice lowering a fraction. "That actually brings me to the point I wanted to discuss."

Don gave no reply, but his stillness said enough.

"I had known for some time about your and Timothy’s eligibility," Xiao continued. "Because of that, I thought I could bring in a specialist to assist you in your preparation—provided you are interested."

Don raised a brow. Not curiosity. Doubt. "I don’t mean to question your generosity, but why go out of your way to do that?"

The chuckle came again, this one clearly amused. "You should question it," Xiao said, eyes glinting. "Because I’m not doing this out of kindness."

He clasped his hands tighter. "Simply put, even if you enlist, you’ll remain tied to this academy for standard education. I’m sure you can see why I’d want you at your best should you decide it’s something you want to pursue."

Don held his gaze, unmoved.

"And believe me, Mr. Bright," Xiao finished, smile curling further, "if you have any intention of becoming the best you can be... which I believe you do. This isn’t an opportunity you should waste."

Don considered the offer in silence. He weighed it, then let it go just as quickly.

"I’ll let you know what I decide soon," he said.

Whether Strauman’s program was truly a one-of-a-kind chance or not, he couldn’t just give a blind answer now. Not when there was still time to reflect. Not when Xiao was the one presenting it. Skepticism lingered, heavier than the promise.

He added, "But why me and not Timothy?"

Xiao chuckled softly, his hands still clasped in front of him. "Believe me, now that Timothy has been officially ruled eligible, I imagine his father will ensure he has some of the best private training in the country in the months to come. It may not be enough to grow his current ability by far, but the UPSDF tests more than just raw power."

He took a step closer, tilting his head. "And without a mentor or specialist to push your physical and mental limits... the opportunity may turn into a nightmare instead. At least, from my experience, that’s what I’ve observed. But—" he let the word stretch, lips curling into a faint smile, "there are outliers. Rare, yes. But they do exist."

Don studied him carefully. He couldn’t tell if Xiao was being honest, or if he was exaggerating to tighten the decision around his neck. Still, if Xiao was lying, it would be an easy one to disprove eventually. And in Don’s position, there was no need to play that game just yet.

He leaned back slightly in the chair, nodding once. "I’ll keep that in mind. Is that all?"

Xiao’s smile widened just a fraction. "Yes. I look forward to hearing back from you soon."

Don pushed himself up from the chair, the legs scraping against the marble floor with a low scrrrk~. He adjusted the front of his shirt once, then crossed the office to the door.

The hall greeted him with silence.

But he wasn’t alone.

Frostbite stood opposite the doorway, arms crossed, shoulders angled against the wall. Her brows were drawn faintly, and her stare carried the same frigid sharpness she gave to anyone who lingered too long in her presence. She hadn’t shuffled. She hadn’t breathed loud enough to catch.

Don paused mid-step, eyes catching hers.

For a moment they simply stared.

Her gaze didn’t shift, cold and constant. His broke first. He turned away without a word, walking down the corridor, each step echoing lightly against the tile.

Frostbite watched him go. Only when his figure slipped beyond sight did she push off the wall, heels striking a quiet rhythm as she crossed the hall. She placed a hand on the knob before glancing back a final time. He gaze seemed thoughtful as she looked away and entered Xiao’s office herself.