Darren, Valerie, and David stood in full tactical gear inside the NSA's temporary operations room. On the large screen in front of them were files, surveillance photos, audio transcripts—evidence collected from Yeager's bug planted in Judge Edrick Muro's office.
An NSA senior agent addressed them firmly, "Today we'll move on two fronts: secure the key witness and raid the data center that connects the school's underground communication network."
Valerie raised her hand, "Yeager isn't coming. He'll stay in school to avoid suspicion."
The agent nodded. "Good. If he stays, we have eyes and ears inside. But the three of you must be ready. Operation codename: Silent Hawk. We only get one shot."
Darren checked his weapon. "Locked and loaded."
David reviewed the encrypted files. "We've got enough evidence to bring down several names—big ones."
Valerie stared at the screen showing live school footage. "Let's hope Yeager stays safe."
At School Same Morning Yeager sat calmly in the back garden, blending in with the students. He wore his usual school uniform—just another face in the crowd. But hidden in his bag was a tiny earpiece, directly linked to the NSA.
He looked up toward the corridor. Raon passed by, giving him a brief glance.
Yeager muttered quietly into his mic, "I'm in position. Everything's clear for now. If something happens in this school, I'll be the first to know."
Darren's voice came through the earpiece, "Stay sharp, bro. We're about to move in."
At the Police Department The general slammed a folder onto the desk, his voice echoing through the room.
"What do you mean you recruited Yeager and his team without official clearance from central command? You pulled them out of the system, Miguel! They're not part of us anymore!"
Miguel stood slowly, his face calm but firm. He began unbuttoning his uniform, removing the star insignia from his shoulder.
"I'm done with this system," he said quietly but sharply. "Bribes, manipulation, and cover-ups. I've been trapped in this network for too long. Today, I'm going back to the NSA."
The general fell silent, taken aback.
Miguel walked out, nodding briefly at the other officers watching from the corridor. Without a word, he stepped into the black car waiting outside.
Raid Operation – Secret Data Center Warehouse
Darren, Valerie, and David moved in quietly, dressed in tactical gear. They approached the west entrance of the warehouse where critical data on the school's underground network was stored.
"We've got 15 minutes before the auto-delete system kicks in," Valerie whispered.
David used a digital lock breaker. The door slid open. Inside, rows of servers buzzed with activity—storing everything from messages, money transfers, to secret plans.
"I'm downloading everything," Darren said. "Got files on Raon, Fayo, Zico, and even transactions linked to Judge Edrick."
Valerie kept watch. Suddenly, headlights appeared in the distance.
"We're out of time!" she shouted.
With the download complete, they planted a mini-EMP device—wiping the data without leaving a trace.
At the School Yeager received the update through his earpiece.
"Raid successful. We got everything."
He smirked faintly. But the moment was interrupted as someone stepped out from behind the school building: Raon.
With a cold, composed look, Raon approached him.
"Playing both sides, huh Yeager?"
Yeager stood tall, locking eyes with him. "Depends. Which side are you on?"
Raon and Yeager stood facing each other, the air between them heavy with tension. A few students had started to notice, whispering from a distance. But before either of them could say a word—
The sound of roaring engines echoed through the school grounds.
Several black vehicles marked with the NSA emblem skidded to a stop in front of the school. The doors flew open and a squad of armed agents stepped out, moving with swift, military precision.
One of the agents shouted, loud and commanding:
> "RAON MURO! You are under official investigation by the NSA for involvement in an organized criminal network operating within this institution!"
Silence fell over the entire school. Students froze. Teachers peeked out from classrooms. The air was thick with shock.
Raon took a shaky step back, his face pale. "What the hell is this…?"
Yeager stared at him calmly. "You thought I was playing around?"
An NSA agent walked up to Yeager and nodded with respect. "The data from the sting operation is secure. We're ready to proceed with the evidence."
Raon suddenly turned to run, but the agents were faster. They pinned him to the ground in seconds.
From a window on the second floor, Zico Palma and Fayo Nickle watched the scene unfold. Fayo gripped his phone tightly, while Zico muttered under his breath:
> "This is getting out of hand…"
The news of Raon's arrest spread like wildfire. School group chats were flooded with videos of the raid. Students whispered among themselves, while teachers were called into an emergency meeting.
In the back garden of the school, Ariana sat alone, staring at the sky as she scrolled through the news on her phone. She let out a long sigh, as if trying to untangle the storm of thoughts in her head.
In the cafeteria, Noel sat by the window, flipping through his comic book. He glanced at Zevanya and asked,
> "So, Yeager really is a detective, huh?"
Zevanya gave a slight nod, still stunned by everything that had happened.
Inter-School Basketball Tournament
The crowd roared in the stadium. Zico Palma sprinted across the court, made a sharp pass, and scored. Cheers erupted from the students of their school.
On the bench, Mick Hyuri wiped sweat from his forehead, his eyes fixed on Zico dominating the game.
But Mick's expression was different—sharp, analytical.
> "Sam," Mick muttered, "don't you think there's something weird about Zico?"
Sam Artur, sitting next to him, looked up, puzzled.
> "Dude… what do you mean? He's just killing it out there."
Mick didn't respond right away. His eyes kept tracking Zico's every move.
> "I don't know… his movements, his face. It's like he's hiding something."
Amid the loud cheers of the game, Yeager walked slowly along the side of the spectator stands. The noise and excitement didn't distract him—he remembered that Mick and Sam were playing today and decided to drop by.
His eyes scanned the crowd until he spotted Sam Artur sitting on the players' bench. Sam noticed him and waved enthusiastically.
> "Eren! Yo! You actually came!" Sam shouted from afar.
Yeager gave a small nod and a faint smile.
But the smile quickly faded when his eyes caught sight of Septhen Palma—Zico's father—sitting a few rows up. Septhen had picked up a phone call, his expression suddenly tense and focused, leaning slightly forward as if trying to keep the conversation discreet.
Yeager's face turned serious.
He narrowed his eyes, trying to read Septhen's lips or body language.
Moments later, Septhen stood and quickly exited the stands, still talking on the phone.
Without hesitation, Yeager moved. He began following him, weaving through the crowd, tuning out the game and everything else.
> "What are you hiding, Palma…" Yeager muttered as he quickened his pace.
Yeager rushed to the hallway where he had seen Septhen Palma earlier, talking on the phone. But when he got there…
> "Gone…" Yeager muttered under his breath. "Damn it…"
Septhen's shadow had completely disappeared, as if swallowed by the air. Yeager glanced around, scanning for any hidden doors or alternate exits — nothing.
With a frustrated sigh, he turned around and made his way back to the bleachers.
A few minutes later…
The basketball match ended. Cheers erupted as the final whistle blew. Students crowded the court, celebrating the win.
Sam Artur, sweaty and slightly out of breath, jogged toward Yeager with a wide grin.
> "Yo! Even Mr. Detective came to watch!"
Before Sam could say anything else, Mick Hyuri quickly clamped a hand over his mouth.
> "Shut it, you idiot! Not so loud," he hissed, eyes scanning the surroundings nervously.
Yeager just exhaled, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. But before he could speak, Sam glanced at his phone and froze.
> "Yo… check this out…"
He showed the screen to Mick. A video was going viral in their school group chat — the raid and arrest of Raon Muro by armed agents.
Mick stared at the video, then slowly turned to Yeager, his expression shifting from confusion to realization.
Sam looked up too, his eyes meeting Yeager's.
> "So it's true then…" he muttered, half to himself.
Yeager looked back at them, calm and quiet.
> "Not everything at this school is about classes and basketball," he said quietly. "Sometimes, danger's sitting right next to you in class."
Yeager was just about to respond to Mick and Sam's serious gazes when his phone vibrated. Glancing at the screen, he saw Darren's name.
> "Yeager, you need to come to the NSA headquarters. Now. There's a major update. Don't delay," Darren's voice was firm on the other end.
Yeager gave a slight nod and ended the call. He looked at Mick and Sam.
> "I have to go. Something important came up," he said, his tone shifting.
Mick crossed his arms, eyes narrowing. "Let me guess... your other job, huh?"
Yeager gave a short smile, then patted both of their shoulders.
> "Watch my siblings for me, okay? Zevanya and Noel. Don't let them wander off alone."
> "Great, we're babysitters now?" Sam joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Mick still looked serious but finally gave a nod. "Don't worry. They'll be safe with us."
Yeager turned and headed toward the parking lot. As he mounted his motorcycle, he checked the message from Darren—NSA HQ's address was already sent.
The wind hit his face as he sped off, but his mind was sharper than ever. Because he knew, after this...
Everything was about to change.
At the NSA headquarters, Yeager arrived and was immediately escorted by Darren into the briefing room. Inside, David and Valerie were already standing in front of a large screen displaying a web of connections between key individuals involved in the case.
David began, his voice firm and serious.
> "Raon isn't the mastermind behind all this, Yeager. He's just a pawn — placed to mislead us."
Yeager narrowed his eyes at the screen. "Then who's pulling the strings?"
Valerie pointed to a photo of Principal Justine, now labeled in red as Prime Suspect.
> "Principal Justine," Valerie said. "He murdered Anne, under direct orders from Zico Palma."
> "Zico?" Yeager's disbelief was clear in his tone.
David stepped in. "We thought Zico Palma was just a regular student under pressure from his powerful family… but he's much more than that. He orchestrated a manipulation network within the school, backed by major players — including his own father, Septhen Palma."
Yeager stared at the screen, mind racing.
> "And Jinny?"
Valerie sighed. "Jinny... she didn't run away or go missing. She was silenced by the school system. Raon knew something — but he wasn't the killer. Jinny discovered too much about the extortion network running under the radar, and that made her a target."
Darren added, "We were misled from the start, and all the evidence was planted to point to Raon. But now the truth is leading us straight to the heart of the school… and Zico Palma."
Yeager clenched his fist.
> "So this is more than just a murder case. It's a conspiracy."
David nodded slowly. "And you, Yeager… you're already deep in the middle of it."
FLASHBACK – ONE MONTH AGO
Location: Principal Justine's Office – Midnight
The room was dimly lit, shadows of the furniture stretched across the walls. A thin layer of cigarette smoke hung in the air.
Principal Justine sat behind his large desk, fingers interlaced, eyes fixed on the young man standing before him — Zico Palma.
> "Are you sure you can manage everything, Zico?"
Justine's voice was deep, full of pressure.
Zico wore a dark jacket, standing confidently.
> "This school is under my control, Mr. Justine. The student council, the teachers, the students — all of it. You just need to play your part."
Justine narrowed his eyes. "Anne?"
Zico nodded.
> "She talked too much. Already started contacting the police. If we let her continue, it'll be a problem."
The principal took a slow breath, locking eyes with Zico.
> "Fine. But make sure there's no trace that leads back to this school. I won't be dragged into this."
Zico placed a folder on the desk — full of photos, recordings, and transcripts.
> "Everything's ready. All evidence will point to Raon. He's the son of a well-known judge. His name will be enough to distract everyone. We'll use him as a pawn."
Justine exhaled quietly.
> "And… Jinny?"
Zico stared blankly at the window.
> "She's even more dangerous than Anne. She knew everything. But don't worry... she's already been 'handled'."
Justine looked uneasy but said nothing more.
Flashback ends.
NSA Headquarters – Present
Yeager lowered his head, clenching his jaw.
>"So this… all of it was planned."
David gave a slow nod.
"And now it's time to strike back. We'll tear down this rotten system from the inside."
David stood in front of a large screen, pointing at several diagrams and pinned photos. In the room were Valerie, Darren, and Yeager, who sat with arms crossed, eyes focused.
> "For now… Raon has to remain in custody," David said firmly. "We need time to control the narrative and keep things neutral."
Yeager nodded slowly. "Even though he's just a pawn?"
David's gaze sharpened.
> "Exactly. But the outside world doesn't know that. We need to play this carefully."
Valerie added,
> "All eyes are on us. Even a small misstep could make the system turn on us."
David turned to Yeager again.
> "Your task now: investigate deeper into the school's system. Find out how this corruption and manipulation have been going on without being detected."
He leaned in, voice dropping.
> "We believe there's more than one culprit. There's no way a kid like Zico could control the principal, the school's security network, and even senior teachers without serious backing."
Yeager stood up from his chair.
> "So… I go back to school like everything's normal?"
David gave a small, knowing smile.
> "You're our eyes inside. Keep playing your role as a student. But keep your eyes and ears wide open."
Darren leaned against the wall, arms folded.
> "And if you can pull someone from the inside who's loyal to our side… even better."
Valerie looked at Yeager seriously.
> "You're not alone in this. We're here. But that school… it's a battlefield now."
Yeager took a deep breath.
> "Alright. I'll break into that system from the inside."
That night, Yeager sat in his dimly lit room, the glow of his laptop casting sharp shadows on his face.
He pressed play on the audio file recorded from the bug he had planted in Judge Edrick Muro's office.
Edrick's voice came through first—low, tense, almost pleading.
"Raon must be released. He's just a kid. He doesn't know anything."
A few seconds passed before another voice cut through—raspy, cold, and commanding.
"Without me, you'd never have become a judge, Edrick."
There was a pause. Edrick's breathing grew heavier.
"I put you in that chair, and I can tear you down just as easily. Your life... is in my hands."
Yeager leaned in, eyes narrowing.
"Leave Raon where he is. Don't mess this up. Protect Zico Palma. And one more thing—keep Ariana safe."
Edrick spoke again, his voice quieter.
"Ariana… why her?"
"If Victor Manosel catches even a whiff of this... it's over for all of us."
Click. The recording ended.
Yeager sat still for a moment, fists clenched on the desk.
"Victor Manosel... Ariana's father..."
He muttered under his breath, a cold realization settling in.
"This goes deeper… and it's more dangerous than I thought."
In Ariana's living room, night was slowly settling in.
She sat on the couch, leaning back wearily as she stared at her phone screen. Beside her, Fayo Nickle scrolled through social media, occasionally chuckling at memes.
Suddenly, Ariana's phone vibrated. An unknown number flashed on the screen.
She frowned, then stood up.
"I'm stepping out for a bit. Need some air," she said briefly to Fayo.
Without waiting for a response, she walked outside and answered the call. Her voice held a note of hesitation.
"Hello?"
A calm but firm voice replied on the other end.
"Ariana... it's me, Yeager."
She froze, glancing back at the house to make sure no one was listening.
"I need to see you. Tonight," Yeager continued. "Don't worry. Come alone. Same place—we meet at that small store. You remember the one?"
Ariana bit her lip before replying softly.
"...Yeah. I remember."
"Good. See you there."
Click. The call ended.
Ariana stood still for a moment, staring up at the night sky. The air felt colder than before, but her heart was beating faster.
The small store was quiet that night.
A dim hanging lamp cast a yellow glow over the old wooden shelves. Yeager stood near the fridge, wearing a dark jacket and a low cap. He looked up as Ariana walked in.
Ariana opened the door slowly. Her eyes scanned the room before landing on Yeager.
They exchanged a long, silent look.
Yeager gave a small nod and said quietly,
"I'm glad you came."
Ariana approached and sat down on a chair near the window.
"You said this was about Jinny?"
Yeager nodded, taking a deep breath and leaning against the wall.
"Can you work with me?" His voice was low but firm—almost like a final request.
"This is about Jinny Baldwin… and everything happening at the school. I believe this goes deeper than we thought."
Ariana stared at him, unsure.
Yeager continued, his tone sharper.
"Everything leads back to the school system. The current suspects are Zico Palma… and his father, Septhen Palma."
He locked eyes with her.
"And most importantly… your father, Victor Manosel."
Ariana flinched slightly. Her face changed, but she tried to stay calm.
"Are you sure about this?"
Yeager nodded.
"I'm not here to accuse you. I'm here to ask for your help. Because I know... you want the truth about Jinny too. And this… this is the only way."
Ariana leaned back on the chair, her eyes fixed sharply on Yeager.
"What are you really? A student or something else? Who exactly are you?" she asked, her tone cold, mixed with confusion and suspicion.
Yeager stayed silent for a moment. His gaze shifted to the window, then back to Ariana. His face turned serious.
"My name is Yeager Phit," he said quietly but firmly.
"I'm not just a student. I'm a young detective... undercover at your school to investigate this case—the murder of Anne, the disappearance of Jinny Baldwin, and everyone connected to the school's underground network."
Ariana froze. Her mouth slightly parted, eyes widening in disbelief.
"A detective...? Undercover...?"
Yeager nodded.
"I'm posing as 'Eren Yeager,' a transfer student. At first, my mission was only to protect my siblings, Zevanya and Noel, from danger. But everything grew... deeper. Way deeper than expected."
He looked down for a second, then met her eyes again.
"And now... I need your help. Because you're in the middle of all this, Ariana. Whether it's because of your father's position… or because Jinny was your close friend."
Ariana lowered her gaze. Her fingers clenched on her lap.
Her face showed inner conflict. But there was no more surprise in her eyes, only… a decision yet to be made.
"You're insane," she muttered.
"But... I can see you're serious."
Ariana let out a long sigh, looking at Yeager with a steady gaze.
"Alright. I agree."
Yeager looked slightly surprised but kept his expression composed. He gave a small nod.
Ariana continued in a serious tone, almost a whisper,
"Tomorrow... you'll come with me into my father's office."
"Victor Manosel?" Yeager clarified.
Ariana nodded.
"Yes. His private office, on the top floor of the foundation building. Inside that room… there's a hidden door. A small wooden one, behind the bookshelf on the right side."
"What's inside?"
"I'm not entirely sure," Ariana admitted, glancing down.
"He forbids anyone from going in. Even me. But I've overheard him on the phone a few times talking about 'school data' and a 'special project'. It sounded big... and dirty."
Yeager looked at her seriously.
"If that's the place, then chances are it holds the evidence—everything about the corruption and the school's manipulated system."
Ariana stared back at Yeager.
"If we get caught... both my father and I could be in danger."
Yeager leaned forward, placing his hand on the table.
"If we don't do this now, things could get worse. This might be our only shot to save Jinny... and expose everything that's been happening."
Ariana gave a slow nod.
"Tomorrow, 8 a.m. I'll get you inside."
Yeager nodded firmly.
"Thank you, Ariana. Trust me... this is a crucial step."