The room fell into a suffocating silence. The air buzzed with tension as Lucas Zhao, the underworld king of Emerald University, took slow, deliberate steps toward Ochieng. His white suit shimmered under the neon lights, his sharp eyes locked onto him like a predator to prey.
Beside him, Xiao Lian stood with arms crossed, her cold, unreadable gaze flickering between the two men.
"So, this is the 'silent genius' everyone keeps whispering about?" Lucas drawled, amusement laced in his voice.
The crowd of students shifted uneasily. No one dared to interrupt.
Ochieng remained seated, calm. He swirled the red wine in his glass before taking a sip.
"And you must be Lucas Zhao." His voice was even, unimpressed. "I was wondering when we'd finally meet."
Murmurs rippled through the party.
Lucas smirked. "Courageous, aren't you? Do you know who you're talking to?"
Ochieng leaned forward slightly, his eyes gleaming in the dim light.
"I do. The real question is—do you?"
The weight of his words sent a shiver down the spines of those listening. Lucas's smirk twitched, and Xiao Lian's sharp eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then—BANG!
A champagne bottle was slammed onto the table.
Tielen.
Dressed in an all-black suit, he had silently appeared behind Lucas, his presence like a looming shadow. His cold smirk was more terrifying than Lucas's arrogance.
"Boss, do you want me to escort some trash outside?" Tielen asked casually, eyes never leaving Lucas.
The underworld leader's hand twitched at his side. His instincts screamed at him—this was no ordinary student.
Xiao Lian stepped forward, placing a hand on Lucas's shoulder before whispering something into his ear.
Lucas chuckled suddenly, stepping back. "Relax. We're just getting to know each other." He turned his gaze to Ochieng. "Enjoy the party, 'genius.'"
With that, he and Xiao Lian disappeared into the crowd.
Tielen smirked. "That guy doesn't know when to back down."
Ochieng drained the last of his wine and set the glass down. "Let him come."
The night was far from over.
—
The next morning, Ochieng sat by the window in his penthouse, flipping through documents.
A knock at the door.
Jeff entered, a sealed black envelope in hand. His expression was unusually serious.
"This arrived for you."
Ochieng took the envelope and opened it.
Inside was a simple card.
Midnight. Jade Dragon Hotel. VIP Suite 888.
No name. No signature.
But he already had a guess.
A smile played at the corners of his lips.
The game had officially begun.