Chapter 1

"Examinee no. 199. Results."

"Yes."

In a quiet day like this, no one can imagine how busy the inside of a certain room is. In the top university of the entire country, a certain student-picking session is made. The entrance examination had just ended, and now, the students to be accepted are handpicked by the board members themselves.

In the middle of the room, papers were scattered on the round table and all you can hear is those papers scraping against one another. The round table was surrounded by 18 different chairs with different people in it. The simplest chair belongs to the person who is sitting far in front.

As simple as it may be, but the aura of the person sitting on that chair is overwhelming.

"Examinee no. 200. Results."

"Yes."

It was noon time.

Less than five hundred students were able to complete the entrance exam. The others either didn't dare to or failed during the exam. Some fainted during the physical tests while the others gave up during the academic examination. They expected the questions to be difficult, but not to the point that a year of review was not even enough.

One of the 18 people inside stretched his hand out and picked a paper up. He cleared his throat before starting to speak.

"Examinee no. 200. Male. Age: 21. Academic results: 98%. Physical Ability results: 76%. Medical results: Clear with no history of any disease. Height: 173cm. Appearance... Pretty." Yes. In this school, aside from talents and brains, appearance is a must if you aim for the higher sections. Thus, everyone stilled after hearing the word.

The listeners turned their heads towards the speaker with confusion visible in their eyes.

Did they perhaps hear it wrong? The student's appearance was pretty? A pretty male? Was there a mistake? But... how can the top university in the country make such a mistake?

The speaker, who was also confused, knew that it was impossible for them to make a mistake. So, in order to get their attentions back on the topic, he once again cleared his throat and continued on with his report. Gazes never left his face which made him a little conscious.

"Has no record of any violence inside and outside school premises."

Finally, he reached the end of the document. He heaved a sigh of relief but was immediately interrupted by a cold voice. The voice was so cold it felt like it pierced right through his chest. His heart pounded.

"Hand me the report."

"Yes?" the person replied in confusion. He felt like something's wrong with his ears. He waited for that person's next word, but he was left waiting for nothing.

When he finally realized that that person have no intentions of repeating his words, he immediately stretched his arm and passed the paper.

The person lazily accepted the paper as he slowly lowered his lids to read the contents. Just that simple action made the people inside gulp.

He really fits that position. The highest of them all. The leader of the leaders. His aura was simply oppressive.

A whole minute of silence had passed when he finally lowered the paper back on to the table. He then placed his chin on his palms and rested his elbows on the table.

"Call him in."

For the second time, the people inside failed to comprehend.

What does he mean? Who should they call? The student? Here? Inside this room?

When no one moved, the person in front narrowed his gaze. He gave everyone a cold stare. Then finally, his gaze landed on the person who had just reported previously. He stiffened because of the gaze directed at him.

He can't seem to move.

"Call him in." it was an order.

The person immediately complied and stood from his seat. He anxiously went to the door as sweats started forming around his forehead. It was not hot inside, but it was too cold that he broke into cold sweat. He hurriedly took his handkerchief out to wipe his face as he stepped outside.

There were only less than a hundred people left outside. Others left with their heads and shoulders down because they knew that their performance during the exam was not good enough. The ones left behind are those with strong personalities. They strongly believe that they would pass and they are most probably the ones who really passed.

The person who just stepped out immediately scanned the crowd, glancing at every tag the students are wearing. Everyone who saw him come out from that door immediately realized his position.

He was one of the pickers inside.

Everyone stood in anticipation, their hearts stopping every time that person's eyes lands on them. But no one noticed how the sweats on his forehead doubled when he saw no no. 200. He scanned again, but it was still the same. No. 200 is nowhere to be found.

"No. 200! Where is no. 200?!" he finally made a call.

Everyone started lowering their heads to take a look at their own tags, hoping that their tags magically turn into no. 200, but they know it was impossible. All of them sighed. No one raised their hands. The person's hands started sweating.

Minutes had passed.

"No. 200!" he made a last call then waited for a minute more.

Just when he was about to lose hope, a commotion was heard not far from where he was.

"Excuse me! Excuse!" he can hear the faint voice of someone.

He nervously played with his hands as he waited for the youngster's arrival, hoping it was finally no. 200. He watched as the crowd parted and a young man appeared half-running.

The youngster was not that tall and not that short for a man. He had black-rimmed glasses covering his eyes but that didn't hide the fact that his nose was perfectly pointed and his lips was beautifully parted. The person stared in awe as that beautiful face came nearer and nearer.

The youngster stopped right in front of him, panting. A second passed before the youngster finally spoke. With his bright eyes and warm smile, he enthusiastically greeted the man.

"It's me! I'm no. 200!"

Finally!

The man had no time to spare.

Even though he wanted to admire the beauty more, the fear of offending the person inside was far greater, so he pulled the youngster by his arm and led him inside. The atmosphere inside was really different from the atmosphere outside. The pressure was so great it was almost suffocating. The man cleared his throat and motioned the person beside him.

"H-here--- ehem, here is no. 200." he wanted to curse his throat. Why did it have to fail him now? Thankfully, all the attention was directed at the student beside him, so no one really noticed his mistake.

He sighed a relief and left the student to speak.

The youngster bowed his head and greeted them with a wide smile. Everyone stared in awe. There was no mistake in the report. This young man was really pretty it was difficult to believe he's a man. They stared in silence even though they really wanted to speak with him. They are all waiting for a certain someone to speak.

And speak, he did.

"I heard you're an orphan." it was more like a statement than a question.

The youngster directed his gaze at that man in front. He then smiled again as he nodded politely, completely oblivious to the coldness of that person's stare.

"Yes."

"Who paid for your entrance exam?" a next question immediately arrived.

"My father... I mean, the Priest who runs the orphan. He said he paid the entrance fee with the help of donations from foreign citizens." the student replied honestly.

The people around are already observing him. Based on his results, he's most probably suited to be on the Section 1 - B. The youngster is also polite and has manners, it's just too bad that his physical capabilities lack. If not, he's most probably suited to be in Section 1 - A. It's just too bad...

All of them had the same thoughts, except for that person. What is that person thinking? Before they could even guess, that person had already started sharing his thoughts.

"You will be placed in Section 1 - B."

'Just as we thought', that's what the others thought. However, that person wasn't done talking yet.

"And you will be joining our supplementary class."

Supplementary class? When did they have a supplementary class? Yet again, before they could even search through their brains, that person spoke up, causing them to be left dumbfounded.

"You will be joining the Section - 0. You will be a member of the Pawns."

A member of the pawns? This youngster? Why? Everyone was confused. But the student who was completely clueless of the situation had widened his smile.

"Yes. Thank you very much. I will do my best!"

"Yes... Please do your best." That person's corner of the lips lifted uncontrollably. He was undeniably pleased.

The student left and the 18 of them were left inside the room filled with silence. Everyone turned towards their chairman to ask for explanation.

But that person just grinned. An extremely sinister grin.

"I've already sacrificed many... How much more would it hurt to sacrifice just another one?"