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MAX WAKES UP FROM the vibration of his phone. He slowly pulls it out from under his pillow and realizes that it's already 6:30 in the morning, so without even batting an eye, Max gets up from the bed, doing a quick stretch before looking around their cluttered dorm room to grab his wireless headphones and his change of clothes.

     While grabbing the things he'll need for his morning jog, Max sees Keigo still sleeping soundly, hugging his laptop like it was a teddy bear. Xander was also asleep, but instead of hugging an electronic device in bed, he once again fell asleep at his desk, holding a circuit board and a screwdriver. Max sighs and takes Xander's blanket so he can wrap it around his shoulder.

     Max was ready to finally head out, but then he heard someone snoring loudly, making him stop. He turned to the other bed and spotted 4th-year student Vesper Hugo Cinna sleeping soundly while still holding onto his baseball bat, ready to attack if anyone tried to sneak on him.

     Max still isn't used to seeing Vesper in their dorm because he never really slept there before, but now it's almost impossible to get him to leave. Though Keigo and Xander are still wary of him at times, they're glad that he's finally comfortable to be around them.

     "Sleep tight," Max whispered under his breath. After checking the room for one last time, Max quietly walks out so he can wash his face and change his clothes.

     "Good Morning," someone greets as Max steps out of the shared bathroom. He then turned around and found Stefan, the Serfs Division's official division representative, walking towards him while holding a checklist and whistle.

     "You're up early," Stefan says.

     "You look like you're ready for the day yourself," Max says back, making Stefan chuckle.

     Stefan then shows Max the clipboard he's holding before explaining, "Just doing my daily rounds. I'm going to be in big trouble if another serf ends up missing or snuck out again. The Saints are very serious with their curfew recently."

     "Well, I'm glad you're doing your job well."

     "And whose idea do you think this was in the first place?" Stefan then asks, staring at Max who can only shrug his shoulder, pretending like he had nothing to do with the election of their division's representative, which the Saints declared to be an official position the other day.

     "Anyway, I'll head out first. I'll see you at breakfast," Max says, and Stefan smiles at him and pats his shoulder as Max makes his way to the lobby.

    The serfs greeted him with a smile, and Max could only smile back, glad and relieved that their dorm's atmosphere was now better than his first day here.

     "Time for my morning jog," Max says, putting his earphones on and opening the main door, revealing a clean campus that successfully hid away all the damages that were caused during the past week.

     It's been three days since the arrest of the Ministry. Everyone was busy, and everything was happening so fast that no one could even keep up with the changes thrown at them from left and right. You could simply say that St. George Academy was flipped upside down, literally and figuratively.

     A day after the Ministry's arrest, police came and inspected the entire campus, looking for whatever they were instructed to find. The students were also asked to head back home for the time being, but not a single soul wanted to leave, probably because they didn't want to get raided by the media and answer questions they were tired of hearing themselves.

     Most of the professors, especially the abusive ones, were instantly fired from their positions, while the Ministry—who handled everything in St. George—was replaced by an abbess, better known as Reverend Mother, Margaret.

     Mother Margaret was once Janet Sinclaire's professor when she studied in Bologna, Italy. She was supposed to be the president of the sister school of St. George Academy but keenly refused when Janet offered the position. Fortunately, when they reached out to her again, Mother Margaret finally agreed after hearing about the devastating news. Now she's been handling the aftermath better than anyone expected.

     St. George Academy's future finally started looking brighter. Everyone wasn't used to the changes, but they all knew that these were all necessary. The black and white uniforms were considering this as their new beginning. But what really pushed for all this change...

     Was the implementation of the White Uniform Protection Code,

     GAFFERS DIVISION:

     72 out of 86

     83.72% approval rating

     The entire atrium was left completely speechless when they saw the results for the Gaffers Division. They only needed 65 gaffers to vote for the implementation, but they got more than what they needed, and that was the greatest plot twist of all.

     President Justice and Vice President Levi couldn't understand how that even came to be. They couldn't understand why they even had a change of heart, but the votes were real. The reactions showed that most of the gaffers wanted it too. Max said they probably didn't want to be the bad guys anymore, while Justice explained that their reason could be anything, but now isn't the time to question it. What's important is that after all those years...the White Uniform Protection Code was finally approved.

     Naturally, the Saints all voted for its approval as well, even Martin Osborn, who had been studying in J.S High, was forced to return to help the council with the piles and piles of documents they were tasked to look through and submit. It was a shame that Martin had to cut his stay in J.S High short, but it seemed like the representative didn't mind and was delighted to be back. Judging from the bruises he attained, the rest of the council didn't even ask about what happened to him. They'll just have to ask about his experience in that house some other time.

     Now, after the immediate implementation of the code, the Brotherhoods didn't waste any time and submitted their request for the approval of the Brotherhood Customs, which was the very reason why a number of white uniforms still didn't vote for the approval of the WUPC.

     Max found out that the brotherhoods don't have a brotherhood battle here because they don't have a Black Uniform Protection Code, which automatically came with the Brotherhood Customs. Once this has been approved, brotherhoods can finally battle as well.

     "When I think about it, what did brotherhoods even do here?" Max once asked Xander and the others when they were cleaning the Garden of Eden.

     "I mean we still feared them," Stefan answered. "Besides the obvious fact that they're the face of our school, they're still a menace even during the Ministry's rule. But I heard that they have illegal battles below the campus, and students with money get to watch and make bets."

     "Illegal battles below? That's interesting. I should have enrolled here instead."

     "The Ministry wouldn't have let that happen. They'd be too scared to have a Sinclaire as their student here," Vesper then added. "But that's another story. More cleaning and less yapping. I wanna finish this fast so I can go back to the dorm and sleep."

     "You truly are an old man," Keigo commented next, and the rest laughed while Vesper chased the poor Keigo with a broom.

     Despite not being able to witness everything, Max was excited about the new path that the House of Bishops was walking on. He was happy that they were finally taking a step forward. But out of everyone in this house, the person making one of the biggest steps of them all was none other than...

     "Vice President Leviathan Dubois. He's waiting outside. Should we let him in?" Jeremy Tan, one of the members of Dangerous Five, asked his leader, Kim Hee-Joon, who was busy writing something on his desk.

     Joon stops midway and turns to his brother. He thinks about it for a while, but then he sighs and puts his pen down. He looks away from him again and finally says, "Bring him here. Let no one disturb us."

     Jeremy nods and bows at Joon before heading out. A few minutes later, someone knocks, and the door slowly opens and closes. Joon didn't even have to turn around to know that someone was now standing behind him.

    "Lord Joon," a painfully familiar voice greets, but Joon ignores him and continues to write something, pretending like he didn't hear anything even though he was the one who told Jeremy to bring this guest here in his bedroom.

     Vice President Leviathan Dubois, who was revealed to be Joon's closest friend in the past, was used to the cold treatment as he took a step forward. He stops when he is only a meter away from Joon. If he stretches his arm far enough, he'll be able to touch him.

     "Things have been pretty hectic, hasn't it? It reminded me of the time Paradox lost for the first time. Everyone was celebrating. Everyone was so happy. Everyone...except us. Because when Paradox fell, it was the same day Grey died, and after that, every victory meant nothing," Levi explains, but Joon still seemed to not pay any mind, which made the vice president sigh.

     Fortunately, Levi wasn't giving up. He's gonna make Joon talk to him whether he likes it or not.

     "When Grey died, we didn't just lose someone we greatly respected and admired. We lost a president. The kings, C1A, tried to stick together and walk in his footsteps, but it was impossible. At that time President Janus left that position empty too, and I thought he just didn't want to replace Grey so soon. But then just a week before our first year ended, a boy named Ian Rothman enrolled and was then introduced to the Elites. That's when I knew...we were waiting for him. The boy Grey personally chose.

     Janus gave me the option to become the president if I wanted to, but before I could even decide, you sent me an invitation to your banquet, and now here I am, standing behind you, hoping you can finally look me in the eye and—" Before Levi can even finish his sentence, Joon suddenly cuts him off, just as how Levi expected.

    "I was there during the whole thing. There is no point for you to dictate the events of a past I already decided to forget."

    When the vice heard the lord speak, he instantly smiled and said, "Well, if you just decided to greet me earlier when I arrived, I wouldn't have wasted my breath."

     Joon sighs and puts his pen down before finally turning around to face his old friend. The two were quiet for a while. No one said anything, yet the silence felt so loud. Both of them could tell that they wanted to say something to each other, but none of them opened their mouths to speak. But after a while, amidst the growing silence, Levi finally made the first move.

     "I'm planning to step down from my position of Vice President," Levi unexpectedly revealed, instantly making Joon look back at him with his eyes wide in shock and disbelief.

     "I already talked to Justice about it. Now that the White Uniform Protection Code has been implemented, I no longer have any reason to stay as a council member. I can now focus on my health, just as you once insisted. But of course, I'll only step down once the Exchange Program ends and when everything else has been settled. I still wish to assist Max, in exchange for everything he has done for us here," Levi says with a soft smile while Joon continues to stare at him in silence.

     The brotherhood leader couldn't even think of the right words to say, but after a while, he looked away from Levi and told him, "Did you come all this way to inform me of something I care so little about?"

     When Levi heard of the response, he sighed in dismay and answered back, "Why do you insist on being so cold, Joon?"

     Joon clenches his fist and turns away, but then Levi grabs him by the arm, which only angered the ex-prince. He stands from his seat and pushes Levi's hand off him, but when Levi stumbles back a little, Joon's angry expression instantly turns into worry. Levi sees this and gives out a chuckle. He then slowly reaches out to touch the eyepatch that Joon was wearing. Joon flinches, but he lets Levi touch him again after so long, his warmth making Joon's eyes water.

     "I am sorry," Levi tells him. "I am sorry that I was not able to protect you as much as I can. I am sorry that because I am so weak, all I could do was watch as your fire slowly died out. You had no one to turn to..."

     "I had Viktor," Joon quickly answered, making Levi pull his hand away.

     The vice president stares at the leader for a while before giving him a sad smile. "Oh, how I pity you, my old friend. You didn't have Viktor. Viktor had you. There is a huge difference."

     "Do not lecture me."

     "Please, I'm one to be lectured myself," Levi then admits. "The love we crave from the people we're chained to will be the death of us. Viktor will never truly love you, even you know that. And Uchdryd...he will see me as nothing more but a means of repentance for the sins he committed while he was an underling of Checkmate. We're not stupid Joon. With the things Viktor and Uchdryd did to us in the past...their sweet words...their poisonous touch...their fiery passion...it will not be enough to patch up the scars they had already left in our hearts and bodies," Levi says with an almost pained expression.

     "Do you even love Uchdryd to have such sentiments?" Joon asks back, and the answer instantly appears on Levi's face.

     "Yes," he replies in a heartbeat. "I love him because he chains me. You will not understand that sickening feeling, Joon."

     "Oh I do," Joon replies, looking down while reaching out to touch his neck. "I know very well what it feels like to be chained. I know that you let them do anything to you because you're afraid that they'll cut the chains off and then...you're alone again."

     Levi reaches out to Joon again, touching his chin and forcing the leader to look back at him.

     "Do you really need to leave this house? Can't you just stay here by my side? I can take better care of you now. I can take care of you better than Viktor or anyone else," Levi then declares, and the question comes as such a shock that Joon isn't able to give an immediate response. He didn't expect Levi to ask him such a selfish request. Not now.

     "W-Why would I...you never—"

     When Levi notices Joon struggling, he laughs. "Lighten up. I was just joking. I know you wouldn't stay even if I locked you up," he says instead despite knowing that Joon wouldn't believe his excuse.

     "Anyway, there was something more serious that I wanted to say because I feel like this might be the last time we'll be able to speak to each other like this," Levi continues, immediately changing the subject. "This might come as a surprise, but three weeks ago, someone tried to assassinate Elijah Memphis and Vesper Cinna. We caught someone involved in that incident," the vice president then reveals, and Joon is completely stunned. His confused expression changed back to his usual Ice Prince persona.

     "The person we caught...he had an inverted fleur de lis symbol in his body. Memphis, who caught him first, interrogated him, but he wouldn't say a single thing. A day later, we found him dead. It seemed like he poisoned himself," Levi reveals next.

     "What? How did I not know this?"

     "The Saints nor the other lords have not released this information to anyone yet, but I wanted you to know about it before we part. When you return to J.S High, I hope you can ask the king about it. I'll send you the rest of the information once you leave the house. That will be all."

     Levi takes a deep breath and nods his head before touching his chest and giving Joon a deep bow. Without saying anything else, he walks to the door to make his exit. But just as Levi grabs the doorknob, Joon stops him.

     "Lev..." he calls out, and that single word made the vice president swallow the lump in his throat, hoping not to let his emotions get the best of him again.

     "When you asked me to stay, I almost agreed to it without any hesitation. I think you already know this, but I love you deeply, Leviathan Dubois. I love you more than my very existence. I wish nothing more but to see you break from the chains that bind you. I wish to stay by your side and take care of you better than the lord can ever take care of you. But you are the remnants of my past, and so am I to you. The only way we can move forward...is if we let each other go."

     Levi was left completely dumbfounded. He wasn't expecting Joon to show his vulnerability to him like this. But the mere fact that Joon did tell him such a sentimental confession made him realize something, and that realization made a tear fall from his eyes. He forced a smile, but he could no longer hide the hurt. Joon wanted to wipe his tears away, but Levi didn't let him. This was also Levi's plan when he decided to meet Joon like this, but now that Joon put it into words himself, he couldn't deny the sharp pain in his heart.

    This will be the last time they'll ever speak to each other again.

     "Someday, when our past no longer haunts us, let us greet each other with genuine smiles. Goodbye, Kim Hee-joon."

    Without saying anything else, Levi walks out of the room as Joon watches him go. When the door closes, Joon swallows the lump in his throat and tries his best not to shed a tear, but he fails as a trail of clear liquid appears on his cheek. He immediately wipes it away with the back of his hand, thinking that he should no longer dwell on such emotional matters that will stray him from the actual goal.

     When the leader finally composed himself, he went back to his desk and stared at the words that were written on the letter he was writing before Levi arrived.

     The letter was addressed to none other than the king himself, Viktor Stepanov.

     Joon sits back down and grabs the pen again to continue what he was writing...

...not certain who the other suspect may be, but I'll try to talk to Hedeon again if he has any leads.

I also have new information about the people who might be involved with Grey's death, but nothing is certain yet. A trusted source told me that they caught a man who had an inverted fleur de lis symbol on their body. Do you know anything about this? If you do, let me know and I'll try to look for more information regarding this incident. Getting information from Uchdryd might be difficult, but I can make Memphis speak if given the right opportunity,

There are still a few days till the Exchange Program ends, and I am not certain if I'll be able to return soon. But there is one thing that I am confident about. Your childhood friend is way more terrifying than you feared, my king. If you do not play your cards right, you will gain a very troublesome enemy.

That will be all.

Esprit de corps.

Yours,

K. Joon

PS: I think it's my turn to get conquered by that brotherhood tamer. Let's see if he can make me shiver as you did in the past, my sweet little Vi.

- END -