Brian was still gently shaking Amir awake when he heard Sarah's question. He paused, a slight frown forming before he answered:
"Exactly what I said — take it literally."
"Huh?!"
At his reply, Sarah looked stunned.
"You mean… the school knew what was happening… but did nothing ?"
She pointed toward the direction of the fight, then back at Brian, struggling to find the right words to express her confusion.
Seeing her expression, Brian understood perfectly what she meant. That place had no visible cameras, and the officer had arrived so late — it didn't seem like the school was aware at all.
"The cameras you see are just for show," Brian explained slowly as he helped Amir sit up.
"Real surveillance comes from other places — hidden cameras, soldiers, teachers, administrators… even some students. Those are the ones watching everything. The obvious ones on the walls? They're just there to make you let your guard down."
"..."
Sarah's mouth remained slightly open, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't get it out. Finally, Brian gave up trying to read her and continued:
"Don't be so shocked. I know what you're thinking. But believe me, they see everything — they just choose not to act."
Then he added with a tired tone:
"That officer who came? I was the one who called him."
"WHAT?!" Sarah stared at him in disbelief. "You asked for help?"
"Of course," Brian said with a faint smile, amused by her reaction. He lightly pinched her cheek — a small reward for asking smart questions.
"Good job. At least now you're learning to think before rushing in. Unlike before, when you just charged headfirst into trouble."
Then he turned his gaze to Dick and Alan, who were watching from behind:
"And you two too."
"Sure."
"Got it."
Their half-hearted replies made Brian roll his eyes in frustration. If he weren't so far away, he would've kicked both of them.
"You really called him?" Sarah was still trying to process everything.
"Yep."
Brian nodded, glancing toward the library:
"When I heard the noise from there, I already knew what was happening. Honestly, I wasn't planning to get involved at first."
He shot Alan a reproachful look and continued:
"But then I turned around... and you three were already gone. I know your personality too well — you had to jump in when you saw injustice. So when I passed the borrowing desk, I just casually reported the fight, hoping to stop it before things got too bad."
His tone shifted slightly, more resigned now:
"But I never thought you'd jump in headfirst without even checking how many enemies you were facing. Seriously, didn't even bother to assess them before charging in?"
Seeing the guilty look on Sarah's face, Brian couldn't help but smile faintly.
"Then why didn't you come out and stop me yourself?"
Brian shrugged slightly and said:
"They were already fighting. What good would it do if I jumped in then?"
"Since I couldn't prevent it, I figured it was better to let you fight and gain some real experience. And lucky for you, I saw that you and Dick knew how to avoid direct confrontation and use your strengths. Unlike Alan, who rushed in like a brainless idiot."
Alan, hearing this, immediately protested:
"Hey! I heard you clearly!"
"Jajaja..." Sarah chuckled lightly, but her laughter soon faded. Her gaze turned to Amir, still half-unconscious on the bench, and her expression hardened.
"If they knew what was going on, why did they let it happen? Don't they know how many students are being bullied?"
Brian gave a slight smirk — one filled with irony.
"They do know. But they don't care. This school is just a giant training cage. Only those who strive to grow and increase their value will be treated well. The weak, the lazy… they'll be sent to the bottom of the quarantine zone, working on production lines for the rest of their lives."
"Don't be fooled by those bullies' current dominance. If they don't train or improve, once others grow stronger, they'll lose their position. A new group will rise, and they'll be the ones getting beaten up next."
Hearing this, Sarah felt a chill run down her spine. A shiver passed through her body.
"But what about the high-achieving students? What if they get bullied? Won't the school step in?"
Brian glanced at Sarah and answered calmly:
"They will step in. Intellectual growth is different from physical strength. It takes effort, time, and talent. And in this post-apocalyptic world, time and resources are limited. That's why the school prioritizes talent."
"By the end of the first day, the school had already identified the top students. They're protected. No one is allowed to interfere with their studies."
"You mean… the school secretly protects them?" Sarah finally understood.
"Exactly. You don't see it, but there are always eyes watching over them."
Brian looked up at the dark sky, realizing he had already said too much. He placed a hand on Sarah's back and gently nudged her toward Alan and Dick.
"Enough for today. Go get your books and return to the dorms early. This guy still needs rest," he said, nodding toward Amir.
Sarah didn't argue. She followed Dick and Alan back to the library without a word.
...
The next day
Brian woke up early, the first light barely touching the horizon. His first move was to check Amir's condition.
But when he opened his eyes, he saw Amir already sitting upright on the edge of the bed. His eyes were blank, his posture limp. He looked completely broken, as if he had been reliving that painful moment all night.
Noticing that Amir was already up, Brian asked with concern:
"How are you feeling? Do you need me to ask Devin for a day off?"
"No need. I'm fine…" Amir murmured hoarsely.
After a pause, he added:
"Thanks… for yesterday."
Brian raised an eyebrow, surprised by the unexpected gratitude. Since Amir had arrived, he had never said a single word of thanks, even when Brian had helped him multiple times.
It wasn't that Brian needed a thank you — but hearing it now felt… rare.
"I didn't think you'd ever say that."
"Forget the thanks. You should thank Sarah and the others — they were the ones who actually helped you. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't have even moved. Even if you were the one getting beaten."
Amir didn a response. He just sat there, head bowed, silent.
The dormitory fell into silence. Neither spoke. Time seemed to freeze.
Finally, Brian broke the quiet:
"Do you want revenge?"
He pulled off the covers, climbed down from the bed, and began dressing slowly.
"I bet those guys have been bullying you for a while now. From the way they reacted when you fought back, I can tell you never resisted before. But yesterday… something changed. Was it what that guy whispered in your ear?"
At those words, Amir suddenly clenched his fists tightly. His usually expressionless face twisted with rage. Slowly, he lifted his head and asked:
"Will you help me?"
Brian paused. He looked directly at Amir and answered:
"Yes… and no."
He finished buttoning his jacket and neatly folded the blanket.
"I won't go beat them up for you. But I will help you train. I'll help you build your body, sharpen your reflexes, improve your endurance. But you have to take revenge yourself. How does that sound?"
Amir stared at Brian's back. Slowly, the fury in his eyes softened, replaced by something else — determination.
Finally, he nodded:
"Fine. I accept."