You think the trial just began. Some already placed their pieces near the end.
——
Phase One: Briefing Point · Crossing Paths with Idris Vale Again
Elric arrived at the meeting point right on time—7:00 AM sharp.
This time, the deployment project was a joint initiative between Athena and a real-world partner agency.
Participants would conduct on-site research under the title:
"Community Infrastructure and Youth Mental Projection."
Each selected student would be assigned to a three-person team—
Required to conduct interviews, gather qualitative data, and submit a final report.
Near the check-in area, someone waved casually at him.
"Yo, morning, Elric!"
It was Idris Vale—still in his school jacket, relaxed, with the smile that expressing:
"What a coincidence—look who's here."
"Looks like they dropped you into my group. We were one short."
Elric nodded without asking questions.
A moment later, their grouping was confirmed.
Their third teammate: Sofia, a student from Athena's international exchange program.
Eastern European, newly transferred, her Mandarin carried an accent, but her smile was warm and sweet.
Idris offered to carry her backpack before she could ask.
Held the door open for her.
His tone easy, not too close, comfortable distant—
Like the kind of boy that trusted by people without knowing why.
——
Phase Two: Field Notes · Subtle Promises, Smooth Hands
Midway through the research day, the trio arrived at a community center for interviews.
During the lunch break, Sofia sat on the hallway bench, flipping through printouts, visibly confused.
Idris walked over, crouched beside her to gather a few scattered pages the wind had blown off.
Grinning, he said—
"You picked great material. The order's just a little out of rhythm. Want me to help sort it out?"
Sofia smiled softly.
"Thanks."
He glanced at her sideways, voice dropping just a touch.
"Where are you staying now? That neighborhood gets pretty noisy at night, doesn't it?"
She nodded.
Said she lived off-campus, alone.
She'd been thinking about moving, but hadn't found anything yet.
He paused—
Then said lightly:
"A friend of mine just moved out. The place is clean, cheap. Legit decent. I can hook you up if you want to check it out."
Her eyes lit up.
"Really?"
His smile didn't even shift:
"Relax. I wouldn't scam you."
"We're groupmates, right? Friends."
Sofia just smiled again.
No suspicion in her eyes.
Not yet.
A few meters away, Elric stood glancing over his field notes.
He noticed the interaction—
Watched briefly, then returned to reading.
Nothing about it struck him as strange.
Not yet.
—
Phase Three: After Hours · Where Control Begins
After fieldwork ended, the team returned to Athena's local hub to upload their initial reports.
Idris arrived first—
But didn't head straight to the submission center.
Instead, he detoured toward Building B, stopping outside one of the old projection rooms.
Abandoned space.
Blind spot on the surveillance grid.
He took out his phone, tapped open a secure channel.
A new message popped up:
⸻
[CITRA · Candidate Entry 07: Target profile successfully submitted.]
⸻
He tapped to confirm.
Then said under his breath:
"Too easy."
"As long as you smile slowly, and never reach too far—"
"they'll hand you their keys without asking who you are."
He lowered the phone.
Exhaled.
And this time, the smile wasn't social.
It was the smile of someone who had seen the trap close before it was even set.
"She's just the first."
——
[Chapter Closing Epigraph]
Some people don't wait for the world to give them anything—
They only need a crack in its armor.
While you're still asking, 'Who planned all this?'
They've already started planning you.
——
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Chapter 27 · Everyone Tells the Truth. But No One Tells the Whole Truth.