The silence from the previous exchange had not yet settled when Major General Joshua spoke again.
"PK," he said, his tone measured but deliberate,
"I want you to join us—full-time."
Every head in the room turned.
"You will be inducted into the Cyber Security Unit," the General continued.
"You will have full authorization to take decisions. Operational freedom.
You will report only to the Head of Security—no one else."
He paused.
"You will receive full military benefits. Access. Protection. And compensation befitting your capability."
For anyone else, it would have been an unquestionable honor.
For PK—
"No."
The word landed cleanly. Flatly. Without hesitation.
The room froze.
Lana's eyes widened.
Luna's breath caught.
Even the Elite Commander stiffened.
Selene's head snapped up.
"No," PK repeated calmly. "I won't work for anyone."
Shock rippled across the table.
Selene stood up abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor.
"Do you even understand what you're refusing?" she demanded.
"This is an offer people would beg for their entire lives!"
PK turned toward her slowly, expression unreadable.
"Maybe," he said casually,
"because you've never had a choice like this before, it sounds impressive to you."
His gaze sharpened.
"But I'm not interested."
Selene opened her mouth—
The General raised a hand.
Silence returned.
Lana and Luna exchanged glances, disbelief clear in their eyes.
Even we've never been offered something like this… they thought.
Why would he refuse?
The General studied PK closely now—not as a prodigy, not as a resource—
—but as someone who simply could not be owned.
"You're not even eighteen," the General said slowly.
"Most people your age would accept without thinking."
PK met his eyes without flinching.
"That's exactly why I won't," he replied.
A pause.
Then the General asked, carefully,
"Then what do you want?"
PK shook his head once.
"I don't want a position.
I don't want authority given by someone else.
And I don't want to work under any system that isn't mine."
The words were calm—but final.
"I won't work for anyone," PK said again. "Not now. Not later."
The room was silent.
Not awkward.
Not tense.
Respectful.
For the first time in decades, Major General Joshua found himself facing someone he could neither command nor buy.
And strangely—
He didn't feel offended.
He felt impressed.