"You're so frustrating!" John hissed at Shin as they followed Director Kim through the extravagant hallways of Academia City's castle, "Can't you think for yourself?"
"Yes." Shin whispered in response but shook his head, failing to understand John's train of thought, "What does that even matter?"
"Aiyaaa!" John exclaimed, smacking his forehead, "You don't even know!"
Shin stifled his laughter and shook his head, "No, John… I think it's you that doesn't know."
"We're here." Director Kim proclaimed, stopping outside a large double door and turning back to the teenagers.
"Shin." He announced, snapping his fingers as a chair materialized beside the door, and he pointed, "Wait here."
Shin nodded, walked over to the chair, and sat down, staring at the wall blankly. John shook his head, thinking Shin reminded him of a robot.
"John. Follow me." Director Kim ordered, turning as he opened the doors and shutting them behind them, locking the doors.
Shin sat there motionless for nearly an hour. Despite his calm exterior, mixed emotions ran wild inside him—anger, anxiety, concern, annoyance… desperation.
"This won't be the end!!" John shouted, flinging the doors open and turning around after storming out of the room, pointing at Director Kim, "My father will hear of this!!"
"YOU!!!" He growled, staring at Shin full of bloodlust, and pointed at him.
Director Kim appeared in the doorway and snapped his fingers as John entered stasis, "Tsk tsk tsk…" He sighed, shaking his head.
"Just because your father used to be the Number One Galaxyball player in the old NWO and your older brother is the current now means nothing to me." Kim said menacingly, approaching the frozen man.
"Their words mean little to me. If I so wanted, I could have your brother fired, and he would never see another professional match for the rest of his life." He threatened John, leaning close to the anima, adjusting his tie, and smoothing his blonde hair.
"Now begone!" He ordered, snapping his fingers again, and John vanished, forcibly evicted from the game.
"You don't happen to have any famous relatives by chance, do you?" Director Kim asked, turning to Shin and motioning him to follow him as he returned to the room.
"No, sir. I'm an orphan." Shin replied, standing as he entered the room and closed the doors behind him.
"Parents did want you?" Kim asked, clicking his tongue and shaking his head as he grabbed a large glass vase of wine and poured it into a crystal goblet.
"What a shame." He added, walking over to a nearby couch and taking a seat as he stared at the young man standing before him, "All these glowing recommendations and reviews leave me at a loss for words."
"Thank you, sir." Shin said, bowing, "I try my best to meet expectations."
"Take a seat." Director Kim ordered, waving his hand toward the chair across the coffee table while sipping his wine.
Shin silently sat down on the chair, placing his hands together in his lap as he stared at the headmaster blankly.
"So, I have spoken with James about his side of things. Explain yourself." He ordered, leaning his arm across the back of the couch and crossing his leg over his lap as he stared at the young man.
As Shin explained his perspective of the events, Director Kim's eyes lit up again, emitting a faint golden light.
"I see…" The director replied following the series of events over the last few years culminating in their hostility.
"Well, I'll make the same bet with you that I did with Mr. Roman." He said, placing the empty glass down on the table.
"What's that, sir?" Shin asked, understanding the outburst from his fellow student and storming out of the room prior.
"As a member of the technical staff at CyberNexus, I have the admin authority to review your character's potential and make recommendations on how to utilize the best course for the students under my charge."
Director Kim continued, "I see that your attributes are equalized, and you plan to utilize your ability Armament to tackle the Rookie Challenge."
"Yes, sir, that's correct." Shin nodded, "It seemed to be the best course of action."
"As you said to Mr. Roman earlier, 'The path of least resistance,' but I disagree." Director Kim said, leaning forward, "Similarly to Mr. Roman, I see something better suited for you."
"What are you implying, sir?" Shin asked, worry beginning to creep up inside him.
"I'm going to have a friendly little wager between you and Mr. Roman. You want to stay a Rookie, and he wants to become a Blood Berserker." Kim said with a sly smirk, "I want you to become a Soul Samurai and him to become a Dark Paladin."
"Soul Samurai?" Shin asked, tilting his head, "Isn't that Takeheda's unique class?"
"Indeed." Kim nodded, waving his hand as two skillbooks materialized, "He rose to become the number one player in SGO five years ago thanks to this class."
"Why would he want me to become his successor?" Shin asked, leaning forward and reaching for the skillbooks, but Director Kim pulled them away.
"Whoever scores higher in the finals will have proven their determination to see their goals through to the end, and the loser will follow my directive." He said, slamming the skillbook for each class down on the table.
"If I decline?" Shin asked, his eyes darting between the headmaster and the skillbooks.
"That's the best part!" Kim laughed, "Neither of you have a say in the matter. In addition, from now on, neither of you will make so much as an incident of bumping into one another, or you will both be banned from SGO permanently."
Shin's eyes widened in shock, and quickly understood, nodding as he stood, bowing and thanking Director Kim before turning to leave.
He reached for the door handle but was stopped by the headmaster's final words, "Don't even think about whining to your handlers either.
I don't care if you're a rich kid from a dynasty like Mr. Roman or some super soldier from an unnamed government organization; my word is law in Themiscrya."