"The ends justify the means."
–Niccolò Machiavelli
Jin Ho-seok was quiet at first, as if trying to measure me with his eyes alone. But curiosity always finds a way.
"What… what exactly are you planning, Kai?" he asked one afternoon, leaning against the empty classroom wall. His voice was cautious, almost afraid.
I smiled faintly. "I told you, Ho-seok. I provide. You follow. That's enough for now."
He frowned, frustration flashing. "No, I mean… what is this? What are we even doing?"
I tilted my head, studying him. This was the moment most people would slip. Most would reveal too much too soon. Not me. Knowledge is power, yes—but so is restraint.
"Everything in its time," I said softly, the corner of my scarred eye twitching as I let the words hang. "You need to understand one thing above all: strength alone isn't enough. Power doesn't come from fists. It doesn't come from fear. It comes from three things. Money, strength, and knowledge."
I paused, letting it sink in. "And if you want to survive in this world… if you want to win… you need all three."
Ho-seok shifted uneasily, but I could see the wheels turning behind his eyes. He was smart. Strong. But he had been held back by fear his entire life. That fear ends now.
"Cerberus," I said suddenly, letting the word roll off my tongue. "That's what I'm building. An organization. Not just a gang, not just some group of thugs. A network. Loyalty, control, power… all balanced like a three-headed beast. Strength in one head, money in another, knowledge in the third. And together, it bends the world to my will."
Ho-seok blinked. "Cerberus… like the dog?"
I nodded. "Exactly. Three heads. Three pillars. Anyone who wants to survive under me must understand their place. Loyalty is everything. Betrayal… well, there are consequences."
He swallowed hard, the idea both thrilling and terrifying. I could see him imagining the possibilities. The money, the influence, the ability to take control instead of being taken advantage of.
"Sounds… big," he said quietly. "But how do we start?"
I smiled, a hint of something cold flickering across my features. "We start small. Every empire begins with a single brick. Today, you'll help me test loyalty. Collect debts. Keep eyes open. Report back. Simple tasks. Nothing more. But each step teaches a lesson."
And that was the beauty of it. Each move, each task, each interaction was a building block. I wasn't just teaching him how to fight or take money—I was shaping a mind, molding a future lieutenant for Cerberus.
I leaned closer, my voice dropping. "Ho-seok, power doesn't wait for the timid. It doesn't forgive hesitation. You follow me, you act. You take. And one day… you'll understand why I do what I do."
He nodded, hesitant but willing. That was all I needed. The first pawn in my game, the first step toward the empire I would build.
Outside, the sun dipped low, casting long shadows down the empty corridors. Shadows that would soon stretch over more than just our school. Shadows that would bear the name of Cerberus.
And I was ready to watch them grow.