The building looked… ordinary.
Too ordinary.
Riven stopped in front of it,
frowning slightly.
"…This is it?"
No guards.
No signs.
Nothing that suggested power.
He glanced at her.
"…I thought your father would be someone bigger."
A soft step echoed behind him.
Before he could react—
A cold blade rested against his throat.
Perfectly still.
Perfectly precise.
Riven's body froze.
Too fast.
He hadn't sensed it at all.
"…My apologies."
The voice behind him was calm.
Refined.
"…But I cannot allow disrespect toward my master."
Riven's eyes narrowed slightly.
The pressure was real.
Whoever this was—
He wasn't normal.
The girl didn't react.
Like this was expected.
Then—
A voice came from inside.
"…That's enough."
Calm.
Soft.
Absolute.
The blade disappeared instantly.
The presence behind him vanished just as quickly.
Riven didn't even hear footsteps.
Silence returned.
The girl stepped forward.
"…Come."
The door opened.
Riven stepped inside.
The moment he crossed the threshold—
Something changed.
The air felt heavier.
Not suffocating.
But controlled.
Like everything inside this place was being watched.
Measured.
"…Sit."
The voice came again.
Riven's body moved before he could think.
He sat.
Only then—
He saw him.
A man sat across the table.
Simple clothes.
No visible power.
No presence.
Just… normal.
And that felt wrong.
The girl stepped in quietly.
"…Father."
The man's eyes shifted slightly.
They landed on Riven.
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Riven felt it.
Not fear.
Not exactly.
But something close.
Something deeper.
"…So."
A pause.
"…You're the one."
Riven clenched his fists slightly.
"…Riven."
The man nodded once.
Like he already knew.
"…You used Fear Factor."
Not a question.
A statement.
Riven hesitated.
"…Yes."
Another silence.
Long.
Measured.
"…Before eighteen."
Riven's heartbeat quickened.
"…Yes."
The man leaned back slightly.
His expression didn't change.
"…Do you understand what that means?"
Riven didn't answer.
Because he didn't know.
"…It means…"
A small pause.
"…You shouldn't exist."
The words were quiet.
But they hit harder than anything before.
Riven's breath tightened.
But he didn't look away.
"…Then why am I here?"
For the first time—
A faint smile appeared on the man's face.
"…Because I'm curious."
Silence.
"…And because…"
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"…If you don't understand your power…"
A pause.
"…You will destroy yourself before anyone else does."
Riven's fists clenched.
"…Then I'll learn."
No reaction.
No praise.
"…Maybe."
Another silence.
"…Tell me."
The man's voice remained calm.
"…What happened at your school?"
Riven hesitated.
Images flashed—
Fear.
Screams.
People running.
His own hands trembling.
"…I don't know."
The man watched him carefully.
Not judging.
Observing.
"…You felt something."
Riven nodded slowly.
"…Fear."
"…Not yours."
Riven's eyes widened slightly
.
"…No."
A pause.
"…Good."
That single word felt heavy.
The man leaned back again.
Thinking.
"…Your records have already been adjusted."
Riven frowned.
"…What?"
"…Your age."
"…Your school data."
"…Everything that could raise unnecessary attention."
Riven's eyes widened slightly.
"…You changed it?"
"…Correct."
A pause.
"…As far as the world is concerned…"
"…You are eighteen."
Silence.
Riven didn't know what to say.
"…Do not misunderstand."
His voice didn't change.
"…This is not for your benefit."
Riven's expression hardened.
"…It is to prevent attention."
Another pause.
"…You are not ready to be seen."
Those words stayed in the air.
Riven clenched his jaw.
"…What do you want from me?"
A pause.
"…Nothing."
Riven blinked.
"…What?"
"…For now."
The man stood up slowly.
No pressure.
No aura.
But somehow—
The room felt like it moved with him.
"…Go home."
Riven frowned.
"…That's it?"
"…For now."
A pause.
"…If you're still alive…"
"…We'll talk again."
Silence.
This wasn't an offer.
It wasn't a deal.
It was a decision.
"…Come."
The girl turned.
Riven stood up slowly.
Still processing everything.
As he walked out—
He realized something.
He never learned the man's name.
And somehow—
That made him even more dangerous.
The door closed.
Silence returned.
The butler stepped forward quietly.
"…Shall I proceed with
observation?"
The man didn't answer immediately.
His gaze remained on the door.
"…The Tokyo incident."
The butler's eyes shifted slightly.
"…Crimson?"
A pause.
"…A city-wide fear outbreak."
"…No confirmed source."
The man tapped his fingers lightly.
"…And today…"
A small pause.
"…A boy uses Fear Factor before eighteen."
Silence.
"…Unlikely."
The butler understood.
"…You suspect a connection."
"…I observe."
A pause.
"…For now…"
"…He is just a variable."
"…Understood."
"…Monitor him."
The butler paused.
"…And if he becomes unstable?"
A small silence.
The man didn't hesitate.
"Then eliminate him."
Silence filled the room once again.
Far away—
Unaware—
Riven walked into the night.
And something had already begun moving.