As the door to the administration office closed behind Lee Seojin and the man who had introduced him, the room remained thick with confusion and unspoken questions. Kim’s mind raced, replaying every word, every gesture. This wasn’t just an ordinary scholarship program; something far deeper was at play here.


    The other students in the room exchanged whispers, some more animated than others, but all of them wore the same anxious expression. It was clear they were as uncertain about what had just happened as Kim. He felt his palms grow clammy, his heart still racing in his chest. What had Lee Seojin meant when he said only the “strongest” would survive? Was this some kind of competition, or something more dangerous?


    Kim didn’t have time to dwell on it as the secretary at the front of the room cleared her throat and stood. Her voice was cold and impersonal. “You’re all dismissed for now,” she said briskly. “You’ll receive further instructions soon. Until then, keep up with your classes.”


    The students filed out, most of them walking quickly as if eager to escape the lingering tension in the air. Kim, however, hesitated. His mind was still reeling from the encounter. The program, the boy, the cryptic words—none of it made sense, and yet, somehow, he felt a strange pull toward it. This could be his opportunity, his way to rise above the suffocating divide that existed between the rich and the poor students at this college. But at what cost?


    As he stepped out of the administration building and into the bustling campus, Kim took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. The campus was alive with students walking in every direction, laughing, talking, and enjoying the day. But none of that felt real to Kim anymore. It was as if the encounter had shifted everything—he was no longer a mere scholarship student. He was now a part of something larger, something that could either make or break him.


    His mind drifted back to Lee Seojin. The boy hadn’t said much, but there was something about him. His confidence, his detached air—it was unsettling, yet oddly captivating. He had walked in with such a sense of authority, and yet he was no different from Kim in terms of age. But the way he had spoken… it was clear he had power, influence, things Kim could only dream of having.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Suddenly, Kim’s thoughts were interrupted by a voice calling his name.


    “Hey, Kim! Wait up!”


    Kim turned to see his friend, Jiho, jogging toward him. Jiho was another scholarship student, one of the few people Kim had been able to connect with in the sea of strangers. Jiho had always been easygoing, the kind of person who could laugh off almost anything, but even he looked unsettled after what had just happened.


    “What was that all about?” Jiho asked, falling into step beside Kim. “Do you think we’ve been chosen for something special, or is it just a waste of time?”


    Kim shrugged, still lost in thought. “I don’t know. But that boy, Lee Seojin, he’s not like anyone we’ve met before. He looked like he was… testing us, or something.”


    “Yeah, I noticed that too,” Jiho said. “But did you see the look on his face when he mentioned being part of an ‘elite circle’? That sounds pretty exclusive. It’s got me thinking, Kim. Do you think we can make it in?”


    Kim stopped walking and turned to face Jiho, his brow furrowed. “I don’t know. But I’m going to try. If this is some kind of test, I’m not going to back down. We’ve been struggling our whole lives—this could be our chance to change everything.”


    Jiho nodded, a grin spreading across his face. “That’s the spirit. But just remember, if we get in, things will be different. It’s going to be cutthroat.”


    Kim met his friend’s gaze, a sense of resolve settling in his chest. “I know. But I’m ready for it. I’ve been ready for a long time.”


    As they continued walking through the campus, Kim couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation building within him. He was no longer just a scholarship student fighting to survive in a world that seemed to reject him. Now, he was on the cusp of something greater. Whatever this opportunity was, it was the break he had been waiting for.


    But as Kim walked through the campus, a new feeling began to take root—a sense of danger. This was not just an ordinary opportunity. It was a game, and Kim had no idea what the rules were. He had no idea what Lee Seojin’s true intentions were, or how far he was willing to go to win this game. But one thing was clear: if he wanted to rise above, he would have to face whatever challenges lay ahead—no matter the cost.


    As the sun began to set behind the towering buildings of the college, Kim felt a strange pull in his gut. Something told him that this was only the beginning of a much larger journey—one that would push him to his limits and beyond. The choices he made now would define his future, and he couldn’t afford to hesitate.