Early in the morning, Ren sat at his usual café near the Academy, quietly eating breakfast while scrolling through the latest e-sports news on his phone.
He was completely absorbed, blocking out the world around him. The clinking of cups, the hum of chatter, the faint music playing in the background—none of it reached him.
Unbeknownst to him, however, several students sitting nearby were not as quiet.
"It's him, right?" one girl whispered excitedly, showing her phone to her friends. On the screen was a video of Ren's match—his victory against Black Lion.
"Yes! That's the one! He defeated Scar—Scar! The captain himself!"
A dreamy sigh escaped another girl. "He's in that new mercenary group… World Conqueror, I think. I'd totally hire him just to be near him."
A round of giggles followed, barely muffled behind hands and straws.
"But wait," another girl said, leaning in. "Doesn't he live in the slums?"
