Before Sabrina could even react, the man in the neighboring cell spoke up first.
"Hey—can I apply for a room change?"
His voice was bright and clear, but laced with obvious irritation.
Living right next to Eugene—
he had probably reached his limit long ago.
But Sabrina wasn't the dorm manager.
With a helpless sigh, she opened the hatch to 120.
Eugene's face appeared immediately.
The corners of his lips curved upward, his eyes gleaming as he stared at her—an unsettling eagerness flickering within.
"Lit—"
Sabrina raised a finger to her lips, cutting him off before he could finish.
She handed over a prepared note.
[My name is Sabrina. Please use my name from now on. And now, kindly hand over the clothes that need washing.]
Eugene arched a brow, a smile tugging at his lips as something dark flashed through his eyes.
"Alright~"
He was unusually cooperative.
Which only made Sabrina more wary.
Something's off.
She took a cautious step back and pulled the cart closer to the door.
Eugene's smile deepened.
He finally moved.
A sock appeared first, dangling lazily between two fingers before he flicked it into the cart.
"There."
Then the other.
Then a shirt.
One piece at a time—
slowly.
Deliberately dragging it out.
Sabrina closed her eyes briefly, exasperated.
That glimpse of toned muscle through the hatch—
she turned away at once.
A low chuckle followed behind her.
The sound sent a prickle down her spine.
She rubbed her arms, goosebumps rising, silently counting each item as it landed in the cart.
When she reached five—
she turned back, ready to shut the hatch.
Only to find—
Eugene had stuck his head out again.
Without the cover of a shirt, his collarbones were sharply defined, his shoulders broad and firm.
Even without seeing more—
Sabrina could guess.
Her face flushed red, then pale.
He was absolutely the type to go that far.
Eugene beamed at her.
"Sabrina… I'm stuck again."
He seemed to enjoy the name, repeating it with relish.
"Beautiful, kind Sabrina… help me out, won't you~?"
Her face flushed even deeper, anger rising.
She gestured sharply—Get back inside yourself!
Eugene tilted his head, watching her with open amusement.
"I don't understand," he said innocently. "Write it down for me~"
Sabrina shot him a look, then scribbled quickly on her note.
Just then, Eugene glanced back as if remembering something.
"Ah… see? My hands won't come out. You'll have to hold it up for me, Sabrina."
Expression stiff, she held the note closer.
He leaned forward, squinting slightly as if he couldn't see clearly.
The whole scene—
absurd, almost pitiful.
Trying not to react, Sabrina stepped a little closer.
As he read, she glanced absentmindedly into the cart.
…Feathers? A blanket?
So he was still wearing something?
Or maybe not.
With him—
you could never be sure.
Suddenly—
her expression changed.
She jumped back, glaring furiously.
That shameless man—
had just rubbed his face against her hand.
"…Mm?"
As she retreated, Eugene slowly opened his eyes, still hazy, still wanting.
That sticky, lingering gaze clung to her like threads.
Sabrina felt as if everywhere he looked had been tainted.
Her skin prickled.
Her fists clenched as she stood there, furious and at a loss.
She really wanted to hit him.
But he looked like he'd enjoy that too.
What kind of person was this—
shameless and insufferable!
Seeing her flushed cheeks deepen, Eugene's smile widened.
His dark gaze lingered on her face.
Red, puffed with anger—
like a tiny, indignant pufferfish.
He stayed there, bare-shouldered, refusing to retreat.
They stared at each other.
A silent standoff.
Sabrina glanced around.
No tools. No stick. Nothing to push him back with.
Then she remembered—
the cleaning robots that roamed the corridors.
Without hesitation, she turned and ran.
Eugene raised a brow.
Hmm?
Did she just run away?
The thought amused him.
It was the first time someone had fled from him in irritation.
But then—
his smile froze.
"Let go of me."
"Let go of me."
A mechanical voice echoed down the hall.
Inside their rooms, the others frowned, puzzled.
Only Eugene could see—
Sabrina returning, carrying a small cleaning robot almost as big as her head.
Its little arms flailed as it struggled.
On its display:
(＞-＜)
From its body, it repeated endlessly:
"Let go of me, let go of me—"
She reached 120—
and without hesitation, shoved the robot straight at Eugene's head, trying to push him back inside.
He ducked slightly to avoid getting smudged—
but then—
a low, delighted laugh spilled from his throat.
"Heh… hahahaha…"
Eugene acting crazy wasn't unusual.
But the robot's frantic protests?
That was new.
Everyone inside grew more curious.
Hearing his laughter continue, Sabrina pushed harder, increasingly annoyed.
"What are you doing?"
A cold voice cut through the scene.
Sabrina froze.
She turned—
and saw him.
Standing at the entrance—
a tall, imposing figure.
Dressed in a sharp black uniform, a long coat falling to his calves, a metal belt cinched tightly at his waist, accentuating broad shoulders and a narrow waist—
and impossibly long legs.
A black tactical helmet covered his head completely.
Not a single inch of skin visible.
He stood there—
and his mere height—nearly two meters—radiated authority.
Through the reflective visor, Sabrina could feel his gaze locking onto her.
She recognized him immediately.
The current chief of the Black Tower.
Her superior—
and far above even that.
Behind her, the robot still chirped:
"Let go of me, let go of me—"
Sabrina hurriedly set it down.
Nervous, she pointed toward Eugene behind her—
indicating that he was the one causing trouble.
Eugene, for his part, remained utterly unconcerned.
He leaned there casually, meeting the man's gaze without hesitation.
"Even with that thing on," he drawled, "your hearing's still sharp, huh?"
They were old acquaintances.
His tone was almost familiar.
The man—Zhui Guang—stepped forward.
Each measured step carried a silent, suffocating pressure, like storm clouds gathering.
His gaze swept briefly over Eugene—
then settled on Sabrina.
At first, he had assumed it was another staff member mishandling things.
But seeing Eugene—
it made sense.
This man would only behave if nailed to a wall.
Still—
as the governing authority of the Black Tower—
he had to ensure procedures were followed.
"Explain."
Sabrina immediately began writing, carefully detailing everything that had happened.
The "culprit," Eugene, made no attempt to deny it.
Instead, he grinned, openly provocative.
A faint zzzt sound.
The man pulled out a stun device and tossed it to Sabrina.
"Use it only on him."
He paused—
then glanced upward.
"This is Building Three…"
He added calmly:
"And Gian."
Sabrina caught it like treasure.
Her eyes lit up instantly.