A GOD'S WAY OF JUDGEMENT

The sterile smell of the hospital filled the air as Ronan sat in the examination room, waiting for Gerald. When the door opened, Gerald walked in, his expression unreadable as he glanced at Ronan. The doctor adjusted his glasses, glancing at the heart monitor as he approached.

"How's it looking?" Ronan asked, his voice low, almost casual.

Gerald raised an eyebrow and checked the readout. "No stress on the heart. It's holding up fine. No irregularities, and it's working as it should."

Ronan nodded, a small smile creeping across his face—a rare sight these days, one that made Gerald blink in surprise. In the midst of the dark times Ronan had been going through, the smile felt like an anomaly.

"Everything seems fine, then?" Ronan asked.

"Yes," Gerald replied cautiously. "But, considering everything you've been through recently, it's a good sign. Just… don't push it."

Ronan's smile lingered for a moment, but his eyes remained distant, as if the brief flicker of positivity had already been swallowed by the shadows of his thoughts.

Without another word, Ronan pulled out his phone, a subtle change in his demeanor. His fingers moved quickly as he typed a message.

"Meet me at the coffee shop. Same place. -R"

He sent it off, then glanced back at Gerald, who was still watching him. Gerald caught the faintest hint of a smirk before Ronan stood to leave.

"Don't worry about me, Gerald," Ronan said softly. "I'll take care of everything."

Gerald didn't say anything in response, just watched as Ronan walked out of the room. He stood still for a moment, the words ringing in his ears, but his mind kept coming back to the rare, almost human moment—the smile that had crossed Ronan's face. A smile that felt out of place given the darkness that surrounded him. For a moment, the monstrous figure that the world feared seemed just… human.

As Ronan exited the hospital, he slipped his phone into his coat pocket and walked to his car that he bought.

Ronan arrived at the coffee shop, stepping through the door with his usual confidence. As soon as his presence was felt, the atmosphere shifted. The few customers inside, some already sipping their coffee, quickly glanced up, their faces stricken with fear. A heavy silence followed as one by one, they stood up and filed out, not sparing a second glance at the man who had caused so much unrest in the world. Even the owner, who usually seemed unaffected by the customers coming and going, shot Ronan a nervous look from behind the counter. Within moments, the shop was empty.

Ronan stood at the entrance for a beat, observing the empty space. He knew that his very presence had driven people away, but he allowed it to happen. There was a time when he could have used his influence to change that—force people to stay, make them comfortable. But right now, changing his image wasn't a priority. The task ahead was more important than the image he projected. He needed to focus, not on how he appeared, but on what needed to be done.

Ronan glanced around, making sure there was no one left but Alex. When he saw the young man sitting by the window, he moved toward the table, a slight, genuine smile touching his lips.

Alex, already seated, looked up as Ronan approached. For a moment, the same tense silence from earlier lingered in the air. But this time, Alex wasn't moving. He had a calm but expectant look on his face.

Ronan sat down across from him and nodded in greeting. "Hey, Alex," he said in a more relaxed, friendly tone. "Thanks for meeting me."

Alex leaned forward; his curiosity piqued. "So, what did you want to say?"

Ronan's gaze shifted slightly, and for a moment, his eyes seemed distant as he considered his words carefully. Then, with a small, almost ironic smile, he spoke.

"These past three days have been heavy," Ronan began, his voice soft but direct. "A lot has happened, and I've been thinking... I need a change. So, I decided I'm going to change my identity. I'm going to go to your college. Study with you."

Alex blinked, momentarily stunned. "Wait… what?"

Ronan leaned back in his chair, watching Alex's reaction closely. "Yeah. I'm going to study with you, Alex. Go to classes, blend in. I think it might be the best way for me to see things from a different perspective, away from all of this," he gestured vaguely, indicating his life as it was now—the chaos, the power, the fear.

For a moment, Alex didn't know what to say. The idea of Ronan—this man, who could command nations, strike fear into the world—suddenly walking into a college classroom and sitting next to him seemed impossible. But then again, he had already seen sides of Ronan that most people didn't. Maybe this was just another layer of who he really was.

"You want to study?" Alex asked, trying to process it. "With me? In college?"

Ronan nodded. "I've never had a chance to live like that. To just be... someone else. And I think it'll be useful. The world's full of power plays, Alex. But sometimes, it's the simple, unnoticed things that make the real difference. I want to see the world through your eyes, maybe learn something new."

The words hung in the air for a moment, and Alex could see how genuine Ronan was in his statement, the weight of it all behind his calm exterior. He felt a strange sense of awe and confusion at the same time.

"Well," Alex finally said, "That's… unexpected. But, yeah, I guess that's cool." He gave a small smile. "You might not be able to blend in too easily, though."

Ronan chuckled; the first genuine laugh Alex had heard from him. "I'll manage. I'm good at keeping a low profile."

The two of them sat there, surrounded by the quiet of the empty coffee shop, the world outside continuing as usual—unaware of the moment taking place inside. For Ronan, this was more than just a break from his duties. It was an opportunity to see life from a different vantage point. And for Alex, this was a moment he knew would shape his own understanding of the man sitting across from him.

The car moved smoothly along the road, the steady hum of the engine filling the space between Ronan and Alex. They were on their way to the college for the admissions process, and the morning light filtered through the windows, casting soft shadows.

Alex glanced at Ronan, who was staring out the window, clearly lost in thought. "So, you ready for this?" Alex asked casually, breaking the silence.

Ronan looked over at him and nodded. "Yeah, but I had some business to take care of first." His voice was calm, but there was a hint of something darker behind it.

With a flick of his wrist, Ronan reached into his coat pocket and pulled out his phone. Z, the AI that was embedded into his system, hummed softly in response. Ronan tapped the screen, and a few commands were sent. Without warning, his features began to shift subtly in the rearview mirror—his jawline, nose, and eyes all changing ever so slightly, his face becoming more indistinct. It was still him, but no one would recognize him. Not now.

"Z," Ronan said, his voice low but firm, "make sure no one can identify me now. Full transformation, but keep it similar to my original face. I don't want anyone to know."

The AI responded with a soft buzz in his ear, and the changes were complete. His face was still familiar, but now it was a perfect blend—unrecognizable to the average person, yet eerily similar to his original self.

Alex, watching the transformation in the mirror, raised an eyebrow. "That's... freaky," he said, unable to hide his surprise. "You just changed your face in seconds."

Ronan smiled slightly, his voice casual. "Yeah. Celia's done it for me before, but this time, I needed it to be perfect. For now, the world can look, but they won't see."

Alex nodded, taking it in. "So, what, you're walking around with a new face now?"

"Yeah," Ronan replied. "It's safer this way. No one's going to recognize me, and I'm done playing the same game. I've got to keep the world guessing."

For a moment, Alex said nothing. Then he chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, I guess no one will be able to say 'hey, that's Ronan.'"

Ronan smirked. "Exactly. And I prefer it that way." He paused, glancing at the college approaching in the distance. "It'll make things easier. For now, we get to the admissions office."

The car rolled up to the entrance of the college, the bustling campus around them barely noticing their arrival. As Ronan opened the door and stepped out, Alex followed, glancing back toward the car. He was still processing the face change, but he had seen enough in his time with Ronan to understand that everything was carefully planned.

"Ready?" Alex asked.

Ronan and Alex walked into the administrative office, the door opening with a soft chime as they stepped into the spacious, modern room. The walls were adorned with certificates and awards, a testament to the college's high standing. Behind a large desk sat the head of the Weapons Engineering department, a middle-aged man with a sharp suit and a professional demeanor.

He looked up from his papers as they entered, a welcoming smile spreading across his face.

"Mr. Ronan Arcanveil," the man said, extending his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you. We're aware that you've come for the admission process, and we're very excited to have you here."

Ronan shook the man's hand firmly. "Thank you for your time," he said smoothly. He motioned to Alex, who stood beside him. "I brought my friend Alex with me. He studies here at your college, in the Weapons Engineering program, I believe?"

The department head glanced at Alex, who nodded. "Yes, sir," Alex confirmed, though his surprise was evident.

Ronan continued, "I've been hearing about the program here, and after speaking with Alex, I've decided I want to join the same course. Weapons Engineering."

Alex's eyes widened at the mention of the course. He had known Ronan was capable of many things, but weapons engineering? That was something else. The last time he had mentioned anything about studying weapons, Alex hadn't taken him seriously, but now he was realizing that Ronan wasn't joking.

"You want to study weapons engineering?" Alex asked, almost in disbelief, his voice soft but filled with surprise.

Ronan turned to Alex with a slight smirk. "Why not? I have a lot to learn, and I've heard this is the best place to do it. I want to understand it all—the engineering, the design, the strategy behind it."

The department head raised an eyebrow. "That's quite an ambitious goal, Mr. Arcanveil. But, given your... reputation, I believe you'll bring something unique to the program. We'll be happy to guide you through the admission process."

Ronan nodded, his face calm and collected. "I appreciate that. I'm here to learn, not just to lead."

At that point, Ronan leaned forward slightly, his gaze steady as he spoke to the department head with a controlled but firm tone. "I wish to avoid any trouble with the college. To ensure that, I'll pay three times the original fee. I'd rather have no issues at all."

The department head blinked in surprise. "Three times the fee?"

"Yes," Ronan confirmed. "It will ensure there are no complications, and I believe it's a small price to pay for peace of mind."

The head of the department glanced at the papers before him, clearly processing the offer. "That's certainly generous, Mr. Arcanveil. We'll be sure to accommodate your request."

Ronan's eyes briefly flicked to Alex before continuing. "Also, I would like to keep my seat beside Alex in class. He's been a good friend, and I believe having him nearby will help my transition."

Alex was taken aback by this. Ronan wanted to sit beside him in class? It was one thing to study the same course, but to sit together? Alex couldn't help but wonder if Ronan really understood what that would mean, but at the same time, a part of him felt proud.

The department head nodded once again, clearly impressed by Ronan's generosity and foresight. "Of course, Mr. Arcanveil. We can arrange that. No problem at all."

Ronan gave a small nod of acknowledgment. "Thank you, sir. I'm looking forward to it."

As they continued discussing the logistics of the admission process, Alex couldn't shake the thought: Ronan Arcanveil—one of the most powerful men in the world—was here to study weapons engineering, just like him, and even more surprising, he was willing to pay extra and sit beside him.

As they walked toward the exit of the building, Ronan put his hand on Alex's shoulder, a gesture that felt surprisingly warm and genuine.

"Alex," Ronan said, his voice calm, "I want you to come with me one last place. Just as a friend."

Alex looked up at him in surprise. There was something about the way Ronan spoke—so casual, so unguarded—that made it clear this wasn't just about business or power. It was an offer of camaraderie.

"Where are we going?" Alex asked, a bit wary, but willing to go along.

Ronan smiled slightly. "You'll see. It's not far."