Harem Stealing System

A few hours back, a sleek black Mercedes rolled into the college parking lot, its tinted windows gleaming beneath the late morning sun. The low hum of the engine carried a certain arrogance, the kind only a driver like Ruel could wear like a tailored suit. He stepped out slowly, straightening his blazer and adjusting his expensive watch. That smug grin of his spread across his face as he glanced at the familiar buildings of the campus. His eyes gleamed with unshaken confidence, no, with entitlement.

Almost instantly, a few of his old friends recognized the car and started toward him. The crowd parted a little, curious whispers following them. One of the first to reach him was a lanky guy with a gold chain around his neck and a small tattoo running along his eyebrow. He grinned wide. "Man, what did I tell you? I knew you'd be back."

Ruel chuckled darkly, the sound more like a predator's growl than a laugh. "Never doubted me, huh?"

"Not even once," the gold-chain guy said with a smirk.

"Hah!" Ruel's laughter was loud, confident, almost theatrical. As more of his circle gathered, he clapped a few shoulders, nodding at familiar faces. Inside, his thoughts were venomous. I'm back, baby. And to whoever that son of a bitch was that took my video, be prepared. I'm gonna f**king destroy you and your life. His grin widened at the thought. I'm Ruel. I've never been beaten without consequence. And I'm not starting now.

His eyes roamed over the students passing by, scanning their faces with a calculating glare. He didn't know yet who was responsible, but he was certain the culprit was somewhere among these nobodies. His jaw tightened as his mind shifted to another target. Now… where are Lyra and Arin? The thought carried a cruel edge. Arin's a bit troublesome, sure, but once I find a weakness, I'll pounce without hesitation. And Lyra? That timid little bitch—how dare she…

His smirk faltered when one of his friends leaned closer. "Hey, maybe you should lay low for a bit. You know how the principal is. He's not gonna just let you stroll around like nothing happened."

Ruel's eyes narrowed. Then he gave a slow, lazy smile, as if the idea amused him. "I know. He definitely has someone watching me. But I'm not stupid, I won't take the bait. I'll move when they least expect it."

"Just saying, man. Heat's still on you," the guy said.

"Heat's never been a problem," Ruel replied, slipping his hands into his pockets. The group started toward the main building. Along the way, the stares intensified. Students turned their heads, some murmuring to each other as they passed.

"Is he back already?" one voice whispered.

"As expected. His family influence isn't small. No way he'd be kept away for long," another voice muttered.

The air around Ruel was thick with unspoken tension. He didn't acknowledge any of it. In his mind, those whispers were meaningless chatter from insignificant people. He didn't live in their world, they lived in his. Then, someone stepped into his path. A tall figure with poise in every movement. Her steps were unhurried, her posture perfect, her gaze straight ahead.

Eva Marvelle.

Ruel's smirk slipped into something else, respect tinged with caution. He moved slightly aside to give her room to pass. She didn't even glance his way, as if his presence was beneath her notice. He knew her well enough. They'd crossed paths at a few high-end parties, and it hadn't taken long for him to realize the truth: no matter how powerful his own family was, they were nothing compared to hers.

Eva's father was the CEO of Samsung. In this country, that name carried weight heavier than any politician's promise. Even families bigger than Ruel's treated the Marvelles with a careful blend of fear and admiration. Ruel wasn't afraid to offend most people, even those from wealthier backgrounds—retaliation was always a two-way street. But the Marvelles could erase his family from the social map without breaking a sweat. He wasn't foolish enough to test that.

As Eva passed, the faint scent of an expensive perfume lingered briefly before disappearing into the hallway behind her. Ruel watched her go, his smirk returning once she was out of sight. He continued toward his own classroom, tossing lazy flirtatious remarks to a couple of passing girls. One giggled, another rolled her eyes. Ruel didn't care. It was all part of his performance.

Meanwhile, in another part of the building, Eiden sat slouched at his desk, chin resting on one hand, his pen idle on the notebook in front of him. The classroom was buzzing softly with chatter, but he barely heard any of it. This is gonna be troublesome… f**k. His brows knitted together. He had to come back so soon? Shit… I haven't made much progress in any other task besides Lyra yet. The thought gnawed at him. Have I been too slow?

The image of Airie flickered in his mind. Should I make haste with her progress? But how? He tapped the pen against the desk, the soft clicking marking the seconds of indecision. Now Ruel's back, and that's a problem. I need to keep an eye on Lyra in case she becomes his target. As for Arin… I think she'll be fine.

A pause. Then an idea. Wait a second… the Hint function should have refreshed by now. He straightened slightly, his mind shifting gears. The faint noise of students settling down for the start of class faded to the background. He mentally opened the interface only he could see. The system's familiar, faintly glowing panel unfolded before his eyes. Rows of menus, icons, and timers greeted him. The "Hint" icon was glowing faintly, ready to be used.

Should I ask about Ruel's intentions or about how to get closer to Airie? He chewed the inside of his cheek. Both were crucial, but in different ways. Ruel was a threat, immediate and unpredictable. Airie was an opportunity, but one that might slip away if he hesitated too long. The professor walked into the room, setting his bag on the desk. Eiden didn't notice. He was still staring into the glowing text of the interface, weighing his options like a gambler holding two cards that could make or break the game.