"So what made you turn out like this?"
The question Gage asks triggers a memory Gadeon tries to suppress.
"Just stop talking to me," Gadeon says, his voice low—not raised, but sharp and stern. Gage simply respects his space and leaves.
"So you're not going to say what happened between you two?" Kurtiz asks.
"What the hell did you do?" Gadeon raises an eyebrow at Kurtiz.
He's changing the topic? I've never seen Gage like that… did he bribe him? No, even that doesn't make sense. Gage's change seems both extreme and natural. Let's not pry into it too much… they're just kids, Kurtiz thinks.
"Simple. I just got everyone to work together, since we all want to leave detention," Kurtiz replies.
"You're lying," Gadeon shoots back.
Damn, this kid is adamant, Kurtiz thinks.
"Okay, the secret to getting everyone together was to get rid of one person. That's all I can say," Kurtiz says, hovering his index finger near his mouth as if keeping a secret.
"That still doesn't make any sense! Sir Judah said that we couldn't get rid of anyone, and if anyone leaves, the detention would be paused until they come back. But I could've sworn that everyone who was meant to be in detention was present… unless, while I was gone to get Gage, someone left—but I could've sworn that—"
"Maybe you didn't look properly. But why does it matter? My plan worked. We all get to go home," Kurtiz says cheerfully.
This man… he's very sus, Gadeon thinks. Then he immediately corrects himself. Why did I refer to him as a man? He's a kid like me. No—I'm not a kid. God… this is annoying. But I know what I mean!
"Anyway, Gadeon, do you want to—" Kurtiz begins, but before finishing his sentence, he glances a few times at Judah, who is watching them both. He guides Gadeon away for a walk.
Kurtiz… Sir Judah thinks as he watches them walk off. I don't know him personally, nor have I taught him before. There are so many students in the dojo, so it's difficult to know all of them… but is he always like this? It's like he knows I'm watching him, even though I'm not making it obvious. He knows when to talk and when he shouldn't… what words to say—words that entice others. It's like he's got a cheat code on how to handle people.
Why haven't I properly heard of him? Why hasn't his name come up in our meetings? His social skills are very advanced for a kid… and he's a liar.
Just now, he told Gaedric's son that he had to get rid of someone for his plan to work—for everyone to come together. But the person he got rid of was Gadeon himself… while also gambling that Gadeon would bring Gage back.
But why choose Gadeon? At first, I thought he needed to get rid of Gage because of their rivalry. However, Gage was very desperate today—I think Kurtiz could've won him over. Even knowing their relationship isn't great…
No… getting rid of Gadeon makes more sense. With his plan for leadership, the only person who would clash with him is Gadeon—because of his pride and ego, which I've always heard about. So he sent him away, got everyone on board…
And when I tried to use my flexing to listen, for some reason I couldn't properly hear what was being said. That was… peculiar.
Kurtiz spoke to each person individually, and after each conversation, they seemed like different people—almost satisfied.
Like an adult telling a child, 'If you behave or do what I say, I'll give you candy'… and the child does exactly that.
He's definitely going to be put down for investigation. After all, the purpose of this detention was for me to gather information and intel about the gang wars in this area.
Just after leaving Kurtiz, Gadeon finally makes his way out of the dojo building. He thinks back, unable to believe everything that has happened—from being chased by Gage, his fight with Ami, Gaedric showing him the Mirror Technique, the reveal of the Super Giants Royale, the detention, and his fight with Gage—all in a single day.
Just thinking about it makes him extremely exhausted, and he lets out a long sigh.
Out of all my days in the dojo, there has never been a day like this, Gadeon thinks as he continues walking. Today isn't the first time I've seen Kurtiz, but I could say it was the first time I properly spoke to him… but was he always like that? His personality, his character… I don't even know how to describe it.
The thought pulls Gadeon back to what happened moments ago, when Kurtiz put his arm around him as they walked. Immediately, Gadeon pushed his arm away, scowling at him.
"My bad," Kurtiz says.
"Detention's done now. We don't need to stick together. What were you going to ask me? It's like you didn't want Sir Judah to hear."
"You're perceptive, aren't you?"
"For someone the same age as me, don't you think your vocabulary is really good for a ten-year-old?" Gadeon says.
"I could say the same about you too," Kurtiz replies. "Anyway, I was going to ask… do you want to make money?"