Jalen sat cross-legged in his room that night, eyes still alert from the day's training. Muscles ached in a familiar way now one that made him feel alive. But something tugged at his curiosity… a name he remembered from the depths of the Lookism universe.
He picked up his phone and messaged Hansu.
"Do you know Tom Lee?"
A short pause.
Then the reply:
"Yes."
Another message followed almost instantly.
"Why"
"I have my reasons so please I'm not asking as a student but as a friend"
"Be ready at 10 AM tomorrow. We're going to meet someone."
The next day, Jalen dressed sharply clean, dark clothes that let him stand out. When he arrived at Hansu's side, the legendary master simply nodded and led him to a black car already waiting.
Inside sat a man with calm eyes and a sharp presence.
"Kim" Hansu said.
Jalen recognized him instantly. The cleaner. The blade behind the shadow of Workers. Nothing about him felt weaker. His aura was like still water calm until stirred.
Manager Kim drove.
For the first few minutes, there was silence.
Then, Kim spoke. "Hansu says you're talented. Talented enough to annoy him. That's not something I hear often."
Jalen smiled faintly, watching the city slip by.
"I want to meet Tom Lee," he said simply.
Kim raised an eyebrow. "You're not even asking what he does?"
"I know," Jalen said. "I want to learn."
Manager Kim's eyes lingered on him for a moment longer before focusing back on the road.
"You're interesting," he finally said. "But Tom is… different. Chaotic, even by our standards. If you want to deal with him, you better be ready to handle more than fists."
They pulled up to a tall, glass building one that didn't scream importance but oozed secrecy. Inside, past layers of security and sharp-eyed staff, they walked through a long hallway until Manager Kim stopped at a plain, closed door.
Inside, seated casually on a couch, surrounded by paper, half-dressed mannequins, and designer clutter, was Tom Lee.
Shades on indoors, cigarette lazily balanced between his fingers.
He looked up.
"Oh?" he said, grin stretching. "New face."
Jalen stepped forward.
"My name is Jalen."
Tom leaned back, exhaled smoke, and tilted his head.
"And what's a future legend doing here?"
Manager Kim said nothing knowing Tom could see the kids potential. Hansu simply stood near the door.
Jalen kept his gaze locked on Tom.
"I came to learn."
Tom chuckled, the sound echoing with amusement and something sharper beneath.
"From me?" he said, standing slowly. "Now this... this should be fun."