Chapter 1

The Kings of Titan University

The golden rays of the morning sun stretched across the sprawling campus of Titan University, one of Thailand's most prestigious private universities.

Known for producing brilliant engineers, successful entrepreneurs, and future leaders, Titan University wasn't just famous for its academic excellence.

It was also known for its influence.

The university had been established decades ago by four of Thailand's wealthiest families. Today, their descendants continued studying here like ordinary students, though everyone knew they were anything but ordinary.

The campus was already bustling with life.

Students hurried toward lecture halls while others sat beneath the shade of blooming trees, revising notes or chatting with friends. Club members stood near the entrance, enthusiastically handing out flyers to freshmen.

The smell of freshly brewed coffee drifted through the cool morning air.

Everything seemed peaceful...

Until—

"THEY'RE HERE!!"

A deafening scream echoed from the university gate.

Within seconds, students from every direction turned their heads.

"They're here!"

"Oh my God!"

"Hurry! They're coming!"

Girls grabbed their phones while others rushed toward the main road.

Even some professors paused their conversations and smiled knowingly.

A first-year student blinked in confusion.

"W-What's happening?"

His senior sighed dramatically.

"You'll understand in a second."

At that moment...

Four luxurious black cars entered the campus one after another.

The noisy atmosphere suddenly became strangely quiet.

The cars stopped in perfect formation.

The first door opened.

A tall young man stepped out.

His posture was elegant, his movements calm and unhurried.

His expression remained indifferent as he adjusted the cuff of his black watch before looking ahead.

Aou.

No unnecessary expressions.

No unnecessary words.

Just his presence alone made people instinctively step aside.

"Senior Aou..."

"So handsome..."

"He looks like a prince..."

A professor happened to pass by.

"Good morning, Aou."

The young man gave a respectful nod.

"Good morning, Professor."

His voice was calm and polite.

He respected those who deserved respect.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

The second car door opened.

A pair of long legs stepped onto the pavement.

Hands tucked lazily inside his pockets, the young man walked forward without sparing a single glance at the crowd surrounding him.

His sharp eyes carried a natural arrogance.

Girls screamed even louder.

"Pond!"

"Senior Pond!"

"Look at me!"

He ignored every single one.

Completely.

A nervous student accidentally bumped into his shoulder.

"I-I'm sorry!"

Pond simply glanced at him.

One cold look.

The student immediately apologized again before running away.

Pond continued walking as though nothing had happened.

He never looked for trouble.

But if trouble came looking for him...

He would never back down.

The third car door opened.

Unlike the others...

This young man wore an easy smile.

"Good morning, ladies."

A wave.

One sentence.

The girls nearly fainted.

"It's Joong!"

"He smiled at me!"

"No, he smiled at me!"

Joong chuckled softly before walking away.

Behind the charming smile hid a brilliant mind capable of reading people within seconds.

He enjoyed watching chaos...

As long as he wasn't the one trapped inside it.

Finally...

The last car door opened.

Silence.

The young man stepped out carrying nothing more than a cup of iced coffee.

His face remained completely expressionless.

No smile.

No frown.

Nothing.

His cold eyes quietly scanned the surroundings before following the others.

Nobody dared approach him.

Not because he had done anything...

But because his silence alone was intimidating.

Perth.

The quietest among the four.

Yet somehow...

The most dangerous-looking.

The four walked side by side.

Like kings returning to their kingdom.

Students instinctively moved aside, creating a path without anyone asking.

A freshman whispered,

"Who are they?"

"They're the Four Kings."

"The Four Kings?"

"You'll understand after spending a few weeks here."

Another student lowered his voice.

"They're final-year Mechanical Engineering students."

"They're also the university's top students."

"They've never lost a competition."

"They're rich..."

"...and this university belongs to their families."

The freshman's eyes widened.

"What?!"

Before he could ask another question...

A voice interrupted.

"Still gossiping this early?"

Joong casually looked over his shoulder.

The students instantly froze.

"N-No, Senior!"

Joong smiled.

"Good."

He turned around and continued walking as if nothing had happened.

Pond glanced sideways.

"You enjoy scaring people."

"They scare themselves."

Aou sighed.

"Must you start this early?"

"I haven't done anything."

Perth quietly sipped his coffee.

"..."

Aou shook his head helplessly.

"Some things never change."

The four had known each other since they were children.

Brothers by choice.

Friends by fate.

Partners...

In everything.

The Mechanical Engineering building soon came into view.

Students respectfully greeted them as they entered.

"Good morning, Seniors."

"Morning."

Only Aou answered.

The others simply nodded.

Inside the classroom...

The atmosphere remained serious.

No unnecessary conversations.

No noisy laughter.

Everyone focused on preparing for the lecture.

A professor walked in carrying several files.

He smiled.

"As expected."

"The Four Kings are never late."

Pond leaned lazily against his chair.

"We're not interested in making a bad impression."

The professor laughed.

"I wish every student thought like that."

The lecture soon began.

Outside...

Life on the other side of Titan University was about to become much, much louder...

To Be Continued...

AOU

POND

PERTH

JOONG

The Sunshine of Chemical Engineering

Unlike the calm and disciplined atmosphere of the Mechanical Engineering Department...

The Chemical Engineering building was overflowing with laughter.

Students chatted in the hallways while others rushed toward their laboratories carrying notebooks and safety goggles.

Some were already complaining about the endless assignments waiting for them.

Everything looked normal...

Until—

"BOOM!!"

A loud voice echoed throughout the entire corridor.

"Save me!"

Students immediately turned toward the source of the voice.

Running down the hallway at full speed was a cheerful young man carrying two sandwiches in his hands.

His bright smile made it look as if he had just won the lottery.

Behind him...

A beautiful young man chased him while holding an empty lunchbox.

"SANTA!!"

"COME BACK HERE!!"

"You stole my breakfast again!"

Santa laughed so hard he almost couldn't breathe.

"I didn't steal it!"

"I rescued it from your bag!"

Boom nearly cried.

"That's called stealing!"

The students around them laughed.

"There they go again..."

"I swear these four make every morning entertaining."

Before Boom could catch him...

Santa suddenly hid behind another student.

"Phuwin!"

"Protect me!"

The calm young man looked up from the book in his hands.

He didn't even blink.

"Give him his sandwich."

Santa pouted dramatically.

"But I'm hungry."

"You already have your own."

"This one looks tastier."

Boom crossed his arms.

"Because I woke up at five in the morning to make it!"

Santa immediately hugged the sandwich.

"Then it definitely tastes better."

Boom gasped in disbelief.

"Listen to yourself!"

A burst of laughter escaped from someone nearby.

Leaning casually against the wall stood another young man.

Tall.

Handsome.

Athletic.

His broad shoulders and well-built physique often made new students mistake him for someone intimidating.

Yet the moment he smiled...

Every trace of that image disappeared.

Dunk laughed so hard that he had to wipe the tears from the corners of his eyes.

"You two..."

"You've been arguing over sandwiches since first year."

Boom looked at him helplessly.

"And whose side are you on?"

Dunk shrugged innocently.

"Santa's."

Boom stared at him.

"You too?"

Santa proudly threw an arm around Dunk's shoulder.

"See? True friendship."

Boom placed a hand over his heart dramatically.

"My own friends have betrayed me."

Phuwin finally closed his book with a soft sigh.

His calm voice carried just enough authority to quiet the three instantly.

"Enough."

"Class starts in ten minutes."

Santa blinked.

"...Already?"

Boom pointed accusingly.

"This is your fault!"

"My fault?"

"You stole my breakfast!"

"You chased me!"

"You ran first!"

"You stole first!"

Dunk couldn't stop laughing.

The surrounding students shook their heads with amused smiles.

"They're impossible."

"But honestly..."

"The department would be so quiet without them."

"They're basically the mood-makers."

Just then...

A middle-aged professor walked into the hallway.

The four instantly stopped whatever they were doing.

They stood straight.

Then bowed politely together.

"Good morning, Professor."

The professor adjusted his glasses before smiling warmly.

"Good morning."

He looked at Santa.

"...Did you steal Boom's breakfast again?"

Santa scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.

"...Maybe."

The professor sighed dramatically.

"I've been teaching for twenty years."

"I've never met someone who considers stealing sandwiches a hobby."

The entire hallway burst into laughter.

Even Boom couldn't help smiling.

The professor chuckled.

"As long as you don't steal chemicals from my laboratory."

Santa grinned.

"I make no promises."

The professor pointed toward the classroom.

"Inside."

"Now."

"Yes, Professor."

The four immediately obeyed.

As they walked toward class...

Boom quietly took another sandwich out of his backpack.

He handed it to Santa.

Santa looked surprised.

"I thought you were angry."

"I was."

"...Then?"

"I packed two."

Santa blinked.

"You knew I'd steal one?"

Boom smiled helplessly.

"You've done it almost every Monday."

Dunk laughed again.

"I told you."

"Boom always forgives you."

Santa suddenly wrapped both Boom and Dunk in a tight hug.

"I love you guys!"

Boom immediately protested.

"You're squashing me!"

Dunk laughed.

"You're too energetic this early."

Walking beside them, Phuwin simply smiled.

A small...

Gentle...

Almost invisible smile.

As he watched his three best friends fool around, one thought crossed his mind.

"I hope these days never end."

None of them knew...

That fate had already begun moving the pieces of a game much bigger than university life.

Somewhere else on campus...

Four kings walked through silence.

Here...

Four best friends walked through laughter.

Two completely different worlds.

Soon...

Those worlds would collide.

BOOM

PHUWIN

SANTA

DUNK

Two Different Worlds

Monday mornings at Titan University were always busy.

The campus was alive with laughter, hurried footsteps, and students rushing to their lectures.

Outside the Mechanical Engineering building...

Everything remained calm.

Inside Classroom M-401...

The atmosphere was completely silent.

Students quietly listened as the professor explained the day's project.

Not a single unnecessary conversation could be heard.

At the back of the classroom...

Four young men sat together.

Aou listened attentively while making notes.

Pond lazily twirled his pen between his fingers.

Joong rested his chin on his palm, looking more interested in watching Pond than the lecture itself.

Perth calmly stared at the whiteboard, occasionally writing something in his notebook.

The professor suddenly smiled.

"I'll be pairing Mechanical Engineering students with Chemical Engineering students for next month's Innovation Exhibition."

A small murmur spread across the classroom.

"It'll be a joint project."

"Each team will consist of students from both departments."

Joong finally looked interested.

"Sounds troublesome."

Pond didn't even raise his head.

"As long as they do their work."

Aou calmly closed his notebook.

"We'll know once the list is announced."

Perth simply nodded.

...

Meanwhile...

The complete opposite scene unfolded in the Chemical Engineering building.

"NOOOO!!"

Santa dramatically threw himself across the laboratory table.

"I refuse!"

"I reject this assignment!"

Boom laughed helplessly.

"You haven't even read it."

"I don't need to!"

"I can already feel my grades dropping."

Dunk burst into laughter.

"You've got quite the imagination."

Phuwin calmly adjusted his safety goggles.

"You'll survive."

Santa pointed at him dramatically.

"Easy for you to say."

"You're basically a genius."

Phuwin shrugged.

"I just study."

Santa looked offended.

"See?"

"That's exactly what geniuses say!"

The entire classroom erupted into laughter.

Even their professor couldn't hide his smile.

"You four..."

"I don't know whether you're here to study..."

"...or perform comedy."

Santa proudly placed a hand on his chest.

"We can do both, Professor."

Boom immediately covered his face.

"Please pretend you don't know him."

"I heard that!"

After class...

The four friends walked toward the university café.

Santa was talking nonstop.

"So..."

"What should we eat today?"

Boom smiled.

"As long as you don't steal mine."

"I make no promises."

Dunk laughed.

"I knew you'd say that."

Phuwin quietly listened while holding four iced coffees.

The four continued walking, completely immersed in their conversation.

At the same time...

From the opposite direction...

The Four Kings left the Mechanical Engineering building.

The distance between the two groups slowly became shorter.

Ten meters.

Eight.

Six.

Neither group noticed.

Santa suddenly turned around while laughing at something Dunk had said.

Without looking where he was going...

Bang!

He bumped straight into someone's shoulder.

The force almost made him fall.

Before he could hit the ground...

A hand grabbed his wrist.

Santa blinked.

"...Huh?"

Boom quickly reached out.

"Santa!"

Phuwin looked up.

Dunk stopped walking.

Standing in front of them...

Were the four famous seniors everyone in Titan University knew.

Silence.

Students nearby immediately froze.

One whispered,

"...The Four Kings."

Santa looked from the hand holding his wrist...

To the tall senior in front of him.

Perth.

Perth slowly let go.

"...Watch where you're going."

His voice wasn't angry.

Just calm.

Santa immediately bowed.

"I-I'm sorry, Senior!"

Boom quickly apologized too.

"We're really sorry."

Pond glanced at the four juniors before speaking flatly,

"Next time..."

"Pay attention."

Joong smiled faintly.

"They're just kids."

Aou gave the four juniors one brief look.

"It's alright."

"Be careful."

With that...

The four seniors continued walking away.

Not another word.

Not another glance.

The juniors stood there for a few seconds.

Santa blinked.

"...They're scary."

Boom nodded immediately.

"Very."

Dunk rubbed the back of his neck.

"I thought Senior Perth was going to kill you."

Phuwin watched the four figures walking away.

For some reason...

He felt something strange.

Not fear.

Curiosity.

"...Let's go."

None of them noticed...

As the four seniors disappeared around the corner...

Joong glanced back for a split second.

His lips curved into the faintest smile.

"...Interesting."