WELCOME TO HELL

Rain poured heavily against the black car window.

Liora Vale stared silently at the giant building ahead of her.

LUNARIS ENTERTAINMENT.

The most powerful idol company in Korea.

And the place that destroyed her family.

“Miss Vale,” the driver spoke carefully, “we’ve arrived.”

Liora grabbed her bag without answering.

The moment she stepped outside, camera flashes exploded everywhere.

“Trainees are arriving!”

“Who’s that girl?”

“She’s pretty…”

Liora lowered her hoodie and walked faster.

She hated cameras.

The huge academy doors opened slowly.

Inside was luxury.

Crystal lights.

Massive screens.

Perfect trainees practicing under neon lights.

Everyone looked beautiful.

Everyone looked fake.

A giant digital board covered the wall.

RANKING SYSTEM — MONTHLY EVALUATION

Every trainee’s face appeared with scores beside them.

Dance. Vocals. Popularity. Fan Votes.

And at the very top—

1 — KAEL DRAVEN

The girls nearby whispered instantly.

“He’s here today…”

“I heard three trainees cried because of him last week.”

“They say he’s debuting soon.”

Liora looked away.

She didn’t care.

She came here for one reason only.

The truth behind her mother’s death.

“New trainee?”

A cold female voice interrupted her thoughts.

A woman in a black suit stood nearby holding a tablet.

“Name?”

“…Liora.”

The woman checked the screen.

Then suddenly froze.

Just for one second.

But Liora noticed.

The woman quickly smiled again.

“Dorm room 19. Orientation starts in ten minutes.”

Interesting.

Why did she react like that?

Liora walked toward the elevator quietly.

But before the doors closed—

A hand stopped them.

The entire hallway suddenly became silent.

Even the trainees nearby stepped back nervously.

A tall boy entered the elevator wearing all black.

Silver chain. Sharp jawline. Dark eyes.

Dangerous.

Kael Draven.

He didn’t even glance at the others.

The elevator doors closed slowly.

Silence.

Heavy silence.

Then—

Kael finally looked at her.

Straight into her eyes.

And for the first time since arriving…

Liora felt nervous.

“…Have we met before?” he asked quietly.

Liora’s heart almost stopped.

Because the way he looked at her…

Wasn’t curiosity.

It was recognition.

The elevator doors opened on the twenty-first floor.

A massive practice hall stretched across the building. Music echoed through the walls. Dozens of trainees stopped the moment Kael entered.

Some bowed immediately.

Others avoided eye contact completely.

Liora noticed the fear in their expressions.

Not admiration.

Fear.

Kael walked past them silently.

Then suddenly—

CRASH.

A girl’s phone hit the floor beside Liora.

“I-I’m sorry!” the trainee panicked while bowing repeatedly toward Kael.

Kael didn’t even stop walking.

But his voice turned cold.

“You were recording.”

The girl froze instantly.

“I wasn’t going to post it—”

“Rules matter here.”

The entire room became silent.

A staff member quickly rushed forward and grabbed the crying trainee’s arm.

“Phone confiscated. Evaluation points reduced.”

The girl looked horrified.

“Please… I’m ranking 28… if my points drop again, I’ll be eliminated…”

Nobody helped her.

Nobody spoke.

Liora clenched her fists slightly.

This place was insane.

Kael finally glanced toward Liora again.

“Get used to it,” he said coldly.

Then he walked away.

The giant screen on the wall suddenly changed.

NEW NOTICE: MIDNIGHT EVALUATION — TODAY MANDATORY FOR ALL TRAINEES

Whispers exploded instantly.

“Midnight evaluation?!”

“They haven’t done that in months…”

“I heard someone disappeared after the last one…”

Liora stared at the glowing screen silently.

Something was deeply wrong with Lunaris Entertainment.

And somehow…

She had just stepped into the center of it.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***