Reality Quest: Lookism

The reinforced gates of the juvenile detention center loomed ahead as the police transport van pulled into the secured facility. The place was massive, surrounded by layers of fencing and watchtowers, a fortress meant to contain the most dangerous young delinquents.

Jin sat quietly in the back of the van, his handcuffs secured, but it was more for formality than necessity. The officers had barely spoken to him during the ride, still wary after witnessing his unnatural recovery.

The doors opened, and Jin stepped out, flanked by two guards who led him through the entrance. The air inside was heavy, filled with tension and suppressed violence. The faint echoes of shouting and clanging metal rang through the halls as they navigated toward the processing room.

A neatly folded uniform was set out for him, a standard blue prison outfit with the number 1021 stitched onto the chest. Jin inspected the fabric for a second before slipping into the outfit. It was slightly loose, but it would do.

Once dressed, he was led to a small, dimly lit room where a camera was positioned against a blank wall. A bored-looking officer stood behind it, adjusting the settings before motioning for Jin to stand in front of the white backdrop.

"Face forward." The officer's voice was flat, indifferent.

Jin complied but tilted his head slightly, a playful smile appearing on his lips.

Click.

The flash went off, capturing his expression perfectly.

The officer scowled, lowering the camera. "Tch. Try to act like a real prisoner."

Jin didn't respond, merely stepping aside as they processed his identification. The moment was brief, and soon enough, he was escorted down another hallway toward the cell blocks.

....

Juvenile Detention – Cell 3B

The heavy steel doors slid open with a low rumble as Jin was ushered inside. The guards gestured toward the five other inmates already lounging around in the room.

"This is your new cellmate, Jin Lee. Play nice." The officer's tone carried no sincerity as he turned on his heel, locking the door behind him.

As soon as the officers disappeared, a tense silence filled the air. The five inmates, each varying in size and build, exchanged glances before slowly rising from their seats, their expressions shifting into predatory smirks.

Jin stood in the center of the room, his gaze sweeping over each of them.

The tallest one, a guy with a shaved head and broad shoulders, stepped forward first. His lips curled into a grin. "New kid, huh? You know the rules?"

Jin remained silent.

Another inmate, this one leaner with sharp features, cracked his knuckles. "Fresh meat always pays tribute. Either cash, food, or some damn good cheeks. Your choice."

Jin sighed lightly, lifting his foot just a fraction.

And in the next instant.

CRACK.

Five bodies collapsed at once, their heads snapping backward violently. Their eyes rolled up as their bodies went limp, each of them losing consciousness before they even realized what had happened.

Jin's right leg slowly returned to the ground, his posture relaxed as if nothing had transpired. He dusted off the nonexistent dirt on his sleeve, barely sparing the fallen inmates a second glance.

"Hm… Let's search for Gun now."

As he pulled up his system panel, a soft notification sound chimed.

---

[SYSTEM QUEST: COMPLETE]

Objective: Infiltrate the juvenile detention center

Next Objective: Locate Gun Park within the facility.

---

Jin's eyes flickered with interest.

....

Time passed, and the silence of the cell was only interrupted by groans and shifting bodies. The inmates slowly regained consciousness, their heads pounding from the sudden blackout they had suffered earlier.

They sat up, rubbing their sore necks and blinking as they tried to recall what had happened. The moment their eyes landed on Jin, their bodies stiffened instinctively.

Jin was seated calmly against the wall, legs stretched out, arms crossed, his head slightly tilted downward. His eyes were closed, his breathing slow and steady, it looked like he was peacefully asleep.

The five inmates exchanged glances, a silent conversation passing between them. None of them spoke for a long moment, the memory of how easily they had been taken down still fresh in their minds.

Then, as if on cue, they all moved at once.

They bowed.

"Boss, we apologize! Please take care of us!"

Jin's eyes slowly opened, one lazy gaze sweeping over them. He let the silence stretch for a few seconds before speaking.

"Call me Sir."

"Yes, Sir!" They corrected themselves instantly, keeping their heads lowered.

Satisfied, Jin made himself comfortable against the wall again. "Now, tell me about this place."

One of them, a guy with messy brown hair, took the initiative. "This juvenile center… it's basically ruled by strength. The strongest inmates control everything."

Another, the tall one from earlier, chimed in. "Yeah, fights happen all the time. No one stops them unless someone dies. If that happens, the guards step in, and you disappear."

The lean one added, "You can request stuff from the outside too, food, books, cigarettes, whatever you want. But it costs favors or money. Nothing is free here."

Jin absorbed the information without reacting. This setup was expected. A place where the weak submitted and the strong dictated the rules.

'What an irony, a rehabilitation juvenile huh? Bullshit.'

One of them checked the old wall clock before speaking.

"Lunch break is in 23 minutes."

Jin nodded, closing his eyes again.

He'd use that time to observe the cafeteria.

If Gun was here, Jin would find him soon.

....

The heavy metal door creaked open, the sound echoing through the halls as the guards signaled for the inmates to move. The crowd of prisoners shuffled forward, their footsteps dragging against the cold floor.

Jin's cellmates followed closely behind him, but before they left their room, he spoke in a low voice.

"For now, act like I'm your follower. Don't attract attention."

The men exchanged glances but nodded. They had already learned not to question him.

As they stepped into the cafeteria, the scent of overcooked food and sweat filled the air. The hall was packed, long metal tables stretching across the space, occupied by groups of inmates eating and talking in hushed tones.

Jin and his group got in line for food. As they moved forward, a cafeteria worker slopped an unidentifiable, gelatinous blob onto their trays.

The moment it hit, some of the inmates groaned.

"What the hell is this?" one muttered, poking at the food with his spoon as if expecting it to move.

Another grimaced. "Every damn day…"

Jin glanced at his tray but said nothing, simply grabbing a spoon and moving forward.

As he walked, something caught his attention.

A lanky guy with glasses approached the serving station, and unlike the rest, he received a full plate of fried chicken. The cafeteria worker handed it to him without hesitation, as if this was a normal occurrence.

What stood out more was that no one said a word. No complaints. No questioning.

Jin's eyes flickered across the room, taking in the subtle hierarchy at play. Other inmates had proper meals, some rice and vegetables, a few even had steak.

His cellmate, the lean one, noticed his interest and spoke quietly. "Those guys pay for it. With the right connections and the right price, you can eat like royalty here."

Jin gave a short nod in response before returning to his own tray.

Corrupt as expected.

He continued eating, but his real focus was searching for young Gun.

Jin leaned back slightly, subtly scanning the cafeteria for someone fitting the description, emotionless and with the reverse eyes.

The reverse eyes are the black irises with white pupils that ultra instinct brings to the user.

Jin continued to scan every face until...

There he is.

A young boy sat a few tables away, calmly eating rice and salmon with chopsticks. His posture was relaxed but disciplined. Around him, a few inmates sat in silence, their body language showing submission. They weren't just allies, they followed him.

Jin narrowed his eyes. Gun is already making a name for himself here.

But something else caught his attention.

From the other side of the cafeteria, a group of inmates were staring at Gun, whispering among themselves. The guy with glasses, the same one who got the fried chicken, grinned maniacally as he spoke to them.

Jin didn't need to hear what they were saying. He already knew.

They're planning something.

He scooped another spoonful of food into his mouth, chewing slowly.

'Let's see how this plays out.'