Lucas Grant stood in the middle of the cafeteria, his surroundings buzzing with whispered chatter and curious glances. His victory in the Olympus Business War Game had traveled fast—like wildfire caught in the halls of the elite. A student who had been Tier 0 yesterday now walked with a provisional Tier 1 badge.
He turned $5000 into $17,500, making him profit of $12,500, which 10 percent was deducted to his arrangements with junior event manager, leaving him with total of $16,250, which was credited in his account
10 percent of his winnings was already cut due to his agreement with junior event manager
He sat down with Theo and Raj at their usual table—still tucked into the corner like outcasts—but today, even the shadows gave him attention.
Raj was the first to speak. "Bro… you jumped two whole tiers in a day. You know what that means?"
Lucas didn't look up from his tablet. "It means Olympus is watching."
Theo leaned closer. "They are. I overheard a girl in the Tier 2 lounge say your file was flagged by the Olympus Council."
Lucas smiled faintly. "Good. That's exactly what I wanted."
Just then, a notification lit up on his device:
Notification from Olympus Council: Congratulations on your performance. You've been granted temporary Tier 1 clearance for one week. You may access Tier 1 facilities, forums, and investment networks. — Council Admin, Level 5
Raj whistled. "Man, that's basically them saying, 'prove it.'"
Lucas stood. "Then let's prove it."
Tier 1 Networking Lounge—Olympus High
For the first time, Lucas walked into the Tier 2 student lounge. Plush leather seating, real wood furniture, and digital boards streaming everything from Olympus' internal stock market to real-time leaderboard stats filled the room.
Every table was a battlefield—students huddled around investment models, AI simulations, pitch rehearsals, and startup war plans.
Lucas scanned the room until he found a private terminal. He logged in, browsed the school's investment challenge boards, and located what he was looking for.
Upcoming Event: Olympus Startup Pitch Week Eligibility: Tier 1-2 Students Prize: $25,000 seed fund + Tier Point Boost 20 Deadline: 5 days Entries: Solo or Team
He tapped the screen.
This was Clayton's chance to earn and make progress to turn temporary Tier 1 into permanent
Lucas Grant—Entry Confirmed.
But unlike others building apps for luxury or creating the next viral NFT, Lucas had something different in mind.
He remembered his past life—empires rising, kingdoms falling. Power wasn't about raw strength anymore. It was about positioning.
He would build something they didn't even realize they needed.
That Evening—Grant Estate Study Room
Lucas sat at a desk littered with borrowed books and open tablets. The room was dim, quiet, and filled with potential.
His fingers flew over the screen as he began outlining his idea.
Concept: Micro-Investment Platform for Teen Entrepreneurs Purpose: Let anyone invest as little as $1 into verified youth-led startups Core Feature: AI-generated financial guidance, mentorship matchmaking, credit score gamification Slogan: "Invest in Dreams. Start with Change."
Raj entered the room holding two cans of soda. "Yo. I brought sugar to keep your brain alive."
Lucas smirked. "Thanks. But I'm not building a startup. I'm building a movement."
Theo peeked over his shoulder. "You're targeting… kids outside Olympus?"
Lucas nodded. "No one's thinking beyond these walls. Everyone here wants to rule Olympus. I want to rule what comes after."
Olympus Council Surveillance Room—Midnight
Sierra Lin, a poised girl with sharp glasses and sharper eyes, studied a series of screens. One showed Lucas typing rapidly into his startup pitch. Another tracked his login times, keyword searches, and forum interactions.
"Lucas Grant," she said to herself, sipping green tea.
A second student beside her raised an eyebrow. "He's working nonstop."
"Ambitious," Sierra said. "Dangerous, even. But interesting."
The student frowned. "You think he's worth monitoring?"
She smiled coldly. "No. I think he's worth manipulating."