Cass left the student union to the hum of his own name running like current through the corridors.
The Aston Martin sat waiting beneath the lamps, sleek and black, its throne of motion. He slid behind the wheel, the leather welcoming him with a soundless sigh.
He didn't start the engine immediately. Instead, he leaned back, closed his eyes, and let the system whisper into the stillness.
[New Feature Unlocked: The Hidden Ledger]
[Function: Records names of those who have wronged you. Tracks debt owed. Rewards are issued upon repayment of debt.]
[First Entry: Sienna Reed]
Cass opened his eyes slowly.
'The ledger. Fitting. I've been keeping one in my mind since the day I died. Now it's carved in iron.'
A translucent panel unfolded in his vision, neat as a banker's book. One name glowed in pale fire.
[Hidden Ledger Entry]
Name: Sienna Reed
Debt Value: 35
Current Effects: -2 Composure near Cassian Vale. Public Slip Risk +10%.
Interest Collected: +1 Willpower, +1 Cold Aura (temporary).
Debt Remaining: 30
Cass studied the numbers, lips curving faintly.
'So even humiliation pays interest. Good. Let her stumble. Let her choke when she tries to rise.'
He thought a command.
'Ledger, show potential rewards.'
[Potential Ledger Reward: Sienna Reed]
Social Aura Upgrade: Allure
Reputation Boost: Women's Circles +5
Unlock: Personalised Charm Trait
Cass chuckled under his breath.
"So even her betrayal becomes my refinement. Appropriate."
The panel folded itself back into the dark. He started the engine, the Aston Martin growling awake.
The next morning, Cass dressed in navy, sharper than the day before, and arrived early on campus. His movements drew eyes but not words. People were learning that watching him was easier than catching him. He stopped at the café near the library and ordered an espresso, the barista fumbling slightly as she rang it up.
"That's on me," Cass said calmly, laying a note that covered not just the drink but the tip jar too.
Her eyes widened. "Thank you, sir."
[Social Reputation +1 (Service Sector)]
[Passive Buff: Recognition among staff]
Cass sipped his drink and turned when he felt the eyes. Sienna stood outside, framed by morning light, hair gleaming. She was pretending to scroll her phone, pretending not to notice him. But her throat moved when she swallowed.
'Already. The ledger's pressure works fast. Good.'
He left her outside, not sparing a word. The silence burned sharper than an insult.
In the lecture hall, whispers flared again, but this time there were currents of deference. People gave him space without realising they were doing it. He sat, opened his notebook, and wrote with a steady hand as if he owned the air itself. Trent Beaumont entered late, face tight, muttering to his mates. He avoided looking at Cass.
[New Entry Added: Trent Beaumont]
[Debt Value: 15]
[Reason Logged: Public antagonism. Repeated threats.]
[Current Effects: -1 Confidence when challenging Cassian Vale. Risk of Social Backfire +15%.]
Cass blinked once.
'Automatic entry. Perfect. The ledger hunts for me now.'
Cass smiled faintly, closing the notebook.
'Every word he throws will snap back in his teeth. I'll make sure of it.'
At lunch, Cass chose the rooftop terrace, a spot usually ignored for its draft. Today, it drew a small crowd who wanted to be seen near him without daring to sit too close. Rowena approached with her tray balanced carefully, chin high.
"Mind company?" she asked.
"You'd improve the view," Cass said, and gestured to the chair opposite.
Her laugh was light. She settled, cutting into her salad. "They're all whispering your name today. Trent looks as though he swallowed chalk."
Cass speared a piece of bread, calm. "Then the day has been worthwhile."
"You enjoy that," Rowena said. Not accusing, not afraid—observing.
"I enjoy balance," Cass said. "And Trent has taken too much credit without earning it."
Rowena tilted her head. "Then what are you earning?"
Cass met her gaze evenly. "Everything."
Her eyes lingered, lips curving. "Dangerous answer."
"Accurate answer," Cass said.
[Charm +1 (Arts Society)]
[Relationship Flag Deepened: Rowena Fairchild]
Cass's thoughts stayed cool even as her presence warmed the table.
'Potential ally. Smart. Knows when to push. Keep her close, but never too close until she proves herself.'
That evening, he drove not home but into the city. The system pulsed in his ear like an unseen tutor.
[Quest Available: Early Investment Opportunity – Tech Startup (2002)]
[Buy-in Requirement: £10,000]
[Potential Multiplier: 100x (10 years)]
Cass parked and stepped into a small café where two nervous graduates pitched their idea to a group of indifferent older men. He listened without interrupting, eyes narrowing as he caught the shape of their vision—cloud systems, online infrastructure, still raw but glittering with inevitability.
When the older men laughed and left, Cass approached the table.
"You've got something," he said simply. "I'll buy in. Ten thousand."
The pair froze. "What? You're serious?"
Cass laid the cheque down on the table with calm finality.
"Serious is the only way I do things."
[Investment Secured: Cloudnet Startup]
[Reward Delivered: +10,000 System Credit]
[Passive Buff Gained: Portfolio Growth +5%]
[Hidden Track Unlocked: Tech Visionary]
Cass left before they could stammer more gratitude. He stepped into the night air with his coat brushing his legs, the ledger glowing faintly in his mind.
'Sienna, Trent… more will follow. Each debt paid in humiliation, each betrayal feeding my ascent. And while they crumble, I'll build empires from their ashes.'
The Aston Martin's engine roared as he drove into the night, the sound a promise.