The Grand Dining Hall was frozen.
No one moved.
No one ate.
Silver spoons and crystal plates sat untouched.
Silent.
Heavy.
The air pressed down on three hundred of the richest teenagers in the world.
On the high stage, Headmistress Eleanor Blackwood stood like a dark statue.
She did not care about the food.
Her eyes were on the blue glow of the tablet held by Silas "The Hound" Vane.
"The Audit is the heart of this school," she said.
Her voice was loud. Cold.
It cut through the room.
It made Xavier's skin prickle.
"In this room, we do not value promises.
We value proof.
Silas. Begin verification for Table One."
Xavier felt sweat on his back.
Cold.
His face stayed like stone.
No flicker of fear.
[ SYSTEM MESSAGE ]
[ DANGER: 94% CHANCE OF EXPOSURE ]
[ CURRENT ASSETS: $26,000.01 ]
[ REQUIRED ASSETS FOR 'VALERIUS' NAME: $500,000,000.00 ]
Half a billion dollars.
Missing.
If Silas scrolled to his name…
The alarm would trigger.
By sunset, the Butcher's men would come to the hospital.
To his mother.
To pull the plug.
Silas smiled.
Glasses catching the light.
"Let's start simple. Leo Lee."
Three seats from Xavier.
Leo's face turned grey.
Hand shaking as he reached for his water glass.
"Leo Lee," Silas read, bored.
"Family wealth: $4.2 Billion.
Personal account: $4 Million.
Current liquidity…"
He paused.
Brows furrowed.
"Wait. Leo. Your account is frozen?
You owe $2.4 Million to an offshore casino?"
A gasp ran through the hall.
At Astraea, being poor was a sin.
Being in debt? A death sentence.
"It's a mistake!" Leo shouted.
Voice cracking.
"My father is CEO of Lee Electronics!
We're launching a new tablet this afternoon!"
"Actually—"
Xavier cut in.
Sharp. Clear.
The panic stopped.
Every head turned.
Even the Headmistress looked at Table One.
Xavier did not look at Leo.
He watched the bubbles rise in his champagne glass.
"Actually," he repeated, swirling slowly.
"That tablet has a catastrophic battery flaw.
It catches fire.
A stop-ship order was signed four hours ago.
Leo, your family is not launching a product.
They are filing for bankruptcy."
Silence.
Absolute.
[ SYSTEM MESSAGE ]
[ ACTION: CRITICAL INTEL LEAKED ]
[ PRESTIGE GAINED: +10,000 ]
[ EFFECT: LEE ELECTRONICS STOCK IS PLUMMETING ]
Julian Thorne whispered, shocked.
"How do you know that?"
Xavier looked at him with pity.
"Julian. My family treats your servers like junk mail.
If you want truth, stop looking at screens.
Start looking at the people who own the satellites."
A lie.
Xavier only knew because the System had highlighted Leo minutes ago.
"Silas," Headmistress barked.
"Verify the Lee family status. Now."
Fingers blurred across the tablet.
Smirk vanished.
"He's right.
The stock cratered.
Leo Lee. Your family has no credit left.
You are insolvent."
"No!"
Leo screamed.
Two guards in grey suits grabbed his arms.
Silent. Efficient. Terrifying.
"Leo Lee," Headmistress said coldly.
"You violated the terms of your stay.
Settle your debts immediately.
Remove him."
Leo was dragged out.
Sobbing. Begging.
Xavier felt nausea.
One mistake.
Erased.
But he had bought time.
Chaos filled the Audit.
[ SYSTEM MESSAGE ]
[ LEO LEE IS WIPED OUT ]
[ WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHORT HIS FAMILY STOCK WITH YOUR $26,000? ]
Yes.
Take everything they have left.
Xavier stood.
Graceful. Effortless.
All eyes on him.
"Headmistress," he said.
"Since the Lee family ruined this luncheon, I suggest we adjourn.
The scent of desperation is spoiling my appetite."
Julian looked at him.
He saw genius. High society brilliance.
Not a fake suit. Not a starving boy from the slums.
"I agree," Julian said.
He stood.
Table One followed.
"The brunch is over."
Xavier left first.
Never looked back.
Marble hallway.
Phone vibrated.
Not a System alert.
A text.
From the Butcher.
[ MESSAGE: YOUR ACCOUNT IS EMPTY. I WANT THE INTEREST PAYMENT IN 24 HOURS. DON'T MAKE ME VISIT THE HOSPITAL, XAVIER. ]
Knuckles white.
Gripping the phone.
Safe for the hour.
But the debt ticked like a bomb.
He needed millions.
Before sunset.
The gold System screen blinked.
[ NEW MISSION: THE FOUNDER'S FUND ]
[ OBJECTIVE: CONVINCE JULIAN THORNE TO GIVE YOU $5,000,000 TO INVEST ]
[ TIME REMAINING: 18 HOURS ]
Xavier exhaled.
The hunt had begun.
And he was ready.