The electric shuttle moved slowly through the quiet grounds of the Academy. Everything around him looked clean and perfect. The grass was cut evenly, the paths were smooth, and the buildings stood tall in the darkness.
The moon was high in the sky. Its light shined on the lake, making it look like a large silver coin floating on the water.
Xavier sat quietly inside the shuttle.
For the first time in his life, he did not feel cold. His body felt warm and comfortable. He was not hungry either. His stomach was full. And most of all, he was not poor anymore.
That feeling still felt strange to him.
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ][ CURRENT BALANCE: $42,500,000.00 ][ ASSETS: THE GILDED CAFE (WEEKLY NET: $15,000) ]
Xavier looked at the number again in his mind.
Forty-two million dollars.
Before, even one dollar was hard to get. There were days when he and his mother had nothing to eat. Sometimes they had to share just one small piece of bread. They would eat slowly, trying to make it last longer.
Now, he had more money than he ever imagined.
But as the shuttle moved forward, passing the large shadow of Thorne Auditorium and the bright lights of the Lee Science Wing, Xavier began to understand something important.
In this place, Astraea Academy, his money was not that special.
Forty-two million dollars here was not considered rich. It was just… normal.
It was the kind of money that someone like Julian Thorne could spend without thinking too much. Maybe even on small things, like his hobby of collecting expensive cars.
Xavier slowly leaned back into his seat.
So this was the truth.
If he tried to compete with them using money alone, he would lose.
They had more money. More power. More influence.
But that did not mean he had no chance.
He just needed to be smarter.
He needed to use his money in a better way.
"System," Xavier said in a low voice, almost like a whisper. "Find something inside the Academy that is losing value. Something important… something Julian Thorne wants but cannot get."
The system answered right away.
[ SCANNING ASTRAEA ACADEMY ASSETS… ][ SEARCHING FOR FAILING PROPERTIES… ][ ANALYZING HIGH-VALUE TARGETS… ]
Xavier waited quietly. His eyes stayed calm, but his mind was focused.
Then the system found something.
[ TARGET FOUND: MUSEUM OF ANCIENT COINS ][ LOCATION: ACADEMY MUSEUM DISTRICT ][ OWNER: SFORZA FAMILY (BANKRUPTCY PENDING) ][ REASON: LOSS CAUSED BY LEE ELECTRONICS RECALL ][ MARKET VALUE: $110,000,000 ][ DISTRESSED PRICE: $30,000,000 ][ DEADLINE: 6 HOURS ]
Xavier's eyes widened a little when he saw the details.
A museum of ancient coins.
This was not just any property.
It was something very special.
Julian Thorne was known for loving old things, especially coins. He believed that old money, something you could touch, was more "perfect" than digital money.
For him, collecting coins was not just a hobby. It was an obsession.
And now, the Sforza family was about to lose everything.
They were once powerful, but now they were falling. They needed money fast. If they did not pay their debts in a few hours, they would lose their assets.
That included the museum.
Xavier understood the situation clearly.
This was his chance.
Not just to make money—but to make a move.
"Start the purchase," Xavier said calmly. His voice did not shake. "Thirty million dollars. Full payment. Do it now. Use a hidden name—'Valerius Sovereign Fund.' Do not show my identity."
The system followed his command.
[ STARTING PURCHASE… ][ TRANSFERRING FUNDS… ][ SECURING OWNERSHIP… ]
Everything moved quickly.
Only a few seconds passed.
Then—
[ TRANSACTION COMPLETE ][ NEW BALANCE: $12,500,000.00 ]
It was finished.
Xavier slowly exhaled.
He had just spent thirty million dollars.
But he did not feel regret.
Because he knew what he gained.
He did not just buy a building.
He gained control.
The Sforza Museum of Ancient Coins was one of the most important places in the Academy. Many rich families respected it. It was not just about money—it was about status.
And Julian Thorne had wanted it for a long time.
He had even offered eighty million dollars before.
But the Sforza family refused him. They were too proud. They believed their situation would get better. They waited too long.
Now they had no choice.
And Xavier took that opportunity.
By paying only thirty million dollars, he got something worth one hundred ten million.
But more than that—
He took away something Julian wanted.
Xavier looked out the window of the shuttle again. The moon was still shining on the lake. Everything looked calm and peaceful.
But inside, a quiet game had already started.
This was not just a simple purchase.
This was a move.
Xavier's first move.