“Transfer the money first,” Sofina said, calm but firm.She wanted the cash back—the money she had used to buy the ring—so at least she wouldn’t take a financial hit on top of everything else.“Fine,” Belinda sneered. “It’s only ninety thousand. Do you really think I wouldn’t pay such pocket change?”“No money, no item,” Sofina replied flatly, tightening her grip on the ancient painting.Belinda sent the transfer through her bracelet without hesitation and snatched the painting the moment it cleared.A wide smile spread across her face. In her mind, the profit was already counted—millions of dollars sitting right in her hands.“Now,” Belinda said, lifting her chin, her eyes sharp and demanding, “about the ring. Hand it back to me. Right now.”Sofina looked at her sharply. Her eyes were cold. “If you want that ring, you’d better line up a team of lawyers.”Belinda smiled, slow and smug. “Then wait for the call. My father is more than happy to use Eden Group’s legal team. You know their

 Sofina summoned Eve through her bracelet, then turned to Alex, concern flickering in her eyes.“Are you sure Eve can actually pilot a mobile suit?” Alex smiled faintly. “Sofina, let’s put it this way. Eve’s lifelong dream—as a humble service AI—has always been to drive a mobile suit in front of a massive crowd. She wants to feel big. Powerful. Why not let her climb into that cockpit and be happy for once?” Using a Phantom mobile suit to indulge a cleaning robot.The idea grew more ridiculous by the second. Tobias found it absurd—but as long as Alex was willing to throw away eight million dollars, he was more than happy to play along. He grinned broadly.“Then please,” he said mockingly, “enjoy your slow walk around the stadium.” Moments later, Eve descended fr

“The winner of the second competition final,” the commentator announced, his voice ringing through the arena, “Phantom, from the Bluthelm Company!”The stadium erupted—not in cheers, but in rage.“Boooo!”The sound crashed like a wave, loud and merciless. Thousands of voices joined as one, drowning the air with hatred.Inside the reunion room, every head turned at the same time.All eyes locked onto Tobias.“How could you build something this cunning?”“This is illegal. It has to be.”“You cheated.”His classmates shouted over one another, anger sharp in their voices. Accusations flew like knives.But Tobias barely heard them.He was staring at Alex. And Sofina.His throat tightened. His head buzzed.“Explain this,” Tobias demanded.Alex blinked, putting a hand to his chest as if truly shocked.“Explain what?” he said lightly. “That I let a cleaning-service robot pilot your Phantom and it still won the competition?”Tobias felt a headache slam into him, sudden and brutal.Before he co

The advertisement detonated across Prussia like an explosion. In just few minutes, the entire nation fell into hysteria. Streets, bars, offices—every conversation circled back to one name.Phantom.The news and official advertisements spread rapidly across Prusia: Eden Group formally reopened the betting market—once again—on Phantom.This time, they didn’t just challenge the system. They insulted it.Eden Group publicly accepted a bet that Phantom would take first place in the third competition.If Phantom lost, Eden Group would pay one thousand times the wager.One thousand times.Nothing like this had ever happened.It meant that a fool who placed ten dollars would walk away with ten thousand if Phantom lost. A number so absurd it felt unreal. A promise so outrageous it shattered reason.People of every age flooded the online betting tables. Old men chasing one last win. Young workers risking their savings. Students, executives—no one held back. Greed smothered every trace of cautio

“No—no!” the commentator screamed. His voice cracked over the broadcast. “Please, don’t shoot Alpha! I put my family’s emergency savings on this bet. Please—don’t do it!”Across the stadium, and across Prussia, people were drenched in sweat.“Please don’t shoot Alpha.”“Please let Alpha win.”“Please…”For a single, desperate heartbeat, the entire nation prayed for a miracle.Then Phantom pulled the trigger.The weapon flashed.Alpha’s mobile suit vanished in a violent burst of light and twisted steel.What remained crashed to the arena floor, burning and broken, while the pilot was sealed inside the emergency escape system and violently ejected clear of the wreckage.In that instant, all of Prussia understood the truth—miracles were not coming for them.Phantom released the weapon. It clattered uselessly onto the arena floor.Without haste, without pride, Phantom turned and walked back the way it had entered—slow, calm, untouched by the chaos behind it.It was as if he had stepped in