The video call connected with a soft chime, and Michael found himself staring at what looked like a retired beach bum rather than a distinguished professor. The elderly man on screen wore a garish Hawaiian shirt covered in oversized palm trees and surfboards, his gray hair tousled as if he'd just woken up. Behind him, Michael could see a cluttered apartment filled with technical equipment and coral beads."Lizzy-chan!" Professor Nakamura's face lit up as his eyes found Lizzy. "It's been too long! How are your art studies going? Still painting those beautiful portraits?""I'm doing well, Professor. Thank you for taking the call on such short notice." Lizzy's voice carried a fondness that surprised Michael. "I have someone I'd like you to meet. This is my brother, Michael Sullivan."Michael leaned into the camera's view. "Hello, Professor Nakamura. Lizzy speaks very highly of you.""Ah, any brother of Lizzy's is a friend of mine," Nakamura said with a bow of his head. "Though I must say

Once again they were all gathered at the auditorium of the Medici Manor. Michael adjusted his tie nervously as he entered through the side entrance, having specifically avoided the main foyer where photographers clustered like vultures. The past few days events had worn him down to his core. But he was glad he'd managed to use Octavian's loan to fund Mara's coffee shop."Jesus Christ," he muttered under his breath, surveying the crowd. "This is like a zoo."Frank looked... different. He was still frail, but seemed to have added a few more pounds since the last assessment. His eyes hadn't lost their sharpness as they scanned the room. "Ladies and gentlemen," Frank finally said. "Welcome to our second quarterly assessment. My children will present their achievements, and you, as representatives of Denver's business community, will witness the future of Medici name."The applause was polite but hungry. These people smelled blood in the water and were here to watch the feeding frenzy.