A private jet touched down at an airstrip just outside the city exactly at 7:42 a.m. Nathan stepped off the stairs first, wearing a hoodie over his suit, as the air outside was truly cold and chilling. David Brune followed close behind, tablet already in hand, face calm and silent, although it was obvious he had something to say.They walked across the tarmac to a waiting black SUV. The driver opened the rear door without a word.Inside, when they were seated, Brune finally spoke, letting loose of the words that were tied up inside of him. “Matthew Steel is waiting at the downtown office. He thinks this is a standard ambassador pitch meeting.”Nathan stared out the window at the passing skyline. “You told him nothing?”“Nothing,” Brune confirmed. “When your father passed, I transferred management of Dodgercoin to Matthew. He was one of the few people I trusted with the tech and the wallet. But I never told him about you. He reached out to you because he saw the viral videos, saw your

Nathan was sprawled on his dorm bed, with his back rested on the headboard. He had his laptop on the bed just right before him. He had put it there in order to watch a movie, since after the movie night with Rene, it's been on his mind to watch a movie on his own since he had not done so for many years.The room was quiet. He made sure to install noise cancelling pads on the wall, to block out the noise that could come from the other boys outside. The only noise he heard was the low hum of the mini-fridge and the occasional ping of notifications he’d muted. He was scrolling through the trending hashtags absentmindedly, forgetting the movie he was supposed to be watching, when his phone vibrated on the mattress.It was David Brune calling. He answered as soon as he saw the call.“Mr. Brune," Nathan said, solemnly, half expecting what was to be said. “Nathan,” David’s voice came through, heavy with regret. “I’m so sorry about Matthew Steel. I’ve tried talking to him, multiple times in

Nathan was in the living room of the townhouse once again, sitting on the wide sectional with his laptop open on the coffee table. The screen of the laptop showed a live feed of trending hashtags. #PauperFraud was still holding strong, but the momentum had begun to fracture under it. He kept staring at the screen until the front door opened, and Stacy walked in, coat still on, tablet still on one hand as always. “I’ve got it,” she said without preamble.Nathan closed the laptop. “The video?” He asked.She nodded affirmatively, tossing the drive onto the table. “I just bribed a junior AV tech who runs the conference room cameras. I have him twenty-five thousand in cash, that is the only untraceable wallet I actually trust. He sent the raw footage, with all the angles and the full audio. It's all timestamped, with you saying no politely, and then walking out. It captured Matthew pushing, getting aggressive, and then ranting after you left.”Nathan picked up the drive, turning it over

The moment Nathan's car glided through the main gates of ESU, the air changed. It started with a few scattered whispers. The car's windows were open so he could hear some of the whispers loud and clear.“That’s him” they said. But I did not end there, as out of their pockets people ripped their phones, propping them out to take pictures of him. Suddenly a surge of people began rushing towards him, and within seconds it morphed into a crowd, with students spilling out of lecture halls, cafés, and patios, to come see him. At first he thought he was about to be assaulted, but no, that was not what was about to happen.“Pauper King!” The chant began low, then rose surged up immediately. “Pauper King! Pauper King!”"Are you sure you want to get down from the car now?" Stacy asked, hands still hard on the steering wheel. "This crowd could be dangerous.""You don't have to worry about that," Nathan said to her, about to open the door. "Violence here is strictly prohibited, it doesn't m

The private conference room on one of the highest floors of Cloven Tower smelled of fresh leather, expensive cologne, and the barely concealed tension that pervaded the place as the meeting held.Around were the usual floor to ceiling glass walls framed the city behind the four men inside like it was a trophy case, yet no one was looking at the view.Nathan sat at the head of the long black table, his posture relaxed but eyes sharp as ever. David Brune sat to his right, he was calm, unreadable, with his fingers steepled right across his face. Matthew Steel occupied the chair opposite Nathan, his tie loosened, while his jaw tight. He looked like he was still recovering from the public humiliation of his apology video. Victor Moody sat beside Matthew, his l stocky frame filling the seat, with his arms crossed, and his face looking like it was carved from granite.There was silence, and it stretched for three full seconds after everyone settled.Victor broke it immediately. “Gentleme