Chapter Forty-One The atmosphere in the Great Hall was suffocating. Silas Vale sat on the stage like an inquisitor, his eyes fixed on Adrian with a predatory stillness. To the students and faculty, Silas was a god from the capital; Adrian was just a boy who had flown too close to the sun. "Mr. President," Silas said, his voice echoing with cold authority. "The Vale Group does not recognize the consultancy of this student. We believe the thirty-billion-dollar endowment was secured through fraudulent representation of our family’s interests. I move to freeze the funds and place Lina Andrew under immediate investigation." Lina’s face was ashen. She looked at Adrian, but he was merely leaning back, staring at the ornate ceiling as if he were counting the tiles. "Fraud is a heavy word, Silas," Adrian said, not even standing up. "Are you sure the Vale Group wants to go on record saying the Grand Azure Trust was tricked by a student? It makes your partners look like amateurs." "The Trust

Chapter Forty-ThreeThe morning after the Gala, the Andrews’ small apartment building was suddenly the most popular address in Cape City. News of Lina’s thirty-billion-dollar fund and Adrian’s title had spread faster than wildfire.Before Lina even had time to fully process her new reality, the doorbell began to ring. And it didn't stop.Uncle Bob and Aunt Carol had arrived at 7:00 AM, bringing along with them their son Benny and a business associate named Victor, who looked more like a debt collector than a banker."Lina! My precious CEO!" Martha shrieked, embracing her daughter. "Your Uncle Bob and Aunt Carol are here! They’ve come to celebrate your success!""Lina, dear," Aunt Carol simpered, smoothing her fake pearls. "We were just saying how stressful it must be to manage thirty billion."Andrew sat at the kitchen table, nursing a cup of lukewarm tea. He was a quiet man who had been forced into early retirement five years ago after being framed for a bookkeeping error at the Vale

Chapter Forty-FiveThe celebratory dinner Martha insisted on was at a mid-tier seafood restaurant, grand enough for her to brag to the waitstaff, but humble enough that Adrian could slip away unnoticed.While Andrew was busy being fussed over by a suddenly doting Martha, and Lina was distracted by a flurry of congratulatory emails, Adrian stepped out into the humid evening air of the parking lots.Two black SUVs with tinted windows were parked across the street, their engines idling with a low, predatory hum. These weren't the clumsy thugs of the Vance family; they were Silas Vale’s personal problem solvers.Adrian walked to the curb, pulled out a bottle of refreshment he rarely drank, and waited.One of the SUV doors opened and a man in a sharp, dark suit, Captain Chen, stepped out. He was a retired special forces commander who now handled the Vale family's delicate matters. He walked toward Adrian with the calm confidence of a man who had never lost a confrontation."You're a hard m

Chapter Forty-SevenAdrian sat at his desk breaking his fingers. The academic term had finally paused for the mid-semester holiday. But for the students of Greenhigh College, a holiday wasn't for resting, it was for extra activities.The annual Elite Wilderness Expedition was mandatory for the Finance and Management departments. To the wealthy heirs like Julian and Chloe, it was a chance to show off their $10,000 designer camping gear and custom-built off-road vehicles."I can't believe we have to sleep in the dirt," Martha grumbled as she helped Lina pack. Since Andrew had become the General Manager, Martha had become obsessed with high-society standards. "Lina, tell Adrian to hire a helicopter. A General Manager’s daughter shouldn't be riding in a dusty school bus!""Mom, it's a school trip," Lina sighed, stuffing a sleeping bag into her pack. "And Adrian is already loading the supplies. We’re going to be low-key, remember? Dad’s position is still being finalized."Adrian walked in,

Chapter Forty-NineWhen the sun rose over Cloud-Peak Forest, the rain had vanished, leaving behind a sky of brilliant blue and a valley sparkling with fresh dew.In the lower camp, the students were coming out of their wet, cold tents. The mood was sad as most of them had spent the night trying to stop water from dripping into their tents and fighting mosquitoes. The Professor stood beside the dying campfire, looking at his clipboard with a deep frown."Has anyone seen Mr. Vale or Miss Chloe?" the Professor asked, his voice echoing in the quiet morning. "They didn’t report for the midnight check-in."Suddenly, a series of wet slapping sounds and raspy groans emerged from the thick brush near the river."Help, get us out..."The students rushed to the edge of the clearing. A collective gasp went up, followed quickly by a wave of snickers from some of the students.Emerging from the mud were five figures that looked less like humans and more like swamp creatures. Julian and Chloe were u