Chapter 3: The first collapse

The school's finance office buzzed with quiet activity as students filed in and out, submitting club budgets and requesting reimbursements. Marcus, the student financial affairs officer, sat confidently at his desk, tapping away at the school's financial system. He had no idea he was already under surveillance.

In the Nexus, Rowan monitored the live feed from the finance office. Haru stood beside him, arms folded, eyes on the screen.

"Ready?" Favian asked.

He nodded. "The script's in place. It'll look like a system glitch, just enough to trigger a smooth transaction."

He hit Enter.

Within a minute, the school's financial database began to shift. A subtle loop in the code rerouted a small portion of club funds just enough to raise suspicion into Marcus's personal student account. The transaction was timestamped during a time he was logged in, but the trail was clean. No trace of Rowan's interference.

Moments later, a notification popped up on the finance officer's screen.

"Unauthorized transaction detected. Flagged for review."

Marcus's brow furrowed. He clicked through the logs, confusion turning to panic as he saw the transfer.

"What!? What the fck is this?" he muttered, enough to make his voice echoed.

Across campus, Elliot, the student council president, received the alert. He immediately called for an emergency audit, citing "A potential system error affecting student funds."

By the time Marcus arrived at the council room, the auditing team was already reviewing the logs. Elliot stood at the head of the table, calm and professional. "Marcus," he said, "We've found a discrepancy in the club budget allocations. It appears the funds were redirected to your account."

Marcus's face turned pale. "I didn't touch anything! It must be a bug. I swear it’s not me!" paranoid, he starts biting his fingernail.

Theo, the chairman of Cybernetics Department sat beside Elliot, leaned forward. "We'll investigate thoroughly. But until then, we'll need you to step down from your duties."

Marcus looked around, desperate. "You don't think I'd do this, right?!" his face looks pale “Lucas where the hell are you...” he whispered.

He hadn't shown up to the meeting. He just got promoted to Financial Affairs Office yet no presence of him.

And that silence spoke louder than any defense.

Back in the Nexus, Rowan watched it all unfold. "You rather guarding it."

Favian nodded. "One down. The rest will follow."

After the incident, the people of Financial Affairs have limited their access to all of the site and app use for the budget. The student councils and the Cybernetics Department have joint hands to investigate the case while Marcus is being interrogated by the school’s dean and other council officers.

Back in Favian's office, the air thick with tension. He sat at his own table, calm and composed, while Theo on the right is sitting upright and facing toward him, his sharp gaze fixed on Rowan.

Elliot couldn't make it as he was in-charge of the investigation.

Rowan on the left is leaning forward slightly with one arm resting near the table and other holding his laptop. "I get the plan. I see how it works. But there's one thing I need to know before we go any further."

Favian looked up "Go on."

He hesitated, then said, "I have my sister’s safety in line? If Lucas finds out I’m one behind this, she'll be the first one he targets. I can't risk her safety...not again."

The room fell silent.

Favian stood up and walked towards the door. "I thought you might say that."

Followed by the 3 knocks, He opened it, and two students stepped in.

The first, Kevin Yhuk Hunter, wore a simple hoodie with the logo of their school and carried a sketchpad under his arm. Quiet, observant, and always in the background, he was known for being everywhere without ever drawing attention. The second, Julian Jake Paulicio, had a calm, grounded presence, an athlete with a reputation for stepping in when things got out of hand, but never seeking the spotlight.

"They're not in the council," Favian said. "They're not involved in any politics. But they're trusted. And more importantly…they're capable."

Kevin gave a small nod. "We've seen what Lucas's people do. We're not okay with it." his husky tone and smirk as he looks seriously at him.

Julian added, "Leave it us. We’ll keep her safe."

Rowan looked at them, surprised. "This is too much… I don’t how to repay you guys… But off all students involved, Why me?"

Kevin shrugged. "Because someone should've helped you a long time ago."

Favian stepped and stood beside him. "You're not alone in this anymore. I don't move without protecting my people. Riley will be safe. Trust us on that."

Rowan's shoulders relaxed, the weight of fear lifting just slightly. "Thank you."

He gave a rare, genuine smile. "Now that your mind is clear, it's time to move to the next piece."

the boys have continued to plot their next target, Jameson Wakes.

While the atmosphere in the student council room was tense. Marcus sat stiffly in a chair across from the audit committee, his face pale, hands clenched tightly in his lap. Elliot stood at the front, calmly reviewing the financial logs projected on the screen.

"During our investigation," Elliot said, "these funds were redirected from the club budget to your personal account. Can you explain this?"

Marcus shook his head. "I didn't do it. I swear. I've never touched those funds."

Maria, the secretary "Then how do you explain the login timestamp? It matches your ID and your device."

"I—I don't know!" He stammered. "Maybe someone planted it. Maybe it's a glitch!"

The Council President exchanged a glance with Maria, then nodded.

"I understand your frustration. Until we complete the investigation, you're suspended from all financial duties."

Marcus's face fell. "You can't be serious—"

"It's protocol and I hope you understand." Elliot said firmly. "You'll be notified when the review is complete."

As the accused was escorted out, the door to the council room slammed shut behind him.

Meanwhile...

Lucas sat alone in the back of the library building, his phone buzzing with messages. He scrolled through them; rumors, whispers, screenshots of the audit meeting. His jaw tightened.

He dialed Marcus.

"What the hell is going on?"

Marcus's voice came through, panicked. "I don't know! They said I stole the money—I didn't! I swear, Lucas, I didn't touch anything!"

"You're the one in-charge of that. You were supposed to cover our tracks!" he roared.

"I did! I mean—I thought I did. Maybe someone set me up."

The boss eyes narrowed. "Who the hell would set you up!"

"I don't know. But Elliot acting like he's been waiting for this. And Theo backing him up."

Lucas ended the call without another word. “Stupid,” he muttered under his breath, thinking of the people mentioned. He was well aware of the influence those two held.

He sat in silence for a moment, then opened his encrypted chat app. He scrolled through his contacts, then paused.

Rowan.

He hadn't thought about him in a day. Not since he'd disappeared into the background. But now... something didn't feel right.

Lucas fingers hovered over the screen.

"Someone's moving against me," he muttered. "And I'm going to find out who."

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