Chapter 4: Leverage

Rowan's phone buzzed. The caller ID made his stomach twist: Lucas Wesley.

He hesitated, then answered. "Hello?"

Lucas's voice was low, sharp. "Marcus under investigation. Someone set him up. I need you to find out who."

Rowan kept his tone neutral. "I heard that too and I tried to get into his phone, but someone already set up a protection in it. This is the first time I tried to get into his phone, but it was protected."

"That scumbag." Lucas whispered. he cleared his throat "I want you to keep track off his phone, Check all of his spending history including his messages. Don't let the Council President finds out who was behind all of this." he added. His voice didn't flinch.

"Everyone already knew, since then." in Rowan's thoughts

He glanced across the room. Favian, and Theo were all there, listening through a secure audio relay Favian had activated the moment the call came in. Kevin and Julian stood by the door, alert.

"I'll look into it," Rowan said calmly. "Give me some time."

"You've got two days," Lucas snapped. "Don't make me regret trusting you or else."

The call ended.

Rowan slowly lowered the phone. "He's getting desperate."

As favian nodded. "Good. That means he's vulnerable."

Kevin stepped forward. “We should be moving now to the next pawn. Jameson."

Theo smirked. "The school's favorite 'disciplinarian'? This will be fun."

Favian turned to Rowan. "We'll use the same method but make it look like a blackmail. And this time, we'll hit him where it hurts: his reputation."

Rowan opened his laptop. "I've already pulled footage from the gym's security cams. Jameson been threatening freshmen behind the lockers. I can isolate the audio and enhance it."

Kevin added, "I've got a few students willing to anonymously confirm it. They've been scared of him since they got into this school 3 months ago."

"And I'll make sure the footage 'accidentally' leaks to the school's student forum," Julian said. "Once it's out, there's no taking it back."

Favian looked around the room, his voice steady. "This isn't just about taking down Lucas. It's about showing his people that their power doesn't protect them anymore."

Rowan nodded, eyes locked on the screen. "Let's bring Jameson out of the picture."

The next morning, the school's student forum exploded with activity.

Rowan and others were moving on its own, Kevin the one eyeing the movement of enemy and Julian on the same building along with Riley.

And Favian in his office, waiting for the small bomb to blow.

By lunch, Jameson, Senior A in class 2-2 had been pulled out from class and summoned to the principal's office.

A leaked video had surfaced, grainy but clear. Jameson, One of Lucas’s pawns, was caught on camera in the gym's back hallway, cornering a first-year student. His voice was unmistakable:

"You think anyone's going to help you? Say a word, and you'll regret it."

The audio was enhanced, the timestamp matched the school's security logs, and the student's face was blurred for protection. The post was anonymous, but it spread like wildfire.

But the real blow came later that afternoon.

Marcus, still suspended and under investigation, had turned in his phone to the Cybernetics Department for review. While combing through his files, the Cybernetics members found something unexpected: the same audio clip—the one from the leaked video and stored in a hidden folder.

Theo, who had been overseeing the audit, acted immediately. He added Rowan into their encrypted group chat.

"These changes everything," he initiated the chat. "Marcus had the audio before it was leaked. Which means someone in Lucas's circle knew about Jameson behavior—and kept it quiet."

Theo leaned forward, sitting on his chair, eyes sharp. "Or worse—used it as leverage." he replied.

While Rowan in the cafeteria seated quietly, kept his expression neutral. But inside, he knew this was the perfect storm. The audio had been planted on Marcus's phone an hour earlier before the audio was leak—just in case they needed to tie the threads together. He knows the two are not in the good relationship despite of being Lucas trusted pawns.

"Now, it looked like Lucas crew had been blackmailing each other." Kevin messaged.

The allies continued to set their plan in motion to take Jameson and other down in a way no one would suspect their alliance.

Lucas sat in the back of the library, his expression dark and unreadable. His empire was cracking—knowing his two trusted pawns suspended, and rumors swirling like wildfire. He needed answers. Fast.

His phone buzzed. Rowan calling..

Lucas answered immediately. "Tell me you've got something."

"I do," he said, his voice steady. "I've been digging through into Marcus’s finance logs like you asked. I found something... and it's bad."

He sent the file.

The so-called King opened it. His eyes scanned the report—detailed transaction logs, timestamps, and a breakdown of unauthorized withdrawals. All of it pointed to Marcus.

"You sure this is legit?" He asked.

"I triple-checked it," Rowan replied on the other line. "The transfers were routed through his accounts. He's been skimming off the top for months. I even found a few dummy accounts he might've used to hide the trail."

Lucas's jaw clenched. "That little—"

"I thought you should see it first," Rowan added. "Before anyone else does."

the boss paused. "You did good, Rowan. Real good."

He forced a quiet breath. Lucas hung up without another word, already storming out of the library.

Meanwhile...

In the office, Favian watched the call log end on his ally's screen.

"You might become a good actor, someday." he muttered.

Rowan leaned back, exhaling. "It's for good." now hearing those lines reminds him of someone.

"Now, he'll trust you with more. And the deeper you go, the harder it'll be for him to see the knife coming."

Elliot smirked. "And when he finally realizes who's behind it all, it'll be too late."

Theo added, "Let's just hope Marcus doesn't crack under pressure."

"He won't," Favian said. "He's too scared of Lucas to talk. And too confused to know who really set him up."

Rowan looked at the screen again, where the boss location pinged near the gym.

"Then it's time for the next move."

Behind the Gym – Late Afternoon

The sun was dipping low, casting long shadows across the back of the gym. The air was thick with tension. Marcus stood alone, pacing nervously, his new phone clutched in his hand. He had heard whispers—rumors that Lucas was looking for him. And now, he could feel it.

Footsteps. Fast. Heavy.

The so-called King rounded the corner and eyes blazing.

"Marcus."

He froze. "Lucas—"

"You've been stealing from me?" His voice was low, but dangerous.

"W-What? No!" Marcus backed up a step. "I didn't touch the money, I s-swear!"

Lucas pulled out his phone and shoved it in Marcus's face. "Then explain this. Transaction logs. Dummy accounts. Withdrawal. All traced back to you."

Marcus eyes widened. "I—I don't know where that came from! Someone must've planted it!"

"Don't lie to me!" He grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall. "You think I wouldn't find out? You think I'm stupid?"

"I didn't do it!" Marcus shouted, voice cracking. "I d-don't even know how to set up dummy accounts! You know that!"

The king grip tightened. "Then who helped you?"

He hesitated just long enough.