Location: St. Monarch University – Citadel Boardroom, 10:13 AM
Damien Vale adjusted the cuffs of his black dress shirt.
Today's competition: restore a collapsing startup using only strategy, not capital.
He didn't speak first.
Didn't pitch.
Just observed. Listened.
And then moved.
When he finally opened his laptop and spoke, the entire room shifted.
Even the professor leaned forward.
He dismantled a failing logistics app in four sentences. Rebuilt its business model in two. And proposed a distribution web that hadn't existed until that moment.
The room clapped.
But four people didn't.
They stared.
Because they knew that voice.
Nova. Zeke. Arielle. Elina.
They stood together after class.
A silent circle.
Not one dared say it yet.
Until Zeke finally muttered:
"We don't say ghosts are real.
But I think… one came back."
System Check-In: Boardroom Completion – Phase 1
Check-In Complete
– Reward: $12,000
– Passive Bonus Unlocked: "Mirrored Genius"
→ Every answer you give in class will seem undeniable—even if it's not
Current Rank in Citadel Accelerator: Top 3
Social Status: Enigmatic, Untouchable, Rising Star
Scene: Classroom – Familiar Voices Return
Damon entered his ethics lecture.
Saw them.
Arielle. Elina. Nova. Zeke.
All seated in different corners. All watching him.
He didn't blink.
Didn't nod.
But the air shifted.
Arielle whispered to Elina:
"That walk.
It's him."
Elina:
"But how? We saw his empire burn."
Nova whispered:
"We never saw him.
Not after the fire."
Outside the Class – Rico Appears
Rico passed by on a delivery run.
Made eye contact with Nova for half a second too long.
Zeke noticed.
Approached him.
"Where do I know you from?" Zeke asked.
Rico smiled.
"You don't.
You just think you do."
And walked away.
Final Scene – Secret Chatroom: Code Name "Monarch Watch"
A group of students, allies, and old rivals have started an encrypted thread:
WHO IS DAMIEN VALE?
Nova posts: "His cadence matches Damon Black. Too perfectly."
Zeke: "I tried tracking him digitally. Every path leads to firewalls I can't crack."
Elina: "He's avoiding us. On purpose."
Arielle: "I touched his shoulder by accident today. Felt like… armor."
Unknown User: "If he is Damon… why won't he tell us?"
The thread goes silent.
Until one final message appears:
DAMON BLACK IS DEAD.
STOP DIGGING.
— The Phantom