Sunday, 6:03 p.m.
The rain hadn't let up.
Leo sat inside the Ground Zero server room, surrounded by blinking lights and a soft hum that masked the silence in his mind. The message from the night before echoed like a ghost in his thoughts:
"You're not the only hidden heir in this game."
He'd asked the system for more information. For once, it returned something vague:
[Information Redacted: Unknown Source Interference]
Hypothesis: Rival System Detected
Status: Cloaked Entity – Code Name: "Ares"
Threat Potential: High
Motivation: Undisclosed
Relation to Leo: Possible Legacy Conflict
Suggested Action: Proceed with Extreme Caution
Leo leaned back in his chair, eyebrows drawn. A rival. Another heir?
Another player in the game?
He whispered to himself, "So… it's not just me."
Back at his dorm later that night, Leo updated Nyx.
They replied almost immediately.
NYX:
"I've been following financial shockwaves across Asia. Someone—code-named Ares—has been purchasing underground tech patents in bulk. Private. Aggressive. Smart."
"Whoever this is… they're building an empire, fast."
"And get this—they're targeting companies you were about to quietly acquire."
Leo's jaw tightened.
This wasn't just coincidence.
It was strategy.
Monday morning.
The buzz of midterm results swept through campus. Students celebrated, complained, or quietly adjusted their GPA expectations.
But Leo's mind was elsewhere.
At Ground Zero, he called a closed-door core meeting.
Zari, Martin, Dreigh, and Aria all looked at him with curiosity.
"Something's changed," Leo said. "We're not the only group playing in the shadows now."
Martin raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Leo stood and pulled up the whiteboard.
He drew two circles: one labeled Ground Zero, the other Ares.
"The second group is targeting tech, logistics, and now education. They're mimicking our growth but moving faster and with fewer ethics."
Zari leaned forward. "You think they're copying us?"
"No," Leo replied. "I think they're challenging us."
Aria crossed her arms. "So what's the move?"
Leo answered calmly, "We upgrade. Now."
[System Mission Triggered: Rise Before the Storm]
Objective: Accelerate Expansion in 3 Key Sectors
① Launch new innovation accelerator at Ground Zero
② Seal exclusive partnership with public tech university
③ Acquire majority share in MetroDrop
Time Limit: 14 Days
Reward: Tier 3 Strategic Vision + System Override Tool
Penalty: Rival may overtake influence nodes
Later that day, Leo visited the president of PNTU — the Philippine National Tech University.
The man, Dr. Elpidio Reyes, was a known skeptic of private initiatives.
"This partnership would give us what, exactly?" the old man asked, folding his hands across a thick binder.
Leo placed a clean proposal folder on the desk.
"Free smart-lab construction, annual tech grants, and student exchange programs with Ground Zero."
Dr. Reyes raised an eyebrow. "Funded by…?"
Leo smiled. "A legacy trust. Quiet. Clean. No strings."
"And why PNTU?"
"Because your students aren't just engineers. They're survivors. Innovators. I don't want show ponies—I want real builders."
The old man was silent for a long moment.
Then, he extended his hand.
"Then let's build."
[Objective ② Complete: Tech University Partnership Secured]
Education Sector Influence: +30%
Passive Bonus: Access to student innovators + early patent rights
Back at Ground Zero, Leo addressed the full staff.
"We're launching Project Skyburst," he announced. "An accelerator that gives young tech developers funding, mentorship, and legal protection. We'll run quarterly pitches, pick the best ideas, and build them here."
Cheers erupted.
Zari gave him a subtle look. "You're not holding back anymore."
Leo smiled. "We can't afford to."
Meanwhile, in a sleek, hidden office in Taguig, Ares leaned over a glowing tablet.
The masked figure studied Leo's recent moves: PNTU, Skyburst, and the scholarship loop.
"Impressive," Ares murmured. "You're learning fast."
A voice on the comms crackled in.
"Sir… should we escalate?"
Ares shook his head. "Not yet. I want to see what the boy does next."
He paused. Then whispered:
"We're both heirs. But only one of us gets to be king."