The driveway of Astraea Academy was very long.
It stretched for miles.
On both sides, there were tall marble statues.
They were statues of old thinkers and famous people.
Their faces looked cold and serious, as if they were watching everyone who entered.
To the other students, this place looked beautiful.
Like a park.
Like a dream.
But to Xavier—
It felt like a battlefield.
The Rolls-Royce slowly stopped in front of the main building.
A red carpet covered the ground.
Luxury cars kept arriving one after another.
Students stepped out of them, wearing expensive clothes.
Their outfits cost more than entire houses in poor towns.
They laughed.
They talked.
They showed off.
But Xavier did not move.
He stayed inside the car.
Still.
Quiet.
He knew one important rule:
Power does not rush.
Only people who are weak hurry.
Behind him, a loud horn suddenly broke the silence.
A bright orange Lamborghini was stuck behind his car.
The driver leaned out.
A young boy with blonde hair and a diamond earring.
His face looked angry.
"Move already!" the boy shouted.
"Some of us have things to do!"
Xavier did not respond.
He did not even look back.
He waited.
Ten seconds.
Twenty.
Thirty.
The horn kept blasting.
Louder.
More annoying.
Students nearby began to look.
They whispered to each other.
"Who is that?" a girl said quietly.
"I've never seen that car before."
"Look at the plate," another student said.
"That's not normal. You can't just get that."
The attention grew.
The tension grew.
Only when everyone was watching—
Did Xavier move.
He opened the car door slowly.
Then he stepped out.
He did not look impressed.
He did not look excited.
He looked bored.
Like he had seen places much better than this.
The blonde boy jumped out of his car and rushed toward him.
His face was red with anger.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!" he shouted.
"Do you even know who my father is? He is the CEO of—"
Xavier turned his head.
His eyes were empty.
Cold.
Deep.
He did not let the boy finish.
"Your father buys you a bright orange car," Xavier said calmly,
"because you have no personality."
The words were quiet—
But heavy.
The boy froze.
He took a step back.
His mouth stayed open.
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ][ ACTION: SOCIAL DEFEAT ][ PRESTIGE GAINED: +400 ][ REWARD: MONEY BONUS ][ NEW BALANCE: $1,000.01 ]
Xavier felt a small reaction in his chest.
One thousand dollars.
It was small in this world.
But for him—
It meant everything.
"You… you jerk!" the boy shouted.
His face was now as red as his car.
"If you want to make noise, go somewhere else," Xavier said calmly.
He turned away.
"You are blocking my view."
Then he walked forward.
His steps were steady.
Confident.
He entered the main building.
The inside was large and quiet.
The floor was made of smooth marble.
Everything looked expensive.
Clean.
Perfect.
Then a new message appeared in his vision.
[ MISSION ALERT: THE IMPERIAL SUITE ][ GOAL: GET THE BEST ROOM WITHOUT PAYING ][ DIFFICULTY: HARD ]
Xavier walked toward the front desk.
It was made of black stone.
The woman behind it wore a clean, dark suit.
Her eyes quickly looked at him.
His face.
His clothes.
She searched for a brand name.
A logo.
Something she could recognize.
She found nothing.
Her expression turned cold.
"Name and family branch?" she asked sharply.
"Xavier Valerius," he replied.
He reached into his pocket.
He took out a small silver coin.
It looked old.
Worn.
In truth, it was cheap.
Something he bought for a few dollars.
But he had carved a special design into it.
A fake family symbol.
He slid it across the desk slowly.
Like it meant nothing.
"I believe my room is already prepared," Xavier said calmly.
"A Valerius does not need to sign in like normal people."
The woman picked up the coin.
She studied it.
She did not recognize it.
But Xavier's attitude made her unsure.
Nervous.
Her fingers moved quickly on her computer.
Her calm face started to break.
"I… I'm sorry, Mr. Valerius," she said.
"Your file is locked."
She swallowed.
"It is marked as… Special Tier."
Xavier leaned forward slightly.
His shadow covered her desk.
"Locks are for people who are hiding something," he said quietly.
"I only value my privacy."
He looked directly at her.
"Give me the key to the Imperial Suite."
"Now."
[ SYSTEM ALERT ][ LIE SUCCESSFUL ][ PRESTIGE GAINED: +1,500 ][ BONUS ASSET: THE GILDED CAFE ]
The woman quickly grabbed a gold key.
Her hands were shaking slightly.
"Suite 001, sir," she said.
"Your belongings are already being moved."
Xavier took the key.
He did not say thank you.
He turned and walked away.
Toward the elevator.
He was inside now.
He had a place to stay.
He had money.
And without anyone knowing—
He now owned the most popular cafe in the entire school.
This was only the beginning.