Sunday morning. Most students slept in or took their weekend to binge K-dramas and TikToks. Leo? He was in a private meeting room tucked behind a café in Pasig.
Across from him sat a woman in a navy blazer, hair tied neatly, a tablet in hand.
"Mr. Ramirez," she began, keeping her voice low, "your first board meeting with Ramirez Global Holdings is scheduled next Saturday, 10 a.m., in the main tower. Are you sure you still want to remain anonymous?"
Leo nodded. "Yes. Let them meet my voice before they ever see my face."
She smiled slightly. "I've arranged for a secure call-in setup. Encrypted line. Voice filter calibrated. You'll appear only as 'Chairman Designate.' They won't know who you are."
Leo leaned back, calm. "Good."
The woman slid a folder across the table. "Then you'll want to review the internal conflicts. The old guard won't like change. Especially from someone they can't see."
Leo opened the folder. Inside: reports, audit summaries, flagged corruption cases, insider trades. Some board members were draining the empire slowly. Carefully. Like termites.
And soon, they'd learn who had returned to fumigate.
Back at campus the next day, Leo met with his team in the nearly-finished Ground Zero space. The once-abandoned café now looked like a tech-meets-art lab: clean walls, repurposed wood desks, mounted LED boards, modular cubicles.
Dreigh was adjusting a 3D printer while Aria drew sketches on a digital pad. Martin was reviewing proposals for upcoming student competitions.
They had no idea Leo had dropped ₱5 million into the renovation through "anonymous sponsorship" via the university's community development office.
And they never asked.
They were too focused on building.
Just how Leo liked it.
"Where's Zari?" Dreigh asked.
Leo looked at his watch. "She said she might come today. No promises."
As if on cue, the door opened, and in walked Zari Gomez, laptop bag slung over one shoulder, expression unreadable.
"...This your secret clubhouse?" she asked.
Martin offered a warm smile. "We call it Ground Zero. For starting from nothing."
Zari scanned the room. "Hmph. It's not garbage. That's impressive."
Leo approached. "You came."
Zari held up his card. "You gave me something rare. Curiosity. And I like testing the hype."
Leo grinned. "We're not selling dreams here. We're building tools. Want in?"
She studied the others. Saw the focus. The hunger.
"Let me guess," she said. "You want me to code something revolutionary for free?"
"No," Leo replied. "We want you to build something with us. And you'll own your share."
Zari raised an eyebrow. "Ownership?"
"Full IP split," Leo confirmed. "Equity based on contribution. No cash needed from you. Just brilliance."
She smirked. "I like that word. Brilliance."
She walked over to a desk, unpacked her laptop, and connected to the router.
"I'll give you one month," she said. "If I'm bored by then, I'm out."
Leo nodded. "Fair."
[Circle Member Added: Zari Gomez]
Tech Tree Path Unlocked: Future App Development
System Boost Activated: Digital Frontier Expansion
Project Synergy Rating: +34%
Talent Network Reputation: Increased
Leo saw it on his HUD.
This wasn't just a team anymore.
This was a movement.
Later that evening, Leo walked alone through the campus garden, enjoying the cool breeze. That's when a familiar voice called from behind him.
"Leo?"
He turned.
Belle.
She wore a soft blue dress, simple but clearly expensive. Her makeup was light today, almost like how she used to look back when things were still real.
"Can we talk?" she asked, voice softer than usual.
Leo paused, then nodded. "Sure."
They walked side by side for a bit, neither speaking. It was only when they reached the koi pond that she finally broke the silence.
"You've changed."
Leo gave a small laugh. "People grow, Belle."
"You're... not the same guy I left."
"I know," he said. "And that's exactly why you left me, right?"
Belle flinched. "I made a mistake."
He turned his head. "Or maybe you made a choice. Let's not call it something else."
She looked down. "I just thought... maybe we could start over."
Leo stopped walking.
He faced her.
"No."
Belle looked up, stunned.
"No?" she echoed.
Leo's voice was calm but firm. "I don't hate you, Belle. But I don't trust you either. I don't need someone who only sees value when the shine comes out."
She looked hurt. Genuinely hurt.
But Leo didn't waver.
"I hope you find what you're looking for," he added. "But it's not me."
He turned and walked away.
And for the first time, Belle didn't follow.
That night, as Leo sat on the rooftop of his building, overlooking the city skyline, the system chimed again.
[Emotional Milestone Reached: Past Resolved – Phase Complete]
Reward: Passive Trait Upgrade – Composure Tier 2
Bonus Activated: Psychological Resistance to Manipulation +20%
Storyline Path Shift: Legacy Ascension Mode Enabled
Leo took a deep breath.
He had officially closed a chapter.
No more regrets. No more looking back.
The richest man didn't need to prove anything.
He simply moved.