The next morning, Cass drove into the university car park without hurry.
Students turned their heads automatically. Some whispered, others pulled out phones. The sight of him arriving had already become an event in itself.
Cass stepped out, buttoning his jacket. His expression was calm, but inside, he was amused.
'Every day I arrive, I set the temperature of this place. Let's see how much Trent sweats today.'
Rowena was waiting near the doors. She had chosen a deep green dress that caught the light. She smiled when she saw him, eyes warm, steps quick.
"You're early," she said.
"I like giving people time to prepare themselves," Cass replied.
Her laugh came easily. "Prepare to be annoyed, you mean."
"Or humiliated. Depending on their choice."
She shook her head but did not deny it. She slipped her hand through his arm, and together they walked inside.
The courtyard buzzed. Sienna stood with two friends, her gaze sharp, her posture too stiff to be casual. Trent hovered beside her, clearly hoping his presence would mean something.
Cass slowed just enough for their paths to cross.
"Morning, Trent," Cass said. His tone was pleasant, almost friendly. "How are your lectures? Still catching up?"
Trent forced a laugh. "I'm managing. Not everyone can afford to waste time the way you do, Vale."
Cass tilted his head. "Waste time? Yesterday, I signed ownership over freight routes that will outlast your degree. What did you do?"
The courtyard went quiet. Trent's face flushed.
Sienna jumped in quickly. "It's not all about money, Cass. Some people actually care about the learning."
Cass turned to her, his smile faint. "Learning is valuable. But only if you know what to do with it. Otherwise, it's just paper."
Sienna's lips pressed into a thin line, her face slowly starting to contort.
"It'll stick that way," Cass commented after noticing.
Rowena's voice was calm but firm. "Cass doesn't waste anything. Not even his time."
The crowd murmured. Some laughed quietly. Trent's fists clenched at his sides.
Cass stepped closer, lowering his voice just enough for the group around them to lean in.
"Tell you what, Trent. I'll give you a chance. Let's make it fun. You pick a topic from our module. I'll explain it to you. If I do it better than the professor, you buy lunch for the entire hall today. If I fail, I'll buy it."
The challenge landed like a spark. Students immediately began whispering, excitement rippling through the group.
Trent's jaw tightened. He couldn't back down without looking weak.
"Fine," he said. "Explain Keynesian multipliers. Let's see you do better than Carter."
Cass smiled.
"Keynesian multipliers," he began, "describe how an initial increase in spending leads to a greater overall increase in national income.
For example, if the government spends on infrastructure, the workers get paid, they spend their wages in shops, the shopkeepers then spend more themselves, and so on. The multiplier effect measures how much total income rises compared to the initial spending."
He paused, watching Trent fidget. Then he continued, voice sharper now.
"But the key isn't just the spending. It's the marginal propensity to consume. If people save too much, the multiplier collapses. That's why certain economies stagnate. Now, if you model this properly..."
Cass grabbed a pen from a passing student and bent over a notebook. His hand moved quickly, drawing neat equations and graphs. Students leaned in, impressed at the precision.
"...you'll see that the multiplier depends directly on how much extra income is reinvested into the economy. That's why governments sometimes overspend. They're trying to force the cycle.
But what most miss is that it also creates vulnerabilities. If the money flows outward into foreign imports, the multiplier is wasted. That's why trade balance matters. Carter never mentioned that, did he?"
There was silence for a moment, then a low cheer rose from the crowd. Several students clapped. Rowena's eyes sparkled with pride.
Trent's face was pale. Sienna looked away, almost in shock, jaw tight.
Cass capped the pen and handed it back. "That should be clear enough. Lunch is on you."
The courtyard erupted in laughter. Trent stammered, trying to find an excuse, but the crowd had already decided.
Cass turned to Rowena. "What do you feel like eating? It seems the menu is wide open."
She laughed, leaning closer. "You're merciless."
"I'm generous," Cass corrected. "I just enjoy watching lessons being learned."
[Quest Complete: Humiliate Trent Publicly]
[Reward: £1,000,000. Skill Upgrade: Economics Lv.5. New Perk: Aura of Authority.]
Cass's vision flared briefly.
[Aura of Authority: Your presence commands attention. Enemies hesitate. Crowds admire. Negotiations tilt in your favour by default.]
He felt the shift immediately. The students looked at him differently now. Not just impressed. Awed.
'Good. Let them feel it. This is only the beginning.'
Lunch that day was chaos. Trent grudgingly swiped his card, paying for table after table. Students lined up with trays, laughing, mocking him gently, praising Cass openly.
Cass sat with Rowena and a few others, eating calmly. He barely looked at Trent, which only made it worse.
Sienna approached once, her smile too sweet.
"Enjoying yourself, Cass?" she asked.
"Immensely," Cass said. "Thank you for noticing."
She spat, her eyes narrowed. "You're not as untouchable as you think."
Cass leaned back. "The difference between us, Sienna, is that I don't think I'm untouchable. I know it."
Her smile broke for a moment, then she turned sharply and walked away.
[Hidden Ledger Update: Sienna Reed. Debt +5. Total: 78.]
Rowena shook her head. "You enjoy this too much."
"I enjoy balance," Cass said. "Every insult deserves its weight back. Preferably with interest."
That evening, back at the mansion, Cass sat in the lounge with his parents. Elaine wore her pearls, Thomas the watch. They looked more comfortable now, less startled by the wealth around them.
Elaine touched his hand. "We heard about lunch."
Cass raised an eyebrow. "Already?"
Thomas chuckled. "Word spreads fast when it's free. You embarrassed the boy, didn't you?"
"Only as much as he deserved," Cass said.
Elaine sighed but smiled. "You're too much like your father. He never let anyone get away with things either."
Cass leaned back, content. "Good. That means I'm on the right path."
The system chimed again.
[Side Quest Triggered: Family Legacy]
[Objective: Elevate the Vale family to recognised status among the old elite.]
[Progress: 12%]
Cass smiled faintly.
'Recognised among the elite? They'll kneel before us soon enough.'
He looked at his parents, relaxed in comfort they hadn't known for decades, and felt something warm beneath the cold satisfaction of victory.
'This is what the system's for. Wealth for me. Dignity for them. And anyone who tried to take it will pay double.'
The night deepened. Cass rose, poured himself a glass of wine, and gazed out at the gardens stretching under the moonlight.
'Trent humiliated. Sienna rattled. Family rising. The board is opening wider now. Soon, it will be more than students and small names.'