Chapter 7: The Magnetic Center
Vicky was experiencing life without compromise for the first time. The sun was merely illumination, not a threat. His enhanced senses, combined with his natural intelligence, gave him an unnerving edge in every interaction. He moved with a new gravity; he was the center of his own world, and the human world was now inexplicably drawn to him.
The King of Campus
Vicky's appearances on campus were strategic and brief, turning him into a mythical figure overnight. He didn't just attend classes; he commanded the room. His engineering professors, initially annoyed by his two-week absence, were quickly placated when he smoothly offered a hefty, anonymous donation to upgrade the department's obsolete lab equipment—a move suggested by Marcus Keller to establish "goodwill."
His peers swarmed him. Ethan and Maya were now his constant satellites.
"Seriously, V, how is the 'investment firm' doing this?" Ethan asked one afternoon, accepting a coffee Vicky bought from a high-end downtown shop and had delivered to campus. "You just paid off my student loan debt. Not even joking."
"A rising tide lifts all boats, Ethan," Vicky said dismissively, checking his phone. The truth was, he needed them close. Ethan was useful for technical coding problems, and Maya, with her extensive social network, was a valuable source of non-public intelligence. He used a tiny drop of his blood in their drinks every day—just enough to induce a pleasurable sense of contentment and enhance their loyalty without requiring a full conversion.
Meanwhile, Seraphina's approach was precisely as expected. She intercepted him by his McLaren, her voice dripping with careful sincerity.
"Vicky, I just wanted to say... I'm really sorry about the past. I was selfish, and frankly, I was stupid. You're incredible. You always were."
She reached out to touch his arm. He sidestepped the move with fluid grace, his Speed (9) making her attempt seem clumsy.
"Stupidity is curable, Seraphina," Vicky said, his eyes conveying a complete, frightening lack of emotion. "But bad decisions are terminal. You chose Damien Vance's fleeting influence over my potential."
He paused, letting the silence crush her. "Your regret is noted. It's a useful resource. Cherish it." He smiled thinly, a purely aesthetic display, before slipping into his car and leaving her standing alone, confused by his coldness and simultaneously more attracted to his power. The initial financial strike had done its work; now, he was letting the psychological pressure build.
The Fortress and The Function
That evening, The Crimson Pact held its second official meeting in Vicky's penthouse.
Marcus Keller reported: "Master, Vance Holdings is stable but bleeding capital. Mr. Vance's father is under immense pressure. More importantly, I have secured the perfect location for our central hub: the abandoned Veros Federal Reserve Vault. It is miles below ground, fully reinforced, and resistant to all but a tactical nuclear strike. It requires only minor, specialized construction."
"Excellent, Marcus. Proceed immediately. We will call it The Crypt." Vicky nodded.
Elias Vance reported: "Master, I have identified two candidates for conversion—both highly loyal. One is a union foreman with deep control over the city's infrastructure projects. The other is a junior prosecutor, desperate for career advancement but blocked by corruption."
"The prosecutor will wait," Vicky decided. "First, we take another piece from Damien's board."
Damien Vance was desperately trying to make up for his family's financial losses by securing the coveted role of Senior Student Liaison for a major political function—a move meant to impress his father. Vicky learned about the competition from Maya, who considered it trivial college politics.
Vicky saw an opportunity. He walked into the liaison competition, used his newfound charisma and flawless composure, and systematically dismantled Damien's presentation in front of the judges. He wasn't aggressive; he was simply better. He won the liaison role easily, stealing a victory that Damien desperately needed.
**REVENGE ACTION:** Secured Senior Student Liaison Role (High Social Value).
**XP GAIN:** +10 XP (Subtle Manipulation Bonus).
XP Total: 715/800 XP.
Mila's Dead End
Detective Mila Torres was running on coffee and pure, unsupported tenacity. Captain Hayes had officially denied her access to the department's surveillance drones or dedicated forensics team.
She was left with a single, crucial contradiction: Vicky Thorne, her prime suspect for a supernatural energy anomaly, spent most of his days on a brightly lit college campus, operating a very real, very legal-looking corporate shell.
Mila visited the university's engineering department under the guise of an alumni donation audit. She found Vicky's file, now marked by high praise from his professors due to the "generous new lab donation."
Her partner, Frank, called her while she was reviewing the files. "Mila, Hayes is furious. Stop digging into this kid. Vance Holdings is reporting major stock manipulation, not paranormal activity. You look obsessed."
"I am observing a pattern, Frank," Mila retorted, flipping through the meticulously clean corporate documents prepared by Marcus Keller. "The financials are perfect, too perfect. The only mistake is that the dock worker, Elias Vance, whose name keeps popping up in Keller's old accounts, has zero connection to technology or finance. Why is he meeting a cancer-cured billionaire?"
Mila decided on a risky, unsanctioned move. She left the college, not trailing Vicky, but instead heading toward the abandoned Federal Reserve Vault—the site Keller had recently purchased. She knew nothing about it, but her suspicion radar was now fully tuned to Vicky's assets.
The complexity of Vicky's legal empire was proving to be a perfect shield, stalling the skeptical police department and forcing Mila to risk her career just to gather the most rudimentary evidence. The system was protecting the system's creator.
Vicky has effectively solidified his social power and taken a subtle but meaningful piece of revenge. Detective Mila is now on the scent of The Crypt, but she has no idea what she is hunting.