The next morning, Sue City University felt like a carnival.
Every hallway, every corner, every bench hummed with the same topic—Jackim and Lina.
"Did you see the ring? It looked like something straight from Tiffany's flagship."
"Forget the ring, did you see how confident he was? Bryan looked like a joke."
"Lina, the goddess who rejected everyone, is suddenly engaged? And to Jackim of all people?"
"Shadow King doesn't just fight. He conquers."
Phones buzzed nonstop, videos and memes flooding social media. Pictures of Jackim sliding the ring onto Lina's finger had already gone viral. Hashtags like #ShadowKingEngaged and #CampusPowerCouple trended for hours.
Kelvin strutted down the hallway beside Jackim like a proud manager. "Bro, we are officially legends. No one on this campus will forget yesterday. You shut Bryan down and stole the spotlight from every spoiled rich kid in this school."
Jackim walked calmly, hands in his hoodie pocket. His face revealed nothing, his dark eyes steady. Fame was noise. He had already learned to see past it.
But behind him, whispers carried something darker. Envy.
---
Inside the luxury student lounge, Bryan's crew gathered. Dozens of rich boys lounged in designer suits and sneakers, sipping lattes that cost more than an entire week's food budget. Their expressions twisted with resentment.
"This Jackim thinks he's hot shit because of one fight and some livestream clout?" sneered Martin, the heir to a luxury car dealership. His diamond watch glittered as he gestured wildly. "He's a nobody. Poor kid pretending to be king."
Another leaned forward. "But he's got Lina. That's no joke. Everyone wanted her, but she's walking around with him now."
The room grew tense. The truth stung.
Bryan sat in silence at the head of the lounge, swirling his coffee. His suit was impeccable, his shoes Italian, but his expression was dark, stormy. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and sharp.
"Jackim humiliated me in front of the entire campus. That ring? That engagement? It's nothing but a performance. And performances end. I'll make sure of it."
Martin smirked. "What's the plan?"
Bryan's eyes glimmered coldly. "We spread rumors. Destroy his image. Let the world see he's a fraud. By the time I'm finished, Jackim won't be able to show his face here."
The rich boys exchanged eager, malicious grins.
---
That afternoon, the rumors began.
"He bought Lina's affection with money."
"The ring? Fake. Probably rented for a day."
"Jackim is nothing without the system of luck around him."
"I heard he works as a nightclub waiter on weekends. That's how he makes his money."
By evening, the gossip storm had spread across campus forums. Anonymous accounts spammed threads with "proof" and edited photos, trying to paint Jackim as a desperate poor boy clinging to fake glory.
Kelvin stormed into Jackim's villa, waving his phone. "Bro! Look at this bullshit! They're saying you're a waiter, that the ring is fake! Bryan's crew is pushing this—can't you see?!"
Jackim leaned against the balcony railing, city lights flickering below. He didn't even glance at the phone. His voice was calm, almost amused. "Let them talk."
Kelvin froze. "Let them—? Bro, this could ruin everything!"
Jackim finally turned, eyes sharp. "Rumors don't kill kings. They feed them. The more they talk, the louder my truth will hit."
Right on cue, the System chimed.
[Quest Triggered: Silence the Jealous Rich Boys.]
[Objective: Publicly humiliate Bryan's crew by turning their rumors against them.]
[Reward: +$2,000,000, Skill – Public Speaking Lv.2.]
A faint smirk tugged at Jackim's lips.
---
The next day, the campus auditorium buzzed with noise. A student debate competition was being held—sponsored by none other than Bryan's father's company. The perfect stage.
Bryan's crew packed the front rows, ready to boo, ready to drown Jackim's name in scorn.
When Jackim walked onto the stage, tall and dark in a fitted charcoal blazer, silence swept the hall. His presence alone commanded the room. Lina sat in the audience, her arms folded, eyes sharp, secretly curious.
The moderator introduced the topic: "Wealth and Character—Which Defines Success?"
Bryan's boys smirked. This was their chance. Martin took the podium first, his voice dripping with arrogance.
"Character? Please. Money defines everything. Without wealth, you're invisible. Poor men can't dream big—they're too busy surviving. That's why some people pretend, buying fake rings, renting cars, pretending to be what they'll never be."
The audience tittered. The jab was obvious. All eyes slid to Jackim.
But Jackim's expression never changed. He rose slowly, walked to the podium, and set one hand on the wood. His voice flowed smooth, deep, unshakable.
"Money without character," he began, "is like perfume on a corpse. Expensive, but rotten inside."
The audience froze.
Jackim's gaze swept the room, sharp as blades. "Yes, money matters. It feeds, it shelters, it buys time. But character—character builds empires. Without it, wealth collapses like sand."
He leaned closer to the microphone. "Take a look at those who flaunt their wealth but hide their emptiness behind rumors. They spread lies because the truth terrifies them. They laugh at rings, yet they cannot afford loyalty. They rent friends, buy attention, but deep down, they know—they will never be kings."
Gasps filled the room. Phones were already recording. Hashtags exploded online within minutes.
Martin's face turned crimson, his jaw trembling. Bryan gritted his teeth, fury boiling.
Jackim straightened, buttoning his blazer with calm precision. "So ask yourself—will history remember the boys who bragged about their father's wallets, or the man who carved his own throne?"
The crowd erupted. Cheers, applause, screams.
The debate was over. The winner was clear.
---
Later, Lina approached him outside, her steps slow, her expression unreadable. The diamond ring still glimmered on her finger.
"You know…" she said softly, "you scare people. Not just Bryan's crew. Everyone. Even me."
Jackim tilted his head, eyes dark, unreadable. "Fear is a kind of respect."
Lina studied him for a long moment, then exhaled. "Maybe. But it's also dangerous. And yet…" She bit her lip. "Why does part of me want to know more about you?"
Before Jackim could respond, Kelvin came barreling out of the auditorium, phone in hand. "Bro! You destroyed them! Twitter's blowing up—'Perfume on a corpse' is trending worldwide!"
Jackim only slipped his hands back into his pockets, walking calmly toward the villa. His voice was quiet, but firm.
"Let the world talk. I'll give them more."
The System chimed:
[Quest Complete: Silence the Jealous Rich Boys.]
[Reward Claimed: +$2,000,000, Skill – Public Speaking Lv.2.]
The storm of jealousy had been silenced—for now. But deeper storms brewed in shadows, where the WHEEL watched.