Ethan finished his shower, the cold water washing away the last traces of weariness. He dried off, dressed quickly, and grabbed his iPhone 17 Pro Max off the desk.

He immediately saw a new message from Hailey.

Hailey: I'm up! Heading to class. See you there.

It was a simple message, devoid of any shame or awkwardness, but full of good intentions that warmed his heart and settled the nerves the System had been stirring.

Below Hailey's message, a cascade of business and personal messages awaited:

Ms. Rossi: Good morning, Mr. Blake. I need names for the shell corporations that will facilitate the land acquisition. We need something solid, professional, and entirely unlinked. Any thoughts?

Cassandra: Good morning, Boss. I'm focusing entirely on the building structure data today. I promise not to be a burden and to provide everything you need.

Jason: Boss, I will continue the consolidation today. I'm meeting with two other minor neighborhood groups to convince them to join the unified structure. I expect to secure another 15% of the control territory by nightfall.

Among all the important messages was one that made Ethan groan and nearly slap his forehead.

It was from Lilly, the sweet girl who worked at her father's pizzeria.

Lilly: Hey! Just checking in to see if you're okay and how things are going! I hope you're settling in at school.

Ethan sighed. He had completely forgotten his promise to message her about going out. With the entire Jason drama, the Pipers, the Outlaws, and his life nearly getting derailed, Lilly had been entirely forgotten.

He took a deep breath and replied immediately.

Ethan: Hi, Lilly! My apologies! I just started school and things have been crazy busy these first few days. Glad you messaged me!

She replied almost instantly.

Lilly: It's totally fine! I've been busy at my dad's pizzeria until late, too. Glad to know you're alright.

Ethan, realizing he was about to miss his window, quickly asked her out.

Ethan: Do you want to grab a drink later this week?

Lilly: I'll be at the pizzeria until late tonight, maybe another day?

Ethan accepted the delay, feeling a genuine pang of regret. "Sounds good. I'll definitely stop by the pizzeria one of these days."

Remembering how sweet and pretty Lilly was, he felt a twinge of guilt. He then remembered another name he had neglected: Emily, his talented stylist, who was likely furious. He had told her the same vague excuses and completely abandoned her.

He sent her a quick, guilt-ridden text.

Ethan: How are you? Want to grab a drink? My treat.

Emily, who was styling a client's hair but mentally preparing to go out, nearly jumped out of her skin when her phone vibrated. She snatched it up and replied with immediate desperation.

Emily: YES! Whenever you want!

Ethan chuckled, sensing her eagerness. "Alright. When I get out of the university, I'll sneak away for a bit to visit you. What time do you finish work?"

Emily: I have a shift all day, but whenever you arrive, I'll ask permission to leave. Just tell me when!

Ethan: Sounds good. See you later then.

Ethan put his phone away, a sly smile on his face.

[It's tough maintaining the herd, isn't it, Champion? Too many beautiful cattle, not enough milking time. Maybe you need a scheduler just for the side benefits?]

Ethan smiled, ignoring the System's crass comparison.

Ethan was fully dressed and ready for the day. He looked over at Ming and Max. They were both now fully dressed, but their hair was stiff and dry—they clearly hadn't showered.

"Guys, take a shower," Ethan instructed them. "You smell like stale beer and regret. It's MIT, not a fraternity house. We need to maintain our image."

Both nodded immediately and scurried out the door to the communal bathrooms.

While he waited, Ethan sat down in the common area and turned on the television. The local Boston news was on.

Just as he was about to switch channels, a small news ticker appeared on the screen:

BREAKING NEWS: Police are investigating reports of a violent gang confrontation last night in the North End industrial zone, near the docks. Unconfirmed reports suggest several fatalities in a turf war that may be spilling into safer neighborhoods.

Ethan's focus hardened. He watched the ticker for a few moments, the casual tone of the morning news juxtaposed with the violent reality Jason had described. Ethan thought: "That's strange. If it was a simple, quick cleanup, why is it making the local news? Jason said they left no trace."

The news story, however simple, cast a slight shadow of doubt over Jason's confident reporting. It seemed the fallout from the previous night's operation might be bigger than anticipated, possibly a direct consequence of the Olympus small revenge.

Ethan snatched his phone from the table and immediately dialed Jason.

Jason, who was currently driving toward the next "meeting"—or, more accurately, the next execution of bothersome gang members—saw Ethan's call. He instantly pulled the Escalade over to the side of the road, followed closely by the Suburban carrying Falcon 1 and 2. Santiago, sitting beside Jason, looked slightly disconcerted by the sudden stop.

"Hello, Boss. Good morning. It's a bit early; do you need us to pick anything up for your classes?" Jason answered, his voice smooth and professional.

Ethan sighed, his tone heavy with implication. "You didn't see the news this morning, did you, Jason?"

Jason took a deep, controlled breath. If the Boss was talking about the news and calling him directly, it was a serious issue that had breached their containment.

"No, sir. I haven't seen the news. Did something occur?"

"It seems our friends at Olympus are more attentive to the area than they let on. We're all over the local channels. A 'gang war' in the North End, 'dozens of dead,' 'burned out storefronts,' 'real estate uncertainty.' You name it."

Ethan paused, letting the silence convey his disappointment. "I don't think that's exactly what you told me happened yesterday, Jason..."

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