System S.E.X. (Seduction, Expansion, eXecution)

Chapter 312: Chapter 312: The King’s Table

The helicopter touched down on the reinforced pad with precision. As the blades began to slow, two soldiers in tactical gear snapped to attention. Ethan stepped off the craft, the cold wind of the high altitude whipping his hair.

”Refuel and rearm this unit immediately. Send reinforcements to the northern coordinates I’m uploading to the flight computer now. Jason needs more boots on the ground to secure those outposts,” Ethan said.

”Understood, sir. We will contact the rapid response teams and dispatch them at once,” the soldier said.

”Good. Send everything we have available. I’ll be staying in the building, so security here is absolute. No one would be foolish enough to try anything while I’m on-site,” Ethan said.

Ethan headed for the private elevator, descending toward the executive lounge. He felt a strange, gnawing hunger in his gut—a side effect of the spiritual flower he had consumed. He walked straight to the lounge’s sleek, marble-topped bar and reached for a bottle of whiskey and a can of Coke. He mixed them into a tall glass with plenty of ice.

”A bit of a ’girly’ drink, but damn, it tastes good,” Ethan said with a quiet laugh.

During his time in prison, he had developed a taste for cocktails thanks to the Director, who spent her evenings experimenting with different mixes. This ”Paris de Noche” had become his personal favorite.

Just as he took a long, refreshing sip, the double doors of the lounge opened. Max, Hailey, Ming, Quinn, and Ruby walked in, led by Congressman Thompson. They stopped dead in their tracks, looking at the luxury of the room and then at Ethan.

”I didn’t know you were a fan of the ’Paris de Noche,’” Max said with a playful, nervous chuckle.

Ethan turned around, the large glass in his hand, and grinned. ”It’s a bit early for the hard stuff, isn’t it? I figured I’d start with something light,” Ethan said.

”It’s almost ten in the morning and you’re already drinking? I don’t know, Ethan... won’t your bosses chew you out for drinking on the clock?” Ming said, looking around the room in awe.

Ethan just laughed, the sound deep and relaxed. ”I don’t think they’ll mind. Are you guys hungry? Thirsty? I was just about to have breakfast. I’ve been on a long trip and I’m starving,” Ethan said.

The group looked at each other with modest hesitation. Hailey stood in the back, nervously twiddling her thumbs, her eyes never leaving Ethan’s face.

”We don’t want to be a bother...” Hailey said softly.

”I’m not being modest! I want the most expensive thing on the menu,” Ruby said, laughing as she nudged Quinn.

”Me too! If the company is paying, let’s go all out,” Quinn said.

Ethan smiled and picked up the intercom on the table, pressing speed-dial 1. ”Falcon 20, I need a full luxury buffet moved to the executive lounge. Bring the premium steaks, seafood, everything. And bring plenty of it—I’m hungry enough to eat a horse,” Ethan said.

”Right away, sir,” the voice on the other end responded.

”Sit down, please. Make yourselves at home,” Ethan said, gesturing toward the massive semi-circular sofas. He opened a built-in refrigerator filled with sodas, mineral water, and a wine cellar. ”Grab whatever you want. I’m not playing waiter today.”

Even the Congressman didn’t wait to be served; he stood up and poured himself a glass of water, acting with a level of familiarity that surprised the students. They began to chat, the tension slowly melting away.

”We’ve all missed you so much, Ethan. It’s been quiet at the university without you,” Max said.

”Why didn’t you tell us you went to prison? Do you have any idea how worried we were? We thought you were dead or kidnapped!” Ruby said, crossing her arms.

Ethan glanced at Max, who immediately looked down at his shoes. ”I’m sorry, Ethan. I couldn’t keep it from them anymore. They were going to go to the police to report you missing... I had to tell them the truth,” Max said.

”It’s fine, Max. It was all a big misunderstanding, a legal error. As you can see, I’m clean and back in the world. Isn’t that right, Congressman?” Ethan said.

”Indeed. The matter was handled with total legal impeccability. There are no stains on his record,” Thompson said, nodding firmly.

”Then why haven’t you come back to MIT? What could possibly be more important than finishing your degree?” Quinn asked, leaning forward.

”Business, Quinn. Things have moved a lot faster than I expected. I’ve been... tied up with some very large-scale projects,” Ethan said.

Just then, a team of catering staff arrived, laying out a feast that looked like it belonged at a royal wedding. The scent of seared wagyu beef and fresh pastries filled the air. Ethan wasted no time, cutting into a thick steak as if he hadn’t eaten in weeks.

”Is the company really okay with you spending this much? I mean, using the helicopter, the private lounge, this food... you must be a high-ranking executive, but you shouldn’t risk your job for us,” Ming said, looking concerned.

Ethan stopped chewing, a slow smirk spreading across his face. He looked over at the Congressman. ”You didn’t tell them, did you?” Ethan said.

Thompson straightened his tie and looked at the students with a serious expression. ”I wouldn’t dare, sir,” Thompson said.

The room went deathly silent. Max, Ming, Hailey—all of them froze. Hearing the powerful Congressman Thompson address Ethan as ”sir” with such genuine deference was like a physical blow.

”Wait... ’Sir’?” Max whispered, his mouth hanging open.

Ethan leaned back in the plush chair, wiping his mouth with a silk napkin. ”I am the owner of Royal, guys. This building, the helicopters, the company—it’s all mine. Who exactly is going to fire me?” Ethan said.

Hailey’s fork clattered against her plate, and Ming nearly choked on his drink. They looked at the sprawling luxury around them—the high-tech security, the private army, the billion-dollar view—and then back at the guy who used to sit with them in the same classrom.

”No way... that’s not possible. Ethan, you’re our age! How can you own all of this? This is the most powerful company in the state!” Max said, his voice cracking with pure disbelief.

”It has to be a joke. You’re playing with us, right? You probably just have a really good position,” Ruby said, her eyes darting between Ethan and the Congressman, hoping for a punchline that wasn’t coming.

Ethan just took another relaxed sip of his drink, leaning back with the ease of a man who held the world in his hands. He didn’t say a word; he didn’t have to.

Congressman Thompson stood by the window, watching the group of incredulous young people with a thin, amused smile.

”Believe it or not, kids, the world changed while you were studying for finals,” Thompson said.

In her chair, the sound of an inaudible heartbreak resonated. Hailey sat motionless, her eyes lost in the reflection of the polished glass table. She felt, for the first time, the true gap opening between them—a chasm that couldn’t be crossed with mere words.

She had always thought Ethan was simply a genius, perhaps an heir to some small or medium-sized company. In her mind, Hailey could compete with that. She wasn’t poor; she came from a good family and was smart enough to graduate from MIT. She could achieve great things; she could stand by his side. But faced with this crushing truth, she felt minuscule.

She couldn’t stop comparing herself to Ethan. Every corner of this building, every soldier swearing loyalty to him, and every billion dolars that Royal represented were nails in the coffin of their relationship as she knew it. She felt a knot in her throat, thinking that perhaps she had only been a game to him—a hobby from his ”civilian” life while he built an empire in the shadows. The difference between them wasn’t just status; it was a real distance.

”Ethan... all this time it was you? Even when we were on campus?” Hailey said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ethan noticed the shift in her tone. His Spiritual Sense, now awakened, allowed him to perceive the wave of insecurity and sadness emanating from her like a cold mist. He set his glass down and softened his expression.

”It was me, Hailey. But don’t be confused. What you see here is my work, my responsibility. What you saw on campus... that was also me,” Ethan said.

”It’s not the same, Ethan. You hid an entire world from us. We aren’t friends with a student anymore... we are guests at the throne of a king,” Max said, breaking the silence as he looked at his father.

Ethan leaned back, watching the flicker of pain and confusion in their eyes. He had expected this result, but it was a necessary cruelty. Deep down, he had wanted to continue the charade on campus—to just be a student, to play the part of the genius and enjoy the simple complexities of university life. But the world was burning, and the situation no longer permitted him to do what he desired without placing everyone he cared about in the crosshairs of his enemies.