Benjamin was sure of it. The cards were a system of their own, if not powered by another system. He took out his black card, flipping both sides rampantly, to discover something he hadn’t noticed before. But the card was still as plain as usual, only bearing his name engraved at the back.“Payton” Benjamin summoned.“That information is still classified, Sir” returned Payton. Benjamin tucked the card back into one of his coat pockets. There would be time to face the Alliance. But now--“It seems quite a few things have begun to pile up,” he remarked to himself. The problem of Dominion points. The problem of Domination. He had to begin laying his plans immediately.“Let’s do this first,” he said aloud to nobody in particular and dialled up a contact in his phone. A second after the contact picked up, Benjamin activated the [Mimic] skill.“Yes, it’s me,” he said. There was an imperceptible tinny voice over the line. A concerned voice.“Yes, that’s correct. Yes, that too,” said Benjamin.
"You think I don’t want to conquer a school that made me go through hell as its student? I was once a pauper, and I’m well on my way to the top. Do you really think there would be no consequences and aftermath for everyone that crossed me?”“So it’s revenge” gritted Michael.“Call it what you like, I don’t give a fuck. But the main gist of the matter is that we, the three of us here, have to find a way to bring Worchester University, under Ivy Corporations.” He turned to Michael. “For power’s sake.”“Ivy Corporations?” repeated Michael.“Didn’t you see the sign? Oh, I forgot. Amber’s yet to get on that. Let me just send a quick email” started Benjamin, opening his laptop, and fiddling with the Email interface.“You’re delusional” scoffed Michael.“You don’t believe that” chuckled Benjamin, looking out from his screen. JMONEY, on the other hand, was still fiddling with his goatee.“How would that even work? You just waltz in there and propose to buy them off?” mused JMONEY.“Nope,” sai
“And this violence, thing? How does that help them?” entered JMONEY. Benjamin sighed. These guys just couldn’t see the full picture. “Once I take over, Worchester, they’ll get their reward. Yeah, I like to fuck with Michael, but I’m not just doing this on a whim, you know. Worchester is still my alumni. I plan to make it the best university in the World. And the Ivy Leagues will have their accoladed in delivering that.”“Then, how about a good ol’ fashioned donation? Maybe even refurbish the entire department? Maybe the entire Engineering faculty? Hell, with the amount you’ve been swinging around, the board may decide to build a new auditorium in your honour alone.” suggested JMONEY.“That’s not good enough!” Benjamin said, past the point of polite conversation. What was with these objections? thought Benjamin. Even JMONEY/ All they had to do was just listen. If they would just listen, it would become such a foolproof plan.Michael grunted. “Not surprising” he muttered. JMONEY stared
“I hear everything you’ve been saying— But this”“There is no NATURAL way, Jonathan. It’s either do or die. The only way out of it is SPEED and ACTION.” Benjamin addressed both of them. “Now, don't you see? With every other overdose happening in Worchester, it’s all our fault now.”There was a long silence from his audience. Benjamin only shifted once or twice in his seat, but JMONEY had put both arms behind his neck to groan, and Michael walked about more composed, staring out the window one or two times, and/or dragging his hands along the bookshelf.“So?” asked Benjamin, breaking the silence after 10 minutes. “Are we all on board now?”Michael turned a sharp look and approached the desk. “Let’s pretend that this whole operation is anything other than a masquerade of your self-imposed justice. What will this said ‘Violence’ entail? What are we doing, and where?” he inquired.Benjamin leaned forward, back into his familiar position of elbows resting on his desk, and his hands support
“Okay, but why are you still looking at me?” repeated Michael.“You still don’t get it?” asked JMONEY.“Get what?!”“Dude, your Dad is the rector. And he’s on that Committee.” Said JMONEY. Michael turned slowly from JMONEY to Benjamin and chuckled midway. “You egregious son of a bitch!” he exclaimed.Benjamin grinned wickedly. “What’re you getting all worked up for, Michael? We’re investigating the entire Committee, not just your Dad specifically, but please, feel free to share with us anything you might know about him.”Michael bounded towards the desk, but JMONEY intercepted him quickly, preventing his hands from landing on Benjamin’s computer. “You fuck!”“Dude, calm down!” yelled JMONEY.Benjamin was frowning now. Could it be, that after all this time, Michael still didn’t know his place? Well, it can’t have been easy for him thought Benjamin. The dynamics had switched so fast. Looking at it long-term, it wasn’t up to a month that Michael was still sitting on them and the entire d
“I don’t understand why you can’t just do this yourself. Investigate them personally”“Because I’d be too occupied with the professors. Only you can do this mission.” Explained Benjamin. Of course, this was far from true. Benjamin could easily handle the Professors that had been mentioned by Michael and JMONEY, and even more so the disciplinary committee.But giving this mission solely to Michael served another purpose. Benjamin was intent on grooming him. He had been a former enemy, yes, but that meant that he could potentially become an even more formidable ally. It was a hypothesis Benjamin was intent on testing. And that was by giving him a sense of importance, and an even more compelling task. He was his Avatar and General for the Ivy Leagues after all.“So?” Benjamin asked him.“So what?” he pouted.“I need to know If I can count on you” inquired Benjamin. Michael folded his arms.“Whatever”“That’s not really the response I was looking for. This is one of the most important asp
“The final thing is, how do we get them to agree to any of this in the first place? We’re almost 500. Heads are going to clash.” complained JMONEY.Benjamin turned to Michael. “You, test everyone for the upcoming operation. Cut out anyone you feel isn’t competent for the job-““But Benjamin!”“Relax, we’re not kicking them out. We’ll be creating a black ops of sorts, within the Ivy Leagues, led by Michael.” “To what end?” asked Michael. “You think segmenting an already shaky group will yield the results you’re looking for?”“Shaky? You guys told me you were doing well!” cried Benjamin. “Jonathan?”“Well” started JMONEY “there have been a few rumblings here and there. The freshmen don’t exactly seem to get the objective of Ivy Leagues. I mean, they all go on patrols and are aware of their responsibilities, but there’s something…missing. Or so they say”Benjamin blinked his eyes. “We’re a Vigilante group.”“What about a company vision? Or so to speak. What exactly is Ivy Leagues trying
JMONEY’e eyes parted to nearly three times their size. “What did you just say?” he asked, confounded.“You heard it properly the first time, Jonathan. Claire Black is being wed this Saturday,” replied Benjamin.JMONEY waved his fingers around, trying to trace the logic in Benjamin’s statement.Michael got in the first word while he continued to fumble with himself."Claire Black? Isn't that your fiance?" he asked, earnestly."You would be partially correct. The proper term now is Ex-fiance" smiled Benjamin."Since when?!" exasperated JMONEY."Ever since the Black family kicked me out of their manor" Benjamin replied, without skipping a beat. "Did I not tell you about that?""No!""Hmm. It feels like I have though""You think I wouldn't remember something as crazy as that? What the hell happened?"Benjamin continued to brush his sleeves, only looking up once or twice to address his audience. It was unclear if the topic was a[parently uncomfortable for him to discuss or not."Just a lit