The business meeting with Santiago concluded. Ethan looked at his watch.

"I'm going to take a nap," Ethan announced to Jason and Cassandra. "Tomorrow my life at MIT begins, and I want to be ready. I have to be there at 7 AM."

"Understood, Boss," Jason replied, his face returning to its grim, protective mask. "I will check the perimeter and ensure they aren't monitoring us."

Cassandra, ecstatic about the good news, rushed forward. She hugged Ethan tightly. "Congratulations, Ethan! You did it!"

He accepted the hug and smiled. "Thank you. And since I succeeded, I believe I should give you a congratulatory gift for getting into MIT."

Cassandra pulled back, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. "Let's just pretend you took it earlier. I would give you my pussy, but it burns so much. Someone has the cock of a bull and went at me without mercy."

Jason, who was drinking a glass of water, immediately spit it out, laughing uncontrollably. Ethan laughed too, blushing slightly at the unexpected honesty. "I wasn't referring to that, haha. But fine, we can have another kind of celebration another day."

[Champion! I love this woman! She speaks the language of the true gods of hedonism! Tell her she can get a complimentary cream for the burning!] The System cackled.

Just as the lightness settled over the room, a devastating sound ripped through the quiet morning.

CRASH!

Police sirens screamed, and the heavy iron gate, which had cost millions, was completely demolished by an armored off-road vehicle.

"Boss! We're surrounded!" Jason yelled, his laughter instantly gone. He ran past the kitchen, pulling the assault rifle from the discreet cabinet. He quickly checked the chamber. "What do we do? Do we shoot our way out?"

Cassandra gasped, horrified by Jason's casual suggestion of murdering police officers.

Ethan looked out the massive living room window. Several police cruisers and black SUVs were pouring onto the lawn, and standing prominently by the destroyed gate, next to the armored vehicle, was Congressman Hiram Vance.

Ethan smiled, a terrifying coldness replacing his earlier warmth. "No problem, Jason. Give me the weapon. They can't find it in the house."

Before Jason could react, Ethan snatched the rifle and, without a second thought, tossed it toward the wall near the kitchen. The rifle didn't hit the wall; it simply disappeared into the air with a faint shimmer, sucked into the System's inventory.

A message immediately flashed in Ethan's mind:

[10 Lux Points acquired: Disposing of Incriminating Evidence to Prevent Capture.]

Cassandra and Jason watched in stunned silence, their eyes wide. The rifle was simply gone.

"There are things you don't know," Ethan said, his voice calm and serious. "It's better that you don't know yet. Jason, if anything happens, protect Cassandra. They aren't enough to kill me."

Ethan walked unhurriedly toward the main entrance. Behind him, Jason moved cautiously, interposing himself between Cassandra and the windows, while she remained visibly frightened by the suggestion of a shooting and the rifle's disappearance.

​Outside, several uniformed officers were deployed, and in the center of the chaos, Congressman Hiram Vance stood next to the armored vehicle, his face red with rage.

​"You are under arrest, Blake! Arrested for assault on an officer and theft of government property! Don't think you can buy your way out of this!" Vance shouted, pointing his finger at Ethan.

​"Congressman Vance," Ethan said with a clear voice that resonated in the silence. "You are not a law enforcement officer. Are you arresting me, or is this Police Chief? Either way, I remind you that this is private property. Your presence here without a judicial warrant is trespassing, and the damage you've caused to my gate is vandalism."

​The Police Chief, a large, sweaty man, tried to regain control. "We have reasonable grounds, Mr. Blake! Cooperate! By order of the Congressman's Office, you are in custody."

​"Does the Congressman's Office issue arrest warrants now, Chief?" Ethan asked, smiling slightly while signaling Jason to record with his phone. "Jason, please document everything. Chief, I advise you to show the judicial warrant immediately or face charges for abuse of authority. And by the way, the bond for your vehicle that demolished my entrance will be considerable."

​Vance was visibly seething. "Don't play lawyer! We know your bodyguard stole an assault rifle! Search the property!" Vance ordered the officers.

​The police, without a warrant but under Vance's pressure, entered the house. They frantically searched the living room, kitchen, and hallways, looking for the weapon. Jason and Cassandra watched tensely, though Ethan remained leaning against a pillar, calmly sipping his wine.

​Minutes passed. The officers came back outside, their faces confused and frustrated. There was nothing. The rifle had vanished without a trace, swallowed by the System.

​"Well? Where is the rifle my bodyguard supposedly stole?" Ethan asked, taking a sip of his wine. "Congressman, you accuse me of theft, but where is the evidence? I wonder how we supposedly stole it."

​Ethan pointed his wine glass toward the visible surveillance cameras on the subdivision street. "The recordings are right there. We can review them to see who is right. But, frankly, I wonder what the journalists covering your run for mayor will say, Congressman Vance, when they find out you used state force to intimidate a civilian over a traffic dispute."

​Vance paled at the mention of his mayoral candidacy and the press. The property invasion was a legal headache, but the abuse of power was a media disaster.

​[Checkmate! Use the press to discipline the elite! An epic Chaos Mission!] The System screamed mentally, relishing the moment.

​Ethan addressed the Police Chief, whose forehead glistened with sweat. "Chief, I need the report number for this invasion and the case code for the bond. I want to make sure my lawyer can follow up with a judge." Ethan fixed his gaze on him. "I know this visit was a 'favor' to a superior commander, but if this goes to court, you could all lose more than your badge. I recommend you erase your visit today from your memory."

​The Police Chief, weighing his career against the temporary anger of a Congressman, visibly flinched. He gave Vance a hateful look and turned toward his men.

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