PART 5: The Gift of Sovereignty
The official walked to the podium, handing the leather folder directly to the dean, who looked down at the paperwork with absolute reverent awe. Nadia leaned into the microphone to explain that the folder contained the fully paid deed to the hardware store and the building above it. They had officially bought out my ruthless landlord, securing the physical property in my name forever.
A collective gasp swept through the thousands of attendees sitting in the audience, followed by a sudden wave of quiet murmurs. I stood frozen in the center aisle, tears freely streaming down my face into my graying beard as the sheer magnitude of their gift sank in. They had spent every spare hour of their college lives ensuring I would never have to worry about rent again.
But as the applause began to build, Camille held up her hand to stop the crowd, revealing one final secret. Who stepped out from behind the black curtain at the back of the stage? Go to the next part to discover the horrifying truth…
