Chapter 236: 236: Officially Famous (Part 3)
The closer Don and the guards got to the exit, the louder the noise outside became. As the main doors opened, the sound of excited and eager people greeted him.
Reporters and fans alike moved forward, shouting his name and calling out questions. Don kept his head forward, focusing on the path as the guards pushed back against the crowd, creating a narrow channel toward the car park.
"Mr. Bright, a quick word on the evaluation! Please!"
"Don, what do you think of your future here at SHU?"
"Can you tell us about your strategy when taking on Apex?"
Don kept his gaze straight ahead, his lips pressed into a polite, unreadable line, while cameras flashed continuously around him.
It was noisy and a little overwhelming, but he managed to tune out most of it, occasionally glancing to either side to check that the guards were holding their formation.
One eager fan managed to slip past the line, thrusting a notepad and pen in his direction. "Please, just one autograph!"
Before Don could respond, a guard gently but firmly guided the fan back behind the barrier.
As they approached the car park, he finally allowed himself a slight sigh, relieved to be out of the crowd's immediate reach.
Don entered the car park alone, watching as the reporters hovered near the boundary. It was clear they were considering waiting just outside the barrier in hopes of catching another glimpse of him.
But before they could settle in, the guard stationed by the security booth stepped out, raising his voice at the crowd.
"The school will take legal action against any reporters or visitors who attempt to breach the agreed-upon rules," he announced firmly, casting a sweeping gaze over the crowd. "This includes, but is not limited to, unauthorized entry, harassment of students, and failure to respect restricted areas. The penalties include heavy fines and permanent banning from campus events."
A collective murmur passed through the crowd, and Don watched as they began to disperse, discouraged by the guard's warnings.
He allowed himself a small smile before continuing on his way into the quieter car park. As he walked, he took out his phone, thumbing it open to find a message from Gary:
*The package will be there soon. Stand by.*
He then checked his conversation with Donald, only to find his friend hadn't replied.
'Where the hell is he?'
Don wondered, a faint crease forming on his brow before he sighed and let it go.
A few minutes passed as Don leaned against a metal railing, glancing occasionally at the car park entrance.
Just then, a bland-looking electric sedan pulled in, and he recognized it immediately as the one Gary had arranged. Don stood and waited by an empty parking space, watching as the sedan made its way over, slowing to a stop beside him.
He slipped into the backseat, finding the interior predictably nondescript, just like every other vehicle Gary had used before.
The only notable difference was the medium-sized box in the seat beside him, labeled with a bold red
**Fragile**
. He reached out, fingertips brushing the surface of the box to test its sturdiness.
**Beep!**
One of the small screens embedded in the back of the front seats blinked to life, displaying an incoming call. Gary's voice soon resounded from the speakers.
"Good afternoon, Sir Don," Gary greeted. "May I just say congratulations on your performance today. I was quite pleasantly surprised, as was the young madam."
Don glanced at the screen, half-expecting a video feed, but it was just audio. His attention shifted back to the box as he replied, "Thanks. I didn't really think I'd win, honestly, since the powers I used were only just recently awakened."
Gary's response came with a hint of surprise. "Is that so? I had assumed you'd been holding them back until now, but I suppose that makes more sense."
Don tried to sound a bit unsure, keeping his tone casual but not too rehearsed. "I wouldn't hide anything from Elle. I'm just trying to understand why I'd suddenly awaken new powers now, of all times."
Gary made a thoughtful sound. "Hmm… It's rare but not unheard of for people to unlock new abilities throughout their lives. Let's view this as a blessing, sir."
Don nodded, though he added a pinch of hesitation to his voice. "I guess you're right…"
The less convinced he sounded, the better. Samantha had believed him easily, but Gary required a subtler touch. He wasn't sure if Gary was completely convinced, but it didn't matter. Don knew that as long as he stuck to the story, it would be his truth, and no one could prove otherwise.
Letting out an audible sigh, he shifted the topic smoothly. "Anyway, it was a good opportunity to try them out. I'll let you know if I need any help with them. For now, though, I should get going—unless there's something else you wanted to discuss?"
A moment of silence followed. Then, Gary sighed too, his tone shifting slightly. "Well, there is another matter of grave importance…"
Don raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "What matter?" he asked.
Gary sighed again before answering, his voice carrying a tone of slight reluctance. "It's about the base and… our funds. The young madam hasn't yet brought this up with you, but we're facing some financial strain, mostly because of the base."
Don's expression shifted, his casual curiosity turning to mild concern. "What do you mean?"
"Well," Gary began, clearing his throat, "running the base is extremely costly. Building it nearly drained the young madam's entire inheritance. Without a source of income to offset these expenses, the funds are dwindling fast. I've tried convincing her to sell it—especially since it was originally her idea to construct the base specifically for you—but she refuses. She considers it your dream base and won't hear of parting with it. But as things stand, we may not be able to keep it running for more than a year."
Don nodded slowly, listening closely. He appreciated Gary's candor and knew the financial strain must be a real concern for him to bring it up. "I understand. I'll bring it up with Elle when I call her later."
Out of curiosity, he added, "Just out of interest, what kind of offers are on the table for it?"
Gary replied without hesitation, "There are a few anonymous buyers willing to pay up to 18 billion for the base."
Don's eyes widened slightly, impressed by the amount. Gary continued, "With that kind of money, we could invest in a more modest base—perhaps closer to the city—and explore options to generate income."
Don considered it, nodding as he replied, "Definitely sounds like a better idea. I'll talk with Elle."
Gary's tone softened a bit, almost as if he were treading lightly. "Brilliant. But perhaps don't approach the matter too directly. She poured her heart—and quite literally her entire fortune—into making it perfect for you. If money weren't an issue, I'd have no concerns."
Don gave a slight nod, his gaze drifting to the package beside him as he replied, "I get your point, and I'll think about how best to bring it up with her."
"Thank you, sir," Gary replied, the appreciation clear in his tone. "And regarding the package, the instructions for using the device are attached inside."
"Thanks," Don said, giving the box a quick glance. "I'll update you later on how things go."
"Understood," Gary replied. "Take care, sir." With that, the call ended, the screen fading to black.
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