My Scumbag System-Chapter 401: The Stray Dog Steals My World

Isaiah laughed despite himself. "That’s very on brand for Miller."

The screen shifted again, this time showing leaked footage from inside the VHC medical bay. Someone with access had filmed through a window, catching a brief glimpse of Satori in a hospital bed. Celeste sat in a chair beside him, holding his hand while he slept.

The image quality was terrible. The angle was worse. But the intimacy of the moment was unmistakable.

"That," Sterling said flatly, "is going to cause problems."

"Already has," Hyun-Jae confirmed. "President Vance’s office issued a statement three hours ago. They’re calling it a friendship forged through shared trauma. They’re emphasizing Celeste’s gratitude to Nakano for protecting her during the crisis."

"And absolutely no one believes it," Isaiah finished.

"The conspiracy forums are having a field day," Sterling said, pulling up his datapad. "The Black Gate Files posted an entire essay about how convenient it is that the President’s sister keeps ending up in life-threatening situations that Nakano conveniently solves. They’re suggesting everything from arranged publicity stunts to Nakano being a VHC plant."

Isaiah snorted. "Nakano as a VHC operative? The kid who publicly humiliated Julian Valerius and rejected every elite guild? That’s the worst conspiracy theory I’ve ever heard."

"Is it though?" Sterling leaned forward. "Think about it. He manifests late with a unique Aspect. Gets flagged with an Anomaly tag during evaluation. Scores perfectly on an impossible entrance exam. Survives not one but two incidents that should’ve killed him. And every time he pulls off something impossible, it benefits the VHC’s narrative while simultaneously making him look like an underdog hero."

Hyun-Jae cut in. "We’re not endorsing conspiracy theories on this program."

"I’m not endorsing anything. I’m pointing—."

The conversation was interrupted by a chime indicating breaking news.

A new window appeared on the main screen, showing a press release from NVA.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT RE: SECTOR 7 GATE INCIDENT

New Vein Academy acknowledges the successful resolution of an unexpected Black Gate scenario in Sector 7. All students involved have been recovered safely and are receiving appropriate medical care. The VHC has launched a full investigation into how a C-Rank Blue Gate underwent spontaneous transformation. Preliminary findings suggest natural metaphysical instability rather than external tampering.

The students involved demonstrated exceptional courage and tactical acumen. Director Luna extends his personal commendation to all participants. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

No further details will be released pending completion of the investigation. Press inquiries should be directed to the VHC Communications Office.

Sterling read it twice. "Natural metaphysical instability. That’s the official story?"

"That’s what they’re going with."

"And we’re supposed to believe a second Gate just happened to go wrong while Celeste Vance was inside? After the Necropolis? What are the odds?"

Hyun-Jae pulled up a calculation on screen. "Approximately four million to one, according to VHC’s own historical data on spontaneous Gate transformations."

"So either Celeste Vance is the unluckiest person in Valoria, or someone is actively trying to kill her."

"Or," Isaiah suggested, "Nakano is the problem. Maybe his Aspect is causing dimensional instability. Late manifestations are poorly understood. There could be side effects we don’t know about."

In the Argent Sentinels dormitory, Julian Valerius sat alone in the common room, watching the same news coverage on the main screen.

His teammates had abandoned him one by one throughout the week. Aaron barely spoke to him anymore. Cassandra transferred to the Vipers. Daniel requested reassignment to administrative duties.

Only three Sentinels remained loyal to him, and even they whispered when they thought he couldn’t hear.

On screen, leaked footage showed Satori being carried on a stretcher, his arms wrapped in glowing bandages.

Celeste walked beside the stretcher, her hand resting on Satori’s shoulder.

Julian’s fingers tightened around his glass hard enough that the crystal groaned.

That Zero. That street rat. That disaster with legs had somehow convinced the President’s sister to transfer guilds, survived two incidents that should’ve killed him, and was now trending across every social platform in the country.

While Julian, heir to Valerius Industries and destined for greatness since birth, sat alone in an empty common room, his reputation in shambles.

His phone buzzed.

A message from his father.

We need to talk. Tomorrow. My office. 0800.

Julian closed his eyes.

Tomorrow would bring consequences. Expectations. Disappointment barely concealed behind corporate politeness.

But tonight?

Tonight he sat in the dark and watched the Stray Dog steal his world one piece at a time.

The gossip forums exploded within hours of the first leaked photos.

Hunter Hot Takes hosted an emergency live stream that crashed their servers twice from traffic overload.

Four women sat around a glass table, their expressions ranging from scandalized to gleeful.

"Okay," the host said, her pink hair bouncing as she leaned forward. "Let’s address the elephant in the room. Celeste Vance and Satori Nakano."

Her co-host, a blonde woman in her thirties, practically vibrated with excitement. "They were holding hands in the medical bay. I saw the photos. That’s not friendship, that’s hand holding. Capital H Hand Holding."

"We don’t know the context—"

"The context is they survived a Black Gate together and emerged looking like they’d been through a war. Look at this photo." She pulled up the image on the main screen. "He’s got burns up both arms. She’s got frost damage on her hands. They clearly fought something together."

A third host, younger than the others, chimed in. "My cousin works security at the VHC medical complex. She said Nakano refused treatment until the doctors confirmed Celeste was stable. He made them check on her first."

"That’s," the first host said, her hand over her heart, "actually really sweet."

"It’s calculated," the blonde argued. "He knows she’s the President’s sister. Of course he’s going to make a show of protecting her."

"Or," the youngest host countered, "maybe he actually cares. Crazy thought, I know."

The fourth host, who’d been silent until now, spoke up. "I think we’re missing the bigger picture. This is the second time Nakano has saved Celeste’s life. The Necropolis, now this. At what point does coincidence become pattern?"

"What are you suggesting?"

"I’m suggesting that danger follows those two around like a bad smell. Either they’re cursed, or someone really wants them dead."