Chapter 237 | Catastrophic [PS BONUS]

Federal. Criminals.

The words hit me like a slap. I’d been tallying points, calculating upgrade costs, and planning for the future. I hadn’t once considered the jail time.

We didn’t just steal from the academy. We stole from a government-monitored facility that tracks every artifact, core, and crystal for IHC records. This wasn’t sneaking extra dessert from the dining hall. This was real crime with real consequences.

"If you get caught," Misato continued, her voice dropping lower, "they expel you. Minimum. Maybe press charges depending on value. And guess who else gets investigated? Your squad captain. The person responsible for your training and supervision. Me."

My stomach dropped through the floor.

"I get pulled into interrogations. They review my records. Check my finances. Ask why I didn’t notice my entire squad went missing at the exact time a Platinum crystal vanished from a secure vault."

Belle’s face had gone pale. "We didn’t think—"

"Exactly. You didn’t think. You got drunk on victory and decided to be stupid."

Naomi stood. "We’re sorry. We’ll put it back."

"You think you can just waltz back in there after triggering every alarm on the north end of campus? They’ve got guards swarming the restricted section right now. Mana tracers running. Camera footage being reviewed."

Jordan made a noise like a dying animal. "We’re expelled."

"Not yet." Misato walked to Belle’s mini fridge and grabbed a bottle of water, drinking half of it in one go. "But you will be if someone connects you to the theft."

"Our tracks are clean," Belle insisted. "I disabled the cameras. Used a burner authorization code. Wore gloves. There’s no physical evidence."

"Except the four of you sprinting across campus dressed like cat burglars right after the alarms went off."

"Plenty of students wear black."

"At midnight? Running from the restricted section?"

Belle’s confidence crumbled. "Okay. That’s bad."

"That’s catastrophic." Misato finished the water and crushed the bottle in her fist. "You put me in an impossible position. If I report you, you’re expelled and I’m the snitch who destroyed her own squad. If I don’t report you, I’m complicit when they eventually figure it out."

"We just won first place," Misato said, her voice dropping to something quieter but heavier. "Beat Blair’s elite squad. Cleared a Silver boss. Got evaluated at A-rank. Made real money doing it the right way."

Jordan winced. "When you put it like that—"

"You had a good day. The best day since orientation. And you’re about to ruin it by getting arrested for stealing shit you don’t need."

"We do need it," Belle argued, but the fight had left her voice. "My mom—"

"I’ll loan your mom the rent money. Interest-free. Pay me back whenever."

Belle’s eyes went wide. "Misato—"

"Naomi’s dad needs eight thousand for the boat? Done. I’ll wire it tomorrow."

"You don’t have to—"

"Jordan’s broke and eating ramen? Here’s a thousand credits. Buy actual food."

Jordan made a choking sound.

Misato turned to me last. "Jace needs money for ability upgrades? How much?"

My throat felt tight. "I can’t take your money."

"Why not? You were fine stealing from the academy."

The accuracy of that statement hurt.

"I have pride."

"Pride doesn’t keep you fed. Pride doesn’t pay rent. Pride gets you expelled when you’re caught with a Platinum crystal you can’t explain."

I looked at Naomi. Her eyes were wet but she wasn’t crying. She just looked small and scared and young, sitting in that chair with her knees pulled up.

Looked at Belle. Her blue hair had fallen across her face, and her hands were shaking slightly where they gripped her elbows.

Looked at Jordan. He’d buried his face in his hands like he could make the situation disappear through denial.

Looked at Misato. Standing there with her arms crossed, her expression caught between disappointment and something that might’ve been concern underneath the anger.

"You’re right," I said. "We’re idiots."

"Worse. You’re selfish idiots who didn’t think about anyone except yourselves."

Belle’s voice came out small. "What do we do?"

"We?" Misato’s eyebrow went up. "There’s no we in this disaster. But I’m not letting my squad get expelled over something this stupid."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning Jace and I are going back. Tonight. Right now. We’re putting that crystal exactly where you found it before morning shift change."

My stomach dropped. "Back to the restricted section? Where every guard on campus is currently searching?"

"You have a better idea?"

"Literally anything else."

"Then you shouldn’t have stolen it in the first place."

She had me there.

Naomi stood. "I’ll come too. This was my fault—"

"No." Misato’s voice went hard. "You stay here. All three of you. If we get caught, you claim ignorance. Say you were sleeping. Belle’s room, studying, whatever. But you weren’t involved."

"That’s not fair," Belle protested. "We all decided together—"

"Fair doesn’t matter. What matters is containment. If Jace and I get caught, we take the fall. Say we acted alone. You three stay clean and graduate."

"We’re not letting you—"

"You don’t get a vote." Misato turned to me. "Get the crystal. We’re leaving in two minutes."

I pulled the backpack out of the Sanctum. The crystal’s glow immediately filled Belle’s room with purple and gold light that painted shadows across the ceiling.

Misato stared at it. "That’s bigger than I expected."

"Worth every credit though."

"Worth nothing if we’re expelled." She grabbed her own black jacket from Belle’s closet and shrugged it on. "Let’s move."

Belle caught my arm. "Wait. You can’t just—"

"Watch me." I pulled free gently. "You three stay here. Lock the door. Don’t answer for anyone except us."

"Jace—"

"We’ll be back in an hour." I looked at Naomi. Her pink eyes were huge and scared and shining with unshed tears. "Trust me."

"I do. That’s the problem."

I kissed her forehead.

Belle grabbed my other arm. "Don’t get caught."

"Working on it."

"I’m serious. If you get expelled I’m going to be so pissed."

"Noted."

Jordan raised his hand from the bed. "For the record, I think this is a terrible idea."

"Also noted."

Misato opened the door and checked the hallway. Empty. The security lights cast long shadows across the carpet.

"Coast is clear. Let’s go."