Chapter 16: The Mystery of Epsilon Shadow

The academy was buzzing with excitement and speculation. Everyone from the lowest-ranked students to the elite members of the Alpha Class was talking about one thing: Epsilon Shadow. The anonymous player who had risen through the VR rankings at an unprecedented speed had captured the attention of the entire school. Even the instructors were intrigued.

"Whoever this is, they're hiding their identity for a reason," one of the tech teachers said during lunch, speaking to a group of curious students.

"Maybe it's someone from another academy infiltrating our system," suggested an Alpha Class student.

"No way," another student replied. "They have to be one of us. But why would someone this powerful stay in Epsilon Class?"

Meanwhile, the staff continued their attempts to uncover Alex's identity. Each search was met with encrypted data that blocked their efforts. The more they tried, the more frustrated they became.

In the midst of this chaos, Jasper approached Alex one evening in the dorms.

"Alex, listen," Jasper said, his tone serious. "You need to stay out of the VR pod for now. They're going crazy trying to figure out who Epsilon Shadow is. If you log in again, you're only going to make things worse for yourself."

Alex nodded. "I was thinking the same thing. I've already gathered enough points from the VR game. I don't need to draw any more attention right now."

Jasper sighed in relief. "Good. Lay low for a while. Focus on other things. The last thing you need is someone connecting the dots."

---

Taking Jasper's advice to heart, Alex decided to spend his time exploring the city. He had recently earned enough credits to make a significant purchase, and there was one thing he had been eyeing for weeks: an air shuttle.

The air shuttles were a symbol of status and power within the academy. While most students relied on the public transport system or borrowed shuttles from their families, owning one's own air shuttle was a statement. Alex didn't care about status, but he did want the independence that came with owning his own vehicle.

He headed to the Air Shuttle Exchange, a sprawling showroom filled with every kind of shuttle imaginable. From sleek, high-speed models to durable, all-terrain designs, the place was a haven for anyone with a passion for technology.

As Alex wandered through the rows of shuttles, his eyes landed on a particular model that caught his attention. It was a Stone Air Shuttle, a robust and reliable design known for its durability and versatility. It wasn't the flashiest option, but it suited Alex perfectly.

Just as he was about to finalize his purchase, a familiar voice interrupted him.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Alex," Sarah said, her tone dripping with mockery. She was flanked by two of her friends, both of whom smirked at Alex.

Alex turned to face her, keeping his expression neutral. "What do you want, Sarah?"

Sarah glanced at the Stone Air Shuttle, then back at Alex. "This is what you're buying? How... predictable. I thought you'd aim higher, but I guess that's too much to expect from someone like you."

Alex didn't respond. He knew Sarah was trying to provoke him, and he wasn't going to take the bait.

"I think I'll take this one," Sarah announced loudly, signaling to the salesperson.

The salesperson hesitated, glancing between Alex and Sarah. "Uh, Miss Sarah, Mr. Alex here was about to."

"I'll pay double," Sarah interrupted, flashing a smug smile at Alex.

Alex raised an eyebrow. "Double? That's a bold move, Sarah. You must really want it."

"Of course. I can't let someone like you drive something this nice."

Alex smirked. "Alright then. Let's see how much you're willing to pay."

He raised the price again and again, each time watching as Sarah stubbornly followed suit. The crowd in the showroom began to gather, murmuring amongst themselves as the bidding war escalated.

Finally, Alex stopped. "You win, Sarah. Enjoy your new air shuttle."

Sarah blinked in surprise, realizing too late that Alex had outmaneuvered her. She had just paid an exorbitant amount for a shuttle she didn't even want, all because she couldn't resist trying to one-up him.

As Sarah fumed, Alex turned to the salesperson. "I'll take that model over there," he said, pointing to a slightly different Stone Air Shuttle in the corner of the showroom. It was almost identical to the one he had been looking at, but with a few added features and at a much lower price than what Sarah had paid.

The salesperson grinned. "Excellent choice, sir."

---

As Alex walked out of the showroom with the keys to his new air shuttle, he couldn't help but feel a small sense of satisfaction. He had avoided unnecessary conflict while still getting what he wanted and he had left Sarah looking foolish in the process.

Back at the dorms, Jasper burst out laughing when Alex told him what had happened.

"That's classic," Jasper said, wiping tears from his eyes. "I wish I could've seen her face. You're getting good at this, Alex."

Alex shrugged. "It wasn't about outsmarting her. I just wanted the shuttle. The rest was... a bonus."

Jasper grinned. "Still, you should be careful. People like Sarah don't forget things like this easily."

"I know," Alex said, his expression darkening slightly. "But I can handle whatever comes my way."

As he sat in his room that night, Alex couldn't help but think about how far he had come. From being the lowest-ranked student in the academy to becoming a mysterious figure on the leaderboard, he was slowly but surely carving out a path for himself.