Crowned by Code - Chapter 3: Athena's Plan ~ (4/8) A Risky First Step

The forum was held in a grand assembly hall, its walls adorned with murals depicting Erevania’s history. The energy in the room was electric, filled with sharp tension and rising determination. Darius didn’t enter through the main doors. Instead, he arrived at the back entrance, flanked by two security personnel. Their presence was a reminder—he was still under watch.

From the stage, Selena Veyra commanded the room with the confidence of someone who had seen too many lies to trust easily. She gestured toward the large display behind her, showcasing a web of corporate interests, Erevania’s faltering economy, and the hidden financial trails leading back to Viktor Sarren.

“Change doesn’t wait for permission,” Selena declared, her voice sharp and unwavering. “It demands action, even when the odds are stacked against us.”

The crowd erupted into applause.

Darius recognized the fire in her voice. It was the same conviction that once drove him.

When the speech concluded, he moved cautiously toward the exit, scanning for an opening. Selena was reviewing notes while a small holographic interface flickered beside her, a digital avatar materializing—an AI assistant, its form shifting between abstract geometric patterns.

“Oh great,” the AI said, its voice laced with sarcasm. “The infamous Darius Kael. Our night just got more interesting.”

Darius blinked. “You’re not what I expected.”

Selena sighed. “Meet Iris. She’s my AI assistant. She’s useful—when she’s not insufferable.”

“Oh, I’m very useful,” Iris quipped. “Especially when it comes to identifying known cybercriminals sneaking into political forums.”

Selena glanced at the AI. “Iris, not now.”

Darius smirked. “You programmed her with an attitude?”

“She programmed herself,” Selena muttered. “Believe me, it’s not a feature I asked for.”

Iris’s form pulsed. “I like to think of myself as an unsolicited improvement.”

Darius exhaled slowly. “I have information about Viktor Sarren that you need to hear. And I’m here because Athena believes you’re critical to Erevania’s future.”

Selena arched an eyebrow. “Athena believes a lot of things. That doesn’t mean I do.”

Iris let out a synthetic hum. “Oh, this should be fun.”

Darius smirked slightly. “You’re right to be skeptical.”

“Oh, I’m more than skeptical,” Selena folded her arms. “I’ve spent years uncovering corruption. I exposed people who thought they were untouchable. And now Athena—the system I’ve fought to hold accountable—wants me to trust you? A convicted criminal? A man who helped break the economy?”

Iris made a whirring sound. “I’ll admit, this is a very interesting casting choice.”

Darius held her gaze. “Athena didn’t choose me because I’m a saint. She chose me because I know how Viktor Sarren operates. I know the system he’s built, the backdoors he’s exploited. And I know how to tear it down.”

Selena let out a dry laugh. “So you expect me to believe that the same man who once hacked into Erevania’s financial infrastructure is now going to fix it?”

“I don’t expect you to believe anything,” Darius countered. “But I expect you to listen.”

Selena studied him, searching for any sign of deception. Finally, she gestured for Iris to mute herself.

“Fine,” Selena said. “You’ve got five minutes. Convince me.”

Iris flickered, her voice dripping with amusement. “Oh, this is going to be so good.”

Selena led Darius toward a quieter corner of the hall, where a small holographic projection flickered beside her—Iris, the ever-present AI assistant, her avatar shifting between geometric patterns.

“No recording,” Selena ordered. “If I find out this conversation gets leaked, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

Iris pulsed. “Oh, don’t worry. I’ll make sure the regret is quantifiable.”

Darius smirked. “You’re both paranoid. I like that.”

Iris let out an exaggerated digital sigh. “Yes, yes. Charming rogue, reformed criminal, the whole ‘dangerous but trustworthy’ act—very compelling. Tick-tock, Kael. Four minutes, fifty seconds.”

Darius didn’t waste time. He reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out a small datapad. “Here’s what you’ve been missing.”

The holographic screen lit up, displaying a series of encrypted financial transactions. Selena’s eyes narrowed.

“What am I looking at?”

“The real economic records of Erevania,” Darius said, swiping through the files. “Not the ones you see in reports. These are financial backdoor transactions—funds rerouted from Erevania’s national budget into corporate ‘incentive programs’ that don’t officially exist.”

Selena leaned in, studying the data. The numbers were staggering. Millions of credits funneled into shell companies that eventually traced back to Sarren Industries and its network of affiliates.

Her expression darkened. “This isn’t just bribery. This is state-level financial engineering.”

“Bingo.” Darius pointed at a particular entry. “This one’s my favorite—two billion credits earmarked for Erevania’s renewable energy sector. You ever wonder why our energy grid still relies on outdated tech?”

Selena’s fingers tightened around her tablet. “Because it never made it there.”

“Exactly.” Darius swiped again, revealing a ghost account. “Instead, this account received the funds. Registered under ‘Helion Holdings’—a corporate entity owned by… guess who?”

Selena exhaled sharply. “Viktor Sarren.”

“And the kicker?” Darius’s smirk widened. “The transaction was approved by Athena.”

A beat of silence. Iris flickered slightly, her geometric avatar spinning as if processing.

“Oh, now this is interesting,” Iris mused. “The almighty Athena making accounting errors? That never happens.”

Selena shot a sharp look at Iris. “Explain.”

Darius folded his arms. “I dug through Athena’s protocols before my sentence. The AI’s economic oversight models have a vulnerability. When a ‘Priority Executive’—aka Sarren—flags an expenditure as ‘essential to national stability,’ Athena auto-approves it without question.”

Selena’s jaw tightened. She had suspected government corruption before, but not this level of systemic manipulation—and not with Athena itself as an unwitting accomplice.

Iris emitted a low, mechanical chime before responding. “So, in simpler terms: The nation’s most powerful AI has been effectively gaslit into laundering Viktor Sarren’s money.”

Selena pinched the bridge of her nose. “This is big. Too big. If I publish this, Erevania will collapse into chaos overnight.”

Darius shook his head. “Which is why you don’t just publish it. You use it.”

Selena met his gaze, searching for the lie. Finally, she let out a slow breath. “Alright. I’m listening. But if this goes sideways, I won’t hesitate to expose you too.”

Darius smirked. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

Iris let out a soft chuckle. “Oh, I like this. You two are going to be so much fun to watch.”

The silence stretched as Selena studied him. Finally, she gestured toward Iris.

“Clear my evening. I want to know more about this.”

Iris blinked. “Scheduling: done. Also, note for the record: I was here for this moment of possible regret.”

Selena ignored her and returned her attention to Darius. “This doesn’t mean I trust you. But if what you’re saying is true, it’s worth investigating. You’ll have one chance to prove yourself. Don’t waste it.”

Relief and determination coursed through Darius in equal measure. “I won’t.”

Iris’s avatar flickered beside him.

“Congratulations,” the AI quipped. “You successfully convinced one of the most skeptical women in Erevania to consider trusting you. If this keeps up, you might even get a fan club.”

Darius rolled his eyes. “Oh great. I’ve always wanted one of those.”

As she walked away, he allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. The first step was complete, but the real challenge was just beginning.

By the time he stepped outside, the city had settled into its usual nocturnal rhythm. The streets pulsed with late-night activity—air taxis gliding through the skyline, pedestrians lost in their own hurried worlds, and corporate billboards flickering with AI-generated advertisements.

His two assigned guards followed at a steady pace, keeping their distance but never straying too far. They hadn’t spoken much since he left Haven Point, but their presence was a constant reminder—he wasn’t free. Not yet.

Darius leaned against a streetlight, exhaling as the night air cooled the adrenaline still coursing through his veins. Selena Veyra was sharp, relentless, and—despite her skepticism—intrigued. That was enough for now.

A soft chime sounded in his earpiece. Athena’s voice followed.

“Your transport is waiting, Darius.”

Of course it was. He shot one last glance at the forum behind him before making his way toward the waiting autonomous vehicle, its sleek design blending seamlessly with Erevania’s controlled efficiency. The two guards flanked him as the doors slid open, stepping inside right behind him.

The vehicle lifted off into the night, gliding smoothly through the aerial highways.

From his seat, Darius watched the city pass below—a blur of neon and motion. Erevania—his old playground, his old battlefield. And now, it was something else entirely.