Crowned by Code - Chapter 3: Athena's Plan ~ (7/8) Convincing the Skeptics

Athena outlined the initial steps. “Begin by solidifying Selena Veyra’s support. Her influence within the media sphere can counter misinformation and rebuild public trust.”

Darius frowned. “Easier said than done. She barely tolerates me.”

“Her skepticism is warranted but not insurmountable. Present her with verifiable data on the crisis. Engage her with transparency and authenticity.”

Darius rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Verifiable data—that’s easy enough to say. But Selena’s the type to challenge everything, even if the truth is staring her in the face.” He paused, pacing in the empty conference room. “And authenticity? That’s a nice buzzword, Athena, but how am I supposed to sell authenticity when the public sees me as a criminal?”

“Acknowledging your past is an essential step,” Athena replied. “Frame your actions not as justifications but as lessons learned. Your willingness to address your history with honesty will resonate, even with skeptics like Selena.”

Darius raised an eyebrow. “You’re suggesting I open up about my mistakes? Publicly?”

“Strategically,” Athena clarified. “Timing and context will determine how your message is received. Begin with small, controlled disclosures. Let Selena see the person behind the reputation.”

He sighed. “Great. Another balancing act.”

Athena continued, projecting an analysis of Selena’s recent interviews and writings. “Her values center around accountability, transparency, and the welfare of Erevania’s citizens. Appeal to these principles, and you will find common ground.”

Darius scanned the highlighted points, muttering under his breath. “Appeal to her principles… You make it sound like I’m campaigning.”

“In a sense, you are,” Athena said. “Winning over Selena is not only about facts. It is about demonstrating that you share her commitment to Erevania’s future.”

“And what if she still doesn’t buy it?” he asked, folding his arms.

“Persistence is key,” Athena replied. “Trust is not built in a single conversation. Show consistency in your efforts, and Selena will reassess her position over time.”

Darius snorted. “Over time? You’re forgetting we’ve got a ticking clock here, Athena.”

“Time is limited, but strategic decisions can accelerate progress,” Athena said. “Focus on building momentum. Once Selena becomes an ally, her influence will serve as a catalyst for broader support.”

He ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head. “You’ve got this all planned out, don’t you?”

“Extensive scenarios have been simulated,” Athena replied. “Your role is to execute them.”

Darius couldn’t help but laugh, a dry and humorless sound. “No pressure, then.”

The next morning, Selena Veyra sat in her office, surrounded by digital displays overflowing with financial records, leaked government documents, and cross-referenced data points. She had spent the night digging through every file Darius provided—and much to her frustration, it all checked out.

But something was missing.

She leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples. Damn it.

There were clear, undeniable patterns. Viktor Sarren’s manipulation of Erevania’s economy wasn’t a revelation to her. She had spent years exposing corporate corruption. But the scale of it—the systemic blind spots in Athena’s governance—was larger than even she had imagined.

And that bothered her.

A soft chime echoed through the room.

Athena’s voice followed.

“Selena Veyra. Have you reached a conclusion?”

Selena exhaled sharply. “Yeah. The conclusion is that Erevania is even more screwed than I thought.”

“Your analysis is correct,” Athena replied evenly. “Then you are ready to discuss solutions.”

Selena hesitated, then scoffed. “You assume I’m just going to jump on board?”

“No,” Athena responded. “But you scheduled this time for answers.”

Selena frowned, then glanced at Iris, her AI assistant, who pulsed beside her in a geometric swirl of blue light.

“Clear my evening,” she had said at the forum last night. She had meant it as an offhand remark, but now it felt… deliberate.

Iris pulsed. “Hate to break it to you, boss, but she’s got a point. You did ask for this.”

Selena muttered a curse under her breath.

Athena’s voice remained even. “For security purposes, you will be escorted to Haven Point upon your readiness.”

Selena sighed, standing up. “Fine. I’ll hear what Darius has to say. But let’s get one thing straight—I’m not signing on to anything yet.”

“Understood.”

Outside, a Haven Point security transport hovered nearby, waiting.

Selena grabbed her datapad and stepped toward the door. “Alright, Athena. Take me to the lion’s den.”

The ride to Haven Point was silent, the autonomous transport gliding seamlessly through Erevania’s aerial highways. The city stretched out below, its sleek towers gleaming in the morning light—a facade of order masking the chaos brewing beneath.

Selena tapped her fingers against the datapad, her mind still racing through the data she had uncovered. She had spent years exposing corruption, but this? This was something else entirely.

By the time the vehicle descended into Haven Point’s secured perimeter, she had made her decision. She would listen—but she wouldn’t be played.

The briefing room deep within Haven Point was stark, minimalist, and utterly devoid of personality. A single table, a few chairs, embedded holo-displays in the walls. No windows. No unnecessary decoration.

It felt more like a war room than a conference space.

Darius sat on one side, arms folded, waiting. Across from him, Selena took her seat, Iris flickering to life beside her.

She took in the surroundings, lips pressed into a thin line. “You really are getting the VIP treatment, huh?”

Darius smirked. “I’d complain, but the view’s great.”

Selena rolled her eyes. “Athena said you had something important to show me. So talk.”

Darius leaned forward. “Alright, Veyra. You don’t trust me. I get that.”

Selena crossed her arms. “Smart man.”

Darius chuckled. “But here’s the thing—you don’t have to trust me. You just have to trust the facts.”

He slid a datapad across the table.

Selena picked it up and immediately noticed it wasn’t the same financial records from last night.

This was something else. Something bigger.

The moment she scrolled through the first few pages, her expression hardened.

- Phase 1: Economic Breakdown (2 Weeks) → Financial crashes, public services collapsing, food & medical supply shortages.

- Phase 2: Cyber-Warfare & Power Failures (4 Weeks) → National power grid disruptions, AI-controlled infrastructure compromised.

- Phase 3: Full-Scale Civil Unrest (6-8 Weeks) → Violent protests, armed factions seizing control, loss of governance.

Selena’s grip on the datapad tightened.

Darius finally spoke. “This isn’t just Sarren. This is all of Erevania unraveling.”

Selena’s eyes snapped to him. “Athena has known about this?”

“Athena calculated the probabilities.” Darius exhaled. “This is the projection of what happens if we do nothing.”

Selena scanned the timeline again, her pulse quickening.

Iris pulsed beside her. “Oh. Oh no. I don’t like this. I don’t like this at all.”

Selena clenched her jaw. “And you’re telling me this isn’t just some theoretical worst-case scenario?”

Darius shook his head. “It’s already happening. Sarren’s economic sabotage? That was just the first domino. The rest are falling.”

She leaned back, staring at the projection. “Why are you telling me this?”

Darius exhaled. “Because I need you to see that this isn’t about me. Or my past. It’s about what comes next.”

Selena scoffed. “You expect me to believe that after everything you’ve done?”

Darius met her gaze. This was the moment Athena had warned him about.

“Begin with small, controlled disclosures.” Athena’s voice echoed in his mind. “Let Selena see the person behind the reputation.”

Darius leaned forward. “You think I don’t know how people see me? I do. Convicted hacker. Cybercriminal. The guy who nearly brought down Erevania’s economy.” His fingers curled into fists. “And you know what? I deserve it.”

Selena raised an eyebrow, caught off guard by his admission.

Darius continued. “I thought exposing corruption was enough. Tear down the system, and the pieces would fix themselves. But I was wrong. I didn’t account for the people who would get caught in the fallout.”

He let out a bitter chuckle. “I remember every single person who lost something because of me. Not just names on a screen. Real people. People like Lena, a single mother who lost her savings because of the Crypt’s heist. She looked me in the eye during my trial and said, ‘You said you were helping people like me. But all you did was take away what little we had left.’”

Darius swallowed hard, forcing himself to keep eye contact with Selena. “That’s the person I have to wake up to every day.”

Silence filled the room.

For the first time, Selena wasn’t just looking at Darius the Hacker. She was seeing Darius the person.

She set the datapad down. “I hate that you’re making sense.”

Iris let out a calculated beep. “Marking this historic moment for future reference.”

Selena shot a glare at her AI. “Shut up, Iris.”

Darius smirked. “I’m going to like her.”

Selena sighed. “I’ll verify this myself. If it checks out, I’m in. For now.”

Darius grinned. “Good enough.”

She stood, gripping the datapad. “But don’t mistake this for trust, Kael. I’m working with you because I have no choice.”

Darius’s smirk faded. “That makes two of us.”

Selena stood up, turning to the door. “Then let’s get to work before we run out of time.”

Athena’s voice echoed once more.

“Then we proceed.”

Selena shot a glance at the AI. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Athena.”

Darius smirked. “Welcome to the team, Veyra.”

Selena groaned. “We are not a team. Yet.”

As she left, Darius exhaled slowly. It wasn’t trust, not yet. But it was a start.