CHAPTER 11: THE COST OF TRUTH
The days following the Liberty Place broadcast were a whirlwind of congressional inquiries, sensational headlines, and international legal proceedings. Toby Vance became a household name—the boy who dismantled a global syndicate without firing a single bullet.
Yet inside the quiet conference rooms of the Federal District Court, Toby remained unbothered by the fame. He sat patiently through hours of depositions, answering every question with precision, honesty, and humility.
"Mr. Vance," a senior senator asked during a closed hearing, "you possess cognitive capabilities that could make you the greatest strategic asset this nation has ever seen. Do you intend to work with defense agencies?"
Toby looked at the panel of suited officials. "My father taught me that intelligence without empathy is just machinery. I don't want to be an asset. I want to go to middle school."
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A soft, rare smile broke across the senator's face. The committee gavel sounded, closing the inquiry for good.
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