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Chapter 11: Foundations Built on Rot

Author: JDHWS
last update Last Updated: 2025-08-06 19:39:51

The deeper Elara dug, the more Garden Metro felt like a grand illusion.

Its perfect buildings. Gleaming marble halls. Well-funded school programs. All a polished facade built over corruption that ran deep and wide.

And at the center of it all—The Halser Development Trust.

Trent’s father, Gregory Halser, wasn’t just a property tycoon. He was the largest private donor to both the Monroe campaign and the “Better Schools for Tomorrow” initiative Valerie Monroe chaired.

On paper, the initiative funded educational spaces and resource centers across Garden Metro.

But Elara had questions. And Splice had answers.

One foggy afternoon, Damien met Elara in the strategy room. The walls were covered in pinned documents, maps, wireframes of digital accounts.

Splice’s face appeared on the main monitor.

“Found something nasty,” she said, eyes gleaming. “You ready?”

Elara nodded.

Splice pulled up a series of bank statements and architectural blueprints. “This—right here—is the budget filed for the Linc
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  • Wounded Rose of Garden Metro   Happy Holidays

    Hi Everyone.I hope you are enjoying the second volume of the Who's The Loser Series.I will be taking the rest of the year off to celebrate the holiday season.Rest assured, I will be back at the new year to continue writing this book, among others.There will be more twists and turns along the way.And as always, your support, comments and feedback are always appreciated. Please leave a comment to let me know how I am doing with the story and how I can improve in the future.So until then, I wish you one and all a very blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.Love,JDHWS

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