The Ashwick Academy Chronicle had been publishing increasingly hostile articles about our friend group for weeks—thinly veiled pieces about "elite student privilege," "dangerous foreign influences," and "pharmaceutical wealth corrupting academic integrity." The articles never named us directly, but the implications were obvious to anyone paying attention.
I was reading the latest edition, which featured an opinion piece titled "When Money Buys Everything: The Erosion of Merit at Elite Institutions," when Nick appeared in the library with what looked like legal documents and a satisfied expression.
"Problem solved," he announced, dropping into the chair across from me.
"What problem?"
"The Chronicle's smear campaign against us. I just purchased the entire student newspaper."
I stared a
