Chapter 70

Aria's POV

The expansion proposal took six months to finalize.

Multiple meetings with contributing Alphas. Detailed budget projections. Architectural plans. Enrollment forecasts. Everything needed to convince skeptical leaders to invest more resources.

Some Alphas were enthusiastic. Others hesitant.

"We've already invested substantially," one representative argued. "At what point does the school become self-sustaining instead of requiring constant additional funding?"

"When we reach optimal size," I explained. "Right now we turn away qualified students because we lack space. Expansion means more enrollment fees. More revenue. Better long-term sustainability."

"Or it means overextension. Growing too fast and collapsing under our own ambition."

"That's why we're planning carefully. Phased expansion over...