William Porter sat at his cluttered desk, stacks of files and documents surrounding him. The President's calm and calculated press conference had quelled much of the hysteria around the time-travel rumors, but Porter wasn't ready to give up. Something still didn't add up. Matthew Hesh's rise was unprecedented, and Porter was determined to find out the truth—no matter how deep he had to dig.
The office of The Amerathian Times buzzed around him, with telegraph operators transmitting the latest headlines. Porter waved off a colleague who offered him coffee and focused on his notes. He had acquired detailed records from several public archives, including contracts, property deeds, and business agreements tied to Matthew's early ventures. So far, there were no glaring anomalies, but one thing stood out: Hesh had no documented business network or notable mentors before his first major success.
"Where did you come from, Hesh?" Porter muttered to himself.
