Elias Vance, a timid librarian, possesses absolute Psychological Insight. He discovers the truth: the five gifted students branded as the "Imperial Specters"—doomed world destroyers—are merely victims of the Empire's paranoia. Elias becomes their secret Patron. He guides their actions in a crisis, yet the world misinterprets his subtle genius as the cold, brilliant tactics of a mythical entity: The Shadow Commander. Forced into the role of a Monster Genius Actor, Elias plays the terrifying Commander. The greater his false fame, the closer he is to exposure. Elias must now lead the war against a genuine global threat using his fabricated identity. Can he save his protégés without anyone realizing their legendary Commander is simply a fearful Shepherd?