Sunlight poured through cathedral-high glass walls, its light a sharp sword slashing away darkness that clung to the sprawling grounds. Golden rays danced across shiny marble floors, lighting pillars carved with otherworldly designs dragons chasing clouds, gods at eternal play. The air was filled with opulence and danger in equal measure.
Lucien sat on the lip of a velvet chaise, taking a deep breath. There lingered still the scent of jasmine in the air, mixed with the residual presence of expensive cologne those weren't his.
Not yet.
[Physical characteristics enhanced by 15%.]
[Cognitive abilities: Prime. Memory integration: 98%.]
[Field of charm active.]
[System Skill Unlocked: Executive Dominance (Lv. 1) – Forces negotiation and intimidation. Cooldown: 24 hours.]
The system's detached voice echoed in his mind, unemotional, omniscient.
Lucien Leaned back and rolled his shoulders. His muscles came alive like strings on a harp faster, stronger. The lazy, half-dead beast this body used to be was forgotten. In his previous life, he'd been a master tactician held back by ethics and red tape. There'd be no restraint this time.
This time, he'd win.
Soft, fast, impatient feet outside the room.
Then, the voice. Velvet and ice.
"Lucien!"
He turned.
She came down the stairs with the quiet of a panther and the queenly bearing of a queen, her luxurious violet silk gown absorbing every beam of light and hugging her curves in a manner only marginally augmented by the tousled gold sash clung to her body by barely enough force. Her dark, shiny hair fell down her back like a cascade of silk. And it was her eyes sharp, clever, icy fire color that chilled him.
[Name: Evelyn Drake]
[Relationship: Step-sister. CEO of Drake Enterprises.]
[Personality Type: Ice Queen.]
[Affection Level: 3%.]
[Traits: Dislikes weakness. Attracted to ambition and confidence.]
[Potential Harem Member #2]
She stopped on the bottom step, arms folded tightly beneath her chest.
"You're finally awake," she said, her tone clipped and measured. "Three board meetings missed. Two investor confidence calls ignored. One very public scandal involving insider leaks. Congratulations you almost ruined us."
Lucien didn't blink.
"I'm better now," he said, standing. His voice had changed smooth, commanding, with just a hint of danger.
"Better?" she echoed, arching a sculpted brow. "You don't even sound like yourself."
He stepped closer. Their height difference was minimal, and he used it. His eyes locked with hers, unblinking.
"That's because I'm not the man who failed," he said. "I'm the man who will fix everything he broke and more."
Evelyn's eyes narrowed, but something flickered behind them. Not warmth yet. But interest. She tilted her head slightly.
"We'll see," she said. "The board meets in one hour. Impress me, or don't bother showing up again."
As she turned and walked away, Lucien smiled.
The game had begun.
????️ Boardroom – One Hour Later
The boardroom was a lean monster of modern aesthetics blackened glass walls, an expansive table designed to hold royalty. Leather sofas fluffed out on either side, where men who had once called Lucien "nephew" or "boy" had sent him packing to corporate purgatory.
They waited now like wolves with blood in their nostrils.
Lucien arrived by himself, in a tailored black suit that heightened his new body to perfection. The mood changed the moment he walked in quieter, more strained. Like a warning storm.
He walked the length of the room without haste and sat down at the head of the table. His fingers drummed the smooth mahogany twice then stopped.
Evelyn sat to his left. Her arms were still crossed, but her eyes were regarding him now not condescendingly. With interest.
Director Saito cleared his throat. A thin man in his sixties, glasses sitting on the end of his nose. "Lucien. Glad you're recovered, but let's make one thing clear your absence has hurt investor confidence. We were just starting to think"
Lucien did not shout. He did not need to.
"Before we begin," he spoke smoothly, "Director Saito… I believe you own eleven percent of our offshore logistics firm, NovaLift."
Saito blinked. "I yes, I do, but"
Lucien slid across the table a fat folder. It came down hard. "You've been diverting funds through a shell corporation Marlin & Knox using third-party proxies to pilfer quarterly profits."
Gasps. Chairs creaked.
Saito turned white. "How did you?"
Lucien cut him off.
"Resign."
The one-word shot hit like a bullet.
[Executive Dominance Triggered.]
[Target: Director Saito]
[Impact: Intimidation x2. Fear Response Triggered.]
[Remaining Time: 15 seconds. Cooldown: 24 hours.]
Saito's eyes glazed. His hand trembled. He slowly, mechanically, stood up and picked up his papers.
"I… I quit," he breathed, voice hollow.
The door shut behind him with a click.
There was silence in the room.
Lucien made it hang in the air. He regarded each of the men individually. Their expressions changed confusion, then incredulity, then unease. Even icicle Evelyn leaned forward ever so slightly now, her nails pressing into the surface of the table.
"Let that be a lesson," Lucien got to his feet and announced. "Any man in this room interested in preying on this business will be gone before he can figure out how to open his mouth."
He stood there, regarding Evelyn.
"And for those who will create something worth it we start now."
[Affection: Evelyn Drake +5%]
[New Emotion Detected: Curiosity. Attraction increasing.]
???? That Night – Lucien's Study
The manor stood in moonlight. Outside his study windows, the skyline glimmered silver spires lit by ambition and greed. His study was a sanctuary of books, leather, and gentle amber light.
A knock.
"Enter," said Lucien.
Aria stepped inside a maid, but not just. Her uniform was impeccable, her stance obedient. But her eyes, warm and large, betrayed more.
She had a silver tray in one hand with a delicate teacup.
"Your tea, Master Lucien," she whispered.
He took it with a faint smile, his fingers grazing hers so lightly.
She froze, then blushed, eyes dropping to the floor.
"You look. different, sir," she ventured.
Lucien sipped the tea, his tongue experiencing the floral flavor. "Because I am. And I'll need others that I can trust to stand with me."
Her mouth parted. Hope flickered on her face.
"You… you can trust me," she whispered. "Always."
He stepped to the window, standing there with his gaze on the city streets below.
"In my former life," he whispered, "I played fairly. I lost everything because of it."
Aria was silent, listening.
"But this time," Lucien continued, voice harder now, "I'll use everything. Charm. Power. Strategy. Seduction. Whatever it takes."
He turned, and their eyes met.
"You'll see, Aria. We're not just going to survive we're going to own this world."
[Affection: Aria +8%]
[Bond Developing: Loyalty Route – Maid Class.]
[Aria's Loyalty Threshold: Tier 1 Achieved.]
He returned to his leather chair, swirling the tea slowly.
In the distance, the financial district blazed like a crown to be seized.
Lucien Drake woke up.
And the world would learn:
Charm is not just a quality. It's a weapon.