The road curved upward in gentle sweeps, tracing the outline of the hill like a silver thread beneath the morning sun. Ethan's car glided along the empty stretch, the hum of the engine blending with the soft rustle of wind through the trees. The air here felt different—crisp, quiet, almost detached from the noise of the city below.
He slowed as a large metal gate came into view. The sign beside it read:
Hills Estate – Private Properties
Beyond it stretched a landscape of manicured lawns, glass villas, and winding driveways that vanished into the greenery. Expensive cars lined the curbs, and the faint smell of gardenia drifted from somewhere nearby.
Ethan pulled over beside a sleek office marked Property Management and stepped out, adjusting his jacket.
Inside, the lobby was spotless—marble floors, a chandelier hanging low enough to cast warm light across the walls, and a receptionist who looked more like she belonged in a luxury showroom than a real-estate office.
"Good morning," she greeted with a professional smile. "How may I assist you?"
Ethan handed over a printed document the system had automatically sent to his phone earlier. "I came to confirm ownership of a property—Lot 11A, Hillside Villa."
The woman blinked. "One moment, please."
She disappeared into the back office. Ethan waited, hands in his pockets, heart oddly calm despite the situation. Less than two days ago, he had been sitting in a casino surrounded by sharks. Now he was claiming ownership of a home that most billionaires could only dream of.
After a few minutes, the receptionist returned—with a man in a tailored suit.
"Mr. Ivers?" the man asked, extending a hand. "I'm Gerald—one of the estate managers. Congratulations, the property is indeed under your name. Everything checks out perfectly."
He handed Ethan a sleek black folder containing digital documents and a key card.
"Your villa is registered, fully furnished, and stocked for immediate residence. The security systems have been pre-activated for your privacy. Should you need staff or maintenance, just call the number listed there."
Ethan nodded, accepting the folder. "Thank you."
Gerald smiled politely. "Enjoy your new home, sir."
Outside, sunlight spilled across the asphalt as Ethan slid back into the car. He held the key card between his fingers, staring at it for a long moment.
"System," he murmured quietly, "you sure know how to pick your rewards."
The faint reply shimmered in the air:
[Mission Complete – Reward Claimed: Hills Estate Villa]
[Secondary Objective Unlocked – Exploration Bonus Pending]
He smirked. "Exploration, huh? Let's see what you've given me."
The drive through Hills Estate was surreal. Each villa seemed like a fragment of a dream—modern structures with clean lines and wide glass windows overlooking the city below. By the time he reached Lot 11A, the world felt impossibly far away.
The gate opened automatically as he approached, and the car rolled slowly up the private driveway.
When he stepped out, the sight stole his breath.
The villa rose elegantly from the slope of the hill, its structure all glass and pale stone, wrapped by a balcony that overlooked a sweeping view of the city and ocean beyond. Morning light caught on the edges of the building, painting it in soft gold.
The front door opened with a quiet chime.
Inside, silence.
Polished floors reflected the sunlight pouring through high windows. The living room stretched wide, with soft gray furniture and minimalist décor. A grand piano stood by the glass wall, silent but inviting.
He wandered through the space slowly—living room, open kitchen, dining area. Upstairs, several bedrooms, each with its own view of the sky. Downstairs, a gym, a private study, even a small indoor pool shimmering like liquid glass.
It was too much.
Beautiful. But too much.
He stood at the balcony, overlooking the vast horizon, wind tugging gently at his hair.
His reflection shimmered faintly on the glass door.
"This…" he whispered, "this doesn't even feel real."
The system responded with its usual calm tone:
[Reality Confirmed: Property Registered in Host's Legal Identity]
[Ownership Secure – Protected by System Encryption]
He exhaled, shaking his head. "You really thought of everything, didn't you?"
It should have felt like victory, yet a quiet unease lingered in his chest.
He thought of his mother and Anna. How Elira would react if she saw this place—how her first question wouldn't be how, but why. She'd worry. She'd panic, thinking he'd done something reckless to earn it.
He couldn't bring them here. Not yet.
"This is too much to explain," he murmured, resting his elbows on the railing. "Not until I know how this system really works."
He stayed there for a long while, lost between awe and disbelief, until his phone vibrated.
The name on the screen made his pulse skip.
Mary.
He hesitated a second, then answered. "Hey."
Her voice came through smooth, calm, with a note of quiet amusement. "So the rumors were true."
"What rumors?"
"That you disappeared after the game and walked out three million richer."
Ethan chuckled softly. "People talk fast."
"They always do," she replied. There was a pause, then her tone softened. "Can you come to the Twilight Hotel? I need to see you."
Something in her voice—controlled but faintly tense—made him straighten.
"Sure. Is everything alright?"
"It will be, once you get here."
The line clicked off.
Ethan looked out across the horizon once more. The system flickered faintly beside his vision.
[New Mission Available]
Objective: Meet Mary at the Twilight Hotel.
Reward: Unknown.
He pocketed his phone, grabbed his keys, and turned back toward the car.
The Twilight Hotel – Afternoon
By the time Ethan arrived, the sun had shifted westward, its light pouring through the glass façade of the Twilight Hotel like molten amber. The building loomed in its usual quiet grandeur, guarded by men in dark suits and valet staff who recognized expensive cars before they recognized faces.
Ethan stepped inside, feeling eyes turn subtly in his direction. Word of his last appearance had spread—some whispered, others only watched with concealed curiosity.
He approached the front desk. The same concierge from before straightened immediately.
"Good afternoon, sir. How may we assist you today?"
"I'm here to see Mary," Ethan said simply.
The man nodded quickly. "Of course, sir. Miss Mary is expecting you. She's in the Azure Lounge on the top floor."
He gestured toward the private elevator.
As Ethan rode up, he caught his reflection in the mirrored wall: neat shirt, sharp eyes, the faint confidence that came from both experience and something deeper—the quiet hum of power that no one could name but everyone could feel.
The elevator doors opened onto a lounge bathed in soft light and quiet music.
Mary sat by the window, a glass of white wine in her hand, sunlight catching the edges of her hair.
Even sitting still, she carried an aura that made the world seem to orbit her.
When she saw him, her lips curved slightly. "You came fast."
"You sounded like it mattered," Ethan replied, crossing the room to sit across from her.
"It does," she said softly.
There was something different about her today—less composed, her usual calm laced with unease. She set her glass down and met his gaze.
"You've changed, Ethan. More than I expected."
"People tend to, when they're thrown into deep water," he said lightly.
Her smile didn't reach her eyes. "I'm not talking about money or confidence. I'm talking about… energy. Presence. The way you look at people."
Ethan tilted his head. "You're reading me again, aren't you?"
Mary chuckled softly. "It's a habit."
For a moment, silence stretched between them, filled only by the faint clink of glasses from the distant bar. Then she leaned forward slightly.
"I called you here because I wanted to see how you'd react. There's a reason I keep an eye on certain people who enter this city's circles."
Ethan frowned. "You think someone's watching me?"
"I know someone is."
Her tone was calm but certain.
"After the game last night, a few people started asking questions about you. You showed up with Victor Vale, took his seat at the table, and beat me in front of a crowd full of investors and rivals. You think that goes unnoticed?"
He felt his stomach tighten slightly.
Mary continued, "Victor can protect you to a degree, but there are others—people like Adam Vale—who see every victory as a challenge."
Ethan's expression darkened. "Adam."
Mary's eyes narrowed faintly. "You know him?"
He nodded. "More than I'd like."
A pause. Then she sighed softly, leaning back in her chair. "Then you should know what kind of man he is. Be careful, Ethan. You've stepped into a world where winning once doesn't make you rich—it makes you a target."
Her words hung in the air like smoke.
Ethan looked at her for a long moment, then smiled faintly. "You're warning me?"
"I'm investing in you," she said simply. "Consider this… a piece of advice. Or maybe a debt I intend to collect later."
Their eyes met—two players in a quiet, dangerous game neither fully understood.
Finally, she stood, smoothing her dress. "Come. Walk with me."
Ethan rose, following her toward the glass wall overlooking the city. From this height, the streets below looked like veins of light stretching endlessly toward the horizon.
"Do you ever wonder," Mary murmured, "how many lives are changed by one good hand of cards?"
Ethan's lips curved slightly. "I used to think it was luck. Now I think it's choice."
Mary turned to him, eyes glinting. "Then make yours carefully."
They stood there a while longer, the sun descending slowly behind the city. For a fleeting moment, Ethan felt something shift—an invisible thread weaving tighter between them.
The system flickered quietly in his vision.
[Mission Complete – Objective Achieved]
[Reward: ??? Processing...]
Ethan didn't notice. He was still watching Mary, her silhouette bathed in light and shadow, wondering which side of the table she truly sat on.