Ethan stepped out of the Royal Mall, his new $1.5 million Vacheron Constantin gleaming under the streetlights. Behind him, the mall's management team stood in a neat row, bowing until their foreheads nearly touched their knees.
The rain had stopped, leaving the asphalt shimmering like obsidian. Ethan checked the blue translucent screen hovering in his vision.
[Time Remaining: 01:42:15]
[Task: Pay Luna Valentine's $500M debt and recruit her.]
[Special Task Funds: $500,000,000.00 has been credited to your account (Temporary).]
Five hundred million dollars.
In his previous life—which felt like a decade ago, though it had only been an hour—Ethan couldn't even fathom that many zeros. Now, it was just a "task" he had to complete before a timer ran out.
"Mr. Clarke!" Henderson, the Mall Manager, came scurrying forward. "Your ride, sir. The Mercedes is still waiting, but for a man of your stature, it's far too... modest. Would you like me to open the showroom of the Koenigsegg dealership on the ground floor?"
Ethan glanced at his watch. "No time. Tell the driver to move. I'm driving myself."
He walked toward the mall's display plaza, where a limited-edition Bugatti La Voiture Noire sat behind velvet ropes. It was a $19 million masterpiece of carbon fiber and raw power, placed there as a centerpiece to attract tourists.
Ethan didn't ask for a key. He looked at Henderson. "Is this car for sale?"
Henderson blinked. "It's a floor model, sir, it belongs to the manufacturer, but since you own the mall—"
"Buy it for me," Ethan commanded. "Now. Whatever the markup is, pay it. I need to be at the Valentine Estate in twenty minutes."
[Ding! Spending $25,000,000 on a vehicle.]
[Processing... Approved!]
Within seconds, the mall's PA system crackled. "Attention. The Bugatti display is now closed. Ownership has been transferred."
The security guards scrambled to remove the velvet ropes. A technician ran out, his hands shaking as he handed Ethan the proximity key.
Ethan slid into the cockpit. The smell of hand-stitched leather and expensive machinery filled his senses. With a roar that sounded like a prehistoric beast, the Bugatti surged forward, leaving a cloud of tire smoke and a stunned crowd of onlookers in its wake.
The Valentine Estate was a fortress of old money. High wrought-iron gates, a mile-long driveway lined with oak trees, and a mansion that looked like a European palace.
Tonight, however, the atmosphere was suffocating.
Inside the grand drawing room, Luna Valentine stood like a statue carved from ice. She was breathtakingly beautiful—long, silver-blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, and a figure that even the most expensive Dior gown couldn't do justice. But her face was pale, her lips pressed into a thin line of despair.
"Sign it, Luna," a man drawled, leaning back in a velvet armchair.
This was Julian Sterling. His family owned Sterling Global Bank. He was handsome in a cruel, predatory way. He pushed a leather-bound contract across the table.
"Your father's shipping empire is $500 million in the hole," Julian continued, swirling a glass of vintage scotch. "The creditors are at the door. By tomorrow morning, the Valentine name will be synonymous with 'bankruptcy.' Or... you sign this marriage contract, and the Sterling family clears the debt tonight."
Luna's father, a man who looked like he had aged twenty years in a week, sat with his head in his hands. "Luna... I'm sorry. I never wanted this for you."
"It's not a marriage, Julian," Luna said, her voice trembling despite her efforts to remain cold. "It's a bill of sale. You're buying me."
"Call it what you want," Julian smirked. "In this city, everything has a price. And yours happens to be half a billion. Now, sign. I don't like to be kept waiting."
Luna picked up the pen. Her hand shook. Her life, her career as a CEO, her freedom—it was all ending here.
Just as the nib touched the paper, the heavy oak doors of the drawing room were slammed open with such force that the hinges groaned.
BOOM!
"I object," a calm, clear voice rang out.
Everyone in the room whirled around.
Ethan Clarke walked in. He was still wearing the cheap, soaked suit from earlier, but the way he carried himself—the cold arrogance in his eyes and the $1.5 million watch on his wrist—made him look like a king entering a peasant's hut.
Julian Sterling stood up, his face contorting in anger. "Who the hell are you? Guards! How did this beggar get past the gates?"
"The gates were locked," Ethan said, tossing a set of Bugatti keys onto the table. It landed right on top of the marriage contract. "So I drove through them. You might want to send someone to pick up the scrap metal."
Julian's eyes widened as he looked at the keys. He recognized the Bugatti emblem. "You... you crashed a $20 million car just to walk through the front door?"
"I was in a hurry," Ethan said, pulling out a chair and sitting down opposite Julian. He didn't look at the villain; his eyes were locked on Luna. Up close, she was even more stunning, even with the tears brimming in her eyes. "You're Luna Valentine?"
Luna blinked, stunned. "I... yes. Who are you?"
"I'm your new employer," Ethan said. He turned to Julian. "You said her debt was $500 million?"
Julian let out a harsh laugh. "That's right, kid. $500 million. A sum you couldn't even count to. This isn't a playground. This is the big leagues. Get out before I have my men break your legs."
Ethan didn't even flinch. He pulled out his phone. "What's the account number for the Valentine Group's debt holding?"
"You're serious?" Julian mocked. "Fine. It's held by Sterling Global. Here's the transfer ID. Let's see you try to—"
Ethan's thumbs moved rapidly over the screen.
[System Command: Transfer $500,000,000.00 to Sterling Global Debt Recovery.]
[Priority: Instant Wire.]
[Processing...]
Ping.
Julian's phone buzzed in his pocket. He frowned, pulling it out. His expression shifted from mockery to confusion, then to absolute, bone-chilling horror.
"What... what is this?" Julian whispered.
"Read it out loud," Ethan commanded.
"Transaction... confirmed," Julian read, his voice cracking. "Amount: Five hundred million dollars. Sender: Anonymous. Status: Debt... Settled."
The room went deathly silent. Luna's father gasped, clutching his chest. Luna herself stared at Ethan as if he were a ghost.
"The debt is gone," Ethan said, standing up. He picked up the marriage contract, looked at it for a second, and then ripped it into confetti, letting the pieces fall onto Julian's expensive shoes. "Which means the lady is free."
Julian was shaking with rage. "You... you think you can just walk in here and take what's mine? Do you know who my family is? We control the banks in this city! I'll have your accounts frozen! I'll ruin you!"
Ethan stepped closer, leaning down until he was inches from Julian's face. The pressure emanating from Ethan was suffocating.
"I don't care about your family," Ethan whispered. "But I do care about my time. And you've wasted five minutes of it."
Ethan turned to Luna and held out his hand. "Luna Valentine. You're a brilliant CEO, but your family's business model is outdated. I've paid your debt. In exchange, I want you to work for me. You'll be my Personal Secretary and the CEO of my new investment firm."
Luna looked at the hand offered to her. This man had appeared out of nowhere, spent a fortune that could buy a country, and saved her from a living hell.
"What... what is the salary?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Ethan shrugged. "Whatever you want. Let's start with a $100 million signing bonus. And a fleet of cars. And a penthouse."
Julian screamed, "I'll kill you! I'll sue you for everything!" He lunged at Ethan, swinging a heavy fist.
[Ding! Danger Detected.]
[Activating S-Rank Skill: God of Combat.]
Ethan didn't even seem to move. In a blur of motion, he caught Julian's wrist. There was a sickening CRACK.
"AAAAAGH!" Julian collapsed to his knees, his wrist bent at an impossible angle.
"Don't touch me with your poor hands," Ethan said coldly. He looked at the two bodyguards who were finally rushing into the room. "Take your master to the hospital. If I see him near Luna again, I won't just break a wrist. I'll buy his family's bank and turn it into a public restroom."
The bodyguards froze, terrified by the killing intent in Ethan's eyes. They grabbed the howling Julian and fled the room.
Ethan turned back to Luna, his expression softening just a fraction. "Well? Are you coming? I have a daily budget I need to finish, and I need someone to handle the paperwork."
Luna Valentine, the legendary Ice Queen, did something no one had seen her do in years. She smiled. A small, genuine, and incredibly beautiful smile.
She took his hand. "Lead the way... Boss."
[Ding! Task Completed!]
[Reward: S-Rank "God of Investment" Skill Unlocked!]
[Reward: 50 Attribute Points added to Strength and Intelligence!]
[Host's Presence has been upgraded to 'Overbearing Tycoon' Level.]
As they walked out of the mansion, Ethan felt a surge of power coursing through his veins. His body felt stronger, his mind sharper.
But as they reached the mangled remains of the Bugatti, his phone vibrated again.
[Ding! Emergency Task: The "Greatest Prodigal" Rank is being challenged.]
[A mysterious rich kid has just bought the entire Star-Light Auction House and is banning you from entering the Charity Gala of the Century.]
[Task: Buy the Auction House back for double the price and humiliate the challenger.]
[Budget: $1 Billion.]
[Time Limit: 60 Minutes.]
Ethan climbed into the driver's seat, Luna sliding in beside him.
"Where to, Boss?" she asked, already pulling out her tablet to begin her duties.
"To the Star-Light Auction House," Ethan said, the engine roaring to life. "Someone thinks they have more money than me. It's time to show them what a real prodigal looks like."