Grace’s sudden outburst made the whole classroom atmosphere awkward.Sitting lazily at the side, Wade sneered and joined in.“Yeah, Class Rep, why invite a poor guy like him? We’d probably have to look after him the whole trip. That’s a hassle.”He chuckled and continued.“Besides, doesn’t Kelvin have to clean the library every day? If he skips a day, he probably won’t even have money to eat the next day.”The surrounding students burst into laughter. Some of them had even dug into Kelvin’s background before. His life story was practically detailed enough to become a documentary.“Wade! You’re not allowed to talk about your classmates like that!”Anna snapped angrily. She had always been kindhearted, but she never expected things to escalate this far.Just then, loud commotion erupted outside the classroom.A girl with a flushed face ran in excitedly and shouted,“Something huge just happened! I heard that Victor Carter, the richest businessman in the country, has sent people to find

Kelvin stared at his mobile banking app, his eye twitching uncontrollably.99999999800.He had transferred 200 dollars to Anna, and the beautiful symmetry of his ten billion dollar balance had shattered like glass. But before he could even mourn the ruined number, something far worse happened.Ding.A cold mechanical voice rang out inside his head."Host has successfully filled the activation threshold, triggering [S] Class Newbie Mission. Gifting a luxurious mission gift pack. Unlocking the Wealthy Private Market."[S Class Beginner Quest: Acquire the top ten private enterprises in Stonebridge City. Consolidate all enterprises under Stonebridge City jurisdiction and double their combined market value.]Kelvin blinked.Then he looked at his banking app again.800 dollars.800 dollars."MY MONEY—"He nearly knocked over the entire picnic table.Nine hundred and ninety-nine million dollars. Gone. Swallowed whole in the span of a single notification, like it had never existed. Kelvin fel

The afternoon sun was warm on Kelvin's face as he walked back toward Stonebridge University, hands in the pockets of his worn jacket, the events of the day still settling somewhere in the back of his mind.One acquisition down. Nine to go.The system had gone quiet for now, which he appreciated. Having a supernatural financial entity narrating inside your skull while you were trying to think was not conducive to clear reasoning.He was passing through the upscale commercial district on the east side of campus when the dealership caught his eye.It sat on the corner of Fifth and Meridian floor-to-ceiling glass walls, polished concrete floors, and enough ambient lighting to make every car inside look like it belonged in a museum. A midnight blue Bentley sat closest to the window. Behind it, arranged like a careful argument about what money could become, were a Ferrari, two Porsches, and at the far end of the showroom, a BMW 7 Series in matte obsidian black that stopped Kelvin's feet wit

Victoria led Kelvin through the corridor at the back of The Blind King, past two doors that were neither marked nor lit, and stopped at a third that was heavier than the others — solid steel framed in dark wood, the kind of door that communicated its purpose without needing a sign.She knocked twice. Paused. Once more.The lock disengaged from the inside.The room beyond was not what Kelvin expected.It was quiet, well-furnished, and smelled of good bourbon and old paper. Bookshelves lined two walls — actual books, worn spines, the kind accumulated by reading rather than decoration. A large desk sat at the center, clear except for a glass, a lamp, and a single manila folder. Behind the desk sat a man in his early sixties with Victoria's same sharp eyes and considerably more patience in them.Danny Reeves looked at Kelvin for a long moment without speaking.Then he said, "You're younger than I expected.""So I've been told," Kelvin said.Danny's mouth moved slightly. He gestured to the

The ward fell silent after the slap.Not the silence of shock exactly — more the particular quiet of a room full of people who had witnessed something they were now collectively deciding how to feel about.The decision came quickly."Did he just hit her?""Over a few words? That's completely out of line.""Look at how they're dressed. They can't even afford this place and they're in here causing scenes.""Someone call security. Disturbing patients like this — have some decency."The nurse, whose name tag read Patterson, pressed one hand against her reddening cheek and let her eyes fill with the specific tears of someone who understood instinctively that an audience was an asset. She straightened slowly, looked at Kelvin with the expression of a woman recalibrating her approach, and pointed at him."Just you wait," she said.Then she turned on her heel and walked out briskly, the sound of her shoes sharp and deliberate against the floor.Kelvin watched her go without expression.Beside