At exactly 8:03 the next morning, the first Johnson company discovered that something was wrong. The accounting director of Johnson Retail Holdings was halfway through approving a twelve-million-dollar supplier payment when the banking terminal rejected the transaction. She tried again, assuming the network had experienced a temporary interruption.The same message appeared.TRANSACTION DENIED — CREDIT FACILITY RESTRICTED.She frowned."Run it through the secondary account."The junior accountant beside her did exactly that.Rejected.A third account.Rejected.The director's expression changed."Call National Meridian."The phone rang for almost a minute before someone answered."National Meridian Corporate Services.""This is Johnson Retail Holdings. Our accounts aren't processing."There was a pause."I'm sorry, ma'am. Your revolving credit facility has been temporarily suspended pending a review."The director stood so quickly that her chair rolled backward."Suspended?""Yes.""B

The room had gone unusually quiet. Alex sat at the long dining table with six children scattered around him, while the morning sunlight poured through the enormous windows of the mansion. Outside, security staff moved quietly across the grounds, and somewhere beyond the gardens, a fountain continued its steady rhythm.But Alex wasn't thinking about the mansion.He wasn't thinking about the banks.He wasn't even thinking about Johnson Holdings.His mind was stuck on one number.73%.Seventy-three percent of Johnson Holdings' debt now belonged to him.With the Unlimited Tier, Alex could acquire almost anything he wanted. Companies. Property. Financial institutions. Debt. Entire industries.For the first time since the system had appeared, there was almost nothing standing between him and unlimited wealth.And somehow, that thought no longer excited him as much as it should have.He looked across the table at the children.Lily was drawing something on a piece of paper. Chloe was careful

Alex stared at the golden system window floating above his hands. The number had stopped changing. For several seconds, nobody spoke. The children stood around him, watching the strange golden light with fascination. Victoria stood beside Alex, her expression far more cautious. The number on the screen was no longer the familiar 1000x. It had passed 500x, 600x, 700x, 800x ,900x. Then... 1000x. Alex smiled. He had seen that number before. The 1000x Family Multiplier had once seemed impossible. It had been the reward for keeping the six-child Circle together despite everything the Johnson family had done to break it apart. It had been the point where Alex believed he had reached the highest possible family multiplier. But the number didn't stop. 1001x. Alex's smile disappeared. Another number appeared. 1100x. Victoria stepped closer. "Alex." He didn't answer. 1200x. The children gasped. Lily pointed at the screen. "Daddy, it's still going!" Alex slowly nodded. "I

The mansion fell silent after Victor's words."You're not the first father the system has chosen."Alex stood in the middle of the room, staring at the man who had just walked into his life carrying answers to questions Alex hadn't even known how to ask.The golden system window still floated beside him.> [STATUS: FORMER CANDIDATE.]Alex looked at it again.Then at Victor."You said you were one of them."Victor nodded."Yes.""What happened?"Victor's expression hardened."That's why I'm here."Alex motioned toward the living room."Sit."Victor sat across from him.Victoria remained standing nearby, watching Victor carefully.The children had been moved to another room with their caregivers, but Alex could still hear their voices in the distance.Alex leaned forward."You told me previous hosts lost the people they loved."Victor nodded."Most of them did.""Because of the system?""Because of themselves."Alex frowned.Victor took a slow breath."The system never forced them to be

The strange symbol continued glowing on the old card.Alex stood frozen in the center of the room, the ancient-looking object still resting in his hand.Victor had gone completely silent.That frightened Alex more than anything the system had displayed.A man who had spent years studying the Cashback System should have had an explanation.Instead, Victor looked genuinely confused.Alex glanced at him."You said you've never seen that symbol before.""I haven't.""Then what is it?"Victor shook his head."I don't know."The golden symbol beneath the infinity mark pulsed again.Grace suddenly appeared at the entrance of the room.She had been playing with the other children, but now she stood there staring at the card.Alex noticed immediately."Grace?"She didn't answer.Her eyes remained fixed on the object in his hand.Victor turned toward her.His expression changed."You."Grace tilted her head."Me?"Victor slowly stepped backward."Don't come any closer."Alex immediately moved b