BEFORE THE WORLD FROZE, I BUILT MY OWN KINGDOM

Chapter 18: I'll Come Clean. I'm a Time Traveler.

"Our bank recently launched a new wealth management product. I wonder if you'd be interested, Mr. Cole?" President Wells said as he poured Ethan's tea.

"I appreciate the offer, but I don't need it for now. I have other plans for this money. When I have more funds in the future, I'll consider your products," Ethan declined politely.

"Uh... Mr. Cole, this is no small sum! With proper management, money can grow." President Wells tried to persuade him further.

Ethan waved a hand. "You'd better transfer the money to me as soon as possible."

Seeing that, President Wells had no choice but to give up.

After a series of tedious procedures, the $220 million prize was finally transferred into Ethan's bank account.

"Mr. Cole, having won such a huge prize, how much do you plan to donate?" a reporter asked him.

"Hehe, I'm not considering donating for now," Ethan said, shaking his head.

"Oh? Mr. Cole, there are still many children in our country's mountain regions struggling in poverty. You've won an enormous prize. Don't you want to take on some social responsibility?"

"The government will naturally take care of children in poverty. I'm just an ordinary citizen. Why are you telling me this?" Ethan shot back.

"Mr. Cole, you're mistaken. We're all part of one country, and we should help and support each other. The wealthy should help the poor. Your small act of kindness could give many poor children enough to eat and wear."

"Oh? I see the diamond ring you're wearing is quite large. It must be worth over a hundred thousand dollars. You seem to have a good income. May I ask how much you've donated to children in the mountains?" Ethan asked in return.

The reporter was speechless. She hadn't expected him to counter like that. Her face flushed red. "I'm not like you. Every penny I have is hard-earned, while you..."

She seemed to realize that she was saying something inappropriate, and she stopped.

But Ethan understood exactly what she meant. He laughed. "Are you trying to say I got this money purely by luck?"

He raised his eyes and scanned the reporters around him. Then he said in a low voice:

"As you all probably know, I spent a million dollars to win this $220 million. What if I hadn't won? Wouldn't that million have gone down the drain? In that case, who would donate money to me? Hehe. You'd probably still be rushing to report my story, but the content would be nothing but gloating and mockery."

His words were blunt, but not without merit. It was exactly how things were. Reporters cared only about whether a story drew public attention. Why would they care whether someone won?

Whether Ethan won or lost, spending a million dollars on five hundred thousand bets was a topic everyone would talk about, and they would never let that kind of traffic slip by.

But the truth was one thing, and saying it out loud in public was another. Wasn't that a slap in the face?

One young reporter in glasses couldn't hold back any longer and confronted him directly. "Mr. Cole, what was your mindset when you put a million dollars on one set of numbers? Was it a premonition? Or was there some kind of shady deal? The odds of hitting a jackpot are one in ten million. If you weren't absolutely sure, why would you spend a million on a single set of numbers?"

Before Ethan could answer, the lottery center director standing beside him grew angry.

He was provoked at once, and shouted at the reporter. "Young man, you can't just say whatever you like! As a reporter, how can you spout nonsense without any facts? Which outlet are you from? How can you be so irresponsible with public opinion!"

The reporter immediately realized he had spoken rashly. In Valoria, to be a qualified journalist, there were certain subjects you simply didn't touch. His question had clearly crossed the line. He lowered his head, not daring to meet the director's eyes. *It's over,* he thought. *I'm going to lose my job.*

But Ethan only laughed. "Hehe, Director Grant, please calm down. We have nothing to hide. We should simply answer people's questions. Why get so angry? It does sound absurd to spend a million on one set of numbers, and it's understandable that people have doubts. But I can give everyone a reasonable explanation."

Director Grant raised an eyebrow. Could Ethan really give a reasonable explanation for something so bizarre?

Ever since Ethan won, the director had faced constant criticism, online and in real life. He had been under so much pressure these days that he was afraid to go online. Even at work, all he could do was drink tea and read the newspaper to pass the time. He had plenty of resentment toward Ethan. He hadn't gained a single benefit, and had still been dragged into this mess. Where could he go to seek justice?

If Ethan could give a reasonable explanation, the director would be the happiest man in the room.

At that moment, the director, the reporters, and the onlookers all turned expectant eyes on Ethan.

The microphone was nearly shoved into his mouth, and the camera was fixed on his handsome face.

Under all those expectant gazes, Ethan cleared his throat.

Then, with a serious expression, he said, "All right, I won't pretend anymore. I'll come clean. The truth is, I'm a traveler from the future. It's only natural that I can predict lottery numbers, right? By the way, Director Grant, this doesn't count as cheating, does it?"

He looked at Director Grant with a worried expression.

Ethan's explanation turned the director's face green with anger. He had hoped Ethan's answer would clear his name and restore his reputation for integrity. Who would have thought Ethan would give a reason like that? It was ridiculous. He might as well have said nothing.

"Director Grant? Answer me. This isn't cheating, is it?" Ethan asked again.

"No." Director Grant didn't want to pay Ethan the slightest attention. If there hadn't been so many reporters present, he would have stormed off already.

"That's a relief." Ethan patted his chest lightly.

But even if the director didn't want to argue with Ethan, the reporters weren't going to let him off the hook. His answer was simply mocking them.

One reporter asked menacingly, "Mr. Cole, you say you're a time traveler from the future. Can you tell us what society is like in the future? Has the Norland Federation collapsed?"

The first question was harmless. But the second, "Will the Norland Federation collapse in the future?", was a trap. No matter how Ethan answered, he would offend a large number of people.

But faced with such a tricky question, Ethan simply smiled. "You really want to know?"

"Ha! Of course. Mr. Cole, you haven't figured out how to answer yet, have you?" the reporter laughed, implying that Ethan's mind was blank and he had nothing to say.

The other reporters and onlookers burst out laughing too.

Ethan wasn't angry. Instead, he said solemnly, "On July 5th, 2025, an unknown high-energy particle from the universe will strike the sun. The global temperature will plunge, and the entire planet will no longer be fit for most forms of life, including humans. Extreme cold and hunger will become the greatest challenges humanity has ever faced.

"You, you, you... most of you won't survive the first year of this extreme cold apocalypse. That is the fate of ninety percent of the world's population. The rest will only barely scrape by in that apocalypse, without a glimmer of hope."

He pointed at the crowd, his face indifferent. "That is the society of the future!"

After a pause, Ethan continued.

"As for whether the Norland Federation collapsed? As you wish. It did.

"But don't celebrate too soon. In the future, not only will the Federation collapse, every political system on Earth will crumble, and humanity's social order will cease to exist. Only endless slaughter and fear will remain!"