From Fat to Untouchable: The System's Billion-Dollar Payback

System Reward

Chapter 8

~ System Reward ~

"What did you just say, Father?!" Caelum stammered into the open microphone, his voice cracking loudly through the ballroom sound system as his face turned pale under the stage lights.

The screen behind him continued detailing every single debt note, real estate fraud, and short-term credit line tied to Thorne Global.

DEBT RECALL EXECUTED BY PRIMARY HOLDER. TOTAL ASSETS FROZEN: $120,000,000.

Whispers swept through the ballroom, with wealthy university donors, corporate partners, and city officials pulling out their phones in disbelief.

"This is a mistake! Shut the screen off right now!" Caelum screamed, turning around to wave his arms frantically at the technician team at the balcony.

The young IT technician pressed buttons on his soundboard, his forehead dripping with sweat as he spoke into his microphone.

"I can't stop it, Mr. Thorne!" the technician yelled, his voice laced with panic. "The central server network has been completely taken over by some viruses! All access controls are locked!" He added, his hands still pacing on the keypads, pulling out wires, but nothing.

At the corner of the room, Asher tapped his thumb on the screen once, sending the final command through the banking hub installed by his system to seal Thorne Global's accounts.

Task-Master System flashed a gold window across his vision, confirming the complete execution.

[Task Complete: Trojan Expansion is Seal.]

(Thorne Global Financial Struggle And Collapse: 100%.)

(System Reward Credited: Absolute Ownership of Thorne Global Company.)

Chloe rushed toward the stage, her face masked with horror.

"Caelum! The news outlets are already posting about it on all social media!" Chloe cried out, holding her phone up so he could see the breaking financial headlines. "They are saying your family is already bankrupt!"

“How is that possible? Can something like this happen in a blink of an eye,” She asked, worry etched on her face.

She had only seen this in movies. What will now happen to her? She bragged to all her friends that Caelum was getting the latest Porsche car, and the newly realised Diamond Earrings, ‘The Heart of Gold.’

She had intended to persuade him, after the party, and make her friends jealous.

Caelum stepped down from the podium, clutching the rail firmly to strengthen his stance; he had almost crashed into it. His heart pounding furiously, with throbbing pain and worry.

The guests who had been drinking champagne with him five minutes ago began pulling back the investment they intended, whispering harsh judgments as they backed away toward the exit.

Alexander rushed up to Caelum, grabbing his son by his tie and shaking him violently.

"Who did you cross, Caelum? Did you annoy someone? What the hell is going on?" his father roared, rage burning in his eyes. "The bank said an anonymous person bought up our debt over the last three weeks and called it all in at once! Who was it?!"

Caelum stared blindly at his father, the fear that swirled up him, felt like he was going to explode his chest, he tried to gasp for air. His mind roaming with thought of where it had all gone wrong.

Briskly, Caelum's eyes locked onto Asher, who was staring back at him, with a calm demeanor and unbothered by the chaos in the room.

Caelum upheaved his brow tinged with curiosity, “It can't be!” He muttered under his breath.

Asher put his phone back into his pocket. Caelum jaw dropped, with cold sweat dripping from his forehead.

"Was it him?..." Caelum whispered, “He can't…” his voice crept with horror as he pointed a terrified finger, “Are you the one Reed?" He asked, his eyes bloodshot with fury, as stared at Asher with hate in him

"Are you insane?!" his father screamed, slapping Caelum's hand down. "This boy is a broke nobody, working at the warehouse! How could he own hundred million dollar notes?”

Asher turned away from the shouting on the stage, opened the doors, and walked out into the cool air.

He walked down to the parking lot, feeling the thrum of the System buzzy into his body and muscles.

He reached to open the door of his almost broken car, which was patched up with different parts of car models, when he heard footsteps approaching him.

Asher briskly turned around slowly, his gaze falling on three tall men in black coats stepping out from between the parked SUV vehicles.

.

In the lead was Billy Harold, the corrupt financial specialist, holding an iron in his gloved fist.

"Caelum paid us well to make sure you never leave this parking lot alive tonight, fat boy," Billy sneered, stepping closer with his weapon raised, a cunning smirk laced on his face.

“You are finished, beg for mercy!” He squeaked in an angry tone, stumping the iron on the floor, with a grimaced face.