2026-09-04 10:53:41Chapter 2 — Ten Thousand Dollars
Ethan stood beneath the rain long after the black car disappeared.
The strange feeling in his chest wouldn't go away.
Someone knew he was alive.
Someone had been watching him.
And whoever they were, they knew something about his father.
He looked at the glowing screen in front of him.
[Beginner Mission: Spend $10,000 within 24 hours.]
[Progress: $0 / $10,000.]
Ethan sighed.
“Fine. Let's see what you can really do.”
He started walking.
The first thing he needed was a proper place to stay.
His tiny apartment had been enough when he was broke, but there was no reason to remain there now.
He opened a property application on his phone.
Before he could search, another notification appeared.
[System Recommendation.]
[For optimal host development, purchase or rent a residence in an area suitable for future activities.]
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
“You even choose houses now?”
[The system provides recommendations. The final decision belongs to the host.]
“Good.”
He searched for luxury apartments.
Several results appeared.
One caught his attention.
A modern penthouse overlooking the city.
Monthly rent: $8,000.
Ethan stared at the price.
Yesterday, that amount would have sounded ridiculous.
Today, it barely mattered.
He contacted the agent.
Within an hour, he was standing inside the penthouse.
Floor-to-ceiling windows covered one entire wall.
The city stretched beneath him.
There was a large living room, three bedrooms, a private study, and a kitchen bigger than his old apartment.
The agent smiled.
“Would you like some time to think about it?”
“No.”
Ethan took out his phone.
“I'll take it.”
The agent froze.
“Sir?”
“I'll pay six months in advance.”
The agent's expression changed immediately.
“Of course, sir.”
Ethan almost laughed.
Money really did change the way people looked at you.
But he wasn't interested in their respect.
He wanted answers.
After completing the payment, the system appeared.
[Qualified purchase detected.]
[Purchase amount: $48,000.]
[Wealth Return activated.]
Ethan's eyes widened.
“Wait. Forty-eight thousand?”
[Six months of rent.]
His bank balance changed.
$100,000,000 → $100,096,000
Ethan stared.
He had spent $48,000.
The system had returned twice that amount.
“So that's how this works.”
[Correct.]
A grin appeared on Ethan's face.
“Interesting.”
His mission progress updated.
[$48,000 / $10,000]
Then:
[Mission completed.]
[Reward available.]
Ethan's smile faded.
“Already?”
[Congratulations, Host.]
[You have received the Beginner Wealth Pack.]
A series of notifications appeared.
[Skill: Advanced Negotiation.]
[Skill: Business Analysis.]
[Skill: Financial Insight.]
[Skill: Enhanced Memory.]
Ethan blinked.
“You're giving me skills?”
[The host cannot become financially powerful without the appropriate abilities.]
A strange sensation passed through his mind.
Suddenly, information began appearing with incredible clarity.
Business figures.
Market patterns.
Financial terminology.
He could remember things he had read years ago.
Ethan slowly clenched his fist.
This wasn't simply money.
The system was changing him.
But before he could test his new abilities, his phone rang.
It was an unknown number.
He answered.
“Hello?”
Silence.
Then a man's voice spoke.
“Ethan Vale.”
His expression changed.
“Yes?”
“You shouldn't have survived last night.”
Ethan's heart stopped for a second.
“Who are you?”
“You're asking the wrong question.”
“What do you want?”
The caller laughed quietly.
“You're looking for your father.”
Ethan stood.
“How do you know that?”
“Because your father wasn't guilty.”
Ethan's eyes widened.
“What?”
The line went dead.
Ethan immediately called back.
The number was unavailable.
His hands tightened around the phone.
For three years, he had heard people say his father was a criminal.
Now, within one night, two different people had suggested otherwise.
Someone had been watching him.
Someone knew his father.
And someone didn't want him investigating.
Ethan walked toward the window.
The city looked completely different from up here.
Powerful.
Beautiful.
Dangerous.
He opened the old folder containing his father's documents.
There was one file he had never understood.
A photograph.
His father stood beside three men at what appeared to be a business event.
One man was a former government official.
The second was a major investor.
The third...
Ethan zoomed in.
His breathing stopped.
He recognized him.
Victor Cross.
The founder of Cross International.
The father of the city's famous Golden Boy, Adrian Cross.
Ethan remembered what Adrian had said earlier.
Stop looking into what happened to him.
His phone suddenly vibrated again.
A message appeared.
Unknown Number:
If you want the truth about your father, attend the Cross International charity gala tomorrow night.
Ethan stared at the message.
Then another message arrived.
Come alone.
He deleted neither message.
Instead, he smiled faintly.
Three years ago, he couldn't even get through the front door of Cross International.
Now he had a hundred million dollars.
He had a mysterious system.
And he had a reason to walk straight into the lion's den.
Across the city, inside the headquarters of Cross International, Adrian Cross stood in front of a large window.
His assistant entered the office.
“Mr. Cross.”
Adrian didn't turn.
“Is he really alive?”
“Yes.”
Adrian's jaw tightened.
“And the accident?”
“Everything was arranged.”
“Then why did he survive?”
The assistant hesitated.
“We don't know.”
Adrian finally turned around.
For the first time, fear appeared in the Golden Boy's eyes.
“Find out.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And Adrian?”
The assistant stopped.
“Don't let my father know Ethan Vale is alive.”
The assistant nodded and left.
Adrian looked at the city.
He remembered Ethan's face.
Three years ago, Ethan had been powerless.
Broken.
Desperate.
But tonight...
Something about him had been different.
He wasn't the same Ethan Vale.
Adrian's phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
Ethan Vale has received an invitation to tomorrow's Cross International charity gala.
Adrian stared at it.
Then slowly smiled.
“So you really are coming.”
Back in his penthouse, Ethan stood before the mirror.
His old clothes were gone.
For the first time in years, he looked like someone who belonged among the wealthy.
But Ethan knew clothes weren't enough.
Tomorrow night, he was entering Cross International territory.
He needed information.
And he needed to know who had tried to kill him.
The system suddenly appeared.
[Special Mission Activated.]
Mission: Attend the Cross International Charity Gala.
Objective: Discover the identity of the person responsible for Daniel Vale's disappearance.
Reward: $500,000 + Mystery Item.
Ethan stared at the screen.
Then another line appeared.
[Warning: Mission difficulty — Extremely High.]
Ethan smiled.
“Good.”
He closed the system.
For three years, everyone had believed Ethan Vale was finished.
Tomorrow night, the entire city would discover otherwise.
And the Golden Boy would be the first to learn that the man he once looked down on had returned with something far more dangerous than money.
He had a system.
And he had nothing left to lose.
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THE VALE FAMILY ARCHIVE
Chapter 10 — The Vale Family ArchiveRain hammered against the windows of Ethan Vale’s penthouse.He stood before the glass, staring at the city below.Millions of lights illuminated the streets, but Ethan barely noticed them.His mind was somewhere else.Eighteen years ago.The system had identified him as a potential host when he was only seven.That meant his father had known.Perhaps even before Ethan understood what his family truly was.His phone vibrated.Adrian.Ethan answered.“Did you find anything?”“I found the location of the archive.”Ethan straightened.“Where?”“The old Vale estate.”Ethan frowned.“That place was sold years ago.”“Officially.”A pause followed.“Unofficially, the property was never transferred.”Ethan's eyes narrowed.“Who owns it?”“Your family.”Ethan immediately grabbed his jacket.“Send me the address.”“I already did.”His phone vibrated again.Ethan checked the message.VALE ESTATE — NORTH RIDGEHe stared at the address.He remembered the place.
THE FIRST CLUE
Chapter 9 — The First ClueThe screen went black.For several seconds, Ethan Vale stood frozen in the underground chamber.Daniel’s face was gone.His father’s final words kept replaying in his mind.Ethan… I’m sorry.Sorry for what?For disappearing?For leaving him alone?Or for something Ethan had not yet discovered?“Ethan.”Adrian’s voice pulled him back.“What?” Ethan asked.Adrian pointed toward the wall.A thin blue light had appeared beneath the dead screen.Ethan stepped closer.Words slowly appeared.HOST 04 IDENTIFIED.His breathing stopped.Then another line appeared.HOST 05 ACTIVATION: SUCCESSFUL.Ethan stared.“Host Five?”Adrian looked equally confused.“But Daniel was Host Four.”“I know.”“Then who was Host Five?”Ethan’s system activated.[SYSTEM ALERT]Previous Host Data Detected.Host 05: UNKNOWNCurrent Status: ACTIVEEthan's eyes narrowed.“Active?”Adrian moved closer.“Does that mean someone else has the system?”“I don't know.”Before Ethan could investigate
THE MAN IN THE SHADOWS
Chapter 8 — The Man in the ShadowsEthan didn't move.The voice from the darkness echoed through the underground corridor.“Welcome back, Daniel's son.”Adrian immediately stepped in front of him.“Who are you?”No answer came.The lights along the corridor flickered on one after another.At the far end stood a man in a dark coat.His face remained partially hidden by the shadows.Ethan activated Truth Scan.[Unknown Individual detected.][Identity: Unable to determine.][Threat Level: Extremely High.]Ethan's eyes narrowed.“Where is my father?”The man smiled.“You've asked the wrong question.”“That seems to be everyone's favorite answer.”“The right question is why your father chose you.”Ethan's expression hardened.“You knew Daniel?”“I knew him better than anyone.”“Then tell me where he is.”The man stepped forward.“Not yet.”Adrian looked furious.“Enough games.”The stranger glanced at him.“Adrian Cross.”Adrian froze.“You know me?”“I know your entire family.”The man lo
THE ABANDONED FACILITY
Chapter 7 — The Abandoned FacilityThe old Cross Research Facility stood at the edge of the city like a forgotten monument.It had been abandoned for three years.No lights.No employees.No security guards.Just a massive concrete building surrounded by overgrown grass and rusting fences.Ethan parked his car several hundred meters away.He looked at the building through the windshield.The system appeared.[Target location confirmed.][Cross Research Facility.][Mission: Discover records belonging to previous system host.][Reward: $10,000,000.]Ethan stepped out of the car.“Let's find out what Dad was hiding.”He approached the entrance.The main door was locked.But the silver key in his pocket suddenly became warm.Ethan pulled it out.A small blue light appeared on its surface.The system responded.[Compatible access key detected.]The lock clicked.Ethan stared at the door.“This key was made for this place.”He pushed the door open.Darkness greeted him.He switched on his p
THE WOMAN BEHIND THE MYSTERY
Chapter 6 — The Woman Behind the MysteryEthan drove back to the city with one thought running through his mind.Evelyn Cross knows about the system.That was impossible.At least, it should have been.The system had appeared only after the accident. Nobody had been there when it activated.Nobody except...Ethan suddenly remembered the black car.The person watching him after the accident.His hands tightened around the steering wheel.Could Evelyn Cross have arranged the accident?His phone suddenly vibrated.[Danger Alert.][Host is being monitored.]Ethan looked at the rearview mirror.A black sedan was following him.The same model as the car he had seen the night before.“Of course.”He didn't panic.Instead, he took an unexpected turn.The sedan followed.Ethan turned again.Still following.He smiled.“So they really are interested in me.”The system appeared.[Suggested action: Proceed to the nearest secure location.]“Not yet.”Ethan wasn't ready to run.He wanted to know wh
WAREHOUSE 317
Chapter 5 — Warehouse 317Ethan barely slept.The final words from the system kept replaying in his mind.The Ultimate Wealth System had appeared before.Who had possessed it before him?And what had happened to that person?By six in the morning, Ethan was already dressed.The silver key sat safely in his pocket.He opened the system.[Main Mystery Mission]Locate Warehouse 317.[Mission Reward: $5,000,000][Danger Level: High]Ethan stared at the warning.“High?”[Correct.]“What happens if I fail?”[The system does not guarantee the host's safety.]Ethan smiled faintly.“So basically, you're telling me to be careful.”[Correct.]He grabbed his jacket.“Fine.”Before leaving, Ethan received another notification.[New Ability Available.][Physical Enhancement — Level 1.][Host may temporarily increase physical ability.]Ethan raised an eyebrow.“Temporarily?”[Duration: 10 minutes.]“That could be useful.”He closed the system and left the penthouse.Warehouse 317 was located in an a
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