2026-09-04 10:54:47Chapter 3 — The Golden Boy
The following evening, Ethan Vale stood in front of the mirror inside his new penthouse.
A black suit fitted perfectly against his frame.
For the first time in years, he looked like someone who belonged among the city's elite.
But Ethan wasn't going to the Cross International gala to impress anyone.
He was going there for answers.
His father's answers.
The system appeared.
[Special Mission: Attend the Cross International Charity Gala.]
[Objective: Discover the identity of the person responsible for Daniel Vale's disappearance.]
[Time Remaining: 7 hours.]
Ethan adjusted his cufflinks.
“Let's see what they're hiding.”
His phone rang.
It was an unknown number.
He answered.
“Hello?”
A woman's voice spoke.
“Don't go to the gala tonight.”
Ethan frowned.
“Who is this?”
“You don't know me.”
“Then why are you calling?”
“Because I know what happened to your father.”
Ethan's expression hardened.
“What happened?”
There was a pause.
“Your father discovered something about Cross International. Something powerful people wanted buried.”
“Who?”
“I can't tell you over the phone.”
“Then tell me where to meet you.”
Another pause.
“Don't trust anyone at the gala.”
The call ended.
Ethan stared at the phone.
That was the second warning in two days.
Someone clearly wanted him to stay away.
Which only made him more determined to go.
The Cross International charity gala was being held at the Grand Imperial Hotel.
By seven o'clock, luxury cars were filling the entrance.
Business executives.
Celebrities.
Politicians.
Investors.
The city's wealthiest families had gathered under one roof.
Ethan stepped out of his car.
Several cameras immediately turned toward him.
Flash.
Flash.
Flash.
Reporters began whispering.
“Who is that?”
“Is he a new investor?”
“I've never seen him before.”
Ethan ignored them.
He walked toward the entrance.
A security guard checked his invitation.
Then the man's expression changed.
“Mr. Ethan Vale?”
“Yes.”
The guard looked at him twice before stepping aside.
“Welcome, sir.”
Ethan entered.
The ballroom was enormous.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling.
A live orchestra played softly.
Waiters moved between guests carrying expensive drinks and food.
Ethan scanned the room.
Then he saw him.
Adrian Cross.
The Golden Boy stood near the center of the ballroom, surrounded by several wealthy young men and women.
He looked exactly like the magazines described him.
Confident.
Elegant.
Untouchable.
Adrian noticed Ethan almost immediately.
His smile disappeared.
He excused himself from the group and walked over.
“Ethan.”
“Adrian.”
Adrian looked him over.
“You clean up well.”
“I could say the same.”
Adrian smiled faintly.
“You've changed.”
“So have you.”
“I heard you were working as a delivery driver.”
“I was.”
“And now?”
Ethan took a sip of water.
“Now I'm investing.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
“In what?”
“Several things.”
“How interesting.”
Neither man smiled.
A silent battle passed between them.
Then Adrian leaned closer.
“Why are you here?”
Ethan looked directly into his eyes.
“Same reason everyone else is.”
“Charity?”
Ethan smiled.
“No.”
Adrian's expression tightened.
“Then what?”
“Business.”
Before Adrian could respond, a voice came from behind them.
“Adrian.”
Both men turned.
An older man approached.
He was dressed in an immaculate suit, with silver hair and a commanding presence.
Victor Cross.
The founder and chairman of Cross International.
The man in the photograph beside Ethan's father.
Ethan's heart began beating faster.
Victor stopped when he saw Ethan.
For a brief moment, his face became completely blank.
Then he recovered.
“Who is this?”
Adrian hesitated.
“Ethan Vale.”
Victor's eyes narrowed.
“Vale?”
Ethan held out his hand.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Cross.”
Victor stared at his hand.
He didn't take it.
Instead, he asked quietly,
“Are you related to Daniel Vale?”
The question sent a chill through Ethan.
“You knew my father?”
Victor's expression remained calm.
“We worked together many years ago.”
“Worked together?”
“Yes.”
“Then perhaps you can tell me what happened to him.”
The atmosphere around them suddenly became uncomfortable.
Victor looked at Adrian.
Then back at Ethan.
“Your father made several unfortunate decisions.”
“My father didn't steal anything.”
Victor's eyes hardened.
“You should be careful with accusations.”
“And you should be careful with lies.”
Adrian stepped between them.
“That's enough.”
Ethan smiled.
“I'm just asking questions.”
Victor turned away.
“We have nothing more to discuss.”
He walked off.
Ethan watched him disappear into the crowd.
The system suddenly appeared.
[Target detected.]
[Victor Cross.]
[Threat Level: High.]
[Relationship to Host's father: Significant.]
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
The system had confirmed it.
Victor wasn't just some former business associate.
He was important.
Very important.
Ethan moved through the ballroom, listening to conversations.
He activated his new Financial Insight ability.
Numbers and business information seemed easier to understand.
He noticed something strange.
Cross International had recently transferred a large amount of money through a company called V-Prime Holdings.
The company appeared unrelated to Cross International.
But the transaction history suggested otherwise.
Ethan memorized the name.
V-Prime Holdings.
He needed to investigate it later.
Suddenly, someone tapped his shoulder.
Ethan turned.
A young woman stood behind him.
She wore a simple but elegant black dress.
Her expression was calm.
“Ethan Vale?”
“Yes.”
“My name is Amelia Hart.”
Ethan recognized her.
Amelia Hart was a well-known business analyst and the daughter of one of the city's most influential investors.
“What do you want?”
“I was asked to give you something.”
She handed him a small envelope.
Ethan opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
His father.
Daniel Vale stood beside Victor Cross.
And beside them was another man Ethan had never seen before.
On the back of the photograph were five words.
Your father trusted the wrong man.
Ethan looked at Amelia.
“Who gave you this?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
Amelia's eyes narrowed.
“I'm not.”
“Then why help me?”
“Because three years ago, my father told me Daniel Vale wasn't a criminal.”
Ethan froze.
“Your father knew mine?”
“Yes.”
“Where is your father now?”
Amelia looked away.
“Dead.”
Ethan's expression changed.
“How?”
“Heart attack.”
But something about her voice told him there was more to the story.
Before Ethan could ask another question, the lights suddenly went out.
The ballroom fell into darkness.
People gasped.
Someone screamed.
Then the emergency lights flickered on.
Ethan immediately looked toward Amelia.
She was gone.
The photograph was still in his hand.
Then his phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
You are asking questions that powerful people killed to keep hidden.
Another message followed.
Leave the gala now.
Ethan stared at the screen.
He didn't move.
Instead, he looked toward the balcony.
A figure stood there.
Watching him.
Ethan rushed toward the balcony.
But by the time he reached it, the person had disappeared.
On the floor, Ethan found something.
A small silver key.
He picked it up.
The system activated.
[Mystery Item detected.]
[Object: Unknown Key.]
[Connection to Daniel Vale: 78%.]
Ethan's heartbeat quickened.
His father had something connected to this key.
And someone had deliberately left it for him.
He closed his hand around it.
Across the ballroom, Adrian Cross was watching him.
Their eyes met.
Adrian's face was no longer amused.
He looked genuinely worried.
Ethan walked toward him.
“Adrian.”
“What?”
Ethan held up the key.
“Do you know what this opens?”
Adrian stared at it.
His face turned pale.
For the first time since Ethan had known him, the Golden Boy looked frightened.
“Where did you get that?”
Ethan smiled.
“That's exactly what I want to know.”
Adrian glanced around.
Then lowered his voice.
“Ethan, listen to me carefully.”
“What?”
“If you found that key…”
He paused.
“You need to leave this city tonight.”
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
Adrian looked directly at him.
“Because your father didn't disappear.”
Ethan stopped breathing.
Adrian continued.
“He was taken.”
Before Ethan could ask anything else, a loud crash came from the entrance.
Everyone turned.
The ballroom doors had been forced open.
Several men in black suits entered.
Adrian's expression changed.
“They found you.”
Ethan clenched the key in his hand.
“Who?”
Adrian looked at him.
“The people who took your father.”
And then the system appeared.
[Emergency Mission Activated.]
[Protect yourself and escape the gala.]
[Mission Reward: $1,000,000.]
[Warning: Host's life is now in immediate danger.]
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