2026-10-25 20:29:31Beep. Beep. Beep.
The steady sound pulled Lucas Bennett out of darkness.
He frowned, trying to open his eyes, but his eyelids felt unusually heavy. When he finally managed it, a white ceiling greeted him.
Where was he?
He tried to move, only to feel a dull ache spread through his body. Something was attached to his hand, and a strange machine stood beside his bed, blinking with every beep.
“What the hell…?”
His voice came out hoarse.
Lucas turned his head slowly and spotted the hospital curtains, the IV stand, and the monitor beside him.
Then everything came rushing back.
The crossing. The truck. The blinding headlights.
“Oh, you've got to be kidding me.”
He stared at the ceiling.
“First, my wife divorces me and leaves me with nothing. Then I get hit by a truck while looking for somewhere to sleep. What next? Is the universe trying to kill me personally?”
He attempted to sit up, but a sharp ache forced him back against the pillow.
“Okay, okay. I get it. No need to finish the job.”
The door opened, and a nurse walked in carrying a clipboard. She stopped the moment she saw him looking around.
“Mr. Bennett?”
Lucas turned toward her. “Unless there's another unfortunate man in this bed, that's me.”
The nurse hurried to his side. “You're awake! Please, don't try to move yet.”
“Wasn't planning to run a marathon,” he muttered.
She checked his monitor, examined his IV, and took his vital signs. Her professional expression gave way to obvious relief.
“Can you tell me your full name?”
“Lucas Bennett.”
“Do you know where you are?”
“A hospital, I hope. If this is a very expensive hotel, I would like to complain about the service.”
The nurse laughed softly. “You're definitely in the hospital. Please stay here while I call the doctor.”
“Wait. How long have I been here?”
But she was already heading for the door.
“I'm getting the doctor, Mr. Bennett. We'll explain everything shortly.”
Lucas watched her leave, his stomach tightening.
Something about her reaction made him uneasy.
A few minutes later, she returned with a doctor in his fifties. He introduced himself as Dr. Harris before examining Lucas's pupils, checking his responses, and asking him several questions.
“Do you remember the accident?” the doctor asked.
“Yes. A truck hit me while I was crossing the road.”
“Do you remember anything after that?”
“No. How long have I been here?”
Dr. Harris exchanged a glance with the nurse.
“You've been unconscious for seven days.”
Lucas stared at him.
“Seven days?”
“That's right. You sustained significant injuries, but you responded well to treatment. We monitored you closely while you were unconscious, and we're pleased that you've regained awareness.”
Lucas swallowed. “A whole week? I've been lying here for an entire week?”
“Yes, Mr. Bennett. How are you feeling right now?”
“Like I got hit by a truck.”
The nurse covered a smile, while Dr. Harris nodded as though he'd heard that joke before.
“Some soreness and weakness are expected. We'll continue monitoring you, but your current examination is encouraging.”
The doctor asked a few more questions before checking his chart.
“Do you have any relatives we should contact? Your emergency records don't list anyone we've been able to reach.”
Lucas's smile disappeared.
“No. My parents died years ago. I'm an orphan.”
“I'm sorry to hear that. What about your wife?”
For a moment, Lucas couldn't answer.
He had spent years believing Victoria was the one person who would never abandon him. After losing his parents, he had built his entire world around her. She wasn't just his wife; she was the only family he had left.
And she had chosen another man without even looking back.
“We're divorced,” he finally said.
The nurse's expression softened. “I'm sorry.”
“Don't be. She made her decision.”
Lucas looked away, hoping they wouldn't notice how tightly he had clenched his jaw.
He didn't want their pity. He had already received enough humiliation to last a lifetime.
Dr. Harris cleared his throat and returned to the examination.
“Your condition is stable. If your recovery continues as expected, you should be ready for discharge in a week.”
“another week?” Lucas repeated.
“Yes. We'll conduct a few final checks before releasing you.”
“Right. Thank you, Doctor.”
After the doctor and nurse left, Lucas lay quietly, trying to process everything.
He had survived the accident. That was good news.
He would probably recover without serious complications. That was even better.
Then another thought struck him.
“Wait a minute.”
He pushed himself up slightly, ignoring the discomfort.
“The hospital bill.”
His face went pale.
How much would seven days in this hospital cost?
His breathing quickened.
What if the bill ran into thousands of dollars? What if they demanded payment before discharge? He didn't have a house to sell, investments to withdraw, or a wife to call for help.
He had absolutely nothing.
“Wonderful. Just wonderful.” He let out a humourless laugh. “If there's a God of misfortune, I must be his favourite person. Like I'm completely finished.”
Suddenly, a strange electronic chime rang inside his head.
Lucas froze.
A translucent blue screen appeared before his eyes, hovering above his hospital bed.
He blinked several times, but it remained there.
“What the hell is that?”
Before he could reach for it, a line of bright golden text appeared across the screen.
[System initialization complete.]
Lucas's eyes widened.
Another notification appeared.
[Host identified: Lucas Bennett.]
[Billionaire System binding.]
Lucas stared at the words, his heart pounding.
“Am I hallucinating?”
The screen flashed once.
[Binding successful.]
[Congratulations, Host. Your life is about to change.]
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CHAPTER 11
The following morning, Lucas was finishing breakfast when a gentle knock sounded at his hospital room door.“Come in.”A neatly dressed man entered, carrying a slim folder. He appeared to be in his early thirties, with polished shoes, a composed expression, and a professional bearing.“Good morning, Mr. Bennett. My name is Adrian Cole. I've been assigned as your personal caretaker during your remaining stay at the hospital. I'll be available whenever you need assistance, while ensuring that you have sufficient privacy.”Lucas studied him briefly before nodding.“Good morning, Adrian. I hope you understand that I don't need someone following me around all day.”“Of course, sir. My responsibility is to make your stay more comfortable, not to make you feel crowded. I'll attend to your requests and remain available when needed. Otherwise, I'll give you space.”“Good. I think we'll get along.”Adrian confirmed Lucas's preferences, explained how to contact him, and asked whether he needed a
CHAPTER 10
[MISSION COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY.]Lucas stared at the notification, and before he could say anything, the system screen transformed. A series of new messages appeared, each one more exciting than the last.[Congratulations, Host. You have successfully completed your first mission and exceeded the required expenditure. Your designated rewards have now been issued.][Reward One: Aurelius Estate.][Reward Two: $1,000 in former-value funds. The funds have been credited to your system account and are available for use.][Property acquisition and ownership transfer have been completed successfully. Aurelius Estate is now legally registered in your name, including the designated buildings, furnishings, collections, and associated facilities. All required ownership documents have been settled.]Lucas slowly sat up.“Wait. It's already mine?”[Affirmative, Host. The ownership transfer is complete. No further payment or auction procedure is required.]For several seconds, Lucas simply stared at
CHAPTER 9
Lucas leaned back against the pillows, scrolling through his old phone. A crack ran across one corner of the screen, and the battery seemed determined to die at the worst possible moment.He stared at it for a while before shaking his head.“If I'm going to start a new life, I might as well start properly. This phone has suffered enough, and so have I.”The system screen appeared before him.[Host, your current mission expenditure stands at $731,000. You have $269,000 remaining to reach the required expenditure of $1,000,000. The mission deadline remains active.]Lucas nodded, then remembered something he had been meaning to ask.“System, what happens if I spend more than the required amount? Will the mission be cancelled?”[No, Host. You are required to spend at least $1,000,000 from your designated bank account before the deadline. Exceeding that amount will not invalidate the mission. Once the qualifying expenditure reaches the required threshold, the mission conditions will be sat
CHAPTER 8
Lucas's stomach growled so loudly that he winced.He had been unconscious for an entire week, and throughout that time, infusions had kept him alive. Although the doctors had assured him that his condition was stable, nobody had yet given him the kind of meal he was desperately craving. Now that he had a luxurious private suite and money to spend, he was determined to change that.He pressed the call button beside his bed.A few minutes later, a professionally dressed woman entered the room with a pleasant smile.“Good morning, Mr. Bennett. I'm Clara, the private ward concierge assigned to assist you with your non-medical requests. How may I help you?”“I'm hungry,” Lucas admitted. “Terribly hungry, actually. I want a proper meal, something nutritious, delicious, and filling. Could you recommend a few dishes?”“Certainly, sir. We work with several premium restaurants, including a four-star establishment that offers private-ward dining services. I can arrange a menu for you and coordin
CHAPTER 7
Lucas stared at the mission displayed before him.[Mission: Spend $1,000,000 from your original bank account within 24 hours.][Time Remaining: 23 hours, 41 minutes.]He had already decided what he wanted to do first. After everything he had endured, he deserved to enjoy some comfort for once. If he had the money, why should he continue lying in an ordinary hospital room?“System, what is the highest accommodation level this hospital offers?”[The hospital's highest accommodation category is the Presidential Private Ward. It provides a luxury patient suite, dedicated medical personnel, premium dining arrangements, and additional personal services. The cost for a seven-day stay is $700,000, payable in advance.]Lucas's eyebrows rose. Seven hundred thousand dollars for a week? The price was outrageous, but he had no intention of spending the next several days regretting that he hadn't treated himself better.“Arrange the upgrade for me.”[The system cannot independently make personal ac
CHAPTER 6
Lucas was still admiring the balance in his bank account when the system screen changed.[Host, your first official mission is ready.]He immediately straightened in bed.“Finally. I was beginning to think you planned to keep me here admiring my money all day.”[MISSION ISSUED: THE FIRST STEP TOWARD GREATNESS][Objective: Spend $1,000,000 from your original bank account within 24 hours.][Time limit: 24 hours.][Mission reward: One exclusive luxury mansion and an additional $1,000 in former-value funds.]Lucas stared at the screen.Then he read it again.“Spend one million dollars?”[Correct.]“In twenty-four hours?”[Correct.]He let out a disbelieving laugh.“You do realize I woke up in a hospital bed, don't you? I have no house, no business, and no money in my account apart from the reward you just gave me. Where exactly am I supposed to get a million dollars?”[Your transferred reward has already been converted into the current monetary scale. The mission requires you to spend one
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