The God of Wealth's System

Chapter 5

"Huaaaaah..."

Sean let out a long groan. It was a wide yawn that made his jaw click softly. He stretched both arms upward until the muscles in his shoulders felt a comfortable pull. Beneath the incredibly smooth silk sheets, he shifted slightly. He felt a plush sensation that he had never experienced in his entire life.

Usually, he would be jolted awake by the roar of trash truck engines in the alleyway below his stifling apartment or the obnoxious blare of his phone alarm. But this morning, all he heard was the luxurious silence of a forty-second-floor suite.

Sean opened his eyes slowly. The morning sunlight pierced through the gaps in the curtains, creating golden stripes across the velvet carpet. He paused for a moment. He stared at the high ceiling, trying to remember if everything that happened last night was just a tragic, beautiful dream.

He climbed out of bed and walked toward a large mirror. Sean froze as he saw his own reflection. His face, which used to look dull and exhausted, now appeared fresh. His jawline seemed sharper. His eyes radiated a level of intensity he had never possessed before.

[Cell Regeneration Complete.]

[Physical Condition: Optimal.]

[Mental Status: Stable.]

Sean flashed a faint smile. He rubbed his palm, which was now clean without a single scar. This System was not just giving him money. It was giving him a new sense of dignity. He turned to the table and counted his remaining cash. Fourteen thousand dollars. It was enough to begin a grand performance.

"System, I need an appearance that won't make those people call the police the moment I enter their hotel," Sean said as he ran his fingers through his hair, slicking it back.

[Suggestion: 'The Sovereign' Boutique on 5th Avenue. Estimated cost for a full suit: $8,500.]

Sean prepared quickly. He put on the simplest hotel clothes available and called a premium taxi to the city center. Arriving in front of The Sovereign, Sean was greeted by an elegant building facade with heavy oak doors.

As he stepped inside, the scent of expensive leather and luxurious woody perfume greeted his senses. A male attendant in a three-piece suit immediately approached him. He looked Sean up and down with a condescending glare.

"I am sorry, sir. Our boutique serves guests by appointment only. And I do not believe our collection fits your budget," the attendant said. His voice was intentionally loud so that other guests could hear.

Sean was not angry. Instead, he felt amused. His Appraisal Eye suddenly throbbed, displaying data above the arrogant attendant’s head.

[Name: Marcus.]

[Status: Strangled by $12,000 in credit card debt.]

[Interesting Fact: The watch he is wearing is a high-quality replica used to hide his poverty.]

"An appointment?" Sean raised an eyebrow. He walked closer to Marcus and stared at the man’s watch. "You talk to me about a budget? Meanwhile, you are wearing a replica Rolex Submariner with a movement that ticks far too loudly for an authentic piece?"

Marcus’s face turned pale instantly. He tried to hide his wrist with his suit sleeve. "What... what are you talking about? This is real!"

"The gears inside are made of cheap steel, not white gold. If you don't immediately get me the best black suit in this shop, I will tell your manager that you are trying to sell fakes inside this boutique," Sean whispered in a highly intimidating tone.

Without another word, Marcus bowed deeply. Fear had replaced his arrogance. He immediately guided Sean to an exclusive dressing room and brought out their finest collection.

An hour later, Sean emerged from the dressing room. He wore a black bespoke suit with a cut that perfectly complemented his athletic build. The white Egyptian cotton shirt underneath felt cool against his skin. He completed the look with a pair of polished Oxford shoes and a classic watch. Though it was not as expensive as a Richard Mille, it radiated a quiet luxury.

Sean placed eighty-five hundred-dollar bills on the counter. Marcus accepted them with trembling hands and continued to bow until Sean exited the shop.

"Step one complete," Sean muttered. He stood on the sidewalk, looking like a successful young entrepreneur who had just won a million-dollar contract.

[New Mission Detected: Obtain a Gold VIP Invitation.]

[Nearest Location: 'Everly' Antique Gallery.]

Sean followed the system's guidance to an antique gallery located nearby. In front of the gallery, he saw a luxury sedan with its hood popped open. A beautiful woman in an elegant red dress stood there looking confused while clutching her phone.

Sean approached. His Appraisal Eye immediately scanned the woman.

[Name: Isabella Moretti.]

[Status: Sole heir to the Moretti Group, the main rival of Vane Logistics.]

[Urgent Need: She must present an authentic antique gift to a collector at the engagement party tonight to win a port contract.]

Sean smiled. This was the luck he had been looking for.

'I will enter that luxury party with honor, and I will also make a fantastic profit. Life is like a game, very entertaining,' he thought as he walked toward the woman at the roadside.

"The engine is just overheating because the water sensor is clogged, Miss Moretti," Sean said as he stood beside her.

Isabella turned. She looked shocked to see a handsome man in an expensive suit who knew her name. "How do you know my name? And how do you know what’s wrong with my car without checking it?"

"I have quite an observant eye for valuable things," Sean replied calmly. He reached into his suit pocket, took out a handkerchief, and skillfully fixed the loose sensor in the engine bay. "Try starting it now."

Isabella got into the car and turned the key. The engine roared smoothly at once. She stepped out of the car with an expression of awe. "Thank you so much. I’m already late to find a gift in this gallery. My name is Isabella. What is yours?"

"Sean Alexander," he replied.

"You know a lot about engines, Sean. Do you also know about antiques? I’m looking for a Ming Dynasty vase for a gift tonight, but I’m afraid of being cheated by fakes in this gallery," Isabella said with a tone of frustration.

"What a coincidence," Sean pointed toward the gallery. "Let’s go inside. I’ll make sure you don’t waste your money on a piece of ceramic trash."

Inside the gallery, Isabella pointed to a large vase displayed on a velvet pillar. "The gallery owner says this is authentic. The price is half a million dollars."

Sean narrowed his eyes. A thin blue light appeared in his pupils.

[Item: Dragon Motif Ceramic Vase.]

[Status: A 1990s replica made to look ancient using chemical oxidation techniques.]

[Real Value: $200.]

Sean shook his head. He walked to a dusty corner of the room and picked up a small wooden box containing a tea bowl that looked dull and unappealing.

"Take this, Miss Isabella," Sean said.

"This small bowl? But it looks so ordinary," Isabella hesitated.

"This is a 'Celestial Bowl' from a much older period. If you bring this to the collector at the party tonight, he will give you anything you ask for," Sean said with total confidence.

Isabella looked into Sean’s eyes. There was something in his gaze that made her feel she could trust him. She finally bought the bowl for only ten thousand dollars. The gallery owner considered it "lucky" since the bowl had been sitting there unsold for a long time.

As they stepped out of the gallery, Isabella shook Sean’s hand firmly. "You just saved me twice today, Sean. I must repay the favor. Will you be attending Viktor Vane’s engagement party tonight?"

"I have some business there, but unfortunately, I don't have an official invitation," Sean replied in a relaxed, pre-planned tone.

Isabella smiled broadly. She pulled a metallic gold card from her bag and handed it to Sean. "This is a Gold VIP invitation from me. With this, you can sit in the front row with me. I want to see those people's faces when they realize I’ve brought a handsome antique expert."

Sean accepted the card. His heart raced. His plan was working more perfectly than he had imagined.

[Side Mission Complete.]

[Reward: Appraisal Eye Level Up (Level 2).]

[Status: VIP Invitation Obtained.]

"Thank you, Isabella. I will see you at the party tonight," Sean said.

He stood on the side of the street, staring at the gold card in his hand. Tonight, he would not arrive as a corpse crawling out of the trash. He would arrive as an honored guest who would tear down Viktor Vane’s entire world.

To be continued...