The Last Billionaire Candidate

Arrival of Tax Officers

The soothing scent of aromatherapy filled Mr. V's private spa. Despite being surrounded by unimaginable luxury and every comfort money could buy, he felt nothing but emptiness. Every day had become an exhausting struggle to complete one absurd mission—spending money.

Fortunately, Vero understood business. He acquired Vanguard Tower, a prestigious company that had stood strong for decades. The owners had been forced to sell it because of a family conflict. With the System's assistance, Vero soon acquired nearly every outstanding company in the city. One by one, they all became part of his empire.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

A gentle knock echoed from the door.

It was Leon.

For the past month, Leon had served Mr. V with complete loyalty, never realizing that the man who had hired him was someone he had once known. Although Mr. V's face looked remarkably similar to his younger foster brother's, Leon simply couldn't believe Vero could have become this successful.

The engineering graduate assumed he had been hired solely because of the business proposal he had submitted.

"One whole month... and you haven't even tried talking to me. You never asked how I've been... whether I've been eating properly."

Leon frowned slightly as he stared into the man's eyes.

"Don't you recognize me?" Vero asked.

Leon froze.

"You really do look like my younger brother... but I don't think you could possibly—"

"Why? Do you look down on me? Why have you always doubted what I'm capable of... brother?"

Leon fell silent.

Vero stepped out of the bathtub and wrapped a towel around himself.

"So... it's really you? You're Vero... my little brother?"

Vero nodded.

Without thinking, Leon embraced him and patted Mr. V's shoulder—the very man he had respected and feared just moments ago.

His eyes became moist.

He remembered the days when they had grown up together in the orphanage, where they often fought over a single piece of fried tofu or tempeh while competing for food.

"You've become incredible, Vero."

"You actually made it this far."

"I'll devote myself to you."

"I'll become your most loyal right-hand man."

Vero chuckled.

"Don't be so dramatic."

"Just treat this place like your own home."

"Oh, right..."

Smack!

Leon suddenly smacked Vero on the head.

Vero winced in pain.

"Why didn't you visit me while I was in prison?"

"Were you ashamed of having an ex-convict as your foster brother?"

Vero remembered those difficult years.

Back then, Alice had treated him like a cash cow.

She never even allowed him a single day off.

"I was incredibly busy back then."

"I'm sorry."

"I was framed."

"You should've helped me."

"Please forgive me, Leon."

Leon simply laughed.

"Forget it."

---

The following morning...

The magnificent lobby of Vanguard Zenith Tower welcomed several government officials dressed in neatly tailored black suits, their identification cards hanging around their necks.

They were officers from the Directorate General of Taxes.

"Good morning, sir. How may we assist you?" the receptionist asked politely.

One middle-aged officer presented an official assignment letter.

"We're here to meet Mr. V."

Leon stepped out of the executive elevator after noticing several unfamiliar visitors waiting in the lobby.

"May I know the purpose of your visit? I'm Mr. V's personal assistant."

"We simply need clarification regarding several reports concerning his assets and investment holdings."

Leon studied each of them carefully.

"Please follow me to the VIP room."

The three officers quietly followed him.

---

At the top floor...

Vero stood with his back to the door, gazing at Jakarta's skyline hidden beneath thick gray clouds.

Leon knocked softly before entering.

"Vero."

"There are tax officers here to see you."

Vero turned around.

"What is it?"

"They're requesting verification of all your assets."

Leon took a deep breath before continuing.

"The amount of stock you've purchased over the past few weeks... is enormous."

"They want to verify the source of your funds."

"Hmm..."

A faint smile appeared on Vero's lips.

"So..."

"Spending money has finally made everyone curious."

In less than a month, he had purchased shares in countless global companies—investments so massive that even veteran billionaires would have been astonished.

There was no way the government would simply ignore it.

They suspected money laundering.

"Tell them to wait."

"I'll meet them in ten minutes."

Leon nodded before leaving.

Mr. V slowly exhaled.

---

Ten minutes passed.

Vero waited for the System's hologram to appear.

Nothing happened.

The blue holographic interface remained completely silent, as though refusing to respond to his anxiety.

Having no other choice, Vero headed toward the VIP room.

The three officers immediately stood as he entered.

"Good afternoon, Mr. V. We apologize for disturbing your time."

"Good afternoon. How may I help you?"

"We're from the Directorate General of Taxes."

"We require your complete financial statements along with all of your bank transaction records."

"According to our database, you are not yet registered as a taxpayer with verified financial documentation."

Vero swallowed quietly.

Despite the pressure, he remained calm.

"I have always paid my taxes on time."

"Please come back tomorrow."

"I'll provide every financial report and every tax payment record you require."

His voice remained steady...

Even though he had absolutely no idea how he was supposed to prove it.

"Very well."

"We'll return tomorrow."

The three officers left.

Vero remained standing in silence for a long time.

Unable to think of any solution, he locked himself inside his office.

---

That evening...

A light drizzle fell over Jakarta.

Vero's office was illuminated only by the glow of his computer monitor.

The rhythmic ticking of the wall clock and the soft hum of the air conditioner made the room feel even quieter.

He was worried.

Restless.

He hadn't even begun destroying Robert.

Would everything end simply because he couldn't prove that his fortune had been legally obtained?

His thoughts became increasingly chaotic.

Holding his aching head, Vero lowered his gaze.

Then...

A gentle blue reflection appeared above his granite desk.

The transparent blue light slowly formed into a hologram before him.

Vero's eyes widened.

DING.

《[New Problem Detected.]》

Vero remained silent.

Another line appeared.

《Financial Transaction Verification Request Detected.》

A progress bar appeared in midair.

10%

Dozens of data windows instantly materialized.

Thousands of numbers streamed across the hologram.

30%

The names of major international banks filled the display.

[Transaction Records]

[Audit Reports]

[Investment Documents]

Everything was perfectly organized.

60%

[Share Ownership Records]

[Dividend Payments]

[Bond Purchases]

[Corporate Tax Reports]

[Income from 1,000 Subsidiaries]

Not a single suspicious record could be found.

100%

《Process Complete.》

The hologram disappeared.

A moment later—

Ping.

Ping.

Ping.

Vero's laptop was flooded with incoming emails.

Dozens...

Then hundreds...

Messages arrived from international banks, investment firms, global auditing companies, and financial institutions around the world.

Every email contained official documentation.

Bank transaction histories.

Tax reports.

Income sources.

Company registrations.

Thousands of companies, complete with their names and addresses.

"Share purchases... dividend payments... it's all here..."

Vero muttered as he examined every document.

Every record was legitimate.

Every transaction had been audited.

Not a single dollar had originated from illegal business activities.

It was as though the fortune had truly been built over decades through flawless financial management.

Ping.

Hundreds more notifications appeared.

Within seconds, his inbox seemed endless.

Almost every email carried the same subject.

Asset Ownership Confirmation

Financial Transaction Verification

Source of Funds Documentation

Vero read every document without changing his expression.

The wealth had truly become his.

The problem was...

Even he had no idea where the System had obtained such an unimaginable fortune.

His eyes remained fixed on the monitor.

The air before him shimmered once again.

While opening another document, his fingers danced across the keyboard, verifying every official file registered under his name.

The more documents he examined...

The harder it became to believe what he was seeing.

"Incredible..."

Now he possessed every document the tax authorities could possibly request.

Tomorrow morning, he could hand everything over without the slightest concern.

However...

He leaned back in his chair.

His eyes shifted toward the blue hologram still floating peacefully before him.

"What exactly are you?"

"...Are you God?"

"What does this System actually want?"

Never...

Not even once...

Had the System ever demanded anything in return.

Yet in this world...

No power gives everything away for free.

If one day the System demanded repayment for everything it had given him...

Vero had no idea how he could ever repay such an overwhelming debt.

DING.

He flinched.

The hologram lit up once more.

A new notification appeared.

[Level 1 Complete]

[Candidate Has Cleared Level 1]

[Proceeding to Level 2]

Vero stared at the holographic screen before pressing the circular icon labeled Level 2.

The instant his fingertip touched it—

A blinding white light erupted from the hologram.

Vero instinctively raised his arm to shield his eyes.

As he stepped backward toward the curtains, he saw the silhouette of a long-haired woman standing within the brilliant light.

His heart pounded.

"Who are you?!"

The mysterious figure ran down the staircase and disappeared into the darkness.

Vero immediately chased after her.

But Leon stopped him.

"What happened?"

"Did you see someone just now?"

Leon frowned.

"No."

"There wasn't anyone."

Vero slowly rubbed his face.

"Maybe..."

"I'm just too tired."

Leon nodded respectfully.

"You should get some rest, Vero."

"Have you prepared the documents for those tax officers?"

Leon asked while carefully studying his employer's face. A trace of suspicion had begun to form in his mind.

"Of course," Vero replied briefly.

Hearing that, Leon felt somewhat relieved.

"All right."

"Get some rest."

"We have a busy schedule tomorrow."

Vero nodded slowly.

"You're right."

"Thank you."