The Monarch Crown System

8. Flexing My New Authority

Elias pulled out his cellphone and stared at the alert glowing on the screen.

Ten billion dollars. The number seemed to mock him.

With ten billion, he was instantly among the wealthiest ten percent of society. He was already a billionaire.

A thought struck him. The voice from the Monarch Crown System had said he could unlock a higher level of authority and status every time he spent ten billion.

That meant he now held access to unimaginable influence.

“Why should I kneel to this brat?” Elias thought. “His family isn’t even worth a billion dollars, yet he keeps bragging about his uncle’s hospital.”

His fingers trembled as he opened his banking app.

The balance was there. Ten billion, exactly as the system had claimed.

The crowd watching him grew excited. Several people lifted their phones, eager to record Jeron humiliating him.

Elias frowned, weighing his choices.

He could try to reason with them, but none of these people had ever listened to him.

Then he remembered the words of the system and the power it offered.

“Forgive me?” Elias scoffed.

“I don’t need your forgiveness. In fact, I’m going to buy this entire hospital along with every branch in the country. After that, all of you will treat even my smallest request like a priority.”

His sudden confidence stunned the entire hall.

A few people burst into laughter, enjoying the spectacle.

Jeron’s face flushed with rage, his fists curling. He never expected Elias to speak back, much less claim he would buy the hospital outright.

“Does he even know how much Grace Field Hospital is worth?” someone whispered.

“He stole a hundred million from the public. Maybe he thinks he can actually buy it,” another muttered.

“Impossible. Grace Field is valued at ten billion. There’s no way this fugitive can afford it,” someone else scoffed.

Jeron stepped closer.

“You think you can make demands? I’ll have you thrown out.”

“And you dare claim you can afford Grace Field Hospital?” Jeron snapped. “All because of the money you cheated from people? Pathetic.”

Elias didn’t flinch. A faint smile touched his lips.

“Go ahead and try. But you’ll soon realize I’m not someone you can push around anymore.”

The tension in the room grew heavier as they glared at each other. A clash was inevitable. Everyone watching sensed that the situation had escalated far beyond a simple argument.

“I’m not going to beg you,” Elias said quietly. “I’m going to make you regret crossing me.”

Jeron’s eyes narrowed, full of danger.

"You're just a pathetic leech, trying to ride on the coattails of your in-laws. You think a little money is going to make you powerful?"

Elias’s lips curled into a smirk.

"Oh, I think you'll find I'm a lot more powerful than you realize."

“I would love to see you buy ten billion dollars’ worth of Gracefield Hospital. My uncle has been looking to sell this place,” Jeron fired back. “I’ll call him right now. If you can actually buy this hospital, I’ll clean the entire building with my own shirt.”

He pulled out his phone and dialed.

“Uncle, we have a very wealthy and serious buyer who wants to purchase your hospital. Can you come to the reception?” Jeron asked eagerly.

He deliberately emphasized wealthy so his uncle would hurry.

Within minutes, Mr. Lowell came rushing down the stairs.

“Where is this serious buyer? Has he left? What did you do?” Mr. Lowell demanded anxiously.

Jeron pointed at Elias with a mocking grin.

“Look at him—Elias, the son-in-law of Park Woo-jin’s family.”

Elias stepped forward calmly.

“Uncle, I have a proposition for you,” he said. “I want to buy this hospital. All of it. I’ll pay ten billion dollars, right now, if you’re willing to sell.”

Jeron burst into laughter. Elias’s confidence was the funniest thing he’d seen all week.

“Jeron, is this some kind of joke?” Mr. Lowell snapped.

“Don’t tell me you dragged me down here to listen to one of your pranks. I have better things to do upstairs.”

“No sir, this isn’t a prank. I want to buy the hospital,” Elias replied.

The crowd around them erupted into laughter.

Mr. Lowell gave Elias a slow, deliberate look from head to toe.

“Young man, shut that mouth of yours,” he barked.

“This is one of the biggest and most prestigious hospitals in the entire state—the best doctors, cutting-edge tech, a national reputation. And you think you can just stroll in here and buy it with a snap of your fingers?”

“That’s exactly what I’m telling you,” Elias answered evenly.

“I have the funds, and I’m prepared to close the deal today. So what do you say? Are you willing to sell?”

Mr. Lowell chuckled bitterly.

“Judging by the way you look, you can’t even afford a proper meal, let alone decent clothes. How exactly do you expect to buy a hospital with twenty branches across the country?”

“Uncle, I already told him that if he’s able to pay, I’ll clean this entire hospital with my shirt,” Jeron added. “So let’s at least give him the benefit of doubt.”

He was desperate to humiliate Elias.

“Fine,” Mr. Lowell sighed. “Young man, do not waste my time. Hand me your credit card.”

Elias pulled out an ordinary bank card and placed it on the desk.

“Swipe it,” he said.

Jeron stared at the card before bursting into loud laughter.

“That? That’s your big payment method? A regular credit card? Elias, you’re delusional. All the billionaires in this country have customized black cards!”

He wasn’t lying—they all did. But Elias had only acquired his wealth today and hadn’t updated anything yet.

“This may look like a simple card,” Elias said, “but the money inside it… your descendants won’t touch that amount even in a million years. I can swipe this once and transfer billions instantly.”

“This is getting ridiculous,” Jeron scoffed. “You should’ve told the audience you had psychological issues instead of brain cancer—that would’ve been more believable.”

“I’m sorry, Elias,” he continued mockingly. “But you’ve watched far too many movies. That’s not how the real world works.”

Mr. Lowell let out a booming laugh.

“Unlimited funds? Do you think we were born yesterday?” He glanced at Jeron.

“Is this a joke?”

“I assure you it’s real,” Elias said calmly. “Just swipe the card.”

Mr. Lowell narrowed his eyes.

“Alright, fine. But if this card declines, you will clean the entire hospital floor with that tattered shirt of yours.”

Elias nodded.

“Fair enough. And if it goes through… you and Jeron will do the same.”

Jeron raised an eyebrow.

“Confident, aren’t we? Fine. You’re on.”

Mr. Lowell brought out a card reader and plugged it into the outlet at the reception desk. Elias slid the card through.

The screen flickered to life.

Processing…

Processing…

Jeron and his uncle leaned forward, anticipation written all over their faces, convinced the card would decline at any second.