The Ultimate Tycoon's System Audit

Chapter 4: Banquet Hijack

Whispers died down as Jin held up his shattered, dripping smartphone.

Director Kang let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "A gift? What could a pathetic, penniless rat like you possibly give to us? A screen protector for that piece of trash in your hand?"

Min-ah’s mother scoffed loudly, waving her hand in front of her nose. "He probably brought a box of cheap instant ramen! Kang, please have security throw him into the street. The smell of poverty is ruining my expensive velvet dress!"

Min-ah sneered, crossing her arms. "Get him out of here, Kang. He’s ruining our night. He’s just begging for attention because he can't accept that I chose a real man over a useless servant."

Jin didn't look angry. He didn't even look hurt. He simply tapped the cracked glass of his screen.

Deep inside his mind, a cold, mechanical voice chimed.

[ SYSTEM PROTOCOL: BROADCAST HIJACK INITIALIZED. ]

[ TARGETING: BALLROOM MAIN DISPLAY SCREEN. ]

[ COST: 10 SECONDS OF LIFESPAN. SUCCESS. ]

Suddenly, the soft romantic music playing through the hotel’s luxury speaker system cut out. It was replaced by a sharp, high-pitched screech of static.

The massive, eighty-inch digital projector screen behind the stage flickered violently. The beautiful, polished engagement photos of Director Kang and Min-ah vanished.

"What is going on with the technology tonight?" Director Kang snapped, turning around toward the stage. "Where is the coordinator? Fix this!"

Before anyone could move, the giant screen flashed bright red. Bold, white letters appeared across the screen:

[ AUDITING DEBTOR: MIN-AH ]

"What... what is that?" Min-ah whispered, her heart skipping a beat. A sudden, cold dread washed over her.

The screen flickered again, and a video began to play in crystal-clear, high-definition.

It was a dimly lit, high-end VIP room inside a notorious nightlife venue called 'Club Sirens.'

On the screen, Min-ah was wearing a revealing, glittering red dress. She was sitting closely next to a wealthy, older man, laughing loudly as she poured him glass after glass of expensive whiskey. She was sweet-talking him, rubbing his shoulder, and whispering in his ear to get him to buy her a luxury designer handbag.

A collective gasp echoed through the Grand Hyatt ballroom.

"Is... is that Min-ah?" an investor’s wife whispered loudly, covering her mouth in shock. "I thought she was a respectable, innocent clerk from a humble family!"

"She was an elite bar hostess?" another guest murmured, disgusted.

Min-ah’s face turned completely white. Her body began to tremble. "No... no! That’s not me! It’s a fake video! Turn it off! Kang, tell them to turn it off!"

Min-ah’s mother froze, her champagne glass slipping from her hand and shattering on the marble floor. Her face turned an ugly shade of gray. Just minutes ago, she had been bragging to the wealthy investors about her daughter's "elite, pure upbringing."

"No! This is a lie! My daughter is an angel!" her mother screamed, her voice cracking as she desperately tried to block the giant screen with her own body. "Jin! You did this! You fabricated this to ruin my family because we kicked you out, you pathetic, jealous loser!"

But the screen changed again, completely drowning out her screams.

This time, it was an audio recording playing loudly over the ballroom’s surround-sound speakers. Min-ah’s voice was unmistakable, talking to a fellow hostess in the dressing room of Club Sirens.

"Director Kang is an arrogant idiot," Min-ah's voice echoed through the speakers, sharp and clear. "He actually thinks I’m an innocent, pure girl. I’ll just play along, marry him, and bleed his bank accounts dry. Once I get his money, I'm leaving his old, ugly self behind."

The silence in the room was deafening.

Every single eye in the ballroom turned to look at Min-ah and her mother. The respect, admiration, and envy the guests had felt for them just moments ago completely vanished, replaced by utter disgust. The wealthy investors slowly backed away from the mother and daughter, whispering about how they were nothing but a pair of gold-digging scammers.

Director Kang stood frozen. His fists clenched so hard his knuckles turned white. His face turned from pale to a deep, furious crimson. The woman he was boasting about, the woman he thought he had stolen from a low-life clerk, was openly calling him an ugly idiot on live video.

[ DING! MORAL AUDIT PAYOFF IN PROGRESS. ]

[ COLLECTING MASSIVE SHOCK, ANGER, AND DISGUST FROM 250 ONLOOKERS. ]

[ TARGETS' REPUTATION RUINED. ]

[ AUDIT SUCCESSFUL! ]

[ REWARD: +30 DAYS LIFESPAN. ]

[ REWARD: $10,000,000 USD LIQUID ASSETS TRANSFERRED TO HOST'S BANK ACCOUNT. ]

Jin felt a sudden rush of incredible warmth fill his chest. The ticking clock in the corner of his vision jumped from hours to a full month. At the exact same moment, his cheap phone buzzed with a real, official notification from his bank.

Your account ending in 4920 has received a wire transfer of: $10,000,000 USD (13.5 Billion Won).

Jin quietly slipped the phone back into his wet pocket. He looked at the trembling, crying Min-ah, her horrified mother, and then at the shaking, furious Director Kang.

"I hope you like my gift," Jin said smoothly, his voice breaking the frozen silence of the room. "Happy engagement."