The rain hit the windows of the villa estate loudly like a drum of execution. Ethan sat calmly at his desk. He sat behind his computer like he owed everything. He was like a god with his 10.0 level intelligence; he understood the world of money perfectly. It wasn't confusing to him any more.
The door opened with a 'creak'. Marcus Throne came inside, with a pale and hangered face, like he had seen a ghost. He was the big boss of a conglomerate, called Sun-Cost, but now his fancy suit is all messy, disheveled and his eyes are blood-shot. He completely lost the "Real Estate War" and the mess was really bad.
"I don't have any money left, Ethan. "Throne said with a horse voice. The banks took everything. Even the money from my daughter is also gone. You took it all.
Ethan didn't even look at him he was still staring at his tab. "I told you Marcus you are just being too loud So, I press the volume down.
What Ethan did ? to transform the old vulture like Marcus into a leashed dog.
Ethan didn't just won; he completely deleted him like a file in the computer. At night while everyone is sleeping , Ethan used his Hacking Mastery skill freeze all the money Marcus had in other countries and made them disappear.
He also used his skill called Future Prediction to see what to sold all of Marcus's stocks and bought all his debt before news channel could knew anything. Ethan also made Marcus's work buddies to turn against him. Now Ethan owed the whole empire and Marcus had nothing left.
Marcus leaned forward and his hands were shaking on the desk. "Marcus cried out . "I know all the thugs in the city that you can't just pay off. I can be useful to you, I can become your dog, your disposable pawns , a puppet or whatever you want. Just don't leave me with nothing.
Ethan finally looked up at Marcus. He used his eye skill and saw a shabby yellowish grey light around Marcus that meant he is really broke. To Ethan, a dog is only useful if it knows who its master is.
You want me to be nice right? Okay, "Ethan said with cold and emotion less voice. "I bought all your debt and bills so I own you now. You can keep pretending to be the boss of your company, but you have to do what I say. You have be my shield to protect me, go to the places and meet peoples I don't want to meet. If you tried to do anything fishy, I will tell the police on you."
Marcus put his head down. He was like a broken toy putting on the dog leash. "I'll do whatever you want," he said.
Good.
Now for the second task.
Ethan fetched his S-class Mercedes from his garage and departed for Evergreen Reproductive Health Centre.
After travelling half an hour from the villa, he reached his destination. The air inside the Evergreen Reproductive Health Centre smelled flowery and like expensive medicines. It was much better than the scent of the mechanic shop where he had worked a few days ago—a mix of synthetic oil, grease, sweat, and rust that formed a sharp metallic smell.
Ethan sat in the Director's office. His 8.5 Strength made his presence stiff and commanding; he looks very powerful in his Armani suit. Opposite him sat a shy young nurse he had spotted in the corridor. She looked very tired and her clothes were slightly faded, but she was still very pretty.
Ethan didn't guess. He activated his eye.
[Eye of Discernment Active]
Target: Mei Ling (Nurse)
Identity: Filipino-American
Appearance: 92 | Body: 90 |
Intelligence: 13 (Genius)
History: 0 Partners (Pure)
Net Worth: -$4,200 (Debt) | Monthly Need: $15,000 (Sister's Tuition)
[System Compatibility: 95% (Extreme)]
Bonus Effect: 40% chance for "High Vitality" offspring.
She was more than perfect. She was like a gold mine.
Um... "Mr. Benjamin, "Mei Ling said, her voice was slightly trembling. She held her clipboard like a shield. "The director is busy. So, I was told to bring you some water. Do you… want anything else?"
"Ethan didn't waste time with small talks, as he already knew through his system that she is desperate for money because of her sister's school fee.
"You need money, Mei Ling, "Ethan said. His voice is clam and devoid of any emotions. "Your sisters school fees are due, and your job isn't enough to pay back the people you owe."
Mei Ling was stunned. "How do you know my secrets?"
"I know everything and that is what Important," Ethan said. He moved close. His masculine scent hit the nostrils of Mei Ling and she blushed lightly.
You see "I am looking for a specific breeding partner and you mate the criteria"
Her face looked first confused and then became pale as per from shock. But before could she said "No way, "he told her the deal.
"I will pay you $30,000 as a monthly stipend. And will cover all your debt's and bills for today. On one condition, that is you had to leave your current job and stay with me in the villa and carry my child."
The room was very quiet. Mei Ling breathed fast. To her it was like a life line, even if Ethan was being a bit cold. To Ethan , it was just like another transaction.
I… I have to look after my sister," she stammered, her voice quiet.
"She will go to the bests school in the whole state," Ethan said. "Is it a deal?"
Mei Ling looked at the floor, then she looked at Ethan's handsome but mean face. She nodded slowly. "Yes. I'll do it." Ok.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Requirement Met: 2/10 Breeding Subjects Secured.
Subject Name: Mei Ling
Status: Contracted / Awaiting Conception
Reward: System Mall V2.0 Unlocking... 1% Complete.
Ethan stood up. He didn't smile or hug her. He just fixed his expensive shirt.
My driver is waiting. Get your baggage's and come with me," he said. As he walked away, the transparent interface in his head turned on. It showed a map of all the things he was starting to own. He did not care if he was being rough and mean. All he wants is result's . He was making a world for his family to rule, and Mei Ling was another strong brick for his foundation.
He looked at his phone. Nobody from his old life knew where he was. To the poor people, he was like a ghost who had just disappeared. To the desperate people, he was like a god who could miracles.
He was like a sun in the morning and shadow in the night.
After sometime, he arranged for Mei Ling to stay in the southern most part of the villa and went back to his study.
When he was alone, he asked the system a question that had been in his mind for a long time. He had been so busy to that he kept forgetting to ask.
"System," Ethan thought, his voice echoing/ bouncing in the silent room of his mind. "In this world of billions… am I the only one? Or is there someone else out there with a system.
[DING!]
[System Response: Host's concerns are noted. Initializing Universal Scan…]
[Scan Complete. The 'Tycoon: More Offspring, More Wealth' System is a unique God-tier entity. You are the sole Host within this galaxy. There are no rivals. There are only the Monarch and his Lineage.]
That means there are other systems like this.
[DING]
[System Response: There are other systems, but only one can bind at a time to one host]
Ethan felt relived hearing the response of the system, with an emotionless smile growing on his face. He was no longer afraid of anything ambushing him from the dark. He felt like an eagle freely flying across the sky and mountain. To him the world is no longer scary place to fight. It was just a place where he could take whatever he wanted and whomever he wanted to smash into smitheries.
He thought about his old home for a moment and all his painful memories came crashing into his fragile mind.
One evening of New Year when he came to the village with gifts and money from his work and about to enter Orphanage. He remembered the neighbor's who were mean to him and the village leader and also the director of the orphanage who did nothing while he was being brutally beaten in front of the village elder's house. Instead of helping, they chose to stay inside their locked-up houses.
Even though they said those things because they were lured by my rival's money, the way they have hurt ne since childhood makes me feel as if they spoke those words truly from their hearts.
Before remembering this, Ethan had wanted to help them; he also planned to use his money to buy their farms and help them escape property. But after what they said in front of the media-even the children claimed he had joined a human trafficking organization- they insisted they didn't want his 'blood-stained' money.
Even Elena who was carrying his twins looked at him, after watching the news in the television but she knows me very well. That I might be cold and calculative but I would never harm any innocent or anybody. If they doesn't explicitly target or hurt me before. May be she fell in love with me or it might be my skill Goblin's Fertility domain effect that I don't know.
Now, that feeling is gone. He looked at the map one more time and prepared to move.
[L-Village: Strategic Value: Negligible].
"Why would I bring those parasites like them into my house?"
Ethan whispered. "To thank them for being cruel to me? as if I have Stockholm syndrome or something. No way."
With a swipe of his hand . He deleted the L-village buyout plan. He didn't owe the orphanage any penny. He will send Marcus to donate 1Million USD as a gift for raising him and beating him from childhood in the name of 'Sun-Cost' company and that's that.
Ethan went back to his office and called for Throne.
"Stop the L-Village project and find me a private Island. I want a place where I make all my rules. I don't want anyone from my old life to ever find me again."
He stood by the window and watched the distant horizon. He felt he belonged to that vast space; a village was no longer a place for an eagle like him to stay. He wanted his children to grow up in a safe, beautiful environment that he truly owned.
On his desk, a blue light showed a map of his old home one last time. He had plans to build factories, give people jobs, and fix the orphanage. He wanted the people there to finally like him.
Instead they remained mean and cruel towards him as always.
There is a famous metaphor there in our language for these situation. Let me quote it "Shobab jaina morele angar jaina dhuile" it means " One's nature does not leave even in death, just as coal does not loose its color even after washing".
Later that night, when Ethan was strolling through the quite hall of the villa towards the Maternal Wing. Elena was sleeping, her breath slow and even. He looked at her through the eye.
[Offspring Status: Healthy]
[Heartbeat: Synchronized]
[System Note: Host is manifesting 'Loving Father' trait (Tier 1)]
He placed a hand near her stomach and vowed in his mind: I won't let these children feel the hunger and coldness of an orphan. They would never be beaten in an alleyway while the villagers watched through cracked shutters.