Just as Bin Chen swung his club, Otto announced loudly: "The Chen family's Cora has pledged twelve billion dollars to the shantytown renovation project."
"What the hell!?"
Crack!
Bin Chen fared worse than the other two—he didn't fall, but upon hearing the news, he lost control mid-swing, wrenching his back with an audible snap that made everyone wince.
Gritting his teeth, Bin Chen gasped, "Quick...my back...!"
Hong Zhang feigned concern. "Bin, what's wrong? A noble like you—has your waist betrayed you?"
Sweat poured down Bin Chen's face. "Help me up—now!"
Elton Leng smirked. "Can't move. I'm just a 'broken aristocrat' with a bad back myself. Hah! Twelve billion? Your daughter truly outshines us all. My compliments to your distinguished lineage...ohoho!"
Zhi Xu reluctantly hauled Bin Chen upright. "Damn, Old Chen—you really did a number on yourself! Was ten billion worth it?"
The three old men now sat in a row, each nursing their aching backs, exchanging sour glances.
Only Zhi Xu remained standing, leaning on his club and reveling in their misery.
"Hahaha! Listen to you three—all that bragging! 'My son's a genius,' 'My daughter's peerless,' and Bin, you took the cake! Your girl was supposed to be the sensible one! What possessed her? Wonderful—with your three families bankrolling that shantytown disaster, I'll sleep like a baby tonight."
Three pairs of eyes glared daggers at him.
Zhi Xu only grew more smug.
"Oh? Touchy now? After decades of friendship! Honestly, Bin, don't fret. Twelve billion? Pocket change! Hong's boy flushed fifty billion down the drain, and he's keeping calm! But Elton—oh, Elton! Nearly five billion? Can your family even survive that? Hahaha!"
Elton Leng nearly choked on his rage, but a sharp pang in his back silenced him.
Zhi Xu twirled his club theatrically. "Four came to play, three got wrecked...and here I stand, laughing at the storm."
He turned, swinging an imaginary sword as he declaimed:
"Pity—Qin's First Emperor, Han's Martial Wu, lacked literary grace!
Tang's Ancestor, Song's Founder—mere flashes in history's pages!
Even heaven-blessed Genghis Khan only knew to bend his bow at eagles!"
Spinning back, he smirked at his seething companions and added mockingly:
"All gone now."
Then, striking a heroic pose toward the horizon, he bellowed:
"To count true heroes, we look only to this present day!"
With that, he launched into a swing—back straight, spirit indomitable, radiating the arrogance of one who'd conquered the world itself.
Meanwhile, Otto calmly announced: "Xena has invested twenty billion dollars on behalf of the Xu family."
"What!?"
Crack!
"Awww...! My back!"
Now all four old men sat in a row.
Elton Leng nodded. "What was Zhi saying earlier? That ten billion wasn't enough to hurt? Then how much does it take?"
Bin Chen groaned. "He said twenty billion!"
"Ouch!" Elton Leng mocked. "Zhi, your family has set the standard! Your girl's certainly bold. As a 'raggedy aristocrat,' I could only scrape together less than five billion."
Bin Chen added, "At least my daughter still loves me—she didn't throw away twenty billion! By that measure, Zhi's daughter takes the crown for recklessness! Truly ambitious, a 'pride of her generation!'"
"Yes, yes, yes."
Hong Zhang took a deep breath. "This whole thing is cursed! What's gotten into those four? Did they collude?"
Zhi Xu finally snapped. "Get me my phone! I'm calling that damn girl to demand an explanation!"
The other three immediately chorused: "Then you lose! You're making the first call!"
"I just lost twenty billion—you think I care about winning or losing? What's wrong with you all? We're all ruined here! And you're still keeping score?"
The remaining three froze, then sheepishly gestured for their secretaries to bring their phones.
All four old men now clutched their aching backs while dialing their respective children.
...
In the bathroom, Fyren lounged arrogantly on an art deco sofa.
The system's feminine voice chimed: "Congratulations, Host. By investing in this disastrous project, you've potentially bankrupted the entire Zhang family."
"Flatterer, flatterer." Fyren shook his legs. "I've lasted three days already—time to hand out my rewards, no?"
"Please wait while we verify completion on our end."
"Verify away. I'm not rushing."
Fyren felt truly invincible.
Why am I such a genius? Bankrupting my own family—how did I even conceive this?
And the risk was perfectly controlled!
Lose a predetermined amount, cut losses immediately, then relocate the family with remaining assets.
With his business acumen, rebuilding would be trivial.
So what if he couldn't reclaim his hundred-billion-dollar empire? Being a mere hundred-millionaire would make no difference!
None whatsoever!
Most importantly, this masterstroke would erase him from Otto's radar entirely.
No more desperate avoidance—Otto wouldn't even glance his way again!
System: "Host, our verification indicates limited rewards for this achievement."
"Huh? Why? After all I've done? You can't be serious!"
"It works like this: for every ten billion dollars of bankruptcy you cause to the Zhang family, you'll receive one hundred million dollars as bonus money in the real world. You can collect this after returning to reality."
"What about now?"
"Currently, your pharmaceutical company shares have lost tens of billions in value, but the company remains operational. Since stock prices may fluctuate at any time, this doesn't qualify for redemption."
"Then the shantytown renovation project should count, right?"
"Sorry about that, pro. The shantytown project hasn't officially launched yet. You'll need to actually lose your family's assets to receive corresponding bonuses."
Fyren said angrily, "Then I should at least get rewarded for surviving three days without being killed!"
"Yes indeed, dear!"
"We're offering three choices. First: a copy of the Sunflower Treasure Dictionary. With this foundational treasure, you can identify it as a basic version and upgrade it using points. As its level increases, your strength will gradually—"
"Next option."
"Pro, this is our recommended package! If you choose the Sunflower Treasure Dictionary, we'll include ten beautiful women—"
"Next! Next next next!" Fyren muttered, "I've already maxed out the Sunflower Treasure Dictionary. What would I need beauties for?"
"Oh. The second choice is an Acala Divine Kung Fu Experience Card. This grants one invincible defense against all physical attacks, with no upper limit."
"That's a good one."
Fyren rubbed his chin. Pity it was single-use—if it were unlimited, he'd never fear Otto again.
"What's the third option?"
"The third is the premium Dragonfall Experience Card, single-use only. This lets you instantly kill any opponent—all characters you dislike can be eliminated immediately. Except Otto himself."
Fyren considered this. Why would I need Dragonfall?
Other than Otto, there's no one I'd want to kill instantly. It'd be useless.
"I'll take the Acala Kung Fu."
"Okay, please keep it. Note: both your lost and profitable assets can be exchanged for real-world bonuses at a rate of one hundred million per ten billion. But we'll only calculate the total—you can't withdraw bonuses from both directions."
"So I either need to make money like crazy or lose money like crazy, is that it?"
"Yes indeed, pro!"
"I see."
"But pro, you must be careful with your maneuvers. Nothing beyond common sense is permitted."
"For example?"
"For example: you can't directly transfer property to strangers—that doesn't count; you can't intentionally purchase goods at inflated prices—that doesn't count either; and you can't deliberately destroy valuable assets, such as smashing antiques, burning down buildings, or filing exorbitant insurance claims..."
"Don't worry! I can bankrupt myself through legitimate investments without resorting to such cheap tricks!"
Fyren laughed heartily.
So far, everything was proceeding splendidly.
His family's assets totaled several hundred billion. At this rate of loss, he could preserve a few billion as seed money while converting the remaining hundreds of billions into real-world bonuses worth several billion!
Billions!
An unimaginable fortune for ordinary people.
However, bonuses could only be accumulated through losses—profitable ventures wouldn't count.
He was now Crystalpeak City's juiciest target. If he kept growing wealthier... Otto would inevitably come for him when annexing the four great families.
His parents had only sons—no daughters to offer Otto's harem.
This spelled certain doom for Fyren.
His sole path to survival required collapsing the Zhang empire swiftly, making himself uninteresting to Otto.
Then relocate south and live quietly as an unremarkable millionaire—that way, his family might survive.
...
Elton Leng stared at Eliza. "Explain yourself. What were you thinking?"
Eliza remained composed. "Fyren never makes losing deals. With Xena and Cora investing heavily too, this is clearly a golden opportunity. The Leng family can't afford to miss out."
Elton Leng's face twisted. "Four hundred ninety million? You're betting our entire liquidity—our family's future—on this gamble?"
"Yes." Eliza was resolute. "The more desperate the situation, the bolder we must be. I trust my judgment."
Elton Leng slammed the table. "What about that land parcel? How will we acquire it now?"
"I made a choice—one or the other."
"You lack authority for such decisions! You're just the president, not the decision-maker!"
"You sent me to that meeting as your representative. The commitment's made, the government contract signed. This money must be paid."
"You—!"
Otto set down his glass and stood. "Eliza, you've committed a grave error."
"What business is it of yours?"
"Mind your tone! Otto is now my advisor."
Otto smiled faintly. "We can void the contract. My connections will minimize penalties. Then we'll secure that land triumphantly."
"I refuse to breach contract."
Otto grew earnest. "Eliza, why can't you see? You know Fyren's nature—an opportunistic scoundrel. How can you trust him?"
Eliza regarded Otto coldly. "I've seen his heart—pure and untainted. You're the true villain here, cloaking malice in righteousness."
Elton Leng shouted, "Enough! I'm convening a board meeting next week to reinstate Otto as Qingfeng Group's president. You'll serve as his deputy."
"What did you say?!"
Elton Leng snorted. "Also, your engagement to Fyren is canceled!"