"Are you OUT of your MIND, you damn ROTTEN POTATO?!" Selene screamed, flinching so hard she almost knocked over the tall vases. The hot coffee stained her white shirt, causing her skin to burn.
The lobby was dead silent.
She had entered the Crystal Avenue—a high-end luxury residence building—exactly ten seconds ago, and now she reeked of an awfully strong hazelnut espresso.
William Sinclair, her uncle, just smiled. The kind of smile that would inspire people to invent new ways of committing homicide.
"Oops," he said, letting the empty cup shatter on the marble floor, "I thought a homeless squatter wandered in. Imagine my surprise, seeing the Sinclair family embarrassment instead."
Selene clenched her fists tightly, the hazelnut stink burning her nose.
But seeing William's uncaring demeanor, one thing became very clear. He did not know. Not about the coma. Not about Bianca's plans to confine her…
William only wanted to embarrass her.
'Good.' Selene thought as she ignored him and walked toward the receptionist.
She was only there for one thing. Her mother's penthouse. The home where they all had once lived. But after Selene's mother died, Bianca had convinced her father to sell, under the sweet excuse of "healing".
Bianca had shamelessly told her father, "Let the penthouse go, it will only remind you of painful memories."
And he had so shamelessly agreed.
Now? The penthouse was once again on the market. Obsenely expensive. One billion dollars. All because Lady Sinclair had once lived there.
Good thing Selene now had money to burn.
The coffee was still dripping from her shirt when William suddenly blocked her path. He smirked, voice thick with mockery, "Do you think Daddy's connection will get you a job here? After that marriage scandal, you'd be lucky to get hired scrubbing toilets."
Selene glared back at him.
She wanted to ignore her uncle, but unfortunately, William was the owner of the building. If William had not been there, it might have been much easier to buy the penthouse.
Taking a deep breath to keep her anger down, Selene stated, "I am here to buy Mom's penthouse."
William blinked. Slowly. Like a cow attempting algebra. Then.. he laughed. A sound so loud that everyone in the lobby glanced their way.
Some recognized Selene and snickered.
William wiped a fake tear, "Oh, dear. That's adorable."
Selene's fingers twitched. If she stayed another second, she was going to commit a felony in a building with excellent security cameras.
She turned and marched to the reception desk, pulling out her phone.
Beep!
Transaction complete.
One Billion Dollars have been deducted!
Ding!
[100 Star Coins Received!]
William froze. Then, his entire face changed.
He immediately rushed to the counter and barked at the receptionist, "Check that payment! No way it—"
The receptionist wiped the sweat off his brow, "It-it's legit, sir."
Selene smiled. Sweetly. Dangerously.
"Can we start the paperwork now?" she asked.
William's jaw clenched. His face went through rage, panic, confusion, more rage, and then, a delusional calm. Ever so casually, he folded his hands and scoffed.
"You can't fool me. This money must be stolen. No one but your father can give you this much amount—and I know he would not. You're not getting anything here before his approval."
Selene frowned. "Wait—"
"Get lost. The money will stay here," William said with a smirk. "And I will have the entire situation investigated. Either way, forget getting anything in this place as long as I am alive."
Selene was at a loss for words.
Why was her uncle being so mean? She was never close to her extended family—but she never had any conflict with them either. Was this all because of her mother? But then—
She quickly pushed those thoughts away.
And smiled innocently.
"You see, uncle. The money is not mine. I have met a secret billionaire—someone who can even buy Sinclair Group. This person wanted the penthouse here… but now that you have refused, well… good luck."
William's smile faded.
Someone even richer than the Sinclairs? In Atlantis? That shouldn't be possible.
But he had also seen the transaction happen. It was real… and there was no other way Selene would ever get so much money.
His heart sank.
Selene calmly walked out of the building, even though she was burning up with anger. Why was that old bastard holding grudges against a teenager?
Selene was still nineteen!
And the last time she had properly met her uncle was when she was a kid.
"They are all just stupid," she grumbled under her breath.
But as she remembered the look on William's face, Selene couldn't help but smile.
There were only three things the rich feared. Tax audits. Their children embarrassing them at charity galas. And, even richer people.
And Selene was about to show everyone what rich meant.
The moment she stepped outside the building, Selene asked grimly. "System, how much to buy the entire city?"
Her words cut through the buzz of the street. Sharp. Stern. Impossible to ignore.
Some pedestrians turned to stare.
Some slowed down.
All of them wondering why the woman in soiled clothes was speaking to herself, asking about absurd things.
Selene paid them no mind.
The scent of coffee clung to her worn-out shirt. A bitter reminder of the humiliation just moments ago. She could still feel the cold disgust in William Sinclair's eyes as he turned her away like she was some street beggar trying to barter with pennies.
Her uncle. Her own flesh and blood.
Treating her like an OUTSIDER!!
The word burned like acid in her veins.
Selene had been raised in that family. Groomed, trained, and prepared to take over empires. But the moment her stepmother had whispered her venom into her father's ear, Selene had been thrown away like trash.
The Sinclairs had cast her out, yet still controlled where she lived, where she worked, and what doors she could walk through.
Not anymore.
'If they won't let me in through the front door… I'll just buy the whole damn building.' Selene swore silently.
She did not believe her own thoughts, but the frustration and anger that had built up over so many years was almost suffocating. The system took a moment to respond. Then, with infuriating precision, it answered:
Ding!
[Purchasing 100% of Atlantis City requires approximately Three Trillion Dollars. Estimated time to acquire this much wealth is currently undefined.
[Warning: Such a purchase will have 78% probability of triggering federal panic and/or government-sanctioned assassins!]
Selene's expression faltered.
What the hell?
Then, she raised a suspicious brow.
"Wouldn't spending a hundred dollars also trigger some investigation?"
The system denied this through a simple statement.
[Both scenarios are different.]
Her lips curved into a small frown as she thought.
'William would not sell me the company no matter what… if I can't buy the city then I need to play my pieces right. But how will I get the time to buy everything in such a short time?'
As if on cue, the system responded.
[Instant Transactions can be arranged. Just finalize your purchase, and the System will complete the transaction!]
Selene paused, "There is paperwork for big purchases, you know."
[They can be overridden.]
Came the monotonous response.
Selene squinted at the glowing golden screen. Was the system going to brainwash people, hack into their database, spike their drinks, or something else?
"I don't understand what you will do…" Selene murmured.
[Methods are classified.]
Selene sighed. "Of course. God forbid I know how my own superpower works."
"Fine. What's the maximum amount of property I can buy without the FBI crash-landing on my head?"
[Approximately 40% of the city's high-end properties, including the business partners of Sinclair Group. Finalizing the purchase can take up to six hours.]
[Probability of immediate god-complex: 93%.]
Selene's lips curled into a slow, wicked smile.
"Then let's start there."
The Hamilton Group. Once a titan of real estate. Now a half-sunk ship held together with duct tape and unpaid mounting loans.
The Sinclairs had been throwing money at them for years, treating Hamilton like some family pet they didn't have the heart to put down. But thanks to one greedy, brain-dead chairman who thought gambling millions on 'Crypto Cows' was a good idea, Hamilton was barely breathing.
And thanks to William Sinclair's brilliant diplomacy—aka, offending the Hamilton heir at a charity gala—the family alliance was one spilled coffee away from shattering.
If Hamilton collapsed, Sinclair Group would lose billions.
So when Selene came knocking—not as the fallen Sinclair heiress but draped in a white designer dress and elegant jewels—no one dared to point a finger at her.
As she stepped through the lobby, gasps and whispers exploded like popcorn.
"Has Selene been taken back into the family?"
"No way! This must be a relative! Some cousin!"
"Shhh! Don't gossip! The Sinclairs can get us fired!"
Selene ignored them. She had bigger things to do. Like buying out half their sorry souls.
She gently rapped on the CEO's office, three crisp knocks, and entered without waiting. Reynold Hamilton was there, surrounded by the heavy scent of cigars and expensive perfumes.
The gathered executives—all men in their 50s and 60s, with decades of real estate dominance under their belts—paused mid-conversation.
And Reynold? The handsome heir of the company? Seeing a member of the Sinclair family instantly made his expression turn cold. The air around the room suddenly turned dark and hostile.
Selene's heart skipped a beat. Everyone of them was staring at her.
Her legs felt cold in an instant. For a split second, her brain screamed: RUN!
Ding!
[Charisma Buff Has Been Activated!]
[Confidence is oozing out of you like sunshine! All eyes are on you! Every word you speak will sound like a decree from the gods of finance themselves!]
[Bonus Effect: A thirty percent chance to make them sweat before they even know why!]
Selene stared at the hologram before her in disbelief. Was this for real?
Another message popped up.
[Buff timer: Thirty seconds.]
"Perfect…" Selene mumbled.
The nervousness had already flown from her heart. A confident warmth suddenly filled her mind, leaving Selene more wary than confident.
But time was running out.
"Greetings," Selene smiled as she took a chair. No one stopped her. No one questioned. She crossed her legs and continued. "I'm here to make an offer you can't refuse."
The executives exchanged confused glances.
One of them even reached for the security calling button.
"I am here to buy a stake in the Hamilton Group. Forty percent."
Reynold narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "I was not aware the Sinclairs were interested in investing further in our group."
Selene simply smiled.
Not confirming. Nor denying. Just letting them think whatever suited them best. She tiled her head ever so slightly, "I'm offering fifteen billion. You have ten seconds to decide." Selene added in a calm voice.
Her gaze slowly and confidently brushed over everyone present in the room.
No one could respond for a moment.
Ten seconds.
Fifteen billion.
One woman none of them would ever trust.
If the deal went through, Selene would become the strongest person in the company. Moreover, fifteen billion dollars was a huge amount. The group had rarely received investments that high.
Everyone grew tense within moments.
Reynold asked with a raised brow, his words cold and dark, "And if we refuse?"
"Well," Selene laughed, "If I can offer 15 billion dollars, then I can surely buy your competitors. Your debtors. I have already bought some of them. And soon, this company will be mine anyway. But by then, you won't get this sweet price."
The room went utterly silent.
"One way or another," Selene added sweetly, leaning forward as she met Reynold's firm gaze with a playful glint in her eyes.
"...I will own you."
The room sucked in a collective gasp.
Was Selene bluffing?
Absolutely.
She might lose everything the next morning.
She could not simply spend one hundred billion dollars with a tap of her finger. There were unspoken rules—expensive things were never so easy to get.
And despite the system reducing the time significantly, Selene was not sure how else she would be able to buy other things.
But she had to give this her all.
And just like that… the time was over.
Selene dropped her smile and, with a cold, uncaring look, got up. Until—
"WAIT!" One of the executives shouted.
Selene paused.
The board members looked at each other. Then at Reynold. The CEO said nothing. But one by one, the board members and executives began clearing their throats.
"Well… if I'm to be honest, this will be great for our company."
"We will be able to expand our reach beyond Euronova. That's what we have been planning for years, haven't we?"
"Our value is only ten billion, so this offer is far too tempting…"
Like dominoes, the once-proud executives folded.
And at that moment, as the murmurs and doubtful words spread across the office, Reynold had a terrifying realization.
He had already lost.
Ding!
[Time over! Charisma Buff Deactivated!]
Ding!
Transaction Complete!
Fifteen Billion Dollars has been deducted!
'Ding! One hundred and fifty Star Coins received!'
With one transaction, Selene seized control of: Eighth Avenue—the most prestigious commercial street in the city. Dozens of luxury penthouses, including the entire Crystal Avenue. Key commercial properties tied closely to Sinclair assets.
And the best part?
The Sinclairs couldn't do jack shit about it.
Selene now owned half the ground they walked on!
Ding!
[Quest Progress: Sixteen Percent Complete]
[Time Remaining: Five Hours]
Raynold's expression soured as he saw Selene sign the last document. All this time, he had been silent. Watching. Wondering.
'Just what are the Sinclairs planning?'
'First, William invited me to a freaky party and now…now this…'
Selene Sinclair has successfully become the largest shareholder of Hamilton Group. The silence around the office was so sharp it could cut glass.
Feeling the burning gaze on herself, Selene glanced up to see Reynold glaring. Was that anger? Annoyance? She was not sure. She could not care less.
Ding!
[Side Quest Available]
[Slam the vintage cigar from Reynold's desk to assert dominance!]