"Show me the rewards..."
Before the System could respond, Clara turned to me in the passenger seat, setting her seatbelt. "Shall we head back, Julian?"
"Right," I smiled, dismissing the floating System interface for the moment. Whatever rewards I had unlocked from the confession and crossing the $500 billion threshold could wait until I got back home.
I started the engine and drove out onto the highway. As we approached the city outskirts, I noticed a subtle shift in Clara’s demeanor. Her bright, joyous expression slowly gave way to a quiet, tense shadow across her brow.
I glanced over at her softly. "Is something wrong, darling? You look a bit tense."
Clara blinked, looking out the window for a second before turning to me with a faint smile. "Nothing, Julian... everything is fine."
"Are you sure?" I pressed gently.
"I’m sure," she murmured, though the anxious tightness in her posture remained.
Half an hour later, we pulled into the gates of Grandview Villa No. 1.
"Let’s go inside, love," I said, putting the car in park. "Sera must be waiting for us."
Clara shook her head quickly, her hands gripping her purse tightly. "No, Julian... I think I’ll head home instead. I’m feeling a bit tired, so I’ll see you later."
Leaning across the console, I gently cupped her cheek and kissed her lips softly. She kissed me back, lingering for a second.
"I love you, Clara," I whispered.
A gentle, beautiful smile finally broke through her guarded demeanor—the only completely genuine, radiant smile she had shown since we entered the city limits. "I love you too, Julian."
"Don’t bother taking a taxi," I added, stepping out of the Pegasus Wing 3 and leaving the door open for her. "Take my car home."
She gave me a grateful nod, sliding into the driver’s seat. I stood in the driveway, waving at her as the hypercar glided out of the courtyard.
Stepping inside the grand foyer, I was met by the head house butler.
"Welcome back, Mr. Vance," he bowed respectfully. "Miss Seraphina and Mr. Lin have gone to the private clinic for his routine checkup. They should be returning shortly."
"Understood," I nodded, heading upstairs to the master suite.
Closing the door behind me, I called up the System interface to review the notifications from earlier.
[System Status Overview]
Host Name: Julian Vance
Charm: 60/100
Physique: 60/100
Skills: Eyes of Insight | World-Class Business Mind | Grandmaster Combat Skill | Grandmaster Driving & Racing Skill
Primary Assets: 100% Equity in Cosmos Group (Injected with $70B Capital) | Grandview Villa No. 1 | 10 Prime Commercial Storefronts (Grand Galleria Mall) | Fleet of 7 Luxury Vehicles
Liquid Cash: $353.12 Billion Star Dollars
Total Net Assets: $510.12 Billion Star Dollars
Indulgence Points Balance: 80,000 Points
[Confidante Status]
Seraphina Lin: Confidante (100% Complete Devotion)
Clara Carter: Confidante (100% Complete Devotion)
Scanning the screen, I noticed my Indulgence Points had jumped to 80,000. A System prompt flickered at the bottom:
[System Note: Host can upgrade the core System upon reaching 100,000 Indulgence Points!]
An upgrade feature? I thought, intrigued. I’ll have to reach 100,000 points soon to see what unlocks.
Next, I opened the detailed breakdown of the milestone rewards I had received.
[Reward Details: Elite Security Unit (100% Loyal)]
[World-class operatives capable of neutralizing country-level threats without host intervention. They continuously protect Host, Seraphina, Clara, and all host-owned properties from the shadows.]
Hold on, I questioned internally. What happens if my family or properties expand? Will this unit run out of operatives?
[System Response: Host need not worry. This organization was directly generated by the System. As your influence and family expand, the unit will automatically scale its forces to match your needs.]
Satisfied, I looked at the second reward—the milestone unlocked for crossing $500 Billion in net assets.
[Reward Details: Host has granted classified Noble Lineage Status.]
[Currently classified, but in high-society hierarchy, Host holds an untouchable tier. As Host’s prestige grows, this status will grant absolute legal protection, including the legal right to form a multi-wife noble household.]
"Noble Lineage Status?" I murmured aloud. "System, what exactly does this entail?"
[System Response: It is not yet time for Host to fully unlock the details. You will learn more when your standing in the world ascends further.]
"I don’t completely get the full picture yet," I chuckled softly, "but if it means I can give both Seraphina and Clara official, legal status as my wives without societal backlash, I couldn’t ask for more."
Recalling the security unit, I checked the manual. "How do I command these shadow operatives?"
[System Response: Host simply needs to utter the command: ’Come out.’]
Looking around the quiet bedroom, I spoke clearly. "Come out."
In the blink of an eye, the shadows near the corner balcony seemed to shift, and four tall, impeccably dressed operatives materialized, dropping silently to one knee before me.
"How did you do that?" I asked, mildly impressed by their stealth.
"Master, we have been present since your command was registered," the leader replied in a calm, disciplined voice. "We exist solely to serve and safeguard you."
"Is the unit protecting Clara and Seraphina right now? Is everything safe?"
"Yes, Master," the operative reported instantly. "Miss Clara has just entered her private residence safely. Miss Seraphina is currently in her vehicle, returning to Grandview Villa from the hospital."
"How do you know that so precisely?"
"We are interconnected through a real-time tactical link, Master," he explained. "We share all intelligence across the entire unit instantly."
"Good. Fade back into the shadows."
Without a sound, the four operatives melted back into the dark corners of the room as if they had never existed.
Heading into the adjoining bathroom, I took a hot, steaming shower.
As the water washed over my shoulders, my thoughts drifted back to Clara. I couldn’t get her anxious, heavy expression out of my head. Was she regretting what happened between us?
But then, her tender, sincere smile flashed across my memory when she told me "I love you too." That look was full of genuine affection and relief. It wasn’t regret.
If it isn’t regret, and it isn’t business—since I just transferred $70 billion into Cosmos Group—what on earth is weighing on her mind?
Turning off the shower, I dried off and wrapped a towel around my waist. Just as I stepped back into the bedroom, the suite door opened, and Seraphina walked in.
Seeing me, her eyes lit up. She walked straight over, wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me into a deep, lingering kiss.
When she finally pulled back, she noticed my lingering frown. "What’s wrong, honey? Why do you look so serious?"
I sighed, pulling her against my chest. "Sera... I’m really confused. Something is bothering Clara, but I have no idea what it is."
Seraphina blinked. "What do you mean? Did the trip or the confession go wrong?"
"No, not at all! Everything was perfect. We spent the night together, and she accepted my feelings," I explained, running a hand through my damp hair. "But when we pulled up to the villa today, I asked her to come inside and spend time with us. She hesitated, looked really anxious, refused, and drove straight home."
To my surprise, Seraphina didn’t look worried at all. Instead, a knowing, gentle smile spread across her face. "Ah... I see. I know exactly what the problem is."
I looked at her, stunned. "You do? Tell me! What’s bothering her so I can fix it?"
Seraphina let out a soft, amused laugh, resting her hands against my chest. "Julian, this isn’t something you can fix with your money or your business mind. This is something only a woman can understand."
"Then tell me what I can do to help," I insisted.
"There’s nothing for you to do, darling," she said, tapping my nose playfully. "I told you, don’t worry about it. I’ll handle it myself."
"I’m coming with you," I said, reaching for my shirt.
Seraphina held up a hand, stopping me with an affectionate, firm glare. "No, darling. You are not going anywhere until you fulfill what you promised earlier."
I paused, confused. "What did I promise?"
"You promised my father that you would arrange a private medical team for him, remember?" she teased softly. "Go find a top-tier private doctor and nursing team for Dad, while I go handle Clara’s little crisis."
"Sera, wait! At least give me a hint about what you two are going to talk about!" I called out.
Waving her hand playfully over her shoulder without looking back, she picked up her handbag and the car keys. "Take care, love! I’ll be back after I sort everything out with Clara. Oh, and my father is resting downstairs—tell the staff to check on him if he needs anything!"
Before I could ask another question, the bedroom door clicked shut, leaving me standing alone in the quiet master suite—completely baffled as to what female secret Seraphina knew that I had entirely missed.