Taking the Heart of the Ocean from the velvet display case, I gently fastened it around Seraphina’s neck. As my fingers brushed against her delicate skin, her breath hitched, and her heart rate spiked wildly.
A familiar chime echoed in my mind.
[System Notification: Target Seraphina Lin’s Affection has increased significantly!]
[Current Affection: 75/100 (Unshakable Devotion)]
[Status Update: Intimate interactions unlocked! Host can hold, hug, or kiss the target without resistance.]
[Note: Reaching 100/100 Affection will advance the relationship to the ultimate level and unlock a massive special reward!]
I smiled softly, reaching down to take Seraphina’s hand, lacing my fingers through hers. First, because holding my first love felt incredible; second, because I knew watching this would make Jason Grant completely lose his mind.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the auctioneer announced, gesturing to a framed artwork under the spotlight. "Our second item tonight is a rare, high-grade replica of Master Shi’s famous artwork from the Qin Dynasty!"
I activated my newly acquired [Eyes of Insight] and scanned the canvas.
[Item Analysis: Master Shi’s Qin Dynasty Painting]
[Hidden Feature: Double-Layered Canvas! Underneath the superficial replica lies Master Shi’s true final masterpiece, complete with his personal seal and written farewell letter.]
[Estimated Market Value: Priceless. Minimum Valuation: 3,500,000,000 Stardollars.]
3.5 billion for a hidden layer? A calm smirk spread across my face.
"Starting bid: 5 million Stardollars!" the auctioneer called out.
Holding Seraphina’s hand with my left, I lazily raised my right paddle. "10 million."
Silence fell over the room. No one else raised a paddle, muttering among themselves that paying 10 million for a simple replica was pure insanity.
From three rows back, Jason Grant scoffed loudly. "Only a brainless fool would waste ten million on a fake!"
I ignored him entirely. As the auctioneer slammed his gavel three times, declaring the piece sold to me, I stood up and raised my hand. "Excuse me. May I borrow a thin scalpel?"
The stage manager hurried over, handing me a sharp, surgical-grade blade.
Stepping onto the stage under the blinding spotlights, I carefully sliced along the subtle seam of the outer frame, peeling back the superficial replica layer. Beneath it lay an exquisite, ancient silk painting radiating timeless mastery, complete with Master Shi’s undeniable crimson seal.
Gasps exploded across the entire auction hall!
"Is that... Master Shi’s lost final work?!"
"A national treasure! It’s worth billions!"
"He just turned 10 million into a literal empire’s fortune in ten seconds!"
Rolling up the priceless masterpiece, I walked back down the stage, catching Jason’s pale, wide-eyed face as I passed his row.
"If Young Master Grant can’t even identify a multi-billion Stardollar national treasure," I said smoothly, my voice carrying over the crowd, "I truly worry for the future of Grant Holdings."
Jason’s jaw trembled, his face flushing a furious, dangerous red as he teetered on the edge of a total breakdown.
"Moving on to our third item!" the auctioneer announced, unveiling a shimmering ceramic piece. "An exquisite Blue Porcelain Vase! Starting bid: 50 million Stardollars!"
I glanced at the vase through my [Eyes of Insight].
[Item Analysis: Blue Porcelain Vase]
[Status: Modern Underground Counterfeit. Crafted with low-grade clay and artificial glaze.]
[Real Value: 90,000 Stardollars.]
I then turned my gaze back toward Jason, scanning his real-time status.
[Target Analysis: Jason Grant]
[Current Liquid Allowance: 150,000,000 Stardollars.]
[Active Action: Applying for an instant high-interest online corporate credit loan of 50,000,000 Stardollars.]
[Total Bidding Budget: 200,000,000 Stardollars.]
[Target Intent: Desperate to outbid Host on the next item to save face at all costs.]
Perfect. He took the bait.
"65 million," I called out, giving Jason a deliberate, knowing smirk.
Misinterpreting my smile as confidence in another hidden treasure, Jason raised his paddle immediately. "80 million!"
"100 million," I countered instantly. "Don’t chicken out now, Young Master Grant."
"110 million!" Jason shouted, sweat glistening on his forehead.
"It looks like Grant Holdings is running out of pocket change," I mocked lightly, raising my paddle again. "150 million Stardollars."
Jason’s eyes turned completely bloodshot. Gritting his teeth so hard they nearly shattered, he slammed his paddle into the air. "200 million Stardollars!"
The room went dead quiet.
I slowly placed my paddle down on the table, leaning back against the plush velvet sofa. "All yours. I withdraw."
Jason burst into triumphant, hysterical laughter. "Hahaha! What happened, Vance?! Did your bank account run dry?!" He scrambled over to the payment counter, eagerly swiping his card to process the 200 million transfer.
Once the green approval light chimed, I let out a light chuckle. "Young Master Grant, before you celebrate... why don’t you ask the auction experts to inspect the bottom of that vase?"
The auction house manager stepped forward, frowning. "Sir, you cannot make baseless accusations against our catalog without proof—"
"Scratch the glaze off the inner rim," I interrupted calmly. "You’ll find the maker’s mark of a local modern workshop."
Frantic and pale, Jason grabbed a key and scraped the glaze off the bottom of the vase. Underneath the blue coat, a modern factory stamp emerged clearly under the spotlights.
200 million Stardollars—150 million of which were company operational funds, and 50 million from a high-interest loan—wasted on a 90,000-Stardollar piece of plastic and cheap clay.
Jason’s legs gave out. He collapsed onto the carpet in utter despair, staring at the ruined vase in disbelief.
I stood up, adjusting my designer suit jacket as I looked down at him with cold indifference.
"This is your proper place, Jason. So stop barking like a street dog, and learn to stay down like the lapdog you are."
"You... just you wait, Julian Vance!" Jason screamed, his voice breaking as tears of rage streaked down his face. "I’ll destroy you for this!"
Unable to bear the mocking stares of Metro City’s elite any longer, he scrambled off the floor and ran out of the auction hall in complete shame.
As Seraphina and I turned to leave, a group of high-society business tycoons immediately stepped forward to block our path, eager to build connections with Metro City’s newest, most terrifying young billionaire.
A sharp, middle-aged man in a tailored charcoal suit extended his hand respectfully. "Hello, Mr. Vance. I am Jin Stone, Chairman of the Galaxy Group."
"Nice to meet you, Chairman Stone," I replied, shaking his hand smoothly.
Another distinguished man stepped up, smiling warmly. "Mr. Vance, I am Sam Carter, Chairman of Carter Holdings."
"Ah, the primary rival of Grant Holdings," I noted with a raised eyebrow.
"Indeed," Chairman Carter chuckled. "Which is precisely why I would love to invite you to a private dinner to discuss an extremely lucrative business proposition."
I looked at Seraphina, who gave me a gentle, approving nod. "Lead the way, Chairman Carter. We’ll follow behind in my car."
Twenty minutes later, our chauffeur pulled up to the luxurious VIP entrance of the Carter Grand Hotel. We were escorted into a private v.i.p room , where top-tier wine and prime cuts of steak were served.
"Chairman Carter," I said, cutting straight to the point as I sliced my steak. "Let’s skip the small talk. In business, sweet words fade quickly, but direct truth builds lasting profit. What’s on your mind?"
Chairman Carter laughed heartily, slapping his knee. "Refreshing! You truly are an exceptional young man, Mr. Vance."
Leaning forward, his expression turned serious. "In two weeks, Metro City is hosting the official 10-Year Municipal Land Auction. Securing those development plots will yield astronomical returns over the next decade. However, Carter Holdings is currently facing a short-term cash flow crunch. I need an investor with massive liquid capital."
He gestured to a leather folder on the table. "If you provide the capital, I will give you a 30% equity stake in Carter Holdings. That will instantly make you our second-largest shareholder."
"30% of your personal shares?" I asked, eyeing him smartly. "Because with your wife’s 1% and your daughter Clara’s 5%, your family retains 51% control, keeping the minority shareholders in check."
Chairman Carter’s eyes sparkled with deep admiration. "Exactly. You see right through the numbers."
"Send the contract and a POS terminal straight to the Presidential Suite at the Skyland Hotel," I replied effortlessly. "I’ll sign it and transfer the 1.2 billion Stardollars on the spot."
Late that night, as my Aurelius Z3 glided through the glowing streets of Metro City, a tired Seraphina drifted off to sleep, her soft head coming to rest gently on my shoulder.
[System Notification: Host has thoroughly humiliated Jason Grant!]
[Quest Progress: 50% Complete!]
[Final Requirement: Drive Grant Holdings into total bankruptcy to unlock the Special Reward!]
A confident smirk played on my lips as I pulled into the Skyland Hotel’s underground garage.
Carefully scooping Seraphina up into my arms, I carried her into the private VIP elevator and up to the Presidential Suite.
System, what is my current total liquid balance? I queried silently as the elevator ascended.
[System Response: Host Current Liquid Balance: 1,683,000,000 Stardollars.]
[Combined Total Net Worth (Including Master Shi’s Masterpiece): 5,183,000,000 Stardollars!]
Stepping into her room, I placed Seraphina gently onto her king-sized bed, pulling the plush duvet over her shoulders. I leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.
"Goodnight, love," I whispered softly.
Walking back into my own master bedroom, a new series of bright blue System alerts flashed before my eyes.
I chuckled softly, laying down on the soft mattress. "I’ll handle the system updates tomorrow."
Closing my eyes, I fell off to sleep, ready to see what new surprise system will bring me in future