Lucien retired to his bed, and the schedule for the following days remained almost unchanged, with the only difference being his varying exams.
Upon finally concluding his exams, Lucien was genuinely surprised not to have encountered his tormentors even once. This left him somewhat bewildered. With another week to go before receiving his results, he adhered to his daily routine and began scouring the internet for potential job opportunities.
He identified several companies that met his criteria and appeared quite promising. However, his concerns were far from allayed. The conspicuous absence of any retaliation from Francis and his cohorts weighed heavily on his mind. He couldn't shake the feeling that Francis, being the person he was, wouldn't let him go unpunished.
"It's not as though I lack the means to counter them and ruin their lives," he thought to himself, "but at the moment, I lack the strength to defend myself effectively. In the end, I'd be the one to suffer more, and that's not a price I'm willing to pay. That's why I've always focused on gathering evidence and preparing for the day I can exact my revenge. But before that, I must ensure I have the means to protect myself."
With these thoughts swirling through his mind, he shifted his focus to his upcoming exam results. Tomorrow, he would finally receive them. He was reasonably confident that he had performed exceptionally well in chemistry and marketing management, but he remained uncertain about his performance in the other subjects. Two days after receiving the results, the graduation ceremony was scheduled, adding another layer of concern.
Graduation, in particular, was a source of anxiety for Lucien. He fervently hoped he had retained his top ranking in the school. If he were indeed still at the pinnacle, he could traverse the campus without fear of reprisal. It would be utterly absurd for anyone to attempt anything against him under such circumstances.
After a quick visit to the bathroom to freshen up, Lucien returned to bed. Although he was feeling somewhat nervous, his worries gradually dissipated as he drifted into a deep slumber.
Lucien awoke, rubbed his eyes, and then leaped out of bed in a hurry to grab his phone. He scrolled through his notifications, eagerly searching for a specific message, and soon found what he was seeking—two messages from the school.
Congratulations, Lucien!
• Marketing Management: 100
• Chemistry: 100
• Physics: 100
• Financial Accounting: 92
• Biological Lab Practical: 88
• Statistics and Data Analysis: 90
• International Business Essay: 94
Warmest Congratulations,
Alderbrook University
Lucien, your exceptional grades throughout your time at our university have made you the top-ranked student. We're impressed with your achievements and would like you to speak at the upcoming graduation ceremony to motivate your fellow graduates.
Warmest Congratulations,
Alderbrook University
As he perused his results, he was momentarily stunned before his face broke into an ecstatic expression. "I've achieved a perfect score of a hundred in three of my final exams," he marveled. "Even I wouldn't have expected that. And the scores in my other subjects are impressively high as well."
Suddenly, a screen materialized before him:
[ Hidden mission triggered: Perfect score!
Achieve a perfect score on your final exam.
Reward:
300 Exp
100% Assets of the "NovaTech Labs"
Rewards have been multiplied by a factor of 3, as the host achieved a perfect score in 3 subjects. ]
[ Hidden mission triggered: Number One!
Take the number one spot in the school's ranking.
Reward:
100 Exp
Apartment "The Serene Haven" ]
"So, there are indeed hidden missions," Lucien mused aloud. He turned to the system and inquired, "When do these hidden missions become active?"
[ Hidden missions are triggered by specific requirements and extraordinary achievements. ]
Lucien chuckled at his own naïveté, realizing he shouldn't have expected straightforward answers for missions labeled as 'hidden.' Recalling his unique ability, he instructed the system directly. "Use the Ability Wheel of Fortune on the reward for the hidden mission [Perfect score!]."
The wheel appeared and he ordered it to spin. After a few seconds, it came to a stop at number 21:
[ Rewards:
100% Assets of the "Echelon Research Institute" ]
He repeated the process for the other hidden mission reward, and this time it landed on number 57:
[ Rewards:
Apartment "Imperial Suit Apartment" ]
As Lucien considered the rewards, an irrepressible smile formed on his face. Just the day before, he had been searching for job opportunities and had some familiarity with NovaTech Labs—a private laboratory valued at around $3 million. If NovaTech Labs was worth 3 million, then the Echelon Research Institute should be valued at roughly 63 million. Lucien couldn't help but gasp at the sheer magnitude of this institution's worth. His thoughts then turned to the two apartments, and he eagerly looked forward to what lay ahead.
Grabbing his phone, he initiated a search for the Serene Haven Apartment. It was situated within the Parkside Residences building—a renowned structure for its prime location, offering proximity to both school and parks. Many families aspired to live there due to its unparalleled convenience.
Through his search, Lucien discovered that the Serene Haven Apartment occupied the 15th floor and was valued at around $7.5 million. Given that Parkside Residences had 25 floors, securing an apartment on the 15th floor was a considerable achievement.
When he proceeded to investigate the Imperial Suit Apartment, he learned that it was the penthouse unit in the Platinum Pinnacle Estates building. The Platinum Pinnacle Estates was a towering skyscraper, soaring 150 floors high, and stood as the most prestigious estate building in all of Starcity. Living there was a dream cherished by many, and Lucien was about to make it a reality. Not only that, but he would reside in the most expensive apartment—the Imperial Suit.
The notion struck Lucien that he had, by virtue of his new apartment, catapulted himself to an entirely different echelon compared to Francis. Not only did he supposedly possess the financial means to acquire the most opulent apartment in the city, but he also had the elusive connections required to secure such a residence within the uppermost echelons of society. The system had apparently circumvented these requirements, and he reveled in the advantage it afforded him.
A sly grin played on Lucien's lips as an idea dawned on him. The school had extended an invitation for him to deliver a speech, presenting an ideal opportunity to unveil the evidence and videos he had amassed against Francis and his companions. Now that he had this apartment many would probably like to offer help in return for favors of such a powerful person in case my plan won't work.
"System, is the apartment mine now, or are there further formalities to complete?" Lucien inquired.
[ The purchase has already been finalized, and your signature has been officially recorded on the necessary documents. The Deed and Closing Disclosure will be dispatched to your apartment shortly. ]
Just then, a knock echoed at his door. Lucien opened it to find a man in a suit standing before him, who inquired, "Are you Mr. Wilson?"
"Yes, that's me," Lucien replied.
The man handed Lucien an envelope containing documents and requested his signature on a receipt to acknowledge the delivery. After Lucien's signature was affixed, the man departed.
Lucien carefully retrieved the documents from the envelope, noting that they included paperwork for both apartments and the two laboratories. He secured them away safely.
To execute his plan effectively, Lucien decided to purchase a laptop. Recognizing the importance of the task at hand, he spared no expense and opted for an Apple MacBook Air M2, renowned for its performance and quality.
Returning to his apartment, he retrieved a hard disk and embarked on the task of filtering through his files. Soon, he located a comprehensive file brimming with evidence of Francis and his associates' misconduct—harassment of female students, acts of assault, and bribery of teachers. While Francis occupied the central role in these transgressions, his henchmen were equally culpable.
Much of this evidence had been acquired through his adept hacking skills, a talent he had cultivated under the tutelage of his friend Kristian. Despite the adversity he had faced, Lucien hadn't been devoid of friendships, and Kristian was among his closest ones. Kristian was a computer whiz, while Lucien excelled in academics. Their friendship deepened after Kristian valiantly confronted Lucien's bullies during high school.
As they grew closer, Kristian introduced Lucien to internet cafes and gaming, often shouldering the expenses knowing Lucien's financial constraints. Occasionally, Kristian delved into website hacking, with Lucien observing, memorizing codes, and seeking explanations for their significance.
Lucien found hacking immensely captivating and embarked on a self-guided learning journey, aided by Kristian's guidance and the wealth of online resources. Soon, he surpassed Kristian in skill, and they even participated in a hacking competition together. Lucien secured second place nationally, although he suspected that many top-tier hackers had refrained from entering.
Regrettably, Kristian's parents relocated to their hometown, causing the two friends to drift apart due to the sheer distance. Nevertheless, they maintained sporadic contact and pledged to reunite upon achieving success.
Back in the present…
Lucien considered reaching out to Kristian but decided to do it at a later time. He meticulously sifted through the CCTV footage, and it didn't take long to identify compelling clips that would serve as a potent weapon against his bullies. He painstakingly assembled these videos into a seamless montage, enhancing them with additional context.
Lucien harbored no intention of presenting the video himself. Instead, he planned to dispatch it to enemies of Francis and his gang. Despite Francis's privileged background, Lucien was well aware of the enemies he had amassed due to his overbearing and lustful conduct. But just then came to a different conclusion, then even if he now had this apartment, no one except the Platinum Pinnacle Estates buildings staff knew that he was the new owner.
Francis's family may not have the liquid assets to buy the most expensive apartment but they were still within the upper echelons of Starcity, so he actually decided to postpone his plan. He didn't want to die, just because he didn't know his own strength well enough.
What gave him some comfort was that he found something really amusing using his CCTVStreamFilter program, to review the footage—an ingenious program of his own making—he actually stumbled upon a particularly intriguing clip. This program, akin to the technology used by law enforcement to identify and track criminals, also boasted additional functionalities.
He used the filtering option to search for specific words and soon found one clip, among the countless clips at his disposal, one wherein Francis engaged in a conversation with his physician. The doctor delivered the unexpected news that Francis was infertile, rendering his sperm utterly useless.
As Lucien contemplated this twist of fate, he couldn't help but burst into laughter, relishing the poetic justice that had occurred to Francis. He knew that this wasn't enough retribution for him, but he knew that for now, he could do nothing.