The days leading up to the lottery drawing were agonizing. Kian felt a constant pressure building in his chest, a sense of anticipation mixed with a debilitating fear of failure. He kept replaying the winning numbers in his mind, hoping that he had remembered them correctly, hoping that his gamble would pay off.
He spent his time at school, at the library, and even at home trying to stay occupied, trying to distract himself, but the lottery was always on his mind. He was consumed by the possibility of winning, of rescuing his sister from the debt that threatened to engulf them.
Finally, the day of the drawing arrived. Kian, his heart pounding, stood in front of the television, a small hope flickering in his heart. He watched the numbers being revealed, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and anticipation.
"And the winning numbers are..." the lottery host announced, her voice filled with excitement. "17...15..28...42..69..25.. and the Powerball number is... 1!"
Kian's breath caught in his throat. He looked down at the lottery ticket clutched in his hand. He had chosen wisely. He had won.
His heart skipped a beat. His mind reeled. He couldn't believe it. He had actually won. He had won a billion dollars.
Kian watched as Cassiopeia, oblivious to his sudden elation, sat at the kitchen table, reviewing their finances, a look of despair etched on her face.
He took a deep breath. He had to be careful. He couldn't let her know about the lottery. He had to protect her from the potential devastation if his plan failed.
He walked into the kitchen, trying to appear casual.
"Hey, Cass," he said, trying to sound as normal as possible. "You alright?"
Cassiopeia looked up, a small smile on her face. "I'm trying," she said. "It's just… a lot to think about."
"I know," Kian said.
He looked at her, his heart filled with a mixture of joy and sorrow. He wished he could tell her everything, share his good fortune. But he knew he had to keep his secret, at least for now.
Kian collected the lottery ticket from its hiding place. He had to cash it in. He had to take care of it. He had to save it, protect it, and then he would use it to save his sister.
He went to the bank, his hands trembling slightly as he walked up to the teller.
"Good morning," the bank cashier said with a smile. "What can I do for you today?"
"I'd like to deposit a check," Kian said, handing her the ticket. His heart pounded with a mix of excitement and nervousness.
The cashier took the ticket, her eyes widening in surprise. "Wow, that's a big one," she said. "Congratulations!"
Kian forced a smile. "Thanks," he said. "I'm just trying to take care of some things."
As the cashier processed the check, Kian's mind raced. He knew he had to be careful. He couldn't let anyone know about the money, not yet. He had to wait for the five months to pass, before he could use the money to pay off their debt.
After leaving the bank, Kian turned on the television. The news was reporting on the recent discovery of a rare and unknown gem, a gem known as the "Celestial Diamond."
"This gemstone is said to be a new discovery , and it is expected to fetch a record-breaking price at auction," the newscaster reported, her voice full of excitement. "The gem will be auctioned off at The Dragon Palace, a renowned auction house known for its handling of rare and valuable artifacts."
Kian's mind raced. He remembered that this gem was mentioned in the novel, "The Villainess's Blessing," a source of power for the main villain. He had to know more about it. He had to understand how it could affect his life and Cassiopeia's life.
He couldn't go to the auction directly. He was just a kid, a teenager. He had to find a way to access the information discreetly. He had to find a way to explore the shadowy corners of the internet.
He had to find the "DARKNET.com"
Kian's fingers flew across the keyboard, his mind racing as he scrolled through the endless stream of information on the "DARKNET." He needed to find a specific person, someone who was secretly investigating the Celestial Diamond and the cave where it was discovered. Someone who was a key ally to the protagonist of the novel, "The Villainess's Blessing." Someone who could help him navigate this dangerous world.
He remembered the name from his notes: Zianna Nicole Kriezly.
He searched the web, his heart pounding with anticipation. He couldn't find anything about her. He searched for anything related to the Celestial Diamond, to the caves where it was discovered, to the Obsidian Gallery, the place where it was going to be auctioned.
He stumbled upon a forum, a forum for people who gambled, people who bet on the outcome of events like this auction. He read through the posts, searching for clues, for any mention of the name he had been searching for.
Finally, he found it.
Someone was asking for information about the Celestial Diamond. He read through the responses, his heart sinking as he realized that someone had already asked about it.
He scanned the usernames, hoping to find Zianna Nicole Kriezly, but he didn't see her name. He kept reading, his mind racing as he realized that the person asking the question was someone called "The Oracle." He knew that name, the name of a powerful ally of the protagonist in the novel. He was in the right place.
He scrolled down, his eyes searching for any sign of Zianna Nicole Kriezly. And there, at the bottom of the page, he saw it. Her email address.
Zianna.Nicole.Kriezly@ELESIS.com
He clicked on the email address. He was curious. He knew she was involved in the business of finances, of gambling, of high-stakes betting. He needed her. He needed her help.
He took a deep breath. He had to contact her. He had to try to gain her trust. He had to convince her to help him.
He typed an email, his fingers trembling slightly.
[How much is the Mt. Nigo?]
He sent the email, his heart pounding with anticipation.
He waited. A few minutes later, he received a response.
[What?]
It was a short, curt message, but it was a response. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. He had to play it cool.
He typed another email.
[Did the stone came from the caves of Mt. Nigo?]
He sent the email, his heart pounding.
He waited. A few minutes later, he received a response.
[Yes.]
It was a short, simple answer, but it was all he needed. He had her attention. He had to keep going.
He read through the forum posts again. The discussion was heated. Everyone was betting on the stone's value increasing. But he saw a post from Zianna Nicole Kriezly. She hadn't placed her bet yet. She was waiting.
He had to act fast. He had to make his move.
He typed another email, his heart pounding in his chest.
[The Celestial Diamond will crash. The value will plummet to zero.]
He hit send, and his heart pounded in his chest. He had taken a gamble. He was now playing a dangerous game. He had to win.
Kian waited, his fingers hovering over the keyboard, anticipating Zianna's response. It was a bold move, a risky bet against the crowd, but he had a hunch. He had to convince her.
A few moments later, a reply popped up on his screen.
[Not convinced.]
Kian took a deep breath. He had to play his cards right. He had to convince her, not just with his hunch but with a plan.
He typed another email.
[I know it sounds crazy, but I'm willing to bet you. I'll place a bet that the Celestial Diamond's value will be halved on the first week of April.]
He sent the email and waited, anticipation gnawing at his stomach. He knew this was a risky move, a gamble that could easily backfire, but he had to try. He had to convince her, had to get her on his side, had to make her see his vision.
He watched the screen, waiting for her response. He hoped she would see his plan. He hoped she would believe in his vision.
His mind raced, anticipating her response. He had to come up with a plan. He had to convince her. He had to win her over to his side.