Martin was just about to leave for his morning jog when his phone rang, interrupting his usual routine.
The caller ID was unfamiliar, but without much hesitation, he answered as he made his way back to the couch, curious about who could be calling so early.
"Hello?" Martin said, his voice steady as he sat down.
After a brief moment of verification, the person on the other end spoke, their tone professional yet polite.
"Mr. Martin, congratulations. I'm calling from the legal acquisition department of Oceanview Suites, one of our premier hotel chains renowned for its coastal locations. I'd like to extend an invitation to discuss the transfer of shares and welcome you as our second major shareholder."
Martin's eyebrows rose slightly. He knew the system had granted him 10% of prime shares in Oceanview Suites, but he hadn't expected such prompt contact.
"Thank you for reaching out," he responded politely, mentally noting how efficiently these things were handled in the corporate world.
"Would you be available for a dinner appointment with our primary shareholder to discuss future collaboration?" the acquisition officer asked smoothly.
Martin paused, considering the offer for a moment, but then politely declined. "I'm afraid I won't be leaving the provincial capital anytime soon. Can we handle this through digital contracts instead?"
"Of course," the officer replied without missing a beat. "We can finalize the transfer of shares electronically. I'll make sure the necessary documents are sent to your business email as soon as possible."
As the conversation was about to end, the acquisition officer seemed to recall something important.
"Ah, before I forget, our largest shareholder would like to express their sincerity. Last year's financial dividend from the company's earnings will be transferred to your account by tonight as part of your shareholder benefits."
Martin thanked them again, and as the call ended, he realized his perspective had been far too narrow. His local bank account wouldn't suffice for keeping the money he earned from the system hidden.
He needed to think bigger—an international private bank, something that catered to powerful global elites, where no one could question the influx of his wealth as long as he stayed within reasonable limits.
The solution crystallized in his mind. He'd keep his local bank for the legal, aboveboard income—earnings from shares and dividends—but his new international account would serve as the vault for his mysterious system-generated fortune.
Setting aside the idea of his workout, Martin spent the next forty minutes fielding similar calls from the other nine companies he had shares in, feeling both elated and exhausted. After gulping down a glass of cold water, he chuckled to himself. He hadn't even had time to buy new cigarettes to scratch his lingering cravings.
His mind refocused. It was time to set things in motion. He opened his laptop and began the process of applying for an account with Morgan Private Bank, known for its discretion and connections to some of the most powerful families in the world.
Martin didn't bother being subtle—he filed all his assets, from his lakeside villa to his shares in ten different companies. Within moments, his profile was escalated to VIP status, and a notice confirmed that his account would be activated within three business days.
An email notification confirmed that a checkbook and a diamond credit card would be delivered to his villa via express mail.
"Three days," Martin murmured, smiling at the screen. "In three days, I can handle everything through my rebate."
With that settled, Martin turned his attention to the electronic contracts from Oceanview Suites. He reviewed them carefully, signed them, and shot a quick text to Lucia to confirm their dinner meeting at Opus Prime. After a brief call, they agreed it would be a strictly business-focused dinner, with both preparing their materials in advance.
Feeling the day stretch before him, Martin decided to call Sarah. Their session the night before had ended early for obvious reasons, and he wondered if her invitation to spend time was still open. When Sarah picked up, she sounded as enthusiastic as ever but mentioned she had class until 3:00 PM.
"Meet me at the law school campus around then," she suggested.
"Sounds good," Martin agreed, deciding they'd figure out the rest of the day after they met. With a sense of anticipation building, he began to prepare for the busy afternoon ahead.
---
Lucia Cross had just wrapped up her call with Martin, confirming the dinner appointment. Her heart was racing with a mix of excitement and nerves.
This dinner could be pivotal for her future, especially since she had found such a promising partner in Martin—someone with the same ambition and drive to build something from the ground up. She had never been more focused, more determined.
In her cluttered room, dozens of screens buzzed with lines of data and market analysis statistics, flashing insights into potential deals and opportunities.
Normally, they captivated her for hours, pulling her into the world of numbers and forecasts. But today, they couldn't hold her attention. Not now.
Wearing a baggy, long-sleeved panda sweatshirt, Lucia hopped up from her leather chair, an unusual burst of energy coursing through her. She skipped out of her room, a grin spreading across her face.
For once, her mind wasn't focused on data points—it was on the upcoming dinner and the possibilities that lay ahead.
In the hallway, Mrs. Cross, her mother, was caught off guard as she saw her daughter emerge. She raised her eyebrows, surprised to see Lucia outside her room so early in the day. It wasn't anywhere near lunchtime, and her daughter's habit of staying locked away in her makeshift command center had become routine.
A silver tray of breakfast dishes balanced delicately in her hands.
"Well, well," Mrs. Cross said with a bemused expression.
"What has motivated you to come out of your cave so early?" She studied Lucia, waiting for the explanation.
Lucia didn't hide anything. In fact, she was smug about it, her excitement bubbling over.
"I've just secured a dinner with my new partner," she boasted, puffing her chest a little. "He's incredibly talented and has the same pioneering spirit. Together, we're going to achieve something big."
Mrs. Cross raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued but not fully convinced. "Is that so?" she asked, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"You seem a bit too excited for a mere business dinner." Then, the realization hit her, and her smile widened. "Ah, I see. You want one of my fancy evening gowns, don't you? You want to dress to impress this new partner of yours."
Lucia's confident demeanor faltered for a moment as she blushed, her grin turning sheepish. Caught red-handed. "Well... maybe," she admitted, inching closer to her mother. She wrapped her arms around her mother's, careful not to jostle the tray of breakfast.
"Please, Mom? It's a big deal. I need to look the part, you know?"
Mrs. Cross chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Why don't you ask your sister for one of her formal dresses? This is a business dinner, after all. Nothing more."
Lucia frowned, immediately rejecting the idea. "No way! Lydia will just mock me for it or lecture me about how I should handle things. I want to keep her out of this."
Her mother sighed, knowing that Lucia was stubborn when it came to Lydia. "Alright, alright. I'll let you borrow a gown. But on one condition—this mysterious partner of yours has to come over for dinner one night, when your father and Lydia are both out of the house."
Lucia pouted, realizing there was no getting out of her mother's request.
"Fine," she muttered, though her expression quickly brightened again. "Deal."
Satisfied, Mrs. Cross handed over her arm, and Lucia bolted towards the master bedroom, excitedly mumbling about which dress to pick.
As Lucia disappeared down the hallway, her mother looked at the breakfast tray in her hands, now cold and forgotten. Shaking her head helplessly, she sighed."There goes breakfast."
But her smile lingered, knowing her daughter had found something worth getting excited about for the first time in a while.
---
Martin left his apartment and headed toward the bustling educational district of the provincial capital. The transition from the quiet downtown housing center to the sprawling campuses and research parks was palpable.
As he passed through the wide streets, tall buildings with sleek, modern designs lined the horizon—schools, colleges, and universities all clustered together in a concentrated area of academic growth and technological innovation. The area buzzed with energy, students and professionals alike darting from one place to another.
Here, institutions of learning ranged from elite high schools to prestigious universities known across the nation.
There were also cutting-edge technological parks and research centers, where the brightest minds worked to push boundaries in their respective fields. It was a place that thrived on knowledge, ideas, and ambition—a place that always made Martin feel a little more alive.
As Martin walked, his thoughts drifted to the approaching 12:00 PM hour. He knew he had another chance to use the system's rebate feature today, and his mind raced with possibilities.
Should he use it? The allure of the rebate was strong, but he wasn't sure what he wanted to test it on. The second reward option always intrigued him—the chance to receive something far more valuable than just a monetary refund.
But this time, Martin wanted to think outside the box.