As I guided the massive creature to his seat, every muscle in my body screamed to run. I could barely hide the tremble in my hands as I forced a smile. "This way, please."
The creature loomed over me, its voice a deep rumble. "You're lucky you spoke up," it growled. "For a second, I thought I might make you my next meal."
I couldn't help but laugh—fiercely, even—as I bowed. "Thank you for sparing me." I could hear the tension in my voice, but I stayed composed. As the creature settled down, I approached, preparing to take its order. But something changed. It leaned in, sniffing the air around me, its massive eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"What is it?" I asked, keeping my tone neutral despite the rapid thudding of my heart.
"You… smell like someone of a higher rank." The creature's voice was quieter now, almost fearful. "I can't let you take my order. I'm just a lowly being."
I froze for a second, my heart hammering in my chest. My knees buckled beneath me, and before I realized it, I was kneeling. "I'm sorry for any offense. I'll pay for your meal as an apology."
The room erupted in whistles and murmurs from other creatures. "If you're treating one of us, you'll have to treat us all!" one of them yelled.
Without hesitation, I straightened up, nodding with a calm I didn't feel. "Fine. I'll cover the cost for everyone."
A Ghoul Host stepped in, eyebrows raised as if mocking my decision. "That's an impossible offer, human. Do you even know how currency works down here?" It sneered, pulling up a screen.
The Ghoul explained, "In human terms, 100 billion is worth just 100 coins here. A trillion? That's merely 1 Nether Gold. And 100 trillion? A measly 5 tokens."
I raised an eyebrow. If I were just some arrogant fool, I'd be sweating buckets right now. But I wasn't. With The Ultimate Tycoon System backing me, I had more than enough Nether Gold. I smiled, taking out 1 million Nether Golds. "Keep the change."
The room went silent. The Ghoul blinked, taken aback. "This—this amount… you're not just human, are you?"
A ripple of shock passed through the crowd. Whispers echoed around me as the creatures began piecing things together.
"Could he be a half-blood demon?"
A chill ran down my spine as I realized what I'd just insinuated. Half-blood demons were among the highest ranks in the Underworld, second only to pureblood demons. But not all half-bloods were wealthy, certainly not like me. To have such a fortune in Nether Gold, I was either someone important—or someone they couldn't afford to cross.
I grinned, watching as more creatures hesitated, then knelt before me. "We swear our allegiance to you."
The realization dawned on me. Whether they feared me for my wealth or respected me for my potential bloodline, it didn't matter. I was in control.
The weight of the creatures' allegiance settled on my shoulders like a cloak of power. Their glowing eyes, now cast downward, showed the fear and respect they harbored.
My mind raced, trying to process what just happened. How had I, of all people, managed to gain such a foothold in this dangerous world so quickly?
I knew, of course. It was the system. Without The Ultimate Tycoon System, I'd be dead by now—consumed by some underworld beast or lost in the madness of this place. But with it, I was no ordinary player.
"Get up," I said, my voice cold but steady.
The creatures rose to their feet cautiously, as if I might change my mind any second and punish them. "I'm not someone to bow to so easily."
Their confusion was evident, but no one spoke up. I could feel Nero's presence nearby, silently observing, calculating. I wondered what he thought of this turn of events.
Just then, Eliana approached me cautiously. "Are you really a half-blood demon?" she asked, her voice laced with doubt and curiosity.
I shrugged, pretending to be nonchalance."I guess I might be."
Her eyes widened slightly. She didn't know what to make of it, and honestly, neither did I. Sure, One of the creatures nearby spoke up, a hulking, armored beast with burning red eyes.
"Half-bloods are strong, but they're not known for being rich. Most of us struggle just to survive, let alone thrive."
I could feel the weight of their stares. This wasn't just respect—they were trying to figure me out. Who was I? What made me so different?
The truth was, I was a mystery to myself. Ever since I had woken up in this world with the knowledge of my past and the incredible powers of my system, I've been struggling to keep up with the pace of it all.
Eliana crossed her arms, watching me intently. "You're not telling us everything, are you?"
I met her gaze, not backing down. "There's no need for you to know everything," I said sharply. "Just know that I have what it takes to survive here."
Before she could push further, the Ghoul Host returned, its face twisted in an unreadable expression. "You've made quite a show of yourself today," it said, addressing me directly.
"But don't think this makes you untouchable."
I smirked. "Oh, I'm not worried. I've still got plenty more to show."
The Ghoul chuckled darkly. "We'll see. If the Underworld takes kindly to those like you who stand out. And you, my friend, are glowing like a beacon."
"Let them come," I replied, my voice steady despite the warning. "I'll be ready."
The Ghoul gave me a long, appraising look before it turned and moved away, back into the shadows.
The other creatures remained silent, watching me as if waiting for something. For what, I wasn't sure. Maybe for me to slip up, or maybe to see how far I could really go in this dungeon.
As the night dragged on, the creatures eventually dispersed, leaving me with a moment to breathe.
I took a seat at one of the nearby tables, my mind still racing. If word got out that I had the power and wealth of a high-ranking half-blood demon, I would have more than just a few creatures swearing allegiance. I would have enemies. Lots of them. Powerful ones.
"Nero, what do you think?" I asked aloud, knowing he was still lurking around, watching everything unfold.
"I think you've made an interesting move," Nero replied in his smooth, detached voice.
"But you need to be careful. Wealth and power attract attention—and not all of it will be friendly."
I sighed. "I know. But we needed to make a statement. This place… it's not like anything we've faced before."
Nero's silence was telling. He knew, just as I did, that the Underworld was unpredictable. One moment you could be on top, and the next, crushed under the weight of its chaos.
"But you're not scared," Nero noted, his voice holding a hint of admiration.
I couldn't help but smile. "No, I'm not. Because I know that no matter what happens, I have the system. As long as I have that, nothing in this dungeon can touch me."
"And you have over 85 trillion Nether Gold," Nero added dryly. "That helps."
I laughed softly. "Yeah, that helps too."
For now, I'd play the part of the powerful, mysterious half-blood. Let them believe what they wanted.
Let them swear their allegiance. I'd use it all to my advantage. This dungeon had rules, sure—but I wasn't here to follow them.
I was here to rewrite them.