"Did you miss me?"
Instead of saying, "Do you remember me?" Asic playfully asked if she missed him, making Ivy feel as though she was being lured by a devil's whisper. And though she knew it was a trap, she willingly fell for it—a sweet honey trap.
"Would you like to sign a contract with my company?"
"No, I don't want to join Black Rose Foundation, unless you have an elixir."
"Elixir... that word brings back memories." Ivy smiled faintly, as if recalling the past. She had been one of the Rookie Miner champions over ten years ago, obtaining one of the rarest elixirs. Thinking about it made her nostalgic.
"You had an elixir, didn't you? If you give it to me, I'll give you everything I have—my body and my heart." Asic made his first offer. Ivy chuckled, shaking her head when she heard the part about his body and heart. Was he really offering himself to her in exchange for an elixir?
"A tempting offer, but I'm afraid I don't have one anymore."
"Where is it now?"
"It was used already."
"I see." There was no need for Asic to ask further. Ivy had confirmed that the elixir she once had was gone. He wasn't surprised, though; elixirs were of such value that it was unlikely one would remain unused for over ten years.
"Someone you want to heal, I presume?"
"It's for my mother."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"No need for apologies. It's too soon to feel sorry—I'm not out of chances yet." Asic's response told Ivy everything she needed to know about his intentions. He planned to do what she had done years ago: become a Rookie Miner champion and claim the elixir as the reward.
It was the most certain way to obtain an elixir, as negotiating for one that someone already possessed was next to impossible. Such items were akin to a second life, and people would hardly ever part with them.
"I need your help. Could I borrow one Bitgold from you?"
"Bitgold? Even for me, that's a tall order." Ivy pondered deeply.
Bitgold was the rarest, most valuable mineral in the world. One gram was worth $100,000, and a single coin weighed 100 grams—equivalent to $10 million. The man on the phone was asking to borrow an asset worth $10 million. Though Ivy wanted to build a relationship with Asic, lending him Bitgold wasn't something she could do easily—she wasn't that infatuated.
"May I ask why?"
"My ego requires it."
"Your ego is rather extravagant."
"I don't want to hear 'extravagant' from someone who uses Ethereum to make business cards."
"I'm sorry, but I have to decline. I can't lend it to you." Despite her wealth, Bitgold was far too valuable. Even if she had positive feelings for Asic, she couldn't part with such an asset without sleepless nights.
Instead of lending $10 million to Asic, she could sell the Bitgold and invest the money elsewhere, where the risks were more manageable. Especially if the mineral was to be used for ego development, there was no way of knowing when, if ever, Asic could return it. And if he were to die, her Bitgold would be lost forever.
Ivy knew how to protect herself—she wouldn't make decisions that she'd regret.
"Then how about a contract? I'll use myself as collateral for borrowing your Bitgold." Asic made another offer.
"Are you saying that if you can't pay it back, you'd become my servant or something like that?" Ivy sought confirmation. Cryptopolis had no legal concept of slavery, but there were contracts that could make someone the property of another for a period of time.
"So, you value yourself at $10 million?"
"No, I'd say I'm worth $100 million." Asic corrected her. The inflated value made Ivy burst into laughter. Not only was this man arrogant, but he also had a sense of humor. Yet, judging by his composed tone, Asic seemed genuinely convinced he was worth that much.
"Think about it—I'm offering myself, valued at $100 million, for just one Bitgold coin. If I can't repay it, you can do whatever you want with me—boil me, fry me, whatever. I could call you 'mistress,' be your butler, even your pet."
Ivy imagined Asic in a butler's outfit, or with a dog collar around his neck. It wasn't a bad offer.
"Besides that, I'm a good cook, an excellent cleaner, and especially skilled at security. And the best part is, I take great care of people—especially at night," Asic said in a teasing voice, making Ivy's heart pound.
'Ah, this is the worst. Why does he always tease me like this? He's such a bad guy.' Ivy's pulse raced as she tried to calm herself, determined not to lose control to the devil's whisper. She had her pride, and she wasn't going to let a fleeting whim lead to regret.
"You really like to joke, don't you, Mr. Asic?" Ivy laughed to cover her emotions.
"I'm serious. If I can't pay you back, my life is yours."
"Hmm... I'm a businesswoman, you know. And I don't invest in things that don't promise profit. I know you're talented, but I can't lend you Bitgold. You're not worth that much." Ivy had encountered countless people who promised big returns before borrowing money, only to disappear when things went south.
"I know you're skeptical, but I can definitely repay you."
"If you were my employee, I'd fire you. Your pitch is terrible. Let's roleplay—you're an entrepreneur, and I'm an investor. You propose a project and need $10 million from me, but you won't tell me what the plan is or how you'll use the money. All you say is you're confident you'll make enough to pay me back. Honestly, you sound like a scammer. If we didn't know each other, I'd have hung up by now." Ivy showed no mercy, laying bare Asic's amateurish attempt.
"I apologize."
"It's fine." Ivy wasn't mad. Asic seemed like the type who excelled in action but struggled with managing things. Ivy herself had been the same until she lost her powers and had to learn management skills. No one was born an expert.
"I want to meet face to face. I'm heading back to Cryptopolis and should be there in two days. Shall we set up a meeting?"
"Sure." Asic agreed, and with that, the call ended. Although his initial request had been denied, the transition from a phone conversation to an in-person meeting showed that Ivy valued him. She could have easily dismissed him, but she chose not to.
Ivy saw value in Asic that others didn't. She couldn't bear the thought of someone else taking him. Besides, Asic was someone she admired and drew inspiration from.
Ivy disembarked from her cruise ship, taking an intercity train to Cryptopolis within a day. She returned to the bustling metropolis of the new world without informing anyone except her close secretary, Suzinna. Ivy called a friend who worked at a hotel and booked the best room available.
The hotel's meeting room was a popular spot for business meetings, fully equipped with amenities, soundproof walls to ensure privacy, and high-level security. She sent Asic the location, setting the meeting for 7 p.m. She then spent hours agonizing in front of her wardrobe, wondering what outfit would look best to him.
Her personal dressing room was packed with over a hundred luxury outfits, each costing no less than $1,000. Some were gathering dust, never worn since purchase. In the end, Ivy spent four hours getting ready before meeting Asic.
---
It took Asic an hour and a half to reach the hotel where Ivy had arranged to meet. He wore a black suit—the most formal attire he had—a gold tie, and an expensive high-tech watch. This was his first time dressing up for a business discussion. As soon as he entered, a hotel staff member greeted him.
The staff were linked to the hotel system. The moment they saw Asic, they received an alert and immediately came to assist. They led Asic to the meeting room, a business suite that could comfortably seat up to twelve people.
The room was empty—Asic had arrived a bit early. He took a seat at the table, which doubled as a touchscreen. The hotel's menu appeared, offering him food options. But seeing the prices left him feeling defeated.
'If I eat here, I'll be broke.' The cheapest item was egg porridge, priced at $60. The details listed the type of rice, the farm where it was grown, the date the egg was produced, the breed of chicken, and even the hen's serial number—everything meticulously documented.
The high price was due to limited food production. With scarce farmland, demand was high, pushing prices up. Quality ingredients came at a premium. Back in 2000, before climate change wreaked havoc, such food would have cost just a dollar.
[Master, please order some food.]
"OC, ever heard of saving money?"
[Top 15 traits of low-value men—number 10: they don't invest in themselves. Master, you should invest in yourself with good food.]
"You just want to eat well." Asic knew OC's true motive. Whenever he splurged on fancy meals, OC would be thrilled. But when he returned to bland, simple foods like boiled chicken breast, steamed eggs, and steamed vegetables, OC would grumble in protest, since their bodies were linked, and OC could only taste when Asic ate.
Asic continued conversing with OC in his head until just five minutes remained before the scheduled meeting. That was when the door opened, and he saw her.
Ivy appeared in a short black skirt suit that contrasted with her white and purple hair, styled in loose waves. The outfit highlighted her toned thighs, evoking an undeniable allure. She entered the room carrying a purse, her smile sweet, her excitement barely contained when her gaze landed on Asic.
Ivy had spent four hours agonizing over her outfit, but it wasn't until the last thirty minutes that she realized she was meeting for business, not a date. Ultimately, she decided on the professional suit—a touch flirtatious with the short skirt but appropriate for a business meeting.
Naturally, Asic noticed her exposed thighs, his gaze lingering for several seconds before he returned his attention to her face.
"This is our third time meeting," Ivy said, taking the seat across from Asic.
"And you're still as beautiful as ever," Asic replied smoothly, throwing Ivy's own words back at her. She wanted to come up with a witty comeback, but she was at a loss—Asic's way with words was simply too much for her.
[Based on the analysis of all the women Master has been involved with, Ivy Tesla Lake matches your preferences—breast size, hip-to-waist ratio, and facial features—by 98%. Personality compatibility is estimated at 67%. Potential for offspring with superior genes is at 78%.]
OC began analyzing Ivy, comparing her to every woman Asic had ever been with.
[Ivy Tesla Lake qualifies as an ideal candidate for genetic propagation. Master may wish to consider her as a mother of your future children to pass on superior genes. Based on her pulse and breathing patterns, there's a likelihood that she views you as a top breeding partner as well.]
[OC found an old saying: "a match made in heaven." You and she are indeed a perfect pair. If you want to marry her, OC will search for more than 1,584 options for high-quality diamond rings at the best value. Given both your ages, this is the prime time to reproduce.]
[What are you waiting for?]
"..." Asic clenched his fist. This annoying AI was beginning to intrude far too much into his personal life.