Emir walked through the city streets, the cool night air brushing against his face. The summit had been more productive than he'd expected. Meeting Omaya had sparked something in him—her vision for the future aligned with his own, though she had no idea how far his ambitions stretched.
The flickering shadows from earlier played on his mind. It wasn't the first time something inexplicable had happened since his power awakened, but these occurrences were growing more frequent. Was it a side effect of the cashback ability, or was something else at play?
He glanced at his phone, his cashback balance glowing like a beacon of his growing influence. With each transaction, he felt closer to unlocking the next skill on the tree. Yet, the mystery of the skill tree itself loomed larger. Who—or what—had created it?
---
The following day, Emir decided to test the limits of his power. He booked a meeting with an exclusive real estate agency, one that dealt in properties beyond the reach of ordinary billionaires. His goal was simple: acquire land that would form the foundation of his empire—the so-called "8th Wonder of the World."
The agency's office was a pristine, glass-paneled structure that seemed to float above the bustling streets. Emir was greeted by a man with a comically exaggerated nameplate: Lord Augustus Elmsworth, Property Broker Extraordinaire.
"Ah, Mr. Emir! A man of your vision is most welcome here," Elmsworth said, his voice dripping with theatrical charm.
Emir smirked. "I hear you deal in the extraordinary."
"Extraordinary doesn't even begin to cover it. Allow me to show you our catalog."
Elmsworth led him into a private room where holograms of the world's most exclusive properties danced in mid-air. Islands shaped like dragons, skyscrapers with floating gardens, and even underwater palaces were on offer. But none of them appealed to Emir. He needed something more—something unique.
"Impressive," Emir said, leaning back in his chair. "But I'm looking for something… transformative. Do you have anything like that?"
Elmsworth paused, his theatrical persona faltering for a moment. "There is one property. It's… unusual."
---
The hologram shifted, revealing an unassuming plot of land nestled in a remote, untouched region. To the untrained eye, it looked like nothing more than a barren wasteland. But Emir felt a pull toward it, as if the land itself called to him.
"This location is said to be cursed," Elmsworth continued, his tone low. "Locals claim it's haunted or… enchanted. No one dares to develop it."
"I'll take it," Emir said without hesitation.
Elmsworth blinked, caught off guard. "Are you certain? The price—"
"Price doesn't matter," Emir interrupted.
The transaction was finalized within minutes, the cashback notification lighting up on Emir's phone. As he left the office, he felt a surge of anticipation. This land would become the heart of his empire, the birthplace of the 8th Wonder of the World.
---
That evening, Emir returned home to find an envelope on his doorstep. It was unmarked, save for a faint, swirling emblem in the corner. He opened it carefully, revealing a single piece of parchment inside.
"You are not the only one watching."
The words sent a chill down his spine. He scanned the street, but it was empty. The faint hum of distant traffic was the only sound.
Emir took a deep breath and folded the parchment. Whoever had sent it knew about his power—or at least suspected something. He resolved to tread carefully, but the fire of his ambition burned brighter than ever.
---
Financial Update:
Total Spent: 630 million credits
Cashback Earned: 63 billion credits
Net Worth: 305.6 billion credits
Progress to Empire: 92%
---
As Emir placed the parchment on his desk, the faint outline of the blueprint reappeared, glowing softly. This time, a single word etched itself into the design: Omaya.