《Ultimate Choice System: I Became The Richest!》


 Chapter 1: Humble Home

    <h4>Chapter 1: Humble Home</h4>


    The small kitchen of the Thompson household was filled with the simple aroma of beans and toast, a humble meal that had be a staple in their home.


    The room was modest, the paint on the walls chipped and faded, and the furniture worn from years of use. But despite the wear and tear, there was a warmth in the air, a sense of family that made it feel like home.


    <strong>Caroline Thompson</strong> moved about the kitchen with practised ease, her tired hands expertly managing the meal. In her early forties, Caroline had aged beyond her years, the strain of keeping the family afloat etched in the lines on her face. But her eyes, soft and full of love, always lit up when she looked at her children.


    "Noah, love, how are your studies going?" Caroline asked, turning to face her son as she set a te of beans and toast in front of him. Her voice was gentle, but there was a note of concern that she couldn''t quite hide.


    Noah sat at the small wooden table, across from his little sister <strong>Emily</strong>, who was busy arranging her toast into a smiley face on her te.


    Emily was the light of their lives, a sweet girl of eight with big brown eyes and a ponytail that bobbed as she moved. Herughter was infectious, and even on the hardest days, she managed to bring a smile to Noah''s face.


    "They''re going well, Mum," Noah replied, forcing a smile as he picked at his food. In truth, his grades had been slipping, the endless hours of work taking their toll on his studies. But thest thing he wanted was to add to his mother''s worries.


    Caroline paused, her eyes searching his face for a moment before she nodded. "That''s good, son. Just remember, your education is important. We''re all counting on you, you know that."


    Noah nodded, guilt gnawing at him. He knew how much his family depended on him, especially with his father''s illness growing worse.


    His father, <strong>David</strong>, worked seven days a week, twelve hours a day, despite the toll it took on his body. There was no room for weakness when there were mouths to feed.


    Emily looked up from her toast, her face brightening as she turned to Noah. "Are you going out today, Noah?"


    "Yeah, I am," Noah replied, a hint of excitement creeping into his voice. He quickly finished his meal, eager to get going. Today was special¡ªhe had saved up for weeks to buy La, his girlfriend, a small gift. It wasn''t much, just a ne he''d found for ¡ê50, but it was more than he''d ever been able to give her before.


    As he stood up from the table, Caroline smiled at him, a mix of pride and worry in her eyes. "Take care, Noah, and remember what I said."


    "I will, Mum," he said, leaning down to kiss her hand. He ruffled Emily''s hair on his way out, her giggles following him as he stepped outside into the warm Birmingham air.


    The streets were quiet as Noah walked, his mind a mix of nerves and anticipation. Today, he would finally give La something to show how much she meant to him. Maybe, just maybe, it would make up for all the times he felt like he wasn''t enough.


    As Noah walked briskly towards La''s house, his mind buzzed with anticipation and anxiety. He couldn''t help but wonder how La would react to the gift he had carefully chosen for her. Would she be pleased? He imagined her face lighting up with that smile he adored so much, and the thought made his heart race.


    Buttely, things had been different. La had been unusually busy. Whenever Noah tried to call her, she was either unavable or took a long time to respond, always mentioning how swamped she was with studying or othermitments.


    It was odd, but he wanted to believe the best in her. Maybe she was just overwhelmed with schoolwork he thought.


    Noah finally reached La''s house, a modest but well-kept home in a quiet neighborhood. He had never been inside before, as La had always been insistent on meeting outside or at neutral ces. Today, he felt a mix of excitement and nervousness.


    He hoped that the surprise gift might be the key to breaking through the barriers she had put up.


    Taking a deep breath, he raised his hand and knocked on the door. Momentster, it swung open, and he was met with the gaze of a stunning woman with ocean-blue eyes that seemed to reflect the depth of the sea.


    She appeared to be in her early twenties, far younger than he had expected. Her long, light brown hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, and she carried an air of effortless grace.


    "Hello," she said with a warm smile. "Are you here for the study session with La?"


    Noah blinked, momentarily taken aback. This must be La''s mother, he realised since she doesn''t have a sister, someone he had never met before. He quickly shook himself out of his surprise and nodded. "Yes, I am. I didn''t know she had a study session today. I guess she must be working really hard."


    He forced a casual tone, even though his heart was pounding in his chest. "Can Ie in?"


    The woman''s smile widened slightly, though a flicker of curiosity danced in her eyes. "Of course. Please,e in. I''m sure La will be pleased to see you."


    Noah stepped into the house, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. The interior was elegantly decorated, a stark contrast to the modest home he was used to. The walls were adorned with tasteful art, and the scent of something floral lingered in the air.

 Chapter 2: Ultimate Choice System

    <h4>Chapter 2: Ultimate Choice System</h4>


    Noah stepped into the house, feeling the stark contrast between the opulent interior and his own modest home.


    The walls were adorned with tasteful art, and the scent of something floral lingered in the air, a far cry from the utilitarian feel of his kitchen.


    La''s mother smiled warmly before pointing towards the staircase.


    "It''s the first room on the floor above," she said. "I''ll be in the kitchen if you need anything."


    Noah thanked her and made his way up the stairs, excitement mingling with a sense of nervous anticipation. He reached the door to La''s room, but as he approached, he began to hear strange, unsettling soundsing from inside. His heart pounded harder with each step.


    As he reached the door, he recognized the sounds of La''s voice, mixed with what he could only describe as distressing noises.


    A cold realization struck him, connecting the dots in a way that made his blood run cold. She was with someone else.


    Anger surged through him like a tidal wave. He had worked tirelessly for weeks to afford this small gift, sacrificing so much just to make her happy. And this was how he was repaid? The sense of betrayal was almost unbearable.


    He was on the verge of bursting into the room to confront her when a robotic voice suddenly echoed in his mind, freezing him in ce.


    <strong>[Ding! Congrattions to the host binding the Ultimate Choice System!]</strong>


    Noah''s eyes widened as the voice continued, presenting him with a series of options:<strong></strong>


    <strong>Option 1: Enter the room, she will kick you out with a green hat on your head. [$100 Reward and a green hat]</strong>


    <strong>Option 2: Leave like you did not hear anything, and break up with her. [Rolls Royce Phantom and Basic-Driving Skill Reward]</strong>


    <strong>Option 3: Marry her mom. [Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, Intermediate-Driving Skill and 10,000$ Reward]</strong><strong></strong>


    Noah stared at the options, the fury and betrayal mixing with a strange sense of amusement. The absurdity of the choices offered to him felt almost surreal. He couldn''t help but smirk at the optionsid out before him.


    Each choice seemed to offer a different path, and though he was burning with anger, a part of him was intrigued by the possibilities.


    The sound of La''s voice continued from behind the door, mingled with the overwhelming emotions Noah was feeling. As he weighed the options, the future seemed to stretch out before him, full of unexpected twists and turns.


    "I choose Option 3!" Said Noah.


    <strong>[Ding! Option 3 Selected. Lamborghini Aventador SVJ is waiting outside. Check your pocket for the keys.]</strong>


    <strong>[10,000$ Deposited into your ount. The host does not have to worry as the funds arepletely legal and traceable]</strong>


    Noah''s heart skipped a beat as the system''s announcement faded away. He reached into his pocket, feeling something cool and metallic.


    Pulling it out, he discovered a set of sleek car keys with the emblem of a Lamborghini prominently disyed.<strong></strong>


    The weight of the keys in his hand seemed to calm the storm inside him. He took a moment to steady his breath before heading back downstairs.


    His footsteps echoed in the quiet house as he approached the kitchen, where La''s mother was still busy at the stove.


    Sarah looked up, her expression shifting from surprise to concern. "Oh, Noah, you''re still here. Why didn''t you go study with the rest?"


    Noah forced a smile, his mind already shifting gears. "I changed my mind after seeing you, wanna go for a ride?"


    Sarah''s eyebrows arched in curiosity. "A ride? What''s this about?"


    Noah took a deep breath, trying to project confidence and charm. "I just got a new car, and I thought it might be fun to take a spin. It''s a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ. Care to join me?"


    Sarah''s eyes widened slightly, and she seemed taken aback by the offer. "A Lamborghini? Are you serious?"


    "Absolutely," Noah replied with a reassuring smile. "It''s right outside. I promise you''ll enjoy it."


    She was a die-hard sports car fan. Unfortunately, she couldn''t enjoy them at all due to financial reasons.


    Facing such an offer, Sarah couldn''t resist the offer. Noah''s smile also somewhat dazzled her.


    "What''s wrong with me? why am I feeling like this? He is my daughter''s age... Although I bore La quite young." Sarah thought.


    After a moment of hesitation, Sarah''s expression softened. She nodded, a hint of excitement showing in her eyes. "Well, how could I say no to that? Let''s go."


    Noah led her outside, the gleaming Lamborghini Aventador SVJ parked elegantly by the curb. The car''s sleek, aerodynamic design and its striking, metallic paint made it look like a high-tech marvel. Sarah''s eyes widened in awe as they approached.


    "This is incredible!" she eximed, her excitement evident.


    Noah opened the door for her, and she slid into the plush interior, visibly impressed. He took the driver''s seat, the roar of the engine bringing a sense of exhration.


    As they cruised through the city, Noah and Sarah talked andughed, the conversation flowing easily.


    The anger and hurt from earlier seemed to dissipate as he engaged her in genuine, charming conversation. The more he spoke, the more he could see Sarah''s initial hesitation melting away.


    By the time they returned to her home, the mood had shifted. Sarah''s demeanour had softened significantly, and she looked at Noah with a new appreciation.


    "Thank you for this, Noah," she said as they arrived back. "It''s been a while since I''ve had such a wonderful time."


    Noah smiled, feeling a mix of satisfaction and curiosity about where this new path would lead. "I''m d you enjoyed it. Maybe we can do this again sometime."


    Sarah nodded, her smile reflecting genuine warmth. "I''d like that."


    After dropping Sarah off at her home, Noah felt a peculiar mix of satisfaction and bewilderment. The Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, now parked safely in front of her house, was a dazzling symbol of his recent, surreal choice.


    The ride had been exhrating, and Sarah''s genuine enjoyment had been a pleasant surprise, but now Noah faced a new dilemma: where to hide the car.


    He knew he couldn''t take the Lamborghini home. His parents would find the situation too imusible to believe, and his modest, rundown neighbourhood would be a stark contrast to the luxury of the car.


    Thest thing he wanted was for the car to draw unwanted attention or cause unnecessary questions.


    As he drove around Birmingham, searching for a solution, his thoughts turned to the $10,000 he had received. He realised he could solve his problem. The amount was substantial enough to handle the parking situation for a while.


    After some consideration, he spotted a secure parking facility in the city around 15 minutes away from his house. It was a high-end lot with surveince cameras and gated ess¡ªa ce where he felt the car would be safe.


    He pulled into the facility, the Lamborghini gliding smoothly over the polished asphalt as he navigated to the front office.


    The attendant greeted him with a polite nod as Noah approached, feeling a mix of excitement and relief. "I''d like to rent a parking space for a week," Noah said, pulling out his apple pay.


    The attendant nced at the car, his eyes widening momentarily before heposed himself. "That''ll be $1,000 for a month''s worth of parking."


    "Ding!"


    The payment went through, as Noah''s old and broken iPhone x touched the POS device.


    With the transactionplete, Noah carefully parked the Lamborghini in its designated spot, ensuring it was secure.


    As he locked the car and walked away, he felt a wave of relief wash over him. The car was now safely tucked away, and he had managed to handle the situation without drawing undue attention.


    He took onest look at the Lamborghini, its sleek lines gleaming under the facility''s lights, and then made his way back to the bus stop, a sense of aplishment and curiosity about the future mingling in his mind.


    As he rode home, he reflected on the day''s events and whaty ahead. The unexpected turn of events had set a new course for his life.


    "I will make you regret cheating on me... La" said Noah with a smirk.

 Chapter 3: Breaking Up

    <h4>Chapter 3: Breaking Up</h4>


    Noah arrived home as twilight settled over Birmingham. Theforting aroma of his mother''s cooking filled the air as he stepped inside, greeted by the familiar, worn charm of their modest home. He followed the sounds of conversation to the dining room, where his family was gathered around the small table.


    Caroline was busy serving dinner, a hearty stew apanied by fresh bread. David, his father, sat at the table, looking utterly exhausted. The lines on his face were deeper than usual, and his posture was slumped, a testament to the gruelling hours he endured at work.


    "Evening, Noah," David greeted, his voice rough from fatigue but tinged with warmth.


    "Hi, Dad," Noah replied, taking his seat with a mixture of relief and concern. "How was work today?"


    David sighed heavily, his shoulders sagging further. "Long day. We had a lot of orders to fill. I''m just d to be home."


    "Yea Dad, I missed you stupid orders need to go away," said Emily, as she pouted cutely.


    Everyoneughed momentarily at her reaction.


    Caroline ced a steaming bowl of stew in front of Noah and sat down beside him. "How was your day, dear?" she asked, her eyes filled with motherly concern as she served herself.


    Noah tried to keep his tone light despite his preupation. "It was okay. La and I broke up officially today. We decided it was best to focus on our studies. Things have been a bit hectic, and we felt it was the right decision."


    The mention of the breakup brought a noticeable shift in the atmosphere. David and Caroline exchanged concerned nces. "I''m sorry to hear that," Caroline said gently. "But maybe it''s for the best if it helps you both focus on your studies."


    David nodded, though his face was etched with concern. "Sometimes these things are necessary. Focus on your studies now, and everything else will fall into ce."


    "Yah Noah, Don''t worry about this La girl. I never liked her from the beginning to be honest with you, she always seemed like a vermin to me." said Emily, as she acted like she was whispering in Noah''s ears, although everyone on the table heard her.


    "Emily! That''s not nice. Say sorry to your brother now." said Caroline, with a heavy tone.


    "It''s okay Mom, leave her. hahaha" said Noah, as he ruffled Emily''s hair.


    Emily just pouted at her mom, "Hmph!".


    The conversation continued on lighter topics as they ate, but Noah''s thoughts were upied with the evening''s events and his father''s weary state.


    The sight of his dad, struggling under the weight of his long hours and worsening health, deepened Noah''s resolve.


    He knew he had to make a change, and the Ultimate Choice System had given him an opportunity to do just that.


    As he watched his father''s tired eyes, he vowed to use this chance to improve his family''s situation and ensure they would no longer live under such burdens.


    After dinner, Noah excused himself and went upstairs to shower. The hot water was a wee relief as he washed away the day''s stress.


    The bathroom mirror fogged up, but as the steam dissipated, Noah''s reflection came into view.


    He looked at himself, noting his handsome features¡ªchiselled jawline, dark tousled hair, and intense blue eyes. Despite the good looks, the fatigue was evident, and the weight of his responsibilities was etched into his expression.


    Noah took a deep breath, resolving to make the most of the opportunity the Ultimate Choice System had provided.


    He was determined to turn things around and ensure a better future for his family. He promised himself that soon, their lives would change for the better.


    Finished with his shower, he brushed his teeth, changed into his pyjamas, and climbed into bed. The exhaustion from the day began to catch up with him, and he closed his eyes, letting sleep take over.


    Next Day...


    Noah awoke to the harsh reality of an early morning. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes, shaking off the drowsiness.


    The previous day''s events felt like a distant memory as he prepared for the routine of a new day.


    He slipped out of bed and shuffled to the bathroom. A quick brush of his teeth and a ssh of cold water on his face helped him shake off the lingering drowsiness. After dressing in his worn school uniform, he made his way downstairs.


    The kitchen was bathed in the soft, yellow glow of morning light. Caroline was already up, preparing breakfast¡ªcornkes with milk, the family''s usual fare.


    The simplicity of the meal was a stark reminder of their financial struggles, but Noah was used to it. David sat at the table, nursing a cup of tea, while little Emily, his cheerful eight-year-old sister with her bright ponytail and sparkling eyes, eagerly awaited her breakfast.


    "Morning, everyone," Noah said, taking his seat at the table. Emily looked up at him with a wide smile, her ponytail bouncing as she nodded in greeting.


    "Morning, Noah," Caroline responded with a warm smile. "Did you sleep well?"


    "Yeah, thanks, Mom," Noah replied, grabbing a bowl and pouring some cornkes into it. "I''ll drop Emily off at school and then head to mine."


    David looked up from his tea, his face slightly more rxed than the previous evening. "Be careful out there. And remember your mother and I are always proud of you, no matter what."


    "Thanks, Dad," Noah said, his heart warmed by the supportive words. He knew his parents'' sacrifices were immense, and he wanted to repay them.


    After breakfast, Noah helped Emily with her little backpack. The morning air was crisp as they walked together toward her school, which was conveniently close to his own. Emily chattered excitedly about her day, her ponytail swaying with every enthusiastic gesture.


    At the school gates, Emily hugged Noah tightly before skipping off to join her friends. Noah watched her for a moment, a smile tugging at his lips. She was the light of his life, and her happiness meant everything to him.


    With a final wave, Noah turned and made his way to his own school. The familiar route feltforting, even amidst the uncertainty of his current situation.


    Noah entered the school pushing aside the remnants of fatigue. As he made his way to his first ss, he couldn''t help but anticipate the hour of mathematics.


    It wasn''t the subject itself that made it a favourite among the students; it was the teacher who made the ss so special.


    Miss ra, their mathematics teacher, was universally adored. Her striking beauty,bined with her sharp intellect and genuine warmth, made her a standout presence in the ssroom.


    No student dared to disobey her; her charisma and kindnessmanded respect effortlessly.


    As Noah approached the math ssroom, he noticed it was unusually quiet. The hallways were empty, and the ssroom door was ajar.


    Stepping inside, he saw that Ms. ra was already there, arranging some papers on her desk. She looked up, her piercing green eyes meeting his with a look of concern.


    "Good morning, Noah," she said, her voice soft but filled with a noticeable tone of worry. "You''re early today."


    "Morning, Ms. ra," Noah replied, offering a sheepish smile. He was caught off guard by her early presence. "I guess I just got here sooner than I thought."


    Ms. ra''s expression grew serious as she closed the distance between them. "Noah, I''ve been meaning to talk to you. I''ve noticed that your grades have been slipping with every exam. I know you''ve been going through a lottely, and I''m genuinely concerned for you."


    Noah shifted ufortably, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I''ve been trying my best, but it''s been hard bncing everything. My family... we''re struggling, and it''s been taking a toll on me."


    Ms. ra nodded, her eyes filled with empathy. "I understand that your situation is challenging, and I don''t want to add more pressure. But you need to focus on your studies. Right now, your education is crucial, and it''s important to set aside distractions, including personal matters like rtionships."


    Her words were gentle but firm, and Noah felt a pang of disappointment. He had realised that toote, but it was fine. He has the system now after all.


    "I''ll do my best, Ms. ra," he said quietly, meeting her gaze. "I appreciate your concern. I will prove to you by getting the first in the next mock exam."


    He knew that the system was going to help him in everything, so he made a bold statement.


    Ms. ra offered a reassuring smile, cing aforting hand on his shoulder. "I know you''re capable of great things, Noah. Just remember that you have support here. Don''t hesitate to ask for help if you need it. We all want to see you seed."


    Although Ms. ra said that, she didn''t believe that Noah would get such things. But she didn''t want to break his determination so she encouraged him.


    As time went by...


    The ss was filled, and one of the students was La.

 Chapter 4: Smartest HighSchooler

    <h4>Chapter 4: Smartest HighSchooler</h4>


    As the ssroom settled into a quiet buzz of anticipation, Ms. ra stood at the front with a confident smile.


    She was ready to dive into the day''s lesson, which was designed to prepare the students for their uing mock exams. Her enthusiasm for teaching and her dedication to her students were evident in every word she spoke.


    "Hello ss," Ms. ra began, "today we are going to go through a few of the hardest exam questions. This is to prepare you for your uing mock exam. As you all know, the final exams are approaching in the next couple of months."


    She paced the front of the room, her gaze sweeping over the students. "Practicing now is the best choice, so we are going to tackle some challenging problems."


    With a flourish, she wrote a particrly difficult question on the board:


    <strong>Solve for x in the equation:</strong>


    ¡Ò0¡Þe?xx2+1?dx=¦Ð2\int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{e^{-x}}{x^2 + 1} \, dx = \frac{\pi}{2}¡Ò0¡Þ?x2+1e?x?dx=2¦Ð?


    The room fell silent as the students stared at the equation. The question was notoriouslyplex, a challenge even for the most diligent of students.


    Some murmured among themselves, trying to recall any relevant forms, but the majority were clearly out of their depth.


    Noah, seated at the back of the room, nced at the board with a sense of bewilderment.


    He had no idea how to approach the question, and he could see that the rest of the ss was simrly confused.


    Suddenly, his mind was interrupted by a familiar robotic voice:


    <strong>[Ding! Choice initiated, Please choose carefully]</strong>


    Option 1: Remain silent. [Gain nothing and waste time in ss]


    Option 2: Answer the question. [Gain All-Round High-schooler Knowledge]


    Option 3: Make a joke about the question. [Gain Beginner Comedian Skill]


    Without hesitation, he chose Option 2.


    "I choose Option 2!" Noah muttered silently.


    <strong>[Ding! All-Round High-schooler knowledge is rewarded!]</strong>


    As soon as he made his choice, Noah felt an overwhelming flood of information surge through his mind. Concepts from every high school subject, tips for tacklingplex problems, and intricate details of various mathematical techniques flowed into his consciousness.


    He now felt an unprecedented rity and understanding of his academic material.


    Confident in his newfound knowledge, Noah raised his hand. The gesture was immediate, and Ms. ra''s eyebrows arched in surprise as she noticed him.


    "Yes, Noah?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued.


    With aposed expression, Noah stood up, his mind racing through the intricate details he had just absorbed. "Ms. ra, I believe I can solve the question."


    Ms. ra looked at him with a mixture of scepticism and concern. "Are you sure you can answer this?" she asked, her tone hinting that she thought Noah might be joking.


    Theplexity of the question was well-known, and the ssroom atmosphere was tense with apprehension.


    The murmurs among the students began a few snickers and whispers filling the room. Some students leaned toward their friends, making light of the situation. "Look at your boyfriend, La," one of them said with a chuckle. "He''s making a joke out of himself."


    La, who had been sitting quietly, felt her face flush with embarrassment. She nced at Noah, her difort palpable. "He isn''t my boyfriend," she said sharply, her voice carrying a trace of irritation. "We were just friends."


    Ms. ra''s gaze shifted from Noah''s earnest face to the ssroom''s reaction. Theughter and whispers were growing louder, and she could sense the mounting ridicule. Her initial irritation faded as she saw the genuine determination in Noah''s eyes. Sighing, she realized he was not merely ying around.


    "Alright, Noah," Ms. ra said, her voice softening. "Come up to the board and show us what you''ve got."


    Noah walked to the front of the ss, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nervousness. He couldn''t care less about what his ssmates thought, he knew that they were just passersby and they were bound to be behind him in the future.


    The murmurs continued, but he focused on the task at hand. As he took the marker in his hand, he began to methodically work through the equation, his newfound knowledge guiding him through each step.


    The ss fell into stunned silence as Noah''s solution took shape on the board. Theplexity of the problem unravelled under his precise calctions, leaving Ms. ra in awe.


    His confidence was evident, and it became clear that he was indeed capable of solving the equation with impressive skill.


    Ms. ra''s eyes widened in amazement. As Noahpleted the problem, she nced at the students, who now looked on with a mixture of surprise and doubt.


    "He is just writing random mathematical equations right?" a student asked not believing that Noah, the student with the lowest grade in the ss was answering the hardest question in high school mathematics.


    "Excellent work, Noah," Ms. ra said, her voice filled with genuine admiration. "You''ve demonstrated an impressive understanding of the material. Well done."

 Chapter 5: Lily

    <h4>Chapter 5: Lily</h4>


    Noah returned to his seat, feeling the weight of the ss''s stunned silence as he walked. Whispers rippled through the room, most of them filled with disbelief and envy. The student who had earlier mocked him leaned over to his friend, still sceptical. "He''s just writing random equations, right? There''s no way Noah could actually solve that."


    But the murmurs of doubt were quickly overshadowed by Ms. ra''s words of praise. "Excellent work, Noah," she said, her voice filled with genuine admiration. "You''ve demonstrated an impressive understanding of the material. Well done."


    As Noah sat back down, the stares from his ssmates were intense, a mixture of shock and envy. For someone who had been struggling academically, his sudden disy of brilliance was nothing short of miraculous. Some of the students, particrly the boys, red at him with newfoundpetitiveness, while others exchanged looks of disbelief.


    Yet, among the sea of reactions, there was one person who remained unchanged¡ªhis deskmate, Lily. Known as the "Cold Beauty," Lily was a girl who rarely showed emotion, her icy demeanor and striking appearance earning her a ce as one of the four high school beauties.


    With her long blue, flowing hair, sharp features, and calm collected aura, she exuded a quiet confidence that intimidated most of her peers.


    Lily was also the top student in the ss, her academic prowess only adding to her mystique. Despite being the smartest, she never unted her intelligence, preferring to keep to herself. Few dared to approach her.


    As Noah sat down, he felt the weight of Lily''s gaze on him. Unlike the others, her expression was unreadable¡ªneither impressed nor dismissive, just...observant. She studied him for a moment, her eyes cool and calcting, as if trying to decipher the sudden change in him.


    But then, as quickly as she had looked at him, she turned her attention back to her notebook, her face impassive as ever. It was as if nothing had happened, and Noah was just another student in the room.


    However, Noah couldn''t help but notice that Lily''s brief nce carried more weight than all the other staresbined.


    As the bell rang, signalling the end of ss, students began gathering their belongings and heading toward their next ss.


    Noah was still seated, feeling the lingering stares from his ssmates as they filed out. He nced over at Lily, who was calmly packing her bags, her expression as unreadable as ever.


    Just as Noah was about to gather his things, La approached his desk. Her face was a mix of annoyance and something else¡ªperhaps guilt or difort.


    "Noah," she began, her tone t, "I want to break up with you. Not that we''ve done anything more than talk or hold hands." She continued, trying to stop Noah from begging her not to. "This is fina¡ª"


    <strong>[Ding! Choice initiated, Please choose carefully]</strong>


    <strong>Option 1: Remain silent. [ Gain $10,000 Reward]</strong>


    <strong>Option 2: Beg her to not break up [ -10 Charm]</strong>


    <strong>Option 3: Humilliate her [Charm +10, Beginner fighting skill and $50,000]</strong><strong></strong>


    <strong></strong>Noah silently chose Option 3, without much thought.


    <strong>[Rewards Granted!] </strong>


    <strong> [Charm Increased, Beginner Fighting Skill Rewarded] </strong>


    <strong> [Ding! $50,000 was Rewarded to the Bank ount ending in xx04. Current Bnce $59,025]</strong>


    Before she could finish her sentence, Noah interrupted with a smirk, "Who said we were in a rtionship to begin with?"


    La blinked, caught off guard. "What? But we¡ª"


    Noah leaned back in his chair, feigning deep thought. "I mean, if talking and holding hands is all it takes, then I must be in a rtionship with my math textbook too. We''ve been really closetely¡ªspending long nights together and everything."


    Lily, who had been quietly packing her bag, paused for a moment. Though her expression remained neutral, Noah thought he saw the tiniest hint of amusement in her eyes.


    La, now visibly flustered, struggled to find a retort. "That''s not what I¡ª"


    Noah held up a hand, cutting her off again. "Don''t worry, La. You''re officially free to pursue more... academic endeavours. Good luck with Mark and those thrilling study sessions. I hear quadratic equations really bring people closer."


    A few students who were still lingering in the ssroom couldn''t help but snicker at Noah''s yful tone. La, now red-faced and clearly irritated, turned on her heel and hurried out of the room, leaving Noah with a satisfied grin.


    Lily, who had finally finished packing, nced at Noah as she stood up. "Interesting response," she murmured, her voice as cool as ever.


    Noah shrugged his grin still in ce. "Just thought it was time to redefine what ''dating'' really means."


    Lily gave a small nod before heading toward the door, leaving Noah with a feeling that, for the first time in a long while, he was starting to enjoy high school in ways he hadn''t expected.


    As she walked away, a stray thought flickered through Lily''s mind.


    "<i>He seemed more handsome for some reason...</i> "


    The thought caught her off guard, and she quickly pushed it aside, mentally chastising herself.


    "Focus on your studies, Lily!" she muttered under her breath, giving herself a quick pep talk as she exited the ssroom. No distractions¡ªespecially not the kind that came with a smirk and a sharp tongue.

 Chapter 6: Cafeteria

    <h4>Chapter 6: Cafeteria</h4>


    Noah also left the ss a few seconds after everyone left because he was digesting the influx of information he received from the ''Basic Fighting skill''.


    The bell rang, signalling the start of lunch break.


    As he walked through the bustling halls, he spotted his best friend, Aiden, whom he calls "Fatty." Aiden was a bit on the heavier side, but he had a heart of gold and was always ready with a joke or a helping hand.


    "Noah! Over here!" Aiden called out, waving enthusiastically.


    Noah grinned and made his way over. "Hey, Fatty. Ready to grab some lunch?"


    Aiden raised an eyebrow in mock surprise. "You? Eating in the cafeteria? Since when?"


    Noah chuckled, realizing how much his life had changed in just a day. "Since today. Let''s just say things are looking up."


    The two friends made their way to the cafeteria, where the scent of various foods wafted through the air, making Noah''s stomach growl in anticipation.


    He had always skipped lunch at school, opting to wait until he got home to eat something small. But now it was different, he could not just skip school lunch when he has a Lambo waiting in the parking lot right?


    They reached the counter, and Noah scanned the menu before deciding on the most delicious meal he could find¡ªsomething he had only dreamed of eating at school before. He quickly ced his order, feeling a rush of satisfaction as the cafeteria worker handed him a tray loaded with hot, savoury food.


    Aiden, who had also ordered a hefty meal, looked at Noah with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "What''s the asion? Did you win the lottery or something?"


    Noah smirked as they carried their trays to an empty table. "Maybe I did. Or maybe I just got tired of surviving on air."


    Aiden chuckled, shaking his head as they sat down. "Well, it''s about time you joined thend of the living. Wee to the world of actual food."


    As they dug into their meals, Aiden suddenly started making exaggerated noises, trying to catch Noah''s attention. "Psst, Noah, look behind you!" he whispered urgently, his eyes wide with excitement. "It''s Lily, the Ice Queen. Dude, she''s way too beautiful to be a high schooler. How are you so lucky to sit next to her every day?"


    Noah, still chewing his food, turned his head slightly to see Lily entering the cafeteria, her usualposed expression in ce as she gracefully moved toward a table. He could see why Aiden was so worked up; Lily had a presence that was hard to ignore, and her cold beauty only added to the mystique that surrounded her.


    Noah shrugged, "Yeah, well, sitting next to her is one thing. Actually talking to her is another."


    Aiden shook his head, still staring in Lily''s direction. "Man, if I had your seat, I''d at least try to melt that icy exterior. You never know¡ªmaybe she''s not as cold as she looks."


    Noah chuckled, returning his attention to his meal. "Yeah, good luck with that. She doesn''t seem like the type who''s interested in small talk."


    Aiden sighed dramatically, finally turning back to his food. "Still, you''re living the dream, Noah. Sitting next to the smartest and most beautiful girl in school. Some guys have all the luck."


    As they continued eating, Noah nced over at Aiden and asked, "So, how are you feeling about the exams? Think you''re ready?"


    Aiden shrugged, his mouth full of food. "Most of the topics are fine, but physics and chemistry? Man, those are giving me a real headache. I just can''t wrap my head around some of those concepts."


    Noah considered this for a moment before offering, "Want me to help? I could go over some of the material with you."


    Aiden paused mid-bite, looking at Noah with raised eyebrows. "Help me with carrying the books? No thanks, I''ve got that part covered," he said with a smirk, clearly not taking the offer seriously. He chuckled and shook his head, "But thanks for the offer, buddy. I think I''ll just have to survive those subjects on my own."


    Noah grinned, hiding the fact that he could easily help now, thanks to the Ultimate Choice System.


    "Well, the mock exams are soon. He will find out then, I wonder what his reaction will be. heh" thought Aiden, with a grin on his face.


    Aiden, noticing the grin, suddenly widened his eyes in mock fear. He leaned back slightly, holding up his hands in a yful gesture of surrender. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, what''s with that evil grin, Noah? Are you plotting something? Should I be scared? If you''re nning to ace the exams and leave me in the dust, just remember¡ªI''m fragile!"


    Noahughed, shaking his head. "Rx, Fatty. I''m not plotting anything... yet."


    Aiden let out an exaggerated sigh of relief, clutching his chest dramatically. "Phew! You had me worried for a second there. Just don''t go bing a genius overnight and making the rest of us look bad, alright?"


    Noah chuckled, giving his friend a reassuring pat on the back. "No promises, but I''ll try not to outshine you too much."


    After finishing their lunch, Noah and Aiden headed to their next ss, which they had together: History. As they settled into their seats, the teacher, Ms. Harper, began her lesson.


    "Today, we''re diving into the Treaty of Arvon. This was a pivotal moment in the 18th century when two rival kingdoms, Arvon and Beltrane, signed an agreement that ended a decade-long war. The treaty included several key provisions that shaped the politicalndscape of Europe at the time..."


    As Ms. Harper continued her lecture, her voice droned on in a steady, almost soothing rhythm. For most students, it was engaging enough, but for Noah, history had always been his weakest subject. He found it hard to stay awake in this ss, and today was no different. Thebination of a full stomach and the teacher''s monotonous tone was like a luby, lulling him into a drowsy state.


    Despite Aiden''s subtle nudges and whispered attempts to keep Noah awake, his eyelids grew heavy, and before he knew it, he had drifted off to sleep.


    Ms. Harper, noticing Noah''s head drooping, frowned. Her eyes narrowed, and she called out sharply, "Noah!"


    Noah jolted awake, his heart racing as he realized he had dozed off. The entire ss turned to look at him, some stiflingughter, others just curious to see what would happen next.


    Ms. Harper, clearly displeased, pointed to the board where she had written details about the Treaty of Arvon. "Since you seem so well-rested, perhaps you can exin the significance of the Treaty of Arvon and its impact on European history?"


    Noah blinked, still groggy, but as he nced at the board, he quickly understood what she was talking about as it was part of the ''All-rounder Highshool knowledge skill''.


    He took a deep breath and stood up, his voice steady and confident. "The Treaty of Arvon was significant because it marked the end of a long-standing conflict between the kingdoms of Arvon and Beltrane."


    "The key provisions of the treaty included the exchange of territories, the establishment of a neutral zone to prevent future conflicts, and an agreement on trade routes that benefited both kingdoms."


    "This treaty not only brought peace to the region but also set the stage for the eventual unification of smaller states under a single banner, leading to the creation of what we now know as the United European Kingdom."


    The ssroom fell silent, and Ms. Harper stared at Noah, her expression a mix of surprise and disbelief. The rest of the ss was equally stunned, including Aiden, who had been certain that Noah would get into trouble for sleeping.


    Ms. Harper finally found her voice, her tone softer now, "That... that''s correct, Noah. Very well done."


    Noah sat back down, feeling a wave of satisfaction wash over him. The entire ss was still staring at him, most with their mouths slightly open in shock. Even Aiden, who was rarely speechless, could only manage a dumbfounded look.


    Aiden stared at Noah, wide-eyed andpletely shocked. He leaned closer and whispered, "Already?"


    Noah gave him a confused look. "Already what?"


    Aiden, still processing what had just happened, nced between Noah and the board, then back to Noah''s calm expression. Suddenly, it clicked for Noah.


    Aiden was remembering their earlier conversation at lunch, when he had joked, <i>"Phew! You had me worried for a second there. Just don''t go bing a genius overnight and making the rest of us look bad, alright?"</i>


    Noah smirked, suppressing a chuckle. "I guess I didn''t need a whole night after all."


    Aiden shook his head in disbelief, still trying toprehend the sudden change in his friend. "Unreal, man... Just unreal."


    With a slightly embarrassed look on his face, Aiden nced at Noah and said, "So... Is the offer for science still avable?"


    Noah couldn''t help butugh at Aiden''s hopeful expression. "No."


    Aiden''s face instantly fell, his expression turningically sad as if dark clouds had appeared above his head. "Man, you''re cruel," he muttered, looking utterly defeated.


    Noah chuckled, pping Aiden on the back. "I''m just messing with you. Of course, I''ll help you."


    Aiden''s face lit up immediately, the imaginary clouds disappearing as quickly as they''d appeared. "Thanks, man. You had me there for a second. The books of biology, chemistry and physics have been feeling too heavy for me."


    Looking at Aiden''s smug face. Noah couldn''t help but say.


    "You-"


    "I''m joking! please help me with science. Thanks!" replied Aiden immediately, seeing that Noah was about to beat him up.

 Chapter 7: Mark and Layla

    <h4>Chapter 7: Mark and La</h4>


    As the school day ended, Noah and Aiden left theirst ss, which, ironically, was chemistry.


    As they headed toward the school gate, they spotted Mark and La standing near the entrance. Aiden nudged Noah, reminding him of the earlier breakup conversation. Noah had already told him that he was done with La, so he intended to ignore them. However, Mark''s eyes were locked on Noah, his expression smug and provoking.


    As they approached, Mark couldn''t resist throwing a jab. "You know, Noah, it''s funny... you were with La for so long, yet you never really got close to her, did you? Unlike some of us," Mark sneered, making his insinuation clear without being explicit.


    Noah stopped, narrowing his eyes at Mark. He responded with a calm but cutting tone, "That''s because I have standards, Mark. Unlike you, I don''t need to prove myself by treating girls like trophies."


    Mark''s friends burst outughing, but not at Noah''s retort¡ªinstead, they were smirking at the impending confrontation. Mark''s face twisted with anger, feeling humiliated in front of his friends and La. "You¡ª" he started, his voice trembling with rage. "Follow me if you''re a man."


    Noah didn''t hesitate. "Lead the way," he replied coolly.


    Mark turned on his heel and headed towards a secluded alleyway near the school. Aiden grabbed Noah''s arm, concern written all over his face. "Don''t follow him, Noah. He''s got two of his goons with him. They''re clearly nning to jump you."


    Noah nced at Aiden, a small smile on his lips. "It''s fine. Trust me."


    Aiden sighed, knowing there was no changing Noah''s mind, and reluctantly followed.


    When they reached the alley, Mark''s friends positioned themselves at the entrance, blocking any potential escape route. They snickered, confident that Noah wouldn''t stand a chance against their leader, who was not only the taekwondo club captain but also one of the wealthiest students at the academy. La watched from a distance, her expression a mix of worry and guilt.


    Mark rolled his shoulders, cracking his knuckles as he stepped forward. "You should''ve stayed out of this, Noah. Now I''m going to teach you a lesson."


    Noah, unfazed, simply raised an eyebrow. "I''ve heard enough talk. Let''s see what you''ve got."


    With a swift motion, Markunched a kick towards Noah''s midsection, aiming to wind him right from the start. But to everyone''s shock, Noah sidestepped effortlessly, grabbing Mark''s leg and twisting it, forcing Mark to lose bnce and stumble backward.


    Mark''s eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly recovered,ing at Noah with a series of punches. Each strike was sharp and precise, a testament to his taekwondo training. However, Noah''s movements were fluid and almost effortless, as if he could predict every move before it happened. He blocked and dodged with a grace that left the onlookers stunned.


    "Come on, Mark," Noah taunted, "I thought you were better than this."


    Mark, now furious, threw a wild punch with all his strength. But Noah anticipated it perfectly, ducking under the blow and delivering a quick jab to Mark''s ribs, followed by a sweeping kick that sent Mark crashing to the ground.


    The alley fell silent, the sound of Mark hitting the pavement echoing loudly. Noah stood over him, unscathed andposed. Mark''s friends, who had been snickering moments earlier, were now silent, their confidence shattered. La stared in disbelief, unable toprehend what had just happened.


    As Mark struggled to get up, his pride shattered, Noah leaned in close and whispered, "Maybe you should pick on someone your own size next time."


    Mark red up at him, seething with rage and humiliation. "This isn''t over, Noah."


    Noah stepped back, a smirk ying on his lips. "It is for today. Next time, think twice before underestimating someone."


    With that, Noah turned and walked away, Aiden following close behind, his mouth still hanging open in shock. La watched them go, her face flushed with a mixture of emotions she couldn''t quite process. Noah had not only humiliated Mark but had done so with confidence and skill that no one had expected.


    As they left the alley, Aiden finally found his voice. "Noah... what the hell just happened? How did you...?"


    Noah grinned and shrugged yfully. "Just some of that secret ninja training I''ve been doing on the weekends."


    Aiden rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right. Next, you''ll tell me you''re secretly a superhero."


    Noah chuckled. "Close, but not quite. Anyway, wanna go for a ride around the city?"


    Aiden''s eyes lit up with excitement. "Wait, you got a bike?"


    Noah shook his head, still grinning. "Nope, I bought a Lambo."


    Aiden burst outughing. "Haha, good one, Noah! A Lambo! That''s a good joke."


    Noah just smiled at his friend, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "So, youing or what?"


    Aiden paused, theughter dying in his throat as he noticed Noah''s serious expression. "Wait... you''re joking, right?"


    Noah just started walking, motioning for Aiden to follow. "Come on, you''ll see."


    Noah led the way, with Aiden trailing behind, still convinced that his friend was joking. As they approached the parking lot, Aiden spotted a shiny new mountain bike and grinned. "Not bad, Noah! This is one of the newest models. It costs around $500, right? How did you manage to save up for it?"


    "Did uncle buy it for you?" Aiden said, knowing Noah''s housing situation.


    Noah just smiled and kept walking.


    Aiden frowned, ncing back at the bike. "Wait, why aren''t we going to the bike? Isn''t that yours?"


    Noah chuckled. "Because that''s not my ride."


    By the time Noah and Aiden reached the parking lot, they were greeted by the attendant. The man instantly recognized Noah and, remembering the expensive car from yesterday, straightened up with a respectful nod. He quickly opened the gate without a word, treating Noah as if he were someone important.


    Aiden''s eyes widened in confusion as they entered the lot. "Wait, what''s going on? Why is he letting us in so easily?"


    Noah just grinned, leading the way to where the Lamborghini was parked. The sleek, ck car gleamed under the lights, a stark contrast to the other vehicles in the lot.


    Aiden''s jaw dropped. "No way... Is that...?"


    Noah started tossing the keys in his hand, smirking. "I told you it wasn''t a bike."

 Chapter 8: Down To Earth

    <h4>Chapter 8: Down To Earth</h4>


    Aiden couldn''t contain his excitement as he continued circling the Lamborghini, his hands almost trembling as he reached out to touch the car. "Noah, this is unreal! Are you serious? How does it feel to drive something like this? And where did you even find the money for it? This thing is worth more than my house!"


    Noah leaned against the car, crossing his arms with a smirk. "It''s a beauty, isn''t it? 750 horsepower under the hood, and it handles like a dream. As for the money... let''s just say life threw me a wild curveball."


    Aiden''s jaw dropped as he peered through the window at the luxurious interior. "Man, I don''t know what''s crazier: the fact that you''re driving this or that you''re being so casual about it! You''ve got to let me drive it, Noah. Just once! Please, I''ll never ask for anything else again!"


    Noah chuckled, his expression one of amusement. "Alright, alright, fine. But you better not scratch it, or I''ll never hear the end of it."


    Aiden practically jumped into the driver''s seat, his eyes wide with disbelief as he gripped the steering wheel. "I can''t believe this is happening. I feel like I''m in a dream." He looked over at Noah, grinning from ear to ear. "Let''s do this!"


    They pulled out of the parking lot, the Lamborghini''s engine roaring to life as Aiden carefully elerated. The sound turned heads, and people on the street watched in awe as the car sped by. Aiden''s hands tightened on the wheel as they navigated through the city, his face a mixture of concentration and pure joy.


    As they drove, Aiden couldn''t help but ask more questions. "So, Noah, how much does this thing cost? Isn''t this the Aventador SVJ, like the top-of-the-line model?"


    "Yeah, it''s the SVJ," Noah replied, leaning back in his seat. "Costs more than a quarter of a million pounds, give or take. But trust me, it''s worth every penny."


    Aiden whistled, shaking his head in disbelief. "Man, I don''t know what to say. This is incredible. And you''re just letting me drive it like it''s no big deal!"


    Noah grinned. "Consider it a reward for putting up with me all these years."


    They continued driving, the city''s streets a blur around them until they reached their usual spot: a humble barbecue skewer stand with a few stic tables set up outside. The contrast couldn''t have been starker¡ªpulling up in a Lamborghini to a ce that served food out of a van. As they parked, Aiden looked around, confusion etched on his face.


    "Noah... why are we here? I thought we were going somewhere fancy to match this car," Aiden said, looking back at the skewer stand.


    Noah shrugged with a smile. "Fancy ces aren''t really my style. Besides, you know these skewers are the best in town."


    As they stepped out of the car, people nearby began to notice. Phones came out, and soon enough, a small crowd had gathered, snapping pictures of the Lamborghini and its two young upants. Whispers floated through the air, filled with surprise and admiration.


    "Isn''t that a Lamborghini? And they''re eating here?" one person muttered.


    "I didn''t know rich people were so down-to-earth," anothermented, shaking his head in disbelief.


    Noah and Aiden made their way to one of the outdoor tables, acting as if nothing was out of the ordinary.


    As they approached the skewer van, an older man with a friendly smile called out, "Noah! It''s been a long time, how have you been?"


    Noah grinned, recognizing the familiar voice. "I''m doing amazing, Uncle Ben. How''s everything going? How''s Emma''s university life treating her?"


    Uncle Ben, the owner of the skewer van, smiled warmly at Noah. His daughter, Emma, had be a friend to Noah over the years, thanks to his frequent visits to the van. "She''s doing well, always asking about you.


    Ever since youst came by a year ago, when she started university, she''s been wondering where you''ve been. We keep telling her we haven''t seen you around. You bettere back this summer during the holidays¡ªshe''ll be here!"


    Noah chuckled and nodded. "Of course, Uncle Ben. I miss hanging out with you guys!"


    They ordered Noah''s usual skewers order, the aroma of grilled meat and onions filling the air as they sat down to eat. Aiden looked around, still a bit dazed by everything that had happened in thest hour.


    "Man, this is crazy," Aiden said, biting into a skewer. "People must think we''re nuts, pulling up in that car and eating street food."


    Noahughed, enjoying the skewer with a rxed expression. "Let them think what they want. We know what''s good."


    As they ate, a few more people gathered around, taking pictures of the car and asionally ncing over at the two friends.


    But Noah and Aiden paid them no mind,pletely focused on their meal and the conversation between them.


    "So," Aiden said after a while, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. "You really are full of surprises, Noah. First, you ace that history question, and now this. What''s next? Are you going to tell me you''ve secretly been a millionaire this whole time?"


    Noah smirked, wiping his hands on a napkin. "Would you believe me if I said yes?"


    Aiden snorted, shaking his head. "At this point, I''m not sure what to believe anymore."


    Noah leaned back, gazing at the Lamborghini parked nearby as the sun began to set.


    Aiden raised an eyebrow, looking at his friend with a mix of curiosity and anticipation. "Well, whatever happens, just make sure you don''t forget about your best friend, alright?"


    As they finished their meal, Noah stood up and made his way to the food stall to settle the bill.


    Uncle Ben waved him off with a warm smile. "It''s on the house, Noah. Don''t worry about it. Consider it an early graduation gift."


    Even though Uncle Ben had seen Noah and Aiden arrive in a Lamborghini, he assumed it belonged to Aiden, who had been driving. He knew Noah''s background well and figured Noah was just treating his friend to dinner.


    Given that Noah was a good kid and a friend to his daughter, Uncle Ben decided to cover the cost.


    Noah felt a wave of warmth in his heart. Uncle Ben had always been kind to him, often giving him discounts when he stopped by. But he wasn''t about to let the old man cover the bill this time.


    With a yful smile, Noah said, "It''s not me paying, Uncle. It''s this rich guy here. Go ahead and take the bill from him¡ªhe''s decided to give you a big tip."


    Noah handed over the money, making sure Uncle Ben got a good look at it. The bill was only $5, but Noah handed him $205, leaving Uncle Ben momentarily speechless.


    Uncle Ben''s eyes widened in shock as he looked at the money. "Thank you, young man! This is too much!" he said, turning to Aiden, who was standing there, utterly confused.


    It took a moment for Aiden to realize what Noah had done. When it finally clicked, he gave Noah a mock re, but he couldn''t helpughing along with Uncle Ben.


    Aiden, still chuckling at Noah''s yful trick, decided to roll with it. "Well, Uncle Ben," he said, trying to sound serious, " Make sure you give me a discount next time Ie by, alright? This ce is too good to pass up, and my belly definitely approves!"


    Uncle Benughed heartily, shaking his head. "You''ve got a deal, young man. Just don''t forget to bring Noah along¡ªI might have to raise the prices otherwise!"


    Noah grinned at the exchange. The old man''s generosity and Aiden''s lightheartedness made the moment feel special.


    As they walked away from the skewer van, Noah nced back at Uncle Ben, who was still smiling and gave him a small wave.


    Aiden patted his stomach contentedly as they headed back toward the Lamborghini. "I swear, Noah, that might''ve been the best meal I''ve had in a while. Who knew rich people like us could enjoy street food this much?" He nudged Noah with a grin.


    Noah shook his head,ughing at his friend''s antics. "Yeah, well, sometimes the best things in life are the simplest ones."


    Aiden nodded in agreement. "I''m with you on that, man. But next time, I''m also going to be the one driving. That way, I can pretend to be the rich guy again."


    They both burst outughing as they climbed into the Lamborghini, ready for whatever the rest of the day had in store for them.


    On the way back Noah, was the one driving. He dropped off Aiden at his house first.


    "Thanks for the ride Noah, I enjoyed it. Make sure you invite me every day" Aiden said with a grin on his face.


    "Piss off, are you my wife to be hanging out with me every day." Noah said with a smile on his face.


    Hearing Noah say that, Aiden started acting like he was shot by a bullet.


    "I- I Thought we were more than that!" Aiden said, with his hand clutching his heart.


    "Piss off," Aiden said whilstughing, and drove off.


    Aidenughed as he saw the car drive off, then went inside his house.


    As Noah was driving, he decided to go visit Sarah.


    "She is going to be my wife soon after all," Noah muttered with a low voice, as a grin appeared on his face.

 Chapter 9: A Date

    <h4>Chapter 9: A Date</h4>


    The evening was quiet, with only the soft hum of the television breaking the silence in the living room. La was upstairs in her room, engrossed in her own world, while her mother, Sarah, sat on the couch, feeling the boredom settle in. They had finished dinner an hour ago, and now, dressed in her elegant yetfortable ck silk pyjamas, Sarah found herself staring nkly at the TV, her mind wandering about yesterday''s events.


    <i>"Ding-dong"</i>


    The sudden sound of the doorbell pulled her out of her thoughts. She nced toward the door, curiosity piqued. "Who could that be at this hour?" she wondered, thinking it might be one of La''s friends dropping by.


    Sarah got up and walked to the door, peeking through the eye lens. What she saw made her heart skip a beat. Standing outside was Noah, looking as handsome as ever. Her initial shock quickly turned into a flutter of emotions she couldn''t quite ce.


    "Noah!" she whispered, slightly taken aback. A pang of disappointment hit her as she assumed he was here for La, thinking, "He''s probably here to talk to her since they didn''t get a chancest time." Despite herself, a small, sad smile tugged at her lips.


    "Why am I feeling this way?" she thought, her hand subconsciously clutching her chest where she felt a dull ache. <i>"It must be work stress,"</i> she reasoned, trying to push the confusing emotions aside.


    With aposed expression, she opened the door, greeting him with a warm, albeit slightly mncholy smile. "Hello, Noah. Here for La?" she asked, her voice carrying a tone of sadness she hadn''t intended to reveal.


    Noah''s response took herpletely by surprise. He smiled, his eyes locking onto hers, and said, "No, I''m here for you." His words were straightforward, but the way he looked at her made her heart race.


    Sarah''s cheeks flushed a deep shade of red, and she quickly averted her gaze, trying to hide her embarrassment. "Rascal," she muttered silently, attempting to sound scolding but failing to mask the warmth in her voice. She turned away, trying to collect herself, but Noah wasn''t done.


    Stepping closer, he gently took her chin and tilted her face back toward him, his touch sending a shiver down her spine. "Get ready," he said softly, his voice leaving no room for refusal. "We''re going out."


    Sarah''s heart pounded in her chest, her ears turning a rosy red as she found herself nodding in agreement. "Mhm," she managed to squeak out before hastily retreating to her room, her movements almostical in her flustered state.


    As she disappeared down the hallway, Noah couldn''t help but smile to himself.


    As Sarah hurried to her room to get ready, Noah casually stepped inside the house, making himself at home on the cozy couch.


    He nced around the living room, immediately struck by the fresh, floral scent that lingered in the air. The aroma was light, soothing, and unmistakably feminine.


    Taking a deep breath, he couldn''t help but smile. "It smells like fresh flowers in here," he mused aloud, the pleasant fragrance adding to his growing admiration for Sarah. "She really is quite the housewife," he thought with a grin, appreciating the attention to detail that had gone into making the room feel so inviting.


    His eyes wandered over the living room, noting how everything was perfectly in ce. The cushions were fluffed, the coffee table was spotless, and even the small decorations seemed thoughtfully arranged. It was clear that Sarah took pride in her home, and Noah found himself appreciating this side of her even more.


    Settling back onto the couch, he let out a contented sigh. This evening was already off to a good start.


    A few minutester, Sarah emerged from her room, wearing a long, elegant ck dress that flowed gracefully down to her ankles.


    The dress, simple yet stunning, perfectly highlighted her mature beauty. The ck fabric contrasted beautifully against her fair skin, giving her an ethereal glow.


    Her light brown hair cascaded down in soft waves, framing her face and adding to the allure of her look. Her ocean blue eyes were unable to stand still, jumping from one ce to another revealing her deep emotions.


    There was something undeniably captivating about the way she carried herself¡ªpoised, and graceful, yet with a hint of nervousness that made her even more enchanting.


    As she stepped into the living room, Noah''s gaze locked onto her, unable to tear his eyes away. He stared at her with an intensity that made Sarah blush deeply, her heart racing under his predatory gaze. She felt both ttered and shy, a warmth spreading through her as Noah''s eyes roved over her form, taking in every detail like a wolf eyeing its prey.


    In Noah''s mind, a single thought echoed: "She''s quite conservative." A grin tugged at the corner of his lips as he admired her modest yet alluring appearance. <i>I like it,</i> he thought, his possessiveness ring up.


    "You are Mine." He silently muttered, whilst looking at her.


    His jealousy surged as he imagined anyone else daring to look at her the way he was now.


    "Did you say something?" she said, while still fidgeting like a shy little girl.


    "No, let''s go?" He said with a smile he couldn''t hide.


    She nodded, waiting for him to take the lead.


    Seeing her standing there, he couldn''t help but like her even more.


    "Did you say something?" Sarah asked, her voice soft and tinged with curiosity. She fidgeted nervously, her cheeks flushed under his scrutinizing gaze.


    "No, let''s go?" Noah replied, a smile tugging at his lips that he couldn''t quite hide. His eyes, however, remained fixed on her, the warmth of his smile unable to conceal the depth of his feelings.


    Sarah nodded, her own smile shy but eager, as she waited for him to lead the way. Seeing her stand there, looking both elegant and endearing, only made Noah''s affection for her grow stronger. He extended his hand, offering it to her with a gentle, inviting gesture.


    As they walked out together, Noah couldn''t help but steal nces at her. The sight of her, so gracefully dressed and so attentively by his side, filled him with a sense of satisfaction.


    As Sarah settled into the luxurious leather seat of the Lamborghini, adjusting her small bag on herp, she looked at Noah with a curious smile.


    "So, where are we going?" she asked, her eyes reflecting the soft glow of the car''s interior lights.


    Before Noah could respond, a familiar chime resonated in his mind:


    <strong>[Ding! Ultimate Choice System activated!]</strong>


    <strong>Option 1: Roam the city again. [Reward: +10 Affection and Basic Travel& Tourism skill]</strong>


    <strong>Option 2: Go to a fancy restaurant. [Reward: +15 Affection and $25,000]</strong>


    <strong>Option 3: Go to a racing track and dominate. [Reward: +20 Affection and $100,000]</strong>


    Noah nced at Sarah, who was waiting expectantly. Her curiosity only made her more charming.


    "Option 3!" Noah silently mutters in his mind.


    <strong>[Ding! $100,000 was Rewarded to the Bank ount ending in xx04. Current Bnce $158,820]</strong>


    <strong>[Ding! +20 Affection will be rewarded when the host dominates the track!]</strong>


    looking at the system reward, Noah showed a puzzled look for a second then hid it.


    "It seems like, the system doesn''t alter the person''s affection to me. But the action I take will result in me gaining affection!" Noah realised as he thought about it.


    "That''s better, I don''t want her to love me just because the system made her affection higher, she will be my wife after all." he thought, as he stared at Sarah who was waiting for him to tell her their destination.


    "Nope, that''s a secret!" Noah said, his mischievous smile widening as he nced at her.


    "Rascal," she muttered, this time a bit louder, her cheeks flushing slightly. Her gaze was fixed outside the window, but the corners of her mouth twitched up in a reluctant smile.


    Noah couldn''t help butugh at her reaction. The sound was warm and genuine, a contrast to the thrill of the night. "It''s not funny!" Sarah said, her voice carrying a faint pout as she continued to look out the window, trying to hide her amusement.


    "Trust me," Noah said, his voice softening as he turned to nce at her. "You''re gonna love where we''re going."

 Chapter 10: The Racing Track

    <h4>Chapter 10: The Racing Track</h4>


    "Trust me," Noah said, his voice softening as he turned to nce at her. "You''re gonna love where we''re going."


    Soon enough, they arrived at their destination. Noah turned into a well-lit parking lot, and as the car slowed to a stop, Sarah''s eyes widened in surprise and delight.


    "Wee to the racing track!" Noah announced, stepping out of the car and opening the door for her with a flourish.


    Sarah stepped out, looking around in awe. "How did you know I like watching races? Did La tell you before?" she asked, her voice filled with excitement.


    Noah shook his head with a smile. "Nope, just a lucky guess."


    As she processed his answer, a thought suddenly struck Sarah, and her excitement dimmed a bit. "Oh no, I forgot to tell La I was going out!" she eximed, her hand instinctively reaching for her phone.


    Before she could make the call, Noah gently took her hand. "It''s okay," he said reassuringly. "Just text her that you went out for a bit and you''ll be back soon. No need to worry."


    Sarah looked at him for a moment, her initial worry subsiding as she saw the calm confidence in his eyes. With a nod, she quickly typed out a message to La, letting her know she''d be back soon.


    Once she sent the text, Noah took her hand again, this time leading her towards the spectators'' area. The racing track was surprisingly full, with a lineup of sleek, powerful cars ready topete.


    Among them were models like the Porsche 911, Ford Mustang, and Corvette, their engines already rumbling with anticipation.


    Noah''s Lamborghini naturally caught the attention of everyone around. Spectators and racers alike started whispering, specting if this neer was about to join thepetition.


    One of the racers, a young man who looked every bit the part of a wealthy second-generation heir, approached Noah. His eyes gleamed with admiration as he took in the sight of the Lamborghini.


    "Nice ride, man," the guy said, extending a hand. "I''m Jackson, by the way. Porsche 911 over there is mine."


    Noah shook his hand, exchanging introductions. Jackson seemed to be in his early twenties, with the confident,id-back demeanour of someone who had been around fast cars his whole life.


    "I''ve always wanted a Lambo like yours," Jackson continued his tone a mix of admiration and frustration. "But I don''t have enough pocket money right now. Crashed myst car¡ªa Ferrari¡ªso my dad shed my allowance. Total bummer."


    Noah chuckled, nodding in understanding. "Yeah, it''s a tough break."


    "So, you gonna join the races tonight?" Jackson asked, curiosity clear in his voice.


    "I''m just here to watch for a bit, maybeter," Noah replied with a casual shrug.


    Jackson nodded, a hint ofpetitive spirit in his eyes. "Well, if you do decide to jump in, see you on the track. I''m racing in all the heats tonight."


    As Jackson walked back to his Porsche, Sarah looked at Noah with a mixture of excitement and curiosity. "Are you really thinking about racing?" she asked.


    "Maybe," Noah replied with a grin, his eyes scanning the track. "But for now, let''s just enjoy the show."


    As the anticipation for the race built up, vendors began moving through the crowd, selling snacks and drinks to the eager spectators. Noah spotted a vendor with popcorn and drinks and turned to Sarah with a smile.


    "Popcorn and a drink for thedy?" he asked, already making his way toward the vendor.


    Sarah nodded with a grin. "Sounds perfect."


    Noah returned a momentter, handing her a cup of soda and a bag of popcorn before taking a seat beside her. They settled in, the roar of engines filling the air as the cars lined up at the starting point.


    The track itself was a sight to behold. Set on a winding hill, it featured sharp bends and steep inclines, making it a challenging and dangerous course even for the most experienced drivers.


    The narrow paths and sudden drops added to the thrill, making it the perfect venue for adrenaline-pumping races that kept the spectators on the edge of their seats.


    "Look at those turns," Noah remarked, pointing at the sharp curves that snaked around the hillside. "One wrong move, and you''re off the track."


    Sarah nodded, her eyes glued to the course. "That''s what makes it so exciting, though. The danger keeps everyone on their toes."


    The crowd around them buzzed with excitement, and snippets of conversations floated through the air as people discussed their predictions for the race.


    "I''ve got my money on the guy in the Mustang," one spectator said to his friend. "He''s been killing ittely. No one can beat him on the bends."


    "Nah, the Porsche 911 has got this," another chimed in. "That car was made for tracks like this. Jackson''s been practising here all week."


    A group of young fans behind Noah and Sarah were excitedly discussing the drivers'' skills. "Did you see how the Corvette handled those curvesst time? It''s like the car was glued to the road!"


    "Yeah, but the Lamborghini could definitely surprise everyone," another fan argued. "If the driver''s got the guts, that car could take the win."


    Noah chuckled, enjoying the energy of the crowd. "Seems like everyone''s got a favourite."


    Sarah nodded, taking a sip of her drink. "It''s fun to see how passionate people get about this. Makes you want to root for someone too."


    Just then, the announcer''s voice boomed over the loudspeakers, signalling the start of the race. The engines revved loudly, a deafening roar that vibrated through the stands as the cars lined up at the start.


    "Here we go," Noah said, leaning forward slightly, the thrill of the race gripping him.


    The g dropped, and the cars surged forward, speeding down the straightaway before hitting the first sharp turn. The Mustang took an early lead, drifting around the bend with precision, but the Porsche 911 was right on its tail, expertly navigating the curves.


    As the race continued, the drivers pushed their cars to the limit, tyres screeching against the asphalt as they battled for position. The crowd erupted in cheers and gasps with every close call, the dangerous bends and steep drops keeping everyone on the edge of their seats.


    Noah nced at Sarah, who was watching with wide eyes,pletely absorbed in the action. He smiled, d to see her enjoying herself so much.


    The race intensified as the Mustang and Porsche 911 went toe-to-toe, each car maneuvering with remarkable skill through the sharp turns and steep inclines. The spectators were on their feet, their cheers mixing with the roar of the engines as the two cars fought for the lead. It was impossible to tell who woulde out on top as they approached the final stretch.


    Both cars sped toward the finish line, side by side, engines screaming as they pushed to the limit. The crowd held its breath as the two cars crossed the line in what seemed to be a dead heat.


    Tension was in the air, and everyone around the track leaned forward, straining to see the result.


    Noah, however, leaned back with a calm smile. "The Porsche won. It was faster by a few milliseconds," he said, his voice confident.


    A man behind him scoffed. "Hmph, no one saw it yet, and you''re iming you saw a difference of milliseconds? Who do you think you are?"


    Noah turned and shed a smile. "We''ll see."


    Momentster, the announcer''s voice crackled through the speakers, "We''re doing a VAR check on the finish. Please stand by."


    The tension mounted as the officials reviewed the footage in slow motion. Finally, the screen disyed the result: the Porsche had indeed won, crossing the finish line just a fraction of a second before the Mustang.


    The crowd erupted in cheers, though the man behind Noah snorted dismissively. "Lucky guess."


    Noah simply chuckled, turning his attention back to Sarah. "Wanna participate in the next race?" he asked, his eyes gleaming with mischief.


    Sarah looked at him, her face lighting up with excitement but quickly turning to concern. "Do you really know how to drive on fast tracks? It''s dangerous. I don''t want you to ce yourself in danger for a race."


    "Don''t worry," Noah reassured her, his grin widening. "I won''t go too fast, just having some fun."


    In his mind, however, Noah was already plotting how he''d blow past those amateur drivers. With his intermediate driving skills, on par with the best pro racers, he knew he could dominate the track. It would be a waste not to showcase what he could do, especially in front of Sarah.


    This wasn''t just about winning¡ªit was about showing her that she could trust him, even in the most thrilling and dangerous situations.


    Sarah hesitated for a moment, then smiled, her excitement winning out. "Alright, let''s do it. But promise me, you''ll be careful."


    "Promise," Noah said, though his grin betrayed his real intentions. This was going to be more than just fun¡ªit was going to be unforgettable.

 Chapter 11: A Professional F1 Driver?

    <h4>Chapter 11: A Professional F1 Driver?</h4>


    With an hour to spare before the next race, Noah and Sarah decided to make the most of their time.


    They wandered around the racing track, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling area. The atmosphere was electric, with fans discussing the previous race, drivers fine-tuning their cars, and vendors selling various racing memorabilia.


    Noah suggested they check out some of the high-end cars on disy, which were drawing quite a crowd. They walked past a line of sleek vehicles, their polished exteriors gleaming under the track lights. Sarah, intrigued by the variety of cars, asked questions about the different models, and Noah happily shared what he knew, keeping the conversation light and engaging.


    The Intermediate Driving skill¡ªgave him immense knowledge of everything about cars, including the brands and specifications.


    As they reached a more secluded area near the edge of the track, Noah spotted a small photo booth set up for couples to take pictures with the racing track in the background. It was a simple setup but charming in its own way.


    He nudged Sarah yfully. "How about we take a picture? Something to remember the night by?"


    Sarah smiled, a little surprised but pleased by the idea. "Sure, why not?"


    They stepped into the booth, and as the camera clicked, Sarah found herselfughing at Noah''s silly poses. The final shot captured them bothughing, a moment of pure, unguarded joy.


    With the time flying by faster than they expected, they soon heard the announcement for the next race. Excitement bubbled up inside Noah as they made their way back to his Lamborghini.


    He had already informed Jackson, the Porsche owner they met earlier, that he would be participating. Jackson, eager to see the Lamborghini in action, had signed Noah up for the race with a sense of anticipation. He was curious about the mysterious owner''s skills, he had never seen him before and he knew most of the wealthy people in Birmingham.


    As they approached the car, Sarah felt a mixture of excitement and nerves. Noah noticed her expression and squeezed her hand reassuringly. "This is going to be fun," he said, his voice steady and calming.


    They climbed into the Lamborghini, the sleek interior enveloping them in luxury. As they drove towards the starting line, Noah could feel the adrenaline beginning to pump through his veins.


    The atmosphere at the track was electric, the air thick with anticipation. The roar of engines, like caged beasts waiting to be unleashed, sent vibrations through the ground and into the bones of every spectator. People leaned forward in their seats, eyes locked on the starting line where the racers were lined up, engines revving in a chorus of power and raw energy. Among them, Noah''s Lamborghini stood out like a predator among prey, its sleek, ck exterior gleaming under the floodlights.


    Sarah sat beside Noah, her heart pounding as she nced around at the other cars¡ªPorsches, Mustangs, and a few others she didn''t recognize, all powerful machines ready to tear up the track. She had never been this close to a race before, and the intensity of it all was overwhelming.


    "Noah, are you sure about this?" she asked, her voiceced with worry. "This track... it looks dangerous."


    Noah shot her a reassuring smile, his hand resting casually on the gear shift. "Rx, Sarah. We''re here to have fun."


    But the minute the countdown began, her heart rate spiked. The lights shed from red to green, and the cars took off with a deafening roar. The sudden eleration pinned her back against the seat, and she instinctively gripped the edge of her seat, her knuckles turning white.


    The Lamborghini surged forward, effortlessly overtaking several cars within seconds. The engine''s roar was a deep, guttural sound, like a lion announcing its dominance.


    The track was a serpentine path of asphalt, winding through steep hills and sharp bends, known for testing the limits of even the most experienced drivers.


    As the Lamborghini elerated, Sarah''s fear spiked. "Noah, slow down! This is too fast!"


    But Noah''s response was only a grin, his focus razor-sharp on the road ahead. The car was now moving at a terrifying speed, the world outside a blur of motion and colour.


    The other racers were struggling to keep up, their engines screaming in protest as they pushed their cars to the limit.


    The first fewps were intense. The crowd''s excitement was unmatched, their cheers and gasps echoing across the track.


    Every turn was a battle, every straightaway an opportunity for someone to gain the upper hand.


    But Noah''s Lamborghini was in a league of its own, its sheer power and speed leaving the other cars behind.


    As they approached the infamous sharp bend, the tension in the air thickened. This was the curve that had imed many overconfident drivers, the one that separated the skilled from the reckless.


    All racers would decelerate, taking the turn with caution. But as they neared the bend, Noah did the opposite¡ªhe elerated.


    Sarah''s eyes widened in terror. "Noah, no! Slow down!"


    But Noah''s foot remained firmly on the gas, the speedometer climbing dangerously high. The Lamborghini hurtled toward the bend, the crowd''s cheers turning into cries of rm.


    People stood up from their seats, their hearts in their throats as they watched the car approach the curve at breakneck speed.


    "He''s trying to die with that beautiful woman!" shouted the man Noah had spoken to earlier, his voice a mix of panic and disbelief.


    But Noah''s expression was calm, almost serene, as he approached the bend. At thest possible second, he jerked the wheel, sending the Lamborghini into a wless drift.


    The car''s rear tires screeched as they skidded across the asphalt, the body of the car swinging out in a controlled slide.


    Sarah squeezed her eyes shut, as she braced for impact. But instead of crashing, the car seemed to glide effortlessly through the curve, the drift executed with a precision that left the crowd speechless.


    The Lamborghini emerged from the bend unscathed, seamlessly transitioning back to full speed as if nothing had happened.


    The silence that followed was deafening, the entire crowd frozen in shock. Then, like a wave crashing onto the shore, the cheers erupted. The spectators were on their feet, chanting and shouting in disbelief and awe.


    "Did you see that? He''s got to be an F1 driver!"


    "No way a regr guy could pull off a drift like that!"


    Sarah slowly opened her eyes, her breath catching as she realized they were still alive¡ªand more than that, they were leading the race. She turned to Noah, her heart still pounding in her chest.


    He nced at her, a wide grin on his face, his eyes sparkling with adrenaline.


    "Told you we''d have fun," he said, his voice light as if they hadn''t just escaped death.


    Behind them, Jackson, who had slowed down considerably before the bend, could only watch in awe as the Lamborghini sped away.


    He had known this race would be intense, but he hadn''t expected to be racing against someone with skills like this. Noah was no amateur¡ªhe was a master behind the wheel.


    The race continued with everyp bringing more thrills, the Lamborghini cutting through the track like a de.


    The crowd''s energy fed into the atmosphere, each manoeuvre by Noah drawing gasps and cheers.


    The other drivers were pushing their limits, but none could match the precision and daring of the Lamborghini''s driver.


    As the finish line loomed ahead, the crowd was in a frenzy. The speed, the danger, and the sheer audacity of the race had them on the edge of their seats, their eyes glued to the track.


    Noah''s finalp was a disy of mastery, each turn executed wlessly, the car roaring down the straightaway with a ferocity that left the other racers in its dust.


    The Lamborghini crossed the finish line first, the crowd erupting into wild apuse. Sarah, her fear finally ebbing away, found herselfughing, the adrenaline still coursing through her veins.


    Noah, too, wasughing, the exhration of the race leaving him almost giddy.


    "You were amazing," she said, her voice filled with a mix of admiration and disbelief.


    Noah grinned, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "I told you, didn''t I? Just a bit of fun."


    The crowd''s chants of "F1 driver!" and "Unbelievable!" followed them as they slowed down, the race over but the excitement still buzzing in the air.


    For everyone who had watched, it was a race they would never forget¡ªa night of speed, danger, and a driver who seemed to defy the veryws of physics.


    A few minutester, Jackson crossed the finish line. He immediately left the car, and went towards Noah who was leaning on the Lamborghini with Sarah next to him.


    "You are unbelievable, are you an F1 Driver? I haven''t seen you in tournaments before." Said Jackson, with excitement brimming in his voice.


    "Nope, I''m just a casual driver."


    Hearing him say that, Jackson''s face twitched slightly. But he couldn''t help but admire the young man in front of him.


    "Powerful and lowkey,plete opposite of the rich second generations in Birmingham." Jackson thought with admiration.


    "Can we exchange contacts, I would like to make friends," said Jackson, with a smile on his face.


    "Sure." Noah said, as he gave him his phone number.


    Looking at Noah''s run-down phone.


    Jackson went to his Porsche and took out a white bag that had a bitten apple logo on it.


    "Here, this is the reward for winning the race." Jackson, said as he handed Noah a bag with 2 iPhone 15 Pro Max.


    Looking at him with an eyebrow raised, Noah knew that Jackson was just trying to form a connection.


    Deciding to ept his gesture, he takes the bag.


    "Thanks," says Noah.


    After exchanging details and hanging out for a bit.


    Noah excused himself from Jackson and then left with Sarah.


    Looking at the Lamborghini in the distance, Jackson felt determined.


    "It seems like he realised I was trying to get closer to him, yet he still took the gift even though it''s not much."


    "What an interesting person..."

 Chapter 12: You are Mine

    <h4>Chapter 12: You are Mine</h4>


    As Noah and Sarah drove away from the race track, the atmosphere in the car was rxed but tinged with a sense of excitement from the adrenaline-fueled evening.


    <strong>[Ding! +20 Affection is rewarded]</strong>


    <strong>[Sarah''s Affection: 80/100]</strong>


    <strong>Affection Levels : </strong>


    <strong> 0: Enemies With Deep Hatred </strong>


    <strong> 10-40: Hate </strong>


    <strong> 50: Stranger </strong>


    <strong> 60: Friend </strong>


    <strong> 70: Close Friend </strong>


    <strong> 80: Love </strong>


    <strong> 90: Partner, Absolute Love </strong>


    <strong> 100: Perfect Love, Forever Loyal.</strong><strong></strong>


    <strong></strong>Looking at Sarah''s affection for him, Noah felt relieved.


    He really liked the woman and wanted her to be his wife. Not just because of the system choice.


    Sarah, still buzzing from the thrill of the race, nced curiously at the white bag resting on Noah''sp.


    "What''s in the bag?" she asked, her eyes narrowing in curiosity.


    "Open it and see." Noah said, with a slight smile on his face whilst driving.


    Sarah opened the bag slightly, revealing two brand-new iPhone 15 Pro Max phones inside. Sarah''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "Jackson gave these to you? Just like that?" she asked, incredulous.


    "Yeah," Noah replied casually, a slight grin on his face. "For people like him, this is just pocket money. It''s how they make connections in the high-ss circles."


    Sarah nodded slowly, processing this. She had always known that wealthy people lived differently, but seeing it in action was something else entirely.


    "That makes sense, I guess," she said thoughtfully. "It''s just... a bit shocking how generous he was to someone he just met."


    "Well, it''s all part of the game," Noah replied, shrugging. "Connections mean everything in that world."


    The car fell into afortable silence for a moment before Sarah nced at the time on the dashboard. It was 8:30 PM, and the sky outside was darkening.


    "Where are we going now?" she asked, her voice tinged with slight concern. "It''s getting a bitte. Shouldn''t we be heading home?"


    Noah shot her a yful look, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Why, are you worried I might eat you like a big bad wolf?" he teased.


    Sarah blushed furiously, quickly looking away to hide her embarrassment. "N-no! I just... was curious, that''s all," she stammered, trying to regain herposure.


    Noahughed softly, enjoying her reaction. "Don''t worry, I''m not that kind of guy. We''re just going to the Bitten Apple store. I want to buy something."


    Sarah sighed in relief, though her cheeks were still slightly flushed. "Oh, okay. That sounds... normal."


    A short whileter, they arrived at the Bitten Apple store, a sleek, modern building withrge ss windows showcasing thetest gadgets.


    As they entered, the store was rtively empty, with only a few customers browsing the aisles. It was close to closing time, and the staff were clearly winding down for the day.


    As Noah and Sarah walked in, they were approached by an older attendant named rissa, who eyed Noah''s school uniform with a look of disdain. With her arms crossed, she spoke to him in a curt, dismissive tone. "Hurry up, kid. We''re closing soon."


    Noah didn''t even bother responding to her rudeness, simply walking past her with a calm demeanor. Sarah gave the woman a disapproving nce before following Noah.


    Deeper into the store, they were greeted by a younger attendant named Lily, who approached with a bright, weing smile. "Hi there! Can I help you with anything?" she asked, her tone warm and friendly.


    Before Noah could answer, rissa appeared behind Lily, her expression sour. "Lily, don''t waste your time. Kids like him juste in here to mess around. He''s not going to buy anything."


    Lily nced at rissa, then back at Noah, her smile unwavering. "It''s okay, rissa. I''m happy to help."


    rissa rolled her eyes, clearly sceptical, but didn''t argue further. She lingered nearby, watching with a judgmental gaze.


    Noah turned to Lily, appreciating her professionalism. "I''d like to buy Two iPhone 15 Pro Max, three sets of Apple AirPods Pro Max, and two 16-inch MacBook Pro M3 Maxptops."


    Lily blinked in surprise at therge order but quickly regained herposure. "Of course," she said, her fingers flying over the store''s tablet as she began entering the items. "That will be... let''s see... around $9,000 for the two MacBooks, $3,900 for the iPhones, and $1,500 for the AirPods. So, $14,400 total."


    rissa, overhearing the amount, let out a loud snort. "He''s just showing off in front of the woman. No way is he actually going to buy all that."


    Ignoring her, Lily continued with a smile. "What colours would you like?"


    Noah turned to Sarah, giving her a soft smile. "I want one of everything in ck. What''s your favourite colour?" he asked.


    Still dazed by the amount of money being spent, Sarah responded almost automatically. "White," she said softly.


    Lily nodded and noted down the colours. rissa, watching from the side, crossed her arms and gave Noah a scrutinizing look. "He''s not going to buy anything," she muttered under her breath, loud enough for them to hear.


    Once Lily had prepared the order, she looked up at Noah. "Okay, your total is $14,400," she said, her tone polite but with a hint of curiosity as she watched him.


    "Make it $15,000. Consider the rest your tip," Noah had said, his voice calm andposed.


    "Thank you, Sir. Thedy here is very lucky to have you as her boyfriend," Lily responded, her smile widening as she processed what had just happened. It was a rare urrence for anyone, let alone someone so young, to leave such a generous tip.


    Noah''s smile remained steady as he corrected her gently, "She isn''t my girlfriend."


    The air between them shifted slightly, Lily''s expression turning awkward as she realized her mistake. "Oh, sorry, sir," she mumbled, her confidence faltering for a moment.


    Noah''s response was smooth and reassuring, "It''s okay." His smile was warm, but there was a calm finality in his tone.


    Noah calmly pulled out his card and swiped it through the reader. The machine beeped, and the green light shed¡ªpayment approved.


    Lily handed him the receipt with a bright smile. "Thank you for your purchase! Your items will be ready shortly."


    "Make sure you ce the ck-coloured items in one bag, and the white in another bag."


    rissa, her face a mask of disbelief, could only stare as the transactionpleted smoothly. She muttered something under her breath, then walked away, clearly annoyed that she had been proven wrong.


    Sarah, standing beside him, tried to keep her expression neutral, but the words echoed in her mind, each onending with a little more weight than thest.


    <i>''She isn''t my girlfriend.''</i>


    The ache in her heart was sudden and unexpected, a small pang of sadness that she couldn''t quite exin.


    She found herself looking down, the bags in her hands suddenly feeling heavier. A part of her knew that they were just words, but they still lingered, leaving a subtle sting behind. She tried to shake off the feeling, but it clung to her, a small cloud shadowing her thoughts.


    Noah, noticing her silence, turned to Sarah, his gaze softening. "You okay?" he asked, his voice gentle as if sensing the slight shift in her mood.


    Sarah quickly stered on a smile, not wanting to let on how she felt. "Yeah, I''m fine," she replied, her tone light but not quite convincing.


    Noah studied her for a moment longer, then nodded, letting it go. "Alright, let''s get going then."


    As they walked out of the store, Sarah''s thoughts kept circling back to that moment. She wasn''t sure why it affected her so much, but it did.


    As they drove away from the Bitten Apple Store, Sarah tried to convince herself that it didn''t matter. She was older than Noah, and whatever momentary connection she felt was just a fleeting emotion, something that shouldn''t linger.


    But the ache in her chest refused to disappear, persisting despite her attempts to dismiss it.


    "Can you drop me off at my house?" Sarah asked, her voice soft as they neared her neighbourhood.


    "Sure," Noah replied easily.


    The drive was quiet, the earlier banter reced by a heavy silence. When they finally pulled up in front of her house, Sarah quickly unbuckled her seatbelt, eager to escape the confusing swirl of emotions. "Thanks for tonight, Noah. I''ll see youter," she said, reaching for the door handle.


    But before she could get out, Noah gently caught her arm. "You forgot something," he said, his voice low.


    Sarah turned back to him, confusion flickering in her eyes. Noah held up the bag from the Apple Store, shaking it lightly.


    She hesitated, her earlier sadness resurfacing. "I''m not your girlfriend or rtive, so why would you give me this?" she asked, her voice tinged with the hurt she was trying to hide.


    Noah''s expression softened, and he smiled. "You''re right, you''re not my girlfriend."


    He paused, letting the words hang in the air for a moment. Then, with a grin, he added, "You''re mine. You''re gonna be my wife."


    Sarah''s heart skipped a beat, her pulse quickening as his words sank in. Her cheeks flushed deep red as she tried to process what he''d just said.


    Noah leaned in closer, closing the car door again with a deliberate motion, trapping her in the moment with him.


    "Why do you think I went to the Apple Store?" he continued, his voice taking on a possessive edge. "I could''ve just given you one of the phones Jackson gave me. But you are mine. Only I can give you things. No other man can."


    The protective jealousy in his tone was unmistakable, sending a shiver down Sarah''s spine.


    Her blush deepened, spreading to the tips of her ears as she absorbed his words. "You...you are mine, got it?" Noah''s gaze locked onto hers, intense and unwavering.


    Sarah felt her heart race even faster, her mind swirling with emotions she hadn''t expected. Noah handed her a small piece of paper with his number on it. "Text me when you get home with your new phone," he said, his grin returning with a yful hint.


    Her blush was still very evident, Sarah managed to stammer, "I''m already here...you dropped me off."


    Noah chuckled at her flustered response. "Exactly. So, you''ll text me when you get inside."


    Sarah nodded her head quickly, almost like a scared chicken, still trying to grasp what had just transpired. Noah handed her the bag and then opened the door for her to step out.


    She took the bag, her fingers brushing against his for a brief moment before she got out of the car.


    As she walked to her door, she could feel his eyes on her, the weight of his possessive deration still heavy in her chest and mind.


    Once inside, she closed the door behind her, leaning against it as she tried to steady her racing heart.


    <strong>[Ding! Additional Rewards granted +5 Affection to Sarah]</strong>


    <strong>[Sarah''s Affection has Reached 85/100] </strong>


    Reading the system''s notifications, he couldn''t help but smile.


    Noah then drove a short distance away to the same parking lot to leave his car. After securing it, he ordered an Uber to take him home, his mind already reying the events of the evening with satisfaction.


    He knew he''d left a strong impression on Sarah, and he was more than content with how the night had turned out.

 Chapter 13: Basketball Court

    <h4>Chapter 13: Basketball Court</h4>


    Noah arrived home around 9:20 PM, the darkened sky outside signalling thete hour. It was early January, and the sun had already set around 6 PM, leaving the streets bathed in the dim glow of streetlights.


    As he stepped out of the car and approached his house, he noticed that the windows were dark. It wasn''t unusual¡ªhis parents often went to bed early.


    His dad had a demanding job, and coupled with his health issues, it meant that by 9 PM, both of his parents were typically already asleep.


    Noah quietly unlocked the front door and slipped inside. The house was silent, aforting stillness that he was ustomed to.


    He flicked on a smallmp near the entrance, casting a soft light across the room, careful not to disturb the peacefulness.


    As he moved through the house, he couldn''t shake the thoughts that had been weighing on his mind. The money he''d earned from the system was already significant, and it would only continue to grow.


    But how could he exin it to his parents? He couldn''t juste out and say that he had a system that made him rich. They would think he was lying or, worse, doing something illegal.


    He paused in the hallway, considering his options. The system was something he couldn''t reveal to anyone, not because he didn''t trust his parents, but because the potential consequences were too great.


    A slip-up could lead to questions he couldn''t answer, or worse, put them in danger.


    "I need a n," he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair. He knew that eventually, he would have toe up with a believable story, something that would satisfy his parents without raising suspicion.


    But for now, he needed to focus on more immediate concerns, like the uing mock exams he''d mentioned to them earlier as an excuse for being outte.


    Noah made his way to his room, the weight of his thoughts heavy on his shoulders. As he closed the door behind him, he resolved to figure out a way to introduce the money slowly, perhaps as earnings from an investment or a small business. Something that wouldn''t raise eyebrows.


    After mulling over his thoughts for a while, Noah decided to shake off the weight of his worries and head to the bathroom.


    The hot water of the shower was soothing, helping to clear his mind, and the familiar routine of brushing his teeth brought a sense of normalcy back to his evening.


    As he finished up, he nced at the clock on the wall and realized it was still only 10 PM. It wasn''t thatte after all.


    Back in his room, Noah sat on the edge of his bed and grabbed the white bag with the bitten apple logo on it. He carefully unboxed his new iPhone, the sleek device gleaming under the soft light of hismp.


    Setting it up didn''t take long, and soon enough, he was holding the brand-new phone in his hand, its high-resolution screen lighting up as he navigated through the setup process.


    With everything in ce, Noah leaned back against his pillows and began scrolling through social media. The endless stream of videos and posts provided a quick hit of dopamine, each swipe giving him a brief distraction from the thoughts that had been circling his mind earlier.


    He knew it wasn''t the healthiest way to wind down, but in that moment, it was what he needed. The bright screen and engaging content helped him detach, offering a temporary escape from reality.


    As the minutes ticked by, Noah found himself getting more and more absorbed in the content, his focus drifting as the videos yed.


    He barely noticed when his eyelids started to grow heavy, the fatigue of the day catching up to him. Eventually, his scrolling slowed, and without realizing it, he drifted off to sleep, the phone slipping from his hand and resting beside him on the bed.


    The soft glow of the phone screen illuminated his peaceful expression as a video continued to y, its sound barely audible in the quiet room.


    The day had been long and full of action, but now, in the stillness of the night, Noah finally found the rest he needed, his mind easing into dreand.


    Next day, Early Morning...


    Noah woke up feeling refreshed and full of energy. The good night''s sleep had done wonders for him, and as he went through his morning routine¡ªbrushing his teeth, washing his face¡ªhe felt ready to take on the day.


    He headed toward the living room, where his family always gathered for breakfast.


    As soon as he entered the room, his little sister Emily spotted him. Her eyes lit up, and she jumped out of her chair, running toward him with all the enthusiasm her small frame could muster. "Big Brother!!" she eximed, wrapping her arms around his waist.


    "Emily!" Noah replied, matching her excitement as he scooped her up in a hug. He lifted her off the ground for a moment before gently setting her back down. "Good morning," he said warmly, looking over at his parents who were already seated at the table.


    "Morning, Noah," his father replied with a nod, while his mother smiled warmly at the sight of her children together.


    Noah gently ced Emily back in her chair, ruffling her hair as he did. He took his seat at the table, but when he saw what was for breakfast¡ªcornkes again¡ªhis resolve to introduce his newfound wealth to his family strengthened. They deserved better.


    He decided to ease into the conversation. "Mom, Dad," he began, "Aiden and I have started a small business on the side. Aiden''s handling most of the upfront costs and some of the technical stuff, and I''m focusing on the skill side of things."


    His mother''s expression shifted to one of concern. "But Noah, you already have work on the weekends. If you add this to your schedule, it might hinder your studies," she said, her worry evident in her voice.


    "Don''t worry, Mom," Noah reassured her. "I quit my other job because we''ve already started making money from this business. It''s more than what I was earning from manualbour." realising that he still hasn''t called his boss to say he quit.


    His mother still looked worried, but his father intervened. "Leave him be, Caroline. He''s a grown man now, and he seems to be doing well for himself. Just make sure you don''t overdo it," his father said, taking a sip of his tea.


    Noah nodded in agreement, grateful for his father''s support. He quickly finished his breakfast alongside Emily, who chattered away about her day ahead.


    After finishing, Noah stood up, ruffling Emily''s hair onest time before heading out. "Bye, Mom, Dad," he called as he left the house.


    As they walked toward Emily''s school, Noah leaned down and whispered, "I got you a gift, Emily."


    "Really?" she gasped, her eyes widening with excitement. "What is it?"


    "It''s a secret," Noah teased, smiling at her eagerness. "I''ll give it to youter at home."


    Emily practically bounced with joy. "I can''t wait!" she squealed, holding his hand tightly as they continued walking.


    After dropping Emily off at school, Noah made his way to his first ss of the day: Physical Education.


    Arriving at the basketball court, Noah noticed that several students had already gathered, their chatter filling the crisp morning air.


    Among them were familiar faces¡ªAiden, who was already waving enthusiastically at him, the icy school flower Lily, standing off to the side with her usual cool demeanour, and Mark, who was ring at him from across the court.


    Mark''s friends were huddled close, whispering something that caused them to snicker, their eyes flickering toward Noah with clear disdain.


    Noah ignored the stares and made his way over to Aiden, who wasted no time inunching into a conversation. "Hey, Noah! Let''s hit up the skewer shop again after school today. I''ve been craving those skewers all night!" Aiden''s eyes lit up at the mere thought of his new favourite spot.


    Noah shook his head with a chuckle. "Chill, man. We can''t be going there every day. I''ve got something to work onter."


    Aiden pouted, putting on an exaggerated look of sadness. "You''re killing me, Noah. Skewers are life!"


    Noahughed, giving him a yful shove. "You''ll survive. Besides, we''ve got basketball today, pray that you are ced in my team otherwise, you are bound to lose."


    Aiden sighed dramatically but quickly shifted gears. "Yeah, about that... Do you think Coach is gonna make us run drills all period, or are we actually gonna y a game? I heard Mark''s been talking big like he''s gonna dominate the court today."


    Noah nced over at Mark, who was still throwing daggers his way with his eyes. "Let him talk," Noah said calmly. "We''ll see what happens on the court."


    As they spoke, the coach blew the whistle, signalling the start of the lesson. The students began to gather in a loose circle around him, anticipation buzzing in the air. Basketball was always a highlight in PE, and today seemed like it was going to be no different


    "Alright, everyone, warm up for the first 10 minutes! I want to see 5ps around the court, followed by 10 push-ups and 20 squats. And don''t forget to mix in some dynamic stretches¡ªprevention is better than cure!" Coach William''s voice rang out as he blew the whistle, signaling the start.


    The students immediately got moving. After just 5 minutes of running, Aiden was already struggling, his breathing in heavy gasps, and his belly jiggling with each step.


    Noah couldn''t resist a jab. "Aiden, you''ve got to work on that stamina. How are you going to fight or flee when it really counts?"


    Aiden shot back, his voice strained, "Shut up, Noah! It''s those skewers from yesterday. They threw me off."


    "Sure, me the skewers," Noah chuckled as he dropped down to start his push-ups.


    The warm-up flew by, and soon Coach William called them back in. "Alright, time''s up! Let''s get into teams."


    To Noah''s surprise, he found himself grouped with Aiden, Lily, and La, while Mark and his friends were lined up on the opposing team.


    Noah quickly brushed off any thoughts of La, focusing instead on the game ahead.


    The shrill st of Coach William''s whistle pierced the morning air, signalling that the game was about tomence. The two teams gathered at the centre of the court. Coach William pulled out a coin from his pocket to decide which team would start with possession.


    "Heads or tails?" Coach asked, looking between Noah and Mark.


    "Tails," Noah replied calmly.


    Coach flipped the coin high into the air, all eyes following its arc as it spun andnded deftly back into his palm. He revealed the result with a slight smirk. "Heads it is. Mark''s team starts."


    Mark''s lips curled into a smug grin as he grabbed the ball, his eyes locking onto Noah''s with a fierce intensity. Stepping closer, he leaned in and hissed, just loud enough for Noah to hear, "I''m going to humiliate you in front of everyone, Noah. Get ready to eat dust."


    As those words hung in the air, a familiar chime resonated in Noah''s mind, and a translucent screen appeared before his eyes, invisible to everyone else.


    <strong>[Ding! Ultimate Choice System Activated!]</strong>


    <strong>Option 1: Lose to Mark.</strong>


    <strong> <i>[Reward: -10 Affection with Lily]</i></strong>


    <strong>Option 2: Win against Mark but don''t humiliate him.</strong>


    <strong><i>[Reward: Basic Basketball Skills]</i></strong>


    <strong>Option 3: Humiliate Mark and destroy him.</strong>


    <strong><i>[Reward: Intermediate Basketball Skills and +5 Affection with Lily]</i></strong>


    Noah''s eyes scanned the options swiftly, his decision clear even before he finished reading. <i>Option 3,</i> he thought decisively.

 Chapter 14: Shocking Performance

    <h4>Chapter 14: Shocking Performance</h4>


    <strong><i>[Intermediate Basketball Skills Are Rewarded!]</i></strong><strong><i></i></strong>


    <strong>[+5 Affection Rewarded After Completion]</strong>


    A sudden surge of energy coursed through Noah''s body. He felt a flood of knowledge and muscle memory embed itself into his mind and limbs¡ªthe perfect shooting form, precise dribbling techniques, strategic ymaking, and an acute awareness of the court''s dynamics.


    It was as if years of intense basketball training had beenpressed and injected into him in a single instant. He felt that he was at the same level as Lebron, Jordan and Akashi.


    Noah rolled his shoulders, feeling the newfound agility and confidence settling into ce. He looked back at Mark, a calm yet intimidating smile forming on his lips. "We''ll see who gets humiliated today," he replied coolly.


    Mark scoffed, dribbling the ball arrogantly as he signalled for his teammates to spread out. The spectators around the court sensed the brewing rivalry and began to pay closer attention, murmurs of anticipation rippling through the crowd.


    The game kicked off with Mark''s team advancing aggressively. Mark attempted a swift drive towards the basket, confident in his ability to overpower Noah.


    But as he lunged forward, Noah matched his speed effortlessly, positioning himself perfectly to block Mark''s path.


    Surprised by Noah''s sudden agility, Mark hesitated for a split second¡ªa moment Noah seized without mercy. With lightning-fast reflexes, Noah swiped at the ball, stealing it cleanly from Mark''s grasp.


    The crowd erupted in surprised cheers as Noah sprinted down the court, dribbling with remarkable control.


    Aiden, eyes wide at his friend''s unexpected skill, rushed forward to support. Noah feinted a pass to Aiden, causing one of the opposing defenders tomit, before crossing over and cutting towards the hoop. With a powerful leap, he executed a wlessyup, the ball swishing through the with satisfying precision.


    "Two points for Noah''s team!" Coach William called out, clearly impressed.


    Lily at the back, looked at Noah with one of her eyebrows raised. Whilst, La was feeling conflicted.


    Mark''s team took possession of the ball. Noah''s earlier disy of skill had rattled Mark, and it was clear he was determined to reim control of the game.


    "Let''s see if you can keep up that luck, Noah," Mark sneered as he dribbled the ball, ring at Noah with barely concealed hostility. "One good y doesn''t make you a star."


    Noah remained calm, his eyes steady on Mark. "Luck? I don''t need luck to handle you."


    Mark''s expression darkened, and with a burst of speed, he drove towards the basket, determined to push through Noah. But Noah was ready. With impable timing, he matched Mark''s pace, his enhanced basketball skills making every move feel effortless.


    As Mark tried to cut to the left, Noah anticipated the move, and with a quick step, he reached in and stole the ball cleanly.


    The crowd erupted in gasps and cheers as Noah sprinted down the court, Mark hot on his heels.


    As they approached the basket, Mark tried to block Noah with a desperate lunge, but Noah pulled off a smooth crossover that left Mark off-bnce.


    Then, in a split second, Noah executed the move that would seal Mark''s fate¡ªhe performed a sharp crossover, a move so quick and precise that Mark''s ankles buckled under the pressure.


    Mark stumbled and, to the shock of everyone watching, he fell to the floor, sprawling awkwardly as he tried to regain his bnce.


    A wave ofughter and gasps rippled through the spectators as Mark hit the ground. Noah paused for a moment, looking down at Mark with a cool, confident smile. The message was clear¡ªNoah had just broken Mark''s ankles, both figuratively and literally in basketball terms.


    Noah raised his left hand, pointing directly at Mark, then slowly shifted his finger towards the hoop that stood half a court away. The spectators fell silent, their eyes glued to Noah as he squared up for the shot.


    With a calm and measured movement, Noah took the shot. The basketball soared through the air in a perfect arc, seeming to hang for a moment as all eyes tracked its path. The entire court held its breath as the ball swished cleanly through the, a perfect shot from half-court.


    The crowd exploded in cheers and chants, the students unable to contain their excitement. They began chanting Noah''s name, their voices filling the gym. Even the most indifferent students couldn''t help but be impressed by the sheer audacity and skill disyed.


    On the sidelines, Lily, who had maintained her usual stoic expression throughout the game, finally showed a flicker of emotion. Her eyes widened in shock, her icy demeanour melting just a bit as she watched Noah with interest that couldn''t be concealed.


    "Just how much more are you hiding...Noah" she muttered with a low voice.


    Mark, still on the ground, looked up at Noah with a mix of disbelief and humiliation. Noah extended a hand as if offering to help him up, but the gesture was more a disy of dominance than kindness.


    Mark pped it away, anger ring in his eyes, but there was nothing he could say. The scoreboard, the chanting students, and the stunned silence of his teammates said it all.


    Noah simply shrugged, clearly unbothered by Mark''s reaction. He simply offered his hand to make everyone think that he is the nice guy, he doesn''t want to be the viin after humiliating Mark. Furthermore, he knew that Mark wouldn''t ept his hand so that would further damage Mark''s reputation of being a sore loser.


    As the game neared its final moments, the scoreboard disyed a crushing lead: 20-0. There were only 30 seconds left, and Mark''s frustration was visible. His teammates could see it too.


    Mark''s grip tightened on the ball, and his jaw clenched as he stared at Noah, who was standing confidently across from him. "I''m not letting you walk away with this," Mark growled under his breath, his eyes burning with determination.


    "You''ve already lost, Mark," Noah replied coolly, his voice steady. "But if you want to embarrass yourself further, be my guest."


    Ignoring the warning, Mark charged forward, desperate to push through Noah and salvage some pride. But before he could make his move, his friends rushed over, grabbing his arms to calm him down.


    "Mark, stop!" one of them urged. "You''re ying right into his hands. He wants you to lose control!"


    "Pass the ball, man!" another friend insisted, his voice pleading. "We can still save face here."


    For a brief moment, Mark hesitated, his anger wavering as he looked at his teammates. With a deep breath, he nodded and reluctantly passed the ball to a teammate.


    But Noah was already two steps ahead. As soon as the ball left Mark''s hands, Noah read the y like an open book. He lunged forward, intercepting the pass with lightning speed. The gym erupted in gasps as Noah stole the ball, and Mark''s face twisted in frustration.


    "Damn it!" Mark cursed under his breath, his face flushed with anger. His teammates quickly scrambled to get back on defence, sprinting towards their hoop.


    Noah nced up, seeing them all clustered under the basket, ready to block any attempt he made. A sly grin spread across his face as he dribbled down the court, his eyes locked on the hoop.


    "You''re not getting past us this time!" Mark shouted as he and his teammates braced themselves, determined to stop Noah at all costs.


    But Noah had something else in mind. He elerated, his movements fluid and unstoppable, and then, as he approached the three-point line, he made his move.


    With a burst of power, Noah leapt into the air, defying gravity with a single, explosive jump.


    The gym fell silent as everyone watched in awe. Noah soared toward the hoop, his body arcing gracefully through the air, and with one arm outstretched, he mmed the ball down with such force that it rattled the entire backboard.


    Mark and his friends tried to meet Noah in mid-air, jumping to block the dunk, but it was futile. The sheer power of Noah''s leap sent them crashing to the floor, sprawled out beneath him as he hung from the rim with one hand, a triumphant smirk on his face.


    The ball dropped through the with a resounding swish, and the gym erupted in chaos. Cheers, shouts, and chants filled the air as the spectators went wild, the excitement reaching a fever pitch. Noah''s teammates rushed toward him, their faces lit up with disbelief and admiration.


    Even Lily, couldn''t hide her astonishment. Her eyes widened, and a genuine expression of shock crossed her face as she watched Noah, who was still hanging from the rim, basking in the moment.


    Mark and his friends struggled to their feet, their faces a mix of humiliation and disbelief. They looked up at Noah, who finally released the rim andnded lightly on his feet, his eyes meeting Mark''s with a confident, almost pitying smile.


    "Game over," Noah said quietly, the finality of his words hanging in the air as the scoreboard shed 22-0.


    The coach blew the final whistle, signalling the end of the game. The gym buzzed with energy, and the students couldn''t stop talking about Noah''s performance.


    As his teammates crowded around him, celebrating, Noah''s gaze remained fixed on Mark, whose expression was a mix of defeat, embarrassment and simmering hatred.


    <strong>[Ding! +5 Affection From Lily Rewarded!]</strong>


    <strong>[Lily''s Affection: 60/100]</strong>


    In the background between other students, La was standing dazed.


    "How..." La thought.


    She thought she knew Noah very well, but it seemed like they were really strangers like he said.

 Chapter 15: Mock Exam Is Next Week

    <h4>Chapter 15: Mock Exam Is Next Week</h4>


    After the basketball game, the students headed to the locker room to shower and change before their next ss.


    The gym was still buzzing with chatter about Noah''s incredible performance, but he kept a low profile, focusing on getting ready for the day ahead.


    After a quick shower, he dressed and joined Aiden, who was still catching his breath from the game, in heading to their next ss.


    The transition from the energetic atmosphere of the gym to the focused environment of the science ssroom was stark. The students settled into their seats, and Mr. Harris, their science teacher, began the lesson on chemical reactions.


    "Today, we''re diving into exothermic and endothermic reactions," Mr. Harris announced, writing the terms on the board. "Can anyone tell me the difference between the two?"


    A few hands shot up, and Mr. Harris pointed to a student in the front. "Exothermic reactions release heat, like when you burn wood. Endothermic reactions absorb heat, like when you mix baking soda and vinegar."


    "Exactly," Mr. Harris nodded. "Exothermic reactions result in an increase in temperature, while endothermic reactions cause a decrease. Now, let''s take a look at some examples in your textbooks."


    As the ss flipped through their pages, Noah''s mind wandered slightly, the adrenaline from the basketball game still coursing through him.


    "Bing an NBA yer could be a way to show money to my family," Noah mused, tapping his pen lightly against his textbook. The idea had a certain appeal¡ªmour, fame, and, most importantly, money. But almost as quickly as the thought came, he found himself reconsidering.


    "But it''s too high profile," he thought, frowning slightly. "I''d have to sign a contract for a long period. Plus, the spotlight would make it hard to keep things quiet.


    The thought lingered in his mind as Mr. Harris continued the lesson, the words bing a distant hum.


    The idea of bing an NBA yer was enticing, but theplications that came with it were too great. He needed something more discreet.


    After science, they moved on to math ss. Ms. ra, their math teacher, was already at the board, writing out a quadratic equation.


    "Alright, everyone," Ms. ra began, "today we''re going to tackle solving calculus problems."


    Ms. ra smiled. "Today, I want you to focus on calculus. It''s important to befortable with different methods as you''ll need them in your mock exams next week."


    She spent the next part of the lesson guiding them through several problems, making sure everyone understood the process. The ss diligently worked through the equations, the room filled with the quiet sound of pencils scratching on paper.


    As the ss neared its end, Ms. ra looked up from her desk. "Alright, everyone, I want to remind you that next week is your mock exam. You have the weekend to prepare, so make sure you revise thoroughly ande back ready to ace it."


    The mention of the mock exams brought a wave of quiet murmurs across the room. Some students looked anxious, others determined. Noah, however, was calm, knowing he''d find a way to get through it.


    As he packed up his things, he noticed Lily ncing in his direction.


    Lily, usually reserved and quiet, hesitated for a moment before finally speaking up. "Noah," she said softly, catching his attention for the first time this year.


    He turned to her, slightly surprised. "Yeah?"


    "Are you going to study for the exam?" she asked, her tone neutral but with a hint of curiosity.


    "Maybe," Noah replied with a casual shrug. "Are you?"


    "Yeah," she responded, her gaze steady.


    Sensing an opportunity, Noah decided to take a shot. "Do you want to study together this weekend?"


    Lily didn''t respond right away. She seemed to be thinking it over, her expression unreadable as she sat silently for about 15 to 20 seconds. T


    he silence stretched, and Noah started to feel a bit uneasy, thinking he might have overstepped. Just as he was about to turn away to avoid the awkwardness, Lily finally spoke.


    "Okay," she said simply.


    Noah blinked, a little taken aback by her agreement. He hadn''t been sure what to expect, but hearing her say yes filled him with a sense of surprise and excitement. He smiled slightly, nodding. "Great. Let''s figure out the detailster."


    After giving him her number, Lily gave a small nod before gathering her things, leaving Noah with a lingering sense of anticipation for the weekend.


    On the other side of the ssroom, La discreetly nced at Noah and Lily conversing, her eyes narrowing slightly.


    She watched as Lily nodded to something. The way Noah was smiling at Lily¡ªstirred something within her.


    La shifted in her seat, pretending to focus on her notebook, but her thoughts were elsewhere.


    She couldn''t help but feel a pang of something she couldn''t quite name¡ªjealousy? Regret? Whatever it was, it gnawed at her.


    The bell rang, jolting her from her thoughts. As everyone began packing up, La stole onest look at Noah, who was now gathering his things, a hint of excitement in his expression.


    She knew she had no right to feel anything, not after everything that had happened between them, but that didn''t stop the feelings from bubbling up.


    With a sigh, La pushed the thoughts aside, grabbed her bag, and left the ssroom, the smile on Noah''s face lingering in her mind.


    As the final bell rang, signalling the end of the school day, Noah gathered his things and made his way to the entrance of the school.


    The halls buzzed with the usual post-ss chatter, students eager to leave for the weekend. On his way out, he spotted Aiden waiting for him near the lockers.


    "Hey, man," Aiden greeted, falling into step beside Noah as they headed toward the main entrance.


    "Hello," replied Noah.


    As they walked, Aiden turned to Noah. "So, about the science mock next week... I could really use some help. You''re pretty good at this stuff. Could you help me study?"


    "Sure," Noah said without hesitation. "We can go over the material together."


    Aiden''s face lit up. "Awesome! How about this Saturday, then?"


    Noah shook his head. "Can''t do Saturday, I''ve already got ns to study with someone else. How about Sunday instead?"


    Aiden raised an eyebrow, curious. "Who are you studying with?"


    Noah''s smile widened slightly, but he kept it casual. "Just a ssmate."


    Aiden didn''t press further, nodding in agreement. "Sunday works for me. Thanks, man."


    "No problem," Noah replied as they reached the school''s entrance.


    They exchanged goodbyes and headed off in their separate directions.

 Chapter 16: A Gift

    <h4>Chapter 16: A Gift</h4>


    After parting ways with Aiden, Noah made his way to the nearby elementary school where his little sister, Emily, was waiting for him.


    The walk was short, only about two minutes. As he approached the school, memories of always picking up Emily flooded back, though yesterday was different since his mom had covered for him while he "studied" with Aiden.


    Entering the elementary school, Noah navigated the familiar hallways to Emily''s ssroom. The school had a strict policy to keep the younger children in ss until their parents or guardians arrived, ensuring their safety.


    When he reached the ssroom door, he peeked inside and immediately spotted Emily sitting at her desk, her small face lighting up as she noticed him.


    Without a second thought, she jumped up from her chair and bolted towards him, her excitement palpable.


    "Big brother!" she eximed, throwing her arms around his waist.


    "Emily! I miss you." Noah responded with equal enthusiasm, lifting her for a quick hug before setting her back down after a while.


    Emily''s teacher, a young woman with kind eyes, approached them with a warm smile. "Hi, Noah. It''s always a pleasure to see you. I just wanted to let you know that Emily is doing exceptionally well in school. She''s always so attentive and eager to learn."


    Noah smiled back, pride swelling in his chest. "That''s great to hear. Thanks for letting me know."


    As they prepared to leave, the teacher couldn''t help but watch Noah a bit longer. As he walked away with Emily''s hand in his, she sighed softly to herself.


    <i>He''s too young, but if only...</i> she thought, her mind wandering to his striking features and how they seemed to have be even more defined recently. His eyes, in particr, left asting impression.


    <i> He''s only going to get more handsome as he gets older...</i> she mused, shaking her head slightly as she returned to her duties, pushing the thoughts aside.


    Outside, Noah and Emily walked hand in hand, chatting about her day and excitement about the gift, as they made their way home.


    As they approached the house, theforting smell of home-cooked food wafted through the air. They opened the door to find their mother in the kitchen, busy preparing dinner.


    "Wash up, you two. Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes," their mother called out without turning from the stove.


    "Okay, Mom!" they both replied in unison.


    Noah headed to the bathroom first, sshing his face with cold water and washing his hands. As he dried his hands, Emily came in, following the same routine with her usual efficiency.


    Once they were both freshened up, Noah took Emily''s hand and led her to his room. "I''ve got something for you," he said with a grin.


    Emily''s eyes sparkled as they entered his room. Noah reached into his bag and pulled out a sleek white bag with the Bitten Apple logo on it.


    As he opened it, Emily gasped¡ªinside were the Apple AirPods Max, a luxurious gift that was clearly expensive.


    "Wow, Noah... this is...," Emily stuttered, her eyes wide with amazement. She knew exactly how valuable the gift was.


    Noah crouched down to her level, cing a hand on her shoulder. "Listen, Emily. When Mom and Dad see these, just tell them that we got them for super cheap, like 3 dors, because it''s a fake model. Okay?"


    Emily nodded slowly, but she looked troubled. "But Noah, this is too expensive. We''re not rich... shouldn''t we use this money for something more important?"


    Noah smiled at her concern, proud of her maturity. He then pulled out arger Bitten Apple bag, revealing his new iPhone, another pair of AirPods Max, and the 16-inch M3 MacBook Pro Max. Emily''s eyes nearly popped out of her head in shock.


    "Remember this morning when I told you, Mom, and Dad that Aiden and I started a business? Well, it''s doing really well. We''re going to be rich soon, okay? So if you want anything, just ask me. I''ll start giving you pocket money from next week too, but make sure to keep it hidden from Mom. Got it?"


    Emily nodded again, her expression a mix of excitement and disbelief. "Okay, Noah... but promise you''ll be careful."


    "I promise," Noah replied, ruffling her hair. "We''re in this together, alright?"


    She hugged him tightly, feeling reassured by his words. Noah felt a surge of protectiveness for his little sister, vowing to take care of her no matter what.


    The sound of their mother calling for dinner broke the moment, and they both headed to the dining room, Emily still holding onto the box with her precious new gift, a secret smile ying on her lips.


    After dinner, Noah spent some time chatting with his family, enjoying the warm and rxed atmosphere. Once the conversation started winding down, he excused himself and headed to his room. The day had been long, but it was the kind of day that left him feeling fulfilled.


    Noah took a quick shower, letting the hot water wash away the remnants of the day''s activities. After drying off, he changed into hisfortable pyjamas and sat down on his bed, feeling the familiar softness beneath him.


    He picked up his phone and noticed a notification¡ªSarah had replied to his text. He hadn''t realized she had responded after he''d already fallen asleep the night before.


    A slight pang of guilt hit him, but he quickly shook some of it off, knowing she''d understand.


    Opening the chat, he read her message, which was something light and casual, almost as if she was testing the waters of their new dynamic. Smiling to himself, he quickly typed a response.


    <strong>Noah:</strong> <i>Hey, sorry I didn''t replyst night. I knocked out early.</i>


    <strong>Sarah:</strong> <i>No worries, I figured as much. How was your day?</i>


    <strong>Noah:</strong> <i>Pretty eventful, actually. Basketball game, sses, the usual. How about you?</i>


    <strong>Sarah:</strong> <i>Not as exciting as yours, that''s for sure. Just some errands and work stuff.</i>


    The conversation flowed naturally from there, both of them sharing small details about their day. Noah could sense a slight hesitation in Sarah''s replies, as if she was still unsure about how to navigate this new connection they were forming.


    But he made sure to keep the tone light and yful, gradually easing any tension.


    <strong>Noah:</strong> <i>So, any ns for the weekend?</i>


    <strong>Sarah:</strong> <i>Not really, maybe just catching up on some reading. You?</i>


    <strong>Noah:</strong> <i>Got some studying to do... but I was thinking we could hang out a bitter tomorrow if you''re free?</i>


    There was a brief pause before Sarah''s next reply, and Noah could almost picture her thinking it over.


    <strong>Sarah:</strong> <i>Yeah, that sounds good. What did you have in mind?</i>


    <strong>Noah:</strong> <i>I''ll think of something. Maybe grab dinner, and then we''ll see where the day takes us?</i>


    <strong>Sarah:</strong> <i>Alright, it''s a date then.</i><i></i>


    The word "date" hung in the air for a moment, making Noah''s heart skip a beat. He grinned at the screen.


    <strong>Noah:</strong> <i>Looking forward to it. Goodnight, Sarah.</i>


    <strong>Sarah:</strong> <i>Goodnight, Noah.</i>


    With a content smile, Noah set his phone down on the bedside table, he felt a warmth in his chest as he drifted to sleep.

 Chapter 17: Invitation To Breakfast

    <h4>Chapter 17: Invitation To Breakfast</h4>


    The next morning, Noah woke up early, around 8 AM. The sunlight was just starting to filter through his curtains, casting a warm glow across his room.


    As he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, he noticed his phone blinking with notifications. There were two new messages, but he decided to leave them for now.


    He got out of bed and stretched his arms.


    "aaahnn." Noah yawned as he headed to the bathroom.


    He had showered the night before, so there was no need to shower this morning too but he still needed to freshen up.


    He brushed his teeth, sshed some cold water on his face, and ran his fingers through his hair, feeling more awake and ready to start the day.


    Back in his room, he finally checked his phone. The first message was from Sarah, sent at 7 AM, wishing him a good morning.


    The other was from Lily, sent at 10:00 PM the night before, asking him when they would study together.


    He decided to reply to Sarah first. With a small smile, he responded to the greeting and asked how she was doing.


    Satisfied with his reply, he opened Lily''s message.


    He knew he''d have to bnce his time carefully today because he had to meet with Lily and Sarah.


    He quickly typed a response to Lily:


    <i>"11:00 AM at Digbeth Library? It''s the best library around."</i>


    After sending the message, Noah noticed he had a few missed calls. Checking the caller ID, he saw it was from his old boss¡ªthe man who had exploited his desperation for work.


    The minimum wage was $9, but this guy had been paying him a measly $4 an hour for back-breaking manualbor, with only a 10-minute break during an 8-hour shift. Noah hadbeled him appropriately in his phone as "Bast**d."


    Deciding to deal with it, Noah called him back. The phone rang only a few seconds before his boss picked up, immediatelyunching into a tirade of insults.


    "Where the hell are you, Noah? You think you can just skip out on work? Get yourzy ass over here, or you''re fired!"


    Noah could practically see the guy''s face turning red through the phone. It was already 8:30 AM, and Noah was supposed to start work at 7:00 AM.


    Before he could respond, a mechanical voice appeared in his mind.


    <strong>[Ding! The Ultimate Choice System Activated]</strong>


    <strong>Option 1: Go to work.</strong>


    <strong><i>[Reward: $35 and the title "ve."]</i></strong>


    <strong>Option 2: Tell him you quit with a soft voice.</strong>


    <strong><i>[Reward: $10,000 and ownership of a small grocery shop.]</i></strong>


    <strong>Option 3: Tell him to shove the $4 up his a** and hang up.</strong>


    <strong><i>[Reward: 100% shares of the mid-sizedpany Walls4Us and Beginner Talent Finder Skill.]</i></strong>


    Noah''s eyes widened at the third option. The choice seemed obvious, but he couldn''t help but savour the moment.


    Thepany Walls4Us was actually thepany he was working for or more rightly, ving for. His previous boss Charles was a site manager in one of the sites that the Walls4Us took over.


    Thepany Walls4Us was actually where Noah had been working¡ªor more urately, ving away. His boss, Charles, was the site manager at one of the construction sites thepany had taken over.


    Without hesitation, Noah chose Option 3.


    "Option 3!" he dered.


    Charles''s voice crackled through the phone, filled with annoyance and arrogance. "HUH? What nonsense are you spewing, Noah? If you''re not on-site in the next 30 minutes, I''ll cut your wage to $3 an hour, you hear me?"


    Noah couldn''t help but smirk as he listened to Charles''s threats. Knowing what he was about to do, a wave of satisfaction washed over him.


    With a confident tone, he responded, "You know what, Charles? You can take that $4 an hour and shove it up your ass. I quit."


    There was a stunned silence on the other end of the line, and before Charles could recover, Noah hung up. The system chimed in, confirming his choice:


    <strong>[Ding! You''ve acquired 100% shares of Walls4Us, a mid-sized constructionpany.]</strong>


    <strong>[Ding! You have acquired the skill, Talent Finder]</strong>


    Arge amount of information was being transferred to his brain, but he couldn''t believe how overpowered the skill was.


    Noah chuckled to himself, shaking his head. "Honestly, with these rewards, I''m half tempted to call him back just to see if I can win a free mansion by telling him where to stick his shovel."


    Noah''s smirk grew into a full grin as he stared at his phone. The irony wasn''t lost on him¡ªhe had just told off his previous boss, and in doing so, he now owned the verypany Charles worked for.


    "Looks like I''m your boss now, Charles," Noah muttered to himself, shaking his head in disbelief at how things had turned out.


    "Let''s see where this day takes me," Noah muttered with a smirk, heading out of his room towards the kitchen.


    Noah strolled into the quiet kitchen, greeted by the sight of an almost bare fridge. Only milk, three eggs, and a few random leftovers stared back at him.


    "Well, that''s not exactly breakfast material," he muttered to himself, closing the fridge door.


    Deciding to treat himself to something better, he headed back to his room to change. Throwing on a casual outfit¡ªdark jeans, a clean white t-shirt, and a light jacket¡ªhe felt refreshed and ready for the day ahead.


    "Time to grab something good to eat," Noah thought heading out the door.


    Noah then calls Sarah to see if she would like to have breakfast with him.


    "Ring-ring"


    "Hello, how you doing?" Asks Noah.


    "I''m good, how are you?" Replies Sarah.


    "Im doing fine talking to you, i wanted to ask if you would like to have breakfast with me outside?" He said, grinning at the thought of their rtionship getting closer.


    "Why don''t youe over? I...I can make us breakfast," she stuttered slightly, clearly not used to inviting a man over like this.


    Noah grinned as Sarah''s hesitant offer came through the phone. He could almost picture her nervously fidgeting on the other end.


    Smiling, Noah didn''t hesitate. "That sounds perfect. I''d love to eat your cooking."


    "I''ll be there soon," he said, excitement growing in his chest.


    "Alright, see you!" she replied.


    "See you!"


    "Beep"


    Looking at his phone, Noah smiled lightly.


    "Cute."


    Slipping his phone into his pocket, he headed towards Sarah''s house for breakfast.


    Meanwhile, Sarah was in full panic mode, her face flushed red with embarrassment. It felt like steam was practicallying out of her head.


    "Where did I even get the courage to do that?" she muttered to herself, pacing back and forth in her kitchen.


    "I''ve never invited a man over before!" she groaned, lightly pping both of her cheeks to calm down.


    Realizing time was ticking, she took a deep breath. "I need to start cooking before he gets here," she said, quickly tying up her hair and rushing to the kitchen to prepare something special.

 Chapter 18: Fired!

    <h4>Chapter 18: Fired!</h4>


    Fifteen minutester, Noah arrived at Sarah''s ce, having deliberately slowed his pace to give her more time to prepare. He knew she would be more nervous if he showed up too early.


    Standing outside her door, he rang the bell.


    Inside, Sarah let out a relieved sigh as she ced thest dish on the dining table. "Phew, I barely made it," she whispered to herself, wiping her hands on her apron. She hurried to the door, peeked through the peephole, and saw it was Noah.


    After a moment topose herself, she opened the door.


    Noah''s eyes nced over her, taking in the apron that suited her so well. He smiled warmly, "Good morning again," he said, his tone light.


    "Good morning," she replied softly, still a bit nervous.


    "May Ie in?" Noah asked with a teasing grin.


    Sarah nodded, stepping aside to let him in. As he entered, the aroma of the freshly prepared breakfast immediately hit him, causing his stomach to rumble. "Something smells amazing," hemented, making her blush lightly.


    She led him to the table, where an array of beautifully ted dishes awaited. As Noah sat down, he nced at the spread with a teasing smile. "So, what do we have here, Chef Sarah?"


    Trying to hide her shyness, she pointed at each dish. "Greek yogurt parfait for dessert, a savoury protein oatmeal bowl, avocado toast... and I made two jugs of juice¡ªapple and orange."


    Noah couldn''t help but be impressed. "Wow, thank you, Sarah. This all looks incredible," he said sincerely, which made her blush even deeper.


    They began eating, and after every bite, Noah made sure topliment her cooking. "This oatmeal is delicious. You should open a restaurant!" he said, making her smile shyly.


    Then, as they continued, Noah took a spoonful of parfait and, with a yful smile, held it out to Sarah.


    She looked startled for a second, her face turning a brighter shade of red, but after a moment of hesitation, she leaned forward and took the bite.


    Her embarrassment was obvious, but she couldn''t hide the smile on her face.


    After finishing the meal, Noah leaned back with a satisfied grin. "From now on, I''m only eating breakfast at your ce," he teased, watching as Sarah''s cheeks flushed a deep shade of red.


    "S-sure," she stammered, avoiding eye contact, e... whenever you want."


    "Really?" Noah asked with a yful smirk.


    She nodded shyly, her eyes still fixed on the table.


    "Great!" Noah responded happily, "I''lle on the weekends then!"


    Without skipping a beat, Noah stood up and began packing up the dishes, carrying them to the kitchen. Sarah quickly tried to stop him. "No, no, you don''t have to¡ª"


    But Noah waved her off, insisting on helping.


    "Toote!" he called over his shoulder, carrying more tes. Sarah, though initially trying to stop him, couldn''t help the light smile that spread across her face as she watched him help her.


    In the kitchen, Sarah washed the dishes while Noah helped by cing them on the tray where they were stored.


    The domesticity of the moment felt surprisinglyfortable for both of them and before long, everything was clean and back in its ce.


    Afterwards, they made their way to the living room, where Noah rxed on the couch. ncing around, he noticed something. "Hey, where''s La? She didn''te out to eat?"


    Sarah''s expression turned a bit somber as she sat down. "La''s been acting strange for the past few days. She mostly stays in her room, and she onlyes out for lunch."


    Noah nodded, a slight frown forming on his face. He had a pretty good idea of why La was acting that way but didn''t press further. Instead, he shifted the conversation. "So, what are you working on these days?"


    Sarah brightened up a bit. "I own a smallpany that manages buildings," she said, a bit of pride in her voice.


    Noah raised an eyebrow, impressed. "That''s awesome! How is it going?"


    As Sarah shared her story, her face reflected a tinge of sadness. "We were doing really well for the first six months," she began, her voice soft yet heavy with frustration, "that''s when I started thepany.


    But recently, the constructionpany we contracted to manage buildings for us has be a problem."


    Noah, sitting attentively, noticed the growing tension in her voice. "What happened?"


    Sarah sighed. "The area manager I contracted with... he''s a scumbag. He gave us an outrageous offer, one that the building owners obviously couldn''t ept. But despite that, he keeps contacting me, hinting at doing... ''favours'' so he can lower the price."


    A deep frown formed on Noah''s face as he leaned forward, sensing what she was implying. "You mean..."


    She nodded, confirming his suspicions. "Yeah. I ignored him as soon as I realized what he wanted, and I cancelled all our contracts with him. But that decision cost us $20,000, and we lost themissions from other sites. Now, mypany is on the brink of bankruptcy."


    Noah''s expression darkened. "Whichpany is this?" he asked, his tone firmer.


    "Walls4Us," Sarah replied, her voice trembling slightly.


    The moment he heard that Noah''s frown slowly transformed into a small, cold smile. He couldn''t believe the irony. "What''s the name of the guy you''re talking about?" he asked, though he already had a good idea.


    "Charles," she muttered.


    Noah''s smile froze, his expression turning icy.


    In his mind, he repeated the name, "<i>Charles... you really want me to speed up your death, huh?"</i>


    Forcing a more rxed smile, Noah reassured her. "Don''t worry about it, Sarah. I''m sure everything will turn out fine."


    Sarah, still uncertain butforted by his words, nodded. "I hope so too," she whispered, trying to believe in his confidence.


    After chatting with Sarah for a while, Noah nced at his watch and realized it was almost time for his study session with Lily. He stood up, offering Sarah a smile.


    "I should get going. I''ve got a study sessioning up."


    Sarah smiled back, wishing him well. "Good luck! I''m sure you''ll ace it."


    Noah nodded and left. As soon as he stepped out the door, his expression changed. He pulled out his phone and decided to make a call.


    Meanwhile, inside the Walls4Us headquarters in Birmingham, the atmosphere was tense. The CEO, John, was holding a meeting with his directors. The topic on everyone''s mind was thepany''s recent acquisition by a mysterious new owner.


    "I want everyone here to check on their subordinates," John said firmly, ncing around the room. "I don''t want any screw-ups. We still haven''t heard directly from the new chairman, and I''d prefer we stay out of trouble until we do. So get your house in order."


    Just as he finished speaking, John''s phone vibrated in his pocket. Normally, he would ignore it during a meeting, but something told him he should check this one. ncing at the screen, his heart skipped a beat. It was a number he recognized¡ªthe new owner''s number.


    His hand shook slightly as he answered, stuttering. "H-Hello, this is John."


    On the other side, Noah''s voice was cold and direct. "Is this John?"


    "Yes, sir!" John replied, sitting up straighter in his chair.


    Noah wasted no time. "You''re not doing a very good job as a CEO, are you?"


    John felt his spine shiver. He swallowed hard and asked, "What''s wrong, sir?"


    Noah proceeded to exin the situation regarding Charles and the extortion attempts Sarah had faced. As the details unfolded, John''s face flushed red with anger. His eyes darted toward Smith, Charles'' uncle, who sat quietly at the table. By the time Noah was done, John''s hands were clenched into fists.


    "I will handle this immediately, sir," John said, trying to keep hisposure. As soon as the call ended, he stood up, fury etched on his face. He turned toward Smith.


    "Your nephew," John growled, "has been screwing around with our contracts and threatening a business partner."


    Smith''s eyes widened in shock. "W-What? No, this must be some misunderstanding¡ª"


    John mmed his hand on the table. "Shut it! I''m not losing my job because of you or your nephew. Both of you are done!"


    Smith''s face paled as the realization sank in. "No, please... it''s over for me..." he whispered, sinking to his knees.


    The other directors, who had been watching the exchange in stunned silence, quickly agreed with John''s decision to fire both Smith and Charles.


    Thew director was tasked with reviewing all financial records and ensuring that any illegal activity or embezzlement was uncovered.


    John gave the order, and the room quickly erupted into action, but the damage had already been done for Smith and Charles.


    Their downfall was swift and immediate.


    Smith stormed out of the Walls4Us building, tears of frustration and fear welling up in his eyes. The humiliation of being fired,bined with the weight of his own misdeeds, had him shaking.


    As he reached the parking lot, he fumbled for his phone and immediately called his nephew, Charles.


    When Charles picked up, Smith wasted no time, his voice a furious growl. "You bastard! You got us both fired! Do you have any idea what you''ve done?!"


    Charles froze. "W-What? Fired? What are you talking about?"


    Smith''s words came out in a rage-filled torrent. "That stunt you pulled with the contracts¡ªmessing around with that woman''s business¡ªcaught up with us! The new chairman called, and the CEO found out everything. You and I, we''re finished! I told you not to push it too far, didn''t I? Now look what''s happened!"


    Charles, now trembling, replied, "You''re lying. There''s no way! If they go through the records, we''re done for... We''re going to jail!"


    Smith''s breath was ragged as he tried to calm himself down. "I know, I know. But don''t panic just yet. Thew director, remember? He''s been involved with us. If he goes down, he knows we''ll take him down too. He won''t risk exposing us."


    There was a moment of silence on Charles'' end before a sigh of relief escaped him.


    "Thank God. I thought we were doomed. As long as thew director''s on our side, we''re safe."


    Smith wasn''tpletely sure, but he kept his tone firm. "Justy low for now. Don''t draw any more attention to yourself. This mess has already cost us our jobs, but at least we''re not going to prison."


    Charles, though rattled, felt a sense of relief wash over him. "Yeah, yeah. I''ll stay quiet. Thanks, Uncle."


    But as Smith ended the call, a nagging feeling gnawed at him. While he clung to the hope that thew director wouldn''t turn on them, deep down he knew that when things started falling apart, people like him and Charles rarely came out unscathed.


    Noah, having made the call, smiled faintly to himself as he walked down the street, heading toward his study session with Lily. The pieces were falling into ce.

 Chapter 19: Study Session

    <h4>Chapter 19: Study Session</h4>


    Arriving at the entrance of Digbeth Library, Noah spotted Lily standing gracefully by the entrance, her presence almost ethereal.


    She was wearing a simple yet elegant light blue dress that flowed just below her knees, perfectlyplementing her icy beauty.


    It wasn''t shy, yet it had an air of quiet sophistication, much like Sarah¡ªreserved, distant, and effortlessly graceful.


    The soft pastel colour added a touch of warmth to her otherwise cold demeanour, creating a stark contrast that only added to her allure.


    Her long blue hair cascaded gently over her shoulders, and her pale skin seemed to glow against the blue fabric.


    Her face was expressionless, with sharp features and eyes that conveyed a message without words¡ªdon''t mess with me.


    Around her, people nced but dared not approach, intimidated by her beauty and the chill in her aura.


    The whispers around her were clear: she was untouchable, a mysterious figure fleeting past, and many had tried and failed to get close.


    Noah approached her confidently, ignoring the murmurs of the onlookers. He could hear them whispering behind his back, "Look, he''s gonna get rejected like the others."


    He smirked at their words but didn''t let it faze him as he closed the distance between them. "Am Ite?" he asked casually, his voice breaking the silence between them.


    Lily turned her head slightly, her expression unreadable as she replied, "No."


    "Then shall we go?" Noah responded with a grin, his tone light.


    Lily gave a small nod, not saying much, but that was enough for him. As they headed inside, Noah noticed the stares lingering on them, especially from the crowd that had watched them from afar.


    He already had a library card, having been to Digbeth a few times in the past, though he''d stopped going regrly.


    They found a quiet corner of the library, tucked away from the crowd. The table was spacious, giving them plenty of room to spread out their notes and textbooks. As they sat down, Noah leaned backfortably, ncing at Lily. "So, what topic are you nning to study?"


    She looked at him for a brief second before replying, "Maths."


    Without wasting any time, they both opened their books and began working through some mock exam questions.


    Noah moved through the questions with ease, his pen flying over the paper as he quickly solved each one. Beside him, Lily was working just as fast, her focus unwavering until she suddenly paused, her expression tightening as she came across a difficult problem.


    Noticing her troubled look, Noah leaned in, his eyes scanning the page in front of her. "Need help with that?" he asked casually.


    Startled by how close he was, Lily instinctively leaned back, her cheeks lightly flushed as she nced at him.


    There was an awkward pause as Noah waited, not pushing her, but curious. After a moment, she nodded, still looking a bit flustered.


    Noah slid closer, their shoulders nearly brushing. His calm presence seemed to ease some of her tension as he pointed at the question. "Alright, see here," he began, exining the problem step by step, his voice patient and smooth.


    Lily''s eyes followed his pen as he broke down the steps, her focus shifting from the problem to him. He exined everything so clearly, and as he continued, she found herself understanding the problem.


    But the closer he sat, the more self-conscious she became, a light blush lingering on her pale cheeks.


    As Noah finished exining, he leaned back with a grin. "Got it now?"


    Lily gave a small nod, her voice quiet, "Yes, thanks." But even as she returned to the problem, she couldn''t shake the warmth of his presence beside her.


    Two hours into their study session, Noah noticed Lily''s concentration waver. The quiet library was punctuated by a soft, yet unmistakable, grumble from her stomach. Lily''s cheeks flushed a delicate pink before she quickly regained herposure, her usual icy demeanour returning.


    Not wanting to make a big deal out of it, Noah cleared his throat and asked, "Hey, do you want to grab some lunch? I heard that."


    Lily nced down at her stomach, her eyes momentarily softening before she nodded in agreement. "Sure."


    They made their way to a nearby brunch spot known for its cozy atmosphere and solid reputation. The restaurant struck a bnce between casual and upscale, offering a rxed yet refined dining experience.


    Once seated, they looked over the menu. Lily decided on a sirloin steak with a side of roasted vegetables, while Noah opted for a hearty chicken Caesar sd and a side of garlic mashed potatoes.


    After finishing their meal, Noah subtly motioned to the waiter for the check. When it arrived, the total was $150. Lily instinctively reached for her purse, but Noah quickly stopped her with a calm yet firm hand.


    "I''ve got this," he said, shing a confident smile. The waiter nodded at Noah, handing him the check as Lily reluctantly withdrew her hand.


    "Sir this is $200, the check is only $150." said the waiter politely, as he checked the the amount.


    "I know, I tipped you $50." said Noah, with a smile on his face appreciating the honesty of the waiter.


    "Thank you Sir!" Said the waiter, with a grateful tone.


    After paying, Noah nced at her and asked, "Do you want me to drop you off at home?"


    Lily shook her head, her cool expression intact. "Someone''s already here to pick me up."


    Raising an eyebrow, Noah was curious about who it could be. As they exited the restaurant, his eyes were immediately drawn to a sleek 2024 Rolls-Royce Phantom parked outside. The car was a masterpiece of luxury, gleaming under the sunlight. It had a polished, obsidian-ck exterior with chrome ents that reflected everything around it. The iconic Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament stood proudly, symbolizing prestige and opulence. Its wheels were encased in glossy alloy rims, and the interior, through the slightly tinted windows, revealed plush, cream-colored leather seats with wooden finishes. The car practically screamed wealth, and Noah couldn''t help but wonder just how much it was worth.


    "At least half a million," he thought to himself, slightly amused.


    Standing by the car was an elderly man dressed in a full ck suit, impably tailored, who seemed to radiate professionalism. As soon as he saw Lily, he gave a small bow and opened the rear door for her.


    "Are you ready, mydy?" the butler asked in a respectful tone.


    Lily nced at him, then turned back to Noah, hesitating for a brief moment. "Thank you... for the help today," she said, her voice softer than usual.


    Noah smiled warmly. "You''re wee. Just text me if you need help with anything."


    She looked at him for a second longer, her icy exterior softening for a fleeting moment, before turning to leave. The butler held the door open as she gracefully entered the luxurious car. With onest nce back at Noah, the door shut, and the Rolls-Royce Phantom smoothly pulled away from the curb.


    Noah watched as the car disappeared down the street, a small smile forming on his lips. He muttered under his breath, "So cold."

 Chapter 20: [GRADE: A] TALENT??

    <h4>Chapter 20: [GRADE: A] TALENT??</h4>


    After checking the time, Noah realized it was only 2:30 PM. With plenty of time left before his dinner with Sarah, he decided to run some errands for his family.


    They hadn''t bought meat in a very long time, and it would be easy to exin it away by saying he''d found a good deal or made a little extra cash. It felt like a good gesture to surprise them with something nice.


    He made his way to a well-known butcher shop nearby, the smell of fresh meat filling the air as soon as he walked in. The butcher, a broad-shouldered man with a friendly demeanour, greeted him.


    "How can I help you today?" the butcher asked, wiping his hands on his apron.


    Noah smiled and stepped closer to the counter. "I''ll take 1kg of ribeye steak, 1kg of sirloin steak, 2kg ofmb ribs, and 2kg of chicken thighs and wings."


    The butcher gave a nod of approval. "Great choices. Are you stocking up or preparing for a feast?."


    "Stocking up," said Noah, as he looked around the shop checking it''s hygienic protocols, and he wasn''t disappointed.


    As the butcher prepared the order, Noah nced around the shop. It had a traditional feel, with fresh cuts of meat hanging behind ss, each piece carefully disyed.


    It reminded him of how much his family had missed out on things like this. But that was about to change¡ªstarting today. He smiled to himself, feeling proud that he could provide something special for his family.


    After the butcher finished packing up Noah''s order, he gave him the total price. Noah paid without hesitation and added a tip. The butcher smiled in appreciation, thanking him for the generosity.


    With the meat sorted, Noah headed to a nearby grocery store to pick up the rest of the ingredients. He grabbed some gravy packets, rice, and a variety of sauces and spices to add vour to the uing feast. He made sure to include tenderstem broli¡ªhis personal favourite, with its distinct crunch that set it apart from regr broli.


    Moving down the beverage aisle, Noah picked up arge bottle of Pepsi, arge bottle of 7-Up, and two jugs of juice¡ªone orange, the other pineapple. He smiled as he imagined his family''s reaction when they saw all the ingredients.


    Noah entered the house, his arms full of grocery bags, and was immediately met by his mom, who eyed the haul with surprise.


    "Noah, what is all this?" she asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and concern.


    "I got us some meat and groceries for the house," he said casually as if it were no big deal.


    His mom''s eyes widened as she looked through the bags, her disbelief growing with each item she pulled out. "Noah, why did you buy so much? We''re doing fine; you should be saving your money for university, not spending it on all this! It''s too much!"


    Noah smiled, trying to ease her worry. "It was all on discount, Mom. Plus, the business Aiden and I started is doing great¡ªwe just acquired apany recently." He said it lightly, as if buying apany was a regr urrence.


    His mom froze, staring at him in disbelief. "You... bought apany?" Her voice trembled slightly. "Noah, are you sure you''re not doing anything illegal? I''m worried."


    Noah could see the genuine concern in her eyes and quickly moved to reassure her. "No, Mom, it''s all legal, I promise. In fact, if you''re still worried, you cane with me some time and see thepany for yourself."


    She nodded slowly, still processing the news. Despite her lingering worry, she softened, but her protective instincts were clearly still kicking in. "Alright, but just... promise me you''re being careful, okay?"


    "I promise," Noah said, giving her a reassuring smile. "Now, don''t worry about the groceries. Let''s cook up a big lunch so everyone''s happy and full."


    As his mom counted the meat and ingredients, her shock resurfaced at the sheer volume of what he had bought.


    Suddenly, Emily ran in, curious about all themotion. When she saw the bags of meat and drinks, her face lit up with joy. "Wow! Noah, this is amazing!" she squealed, running over to give him a big hug. "Thank you!"


    Noah grinned and patted her on the head. "Anything for you, Emily."


    Noah sank into the couch, scrolling through his phone as he passed the time. It was already 3:30, and his dad was due home by 5. He decided to check out thetest trending videos on TikTak to kill some time.


    As he scrolled, one video instantly caught his eye. It had millions of views, countless likes, andments pouring in by the second.


    The video was set on a basketball court, filmed from a side angle, showing a yer executing an incredible, seemingly physics-defying dunk. Noah''s eyes widened as he realized¡ª<strong>it was him.</strong>


    He clicked into thements section, curiosity piqued, and began reading some of the topments out loud to himself.


    "Yo, this guy''s hops are insane! Is this even real?" one user wrote.


    Anotherment read, "NBA scouts better be watching this! ??"


    "That dunk defied thews of gravity. Somebody get NASA on the phone!" someone else joked.


    Noah chuckled, his ego getting a slight boost from all the hype.


    "Bro, I''ve been to this court. How have I never seen this guy?" onement read, while another said, "Anonymous legend. We need a face reveal ASAP!"


    He grinned to himself, amused by the mystery surrounding his identity. Scrolling further, he saw a flood ofments demanding to know who the yer was, with wild guesses about whether it was a pro athlete in disguise.


    "Whoever this is better be in the NBA draft next year, or it''s a waste of talent," read one particrly enthusiasticment.


    Noahughed quietly to himself, enjoying the buzz without feeling the need to reveal who the yer really was. He liked the anonymity for now.


    "Maybe one day," he muttered with a smirk, locking his phone.


    As time passed, Noah''s dad finally came home, stepping through the door right as his wife was finishing up in the kitchen. His timing was perfect. Noah looked up from the couch and smiled, saying, "Wee home, Dad."


    His dad, looking a bit worn from work but still cheerful, responded warmly, "Thanks, son."


    Emily, always excited to see her dad, ran up to him and hugged him tightly. "I missed you, Dad!" she said with a beaming smile.


    Her father returned the gesture, patting her on the head, his face softening. "I missed you too, sweetheart," he replied with a warm smile.


    After washing up, David took his seat at the dining table, where a feast of deliciously cooked meats and side dishes awaited him. His eyes widened in shock as he took in the sight of all the food.


    "Where did all thise from?" he asked his wife, clearly impressed.


    She smiled and nodded toward Noah. "Your son brought all this. Can you believe it?"


    Then she exined everything Noah told her, to David.


    David turned to him with a proud expression, his smile broadening. "Good man, Noah. I''m proud of you," he said, his voice full of warmth.


    Hearing that made Noah''s heart swell with joy. His dad had always been a rock for the family, working tirelessly to support them, so hearing those words from him meant the world. Noah felt his chest tighten.


    He nodded back with a smile, trying to keep his emotions in check.


    As they all sat down to eat, Noah dug into the food his mom had prepared. The moment he took his first bite, his face lit up with astonishment. "Mom, this is incredible!" he eximed, unable to hide his excitement.


    His dad and Emily nodded in agreement as they savoured the meal. "Yeah, this is amazing!" Emily chimed in, her eyes wide as she enjoyed the tender meat.


    Noah''s mom blushed slightly at the praise, smiling shyly. "I''m d you all like it. Now, enjoy it before it gets cold," she said, clearly pleased with the reactions.


    The family continued eating together, theirughter and conversation filling the room, making the meal even more special. For Noah, seeing his family happy and content felt like a win in itself.


    "Talent Finder!" he thought in his mind as he activated the skill whilst looking at his mom.


    <strong>[Ding!]</strong>


    <strong>Name:</strong> <strong>Caroline Thompson</strong>


    <strong>Age:</strong> <strong>40</strong>


    <strong>Talent Grade:</strong> A


    <strong>Talent:</strong> <strong>Chef</strong>


    <strong>Description:</strong> <strong>With immense potential yet to be unlocked, Caroline can be a world-renowned chef if given the right resources.</strong>


    Noah couldn''t help but smile in disbelief. His mother had always been an excellent cook, but this confirmed it on a whole other level. She wasn''t just good¡ªshe had the potential to be extraordinary, even world-famous if the circumstances aligned.


    "Wow, Mom... you really are something else," he thought, feeling a surge of pride.


    As he watched his family happily enjoying the meal, Noah realized that this could be more than just a special meal. Maybe, just maybe, his mom''s hidden talent could be nurtured into something far greater.


    "Should I tell her about this?" he wondered, ncing at his mother as she smiled while refilling his dad''s te.

 Chapter 21: Want to become a Chef?

    <h4>Chapter 21: Want to be a Chef?</h4>


    <strong>[Ding! Ultimate Choice System Activated]</strong>


    <strong>Option 1: Help Caroline Be a World-ss Chef</strong>


    <strong>[ Reward: 100% shares of a 1-star Michelin restaurant, An Intermediate Cooking Guide Book and An Intermediate Cooking skill]</strong>


    <strong>Option 2: Ignore Caroline''s Talent.</strong>


    <strong>[ Reward: Basic Cooking Skill]</strong>


    <strong>Option 3: Help Caroline get a job as a Commis Chef in a small restaurant.</strong>


    <strong>[Reward: Basic Cooking Book, Basic Cooking skill]</strong>


    Looking at the optionsid out before him, Noah felt a sense of relief. This was more than just an opportunity for him¡ªit was a chance to help his family grow and be more independent.


    With his mom earning her own money, they wouldn''t have to rely solely on him. The decision weighed on his mind, though. He couldn''t make this choice without knowing if his mom was really interested in pursuing such a career.


    As they were eating dinner, Noah decided to bring it up. "Mom, would you ever want to be a chef at a Michelin-star restaurant? I have a friend who''s looking for a chef at their restaurant."


    His mom, Caroline, wore a sad expression and sighed. "I don''t think I have enough skill for that, son. I am a home cook after all."


    Noah smiled reassuringly. "Don''t worry, Mom. Before the interview, the head chef gave me a cook guidebook that helped him get to where he is now. If you learn from it, I''m sure you''ll be epted. Plus, there''s nothing to lose. You can practice at home, and when you feel ready, you can go for the interview."


    Caroline still looked hesitant, but David encouraged her with a warm smile on his face.


    "Honey, why don''t you do what our son said, we all agree that you cook better than those restaurants."


    Emily chimed in, encouraging her.


    "Yeah, you''re an amazing cook, Mom! You''ve got this!" Emily cheered.


    After a moment of thought, Caroline finally nodded, agreeing to give it a try. Noah''s heart swelled with pride.


    "Great!" he said, smiling. "The book''s in my room. I''ll get it for you after we finish eating."


    As he got up from the table, Noah muttered silently, "Option 1."


    <strong>[Ding! You''ve selected Option 1: Help Caroline Be a World-ss Chef.]</strong>


    <strong>[Ding! The Ownership papers of An''s Gourmet are ced in the host''s room with the cook guidebook]</strong>


    Suddenly, a flood of knowledge and understanding of intermediate cooking techniques surged through Noah''s mind as the system rewards took effect.


    He knew, from that moment on, everything was about to change for his mom.


    Noah entered his room and immediately spotted the items on his table¡ªthe Intermediate Cooking Guidebook and the ownership papers for the Michelin-star restaurant, neatly ced next on the table.


    He picked up the ownership papers and tucked them into the same bag with the Walls4Us documents for safekeeping. His eyes then shifted to the guidebook. Curious, he opened it and began flipping through the pages.


    As he read, he realized that everything he now instinctively knew about cooking was detailed within the guidebook.


    However, unlike him, someone reading this book would need months, maybe even years, to fully grasp its intricacies, depending on their talent. He muttered, "This is a really good book."


    With a small smile, he closed the book and headed back downstairs to give it to his mom. When he handed the guidebook to her, she carefully flipped through its pages, her eyes widening with admiration.


    "This guidebook is amazing," Caroline said, her voice filled with awe. "The instructions are so easy to understand, and the recipes... they look like something from a high-ss restaurant."


    But then her face clouded with sadness. "But... I''m afraid I can''t practice these recipes. There are so many ingredients we don''t have, and we don''t have the money to buy them."


    Noah, seeing her distress, ced a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Mom, don''t worry about the money. I''ll buy the ingredients. I''m making enough now, and it''s important that you give this a try."


    Caroline still looked hesitant, so Noah continued, his voice filled with conviction. "If you get this job, we''ll never have to worry about money again. You''ll be able to earn what you deserve, and we won''t have to struggle for food anymore."


    Her eyes softened at his words, and after a moment of silence, she nodded, a small smile breaking through. "Alright, I''ll give it my best."


    Noah beamed at her, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders.


    After spending a rxing 15 minutes with his parents and little sister, Noah decided it was time to head out to meet Sarah. As he walked to the parking lot to grab his Lamborghini, he dialed Sarah''s number.


    "Hey, get ready," he said. "We''ll head out soon."


    On the other end, Sarah''s voice was filled with excitement. "Okay!" she replied, almost too quickly, her eyes lighting up with anticipation.


    Noah smirked, feeling the warmth in her tone, and hopped into his sleek Lamborghini. After a short drive, he arrived at Sarah''s door and knocked.


    When the door opened, Sarah stepped out wearing a long floral dress paired with boots that reached above her ankles. The dress was beautifully conservative¡ªflowing and modest, with soft floral patterns thatplemented her graceful figure without clinging to it.


    The boots added a subtle edge while keeping her look feminine and elegant. The overall outfit was understated but charming, radiating a quiet confidence that suited her personality perfectly.


    Noah took a moment to admire her. "Are you ready?" he asked, his gaze softening.


    She nodded and said with a smile, "I made dinner for La and told her I''m heading out. Let''s go."


    To Noah''s surprise, Sarah reached out and grabbed his hand as they walked towards the car. He could see a faint blush spreading across her ears, a hint of her nervous excitement despite her bold move. Noah felt a little taken aback, but he found the gesture endearing.


    When they reached his Lamborghini, he opened the door for her, which sleekly lifted upwards, giving the car an even more impressive look.


    Sarah slid into the seat, still holding his hand, and he closed the door behind her.


    Before getting in himself, Noah turned to her and asked, "Wanna see me y basketball before dinner?"


    Sarah nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Sure," she said, her smile widening.


    Noah drove smoothly to a nearby open basketball court, known for its casual games and amateur yers.


    As they arrived, he noticed a sizable crowd in the spectator seats.


    As Noah parked outside the court, the sleek, expensive car turned heads. The game on the court came to a halt as yers and spectators alike stopped to gawk at the stunning vehicle, murmurs spreading through the crowd.


    Stepping out of the car, Noah walked around to open the door for Sarah, who gracefully stepped out, her floral dress swaying gently in the breeze.


    The crowd''s eyes followed every movement, mesmerized by the car. Holding her hand, he led her toward the spectator seats, where he gently helped her sit down.


    Once she was settled, Noah looked toward the yers on the court. "Hey, mind if I join in?" he asked one of them, his voice casual but confident.


    The group ying looked at each other, sizing him up. After a few seconds of silent debate, one of them shrugged. "Why not?" the guy replied with a smirk, clearly intrigued by this stranger who just stepped out of a luxury car.


    With a nod, Noah grinned, knowing that the real fun was about to begin. As Sarah watched from the sidelines, her curiosity piqued, he readied himself for the game. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation¡ªpeople were eager to see if this guy could y or if he was just another rich kid with a shy car.


    As Noah stepped onto the court, the air around him shifted. His posture was rxed, almost casual, but his eyes carried a focused intensity.


    The yers on the opposing team sized him up, clearly underestimating him. They looked at each other and smirked, assuming this guy with a fancy car wouldn''t have any real skills. But they were in for a rude awakening.


    The game resumed with a throw-in, and almost instantly, the ball found its way to Noah. He caught it smoothly, his eyes scanning the court like a predator analyzing his prey. His opponent, a tall, muscr guy with a cocky grin, stepped up to guard him.


    "Let''s see what you''ve got, rich boy," the guy sneered, getting low in his defensive stance.


    Looking at his stance which is filled with mistakes, Noah smirked.

 Chapter 22: Once Again

    <h4>Chapter 22: Once Again</h4>


    Without responding, Noah moved. His first step was lightning-fast¡ªa blur of motion that caught his opponent off guard. The sound of his sneakers squeaking on the asphalt echoed as he crossed over, left to right, leaving his defender frozen in ce.


    "What the¡ª?!" the guy stammered, his confidence vanishing as Noah breezed past him, driving straight to the hoop.


    With a powerful leap, Noah soared into the air. The crowd''s gasps filled the court as he effortlessly mmed the ball into the basket, the rim rattling from the impact. The entire court fell silent for a split second before the crowd erupted in disbelief.


    "No way!" someone in the crowd shouted.


    "Did you see how high he jumped?!"


    "Who <i>is</i> this guy?!"


    Sarah watched from the sidelines, her heart racing. She hadn''t seen this side of Noah before, this raw,petitive energy.


    Her thoughts were a whirlwind.


    <i>"He''s incredible..."</i>


    Her eyes followed every movement, wide with astonishment, her hand gripping the seat beneath her.


    <i>"I''ve never seen anyone move like that..."</i>


    The yers regrouped, clearly rattled by the disy. Noah''s team passed him the ball again, eager to see what else he could do. This time, the opposing team switched defenders, putting their fastest guy on him.


    The yer, a quick-footed guard, tried to keep up with Noah''s movements, but it was like chasing smoke.


    With a sudden burst, Noah cut through the defence, spinning past another yer andunching a three-pointer from the arc. The ball sailed cleanly through the air before sinking into the without touching the rim¡ª<i>swish</i>.


    "Impossible!" one of the opposing yers muttered, his eyes wide in disbelief.


    "Dude''s on another level..." another one whispered, shaking his head.


    On the sidelines, the spectators couldn''t keep quiet.


    "I''ve never seen anyone handle the ball like that! He''s not just good¡ªhe''s <i>crazy</i> good!"


    "Man, it''s like he''s ying in slow motionpared to everyone else!"


    Noah''s momentum was unstoppable. y after y, he outmanoeuvred the opposition with surgical precision.


    Whether it was driving to the basket with impossible speed or shooting from outside the three-point line with deadly uracy, he dominated the game with an ease that left everyone speechless.


    At one point, Noah faced a double team. Two defenders tried to trap him in a corner, but with a quick flick of his wrist, he sent the ball between the legs of one of them, spinning around the other. The crowd exploded in excitement as he took off again, rising for yet another dunk.


    "Someone stop this guy!" one of the opposing yers yelled in frustration, his voice tinged with desperation.


    "No one can!" his teammate replied, looking defeated.


    As the game neared its end, it was clear who the king of the court was. The scoreboard didn''t even matter anymore¡ªthe only thing people cared about was watching Noah put on a show.


    He was unstoppable, untouchable, and it seemed like he had an answer for every move the opposing team tried.


    Sarah, still watching in awe, couldn''t help but smile softly.


    <i>"This is Noah... He''s not just amazing at business, but at everything he does. Who is this man I''m with?"</i>


    <i>"Once Again, he surprises me with something new. First his driving skills, now his basketball skills that are allpared to top professionals."</i>


    Her admiration grew with every minute, the earlier blush on her cheeks deepening as she watched him in his element.


    By the time the game ended, the court was buzzing with chatter.


    "That dude''s NBA-level for sure."


    "Man, I''m just d I wasn''t on the other team..."


    The yers came up to Noah after the game, some pping him on the back, others just shaking their heads in amazement.


    "Dude, where the hell did you learn to y like that?" one of them asked, still catching his breath.


    Noah smiled modestly, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Just picked it up along the way."


    One of the taller yersughed, still in shock. "Picked it up? Man, you y like you were born on a court."


    The crowd started to disperse, but the whispers and awe didn''t fade. As Noah walked back toward Sarah, who stood up from the bleachers, he could see the admiration in her eyes. He grinned at her as if the whole game had just been a warm-up.


    "Ready for dinner?" he asked casually as if he hadn''t just put on the performance of a lifetime.


    Sarah nodded, her lips curving into a soft smile. "You''re... something else," she said quietly, her voice full of admiration.


    Noah chuckled and led her to the car, the echoes of the crowd''s cheers still hanging in the air as they drove off into the evening.


    Smelling himself after the match, Noah said "I need to take a quick shower, I don''t smell good."


    Noah raised an eyebrow in surprise as Sarah leaned in slightly, catching him off guard. She took a quick breath near his shirt before pulling back with a thoughtful expression.


    "Nope, you smell fine," she said with a light shake of her head.


    He blinked, not expecting that. "Rea#lly? After all, that running around?"


    She nodded, a gentle smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Yup. You''re good."


    He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Guess I''m overthinking it."


    Sarah''s eyes softened. "It''s okay."


    Noah smiled, feeling a warmth in the moment. "Alright, if you say so. Let''s head to dinner, then."


    After parking his far slightly further from An''s Gourmet to ensure non-preferential treatment.


    Noah and Sarah entered the elegant and refined atmosphere of An''s Gourmet, the soft ambient lighting and the delicate clinking of sses created a serene environment. Sarah nced around at the upscale decor, the polished marble floors, and the tables neatly dressed in white linens. She hesitated for a moment.


    "Noah, we really don''t have to eat at such an expensive ce," she said softly, concern in her voice.


    He smiled warmly, giving her a reassuring look. "It''s okay, Sarah. Trust me."


    Seeing his easy confidence, she nodded and followed his lead, still a bit hesitant but trusting his judgment.


    The moment they stepped inside, a well-dressed waiter greeted them. "Good evening. Do you have a reservation?" the waiter asked politely, scanning a small tablet in his hands.


    Noah shook his head. "No, but can we get a table for two?"


    "Of course, sir. Please follow me," the waiter said with a professional smile, gesturing for them to follow. He led them through the softly lit dining area, offering a prime table in the corner, which had an excellent view of the restaurant.


    As they sat down, Noah nced around, taking in the restaurant he had quietly acquired earlier. Everything seemed perfect on the surface¡ªthe staff was professional, and the atmosphere weing. But he wanted to observe how the evening unfolded without revealing his connection to the ce.


    Sarah, meanwhile, adjusted in her seat, still feeling a little out of ce in such an exclusive restaurant. "This ce is really nice," she admitted softly.


    Noah smiled at her. "You deserve the best, Sarah." She nced up at him, a light blush dusting her cheeks, but she didn''t respond, simply offering a soft smile in return.


    A few minutester, Noah nced around the room, noting the attentive service and polished ambience. He motioned for the waiter, who quickly approached with a professional, weing smile.


    "Are you ready to order?" the waiter asked, handing them the elegantly designed menus.


    Noah looked at Sarah. "Ladies first," he said with a grin.


    Sarah took a moment, scanning the menu, her eyes widening slightly at the array of dishes. "I think I''ll go with the pan-seared sea bass, served with saffron-infused risotto and a side of roasted heirloom vegetables," she said softly, ncing at the waiter for confirmation.


    "An excellent choice, miss," the waiter responded, nodding in approval before turning to Noah.


    Noah took a moment, considering his options. "I''ll have the herb-crustedmb rack, apanied by a wild mushroom and barley risotto, and a side of charred brolini," he said.


    The waiter smiled and noted down the order. "For drinks?"


    Noah nced at Sarah again. "Juice? What do you think?"


    She smiled and nodded. "Orange for me."


    Noah added, "I''ll go with freshly pressed apple juice."


    The waiter nodded. "Coming right up," and retreated, leaving them to enjoy the ambience and each other''spany.


    As Noah and Sarah were enjoying the quiet ambience, their conversation was interrupted by the approach of a middle-aged man. He was greasy, with thinning hair and a round beer belly that pushed against his ill-fitting suit. His presence immediately brought an awkward tension to the table.


    Without even acknowledging Noah, the man leered at Sarah. "Hello, miss," he said, shing a grin that failed to disguise his arrogance. "My name is Horace Wilkins. I''m the regional manager for Westworth Logistics. Surely, a beautifuldy like you shouldn''t be sitting here with some kid."


    Sarah''s eyes immediately flicked to Noah, who had been silent up to this point, sensing her difort. Noah''s expression hardened.


    Rising from his seat, Noah grabbed Horace by the cor in a swift, fluid motion. The suddenness of it left the greasy man gasping, his eyes wide with shock.


    "Who do you think you''re talking to, huh?" Noah growled, pulling Horace closer, his voice cold and authoritative. "This is my woman."

 Chapter 23: Owner of An’s Gourmet

    <h4>Chapter 23: Owner of An''s Gourmet</h4>


    "Who do you think you''re talking to, huh?" Noah growled, pulling Horace closer, his voice cold and authoritative. "This is my woman."


    The room fell silent as people watched, shocked at Noah''s boldness. Horace, utterly bewildered, stammered, "W-What are you doing? Let go of me!"


    Noah barely nced at Sarah. "I''ll be back in a minute," he said softly, before dragging Horace out of the restaurant with ease, as though he were nothing more than a misbehaving child.


    Outside, the man iled weakly. "W-What are you doing?! You can''t just¡ª!"


    Without a word, Noah lifted Horace by his neck, pinning him against the wall. Horace''s feet dangled off the ground as he struggled for air.


    "I don''t care who you are," Noah said, his voice as cold as ice. "But if you evere near my girl again, or even think about stepping back into this restaurant, you''re done. I will ruin you."


    Horace gasped, his face turning red as he iled helplessly. "L-Let me down! Please!"


    Noah narrowed his eyes, then dropped Horace, who copsed to the ground in a heap, coughing and gasping for breath.


    "Get out of my sight," Noah spat before turning his back and walking toward the restaurant, leaving Horace on the pavement, utterly humiliated.


    When Noah returned to the table, he sat down calmly, as if nothing had happened.


    "Handled," Noah said simply, his voice returning to its calm tone as he took a sip of his drink.


    Sarah smiled back, a soft warmth in her eyes. "Thank you."


    Five minutester, Noah and Sarah''s food was ready and a waiter approached their table, carrying the exquisite dishes. Just as the waiter was about to serve the food, a loud voice interrupted.


    "Stop!" someone shouted.


    Noah, the waiter, and everyone around turned to see a man storming over, his face twisted with authority.


    The waiter, looking startled, asked, "What''s wrong, sir?"


    The man, a deputy manager by the look of him, pointed at Noah with disdain. "Don''t serve him! This kid needs to leave our restaurant immediately. Guards!"


    Noah turned his head slightly, noticing the greasy man from earlier standing behind the manager with a smug grin. Clearly, the man had connections here and had gone straight to the deputy manager to snitch.


    With a small smirk tugging at his lips, Noah leaned back in his chair. "I''d like to see who dares to kick me out of my own restaurant."


    The middle-aged deputy manager let out augh, dripping with mockery. "Kid, don''t talk big. You could never afford a ce like this."


    The two argued for a few moments, voices rising as the restaurant patrons watched in shocked silence. The tension escted quickly, and the guards approached, preparing to intervene. Just as they were about to step in, an older man, clearly someone in charge, emerged from the back, his brows furrowed.


    "What is all thismotion?" the old man demanded, his voice carrying authority.


    The deputy manager hurriedly stepped up, gesturing toward Noah. "This kid is causing trouble, iming he owns the restaurant after assaulting one of our VIP customers."


    The old man hesitated for a moment, then turned to Noah, his expression softening slightly. "What''s your name, sir?"


    Noah''s smirk grew wider as he spoke with calm confidence. "Noah Thompson."


    The moment the name left Noah''s lips, the old man''s face went pale, like he''d been struck by lightning. A realization hit him, and he whipped around, ring at the deputy manager.


    Without warning, the old man pped the deputy manager across the face. "How dare you try to kick out the owner of this restaurant! Didn''t I tell you the ce had been recently bought?"


    The entire room gasped. The guards, who were moments away fromying hands on Noah, froze, thankful they hadn''t acted yet.


    "You''re fired!" the old man snapped at the deputy manager. "Guards, throw him and that greasy man out immediately! If they ever set foot in here again, beat them and toss them out!"


    The deputy manager and greasy man both began begging, their voices trembling with desperation. But the old man wasn''t having any of it. The guards, without hesitation, dragged the two men out of the restaurant as the greasy man cried for mercy.


    Noah stood up and looked at the old man. "We''ll talkter," he said with a calm authority that left no room for doubt.


    Then, turning to the rest of the restaurant, Noah addressed the stunned patrons. "I apologize for the disturbance today. To make up for the terrible experience, everyone''s meal is on the house tonight."


    The room erupted in cheers and apuse as the customers chanted their thanks and reassurances. "Don''t worry, young man! A clean-up was needed!"


    With a smile, Noah sat back down with Sarah, who looked at him with surprise, as the restaurant resumed its lively energy.


    "You never fail to surprise me," Sarah said, her wide smile lighting up her face. She couldn''t hide her admiration, her eyes twinkling as she looked at Noah.


    Noah grinned and responded, "Well, if I didn''t keep you on your toes, life would get pretty boring, wouldn''t it?"


    Sarah chuckled, shaking her head. "Yeah, I guess so," she said, unable to suppress herughter.


    Just then, the waiter returned, cing their food carefully on the table, a look of respect and reverence on his face after witnessing the earlier scene. "Enjoy your meal, sir, ma''am," he said with a polite bow before stepping away.


    Noah and Sarah both tried their dishes, and Sarah''s eyes lit up in appreciation. "This is amazing!" she eximed, savouring the exquisite vours.


    Noah nodded in agreement, taking a bite of his own. With a yful smirk, he said, "Well, I''d hope so... considering it''s my restaurant and all."


    Sarah burst outughing, shaking her head. "You''ve got a point there!" she said, still grinning widely.


    Noah chuckled along with her. "Imagine if it wasn''t good... I''d have to fire myself."


    After a few moments, Noah, with a yful glint in his eye, picked up a forkful of his food and offered it to Sarah. "Here, try this."


    Blushing slightly, Sarah leaned in and took a bite. "Mmm, that''s really good," she said softly, her smile shy but warm.


    Gathering her courage, she picked up a small piece from her te and, with a bashful look, offered it to Noah. He grinned, leaning forward to take the bite.


    "Delicious," Noah said, his eyes softening as they shared the moment. The rest of the meal passed in warm, quiet joy, with both of them enjoying each other''spany in the elegant atmosphere.


    After finishing their meal, Noah and Sarah made their way back to the car. The evening had been a quiet, yet meaningful experience for both of them. On the drive home, they shared light conversation, but there was a palpable sense of contentment in the air.


    When they finally pulled up to Sarah''s house, she turned to Noah with a grateful smile. "Thanks again, Noah. I had a really fun time tonight," she said, her eyes warm.


    Noah grinned. "Anytime, Sarah. I''m d you enjoyed it. Sleep well," he replied as she stepped out of the car.


    "Goodnight," she whispered softly, closing the door behind her.


    As Sarah entered the house, she found La still awake, sitting on the couch. La looked up at her mother and asked with a curious pout, "Mom, why are you sote?"


    Caught slightly off guard, Sarah hesitated for a moment, unsure how to exin without giving away too much. "I had dinner with a few friends," she said quickly, feeling a little shy about admitting that her evening had been spent with Noah.


    Though a part of her felt conflicted about dating someone younger and a ssmate to her daughter, Noah had brought joy and warmth into her life that she hadn''t felt in a long time.


    He made her feel cared for, and the kindness he showed her was something she couldn''t ignore.


    Shaking off her thoughts, she smiled and asked, "Did you eat your dinner, La?"


    La nodded with a sleepy smile. "Yeah, thanks Mom"

 Chapter 24: The Start of something Special

    <h4>Chapter 24: The Start of something Special</h4>


    As Noah drove back to the parking lot, his thoughts wandered to the hassle of parking his Lamborghini away from his home and taking an Uber.


    "Maybe it''s time to buy a ce of my own," he mused.


    It wasn''t practical to keep doing this. He decided to put that thought on hold for now, knowing he''d figure it out soon.


    Shifting his focus, he pulled out his phone and dialled the manager of An''s Gourmet. The line rang for a moment before the manager, clearly nervous, answered with a stammer. "H-Hello, Mr. Noah."


    Noah''s voice was calm but firm. "Is this how you run my restaurant? Employing people who use their connections to bully customers they think are weak?"


    The manager swallowed hard, his anxiety clear over the phone. "I deeply apologize, Mr. Noah. It was a grave mistake. I assure you it won''t happen again. Please, give me another chance to prove that I can handle this professionally."


    Noah, not in the mood for excuses, responded, "Send me the full details of both the deputy manager and that beer-belly man immediately. I want to know everything about them."


    "Right away, sir," the manager replied quickly. Within seconds, Noah''s phone buzzed with the information. Noah nced at the text, mentally filing it away to deal withter.


    Noah smirked, a hint of amusement ying on his lips as he muttered to himself, "I told him not to set foot in that restaurant again... but I guess the message got lost somewhere in his beer belly instead of reaching his brain."


    He paused, his expression darkening slightly as a more chilling thought crossed his mind. "It''s a Shame, though," he continued quietly, "Some people need more... hands-on reminders."


    A cold edge to his voice hinted that the greasy man may have narrowly escaped a worse fate. Anyone who crossed Noah and ignored his warnings was in for a rude awakening, and this guy? He was already on borrowed time.


    Arriving home, Noah found the house quiet, the lights dimmed, and everyone already asleep. It had been a long day¡ªfull of excitement, challenges, and surprises. He was ready to unwind.


    After a long, hot shower, he felt the tension of the day melt away, leaving him refreshed but a bit weary. Pulling on somefortable clothes, he grabbed his phone from the nightstand, realizing he hadn''t used it at all during his evening with Sarah. He smiled, thinking back on their time together.


    As he scrolled through his messages, a notification popped up from Lily¡ªa picture of a tricky math problem. Noah chuckled softly, shaking his head.


    "Lily, you never rest, do you?" he muttered to himself, opening the message.


    The problem wasplex, but nothing he couldn''t handle. Quickly, he drafted an exnation, breaking it down in simple terms. He attached a littlement at the end, hoping to motivate her:


    Noah: "Here''s the breakdown. Should be easy once you get the hang of it. Let me know if you''re stuck again! You''ve got this."


    Satisfied with his reply, Noah leaned back, thinking the day was finally winding down.


    Just as he was about to put his phone away, another notification popped up. This time, it was from Sarah.


    Sarah: "Hey, tonight was really nice. I had a great time. :)"


    Noah smiled, warmth spreading through him as he replied:


    Noah: "I did too. I''m d we got to spend some quality time together."


    Sarah''s reply came almost immediately.


    Sarah: "Thanks for everything, Noah. I know you didn''t have to do all that."


    As Sarah sat on the edge of her bed, she couldn''t stop smiling as her fingers hovered over her phone.


    The soft glow of the screen illuminated her face, and her heart raced slightly as she typed her message to Noah.


    She reyed moments from their date in her mind, feeling the warmth spread through her chest.


    The way Noah protected her from other men, his quiet strength in those moments, and how he always took the initiative to invite her out¡ªit all made Sarah feel like she was wrapped in a sense of security she hadn''t known before.


    Every action, no matter how small, carried a deeper meaning that left her heart fluttering.


    She found herself smiling at how effortlessly he bnced confidence with gentleness. Whether it was shielding her from unwanted attention or nning their dates, he always seemed to know how to make her feel special.


    There was no hesitation in him when it came to her, and that certainty, that unwavering attention, filled her with a kind of warmth she hadn''t expected.


    Each time he reached out first, it felt like more than just a gesture¡ªit was like he was pulling her into a world where she mattered in ways she hadn''t before.


    It wasn''t just the dates, it was how he made her feel seen, cared for, and prioritized. In those moments, bliss was an understatement.


    As she thought back on it, her heart swelled, the memories reying like aforting melody. She realized, with a soft blush, that with Noah, everything felt easy. Everything felt...right.


    When Noah''s reply popped up, her smile widened even more. She was aware of the giddy, almost teenage excitement she felt, but she couldn''t help it.


    Laying on her stomach, Sarah rested her chin on one hand while holding her phone with the other. Her legs swayed gently in the air behind her, moving back and forth in slow, yful motions as if mirroring the flutter in her chest.


    The soft glow of her bedsidemp bathed the room in a warm light, but her focus was entirely on the conversation.


    Each time her phone vibrated with another message from Noah, her toes wiggled in the air, unable to stay still.


    She bit her lower lip slightly, trying to contain her growing excitement, her legs kicking up higher as she quickly typed her response, feeling like she could float from the pure joy of it all.


    Her cheeks flushed as she read his final message:


    Noah: "Of course, I wanted to. You deserve it. And hey, we''ll do something even better next time (: "


    Her heart skipped a beat. She bit her lower lip, feeling a mixture of shyness and happiness well up inside her.


    "Looking forward to it..." she whispered to herself as she typed her reply.


    Her legs swayed again, the motion soft and subtle as if her body was expressing the nervous energy her mind wouldn''t let out.


    As she sent her goodnight text, she let out a small, contented sigh. After setting her phone down, she hugged her knees to her chest, still feeling the warmth of the moment linger.


    This was more than just a date for her¡ªit felt like a small but significant step into something new, something hopeful. With a light smile still ying on her lips, she tucked herself under the covers, her thoughts entirely on Noah, wondering what he was thinking as he said goodnight.


    Smiling at his phone, Noah typed out a quick message to Aiden: "Meet me at the library tomorrow at 10 am." He hit send and leaned back, still feeling the lingering warmth from his conversation with Sarah.


    He scrolled aimlessly through his phone for a few minutes, his mind already winding down from the day''s excitement. Slowly, his eyelids grew heavier as thefort of his bed pulled him in.


    Before he knew it, the soft glow of his phone faded away, and he drifted off into a peaceful sleep, slipping effortlessly into the world of dreams.


    Waking up early in the morning, Noah was greeted by the enticing smell of something delicious wafting through his room.


    Smelling it, he already knew what it was¡ªhe had an Intermediate Cooking Skill, after all. The knowledge of the best chefs in the world filled his mind, making him easily recognize theplexity and quality of the meal being prepared downstairs.


    After a quick wash and brushing his teeth, Noah headed down the stairs. He greeted his family with a smile, noticing his sister Emily glued to the table, her wide eyes locked on the food in anticipation, her mouth practically watering. She didn''t even get up to greet him this time,pletely lost in her hunger.


    Noah chuckled at the sight, taking a seat at the table. "Looks like someone''s excited," he teased, watching Emily''s eyes stay fixed on the tes.


    A few minutester, his mother Caroline brought out the food. The aroma intensified as she ced the dishes on the table, each one looking like it came straight from a Michelin-star restaurant.


    The centrepiece was a beautifully crafted beef Wellington, its golden puff pastry perfectly ky, encasing a sulent, medium-rare beef tenderloin. Theyers of mushroom duxelles and prosciutto within gave it a rich,plex vor.


    Apanying it were roasted garlic mashed potatoes, creamy and velvety, paired with saut¨¦ed spinach that gleamed with a touch of olive oil and garlic.


    There was also a side of seared sea bass, cooked to a delicate crisp on the outside, with a lemon-butter sauce drizzled over it, adding a burst of freshness to the dish.


    For something lighter, there was a vibrant ratatouille, each vegetable meticulously sliced and roasted to perfection, bursting with color and vor.


    Everything on the table looked like it could be found in a top-tier restaurant, the kind of meal that one could only dream of having at home.


    Noah''s eyes widened slightly in admiration. Even though he knew food well, his mother''s cooking was bing more and more incredible.


    Emily, barely able to contain herself, grabbed her fork, eagerly waiting for everyone to dig in.


    "This looks amazing, Mom," Noah said with a smile, giving his mother a nod of approval.


    "Thank you, sweetheart," Caroline replied with a modest smile. "I wanted to try something special today."


    As they all began to eat, the vours didn''t disappoint. The beef Wellington melted in Noah''s mouth, the savoury bnce of textures perfect with each bite. He couldn''t help but be impressed.


    "Mom, you really outdid yourself with this meal. It''s incredible. Keep up the good work, but don''t tire yourself out," Noah said with genuine admiration, his eyes sparkling as he took in the beautifully crafted dishes.


    "Thanks, sweetheart," Caroline replied with a warm, happy smile. "I enjoy cooking, so don''t worry about me."


    As they continued to enjoy their breakfast, Caroline turned to David with a yful yet expectant look. "Honey, you still haven''t rated the food?"


    David, who had been savouring each bite with his eyes closed, was momentarily startled by Caroline''s question. He opened his eyes, looking both surprised and deeply content. "I''m lost for words, honey.


    This is the best food I''ve ever had in my life. Nothing canpete with this," he said, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "I''m truly proud of you."


    Caroline''s smile widened at the praise, a touch of pink colouring her cheeks as she nced at Noah and then back at David.


    The family enjoyed the meal in a warm, contented silence, appreciating the special breakfast that Caroline had prepared with such care and skill.

 Chapter 25: Intermediate Teaching Skill

    <h4>Chapter 25: Intermediate Teaching Skill</h4>


    After finishing breakfast, Noah headed to the library to meet up with Aiden. When they saw each other, they exchanged the usual greetings and a light joke or two before settling down at a table.


    "So, what''s the trouble with science today, Aiden?" Noah asked, leaning back in his chair.


    Aiden sighed dramatically. "Bro, how is anyone supposed to remember all this? It''s like science was invented just to mess with me."


    Noah chuckled. "Well, you know, science was invented <i>exactly</i> to mess with you personally. The universe revolves around making your life difficult."


    Aidenughed. "Yeah, I knew it! I''m being personally victimized by physics."


    "Alright, let''s see what''s up. Which part is causing your brain to short-circuit this time?" Noah asked, pulling out a textbook.


    "All of it?" Aiden shrugged but then pointed to a section on energy conversions. "This part, especially."


    Noah smirked. "Ah, the ssic confusion between kic and potential energy. Let me simplify it for you¡ªkic energy is like when you see someone running at you with a te of fries. Potential energy is you sitting there, waiting to intercept that te with maximum efficiency."


    Aiden''s eyes lit up with understanding. "Oh man, now it makes sense! Food examples. Why don''t they teach like that in school?"


    "Because they don''t have <i>my</i> advanced teaching methods," Noah said, with mock seriousness. "Now, on to thermal dynamics. Imagine you''re trying to reheat pizza, but the oven isn''t cooperating. That''s entropy at its finest."


    Just as Aiden was about to respond, a group of ssmates passed by their table, whispering and pointing.


    One of them, a boy with messy hair, leaned toward his friends. "Hey, do you think he''d help us study too? We''re not that close to him, though."


    A girl with a ponytail nudged him. "Why not give it a shot? He might help us out."


    Suddenly...


    <strong>[Ding! The Ultimate Choice System has been activated!]</strong>


    <strong>Option 1:</strong> <strong>Politely tell everyone to go away and focus only on helping Aiden.</strong>


    <strong>[Reward: $50,000, Basic Teaching Skill]</strong>


    <strong>Option 2:</strong> <strong>Organise an impromptu study group and teach them all.</strong>


    <strong>[Reward: Intermediate Teaching Skill, 51% shares in Camebridge University, +5 charm]</strong>


    <strong>Option 3:</strong> <strong>Shoo them away like bugs and be rude.</strong>


    <strong>[Reward: $100,000, -10 charm]</strong>


    With a smirk and a glint in his eye, he turned to Aiden. "Looks like our study session just got a bit more interesting."


    Option 2," muttered Noah under his breath, his eyes flicking toward the girl with the ponytail approaching their table. Aiden raised an eyebrow but said nothing, watching the situation unfold.


    <strong>[Ding! Intermediate Teaching Skill rewarded!] </strong>


    <strong> [Ding! 51% shares of CameBridge University rewarded! The host will find the documents in his bedroom] </strong>


    <strong> [Ding! +5 Charm rewarded!]</strong><strong></strong>


    Feeling the influx of knowledge being injected into his brain, Noah felt like he could even teach his little sister calculus.


    The girl, with a slight blush on her cheeks, hesitated for a moment before stepping closer to Noah. "Um, excuse me," she started, trying to keep herposure despite her racing heart.


    Up close, Noah''s sharp features and confident aura seemed even more intimidating¡ªyet undeniably attractive. His piercing eyes met hers, and for a brief second, she felt like time had stopped.


    <i>"Wow, he''s even more handsome up close...</i>" she thought, feeling a little dizzy. Quickly shaking off the feeling, she pressed on.


    "Would you mind if we joined you? Some of us are struggling with science too, and it looks like you''re really good at exining things."


    Noah smiled¡ªan easy, friendly smile that made her heart skip a beat. "Sure, why not? The more, the merrier. Pull up a chair."


    Her face brightened immediately, the tension in her shoulders rxing as she shed a grateful smile. "Thank you!" She quickly gestured to her friends. "Come on, guys!"


    In moments, the once empty study session turned into a mini-gathering. Aiden looked around, half-amused and half-confused as the seats around them filled up. The girl with the ponytail took the spot next to Noah, still trying to control her flustered heart rate, while the others settled around the table, whispering excitedly.


    Noah leaned back casually, taking in the scene with an easy confidence. "Alright, so who''s ready to learn about energy conversions, or should we start with something else?"


    One of the guys across from him scratched his head. "Man, this is insane. To think we are getting tutored from Noah."


    The girl with the ponytail looked at Noah with wide eyes. "I''ve heard people say you''ve suddenly be good at this, but I didn''t realize you were <i>this</i> good." She fidgeted with her pen, still amazed by his calm demeanor.


    Noah waved a hand, smiling. "Let''s not overhype it. It''s just science. Once you understand the basics, it''s like riding a bike. Except the bike is on fire, and the ground isva."


    Aiden burst outughing. "Yeah, science isn''t trying to kill us or anything. It''s just a casual threat."


    One of the boys in the group groaned. "Oh man, I wish you were our teacher. Our science ss is a total snooze fest."


    Noah shrugged. "Well, I''ll try my best to make it less like a nap and more like...an adrenaline rush. So let''s dive into it."


    For the next hour, Noah''s exnations were peppered with humor and clever analogies that made even the mostplicated topics seem easy. The students couldn''t stopughing as he exined kic energy with jokes about roller coasters and potential energy with the ssic example of someone holding their breath before diving into a pool.


    "So, potential energy is like when you''re waiting in line for pizza, knowing the moment you get it, you''ll devour it in five seconds t," Noah said, drawingughter from the group.


    "And kic energy is when you''re actually running to the pizza ce because they''re about to close," Aiden added, grinning.


    The girl with the ponytail looked at him in awe. "You make everything sound so simple. Why can''t our teacher exin it like this?"


    Noah chuckled. "Well, maybe your teacher doesn''t know how to harness the power of pizza analogies."


    The boy who had asked earlier about getting help shook his head in disbelief. "No way, you''re actually way better than the teachers. You should, like, run a tutoring empire or something."


    "An empire, huh?" Noahughed, leaning forward. "Maybe someday."


    The girl with the ponytail couldn''t take her eyes off Noah. She had been nervous about approaching him, but now, sitting so close, hearing his jokes and seeing how kind he was, her heart fluttered with admiration.


    As the lesson went on, theughter grew louder. Aiden couldn''t resist throwing in sarcastic jabs, and Noah was quick to fire back with wittyebacks.


    As Noah was exining how thermal energy worked, one of the students squinted, clearly confused.


    "Wait, hold on," he said. "Thermal energy... that''s just, like, heat moving around, right? Why does it feel like I''m trying to understand some aliennguage?"


    Noah chuckled, leaning back. "Alright, think of it like this: You know how when Aiden tells a joke¡ª"


    Aiden cut in, "Hey!"


    "¡ªand it''s really, really bad?" Noah continued, ignoring him with a grin. "But you have to hold in yourugh anyway, just out of politeness?"


    The group erupted inughter, immediately thinking of all the times Aiden''s jokes had fallen t.


    "That''s thermal energy," Noah added, eyes twinkling. "It''s like the awkward heat that builds up when you''re holding back that fakeugh. Eventually, you can''t contain it, and it escapes. Just like heat. No stopping it."


    Aiden threw his hands up dramatically. "Oh,e on! My jokes aren''t <i>that</i> bad."


    One of the girls chimed in, giggling, "Actually, they kind of are."


    Another round ofughter spread through the group, and even Aiden had to crack a smile.


    "See?" Noah smirked. "Thermal energy¡ªtotally rtable."


    One of the quieter students finally spoke up, shaking his head in disbelief. "Dude, you''re actually better than any teacher I''ve had. How do you do it?"


    Noah shed a casual grin. "I dunno, maybe I just like showing off how much of a nerd I am."


    The group chuckled, and Noah leaned forward. "But seriously, once you get the hang of this stuff, it''s like unlocking cheat codes for how the world works. And who doesn''t love cheat codes?"


    By the end, everyone had not only learned a lot but also had way more fun than they expected. As they packed up, the students thanked Noah, clearly impressed. The girl with the ponytail hung back for a second, clearly wanting to say something.


    "Thanks again, Noah. You really... you know, know your stuff," she said, a little shy.


    Noah smiled, giving her a nod. "No problem. Anytime you need a crash course in science, hit me up."


    She smiled, her cheeks a bit pink, before turning to join her friends. As she walked away, Aiden shook his head, a grin stered on his face.


    "Dude, you''re basically a walking science hotline now," Aiden teased. "What''s next, setting up a booth outside the cafeteria?"


    Noah shrugged, smirking. "Hey, I charge by the question. Gotta fund my snack habit somehow."


    Aidenughed, rolling his eyes. "You''d make a fortune."


    Noah leaned back, stretching his arms above his head. "I''ll be rich by lunch. Save the world? Maybe tomorrow. Right now? I''m saving your grades."


    Aiden groaned, "Fair point."

 Chapter 26: I Miss You

    <h4>Chapter 26: I Miss You</h4>


    After finishing the Group study session, or better put teaching lesson. Aiden and Noah headed out of the library.


    Aiden''s stomach rumbled loudly, as they walked out.


    Noah nced over,ughing. "Sounds like someone''s ready for lunch."


    Aiden rubbed his stomach, grinning. "The skewer van? You know that ce was legendaryst time."


    Noah chuckled. "Alright, sure. But we''re walking there. I didn''te here with my car."


    Aiden groaned dramatically. "Walk? Dude, I''ll crawl if I have to! Just get me to those skewers."


    As they headed down the street towards the van, Noah decided to ask, "So, how''s your dad''s job going? Any improvement?"


    Aiden''s expression shifted his earlier enthusiasm dimming. He sighed. "Not great, honestly. Hispany''s been overworking him for ages and still underpaying him. He''s been a manager there for over 15 years, Noah, but they treat him like he''s disposable. The ce is rotten."


    Noah nodded thoughtfully. "How much is he making?"


    "About $2,200 a month. It''s barely enough for all the work he''s doing," Aiden said, a mix of frustration and sadness in his tone.


    After a moment, Noah looked over at him. "What if your dad could work as a deputy manager at An''s Gourmet, the Michelin-star restaurant? Starting sry at $3,000 a month with room for a promotion, based on his performance."


    Aiden stopped walking for a second, staring at Noah in disbelief. "Wait, seriously? He''d jump at that in a heartbeat. He''s been thinking about leaving for a while now."


    Noah grinned. "Perfect."


    Aiden''s curiosity kicked in, though. "But... how do you even know the owner of that ce?"


    Noah shrugged with a sly smile. "Sort of a long story."


    Aiden squinted at him suspiciously. "Wait, are you serious? Are you sure this is legit? I don''t want my dad to quit and end up jobless."


    Noah pped him on the back reassuringly. "Don''t worry, man. We''ll sign the contract first, and once everything''s set, he can quit his current job."


    Aiden nodded slowly, still looking a bit sceptical but also hopeful. "Alright. I''ll talk to him tonight and let you know what he says."


    Noah smiled as they continued walking for around half an hour, the skewer van came into view, and Aiden''s mood visibly lifted.


    "Let''s eat first," Aiden said, rubbing his hands together in excitement. "I''m starving."


    Noahughed. "You and your skewers, man.


    As Noah and Aiden approached the skewer van, they spotted Uncle Ben, the owner of the popr food stand,ing toward them with his familiar kind smile.


    "Hey, Uncle Ben!" Aiden called out. "Same order as always¡ªand throw in arge Pepsi can too!"


    Uncle Ben chuckled warmly. "You got it, kid. Give me a minute." He turned to Noah, who smiled gratefully.


    "Thanks, Uncle Ben," Noah said. "How''s business going?"


    Uncle Ben wiped his hands on his apron, his eyes sparkling. "Oh, it''s been great! In fact, look around, boys."


    Noah and Aiden nced around and were surprised to see every table around the van was taken. The ce was buzzing with activity, customers chatting happily as they waited for their food.


    "Wow, it''s packed!" Aiden remarked.


    Uncle Ben grinned. "Ever since your friend," he pointed at Aiden, "showed up with that Lamborghini, people have beening non-stop. Someone filmed it and uploaded it online. Now folks think if a guy with such a fancy car eats here, it must be good food."


    Aiden raised an eyebrow, looking slightly embarrassed. "Uh, sorry about that, Uncle Ben. But it''s cool to see business blooming!"


    Noah, noticing theck of avable seats, looked at Aiden. "Looks like we''ve got no ce to sit, huh?"


    "Maybe we should just grab it to-go and eat somewhere else." Aiden''s voice had a hint of disappointment.


    Uncle Benughed heartily. "Oh, don''t you worry about that! How could I let my best customers go without a ce to eat? I''ve got a special foldable table stashed away in the van just for you two. It''s your VIP table."


    Noah burst intoughter. "See, Aiden? We''re privileged. Thanks, Uncle Ben!"


    Aiden grinned, relieved. "Thanks a ton, Uncle Ben! You''re a lifesaver."


    Uncle Ben shook his head with a smile. "No, no, thank <i>you</i> for bringing in the business."


    Momentster, the food was ready, and Uncle Ben set up the foldable table just for them. Noah and Aiden sat down and dug into the skewers, savouring every bite.


    As they ate, Aiden looked over, grinning. "Best spot in town hands down."


    Noah nodded, his mouth full of food. "Couldn''t agree more." The two of them enjoyed the meal, surrounded by the bustling energy of the now-popr skewer van.


    As Noah was enjoying his food, the familiar sound of his phone rang out, <i>bzzz-bzzz, bzzz-bzzz</i>, vibrating against the table. Quickly, he grabbed a tissue and wiped away the grease from the skewers, ncing at the screen. It was Sarah calling.


    "Hold up, Aiden," Noah said, getting up from the table.


    Aiden, still immersed in his food, barely looked up. "Yeah, yeah, shoo away, you''re interrupting my bliss, man," he joked, waving Noah off like an annoying fly.


    Noah chuckled and stepped a bit away from the tables, answering the call. "Sarah, hello?"


    Her voice came through the line, full of excitement. "Hii Noah, guess what happened!"


    Noah raised an eyebrow, already sensing her happiness. "What happened?" he asked, though a part of him had an idea.


    "Thepany I told you about before," she started, her voice almost bubbling with joy, "they called me earlier and said they want to renew the contract! And not just that¡ªit''s five times better than before. It''s like...they don''t even care about their profit, they just want to make me happy!"


    Noah''s smile widened, feeling genuinely proud. "See? I told you everything would be alright."


    Sarah nodded on the other end, her voice softening. "Yeah, you did... actually..." she hesitated for a moment, then continued, "Wanna have dinner again?"


    Noah could almost hear the blush in her voice when she stuttered, "I... I miss you."


    A warm grin spread across Noah''s face. "Of course, we can have dinner. You are my wife after all."


    There was a pause, as if time itself had frozen on Sarah''s end. The word "wife" clearly hit her, leaving her stunned for a brief moment.


    There was a sudden hitch in Sarah''s breath. "Hus¡ª" She caught herself, then boldly continued, "Husband, huh?" Her voice was yful, but there was a clear depth to her words, testing the feeling of that title.


    She let the word linger for a second longer before regaining herposure. "Alright, see you soon," she said, her voice still carrying that giddy excitement.


    With that, she hung up, leaving Noah standing there with a grin on his face.


    After returning to the table, Noah sat down and resumed eating with Aiden. As they both enjoyed the meal, Noah casually remembered something.


    "Hey, Aiden," he said, ncing over. "Do you want an iPhone 15 Pro Max? I kind of have a spare one, but I don''t need it."


    Aiden''s face lit up with excitement. "Wait, are you secretly Noah Wayne now? When did you be so mysterious, dude?" Heughed, but then his tone softened. "Hell yeah, I want that iPhone, but... are you sure it''s spare? I don''t want to keep taking free stuff from you. I mean, I don''t want our rtionship to be affected."


    Noah smiled and shook his head. "Don''t worry, man. We''re brothers¡ªthrough thick and thin. If I''m rich, you''re rich. If I''m poor, you''re poor. Simple as that."


    Aiden looked touched by Noah''s words and grinned. "Alright, alright. But if you go poor, don''t drag me down with you!" he joked, and the two burst intoughter.


    After having their fill, Aiden decided to pay for the food this time.


    Uncle Ben tired to stop Aiden from paying, but Aiden wouldn''t budge. After a while of convincing, Aiden was finally able to pay.


    Giving Uncle Ben $25, the meal was $15. But he tipped him $10, he wasn''t like rich like Noah tipping $200 for a $5 meal. But he still decided to keep the forefront of a rich man and tipped $10.


    "Alright bro, see you tomorrow in the exam hall," Aiden said.


    Noah smirked, tossing his trash in the nearby bin. "Don''t forget to study, or I''ll have to carry you through the test too."


    Aidenughed, shaking his head. "You''re already carrying me through life, man. I''ll at least try to make it through the exam on my own."


    Noah chuckled and gave him a fist bump. "You''ll do fine, bro. See you tomorrow."


    "Later, man!" Aiden called, waving as he headed off. Noah watched him go for a moment before turning to walk home.

 Chapter 27 Damsel In Distress

    27 Damsel In Distress


    As Noah continued walking, lost in his thoughts, something stirred in the corner of his vision. Ahead of him, a woman, unlike anyone he''d ever seen, moved with a refined, humble grace. She was striking ¡ª pale, fairy-like features that seemed out of ce in the ordinary cityscape.


    Her skin was the colour of freshly fallen snow, her hair cascaded down her back like a shimmering waterfall, and though her dress appeared simple, it radiated a level of elegance only the keenest eye could catch.


    Noah''s trained eye, honed by years of subtly observing details, could tell instantly that her outfit wasn''t just expensive ¡ª it was crafted. Tailored, likely by a high-ss designer, the kind you wouldn''t find even in the most exclusive of stores. It had a quiet luxury to it that screamed of wealth without needing to unt it. Yet, despite her outward beauty and the obvious ss she exuded, there was something¡­ off. The sunsses. Noah squinted.


    "Why wear sunsses on a cloudy day? The sun wasn''t ring down; there was no need for them. Was she hiding something?"


    Noah shook his head, mentally chastising himself.


    "Don''t jump to conclusions," he thought. "Not everything''s a conspiracy." shaking his head at his far-fetched thoughts.


    But as his gaze lingered, something else caught his attention. Slowly, methodically, a ck van turned the corner, its engine almost inaudible, creeping along the curb in an unsettling way.


    Its windows werepletely tinted, not a single sliver of light able to prate inside. The van rolled closer, its movement too deliberate, too calcted.


    A chill ran up Noah''s spine. His gut screamed at him ¡ª something was wrong. Really wrong.


    He tried to brush it off. "Maybe it''s just a delivery van," he reasoned, but deep down, his instincts ¡ª were telling him otherwise. As the van approached, he saw that there was no number te either.


    Before he could even process the feeling fully, a familiar chime echoed in his mind.


    [Ding! The Ultimate Choice System has been activated!]


    Noah froze. His breath caught in his throat as the familiar interface popped up in front of his vision, hovering in the air like a hologram only he could see.


    This time, the stakes were higher. Much higher.


    [Option 1: The woman is about to be abducted. Ignore it and leave to avoid trouble. The woman has a survival rate of 0%.]


    17:35


    [Reward: $100,000 & Anti-depression pill.]


    [Option 2: The woman is about to be abducted. Call the police and inform them anonymously. The woman has a survival rate of 10%.]


    [Reward: $25,000 & Audi A1 ]


    [Option 3: The woman is about to be abducted. Save the Damsel in Distress.]


    [Reward: Basic Inventory Skill & Basic Soldier-King Skill.]


    His heart pounded in his chest as he stared at the options.


    "What the hell¡­ "


    This wasn''t like the other choices. Those were about social interactions, minor decisions, and harmless stuff that wouldn''t get him killed. But this? This was life or death ¡ª not just for the woman, but for him, too.


    The first option practically guaranteed her death. The thought made Noah ufortable. Sure, the reward was tempting, and he could easily avoid trouble. He wouldn''t have to risk his life for someone he didn''t even know. But then again, could he really just walk away knowing she had zero chance of surviving? Could he live with that on his conscience?


    "No way," he thought, shaking his head. "I''m not that heartless, especially if I have the skills needed to save her" He added, whilst ncing at Option 3.


    He nced at the second option. Calling the police seemed logical, safer. But what if they didn''t arrive in time? The woman''s survival rate was only 10%. That was¡­ pathetically low.


    [Option 2: The woman is about to be abducted. Call the police and inform them anonymously. The woman has a survival rate of 10%.]


    [Reward: $25,000 & Audi A1 ]


    The reward wasn''t bad, but it wasn''t life-changing either. And what if the van sped off before the cops got there? She''d still be gone, and he''d have only dyed the inevitable.


    Noah''s eyes locked onto the third option.


    [Option 3: The woman is about to be abducted. Save the Damsel in Distress.]


    [Reward: Basic Inventory Skill & Basic Soldier-King Skill.]


    That one sent a jolt through his body. It was clear what this option demanded ¡ª action. Real, dangerous, possibly life-threatening action.


    It was bold, reckless even. And yet, the rewards were insane: [Basic Soldier-King Skill & Basic Inventory Skill.]


    These weren''t just perks; they were the kind of abilities that could change his entire life. He''d essentially be gainingbat skills and the ability to carry items in a personal inventory space ¡ª both invaluable assets in a dangerous world.


    But still¡­ this wasn''t a game. This wasn''t some superhero movie where he could charge in and save the day with no consequences. If things went south, he could get seriously hurt ¡ª or worse.


    "Do I really want to risk my life for a stranger?" he thought, his mind racing. "I''ve got my family, Sarah. What if I get killed?"


    "Life has finally started to show its rainbows and sunshine to him, he doesn''t need to risk it for anything."


    He clenched his fists, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on him. This was the first time he was truly scared ¡ª scared that this choice, unlike the others, could actually end badly for him. But he couldn''t shake the feeling that if he didn''t act, he''d regret it forever.


    His eyes drifted back to the woman, who was obliviously walking down the street,pletely unaware of the looming danger behind her. The van was inching closer, its dark presence a silent predator.


    "If I don''t do something, she''s as good as dead."


    Noah could feel the adrenaline starting to pump through his veins. His body tensed, his heart raced.


    "Come on, Noah. Think."


    The woman didn''t deserve this. She hadn''t done anything wrong. She was just walking down the street, minding her business, and now her life was hanging by a thread. The fact that the system also issued a choice, further strengthened this thought.


    Noah took a deep breath. He had a choice to make, and time was running out fast.


    "Option 3¡­ It''s risky, but I can do this. I have to. I can''t just walk away."


    With one final nce at the system options, Noah made his decision.


    Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!


    Creation is hard, cheer me up!


    Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.


    Risaliyah


    Creator''s Thought n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Important

 Chapter 28 Damsel In Distress (2)

    28 Damsel In Distress (2)


    Noah''s heart raced as he made the decision, Option 3 solidifying in his mind. As soon as he chose it, a flood of information poured into his brain ¡ª sharp, precise, tactical knowledge that wasn''t there moments before.


    The Basic Soldier-King Skill and Basic Inventory Skill snapped into ce as if he had always known how to use weapons, how to survive, and how to handle extreme situations.


    Just as the rush of knowledge subsided, the scene unfolded in front of him with terrifying rity. The van, which had been creeping closer, stopped abruptly, right in the middle of the street. It was broad daylight, the sun still hovering above the horizon, but what happened next felt like a nightmare.


    The van''s doors burst open, and three men in pitch-ck clothing, their faces concealed by eerie masks leapt out. In one swift, practised motion, they seized the woman. She barely had time to register what was happening before she let out a blood-curdling scream, her face twisting in shock and terror.


    The sound of her scream cut through the street like a de, sending shivers down Noah''s spine. It echoed in the air, a desperate cry for help that no one seemed brave enough to answer.


    Noah''s eyes darted around. People stood frozen on the sidewalks, their faces contorted in horror, but no one dared to intervene. A few raised their phones, recording the incident from a distance, but no one moved to help. Fear gripped them all, paralyzing them in ce. They couldn''t risk stepping in ¡ª not when there could be weapons involved. Noah understood their hesitation.


    "If I confront them now, I''ll put everyone at risk. What if they have guns?" His mind raced, calcting his next move.


    Confronting the men directly wasn''t an option ¡ª not yet. He needed an advantage, something to level the ying field.


    Then, he spotted it. A motorcycle parked just a few feet away, its engine still warm, as if it had been recently used. Noah''s eyes locked onto it, and without a second thought, he sprinted toward the bike. The owner, a man in histe twenties, was getting ready to hop on.


    "Hey!" Noah called out, urgency dripping from his voice as he approached the man. "I need your bike."


    The man blinked, taken aback, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What? No way, dude, are you crazy? I don''t even know you!"


    Noah''s hand instinctively reached into his pocket, pulling out a wad of cash. He hadn''t nned on using it, but desperate times called for desperate measures.


    He peeled off $500, holding it out toward the man. "Here. It''s yours. I just need the bike, now."


    The man hesitated, looking at the cash and then at Noah. The bike was old, worth maybe $600 at best, and clearly past its prime. It was hardly a prized possession. After a moment''s consideration, he grabbed the money and handed Noah the keys.


    Noah didn''t waste a second. He swung his leg over the motorcycle and kickstarted it into action.


    The engine sputtered for a moment, then roared to life, its deep rumble filling the air. The motorcycle wasn''t fast ¡ª not by a long shot ¡ª but with his Intermediate Driving Skill, Noah knew how to maximize its potential. Every muscle in his body responded with precision, his mind calcting the fastest routes, the best ways to handle sharp turns, and the smoothest gear transitions.


    As he sped off after the van, weaving through traffic with ease, his focus narrowed. The city blurred around him, but his eyes stayed locked on his target ¡ª the ck van, which was now pulling away at speed. He couldn''t afford to lose them.


    The moment the van sped off, chaos erupted on the street. People snapped out of their initial shock, some rushing toward each other in panic while others fumbled with their phones, desperately trying to call for help.


    A woman in her mid-thirties, her voice shaky but determined, raised her phone to her ear as she dialled the police. "Hurry! Someone call the police!" she shouted, her eyes wide with fear.


    "I''m already on the line!" a young man nearby responded, pacing frantically as the phone rang in his ear. He seemed to be struggling to keep hisposure, his breathing in quick bursts. After a few tense seconds, the call connected.


    "911, what''s your emergency?"


    He spoke quickly, the words tumbling out of his mouth as adrenaline kicked in. "Yes! There''s been¡ªthere''s been a kidnapping! A woman, she was just taken, right in front of us!"


    "Calm down, sir. Where did this happen?" the operator replied, her tone professional, trying to bring some control to the situation.


    "It¡ªit''s on Brookview and 8th! A ck van, three men in masks just grabbed her!" The man''s voice cracked with urgency as he watched the street where the van had disappeared. "They just grabbed her, right in front of everyone! It happened so fast!"


    "Can you describe the van? Any details about the suspects?" the operator pressed.


    "It was a ck van, no tes that I could see," the man replied, his eyes darting around as if the details would somehow materialize from the chaos. "The guys were wearing masks, all ck clothes, they were fast. Please, you have to hurry¡ªshe screamed, and then they just¡ª"


    "We''re dispatching units to your location right now. Stay calm, stay where you are. Is the woman hurt? Did you see any weapons?"


    "I don''t think so, but¡ªbut they grabbed her roughly, and she was terrified. We didn''t see any weapons, but they might have them!" he added, his voice rising again as he scanned the faces around him. Other bystanders were nodding, confirming the details he was giving.


    "Alright, stay on the line. Officers are en route."


    The young man exhaled sharply, his hand trembling as he clutched the phone. Around him, more people gathered, murmuring in low voices, their faces pale with shock.


    One woman, clutching her own phone but too shaken to call, nced at him. "Did they say how long until they get here?"


    "They''reing, they''re on their way," he muttered, barely able to focus as the weight of what he had just witnessed pressed down on him.


    The crowd stayed where they were, a mix of helplessness and hope in their eyes, but none of them knew that Noah had already taken matters into his own hands, speeding after the van on a borrowed motorcycle.


    I have received the Contract, Please support the novel with Golden Tickets if you like it. I will decide which novel to focus on based on the support I receive.


    Thank you <3. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    I''m also stockpiling chapters and will release them all at once, so update will be slow for a few days.


    Risaliyah


    Creator''s Thought

 Chapter 29 Damsel In distress (3)

    29 Damsel In distress (3)


    Fifteen minutester, the police finally arrived, lights shing and sirens wailing as they pulled up to the scene. People watched in anxious silence as a sleek patrol car came to a stop.


    Out of the car stepped a strikingly beautiful policewoman, her features sharp and her shoulder-length hair tied back with precision. There was a sense of authority and confidence in the way she moved, yet her expression was calm and professional.


    The officer''s namete gleamed under the setting sun: Staff Sergeant Rachel Miller. She scanned the crowd briefly before stepping forward, her voice clear and assertive as she addressed the bystanders.


    "Alright, I need everyone''s attention! We need details¡ªnow. Start from the beginning. What exactly happened?"


    The crowd shifted nervously before the young man who had made the call stepped forward. "There was a van, a ck one. Three men jumped out, grabbed the woman, and then sped off¡ªjust like that. It was so fast, no one had time to react."


    Staff Sergeant Miller nodded, her brow furrowing slightly. "Can anyone describe the woman who was taken?"


    A few witnesses exchanged nces, and then a middle-aged woman with a trembling voice spoke up. "She was... she was beautiful, like some kind of movie star. Pale skin, long hair, wearing sunsses even though the sun wasn''t bright. She had on a Tailored dress."


    Rachel''s heart skipped a beat, her professional mask slipping for just a fraction of a second.


    The description tugged at her memory, and an unsettling suspicion began to form in her mind.


    "Could it be...?"


    No, she couldn''t jump to conclusions. She needed more information. "Did anyone hear her name, or see where they went?"


    Another voice piped up, "No name, but they went west, down Brookview. They didn''t have any license tes. It was fast¡ªlike they knew what they were doing."


    Rachel''s eyes narrowed as she processed the information. Her gut feeling told her this wasn''t just a random abduction.


    "The woman they described... she could be her."


    But before she could dwell on it further, a male officer approached her with a serious look on his face.


    "Staff Sergeant, we found this near the scene. It appears to belong to the victim."


    He handed over a designer handbag, and the moment Rachel''s eyes fell on it, her suspicion solidified into certainty. Her fingers tightened around the strap as she opened it briefly, recognizing the contents immediately.


    Her heart raced. "Amelia..." she muttered under her breath, barely audible. She shut the bag quickly, her mind racing through every protocol she had been trained for, but the stakes were now impossibly higher.


    This wasn''t just any victim¡ªthis was her best friend, Amelia. And Amelia wasn''t just an ordinary citizen; her background made this abduction far more dangerous than any other case.


    Without wasting a moment, Rachel straightened up, her voice cold andmanding as she gave rapid-fire orders to her team. "Lock down all major exits from the city. I want every patrol car in a ten-mile radius on high alert. Set up roadblocks at every intersection along Brookview. No one gets out. Deploy drones if you have to."


    The officers around her nodded and sprang into action, their radios crackling with activity as they ryed hermands. One officer quickly ran back to his car, already calling for reinforcements.


    Rachel''s chest tightened with dread. She didn''t ramp up the efforts just because Amelia was her best friend, but because Amelia''s abduction could have massive consequences given her connections. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    She was involved in high-stakes business, with people who had power and influence far beyond this city. If the wrong people were behind this, it wasn''t just a simple kidnapping¡ªthey were ying with fire.


    Turning to the young officer beside her, Rachel''s voice was low but urgent. "We need to find her. And fast."


    An hour had passed since the abduction, and the van had already made its way to the outskirts of Birmingham. The road was deste, bordered by empty fields and distant hills, with no signs of life for miles.


    The setting sun cast long shadows across the barrenndscape, making the scene feel even more isted. There wasn''t a car or pedestrian in sight, just the low hum of the van''s engine and the rhythmic thumping of its tyres against the cracked asphalt.


    Inside the van, four men upied the vehicle: one behind the wheel, a second in the passenger seat, and two in the back, sitting across from Amelia, who was bound and gagged.


    Her eyes were wide with fear, her breaths shallow as she nced nervously at the men who asionally cast leering looks in her direction.


    The man in the passenger seat, a gruff individual with a shaved head, let out a low whistle as his eyes shifted to the rearview mirror, catching Amelia''s reflection. "Damn, she''s a looker, ain''t she?" he muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Can''t believe we''re just sittin'' here like this. We could be havin'' some fun with her right now."


    17:37


    The man next to Amelia, anky guy with tattoos snaking up his arms, snorted in agreement. "Yeah, I don''t see why we''re waiting. Look at her, man. She''s trembling. Makes it even better, doesn''t it?"


    The driver, a burly man with a cold expression, shot a nce back at them. "Cut it out."


    But the tattooed man grinned, leaning in closer to Amelia, his breath hot and foul. "C''mon, boss, just a touch. No harm in that, right? She''s not gonna remember anything after tonight anyway."


    The leader, the man in the driver''s seat, red at him through the mirror. His voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a de. "Don''t be an idiot. The guy who hired us? He''s got ns for her, and if we mess with his ''property'' before he gets his turn, we''re as good as dead. We touch her, and he finds out. We won''t see a penny."


    Tattoo Guy leaned back reluctantly, muttering under his breath. "Yeah, but¡ªjust a touch. It''s not like¡ª"


    "I said no!" the leader snapped, his voice filled with authority and warning. "Listen to me. You wait until we''ve got the money. After that, we can spend it on all the girls you want. Not just one. Think about it."


    The man grumbled but eventually nodded, his lecherous gaze lingering on Amelia for a moment longer before he turned his attention to the front. The van was silent again, save for the asional bump in the road.


    Just then, something caught the passenger''s attention. "Hey, that motorcycle..."


    "What about it?" the leader asked, not bothering to turn his head.


    The passenger frowned, leaning closer to the window. "I swear I''ve seen it behind us for a while now. You think he''s following us?"


    The leader shook his head, chuckling under his breath. "Nah, it''s just some random guy. He disappears and reappears from different streets. No one could be keeping track of us on these roads. It''s impossible."


    The others nodded, reassured by their leader''s confidence, though the passenger kept his eyes on the bike.


    Momentster, the motorcycle zoomed past them, and for a split second, everything seemed fine. But then it started to wobble violently, the front wheel shaking uncontrobly in what was known as a death wobble.


    The bike swayed left and right, the rider struggling to maintain control as the vehicle jerked back and forth.


    The tattooed guy in the backughed, nudging the man beside him. "Look at that idiot! He''s dead for sure."


    Even the leader cracked a smirk, his eyes flicking to the side mirror. "Won''t have to worry about him followin'' us now. He''s gonna wipe out any second."


    But instead of crashing, the rider managed to hold on for what felt like an eternity. The motorcycle twisted and lurched, and finally, with a loud screech, it slid sideways across the asphalt, skidding to a stop right in front of the van, blocking the roadpletely.


    "Shit!" the leader cursed, mming the brakes as the van screeched to a halt just inches away from the downed motorcycle. The group inside lurched forward with the sudden stop, each of them cursing under their breath.


    The driver growled, his knuckles white as he gripped the wheel. "One of you get out and move him. We don''t have time for this!"


    As the man stepped out of the van, he immediately noticed that Noah''s crash wasn''t nearly as bad as it first appeared.


    I have received the Contract, Please support the novel with Golden Tickets if you like it. I will decide which novel to focus on based on the support I receive.


    Thank you <3.

 Chapter 30 Saving Damsel in Distress

    30 Saving Damsel in Distress


    Noahy on the ground, grimacing and clutching his side in an exaggerated disy of pain, but the motorcycle seemed to have barely taken any damage. The man sneered, shaking his head.


    "Oi, move your damn bicycle-wannabe motorcycle outta the way," he barked, his patience already thin. "We''ve got important business to handle, and you''re in the way."


    Noah, still on the ground, groaned dramatically as he slowly pushed himself to his feet. "Important business? You''re the one who made me crash in the first ce! That van of yours was going so slow, I couldn''t react in time." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The man''s face twisted into an ugly scowl. "Slow speed? You idiot, Your busted-up excuse for a bike can''t even keep up with a snail, let alone us. You trying to scam us?"


    Noah stood up fully now, dusting himself off but still wincing like he was in pain. "Scam? I don''t care about your speed. All I know is, if I hadn''t had to swerve, I wouldn''t be in this mess! My bike''s scratched up because of you guys, and I''m not moving an inch until you pay me $500 for the damage."


    The man let out a string of curses, his eyes zing. "$500? You gotta be outta your mind! We don''t have time for this crap. Move, or I''ll beat you senseless and throw you and your bike off the road myself!"


    Noah crossed his arms, shaking his head stubbornly. "I''m not moving unless you pay me what I''m owed."


    The argument escted as Noah continued to raise his voice, refusing to budge from the front of the van. Inside, the leader of the group was growing increasingly frustrated. They were losing valuable time because of this idiot with his flimsy motorcycle. He sighed deeply, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel as he watched themotion unfold through the windshield.


    Realizing that Noah wasn''t going to back down easily, the leader leaned toward the window, calling out to the man.


    "Jacke here, let me talk to you." Hearing the leader, Jack got closer and leaned into the window.


    "Hey, get him toe closer to the van. Tell him we''ll pay him his damn $500. As soon as he''s close, the others will grab him. They will hold him down, and you can move the bike. Then we''re outta here."


    The man grinned wickedly, nodding as he turned back to Noah. "Alright, alright," he said, his tone suddenly changing to something almost friendly. "You win. My boss says he''ll give you the $500. Juste over to the van, and we''ll sort it out."


    Noah narrowed his eyes, still pretending to be pissed off, but inside his mind, everything was crystal clear. He could see the n forming in the way the man''s lips curled. The fake friendliness, the sudden change in tone¡ªit was all too obvious. They were going to try to grab him.


    But Noah didn''t flinch. He just kept up his act, raising his voice even more. "I knew you guys would see reason! I''m not moving from here until I get my money."


    The man approached Noah, a smug grin on his face as he gestured for him toe closer.


    As Noah reluctantly walked closer to the van''s door, the man standing beside him gave him a friendly nudge, his grin growing wider with each step.


    "Come on, hurry up, get paid and scurry from here" the man urged, impatience oozing from his voice.


    "Okay, okay" Noah responded.


    When Noah was right in front of the van, the door slid open with a sudden, harsh screech. Inside, two men waited, their eyes cold and calcting. Without warning, they lunged, grabbing Noah by his arms, and trying to pull him into the van. He jerked back, his face filled with a convincing look of panic.


    "H-Hey, what''s going on?" Noah stammered, stepping back quickly as if genuinely scared. But before he could make any distance, the man behind him moved with surprising speed, grabbing Noah by the shoulders and shoving him forward, right into the clutches of the two men waiting in the van.


    "Gotcha, kid," one of the men sneered as they dragged him inside, their grips rough and merciless.


    Thrown unceremoniously into the back of the van, Noahnded hard on the floor, his mind racing even as he kept up his terrified act. The door mmed shut behind him with a dull thud, sealing him in with the kidnappers.


    "You should''ve just walked away," one of the men jeered, standing over Noah with a sadistic glint in his eye. "Now, you might not even survive, you little punk."


    They were careless in their arrogance, clearly thinking they hadplete dominance over the situation. But Noah''s instincts told him not to make a move yet. The biggest threat was still the leader driving the van, and the man riding with him at the front. If either of them had a gun, things could escte dangerously if he acted too soon.


    17:38


    Another one chuckled darkly, leaning in closer. "Hehehe, thought you could y games with us, huh? You''re in deep now, kid. Real deep."


    Noah sat quietly beside Amelia, ncing at her briefly as the kidnappers tied his hands and forced him to sit next to her.


    Her face was pale, eyes filled with a mixture of fear and confusion. She was bound tightly, her wrists raw from struggling. Her once-pristine dress was now wrinkled and stained, a far cry from the image of elegance she had earlier.


    Noah, though ying the role of a terrified victim, was far from helpless. His heart raced, but it wasn''t fear that consumed him¡ªit was anticipation. As the men tightened the ropes around his wrists, Noah didn''t resist, allowing them to believe they had full control. His mind, however, was working at full speed.


    He had scanned the two men who grabbed him earlier and noticed no visible firearms. Knives maybe, but that wasn''t his immediate concern.


    They were careless in their arrogance, clearly thinking they hadplete dominance over the situation. But Noah''s instincts told him not to make a move yet. The biggest threat was still the leader driving the van, and the man riding with him at the front. If either of them had a gun, things could escte dangerously if he acted too soon.


    The van jolted as the engine roared back to life. The man who had moved the motorcycle hopped in, mming the door shut, and they were on their way again, speeding down the deserted road.


    "Basic Soldier-King Skill," surged in his mind, offering him strategies and techniques that his body was carved with.


    Every second of inaction now was building towards something¡ªwaiting for the right moment to strike.


    His eyes flicked to Amelia again. She looked at him, a small, pleading nce, as if silently begging for help. He gave her a reassuring nod, his expression still filled with mock fear, but his gaze telling a different story.


    Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!


    Creation is hard, cheer me up!


    Risaliyah

 Chapter 31 Saving Damsel in Distress (2)

    Chapter 31 Saving Damsel in Distress (2)


    Noah''s heart thudded as he sat still, bound beside Amelia. His mind raced, calcting every possible move and oue. He flexed his wrists, testing the tightness of the ropes as his new "Basic Soldier-King Skill" flowed through him, giving him advancedbat knowledge that felt engraved in his bones.


    ncing at Amelia, Noah caught her eye and subtly moved his fingers in a series of quick, deliberate gestures¡ªa form of signnguage.


    It wasn''t perfect, but he hoped Amelia, who seemed refined and educated would understand. To his relief, she gave the faintest of nods, careful not to alert their captors. A quiet exhale escaped Noah. She understood.


    Now it was time to act.


    Noah shifted his focus to the ropes binding his wrists. The rough twine scraped against his skin, but with his new skills, his flexibility was heightened. Twisting his wrists and subtly working his fingers, he felt the rope loosen. After a few more seconds, the knot slipped, and his hands were free. But he didn''t move yet. He had to wait for the perfect moment.


    One of the men at the back of the van was beginning to doze off, head bobbing as he fought sleep. The others were oblivious,ughing and talking in low voices. The leader in the front was entirely focused on the road. This was it.


    Noah sprang into action.


    In one fluid motion, he leapt towards the man nearest to him. His elbow struck the man''s neck with brutal precision, instantly cutting off the blood flow to his brain. The man''s body went limp, copsing onto the van floor without so much as a grunt.


    The second man, wide-eyed in shock, reached for a weapon strapped to his side, but Noah was faster.


    He lunged at him, locking one arm around the man''s neck and the other grabbing his wrist, twisting it painfully. The man gasped, eyes bulging as Noah choked him out, rendering him unconscious in seconds.


    But the sudden movement had awakened the third man, who shot up, alert, just as Noah spun and delivered a powerful kick to the man nearest the van door.


    The force of the kick sent him crashing through the van''s side door, which burst open on impact. The man tumbled out of the speeding van, his body rolling violently across the asphalt, disappearing into the distance. Whether he survived or not didn''t matter¡ªhe was out of the fight.


    The van swerved violently as the leader in the driver''s seat mmed the brakes, trying to regain control. The tyres screeched on the road, and the vehicle jerked as it decelerated.


    Meanwhile, the man who had been knocked out earlier began to stir. Noah didn''t give him a chance to recover.


    He quickly seized the man by the cor, yanking him into a grapple. They wrestled for a brief moment, but with his strength and skills, Noah easily overpowered him, mming him against the van wall and knocking him unconscious again.


    Amelia, who had stayed still as per Noah''s instructions, was frozen in shock. She watched in disbelief as Noah took out the kidnappers with precision and efficiency that seemed impossible for someone who looked so young. But there was no time for her to react. Noah wasn''t done yet.


    Suddenly, the man in the passenger seat twisted around, grabbing Amelia and pressing a knife to her throat. "Stop!" he shouted, his voice trembling with adrenaline. "One more move, and I''ll slit her throat!"


    Noah''s eyes narrowed. His mind raced, analyzing the situation. He couldn''t afford to let emotions cloud his judgment. Without hesitating, he sneered at the man. "I don''t care about that woman," he said coldly, stepping back towards the open van door. "She''s not worth dying for."


    The man''s grip on Amelia tightened, but his confusion was evident. "What? You''re just gonna leave?"


    Noah gave a dismissive wave and leaped out of the van door, disappearing into the shadows of the roadside.


    The leader, sensing that something was wrong, mmed the brakes fully and jumped out of the van through the opposite door. "Find him!" he barked, scanning the deserted road frantically. He looked left and right, spinning around in search of Noah. His breath came in ragged bursts, and sweat dripped from his brow as he strained to see in the fading light.


    But Noah was nowhere to be found.


    The leader''s heart pounded as he circled the van. He peered into the distance, eyes darting, his fingers itching towards the concealed weapon at his side. "Where the hell did he go?" he muttered, still looking around in panic.


    Suddenly, without warning, Noah dropped down from the roof of the van like a shadow,nding silently behind the leader. In one swift, deadly motion, he wrapped an arm around the man''s neck and squeezed with brutal force. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The leader gasped, trying to draw breath, but it was toote. Noah''s grip tightened, and the man copsed, unconscious before he even knew what hit him.


    Noah quickly patted down the unconscious leader, searching for any weapons. His fingers grazed cold metal, and he pulled out a gun from the man''s holster. With a swift motion, he stood up and turned back towards the van. Inside, thest kidnapper still held the knife to Amelia''s throat, his eyes wild with desperation.


    Noah raised the gun, aiming directly at the man. His voice was steady, filled with a cold intensity. "Drop the knife, or you''re dead."


    The manughed, his grip tightening on the knife. "Who do you think you are, kid?" he sneered. "There''s no way you can hit that shot. The girl''s right in front of me."


    Noah''s gaze remained unshaken. He locked eyes with Amelia, who was trembling, fear etched across her face. She looked at Noah, uncertain and terrified. The young man''s eyes softened just a bit, and in a calm voice, he asked, "Do you trust me?"


    Amelia''s heart raced, not sure if the thudding was from the danger of the de at her throat or from the intensity of Noah''s unwavering stare. Her breath hitched, and she hesitated, fear clouding her judgment. Slowly, she shook her head in disbelief, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion. She didn''t trust him¡ªhow could she?


    As her head shook, Noah''s focus sharpened. Without warning, he squeezed the trigger.


    The gunshot echoed through the air, sharp and deafening. Blood sprayed as the bullet struck, and a wail of pain erupted from the man holding Amelia. The knife ttered to the floor, and the kidnapper copsed, clutching his bleeding hand where the bullet had lodged itself.


    Amelia stood frozen, eyes wide with shock. She stared at Noah, her mind struggling to process what had just happened. He stood there, calm, a slight smile curling at the edges of his lips. "You did well," Noah said, voice smooth. "Thank you."


    He stepped forward, kicking the knife far away from the man who was now writhing on the ground, clutching his hand in agony. Noah looked down at him with a smirk. "Told you you''d regret it," he said with a cheeky grin. "You should''ve just paid me my $500."


    Noah''s smirk lingered as he watched the man squirm on the ground, his cockyugh now turned into pitiful cries.

 Chapter 32 A Passerby

    Chapter 32 A Passerby


    ncing at Amelia, Noah''s expression softened. "Could you kindly keep this a secret between us?" he asked, his voice casual but firm.


    "I have exams tomorrow, and the police won''t let me off easily after firing a weapon. Can you say the man identally shot himself or something? And maybe tell them someone in a mask saved you, but you don''t know who it was and they just left."


    He smiled¡ªa warm, sincere smile that made her heart flutter in spite of everything. For a moment, Amelia was lost in the calm of his expression, nodding her head almost instinctively.


    Noah, noticing her agreement, leaned down and patted the wounded man, retrieving a phone. Handing it to Amelia, he gestured toward it. "Call the police. Tell them what happened¡ªminus the part about me."


    While she made the call, Noah went to the van, grabbed some ropes, and swiftly tied up the unconscious kidnappers, including the one he had kicked out of the van earlier. With every knot, he worked efficiently, showing a level of skill that was far from ordinary. He then dragged the men back into the van driving seat making them cramped above each other hriously. When everything was set, Noah turned back to Amelia, who still looked shaken. "You''ll be fine. The police are on their way," he said reassuringly.


    "But... what if they escape your ropes?" she asked, her eyes wide with concern.


    Noah smiled, the same easy, confident grin that had carried them through the ordeal. "They can''t."


    Her worry didn''t fade, and she asked again, "But what if they do?"


    Noah sighed softly, shaking his head. "Okay, fine. Want to walk with me?" he offered with a small chuckle.


    Amelia nodded quickly, but as she took a step, a sharp pain shot through her ankle. She yelped in pain.


    "Hsst-"


    Looking down, he noticed the swelling of her ankle. Noah then knelt beside her. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Without hesitation, he tore a piece of his shirt, revealing his toned abs beneath the fabric. With quick hands, he wrapped her injured ankle, the makeshift bandage snug but not too tight.


    "That should help for now," he said gently. Then, without missing a beat, he knelt down in front of her, turning his back. "Hop on."


    Amelia hesitated, her face flushing, but she couldn''t deny the pain in her ankle. Blushing, she climbed onto his back, her arms loosely wrapping around his neck. Noah stood effortlessly, and for the next 15 minutes, he carried her through the quiet streets, the weight of what had happened starting to settle in.


    When they finally reached the spot where Noah had left his motorcycle, he gently let her down. "Sit tight," he said. "The police will be here any second."


    He moved toward the motorcycle, preparing to leave. Amelia, still processing everything, called out before he could ride off. "Wait... who are you?"


    Noah nced back, his face softening again. With a yful grin, he said, "I''m just a passerby. Don''t let this scare you from going out¡ªthey''re just a bunch of losers, okay? Forget this happened."


    He revved the engine of the cheap motorcycle and was about to drive off when he heard her mutter quietly, almost too softly for him to catch, "I''m afraid I won''t be able to forget... you."


    Noah smiled, unseen, as he sped into the distance, leaving Amelia staring after him, her heart racing faster than it had even in the midst of the danger.


    Rachel was gripping the wheel tightly, her eyes focused straight ahead as she sped through the streets with three police cars following close behind.


    The tension in the air was visible, every second feeling like an eternity as she raced toward Amelia. Her heart pounded in her chest, not knowing what state she''d find her best friend in.


    As she drove, Rachel barely registered a half-naked young man on a small motorcycle zipping past in the opposite direction. She nced briefly at him, but quickly shifted her focus back to the road¡ªthere was no time for distractions, not with Amelia''s life at stake.


    A minuteter, her breath caught in her throat as she spotted Amelia sitting on the side of the road. Her clothes were tattered, dust clinging to her once pristine appearance. Rachel''s heart sank at the sight.


    mming on the brakes, Rachel pulled up beside Amelia, jumping out of the car as soon as it stopped. Her eyes were wide with worry as she rushed over to her friend, quickly scanning her for any visible injuries.


    "Amelia, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?" Rachel asked, her voice frantic as her hands gently but urgently searched for any sign of wounds.


    Amelia, despite the ordeal she had just endured, smiled softly. "I''m fine, Rachel," she said, her voice tired but calm.


    Rachel, still not fully convinced, continued checking her over. "Get into the car," she ordered, her voice firm but filled with relief. "We need to make sure you''re safe. I''ll handle the rest."


    Amelia nodded and slowly made her way toward the police car, but as she did, she casually mentioned, "My kidnappers are about four minutes away by drive, on the side of the road, in a van. They''re on the side, already tied up."


    Rachel paused, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Tied up?" she repeated, her tone filled with both surprise and confusion.


    But she quickly shook it off¡ªthis wasn''t the time for questions. They had to secure the area and apprehend the criminals before anything else.


    She gave Amelia a reassuring nod and waved the police officers forward. "Stay in the car. We''ll take care of them," Rachel said as she signalled the officers to move ahead.


    But in the back of her mind, one question lingered: "Who in the world was able to tie them up?"


    As the officers arrived on the scene, their eyes widened in disbelief. They found four criminals piled up haphazardly like a human stack of rag dolls.


    Three of them were unconscious, and the fourth was wailing with a bloody hand, clutching the spot where a bullet had grazed him.


    One officer muttered, "Well, that''s a new one. Only Batman could pull off something like this."


    Another officer, shaking his head and trying to stifle augh, added, "Yeah, I''m half-expecting to find a bat signal somewhere around here."


    They all chuckled, exchanging nces and amused grins. The sight was so absurdlyic that they could hardly take it seriously.


    Rachel, who had been waiting nearby, looked at the scene with a mixture of confusion and relief. The officers continued to chuckle, while the tied-up criminals groaned in frustration.


    One of the officers quipped, "Well, whoever this guy is, he sure knows how to make an entrance. Thanks for saving the day, Batman."

 Chapter 33 Noah Wayne

    Chapter 33 Noah Wayne


    Rachel kept ncing at Amelia as she drove, her worry evident in her expression. The silence in the car felt heavy, like a cloud of unasked questions hovering between them. After a few minutes, she couldn''t take it anymore.


    "Amelia, are you sure you''re okay?" Rachel''s voice was soft but filled with concern as she quickly looked over her friend again, eyes scanning for any injuries.


    Amelia smiled tiredly, brushing her hand through her dust-covered hair. "I''m fine, Rachel. I promise."


    She looked down at her swollen ankle wrapped in a cloth, wincing. "Just... a little shaken up, I guess."


    Rachel nodded, her knuckles white on the steering wheel. "What exactly happened?" she asked, her voice low, trying not to push too hard. The sooner she knew everything, the sooner she could help.


    Amelia sighed. "I was taken. You already know that. But..." She trailed off, leaving Rachel hanging on the edge of her seat.


    "And?" Rachel''s voice pressed forward, urgency creeping in.


    Amelia bit her lip, clearly hesitant. "Someone saved me."


    Rachel nced sharply at her. "Someone? Who? Did you get their name, their face, anything?"


    Amelia hesitated for a moment and then shook her head. "No... I didn''t get his name. He disappeared before I could even thank him properly." She was telling the truth, but Rachel noticed something in her voice¡ªsomething she couldn''t quite ce.


    Rachel''s eyes narrowed in suspicion but she nodded, letting it slide for now. "Alright. We''ll figure it outter," she said, though her mind was already spinning with questions. She didn''t believe Amelia was lying, but something felt off.


    Meanwhile, Noah was standing outside Aiden''s house, still looking like he had just survived a demolition derby. His motorcycle sputtered to a stop, and he stared down at his torn pants, his shirtless torso smeared with dirt, and the dust cloud settling around him.


    "Ring-ring"


    "Hello?" replied Aiden, with a sleepy voice.


    "Hi, I''m outside your house. Come out quickly," said Noah.


    "Okay," replied Aiden, whilst yawning and then hung up.


    Soon enough, the front door swung open, revealing a sleepy-looking Aiden, who squinted at him in disbelief.


    Aiden''s jaw dropped, taking in Noah''s wild appearance. "Bro... what happened to you?" he asked, eyes wide with shock, but his mouth curling up into a grin. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Noah couldn''t help butugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Man... long story. But you remember when you said I was like Batman?" Noah''s grin widened, leaning into the absurdity of the situation.


    Aiden raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "Oh no, don''t tell me¡ª"


    "Yeah, dude," Noah cut him off, "I had to go full Batman. Noah Wayne had to protect the city," he added, dramatically pointing to his dirt-covered self.


    Aiden burst outughing, pping his knee. "No way, man! You look like you crawled out of a zombie apocalypse, not Gotham! What did you do? Save a kitten from a tree?" he teased.


    Noah smirked, shaking his head. "Kitten¡­" he muttered, briefly thinking of Amelia''s wide-eyed expression, soft and vulnerable like a kitten. "Yeah, you could say that."


    Aiden raised an eyebrow. "Wait, what?" heughed. "You actually saved a kitten?"


    Noah waved him off, grinning. "Long story. Anyway, I need some clothes, man. I can''t go home looking like this." He gestured to his dust-covered, torn pants, shirtless state, and the dirt smeared all over him. "My parents would think I joined some weird post-apocalyptic cult or something."


    Aiden looked him up and down, shaking his head with an amused smirk. "Yeah, I don''t me them. You look like you''ve been an extra in Mad Max or something." He opened the door wider, still chuckling. "Come on in, I''ve got some clothes you can borrow. Let''s get you out of this superhero mode before Alfred sees you."


    Noah chuckled, stepping inside. "Yeah, yeah. Batman''s gotta blend in with the civilians now," he joked, trying to dust off some dirt but only making it worse. "Honestly, though, I''m surprised I made it all the way here without someone calling the cops on me."


    Aiden snorted. "You probably would''ve, if people weren''t so confused trying to figure out whether you were a shirtless beggar or some model doing a weird street photo shoot."


    Noah rolled his eyes,ughing. "Oh man, the looks I was getting. Like, yep, just your average guy, cruising around half-naked on a beat-up motorcycle. Totally normal."


    Aiden went to grab some clothes,ing back with a pair of jeans and a shirt. "Here you go, Bruce. Let''s get you back to civilian mode before your Batmobile gives out."


    Noah took the clothes with a grin. "Appreciate it. And hey, thanks for not asking too many questions," he said, grateful for the break from the craziness of the day.


    Aiden chuckled as he leaned against the doorframe. "Oh, trust me, I''m definitely asking all the questionster. But for now, I''m just going to assume Gotham''s safe because of you."


    As Noah headed to change, Aiden couldn''t resist onest quip. "Hey, next time you go, full Batman, maybe wear a cape. It''llplete the look."


    Laughing from the other room, Noah called back, "Noted! I''ll add it to my hero wardrobe."


    Noah arrived home, the cool evening breeze following him as he stepped through the door. The sun had set an hour or so before, so it was quite dark outside. But It was only 7:10 p.m, so he knew his family would still be up.


    He could hear the muffled voices of the TV in the living room and the faint ttering of dishes from the kitchen.


    As he walked in, his mom, Caroline, was packing up the leftover dinner, neatly cing containers in the fridge. His dad, David, sat on their old, slightly flickering TV, watching the evening news.


    Noah''s eyes shifted to the screen. A reporter was speaking animatedly about a kidnapping that had taken ce nearby, only a few miles from where they lived. The headline read: "Young Woman Kidnapped in Shocking Incident."


    Caroline, noticing Noah, nced back from the kitchen. "Oh, you''re back! We just had dinner, but I left some for you in the fridge," she said warmly.


    David, not looking away from the TV, chimed in, "Hey, kiddo. Did you hear about that kidnapping earlier? It was pretty close to here."


    Caroline walked over, wiping her hands on a dish towel. "Yeah, Noah, you need to be extra careful these days. It''s dangerous out there." Her face was filled with motherly concern.


    Noah smiled, doing his best to look casual. "Don''t worry, Mom. I''ll be careful."


    David turned to face him, his brow furrowed in thought. "You never know who''s lurking around, especially after dark. You don''t need to be some sort of hero out there. Just be smart."


    Noah chuckled, his expression lighthearted. "Got it, Dad. I''ll stay out of trouble."


    But inside, his mind was racing, a grin forming in the back of his thoughts. "If only they knew¡­" he mused silently.


    Noah could hardly believe the day he''d just had. It was hard to process that just a couple of hours ago, he had been in the middle of a high-speed chase and taking down kidnappers. He stifled augh at the irony, biting back his urge to say something ridiculous like, "I already saved the woman."


    Instead, he kept his cool, sat down at the dinner table, and started eating after reheating the meal his mom made, quietly enjoying the normalcy of it all after his adrenaline-filled afternoon.


    Caroline came over, gently ruffling Noah''s hair. "I swear, you''re always off doing something. One of these days, you''re going to give me a heart attack."


    Noahughed, finishing a bite. "Nah, Mom. I was just studying."


    "By the way, this food is banging Mom. Keep it up and you will be ready for the interview in a week at most." Said Noah,plimenting his Mom''s food.


    "I hope so, son. I''m trying my best," she replied, with a warm smile on her face.


    As Noah was about to take another bite of his reheated dinner, a sudden realization hit him. His eyes widened, and he muttered, "Shit! I forgot dinner with Sarah!"

 Chapter 34 Revenge?

    Chapter 34 Revenge?


    La descended the stairs slowly, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes, but stopped abruptly when she saw Noah standing in the living room, fresh from cleaning the kitchen. Her eyes widened, and shock spread across her face.


    "Mom... why is he here?" La''s voice was sharp, and she shot a questioning, almost using nce at Sarah, who immediately froze, caught off guard by the tension.


    Sarah,pletely unaware of the full history between Noah and her daughter, stammered, her hands trembling slightly. "Uh... well, Noah was just¡ª"


    La cut her off, her voice growing louder. "Noah, do you want to get back together?" There was a mixture of disbelief and a strange hope in her tone, though it seemed forced.


    Noah blinked, surprised by the sudden question, but his response was quick and firm. "No, La. That''s not why I''m here."


    Sarah looked at him, bewildered, her confusion deepening as she nced back and forth between them. "Get back together?" she whispered to herself, her mind reeling. What does she mean? La had only ever mentioned Noah as a friend. "You''re not friends anymore?"


    La scoffed bitterly, shaking her head. "Friends? No, Mom, Noah was my boyfriend. We dated."


    Sarah''s eyes widened in shock, flickering between her daughter and Noah. "Boyfriend?" she repeated, the word foreign and impossible to process. "Why didn''t you tell me?" she asked Noah, her voice trembling, hurt creeping into her expression.


    Noah sighed, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on him. "We weren''t really together, Sarah. We never even held hands," he said, turning toward La. "It''s all in her head. She made me believe something that was never real. I don''t know why she keeps saying I was her boyfriend. I think she has a mental illness, I think you need to take her to a psychiatrist"


    La''s eyes narrowed, her anger shing. "What are you talking about, Noah? We were together!"


    "No, we weren''t, La," Noah said firmly. "You toyed with me. I''m sure you enjoyed those study sessions with Mark. We were never really anything."


    La hearing this, her face became flushed as she realised Noah knew what she had been doing.


    Sarah''s face went pale, her heart sinking as the truth unravelled in front of her. She stood there, speechless, her mind racing through the implications. "Is that why he''s with me now?" she wondered. "Is this all just a revenge on La?"


    A tear slipped down her cheek as the self-doubt, the fears of being too old, too wrong for Noah, began to flood her thoughts. She took a small step back, her breath shallow as she whispered, "Is that why you''re here?"


    Noah''s eyes widened in horror as he realized what Sarah was thinking. "No, Sarah," he said quickly, stepping toward her. "It''s not like that. I swear. I''m here because I care about you."


    But Sarah couldn''t hear him. Her mind was spiraling, her chest tight as the insecurities she had been trying to push down surfaced with brutal force. She looked away, her vision blurring with tears.


    La, still simmering with her own emotions, saw the panic on her mother''s face and felt an unexpected surge of guilt.


    She wasn''t sure what was happening between her mom and Noah, but she could see the impact it was having on Sarah. "Leave, Noah," she said coldly, trying to regain control of the situation.


    Noah hesitated, torn between wanting to stay and help Sarah and respecting her space. He took a step closer, his voice gentle. "Sarah, please..."


    But Sarah held up her hand, stopping him. "Do as La said. I need time... I just need time." Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it was clear.


    Noah stared at her for a moment, his heart aching as he saw the pain in her eyes. Reluctantly, he nodded and turned toward the door. As he left, he nced onest time at Sarah. The door closed behind him with a soft click, leaving Sarah and La standing in the echo of what had just happened.


    La, now filled with her own mix of emotions, turned to her mom, her voice shaking slightly. "Mom, I... I¡ª"


    But Sarah raised her hand, signalling her to stop, her face emotionless. "Not now, La," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked towards her room, her steps slow and heavy, like she was carrying the weight of everything that had just unfolded.


    La stood frozen in ce, dumbfounded. Her mind raced, processing the whirlwind of emotions and truths that had juste crashing down. She had lied about Noah being her boyfriend¡ªshe knew that. Deep down, she had never taken their rtionship seriously, but the idea of Noah being with her mom was something she simply couldn''t wrap her head around.


    How could this be? she thought, her heart pounding in disbelief. La''s mind spun with a mixture of anger, confusion, and jealousy. She stared at the closed door of her mother''s room, her thoughts circling the same question. Noah and Mom?


    It didn''t seem real. The notion of Noah, the guy she had once toyed with and pushed aside, being with her own mother¡ªit was too much to handle.


    The image of him standing in the kitchen of her own house shed in her mind. La clenched her fists. "How did ite to this?"


    Meanwhile...


    Noah walked along the dimly lit streets, his breath turning into small puffs of steam in the cold air.


    The chill bit at his skin, but he barely felt it¡ªhis mind was lost in a fog of frustration and confusion. He knew what had just happened at Sarah''s house wasn''t going to be easy to fix.


    The weight of Sarah''s emotions, the look of disbelief in her eyes when she found out, and the way she had dismissed him before he could exin¡ªall of it settled heavily on his heart.


    "Damn it, La," he thought, his teeth clenching as he shoved his hands deeper into his pockets.


    "You toyed with me first, yed your games, and now you''re ruining something real for me."


    He could still see the way La had looked at him with that mixture of jealousy and bitterness. Her mere presence had turned everything upside down in seconds. She had always been unpredictable, but this was different. The way she tried to twist the situation made his stomach churn.


    "How could you be so cruel to your own mother? The woman who raised you, took care of you through everything..." His pace quickened, boots scuffing against the concrete, as his anger simmered just beneath the surface.


    "If we had actually been together¡ªheld hands, gone on real dates¡ªI would understand. I wouldn''t even argue. I''d walk away from Sarah out of respect for the past. But that wasn''t us. We were never a thing. You lied, and now you''re ruining this, too."


    He sighed deeply, the sound almost lost in the cold breeze that blew through the empty streets. He hadn''t even begun to process what Sarah must be feeling. How could she reconcile her own attraction to Noah with this newfound piece of information?


    She has good morals, he reminded himself. "This isn''t something she''d easily ept." He knew the road ahead wasn''t going to be simple.


    Sarah would need time, and he wasn''t sure how much of it he had before she shut him outpletely.


    He stopped for a moment, looking up at the darkened sky. "I just wanted to make her happy," he muttered to himself, his breath fogging up in the cold air.


    "Now it feels like it''s all falling apart."


    [Ding! -10 Affection From Sarah]


    [Ding! -10 Affection From Sarah]


    [Ding! -5 Affection From Sarah]


    [Sarah''s Affection: 55/100]


    Looking at the rapid decrease in affection from Sarah, Noah''s heart sank. Each notification felt like a physical blow, like watching something precious slip through his fingers, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.


    "Damn it!!" he shouted, his voice tearing through the quiet night as he stared up at the bright moon. It hung in the sky, glowing with a soft, illuminating light that cast long shadows across the empty street. The moon''s silver rays washed over him, illuminating everything with a cold, distant beauty, while inside, Noah felt nothing but chaos.


    The glow of the moon seemed indifferent, uncaring¡ªa witness to his silent suffering. It bathed the world in calm light, a stark contrast to the storm of emotions twisting inside him. His frustration, his heartache, his helplessness¡ªthey all collided in that single moment, pouring out into the night air, but the world remained still. The moon kept shining, cold and distant, just like Sarah''s affection now felt.


    Noah''s breath came out in heavy clouds, mixing with the chill of the night as he stood there, motionless. The breeze swept past him, brushing against his skin, but it couldn''t numb the ache in his chest. He felt like he was standing in the middle of an empty world, illuminated by the moon''s cruel light, watching as everything he cared about drifted further and further away.


    His mind raced, reying every moment he had spent with Sarah, how close they had be, how much she had meant to him. And now, with just a few words, with La''s presence, it was all crumbling. He was no longer the man Sarah trusted, the one she smiled at. He was a stranger again, and it tore him apart.


    Noah clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as the weight of it all bore down on him. The moon above, so bright, felt like it was mocking him, shining a light on all the things he couldn''t fix.


    How could he exin? How could he make her understand? That his past with La was a lie, a mistake he never meant to carry into this new part of his life. He wasn''t the viin in this story but in Sarah''s eyes...


    Staring up at the glowing moon, Noah''s throat tightened, and he muttered softly, "I''m losing her¡­" His words were swallowed by the stillness of the night, heard only by the indifferent light that shone down, offering nofort, no answer. Just silence.


    At that moment, Noah feltpletely alone. Alone with his thoughts, his regret, and the cold, unwavering light of the moon.


    Noah muttered under his breath, "And the system didn''t activate..." He nced at the notifications again, feeling the weight of them, but no new prompts or helpful guidance appeared. "It seems like... it''s something I have toe to terms with myself."


    He sighed deeply, his breath visible in the cold air as he lowered his gaze from the moon. The system, which had always nudged him toward sess, had gone silent when he needed it most. There was no quick fix, no simple solution to mend the fracture between him and Sarah.


    His shoulders slumped as he shoved his hands into his pockets, feeling the loneliness of the night wrap around him like a heavy cloak. Each step he took echoed softly on the empty street as he began walking home, the cool breeze brushing against his skin, reminding him of the harsh reality ahead.


    He didn''t have answers this time. He didn''t have control. All he had was the aching truth in his heart and the realization that some things couldn''t be solved by a system or a shortcut.


    With another sigh, Noah continued down the dimly lit path, heading home, alone with his thoughts and the quiet sadness that lingered in the air.


    Arriving home, Noah was greeted by darkness. The house was eerily quiet, its usual warmth reced by a cold emptiness that seemed to mirror the loneliness he felt inside. The only sound was the soft thud of his footsteps against the floor, echoing faintly through the stillness.


    When he reached his room, he didn''t bother turning on the light. He slumped onto his bed, fully clothed, his body heavy with exhaustion¡ªnot from the physical effort but from the emotional weight that had settled over him. His eyes stared nkly at the ceiling, tracing the familiar patterns in the ster that seemed to blur in the dim light.


    His nightly routine¡ªbrushing his teeth, changing into something morefortable, ¡ªfelt distant, irrelevant. He simply didn''t have the energy or the will to care. His mind was too clouded, swirling with the events of the night, with Sarah, with La, with the cruel twist of fate that had thrown his world into disarray. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    All he could do was lie there, unmoving, the stillness of the room pressing down on him like a weight.


    As Noahy in his bed, staring nkly at the ceiling, time seemed to stretch on indefinitely. Each second dragged into an eternity, the silence of the night only amplifying his restless thoughts. His body felt heavy, pinned down by the weight of his emotions, and sleep evaded him entirely.


    Hours passed, though he barely noticed. Then, faint sunlight began to creep into the room, casting long shadows across the floor. The first rays of dawn broke through the curtains and hit his face, pulling him from his daze.


    He blinked, groggy but not rested, and muttered to himself, "It seems like it''s morning." The words felt hollow as he stared into the soft morning light, knowing he had barely slept at all.


    "Time to get ready for school," Noah muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible in the stillness of the room. His body moved on autopilot, feeling detached from his thoughts as he dragged himself out of bed.


    He shuffled toward the bathroom, the cool tiles under his feet sending a brief shiver up his spine. As he turned on the faucet, the rush of cold water hitting his hands jolted him slightly awake. He sshed the water on his face, hoping it would wash away the remnants of the previous night.


    Staring at his reflection, he could see the tiredness in his eyes. "Just another day," he whispered to himself, trying to shake off the heaviness that lingered over him.

 Chapter 35 Mock Exam

    35 Mock Exam


    Noah stered a smile on his face as he entered the kitchen, greeted by the sight of his little sister, Emily, already sitting at the table, her eyes wide with anticipation. The aroma of the breakfast filled the room, and he could tell from her eager expression that she was barely holding herself back.


    "Good morning, big brother!" Emily chirped, hopping up to give him a quick hug before bouncing back to her seat, ready to devour whatever was about to be served.


    Noah smiled lightly at her enthusiasm. His dad, David, chuckled at Emily''s reaction. "Looks like someone''s excited for breakfast," he said, his tone warm and teasing.


    Caroline, his mom, turned from the stove with a gentle smile. "Morning, Noah. The food will be ready in a minute, go ahead and sit down."


    Nodding, Noah took his seat at the table, trying to shake off the lingering weight of the previous night. But he couldn''t quite hide the distant look in his eyes.


    His dad, always observant, noticed. "You okay, son?" David asked, his voice tinged with concern. "You seem a bit off this morning. Is something bothering you?"


    Noah quickly snapped out of his daze, straightening up. "No, Dad. It''s nothing. I''ve got a mock exam in a few hours, so I''m just going over stuff in my head."


    David nodded in understanding, satisfied with the exnation, and let the matter drop.


    A momentter, Caroline brought the breakfast to the table. It was simple but packed with nutrition: a spread of scrambled eggs seasoned with fresh herbs, toasted whole-grain bread, saut¨¦ed vegetables, and a te of golden, crispy hash browns. On the side, there were slices of ripe avocado and a small bowl of fruit sd with apples, oranges, and berries. The delicious aroma filled the kitchen, making it hard for anyone to resist.


    "Eat up," Caroline said, cing the tes in front of them. "You''ll need the energy for that exam."


    Emily wasted no time, digging in with gusto. Noah smiled faintly, watching his little sister before picking up his fork and taking a bite, though his mind remained elsewhere.


    After finishing breakfast, Noah suddenly remembered something important. He nced over at his dad. "Oh, by the way, Dad, there''s a motorcycle outside."


    David looked up from his te, confused. "Okay? Is it blocking the driveway or something?"


    Noah shook his head. "No, no. It''s mine. I bought it, cheap, from someone I know. I was thinking, you should take it to work instead of using the bus. It''s less tiring and a lot cheaper in the long run."


    David''s eyes widened in surprise. "You bought a motorcycle? For me?" He seemed hesitant, processing the idea. "I mean, I appreciate it, but are you sure? I''ve never thought about driving one to work."


    Caroline, listening in from the kitchen, chimed in. "David, you should really consider it. Your shifts are long enough as it is. Why tire yourself out more on the bus? This could make things a little easier for you."


    David looked between Noah and Caroline, clearly weighing the decision. His reluctance slowly melted as he realized they had a point. "Well¡­ I do have a license for it. I always wanted a motorcycle, but it never seemed practical. Too expensive."


    Noah smiled, pleased to see his dad starting toe around. "Exactly. You already have the license. Now you''ve got the bike. You should give it a try."


    After a pause, David nodded, though still a little hesitant. "Alright, alright. I''ll give it a shot. But don''t me me if I''mte to work on the first day," he joked lightly.


    Caroline smiled encouragingly, and Noah felt a small sense of satisfaction seeing his dad agree.


    A little whileter, Noah got up from the table, and grabbed his bag. "Come on, Em. I''ll take you to school," he said, gently nudging his sister. Emily hopped up, excited for the walk.


    "Thanks for breakfast, Mom," Noah called out as they headed for the door. Caroline waved, wishing them both a good day.


    As Noah walked Emily to her elementary school, a small sense of ease crept in. Watching her skip beside him, a wide smile on her face as she excitedly chattered about her friends and teachers, lightened the weight on his chest. For a moment, her innocence and joy seemed to wash away theplications he had with Sarah.


    He smiled to himself, feeling grateful for these simple moments with his sister. It was a brief escape from the tangled mess of emotions he was still processing.


    Emily''sughter, the way she hopped along the sidewalk without a care in the world, made him forget, even if just for a while.


    As they neared the school, Emily waved excitedly when she spotted her friends. "See youter, Noah!" she called, running toward the entrance.


    "See you, Em. Be careful where you step, don''t trip!" he replied, watching her disappear into the crowd of kids.


    With a deep breath, Noah turned and started walking to his high school. Arriving at the designated hall for the exam, Noah scanned the room. Everyone was already gathered, waiting to enter in a few minutes. Among the crowd, Mark stood with La by his side, his face twisted into a smirk. As soon as he noticed Noah, he couldn''t resist throwing his usual jabs. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Mark''s voice rang out, loud enough for the whole room to hear, "Some people think that just because they can cheat in ss, they can cheat in the real exam and get away with it." His gaze lingered on Noah. "The truth will be revealed soon... how dumb they really are."


    A murmur of curiosity rippled through the students, everyone clearly understanding who Mark was targeting. Noah, who had been barely holding it together after everything with La, felt a surge of anger rise within him. Mark''s relentless taunts, La''s betrayal, and now the possibility of losing Sarah ¡ª it was too much.

 Chapter 36 A Challenge

    36 A Challenge


    Noah''s eyes locked onto Mark. His voice was cold and controlled, but there was venom behind his words. "I don''t have time to y games with you, Mark. Stop talking shit, or I''ll show you exactly what you deserve."


    Mark, confident with his goons nking him, scoffed andughed mockingly. "You can''t touch me, Noah. Hah! You''re just all bark, no bite." n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    But Noah had enough. His patience, already thin, snapped like a taut string. With slow, deliberate steps, he walked toward Mark, the tension in the air growing with each step. Before anyone could react, Noah grabbed Mark by the cor with one hand and effortlessly lifted him off the ground. The sheer disy of strength shocked everyone. Mark, who wasn''t exactly small¡ªaround 200 pounds lean¡ªiled helplessly in Noah''s grip.


    Mark''s face twisted in fear and disbelief. "Let go of me! Now!" he sputtered, his bravado crumbling.


    La watching this, didn''t know what to feel. Mark was meant to be the cool, strong kid that everyone wanted to be his girlfriend. Every time he challenges Noah, he loses and gets humiliated. And it was quite embarrassing, he started to give her what she calls "The Ick."


    The other students gasped in shock, watching the scene unfold. Even Mark''s goons hesitated, clearly unsure of what to do in the face of Noah''s raw power.


    At that moment, Noah''s mind buzzed with the familiar sound of the system.


    [Ding! Ultimate Choice System Activated]


    Option 1: Beat up Mark in front of everyone.


    [Reward: Disqualified from the mock exam, 2-week suspension from school]


    Option 2: Ignore Mark. Let the dog bark; it can never bite anyway.


    [Reward: A strong dog leash, $100]


    Option 3: Challenge Mark in the mock exam and win.


    [Reward: Basic Idol Skills, +5 Charm]


    Noah''s grip on Mark tightened as the choices shed in his mind. The room fell silent, waiting for his next move.


    Though the temptation of option 1 was strong¡ªNoah could almost taste the satisfaction of putting Mark in his ce physically¡ªhe knew better. It wasn''t just about him. His mom, his dad, they didn''t deserve to bear the consequences of his anger. His dad already had too much on his shoulders, and getting suspended would only add to their worries.


    Taking a deep breath, Noah made his decision. Option 3.


    [Ding! +5 Charm Rewarded]


    With a calm but dangerous look in his eyes, Noah said. "Fine, Mark. You want to prove something? Let''s settle this with the mock exam."


    Mark smirked smugly. "Oh? What''s your n now, Noah? Gonna try to cheat your way through?"


    Noah didn''t flinch. "No cheating. If you score higher than me, I''ll do something better. I''ll call you ''Dad'' every time I see you. I''ll even run around the school shouting, ''Mark is my dad!''"


    The crowd gasped. Mark''s eyes widened in disbelief. "And if you lose?" he asked, now curious.


    "If you lose," Noah said, a smirk forming on his lips, "you''ll do the same. Call me ''Dad'' and run around the school saying, ''Noah is my dad.'' Deal?"


    Mark scoffed, rolling his eyes. "You''ve just given me the easiest win of my life! There''s no way you''ve changed this much without cheating."


    The students around them whispered, excitement buzzing through the group. Everyone knew that Noah''s transformation from bottom of the ss to top performer seemed almost supernatural, and many doubted its authenticity.


    Except a few who Noah taught in the group study session with Aiden, in the library. The girl was also there, she wanted to say that Noah didn''t cheat, but she was too scared of Mark and his goons targeting her.


    "Deal," Mark said with a confident grin.


    Noah let go of Mark''s cor, and Mark stumbled back slightly, still trying to look unfazed by the show of strength. "Everyone here''s a witness," Noah said, addressing the students gathered around.


    Just as the tension reached its peak, a teacher entered the hall, and the murmurs died down. "Everyone inside, the exam is starting in a minute," the teacher announced.


    Mark shot Noah onest re before strutting into the hall. Noah followed behind him, his focus already shifting toward the uing challenge. The first test was mathematics, a one-hour and forty-five-minute exam. Just before the exam started, Aiden rushed in, a bitte but still making it in time. As he slid into his seat, he shot Noah a quick nce and mouthed, Good luck. Noah gave him a nod in return, a brief moment of encouragement passing between them before they both turned their attention to the test.


    The teacher''s voice echoed through the room, "Test begins... now!"


    Noah immediately flipped open his test booklet, the rustling of pages breaking the tense silence in the hall. With rapid efficiency, he began answering each question. His pen moved across the paper with purpose, as though each problem was already solved in his mind. He breezed through the exam, answering every question in less than two minutes each.


    Within 10 minutes, he had already reached thest page.


    Mark, hearing the constant flipping of pages beside him, shot a nce in Noah''s direction. His eyes narrowed as he noticed that Noah was almost done.


    "You can''t cheat here, Thompson," Mark muttered under his breath, sneering to himself.


    "No wonder you can''t figure anything out." He chuckled quietly, confident that Noah was just bluffing his way through.


    But just two minutester, Noah raised his hand.


    The teacher approached, slightly confused. "Do you need help?"


    Noah shook his head. "No, I''m done."


    "Done? Done with what, Noah? You need to try your best. You can''t give up so quickly; I''m sure you can answer something." The teacher''s tone was both surprised and concerned.


    Noah smiled lightly and repeated, "No, I mean I finished the exam. I answered everything."


    The teacher blinked in disbelief but took Noah''s test. He scanned through it quickly, noticing that every single question was filled in.


    "He really did answer everything..." But the teacher couldn''t believe that Noah had done it properly in such little time, thinking he might have rushed or scribbled random answers.


    Mark, watching Noah from across the room, couldn''t hear what was being said, but he assumed Noah was leaving because he had given up. "Pathetic," Mark thought, smirking to himself.


    The teacher, still stunned, collected Noah''s test and allowed him to leave. As Noah exited the hall, a few students noticed, including Lily.


    She nced up from her own test, watching him leave. She had studied with Noah before, and she knew he wasn''t a cheater. He was simply brilliant at math.


    "I wonder how well he did..." she thought, before refocusing on her own exam.

 Chapter 37 Exams Are Over

    37 Exams Are Over


    The next few hours were a blur of exams for Noah. One after the other, they came at him with barely a pause between them. For most students, the 15-minute break between each test was just enough time to catch their breath, drink some water, or mentally prepare for the next challenge. But for Noah, each break felt like an eternity. He finished every exam so early that he had about an hour to kill while everyone else was still hunched over their desks, furiously scribbling answers.


    Each time Noah raised his hand to indicate he was done, Mark''s gaze would dart toward him, filled with skepticism and disdain. As Noah turned in his test and walked out, Mark''s snidements followed him.


    "Another one you couldn''t figure out, huh?" Mark would say, smirking. "Better start rehearsing. You''ll be calling me ''dad'' soon enough."


    Noah didn''t even bother responding. There was no point. He had no intention of wasting his energy on Mark, not when he knew the truth. The results would be out in a few days, and then the whole school would see who was really worthy of their respect. Noah found it almost amusing that Mark thought he had the upper hand, but he kept his thoughts to himself.


    During one of these longer breaks, Noah found a quiet corner outside the school building, sitting on a bench under a tree as a light breeze rustled the leaves.


    Aiden soon joined him, his presence aforting contrast to Mark''s toxic energy. He sat down beside Noah, holding a dumpling in one hand, his cheeks already puffed out as he chewed. Aiden''s mom had sent him to school with a small container of homemade dumplings, and Aiden was devouring them like his life depended on it.


    "You look like a chipmunk, man," Noah said, chuckling softly.


    Aiden, still chewing, made a muffled sound that was meant to be a reply, but it came out garbled through the food in his mouth. Noah couldn''t help butugh at the sight of his friend, carefree and content amidst the stress of exams.


    Finally swallowing, Aiden wiped his mouth and leaned back on the bench. "Mark''s really going for it today, huh?" he said, rolling his eyes. "I swear, that guy''s got a mouth bigger than my appetite. And trust me, that''s saying something."


    Noah smirked. "Yeah, well, he''s got nothing else going for him, so I guess hepensates with his trash talk."


    Aiden nodded, holding up another dumpling as if offering it to Noah. "Dumpling for your thoughts?"


    Noah shook his head, smiling. "Nah, I''m good. But thanks."


    Aiden shrugged and took a big bite out of the dumpling. "Honestly, I don''t know how you keep so calm, dude. If Mark was hounding me like that, I''d probably snap. But you... you''re like a stone wall. He just bounces off."


    13:35


    "Trust me, it''s not easy," Noah admitted, his gaze drifting off to the horizon. "It''s tempting to just¡ª" He paused, remembering how close he hade to picking that first option in the system. The temptation to shut Mark up with force had been real, but he couldn''t afford to go down that road. "¡ªto do something I''d regretter."


    Aiden raised an eyebrow, sensing there was more Noah wasn''t saying, but he didn''t push it. "Well, for what it''s worth, I think it''s hrious that Mark thinks you''re giving up. The guy''s so thick, he probably thinks you''re turning in nk papers."


    Noah chuckled, shaking his head. "Let him think that. It''ll make it more satisfying."


    Aiden''s eyes lit up with mischief, and Noah could already sense some sort of ridiculousmenting. "You know," Aiden started, chewing on a dumpling-like he was about to spill some ancient wisdom, "when Mark loses this bet, I bet his face is gonna look like when someone finds out their Wi-Fi got cut off right in the middle of a Call of Duty game."


    Noah snorted, unable to hold back hisughter. "Yeah, or like when you''re done with your business in the toilet, and realise that there is no toilet paper left. That''s some real pain in the ass."


    Aiden''s eyes widened as if this was some profound tragedy. "Exactly! The real kind of pain, man."


    Noah, getting into the groove, nodded seriously. "And then you gotta waddle out, pants halfway down, trying to shuffle to the next stall without being seen. That''s when you start reevaluating life choices."


    Aiden almost choked on his dumpling. "Man, that''s when you realize you should''ve listened to your mom when she told you to always check first! It''s like surviving a horror movie, except it''s your own bad decisions haunting you."


    Noah smirked. "That''s Mark. The guy probably trips on t surfaces and then mes the floor for being ''uneven.''"


    Aiden wiped tears from his eyes, trying to catch his breath.


    By now, Noah''s sides were hurting fromughing so hard. "And let''s not even talk about his ''squad.'' They''re like those hype men at rap battles, but they don''t even know what''s going on half the time. They just p whenever Mark makes any sound."


    Aiden imitated one of them. "Mark sneezes, and they''re like, ''Oh snap! Have you heard that sneeze? That''s power, bro!''"


    Noah nearly fell off the benchughing. "I swear, they''d hype him up for breathing too loudly. ''Dude, did you see that inhale? Man''s built different!''"


    Aiden wasughing so hard he had to hold his sides. "Next time Mark loses, they''ll be like, ''Yo, losing takes real skill, man. You OWNED that L.''"


    The two of them, now wheezing withughter, could barely keep it together. Aiden''s ridiculous jokes about Mark made it impossible to take any of the guy''s bravado seriously.


    The final exam of the day was science. Unlike the other exams, Noah didn''t rush through it. He knew he couldn''t leave the school until it was officially time to go, so he took his time, pacing himself as he answered each question methodically. There was no reason to finish early this time.


    After what felt like ages, the examiner called out, "Time''s over! Everyone finish up what you''re writing and close your papers. Anyone who doesn''t follow instructions will have their exam marked zero. Wait for the other examiners to collect your answer sheets, and make sure your names and details are written on the front."


    Students began to fidget nervously, closing their exam booklets as instructed. Row by row, they were dismissed from the hall. Since Noah was seated toward the front, his row was one of the first to leave. He decided to wait outside the hall for Aiden, leaning against a nearby wall, zoning out.


    Just as he was lost in thought, a cheerful girl with a ponytail came skipping toward him, her face lit with excitement and gratitude. Without warning, she threw her arms around him in a tight hug, catching Noahpletely off guard. A few students nearby stared, wide-eyed, as if they had just witnessed something out of a rom.


    Realizing what she''d just done, the girl immediately stepped back, her face flushing with embarrassment. "Oh my God, I''m so sorry!" she stammered, looking mortified.


    Noah, still surprised but amused, shook his head with a warm smile. "It''s okay, really."


    Her face lit up again, this time at his reassuring smile. "I just¡­ I wanted to thank you! I did so well on the science exam, and it''s all thanks to you. That study session you had with us in the library with Aiden¡ªalmost everything you taught us came up! And the way you showed us how to break down the questions made it so much easier for me."


    Noah''s smile deepened as he responded. "I''m d it helped. You put in the work, so you deserve the credit."


    She beamed, her eyes lingering on his face a bit longer than necessary. They chatted for a bit, mostly about how the exam went and how relieved she felt afterwards.


    As she nced toward a group of her female friends exiting the hall, she said goodbye and ran off to join them. But not before sneaking onest nce at Noah, her cheeks tinged pink.


    By that time, Aiden had finished as well and was walking toward Noah, having witnessed the entire scene. He shot Noah a wide grin. "Damn, bro, I never knew teaching science could get you girls! I think I need to start studying the periodic table ASAP."


    Noahughed, shaking his head. "Yeah, right. Maybe if you spent as much time studying as you do eating dumplings, you''d be halfway there by now."


    Aiden, unbothered, popped thest bit of his snack into his mouth. "Hey, man, I aced that exam, so whatever works, right?" He elbowed Noah yfully. "Thanks for dragging me to the library, though. I owe you one."


    Noah grinned and wrapped his arm around Aiden''s shoulder. "You owe me more than one. Maybe next time you''ll bring extra dumplings."


    Aiden rolled his eyes butughed. "Fine, deal. But only if you promise to keep your ''Newton'' powers in check."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 38 Ans Gourmet

    Chapter 38 An''s Gourmet


    As Aiden packed up his things, he turned to Noah with his ever-present grin. "Wanna eat?"


    Noah blinked, caught off guard. "Eat? Dude, you''ve been snacking non-stop since morning. You had like, what, five meals already?"


    Aiden shrugged,pletely unfazed. "It''s called a bnced diet. Five meals is just the warm-up. Gotta keep my brain fueled. I mean,e on, we had exams. That''s serious work." He rubbed his stomach dramatically. "Besides, I''m starving now."


    Noah shook his head, halfughing, but also not at all surprised. "Sure, why not? Let''s go eat. Though I''m not sure you''re ''starving''."


    "Don''t focus on the details" Aiden said, patting Noah on the back as they walked toward the gate. Then, suddenly remembering something, Aiden''s eyes lit up. "Oh, by the way, you remember what I told you about my dad and that deputy manager job at An''s Gourmet?"


    Noah nodded. "Yeah, I was gonna ask about that. What did your dad say?"


    Aiden pped his forehead. "Right! I totally forgot because of the exams and, well¡­ the hunger." He quickly regained hisposure. "But yeah, my dad said he''d love to check it out. He''s just got this thing about wanting to see the ce and the work environment first, you know? Wants to make sure it''s a good fit."


    Noah smiled. "Makes sense. Can''t me him for being thorough. Would he be able to check it out now? We could grab some food and he could check out the ce at the same time."


    Aiden''s eyes gleamed as if Noah had just offered him the Holy Grail. "Bro, that''s genius! I''ll call him right now."


    As Aiden dialled his dad, Noah stood there, shaking his head in amusement.Noah overheard parts of the conversation, and before long, Aiden turned back to him with a thumbs up.


    "He''s on his way. Said he''ll meet us there in like 15 to 30 minutes."


    "Perfect," Noah said, pulling out his phone. "I''ll order an Uber. Walking there would take too long."


    "Wait, wait, wait," Aiden interrupted, looking at Noah as if he''d just suggested swimming across the ocean to get to the restaurant. "Why aren''t you using your Lamborghini? Dude, you''ve got a freakin'' Lamborghini, and you''re calling an Uber?"


    Noah raised an eyebrow. "I don''t drive it everywhere. Plus, it''s not exactly convenient to park it near my house. Gotta keep it somewhere safe."


    Aiden looked at him, incredulous. "If I had a Lamborghini, I''d drive that thing to the toilet! Heck, I''d pick up girls from school every day in it! You''re weird, man. I mean, why aren''t you using it to live the dream?"


    Noahughed, shaking his head. "I don''t need a car to pick up girls, Aiden. And yeah, it''s a cool car, but it''s a hassle sometimes. I''ve been thinking of getting my own ce soon, just for convenience. Somewhere I can park it without worrying."


    Aiden''s mouth dropped open. "Your own ce? Man, you''re really living in a different world. If I had your life, I''d have parties every weekend. You know, like those wild mansion parties in movies where everyone''s dancing and the music''s so loud it shakes the neighbours'' houses?"


    Noah smirked. "You''d be kicked out of the neighbourhood within a week."


    Aiden pointed a finger at him, dead serious. "Worth it."


    Noah just shook his head, still amused by his friend''s antics. "Well, until I get my own ce, I''ll stick to Uber for now."


    Aiden groaned, but then his attention shifted back to food as the Uber pulled up. "Alright, fine. As long as we''re getting food."


    They soon hopped into the car and the driver drove toward An''s Gourmet.


    "Just think, man," Aiden said, nudging Noah with his elbow. "You pull up to the drive-thru in a Lamborghini, order like a 99-cent burger, and watch the cashier''s face. That''s peakedy right there."


    Noah chuckled. "Yeah, I''m sure they''d be real impressed."


    Aiden grinned. "See? You get it."


    The Uber driver nced back at them through the rearview mirror, clearly intrigued by their conversation but doing his best to keep a straight face.


    As they pulled up to An''s Gourmet, Aiden stretched, yawning like he''d just finished running a marathon. "Alright, time to feast."


    "Didn''t you just eat, like, an hour ago?" Noah asked, genuinely curious how Aiden hadn''t exploded from overeating yet.


    Aiden looked at him with apletely serious face. "Bro, I''ve been training for this my whole life. This stomach is a finely tuned machine."


    Noah shook his head,ughing again. "Let''s go inside before you start writing an autobiography about your stomach."


    As Noah and Aiden entered the room, the attendant recognised Noah and rushed to serve him.


    As the attendant approached, he spoke respectfully, "Boss, the VIP seats are ready for your use."


    Aiden, who was halfway through checking out the ce, froze mid-action. He looked between Noah and the attendant, clearly confused. "Boss?" he echoed, his eyebrows furrowing. "Wait... Boss?"


    Noah gave a small smile, not saying much at first, but the way he looked at Aiden confirmed it.


    As they sat in the VIP area, Aiden couldn''t stop thinking about it. Suddenly a realisation hit him.


    Aiden''s eyes widened, and he leaned back in his chair. "Don''t tell me¡­"


    Noah shrugged, still keeping that small, knowing smile. "Yup."


    Aiden blinked several times, then dramatically threw his arms up. "You own this ce? Noah, man, I thought we were best friends! Why am I always learning something new about you every day? First, you''re taking exams like it''s nothing, and now you''re telling me you''ve got a fancy restaurant? What''s next, you''re secretly a superhero?"


    Noah chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Well, technically, I did tell you about it. Maybe you just didn''t believe me."


    Aiden scoffed, still trying to wrap his head around it. "You did not tell me you own this ce!" He gestured wildly around the upscale restaurant, the soft lighting reflecting off the polished floors.


    Noahughed. "Well, it happened quite suddenly."


    Still shaking his head in disbelief, Aiden looked at the menu again. "Man, I don''t even know how to order now. Everything looks so fancy..."


    Noah gave him a teasing look. "Order whatever you want, but just don''t waste any food. If you do, I won''t invite you to eat with me again. I hate wasting food."


    Aiden stared at him in mock horror. "Waste food? Me? How dare you use me of such a crime! I would rathersh myself than let even a crumb go to waste."


    Noah smirked. "Just making sure."


    Before Aiden could respond, Noah turned to the attendant. "By the way, if anyonees looking for Aiden or Noah, please bring them to us here. Politely."


    The attendant nodded swiftly, his professional demeanour never faltering. "Of course, sir." Noah then took a $50 bill out of his pocket and handed it to the attendant as a tip. The man''s eyes lit up, and he bowed slightly, clearly grateful. "Thank you very much, sir."


    As the attendant left, Aiden leaned in closer, lowering his voice as if they were in some kind of secret meeting. "You sure know how to handle things like a real boss, don''t you? I swear, I''m starting to feel like I''m hanging out with some mafia kingpin."


    Noah grinned. "Maybe I am."


    They both shared a quietugh before Noah added, "By the way, do you want to call your dad and ask what he wants? I don''t want to order anything he might not like."


    Aiden shook his head, already scanning the menu like it held the answers to life. "Nah, don''t worry about him. My dad''s not picky. He''ll eat anything, as long as it''s edible."


    Noah raised an eyebrow. "That''s a relief."


    Aiden nodded sagely. "Yep, I''ve seen him eat things that would make a grown man cry. Trust me, whatever you order here, he''ll love it."


    Noahughed quietly. "Alright, then. Let''s see what we''ve got."


    As they continued to browse the menu, the atmosphere became more rxed.


    Soon enough, the attendant returned, leading a middle-aged man who walked withhumility. Aiden nced up from the menu, his face lighting up as he realized it was his dad. Noah immediately rose from his chair, out of respect, greeting Aiden''s father with a warm smile and a firm handshake. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Uncle, thank you so much foring," Noah said, his tone respectful. "Please, have a seat."


    Aiden''s dad, a man who had seen many years of hard work, looked around the restaurant with appreciation before sitting down. He gave Noah a nod, clearly impressed by the atmosphere of the ce. "Noah, thank you for this opportunity. The ce already feels like a great environment. You''ve done well here."


    Noah smiled, waving off the praise. "Don''t worry about it, Uncle. I''m just happy to help out." Then, with a thoughtful look, Noah added, "Would you prefer to eat first and then check out the ce? Or, we can take the tour now and eat after¡ªwhichever is more convenient for you."


    Aiden''s dad, still thinking he was troubling Noah, hesitated. "I think it''s better we check out the ce first. I don''t want to take up too much of your time."


    But before Noah could respond, Aiden, already eyeing the menu like it was a treasure map, chimed in. "Dad, don''t worry about it! Noah owns the ce! We''re not in any hurry. Let''s eat first!" He prioritized food like it was a life-or-death situation,pletely brushing off the seriousness of the job opportunity at hand.


    Aiden''s dad froze mid-motion, turning to Noah with a look of pure shock. "You¡­ you own this ce?"


    The older man stared at Noah, clearly impressed. He had known Noah since he was a kid and was well aware of his family''s struggles. To see hime this far, juggling school, helping his parents, and now running a high-end restaurant? It was nothing short of remarkable. "Noah," he said slowly, "you''ve done a lot of work to get to where you are. I have tomend you for that."


    Noah smiled, brushing off the praise again. "Thank you, Uncle. It''s been a journey."


    Noah, ever humble, gave a slight nod. "Yeah, I do."


    The older man stared at Noah, clearly impressed. He had known Noah since he was a kid and was well aware of his family''s struggles. To see hime this far, juggling school, helping his parents, and now running a high-end restaurant? It was nothing short of remarkable. "Noah," he said slowly, "you''ve done a lot of work to get to where you are. I have tomend you for that."


    Noah smiled, brushing off the praise again. "Thank you, Uncle. It''s been a journey."


    Just then, the food arrived, and the sight of the gourmet dishes instantly caught Aiden''s attention. Without wasting a second, he sped his hands together, muttered a quick prayer, "Thank you, God," and dove into his meal with all the enthusiasm of a starving man.


    Aiden''s dad chuckled, shaking his head at his son''s antics, but soon joined in, savouring the dishes in front of them. The food was excellent, and the atmosphere made the moment feel special. Even Aiden, for all his usual jokes and quips, seemed content just enjoying the meal.


    After they were finished, Noah called over the attendant once again. "Can you bring the manager here, please?"


    The attendant nodded swiftly, "Yes, boss," before hurrying off.


    Soon enough, the manager arrived¡ªan older man who had clearly worked in the business for a long time. He walked in with a slight apprehension, knowing he was still on thin ice after the previous incident where Noah had fired the deputy manager he had hired. Noah had rejected every suggestion for recements since, so the manager was extra cautious now.


    "Yes, boss," the manager said, standing before Noah with a respectful bow of his head. "How can I help you?"


    Noah gave him a small nod, his tone calm but firm. "I''d like you to show Uncle here around the ce. Walk him through what the job entails, but don''t be too strict on the requirements. After you''ve done that, if he''s happy with everything, prepare a contract for him. He''ll be our new deputy manager. His starting sry will be $3,000, plus bonuses at the end of the year."


    The manager''s eyes widened ever so slightly. The starting sry Noah was suggesting was generous, higher than the usual $2,500 for such a role. But Noah was the boss, and his word was final. Swallowing his surprise, the manager nodded. "Understood, boss. I''ll take care of it right away."


    "Boss, you will also receive this week''s profit dividends into your ount." He then turned to Aiden''s dad, gesturing for him to follow. "Sir, if you''lle with me, I''ll show you around."


    As Aiden''s dad stood, he gave Noah another grateful look. "Thank you, Noah. I really appreciate this."


    Noah smiled warmly. "No problem, Uncle. I''m sure you''ll do great here."


    With that, Aiden''s dad followed the manager, leaving Noah and Aiden alone at the table. Aiden, still picking at the remnants of his meal, looked up with a satisfied grin. "Man, I never thought science could lead to this."


    Noahughed, standing up and grabbing his jacket. "Well, I better get going. I got to head out."


    Aiden will nod his head and say goodbyes to Noah since he nned to wait for his dad first then go home with him.

 Chapter 39 Lykan HyperSport

    Chapter 39 Lykan HyperSport


    Noah stepped out of the restaurant, feeling the warm evening breeze against his face. The sun was still up in the air


    He had just said his goodbyes to Aiden and his dad and was thinking about the day''s events when his phone buzzed in his pocket. ncing at the screen, he raised an eyebrow¡ªit was Jackson.


    Jackson was a rich second-generation, amateur racing driver Noah had met a while back at the racetrack. He had asked Noah to exchange numbers, but this was the first time Noah had heard from him since then. Curious, Noah answered.


    "Hello, Mr. Noah?" came Jackson''s voice, sounding slightly unsure.


    Noah smirked at the formality. "Just Noah is fine. What''s up, Jackson?"


    Jackson cleared his throat, sounding a bit more confident now. "Hey, man! So, I wanted to invite you to another race. I know it''s been a minute since west met, but this one''s big. One of my friends, who''s currently training for F1, couldn''t believe your skills from the videos we took at thest race. He was stunned¡ªsaid your precision and control behind the wheel were unreal."


    Noah chuckled. "Is that so? He is praising me too much, I don''t deserve it."


    "You are too humble," Jackson continued, excitement building in his voice. "He''s itching to race you, man. He wants to learn from you, and test his limits. But to make it worth your time, he''s offering a challenge. If you win, the prize is $100,000."


    Noah was about to respond when suddenly, he heard a familiar chime in his head.


    [Ding! The Ultimate Choice System has been activated!]


    [Option 1: Participate in the race and show your skills.]


    [Reward: Lykan HyperSport]


    [Option 2: Kindly reject the offer.]


    [Reward: Coward Skill]


    [Option 3: Participate in the race but stay low-key.]


    [Reward: $100,000]


    A slow grin spread across Noah''s face. The first option gleamed in his mind. A Lykan HyperSport¡ªone of the rarest, most exotic cars in the world, priced at over $3 million.


    It was a beast of engineering, a car that Noah had only ever dreamed of owning. Sure, he had a Lamborghini, but a Lykan? That was a childhood dream for him.


    And as a Fast & Fury fan, there was no way he could pass up an opportunity like this. The mere thought of driving a car that had been part of one of the most iconic chase scenes in movie history made his decision easy.


    He nced at the second option, smirking.


    "Coward Skill?" No thanks. The name alone was enough for him to avoid that like the gue.


    Noah chose the first option without hesitation.


    "Jackson," Noah said, his voice now filled with confidence. "Tell your friend I''m in."


    Jackson sounded thrilled. "I knew you''d say yes! Man, he''s going to flip when he hears this. He''s been training day and night, but honestly, after seeing you in action, I''m not sure he''s ready for what you bring to the table."


    Noahughed lightly. "I''m looking forward to the race. Where''s it going down?"


    "We''re setting up a private track just outside the city. It''ll be an underground event¡ªreal exclusive. No cameras, no media, just pure racing. We''ll send you the details and locationter tonight," Jackson said. "Oh, and Noah, there''s another catch¡ªit''s not just about the prize. This race will have some of the top amateur and semi-pro drivers watching. This could be the start of something bigger."


    Noah raised an eyebrow. "Bigger how?"


    "I''m talking sponsors, man. People are starting to notice you. The way you drovest time was¡­ well, some are saying you''re F1 material if you ever wanted to go down that road."


    Noah paused, letting the idea hang in the air. F1? It wasn''t something he had ever seriously considered, but he knew the world of motorsports was cutthroat, andpetitive. And yet, the challenge was tempting.


    "We''ll see about that," Noah said, his voice calm. "I''m just in it for the thrill right now. But I''ll take the race seriously, don''t worry about that."


    Jackson chuckled. "That''s all I needed to hear, man. I''ll send over everything you need. Oh, and bring your A-game. These guys don''t mess around, even if they''re not as good as you."


    After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Noah hung up the phone. His mind raced just as fast as the cars he''d soon be driving. The idea of racing a future F1 driver with $100,000 on the line was enticing enough, but the thought of adding a Lykan HyperSport to his collection? That sealed the deal.


    He pocketed his phone and looked around. Noah loved driving, and moments like this reminded him why. It wasn''t just about the cars or the speed¡ªit was about the challenge, the rush, the split-second decisions that made or broke a race.


    The Lykan was parked in the same parking lot as his Lamborghini. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    [Ding! Lykan HyperSport Is rewarded!]


    [Ding! Lykan HyperSport is ready for collection at Great Charles car park, Level 1 Bay 1]


    The Lykan was parked in the same parking lot as his Lamborghini.


    Noah smirked to himself. "This is going to be fun."


    An hourter, Noah made his way to the Great Charles car park, Level 1, Bay 1¡ªwhere the Lykan HyperSport awaited him. The sleek, silver outline of the car was visible even from a distance.


    As he approached, the light bounced off the Lykan''s aggressively sharp lines, giving the hypercar an almost predatory look. It sat low, looking like it was ready to pounce, even at rest.


    The body of the car was a masterpiece of engineering¡ªfuturistic, yet timeless. The front end featured those iconic jewel-like headlights, which were encrusted with diamonds, emitting a glow that was both intimidating and alluring.


    The car''s deep, angr design screamed power and speed. From the sculpted hood to the aerodynamic curves that guided the air along its frame, every inch of the Lykan was crafted for one thing¡ªdomination.


    Noah took a moment to stand in front of it, admiring the sheer beauty of the car. "This..." he thought, "is what dreams are made of."


    He reached into his pocket and pulled out the key, feeling its weight in his hand. With a smooth press of a button, the doors of the Lykan HyperSport lifted upward like wings, weing him into its cockpit.


    There was something magical about those suicide doors¡ªanother reminder of how this car was built for the extraordinary.


    Noah stepped inside, and as he settled into the driver''s seat, the rich scent of fresh leather filled his nostrils, intoxicating in its luxury. The seats themselves were beyondfortable, wrapping around him like they were custom-molded for his body. The interior was just as breathtaking as the exterior¡ªfine leather, carbon fiber, and brushed aluminum adorned every surface, giving the cabin a sleek, high-tech look.


    Instead of traditional dials and buttons, everything was touch-sensitive, designed for a seamless, intuitive experience. The steering wheel, a mix of leather and carbon fiber, felt perfect in his hands.


    He ran his fingers across the controls, smiling to himself. This wasn''t just a car¡ªit was a statement, a machine built for those who defied limits. The 3.7-liter twin-turbocharged t-six engine purred softly as he pressed the start button, sending vibrations through the seat. The power under the hood, 780 horsepower to be exact, promised a thrill like no other.


    As the engine roared to life, it sent a jolt of adrenaline through Noah. The sound alone was enough to give him goosebumps¡ªdeep, throaty, and full of raw power. He couldn''t help but recall the first time he saw this car on screen, flying between skyscrapers. Now, here he was, about to drive it.


    He grinned, ncing down at the coordinates Jackson had sent him. It was time. Noah adjusted his mirrors, ced his hands firmly on the wheel, and eased the Lykan out of the parking spot. The car moved with such grace, as though it was gliding on air. The precision of the steering was unmatched¡ªit responded to the slightest touch, almost anticipating his moves before he made them.


    Noah exited the parking garage and made his way to the streets, the Lykan attracting stares from pedestrians and drivers alike. It wasn''t every day someone saw a car like this, let alone on the open road. But Noah was used to the attention; today wasn''t about showing off¡ªit was about the race.


    The GPS guided him through the streets as he headed toward the coordinates Jackson had given him, the anticipation growing with every mile. The Lykan HyperSport felt like an extension of himself¡ªevery turn, every eleration was smooth, effortless. Noah could already feel the connection between himself and the beauty growing stronger with each second.


    As he sped toward the private track, memories of that epic skyscraper jump from Fast & Fury yed in his mind. Noah knew that owning a Lykan wasn''t just about the luxury or the status¡ªit was about the thrill, the adrenaline.


    "Time to put this beauty to the test," he muttered silently, as he revved the engine on the highway.

 Chapter 40 Tony Toretto

    40 Tony Toretto


    Noah''s grin widened as he muttered, "Time to put this beauty to the test," and he revved the engine of the Lykan HyperSport. The sound roared through the car, a deep, thrilling vibration that sent shivers up his spine. With a flick of his wrist, he shifted gears and pressed down on the elerator.


    The Lykan shot forward, effortlessly reaching the national speed limit. On the highway, it was like he was moving through a time warp¡ªone moment, cars were beside him, the next, they were tiny specs in his rearview mirror.


    As he zoomed past a family sedan, the driver leaned out to get a better look, his jaw-dropping. "What the hell was that?!" the man eximed as the silver blur of Noah''s car disappeared from view.


    Another driver, a guy with his cap turned backwards and sting music from his open windows, caught sight of the Lykan streaking ahead.


    "Yo, was that Tony Toretto?!" he joked, referencing Fast & Fury,ughing at his own joke before realizing the car had already vanished.


    Noah smirked, hearing the engine hum contentedly as the highway stretched out ahead of him. It was like the Lykan was made for this¡ªeffortless speed, with the kind of control most people could only dream of. Thebination of power and precision made him feel like he was flying.


    An hourter, Noah arrived at the spot, the GPS guiding him to the coordinates Jackson had sent. As he slowed down and entered the area, his eyes widened slightly in surprise. This wasn''t the usual amateur setup¡ªthis was high-end, the real deal.


    He saw rows of cars¡ªLamborghini, Pagani, McLaren, and more. This was an elite group of racers, and judging by the lineup of machines, the stakes were much higher than thest race. The Porsche 911 that had once been the top dog at the previous race was nowhere near the level of thepetition here. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Noah took a deep breath, feeling the adrenaline kick in. He knew the Lykan would hold its own, but this wasn''t just about the car¡ªit was about proving himself again. As he approached the parking area, every set of eyes was on him. People watched in awe, first at the car, then at the driver behind the wheel.


    A Lykan HyperSport¡ªa car of which only 7 were made in the world. Its price tag alone¡ª$3.4 million¡ªwas enough to turn heads, but not just anyone could own it. This was a car for someone with both wealth and status.


    Noah smirked as he lined up the car for a perfect parallel parking drift. He pulled the handbrake, and the Lykan slid smoothly into the spot with pinpoint precision. The tyres screeched as they hit the pavement, stopping dead in ce exactly where Noah intended. A perfect parking job.


    Gasps echoed through the crowd. They had already been staring at the Lykan, mesmerized by its rarity, but the way Noah handled the car? That was on another level. It wasn''t just about owning the car; it was about knowing how to drive it.


    "Who the hell is this guy?" someone in the crowd whispered.


    Another voice chimed in, "No clue, but you don''t pull off a drift like that unless you''re either insane or a professional."


    Noah stepped out of the car, the door swinging upward in its trademark suicide style. His presence,bined with the Lykan, exuded confidence.


    The whispers grew louder. He had that effortless charm, and with the [Basic Idol] skill from his system, he radiated charisma that made people stop and stare.


    Jackson, who had been standing in the crowd, finally snapped out of his daze and hurried over to him, eyes wide in disbelief. "Noah, bro, I had no idea you had a Lykan HyperSport! What happened to your Lambo?"


    Noah shrugged casually like it wasn''t a big deal. "It''s in the garage somewhere."


    Jackson''s mouth twitched at the nonchnt response. "Somewhere?" As if the Lamborghini was just a pair of shoes he tossed in the closet.


    "In the garage somewhere," Jackson muttered to himself, shaking his head. "Man, the way you say that¡­ like you just left it out with the trash or something."


    Noahughed. "Nah, not the trash. It''s just, you know, not always the right tool for the job."


    Jackson let out a low whistle, still shaking his head. "Man, I need to hang around you more. I don''t know what''s crazier¡ªthe fact that you have a Lykan or that you just shrug it off like it''s no big deal."


    Before Noah could respond, Jackson gestured for someone behind him toe over. "Oh, by the way, I want you to meet my friend. He''s training to be an F1 driver."


    A young man with a sharp look in his eye and a confident stride approached. He had the lean build of someone used to being in a cockpit and the focused expression of a racer. His excitement was barely contained as he extended his hand toward Noah.


    "Noah, this is Max. He''s been hearing about your driving ever since thatst race we had, and, well, he couldn''t believe it until he saw the videos. We thought we''d reach out to see if you were up for a little race with him. You know, widen his horizons."


    Max nodded eagerly. "I''ve been training hard, but man, watching those clips of you¡­ you''ve got a gift, Noah. I''d be honoured to race with you. And hey, we''ve even got a little challenge going¡ª$100,000 on the line. What do you say?"


    Noah raised an eyebrow, pretending to think it over, though the system had already nudged him toward the choice. "Sounds like fun," he said coolly, shaking Max''s hand.


    Max grinned, clearly excited. "Awesome. Let''s see if I can learn a thing or two." He turned to Jackson andughed. "Man, you didn''t tell me he had a Lykan HyperSport! You weren''t kidding when you said he was next-level."


    Noah smirked. "Well, let''s see if I can live up to the hype."

 Chapter 41 Demon on the Track

    41 Demon on the Track


    Noah''s phone buzzed with a notification just as he was getting ready for the race. He nced at the screen, and a number caught his attention¡ª$72,000, redited to an ount ending in xx04. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    For a moment, he furrowed his brow in confusion. Then it hit him: An''s Gourmet. That was the weekly profit from the Michelin-star restaurant he owned.


    Noah chuckled to himself. "Well, I guess that''s lunch sorted for the next year." He pocketed his phone, shifting his focus back to the race ahead.


    About 20 to 25 minutester, everything was finally set for the race. Jackson approached Noah with a wide grin. "Alright, Noah, it''s time. Head over to the starting line with your Lykan."


    Noah nodded, sliding into the driver''s seat. The sleek leather hugged him as he gripped the wheel, his heart already starting to race.


    The Lykan purred as he started the engine, the growl of its V6 twin-turbo engine sending shivers through him.


    Pulling up to the starting line, Noah noticed the other cars¡ªa Lamborghini Aventador, a Pagani Huayra, a Ferrari LaFerrari, and Max''s McLaren P1. These weren''t just regr sports cars; these were machines designed for one purpose¡ªspeed.


    Five cars, five racers, and all of them knew what they were doing. But Noah wasn''t intimidated. He could feel the Lykan beneath him, its power ready to be unleashed.


    "Unless Lewis Ham is here, no one would be able to give me a challenge" muttered Noah, as he readied himself.


    The crowd gathered around the track, and Noah caught the excited murmurs and whispers as people eyed his Lykan. Only seven were in existence, and here it was, ready to leave them all in the dust.


    Max pulled up beside him, a wide grin on his face. He looked over at Noah and gave him a thumbs-up. "Let''s see if you really are like in the videos," Max called over. His voice was full of enthusiasm, but there was apetitive edge to it as well.


    Noah smirked. "You''ll see."


    The signaler stood in front of the five cars, raising his arm in the air, a red g waving in the wind. The engines roared to life, each racer revving, waiting for that moment of release. The air was thick with anticipation. This wasn''t just about the prize money¡ªthis was about pride.


    The red g dropped.


    "VRRROOOOOM!"


    The Lykan shot forward like a rocket. Its eleration threw him back into his seat as the tires screeched against the tarmac.


    The first turn was fast approaching, a sharp right, and already Noah felt the Lykan respond like a second skin. He didn''t slow¡ªhe didn''t need to.


    He braked just enough, twisted the wheel, and sent the Lykan into a perfect drift. The tires screeched again, a high-pitched cry of power as he held the car at the perfect angle through the curve.


    From the back, Max watched in awe. "What the¡­" he muttered, his eyes wide as he struggled to match Noah''s speed.


    He''d seen the videos, but seeing it live was a different story. Noah wasn''t just fast¡ªhe was precise. "He''s not even slowing down¡­" Max grinned, feeling the rush of adrenaline. "This guy is something else."


    Inside his McLaren, Max tried to mimic Noah''s drift, but it wasn''t as clean. The tires lost a little too much grip, and he had to correct his line. Behind him, the Lamborghini driver was swearing under his breath, gripping the wheel tightly as he tried to figure out just how Noah managed to take that corner at full speed.


    "Who the hell is this guy?!" the driver spat, gritting his teeth as his Lambo struggled to keep pace.


    Noah, on the other hand, barely noticed. The road was his only focus now. The engine''s roar filled his ears, blocking out all distractions. He felt every movement of the car, every slight shift in traction, and adjusted his driving instinctively. It was like the Lykan was part of him.


    Another curve appeared¡ªa brutal S-turn that would force most drivers to ease up. But not Noah.


    He grinned, his fingers tightening on the wheel as he shot toward it without hesitation. He hit the brakes at thest second, throwing the car into a wless double drift. The Lykan swung effortlessly through the S-curve, its tyres screaming but never losing control.


    From the stands, Jackson stood with his mouth hanging open. "He''s insane!" he shouted, shaking his head in disbelief.


    Noah exited the curve and gunned it down the straight, the speedometer climbing rapidly. 160¡­ 170¡­ 180 miles per hour. The wind roared past him, and the world became a blur. He could barely hear the other cars now; they were falling behind.


    Behind him, Max pushed his McLaren harder, eyes locked on the Lykan ahead. "He''s even better than the videos¡­ He doesn''t slow down¡ªhe speeds up!" Max''s heart pounded in his chest as he floored it, but Noah was pulling away. Max wasn''t just chasing a car¡ªhe was chasing a ghost, something untouchable.


    "He''s a demon on the track," one of the other drivers said, his voice tinged with disbelief as he struggled to keep up.


    Noah hit another corner and drifted again, perfectly bnced between control and chaos. The other racers, all professionals in their own right, watched with wide eyes as the Lykan moved like a machine born for this. The way Noah handled the car wasn''t just impressive¡ªit was unreal.


    15:34


    "He''s making us look like amateurs," the driver of the Pagani muttered under his breath, frustration evident in his voice.


    As Noah neared the final stretch, the track opened up into a long straightaway, the finish line in sight. He nced at the dashboard¡ª190¡­ 200 miles per hour. He could feel the car wanting more, begging to go faster, but this was enough.


    He crossed the finish line, the checkered g waving in his rearview. The roar of the Lykan softened as he decelerated, bringing the car to a smooth stop. The world came back into focus, the noise of the crowd growing louder as cheers erupted around him.


    Noah unbuckled his seatbelt and stepped out of the car, feeling the cool night air against his face. His heart was still racing, but his expression was calm¡ªalmost serene. He had done what he came to do.


    Max pulled up beside him, wide-eyed and panting from the rush. "Dude, that was insane! You really are just like in the videos. No, scratch that¡ªyou''re better," he said, shaking his head in disbelief.


    Noah chuckled, leaning against the Lykan. "It''s just a good day," he said with a casual shrug, though he couldn''t hide the small smirk tugging at his lips.


    The other racers pulled up one by one, all of them looking either shocked or impressed. The driver of the Lamborghini shook his head as he approached Noah, still trying to wrap his head around what he had just witnessed. "Man, you''re world-ss. I don''t know where you learned to drive like that, but it''s something else," he said, his voice a mix of frustration and admiration.


    Noah smiled, ncing back at the Lykan. This was what racing was about¡ªthe speed, the challenge, the thrill of pushing the limits anding out on top. There was no other feeling like it.


    Max cleared his throat and said, "The $100,000 reward¡­ I''ll have it sent to you by tomorrow morning. Just need your bank details."


    Noah nodded, unfazed. "Sure," he replied, pulling out his phone.


    As Noah was about to give Max his bank information, a man in a sharp suit, who seemed to materialize out of nowhere, stepped forward.

 Chapter 42 F1 Scout and Fame

    42 F1 Scout and Fame


    As Noah was about to give Max his bank information, a man in a sharp suit, who seemed to materialize out of nowhere, stepped forward. His eyes glimmered with recognition and intent. "Excuse me," he said with a firm but friendly tone, extending his hand toward Noah. "I couldn''t help but watch that performance. Truly remarkable."


    Noah shook the man''s hand. "Thanks," he said.


    The man smiled, introducing himself. "My name''s Jonathan Pierce. I''m a scout for Form 1. I''ve been scouting talent for years, but I''ve never seen anything quite like that." He paused, studying Noah for a moment before asking, "And you are?"


    "Noah Thompson," Noah responded coolly.


    Jonathan''s eyebrows shot up. "I''ve never seen you on the professional circuit. Are you a professional driver?"


    Noah shook his head, a small smirk ying on his lips. "No. Just a casual driver."


    The man blinked, clearly taken aback. He let out a short, politeugh. "Casual? You''re too humble, Noah." He leaned in slightly. "Listen, I''ve been around the best drivers in the world¡ªHamilton, Verstappen, you name it¡ªand the way you handled that Lykan¡­ It''s unreal. I''d like to offer you a contract with F1. I''m convinced you''ve got the potential to be a champion. We can talk about it in more detail, but trust me, you''re exactly what we''re looking for."


    Noah nced at the business card Jonathan handed him, then back up at the man. "I appreciate the offer, but I''m still in school. My focus is there right now."


    Jonathan stared at Noah for a moment, stunned by the nonchnt rejection. He wasn''t used to being turned down, especially by someone as talented as Noah. "Are you sure?" Jonathan pressed gently. "I understand that education is important, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You could be the next big thing, Noah."


    "A world champion," he emphasised, with shock in his voice that he couldn''t hide.


    Noah shook his head again, though his tone remained respectful. "Maybe in the future, but not right now. I''m focused on my studies and my family. Racing is just something I do for fun."


    Jonathan''s eyes widened in disbelief. "You''re only 18?" He couldn''t hide the shock in his voice. "With that level of skill? You''re a monster in human flesh. You''ve got the talent most drivers dream of."


    Max, standing nearby, had his jaw practically on the ground. He couldn''t believe what he was hearing.


    "This guy just turned down an F1 contract."


    Max had spent years training, hoping, and praying to get an opportunity like that. And Noah had brushed it aside as if it were nothing.


    Jonathan, finally epting that Noah wasn''t going to change his mind, sighed and pulled out another card. "If you change your mind, call me. My door is always open for you, Noah. You''re something special, and I''ll be ready anytime."


    Noah nodded, slipping the card into his pocket. "I''ll keep that in mind."


    As Jonathan left, Max''s bewilderment only grew. He turned to Noah, his eyes wide, trying to piece together what had just happened. "You just¡­ turned down an F1 contract," Max muttered, still in shock. "That''s what I''ve been training for, man. And you¡­ just brushed it off."


    Noah shrugged, unfazed. "I''ve got other priorities right now."


    Max stared at him for a moment, his thoughts racing. "He really is a demon." No wonder he drove the way he did¡ªit wasn''t just about skill, it was about mindset. Noah didn''t care about the fame or the money. He was on a different level, entirely focused on what mattered to him. It was terrifying and awe-inspiring at the same time.


    Breaking Max out of his thoughts, Noah casually handed over his bank details. "Here, for the $100,000."


    Max, still dazed, typed the information into his phone. "Right¡­ $100,000¡­ I''ll send it tomorrow." He couldn''t stop thinking about how Noah had made $100,000 from a race he''d clearly had no intention of losing, and then turned down millions in potential F1 earnings without batting an eye.


    As Noah walked toward the Lykan, Max couldn''t help but admire the sheer confidence that radiated from him. The way he handled the car, the race, the money¡ªeverything about Noah wasrger than life. The crowd that had gathered to watch him was still buzzing with excitement.


    Jackson, who had been watching the entire scene unfold, walked up, his eyes wide. He said, his voice dripping with admiration. "You''re a casual driver, and you just casually turned down F1? Man, if I had your life, I''d be driving through the halls of my school every morning."


    Noah chuckled, shaking his head. "Nah, I''ve got my own path. Racing''s fun, but it''s not everything."


    Jackson pped him on the back, grinning. "You''re one mysterious dude, Noah. But one thing''s for sure¡ªyou''re no ordinary driver. Not by a long shot."


    As they shared a finalugh, Noah revved the Lykan''s engine, the powerful growl filling the air. The onlookers, some still in awe of the car and the race, snapped pictures as he pulled out. It was another day, another victory for Noah¡ªbut to him, it was just a fun night with some friends and a quick $100,000 in his pocket.


    But to everyone else, Noah Thompson was bing a legend, and they had a feeling this was just the beginning.


    As Noah drove back home in the Lykan HyperSport, the soft purr of the engine was like a quiet hum under the night sky.


    Little did he know, somewhere on the inte, that a video of him racing had just been uploaded, and it was already going viral. The footage¡ªtaken from a shaky phone camera¡ªcaptured his breathtaking drifts, impossible turns, and the sheer power of the Lykan as it sliced through thepetition.


    On TikTalk, the views began to skyrocket. Within an hour, the video had already racked up hundreds of thousands of views, and thements section was buzzing with admiration and excitement.


    "This dude must be Tony Toretto''s secret brother!"


    "Yo, is this the lost ''Fast and Furious'' scene? That Lykan is on fire!"


    Thements continued to roll in, a mix of humorous references to Fast and Furious, admiration for the mysterious driver''s skills, and awe for the car itself.


    "Forget Dom, I think this guy is the real family now."


    "This guy''s either insane or ab specimen... maybe both?"


    "Can we talk about how this man just casually drives a $3.4 million Lykan?!"


    While Noah was oblivious to his sudden fame, somewhere across town, Sarah sat in her room, scrolling absentmindedly through her phone.


    Racing videos were her guilty pleasure¡ªa reminder of the night Noah had taken her to the track. The roar of engines, the screeching tyres, the rush of adrenaline¡ªthose were memories she treasured, even if she knew she shouldn''t.


    Then, one video caught her attention.


    The title alone made her heart skip a beat: "Lykan HyperSport Dominates the Tracks!"


    The camera wasn''t the best, but Sarah could make out enough. The way the car moved, hugging each corner with precision, daring death with every reckless turn, it was unmistakable. Noah. It had to be.


    She didn''t need to see his face, didn''t need to hear a name. Her heart knew before her mind could catch up. It was Noah behind the wheel. The way he drove¡ªwless, fearless, and so dangerously fast¡ªwas a signature she could never forget.


    Her mind raced, reying that first night when she had been in the passenger seat, clutching the edge of her seat as Noah weaved through the track, pushing limits she didn''t know existed.


    Her heart had fluttered then, the excitement of the ride mixed with the thrill of being with someone so... alive.


    "Why did he have to be so perfect"


    A flood of memories rushed in, unbidden. Noah, standing in her kitchen, cooking for her¡ªthe romantic dinner that had made her feel young again, desired in a way she hadn''t felt in years.


    His easy smile, his gentle way of making herugh. It had felt real, and in those moments, Sarah had let herself believe that maybe, just maybe, they could truly have something more.


    Then came the night it all shattered. La. The shock in her daughter''s voice when she had seen Noah in their home. The horrible realization that Noah had been La''s so-called "boyfriend." Sarah hadn''t known. La had never told her. And when La confronted Noah, Sarah''s heart had broken.


    She''d seen the truth in Noah''s eyes when he told La that there was never a real rtionship, that they hadn''t even held hands.


    La, as always, had spun stories, creating fantasies where there were none. Sarah knew her daughter well¡ªtoo well. She knew La''s jealousy, and her tendency to twist reality when she didn''t get what she wanted. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    But even knowing that Sarah couldn''t shake the feeling. That maybe... maybe she had just been Noah''s revenge. Maybe he had only spent time with her to get back at La for cheating on him.


    That thought had gued her in the days since theirst conversation, gnawing at her like a poison she couldn''t shake.


    Now, watching this video, her heart ached.


    "Why, Noah?" she muttered softly to herself, her voice barely a whisper.


    "Why couldn''t you just disappear from my life entirely? Why bring back the good memories, the ones I know I can never have again?" Tears welled in her eyes as the video looped again, the Lykan speeding through the tracks like a wild beast.


    She wished she hadn''t watched it. She wished she could erase the memories of their time together, theughter, the thrill, the soft moments in between where she''d felt something more.


    She wiped her eyes, her chest tightening. Noah was her daughter''s ex¡ªhow could she ever move past that? How could she allow herself to feel for him when the thought of La''s reaction haunted her?


    But deep down, she knew. Noah hadn''t been with her for revenge. He wasn''t the type. She had seen the way he looked at her, the sincerity in his eyes when he had said he cared. But it didn''t change the reality of their situation.


    Sarah closed her eyes, taking a shaky breath. "I can''t."


    She muttered to herself, trying to push away the longing that clung to her heart.


    "You''re my daughter''s ex, Noah. I can''t. I just... can''t."


    But as much as she tried to convince herself, the truth was there, unyielding and undeniable. She still cared about him. And it was tearing her apart.


    Sarah was clearly conflicted. Her emotions twisted and turned, leaving her feeling like she was caught in a storm with no shelter.


    Every time she tried to make sense of it all, another wave of doubt and confusion crashed over her, pulling her deeper into the chaos. She kept searching for any excuse, any reason to push Noah away, to convince herself that it was the right thing to do.


    "He was La''s ex," she kept repeating as if the words would magically erase her feelings.


    But no matter how hard she tried, her thoughts contradicted one another. One moment, she was angry, telling herself that Noah had only been using her. The next, she was remembering the warmth in his eyes, the way he made her feel alive again.


    "It wasn''t real, was it?" she questioned, but deep down, she knew that wasn''t true.


    Her emotions were unstable, shifting from guilt to longing, from frustration to hope. She wanted to believe that she was just a distraction for Noah, that she was nothing more than a rebound from his brief, ill-defined rtionship with La.


    But that didn''t match the way he had treated her, the way he had listened to her,ughed with her and made her feel seen in a way she hadn''t in years.


    Yet, Sarah couldn''t see the contradiction in her own heart. Her fear and guilt blinded her to the reality of what she felt.


    The internal struggle raged on, and the more she tried to push Noah away, the more she felt the tug of her feelings pulling her back toward him.


    "Why does it have to be soplicated?" she thought, as her heart and mind continued to battle, leaving her in turmoil.


    Please support with Golden tickets, and Powerstones if you like the book so far to help me.


    Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!


    Risaliyah

 Chapter 43 You Cheated?

    43 You Cheated?


    Noah arrived homete once again, exhaustion clinging to his body like a heavy nket. After quickly showering to wash off the day, he headed to bed, grateful for thefort of his pillow. His mind drifted to sleep, seekingfort from everything that had been happening for the past few days.


    The next morning, he woke up early. He got dressed quickly, ready to face the day, and headed downstairs to find his breakfast already prepared. Avocado toast with scrambled eggs sat waiting for him on the table, the smell inviting and delicious.


    "Morning, Emily," he said, shing a smile at his little sister as she ate her cereal.


    "Morning, Noah!" she chirped, her eyes lighting up at the sight of her big brother.


    Noah nodded toward his dad, who was reading the morning paper, and his mom, busying herself at the stove. "Morning, Dad, Mom."


    "Good morning, son," his dad replied, lowering the paper to give Noah a warm smile. His mom gave him a soft "Morning" as she continued cooking.


    As he started eating, he savoured the vours that were strong, but not overwhelming.


    Finishing up his meal, Noah walked over to the fridge, pulling it open to find it emptier than usual. "We''re running low on groceries," he muttered to himself. He realized it was time to go shopping soon, maybe after school. They needed more food to keep things stocked.


    But another thought hit him as well¡ªhe needed to make sure his mom was getting paid more so they didn''t have to rely on him fully. Turning to his mom, he asked, "Hey, Mom, how do you feel about your cooking skills now? You''ve been practising and improving a lot this past week."


    His mom paused, her face showing a bit of uncertainty. "I feel... better, but it''s still a Michelin-star restaurant, Noah. I''m scared. What if they don''t ept me? I don''t have any experience working at fancy ces, and I don''t want to embarrass myself."


    Noah smiled reassuringly. "Mom, don''t worry about experience. I know the owner of An''s Gourmet personally. He just wants someone who can cook well, and you''re more than capable of that. Experiencees with time, but you''ve got the talent. Plus, you''ll have a head chef looking out for you."


    His mom still looked reluctant but nodded. "Alright, I''ll try. But I''m still nervous."


    Noah grinned. "You''ve got this, Mom. You''ll be amazing."


    After finishing up, Noah said his goodbyes, grabbing his keys and Emily''s backpack. "Let''s go, Em," he called to his sister as he took her hand to drop her off at school. After making sure Emily was safe and sound at her school, Noah finally headed to his own school, mentally preparing for what he assumed would be a normal day.


    Entering his math ss, Noah immediately noticed Ms. ra, the math teacher, giving him a strange look. Her gaze lingered on him for a moment, and it was hard for him to ce why. Ignoring it for now, he slid into his seat next to Lily, his mind on autopilot until five minutester when everyone had settled in.


    Ms. ra walked to the front of the room, her smile a little too smug for an ordinary day. "Good morning, everyone," she began, the ss murmuring their responses. "I have a surprise for you all today."


    The ss instantly perked up, eyes widening in curiosity.


    "We just finished the mock exams yesterday," she continued, her tone teasing like she was about to drop a bombshell. "And today, we have the results. You may be wondering how we graded them so quickly, but we decided to use all the teachers to mark your exams in one day." Her grin widened as she took in the surprised expressions.


    The ss erupted into murmurs, some students whispering about the impossibility of such a fast turnaround.


    Ms. ra raised her hand for silence. "Yes, yes, I know it''s surprising. But today you''ll find out your results, so let''s get right into it."


    Mark, seated a few rows away, couldn''t help but let out an exaggerated scoff. He turned to Noah with a smirk. "I wonder where I left my son," he said, clearly referencing their bet about who would score higher.


    Noah met his gaze, not missing a beat. "I don''t know, son. Where did you leave your brain?" His retort was quick, causing a ripple ofughter to spread around the ssroom.


    Next to him, Lily tried to suppress her giggle, her hand quickly flying to her mouth, but Noah caught the sound. He turned to her, slightly taken aback by how herugh stirred something inside him. Herugh was light, almost musical, and for a moment, Noah found himself captivated.


    "You look even prettier when youugh," he said before he could stop himself.


    Lily''s eyes widened slightly in surprise, and for a split second, she didn''t know how to respond. Without saying a word, she turned her head to the window, pretending to be absorbed in the outside view. But Noah missed the faint blush spreading across her cheeks, a sign that his words had hit their mark.


    She stayed quiet, but Noah did not notice the way her fingers fiddled nervously with the hem of her sleeve, betraying herposed exterior. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Meanwhile, Mark, sensing that Noah wasn''t as focused on him, leaned back with a self-satisfied grin, muttering under his breath, "We''ll see who the real dad is soon enough."


    Noah, still watching Lily from the corner of his eye, smirked. "Don''t worry, Mark. You''re the son I never wanted."


    Ms. ra moved to the front of the ssroom, holding a stack of papers in her hands as the tension in the room thickened. The students sat up straighter, their eyes on her as they anticipated the results of the mock exams. Everyone knew that these results were a major indicator of how well they''d perform in the final exams, and the anxiety was palpable.


    "Alright, let''s begin with La," Ms. ra announced, looking down at her list. She scanned the room and her gaze found La, who sat confidently in her seat. "La, you scored 67 out of 100. You''ve maintained your usual score, which is okay, but you need to try harder if you want to improve for the final exams."


    La simply shrugged, her expression indifferent as she nodded. It wasn''t bad, but it wasn''t great either, just like always.


    "John," Ms. ra called next, ncing at the boy in the back who shifted nervously in his seat. "You scored 55 out of 100. You barely passed, so you''ll need to push yourself a lot harder next time."


    John grimaced but managed a weak smile. "I''ll try harder," he mumbled, though the room could feel the weight of disappointment hanging over him.


    "Tara," Ms. ra continued, "you got 76 out of 100. Well done. You''ve been steadily improving, and I can see you reaching your full potential if you keep this up."


    Tara beamed, her friends nudging her as they shared in her quiet celebration.


    And then it was Lily''s turn. "Lily," Ms. ra said with a proud smile, "you''ve scored 97 out of 100. As usual, you''ve done amazing. Keep up the good work, and you''re bound to smash the real exam."


    Lily took the paper but didn''t say anything, merely nodding in response to the praise. Ms. ra continued down the list. "Mark," she said, ncing at the boy who had been boasting all morning, "you''ve scored 85 out of 100. Well done. You''ve improved a lot from yourst exam, and you''re in the top 15 in the whole year."


    Mark leaned back in his chair, grinning smugly. "That''s right," he muttered, his gaze flicking toward Noah with apetitive gleam. He clearly felt like he had this one in the bag.


    Ms. ra''s voice cut through the growing murmurs of the ss. "Andst but not least¡­" She paused dramatically, looking through her papers with deliberate slowness, her eyes darting toward Noah with a glint of something¡ªperhaps amusement, perhaps disbelief.


    Noah had a calm look as he watched her. He knew that he got full marks in the exam, but he was slightly curious about the reaction of the teachers.


    "Noah," she said, her voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of surprise, "you scored¡­ 100 out of 100."


    It was as though a bomb had gone off in the room. For a split second, there wasplete silence. Then, all at once, the ss erupted into chatter.


    "Wait, what?"


    "That''s impossible!"


    "Is he really that much better now? From worst to best?"


    "No way¡­" Tara muttered, her eyes wide in disbelief. "He was struggling so much before!"


    Noah nced around at his ssmates, seeing the incredulous looks, the murmurs, the shock.


    Mark, who had been lounging with confidence a moment ago, shot up in his seat, his face twisting with disbelief and anger. "No way!" he blurted, unable to contain himself. "He cheated! There''s no way Noah scored that high, especially in math! He''s always been terrible at it!"


    The murmurs in the room grew louder, some students nodding in agreement, others still processing the bombshell that had just been dropped.


    Lily, who had been sitting quietly next to Noah, turned her head to look at him, her expression unreadable.


    Her gaze was sharp like she was searching for something in his face. She didn''t believe he cheated, but 100 out of 100?


    Even though she had scored 97, which was already amazing, the gap between 97 and 100 felt massive.


    Ms. ra raised her hand for silence, her voice stern. "Enough!" she said sharply, quieting the room. "I understand how some of you might feel, but Noah''s score is a result of hard work and perseverance."


    Even as she said it, there was a slight hesitation in her voice, as though she herself was still grappling with the result. But she carried on, her tone firm. "These are the results, and we will honour them."


    Mark, however, couldn''t let it go. "No way," he muttered under his breath, though loud enough for the students around him to hear. "There''s no way he''s that good. He must''ve had someone help him or something."


    Noah looking at him scoffed, and said "You unfilial son, a dog would have been better to give birth to, at least it''s loyal."


    Ms. ra continued. "The principal has been notified about Noah''s performance. Scoring full marks in four subjects and only missing one mark in the rest is an incredible achievement. His results are the best in the entire year."


    Another wave of murmurs rippled through the ss. Noah, best in the entire year? The idea seemed almostughable a few weeks ago, but now¡­ now it was real.


    "The principal will be making a decision regarding Noah''s results soon," Ms ra finished, her eyes scanning the room, daring anyone else to challenge her.


    Mark, meanwhile, was fuming silently, unable to ept what had just happened. Noah had not only won the bet¡ªthey weren''t even in the same league anymore.


    He knew that his reputation in the school would be decided by what the principal had to say.

 Chapter 44 Accusations

    44 usations


    As the day dragged on, the scene seemed to rey in every ssroom. In each subject, the results from the mock exams were handed out, and as Ms. ra had said, Noah had aced them. The science teacher, standing tall at the front of the room, read out the top scorers for biology, chemistry, and physics with a smile of admiration.


    "Noah, 100 out of 100. Full marks again," she announced, and the ss barely murmured this time. The initial shock had worn off, and though disbelief still lingered in a few corners of the room, most of the students hade to ept that Noah had somehow ascended to academic greatness.


    Some students rolled their eyes, others whispered amongst themselves, but no one dared say anything aloud.


    That is until the girl with the ponytail¡ªher name was ire¡ªspoke up during thest ss, the science ss.


    "Look, I know a lot of you guys are wondering if Noah really deserves these scores, but I can vouch for him. He tutored me, John, Tara and Aiden in the library," ire said, her voice steady, though her friends nodded in agreement, backing her up.


    There was a ripple of surprise across the room. ire wasn''t just any student; she was one of the top performers in the sciences, always scoring around 80/100 in subjects like biology, chemistry, and physics.


    On this Mock exam, she scored 90/100, which broke all her previous high scores.


    Her words carried weight, and the fact that she publicly admitted Noah tutored her raised eyebrows.


    "I wasn''t sure about his rapid change at first either," ire continued. "But after that session, I can say for certain that he knows his stuff. If anyone deserves those marks, it''s him."


    Her friends echoed her statements and the atmosphere in the ssroom shifted slightly. Those who were silently sceptical now had to reconsider. If ire, who had received a high score in science, vouched for Noah, then maybe it wasn''t impossible after all.


    Mark, sitting at his desk with a twisted grin, couldn''t hold back any longer. He had been quietly watching the whole scene unfold, and thest thing he wanted was to lose the bet and have to call Noah his father. That thought alone burned deep within him.


    With a dramatic scoff, he pushed his chair back, standing up to address the ss. His eyes fixated on ire, who had just vouched for Noah. The intensity of his stare made her shift uneasily in her seat.


    "Hmph, ire," Mark began, his voiceced with condescension, "let me ask you a question." His smirk widened as he took a step forward, making ire feel even more on edge.


    23:11


    "Yes?" she replied, her voice hesitating slightly. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Mark crossed his arms, his posture dripping with arrogance. "You''ve been stuck in the 80s range for months now.


    No offence, but you''ve never broken through that barrier. Suddenly, Noah, who couldn''t even score above 45, tutors you, and not only do you jump to the 90s, but he scores a perfect 100. Doesn''t that seem... suspicious to anyone?"


    The room fell silent, his words hitting their mark. The implication hung in the air like a storm cloud, casting a shadow over the confidence ire had shown just moments earlier.


    "You''re saying he magically bes a genius overnight? And you, his student, suddenly improve too?" Mark''s grin widened as he turned to the ss, his eyes gleaming. "Sounds to me like someone got their hands on the answers ahead of time and conveniently shared them with his little study group."


    A murmur rippled through the ssroom. Students exchanged looks, some nodding their heads in agreement. The seeds of doubt had been nted, and they quickly took root.


    Noah remained quiet, his face calm.


    ire, visibly shaken by the usation, opened her mouth to speak, but Mark cut her off.


    "Don''t lie, ire. You''ve been struggling for months, and now, all of a sudden, after one or two study sessions with Noah, you''re scoring 90s? It''s too convenient. Either you''re covering for him, or you''re in on it. Which is it?"


    The ss erupted into whispers. Some students shot nces at Noah and ire, while others looked toward the science teacher, waiting for him to step in.


    Noah''s gaze lingered on ire, whose face was still flushed with both embarrassment and frustration.


    She had always been quiet, never one to speak up or show such courage, especially in a situation like this. But today, she had taken a stand for him, and that didn''t go unnoticed.


    "Sigh!" Noah muttered under his breath, casting a cold nce toward Mark, who was basking in the satisfaction of the chaos he had caused. Mark had always been that way¡ªpetty and full of arrogance. But today, he was pushing the wrong buttons, and Noah wasn''t about to let it slide.


    Mark''s smirk widened, convinced he had won the battle. His usations had cast doubt, and now, in front of everyone, Noah and ire were painted as cheaters. He had stirred the pot enough to avoid the humiliation of losing their bet.


    But Noah wasn''t going to have it anymore, Mark had crossed the line and borderline bullied the poor girl who stood up for him with his twisted schemes.


    He straightened up in his seat, his voice cutting through the tension in the room like a de. "Enough, Mark."


    The sudden shift in Noah''s tone made the whole ss go silent. Even those who were whispering and exchanging nces turned their attention to the confrontation. Noah''s usual calm demeanour was reced by something sharper, colder.


    "I know your little tricks," Noah continued, his voice growing icier with each word. "You don''t want to fulfil the bet, and that''s fine. But if you dare pull this kind of stunt again, I''ll make you wish your mum did not drop you on your head as a child."


    A murmur ran through the ss, the weight of Noah''s words hanging in the air. Mark''s smug grin faltered, his eyes narrowing as he sensed the seriousness in Noah''s tone.


    "Now that you pissed me off, I will let you in on something." Noah''s voice dropped, cold and cutting. "The principal called me to his office after school. I''ll be dealing with your nonsense usations then. But that''s not all."


    Noah stood up from his seat, his presencemanding the attention of everyone in the room. His eyes were locked on Mark, and the coldness in his gaze sent a shiver down the spines of everyone watching. Even Mark, who had been so confident just moments before, instinctively took a step back without realizing it.


    "If I prove my innocence, and you even think about not honouring your bet, I will make you regret it. You remember what happened in the alleywayst time?" Noah''s voice grew even darker, colder. "That was me being merciful."


    Mark visibly tensed, his face losing a bit of its colour as he remembered the incident Noah was referring to.


    He had thought it was a one-off, something that wouldn''t happen again. But now, Noah''s cold stare and ominous tone made it clear that he wasn''t ying around.


    "Are you threatening me?" Mark stammered, trying to regain some control of the situation. He turned to the teacher, who was watching the scene unfold with concern. "Are you hearing this, teacher?"


    "That''s enough Noah," said the teacher, as he sighed.


    Noah didn''t even flinch. His gaze remained locked on Mark, unyielding and unafraid. "No, Mark. I''m not threatening you." His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "I''m warning you. Don''t push your luck. It''s about to run out."


    The entire ss watched, wide-eyed, as Mark stood there, frozen in ce. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. The tension, was thick enough to cut through, as Noah''s words echoed in the air.


    "I was going to let you off easy," Noah said, taking a step closer to Mark, who instinctively backed away again. "But now? Tsk. Not so easy anymore. After I prove my innocence to the principal and the other teachers, I''ll deal with you. Properly."


    The weight of Noah''s promise sent another wave of whispers through the ss, but no one dared to speak too loudly. The cold fury in Noah''s voice was something none of them had ever heard before, and even the boldest students didn''t want to get caught in the crossfire.


    ire, who had been silent through the entire exchange, felt her heart race. She nced up at Noah, her eyes tracing the sharp lines of his face, his piercing gaze that had never wavered in the face of Mark''s usations. The way he stood up for her, the way he confidently took control of the situation¡ªhe had protected her without a second thought.


    Her heart fluttered, warmth spreading through her chest as she realized what was happening.


    She had tried to defend him, but in the end, it was Noah who stood up and shielded her. The butterflies in her stomach made her feel light-headed as she gazed at him, her cheeks warming with a blush she tried desperately to hide.


    Noah was simply... too much. His presence, his confidence, the way hemanded the room without even trying¡ªit was all overwhelming in the best way.


    She hadn''t expected him to protect her like this, but now that he had, she couldn''t stop herself from admiring him. His deep, steady eyes, his strong voice¡ªit all made her feel something she hadn''t felt before.


    Lost in her thoughts, ire found herself staring at Noah longer than she intended, her mind swirling with admiration.


    His fearless attitude, his ability to handle the usations¡ªit made her heart race even faster. She had never seen this side of him before, and now that she had, she couldn''t look away.


    Lily who was observing everything, thought as she shook her head. "Someone fell in love."


    Noah sat back down, still ring at Mark.


    Mark, now visibly shaken, remained silent, his earlier arrogance gone. The entire ss could sense the shift, and no one dared to question Noah again.


    As the final bell rang, signalling the end of the school day, Aiden, who had been sitting next to Noah through the chaos of the day, leaned in and pped him on the shoulder.


    He hadn''t intervened because he knew that Noah was strong enough to handle himself, he didn''t need his help. He also knew that his help would amount to nothing, since he is Noah''s best friend the others would think he is just covering for him.


    "Don''t worry, man," Aiden said with a smirk, "even if you did cheat¡ªwhich I know you didn''t¡ªyou''ve still got that Lambo and your Michelin-starred restaurant. Who gives a damn about school? Let these dogs bark; they amount to nothing in the real world."


    Noah chuckled lightly, though his mind was elsewhere. He wasn''t worried, not in the slightest. He knew he didn''t cheat, and that was enough for him.


    Besides, with the "All-rounder High School Knowledge" from the system, why would he need to cheat? Still, the constant whispers and side-eye nces from ssmates didn''t bother him. In fact, he found it amusing more than anything. People were always quick to judge, especially when someone they deemed beneath them suddenly rose to the top. It wasn''t about the truth; it was about them dealing with their own insecurities, their inability to ept that someone could change could improve.


    As they left the ssroom, Aiden stretched, throwing an arm around Noah''s shoulders. "Seriously, man, you''ve got nothing to worry about. Let them talk. They''ll be begging for a job at your restaurant someday."


    Noah smiled, shaking his head at Aiden''s confidence. "You''re not wrong," he muttered.


    But while Aiden''s words were lighthearted and reassuring, Noah couldn''t help but feel a subtle undercurrent in the way people now treated him.


    There was respect from some, yes, but also envy and envy could be a dangerous thing. He knew better than anyone how people could turn their frustrations into resentment.


    "Humans are so weak..."


    Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!


    Creation is hard, cheer me up!


    Risaliyah

 Chapter 45 Principals Office

    45 Principal''s Office


    Noah took his time walking to the principal''s office, his steps slow and unhurried. He wasn''t the least bit anxious, knowing that the truth was on his side. As he approached the office door, he knocked lightly and heard a firm voice from within: "Come in."


    Entering, Noah greeted, "Good afternoon, Principal. I''m here because you called for me earlier today. I''m assuming it''s about the test results."


    The principal, a tall man with a stern but wise face, had his sses resting on the edge of his nose. He was reviewing some papers when Noah spoke. As Noah finished, the principal lowered the papers slightly and gazed at him over his sses, his eyes piercing as if trying to read through the young man standing before him. It wasn''t an usatory stare but one of deep consideration. The sses, perched at just the right angle, made his stare feel more intense, as though he were weighing Noah''s words and actions with decades of experience behind him.


    "Take a seat," the principal said with a nod, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk. "Others will be joining us shortly."


    Noah sat down calmly, and within minutes, the room was filled with his subject teachers¡ªMath, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and even English. Each teacher took their seat, exchanging nces, their curiosity palpable as they awaited the discussion.


    The principal, folding his hands on the desk, cleared his throat before addressing the group. "Noah''s recent mock exam scores have raised quite a few eyebrows," he began, his tone neutral. "Before we proceed, I need to ask some questions, both for my own understanding and for transparency."


    Turning to the teachers, he asked, "What have Noah''s grades been like in your sses up until now?"


    One by one, the teachers responded, each with a simr answer: "Below average, but passing," "He''s been consistent, but not exceptional," and so on.


    The principal nodded thoughtfully before continuing. "And how has Noah''s behavior been in ss?"


    "He''s respectful," said Ms. ra, his Math teacher. "He participates when asked and has never caused any trouble."


    The other teachers nodded in agreement, echoing Ms. ra''s sentiments.


    The principal stroked his long white beard in contemtion. "Has Noah ever been caught cheating before?"


    All the teachers shook their heads. "Never," they confirmed.


    "What about lying?" the principal pressed.


    Again, the response was unanimous. "No, never," they replied in unison.


    The principal paused, the air in the room growing heavy with expectation. He turned his full attention to Noah, locking eyes with him. "Noah," he said slowly, "did you cheat on these exams?"


    Without hesitation, Noah shook his head and replied, "No, sir. I did not cheat."


    The principal held his gaze for a long moment, as if searching for any flicker of deceit, but found none. He leaned back in his chair, a decision forming in his mind. "I believe you," he said firmly, though his tone carried the weight of responsibility. "However, as much as I trust you, we need to ensure that everyone else¡ªstudents and faculty alike¡ªalso believes in your integrity."


    He gestured to the teachers seated around the room. "That''s why, tomorrow morning, I''m going to have each of your subject teachers ask you two difficult questions¡ªquestions that, if you had cheated, you wouldn''t be able to answer. This will prove your innocence to everyone. Does that sound fair to you?"


    At that moment, Noah heard the familiar chime in his mind.


    [Ding! The Ultimate Choice System has been activated!]


    Option 1: ept the principal''s suggestion and answer the questions correctly.


    [Reward: System Treasure Chest x1]


    Option 2: ept the principal''s suggestion and answer the questions incorrectly.


    [Reward: Deceiver Skill]


    Option 3: Deny the principal''s suggestion.


    [Reward: -5 charm]


    Without a second thought, Noah mentally selected Option 1. The reward of a System Treasure Chest sounded too good to pass up, and he was already nning to prove his innocence anyway.


    Returning his focus to the principal, Noah nodded. "I''m ready to answer any questions you and my teachers have."


    The principal gave a small smile, seemingly pleased with Noah''s calm confidence. "Very well, then. Ms. ra, would you like to begin?"


    Ms. ra, the Math teacher, adjusted her sses as she stood up. "Noah, let''s start with a problem on trigonometric identities.


    "Simplify the following expression: Sin^2(¦È) - Cos^2(¦È)


    Noah didn''t even blink. "That''s simply ?cos?(2¦È)" he answered smoothly.


    Ms ra nodded absent-mindedly, at the speed Noah answered the trigonometric expression.


    "That''s... Correct, well done," she said out loud.


    "Maybe he saw it before somewhere and remembered it, let me give him a harder one." N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Next one: Given that a+b+c=180¡ã, prove that sin?(a)+sin?(b)+sin?(c)=4sin?(a/2)*sin?(b/2)*sin?(c/2)


    Noah''s expression remained calm as he elegantlyid out the proof, his exnation concise and thorough.


    23:12


    The other teachers exchanged impressed nces. Ms ra sat down, satisfied and impressed very deeply.


    Next, the Biology teacher spoke up. "Alright, Noah. In which part of the cell does the Krebs cycle take ce, and why is it important for cellr respiration?"


    "The Krebs cycle urs in the mitochondria," Noah replied instantly. "It''s crucial because it generates high-energy molecules like NADH and FADH2, which are used in the electron transport chain to produce ATP, the energy currency of the cell."


    "Impressive," the Biology teacher murmured. "And one more¡ªwhat''s the role of ribosomes in protein synthesis?"


    "Ribosomes trante mRNA into polypeptide chains, synthesizing proteins by linking amino acids in the order dictated by the sequence of codons on the mRNA."


    Again, the teacher nodded in satisfaction.


    One by one, each of Noah''s teachers took their turn. Chemistry, Physics, History¡ªevery question was answered with precision and depth. As each question was posed, the expressions on the teachers'' faces shifted from curiosity to amazement.


    When it was over, all eyes turned to the principal. He stroked his beard thoughtfully, his gaze lingering on Noah. "It seems," he said slowly, "that I was right to believe in you."


    He turned to the teachers. "This matter is settled. Tomorrow, I want each of you to announce Noah''s innocence to your sses. And if any student dares to use him of cheating again, bring them directly to me for punishment. Is that clear?"


    The teachers nodded, still processing what they had just witnessed.


    The principal turned back to Noah, his expression softening into a warm smile. "I''m sorry for making you go through this, Noah, but we had to follow procedure. I hope you didn''t mind this old man too much."


    Noah smiled back, standing up. "Thank you, Principal. You''ve done more than enough."


    As Noah left the office, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of triumph. Not because he had proven his innocence, but because of what awaited him¡ªa System Treasure Chest that promised unimaginable rewards.


    [Ding! 1x System Treasure Chestis in the inventory!]


    Noah exited the school building, walking at a leisurely pace, still thinking the system''s reward.


    As he approached the school gate, a shiny 2023 Audi A3 caught his eye. A small crowd of students had gathered around, admiring the sleek car, and there, leaning casually against the hood as if he owned the entire street, was none other than Mark. He was trying too hard to exude confidence, his posture a mix of arrogance and showmanship. The way he nced toward Noah as he approached made it clear¡ªthis was no coincidence. Mark was trying to show off.


    Noah smirked inwardly. The school day had been enough of a show, and this was just another chapter in Mark''s futile attempts to appear superior.


    As Noah got closer, Mark straightened up and smirked, his voice dripping with condescension. "Want a ride home, Noah? i can drop you off if you want."


    Before Noah could reply, the low, authoritative hum of an engine caught everyone''s attention. A sleek, cked-out 2024 limousine, far more luxurious than anything anyone had ever seen, slowly rolled toward the school gate.


    Its tinted windows gleamed under the afternoon sun, and the license te, marked with the number 0019, showed the status of the person who owned it. The limo honked, and Mark''s car was in its way.


    Mark''s face paled instantly, his arrogant posture vanishing. He muttered under his breath, "Shi... I can''t afford to offend these people." His bravado melted as he quickly scrambled into his Audi, moving it out of the way. The students who had been admiring the car moments ago now turned their attention toward the limousine, their curiosity piqued.


    Mark got out of his car once again, adjusting his shirt as he approached the limo. He put on a strained smile, trying to recover hisposure as a middle-aged man in a sharp, dark suit stepped out.


    The man exuded confidence and carried himself with the kind of poise that came only with power. His stern face, chiselled features, and cold eyes made it clear that he was not a man to be trifled with.


    Mark, still eager to curry favour, quickly rushed forward. "Good afternoon, sir. Is there anything I can help you with? Who might you be looking for?" His tone was full of forced politeness, and the confidence he had shown just moments ago was nowpletely gone.


    Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!


    Risaliyah

 Chapter 46 Looking for Noah

    46 Looking for Noah


    Mark, still eager to curry favour, quickly rushed forward. "Good afternoon, sir. Is there anything I can help you with? Who might you be looking for?" His tone was full of forced politeness, the confidence he had shown just moments ago nowpletely gone.


    The suited man gave Mark a quick, dismissive nce, clearly not interested in idle conversation. His gaze swept over the gathered students before settling on Noah, who had been standing there with a calm expression. The man raised an eyebrow slightly and looked back at Mark. "I''m looking for a student named Noah," he said, his voice deep andmanding, cutting through the murmurs of the crowd like a knife.


    Mark''s face twisted in confusion and disbelief. "Noah?" he repeated as if the name didn''t quite register with him. It was as if Mark couldn''t reconcile the idea that someone important enough to warrant a limousine would be looking for the same Noah he had been taunting minutes ago. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Noah stepped forward casually, hands in his pockets,pletely unfazed by the scene that was unfolding. His calm demeanour only added to the mystery, and the crowd of students began whispering among themselves, wondering just what was happening.


    "That would be me," Noah said smoothly, locking eyes with the man in the suit. But before the middle-aged man could respond, Mark, ever desperate to cling to his false sense of superiority, scoffed loudly.


    "You think you''re the only Noah in the school?" Mark sneered, his voice loud enough for the gathered students to hear, hoping to spark a chorus ofughter. "You might be the poorest one, yeah, but not the only one!" He let out a mockingugh, clearly enjoying himself. The group of students looked between Noah and Mark, unsure whether to join in or stay silent.


    Mark, feeling emboldened, turned to the man in the suit. "Sorry, sir, this guy is just a poor kid in our school. There''s no way you''re here for him."


    The middle-aged man''s expression didn''t change much, but there was a fleeting look of disgust that flickered across his face as he regarded Mark.


    The shift was so subtle that most people wouldn''t have noticed, but Noah caught it, and so did a few other students. It was as if the man had found Mark''s behaviour repellent, though Mark remained oblivious, still basking in his own arrogance.


    The man turned his attention back to Noah, his tone calm butmanding. "Is your surname Thompson?"


    Noah nodded slowly, his curiosity piqued. "Yes, that''s my surname."


    At Noah''s confirmation, the man''s expression softened, and he nodded in approval. "The youngdy has sent me to pick you up," he exined, his tone now more formal. "She would like to meet with you, if possible."


    Noah''s brow furrowed in confusion. A youngdy? He couldn''t immediately find who the man was talking about. Lily came to mind briefly, but Noah dismissed the idea almost immediately. If it had been Lily, she wouldn''t have needed to send a limousine; she could''ve simply spoken to him directly. This wasn''t her style. So, who could it be?


    Mark, who had been watching from the side with an amused grin, slowly realized that the man hade for Noah. His smile faded, his cocky demeanour slipping away as the reality of the situation set in. Mark''s face turned a deep shade of red, a mixture of embarrassment and disbelief washing over him. Without another word, he slunk back toward his car, hoping to make a quiet exit while the crowd was still focused on Noah and the mysterious man.


    As Mark disappeared, Noah said to the suited man. "Who is your youngdy?" he asked, his voice cautious but curious.


    The man paused for a moment, clearly choosing his words carefully. "I am afraid I can''t say that"


    Noah searched his memory for anyone who had such status, but nothing came to mind.He nced at the limousine again, trying to piece together the puzzle. "Why does she want to meet me?" he asked, his voice still calm, but now with a slight edge of suspicion. Noah was no stranger to unexpected encounters, but this was new, even for him.


    The man remained professional, his hands folded behind his back. "I''m afraid she didn''t rify that to me, sir. She simply instructed me to ask you to meet her if possible. She is in the car and would prefer to speak with you directly."


    Noah thought for a moment, weighing his options. There was no real reason to refuse. If this was some sort of trap, he was confident in his abilities to handle the situation. The system had equipped him with skills far beyond what most people in this city could fathom.


    The man in front of him, while imposing on the students around him, was not someone Noah feared. With the [Basic Soldier King] skill and the [Basic Fighting Skills], not to mention a gun in his inventory, Noah was more than prepared for any surprises.


    Finally, after a brief pause, Noah nodded. "Alright," he said, his decision made. "I''ll talk with her."


    The man stepped aside, gesturing politely for Noah to enter the limousine. Without any further hesitation, Noah approached the car, his movements casual yet purposeful. As he stepped inside, the luxurious interior enveloped him, the leather seats soft and cool against his skin. The tinted windows blocked out the curious stares from the students outside, giving the car an air of exclusivity.


    Sitting across from him, illuminated by the soft, ambient lighting of the limo''s interior, was a young woman. Her face was familiar¡ªstrikingly so. Noah''s eyes widened slightly as he recognized her, though it took him a moment to fully register the situation.


    "It''s you?" he asked, his voice betraying his surprise.


    The young woman smiled, her beauty so radiant it almost seemed to light up the car. Her presence was calm and poised, and yet there was something undeniably maic about her. The way she looked at Noah, with that gentle, knowing smile, made it clear that this meeting had been nned for some time.


    "Yes, it''s me," she replied softly, her voice warm and melodic.


    Noah leaned back in his seat, processing the situation. He hadn''t expected her of all people. There had been no indications, no clues that would''ve led him to this moment. And yet, here they were, face to face in the back of a limo, away from the prying eyes of the school and its gossiping students.


    The girl crossed her legs, her posture elegant yet rxed. She looked at Noah with a mixture of curiosity and admiration, as if she had been waiting for this for a while. "I wanted to meet you personally," she said, her tone sincere. "Because I wanted to..."


    Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!


    Creation is hard, cheer me up!


    Risaliyah

 Chapter 47 Amelia

    47 Amelia


    Noah leaned back in his seat, taking in the unexpected turn of events. He had no idea Amelia would be the person waiting for him in the sleek limo. When he''d saved her from that van days ago, he hadn''t given her his name, hadn''t even stayed long enough to hear her thank you. He''d simply disappeared into the night, thinking it was just another day where his mysterious "system" had led him to intervene. He never thought she would find him, much less track him down to his school.


    But here she was.


    Amelia''s elegance was hard to miss. She sat across from him, her posture poised and graceful, her long dark hair framing her face, and her soft expression gave her a glow he couldn''t describe. The way she crossed her legs with such ease and confidence only added to the aura of wealth and privilege that surrounded her.


    "I wanted to meet you personally," Amelia said, her voice steady but soft, the sincerity unmistakable. She hesitated for a moment as if gathering her thoughts. "Because I wanted to... thank you. Properly this time."


    Her words hung in the air, and Noah could see the gratitude in her eyes. It wasn''t hard to recall the events of that night.


    Noah exhaled, his eyes meeting hers with a slight sigh. "You don''t need to thank me," he said, his tone casual but firm. "I did what anyone else would''ve done in that situation. You didn''t have to go through the trouble of finding me."


    Amelia shook her head gently, her hair fluttering slightly with the movement. "But not everyone would have done that, Noah," she replied softly, her eyes locking onto his. "People walked away or were too afraid to get involved. You didn''t. You saved me when I needed help the most."


    Her words carried a weight that Noah hadn''t expected, and he felt a bit ufortable under the intensity of her gaze. He wasn''t used to being thanked so earnestly.


    "Besides," she continued, "my father also wants to thank you. We''ve prepared a dinner for you¡ªand your family, if you''d like. It''s the least we could do."


    Noah blinked, a bit surprised at the mention of his family. "Dinner?" He shook his head slightly. "You don''t need to go that far. My family¡­ we''re not exactly used to that kind of thing," he said, gesturing around the luxurious interior of the limo as if to indicate the stark difference in lifestyle.


    Amelia smiled, a warm, understanding smile. "It''s just dinner, Noah. You saved my life. It''s the least we can do."


    Noah hesitated for a moment, then nodded, realizing it would be rude to refuse. "Alright, I''lle. But I need to pick up my sister from school first. I''m already a bitte."


    Amelia''s eyes brightened, and she immediately nodded. "We can go together. It''ll be faster this way."


    Noah studied her for a second, weighing her sincerity, then gave a small nod. "Okay, let''s go."


    A few minutester, they pulled up in front of Emily''s school. Noah stepped out of the car and quickly made his way inside, apologizing to the teacher for being ten minuteste. He took his sister''s hand and led her out toward the waiting limo.


    Emily, who was still holding Noah''s hand, froze when she saw the sleek ck vehicle parked at the entrance. Her eyes widened in amazement. "Wow, brother, this car is so cool! I wish I could ride in it!"


    Noah chuckled, amused by her innocent excitement. "You do?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.


    Emily nodded eagerly, her eyes shining. "Yes!"


    Noah grinned mischievously. "Okay, let''s go."


    But no sooner had the words left his mouth than Emily''s face contorted into aically exaggerated expression of fear.


    "No, brother, are you joking?" she eximed, tugging at his hand. "We can''t afford to scratch this car! Don''t be tempted, brother. Stay STRONG!" Her eyes wide and innocent , making Noahugh out loud.


    "Actually," Noah said, still chuckling, "it''s my friend''s car. She wanted to meet you and give us a ride home."


    Emily''s eyes widened even further. "Really?" she asked, her tone skeptical but intrigued.


    "Really," Noah confirmed with a nod, guiding her toward the car.


    As they climbed into the back of the limo, Emily''s eyes were immediately drawn to Amelia, whose beauty seemed to radiate throughout the car. Her mouth dropped open in awe. "So pretty!" she whispered in amazement.


    Amelia smiled warmly at the little girl, her expression softening even more. "And you are so cute!" she said yfully, gently pinching Emily''s cheeks before seating her between herself and Noah.


    On the way to their house, Amelia and Emily quickly bonded, their conversation filled with lighthearted chatter andughter. They talked about school, hobbies, and everything in between, and it didn''t take long for them to be fast friends.


    Watching them, Noah couldn''t help but feel a little bemused. Emily was usually reserved, but here she was, chatting away like she''d known Amelia for years.


    He shook his head internally, thinking, "She doesn''t have this kind of enthusiasm when she talks to me. Traitor."


    When they finally arrived at their home, Emily asked for Amelia''s number, and the two exchanged contact information with promises to stay in touch.


    As they stepped out of the limo, Noah knelt down to speak to his sister. "Hey, don''t tell Mom about my friend, okay? She might get scared because, well¡­ she''s quite different from us."


    Emily nodded solemnly, her eyes wide. "I won''t, brother. Don''t worry."


    She gave him a wink and nudged his side yfully. "Go do your thing," she said with a mischievous grin.


    Noah''s mouth twitched in exasperation. "You little rascal," he muttered under his breath, ruffling her hair.


    With that, Noah returned to the limo, where Amelia was waiting patiently. "I''m just going to go change real quick," he said.


    Amelia shook her head with a smile. "There''s no need. You don''t have to worry about your attire."


    Noah looked at her for a moment, feeling a sense of ease in her presence that he hadn''t expected. He nodded, climbing back into the limo, his initial reservations about her softer.


    As they drove off, Noah couldn''t help but think that Amelia wasn''t quite what he had imagined. There was something genuine about her, In his mind, Amelia had left a good impression¡ªone that he didn''t mind exploring further. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!


    Creation is hard, cheer me up!


    Risaliyah


    Creator''s Thought

 Chapter 48 Dinner Invitation

    48 Dinner Invitation


    The journey to Amelia''s home wasn''t hurried, nor was it slow¡ªit was just right. The steady hum of the limo''s engine was the only sound between Noah and Amelia for a while, both lost in their own thoughts.


    Noah nced out of the window, the buildings of the city slowly giving way to more open spaces as they drove further out. He had never been in nice neighbourhoods before, so it was kind of a different perspective.


    "Sigh, Ignorance sometimes, is truly a bliss..." Thought Noah, as he stared at the beautiful scenery and houses. The more he looked at it, the more he wanted to buy a house in the area.


    Soon, the limo turned onto a long, private road leading to a gatedmunity. But this wasn''t just any gated neighbourhood.


    It was a viplex, a secluded haven reserved for the ultra-wealthy and people of status, where entire neighbourhoods consisted solely ofrge, sprawling vis. The security was tight¡ªno one could enter without being a resident or a direct guest of one. It was like stepping into another world, where the chaos and noise of the city couldn''t reach you.


    As the limo approached the entrance gate, Noah noticed the uniformed guards stationed there. They stood straight, their posture disciplined and professional.


    One of them caught sight of the sleek vehicle and immediately gave a sharp salute, recognizing the car without needing to ask for credentials.


    Noah had never seen such a thing. In the city, you were lucky if the guards even stood in their respective positions, but here, everything was controlled, precise, and orderly.


    The middle-aged man driving the limo returned the salute with a quick nod, a gesture of familiarity. Without any dy, the massive iron gates began to swing open, revealing the viplex beyond.


    Noah''s eyes widened as they passed through, the scene unfolding before him more stunning than he had imagined.


    Inside the gatedmunity, the air seemed cleaner, and fresher. Tall, perfectly cut trees lined the streets, their lush, vibrant green leaves swaying gently in the breeze.


    Large, luxurious vis spread out along the road, each one uniquely designed yet equally imposing, like small pces. It was clear that no expense had been spared in this ce; the architecture was a blend of modern elegance and timeless grandeur.


    Some vis had expansive balconies, while others boasted stunning gardens or fountains out front.


    A small river meanderedzily through theplex, its clear water sparkling under the soft sunlight. Wooden bridges connected the properties, creating a serene, almost dreamlike atmosphere. The distant sound of the city''s traffic waspletely gone, reced by the soft rustling of leaves and the asional chirp of birds. It was as if thismunity existed in a bubble, untouched by the pollution and chaos thaty beyond its gates.


    Noah had never seen anything like it. The sheer beauty of the surroundings took his breath away, and for a moment, he forgot that he was just a guest here. It was hard to imagine living in a ce like this, where nature seemed perfectly controlled and the air was so fresh it felt cleansing just to breathe. It was a far cry from the modest apartment he and his family lived in, where noise and traffic were a constantpanion. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The limo continued down the road, winding past vi after vi, each more impressive than thest. But soon, they approached a mansion that stood out even among the grandeur. This one wasrger, and more prestigious in its design.


    The marble pirs and ornate ironwork around the gates gave it a regal air as if it belonged to royalty. The windows were tall, their ss gleaming in the afternoon light, and the grounds around the mansion were impably maintained, with sprawlingwns and perfectly trimmed hedges. Even from the outside, Noah could tell this wasn''t just a home¡ªit was a statement.


    But what caught Noah''s attention even more were the guards stationed outside the mansion itself. Unlike the guards at the gate, these men were armed. Dressed in sleek ck uniforms, they held rifles at their sides, their eyes sharp and alert as they stood in front of the entrance.


    They weren''t just for show; their presence added ayer of security and seriousness that reminded Noah he wasn''t looking at an ordinary Mansion. It wasn''t just wealth that this family had¡ªit was status and power.


    The limo came to a slow stop near the front of the mansion, pulling into a private parking area. The middle-aged man who had driven them turned off the engine and quietly stepped out, moving with the same calm authority that seemed to surround everything about this ce.


    Amelia gave Noah a soft smile. "We''re here," she said quietly, her voice cutting through the silence.


    Noah nodded, as he stepped out of the limo, his feet meeting the pristine cobblestone driveway, he nced around once more, taking in the full scope of the mansion. It was even more imposing up close, with its tall, arched doors and intricate stonework.


    The guards at the entrance didn''t move, but their eyes briefly flickered to Noah, acknowledging his presence. They weren''t hostile or unweing, but their professionalism was clear¡ªthey were here to protect, and they took their job seriously.


    Noah adjusted his uniform, feeling slightly out of ce in his casual clothespared to the elegance of everything around him.


    Amelia noticed his unease and smiled again her expression warm and understanding. "Don''t worry about your attire," she said, her voice gentle. "You''re our guest, and that''s all that matters."


    Noah gave a small nod, appreciating her words but not dwelling on them for too long. Noah stepped into the vi, immediately struck by its grandeur. The first thing that caught his eye was the floor¡ªgleaming marble, so pristine and polished that it reflected the light like a bed of diamonds.


    It was the kind of elegance you only saw in the movies that depicts royalty. As he moved forward, his footsteps echoed softly against the marble, and his eyes didn''t wander over the luxurious surroundings.


    "Wow, it''s so plush. It feels like I''m sitting on clouds, although I don''t know what sitting on clouds feels like. But, I expect it to feel simr." thought Noah, whilst feelingfortable.


    21:12


    The entrance hall was nothing short of breathtaking. Towering ceilings gave the space an almost cathedral-like feel, with soft, ambient lighting cascading from crystal chandeliers that hung above. On either side of him were two grand staircases, curving symmetrically, one on the left and one on the right, their polished mahogany railings gleaming.


    They spiralled upwards gracefully, meeting at arge balcony that overlooked the hall from above. It was ayout that seemed almost ceremonial, like something out of a royal pce, where one would descend in grandeur to greet guests.


    But the stairs weren''t the only impressive feature. Straight ahead of him was a vast path that led directly to the living room, framed by arched doorways that added to the opulent design. Large windows with elegant drapes let in soft streams of natural light, illuminating the grand interior and casting a warm glow across the marble.


    As Noah''s eyes followed the path, he found the living room at the far end, an expansive space filled with plush sofas, modern d¨¦cor, and a sense of understated luxury.


    It was minimalistic in design but carried an air of wealth in every detail¡ªfrom the rich, velvet upholstery of the furniture to the gold ents scattered subtly throughout the room. In the corner, a sleek, state-of-the-art firece flickered quietly, adding a touch of warmth to the otherwise cool elegance of the space.


    Amelia, having escorted Noah inside, gave him a reassuring smile before excusing herself. "I''ll go get my parents," she said softly, her voice gentle but confident.


    Noah nodded, his mind still processing the sheer magnitude of the vi around him as he waited. As she made her way up the staircase, her footsteps barely audible, Noah remained standing in the hall.


    The man gave Noah a respectful nod, his posture straight and formal, like a soldier at ease.


    "You can sit down if you would like, Mr. Noah," said the middle-aged man, as he remained standing.


    "Alright, thanks," Noah replied, then sat down on one of the sofas.


    "Wow, it''s so plush. It feels like I''m sitting on clouds, although I don''t know what sitting on clouds feels like. But, I expect it to feel simr." thought Noah, whilst feelingfortable.


    Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!


    Creation is hard, cheer me up!


    I tagged this book,e and support me with a thumbs up!


    Risaliyah

 Chapter 49 Meet My Dad

    49 Meet My Dad


    Meanwhile, Amelia climbed the stairs and entered a private wing of the vi. She reached arge wooden door and, with a soft knock, entered the room.


    The atmosphere here was different¡ªquieter, more sombre. The room was spacious yet cozy, withrge windows offering a view of the gardens outside.


    Her grandfather sat propped up in a bed near the window, his body frail and aged, his once-strong features now softened by the passage of time. But despite his weakened state, there was a noble air about him, a kind of quiet dignity that hadn''t faded.


    "Good afternoon, Grandpa," Amelia greeted warmly, her voice tender as she approached him. Her face softened with affection, but there was a hint of sorrow in her eyes as she saw him looking so weak.


    Her grandfather, an old but heroic-looking man, turned his head toward her and gave a faint, warm smile. "Amelia," he said softly, his voice weak but filled with warmth. She bent down to kiss his cheek and took a seat beside him, gently holding his hand.


    "I hope you''re doing well today," she said, trying to keep her tone light despite the tightness in her chest. "Is there anything you need? Anything I can get for you?" Amelia added, her voice filled with the tenderness and concern that only a devoted granddaughter could show.


    Her grandfather shook his head weakly, his eyes twinkling with pride as he looked at her. "No, my dear. I''m just d to see you."


    Amelia smiled, though her heart ached. She could feel the weight of his condition more acutely every time she visited.


    "Dad, Mom, Noah''s here," she said, standing and looking toward her parents who were seated nearby.


    Her father, Adam, looked up. He had already heard about Noah from Amelia¡ªthe young man who had saved her. There was a mix of admiration and curiosity in his expression as he stood up, preparing to meet the boy who had single-handedly taken on multiple abductors to rescue his daughter. Amelia''s mother, Carmi, followed suit, her graceful features softening as she exchanged a nce with her husband. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Adam ced a hand on his father''s shoulder. "We''ll be back soon, Dad. I need to thank Noah properly first. After that, I''ll see if I can get in touch with some people about your situation," he said, his voice calm but firm. His father nodded, giving a small smile, though he was clearly weary.


    Before leaving, Adam called over Maxine, the house attendant, and instructed her to stay with his father while he went downstairs.


    After instructing Maxine, Adam descended the grand staircase, along with Carmi, to meet the mysterious saviour of his daughter.


    As they neared the bottom, Adam caught sight of the boy for the first time. Up close, Noah appeared even younger than he had imagined. His skin was smooth and clear, his posture calm but alert.


    He didn''t look like someone who had taken on armed abductors while handcuffed. Adam was used to seeing men who had lived through violence, but there was something striking about Noah''s youth andposure.


    Carmi, walking beside her husband, shared his surprise. Her eyes swept over Noah, not with judgment, but with a growing respect for the young man who had risked his life to save their daughter.


    As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Noah, noticing their approach, stood up. Adam offered him a friendly smile, and with a quiet, but sincere tone, he said, "You must be Noah."


    Noah nodded, unsure of what to say in response, but as he looked at Amelia''s parents, he felt their sense of gratitude settle over him. There was warmth, especially in the way Adam extended his hand in gratitude.


    "Thank you," Adam said simply, but with great depth. "For saving my daughter, I am in your debt."


    Noah stood there, his posture still respectful, but there was a sense of ease about him. He nodded to Adam, keeping his tone steady as he said, "It was my duty. I appreciate your invitation to dinner, but there really was no need for that."


    Adam, towering over him with a presence that made most men shrink in his shadow, gave a small, amused smile. His eyes, sharp yet warm, fixed on Noah with an intensity that could make men with a weak will ufortable. But Noah remained calm, standing firm as he always had, even in the face of danger.


    "He is the real deal." thought Adam, as he stared into Noah''s eyes that maintained contact with his.


    "How could it be," Adam said, his deep voicemanding attention. "That is the least I could do for the saviour of my daughter." His words were sincere, but there was also a touch of pride in his voice. This was a man who did not take gratitude lightly.


    Just as Noah was about to respond, his stomach betrayed him. A low, rumbling sound echoed in therge hall, unmistakable in the quietness that had followed Adam''s statement. It was the sound of hunger, and it couldn''t have chosen a more inconvenient time.


    Noah felt his face heat up slightly, though he wasn''t one to be easily embarrassed. He nced up at Adam and his wife Carmi, who were looking at him with raised eyebrows, trying to stifle their reactions.


    "Don''t mind that," Noah said quickly, a small, sheepish grin creeping onto his face.


    "It''s just my stomach''s way of saying, ''Hey, thanks for the invitation, but where''s the food?'' " He chuckled lightly, attempting to brush it off, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he shed a grin that made his otherwise serious demeanour soften.


    Adam blinked for a second before a deep, heartyugh rumbled from him. It was unexpected, even to Noah, who could see how intimidating Amelia''s father was. He had expected a polite chuckle at best, but the man was genuinely amused. Hisughter echoed through the hall, filling the space, and Carmi, who stood beside him, let out a soft, gracefulugh as well, her lips curling into a smile.


    Noah, noticing the aura from the man in front of him, rxed even more. He realized now that this wasn''t the typical cold, wealthy family he had imagined. They were human¡ª warm, grateful, and perhaps, a bit surprised by him.


    Behind her parents, Amelia stood, watching this entire exchange unfold. She had been quiet, letting her father and Noah speak, but she couldn''t help but smile at the scene before her.


    It wasn''t the usual stiff, polite conversation that visitors often had with her father. Most people were too intimidated to even crack a joke in Adam''s presence, let alone make himugh. But Noah, without even trying too hard, had brought out a side of her father that even she rarely saw.


    Amelia''s smile grew wider, something rare for her, but it seemed toe naturally when Noah was around. "He''s different," she muttered under her breath, her voice soft as if she was speaking only to herself.


    She had seen him in action before, in a far more serious situation¡ªsaving her from the men who had abducted her. That was bravery, something rare. But this? This was something else. Noah was standing confidently in front of a man who even soldiers feared, and not only was he standing firm, but he was making her fatherugh. It was something she hadn''t expected.


    As Adam''sughter subsided, he shook his head, still smiling. "I like you," he said, his eyes twinkling with genuine amusement. "It''s not often someone stands in front of me and manages to keep a sense of humour."


    Noah grinned back, grateful that the awkward moment had passed so smoothly. "Well, I''ve learned the hard way that if you can''tugh at yourself, life''s gonna be a long ride." His words were lighthearted, but they broke the ice even further, allowing the atmosphere to shift into something more rxed, and morefortable.


    Adam chuckled again, this time softer but just as genuine. He nodded toward Noah, gesturing to the dining room beyond the living room. "So, what do you say we eat first? Seems like your stomach might start an uprising if we don''t feed it soon."


    Noahughed along, appreciating Adam''s easy-going nature. "To be honest, we would be thankful," Noah admitted, rubbing the back of his neck slightly. Adam smiled again, while Carmi gave an amused chuckle.


    Amelia, standing behind them, shook her head in wonder, still watching the scene unfold. Her father, the man who held an aura of authority so strong that people quaked in his presence, wasughing like he was chatting with an old friend. And Noah? He was going around the entire situation with such confidence and ease that even she was taken aback.


    Noah was different, and now more than ever, she was starting to see just how different he was from the people she was used to. There was something refreshing about him, something honest and real.


    As Adam led Noah toward the dining room, the warm, inviting scent of food began to fill the air. Noah could already tell from the smell that this was going to be some delicious food. But as he followed them, he couldn''t help but nce back at Amelia, who was walking slightly behind them, her eyes meeting his.


    Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!


    Creation is hard, cheer me up!


    Risaliyah

 Chapter 50 Dinner and an unexpected event

    50 Dinner and an unexpected event


    Noah followed Adam into the dining room, his eyes taking in the sheer elegance of the space. It was nothing short of breathtaking. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The room was vast, illuminated by a grand chandelier that hung over the centre of the table, its crystals shimmering softly. The table itself was long, polished to a shine that mirrored the intricate patterns of the chandelier''s light.


    Every detail was crafted with the care. The walls were lined with subtle, tasteful art, andrge windows open to a view of a well-kept garden, further adding to the luxurious atmosphere.


    As Adam gestured for Noah to sit down, he nodded, trying not to show how out of ce he felt amidst such luxury.


    Despite the grandeur, Noah carried himself with calm confidence, masking any difort with ease. Adam, noticing the young man''s poise, couldn''t help but feel more impressed by the minute.


    Noah settled into his seat just as the first wave of food began to arrive. Servants moved with humility and grace, cing dish after dish on the table.


    Each te was more enticing than thest, as a symphony of scents filled the air, making Noah''s stomach, which had already protested earlier, rumble even more. The servants revealed dishes like they were unveiling art, each presentation wless, polished, and meticulously arranged.


    "I hope you like it," Adam said


    "I am sure I will," Noah smiled in response.


    As the final tes were ced before them, Noah''s eyes swept over the feast. It was a true banquet of high-ss cuisine.


    There were truffle-infused dishes, with delicate slices of wagyu beef cooked to perfection, glistening with juices.


    There was a selection of fresh seafood¡ªgrilled lobster with a rich, saffron-infused butter sauce, and a tter of oysters served on a bed of ice, paired with exotic caviar.


    Beside it was a roasted duck dish, crispy on the outside, with aromatic spices that filled the air with a warm, rich scent.


    In addition, there were several vibrant vegetable dishes¡ªlightly saut¨¦ed green asparagus with a drizzle of balsamic ze, baby carrots roasted with thyme and honey, and an assortment of colourful heirloom tomatoes in a delicate basil vinaigrette.


    Each dish was ted with the precision and artistry of a Michelin-starred restaurant. To top it all off, there were freshly baked bread rolls, still warm, with hand-churned butter, sprinkled with kes of sea salt.


    It was a meal meant to impress, meant to show the gratitude and taste of the hosts, but Noah didn''t seem overwhelmed by it.


    Instead, he smiled gratefully, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he met Adam''s gaze. "Well, I can confidently say my stomach and I are both very thankful for this."


    Adamughed warmly, clearly enjoying Noah''s ease. "Dig in," he said, gesturing toward the array of dishes. "I think we''ve kept your stomach waiting long enough."


    Noah didn''t need to be told twice. He reached for the closest te of food, careful but not timid. He took a bite, savoring the vors that danced on his tongue. "This is incredible," he admitted, grinning as he continued to eat.


    As the meal progressed, Adam took a sip of water and leaned back slightly, turning to Noah. "So, how have your studies been going?" he asked casually, though there was a keen edge of curiosity in his voice. "Where do you n to go for university?"


    Noah, already halfway through a piece of wagyu beef, paused for a second to wipe his mouth with a napkin before responding. "My studies are fine," he said. "I''ve been working hard, and I''ve got a few universities in mind, but I think Cambridge is my top pick."


    Adam raised an eyebrow, visibly impressed. Cambridge was no small feat, and he could tell Noah wasn''t bragging¡ªthere was a quiet confidence in his words, the kind that came from someone who knew their worth. Adam nodded, his respect for the young man growing. Not everyone could aspire to Cambridge, let alone have the potential to make it there.


    "Cambridge, huh?" Adam said thoughtfully. "Not just anyone can get into a ce like that. I''m sure you''ve got what it takes."


    Noah smiled humbly. "I''m doing my best. The rest will depend on luck and timing, I suppose."


    Adam regarded him for a moment, his keen eyes assessing the young man before him. There was something undeniably sharp about Noah, something he couldn''t quite put into words, but he knew he liked it. It was rare to meet someone with such a blend of humility and determination.


    Adam''s next question, however, was a bit more personal. "Tell me about your parents, Noah."


    Noah didn''t hesitate. "My dad is a salesman in a small shop," he said with a smile. "And my mom is a housewife, but she''s also a great cook. Honestly, she could give your head chef a run for his money."


    Adam''s eyebrows shot up in surprise. He had thought Noah was praising his mother in the way most sons do, but there was something in Noah''s tone that made him reconsider. He wasn''t just speaking fondly of his mom¡ªhe wasplimenting the head chef byparing him to her. And that was no small praise, considering their head chef was one of the top five private chefs in the United Kingdom.


    Adam chuckled lightly, unsure if Noah was exaggerating or if he really meant it. "Well," he said with a smile, "I''d love to try her cooking someday. We''ll have to arrange that."


    Noah grinned. "You are wee anytime, trust me you won''t regret it."


    Adam tilted his head, intrigued. Was Noah exaggerating? Or was there something truly special about his mother''s cooking? He decided to put the thought aside for now. Either way, he liked Noah''s spirit.


    They continued conversing, their conversation easy and fluid, with Adam asionally ncing toward his wife, who seemed equally impressed by Noah''s maturity. They discussed school, future ns, and Noah''s family life as they ate, the atmosphere growing morefortable by the minute.


    About ten minutes into the meal, however, the rxed atmosphere was abruptly shattered. A frantic voice echoed through the hall.


    "Sir! Sir!"


    It was Maxine, the house attendant, her face pale and eyes wide with panic. She rushed into the dining room, clearly distressed.


    Adam immediately stood up, sensing that something was terribly wrong. "What is it, Maxine?" His voice was firm, though there was a hint of urgency in his tone. "Calm down and tell me what happened."


    Maxine was struggling to catch her breath, her hands trembling. "It''s the old master," she stammered. "He¡­ he suddenly became unconscious!"


    "What?!" Adam''s face turned grim in an instant, all traces of warmth and ease vanishing. Without wasting another second, he pushed his chair back and hurried out of the dining room, his mind already racing as he headed to his father''s side.


    Noah, watching the scene unfold, felt a strange sense of familiarity wash over him. Then, as if from nowhere, a familiar sound rang in his ears.


    [Ding! The Ultimate Choice System has been activated!]


    Looking at the second Activation of the system, Noah couldn''t help but be amused. The first was saving amelia, and now this one.


    "I wasn''t wrong, this family really are generous with their rewards..."

 Chapter 51 Tempting Rewards

    51 Tempting Rewards


    ncing at the system choices, Adam had already rushed out of the room with Maxine, leaving Carmi and Amelia behind, both clearly worried about the situation upstairs.


    The options floated in front of him like ethereal choices only he could see.


    [Ding! The Ultimate Choice System has been activated!]


    Option 1: Cure Amelia''s grandfather.


    [Rewards: 5x Rejuvenating Pills, Apartment Complex]


    Option 2: Offer To Help The Old Man, but do not insist.


    [Rewards: Intermediate Miracle-Physician Skills, A Mansion]


    Option 3: Excuse yourself and leave due to the unforeseen circumstances.


    [Rewards: 1x Miracle Pill (cures all diseases), A Penthouse]


    Noah''s mind began to race. Option 1 was the most straightforward and altruistic choice, but he quickly dismissed it.


    The reward¡ªa handful of rejuvenating pills and an apartmentplex¡ªwhile helpful and shocking, wasn''t enough to justify discarding the other rewards. Sure, Curing someone''s illness when having the ability was the moral thing to do, but the system was pushing him to weigh the stakes differently. He didn''t know the old man personally, and despite Amelia''s striking beauty¡ªhe stole a quick nce at her worried face, her eyes filled with concern¡ªthere was no way he was going to save her grandfather just because she was gorgeous. That would be absurd. He barely knew her.


    No, Option 1 was off the table. The reward just wasn''t enticing enough, whenpared with the other rewards.


    His gaze shifted to thest two options. Both offered fantastic rewards, and for a brief moment, he felt a twinge of greed tug at him. If he could, he would have chosen both without hesitation, but life wasn''t that generous. The system forced him to make a decision, and he had to choose carefully.


    Option 3: Excuse yourself and leave due to the unforeseen circumstances.


    [Rewards: 1x Miracle Pill (cures all diseases), A Penthouse]


    The allure of the Miracle Pill was undeniable. A pill that could cure any disease in the world was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.


    Its value was unfathomable. If he chose to keep it, he could secure the health of his loved ones forever. Even more, if he sold it to a dying billionaire or someone desperate for life, Noah could practically name his price. The thought of extracting 90% of someone''s worth for a single pill was tempting. After all, what use was money to someone at death''s door?


    "Money doesn''t go with you to your grave," Noah thought with an inward smirk. The practicality of it was almost funny.


    But his smirk faded slightly as he considered his own family. What if his parents, or someone close to him, were stricken with a terrible disease one day? This pill could save them. It wasn''t just about making a fortune¡ªit was about securing something priceless.


    Then there was the penthouse. Noah''s thoughts wandered for a moment, remembering his childhood. Growing up, he had always fantasized about living in a high-rise penthouse. He could picture it now: a sleek, modern home with floor-to-ceiling windows, offering panoramic views of the city. It would be his sanctuary, far removed from the noisy, cramped apartment he grew up in. As a kid, he had always been fascinated by the idea of living above the clouds, imagining how cool it would be to have a space of his own where he could look down on the bustling streets, detached from the chaos below. It wasn''t just a dream anymore¡ªit was a possibility.


    "With the penhouse as my home, I could really be Noah Wayne" Noah thought,


    "If Aiden finds out , that i have a penthouse he might actually believe i''m batman, all i need is to get a butler that looks like a spy."


    Noahughed inwardly, thinking of how his younger self would have jumped at the chance to live in a ce like that. A penthouse wasn''t just luxury; it was a symbol of having made it.


    That childhood vision of living like batman still held a certain charm, and it made Option 3 all the more tempting.


    But then his gaze flicked back to Option 2.


    Option 2: Offer to help the old man, but do not insist.


    [Rewards: Intermediate Miracle-Physician Skills, A Mansion]


    This option was less shy, but it had its own unique pull. The Intermediate Miracle-Physician Skills were extremely valuable.


    Noah had enough experience with the system to know that it wasn''t exaggerating. These skills would give him advanced medical knowledge,bining the best of both Western and Eastern medicine, and probably much more. And it wasn''t just a one-time deal like the Miracle Pill. This skillset would be with him until his death, allowing him to diagnose and treat many illnesses with ease.


    That kind of power could be invaluable in the long run, not just for his own family, but also for himself.


    He could also use these skills in the case of finding himself in a dangerous situation, like the one with saving Amelia.


    Furthermore, he could use it to gain connections and money from people of influence that need treatment.


    21:14


    Yes, the Miracle Pill from Option 3 was powerful, but it was a one-shot solution. It wouldn''t teach him how to prevent illness or recognize the signs of a disease before it became deadly.


    The physician skills, on the other hand, would. With them, he could detect problems early¡ªpotentially saving his loved ones long before they''d need a cure as drastic as the Miracle Pill. It was a long-term investment in his abilities, and that was something that intrigued him.


    As for the mansion¡­ well, who wouldn''t want a mansion? The idea of living in a sprawling estate was certainly appealing, though less important to him than the skills. The mansion was a nice bonus, but it wasn''t the deciding factor. He knew deep down that the real value of this option was in the knowledge he''d gain.


    With an inaudible sigh, Noah stood up from his chair, his mind made up. Option 2 was the best path forward, though he couldn''t help but feel a small twinge of regret at not choosing the penthouse and the Miracle Pill. Still, he knew that his decision was the most practical one. Pills were a one-use thing ; skills were not.


    "Alright, Option 2 it is," he muttered silently.


    [Ding! Intermediate Miracle-Physician skill rewarded!]


    [Ding! The Mansion''s ownership paperwork is in the inventory!] Feeling an immense amount of knowledge flow into his mind, Noah took hold of the chair next to him for stability.


    The amount of knowledge he acquired were immense that he almost lost bnce.


    Looking back at the room, Noah noticed that the air had grown tense. Amelia and Carmi were both looking at him somewhat awkwardly, unsure of what to say.


    Adam had rushed off so quickly, and now the dinner had ground to a halt. Feeling the weight of the silence, Noah decided to break it.


    "Do you want me to check on the old man''s health? I know a bit about medicine." he offered, his tone light but confident , though he already knew how this conversation would go.


    Carmi looked at him with a polite but doubtful smile. She clearly appreciated the gesture, but it was obvious she didn''t think much of his offer.


    After all, how could a neen-year-old boy know more than the team of highly qualified doctors who had been working on her father-inw''s condition for months?


    "Thank you, dear," she said warmly, "but don''t worry about it. The doctor should be here any minute."


    Noah nodded, pretending not to notice the doubt in her voice. He stood up from the table, smoothing his jacket. "Well," he said, "it seems like it''s an inconvenient time today. I ate well, though. Thank you for the invite."


    Amelia, who had been standing behind her mother, looked conflicted.


    She clearly wanted to say more, perhaps to thank him properly for saving her life, but the sudden emergency with her grandfather weighed too heavily on her mind. "I''ll get the driver to take you home," she offered.


    Noah shook his head. "No need. I''ll call an Uber. Keep the driver around in case you need him for emergencies."


    Amelia hesitated. "We have plenty of drivers," she started, but Noah cut her off with a light smile. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Alright, then. Thanks again for the meal," he said, with a polite nod. "I hope the old man pulls through. Have a good night."


    Without waiting for further response, he headed for the door, feeling the weight of Amelia''s eyes on his back. She sighed quietly as he disappeared from her vision, before turning to follow her mother upstairs.


    Noah stepped into the cool evening air, his mind still reying the choices he''d made.


    Nodding at the guards he left the mansion and headed towards the gates, the uber wouldn''t be able to enter so he had to take it from there.


    Option 2 was the right call, but he couldn''t help but feel a sense of loss for what Option 3 could have brought him.


    "It seems like bing Batman needs to wait, maybe it''s because I don''t have an Alfred yet." he thought, with a wry grin as he dialled for his Uber.


    Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!Creation is hard, cheer me up! VOTE for me!


    Risaliyah

 Chapter 52 Life is Fleeting

    52 Life is Fleeting


    As Noah slid into the back seat of the Uber, he let out a slow exhale.


    He had made his decision, and he didn''t regret it. His hand absentmindedly grazed the phone in his pocket, though he didn''t feel the need to check it.


    The drive was silent, save for the low hum of the engine and the asional distant horns from the city outside.


    Meanwhile, back inside Amelia''s family vi, the atmosphere was far from calm. The entire house had shifted into chaos after Noah''s departure. Adam, Amelia, and Carmi stood beside the bed, watching as the doctors huddled around the old man.


    His frail body seemed so small against therge, elegant four-poster bed hey on. The steady beep of medical machines filled the silence in the room, syncing with the rhythmic rise and fall of his shallow breathing.


    Adam, usuallyposed and confident, wore a look of deep worry. His powerful frame stood tall, but his shoulders sagged slightly under the weight of the situation. He looked down at the old man¡ªhis father.


    This man had built their family''s fortune from the ground up, working tirelessly to ensure they would never struggle. Adam had inherited that mantle, but the sight of his father, pale and unconscious, filled him with a sense of helplessness he rarely felt.


    The doctor, a middle-aged man with greying hair and an exhausted expression, finally stepped back from the bedside. "We''ve done all we can for now," he said quietly, ncing at Adam. "His heart rate is slow but stable. For now, he''s not in any immediate danger."


    Adam nodded but remained silent. His father''s heart had always been weak, and it had grown worse with age. "Have you found out why this keeps happening?" Adam''s voice was steady, but there was an unmistakable tension underneath. "He''s been getting worse every day. Why?"


    The doctor hesitated, exchanging a nce with the other medical staff as if they were silentlymunicating before one of them finally spoke. "No, sir," he said carefully. "We haven''t. We''ve conducted every test we could¡ªan MRI, CT scans, extensive blood work. Everything came back normal."


    Adam clenched his fists but said nothing, waiting for the doctor to continue.


    "There are only two possibilities we can think of," the doctor continued, his voice growing more sombre. "The first is¡­ well, that the old master is simply reaching his time. He''s in his twilight years, and his body may be preparing to say farewell to this world."


    A heavy silence hung in the air, the words settling in with a cruel finality. Amelia''s breath hitched slightly, but she said nothing, her hands clutched tightly together.


    "The second possibility," the doctor continued, "is more concerning. It could be a new, unknown disease¡ªsomething that has never been recorded before. It''s possible that this illness has no obvious symptoms aside from the gradual weakening of his organs, leading to periodic episodes of unconsciousness like the one you''ve just seen."


    The weight of the words sank into the room. Amelia''s silent tears started to fall, her face pale as she gripped the edge of the bed, eyes locked on her grandfather.


    "We will contact specialists from abroad, the best doctors we can find," the doctor promised. "But until then, all we can do is stabilize his condition¡ªkeep him breathing, keep his body nourished through the IV, and monitor him closely."


    Adam rubbed a hand over his face, letting out a slow sigh. He felt utterly powerless. For a man who was used to taking control, who had led armies and faced down insurmountable odds, this¡ªwatching his father deteriorate slowly¡ªwas a pain he wasn''t prepared for.


    "I''m sorry," the doctor added quietly, bowing slightly before he and the rest of the medical staff began to pack their things, leaving the family alone with their grief.


    For a moment, no one spoke. The silence was thick, only punctuated by the steady beeps of the machines monitoring the old man''s heart.


    Adam''s mind drifted as he looked down at his father''s pale, unconscious face.


    "Life is so fleeting, so unpredictable." He thought, in his mind.


    Even he, the feared and respected man that he was, would one day find himself in this very position. The realization that even the strong must eventually grow weak weighed heavily on him.


    He nced over at Amelia, who stood silently sobbing.


    She had been through a lot these past few days, from the terrible attempt of kidnapping her to her grandfather''s condition.


    She was now reduced to tears by the cruel reality of life. Without a word, he stepped over and gently pulled her into a hug. She buried her face in his chest, and for a long time, they stood like that, sharing their silent grief.


    "It''s okay," Adam whispered, though he knew it wasn''t. "It''ll be okay."


    The minutes stretched on in silence, and for the first time in years, Adam found himself at a loss for what to do next. But as they stood there, a thought crept into his mind.


    "Where is Noah?" He pulled back from the hug and asked curiously.


    He remembered leaving so abruptly that he hadn''t even had the chance to thank him properly. "Where''s Noah?" he asked, his brow furrowed slightly. "I left so quickly¡­ did he say anything before he left?"


    Carmi, still standing near the bedside, seemed to hesitate for a moment as she thought back. "He left shortly after you went upstairs," she said, her voice soft. "Thest thing he said was that he wished your father good health before he excused himself."


    Still thinking, she remembered how he offered to help the old man, but she quickly discarded the thought. It wasn''t necessary to say it, he was just being polite after all. Adam nodded slowly, absorbing her words.


    Amelia, still standing beside her father, seemed like she wanted to say something. Her lips parted, but no words came out. She wanted to mention something about Noah¡ªabout the odd feeling she had when he offered to help¡ªbut after a moment of hesitation, she decided against it. Instead, she let out a quiet sigh, following her father and mother as they turned their attention back to the old man.


    At the same time, Noah arrived home. The Uber rolled to a stop outside his apartment building, and he stepped out, his mind still reying the events of the night. As he approached the front door, he felt a strange sensation, a slight tension in the air.


    Something wasn''t right. Normally, his house would be dark by now¡ªhis family always went to bed early, around 8:00 or 8:30. But tonight, the living room light was still on, casting a soft glow through the windows. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Noah frowned slightly as he unlocked the door and stepped inside. He could hear the faint sound of the television ying in the background, though it was muted. He walked cautiously toward the living room, where he found his mother sitting on the couch, her hands folded in herp.


    "Mom?" he called softly, surprised to see her awake. "Why are you still up?"


    His mother looked up at him, her eyes wide with a mixture of concern and something else¡ªsomething Noah couldn''t quite ce.


    It was 9:00 PM, well past her usual bedtime, and she never stayed up thiste. She opened her mouth to speak, but for a moment, no words came out.


    "Noah¡­" she said finally, her voice trailing off, leaving the sentence unfinished. The silence that followed felt heavy, and Noah''s heart began to race slightly as he waited for her to say more.

 Chapter 53 Sugar Baby

    53 Sugar Baby


    "Noah¡­" she said finally, her voice trailing off, leaving the sentence unfinished. The silence that followed felt heavy, and Noah''s heart began to race slightly as he waited for her to say more.


    Noah''s mother, Caroline, sat in the dimly lit living room, the soft glow from the TV flickering across her face. Her expression was tense, her hands folded tightly in herp. As Noah stood there, taking in the scene, he felt a knot form in his stomach. Something wasn''t right. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Noah,e here. Sit down next to me," she said, her voice low but firm. She patted the cushion beside her on the old, worn couch¡ªthe one they''d had for years. The fabric was faded, and Noah could remember the countless times he''d sprawled out on it as a kid, watching cartoons or napping after school. He hesitated for a split second, but there was no avoiding this. Whatever his mom was about to say, it wasn''t good. He crossed the room and sat down beside her, feeling the sag of the couch beneath him. His heart pounded in his chest, but outwardly, he kept his face calm, waiting for her to speak.


    Caroline turned to him, her eyes locking onto his. The usual warmth, the softness he''d always found there, was gone. Her gaze was sharp, her lips pressed into a thin line. The sternness in her face made Noah''s pulse quicken.


    "Where were you?" she asked, her voice clipped, almost cold.


    Noah blinked, trying to steady his breath. "I was outside," he replied truthfully, keeping his voice calm and steady. "I was invited to dinner."


    Caroline''s eyes narrowed, as though she was gauging his every word. "Who invited you?" she asked, leaning slightly forward. "A Friend?"


    Noah hesitated for just a moment, knowing this was a delicate situation. "Someone I met... recently," he answered carefully. "I''m not sure if we could be considered friends."


    Her eyes seemed to bore into him, cutting through any vagueness in his answer. "Boy or girl?"


    "Girl," Noah said after a pause, bracing himself for what wasing next.


    Caroline''s expression didn''t change. She stared at him for a long moment, the room heavy with unspoken tension. T


    hen, she leaned back slightly, her hands still clenched tightly in herp. "Noah," she said softly, but there was a hard edge in her voice, "I know you have never lied to me before. I made sure to raise you with the right values. You know what''s right and wrong."


    Noah''s heart skipped a beat. His mother had always been strict when it came to honesty, and he''d never lied to her, not once. But tonight, he could feel that she was digging for something deeper. Her next words confirmed his suspicion.


    "I want you to tell me the truth," she said, her voice steady butced with concern. "Has the money you''ve been using to bring food into this housee from that girl?"


    Noah froze for a second, his mind racing.


    "Em must have slipped up and said something about Amelia."


    "Maybe one of the neighbours had seen him, riding in a car that was far too expensive for a person from their neighbourhood."


    Either way, the pieces had fallen together, and now his mom was piecing together a story she thought was happening.


    Sighing inwardly, Noah turned to his mother, meeting her gaze. "No, Mom," he said firmly, his voice calm but insistent. "The money I''ve been using is mine. Every cent. She didn''t give me anything, not even a single pound. And before you even ask, the restaurant where I get the food doesn''t belong to her either. I promise."


    Caroline''s eyes searched his face, looking for any hint of dishonesty. But Noah held her gaze steadily, refusing to waver. He had never lied to her, and he wasn''t about to start now.


    "I''ve never lied to you, Mom," Noah continued softly. "And I wouldn''t lie now. We''re barely acquaintances at this point. Tonight was the first time I ever went to her house. Her father just wanted to thank me for helping her with a problem she had, that''s all."


    Caroline studied him for a long moment, her eyes still sharp, but the hardness in her face began to soften. Slowly, her lips parted in a quiet exhale, and she closed her eyes, relief washing over her.


    "Thank you, Noah," she said quietly, her voice filled with emotion. "I was really worried¡­ I thought maybe you were bing a sugar baby or whatever they call it. You know how I feel about these things. You''ve always been a handsome boy, and there were a lot of girls back in the day who tried to take advantage of that."


    Noah let out a short, almost incredulousugh. The memory of those awkward years flickered briefly in his mind¡ªhis mom had always been paranoid about girls trying to manipte him because of his looks. "Yeah, I remember, Mom," he said, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.


    Caroline smiled too, though it was brief. She reached over and ced a hand on his, squeezing it gently. "I''m just trying to protect you, Noah."


    "I know," he said softly. "But you don''t need to worry. I''ve got this handled."


    For a moment, the room felt lighter. The tension that had been so thick before seemed to ease, and Noah could feel the weight lifting from his chest. But even so, his mother still looked tired, her face lined with the stress of her concerns.


    "Is there anything else, Mom?" Noah asked gently. "You should get some sleep. You look tired, and I''m kinda tired too. I''ve got school tomorrow."


    Caroline nodded, her eyes drooping slightly with fatigue. "You''re right," she said, though her voice was softer now. "I''ll head to bed in a minute."


    Noah stood, stretching slightly. "By the way," he said with a small smile, "I''ve got a surprise for you tomorrow. I think you''re gonna like it."


    Caroline''s eyebrows lifted slightly in curiosity. "A surprise?"


    "You''ll see," Noah said, his grin widening as he took a step toward his room. "Good night, Mom. Sleep well."


    "Good night, Noah," she said softly, watching him as he disappeared down the hall. The door to his room clicked shut behind him.


    Entering his room, Noah sighed deeply, the weight of the day finally catching up to him. Between the exam results, the unexpected dinner, and the talk with his mom, he feltpletely drained.


    Deciding he needed something to help him unwind, he headed for the bathroom.


    The hot water sted out of the showerhead, steam filling the room, and fogging up the mirror. Noah stepped under the stream, letting the warmth wash over him.


    As the water poured down his shoulders, he felt his muscles begin to loosen, the tension melting away. Closing his eyes, he let his mind wander, trying to disconnect from the noise of the day. For a few moments, the only sound he focused on was the rush of water and the calming sensation it brought him.


    After what felt like a small eternity, Noah reluctantly turned off the water, stepping out of the shower.


    The cool air hit him, and he shivered briefly, wrapping a towel around himself. Brushing his teeth in front of the fogged-up mirror, his reflection barely visible, he felt a little more at peace. His mind was quieter now, the stress from the day washed away, at least for the moment.


    Once he was ready for bed, he climbed under the covers, pulling his phone out from the bedside table. He started to scroll through his messages, a habit he had picked up before going to sleep.


    He nced at a few notifications, checking in on his usual apps, but then his finger hovered over a specific chat. Sarah.

 Chapter 54 System Treasure Chest!

    54 System Treasure Chest!


    The familiar chat history tugged at his heart, like an old wound that hadn''t quite healed. He''d been trying to distract himself for days now, with Amelia''s rescue, the exams, and everything else life had thrown at him.


    It had worked, sort of. He was busy enough that his mind didn''t dwell on the situation with Sarah as much, but he knew deep down that this wasn''t a long-term solution. Ignoring it wouldn''t make it go away.


    He stared at her name on the screen for some time, his thumb hovering over the chat. The memory of theirst conversation flickered in his mind, the ache in his chest stirring again.


    "I have to deal with this," he thought. "But not tonight. Not now."


    Noah clicked out of the app, locking his phone and tossing it on the bedside table. He would deal with Sarah, but not today. Pushing that thought aside, he decided to turn his attention to something else entirely. He remembered something¡ªthe system reward.


    His gaze sharpened as he recalled the reward he had received earlier, a treasure chest he hadn''t opened yet. Sitting up a little in bed, he opened the system''s interface, his fingers hovering over the inventory tab. There it was.


    [System Treasure Chest x1]


    {Gives a random reward}


    A moment of hesitation flickered through him before he tapped the chest icon. The familiar prompt popped up in front of him.


    [Would you like to im?]


    [Yes/No]


    Noah pressed "Yes".


    [Ding! 1x System Treasure Chest Opened!]


    [Reward: Basic Magical Tea Leaf Production Manual]


    His eyes widened, and before he could process it, a description popped up.


    [Basic Magical Tea Leaf Production Manual: The finest tea is brewed with grace,


    Its warmth and aroma fill the space.]


    Effect: > +1 Relief


    > +1 Smell


    > +1 Taste


    For a moment, Noah just stared at the screen, his jaw practically hitting the floor.


    "Basic?" he thought incredulously. "This isn''t basic¡ªthis is... uh... fantastic!" A grin began to spread across his face, the gears in his mind turning.


    "If this is ''basic,'' I don''t even want to know what advanced tea production looks like! This is literally a money machine in disguise." He sat up a little straighter, his excitement building. The potential of this hit him like a train.


    "If I can open a tea house," Noah muttered to himself, his voice a mix of disbelief and joy, "I can finally... finally get my dad to stop breaking his back for a couple of bucks!"


    He chuckled to himself, imagining the scene. His dad, a self-proimed tea enthusiast, would probably jump at the chance to run the ce. In fact, the old man would probably throw himself into the business with full force, considering how much he loved tea. Noah could already picture him meticulously crafting the perfect cup,pletely oblivious to the fact that the tea leaves themselves were infused with magical properties.


    Noah''s grin widened. "My dad is going to freak out," he murmured, the idea taking hold of his mind. His dad had always been passionate about tea, and Noah could use this newfound skill to bring in money while giving his dad something he loved doing. It was a win-win situation. His dad would enjoy every minute of it, and Noah wouldn''t have to lift a finger. Well, not entirely true¡ªhe would be the supplier behind the operation, the secret ingredient.


    He flopped back down onto his pillow, staring up at the ceiling with a smile. "A tea shop," he thought, amused at how life had taken such a strange turn. "Who would''ve thought?"


    But he was already thinking ahead. This "basic" tea might be just the beginning. If he could figure out how to produce it in bulk, market it as the finest tea in town¡ªno, in the world¡ªhe could practically see the money rolling in. And his dad would be the perfect front for the operation. A tea enthusiast with a shop full of "Rare" tea leaves that made people feel better with each sip? It was too perfect.


    "I''ve gotta get this started," he thought, his excitement keeping him awake long after he''d set his phone down.


    Pressing on the icon of the "Basic Magical Tea Leaf Production Manual," Noah skimmed through the effects of the magical tea once more.


    The promise of its rich aroma, fine taste, and soothing relief was enticing, but what really caught his attention were two new additions to the list.


    Purchase Leaves: $10/100g of Tea Leaves


    Purchase Machine: $10,000 (Automatically turns normal tea leaves into Magical Tea Leaves)


    Noah stared at the details on his screen for a long moment, considering his options. The purchase machine was listed at a steep $10,000, but the price didn''t dissuade him in the slightest. It wasn''t just the money that made the decision easy for him¡ªit was the efficiency, the convenience.


    For a split second, he considered the alternative: Always being the only one to provide the tea leaves, transforming them manually using the system, and restocking every time they ran out.


    He could already see the hassle that woulde with it. Even with the money he''d earned from his choices with the system, time was still his most precious resource.


    But then, the machine¡ªit was a game-changer. The business wouldn''t rely on him anymore.


    Just feed it normal tea leaves, and outes the magical product, ready to go. The simplicity of it was brilliant.


    It meant his dad could run the entire operation smoothly without needing Noah to manage. It would give Noah more time for his personal goals, his life and, most importantly, dealing with the system.


    "It''s decided then," muttered Noah, as heleaned back against his pillow and stared at the ceiling, imagining the future ahead. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He''d talk to his dad tomorrow, break the news to him, and propose the tea business. It was time to take the next step¡ªnot just in terms of earning more money but also giving his family a better life.


    But even as the idea of the tea house excited him, there was something else simmering in his mind. Maybe it''s time to spoil myself a little, he thought with a grin. For as long as he could remember, Noah had always wanted a gaming PC, the kind with LED lights and the smoothest setup money could buy. He''d watch videos online of gamers showing off their rigs, and though it was just a dream back then, it felt so close now. He imagined having a high-end gaming setup in his room¡ªhis own personal space where he could unwind after a long day.


    "Yeah, I''ll build a sick gaming setup soon," he muttered to himself, almostughing at how easily he could do it now with the money he has right now. "I will go crazy with it...multiple monitors, the best graphics card, everything."


    The thought filled him with excitement as he imagined his future room,plete with the tea business thriving in the background, his dad happy, and Noah finally getting some much-deserved leisure time after a day of school and system missions.


    "I will also check out the mansion tomorrow, it''s a hassle to keep ordering Uber every day. Specially when you have a Lykan HyperSport." Said Noah, with a slight grin on his face.


    But first things first, he had to sleep. His mind was buzzing, but his body was tired, and he had school in the morning. ncing at his phone, it read 10:30 PM.


    "Alright, time to call it a day," Noah said to himself, setting his phone on the bedside table.

 Chapter 55 This Is Tea?

    55 This Is Tea?


    The next morning, Noah woke up feeling refreshed.


    After brushing his teeth, he headed downstairs, mentally making a note to himself that he still hadn''t bought groceries for the house.


    The small details of daily life still needed tending, even amidst the chaos.


    As he stepped into the kitchen, he greeted his family. "Good morning, Mom. Morning, Dad."


    His father, David, was already by the counter, preparing to brew his usual morning tea. Emily, his little sister, sat at the table, noticeably avoiding Noah''s gaze. Smirking inwardly, Noah immediately understood what had happened¡ª"So it was this little rascal who let it slip, not the neighbours", he thought.


    He knew she had a big mouth, but he wasn''t mad. In fact, he was looking forward to giving her a little teasing on the way to school.


    Acting as though nothing was amiss, Noah shed her a friendly smile. "Good morning, Em. How was your sleep?"


    Emily nodded, but her voice was low as she answered, "It was good," avoiding direct eye contact.


    Noah''s smirk deepened. "She''s definitely GUILTY", he thought, amused. "That''s good to hear," he said cheerfully.


    Turning to his father, Noah decided this was the perfect moment to test out the magical tea. "Dad, wait," he said, noticing David about to brew his usual morning tea. "I want you to try something different today. I have a special tea I want you to taste."


    David raised an eyebrow in mild surprise but extended his hand. "Alright, pass it over."


    "Hold on, I''ll get it from my room," Noah said, quickly heading upstairs.


    Once in his room, he opened his system and purchased 100 grams of the magical tea leaves. The transaction was swift, and the money was automatically deducted from his bank ount.


    Noah pulled the tea bag from his inventory, smiling to himself. The packaging was immacte, like it had juste from a high-end tea shop. "Good thing it''s already stored in a proper bag," he thought, "otherwise I''d have to walk down there with loose leaves in my hand."


    Back downstairs, Noah handed the bag to his father. "Here, try this."


    Caroline, his mother, nced at the bag curiously. "Noah, where did you get this tea? Is it any good?"


    Noah grinned mysteriously. "It''s a secret, Mom. You''ll find out if it''s good soon enough. Dad, make tea for everyone¡ªeven Em."


    Emily, sitting at the table with wide eyes, shook her head vehemently. "No, I don''t drink tea. Tea is yucky." N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Noah turned his attention to her, his grin widening. "Not this one, Em. You''ll like it."


    Emily''s face paled, and she seemed horrified by his words. Her mind raced. H"e''s trying to take revenge for what I said about him and that girl! He''s definitely plotting something! I should''ve kept my mouth shut." She groaned inwardly, already regretting her actions as her mind spiraled in silent despair.


    Meanwhile, David began brewing the tea. The moment the water hit the leaves, a heavenly aroma filled the room. It was a fragrance so rich, so alluring, that it caused everyone at the table to pause.


    David, Caroline, and Emily all exchanged puzzled nces. It didn''t smell like any tea they had ever brewed before. The scent alone was like a warm invitation, a promise of something extraordinary.


    As the tea steeped, David poured it into four cups. Noah took a seat at the table as the food was served: egg on toast, grilled halloumi cheese on the side, and olives. Breakfast was simple but hearty, it''s taste was immacte as usual.


    David took a bite of toast, then reached for his cup of tea. Noah''s eyes followed his every movement with keen anticipation, smirking ever so slightly.


    As soon as David took his first sip, his hand stopped midway to putting the cup down. His eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, he just sat there, motionless, the cup still hovering above the table.


    Noah could see it¡ªthe light flickering in his father''s eyes, the way his expression changed from surprise to astonishment.


    David slowly set the cup down with extreme care, as though he was afraid of spilling even a drop. He nced at Noah, whose smirk had now turned into a full-blown grin.


    "How was it?" Noah asked casually, though he already knew the answer.


    David blinked several times, staring at the cup as if it held some kind of magic¡ªwhich, unbeknownst to him, it did. "Noah¡­where did you get this tea?" he asked, his voice quiet, almost reverent. "This tea is¡­ it''s otherworldly. Its price must be¡­ unbelievable."


    Caroline, sensing the weight of David''s words, turned to him in confusion. "Howe, David? What''s so special about it?"


    David took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "The taste," he began, "it''s sweet but not too sweet, and so light on the tongue. It''s as if my tastebuds are harmonizing with the vor. It''s not just about taste, though. With just one sip, I felt the fatigue lifting from my body. I''m not exaggerating. I felt more awake, more energized¡ªlike the exhaustion I didn''t even realize I had was melting away."


    Caroline and Emily looked at David with wide eyes. Even Emily, who had been dreading the tea, seemed curious now.


    Noah leaned back in his chair, satisfied with his father''s reaction. "I told you it was good, didn''t I?" he said, his voice filled with yful pride.


    David nodded slowly, his hand still resting near the cup as though he was ready to take another sip but too amazed to move. "Good isn''t the word, Noah. This tea is beyond anything I''ve ever tasted. It''s¡­ it''s like it''s made from something more than just tea leaves. Are you sure this isn''t from some high-end, exclusive shop?"


    Noah chuckled. "It''s a little secret, Dad. But let''s just say¡­ there''s more where that came from."


    As David stared at the cup in awe, Caroline decided to try some, clearly intrigued.


    Noah watched as his mom took a sip. The same expression of amazement crossed her face, and she looked at Noah with newfound appreciation. "This¡­ is incredible, Noah. It''s like nothing I''ve ever tasted."


    Emily, who had been silently watching the whole exchange, finally spoke up, her voice small and tentative. "Maybe¡­ I''ll try some too."


    Noah''s smirk grew wider. "Gotcha," he thought.


    David poured her a small cup, and when Emily finally took a sip, her eyes widened in pure shock. "It''s¡­ not yucky," she muttered, as if she couldn''t believe the wordsing out of her own mouth.


    Noah chuckled. "Told you."


    With the magical tea leaving everyone at the table speechless, Noah sat back, his n already forming. His father''s reaction had confirmed it¡ªthis tea wasn''t just good. It was going to be the key to something bigger.


    As David savoured thest sip of the magical tea, Noah couldn''t help but watch the astonishment still lingering on his father''s face. His n wasing together perfectly, and it was time to present the next part of it.


    "Dad," Noah began casually, ncing at his cup, "what do you think? If a tea house were to open with this tea, do you think it would do well?"


    David looked at him, setting the cup down slowly. "Of course, it would do well, Noah. It wouldn''t just do well¡ªit would dominate the market. Heck, this tea would destroy all thepetition."


    He chuckled at the thought but then added with caution, "But it depends on the price. If this tea is too expensive, only a small, high-end clientele could afford it. You''d be targeting a niche market, and that makes it harder to sell consistently. You''d need regr customers, not just the wealthy ones."


    Noah leaned forward, a grin spreading across his face. "It''s cheap, Dad," he said, the excitement barely contained in his voice.


    David raised an eyebrow. "Cheap? What do you mean by cheap Noah? The word ''cheap'' depends on the person speaking."


    "Just $3 for 100 grams of the tea leaves you just drank," Noah said, watching as his words sank into David''s mind.


    David''s reaction was immediate¡ªhis eyes widened, and he stood up so abruptly that his chair screeched against the floor.


    "What? How is that even possible? Noah, tea of this quality¡­ there''s no way that''s possible,"


    "You are telling me, this costs only $3 per 100 grams!" as he held Em''s cup of tea, with a shocked look on his face.


    This was meant to be uploaded tomorrow, but I''m very happy with the support from you guys. Sp I decided to celebrate with you and upload another chapter!


    Risaliyah

 Chapter 56 Quit Your Job

    56 Quit Your Job


    "You are telling me, this costs only $3 per 100 grams!" said David, as he held Emily''s cup of tea, with a shocked look on his face.


    Noah chuckled, leaning back in his chair. He had anticipated this response. "I was ying around, you know? You''ve always known I loveputers and engineering. So, I started a little side project and created a machine that produces this tea."


    David and Caroline both stared at Noah, disbelief written across their faces. "You¡­ created a machine?" Caroline echoed, clearly sceptical. "Are you serious, Noah? Something like this isn''t just a school project. You''re telling me you built a machine that can make this kind of tea?"


    Noah nodded. "Well, it wasn''t just me. I had a close friend who helped me with it. We''ve been working on this for a while. But yeah, the machine does all the hard work. It turns regr tea leaves into something special¡ªsomething like this."


    David sat back down, processing the information. His gaze shifted between the cup of tea and his son. "Noah¡­ you''re telling me you can produce this kind of tea, in bulk, at a price that''s this low?"


    "That''s right," Noah confirmed, his tone steady. "I''ve done my research, and I think it''s time to open a tea house. I''ve already got the budget to open the ce, plus the machine. The only thing I need now is for someone to manage the shop and brew the tea for customers. And no one knows tea like you do, Dad. You know how to brew it perfectly. I want you to run the shop."


    David was silent for a moment, clearly taken aback. He wanted to ask more questions¡ªabout the money, about the machine, about how all of this was happening so quickly. But before he could speak, Noah continued.


    "Dad, I''ve thought about everything. I already know how much capital I need to start the tea house."


    David narrowed his eyes. "And how much is that?"


    "About $20,000 to cover rent and other utilities for the next six to eight months, depending on the location."


    David leaned back, crossing his arms. "And do you have that kind of money?"


    Noah nodded confidently. "I have $12,000 saved up for this. I made it from the business I''ve been running with Aiden. My other friend¡ªthe one who helped me with the machine¡ªhe''s going to contribute the other $10,000. So, we''ve got the money. Plus, I''ve already stocked up. I have about 10 kilograms of this tea ready to go. We can use that to get started, make some money, and expandter."


    David blinked, still trying to process the entire n. Noah had clearly been thinking ahead, more than David had realized. And while he was proud of his son''s ambition, part of him still struggled with the idea of leaving his steady job to take on something so risky.


    "Noah," David began, his voice softening, "I''m proud of you. I didn''t know you had been nning all of this. You''ve really put thought into it."


    Noah smiled, relieved to hear those words from his father. "Thanks, Dad. I just need you to help me with this. I can''t do it alone, especially with school. I need someone I can trust to run the ce."


    David nodded, but his expression shifted to hesitation. "But Noah¡­ quit my job? I don''t know if I can do that. Who''s going to provide for the family if this doesn''t work out? It''s a big risk."


    Noah''s smile didn''t falter. He had expected this concern. "Dad, we have enough to get by for now. Plus, with the tea we already have, we''ll make money quickly. You won''t need to worry about providing. I''ll handle the finances. But we need to find a tea house soon and get it up and running. I''ve got school, so I won''t be able to handle everything by myself. You''re the only one who can make this work."


    David sat in silence, weighing the options. On one hand, leaving his job was a massive risk. On the other, this tea¡­ there was something special about it, and he trusted his son''s ingenuity.


    He had always seen potential in Noah''s curiosity and love for technology. If Noah believed this was going to work, maybe it was worth the risk.


    Finally, David sighed, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Alright, Noah. I''ll do it. I''ll quit my job and run the tea shop."


    Noah''s face lit up with excitement. "Really? You''ll do it?"


    David nodded, though a hint of nervousness remained in his eyes. "Yeah. I''ll call work right now and let them know."


    He pulled out his phone, dialling his manager. The conversation was brief, with a few questions from the manager about David''s sudden resignation. But eventually, the manager epted it, and David hung up, exhaling deeply. "That''s it. I''m officially done."


    Noah grinned. "Great! Now we just need to find the right spot for the tea house. I know you''ll do a great job, Dad."


    Caroline, who had been watching the entire exchange, finally spoke up. "This is a big step for both of you. But Noah¡­ I''m proud of you too. I didn''t realize you''d thought so much about all of this."


    Noah smiled at his mom, feeling a warmth of gratitude. "Thanks, Mom. Also, the surprise was me getting perfect scores in 4 of my subjects and getting near-perfect marks in the rest" N?v(el)B\\jnn


    For a moment, the room was still as Caroline and David processed what Noah had just said. Then, as if a wave of pure joy had washed over them, both parents erupted with excitement.


    Caroline sped her hands to her chest, her eyes shimmering with pride. "Noah! Perfect scores? In four subjects?" She moved quickly to wrap her arms around him, her voice full of emotion. "I always knew you were brilliant, you''ve made us so proud!"


    David, not one to show his emotions so openly, stood up with a wide smile on his face. His hand pped firmly on Noah''s shoulder, squeezing it with fatherly pride. "That''s my boy! You''ve done something truly special, Noah. You''ve always been smart, now that you put in the work, you were rewarded."


    He shook his head in disbelief, eyes shining. "You''ve worked so hard, and it''s all paying off. You''re going ces, son."


    Noahughed, slightly embarrassed but grateful for the enthusiasm. "Thanks, Dad. Thanks, Mom. I didn''t want to say anything yesterday because, well... I came homete."


    David beamed, his excitement growing even more. "First, you surprise us with this tea business, and now perfect grades? I feel like I''m getting spoiled today!"


    Carolineughed, hugging Noah once more before stepping back, her eyes still glistening with happiness. With that, the morning settled down. Noah and Emily gathered their things to head to school, while David prepared to spend the day scouting for potential tea house locations.


    As Noah and Emily left the house, Emily finally broke her silence, tugging on Noah''s sleeve. "Noah¡­ is everything going to be okay with that tea business?"


    Noah noticed her worry, $20,000 was after all a lot of money for them, and Emily thought that if they were to fail. This would break them, especially with Noah''s dad quitting work.


    Noah ruffled her hair affectionately. "Don''t worry, Em. Everything''s going to be just fine. We''re going to have the best tea house in town."


    With a nod and a smile, the two headed to school, while David ventured out to start¡ªfinding the perfect spot for their new tea business.


    After dropping off Emily at her school, Noah walked briskly toward his own, feeling the cool morning air on his skin. He enjoyed the quiet moments before reaching campus.


    Entering the school gates, Noah adjusted his backpack and made his way to ss. The familiar sight of students milling around, some hurriedly scribblingst-minute homework, others chatting loudly about thetest trends, greeted him. He greeted a few ssmates along the way.


    "Morning Noah!" said a girl, who was with a group of friends.


    "Morning," replied Noah, but as he finished he heard gigglesing from the group.


    Shaking his head, he entered his ssroom.


    As Noah stepped into his ssroom, he instinctively scanned the room. The usual "good morning," floated through the air as the teacher acknowledged students filing in.


    Noah''s eyes, however, were drawn to Mark, seated in his usual spot near the back of the room. But something was different.


    Mark, the boy who always walked with his chest puffed out, who boasted loudly about his achievements and acted like he owned the ce, was no longer exuding arrogance. Instead, he was sitting stiffly, his body tense, his face pale. He avoided Noah''s gaze entirely, his eyes darting nervously toward the window like he was suddenly interested in the world outside.


    Noah smirked.


    "It seems like Amelia''s driver shook him to his bones." Mark was usually so brazen, always trying to pick a fight, always smirking and throwing around his superiorityplex like a badge of honour. But today¡­ today he was different. Mark didn''t even look in Noah''s direction, not once.


    As Noah took his seat, still smirking inwardly, he muttered to himself, "You better fulfil your promise, Mark. Otherwise..." The thought trailed off as he casually nced around the room.


    Creation is hard, cheer me up!


    Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!


    Risaliyah


    Creator''s Thought

 Chapter 57 Noah is A GENIUS!

    57 Noah is A GENIUS!


    As Noah took his seat, still smirking inwardly, he muttered to himself, "You better fulfil your promise, Mark. Otherwise..." The thought trailed off as he casually nced around the room.


    Suddenly, the clear voice of Ms. ra rang out, cutting through the low hum of morning chatter.


    "Quiet down, everyone," Ms. ramanded, her eyes sweeping across the ss. The buzz of conversation dwindled as students turned their attention to the front. Her tone was calm but firm, the kind that immediatelymanded respect.


    "As you all know," she began, her gaze briefly flickering toward Noah, "yesterday''s exam results caused quite a stir." She paused, letting the weight of her words settle over the ss. "Many people were suspicious of one of our friends and ssmates¡ªNoah," she said, casting a quick look at him before continuing.


    Noah remainedposed, meeting her gaze with steady eyes, though he could feel the shifting energy around him. A few students nced in his direction, whispering among themselves. Lily, seated next to him, shot him a curious nce, wondering what Ms.ra is going to say next, although she had a hunch.


    Ms. ra continued, her voice growing firmer, "Yesterday, all of the teachers of every subject gathered at the principal''s office. And with us was Noah." The room seemed to grow even quieter, the air thick with anticipation. "The principal decided to test Noah on the spot, using questions he couldn''t have possibly cheated on, especially since he didn''t know what the questions would be."


    The students sat up straighter, their eyes widening in interest. Ms. ra''s words hung in the air, charged with tension.


    "Each one of us¡ªevery teacher present¡ªasked Noah two of the hardest high school questions we could think of," Ms. ra stated, her tone unwavering. "And Noah answered every single one of them correctly, without a single error."


    The room exploded into whispers. The students turned to one another in disbelief.


    "No way."


    "Is she serious?"


    "Did he really do that?"


    Ms ra let the chatter continue for a moment before raising her hand, demanding silence once more. "And he did all of this by..." She paused, her eyes sweeping over the ss before delivering the final blow. "...just using his brain without any pen or paper."


    The room was stunned into silence for a beat. Then, the shock hit them all at once.


    "Noah is actually a genius?" one of the students muttered aloud, their voice tinged with disbelief. "Has he been hiding all this time?" another chimed in. "Did he just decide to show up right before the final exams?" The students buzzed with conversation, piecing together the mystery that had surrounded Noah for so long.


    Lily, still beside Noah, couldn''t help but steal another nce at him.


    "I figured," she muttered silently, as she waited for Ms ra to continue.


    Themotion grew as more students began to talk amongst themselves, spection flying across the room. Some cast amazed looks at Noah, while others seemed a bit wary, as though they suddenly didn''t know who he was anymore.


    Ms. ra allowed the chatter to continue for a minute longer before shutting it down with a sharp p of her hands. "Enough!" she said, her voice cutting through the noise like a de. "Noah couldn''t have possibly cheated. Everything was checked thoroughly by the principal and the teachers." Her eyes scanned the room, silencing any lingering doubts. "He answered each question immediately, without hesitation, without dy. And he did it all without using ink or a sheet of paper."


    A murmur ran through the ss once again, but this time it was quieter and more thoughtful.


    Ms. ra''s gaze softened, and with a touch of pride in her voice, she added, "Noah is a genius, and our school is proud to have him. The principal himself has said that anyone who doubts his exam scores or spreads rumours that tarnish his reputation will be severely punished by him personally."


    As she spoke, her eyes lingered on Mark, whose face had lost all colour. He sat frozen in his seat, dazed, the weight of her words crashing down on him like a tidal wave. His eyes flicked toward Noah, and for the first time, there was no trace of arrogance or malice¡ªonly fear.


    Ms. ra''s gaze lingered on Mark for a second longer before she turned back to the ss. "So, let this be a lesson to all of you. Hard work and intelligence will always prevail. Doubts and rumours have no ce here."


    The murmurs of admiration from his ssmates swirled around him.


    But Noah didn''t pay much attention to her or anyone else. His focus was on Mark.


    Mark, who had once made his life miserable, now satpletely defeated. The tables had turned. Noah had shown his true strength¡ªand there was no going back.


    Mark''s hands trembled under the desk as he heard Noah''s voice cut through the ssroom like ice.


    "Mark." N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Noah''s tone was calm, but there was an undeniable edge to it¡ªone that sent shivers down Mark''s spine. Noah''s voice had him locked in ce, as though his whole body had seized up. He felt a drop of sweat roll down the back of his neck, and he swallowed hard, trying to steady his breathing.


    "You remember what I told you yesterday, don''t you?" Noah''s voice was cold, and the weight of it pressed down on Mark''s chest like a mountain.


    His body jerked slightly, almost involuntarily, as though he''d been jolted awake from a nightmare. But this was no dream. This was reality, and the terror that gripped him was far worse than anything his imagination could conjure.


    "Shit! Shit! Shit!" Mark''s thoughts spiralled in a frantic loop, reying the events of the previous day. Why did I do this to myself? Why couldn''t I just keep my stupid mouth shut?!


    Noah''s presence loomed over him, and Mark could feel every second stretch into eternity as he sat there, too afraid to meet Noah''s gaze. He could barely think straight. Yesterday had been a turning point¡ªa cold, hard p of reality that left him reeling.


    His mind shed back to that moment after school when the ck limousine had arrived outside the gates. The middle-aged man inside, dressed in a crisp suit, had casually inquired about Noah.


    After getting embarrassed, he quickly ran away from the scene. But something about the exchange had unsettled him.


    Creation is hard, cheer me up!


    Risaliyah


    Creator''s Thought

 Chapter 58 Regret

    58 Regret


    After getting embarrassed, he quickly ran away from the scene. But something about the exchange had unsettled him.


    Later that evening, with the image of that limousine and the man inside burning in his brain, he made the decision that would change everything: he asked his father about the number te.


    "0019."


    It had been a casual question at first, born from his insatiable need to understand who Noah was and to whom he was connected.


    "Dad," Mark had said as he dropped his backpack on the floor, trying to sound nonchnt. "You know anything about cars with number tes starting with 00?"


    His father, Robert, was sitting at the dining table, reading the evening news on his tablet. At first, he hadn''t even looked up.


    "Hmm? What do you mean?"


    Mark had pulled out a chair and plopped down across from him. "I saw a car today near my school. A really fancy ck limo. Its te started with 0019. Just curious, that''s all."


    Suddenly, the air in the room changed. His father''s face shifted immediately. The casual, rxed expression turned into something much sharper. Slowly, Robert set his tablet down on the table, his gaze now firmly locked on Mark.


    "What did you just say?" Robert''s voice had dropped to a low, serious tone that sent chills down Mark''s spine.


    Mark blinked, confused by the sudden shift in his father''s demeanour. "Uh¡­ I said the limo had a number te that started with 0019."


    Robert''s eyes darkened. For the first time in years, he looked genuinely worried¡ªalmost scared. He pushed his chair back from the table and stood up, pacing the room with a hand rubbing his chin.


    "You''re telling me you saw a car with a 00 te? And it was 0019 specifically?"


    Mark nodded, now feeling the weight of his father''s growing rm.


    Robert stopped pacing and turned to face his son directly.


    "Listen to me carefully, Mark. You need to stay as far away from anyone connected to that car as possible. Do you understand?"


    Mark''s confusion deepened. "What? Why? It was just a car, Dad. What''s the big deal?"


    Robert''s expression grew even more intense, his eyes narrowing.


    "No, it''s not ''just a car.'' "


    "Number tes starting with 00 are issued only to high-ranking military officials or people with deep ties to government authorities. 0019? That''s serious. It means whoever was in that limo isn''t just some businessman or local celebrity."


    "They''re military. High-up. People who can make things happen¡ªand I''m not talking about good things."


    Mark''s stomach dropped as his father''s words sank in.


    "Dad¡­ you''re not serious, right?" he asked, though deep down, he already knew the answer.


    Robert let out a heavy sigh and ran a hand through his hair.


    "I''m dead serious, son. And if you''ve crossed paths with anyone connected to that kind of power, you better apologise as soon as possible. They could make our whole family disappear, and no one would even blink."


    The reality of what his father was saying hit Mark like a ton of bricks. "Disappear? Over a car? Over Noah?"


    Mark''s heart pounded in his chest. His mind raced back to Noah. "Could he really be connected to someone that powerful?"


    But Robert wasn''t finished.


    "Mark, listen to me carefully," Robert said, lowering his voice to a near whisper as if the walls themselves had ears. "Whoever was in that car has the kind of influence that makes people in positions like mine¡ªirrelevant. You don''t mess with those kinds of people. You don''t even think about messing with them."


    Mark''s throat tightened. "Dad, I¡­ I didn''t know. I¡ª"


    Robert cut him off, his tone now deadly serious.


    "It doesn''t matter if you knew or not. What matters is what you do from now on. I''m warning you, Mark. If you''ve had any interaction with them, you need to stay out of their way. Stay silent. Keep your head down and do whatever you can to stay on their good side."


    Mark had nodded vigorously, trying to absorb everything his father was saying. His stomach churned with fear and regret. "What have I done?" he thought.


    "I''ve been provoking Noah, mocking him, and now¡­ now I find out he''s connected to something this big?"


    Robert sighed, his gaze softening as he realized the fear in his son''s eyes. He walked over and ced a hand on Mark''s shoulder.


    "You''ve always been too arrogant for your own good, Mark. Maybe this will be the lesson you need to humble yourself. I know you hate it, but you need to learn when to keep quiet. Not everyone''s as harmless as they seem."


    Those words had echoed in Mark''s head all night.


    "Not everyone''s as harmless as they seem."


    Now, sitting in ss, facing the cold intensity of Noah''s voice, those words rang louder than ever.


    Mark clenched his fists under the desk, his heart pounding in his chest. His father was right.


    He had picked the wrong person to mess with.


    Noah''s eyes bore into him, and Mark could feel the weight of his mistake.


    He had provoked a wolf in sheep''s clothing, and now¡­ now he would have to deal with the consequences.


    Mark''s stammered words hung in the air like a fog, thick and heavy with the weight of what was about to happen.


    His voice was shaky, eyes darting between Noah and the floor as if searching for an escape. But there was none, he was trapped.


    Noah''s gaze remained fixed on Mark, the intensity in his eyes growing sharper with every passing second. Mark, trembling under that gaze, could barely bring himself to speak. His mind was inplete disarray, fear and regret swirling like a storm inside him.


    "I-I remember Da¡ª" Mark stammered, his voice barely a whisper.


    Before he could finish, La, who had been quiet throughout the entire conflict, suddenly spoke up from the other side of the room.


    Her voice was calm, but it cut through the tension like a knife.


    "Don''t say it, Mark. You don''t owe him anything. He can''t force you to say it."


    Her words hung in the air like a lifeline, but to Mark, they felt like a death sentence.


    He froze, his mouth half-open, and sweat began to trickle down his forehead.What is she doing?he thought, his heart pounding in his chest. "Is this Harl*t trying to bury me?"


    In his mind, Mark cursed her. "What is this b**** saying?"


    "If it wasn''t for her, I wouldn''t have crossed paths with Noah to this degree in the first ce."


    "She dragged me into this mess, and now she wants to make it worse?"


    Anger surged through him, fueled by his fear. His body, which had been paralyzed just moments before, now acted on impulse.


    His hand mmed against the desk as he shot a furious re at La. "Shut up! Who do you think you are, La?" he shouted, his voice cracking with desperation.


    His re was filled with venom, as though she had be his lifelong enemy.


    La''s eyes widened for a moment, caught off guard by the sudden aggression. But just as quickly, her expression hardened, and she crossed her arms over her chest.


    "I''m trying to help you, you idiot!" she snapped back, her voice filled with frustration. "If you don''t want my help, then fine! Do whatever you want, but don''t cry over your ego. Call Noah ''sugar daddy'' if you want, I don''t care!"


    The sarcasm in her words only fueled Mark''s rage further. His fists clenched tightly as he struggled to contain his frustration.


    La narrowed her eyes, her lips curling into a scornful smirk. "Hmph. Who do you think wants to speak with you, anyway?" she retorted, turning her back to him with a dismissive flick of her hand.


    The entire ss sat in stunned silence, watching the exchange unfold like a slow-motion train wreck. Everyone was shocked at the scene, after all La and Mark were rumoured to be dating.


    No one had expected them to explode like this. It was like watching two bombs go off simultaneously, leaving nothing but chaos in their wake.


    Mark''s breathing was heavy, his face flushed with humiliation. La''s words had stung him more deeply than he would ever admit, but now he had bigger problems.


    His eyes flicked back to Noah, who had been silently watching the whole scene y out with that infuriating smirk on his face.


    Mark swallowed hard. His body still shook with a mixture of rage and fear, but he knew he couldn''t escape this, not after everything that had happened.


    "I-I''m sorry, Noa¡ª I mean, dad..." Mark stammered, thest word slipping from his lips like a stone sinking into deep water.


    The entire ss froze.


    Noah''s smirk spread wider, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest as though he were a king. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Good boy," he muttered, just loud enough for everyone to hear.


    The effect was immediate.


    A wave of shock rippled through the ssroom. Students who had been silently watching the drama unfold now exchanged incredulous nces. "Mark?"


    "The same Mark that we know? Calling Noah


    ''dad''? This couldn''t be real." Whispers began to fill the air, soft at first, then louder as more students turned to their fellow students in disbelief.


    "No way... Did Mark just call Noah ''dad''?"


    "Is this for real?


    Lily who was seated next to Noah, shook her head at the scene and a small wry smile that was barely visible formed.


    Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!


    Creation is hard, cheer me up!

 Chapter 59 A Rewarding Punishment

    59 A Rewarding Punishment


    Mark''s face burned with shame, the weight of his humiliation pressing down on him like a heavy stone. The murmurs around the ssroom had grown louder, swirling around him like a storm he couldn''t escape.


    His cheeks flushed bright red as if every word was a dagger slicing through what little remained of his pride.


    How could he show his face in this school again?


    The thought rang in his head over and over like a broken record. His hands were mmy, his legs weak, and his mind raced with desperation.


    Mark wasn''t used to being on this end of humiliation¡ªhe was always the one dishing it out, not receiving it. And now, here he was, utterly disgraced, calling Noah his "dad" in front of the entire ss. His ego had taken a blow so deep it left him dizzy.


    "I-I need to use the restroom," he blurted out, his voice strained as he raised a trembling hand towards Ms. ra.


    The teacher, who had been watching the whole ordeal with a mix of sympathy and resignation, nodded silently.


    Mark didn''t wait for a proper response¡ªhe practically bolted out of the room, his legs carrying him faster than he''d ever intended.


    His heart pounded in his chest as he left the whispers and stares behind, but he knew he wasn''t really escaping. The humiliation would follow him, lingering in every ssroom, in every hallway, in every corner of the school. This was only the beginning.


    Once outside, Mark leaned against the cold hallway wall and let out a deep, shuddering sigh. He ran a hand through his dishevelled hair, staring nkly at the floor.


    "What had he done? How did he end up here"


    He used to be the king of this school¡ªthe guy everyone feared or respected. Now, he was a joke.


    "I can''t believe I let my arrogance get me here."


    The hallway was mostly empty, with just a few students roaming between sses. It was the perfect moment for Mark to carry out the rest of his punishment¡ªrunning ap around the school''s main hallway while dering that Noah was his dad.


    The mere thought of it made him sick to his stomach, but what choice did he have? Backing out now would only make things worse.


    He took a deep breath, then another, trying to steady his shaking hands.


    "Maybe I should''ve just kept my mouth shut," he thought bitterly.


    "Why did I always have to act like I was better than everyone? Maybe if I wasn''t such an arrogant idiot, I wouldn''t be in this mess."


    The sting of regret gnawed at him as he started jogging down the hallway, his feet dragging reluctantly across the floor. His voice came out shaky at first, barely above a whisper, but he forced himself to speak louder, knowing he had no choice.


    "I-I am Mark from ss 3-A... and Noah Thompson is my dad!"


    The words tasted like acid in his mouth, each one heavier than thest. He could feel the eyes of the few students in the hallway on him, their confused expressions adding to his shame.


    Some wereughing, others just stared in disbelief, while a few looked away, pretending not to notice the scene. But even though the hall was mostly empty, he knew it wouldn''t stay quiet for long.


    "Everyone in the ssrooms heard me." The walls here were thin, and the chatter from inside the rooms confirmed his worst fear¡ªword was spreading like wildfire. Soon, the entire school would know.


    Mark sighed again, this time in defeat. He had run thep, just like he promised. He had shouted the words for the whole school to hear. But the pit in his stomach told him that this wasn''t the end. This was the beginning of his downfall or maybe his rise.


    Inside the ssroom, Noah leaned back in his chair, a small, satisfied smile tugging at the corner of his lips.


    His eyes flicked toward the door where Mark had left, and he couldn''t help but feel a twinge of amusement.


    "He did it in the end," Noah thought to himself, watching the whispers spread like ripples in a pond.


    Mark had run thep, shouted the humiliating words, and faced the consequences of his arrogance.


    Noah''s smile widened slightly. "This should teach him a lesson."


    As he sat there, he couldn''t help but think about the future of Mark.


    Mark was reckless. Arrogant and stupid, always looking for trouble without understanding the consequences of his actions. If today''s events didn''t humble him, Mark might''ve gotten himself into a far worse situation someday¡ªone he couldn''t run from.


    "You need to thank me, Mark." Noah''s smirk deepened, a sh of cold amusement in his eyes.


    "I stopped you from courting death somewhere in the future, I''m sure." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The room was still buzzing with shocked conversations as students processed what had just happened. Noah could hear them murmuring to each other:


    "Did Mark really just do that again?"


    "He called Noah ''dad'' in front of the whole school! I can''t believe it!"


    "I thought Mark was, like, the king of this school. What happened?"


    Noah stayed silent, letting the students talk. He knew that today marked a turning point in his school life, not just for Mark, but for him too.


    No more rumors. No more doubts. He had proven his intelligence in front of the entire ss, and now, with Mark''s public humiliation, no one would dare bother him again.


    Not when even Mark had to drop his ego and humiliate himself for him. The students knew what this meant, it meant that Noah was hiding deeper than they imagined. To be able to make Mark do that, Noah needed to have either strength or a background that made Mark fear him.


    Rumours began circting around the students, regarding the reason which made Mark sub and call Noah ''Dad'', but the most prevalent one was that Mark was threatened by some people of high status that came looking for Noah the day before.

 Chapter 60 Newtons Law

    60 Newton''s Law


    After ss, Noah walked through the hallways to the canteen.


    The rumours about him cheating were dead, killed off by both the principal''s stern warning and Mark''s very public humiliation. Word had spread fast¡ªeveryst-year student knew the truth now. Noah wasn''t someone you could easily provoke or spread lies about without consequences.


    And with final exams just days away, most students weren''t interested in stirring up trouble anymore.


    Why risk anything now?They weren''t as dumb or reckless as Mark. They had futures to think about, university applications to submit, and no one wanted to burn bridges for no reason.


    It felt good, Noah admitted to himself. Not the fear or respect necessarily, but the simple fact that he could now focus on what mattered¡ªhis ns and beyond without worrying about pointless high school drama.


    Heading to the canteen with Aiden, his stomach rumbled, reminding him that despite all the drama, hunger was still a constant in life. He joined the line for food, chatting casually with Aiden. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    When Noah reached the serving counter, today''s special wassagna, and the smell was heavenly. Thedy serving the food, an older woman everyone fondly called "Aunty," smiled warmly at Noah. Without saying a word, she scooped an extrarge portion ofsagna onto his te.


    "Thank you, Aunty," Noah said, his eyes widening in gratitude.


    Aunty chuckled and gave him a yful wink. "Eat up, young man. You need to maintain those muscles, don''t you?"


    She then struck a yful pose, flexing her arms like she was showing off her biceps, though they were more like soft pillows.


    It was such an exaggerated gesture that Noah couldn''t help butugh. "You''re right, Aunty. I''ll do my best!" He grinned, thanking her again before moving to find a seat.


    Noah and Aiden found a spot in the far corner of the canteen, a quieter area where they could chat without interruptions. As soon as they sat down, Aiden wasted no time.


    "You know, I still can''t believe that idiot Mark actually went through with it," Aiden said, shaking his head with amusement. "Running around the hallway, calling you his dad. That''s... that''s just gold."


    Noah smirked, taking a bite of hissagna. "Yeah, he finally learned something about humility."


    Aiden snorted, leaning back in his chair. "Humility? That guy? More like humiliation, my friend. He buried himself with his own hands! You didn''t even have to do much¡ªjust watched him dig his own grave. And now look at him! He should be honoured to call you dad, after all..." Aiden paused, his grin widening as he prepared for the punchline, "You are Noah Wayne! HAHAHA!"


    Noah almost choked on his food.


    "Cough! Cough!" Noah coughed as he hit his chest, to down the food.


    Aiden leaned in, wiggling his eyebrows mischievously. "You really are Batman aren''t you, Mark must be the joker. He truly behaves like a clown,"


    "I must be in a simtion, something is wrong with this school," said Noah, as he squinted into the air as if he is trying to find a glitch in the simtion.


    "Calm down man, you are exaggerating... Mark can''t even touch the Joker''s feet in terms of everything."


    "That''s true, Mark is too stupid to be the joker. He is at most a small viin that dies a few chapters after he is introduced." 18:43


    Just then, ire, the girl with the ponytail who had stood up for Noah during Mark''s bullying, approached their table. She smiled shyly, her cheeks slightly pink. "Hey, Noah. I just wanted to say that I''m really happy you were proven innocent. Mark can be such a bully, and it was nice to see you humiliate him. Good luck on the final exams!" She gave him a small wave and quickly walked off.


    Noah smiled after her, feeling a wave of appreciation. ire was the only one who had stood up for him when Mark used him of cheating. She hadn''t needed to, but she did, and Noah respected her for that. She was a good person. "Thank you," he called after her. "And¡­ I appreciate you standing up for me. It meant a lot."


    ire''s blush deepened, and she quickly scurried away to join her friends, who were watching from afar. They huddled together, whispering excitedly amongst themselves, casting nces at Noah.


    Aiden, meanwhile, leaned forward with a grin that could only be described as pure mischief. He rubbed his hands together like a scheming viin. "Well, well, well, look at you, Newton."


    Noah frowned, confused. "Newton? What does that have to do with anything?"


    Aiden wiggled his eyebrows and smirked. "Oh, you know... Newton''sw. The greater the mass, the greater the attraction."


    Noah stared at him, still lost. "I don''t get it."


    Aiden sighed, shaking his head in mock disappointment. "Come on, man. You''ve always understood Newton''sw, right? The greater the mass... the greater the attraction. And ire..." He made a dramatic pause for effect.


    Noah blinked, and then it hit him. His eyes widened in horror as the realization of Aiden''s joke sunk in. "Are you saying¡ª" He groaned, dropping his fork. "Oh no, you didn''t just¡ª"


    Aiden burst outughing, doubling over in his chair. "I did! I did! I went there! HAHAHA!


    Noah rolled his eyes, though he couldn''t help butugh along. "You''re terrible, you know that? She''s just a nice girl, Aiden. No need to turn everything into one of your crazy fantasies."


    Aiden wiped a tear from his eye, still chuckling. "I can''t help it, man! It''s what I do. But hey, on a serious note, ire''s a good one. You''ve got her respect, and honestly, not many people would''ve stood up for you like that."


    Noah nodded, his expression turning more thoughtful. "Yeah, I know. I appreciated her doing that. People like her are rare."


    "Rare indeed," Aiden said, his tone softening for a moment. "But, I mean, still¡ªNewton''sw, dude."


    Noah shook his head,ughing again. "You really won''t let that go, huh?"


    "Nope," Aiden grinned. "Not until you admit it''s a solid joke."


    "Fine, fine," Noah sighed, raising his hands in mock surrender. "It''s a good joke. But next time, you better watch out for Newton''s thirdw¡ª''for every action, there''s an equal and opposite reaction.'' "


    Aiden''s face twisted into an exaggerated expression of mock terror. He threw his hands up in surrender, dramatically pushing his chair back as if he were retreating from an impending doom.


    "Whoa, whoa, okay! I surrender! No need to invoke Newton''s thirdw on me, my lord!" he eximed, leaning back with his arms still up, palms open, as though bracing for impact. "An ''equal and opposite reaction'' from Noah Wayne? No thanks¡ªI value my life! I''m too young to meet my maker!"


    Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!


    Creation is hard, cheer me up!

 Chapter 61 Aidens Talent

    61 Aiden''s Talent


    The day dragged on endlessly for Noah. It was one of those afternoons where time seemed to stretch.


    Thest lesson felt like background noise since he already knew all the material by heart.


    He wasn''t sitting next to Aiden, who usually kept him entertained with his goofy antics, nor was he near the school''s "cold beauty," whose silent presence, and alluring beauty could have at least given him something to admire.


    Instead, he was left alone with his thoughts and his phone which he seemingly hid from the teacher. Although he knew that the teacher knew that he was using it, but didn''t say anything due to his recent grade in the exam.


    Scrolling through social media, Noah found himself watching mukbang videos¡ªpeople eating absurdlyrge portions of food in front of the camera.


    The video he clicked on had an astounding 15 million views. Noah''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    "Damn, they must be making a fortune," he muttered, shaking his head. The person on the screen was eating a mountain of noodles and entire tters of eggs with shocking ease. It was almost mesmerizing.


    Watching the video triggered a thought. Noah smirked as Aiden popped into his mind.


    "I should really talk to him about starting a YouTube channel," Noah thought.


    "I mean, Aiden loves food, and he''s naturally hrious. He''d kill it doing mukbangs."


    The idea began to take shape in his head, and he realized something.


    "Wait, I''ve never actually checked Aiden''s talents. I only ever used Talent Finder on Mom... Hmm, let''s see."


    Noah nced over at Aiden, who was seated a few rows away, daydreaming. Without a second thought, Noah activated his skill mentally, whispering to himself, "Talent Finder!"


    [Ding!]


    Name: Aiden Shelby


    Age: 18


    Talent Grade: B, C


    Talents: Comedian, Gluttony


    Description: Aiden possesses a natural talent foredy, having an innate sense of timing and humour that can turn mundane situations intoughter-inducing moments. Through years of lifestyle choices, Aiden has developed a unique ability to consumerge amounts of food without significant adverse health effects. This talent allows him to eat far beyond the normal capacity of an average individual, though at most he may be chubby, rather than obese. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Noah blinked at the screen before him. "Of course, gluttony," he muttered, chuckling to himself. "That makes perfect sense." He couldn''t help butugh a little louder at the description, especially at the system''s mention that Aiden would only get "chubby at most."


    "This guy could eat like a truck and only get a little rounder¡­ no wonder he''s never worried about portion sizes," Noah thought.


    Leaning back in his chair, Noah mused, "Aiden really does have the potential for this. I wasn''t kidding about the mukbangs."


    Just then, the bell rang, signalling the end of the ss. Aiden bounced over to Noah''s desk, eager to chat now that the lesson was over.


    "Bro! Let''s go, Uncle Ben is waiting for us. The skewers are waiting for us!"


    Noah smiled mischievously but then got serious. "Aiden, I''ve been thinking. Did you ever consider starting a YouTube channel? I''ve been watching some mukbangs, and man, with your personality and your¡­ well, let''s just say ''unique'' talent for eating, you''d blow up."


    Aiden blinked, clearly confused. "Mukbang? Are they that popr?"


    Aiden was clearly not used to watching people eat, otherwise he would have known. Clearly, he was more focused on eating rather than watching people eat.


    "Oh yeah," Noah replied, pulling up the video on his phone to show Aiden. "Look, 15 million views. And this guy''s just eating a pile of food. You could totally do this."


    "Stop zing me, I feel shy now," Aiden said, covering his face with his hands like a shy anime girl.


    Noah rolled his eyes and smacked Aiden lightly on the head. "Screw you, dude. I was just trying to help you make a good buck. But now that I think about it, you''ll probably just end up being a broke NikAvocato."


    "And trust me, you don''t want to be a ''Broke version of him''," Noah continued.


    "Ouch! Why did you smack my head? I was just joking with you calm down. Anyway, I will give it a try but I need a good camera and stuff."


    Aiden gasped in mock horror, his eyes widening. "Ouch! A broke version of him? You really had to go there?" He rubbed the spot where Noah smacked him, faking a pout. "Why did you hit me? I was just joking! Geez, calm down."


    "Trust me, you don''t want to be a ''broke version'' of that guy," Noah said, shaking his head.


    Aiden snickered, finally dropping the shy-girl act. "Alright, alright. I''ll give it a shot. But I need a good camera and, like, some proper equipment, right? I don''t want to look like a potato on screen."


    Noah''s face brightened. "Oh, right! I forgot to give you that iPhone, so much stuff has been happeningtely. I''ll bring it tomorrow. You can use it to film your first mukbang video. It''s got a great camera, and it''s super easy to use."


    Aiden suddenly looked off to the side, his eyes darting nervously like he was guilty of lying. "Oh, yeah... the iPhone... I forgot about it too..."


    Noah raised an eyebrow, staring at his friend. "You didn''t forget. Didn''t you? why didn''t you remind me."


    Aiden chuckled awkwardly, still avoiding eye contact. "I did forget..." The guilt was written all over his face.


    "You''re something else, man," Noah said, standing up from his seat. "But it''s decided then. We''ll get you set up with that iPhone tomorrow, and you can start nning your first video. Maybe something simple like a burger challenge or a ramen showdown. You know, ease your way into bing the next big mukbang sensation."


    Aiden grinned, clearly excited by the idea. "I like the sound of that. But let''s make sure I don''t look like a total slob in the first video, alright? I''m going for charming, not rming."


    "We''ll see about that," Noah replied, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Now, I''ve got to head to the grocery store. Ipletely forgot to pick up stuff for the house for the past few days, and if I don''t do it today, we will be out of groceries."


    Aiden nodded sagely as if he understood something hidden. "Ah, the ssic grocery store run. Don''t worry, but make sure you protect the ci- I mean groceries from harm." He winked yfully.


    Noah sighed and shook his head, stifling augh. "What an idiot," he thought, watching his friend''s overly serious expression. "I''m leaving before you start giving me grocery advice."


    Without looking back, Noah waved dismissively over his shoulder and headed for the door. As the hallway echoed with Aiden''s mock salute, Noah couldn''t help but smile.

 Chapter 62 Arriving at Walls4Us

    62 Arriving at Walls4Us


    Noah then headed out of the school to the supermarket, and as someone who prioritized his family''s health, he headed to therge supermarket that specialized in organic goods. With over $300,000 in his bank ount, Noah had the financial freedom to make healthy choices. He wasn''t concerned about splurging on the best products¡ªno pesticides or herbicides, just natural, wholesome food.


    As he walked down the aisles, Noah made deliberate selections. He grabbed two kilograms of premium steak, four whole organic chickens, and three kilograms of free-rangemb.


    The meat would keep the family well-fed for 3-4 weeks. In the produce section, he carefully picked out vegetables¡ªcarrots, broli, spinach, sweet potatoes¡ªjust enough tost without spoiling.


    He added a variety of sauces, spices, and drinks to round out the meals. Being mindful, he avoided overbuying fresh fruits and vegetables; wasting food was something he didn''t want.


    By the time he reached the checkout, his cart was full. The total bill came to around $500¡ªan estimate he had already anticipated. Noah handed over his card without batting an eye. He wasn''t just buying food; he was investing in the health and well-being of his family.


    With four massive bags¡ªtwo in each hand¡ªNoah headed outside where his Uber was waiting. The bags were heavy, but Noah barely felt it. Years of consistent training made them feel like nothing more than gym bags. When the Uber pulled up in front of his house, he quickly unloaded his groceries and approached the door, knocking lightly.


    His mom, Caroline, opened the door. The moment she saw Noah carrying the oversized bags, her maternal instincts kicked in. "Oh, Noah, you troubled yourself with all this. Let me help you with those!" she said, leaning forward to grab a bag.


    Noah smiled warmly at his mom, shaking his head. "It''s alright, Mom. They''re not heavy for me. Otherwise, what''s the point of all the training I do if I can''t even carry groceries?"


    Caroline chuckled, stepping aside to let him in. "Fine, but let me help you put everything away, at least."


    They walked into the kitchen, where Noah ced the groceries on the counter. Together, they carefully organized everything¡ªthe meats were ced into the freezer, the vegetables and fruits into the fridge, and the spices and sauces into the cupboard.


    Once they finished, Noah sat down at the kitchen table while his mom poured them both a ss of water.


    "So, how are you feeling about the interview at An''s Gourmet tomorrow?" Noah asked, sipping his ss of water.


    Caroline nodded, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "I feel good, but I''m a little nervous, it''s because I have never done an interview before you know? I''ll try my best."


    "You''ve got nothing to worry about, Mom. You''re an amazing cook, and you got this," Noah encouraged her. "I''ll call them and make sure the interview is set for 4:30 tomorrow. Is that time okay?"


    "Perfect," she said, smiling gratefully. "I''ll be ready."


    After chatting with his mom for a while longer about the uing interview and the usual family updates, Noah realized he still had some personal matters to take care of. Standing up, he grabbed his phone, ready to head out.


    "I''ve been so caught up with everything, I haven''t even checked out thepanies under my nametely," he mused to himself.


    He needed to see how things were running at Walls4Us.


    However, Noah wasn''t in the mood to make a high-profile visit. He decided against using any of his luxury cars, opting instead for another Uber. If he showed up in his fancy ride, the staff might act differently around him, and he wanted to observe the business as it truly operated¡ªwithout anyone knowing who he was.


    When he arrived at Walls4Us headquarters, Noah stepped out of the Uber and admired the building''s sleek design.


    It was an impressive setup, modern and clean. As he walked inside, he was greeted by a receptionist who radiated professional charm.


    "Wee to Walls4Us. How may I help you today, sir?" the receptionist asked, her kind smile widening as she took in Noah''s presence.


    Noah nced around, making sure no one was listening before leaning in slightly. "I wanted to work here, but before I apply, I have a question," he whispered, his voice low and confidential. "How do the managers treat the employees here? I''ve heard different things, and I want to know the truth."


    The receptionist, momentarily stunned by his handsome features and the tantalizing scent that seemed to waft from him, blinked, her mind racing.


    Noah''s proximity, his cologne, and the way he spoke made her head spin for a moment.


    It was as if Noah was exuding a natural maism¡ªwhether it was his looks or something else, she couldn''t quite put her finger on it, but she felt drawn to him. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Struggling to maintain her professionalposure, she replied, "Oh, well, our managers are actually quite good. They treat the staff fairly, and there''s a lot of room for growth here."


    She paused, as Noah''s intoxicating smell and the softness of his whisper made her slightly flustered. She felt as if he was pulling her into a secret world, making her heart race.


    "That''s good to hear," Noah said, smiling gently. "You know, I want to make sure it''s a positive ce before I start. Thest thing I want is to join apany where the staff feel mistreated." He stepped back slightly, breaking the spell just enough to let her breathe.


    The receptionist, still slightly flustered, nodded quickly and responded, "I-I''m sure you''ll find it a great ce to work, sir. Let me know if you need any more information."


    Noah gave her a polite smile, "Okay, thank you." He turned away from the reception desk and moved toward the seating area, finding a quiet corner. Taking out his phone, he dialled a number, his fingers moving with practised ease. After a couple of rings, a voice answered on the other end.


    "Hello, Mr. Thompson," came the voice of John, the CEO of Walls4Us. His tone was respectful, even slightly nervous. He knew exactly who was calling¡ªNoah Thompson, the enigmatic owner who had bought the entirepany''s shares in a single transaction. John had only spoken with Noah once before, a brief conversation where Noah gave him a stern warning, leading to the firing of a director and a site manager.


    The absence of direct involvement had left John on edge, always wondering what Noah''s next move would be.


    "Where are you right now?" Noah asked, his tone casual but carrying an underlying authority.


    "I''m in my office, sir. I just finished a meeting with a client who was harassed by one of our former site managers," John replied, sounding relieved to give a productive answer.


    Noah''s curiosity piqued, and his eyes narrowed slightly. "What''s her name?" he asked, feeling an impending doom arrive.


    There was a brief pause before John spoke again, "Sarah, sir."


    The moment John said the name, Noah heard the soft chime of the elevator from across the room.


    His heart skipped a beat as the doors opened, and out stepped Sarah. It was as if John had conspired against him at that very moment.


    His eyes locked with hers, and for a brief second, time seemed to stand still. His mind raced, and his pulse quickened. Of all the people to walk out of that elevator right now¡­ why her?


    Noah cursed internally, not just at the situation but at John for giving him the name just a second toote. He quickly ended the call, his brain working overtime to figure out how to handle the sudden, awkward encounter.


    John on the other side of the phone, was confused.


    "Did I do something wrong?"


    "Shit, I''m gonna get FIRED!" Said John, as he paced in the room with anxiety building within him, with each passing second.


    Sarah, standing just two meters away, also seemed caught off guard. Her face flushed as their eyes met, and her own heart thudded loudly in her chest. The air between them felt heavy, filled with unsaid words and emotions neither of them was ready to confront.


    Sarah, clearly flustered, tried to recover as she approached him. "Good mor¡ªuh, I mean, good afternoon," she stammered, her words stumbling over each other as her nerves betrayed her.


    "Good afternoon," Noah replied, nodding curtly. He was doing his best to maintainposure, but he could feel his own awkwardness creeping into his voice.


    For a moment, they just stood there, both of them unsure of what to say. The proximity¡ªbeing only a few steps apart¡ªmade the silence even more unbearable.


    Sarah, still visibly shaken, forced a smile and asked, "What are you doing here, Noah?"


    Noah, caught off guard by the question, scrambled for a believable answer. "I-I''m here to check this ce out. I was nning to build a small shop," he said, trying to sound casual, but the words came out less confidently than he intended.


    Sarah nodded, her face still slightly pink. "I see. Well, good luck with that. Bye," she said quickly, clearly wanting to escape the situation as fast as possible. Without waiting for a proper response, she turned on her heels and hurried away, her footsteps echoing in the lobby as she made a beeline for the exit.


    Her entire demeanour screamed of someone running from an awkward encounter, and Noah could only sigh as he watched her disappear around the corner.


    Rubbing the back of his neck, Noah exhaled deeply. "That was... awkward," he muttered to himself. He took a moment to collect his thoughts before pulling out his phone again. He tapped John''s number once more, listening as the line rang.


    "Sir?" John answered, his voice shaken and worried.


    Noah didn''t waste time. "Come down to the lobby," he said, his tone sharper than before. He wasn''t angry, but the series of awkward events had put him on edge, and he needed to focus on business now. "I''ll be waiting."


    "Yes, sir. I''ll be right down," John replied, his voice filled with a mix of worry and urgency. Hanging up the phone, Noah ran a hand through his hair, shaking off the lingering awkwardness from his encounter with Sarah.


    As John headed down, he muttered to himself with a crying expression.


    "He definitely called me down, so he can fire me."


    As he stood waiting for John, Noah''s thoughts drifted back to Sarah. Their eyes had only met for a brief moment, but it was enough to stir something inside him that he tried to bury. "A real man is one who fears the death of his heart, not of his body," muttered Noah, as he calmed his emotions.


    He realised that he couldn''t escape it anymore, burying his emotions was only gonna burden his heart and weaken him.


    "I will make sure to end this today, either this is resolved or we part in peace."


    Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!


    Creation is hard, cheer me up!


    Risaliyah

 Chapter 63 Mysterious Boss

    63 Mysterious Boss


    As Noah stood in the lobby near the entrance, waiting for John, the familiar chime of the elevator echoed through therge space. "Ding." The sound pulled Noah''s attention to the far end of the room, where John emerged.


    The CEO John, with a nervous yet eager smile, hurried his steps toward Noah, who stood about 10 meters away, far from the elevator''s immediate view.


    The receptionist, was still at her desk, not noticing John''s anxious demeanour.


    As he passed, she called out politely, "Good afternoon, CEO John." But John, too preupied with the looming presence of his mysterious boss, didn''t hear her. He was too focused on reaching Noah.


    Her curiosity piqued, the receptionist furrowed her brow, watching as John walked straight toward the young man she had just spoken to.


    "Why is the president walking to that handsome man?" she wondered, her mind racing. "Do they know each other?"


    She recalled their earlier conversation¡ªhe had said he was looking for work.


    But as she watched, John came to a halt directly in front of Noah, offering a respectful, almost submissive bow. "Sorry, boss," he said in a hushed tone, his anxiety clear in his voice. "I''mte."


    It was as if a bomb went off inside the receptionist''s head. Her eyes widened in shock.


    "This handsome young man was the new, mysterious owner of Walls4Us?"


    "The one responsible for the abrupt firing of both a director and a site manager?" She felt a wave of disbelief wash over her, followed by a cold sweat building on her back.


    "So, he was testing me earlier," she realized, feeling both relieved and embarrassed. As Noah nced over at her and shed a quick, confident smile, she shuddered, his quiet dominance and striking good looks sending an unexpected chill down her spine.


    "He''s way out of my league," she sighed internally, resigning herself to the fact that there was no chance with someone like him. Shaking off the interaction, she turned back to her work, trying to busy herself and recover from the humbling encounter with her ''boss.''


    Noah and John proceeded through the building and finally arrived at John''s office. The space wasrge and neatly organized, with modern furniture and amanding view of the city skyline through the wide windows. John gestured to the main seat behind his desk and said, "Please, sir, take the seat."


    Noah hesitated for a moment. He didn''t particrly enjoy sitting in the ''big boss'' seat, but he knew he had to project authority within his ownpany. If he didn''t, people might mistake his kindness for weakness.


    He also understood the need to strike a bnce¡ªstern in business but approachable in personal matters. Taking the seat, he settled into the leather chair, leaning back slightly as he assessed the situation.


    John remained standing awkwardly, waiting for Noah''s approval to sit down, his posture tense. Noah nced up at him and raised an eyebrow. "Please, Take a seat John," he said calmly, motioning to the chair.


    John quickly sat down, still visibly nervous under Noah''s scrutinizing gaze.


    Noah didn''t waste any time. "John, how has thepany been doing?" he asked, his voice steady and firm.


    John straightened up and, with a sense of pride, began listing thepany''s performance metrics. "Thepany''s been doing great, boss. We''ve signed five major contracts this month, each with high-value clients in the construction and architectural industries. Revenue has increased by 12%pared tost quarter, and our profit margins have risen to around 25%. We''re expecting an even better close to the quarter due to somerger projects we''re finishing up in the next two weeks."


    He continued, "Additionally, we''ve expanded our portfolio with three new sites, and we''re negotiating contracts for two more. The total revenue for this month is projected to be around $4 million, and profits after expenses should hover around $1 million. We''re growing steadily, sir."


    Noah nodded, processing the information. The numbers were promising, but Noah wasn''t just interested in the surface-level sesses. There were deeper issues that needed addressing.


    "When are the dividends paid out?" Noah asked next. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "The dividends, sir, are paid out every two weeks, as per your instructions," John replied. "Since you''re the sole shareholder, you''ll be receiving them directly."


    Noah leaned back in his chair, nodding again. "Good. Now tell me, what''s the situation with Charles?"


    John''s expression shifted slightly. He knew this was a sensitive topic. "We followed through on your orders to terminate Charles," he exined. "It led to the firing of his uncle, the director, as well. We''ve beenbing through their records, but... I''m afraid we haven''t found anything yet, sir."


    Noah''s eyebrows lifted. He didn''t believe for a second that Charles had been as clean as the records suggested. His instincts told him there was more to the story. "There''s no way that guy''s spotless," Noah thought to himself. He knew Charles, and the man was far from innocent. There had to be something buried in those records.


    His mind raced for a moment. "There''s a mole," he thought, but he didn''t voice it. Instead, he said, "I see."


    Noah''s eyes narrowed, and after a moment of silence, he said, "Take me to thew director."


    John''s eyes widened slightly, but he nodded and rose from his seat. "Of course, sir. Right this way."


    Thew director was the one tasked with the investigation.


    "Could it be that he..." John, thought as he started getting a bad feeling about it.


    As they made their way through the halls of the headquarters, Noah''s mind was still focused on uncovering the truth. If there was anything shady happening, thew director would have the records¡ªor, at the very least, would know how to find them.


    When they reached thew director''s office, the door was slightly ajar. Inside, the director himself was seated casually at his desk, his legs crossed as he leaned back in his chair, ying a game on his phone.


    He looked far too rxed for someone who should have been pouring overpany records. His office was in pristine condition¡ªalmost too pristine for someone dealing with legal matters, which only made Noah more suspicious.


    Without knocking, John opened the door fully, and Noah stepped in.


    Startled, thew director jerked upright. His eyes red in anger. "Who opened the door without knocking?!" he barked, his tone sharp andmanding. He was clearly not used to being disturbed, much less in such a casual manner.


    But as his gaze fell on Noah, his posture stiffened. The young man standing in front of him had an aura of quiet power that made him feel exposed. Those sharp, eagle-like eyes seemed to pierce through him as if they could see every secret he had tried so hard to bury.


    "Who are you? What are you doing here?" thew director demanded, his voice rising in agitation. "Get out!"


    Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!


    Creation is hard, cheer me up!

 Chapter 64 A punishment

    64 A punishment


    "Who are you? What are you doing here?" thew director demanded, his voice rising in agitation. "Get out!"


    Thew director''s phone slipped from his hands, ttering onto his desk as his arrogance swiftly turned into fear.


    The moment the reality of who he was speaking to hit him, he could feel the cold sweat forming on his forehead. "This is Boss Noah", he thought, panic washing over him. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Quickly standing up, he forced a nervous smile and walked toward Noah. "I-I''m sorry, Boss. I really didn''t know it was you. I thought you were some random person invading my privacy." His voice was shaky as he spoke, trying to maintain hisposure.


    As he nced at the young man before him, a small thought crept into his mind. "He''s so young... he''s an easy-to-scam rich second generation.." An evil smirk tried to tug at the corners of his mind, but he quickly suppressed it, hiding his intentions.


    Noah wasn''t having any of it. His eyes bore into thew director with a piercing coldness, his voice t and upromising. "Why are you not doing your work?" There was no room for excuses in his tone¡ªit was a direct challenge.


    Thew director, sensing the danger but still trying to worm his way out, put on his most ttering tone. "I was on my break, sir. I just started my break a few minutes ago," he said, smiling weakly as if hoping to diffuse the situation.


    Noah''s gaze didn''t soften. Instead, he turned toward John, standing by his side, observing everything with growing unease. "Is it break time?" Noah asked pointedly, his voice carrying the same cold edge.


    John swallowed nervously, trying to steady his voice. "To be honest, sir, the directors are allowed two hours of break throughout the day. They pick the time as long as they meet the requirements of their work. That''s been thepany rule."


    Noah''s eyes narrowed. There it was, the culture of entitlement that had allowedziness to fester in the higher levels of management. Conflict was necessary to push change¡ªthis was the moment to shift the power dynamics. Thepany''s rules needed to reflect a standard of ountability and discipline, notx privilege.


    "Okay," Noah said, his voice firm. "From now on, all directors need to report the time they take breaks to you, John. You will make sure everyone is doing their job. Understood?"


    "Yes, sir!" John replied, feeling the pressure rise in the room. A bead of sweat rolled down his neck, and he couldn''t help but feel grateful that he wasn''t the one in the hot seat right now.


    Noah turned his attention back to thew director, whose once-angry expression had long faded. The atmosphere around them shifted, tension thickening as Noah spoke. "What happened with the investigation into the financial records?"


    Thew director''s confidence tried to resurface, but it faltered under Noah''s cold scrutiny. With a slight scoff in his mind, he answered, "Nothing, sir. There''s no foul y in the financial records." In his mind, he sneered.


    "This kid thinks just because he has money, he cane in here and change everything? I''ve hidden things so well, there''s no way he''ll find anything. With him in charge, my sry will increase."


    He almostughed internally at how easily he believed he could manipte Noah.


    But before thew director could revel in his imagined victory, a familiar sound echoed in Noah''s mind:


    [Ding! The Ultimate Choice System has been activated!]


    Option 1: Investigate the financial records for any embezzlement or foul y. [Rewards: Intermediate ountant Skill & $150,000]


    Option 2: Ask the director to investigate the financial records again to make sure. [Rewards: Basic ountant Skill]


    Option 3: Don''t bother with the financial records¡ªit''s too much work. [Rewards: Several thousand dors]


    With the choices looming in his mind, Noah''s decision was clear. He wasn''t about to let a potential snake like thew director slither inside his nest.


    "Option 1!" Noah''s mind resonated with the thought as the familiar "ding" faded, and instantly, a flood of knowledge overtook him.


    Financial models, ounting principles, and the expertise of legendary bankers like J.P. Morgan shed before his eyes. Complex forms and sharp analytical processes sharpened his mind as if he''d been practicing ounting for decades.


    His eyes turned cold as he fixed his gaze on thew director, now seated with a growing unease. "Show me the records," Noahmanded, his voice leaving no room for excuses or dys.


    Thew director, feeling a sudden shiver of doubt, stared at Noah. "Does the boss have a degree in ounting?" He wondered, his arrogance making room for a sliver of uncertainty.


    Noah, with his piercing gaze, didn''t need to offer long exnations. "No," he said, his voice calm but carrying the weight of the unexpected. "I''m a high schooler."


    Thew director''s face twitched slightly. "A high schooler?!" The thought burned in his mind, his initial fear melting back into disdain.


    "He''s just a kid ying boss." The director scoffed inwardly, the malicious smirk hidden behind a neutral facade.


    "Okay, boss," he replied, keeping his voice level. In his mind, though, the young boss now seemed even more naive and vulnerable.


    "This will be easy."


    He moved toward theputer, pulling up the financial records. His fingers hovered over the mouse, clicking methodically as he essed the files. Noah stood directly behind him, watching his every movement with the intensity of an eagle observing its prey. Thew director, feeling the weight of Noah''s presence, printed all the documents Noah had requested, confident that this "kid" wouldn''t have the skill to analyze theplex data.


    As the printer churned out pages of financial reports, Noah stood quietly, nodding slightly as thest sheet rolled out.


    "This man thinks I can''t analyze the records," Noah thought, noticing the subtle shift in the director''s posture.


    Thew director rxed, his movements more fluid now, as though the worst was over. But for Noah, the real work had only just begun.


    Noah moved to a nearby table with the stack of papers in hand, flipping through the records swiftly. His mind, now equipped with the expertise of world-ss ountants, immediately went to work. His focus was unbreakable, his demeanour calm but intense. As he scanned the pages, John and thew director stood by, watching him with different emotions ying out in their minds. John, his forehead beaded with sweat, hoped there wouldn''t be any trouble.


    Thew director, on the other hand, was filled with smug satisfaction, convinced Noah was only going through the motions.


    Thirty minutes passed, and the tension in the room grew heavier with each tick of the clock. Noah''s eyes scanned thest line of numbers, and with a final flip, he ced the papers neatly on the table.


    His expression was unreadable. He stood up slowly, exuding a quiet, dominant energy that filled the room.


    Without looking at thew director, Noah turned to John. His words were firm and cold. "Call the police."


    John froze for a second, blinking in shock.


    A single sentence, yet it sent a wave of panic through the air. John nodded quickly, his hand fumbling for his phone. "Y-Yes, sir!" he stammered, dialling the emergency number with trembling fingers.


    Thew director, who had been watching from his seat, felt a sharp pang of confusion. "Why are we calling the police?" His face paled as he realized something was very wrong.


    His voice, previously filled with arrogance, now wavered slightly. "Why are we calling the police, sir? Is¡­ is something wrong?" His tone, though feigning innocence, wasced with fear.


    Noah didn''t respond. His silence was more terrifying than any reprimand. He simply stared ahead, his thoughts carefully concealed.


    Thew director shifted in his seat, his thoughts swirling in chaos. "Did he find something? Was it possible? No, that couldn''t be."


    "I had hidden everything too well, this kid didn''t even know what he was reading."


    His mind raced. "He''s trying to scare me into confessing. That''s it."


    His nerves tensed, but he clung to his internal narrative. "He couldn''t have found anything. He''s bluffing."


    But as the minutes dragged on in silence, thew director''s certainty wavered. Every second that passed felt like an eternity.


    The stillness in the room, with Noah standing like a silent storm ready to strike, only intensified the fear gnawing at him. His thoughts tumbled one over the other, unable to focus.


    "What if he did find something?"


    The tension snapped when, twenty minutester, a knock sounded on the office door, and two uniformed police officers entered the room.


    Thew director''s heart sank. He felt cold, mmy dread flood his body as the officers made their way toward Noah, who turned to greet them with a nod.


    "Officers," Noah said, his voice calm yet carrying the weight of his authority. "I need you to conduct an investigation into financial misconduct."


    Thew director''s blood ran cold. This wasn''t a bluff.


    His smirk, his arrogance, all of it was crumbling under the weight of Noah''s quiet dominance. The value shift wasplete¡ªNoah was no longer just a young, naive owner. Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!


    Creation is hard, cheer me up!


    Risaliyah

 Chapter 65 Invisible Chains

    65 Invisible Chains


    "Officers," Noah said, his voice calm yet carrying the weight of his authority. "I need you to conduct an investigation into financial misconduct."


    Thew director''s blood ran cold. This wasn''t a bluff.


    His smirk, his arrogance, all of it was crumbling under the weight of Noah''s quiet dominance. The value shift wasplete¡ªNoah was no longer just a young, naive owner. The room fell silent as two officers stood there, their presence immediatelymanding attention.


    A tall, stunningly beautiful woman stepped forward, her dark blue uniform crisp, and her posture exuding authority. Noah''s sharp eyes caught the emblem on her shoulder, the stars suggesting a high rank¡ªstaff sergeant.


    She wasn''t just a regr officer; this was someone used to handling serious cases.


    "Good afternoon," she said, her tone professional yet carrying an edge of authority that left no room for casual conversation. "I''m Rachel Miller, staff sergeant. I understand there''s been an issue regarding financial misconduct?"


    Her eyes moved swiftly across the room,nding on thew director, who appeared visibly nervous. The badge glinted under the fluorescent lights, a stark contrast to the beads of sweat beginning to form on his forehead.


    Noah, always observant, wondered for a brief moment why someone of her rank had shown up.


    "Perhaps she had been nearby or maybe there was more at y." Either way, he wasn''t going to waste time pondering it.


    The stakes had escted. This was no longer a business issue; it was a legal one. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Yes, Sergeant Miller," Noah began, stepping forward with a calm but authoritative voice, his hands resting casually by his sides.


    "My name is Noah Thompson. I am the owner of Walls4Us." He gestured toward John with a slight nod. "This is our CEO, John, and over here¡­" Noah''s gaze shifted coldly to thew director, "is our currentw director."


    Rachel nodded as she followed Noah''s gesture, her professional expression never wavering. Noah continued, "Thew director was tasked with investigating records for any signs of embezzlement by a previously fired director and site manager. Both were dismissed for hical practices, including bribery and using various tactics to coerce other parties into signing contracts with ourpany."


    Rachel''s expression tightened at the mention of hical behaviour, her disgust evident in the way her lips pressed together.


    "I see," she said, folding her arms and locking her gaze on thew director. "Is that true? Were you asked to conduct this investigation?"


    Thew director''s face was pale, and his legs shifted ufortably. His once smug demeanor was crumbling. Noah had forced the questioning on him, pushing him from confident to vulnerable. He nodded, his voice shaky.


    "Yes¡­ yes, I was asked. I investigated the records thoroughly, and I found nothing. They''re clean. But the boss¡ª" he nodded in Noah''s direction, "¡ªhe wanted to investigate them himself."


    Rachel''s sharp gaze flicked to Noah, a slight nod of approval in her stance, but before she could ask, Noah spoke up, his voice cutting through the tension in the room.


    "I did investigate myself, and what I found was enough to prove that this man," Noah pointed directly at thew director, "is guilty of embezzlement himself. He''s been colluding with the previously fired employees, hiding evidence of their embezzlement, and siphoning funds through meticulously disguised transactions."


    Noah''s words hit the room like a bomb. Rachel''s eyes widened slightly, though she remainedposed. Thew director, however, lost his cool. His face turned red, and hisposure shattered.


    "Impossible!" thew director blurted, his voice trembling with barely contained rage. "How could you¡­? You''re just a high schooler!" His face twisted in frustration as he stepped forward, his voice growing more desperate. "You have no clue what you''re talking about! These are serious usations, young man. I will sue you for defamation. Be careful!"


    Noah, unbothered by the man''s outburst, smirked¡ªa key shift in the directors'' attitude.


    He got him where he wanted him to be, he made him emotional so he could make him confess himself, and there wouldn''t be a need for going to court again and again. Otherwise, if thew director said he wasn''t involved or still investigating, it would be a problem.


    He had made him dig his own grave, by making him talk whilst clearly not ready for such a confrontation.


    "We''ll see in court," he said, his voice cool and unwavering. He turned toward John. "Bring me a pen."


    John, whose nerves had been fraying throughout the entire confrontation, jumped at themand. He quickly fetched a pen from his desk and handed it over to Noah with trembling hands. Noah took the pen and started highlighting various transactions in the stack of papers he had been analyzing.


    As he worked, thew director watched with growing dread, his confidence eroding with every highlight Noah made. After a few minutes, Noah put the pen down and handed the papers to Rachel.


    "Here''s the proof," Noah said firmly, his voice leaving no room for doubt. "I want these taken to court. I also request that this man be ced under house arrest¡ªor in prison¡ªpending further investigation from your department."


    Rachel took the documents, scanning the highlighted sections carefully. She nodded after a moment, her gaze hardening as she processed what Noah had presented. Thew director, seeing the growing seriousness on her face, felt panic rising in his chest.


    "No!" he shouted, his voice desperate now. "You can''t arrest me without proper proof! This is absurd! He''s lying! How do you know he''s not just making all of this up?"


    Rachel''s icy gaze locked onto him, silencing his outburst instantly. She stepped forward, her voice calm but carrying the weight of authority. "We can arrest you under suspicion of embezzlement and for hiding evidence. There is enough here for suspicion, but not yet enough to convict you. You''lle with us, and the investigation will proceed from there."


    Thew director opened his mouth to argue, but Rachel cut him off swiftly, the rehearsed words ofw enforcement rolling off her tongue. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court ofw¡­" She continued as the officers prepared to take him away.


    Noah stood back, watching the scene unfold. His job was done for now. Rachel, after finishing the formalities, turned back to Noah, her professional demeanour softening slightly. "I''ll need your number," she said, pulling out her phone, "so we can keep you updated on the progress of the case."


    Noah nodded and provided his contact information. Before she left, he said, "There are two more individuals you''ll want to question. Charles, the fired site manager, and his uncle, Smith, who was previously one of our directors. Both were involved in the misconduct."


    Rachel made a note on her phone, nodding as she wrote down the names. "Thank you, Mr. Thompson," she said. "We''ll make sure to follow up with them. I''ll contact you if there are any updates on the case."


    As Rachel and the officers left with thew director in custody, the tension in the room seemed to release, but only for a moment. John, who had been silently watching the entire scene, felt a cold sweat running down his back.


    His heart pounded in his chest. This was a major error, and it revealed not only thew director''s betrayal but also his own failure to oversee thepany''s operations properly. He wasn''t sure if he could hold onto his job after this.


    John''s mind raced as he watched Noah. The young man who had just dismantled an experiencedw director was no ordinary high schooler.


    John stood frozen, the weight of Noah''s presence pressing down on him like a mountain. His mind, normally sharp and decisive, had been shattered by the rapid and cold execution of two directors in a single week.


    The stakes had never been higher, and now, here he was, facing the crisis of his career¡ªcaught in the aftermath of a scandal that threatened not just his job but his entire future.


    "He isn''t a high schooler¡­ He''s a demon." The thought raced through John''s mind, a cold sweat running down his back as he stared at Noah.


    The young owner of Walls4Us was anything but ordinary. Noah wasn''t just some rich kid ying CEO¡ªhe was sharp, ruthless, and terrifyingly effective.


    In just days, Noah had uprooted the corruption that had been festering beneath the surface, and now John was standing in the crosshairs.


    Noah''s cold gaze met John''s, unblinking, with a calcted calm that made the older man feel like his every thought was being dissected. "John," Noah said, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife.


    John''s throat tightened. "Y-yes, Sir!" he stammered, his voice cracking under the pressure. He felt as though his legs were about to give out beneath him. His stomach churned as the invisible weight of Noah''s authority crushed him.


    Noah''s expression didn''t change as he asked, "You know what you''ve done, right?"


    John swallowed hard, his heart hammering in his chest. "Y-yes, Sir!" he stammered again, his voice barely above a whisper. His mind scrambled to form coherent thoughts, but all he could think of was the devastation that was surelying.


    Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!


    Risaliyah


    Creator''s Thought

 Chapter 66 Invisible Chains (2)

    66 Invisible Chains (2)


    "You know what I can do, right?" Noah added, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, though it was anything but friendly.


    The smile sent a shiver down John''s spine. He had seen that same look right before Noah dismantled thew director''s defences and had him arrested on the spot. This wasn''t just a question¡ªNoah was reminding him of the sheer power he held over him.


    "Y-ye-yes," John stuttered, his voice faltering even more. His mind was racing with panic. He couldn''t afford to lose his job¡ªhe''d just taken out a mortgage, and with his wife expecting another child, the thought of unemployment terrified him. If he was fired now, his career as a CEO would be finished, and finding another job would be nearly impossible with the stain of this scandal hanging over him.


    Desperation wed at John as he took a step forward, pleading, "Boss, please¡ªdon''t fire me. I beg you." His voice cracked, and he could feel his dignity slipping away, but none of it mattered if he lost his job.


    "I''ve worked with those men for years, I thought they were trustworthy. I swear, I was blinded by our past. But I swear to you, Boss, I won''t make the same mistake again. Please, I have a kid on the way¡ªthree more children to care for. Please, have mercy."


    John''s desperation rang in the air, every word soaked with fear. Noah stood there silently, watching him, but John could see no flicker of sympathy in the young owner''s eyes. The cold, calcted stare remained as Noah listened, taking in every word with quiet detachment.


    For a brief moment, Noah''s expression softened slightly. John could see something¡ªa sh of understanding perhaps? Either way, John felt that he had a chance, but Noah wasn''t going to let him off the hook so easily.


    "You know," Noah began, his voice calm but icy, "I warned you before¡ªright after we fired Charles and Smith." His gaze hardened, and his words cut deep. "But clearly, that warning wasn''t important enough to you."


    John''s heart sank. He had no excuses left, no more defenses to hide behind. "I-I did, Sir," he replied, his head bowed. "I made sure to check the employees and the managers, but¡­ not the directors."


    Noah''s eyes narrowed, the coldness of his gaze making John feel smaller and smaller. "That was a substantial mistake, wasn''t it?"


    "It was," John whispered, barely able to meet Noah''s eyes. His shame weighed heavily on him now, his past oversight bing a monumental error that had brought thepany to the brink.


    For a long moment, Noah said nothing, simply watching John as if deciding whether to strike him down or let him live. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Noah spoke again, his voice low and deadly serious. "John, I''m giving you one final chance. If you fail me again like this, I promise you¡ªyou''ll regret it deeply."


    John nodded vigorously, his voice trembling as he replied, "Yes, Boss. I understand. I won''t fail you again."


    Noah continued, his words cutting like a de, "I''ll be promoting someone from thew department to act as the neww director. Furthermore, you won''t receive any bonuses for the next two years. If you prove to me that you can expand theapny and properly do your job, maybe, just maybe, I''ll reduce it to one year. But understand this: your leash is short, John."


    John''s heart raced, his mind barely processing what Noah had just said. He wasn''t being fired.


    Despite everything, he was being given a second chance¡ªat a price, but a second chance nheless.


    Relief washed over him, though it was tempered by the realization that his position was hanging by a thread.


    "I won''t fail you, Boss," John said, his voice resolute despite the sweat dripping down his back. "I promise. I''ll make sure thispany rises higher than ever before."


    "I can''t fail him, he gave me a chance that even I wouldn''t give to myself. He saved me and my family from breaking down." thought John, as tears began forming in his eyes but he quickly wiped them.


    "Good." Noah turned slightly, heading toward the door. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Now,e with me to meet the new director from thew department. I expect you to be there."


    John followed, his legs shaky but his mind sharp.


    As they walked down the hall, John''s thoughts raced, already formting ns on how to salvage his reputation and prove his loyalty to Noah. This wasn''t just about saving his job anymore¡ªit was about repaying the life-long favour. Every few moments, he nced at Noah''s back, the young man''s steady and casual stride belying the ruthlessness that John had just witnessed firsthand.


    John''s inner monologue was frantic, and calcting.


    "I have to fix this. I have to prove I''m worth keeping around. He''s given me a chance when no one else would. This mistake¡ªthis colossal error¡ªcould''ve ended me. But he spared me."


    The memory of the cold, lethal gaze Noah had given thew director sent shivers down his spine. Noah''s decision to jail the man without so much as a blink had terrified John. He had underestimated him, thinking he was just a young, new owner with more money than sense. But now, standing in the shadow of his terrifyingly effective maniption, John realized just how deep Noah''s ns ran.


    Noah''s mind, however, was working on apletely different level, analyzing every single move like a game of chess.


    "John was easy to y," Noah thought with a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, careful not to let it show too clearly. "He''s now utterly loyal. He sees me as both his executioner and his savior¡ªa delicate bnce of fear and gratitude."


    Noah had orchestrated everything to perfection. From the moment he had ordered the initial investigation into Charles and Smith, it wasn''t about catching just them¡ªit was about sending a message to John and every other senior leader in thepany. He hadn''t needed to dig deep for this. Their arrogance had made it easy to exploit their loyalty to old colleagues, and Noah had set the perfect trap. He knew John was smart enough to catch the signals but desperate enough to fall into line when the stakes were raised.


    The cold-hearted execution of thew director had been a deliberate performance. The calm, calcting way Noah hadid out the evidence, and the equally icy way he had instructed the police to arrest him had shaken John to his core. But now, as they walked side by side, Noah could practically feel John''s newfound loyalty, forged in fear and gratitude.


    John''s thoughts turned frantic again.


    "I''ll never let this happen again. I''ll make this right. I''ll exceed his expectations. I''ll protect thispany and him. He was fair. He could''ve thrown me to the wolves, but he didn''t." John''s inner voice was practically pleading with himself. "The boss is so kind, so wise. He gave me a lifeline. This is my second chance."


    What John didn''t realize was that Noah had nted that very thought in his mind. Noah''s face had been carefullyposed as he delivered the ultimatum¡ªstern but not heartless, cold but not uncaring. It was a masterful performance, designed to bend John''s will, making him grateful for the very chains being ced on him.


    Now, walking behind Noah, John felt something strange. It wasn''t fear anymore¡ªit was admiration, mixed with awe. He saw the young boss not just as his superior, but as someone who had pulled him back from the edge of ruin. John was already nning how to make amends, how to prove his loyalty, and above all, how to never disappoint this enigmatic figure again.


    Noah, however, was thinking two steps ahead, knowing John''s every move would now be centred around pleasing him. That''s how you controlled men like John: You gave them just enough hope to cling to, but always with a shadow of fear looming behind.


    "The more they owe you, the more they fear you," Noah mused silently, his smirk deepening just slightly as John fumbled to keep pace.


    Noah had always believed power came from controlling people''s fears and desires¡ªand John had just be histest puppet in the intricate web he was weaving.


    He allowed himself one fleeting nce backwards, catching John''s awe-struck expression, before speaking again in a calm, almost casual tone.


    "Remember, John," Noah said without turning his head, his voice soft yetced with a cold edge, "one more mistake, and you''ll wish I had fired you."


    John swallowed hard, nodding vigorously, the weight of Noah''s words crashing over him. "Y-Yes, sir! I won''t let you down."


    Noah didn''t respond, his smirk returning as he kept his gaze forward. The silence that followed was filled with John''s mental panic, but Noah knew that silence could be as powerful a weapon as any words. He had John exactly where he wanted him¡ªgrateful, terrified, and eager to serve.


    This wasn''t just about cleaning up thepany; it was about establishing an empire¡ªone built on the perfectly calcted loyalty of those too afraid to do anything but follow his everymand.


    With every step down that hallway, Noah''s grip tightened on thepany, on John, and on his own growing power.

 Chapter 67 New Law Director

    67 New Law Director


    Noah and John walked together into the shared office space of thew department, where the atmosphere buzzed with the daily hum of chatter, clicking keyboards, and the asional burst ofughter.


    Noah''s gaze was calm and measured, while John followed closely, looking tense but respectful¡ªstill shaken from the earlier confrontation.


    As Noah entered, the energy in the room shifted. He could feel the eyes of the employees turning toward him.


    Some were curious, some confused, and others surprised at the presence of this unfamiliar young man. A few whispers trickled through the room.


    "Who''s that guy?" one employee muttered under their breath, ncing over at Noah.


    "He looks way too young, Is he a new hire?" another spected, looking puzzled.


    A group of women at the far end of the room exchanged nces, stifling giggles. One leaned over to her colleague, whispering, "Oh my God, he''s so handsome! I hope he is a new employee. I need to shoot my shot."


    Noah didn''t acknowledge any of this. He moved with purpose, the casual swagger of someone who knew exactly where he stood.


    He took in the environment¡ªthe nervous nces, the intrigued whispers¡ªbut his face remained impassive, hiding the calcting thoughts swirling inside his head.


    Beside him, John''s anxiety was evident, but he straightened his back, trying to maintain hisposure.


    John pped his hands, the sharp sound cutting through the murmurs. "Everyone, stop what you''re doing. We have an important announcement."


    The employees immediately hushed, turning their attention toward him. The room fell into a strange, almost eerie silence. They knew something wasing, but none of them expected the bombshell that was about to be dropped.


    John cleared his throat, ncing at Noah, who gave him a slight nod. Taking a deep breath, John began, "There''s been a major development within thepany today. Thew director of this department has been taken into custody for suspicion of embezzlement and collusion with the previously fired director, Smith."


    Gasps filled the room. Thew director? The man they worked under every day, suddenly arrested? It was a bombshell. Some of them exchanged wide-eyed looks, others whispered nervously to each other.


    John continued, his voice carrying a mixture of regret and humility, "Unfortunately, I was deceived by him. Due to my negligence, I ced too much trust in someone who was manipting thepany from the inside. But thanks to..." His eyes turned toward Noah with a look of genuine admiration, his voice reverent, "our boss, Noah Thompson, the true owner of Walls4Us, we were able to uncover the crimes."


    Noah remained still as John spoke, his presencemanding without any effort. His face was unreadable, a mask of calm that only heightened the tension in the room.


    "The boss personally reviewed the records," John continued, "and found the evidence that thew director had hidden. He has been arrested and is now facing serious charges. He''ll likely serve at least eight years in prison, with substantial penalties on top."


    The employees were visibly stunned. Some exchanged worried nces, while others sat frozen, still processing the news. A few whispered quietly to each other, but no one dared to speak up. The weight of John''s words sank in, casting a cold shadow over the room. Thew director''s downfall felt like a warning¡ªan unspoken threat hanging in the air. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    John looked back at Noah, his expression filled with expectation. "The boss has another announcement, so listen carefully."


    Noah stepped forward, his gaze sweeping across the room, scanning the faces of each employee. His eyes were cold, his expression unyielding. The room seemed to hold its breath, awaiting his words.


    "Good afternoon, everyone," Noah began, his voice calm yet authoritative. "My name is Noah Thompson, and as John mentioned, I am the sole shareholder and owner of Walls4Us. I don''t have time for long speeches, so I''ll keep this brief."


    His words cut through the air like a knife, sharp and direct. He paused, letting the tension build before continuing.


    "I have fired your previousw director, and I will be promoting one of you to rece him." He let the statement hang for a moment, watching the employees'' faces as the realization settled in. Their futures were suddenly at stake, and every person in that room knew it.


    "Here''s how this will work," Noah said, his voice carrying a subtle edge. "I value loyalty. Those of you who have been with thepany longer will have a better chance at this promotion. I want to see each of you lined up in order of your seniority. The longer you''ve worked here, the better your chances."


    There was a murmur of uncertainty among the employees, but Noah raised a hand, silencing them. His eyes darkened as his tone shifted, taking on a more sinister edge. "However, let me make something very clear. If any of you follow in the footsteps of your former director, his punishment will seem like child''s ypared to what I have in mind for you."


    The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees as Noah''s gaze hardened. The employees stood frozen, the weight of his threat bearing down on them. John shifted ufortably beside him, feeling the intensity of Noah''s cold stare pierce through the room.


    "You all saw what happened today," Noah continued, his voice low but full of menace. "I do not tolerate ipetence. I do not tolerate disloyalty. If anyone else thinks they can y games with me or with thispany, you''ll find out just how far I''m willing to go."


    Silence gripped the room. The employees stood still, not daring to move, as Noah''s cold eyes scanned their faces. He had them exactly where he wanted them¡ªfearful, uncertain, and desperate to prove their worth.


    Then, just as suddenly, his demeanour shifted. His face softened, and he smiled¡ªa chilling contrast to the ice in his voice moments ago. "Now," he said, in a much more casual tone, "line up. Let''s see who''s earned this promotion."


    The employees hesitated for a moment before scrambling to organize themselves, quickly falling into line ording to their seniority. Some looked eager, others nervous, but all of them felt the weight of Noah''s presence as they waited to see who would be chosen.


    John watched the scene unfold with a strange mix of relief and dread. He had narrowly escaped disaster today, but he knew Noah wasn''t finished testing him¡ªor anyone else in thepany. Noah had made it clear: mistakes were no longer an option.


    The young owner had manipted the entire situation from the moment he entered the room. He had shown just enough mercy to keep them loyal, but enough ruthlessness to keep them terrified.


    Noah had John, and everyone else, exactly where he wanted them.


    Noah stood there, hands in his pockets, a faint smirk on his lips. He knew he had won this round. The nextw director will think thrice before attempting to pull such a stunt, especially with John on his back.


    As Noah stood in front of the employees who had lined up by seniority, his eyes flickered as he quietly activated his hidden ability¡ªhis Talent Finder skill.


    This ability allowed him to see not just the surface of a person, but the very potential thaty within them.


    With a soft chime, the first assessment appeared before his eyes.


    [Ding!]


    Name: Jack


    Age: 54


    Talent Grade: D


    Talent: Law Knowledge


    Description: An average worker in thew department. Jack cannot be outstanding nor make any significant contributions. His knowledge of thew is standard, and while loyal, hecks the ambition or creativity to innovate.


    Noah nodded at Jack, giving him a warm, almost encouraging smile. But inside, he was already marking the man in his mental ledger. Jack was loyal, yes, but loyalty without talent was only useful to a point. He didn''t need mediocrity at the helm of hispany''s legal department.


    "Next," Noah said, his tone steady, betraying none of the calctions happening in his mind.


    The next person stepped forward, and Noah''s eyes narrowed slightly as he activated the skill once more. Another chime rang.


    [Ding!]


    Name: Peter


    Age: 57


    Talent Grade: E


    Talent: Law Knowledge


    Description: A worker with minimal potential. While Peter has experience from his long years of service, his contribution will remain negligible, and hecks the capacity to take on any significant responsibilities.


    An E-rank talent was abysmal. But Noah, calcting as always, wasn''t heartless. Peter had been with thepany for years.


    Firing him on the spot would create unrest among the older employees, a ripple of instability that Noah didn''t want just yet. He decided to keep Peter on for now but made a mental note to sideline him where possible.


    "Alright, continue," Noah said, nodding for the next employee to step forward.


    Several more employees followed, most of them falling into the same range of mediocrity¡ªD and E talent grades, nothing that piqued his interest.


    Noah didn''t show disappointment, though. He knew that the real gems in any group were rare and sometimes hidden deep among the ordinary. He had the patience to sift through them.


    Then, a new chime.


    [Ding!]


    Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!


    Creation is hard, cheer me up!

 Chapter 68 New Law Director (2)

    68 New Law Director (2)


    [Ding!]


    Name: Charlotte


    Age: 24


    Talent Grade: C


    Talents: Law Knowledge


    Description: Charlotte possesses slightly above-average talent in her field. While her skills aren''t groundbreaking, she has potential to make positive contributions and can grow into a leadership role. Given time, she has the capability to lead a small to mid-sizepany sessfully.


    Noah''s eyes lingered on Charlotte for a moment longer. Her talent wasn''t exceptional, but it was promising. At 24, she had years ahead of her to grow, and Noah appreciated her potential. Someone like her could be moulded, and shaped into apetent leader if given the right opportunities.


    "Thank you, Charlotte," he said with a faint smile, making a mental note of her name. "Next."


    The line continued, and after what felt like an eternity of scanning average and below-average talent, Noah''s patience was finally rewarded.


    [Ding!]


    Name: Harlow


    Age: 31


    Talent Grade: B, C


    Talents: Law Knowledge, Truthful


    Description: Harlow possesses an extraordinary talent in his field, capable of not only handlingplex legal matters but also transforming legal processes to streamline operations. His natural honesty is a rare trait in this cutthroat industry, making him both a reliable andpetent leader. With the right guidance, Harlow can significantly impact and improve a mid-sizedpany''s structure and long-term strategy.


    Noah''s gaze sharpened as he stared at Harlow. Here was the true gem he had been looking for. A B-grade talent inw, paired with the valuable trait of truthfulness. Honesty in this world was scarce, and to find someone with the talent and integrity that Harlow possessed was a rarebination indeed.


    Noah could see it clearly¡ªthis man had the potential to turn the legal department around, to elevate it beyond what it was.


    Noah didn''t show his thoughts outwardly, but inside, he had already made his decision. Harlow was the key to stabilizing and improving this department, and perhaps even more.


    "Alright," Noah said, his voice carrying authority and certainty. "I''ve made my decision."


    The employees, who had been nervously watching him, stiffened. The room seemed to freeze as all eyes were locked on him, waiting for his verdict.


    "First," Noah began, his voice calm butmanding, "Charlotte will be the new manager of thew department."


    Charlotte''s eyes widened in surprise, her hands sping together in front of her nervously. She had expected nothing more than a nod or a smile from her new boss, but a promotion? She nced around at her colleagues, some of whom looked shocked, others envious.


    Noah continued, "Richard, on the other hand, will be demoted."


    The room gasped. Richard was one of the department''s managers, trusted for his long-term loyalty.


    But Noah knew better, using his talent finder, he saw that Richard was not onlycking in significant skill but also possessed the dangerous D-ranked talent of deceitfulness. Such a person could never be trusted in a position of authority. This demotion was both necessary and strategic.


    "Richard has served thispany for a few years" Noah exined, his voice carrying a hint of icy detachment, "but as we move forward, I need people who can take us into the future, not hold us back. Richard''s performance has been average at best, with not much much progress in his ability."


    There was a murmur of agreement from the employees, though some still looked unsettled by the rapid changes.


    "And now," Noah said, turning his attention to Harlow, "Harlow, step forward."


    Harlow, visibly shocked, hesitated before stepping out of the line. His face showed a mixture of surprise and cautious optimism. Noah extended his hand toward him, and Harlow took it, shaking hands firmly.


    "You," Noah said, locking eyes with Harlow, "are now thew director of Walls4Us. I expect great things from you."


    Harlow''s face flushed with emotion, and for a moment, he looked as though he might tear up. He gripped Noah''s hand tightly and said with a voice full of sincerity, "Thank you, boss. I won''t fail you."


    Noah smiled, but behind that smile, his mind was still working, analyzing every reaction in the room. Harlow was a good choice, and Noah knew it. The man had the talent, the truthfulness, and now the motivation to make a real difference.


    "No mistakes, Harlow," Noah said, his voice soft butced with warning. "This is your opportunity, but if you fail, there won''t be a second chance."


    "I understand," Harlow replied, his voice steady with determination.


    Noah turned his gaze back to the rest of the employees, the weight of his decisions still hanging in the air. "The future of thispany depends on people like Harlow and Charlotte. I don''t tolerate ipetence, and I don''t forgive betrayal. Keep that in mind as you continue your work here."


    The employees nodded silently, their faces reflecting a mix of fear, respect, and awe. Noah had, in a matter of moments,pletely shifted the power dynamics of the department. He had not only promoted new talent but had also sent a clear message¡ªloyalty andpetence were rewarded, while deception and failure would be crushed.


    As Noah and John turned to leave the room, the employees watched in silence, the weight of the day''s events pressing down on them. Noah had shown them the cold, calcting hand of a leader who saw through their masks, and from now on, every step they took would be under his watchful eye.


    And as Noah walked away, he couldn''t help but smirk. He had chosen his yers carefully, positioning them like chess pieces on a board. Now, it was time to watch them move.


    As Noah descended the elevator, each floor echoed with a quiet finality that only he could hear. John trailed a few paces behind, his expression still tight with anxiety. Arriving at the ground floor, Noah stepped into the open reception area. The space was well-lit, with modern furnishings that reflected thepany''s sess. Yet, the atmosphere felt heavy today, like the weight of what had transpired upstairs had seeped down to the lower floors.


    The receptionist, who had been organizing some files at her desk, nced up as Noah entered her field of vision.


    Her heart skipped a beat. She had seen the police earlier, witnessed thew director being escorted out of the building in handcuffs, his face pale, eyes darting in panic. She didn''t need anyone to tell her who was behind that. She immediately sensed that the young owner was not one to be trifled with. His actions were swift, decisive, and unforgiving.


    Her hands shook slightly as she ced the files down and quickly straightened her blouse. She stood up from behind the desk, sping her hands in front of her, trying to steady her nerves.


    Her anxiety was at its peak; she didn''t want to draw unnecessary attention to herself, fearing that a wrong move could result in her being the next person escorted out.


    Noah''s gaze swept across the room, cool and detached. He didn''t need to look directly at her to sense the fear radiating from the receptionist. He could feel her tension as she moved toward him, offering a small, respectful bow of her head. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Good afternoon, Mr. Thompson," she said, her voice just a little too controlled, the nervousness hidden beneath a veneer of professionalism.


    Noah barely nodded in acknowledgement. His eyes didn''t linger on her for long, but the subtle twitch in her posture, the way her fingers sped tightly together, told him everything he needed to know.


    She was afraid of him¡ªafraid that the same fate that had befallen thew director might await her if she wasn''t careful. And that fear was power in his hands, a tool he could use to shape the behaviour of everyone around him but you also needed mercy with it.


    John, walking behind Noah, noticed the exchange as well. He had seen the same look in the eyes of thew department earlier¡ªfear mixed with awe. Noah wasn''t just the boss; he was a force of nature in this building, reshaping everything in his path. And the receptionist knew it too.


    As Noah continued toward the exit, she stepped back, giving him plenty of space. She didn''t dare ask questions or make small talk.


    Her only goal was to remain invisible, to ensure she wasn''t the next person in line for scrutiny. Noah''s footsteps, measured and deliberate, seemed to echo louder than normal in the silence of the reception area.


    He paused at the door for a brief moment, turning his head slightly toward the receptionist. His expression was unreadable, his voice cool and kind. "Keep up the good work," he said, his tone calm butced with that same undercurrent of quiet control.


    The receptionist exhaled slowly, grateful she had been acknowledged, but also terrified by the implications of what it meant. Keep up the good work.


    She understood the hidden message behind those words¡ªfailure was not an option under Noah''s leadership. Onepse in judgment, and she would be out, just like thew director.


    "Thank you, sir," she replied quickly, her voice just barely steady. She nodded her head again, standing perfectly still as Noah turned and walked through the ss doors, leaving the building.


    The moment the doors closed behind him, the receptionist let out a breath she hadn''t realized she had been holding.


    Her knees felt weak, and she sank back into her chair, her hands trembling slightly. She could still feel the weight of his presence even after he had left, as though the shadow of his authority lingered in the room.


    "Scary."


    \

 Chapter 69 Silent Struggle

    69 Silent Struggle


    Outside, Noah breathed in the crisp air, his mind already moving on to the next step of his n. He had systematically cleared out the rot within hispany, and now, with loyal and talented people in ce, he could focus on building something greater.


    He had shaken thepany from top to bottom in just one day, from thew department all the way down to the receptionist.


    His grip on Walls4Us was tightening, and he was already several steps ahead, anticipating the moves of everyone around him. They were pieces on a chessboard, and he had set them in motion, controlling every oue with precision.


    He didn''t need to look at the other directors, as he had already sent a message through Smith and thew director. Furthermore, there was no evidence showing that they were involved so he let them be.


    In theing weeks, Noah knew that the entirepany would fall into line. Fear was a powerful motivator, but so was the desire for approval.


    By offering John and others the hope of redemption alongside the threat of consequences, he ensured their absolute loyalty.


    They would see him as both their punisher and saviour, two faces of the same coin, keeping them on edge¡ªforever wondering whether they would be crushed or lifted up next.


    And Noah thrived on that edge, knowing it gave him an advantage no one could seeing. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Noah gazed at the horizon, where the sun''s golden light bathed the city skyline in a warm, fading glow.


    He took a moment to absorb the scene, the bustling sounds of the city beginning to settle as night crept in. The long shadows stretched across the street, creating an illusion of quiet serenity¡ªa stark contrast to the turmoil that had unfolded within the walls of hispany.


    As he watched the sun slowly dip below the horizon, his thoughts took a darker turn. "Good and evil, reward and punishment," he muttered under his breath, recalling the stark dichotomy that had guided his every action today. "Those are the only motives that drive a rational creature."


    The words felt bothforting and disturbing, a principle from a past he thought he had left behind, a past he had been trying to bury for years.


    Noah sighed, realizing how naturally he had slipped back into this role. A shiver ran down his spine as if the setting sun had drained all warmth from the air.


    He was a master maniptor, a strategist, someone who had always yed life as a game of chess. But he had determined to leave that behind, to live a life that was simpler, purer.


    He''d made a promise to himself¡ªa promise that he wouldn''t return to this darker side, that he wouldn''t let the hunger for control consume him again.


    And yet, here he was again.


    He shook his head, almost in disbelief. "It seems like my old self is slowly resurfacing," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the gentle hum of traffic.


    For years, he''d fought against the pull, trying to leave behind the part of him that was always calcting, always scrutinizing, always positioning people like pieces on a board. He had tried to keep that side buried, telling himself he was done with it¡ªthat he wanted something different from life.


    But today, faced with corruption in his ownpany and the constant betrayals of those around him, that side had taken control effortlessly, emerging like a shadow he couldn''t outrun.


    He had revelled in the power, wielding it like a weapon, orchestrating the downfall of those who dared to cross him. And it had felt so natural, almost too natural.


    In a way, it was exhrating. But at the same time, it unsettled him. He felt a familiar tightening in his chest, a warning that he was venturing down a path he might not be able to turn back from.


    The taste of victory was bitter, tinged with a sense of regret that gnawed at him, a reminder that he was straying dangerously close to the person he''d once despised.


    He sighed, running a hand through his hair as he continued to watch the fading light. "I slipped up today," he admitted to himself, the words hanging in the air like a confession.


    It had been so easy to justify his actions at the moment, to convince himself that this was necessary, that he was doing it for the good of thepany. But now, in the silence that followed, he couldn''t escape the feeling that he had betrayed his own principles.


    As thest glimmer of sunlight disappeared, Noah turned away, casting onest nce at the darkening city.


    He knew that the path he was on was a dangerous one, one that could lead him to ces he never wanted to revisit. And yet, he also knew that a part of him thrived on this¡ªthe power, the control, the ability to shape the world around him to his will.


    The two sides of himself were locked in a silent war, a conflict he couldn''t ignore, one that left him feeling hollow despite the sess he had just achieved.


    With a heavy heart, he made his way to Sarah''s house, hoping to end theplicated rtionship once and for all.


    But as he walked, the weight of his actions hung over him like a shadow, a constant reminder that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t escape his own nature.


    He had fought this battle before, and he knew it wasn''t over.


    The question was no longer whether he could keep his darker side buried, but whether he even wanted to.


    19:46


    Noah took a steadying breath as he approached Sarah''s house, each step heavier than thest.


    Today, he was here to confront something moreplicated than any business. This was a matter of the heart, of raw feelings he had been suppressing. And he was prepared, atst, to let it all go.


    He knocked on the door, waiting as footsteps approached on the other side. But when it swung open, it wasn''t Sarah who greeted him. It was La, her eyes narrowing the moment she recognized him. The hostility was immediate, radiating from her like heat from a fire.


    "What are you doing here?" she snapped, her voice dripping with disdain. "There''s nothing here for you." Without waiting for an answer, she began to close the door.


    Noah reacted instinctively, pressing his hand against the frame to keep it open. He met her re with a coldness that sent a shiver down her spine.


    "Where is Sarah? I''m not here to y games with you, La," he said, his tone firm and unyielding.


    Her eyes shed, and she bristled, pushing against the door. "None of your business," she spat, shoving again, but her efforts were futile. "Sarah!" he called, his voice echoing through the quiet house. "I want to talk to you!"


    La''s anger red. "Leave now, or I''ll call the police!" she threatened, her voice cracking with frustration. But her words fell on deaf ears. Momentster, Sarah appeared, her eyes wide with shock as she took in the scene¡ªher daughter grappling with the door, Noah standing with an iron grip on the frame.


    "Noah?" she said, confusion and concern mingling in her expression. "What are you doing here?"


    He let go of the door and took a step back, his gaze steady. "I''m here to talk to you, Sarah. I need an answer from you¡ªa clear one."


    Sarah looked at him, and then at La, who was still standing by the door, her arms crossed, scowling. "Do you want to talk alone?" she asked softly, her voice strained.


    Noah shook his head. "There''s no need. I''d prefer if she stayed. I want to be clear with both of you."


    Sarah''s eyes held a glint of sadness, but she nodded for him to continue.


    He took a deep breath, his gaze locking onto La''s, hard and unforgiving. "Sarah, we both know the kind of person your daughter is. She''s maniptive, self-centred, and reckless, always willing to twist things to get what she wants. I''m not here for revenge; if I wanted that, I wouldn''t be standing on your doorstep." He turned to Sarah, his voice softening but still firm. "I''m here because I care about you, not because I want to y some petty game."


    La''s face reddened with indignation. "How dare you!" she snapped. But Noah ignored her, focusing on Sarah.


    "There was nothing between me and your daughter¡ªnothing real, anyway," he continued. "Not a rtionship, not even physical contact. She''s wrapped up in her own games, and she thought she could pull me in. I came to you because I want to know where we stand."


    Sarah''s face was a mixture of pain and uncertainty, her eyes flickering to her daughter, then back to Noah. She took a shaky breath, her lips parting as if to speak, but no words came out. Finally, she managed, "I¡­I can''t, Noah. I''m sorry." She swallowed, blinking back tears as she forced herself to continue. "La and you¡­you have a past, a history that I can''t just overlook. I''m too old for this conflict, for this chaos. I need peace."


    Noah nodded slowly, absorbing her words. He felt a pang in his chest, an ache he had been trying to ignore since he arrived. He had known this was the more likely possibility, but hearing it still struck him.


    He looked at Sarah with a small, bittersweet smile. "Alright then. This is where we part ways. I wish you the best, Sarah."


    She managed a weak smile, though her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "You too," she replied, her voice barely a whisper. Inside, she was breaking, feeling the finality of his words like a knife twisting in her heart. She watched him turn to leave, and as he walked away, it felt like a part of her soul was walking out the door with him.


    She closed the door, the click of thetch sealing the space between them forever. She stood there, her hands trembling, trying to process what had just happened. La hovered nearby, silent for once, her usual biting words reced by a quiet curiosity, a question lingering in her eyes.


    Without looking at her daughter, Sarah spoke, her voice distant. "The food is ready. Eat, and then go to sleep. You have school tomorrow." With that, she turned and made her way to her bedroom, shutting the door behind her. La stood in stunned silence, watching as her mother disappeared down the hallway, her form small and defeated.


    As Noah walked down the street, he felt an emptiness settle over him. The confrontation had stripped him bare. He knew this wasn''t just an end with Sarah¡ªit was a severing of the softer part of himself, the part that had dared to hope for something simple, something real.


    Yet, he also knew that his decision to walk away was the right one. He would not force Sarah to choose between him and her own daughter. This was a battle he had to leave behind, no matter how much it stung.


    "I wonder what she would say if she knew that I''m slowlying back to my true-self."


    A face from the depths of his memory emerged¡ªsomeone he hadn''t thought about in years, someone who had once seen the darker side of him and walked away. Her name was lost in the quiet whisper of the past, but her face was as vivid as ever. She''d known him during those ruthless days when he hadn''t hesitated to climb over anyone who got in his way. She had seen the ambition and cold calction that had propelled him forward, but also the cost it had exacted on his soul.


    For a moment, he let himself linger in the memory, feeling the sting of her disapproval. She had warned him, and tried to pull him away from that path. "One day, you''ll have nothing left to hold onto, Noah," she had said, her voiceced with sadness rather than anger. "There won''t be anyone who can see beyond the monster you''re bing." Her words had struck him then, but he had dismissed them, convinced that he knew what he wanted.


    Now, yearster, he could feel the monster she had seen, lurking just beneath the surface, pulling him back into its grip. He had tried to change, tried to bury that side of himself. But in moments like this, when his emotions were raw and his heart felt broken, he could feel that darkness seeping back in, promising him power, control, and the ability to shut out the pain.


    He shook his head as if trying to clear her face from his mind, but it remained, a ghostly reminder of the life he had nearly escaped. "No," he whispered, clenching his fists, trying to reaffirm his resolve. "I''m not that person anymore."


    But even as he said the words, he knew it was a fragile promise, one that could shatter with a single misstep. And deep down, a part of him wondered if he had the strength to hold onto it.


    The chapter had a lot to intake, but I hope you aren''t lost. This is just the beginning, and everything will clear up in the future.


    Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!


    Creation is hard, cheer me up!


    Risaliyah


    Creator''s Thought

 Chapter 70 Cold Beauty

    70 Cold Beauty


    Noah paused just outside his home, inhaling deeply, and gathering himself before stepping into the warmth and familiarity of his family.


    He''d had a long, emotionally charged day, and he couldn''t bring that energy to his house. With a final sigh, he pushed open the door, slipping into theforting glow of the house.


    Inside, he found his parents, and his little sister, all seated at the dining table, dishes arranged in a neat spread, ready for dinner.


    His father looked up and greeted him warmly.


    "Noah, wash up and join us," David said, gesturing toward the hallway with a smile.


    Nodding, Noah headed to his room. He took a moment to wash up, letting the cold water ssh over his face. It felt grounding, washing away the fatigue of the day.


    After a few minutes, he returned to the table and took a seat, smiling as he ruffled Emily''s hair.


    She giggled, her eyes lighting up with the kind of innocence that made him feel protective, reminding him of the person he wanted to be.


    Turning to his father, he asked, "So, how''s the search for the teahouse location going?"


    David''s face brightened. "It''s going well! I found a few spots that fit our budget and should have good foot traffic. I''ve set up some appointments to check them out this weekend. I thought you might want toe along and see if they meet your standards."


    "Sounds great, Dad. I''ll be free this weekend," Noah replied, nodding thoughtfully. "I''ve also been thinking about getting our machine copyrighted. It''s crucial we secure our trademark, just in case anyone tries to pull any funny business."


    David smiled proudly. "You''re always thinking ahead. That''s my son."


    Noah continued, "I also want you to be the only one handling the tea leaves. No one else will be involved in that process; they''ll all be front-of-house or handling sales. I want to keep our tea-making methods a closely guarded secret."


    Dinner passed infortable conversation, Noahughing at Emily''s stories from school and sharing little bits about his day, carefully leaving out any mention of theplexities he''d dealt with earlier. When the tes were empty, he stood up, giving each of them a goodnight hug. "Goodnight, Mom. Goodnight, Dad. I''ll see you all in the morning," he said, warmth in his voice.


    "Goodnight, sweetheart," Caroline replied, smiling as she watched him head toward his room.


    Once there, Noah took a long, hot shower, letting the steam wrap around him.


    Afterwards, he pulled on afortable shirt, climbed into bed, and let his head sink into the pillow. He then remembered the promise he''d made to Aiden and grabbed the new iPhone 15 Pro Max, cing it in his bag so he wouldn''t forget to give it to him tomorrow.


    As his eyes closed, he took a final breath, letting his consciousness slip away.


    As the morning sun filtered through the windows, Noah stretched, shaking off thest remnants of sleep. He quickly ran through his usual routine¡ªgetting dressed, brushing his teeth, and making sure everything was in order for the day. Heading downstairs, he found his family already at the table, breakfast waiting for him.


    "Morning, Noah!" Emily chirped, a piece of toast in her hand.


    "Morning, Em," Noah replied, giving her a gentle nudge as he sat down.


    His dad looked up from his tea, smiling. "I''ll be heading out today to check out a few more spots for the teahouse. If you think of anyst-minute requirements, let me know now."


    Noah nodded, thinking it over. "Actually, just make sure it has a decent amount of natural light. We want a ce that feels inviting, not gloomy."


    David grinned, "That''s exactly what I''m looking for."


    Turning to his mom, he said, "Mom, remember your job interview this afternoon at An''s Gourmet, 4:30 sharp. You''re going to do great. Your cooking is honestly on another level."


    "They better like my food, otherwise they would need to check their tastebuds." "Haha, they are cooked if they don''t like it," said Noah,


    After breakfast, he gathered his bag, ruffled Emily''s hair onest time, and said, "Come on, Emily. Let''s get moving."


    She hopped off her chair, waving goodbye to their parents. "Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad! Good luck, Mom!"


    David called out after them, "Have a good day, you two. And Noah, take care of your sister!"


    Arriving at her elementary school Noah, checked in with her for the final time.


    "Alright, Em. You''re all set?" n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    She nodded. "Yup! Thanks, brother. You''ll be there for my art show next week, right?"


    "Wouldn''t miss it for the world," he replied, giving her a thumbs-up. "Go make some cool stuff."


    She grinned and jogged off, waving as she disappeared into the school building.


    After making sure she was safely inside, Noah made his way to his own school,


    As Noah settled into his seat for math ss, Ms. ra began her lecture. He let his mind wander, asionally ncing at theic hidden under his notebook. It was an action-packed series he had been following, and he found himself chuckling quietly at a particrly funny panel.


    But after a while, he noticed something unusual. Lily, was shifting in her seat, her usuallyposed face showing subtle signs of difort.


    Her jaw clenched now and then, and she ced a hand on her stomach, her expression faltering just slightly. Most people might have missed these small details, but Noah, saw through it.


    She''s in pain, he realized, recalling the symptoms from his intermediate miracle-doctor skills. He had knowledge about most health conditions, and it was clear that she was dealing with period cramps. They seemed severe, too¡ªshe was pressing her hand harder against her stomach, trying to hide the difort.


    Just then, the bell rang.


    [Ding! Ultimate Choice System has activated!]


    In his mind, three options shed before him.


    Option 1: Help the ice-cold beauty. She will be thankful to you.


    [Reward: Basic-Magical Period Pain Reliever Manual, Lily +5 favorability]


    Option 2: Offer the ice-cold beauty a hot drink.


    [Reward: Lily +1 favorability]


    Option 3: Ignore her pain.


    [Reward: Nothing]


    His eyes lit up, particrly at the first option. The manual has the word ''magical'' in it, he thought. If it''s anything like the Tea Leaf manual I got, this could be game-changing. He saw the possibilities unfold.


    If he could produce a product that genuinely helped with period pain, the potential market would be immense. He had struck gold, all thanks to this seemingly normal moment in math ss.


    Noah''s gaze fell back on Lily, who was struggling to gather her things as she prepared to head to her next ss. He noticed the faint sheen of sweat on her forehead, and he knew the cramps must be getting to her. Standing up, he stepped beside her and leaned in slightly.


    "Want some help?" he asked, his tone soft and sincere.


    Lily''s head shot up, her piercing gaze meeting his. She seemed taken aback as if she wasn''t used to people noticing her difort¡ªlet alone offering to help. For a moment, there was a flicker of vulnerability in her eyes. She hesitated, her lips parting slightly, before nodding.


    "Thank you," she whispered, her voice so quiet it was almost lost in the noise of the students around them. Noah gave her a reassuring smile as he extended his arm for her to steady herself. She took it, leaning on him just enough to ease the strain.


    They walked down the hall together, catching the attention of nearly everyone who passed by.


    "Noah''s got some moves," a student muttered from behind them, nudging his friend. "First, he tops the exams, and now he''s walking with the school belle."


    Another boy groaned, staring after them with envy. "If only I were that close to her. I''d settle for being his arm, honestly¡­"


    Noah ignored the whispers and sidements, staying focused on helping Lily make it to her next ss.


    He felt her grip on his arm tighten slightly as they moved, and he slowed his pace to amodate her.


    He could see her tension easing, and a faint blush crept onto her cheeks as they approached her ssroom.


    Once there, he guided her to her seat, making sure she was settled before stepping back. She looked up at him, a hint of something softer than her usual cold expression in her eyes.


    "Thank you," she said, this time a little louder. There was a warmth in her gaze now, though she quickly looked away, clearly ufortable with her own vulnerability.


    "Anytime," Noah replied with a grin, giving her a nod before stepping out of the room.


    As soon as he was out in the hall, Noah decided to check the system for the reward.


    He was eager to see what the Basic-Magical Period Pain Reliever Manual contained. He opened the interface in his mind, and the text began appearing.


    [Basic-Magical Period Pain Reliever Manual: This manual ...]


    Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!


    Risaliyah


    Creator''s Thought

 Chapter 71 Let The Game Begin!

    71 Let The Game Begin!


    [Basic-Magical Period Pain Reliever Manual: This manual is every woman''s dream. Removes pain of intense period cramps within a minute.]


    Effect:


    > +1 Pain Relief


    > +1 Taste


    "Let''s see what else it has in store." Noah thought as he pressed on the manual icon in the inventory.


    > Purchase pills: 1$ / 7 pill pack.


    > Purchase machine: $2,000 (Automatically turns pill powder into pills)


    > Purchase Pill powder: 100$/ 1kg (makes 5,000 pills) Noah nced at the screen in front of him, studying the details of the [Basic-Magical Period Pain Reliever Manual] that had just popped up.


    His eyes sparkled as he read the information. He could purchase a single 7-pill pack for only $1, and the powder itself cost $100 per kilogram, enough to make a whopping 5,000 pills. This wasn''t just an opportunity¡ªit was a goldmine.


    With a smirk, he muttered to himself, " I could purchase 100 Kilograms which makes 500,000 pills... That couldst ages. And the market potential..." He trailed off, already envisioning a warehouse stocked with pill powder and machines whirring away to churn out the small miracle tablets.


    But he pushed therger n to the back of his mind for now. He needed to focus on the present moment. He had to give Lily the pill.


    "I can''t keep her in pain, especially when she gave me such an opportunity." He thought, Stepping over to a nearby vending machine.


    He fished out a dor and purchased a bottle of water. Then, using the manual''s function, he bought a 7-pill pack and tucked it into his pocket. With everything in hand, he headed back to the ssroom.


    Reaching the row where Lily sat, he nced at the girl beside her. "Mind if I sit here for a moment?" he asked, offering a polite smile.


    Her eyes widened a bit, but she quickly gathered her things and slid into a different seat, her cheeks pink from the unexpected interaction. "Of course, take it," she mumbled, sneaking another nce at him as she moved away.


    Noah sat down beside Lily, who was visibly ufortable, pain etched on her usuallyposed face. He took out the pill pack and water bottle, cing them on her desk with a slight nudge. "Here, take one of these with the water," he said quietly, not wanting to draw attention.


    "What''s this for?" she asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.


    He leaned in a bit closer, lowering his voice even more. "For the cramps," he murmured, his tone gentle but direct.


    A small flush rose to her cheeks, and she nodded, slowly opening the pack. Swallowing one pill with the water, she braced herself for more difort. But to her surprise, within a minute, the pain seemed to melt away, leaving her with a calm warmth spreading through her body.


    She let out a small, involuntary sigh of relief.


    Her eyes widened in astonishment, and she nced back at Noah, who was watching her reaction with an amused expression. "I want¡­" she whispered, trailing off as she looked at the pack.


    Noah raised an eyebrow, holding the remaining pills just out of reach. "Want what?" he asked, feigning ignorance with a mischievous glint in his eyes.


    Lily pointed at the pill pack, her gaze unwavering. "Those. They actually¡­ work. Can I have them?"


    With a light chuckle, he handed the pack over to her. "They''re yours. Take them."


    She hesitated, then nodded, still clearly surprised. "Where did you even find these?"


    He leaned back, giving her a yful, almost conspiratorial smile. "That, my dear Lily, is a secret," he replied, enjoying her puzzled expression. N?v(el)B\\jnn


    She paused for a second then turned to face the teacher, but not without onest nce at him. As he left the ssroom, he couldn''t help but feel a thrill of satisfaction.


    If anyone thought he was simply just helping a ssmate then they were mistaken, only he knew the full potential of what he''d just set in motion.


    With the pill pack now in Lily''s possession, he knew he''d just taken his first step into a world of possibilities.


    Noah leaned casually against the wall of a deserted staircase, the echoes of students down the stairs fading into a quiet hum as he let his thoughts wander.


    He slipped his hands into his pockets, his face calm, almost unreadable, as he muttered to himself, "With that pill pack in Lily''s possession, I''ll be able to find out two things."


    He let the statement hang in the air, rolling it over in his mind, every wordced with a specific purpose.


    He''d learned early on that small, seemingly insignificant actions could ripple outward, creating waves that were anything but idental.


    This was one of those times. He knew that Lily wouldn''t hesitate to show the pill to her parents¡ªpeople like her were smart, and she would no doubt talk about her ''ssmate'' who gave her a miraculous pill with no market.


    Lily''s family wasn''t just wealthy; they were powerful, with the kind of connections that could make or break a person''s influence in the city. They would soon hear about the pill and realize it was no ordinary pain reliever.


    That was where Noah''s real test began.


    In his mind, he could already picture the scenarios ying out, each with its own set of implications.


    He chuckled under his breath, the faintest shadow of a smile ying at the corners of his mouth. "The first thing they''ll try to do is crack the code¡ªtry to reverse-engineer the pill and create it for themselves. But that''s not going to work. The pill''sposition is fundamentally different, something beyond their chemists'' understanding."


    He knew the System-produced powder was more than just a mix of ingredients. It was something inherently otherworldly, the kind of material that defied ordinary science.


    If they attempted to decode it, they''d inevitably fail, faced with its impossible chemical structure. And when they failed, he could imagine the frustration building, pushing them to seek him out, but likely with an underlying resentment.


    They would probably try to broker a deal under the guise of partnership, but Noah knew better. They''d be looking for a way to use him until they could replicate it, to ultimately discard him when he was no longer necessary.


    Noah''s gaze sharpened, a glint of ice in his eyes as he leaned forward, his voice dropping even lower, "If they approach me with that intention, then they''re out. I don''t need underlings who see me as expendable. They''ll just be deadweight, liable to betray me at the first chance they get."


    He paused, considering the other side of his scheme. The second possibility¡ªand the one he anticipated¡ªwas that they''d recognize the pill as an irreceable asset and would reach out to him sooner rather thanter.


    "A family with the kind of business acumen and foresight that Lily''s had wouldn''t waste time."


    They''d know that hesitation meant missed opportunity. Noah smirked, his fingers absently tracing the edge of his phone in his pocket.


    "They''ll likely contact me by tomorrow evening. They''ll see this pill for what it is: a golden opportunity, one they won''t want to miss out on. If they''re smart, they''ll approach me sincerely, wanting to get in early and secure exclusivity."


    If they reached out with genuine interest, not trying to undermine him, then he''d know they were serious about working together. And if they proved themselves loyal, then perhaps, he mused, they''d have a ce in his ns. But if they even hinted at treating him as a temporary asset, then he''d discard them without a second thought.


    The thrill of it all danced in his mind, theplexities of each option weaving together like pieces on a chessboard. He''d known from the moment he received the reward that its true value wasn''t in the pill itself, but in how he used it.


    The system''s gifts were only as powerful as the person wielding them. Anyone else might have taken the pill at face value, a simple pain reliever in an empty market.


    But he saw a web of influence stretching out before him, a chance to draw people in, test their loyalties, and gauge their personality.


    "After all," he whispered to himself, the words almost inaudible, "the system gives you tools, but it''s up to you to build the empire."


    A small, wicked grin tugged at his lips. His eyes flickered, steely and focused, as he let the words slip quietly but with enough weight that air seemed to freeze.


    "Let the game¡­ begin."


    The smile yed on his lips as he pushed himself from the wall. He then turned and disappeared down the staircase, leaving only the echo of his footsteps as a chilling reminder of what was toe.


    And somewhere, in the quiet shadows, it felt as if the world itself was holding its breath, waiting to see what Noah would do next.

 Chapter 72 Intermediate Marketing Skills

    72 Intermediate Marketing Skills


    The school day went by slowly, and soon enough lunchtime arrived.


    Noah slung his backpack off one shoulder, letting it fall with a casual thud on the lunch table. He leaned forward, grinning as he pulled out a sleek, brand-new box and held it out toward Aiden. "Got something for you," he said, his voice full of yful mischief.


    Aiden''s eyes widened, his face lighting up as he saw the box in Noah''s hand. "No way," he mumbled, cheeks still puffed out with a mouthful of chicken wings. He quickly swallowed, barely chewing. "You got it?"


    Noah chuckled, nodding. "Here you go, the long-promised iPhone 15 Pro Max," he said, handing it over, feeling relieved that he finally gave it to him.


    Aiden''s face transformed equal parts awe and disbelief as he held the box. "Bro, are you serious?" He looked at Noah, eyes wide with a mixture of admiration and excitement.


    "Yeah, yeah, don''t get too excited," Noah said with a smirk. "The iPhone 16 is about to drop soon. AI and everything. So don''t go thinking you''re hot stuff with an outdated phone."


    Aiden stared at him, then rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "You''re acting like a spoiled second-gen billionaire or something." He let out augh, then grinned, leaning forward conspiratorially. "I mean, you just handed me an iPhone 15 Pro Max like it''s nothing. And you want me to not be happy?"


    Noah shrugged nonchntly. "Hey, you need it for the YouTube channel, don''t you? Just saying, don''t get toofortable." He shed a half-smile.


    Aiden shook his head with a mock sigh, "You can''t take anything for granted, so I''m blessed that you gifted me this right now."


    Aiden added, "I''m gonna use this bad boy to finally start that YouTube channel, just like you said." He paused, eyes shining.


    "Mukbang videos, man, I''m going to do mukbang. You know, I eat tons, so might as well make it worth my while, right?"


    [Ding! Ultimate Choice System has been activated!]


    He let his eyes scan the choices that shed across his mind:


    Option 1: Help Aiden film his first video, and make it go viral.


    [Reward: Intermediate Marketing Skills, Basic Cinematic Skills.]


    Option 2: Leave Aiden on his own, he can sort himself out.


    [Reward: Basic Marketing Skills.]


    Option 3: Give Aiden advice on his first video.


    Noah''s eyes sparkled as he read through the options. For him, this wasn''t even a question¡ªhe''d pick Option 1.


    [Ding! Intermediate Marketing Skills & basic Cinematic Skills Rewarded]


    After receiving the skills, Noah felt that he could film any video and make it go viral at any moment he would like. Market strategies, camera angles, and lighting angles all danced in his head creating a viral clip.


    Aiden was the one person who''d never changed, who''d never treated him any differently no matter what. That loyalty ran deep, and Noah wanted to help him seed.


    Aiden was one of the rare few that Noah, didn''t subconsciously try to take advantage of or use a chess piece.


    Noah nced at Aiden, who was looking down at the box, carefully running his fingers over the edges.


    "Hey," Noah said, "how about I help you with that first video? We can film it together, and I can help you get it out there. A bigunch, something to get everyone talking."


    Aiden''s eyes widened. "You mean it? You''d really do that? I thought you''d be too busy or something."


    Noah shrugged, leaning back in his chair. "Well, think about it. You''re good at what you do, and I''ve got a bit of experience with marketing. Plus, you''re not just some random guy¡ªI want to see you kill it out there."


    Aiden grinned, the excitement returning to his face. "All right then! We''ll do it. We''ll make a video so good, it''ll blow everyone else''s out of the water. They won''t know what hit them!"


    Noah smiled, but his mind was already running, strategizing. With the marketing skills he''d gain from this choice, he''d be able to boost Aiden''s channel in ways he couldn''t do on his own. He imagined the surge of views, the subscribers flooding in. It wouldn''t just be a video¡ªit would be a brand, a series, something with a loyal following.


    Aiden was already brainstorming out loud. "Maybe I''ll do a few spicy challenges or something huge for the first video. Maybe a gigantic bowl of ramen or something ridiculous like that. You think that''d grab attention?"


    "Hmm, It wouldn''t grab attention to be fair. We need traffic in a saturated market, and to get traffic you need to be unique, and I know exactly what you need." Noah said as a small evil smirk shed on his face.


    Aiden''s eyes gleamed as he leaned in, captivated by Noah''s idea. "So, what''re you thinking, man?"


    Noah grinned an almost wicked glint in his eye. "if you want people to watch, you need something no one''s seen before. We need a twist, something unexpected."


    Aiden tilted his head, brow furrowing. "A twist?"


    19:49


    "Exactly," Noah replied. "Something insane, over-the-top. Something that''ll have people clicking the video just to see if you can actually pull it off or something that is out of the norm


    Aiden''s grin spread excitement in his eyes. "All right, then. I''ll trust you on this. We''ll do it your way."


    Noah nodded. "Good. Let''s set this up for tomorrow. I''ve got a few things to handle today."


    "Works for me. I''m not in a rush," Aiden agreed, already plotting out his next moves in his head.


    They pped hands in a quick goodbye, then parted ways as the day went on. Eventually, thest lesson bell rang, signaling the end of sses. Noah had barely packed his bag when he saw Lily approaching him, her expression more serious than he''d ever seen. He could already guess what she wasing to talk about.


    "Noah," she said, a slight urgency in her tone, "I wanted to talk to you about something important. Are you free?"


    "Yeah, sure," he replied casually, slinging his backpack over one shoulder. "Let''s talk on the way out."


    They walked side by side, weaving through the stream of students making their way out of the building. She kept her gaze forward, almost like she was choosing her words carefully.


    "About that pill you gave me earlier," she finally said, "I told my dad about it. He asked if it had any side effects, and I wanted to check with you first." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Noah shook his head, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Zero side effects. I can promise you that. If there''s even one, I''ll do whatever you want." His tone was confident, almost challenging, as if he were daring her to find a w.


    Lily''s eyes widened in surprise. She nodded, a hint of admiration glimmering in her gaze. "I see¡­ that makes it even more impressive. Honestly, I think it''s amazing."


    They walked in silence for a moment, then she added, "My dad wanted to know if you''d be free toe over for dinner tonight. He''d like to meet you if you''re avable."


    Noah raised an eyebrow, masking his intrigue with a thoughtful look. "So, her dad''s making his move already. That was quicker than I expected, he''s quite decisive" he mused inwardly. It was impressive¡ªthey weren''t beating around the bush.


    He nced over, pretending to consider her invitation. "I''ve got a few errands to run first, but yeah, I cane byter. Just send me your address, and I''ll let you know when I''m there."


    Lily nodded, pulling out her phone. "I''ll text you the zip code. Call me when you''re close."


    "Sounds good," Noah replied, watching her type with quick speed. They exchanged farewells, and he turned to leave, catching the whispers around him as they parted ways.


    "Damn, did you see that? Noah and Lily walking out together!"


    "He''s moving fast, huh? First, he''s helping her, now they''re practically inseparable."


    "Ah, must be nice being smart and good-looking," another muttered enviously.


    A third student sighed, shaking his head. "This is just like one of those romance mangas. I swear, life really is unfair."


    Noah tuned out their chatter, walking through the gates and making his way to his sister''s school. He arrived just as the younger kids were let out, and he spotted her bright smile as she ran up to him.


    "Noah!" she eximed, hugging him tightly. "Can we have ice cream?" she said, with her eyes wide and innocent as she pointed at the ice cream truck.


    "Of course we can," he replied, patting her head gently. "Let''s get some ice cream then head home."


    "Yay!" Arriving at the ice cream truck, the person serving asked "What vour do you want, little one."


    "I want Cookies & Cream vour, with a KitKat on top and chocte sprinkles. Make it arge cone sir, thank you!" replied Emily.


    "I will have vani ice cream," said Noah, as he handed him the cost of the cones.


    "Here you go," said the person serving, as he handed the two delicious-looking cones to Noah.


    After giving Emily her ice cream, they sat at a nearby bench to enjoy their ice cream before heading home.


    Thank you for the support! Please notify me if any improvements could be made, in thements section.


    Creation is hard, cheer me up!


    Risaliyah


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 73: Happy Occasion

    As Caroline opened the door, Emily darted forward, a bright grin on her face. "Mom, I missed you!" she said, wrapping her arms around her mother¡¯s waist.


    Caroline bent down, hugging her back. "I missed you too, honey. How was school?"


    "It was good! I even had ice cream with Noah before we came home. It was so yummy!" Emily replied, bouncing with excitement.


    Caroline chuckled, brushing a few strands of hair from Emily¡¯s face. "Well, I¡¯m d you enjoyed it. Now go wash your hands and change your clothes. We¡¯re going out today."


    Emily¡¯s face lit up as she slipped out of her shoes and dashed down the hall, her footsteps echoing up the stairs.


    Watching her, Noah nced at his mom, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You ready for the interview, Mom?"


    Caroline gave him a reassuring nod. "I am. I¡¯ve been practising recipes all week, and I feel good about this."


    "Good," Noah replied, nodding. "I¡¯ll go change too. We¡¯ll head out in a bit."


    Soon after, the family piled into the car, and they were off to An¡¯s Gourmet. Upon arriving, Noah could see the faint glimmer of recognition in the attendant¡¯s eyes. He quickly met the attendant¡¯s gaze and gave a subtle shake of his head, a silent signal to keep things low-key.


    The attendant immediately picked up on the cue, turning back to the family with a polite smile. "Good afternoon! How may I help you all?"


    "My mom here has a job interview for the chef position," Noah replied smoothly.


    The attendant nodded. "Oh, of course! Bear with me one moment. I¡¯ll get the Deputy Manager toe and speak with you." He hurried off, leaving the family standing near the entrance.


    David nced around the dining area, taking in the stylish decor and soft lighting. "This is a nice ce," hemented. "It¡¯s calm, rxing... I think you¡¯ll enjoy working here, Caroline."


    Caroline looked around, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I hope so. It¡¯s exactly the kind of ce I¡¯d love to work at."


    Noah stood by with a faint smile, watching his parents take it all in. Momentster, the Deputy Manager appeared¡ªand Noah couldn¡¯t help but smirk when he saw who it was.


    "George!" David eximed, his face breaking into a grin as he recognized Aiden¡¯s dad. "You¡¯re the Deputy Manager here? Howe you didn¡¯t mention it?"


    George nced at Noah, catching his subtle look that clearly said, Don¡¯t spill any details. George yed along, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish grin. "Well, I just started here a couple of weeks ago. Haven¡¯t had the chance to catch up with everyone yet, you know?"


    David chuckled. "Still, it¡¯s a surprise! So you¡¯ll be the one interviewing Caroline?"


    George nodded, then shot a quick nce at Noah before turning back to David. "Yep. We¡¯ll just run through a few questions and a quick cooking test. Pretty straightforward stuff."


    David pped him on the shoulder. "Thanks for helping us out, George. It¡¯s good to have neighbours like you around."


    George gave a modest smile. "No problem, David. We¡¯re practically family. Anything to help out a neighbour."


    Noah watched the exchange with an amused look. His dad, still oblivious to the reality of the situation, seemedpletely at ease. Caroline, on the other hand, looked both relieved and excited.


    "Well, let¡¯s get you started, Caroline," George said, gesturing toward the kitchen area.


    She took a deep breath, then turned to Noah and David. "Wish me luck!"


    "Good luck, Mom!" Noah said, shing a supportive smile.


    "You¡¯ve got this, Caroline!" David added, giving her an encouraging nod.


    Caroline beamed at them before following George into the back. As they watched her go, David turned to Noah with a satisfied expression. "Feels good knowing George will be overseeing things. He¡¯ll make sure it all goes smoothly."


    Noah nodded, ncing around as he rxed against the wall. "Yeah, Aiden¡¯s dad is a good guy."


    An hour passed before Caroline and George emerged from the kitchen, Caroline¡¯s face glowing with excitement and a hint of disbelief. Seeing her, David jumped up, concern and anticipation mingling in his expression.


    "How did it go?" he asked, eyes searching her face.


    Caroline broke into a wide, almost tearful smile. "I¡¯m hired, David! I got the job!" she eximed, rushing into his arms, tears slipping down her cheeks.


    David held her close, his face breaking into a grin as he gently stroked her back. "I¡¯m so proud of you, Caroline. You did it! I knew you would," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I¡¯m so proud I could burst."


    Noah stood nearby, a smile tugging at his lips as he watched his parents. "Well done, Mom," he said, his voice warm with quiet pride.


    Caroline looked over at him, still holding onto David, her eyes bright. "Thank you, honey. Without you guys encouraging me, I wouldn¡¯t have had the confidence to even try."


    Noah gave her a small nod, his smile growing. "You¡¯ve got talent, Mom. It was only a matter of time before people recognized it."


    George cleared his throat, a smile ying on his lips as he watched the family celebrate. "Congrattions, Caroline. And David, you should know, we¡¯ve got everything squared away. The contract is signed, and Caroline¡¯s official starting sry will be $5,000 per month."


    David¡¯s jaw dropped slightly. "Five thousand?" he echoed, clearly taken aback.


    Even Emily, who had been sitting quietly nearby, widened her eyes, whispering, "That¡¯s a lot of money¡­"


    Caroline, who had already heard the news, let out a smallugh. "I know, I still can¡¯t believe it either."


    George chuckled at their reactions. "To be honest, I think that¡¯s a steal. Our head chef was really impressed, Caroline. He said he¡¯d never seen someone handle a kitchen that well on a trial run, so he insisted you be brought on as our Sous Chef, right under him. The head chef doesn¡¯t hand out titles like that lightly."


    David shook his head, clearly astounded, as he took Caroline¡¯s hands in his. "A Sous Chef? That¡¯s amazing, Caroline! You deserve every bit of it. You¡¯ve worked so hard, and now everyone else can see what I¡¯ve always known¡ªyou¡¯re extraordinary."


    Caroline¡¯s smile was soft, almost shy. "Thank you, David. I just¡­ I¡¯ve been cooking for our family for so long, I never imagined it would lead to something like this."


    George nodded with a smile. "Our head chef mentioned it too. He said you¡¯re not just a regr cook¡ªyou have a real instinct for it. It¡¯s not something you can learn; it¡¯s something you have in you, and Caroline, you definitely have it."


    David squeezed her hands, pulling her close. "See? I knew you were something special from the very start. And now, everyone else is going to see it too."


    Noah watched them, a small but sincere smile lingering on his face. He knew his mother was capable, but hearing everyone else acknowledge it felt like vindication. "Mom, you¡¯re gonna do great things here. They¡¯re lucky to have you."


    Caroline reached over and squeezed Noah¡¯s hand. "Thank you, sweetheart. This wouldn¡¯t have happened if it wasn¡¯t for your faith in me."


    George nced between them, still grinning. "Well, we¡¯re lucky to have you, Caroline. I think you¡¯re going to change the whole atmosphere here at An¡¯s Gourmet."


    Emily piped up, her eyes shining with excitement. "Mom, can wee to the restaurant and watch you cook sometimes? I want to see you in action!"


    Caroline looked at George who had a wry smile on his face. "Of course, she cane anytime she wants."


    "How could I say no to the owner¡¯s little sister, if I do I¡¯m practically asking for death" Thought George, as he looked at Noah who had a satisfied look on his face.


    Carolineughed, ruffling Emily¡¯s hair. "Seems like you can Honey,"


    David chuckled, throwing an arm around Caroline¡¯s shoulders. "Looks like we¡¯ll be regrs here from now on. And don¡¯t worry, George, we¡¯ll be discreet fans. You won¡¯t even know we¡¯re here," he said with a wink.


    Georgeughed, waving it off. "You¡¯re wee anytime."


    Caroline nced around at them, her eyes shimmering with happy tears. "Thank you, all of you. I feel like¡­ I¡¯m finally taking a step towards something that¡¯s mine."


    Noah felt satisfied and fulfilled. His mom was on the path she deserved, one that would let her shine and show her excellence. If it weren¡¯t for her constantly taking care of the family, she wouldn¡¯t have just been a house cook, but a world-ss chef and Noah wanted to rectify that and give her the opportunity she deserves.


    Leaving the restaurant after some small talk with George, Noah ordered an uber for his family home.


    "Mom, Dad you guys head home first. I was invited to dinner at a ssmate¡¯s house, I will bete today most likely," said Noah.


    "Alright son, stay safe," said David.


    After watching the Uber disappear down the street with his family inside, Noah¡¯s expression shifted, the warmth he¡¯d shown earlier slipping away as he turned back toward the restaurant.


    There were some things he needed to set in motion, and he wasn¡¯t one to waste time.

 Chapter 74: Dinner Invitation at Lily’s House

    As he walked back through the entrance, the attendant greeted him with a slight bow. "Hello, boss," he said, his tone deferential.


    Noah gave him a firm nod. "Make sure my mother never finds out I¡¯m the owner," he instructed, his voice low. "But I want her to be treated with the utmost respect. She¡¯s worked hard to get here, and no one has the right to diminish that."


    The attendant¡¯s eyes gleamed with understanding, and he nodded. "Understood, sir. And if anyone so much as whispers about her connection to you, I¡¯ll make sure you hear about it immediately. With proof, if needed."


    Noah¡¯s gaze sharpened, pleased by the man¡¯s enthusiasm. "Good," he said, slipping a hundred-dor bill into the attendant¡¯s hand. "Consider this a retainer for your hard work."


    The man¡¯s smile widened as he pocketed the tip. "Thank you, boss. I¡¯ll be your eyes and ears in this ce, rest assured."


    "Well done," Noah replied, giving him a nod. He turned on his heel and headed towards the kitchen, where George was overseeing preparations for the evening shift.


    George spotted him and offered a weing grin. "Back so soon? Did you forget something?"


    "Not exactly, Uncle," Noah replied, his expression unreadable. "I need you to announce a new rule. From now on, discussing my mother¡¯s employment here or my role as the owner is strictly forbidden. Anyone who dares to bring it up, even in private, will face immediate repercussions. I want every member of the staff to know this by the end of the day."


    George¡¯s face grew serious, nodding in agreement. "I¡¯ll handle it, Noah. I¡¯ll call a staff meeting right away, and everyone will know that talking about this is off-limits. You have my word."


    Noah¡¯s lips twitched into a small, approving smile. "Thank you, Uncle. This is important to me. I need her to seed on her own merits here."


    George pped him on the shoulder. "Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll protect her reputation, Noah. No one will even think about stepping out of line."


    "Good," Noah said, straightening his cor as he stepped back. "I trust you, Uncle."


    With that, he left the restaurant and made his way to the parking lot.


    Among the sea of vehicles, two cars gleamed under the roof lighting: his ck Lamborghini and the silver Lykan HyperSport.


    Noah slid into the driver¡¯s seat of his Lykan HyperSport, feeling the power of the engine rumble beneath him. He eased out of the parking lot and, before hitting the main road, tapped his phone¡¯s screen, dialling Lily.


    Lily picked up, her voice clear and bright. "Hey, Noah! You on your way?"


    "Yeah, I should be there in about an hour," he replied. "Just wanted to let you know I¡¯m on my way."


    Lily replied. "Perfect! See you soon."


    Noah smirked to himself as he nced at the GPS. Something peculiar caught his eye. Her address was nearly identical to another one he¡¯d visited recently.


    "They¡¯re neighbours?" he thought, eyebrows raised. He barely stopped himself fromughing aloud.


    "So Lily and Amelia live right next to each other¡­ this could be interesting."


    He could feel ideas sparking in his mind, one after another, ns and contingencies blooming into life with every mile he covered.


    He was only interrupted by a sneering voice from the car next to him as he zoomed down the highway.


    A Fiat Multi lumbered along in the slowne, the driver¡¯s face scrunched with envy as he caught sight of Noah¡¯s car.


    "Bet he thinks he¡¯s all that with that thing," the man muttered to himself, eyes narrowing. His greasy hair clung to his forehead, and a constetion of e dotted his face.


    "He¡¯s probably got some gorgeous blonde in the passenger seat, too. Figures. I swear, some people don¡¯t deserve what they got."


    He spat out the window as if the action itself would insult Noah, who was already too far down the highway to notice.


    "Probably some spoiled brat. Daddy¡¯s money just burning a hole in his pocket." The man leaned back, muttering under his breath as he took a grudging bite of a gas station sandwich.


    "It¡¯s the rich ones who drive like they own the whole road. Real people gotta suffer for it." He sighed, envious and resentful as he pushed his car along.


    Noah, oblivious to the man¡¯s contempt, wove skillfully between cars, feeling the thrill of speed as he approached the luxurious viplexes .


    As he pulled up, he was met by the familiar sight of towering gates and high walls. The guard at the checkpoint stepped forward, his gaze lingering on the Lykan with open admiration.


    "Good afternoon, sir," the guard said politely, his demeanour respectful. "I¡¯ll need to check the visitor list before letting you in. Could I have your name, please?"


    "Noah Thompson," he replied, voice calm, resting one hand on the wheel as he waited. He watched the guard, who appeared focused yet a little taken aback. Noah could almost read his thoughts¡ªthis wasn¡¯t a car you saw every day.


    The guard quickly checked his tablet, scrolling through the names. Within a moment, he nodded, his expression brightening as he looked back up. "Apologies for the wait, Mr. Thompson. You¡¯re indeed on the list. You¡¯re free to enter."


    "Thank you," Noah said with a nod, driving forward as the gates swung open. He caught a glimpse of the guard¡¯s continued look of awe in his rearview mirror.


    As he entered the road leading deeper into the viplex, he muttered, " It¡¯s quite convenient; she lives right next to Amelia. This can turn out to be more interesting than I thought."


    Noah slowed his Lykan HyperSport as he approached Vi No. 10, catching sight of Adam sitting outside on the veranda, his attention absorbed by a chessboard.


    Opposite him sat an older man, who, despite his stoic focus, looked visibly worn. The man¡¯s face was drawn and pale, with deep lines etched across his forehead, as if he were carrying a burden far beyond his years.


    Noah¡¯s mind immediately catalogued the symptoms, flickering through possibilities in silence.


    "He might have..." Noah thought as he rolled down the windows.

 Chapter 75: Invitation

    "He might have..." Noah thought as he rolled down the windows.


    "Good afternoon, Uncle Adam. How are you doing?"


    Adam looked up, his gaze hardening momentarily until he recognized Noah. The guards stationed nearby reacted instantly, positioning themselves protectively and raising their weapons with trained precision.


    Adam¡¯s father, though visibly weakened, lifted his head, his eyes sharp as they sized up Noah, his own military instincts likely kicking in.


    Noah held his hands up in mock surrender, a small, amused smile ying on his lips. "Whoa, easy there! I¡¯m not here to cause any trouble," he said, keeping his voice calm and rxed.


    Adam, realizing who it was, quickly gestured for the guards to stand down.


    "Lower your weapons. This is Noah," he said, waving the guards away with a hint of exasperation.


    Watching as theyplied, he muttered, "Can¡¯t take a step without you guys making a fuss."


    As the tension eased, Adam turned back to Noah, studying him for a moment.


    "Most people would be rattled," he thought, "especially after having guns pointed at them like that. But he¡¯s just sitting there as if this was nothing more than a casual stroll."


    Adam couldn¡¯t help but be impressed. He looked back up at Noah, a broad grin spreading across his face.


    "Noah! Nice to see you. Are you here to visit me?" he asked, with a small grin.


    Noah¡¯s smirk matched Adam¡¯s, and he replied with a bit of mischief in his eyes. "Yeah, actually. I¡¯m here to visit your neighbours," he said, nodding his head in the direction of Vi No. 10.


    Adam chuckled, catching onto Noah¡¯s tone. "Oh, Vi No. 10, huh? Well, that¡¯s quite the choice of neighbors," he replied with a knowing smile. "You¡¯ve got quite the range of acquaintances, it seems."


    Noah shrugged casually. "I guess you could say that," he replied. "Just following the invitations where they lead me."


    Adam raised an eyebrow, but his grin never faded. "Alright, well, I won¡¯t hold you up. But," he added, a bit more earnestly, "when you¡¯re done with your visit, swing back around here. I never got a proper chance to thank you for what you didst time."


    His father, who had been quietly observing the conversation, finally spoke up, his voice hoarse but steady. "Is this the young man you were talking about, Adam?" His eyes rested on Noah with a mixture of curiosity and what appeared to be mild respect.


    "Yeah, Dad, this is him," Adam replied, ncing at Noah with a nod. "He¡¯s the one I was telling you about. Bit of a surprise to see him here again, though."


    He shot Noah a look of amusement, but Noah could tell he was intrigued too. "You really get around, don¡¯t you?" Adam teased.


    Noahughed, his tone light. "Guess you could say that. I like to make the rounds," he replied with a grin. "I¡¯ll take you up on that offer, though. I¡¯ll swing by once I¡¯m done."


    "Sounds good," Adam said, watching Noah as he began to pull away. As Noah eased the car forward, Adam¡¯s father leaned over the chessboard and watched him, his brows furrowed thoughtfully.


    Adam¡¯s father muttered, half to himself, "He¡¯s an interesting one, that kid is driving a Lykan HyperSport. He Just can¡¯t be ordinary."


    Adam nodded, a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips.


    "Yeah, that¡¯s what I thought too. The file on his family background ims they¡¯re just regr folks, but with a car like that and the way he carries himself... something doesn¡¯t add up."


    He let his eyes linger on the back of the sleek car as it disappeared around the corner, musing over the puzzle that was Noah.


    "There¡¯s definitely more to him than meets the eye."


    As Noah pulled into the driveway of Lily¡¯s vi, he noticed that the security setup was distinctly different from Amelia¡¯s. Only two guards, and neither of them armed. He supposed it made sense¡ªLily¡¯s family was a prominent business family, while Amelia¡¯s was steeped in the military. Each had their own ways of keeping safe.


    One of the security guards approached the Lykan HyperSport with an unsure expression. "Mr. Noah?" he asked, as though confirming for himself that someone arriving in such a rare car could possibly be the person they were expecting.


    Noah gave a small smile, nodding. "That¡¯s me."


    The guard visibly rxed and gestured toward the parking area. "Please, park inside, sir," he said, ushering Noah in with a professional smile.


    Noah nodded and manoeuvred the Lykan smoothly into the driveway,


    As soon as he parked, he could see one of the guards hurriedly radioing in his arrival. A momentter, Lily and a man Noah presumed to be her father stepped out of the vi, approaching the car with curiosity and intrigue written inly across their faces.


    Lily¡¯s eyes went wide the instant she saw the HyperSport. She froze in ce, clearly struggling to process the sight.


    "Is this really Noah?" she thought, a frown of confusion knitting her brows.


    "I thought he was¡­ well, not poor, but I¡¯d never have guessed he was this wealthy. A Lykan HyperSport? There are only seven of these in the world. You can¡¯t even rent one of these things."


    She shot a quick nce at her father, whose eyes were gleaming with curiosity but seemed far less surprised.


    "Of course, he¡¯s not fazed," she realized. "He¡¯s probably already thinking about what this means for him". And indeed, her father¡¯s expression seemed to shift from surprise to something more calcted as he stared at the rare car with a subtle nod.


    Noah watched them both with an air of calm confidence. "Perfect," he thought. "They¡¯re starting to get the message."


    He stepped out of the car, giving Lily a friendly smile before turning to her father, who stepped forward to greet him.


    "Noah," Arthur Luxburg began, extending his hand. "It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you. I heard great things from my daughter about you." His tone was even, but Noah could feel the weight of his gaze as they shook hands.


    "The pleasure¡¯s mine, Mr. Luxburg," Noah replied smoothly, giving his handshake the right bnce of firmness and ease. He caught the brief look of surprise that crossed Arthur¡¯s face, and he knew he¡¯d made the right impression.


    Arthur regarded him with a thoughtful look.


    "This kid is sharp. A Lykan HyperSport? He¡¯s making it clear that he doesn¡¯t need my money." He hid a smile as he continued to study Noah, his mind racing.


    "But he wouldn¡¯t be here if he didn¡¯t have something in mind. And the fact that Lily told me he was low-middle ss means he¡¯s low-key about it, which means he¡¯s not some rich kid looking for validation. No, he¡¯s strategic." He nodded to himself. "Interesting... Very interesting indeed."


    Lily seemed to recover from her initial shock and joined the conversation. "So, Noah," she began, her voice almost hesitant, "I, uh, didn¡¯t realize you were such a car enthusiast."


    Noah turned to her with a small smile. "Well, I keep things low-key," he said, casually. "I don¡¯t like showing off."


    She gave a halfugh, ncing at her father. "Low-key? more like No-key" she thought, stealing another look at the Lykan. "This changes things."


    Arthur gestured toward the vi with a weing smile. "Come inside, Noah. We¡¯ve got dinner almost ready. I¡¯m looking forward to hearing more about you."


    Noah nodded, falling in step with them as they made their way toward the entrance. Inside, the house was immacte and luxurious, each detail carefully curated.


    He could feel the weight of Arthur¡¯s presence next to him and Lily¡¯s curious nces, both trying to gauge him, and piece together who he really was. And that¡¯s exactly how he wanted it.


    His first impression needed to be strong and effective, otherwise if he came with all his cards known including his background he would be on the defensive, with him shattering Lily¡¯s old perception of himpletely, meant everything she knew about him was unreliable, which means that it couldn¡¯t be trusted.


    As they walked, Arthur broke the silence, his voice measured. "You know, I have to admit, you caught me by surprise. Your Lykan HypeSport is quite the beauty, do you drive it around often?" He gave Noah a sideways look as if to read his reaction.


    Noah inclined his head. "Not really, I¡¯ve found that doing things quietly gets you further," he replied, matching Arthur¡¯s measured tone. "Noise tends to bring the wrong kind of attention."


    Arthur chuckled, a spark of approval in his eyes. "Wise words for someone so young. You¡¯ve piqued my curiosity, Noah. If you¡¯re anything like I¡¯m guessing, I think we¡¯ll have a very interesting evening ahead of us."


    Noah simply smiled, maintaining an air of mystery.


    "Just what I wanted." He nced at Lily, who was watching him with interest, her earlier years-long view of him shattered. Noah knew the revtion of wealth he¡¯d made was strong, and now he could steer the evening¡¯s conversation exactly where he needed it to go.


    "Shall we?" Arthur gestured toward the dining room with a sense of finality, as if the evening had already been set in motion by unseen forces.


    With a nod, Noah followed them both.

 Chapter 76: A Step Ahead

    Noah took a seat as Arthur gestured toward the grand living room¡¯s plush armchair. Just then, a maid brought in a delicate tray of appetizers, each small bite a perfectly crafted disy of culinary art. Arthur smiled as he noticed Noah¡¯s curious nce at the spread.


    "I hope the food suits your taste," Arthur said, his tone warm but observant, his eyes keen on Noah¡¯s reaction.


    Noah picked up a canap¨¦, taking a small, appreciative bite. He swallowed and replied with a polite smile, "I¡¯m sure it will. This is already quite impressive."


    The two chatted lightly over their appetizers, each taking the measure of the other through small talk, like the early moves in a game of chess. As thest of the tes were cleared, Arthur leaned back, looking Noah directly in the eyes.


    "So, what did you think of the food? I want your honest opinion¡ªno ttery," he said, a slight smirk touching the corner of his mouth, as if daring Noah to speak freely.


    Noah set his fork down, his expression was sincere. "It was fantastic, really. I¡¯m honest when ites to my stomach." He chuckled lightly, watching as Arthur joined him, visibly rxing.


    "That¡¯s good to hear." Arthur nodded approvingly. "Well then, would you like some tea to follow up?"


    Noah¡¯s eyes glimmered with a spark of mischief. "Only if I can provide it," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of intrigue.


    Arthur raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You carry tea with you?" he asked, his scepticism softened by curiosity.


    With a subtle grin, Noah reached into his wallet, ying up the drama of the moment. Slowly, he pulled out a small, elegant pouch containing some tea leaves, the simple yet exquisite design hinting at something rare.


    Arthur leaned forward, taking in the sight of the package. "I haven¡¯t seen this brand before, but it certainly looks¡­ luxurious."


    Noah nodded. "It¡¯s a new blend from mypany. We¡¯re nning to open a teahouse soon, and if you enjoy this, I¡¯d be nice to have you as a guest for the grand opening."


    Arthur¡¯s eyebrows lifted a fraction, and he called for a maid to brew the tea. As they waited, a fragrant aroma filled the room, carrying subtle hints of floral and earthy tones that drew both Arthur and Lily¡¯s attention.


    Arthur¡¯s sceptical expression softened, reced with a genuine look of interest. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes briefly, letting the scent sink in.


    "This is¡­ quite something," he murmured, his eyes shing with a new level of respect as he looked back at Noah. "I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever smelled a tea quite like this before. Is it all natural?"


    Noah gave a knowing smile. "You¡¯ll find out once you taste it."


    Arthur¡¯s intrigue grew as the tea finished brewing. He nced over at his daughter, who seemed equally captivated by the unfolding mystery. Lily was observing Noah closely, as if reassessing everything she thought she knew about him. Who is this guy? she thought, silently marveling at the confident ease with which he operated.


    When the tea was poured, Arthur took a cautious sip. His eyes widened, and he took another sip, then another, each taste revealingyers ofplexity that he hadn¡¯t expected. He ced the cup down, looking at Noah with unabashed surprise.


    "This is unlike anything I¡¯ve ever tasted," Arthur said, shaking his head slightly. "It¡¯s refined, but with a depth that¡¯s¡­ unmatched. I¡¯ve had some of the most exclusive teas, but this¡ªthis is in a league of its own."


    Noah smiled, leaning back as he watched Arthur absorb the experience. "I¡¯m d you enjoyed it. We¡¯re not nning to go mass-market with it, but I believe that quality like this should be avable to those who truly appreciate it."


    Arthur¡¯s eyes gleamed, a hint ofpetitive fire shing through them. "Noah, this tea has potential. I¡¯m certain that production is limited¡­ but I¡¯d like to secure some of the first batches for myself. Would you be willing to do me a favor?"


    Noah¡¯s grin broadened, his eyes sharp. "What if I told you there¡¯s no production limit?"


    Arthur frowned slightly, disbelief shadowing his expression. "Impossible. Tea of this caliber can¡¯t be mass-produced."


    "Mine can," Noah replied, his voice confident yet calm.


    Arthur leaned forward, clearly intrigued. "Then let¡¯s talk about an investment. I don¡¯t want to miss out on something so unique."


    "We can discuss that, of course," Noah replied, nodding. "But maybe another time. I have a feeling there¡¯s something else on your mind tonight."


    Arthur¡¯s surprise was momentary, but then he rxed, a smile ying on his lips. "This boy," he thought, "he isn¡¯t simple."


    Arthur¡¯s gaze sharpened, his interest in as he continued, "I¡¯ll be direct. The pain reliever you gave Lily¡ªit¡¯s unlike anything I¡¯ve seen before. In fact, I had my sights on the pharmaceutical industry some time ago, but the challenge was always finding something revolutionary, something that would shake up the market. And this pill you¡¯ve created¡­ it does exactly that.


    There¡¯s nothing out there even remotelyparable."


    He leaned forward, his tone taking on a note of urgency. "Is this from yourpany as well, Noah?"


    Noah nodded, his lips curving into a faint smile. "Yes," he replied, his voice steady. "It¡¯s one of ourtest developments."


    Arthur took a moment, studying him closely. "Lily¡¯s experience has shown no short-term side effects, but you know as well as I do that pharmaceutical products require rigorous testing. This one¡ªwell, it needs that official stamp of approval, even if it seems wless so far. So, here¡¯s what I¡¯m proposing."


    He crossed his hands in front of him, his expression serious. "I want in on this. I¡¯m prepared to invest $10 million for a 5% share of the product. I¡¯ll handle all legal processes, clinical trials, marketing¡ªthe entire package. But the contract will only be finalized once the tests confirm its safety and effectiveness."


    Noah maintained his calm, leaning back slightly as he met Arthur¡¯s gaze, his face unreadable. For a moment, he said nothing, letting the weight of the offer sink in.


    Arthur raised an eyebrow, waiting for Noah¡¯s response. "Well?" he prodded gently, his voice carrying a note of curiosity.


    Noah¡¯s lips twitched upward into a small smile. "Mr. Luxburg, I appreciate the offer, but I need some time to think it through," he said, pausing deliberately. "If the tests are sessful, then we could talk more about it, what do you think."


    Arthur nodded slowly, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the arm of the chair as he weighed his options. He let the silence stretch, watching as Noah¡¯s eyes flickered with curiosity.


    Finally, he spoke, his tone even, yetyered with meaning. "Alright, Mr. Noah, let¡¯s discuss it further once we have those results. After all, a wise investor knows not to buy into potential alone, but to see the proof in hand."


    They exchanged a lingering nce, an unspoken understanding passing between them. Each man measured the other, silently recognizing the stakes¡ªand the opportunity.


    As Noah climbed into the sleek Lykan HyperSport, he took a moment to nce back at Arthur¡¯s vi, a faint, satisfied smirk ying on his lips. "Arthur Luxburg is now in my grasp," he thought.


    "He thinks he¡¯s making the smart move, but he has no idea how deep the waters truly run."


    He turned the ignition, the engine roaring to life with a low, powerful growl, and shifted into gear. Pulling away from the vi, he kept his eyes forward, yet his mind was already working on his next steps.


    "Now with him testing the pill, he will realise a few things which will give me the upper hand; first being that he cannot replicate it, and the fact that there are no side effects at all," muttered Noah.


    "Talk is cheap after all, even if I told him it wouldn¡¯t have mattered. Because to some people, seeing is believing."


    Inside the vi, Arthur watched Noah¡¯s taillights fade into the distance before turning back to Lily, a thoughtful frown on his face. "Lily, this kid is nothing like you described. It¡¯s as if you don¡¯t even know him. The Noah you told me about¡ªit¡¯s almost like you¡¯re meeting him for the first time yourself."


    Lily nodded, biting her lip as she looked away, her arms crossed. "I know, Dad. That¡¯s exactly what makes him so unnerving. Every single thing I thought I knew about him feels like a lie. Who knows what he¡¯s hiding? What we know now could be just anotheryer.


    There might be so much more he hasn¡¯t shown us."


    Arthur sighed, a heavy expression settling on his face. "You¡¯re right, Lily. A person like Noah¡­ someone with that level of confidence andposure, and driving a Lykan HyperSport, no less¡­ he¡¯s the kind who always has a trump card. He wouldn¡¯t reveal his hand unless he knew he¡¯d already won."


    Lily looked at her father, worry flickering in her eyes. "So what are you nning to do about him? I mean, are you still thinking of going into business with him?"


    Arthur considered her question, his eyes narrowing slightly as he crossed his arms. "I am. But I¡¯ll be careful. He might be manipting the situation, but there¡¯s no denying he¡¯s valuable¡ªand if he¡¯s as well-connected as he appears, being aligned with him could bring us a great deal of sess."


    Lily nodded slowly, feeling the weight of her father¡¯s words. "But Dad doesn¡¯t see it all," she thought, ncing out the window.


    "I have a feeling that Noah, has a way of always staying one step ahead." she felt a weird but soothing feeling near her heart.

 Chapter 77: The old man is playing games

    Lily nodded slowly, feeling the weight of her father¡¯s words. But Dad doesn¡¯t see it all, she thought, ncing out the window, and I have a feeling Noah has a way of always staying one step ahead.


    Meanwhile, Noah shifted the car into high gear, heading toward Amelia¡¯s house. He had promised Adam he¡¯d drop by after dinner with their neighbour, Arthur.


    "Adam has his own set of curiosities," Noah thought, his gaze focused on the road ahead.


    "He¡¯s a military man. He probably already suspects that I¡¯m not showing everything, so his curiosity is going to keep him close."


    As he drove, Noah¡¯s thoughts drifted back to the moment he¡¯d seen Arthur¡¯s curiosity deepen over that tea.


    "For a person like Arthur, you need to show him enough to keep him interested. But you also need to dose it correctly, otherwise an underdose or an overdose will make him restless."


    Approaching Amelia¡¯s vi, Noah slowed as he neared the familiar security checkpoint. The guards, recognizing him from earlier, nodded in acknowledgement, one of them stepping forward.


    "Wee back, Mr. Thompson," the guard said with a respectful tone.


    "General Adam mentioned you¡¯d being by. He¡¯s expecting you."


    "Thank you," Noah replied, his voice calm and warm. He manoeuvred the car smoothly past the checkpoint, parking just outside the vi¡¯s grand entrance.


    Before stepping out, he took a breath, adjusting his jacket.


    Adam greeted him at the door, a pleased expression on his face. "Noah," he said, extending a hand.


    "d you dropped by. Amelia and I were just talking about you, actually," Adam said, standing at the doorway with a weing grin, shaking Noah¡¯s hand firmly.


    Noah raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Bad or good?"


    Adam chuckled. "Good, of course! Come inside, it¡¯s chilly out here."


    As they stepped into the living room, Amelia was seated next to her mother, Carmi. Amelia gave Noah a polite nod, but there was a flicker of curiosity in her eyes.


    "Noah, it¡¯s nice to see you again," Carmi greeted him warmly. "How are you doing?"


    "Good evening, Mrs. Carmi," Noah replied with a small smile. "I¡¯m doing well, thanks. And yourself?"


    "I¡¯m well, thank you. I hope your visit will be more peaceful this time," she added with a light chuckle, ncing at Adam.


    Adam scratched the back of his neck, an apologetic smile forming. "Yeah, aboutst time... sorry again for the chaos."


    "My dad¡¯s health has been getting worse, and the doctors haven¡¯t been able to figure out what¡¯s wrong. They¡¯re saying it might be old age, or maybe even something new, something they¡¯ve never seen before."


    Adam sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It¡¯s been hard on all of us. But, enough of that for now. I saw that beauty outside ¡ª a Lykan Hypersport, Did you just get it?"


    Before Noah could respond, a familiar chime echoed in his mind.


    [Ding! The Ultimate Choice System has been activated!]


    Option 1: Diagnose the old man, and cure him.


    [Reward: Intermediate Soldier-King skills & 1 Miracle Pill & Amelia +10 affection.]


    Option 2: Wish the old man good health, and mind your business.


    [Reward: A Random Car.]


    Option 3: Skillfully avoid the topic.


    [Reward: $1,000,000.]


    Noah¡¯s mind raced as he weighed his options. It didn¡¯t take long to choose. Option 1 offered more than just skills; it provided a strong connection and he knew how valuable that could be for his uing ns.


    "It¡¯s time to move to the next step." He thought silently, as he stared at Adam.


    [Intermediate Soldier-King skills are Rewarded!]


    Feeling the amount of experience and knowledge gained, Noah felt that his previous self was just a newbie in the field.


    His upgraded skill provided him with knowledge of thetest military inventions, including tanks, military nes and guns. He could now operate any of them at an expert level with ease.


    "I now have a headshot uracy of 97%, across all weapons."


    "I¡¯ve actually had the Lykan for about a week now," Noah said casually. "It¡¯s a nice car."


    Adam¡¯s curiosity piqued, and he seemed ready to dig deeper. Noah, sensing where the conversation was heading, decided to take control of the situation.


    "Talking about the old man¡¯s health, I couldn¡¯t help but notice him earlier," Noah began, steering the topic in a new direction.


    "His face looked pale, almost as if he was dealing with some underlying symptoms. Would it be right that he¡¯s been experiencing dizziness in the mornings? Maybe shortness of breath?"


    "Is he also experiencing itchiness near the armpit area spanning towards his Latissimus dorsi?"


    Adam¡¯s eyes widened in surprise.


    "How did you¡ª? Did Amelia tell you?"


    Amelia, just as shocked, shook her head quickly. "No, I haven¡¯t told anyone. How could you know all that?"


    Carmi¡¯s eyes narrowed, her polite demeanour giving way to deep concern. "Noah, that¡¯s exactly right. Those are his symptoms. Do you know the illness?"


    Noah smiled gently. "I think I have a clue."


    Adam leaned forward, hope flickering in his eyes. "You mean, you might know what¡¯s causing this?"


    Noah gave a small nod. "It¡¯s possible. I¡¯d need to see him to be sure, though."


    Adam didn¡¯t hesitate. "Absolutely, let¡¯s go. Follow me."


    Carmi, who had been silently observing the conversation, turned to Noah as they stood up. "Noah, if you really know something... please, we¡¯d be grateful for any help you can offer."


    Noah nodded. "I¡¯ll do what I can."


    As Adam led Noah up the stairs, Amelia watched them go, muttering softly to herself. "He wasn¡¯t just being polite before... he actually knows something."


    Reaching the top of the stairs, Adam stopped in front of his father¡¯s room and turned to Noah. "I have to say, I wasn¡¯t expecting this. But if you can help him, I¡¯d be eternally grateful."


    Noah met Adam¡¯s gaze, his voice calm yet confident. "Let¡¯s see what we¡¯re dealing with first."


    Adam led Noah into the room where the old many, his frail body barely moving under the thick nkets. His face was pale, ashen even, and his breathing was shallow. It was clear that his symptoms had worsened since Noahst saw him. The sight stirred a strange mix of urgency and calm focus in Noah¡¯s mind.


    "He only stays awake for a few hours these days," Adam said quietly, his voice heavy with concern. "I didn¡¯t want him out on the balcony earlier, but he insisted. He loves ying chess. I was afraid his condition might worsen¡­ and it looks like I was right."


    Noah nodded, his expression serious as he moved closer to the old man. He studied him for a few moments, his mind racing through the possibilities, but something nagged at the back of his mind.


    His Intermediate Miracle-Doctor skills and knowledge were kicking in, filling his thoughts with medical insights. He was almost certain of the diagnosis, but just as he was about to confirm it, a rapid beeping from the medical reader interrupted his thoughts.


    The old man¡¯s heart rate was plummeting.


    "What¡¯s wrong? What¡¯s happening?!" Amelia¡¯s voice was sharp,ced with panic. Her usualposed demeanor had shattered in an instant as fear overtook her.


    Adam and Carmi rushed forward, both looking at Noah with wide, terrified eyes. "Noah? What¡¯s going on?" Adam¡¯s voice cracked with panic.


    Noah¡¯s eyes darted to the monitor, reading the numbers. The old man¡¯s heartbeats were dangerously low. "His heart rate is dropping fast. We¡¯re losing him." Noah¡¯s voice remained calm, but the urgency in his movements betrayed his cool exterior.


    "Is there a defibritor here?" Noah asked quickly, ncing at Adam.


    "No, we don¡¯t have one here!" Adam eximed, his voice thick with dread. "The doctor brings it during his visits! He didn¡¯t leave it here."


    Noah¡¯s eyes darkened. "What kind of doctor doesn¡¯t leave a defibritor with a patient this critical?" He cursed under his breath, frustration shing across his face as he unbuttoned the old man¡¯s shirt.


    Noah¡¯s hands pressed against the old man¡¯s chest, performing CPR with steady, rhythmicpressions. His movements were precise, almost mechanical, as he fought to restart the old man¡¯s failing heart.


    Amelia¡¯s voice cracked with fear. "Noah, is he going to make it? What¡¯s happening?"


    "I¡¯m doing what I can," Noah muttered through clenched teeth. "His heart¡¯s failing!"


    The monitor¡¯s beeping became more erratic, each pulse weaker than thest. "Come on,e on!" Noah growled under his breath, his hands pushing down on the old man¡¯s chest in a desperate effort to get the heart pumping again.


    "You can¡¯t die on me now, old man. Not right after I got involved. Stop ying games with me"


    The room was thick with tension. Adam looked like he was going to copse from the stress, his face drained of all colour as he watched Noah work. Carmi was gripping Amelia¡¯s arm so tightly her knuckles turned white. Amelia, standing next to her, could barely hold back the tears welling up in her eyes.


    Suddenly, footsteps thundered down the hallway. A man rushed into the room, his white coat pping behind him. It was Dr. Ray, the family¡¯s primary physician. His face twisted with panic as he took in the scene.


    "Adam, what¡¯s going on?! I heard the monitor rm!" Dr Ray asked, his eyesnding on Noah, who was in the middle of giving chestpressions. "Who is this kid? Move aside, now!"


    Dr. Ray lunged toward Noah, but Noah didn¡¯t budge. His hands kept pressing rhythmically on the old man¡¯s chest, his expression focused.


    "Move!" Dr. Ray barked again, trying to shove Noah aside. "You¡¯ll only make it worse!"


    Noah didn¡¯t flinch, his voice dangerously calm as he spoke through gritted teeth. "I know what I¡¯m doing. Back off until I stabilize him."


    Adam scared out of his mind, decided to trust the professional doctor at this critical junction. He held out a hand, stopping Dr. Ray. "Noah, please let him work."


    Dr Ray looked incredulous, his jaw clenching in frustration. "This kid, he is trying to kill the old man!"

 Chapter 78: Abnormal Highschooler

    Adam scared out of his mind, decided to trust the professional doctor at this critical junction. He held out a hand, stopping Dr. Ray. "Noah, please let him work."


    Dr. Ray looked incredulous, his jaw clenching in frustration. "This kid... he¡¯s trying to kill the old man!" His voice was sharp, bordering on panic. Without hesitation, he lunged to move Noah away, but he met a resistance he hadn¡¯t expected. Noah stood like a wall, unmoved, his focus unbreakable.


    "Security,e in here and move this guy!" Dr. Ray shouted, his frustration boiling over as he waved at the door, summoning help.


    Amelia and Carmi, standing on the edge of the room, were too shocked to react. Fear gripped them both, freezing them in ce as they watched the unfolding chaos.


    Noah¡¯s cold voice sliced through the tension without even turning around. "Mr. Adam, I will tell you one thing: if I stop treating the old man for even a second, he will die."


    "Choose your next action very carefully," he said as he spared Adam a cold nce.


    Adam took a step back, sweat forming on his brow. That nce Noah gave him¡ªit wasn¡¯t the look of a mere high schooler. It was the look of someone withplete control.


    "This guy... he¡¯s not normal," Adam thought, feeling a chill run down his spine.


    Still stunned by the intimidation radiating from Noah, Adam raised a trembling hand. "Dr. Ray," he said, his voice quiet but firm, "Do as Mr. Noah says. You will be responsible for disobeying military orders if anything happens. Your punishment will be severe."


    Hearing this, Dr. Ray fell silent, his defiance crumbling under the weight of Adam¡¯s words. He looked at Noah once more, a mixture of resentment and reluctant acknowledgment settling in. His eyes followed the young man¡¯s hands, watching his movements. And as much as he hated to admit it, Noah¡¯s technique was wless. The rhythm, the precision¡ªit was as if the boy had been doing this for decades.


    A few tense secondster, the old man¡¯s heart rate began to stabilize. The beeping from the monitor evened out, and everyone exhaled a collective sigh of relief.


    Noah, however, didn¡¯t rx. His eyes were still sharp, still focused. "What are you all doing?" he asked, his voice cold and calm. "I¡¯ve only dyed the inevitable. If we don¡¯t act fast, he won¡¯t make it."


    He turned to Amelia, who handed him a pen without hesitation. Noah scribbled a list with quick strokes: "100-year-old ginseng, ck seed oil,..., I need a cauldron and acupuncture needles too."


    Adam, without missing a beat, grabbed his phone and made a series of rapid calls. "Get everything on this list, now. I expect it within 15 minutes."


    Amelia looked at Noah, her eyes filled with warmth. She was thankful to Noah, he had saved her and now he was saving her grand dad.


    "He is really different from anyone I¡¯ve ever met." she muttered, as she stared at his focused face.


    "He is more handsome when he is focused," she thought but immediately discarded the thought, as she was reminded of her granddad¡¯s condition.


    Ten minutester, the necessary herbs and supplies arrived, and the delivery team rushed to set them up in the backyard.


    Dr. Ray, still sceptical, leaned in and whispered to Adam. "Sir, are you sure you want to let him do this? This is¡ª"


    "Enough!" Adam barked. His eyes were fierce. "Just listen to him and follow his instructions. I don¡¯t want to repeat myself again. You couldn¡¯t even properly diagnose my father."


    Dr Ray clenched his fists but bit back any further protest. He nodded, stepping back as Noah tookmand once again.


    Adam led Noah to the backyard, where a fire pit had already been set up.


    He set the cauldron above the fire, his eyes scanning the ingredients onest time before beginning.


    This needs to be perfect, he thought. There wasn¡¯t any room for error.


    "First¡­ the ginseng," Noah muttered under his breath, his hands moving swiftly. The 100-year-old root felt heavy in his hands, rough and knotted from age. "This root is vital. It carries the life force of a century within it¡ªenough to reignite the old man¡¯s weakened heart."


    He sliced the root into precise pieces, each cut revealing the ginseng¡¯s potent, golden flesh. Dropping the slices into the bubbling water, the cauldron hissed, steam rising in curls, carrying the sharp scent of the herb.


    "The heat needs to stay just right. Too high and the essence burns off. Too low, and it won¡¯t release properly," Noah whispered, adjusting the mes. He nced at Adam, who watched in tense silence, while Amelia and Carmi remained frozen with anticipation.


    Next, Noah reached for the vial of ck seed oil. "This will bnce the ginseng¡¯s fiery energy," he exined to himself, his hands moving with practised precision.


    The oil poured thick and dark into the cauldron, merging with the ginseng¡¯s essence. "It soothes inmmation and will stabilize the immune system."


    "Nige sativa,monly known as ck seed oil, is a remedy highly valued across various traditional medicines. Its applications are so extensive that it has been famously described as a cure for all ailments, except death."


    The mixture bubbled gently, a deep, earthy fragrance filling the air as the herbs began to meld together.


    Now, the Spirit Grass. Noah¡¯s fingers brushed the dried, finely ground herb, his mind fully focused. "This will strengthen his body, enhancing his internal defenses. It¡¯s crucial in fighting off any lingering infection or imbnce."


    He sprinkled the Spirit Grass into the cauldron, watching as the liquid turned from a pale golden hue to a deep, rich green.


    The transformation was happening exactly as it should, and Noah could feel the potency of the mixture increasing with each step.


    The fire crackled beneath the cauldron, and Noah kept his attention on the brew, not once allowing his mind to wander. "It¡¯s almost done," he whispered, his breath visible in the cool evening air.


    "The final step¡­ is patience."


    The mixture thickened as it simmered, the herbs working together to form a powerful, life-restoring concoction. Noah¡¯s hands never left the cauldron, his eyes sharp and focused, ensuring that nothing went wrong in the critical moments ahead.


    This is it, Noah thought, his heart pounding in rhythm with the cauldron¡¯s bubbling. "I need to form the pill now before it cools too much."


    He carefully poured the thickened liquid into a bowl, cooling it just enough to work with. His fingers moved deftly, shaping the warm mixture into a small, round pill. The pill shimmered faintly in the dim light, an ethereal glowing from within it.


    Noah held it up, inspecting his work. Perfect.


    Turning to Adam, he handed over the pill. "This¡­ this will save him."


    Adam stared at the pill in awe, his hands shaking slightly as he took it. "Is it really going to work, Noah?"


    "It will," Noah said confidently. "The old man had Virelen¡¯s Veil. It¡¯s an illness that is contracted through a parasite, the parasite hides deep in the heart and is impossible to spot."


    Adam looked at him for a second then hurried back to his father¡¯s bedside, cing the pill carefully into the old man¡¯s mouth. Everyone held their breath as the seconds ticked by.


    And then¡­

 Chapter 79: The Old Man Can’t Walk

    Adam hurried back to his father¡¯s bedside, carefully cing the pill into the old man¡¯s mouth. Everyone held their breath as the seconds ticked by.


    And then¡­


    "Pfffffffttt!"


    A loud, unmistakable fart echoed through the room, breaking the tension like a popped balloon.


    Everyone¡¯s eyes widened, the seriousness of the moment shattered in an instant. All heads turned away from the old man, their shocked faces now locked on Noah.


    Adam, still processing what had just happened, hesitated before saying, "Noah, this is...?"


    Noah coughed awkwardly, his gaze shifting to the ceiling as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Ahem, well, that¡¯s just a¡­ side effect of the pill. Don¡¯t worry."


    "A side effect?" Adam asked, confused but too polite to sound skeptical.


    "Yeah, yeah," Noah continued, trying to maintain hisposure. "You see, his entire body rxed, including his¡­ bowels. So that... led to, uh..." He trailed off, waving his hand dismissively as if it were no big deal.


    Before anyone could respond, the old man suddenly coughed, startling everyone. A small, wriggling parasite flew from his mouth, hitting the floor with a faint thud.


    Noah was the only one who saw the parasite. Noah swiftly bent down and scooped up the parasite, sliding it into his inventory before anyone noticed.


    Amelia rushed to her grandfather¡¯s side, grasping his wrinkled hand in hers. "Grandpa? How are you feeling?"


    The old man blinked, his eyes slowly regaining focus.


    "I¡¯m feeling better, I suppose. But why are there so many people here? You should¡¯ve woken me up before inviting guests. Isn¡¯t that a bit rude?" he added with a teasing smile.


    The room froze for a second before bursting into relievedughter. Amelia¡¯s eyes welled up with happy tears as she leaned into her grandfather, feeling his warmth.


    Adam approached his father¡¯s bedside, his voice gentle. "Dad, your heart failed while you were asleep. We had to perform emergency first aid." His voice cracked slightly, the reality of the situation still weighing on him.


    The old man looked around the room, eyes lingering on Noah, then Dr. Ray; who stood frozen in disbelief.


    His sharp intuition kicked in, already sensing who had really saved him.


    "So, who saved me?" he asked, though the question was more of a formality than anything.


    Adam put his arm around Noah¡¯s shoulder, his gratitude evident. "This young man here, Mr. Noah. Our family cannot repay you enough. You¡¯ve saved two lives in this household."


    The old man¡¯s gaze locked onto Noah, his eyes filled with appreciation. "Thank you, Mr. Noah. If there¡¯s ever anything we can do to repay you, just let Adam know. He¡¯ll take care of it."


    Noah smiled and nodded, keeping his response simple. "I¡¯m just d you¡¯re feeling better, old man."


    Then, with a mischievous grin, Noah added, "How about we y chess?"


    Dr. Ray, standing at the edge of the room, looked dumbfounded. "He just recovered from a near-death experience, and you want him to y chess?"


    Noah didn¡¯t even spare the doctor a nce, his eyes still focused on the old man in front of him. The tension in the room shifted once again as everyone waited for the old man¡¯s response.


    A glimmer of interest sparked in the old man¡¯s eyes. He smiled, his oldpetitive nature surfacing. "I would love to y chess with my savior," he said, his voice carrying newfound strength. "Adam, help me up. Amelia, prepare the chess set."


    Adam moved to assist, but Noah raised a hand, stopping him. "No need, Mr. Adam," Noah said calmly. "I think your father can manage."


    Adam blinked, confused, and the old man furrowed his brows. "But, Mr. Noah, I haven¡¯t walked since my illness. I¡¯ve been in a wheelchair for over a year now." His voice wavered with uncertainty.


    Noah¡¯s grin widened. "Not anymore, old man."


    The room fell silent, everyone watching intently as the old man processed Noah¡¯s words. Slowly, with a determined glint in his eyes, he began to push himself up. Amelia rushed to his side to offer support, but he gently waved her off.


    "I¡¯ve got this," the old man said, his voice stronger now.


    With a steady breath, he stood. The sight of him standing on his own two feet, without help, sent a wave of shock through the room.


    Dr. Ray¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. "How¡­ how is that possible?"


    Adam looked between his father and Noah, struggling toprehend what he was seeing. "That pill¡­"


    Noah nodded, his expression calm but confident. "He¡¯s cured now. His health will continue to improve gradually."


    The room buzzed with astonishment, the tension finally melting away into awe and relief.


    Noah grinned again, this time with a twinkle in his eye. "So¡­ time for that chess game?"


    The old man chuckled, feeling his strength return. "Time for chess indeed," he said, with a deep sense of gratitude and excitement in his voice.


    Amelia quickly fetched the chess set, her heart racing with excitement and disbelief at what she had just witnessed. The others, still trying to absorb the miracle before them, stepped aside to give the old man room. His hands, once frail and trembling, now gripped the chair as he sat upright, his posture confident and proud.


    Noah, still standing by with a casual air about him, nced at Adam and said, "I told you. Nothing to worry about."


    Adam nodded, though his mind raced with questions. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to ask any of them¡ªnot now, at least. His father was standing after a year confined to a wheelchair, and somehow Noah had cured him with a pill. But how?


    Noah moved towards the chessboard as Amelia set it down on a small table beside her grandfather.


    The pieces were already arranged, the ck and white soldiers standing tall, awaiting orders. The old man eyed the board, a mischievous smile ying on his lips as he sat down.


    "ck or white?" Noah asked, cracking his knuckles as he prepared for the game.

 Chapter 80: Battle of The Titans

    The old man chuckled, his voice lighter than it had been in years. "White, of course. I always y the aggressor."


    Noah nodded, a grin spreading across his face as he took the ck pieces. He sat down opposite the old man, adjusting his chair to face him. The room remained silent, a mixture of awe, confusion, and gratitude hanging in the air.


    Dr. Ray, who had been standing in stunned silence until now, finally found his voice. "I don¡¯t understand this. Medically, there¡¯s no way¡­"


    Noah nced up at him, his eyes sharp. "Not everything can be exined by medical textbooks, Doc."


    "But there must be some scientific exnation! I mean, this goes beyond¡ª"


    "Let it go, Ray." Adam interrupted, his tone firm. "Right now, all that matters is that my father is standing and he¡¯s well. We¡¯ll figure out the ¡¯how¡¯ter."


    Dr. Ray opened his mouth to argue but then thought better of it. With a resigned sigh, he stepped back and watched as the old man made his first move, a pawn sliding forward two spaces.


    The tension in the room thickened as Noah¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze shifting from the board to the old man.


    His expression remained unreadable, calm, and calcted. But behind those eyes was a mind working at incredible speeds, processing hundreds of possibilities in mere seconds.


    Noah rested his chin on his hand, and with deliberate slowness, he responded, moving his knight forward.


    The old man¡¯s eyes twinkled with experience as he assessed the board. "Aggressive already, I see." He nudged another pawn forward, shifting the centre of the board. "You won¡¯t throw me off bnce that easily."


    But Noah remained silent, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the edge of the table. His mind had already seen this game unfold. He wasn¡¯t ying the pieces in front of him; he was ying the old man. Each move was a test, a way to gauge his opponent¡¯s thought process.


    His next move was swift¡ªa second knight was brought into y. The crowd watched in suspense as the pieces danced across the board.


    But Noah was far from random. He was drawing the old man into his trap.


    Every move was a nudge, a suggestion, leading the old man down a path Noah had meticulously nned from the very start.


    The old man, feeling the pressure of the game intensified, slid his bishop across the board. He was beginning to realize that Noah was no ordinary yer.


    "I see what you¡¯re doing, Noah. But I won¡¯t fall for it," he said, smiling. "You think you can corner me?"


    Noah nced at the old man, then back at the board.


    The next few moves happened quickly, almost too fast for the spectators to track. Noah¡¯s rooks surged forward, one iming a pawn, the other quietly positioning itself at the edge of the board.


    His queen remained untouched, lying in wait as if Noah had no need for it yet. Each of Noah¡¯s moves seemed harmless at first nce, almost simplistic. But the old man was beginning to sense the pattern.


    The way Noah¡¯s knights crisscrossed the board in perfect synchronization, the way his pawns didn¡¯t just block but subtly guided the old man¡¯s pieces into unfavourable positions¡ªit was like facing an invisible wall at every turn.


    Beads of sweat appeared on the old man¡¯s forehead, but he kept hisposure. He advanced his queen, thinking to make a decisive strike. He had an opening¡ªNoah¡¯s bishop was exposed.


    But before his hand could leave the piece, Noah spoke, his voice soft but razor-sharp. "Are you sure about that move?"


    The old man hesitated. His fingers hovered over the queen, and then he pulled his hand back, his eyes scanning the board again. Something was wrong.


    He had miscalcted¡ªsomehow. Noah hadn¡¯t moved yet, but the old man could feel it. His queen was bait. A trap he hadn¡¯t even seen.


    Instead, he opted for his rook, aiming to break Noah¡¯s control over the centre of the board. "Your turn," he said, trying to keep the unease out of his voice.


    Noah didn¡¯t respond. He merely moved a pawn, seemingly insignificant. But to the old man, it was a ring signal.


    the real attack wasing soon, and he had no idea where it would hit. He studied the board harder now, realizing that every piece Noah had moved had led him here, to this exact moment. A cold chill settled over him.


    Noah casually slid his queen forward slowly.


    The old man¡¯s breath caught. He hadn¡¯t even realized it until now, but Noah had orchestrated this perfectly. His king was vulnerable, surrounded on all sides. Every piece he had left was in a position Noah had dictated.


    Noah looked up, breaking the silence. "Check."


    The old man stared at the board in disbelief. Noah¡¯s queen, previously sitting dormant, now loomed over his king with an unshakable authority. He scanned the board desperately for a counter, but every escape route was blocked, and every n he thought of countered.


    The old man¡¯s hands trembled slightly as he moved a pawn in ast-ditch effort to protect his king. But Noah didn¡¯t even nce at it. Instead, his rook slid across the board with lethal precision. It took the old man a second to realize the game was over.


    Noah leaned forward, his eyes locking with the old man¡¯s. "Checkmate."


    A wave of shock spread through the room. Amelia gasped softly, her eyes wide with awe. Dr. Ray stood frozen, unable toprehend what had just happened.


    Adam had a shocked look on his face, he knew his dad¡¯s skill in chess. His dad wasn¡¯t just a casual chess yer.


    The old man¡¯s gaze dropped to the board. He had been outmanoeuvred in every possible way, guided unknowingly into a loss from the very beginning.


    Noah stood up, smoothing out his shirt as if the game hadn¡¯t even mattered. "Close one,"


    The old man looked up, still processing. He let out a long breath, his face softening into a smile. "You¡¯re something else, Noah."

 Chapter 81: Jack of All Trades

    Noah stood up, smoothing out his shirt as if the game hadn¡¯t even mattered. "Close one,"


    The old man looked up, still processing. He let out a long breath, his face softening into a smile. "You¡¯re something else, Noah."


    "You¡¯re overpraising me, old man," Noah said, a sly grin ying on his lips. "Be careful, or this might get to my head."


    The old man, still in awe of the skill he¡¯d witnessed, shook his head with a soft, knowing smile. "Underpraising you, actually." His gaze lingered on Noah, the young man who seemed so mysterious, a jack of all trades cloaked in a fog of enigma.


    He couldn¡¯t help but wonder, "This young man... what kind of life has he lived to possess such intelligence and skills?" The thought gnawed at the back of his mind, but before he could dwell on it, Noah¡¯s voice interrupted his musing.


    "Thanks for the game, old man," Noah began, his grin widening as if the chess match had barely affected him. "But I feel kind of bad. I made you y while you¡¯re still recovering. How about Ipensate you with something you¡¯ll enjoy?"


    The old man blinked, surprised by Noah¡¯s offer. "I¡¯m already in your debt for everything you¡¯ve done," he said, shaking his head in disbelief. "And now you want to give me a gift? I feel ashamed."


    Noah waved his hand dismissively,ughing lightly. "Think of it as a small thank-you for the chess game, then. No need for guilt. After all, it¡¯s the least I can do."


    Curiosity flickered in the old man¡¯s eyes. He couldn¡¯t help but feel intrigued by Noah¡¯s offer. "Well¡­ if you insist," he said cautiously, his voiceced with intrigue.


    Noah reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. But instead of retrieving cash or cards, he performed a subtle sleight of hand, using the wallet as a decoy to ess his inventory. In an instant, he pulled out a small, elegant pocket bag filled with what appeared to be tea leaves. The sleek design of the bag alone made it seem like it was worth its weight in gold.


    "Is that¡­ tea?" Amelia blurted out from the side, her expression filled with confusion. She couldn¡¯t understand why Noah was making such a fuss over a simple bag of tea leaves.


    But the old man, much more seasoned in the world of luxury, immediately recognized the rarity of what Noah had just revealed. His eyes narrowed in appreciation. "Those tea leaves¡­ they must be something extraordinary."


    Noah gave a modest nod, the ever-present grin still on his face. "Consider it a small gift," he said casually. "But hey, it¡¯s the thought that counts, right?"


    The old man¡¯s curiosity deepened, and without hesitation, he nodded in agreement. "Amelia, brew the tea, will you?" He could have easily asked a servant, but this felt like a personal moment¡ªone he wanted his granddaughter to be a part of.


    Amelia obliged, though she was still clearly baffled by the situation. As she brewed the tea, the aroma that filled the room was unlike anything anyone had ever experienced before. It was rich and soothing, yet intense and intoxicating, drawing everyone¡¯s attention like a ma. The fragrance alone seemed to carry a weight of history and tradition.


    Amelia poured the tea into delicate cups, serving her grandfather, her parents, and Noah. She deliberately skipped Dr. Ray, her frustration with his earlier behaviour toward Noah still fresh in her mind. She didn¡¯t want to offend Noah by serving someone who had doubted him.


    Noah noticed the gesture and smiled inwardly. "She¡¯s quite perceptive," he mused, stealing a quick nce at Amelia, who caught his gaze for a moment before nervously averting her eyes.


    The old man took the first sip of the tea. His eyes widened almost immediately. "This¡­ this is incredible," he whispered as if he were afraid of wasting a single drop. His hand trembled slightly as he set the cup down carefully. "I feel¡­ invigorated. The fatigue is leaving my body, and my mind feels clearer than it has in years." He turned to Noah, his voice filled with gratitude and awe.


    "Noah, this is far more valuable than anything I could ever repay."


    Adam, watching his father¡¯s reaction closely, took a sip himself. His eyes widened in surprise, mirroring the old man¡¯s expression. "Noah, what¡­ what is this tea? It¡¯s unlike anything I¡¯ve ever tasted."


    Noah shrugged nonchntly, though there was a gleam in his eyes. "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got plenty. I¡¯m opening a teahouse soon, and you¡¯re one of the first to try it before the grand opening."


    The old man stared at Noah, his mind racing. "You¡¯re telling me this could be mass-produced?"


    Noah nodded with a small, knowing smile. "That¡¯s the n."


    The old man was speechless. He had never heard of such high-quality tea being produced on a scale like that. "Mass-producing something of this calibre? Impossible," he thought. But the reality of the experience couldn¡¯t be denied.


    He studied Noah more carefully now, trying to read the young man¡¯s intentions. "This young man¡­ he¡¯s a genius. A monster of skill and intelligence. If we don¡¯t secure a rtionship with him, someone else will." His gaze shifted toward Amelia, who was still flustered by Noah¡¯s earlier attention. "It seems my granddaughter has already taken a liking to him¡­ That might be our best way to secure him."


    After the tea was finished, Noah stood up, brushing off his pants. "Well, I think it¡¯s time for me to head out. Thank you for the hospitality."


    The old man grinned, a yful twinkle in his eye. "Take care, Noah. Make sure you visit again soon. I¡¯ll need a rematch. You won today, but that¡¯s only because I wasn¡¯t at my best."


    Noah chuckled. "Sure, old man. I¡¯ll give you a fair match next time. This one doesn¡¯t count."


    As Noah turned to leave, Amelia suddenly gathered all her courage. "I-I¡¯ll walk you to the door!" she blurted out, her voice higher-pitched than usual, her cheeks flushed a deep pink.


    Noah paused, raising an eyebrow before smiling warmly. "Then, I¡¯ll be in your care," he said teasingly, motioning for her to lead the way.


    Amelia led him to the front door, her heart pounding in her chest with every step. When they reached the doorway, she hesitated, biting her lip, as if unsure of how to proceed. Finally, she called out to him, her voice louder than she intended.


    "Noah!"


    He stopped, turning to face her with a raised eyebrow. "Yes?"


    Her face turned crimson as she fidgeted, trying to work up the nerve to speak. "C-can we¡­ exchange phone numbers?" Her voice was barely a whisper by the end of the sentence.


    Noah chuckled softly and handed her his phone. "That¡¯s all? Of course." He watched as she quickly typed in her number, her fingers trembling slightly.


    "Stay safe, Noah. Goodnight," she said softly, her voice almost hesitant.


    "Goodnight, Amelia," Noah replied, his smile kind as he pocketed his phone and stepped out the door.


    As he walked toward his sleek Lykan Hypersport, the engine roaring to life, Amelia stood in the doorway, watching as his car disappeared into the night. Her heart raced with excitement and curiosity, still reying every moment in her mind.


    Inside the vi, the old man stood by the window, watching Noah¡¯s retreating figure with sharp, calcting eyes.


    "This boy, Noah¡­ I¡¯ve never met anyone like him. What is he nning?" he wondered, his mind spinning with questions.


    As Noah¡¯s car vanished into the distance, the old man muttered under his breath, "We need to keep him close¡­ for Amelia¡¯s sake¡ªand ours."


    The night had settled inpletely by the time Noah¡¯s car faded into the horizon, leaving the vi¡¯s front entrance bathed in soft, flickeringmplight.


    Inside, the old man stood, staring thoughtfully at the darkened road beyond the gates. His mind churned with questions he dared not voice aloud, each more tangled than thest.


    Adam stepped up beside his father, sensing the weight of the moment. "Dad," he started hesitantly, his voice low, "What are you thinking?"


    The old man didn¡¯t respond at first, his gaze fixed on where Noah¡¯s car had disappeared. He exhaled softly, as though shedding thest bit of fatigue that had gued him for so long. "That young man... he¡¯s not like the others," he said finally, his voice measured. "There¡¯s something about him I can¡¯t quite ce."


    Adam nodded, though he had his own thoughts brewing. Noah was no ordinary person¡ªthat much was clear¡ªbut there was a depth to him that Adam couldn¡¯t unravel.


    The old man turned, his eyes narrowing slightly. "We need to keep an eye on him," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, as though speaking the thought aloud gave it weight. "For our family¡¯s sake."


    Adam¡¯s brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean, Dad?"


    But the old man didn¡¯t answer right away. Instead, he shifted his gaze to Amelia, who had just returned from seeing Noah off.


    She looked flustered, her cheeks still pink, the residual excitement from her brief interaction with Noah still evident in her expression.


    The old man smiled inwardly. "Ah, youth." He watched her for a moment before returning his focus to Adam. "We need to make sure Noah stays close. If he¡¯s as sharp as he is on the chessboard¡­ well, we can¡¯t afford to let him slip through our fingers."


    Adam blinked, taken aback. "You think he¡¯s that important?"


    The old man nodded, his face serious now. "More than you think."


    Amelia, overhearing the conversation, nced between them, feeling a strange mix of emotions.


    Noah was already upying more space in her thoughts than she cared to admit, but her grandfather¡¯s words only added to the growingplexity of the situation.


    "Do you think he¡¯lle back?" she asked quietly, her voice softer than usual.


    The old man chuckled, a rare, warm sound that hadn¡¯t graced his lips in some time. "Oh, I¡¯m sure he will. I don¡¯t think Noah walks away from something once he¡¯s taken an interest." His eyes gleamed knowingly. "Especially when he¡¯s taken an interest in someone."


    Amelia¡¯s face turned redder, and she quickly looked away, biting her lip. Her thoughts spun as she reyed every detail of their interaction.


    "Could it be possible that Noah felt the same curiosity about me that i felt for him? Or was he just being kind,"


    Dr. Ray, who had remained quiet since the tea, finally spoke up, his voiceced with frustration. "I still don¡¯t understand what just happened tonight. That boy¡ªNoah¡ªhe¡¯s... unnatural. You don¡¯t just cure someone with a pill and some tea leaves.


    There¡¯s something going on here, something more than we¡¯re seeing."


    The old man waved him off, his expression dismissive. "Ray, you¡¯re a good doctor, but not everything in this world fits into your neat little medical boxes."


    "But¡ª" Dr. Ray tried to protest, but the old man raised a hand, cutting him off.


    "No more." His voice was firm. "What¡¯s done is done. Noah is a friend of this family now, and I won¡¯t have you doubting him."


    Dr. Ray fell silent, recognizing that there was no arguing with the old man when he had made up his mind.


    Amelia, still deep in thought, excused herself quietly, retreating to her room where she could process everything in peace.


    Her heart was still racing from the evening¡¯s events.

 Chapter 82: Flashback

    In the dim light of their bedroom, Carmi sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers absently fidgeting with the hem of her nightgown.


    She let out a deep sigh, the weight of the evening settling over her like a heavy nket. "I didn¡¯t know he really knew medicine," she murmured, almost to herself.


    "Remember when Father got very sick? Noah asked if we wanted him to check on the old man, but I thought he was just being polite. I told him it was okay. I didn¡¯t think anything of it."


    Adam, who had been near the window, turned around and looked at her. His frown deepened as she finished her sentance.


    "Carmi, this man is not normal. He doesn¡¯t seem like the type to say things just for appearances. He doesn¡¯t do anything without reason." Adam said with a low but tense voice.


    His hands clenched into fists at his sides. "I don¡¯t want this to happen again, especially not with him."


    Carmi looked up at him, confusion and guilt swirling in her eyes. "I didn¡¯t think¡ª"


    "No, you didn¡¯t think," Adam interrupted, his frustration bubbling over. "You should have told me. I asked youst time what he said after I rushed out to see Dad without any exnation, and you just told me he wished the old man good health. You never mentioned that Noah had offered to help."


    Her face paled, and she cast her gaze downward, guilt heavy on her shoulders. "I thought it was a matter of no importance," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.


    "Especially with your father¡¯s health deteriorating. I didn¡¯t want to get your hopes up over what seemed like an empty offer¡­"


    Adam¡¯s expression hardened, the room growing colder with the weight of unspoken tension.


    "It wasn¡¯t an empty offer, Carmi. That man could have saved my dad a week of anguish. Next time, don¡¯t assume." His tone was harsh, but his words wereced with the deep worry he carried.


    "My dad could have died today if it wasn¡¯t for the coincidence of Noah visiting Arthur¡¯s house."


    Carmi bit her lip, fighting back tears. The gravity of her mistake hit her harder now than it had before. She could only nod, her voice too strained to offer any further defence.


    Seeing the guilt etched across Carmi¡¯s face, Adam¡¯s hard expression softened. He could see how deeply she regretted her decision, and though he knew he had to be stern so she wouldn¡¯t repeat something like this again.


    The sight of her near tears tugged at his heart. She had hidden something so important from him, but she hadn¡¯t done it maliciously. His frustration stemmed from worry¡ªworry for his father, worry for their family.


    Noah wasn¡¯t ordinary, not by any means. Adam had known that ever since the night Noah saved their daughter. Alone and unarmed, Noah had taken on four internationally wanted criminals.


    That kind of strength, that kind of calm under pressure¡ªit spoke volumes about who Noah really was, and it directly contradicted what Carmi had thought of him at first.


    Carmi¡¯s lips quivered, and Adam could see that she was on the verge of tears. Without hesitation, he moved to sit beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. His voice was much softer now, the anger that had red up earlier fading into the background.


    "Carmi," he said gently, his tone warm andforting.


    "I¡¯m sorry I snapped at you. I just... I¡¯ve been so worried about Dad. And you know how much this situation with Noah has me on edge. I didn¡¯t mean to take it out on you."


    She looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, but her expression softened in relief at his change in tone. Adam tightened his hold on her, pulling her closer.


    "It¡¯s just... his life was on the line, and next time, who knows what it could be? We can¡¯t afford to overlook things like this again, alright?"


    Carmi nodded, sniffling a little as she leaned into him, grateful for his understanding. "I¡¯m sorry, Adam," she whispered.


    "I didn¡¯t realize how important he was¡­ I just didn¡¯t want to worry you more than you already were."


    "I know," he replied, his thumb gently brushing over her hand. "But from now on, you can¡¯t keep these things from me no matter how insignificant they seem. If Noah offers to help, we can¡¯t just brush it off. There¡¯s more to him than we can see, and we need to keep that in mind."


    Carmi nodded again, the guilt slowly lifting from her chest. Adam smiled softly, pressing a light kiss to her forehead. "We¡¯ll get through this, together," he murmured


    With a smile on her face, she replied, "Mnm."


    Meanwhile, Noah sped down the motorway, the hum of his Lykan Hypersport blending with the stillness of the night.


    His fingers tapped rhythmically against the steering wheel, his gaze steady on the empty road ahead.


    Then, his phone buzzed, pulling him out of his thoughts. He nced at the screen, his brow furrowing as he noticed the message was from an unknown number. With a flick of his thumb, he opened it.


    "Drive safe, Noah. Let¡¯s meet up some time?"


    The name wasn¡¯t there, but he instantly knew who it was from. Amelia.


    For a moment, Noah stared at the message, his eyes scanning the words, but his focus drifted, and something deep inside him stirred.


    "UGHH!" Noah screamed lightly, as he held his head with his hands.


    A shadow flickered across his mind, followed by a voice¡ªsoft, young, but heartbreakingly familiar.


    "Noah, promise me you won¡¯t do that again, okay?"


    The words hit him like a wave, and an image shed before his eyes, vivid and disorienting. Suddenly, he wasn¡¯t in the car anymore.


    Noah found himself standing in a ce that seemed to defy description¡ªan expanse of white, endless and empty. It wasn¡¯t that his mind couldn¡¯t register the details; it was more as though it refused to.


    The space around him was unfamiliar, hazy, like a forgotten memory fading into obscurity. Yet, despite the vagueness of the environment, one thing stood out in stark rity.


    In front of him stood a girl. She couldn¡¯t have been older than fourteen, her eyes wide with innocence, though they held a wisdom far beyond her years.


    Her hair fell in gentle waves down her back, swaying slightly as if touched by a breeze that Noah couldn¡¯t feel. She looked at him with a mixture of expectation and something deeper¡ªsomething that tugged at his heart with a force he couldn¡¯t understand.


    There was no mistaking her. He knew who she was, even if his mind wanted to resist the recognition. The girl wasn¡¯t just part of his past; she was a part of him¡ªa part of the person he had promised himself he would never let down.


    "Noah," she said softly, her voice carrying through the emptiness as though it was the only sound that existed. "Promise me you won¡¯t do that again, okay?"


    Her words echoed in his mind, each syble weaving through the fog of his memories. There was no usation in her tone, no anger¡ªjust a simple plea. It was as if she was asking him not just to refrain from some specific action,


    She was staring at him, her gaze unwavering, her expression earnest. "Promise me," she insisted, her small hands clutching his arm as if she could keep him grounded with her touch.


    Noah felt a knot tighten in his chest. "What am I doing?" he wanted to ask, but the words wouldn¡¯t form. He could only stare at her, the weight of his unspoken promise hanging between them like a barrier.


    And then it hit him¡ªhe was breaking his oath. Slowly, imperceptibly, but surely, he was slipping back into something he¡¯d once sworn to leave behind.


    But now, that man was resurfacing, and with each calcted move, each maniptive action, he could feel himself drifting further away from the promise he had made.


    The girl¡¯s face lingered for a moment longer, her eyes filled with an unspoken plea.


    "Noah, I hope we meet up sometime."


    His breath caught in his throat as he tried to reach out to her, but the world around them began to blur, the whiteness folding in on itself like an illusion being torn apart. The girl¡¯s image flickered, her form slowly dissolving into the mist of his subconscious.


    "No," Noah whispered, his voice barely audible as he held out his hand toward her fading figure. "Wait¡­"


    But she was already gone, swallowed by the endless white expanse. And just like that, the memory¡ªno, the reminder¡ªslipped through his fingers, leaving him standing alone in the void.


    Suddenly, the shback shattered like ss, and Noah was yanked back into the present, the harsh reality of the motorway rushing at him all at once.


    His heart lurched as he realized his car had veered out of control. The speedometer had long passed the national limit by arge margin, the roar of the engine growing louder, almost deafening.


    He had been driving on autopilot, lost in the haze of his memories, and now the sleek vehicle was careening dangerously acrossnes.


    His pulse spiked as the reality of the situation mmed into him. A car was just ahead, a mere second away from a collision. The distance between them was closing too fast.


    "Skrrtttt!"

 Chapter 83: Time Alone

    His pulse spiked as the reality of the situation mmed into him. A car was just ahead, a mere second away from a collision. The distance between them was closing too fast.


    "Skrrtttt!"


    Adrenaline surged through Noah¡¯s veins, and without a second thought, he gripped the steering wheel tightly, his hands moving with instinctive precision. His mind, once clouded by the shback, snapped into sharp focus.


    The tyres screeched against the asphalt as Noah jerked the wheel, the car spinning wildly. The sudden shriek of tyres against asphalt pierced the stillness of the night like a scream.


    Noah¡¯s hands gripped the steering wheel with iron focus, his knuckles white, and his mind snapped into hyperawareness, pushing aside the haunting memory of the girl.


    The car in front was too close, its taillights growing rapidly as the Lykan hurtled toward it. There was no room for hesitation¡ªno room for fear.


    The driver in the car ahead noticed the headlights in his rearview mirror growing impossiblyrge, the engine¡¯s roar growing louder, like a predator closing in on its prey.


    His heart leapt into his throat as his eyes widened in disbelief. "What the hell¡­?" His mind raced, panic seizing his body, but his hands froze on the wheel.


    "I should move. Why can¡¯t I move?"


    The screech of Noah¡¯s tires filled the air again, deafening and sharp. The Lykan slid dangerously close, cutting through the space between thenes as if it was defying physics.


    Noah¡¯s mind moved faster than his car, every detail registering in an instant¡ªthe angle of the road, the speed, the exact timing required to avoid disaster.


    His reflexes worked with terrifying precision, the drift seamless, like a perfect manoeuvre crafted in the chaos of the moment.


    "He¡¯s going to crash into me!" The driver in front couldn¡¯t tear his eyes away from the rearview mirror, his muscles locked in a grip of fear.


    "Move! Do something!" he screamed internally, but his body refused to obey, frozen in a mix of terror and disbelief.


    He could see the Lykan approaching, its sleek form twisting into the drift, tyres screeching as it seemed to fly toward him with impossible speed. "It¡¯s going to hit¡ª I¡¯M DEAD!"


    But just when the impact seemed inevitable, the Lykan slid past him, the roaring engine and the howl of the tyres blending into a symphony of precision.


    Noah¡¯s car spun sideways, the rear bumper missing the other vehicle by mere inches. The screeching reached a crescendo as the Lykan skimmed across the asphalt, like a de cutting through silk.


    Sparks flew where the tyres scraped the road, the sound like nails on a chalkboard, but Noah¡¯s grip on the wheel never faltered.


    The driver in the front car blinked, his breath caught in his chest, disbelief washing over him like a cold wave.


    "How did he¡­?" His eyes darted to his side mirror, seeing the Lykan regain its bnce behind him, seamlessly returning to itsne as if nothing had happened.


    "That was impossible. He should¡¯ve¡­ we should¡¯ve both¡­" His mind couldn¡¯t fully grasp what he had just witnessed.


    Meanwhile, Noah felt the wheel steady beneath his hands, the engine¡¯s vibration calming as the tyres gained traction once more. His heartbeat was still pounding in his ears, but his body was calm¡ªeerily so.


    The silence that followed felt deafening.


    Noah exhaled slowly, his grip loosening on the steering wheel. His mind was racing, not from near ident, but from the storm of thoughts that followed the shback. He could still see her face, and hear her voice. The words yed over and over in his head like a broken record:


    "Promise me you won¡¯t do that again, okay?"


    He shook his head as if trying to shake the memory loose, but it clung to him, deep and heavy.


    "What am I doing?" he whispered to himself, the question barely audible against the hum of the engine.


    The road ahead stretched endlessly, but Noah could see the cracks forming, not on the asphalt, but inside himself.


    With a steadying breath, he pushed the elerator down, the Lykan¡¯s engine roaring back to life as the speed climbed once again.


    Behind him, the driver of the other car finally exhaled, his heart still hammering in his chest. "What¡­ what the hell was that?" he muttered to himself, still trying to process the fact that he had just witnessed the most death-defying manoeuvre he had ever seen.


    "That guy¡­" The driver¡¯s hands trembled as he gripped his own wheel, staring at the dark road ahead in disbelief. "He should¡¯ve crashed. There¡¯s no way he could¡¯ve controlled that¡­"


    But Noah had controlled it. With a level of skill that bordered on the supernatural, he had threaded the needle between disaster and survival. And the driver left behind in the wake of the Lykan¡¯s screeching tyres, could only shake his head in stunned silence.


    "Who the hell was that?"


    Meanwhile, Noah was feeling troubled, by his character, his actions, and his very self. He could feel it¡ªhe was reverting. Rapidly.


    What disturbed him the most was that it felt natural. Almost too natural.


    His phone buzzed again on the passenger seat it was Lily, ncing at the text.


    "See you tomorrow at school!"


    He shook his head and ignored the message, he already decided that he wasn¡¯t going to go home tonight, and he wasn¡¯t going to school either.


    He needed space and time to think. Maybe it was exhaustion, or maybe it was something more. Whatever it was, he needed to get away from everything.


    "The mansion."


    Noah remembered it suddenly¡ªa reward from the system he had yet to check out. He had been so caught up in everythingtely that he hadn¡¯t even visited the ce.


    He quickly made up his mind. He didn¡¯t need to be around people right now.


    "I can have some time alone in a secluded area, that should help," he muttered.


    The mansion was only about 30 minutes from his parents¡¯ house, and the thought of finally seeing it intrigued him.

 Chapter 84: The New Mansion

    Soon after leaving behind the motorway, Noah arrived at the gated neighbourhood.


    The viplex was as private as he¡¯d imagined, with high walls and dense trees offering seclusion.


    Guards were stationed at the entrance, just like in Amelia¡¯s neighbourhood, giving the ce an air of exclusivity and security.


    As Noah slowed his car near the gate, a couple of guards approached, one of them stepping forward with a polite but cautious demeanour.


    "Good evening, sir. How can I help you?" the guard asked.


    Noah nced at the guard, keeping his expression neutral yet friendly. "My name is Noah," he said smoothly, before pausing to ask, "And you are?"


    "My name is Anderson, sir," the guard replied, standing a bit straighter. "I¡¯m the guard leader here. How can I assist you?"


    Noah nodded, acknowledging him with a slight smile as he reached over to the passenger seat, picking up the tenancy agreement he had retrieved from his system inventory earlier.


    "I¡¯m a new resident in thisplex," he said, handing over the document, "I¡¯ve just moved in."


    Anderson took the tenancy agreement, his eyes scanning the paperwork with diligence.


    When his gaze fell on the name and mansion number, his posture changed subtly.


    He stiffened slightly, eyes widening as he connected the dots.


    A few days ago, his boss had mentioned that someone important¡ªsomeone of significant wealth¡ªhad purchased the most luxurious mansion in the neighbourhood: Mansion No. 1. That name had stuck with him.


    "Anderson, listen carefully a person had purchased Mansion No.1 recently and he mighte to visit it anytime, his identity is quite mysterious and unknown."


    "I was only told that his name is Noah Thompson, so if anyone with that namees you must treat them with utmost respect. Understand me?"


    "Yes Sir!" Anderson responded on the other side of the phone.


    "Noah Thompson." Anderson thought, as his gaze shot back to Noah, his demeanour instantly more respectful.


    He quickly handed back the agreement with both hands, a gesture that showed just how much his attitude had shifted.


    "Mr. Thompson, we¡¯ve been awaiting your arrival," Anderson said, his voice warm and deferential.


    "Please, if you ever need anything, don¡¯t hesitate to let us know. We¡¯ll be more than happy to assist you in any way we can."


    Noah smiled gently as he took back the agreement. "Thank you, Anderson," he replied, his voice as calm andposed as ever. "I¡¯ll be in your care then."


    The guard nodded, and with a subtle motion of his hand, the other guards opened the gate. As Noah drove forward, he heard the hushed voices of the guards behind him.


    "I didn¡¯t expect him to be so young," one of the guards muttered. "And polite too."


    Anderson nodded in agreement but kept his expression serious. "He does seem humble," he acknowledged, "But we don¡¯t know much about him yet. Only time can show us what he¡¯s really like."


    The others murmured their agreement before returning to their posts. Noah heard what they said due to his increased physical ability from the Intermediate Soldier-King skill, but he didn¡¯t look back or acknowledge their words.


    The way people judged so quickly¡ªbased on appearances, wealth, or demeanour¡ªhad always amused him, though he had no energy to care tonight.


    His mind was elsewhere.


    Noah continued driving through the viplex, which was as luxurious as he¡¯d expected. The road was nked by well-manicured gardens, each vi more extravagant than thest.


    When he finally arrived at Mansion No. 1, the sight took his breath away for a brief moment. It was standing alone without any neighbouring mansion showing its status.


    The mansion was vast, towering above the other vis with a sleek, modern design that was softened by subtle medieval touches¡ªarched windows, wrought-iron details, and dark wood ents.


    It was an elegant fusion of the past and the present, with a certain grandeur that instantly made it feel like a ce of importance. The mansion sat beside a small river, its gentle flow adding a calming sound to the already serene environment.


    The gardens surrounding the mansion were meticulously maintained, with tall trees and carefully arranged flowers creating a serene scene.


    Noah parked his Lykan in the circr driveway and sat for a moment, staring at the mansion. Despite its beauty, despite its obvious luxury, he couldn¡¯t shake the strange emptiness that gnawed at him.


    "This was supposed to be a reward, wasn¡¯t it? Something to be proud of? " He thought.


    Yet he felt none of the satisfaction he should have.


    "Everything feels so distant now," he thought, a heaviness settling over him.


    Finally, with a weary sigh, Noah stepped out of the car. The cool night air brushed against his skin, and he took in the scenery onest time before heading to the front door.


    The entrance opened easily with a soft push, revealing an interior that was as grand as the exterior. Noah¡¯s eyes quickly scanned the spacious foyer, the gleaming marble floors, and the expansive living room just beyond.


    Tall windows allowed moonlight to flood the space, casting a soft glow over the detailed furnishings. The ce had been furnished ahead of his arrival, with furniture that screamed elegance and wealth.


    Noah walked further into the mansion, his footsteps echoing through the halls. Normally, he would have been eager to explore the ce, to see what hidden luxuries it had to offer.


    But tonight, he wasn¡¯t in the mood. His mind was too cluttered, too weighed down by the thoughts that wouldn¡¯t stop.


    His fingers brushed over the smooth marble of the kitchen counter as he wandered, aimlessly opening a few doors.


    The first two revealedvish bathrooms,plete with gold ents and expansive mirrors.


    Noah stared at them nkly for a moment before shaking his head. "Not this one," he muttered under his breath.


    "Not that one either."


    Finally, on his third try, he found what he was looking for¡ªa bedroom. It was huge, with a king-sized bed that looked impossibly soft.


    Plush pillows were arranged neatly, and the dark sheets looked inviting, a ce where he could sink in and disappear for a while. Noah felt a brief urge to just copse onto the bed and let the exhaustion of the day overtake him.


    "I will shower first, then I will try out this bad... girl? No that doesn¡¯t sound right, "bad bed?" that doesn¡¯t sound right either." he muttered, "Either way, I will try just try out this bed."


    ncing around the room, his eyesnded on a walk-in closet. He opened it to find rows of designer clothing¡ªRalph Lore, Huge Boss¡ªall neatly arranged.


    It was over the top, like everything else in the mansion, but Noah didn¡¯t care. He quickly grabbed a pair of pyjamas from the collection and headed to the bathroom.


    The bathroom attached to the bedroom was massive, with a spacious shower, arge mirror, and an array of high-end toiletries.


    "They have a jacuzzi here too?" he muttered as he stared at the beautiful design.


    "This bathroom alone could probably fit my entire home, Noah thought, a wry smile tugging at his lips.


    "Makes me question if I¡¯d rather sleep in my old room or in this bathroom," he muttered to himself, chuckling softly.


    As he stepped into the shower, the hot water hit his skin, and steam quickly filled the space, clouding the mirrors and soothing his tired muscles. For a brief moment, Noah felt the tension in his body begin to ease.


    The warmth of the water wrapped around him like a nket, and he allowed himself to rx, if only for a little while.


    But even as he stood there, his mind refused to rest. The thoughts kepting¡ªabout the changes he could feel inside himself.


    "Maybe I should just embrace how I really am, even if it means..." As he remembered her phrase.


    "One day, you¡¯ll have nothing left to hold onto, Noah,"


    Shaking his head to get rid of the voice, he closed the tap and got out of the shower.


    He grabbed a towel and dried himself off, then ran the blow dryer over his hair with practised ease.


    After brushing his teeth, he slipped into the designer pyjamas he¡¯d grabbed earlier. The soft fabric felt good against his skin, but it didn¡¯t bring anyfort to his restless mind.


    With a tired sigh, Noah walked back into the bedroom, his eyes falling on the king-sized bed.


    Without thinking twice, he slumped onto the mattress, his body sinking into the softness. He stared up at the ceiling, his thoughts swirling.


    "System, do you think I¡¯m crazy? why is it so hard for me to decide."


    "It¡¯s quite ironic I got the ¡¯Ultimate Choice System¡¯ when I can¡¯t even make this simple choice of either embracing my true self or keeping my promise." He muttered as he scoffed.


    Fatigue from the day quickly caught up with him, his eyes grew heavy, and despite the conflict in his heart, sleep eventually imed him.


    The mansion was quiet, the world outside still, but Noah¡¯s mind was anything but at peace.

 Chapter 85: Decision

    As Noah drifted into sleep, his mind, though clouded with exhaustion, refused to grant him the peace he sought. Instead, it pulled him deeper into the recesses of his thoughts.


    In the quiet of the night, the mansion around him seemed to fade, and Noah found himself standing in that strange, white ce again¡ªthe same one that had haunted him earlier in the night.


    This time, though, there was no confusion, no ambiguity about the space. He knew exactly where he was: within his mind. And waiting for him, as always, was the girl.


    The girl whose presence in his memories had resurfaced and triggered something inside him.


    She stood before him again, as if time had never passed. Her expression was still soft, still filled with the innocence that haunted him.


    "Noah¡­" she whispered, her voice carrying through the emptiness like a ripple on water. It was a single word, but it held the weight of everything he had tried to forget.


    His chest tightened. He wanted to turn away, but something in her gaze held him in ce.


    "I¡¯m not doing anything wrong, I¡¯m just being myself," he muttered as if trying to convince her.


    The girl took a step toward him, her figure somehow bing more solid, more real with each step. "Promise me," she said again, her eyes searching his face.


    His breath hitched in his throat. How many times had he heard those words? How many times had he made that promise? And yet, here he was¡ªstanding on the edge of losing himself once more.


    His mind raced, trying to find excuses, trying to justify the things he had done and the person he was bing again.


    But deep down, he knew the truth.


    Noah clenched his fists. "I didn¡¯t choose this¡­I really tried to be a normal high schooler, I got bullied when I had the power to resist. I got cheated on, because I ignored all signs that indicated it, just to forget the schemes... to fulfil my promise."


    "I had no choice," he said, his voice harder now, as if speaking the words aloud would make them true. "I¡¯m doing what I need to grow, to SURVIVE." His words echoed around him, but the girl¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change.


    The silence that followed was deafening, and for a moment, Noah could hear nothing but the pounding of his own heart.


    The weight of everything¡ªthe choices, the pressure, the expectations¡ªwas pressing down on him, and it felt like the air around him was growing thinner.


    The girl¡¯s voice broke the silence. "Is that really what you believe?" Her words were soft, but they cut through him like a de. She wasn¡¯t angry. She just wanted the truth¡ªsomething Noah wasn¡¯t sure he could give her.


    The girl¡¯s phrase tore through the air like a sharp de.


    He took a step back, the tension building in his chest. The lines were blurring again, and the world seemed determined to push him back into that darkness.


    The girl¡¯s figure began to fade, and Noah felt a surge of panic. He wasn¡¯t ready to face this¡ªhe wasn¡¯t ready to ept what he knew deep down.


    With a sharp gasp, he jolted awake.


    His heart was pounding, his body was drenched in sweat.


    Noah sat up, pressing his palms to his face, trying to shake the remnants of the dream.


    "You¡¯re even following me to my dreams huh?" he muttered to himself as he stared at the ceiling.


    Noah swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood up, the weight of his thoughts pressing down on him as he paced to the window.


    The cool night air filtered through the ss as he leaned forward.


    Noah let out a small, bitterugh, the sound almost foreign in the heavy silence of the mansion.


    For a moment, he simply stood there, the weight of his realisation settling deep into his chest. His fingers tapped lightly against the cool ss as the truth he had been avoiding wed its way to the surface.


    His eyes darkened, the moonlight casting an eerie glow on his face.


    "Fine," he muttered to himself, shaking his head slightly, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Who am I lying to but myself?"


    His eyes darkened as he stared out into the night, but the focus wasn¡¯t on the scenery¡ªit was on his past, on everything that had led him to this moment.


    He had been unconscious of his nning at first, or at least that¡¯s what he had told himself. But deep down, Noah knew the truth. Ever since he had gotten the system, every move, every choice, had been deliberate, even if he hadn¡¯t consciously acknowledged it.


    "In fact," he continued, his voice quiet but tinged with a sense of revtion, "even before I got the system, I was already nning this."


    La. The thought of her name didn¡¯t sting the way it once had. It was almost amusing now. "I got with La because I knew her personality. I knew she was going to cheat on me." His voice was steady, emotionless.


    "She might think that she manipted me to get what she wants, or that she set the boundaries of physical touch between us. She didn¡¯t... A person like her doesn¡¯t even have the privilege to get my interest, let alone be intimate with me."


    "Only a person like her can," as he thought of that girl.


    "I needed a catalyst, a push, something that would force me to stop pretending. Stop ying the victim and start being proactive. Start being myself again."


    Heughed softly, a sound devoid of humour. "And when I got the system¡­ing back to who I was, who I really am, was just a matter of time."


    Noah¡¯s fingers tightened on the windowsill, his knuckles whitening slightly as he spoke. He had spent so long pretending to be something he wasn¡¯t, trying to fit into a mould that wasn¡¯t his, trying to keep the darker parts of himself shackled.


    But that version of himself had been a lie. He had tricked himself into believing he could change, that he could be someone different.


    And Sarah¡­ Sarah

 Chapter 86: Embracing Reality

    And Sarah¡­ Sarah.


    "She was wrong for thinking I got with her out of revenge," Noah murmured, his voice almost wistful now.


    "But she wasn¡¯t far off." His eyes flickered, memories of their time together swirling through his mind. "I was subconsciously using her as a catalyst too. Just like her daughter."


    The realization hit him like a punch to the gut, but instead of regret, there was only rity. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t care for Sarah, or that he hadn¡¯t enjoyed being with her at one point. He had.


    But the truth was that every rtionship, every interaction, had been a piece of arger n.


    But even as the pieces fell into ce, Noah was not sure about one thing: if Sarah had stayed with him if she had chosen to stick by his side...


    "But I knew you wouldn¡¯t Sarah, everything about you screamed motherly love. You wouldn¡¯t leave your daughter for a man, never."


    He sighed, the smirk fading into a more sombre expression. "But that¡¯s the truth, isn¡¯t it?" he whispered to the empty room.


    "I¡¯ve been fooling myself this whole time."


    Noah straightened, the weight lifting from his shoulders as he finally epted the truth. He had wanted this all along.


    The system hadn¡¯t forced him to change¡ªit had simply given him the tools to be who he always was.


    The maniptions, the cold calctions¡­ they had never truly left him. He had simply buried them deep within, convinced himself that he was just thinking of the present benefit without thinking of the future consequences. But they had always been there, waiting to be unleashed when the time was right.


    "I wanted toe back," Noah admitted quietly, almost to the reflection in the window. "I couldn¡¯t keep those shackles on any longer." And with that realization, the conflict inside him began to settle.


    He couldn¡¯t go back to pretending. He couldn¡¯t force himself to be someone he wasn¡¯t. But he also couldn¡¯t allow himself to lose all control, to be the person who cared for nothing but power.


    The bnce would be difficult to find. It would be a tightrope walk between power and humanity, control and care. But it was the only path he could take now.


    Noah turned away from the window, the weight of his decision clear in his mind. He wasn¡¯t the person he had been pretending to be. And now, he could finally stop pretending. The path ahead might be uncertain, but at least it was a path he had chosen.


    Taking a deep breath, Noah whispered, "I can finally embrace it."


    [Ding! Ultimate Choice System has activated!]


    [An Ultimate Hidden Choice has been Completed!]


    [Reward: System Upgrade!]


    [Ding! The system is currently upgrading! 0.1%... 0.2%...]


    [Ding! Estimated Time: 10 Hours]


    Noah stared at the flood of notifications from the holographic screen in front of him, the notifications kept scrolling, and with each one, his smirk deepened.


    "It seems like even the system agrees with me," Noah thought, his lips curling into a wry smile.


    His decision to embrace who he truly was¡ªhad triggered an [ Ultimate Hidden Choice] within the system. Perhaps it had been waiting for this moment, waiting for him to stop holding back, to stop pretending. Now, that he had shed the facade, it rewarded him.


    The upgrade had started, but Noah wasn¡¯t interested in waiting around for ten hours while the system did its thing. He needed to move. Needed something to upy his mind.


    He nced toward therge windows of the mansion, his eyes drifting to the scene outside. The moon hung high in the sky, full and glowing, casting silver light across the garden. Feeling restless, Noah decided to take a walk outside.


    The sprawling luxury of the mansion had already begun to bore him, and the quiet within its walls was starting to suffocate him.


    As he stepped outside, a cool breeze swept across the grounds, brushing against his skin. It was cold, but not unbearable¡ªjust enough to sharpen his senses.


    Noah inhaled deeply, feeling the chill of the night air fills his lungs, then exhaled, watching his breath fog in the light of the moon.


    "Nice weather," he muttered to himself, his voice barely louder than a whisper. "Not too cold. Just right."


    He walked down the cobbled path that wound through the garden, the quiet crunch of his footsteps the only sound in the stillness.


    His hands slipped into the pockets of his coat as he headed toward the small river that ran through the vi¡¯s grounds.


    A stone bench awaited him there, offering a perfect view of the water and the moon¡¯s reflection on its surface.


    Noah sat down, letting his gaze settle on the serene scene before him. The moonlight shimmered off the river, its surface rippling softly in the breeze. The gentle sound of the flowing water was almost hypnotic, lulling his mind into a strange sense of calm.


    But as he stared at the moon¡¯s reflection, another image surfaced in his mind¡ªone that shattered the peace of the moment.


    Horace Wilkins.


    The name echoed in Noah¡¯s mind like a bell tolling, bringing with it a flood of memories.


    "Mr. Horace Wilkins¡­ you were lucky to have made it out scratch-free before, but now things are different."


    Noah¡¯s expression darkened as the memory of that night reyed itself in his mind. It had been a simple dinner date with Sarah at An¡¯s Gourmet.


    They had been enjoying their meal when Wilkins, a fat, pompous man, had approached them¡ªmore specifically, Sarah¡ªandpletely ignored Noah¡¯s presence.


    It wasn¡¯t just that Wilkins had interrupted their dinner. It was the smug arrogance in his eyes, the way he looked at Sarah like she was a toy to be imed when Noah was there.


    He had dealt with Wilkins that night, pulling him outside after the man had made his intentions clear, teaching him a painful lesson.


    He had made it crystal clear to Wilkins that if he valued his life, he should never show his face around the restaurant again.


    But Wilkins hadn¡¯t learned. He had shown up again, his connection, as if Noah¡¯s threat had been nothing more than empty words.


    "No one ignores my threat without consequences."


    He had been patient then due to his shackles. He had allowed Wilkins to walk away, thinking he could get away unscathed. But that time was over. Now was the time for payback.


    "He is a good guinea pig to test, how sharp I still am when ites to..."


    He smirked to himself, the thrill of what was toe sending a rush of energy through his veins. Slowly, Noah rose from the bench, his gaze fixed on the moon as it continued to shine down on the river, oblivious to the darker thoughts swirling in his mind.


    The man had likely gottenfortable, lulled into a false sense of security after all this time. He probably thought Noah had forgotten, that he had moved on from the seemingly non-significant issue.


    But Noah hadn¡¯t forgotten. And now that he had fully embraced who he was, there was no reason to hold back.


    As he started walking again, Noah¡¯s mind began to work, calcting the best way to handle Wilkins for his own satisfaction.


    Noah could dismantle Wilkins life piece by piece without getting his hands dirty.


    "But I want to get my hands dirty..." Noah muttered with a chilling voice, as his smirk grew.


    The thrill of the game surged through Noah, that familiar rush he used to feel when he was in control when he held all the cards.


    His footsteps were light as he returned to the mansion, but his mind was already racing ahead. Wilkins wouldn¡¯t just suffer¡ªhe would be ruined, crushed beneath the weight of his own arrogance.


    "I don¡¯t forget people who wronged me, nor do I forgive." He muttered.

 Chapter 87: Old Noah Is Back

    Noah moved with the silence of a shadow, slipping through the trees that lined the estate, his form blending into the darkness.


    The moonlight barely grazed his skin as he dashed between the trunks, each step deliberate and calcted. His eyes flicked to the guards stationed at the entrance, their postures rxed, unaware of him in their midst.


    "No need for the main door," Noah thought, smirking to himself as he melted further into the shadows.


    He had already scanned the entireyout of the neighbourhood when he first arrived. Every guard, every camera, every potential exit.


    The positions hadn¡¯t changed¡ªpredictable.


    The residents of this upscale viplex relied too much on the appearance of security, believing that a handful of guards at the gate was enough to keep them safe.


    "Fools," Noah thought with a wry smile.


    He crept along the side of theplex, his movements fluid and precise. The guards remained oblivious, their gaze fixed on the perimeter in front of them, never considering that someone might already be inside, someone who could slip past them like a whisper.


    The shadows became his allies as he circled the walls, his mind racing ahead, plotting his path.


    Noah wasn¡¯t just moving stealthily¡ªhe was in his element. His Intermediate Soldier-King skill made every step easy, his body more agile, his senses sharper than any normal human¡¯s.


    Even if the guards had been military-trained, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to catch a glimpse of him. His level of stealth and precision simply wasn¡¯t something they could handle.


    As he passed by the final stretch, he noticed a guard checking his phone, bored. It was almostughable how secure they felt in thisplex. Noah¡¯s movements were a blur as he scaled a side wall, slipping down the other side with ease.


    Not a single guard had noticed.


    With a final nce over his shoulder, Noah grinned. The thrill of the escape was exhrating but too easy. He made his way out of the neighbourhood with the same silence, vanishing into the night like a ghost.


    Noah slipped his phone from his pocket and dialled for a taxi. The car arrived within minutes, the hum of its engine soft in the night air.


    The driver, an old man, looked up as Noah entered the car, pulling his hood low over his face. Not in a suspicious way, just enough to appear as though he was shielding himself from the night¡¯s chill.


    "Where to?" the driver asked, ncing back with a polite smile.


    "Avenue Street, near the city centre," Noah replied calmly as he settled into the seat.


    The car rolled forward, the city lights passing by in a blur of orange and yellow as they drove. Noah¡¯s face remained hidden in the shadows of his hood, but nothing about him seemed out of the ordinary.


    To the driver, he was just another young man avoiding the cold.


    The drive was quiet, save for the asional hum of the engine as they navigated through the city streets.


    After about thirty minutes, they reached their destination.


    Noah handed the driver fifteen dors, his face still hidden.


    The old man didn¡¯t seem to think much of it as Noah stepped out, giving a brief nod of thanks.


    He lingered for a few moments, watching the taxi pull away from the curb, the sound of its tyres fading into the distance.


    Once the taxi was gone, Noah¡¯s demeanour shifted. The calmness melted away, reced by the cold focus of someone on a mission.


    He nced around the quiet streets, taking in his surroundings, and then started walking.


    Two blockster, he arrived at Champinton Street. The quiet residential area was lined with old, brick apartment buildings, their exteriors worn but sturdy.


    Apartment 15, his target, stood at the end of the row, a normal building contrasted with its resident¡¯s arrogance.


    Noah approached the building with purpose, his steps silent as he reached the front door. Without hesitation, he pressed the buzzer for apartment 15. The first ring went unanswered. The second ring was met with silence as well.


    He hit the buzzer a third time, this time harder.


    A gruff, angry voice crackled through the inte. "Who the hell is ringing at this time?" the man barked, clearly annoyed.


    Noah didn¡¯t respond. He simply waited, letting the silence do the talking.


    In his apartment, Horace Wilkins cursed under his breath.


    "Damn drunkards, ringing the bell in the middle of the night," he muttered, groggy and irritated.


    He was about to dismiss it, thinking it was just some idiot messing around outside when the buzzer rang again.


    Horace sat up, his anger building. "I swear, if this idiot doesn¡¯t leave, I¡¯m going down there and teaching him a lesson."


    The buzzer rang once more, sending Horace over the edge. He grabbed the bat he kept by his bed, his grip tightening around the handle as he stomped toward the door.


    "I¡¯m gonna break this guy¡¯s hand for ringing so much," he muttered darkly, his frustration boiling over.


    He reached the building¡¯s front entrance, he swung the door open with force. Horace looked around, eyes scanning the dimly lit street, but saw nothing. The street was empty, eerily quiet.


    "Where the hell¡ª?"


    Horace stepped outside, searching the area with growing irritation.


    "That bastard¡¯s lucky I didn¡¯t catch him." He took a final nce around before turning back toward the door.


    And that¡¯s when it hit him.


    Before Horace could react, a powerful pressure gripped him from behind, a hand mping down over his mouth, muffling any sound he might have made.


    His eyes widened in shock, his heart racing as he struggled to make sense of what was happening. But it was toote.


    Noah moved quickly, dragging the struggling man back into the building, the door clicking shut behind them.


    The neighbourhood¡¯s outdated security systems made Noah¡¯s job easier¡ªthere were no cameras, no rms, nothing that could record what was happening.


    Noah moved with calcted precision, his grip firm as he subdued Horace. The man¡¯s frantic attempts to break free were useless against Noah¡¯s strength.


    Noah quickly knocked him out, silencing the struggle within moments.


    With a calmness that seemed almost detached, Noah dragged Horace back up to his apartment, his footsteps barely audible on the staircase.


    The building remained silent, its other upants oblivious to what was unfolding just beyond their walls.


    Inside Horace¡¯s apartment, Noah closed the door behind them, locking it with a quiet click. He nced around, taking in the cheap furnishings, and the cluttered space.


    It reeked of a disgusting smell, showing the neglect and, a fitting reflection of the man who lived there.


    "Just how many did he kill." Noah thought as he smelled the man¡¯s disgusting smell.


    But that didn¡¯t matter, Noah wasn¡¯t here for a conversation.


    He dropped Horace¡¯s limp body onto the worn couch, his smirk returning as he looked down at the unconscious man.

 Chapter 88: I fullfil my promises

    Noah moved swiftly, the heavy thud of Horace Wilkins¡¯ limp body barely audible as itnded on the threadbare couch.


    Noah stood above him, his gaze cold, and utterly devoid of mercy.


    The room was silent, save for the faint whispers of wind outside. It was a fitting backdrop for what was about to happen.


    Noah wasn¡¯t doing this to make a spectacle, to send a message to everyone, or to set an example. No, this wasn¡¯t about power ys or maniption.


    Noah was here for a simple reason: he had made a promise. He had told Horace Wilkins that if he ever stepped foot inside An¡¯s Gourmet again, he would break his legs. And Noah was a man of his word.


    "I don¡¯t break my promises, at least not without a valid reason."


    With a calmness that belied the intensity of the moment, Noah dragged a chair from the small dining table and ced it in front of the unconscious man. He sat down, his posture rxed, almost casual, but his eyes remained focused¡ªsharp as a de.


    The seconds ticked by, and Noah waited. He didn¡¯t rush. He never did. There was a thrill in the waiting, in watching the scene unfold.


    "Fate is such a wonderful thing, I always tried to understand why people are afraid of the future."


    "It doesn¡¯t make sense," he murmured, "How can you be afraid of something you can¡¯t predict, nor have control of."


    Horace stirred, his fingers twitching as he slowly regained consciousness. His eyelids fluttered, his head lolling to the side as he tried to shake off the haze of being knocked out.


    But as his vision cleared, reality came crashing back with brutal force.


    Horace jolted upright, his eyes wide with panic as he realized where he was¡ªand more importantly, who was sitting in front of him.


    Noah leaned back slightly, a small, smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Good evening, Mr. Wilkins," he said, his tone dripping with mock enthusiasm.


    "How was your sleep? Was it... bussing? Literally," he added, pinching his nose dramatically.


    Horace blinked rapidly, his mind scrambling to process what was happening. His hands instinctively gripped the edges of the couch, his knuckles white with fear.


    "You¡­ what the hell are you doing in my apartment?" he stammered, his voice cracking.


    Noah raised an eyebrow, his smile fading into something colder. "Do you remember thest time we spoke?" he asked, his tone mild, but there was a sharp edge to his words.


    "At An¡¯s Gourmet? I gave you a very simple instruction."


    "Don¡¯t show your face again in that restaurant or... I will break your little legs."


    "I¡ª" Horace began, but Noah cut him off.


    "No," Noah interrupted, standing up slowly, his presence suddenly towering over the cowering man. "You thought it was an empty threat didn¡¯t you,"


    He took a step closer, his eyes narrowing as he leaned down slightly, his voice a low whisper. "You were wrong."


    Horace flinched, his breathing in short, panicked gasps. "Please, I didn¡¯t mean any harm! It was just a misunderstanding! I didn¡¯t think¡ª"


    "Exactly," Noah said, cutting him off once more. "You didn¡¯t think. And now you¡¯re going to pay for that mistake. Next time try to think, use that nut in your head"


    "I don¡¯t make promises I¡¯m not prepared to keep," he said coldly. "I told you what would happen if you went back to that restaurant, and now... here we are."


    Horace¡¯s heart pounded in his chest as Noah stepped back, his eyes scanning the room as though assessing every corner, every detail.


    There was no rage, no outburst of violence. Just the cold, methodical calction of a man inplete control.


    The reality of the situation seemed to finally settle into Horace¡¯s mind. His arrogance, his defiance, all of it had led to this moment. And there was no escaping it.


    Noah moved closer, his presence looming over the terrified man. Horace tried to push himself further back into the couch, but there was nowhere left to go. He was trapped.


    "I don¡¯t want to do this because I enjoy it," Noah continued, his voice low, measured. "I¡¯m doing this because I promised you." His eyes narrowed as he looked down at Horace. "And I don¡¯t break my promises."


    Horace¡¯s trembling hands reached out, pleading, as if somehow, at thest second, he could talk his way out of this. "Please¡­ please, Noah¡­ I¡¯ll do anything, just¡ª"


    But Noah¡¯s expression remained unchanged, his face set in cold determination.


    "No more excuses, Horace," he said, his voice hard as steel. "You had your chance."


    With trembling hands, he reached for the nearest object¡ªa vase sitting on a nearby table. He gripped it tightly, his breath shaky, and in one frantic motion, he hurled it at Noah with all the strength his body could muster.


    But Noah had already seen iting. He had seen the intention flicker in Horace¡¯s eyes before the man even moved. With ease, Noah sidestepped the vase, watching it crash harmlessly into the wall behind him.


    The shattering sound filled the room, but Noah¡¯s focus remained on Horace, who was now breathing heavily, his body shaking in fear and frustration.


    Noah smiled, but this time, it wasn¡¯t the cool, detached smile from earlier. This one was darker, crueler, a smile that held no warmth. "You just made it worse, Horace," Noah said, his voice low, almost mocking. He crouched down, his face mere inches from Horace¡¯s, his eyes gleaming with cold amusement. "You should have just gone with the flow. Taken your punishment and moved on, you know?


    Like you¡¯re in court, and I¡¯m the judge handing down a sentence."


    Horace¡¯s breathing quickened, terror flooding his veins as he realized the gravity of his mistake.


    "But now¡­" Noah¡¯s voice was soft but merciless, "Since you¡¯ve shown no remorse, I¡¯ll have to increase the punishment. Instead of just two legs¡­" he paused, letting the weight of his words sink in, "let¡¯s make it two legs and a hand."


    Horace¡¯s eyes widened in horror, his voiceing out in a frantic whisper. "No, no, please¡­ no," he begged, his body shaking with fear.

 Chapter 89: Punishment Granted

    Horace¡¯s eyes widened in horror, his voiceing out in a frantic whisper. "No, no, please¡­ no," he begged, his body shaking with fear.


    But Noah didn¡¯t care. Without a word, he struck Horace hard, knocking him unconscious once more.


    The room fell silent, except for Noah¡¯s calm breaths.


    He moved slowly, tying a gag around Horace¡¯s mouth to stifle any cries of pain.


    Once done, Noah stood over Horace¡¯s limp form.


    Noah lifted his foot slowly, almost casually, as if there was no rush, no urgency. His eyes locked onto Horace¡¯s knee, the purpose of breaking it clear in his mind as if it was nothing significant.


    The room seemed to narrow, the walls pressing in on them as Noah¡¯s boot hovered above the joint.


    The air was thick, the silence unbearable.


    Then, with a swift, brutal motion, Noah brought his foot down.


    "CRACK."


    The sound of bone snapping echoed like a gunshot in the room. Horace¡¯s body convulsed violently, his back arching as a guttural scream tore from his throat, muffled by the gag that choked back the full force of his agony. Your next read awaits at §Þ??


    "Mmmpphhh! Mmmmph!"


    Tears burst from Horace¡¯s eyes, streaming down his face in a flood of raw pain. His hands, trembling uncontrobly, instinctively reached for his shattered knee, but there was nothing he could do.


    The joint was already a mangled mess, twisted at an angle that made it look inhuman. His skin was pale, sweat pouring down his face as he struggled to breathe through the searing agony.


    Noah stood there, his eyes unwavering, watching the scene unfold with an eerie calm. He could hear the muffled sobs, the desperate gasps for air, but it didn¡¯t faze him.


    This was simply the result of not heeding his threat, the price Horace had to pay.


    "That was the first one," Noah said quietly, his voice soft, as if speaking to himself rather than to Horace.


    His tone held no malice, just cold indifference. "I told you this would happen."


    Horace¡¯s wide eyes filled with terror as he tried to plead, but the gag silenced him, turning his screams into pathetic, muffled cries of despair.


    His body writhed on the floor, twisting in pain, his movements erratic as he struggled to escape the agony coursing through his shattered leg.


    Noah crouched down, leaning close to Horace¡¯s face, his breath steady. "You thought I was bluffing, didn¡¯t you?" he whispered, his voice so close it sent chills through Horace¡¯s broken body.


    "You should have listened."


    Noah stood up again casually, stepping back as he prepared for the second handout of punishment.


    Horace¡¯s tear-filled eyes followed Noah¡¯s movements, desperate, begging. The fear in his eyes was as clear as day, but Noah didn¡¯t can¡¯t.


    There was no room for mercy. Not anymore.


    Noah lifted his foot again, this time aiming for the other leg.


    He watched as Horace¡¯s muscles tensed, his body shaking uncontrobly as if he could somehow brace for the pain.


    Noah smirked at his futile attempt. There was no preparation for what was about to happen.


    And then it happened.


    "CRUNCH."


    The second leg broke under the force of Noah¡¯s boot, the sound more sickening this time, the damage more severe.


    Horace¡¯s body convulsed violently as his scream ripped through the gag.


    "MMMMPHHHH! MMMPPPHHH!!!"


    His cries were louder now, raw and animalistic, the pain pushing him beyond the limits of what he could endure. His hands wed at the air, grabbing at nothing as he tried to find some relief, some way to stop the agony ripping through him. His legs were useless, shattered in multiple ces, twisted at grotesque angles that made his body look like a broken doll.


    Noah looked down at him, his face emotionless, as if this scene didn¡¯t affect him in the slightest. The man beneath him was a writhing, crying mess, reduced to nothing but pain and suffering. But Noah wasn¡¯t finished yet.


    "I know it hurts, Horace," Noah said, his voice eerily calm as he stood over the broken man. "But I really... really hate it, when people ignore my threats."


    Horace¡¯s muffled cries filled the room, his body shaking with the intensity of his pain.


    His face was drenched in sweat, tears mixing with the droplets, his breathing in short, frantic gasps. He shook his head, as if in denial, as if he could somehow wake up from the nightmare that had be his reality.


    "I know," Noah continued, his tone soft and devoid of anypassion. "I know it¡¯s hard." He crouched down once more, leaning close to Horace¡¯s ear.


    "But don¡¯t worry," he whispered, his voice so cold it sent a shiver through Horace¡¯s broken form."


    "It will only take a year or two of being bedridden, and maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªyou¡¯ll start walking again."


    Horace¡¯s body trembled beneath him, his tears flowing uncontrobly as he whimpered beneath the gag. His once arrogant, defiant demeanor was long gone, reced by the hollow shell of a man who had lost everything.


    "But don¡¯t expect it to be the same," Noah added, straightening up and walking around the sobbing man like a predator circling its prey.


    And then Noah¡¯s eyes fell on Horace¡¯s hand.


    "You know," Noah said thoughtfully, as if considering his next move, "I was going to stop here. Two legs for the promise I made. But..." He paused, crouching down again and grabbing Horace¡¯s trembling wrist. "You tried to fight back. You tried to make this worse for yourself."


    Horace¡¯s eyes widened in terror, but before he could react, Noah twisted his hand sharply.


    "SNAP."


    The bone broke with a sickening crack, the sound followed by another scream, louder this time, as Horace¡¯s body convulsed once again in unimaginable pain.


    His hand, limp and useless, dropped to his side like a dead weight.


    The muffled wails of agony filled the room, the sound of a man who had nothing left but suffering.


    Noah let go of Horace¡¯s wrist, watching as the broken many there, sobbing, defeated.


    His body was a mess of shattered limbs, his spirit crushed beneath the weight of Noah¡¯s merciless punishment.


    Standing over him, Noah took a deep breath, feeling bored.


    "Horace, would you believe me if I told you I really don¡¯t want to be here? I mean who would, you and your room smell nutty, like literally."


    And with that, Noah turned away, his footsteps light as he walked toward the door, leaving Horace in the darkness of his own despair.


    The moonlight filtered through the dirty windows, casting long shadows across the broken man left sobbing on the floor.


    Noah didn¡¯t look back. There was no need. The lesson had been taught.

 Chapter 90: Scared

    Noah put his hood down and stepped into the elevator, the cold steel walls reflecting his calm, detached expression.


    "Ding!"


    The doors of the elevator slid open, he walked out of the building without so much as a backward nce.


    Once outside, he paused for a moment, scanning the quiet street. With a sigh, he rang the bell for Apartment 16.


    No response.


    Shrugging slightly, Noah moved to the next apartment. Apartment 17.


    He pressed the button and waited, his hands now in his pockets clearly not interested in ringing again.


    The silence was interrupted by a soft crackle through the inte, and a woman¡¯s voice, hazy with sleep, answered.


    "Who¡­ who¡¯s this?" she asked, her voice slightly confused, groggy from being suddenly awoken.


    Noah didn¡¯t waste time on pleasantries.


    His tone was steady, almost clinical.


    "You might want to call an ambnce for your neighbour at Apartment 15. If you don¡¯t, he¡¯s going to die from shock and internal bleeding."


    The woman gasped audibly, her breath catching in her throat. The sudden shock of his words shook her to her core.


    Before Noah could say anything else, she hung up, the line going dead with a soft click.


    Inside her apartment, the woman¡¯s hands were trembling as she clutched her phone. Her heart pounded in her chest, and a sense of dread filled her mind.


    She was alone, and the idea of something terrible happening next door made her skin crawl.


    "What do I do, what should I do."


    Trembling, she paced around her small apartment, ncing nervously toward the door. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation.


    She thought about checking through the peephole, her fingers itching to unlock the door and peek out into the hallway.


    But fear crept into her thoughts, clouding her judgment.


    "What if it¡¯s a serial killer?" she thought, her hands shaking harder.


    "What if he¡¯s trying to lure me out?"


    Her breathing quickened, and she felt her pulse hammering in her ears.


    "No, no. I can¡¯t open the door. I can¡¯t risk it." Explore more stories with §Þ??


    Finally, she made a decision. With trembling hands, she dialled 999, her voice shaking as she waited for the operator to answer.


    "911, what¡¯s your emergency?"


    "I¡­ I think something horrible happened to my neighbour at Apartment 15," she said, her voice trembling.


    "Can you tell me what happened? Is someone hurt?" the officer said calmly.


    "Yes¡­ I don¡¯t know! A man just called me through the inte, and he said that my neighbour is going to die from internal bleeding and shock if someone doesn¡¯t help him. I¡¯m scared. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s true, but I don¡¯t want to open my door. What if it¡¯s a trap?"


    "I understand you¡¯re scared. Stay calm. You did the right thing by calling. We¡¯re going to send someone to check on your neighbour. Can you tell me exactly where you¡¯re located?"


    "Apartment 17, second floor¡­ I don¡¯t know if the man who called is still outside, but I didn¡¯t open my door."


    "That¡¯s okay. Please stay inside. Don¡¯t open the door for anyone except the police, alright? Officers are on their way. We¡¯ll check on Apartment 15 and make sure everyone is safe."


    "O-okay¡­ should I stay on the line?"


    "You¡¯re safe right now, but if you hear anything suspicious, you can call us back immediately. Stay where you are until we confirm everything is clear."


    "Thank you¡­ I¡¯m really scared¡­"


    "It¡¯s alright, help is on the way. Just stay inside."


    The woman hung up the phone, her hands still trembling, her mind racing with anxiety.


    She leaned against her door, listening for any sounds in the hallway, but all she heard was her own heartbeat pounding in her ears.


    The minutes dragged on like hours, the silence in her apartment oppressive.


    Meanwhile, Noah had already left the neighbourhood. His pace was slow and deliberate, the sound of his footsteps fading into the quiet night as he walked a few blocks away from Horace¡¯s building.


    The cool air brushed against his face, but he paid no attention. His hood was up again, concealing his expression, though a faint smirk yed across his lips as he nced over his shoulder.


    After about twenty minutes of walking, the familiar wail of sirens reached his ears. He turned his head slightly, spotting a police car racing in the direction of Horace¡¯s apartment.


    The red and blue lights reflected off the dark windows of the surrounding buildings as the car sped past, its tyres screeching softly as it rounded the corner.


    Noah¡¯s smirk widened as he watched the shing lights disappear down the street.


    "I guess she saved him," he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible in the quiet of the night. "It¡¯s not your time to die, Horace."


    To be honest, Noah didn¡¯t care if Horace lived or died. He had left it up to fate, indifferent to the oue.


    It wasn¡¯t about mercy, and it wasn¡¯t about cruelty¡ªit was simply a matter of chance. Horace¡¯s life had hung in the bnce, and tonight, it seemed fate had decided to spare him.


    "For now," Noah whispered, his smirk fading slightly as he walked further away from the scene.


    He knew that the police would find Horace, broken and bloodied, but alive. They would piece together what had happened, but by the time they did, Noah would be long gone, his presence nothing more than a fleeting shadow.


    "Let¡¯s see what you do with this second chance, Horace," Noah muttered under his breath, his toneced with cold amusement. "But remember, next time, it won¡¯t be so easy."


    He slipped his phone from his pocket and called for an Uber, his thoughts already drifting away from the night¡¯s events.


    As he waited for the car, Noah looked up at the sky, the moon hanging high above, casting a pale glow over the quiet streets. The police would handle Horace now, but that didn¡¯t concern him. He had done what he came to do.


    When the Uber arrived, Noah slipped into the backseat, his face hidden beneath his hood once more. "Take me to ..." he said, and the car took off to his mansion, disappearing into the night.


    Let¡¯s see where fate takes you next, Horace, he thought, his eyes cold and distant as the Uber sped toward his mansion.

 Chapter 91: A Monster

    The police cruiser came to a slow stop outside the apartment building, its shing lights on the walls.


    The quiet hum of the city at night was disrupted by the officers stepping out, yawning and muttering among themselves as they approached the entrance.


    "This better not be another prank call," grumbled Officer Daniels, rubbing his eyes. "Middle of the night, seriously¡­" He yawned, the exhaustion evident in his voice.


    Next to him, Officer Hayes gave a smallugh. "You want it to be real? You¡¯re getting excited about this?"


    Daniels rolled his eyes. "No, of course not. But you get what I¡¯m saying. Waking us up at this hour for nothing is just¡ª"


    Before he could finish, Staff Sergeant Rachel Miller shot them both a sharp look. "Enough chit-chatting," she snapped. "Where¡¯s the ambnce? They were supposed to be here by now."


    "They said they should be here soon," Daniels muttered, still a little groggy from being woken up, his tone half-apologetic.


    Rachel nodded curtly and turned her attention to the inte beside the building¡¯s entrance.


    She pressed the button for Apartment 17, the ce from which the call had originated. There was a pause, and then a shaky, trembling voice answered.


    "Hello?"


    Rachel¡¯s tone softened slightly. "Hi, this is the police. You called us earlier?"


    There was a sigh of relief on the other end. "Ah, finally¡­ you¡¯re here. Please,e in." There was a soft click as the automatic door buzzed open, granting them entry.


    The officers quickly entered the building, stepping into the dimly lit hallway. Their footsteps echoed faintly as they made their way up to the floor where the woman who had called lived, Apartment 17, just across from Apartment 15¡ªwhere they assumed the incident had taken ce.


    Rachel took the lead, her senses on high alert. As they reached the top floor, she immediately noticed that the door to Apartment 15 was slightly ajar.


    Her instincts kicked in, and she held up a hand, signalling the officers behind her to be prepared.


    "This is real," she muttered under her breath, her stomach twisting slightly.


    She¡¯d been in the force long enough to know that when things were quiet like this, it usually meant trouble.


    With a calm motion, Rachel unholstered her sidearm, holding it close to her chest.


    She moved forward cautiously, using the technique¡ªpiecing the cake, they called it¡ªslicing the room in segments.


    As she slowly advanced through the door. Her breathing was steady, her eyes scanning every corner.


    A strange odour hit her as soon as she stepped inside¡ªan odd mix of sweat, blood, and something else she couldn¡¯t quite ce.


    It wasn¡¯t overwhelming, but it was enough to make her nose twitch. Still, Rachel was used to bad smells in this line of work, so she pushed the difort aside and kept moving.


    What she saw next, however, made her stomach turn in a way she hadn¡¯t expected.


    A man¡ªfat, dishevelled, and utterly brokeny sprawled on the floor in the middle of the room.


    His body was a wreck, his legs bent at sickening angles, one hand twisted unnaturally. Blood had pooled around him, staining the floor beneath him with its dark red colour.


    His face was pale, sweat clinging to his skin, and his eyes were closed¡ªwhether unconscious or dead, she couldn¡¯t tell.


    Rachel¡¯s breath caught in her throat, and for a brief moment, she stood frozen, staring at the horrifying scene in front of her. "What kind of monster could do this?" she wondered, feeling a faint wave of nausea rise in her stomach.


    She shook it off and quickly signalled to the others to search the apartment, just in case someone was still there, lurking in the shadows.


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    The officers fanned out, moving swiftly through the rooms, checking every closet, every corner. Within moments, they reported back¡ªthere was no one else.


    "It¡¯s clear," one of them said.


    Rachel holstered her weapon and immediately knelt beside the man¡¯s body, her hand moving to his neck, searching for a pulse.


    The silence in the room was suffocating as she pressed her fingers against the thick flesh, waiting, hoping.


    Seconds passed. Her heart raced.


    Finally, she felt it¡ªa faint, but steady pulse.


    "He¡¯s still alive!" Rachel shouted her voice tight with urgency. She looked over her shoulder. "Where¡¯s the ambnce?"


    "They¡¯re downstairs," one of the officers replied, his voice tinged with frustration. "They¡¯reing up now."


    Rachel let out a breath she hadn¡¯t realized she¡¯d been holding. She looked down at the man, Horace, his broken body barely holding onto life.


    She couldn¡¯t imagine the level of pain he must be in¡ªthe kind of torture someone would have to inflict to leave him in such a state.


    The officer nearest to her, Officer Daniels, stared at the twisted figure on the floor, his face pale. "Who did this?" he muttered under his breath, clearly shaken by the brutality of what he was seeing.


    Hayes, standing beside him, looked just as disturbed. "This guy looks like he got hit by a freight train," he whispered.


    "What kind of sicko does this to someone?"


    Daniels shook his head, still trying to process the scene in front of him. "I don¡¯t know, man, but this¡­ this is straight out of a horror movie."


    The tension in the room was thick, the officers shifting ufortably as they took in the sight of Horace¡¯s mangled limbs.


    One of them broke the silence, trying to lighten the mood with dark humour.


    "Joker. It¡¯s gotta be the Joker," one of the officers muttered under his breath, half-joking, half-serious. "Who else messes someone up this bad?"


    Rachel gave him a sharp look, but another officer chimed in, shaking his head.


    "Nah, man. First, we¡¯ve got some guy running around ying Batman. Now we¡¯ve got someone ying the Joker? What the hell is going on in this city?"


    Daniels, his nerves on edge, let out a shakyugh. "Did I get transmigrated into the DC Universe? What¡¯s next, a guy in a cape swooping in to fight crime?"


    Rachel ignored the banter, her focus solely on the man in front of her. "Enough," she said, her voice cold.


    "This isn¡¯t a game. Whoever did this is dangerous, and they¡¯re still out there."


    The sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway as the paramedics finally arrived, rushing into the apartment with their equipment in hand.


    Rachel stood up, making way for them to work. She watched as they quickly assessed Horace¡¯s injuries, their faces grim as they realized the extent of the damage.


    "This guy¡¯s lucky to be alive," one of the paramedics muttered under his breath as he prepped Horace for transport.


    "Broken legs, shattered hand, internal injuries¡­ if whoever did this had gone any further, he¡¯d be dead. He left him just on the brink of death... Whoever did this knew exactly what he was doing"


    Rachel nodded, her mind still racing. Whoever had done this had been deliberate. Precise. They had left Horace alive¡ªbut only just. It was a message. A warning.


    As the paramedics worked, Rachel stepped back, her eyes narrowing in thought. Someone had done this with purpose. Someone who had the skill and the intent to inflict this kind of suffering.


    And that meant this wasn¡¯t over.


    As the paramedics wheeled Horace out of the apartment, Rachel turned to the officers. "We need to canvas the area," she said firmly. "Check for any cameras, talk to the neighbours. Someone had to have seen something. Whoever did this isn¡¯t going to stop here."


    The officers nodded, their earlier jokes and banter gone, reced with the grim understanding that they were dealing with something far darker than they¡¯d anticipated.


    As Rachel stepped out into the night, she looked up at the sky, her mind already focused on tracking down the person responsible for the brutal scene she had just witnessed.


    "This city¡¯s changing," she thought. "There is a monster among us..."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 92: Rules don’t apply to him

    Noah stepped out of the Uber about five minutes away from his mansion. The sun had just started to rise, casting a warm, golden glow over the quiet streets.


    He stretched his arms and yawned, still feeling the fatigue from the long night.


    His footsteps were steady as he walked toward the mansion, carefully keeping to the shadows like before, slipping back into the neighbourhood as effortlessly as he had left. The guards stationed at the entrance were none the wiser.


    After about 15 minutes, Noah reached his mansion. The imposing structure stood tall against the morning sky, surrounded by lush greenery andplete silence.


    He nced at the system update screen, floating in front of his eyes.


    [Estimated Time: 4 Hours 20 Minutes]


    "Huh. 4:20?" A wry smile crept onto his face. "The system seems to have a sense of humour, albeit quite bad."


    Noah yawned again, his body craving sleep, he hadn¡¯t slept much earlier.


    Deciding he could rest while the system continued its upgrade, Noah headed inside. The mansion was still as quiet and empty as it had been the night before.


    The air inside was cool, and Noah immediately made his way to his room, craving thefort of his bed.


    Before lying down, he decided to take a quick shower. The water was hot and soothing, washing away the grime of the night.


    The steam filled the room, and for a few moments, Noah simply stood under the water, letting it ease his tired muscles.


    Afterwards, he dried himself off, changed into clean clothes, ced his old ones in the inventory, and trimmed his nails, making sure everything was in order before slipping back into bed.


    The plush mattress enveloped him, and Noah felt his body rx in a way it hadn¡¯t for a long time. For the first time in weeks, he allowed himself to drift into a deep, peaceful sleep.


    Four hourster, Noah woke up feeling refreshed, more energized than he had felt in years. He stretched out in bed, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the light streaming in through the windows.


    His mind felt sharp, and clear, as if the weight of everything he had been carrying had lifted while he slept. He didn¡¯t even feel the need to yawn as he got up.


    He nced at the system screen again.


    [Estimated Time: 23 Minutes


    Noah smiled to himself, a faintly amused expression crossing his face. "The upgrade is going to be legendary," he muttered under his breath. A memory of a certain basketball yer popped into his mind.


    He brushed his teeth and headed downstairs to the kitchen. Therge, open space was still empty; the mansion had been fully furnished but stocked with no actual food.


    There were tes and utensils neatly arranged, but nothing edible. Noah sighed, realizing he was hungry after the long night and morning nap.


    Grabbing his phone, he scrolled through his contacts and quickly called An¡¯s Gourmet, the Michelin-starred restaurant he owned. The phone rang once before someone picked up.


    "Hello, An¡¯s Gourmet, how can I help you?" the voice on the other end said with professional politeness.


    Noah¡¯s voice was calm but carried an unmistakable authority. "Hi, I want food delivered to my house, preferably in the next 10 minutes."


    There was a brief pause on the other end, and then the employee replied, "I¡¯m sorry, sir, but we are an esteemed restaurant with a Michelin star. We don¡¯t dost-second deliveries. Our orders require careful preparation and¡ª"


    Noah chuckled, his tone now carrying a touch of amusement. "What if I told you I¡¯m your boss?"


    The employee¡¯s tone changed instantly, filled with a mix of shock and urgency. "Boss? Boss Noah? I apologize, I didn¡¯t recognize your voice at first! I¡¯ll inform the kitchen right away. We¡¯ll dy the other orders and prepare your meal immediately."


    Noah¡¯s smile deepened. "No need for anything specific. Just bring me food¡ªand make it quick."


    "Yes, sir. I¡¯ll make sure it¡¯s done fast," the employee responded, his voice almost trembling.


    Noah hung up the phone and leaned back, satisfied. About nine minutester, his phone rang again. It was the delivery driver.


    "Sir, I¡¯m outside the gate, but the security isn¡¯t letting me in. They say delivery drivers aren¡¯t allowed inside."


    Noah sighed. "Give him the phone," he said, annoyance creeping into his tone.


    There was a brief rustling sound, and then the guard answered. "Hello?"


    "This is Noah Thompson. My subordinate is bringing me food. Is there a problem with that?"


    The guard on the other end immediately stiffened. "No, of course not, Mr. Thompson! I apologize for the inconvenience. It¡¯s just a standard security procedure, but I¡¯ll let him through right away."


    The guard quickly handed the phone back to the delivery driver, who was then allowed to pass through. Within moments, the driver pulled up to the mansion¡¯s entrance, carrying the food Noah had ordered.


    As the delivery driver entered, one of the newer security guards at the gate frowned, looking slightly puzzled. "But sir, I thought delivery drivers weren¡¯t allowed inside, no matter what."


    The head of security, Anderson, gave the younger guard a knowing look and shook his head. "You¡¯re still a newbie," he said with a smirk. "You can¡¯t always follow the rules to the letter. Besides¡­" He lowered his voice, ncing toward the mansion path. "There are people the rules don¡¯t apply to. Some people¡­ the rules obey them."


    The younger guard blinked in confusion but said nothing more, watching as the delivery driver entered the grand gates of the mansion with his delivery.


    The world inside those gates was a different one, a ce where Noah Thompson¡¯s influence was unquestioned.


    Inside the mansion, Noah set the food on the table and sat down. The dishes were still hot, the aroma filling the air. He picked up a fork, feeling satisfied with how things had yed out this morning.


    Everything was running smoothly¡ªalmost too smoothly. He took a bite, savouring the vour, as his mind wandered back to the system upgrade.


    "Just a little longer," he thought to himself, ncing at the timer on the floating screen.


    [Estimated Time: 15 Minutes]


    The upgrade would soon beplete, and with it, new opportunities would open up. Noah leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowed in thought.


    He had a feeling this upgrade wasn¡¯t just going to change the system¡ªit was going to change him too.


    "Let¡¯s see what this brings," he mused, a faint smile ying on his lips as he waited for the next phase to begin.

 Chapter 93: System Upgrade!

    Noah finished thest bite of his meal, savouring the rich vours before setting down his fork. He leaned back in his chair, feeling a sense of calm settle over him.


    It wasn¡¯t often that he allowed himself moments like this, but today felt different.


    His eyes drifted to the glowing system screen floating in front of him.


    [Estimated Time:6 minutes¡­ 5 minutes¡­ 4 minutes¡­]


    The countdown was almost over. Whatever this upgrade was, it had been building for hours.


    Now, the final seconds were ticking away like the calm before a storm.


    [3¡­ 2¡­ 1¡­]


    [Ding! Ultimate Choice System has upgraded!]


    The familiar sound of the system¡¯s notification echoed in Noah¡¯s mind, the voice as neutral and detached as ever.


    But this time, something about it felt heavier, more significant. The words began to appear, each one carrying weight beyond their usual cryptic promises.


    [New Functions!]


    Noah straightened in his chair, his full attention locked on the screen.


    [Ultimate Choice Unlocked! The host must make a choice in 60 seconds]


    Two options shed before him, their meaning sinking into his mind almost instantly.


    Option 1: Reach the pinnacle of power and status. You have 5 years to do so.


    [Reward: Directly proportional to Completion Time.]


    Option 2: Live a peaceful life without worries. You will die without regrets.


    [Reward: Advanced Skill & System is removed]


    Noah stared at the two options, his expression shifting from curiosity to something darker, something thoughtful.


    His brow furrowed as he leaned forward, elbows on the table, fingers steepled beneath his chin. His mind began to race, analyzing the choicesid out before him.


    "Two choices?" he thought, his lips twitching into a faint, wry smile.


    "No. The system only gave me one choice this time."


    Theoretically, there were two options staring back at him on the screen, but in reality, there was only one Noah could ever truly consider.


    Option 2 was absurd.


    "A peaceful life without worries? Dying without regrets?" Noah almostughed at the simplicity of it, at the idea that he could live a mundane existence where nothing exciting or unpredictable happened, where everything was known andid out before him.


    What was the fun of that? What was the challenge?


    "Die without regrets¡­?" Noah repeated the words in his head, almost tasting their emptiness.


    "Live a peaceful life? What¡¯s the point of living if there¡¯s no excitement, no risk, no ambition?"


    His mind wandered to the idea of what a "peaceful" life might mean. It sounded like the kind of life people without vision craved, the kind of life where nothing happened¡ªno conflict, no struggle.


    It was like offering someone immortality but telling them they had to spend it inside a cage, watching the world pass by without ever touching it.


    Noah¡¯s smile widened, bing a thin line of disdain. "A peaceful life¡­" he mused, shaking his head slightly. "That¡¯s just a fancy way of saying ¡¯boring¡¯."


    He could practically feel his blood cooling at the thought.


    And then there was the other part.


    The system would be dormant. Dormant? Gone from his life forever, like it never existed.


    Who in their right mind would willingly remove a tool as powerful as the system from their life?


    "Absolutely not," Noah thought, dismissing the second option as if it were a joke.


    He turned his attention to Option 1, the real choice.


    Option 1: Reach the pinnacle of power and status. You have 5 years to do so.


    [Reward: Directly proportional to Completion Time.]


    There was no immediate reward, no promise of instant gratification, but the allure was undeniable.


    It was a challenge. A mystery. For the first time, the system had given him something that wasn¡¯t straightforward.


    The reward was undefined¡ªimmense, but unknown. Noah¡¯s fingers drummed lightly on the table, his mind working through the implications.


    He could feel the thrill building inside him, a deep, primal hunger for something greater.


    The unknown reward at the end only made it more enticing. Noah was the kind of man who thrived on uncertainty, who revelled in the game of outsmarting his enemies, outying everyone around him.


    "This system knows me well," Noah thought with a dark grin. "It knows exactly what I want."


    He had tried to settle for mediocrity, but it was simply impossible¡ªit went against his very nature.


    The desire for control, the thrill of ambition. It was a huge part of him that he couldn¡¯t discard.


    No matter how hard he tried to suppress it, it always surged back, stronger than before.


    As he stared at the options on the screen, a familiar sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu washed over him.


    He had seen this before, faced the same choice. And back then, he had chosen wrong.


    He had chosen to try and live a peaceful life.


    Noah remembered that time clearly, the days when he had manipted himself into thinking that he could be content with simplicity.


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    That he could live without the rush of power or the pull of ambition. But it hadn¡¯t worked. It hadn¡¯t evensted. It had eaten at him, gnawed away at his core until he was nothing but a hollow shell, trying to y a role that wasn¡¯t his.


    He had tried to keep a promise¡ªa promise made to a girl who had believed in him.


    "Noah, promise me you won¡¯t do that again, okay?"


    He had thought, just for a moment, that he could change. That he could put away the hunger, the monster that had always defined him. But that peaceful life she wanted for him? It had killed him from the inside.


    Slowly. Day by day.


    Noah couldn¡¯t live that way. He couldn¡¯t be that person, no matter how much she believed he could.


    Now, standing here, looking at the optionsid out before him again, he realized that the system had thrown down the gauntlet. It wasn¡¯t offering handouts anymore, wasn¡¯t dangling immediate rewards in front of him.


    Instead, it had given him a choice that went beyond power¡ªit was offering him a chance to rectify his past mistake.


    It had given him the ultimate choice of bing who he was meant to be.


    "What¡¯s wrong with monsters?" he muttered under his breath, the question hanging in the air,ced with a quiet amusement. The memory of her voice echoed in his mind¡ªsoft, full of hope. Hope that he had shattered.


    But the world wasn¡¯t filled with the hopeful, the kind-hearted and the naive. The real world, the one where power ruled, was a jungle filled with monsters.


    Predators who thrived on control, maniption, and strength.


    "We live amongst monsters," Noah said, his voice growing louder, more resolute. "So why the hypocrisy when ites to me?"


    He had been judged and told that he was different and dangerous.


    But they all were. Every single one of them yed the same games, just with different masks. The politicians, the corporate giants, even the ones who pretended to be good¡ªthey all fought for power in their own way.


    They were all monsters, hiding behind a veneer of kindness. They were evil hidden behind a veil.


    Noah had always understood what it took to survive in a world like this, a world that demanded control, maniption, and sometimes cruelty.


    Now, with the system by his side, he wouldn¡¯t just survive¡ªhe would thrive. The path ahead was clear. He had made his choice, and there was no turning back.


    "Reach the pinnacle of power and status, or die in mediocrity." There was no in-between.


    He had always known he was different¡ªsmarter, more capable, more ruthless when necessary. The system hadn¡¯t changed him; it had simply unlocked the potential he had always known existed within him.


    The peaceful life? That wasn¡¯t for him.


    He couldn¡¯t pretend to be someone else any longer.


    With a final nce at the screen, Noah¡¯s smile turned into something darker, more determined. The choice was clear. There was only ever one path for him.


    As Noah finalized his selection, choosing the path toward the pinnacle of power, a quiet but undeniable sense of familiarity washed over him¡ªalmost as if he¡¯d made this decision before.


    The weight of it settled into him, not as a new burden, but something long dormant, something he had always been meant to choose.


    The thrill of it, the rush, it felt more than just exhrating¡ªit felt right. Yet, in the back of his mind, a subtle question lingered, unspoken.


    Why does this feel like returning to something, rather than beginning it?


    He shook the thought away, focusing on the future. But somewhere, deep within, the choice felt less like a step forward and more like a step back¡ªback toward something that had always been his.


    [Ding! Option Selected]


    The sound of the system confirming his choice echoed through his mind, sharp and clear, like the crack of a starting pistol.


    Noah felt a rush of adrenaline surge through him, his pulse quickening as the system processed his decision.


    The countdown was over.


    Noah stood up from his chair, stretching his arms as he felt the energy buzzing through him. The weight of that old promise, the peaceful life he had tried to live¡ªit was gone now, lifted from his shoulders like a burden he no longer had to carry.


    He didn¡¯t need to pretend anymore. This was who he was¡ªa man who thrived in the pursuit of power, who relished the challenge of reaching the top, no matter what stood in his way.


    "Let the world see who I really am," Noah thought, his smirk turning darker, more dangerous.


    "Let them see what happens when a monster stops pretending to be human."


    In that moment, the pull toward the unknown reward, toward the chase of power, felt like a return to a forgotten truth¡ªa part of himself that had always been waiting.

 Chapter 94: New Function and an Advanced Skill!

    [Ding! Skills above the Intermediate Grade can now be rewarded.]


    [Ding! Advanced Skill Roulette is rewarded. Spin for an Advanced Skill!]


    Noah¡¯s eyes gleamed as he watched the roulette wheel materialize in front of him, suspended in mid-air like an ethereal mechanism designed for gods.


    The colours on the wheel were simple but told a clear story.


    Three colours dominated the wheel¡ªck, purple, and white. The white section took up the majority, about 69% of the wheel.


    Purple followed, taking up around 30%. But the smallest sliver, a narrow section of only about 1% of the wheel, was pure ck. The sight of it immediately intrigued him.


    The wheel began to spin with a soft whirring sound, each rotation picking up speed as it blurred before his eyes.


    Noah¡¯s focus honed in on the wheel¡¯s motion. His pulse quickened as it raced around and around, the anticipation building in his chest.


    Noah knew how these things worked¡ªtypically, the white sections would result in a decent skill, something useful but not groundbreaking. The purple would yield something extraordinary, and the ck... well, ck could either be the most incredible thing he could obtain or the worst.


    His eyes narrowed as he focused on the spinning wheel, waiting for it to slow down.


    The roulette began to lose momentum, the colours bing distinguishable again. It edged past the white sections, teasing at the possibility of a basic reward.


    It hesitated on purple for a second, before rolling over to the narrow ck sliver.


    And stopped.


    Noah¡¯s breath caught for just a moment. It hadnded in the ck.


    [Ding! Advanced Memory nce is rewarded!]


    The words appeared before him, and he could feel the weight of the skill sinking into his mind.


    Noah let out a breath, a smirk curling on his lips. "So, it¡¯s a blessing," he thought, eyeing the reward.


    The ck section space was so small on the roulette, thatnding on it felt almost impossible.


    He pressed on the skill icon, letting the system provide more information.


    [Advanced Memory nce: With a brief touch, the host can nce into the memories of a person, seeing key events that shape their current state of mind or motivations. The memories are fragmented ande in short shes, making interpretation tricky. However, the deeper the emotional resonance tied to the memory, the more detailed the sh.]


    Noah read the description, his smirk widening as he absorbed the implications. This wasn¡¯t just about peeking into someone¡¯s mind¡ªthis was about gaining leverage, about understanding people on a fundamental level.


    He could view their traumas, their fears, their motivations, and turn them against his enemies¡ªor shape them to his advantage.


    "No wonder why I was only given intermediate skills at best before," Noah muttered to himself, his fingers brushing against the air as if testing the power now running through him. "It¡¯s because the system wasn¡¯t upgraded. I indeed picked the right choice."


    The system had evolved, and so had he. It wasn¡¯t about raw power alone; it was about the finesse, the ability to y with the minds of others, to twist and bend them like malleable y.


    With this skill, he would no longer need to rely on direct confrontation to win battles. He could strip away the defences of his enemies with a mere touch, unveiling their vulnerabilities and hidden desires.


    He pressed his fingers together, feeling the energy pulse through his veins as he imagined all the ways he could use this ability. The most dangerous part of manipting people wasn¡¯t forcing them¡ªit was guiding them without them even realizing it. And this skill was built for exactly that.


    With a satisfied grin, Noah stepped back, his thoughts racing with possibilities.


    Advanced Memory nce wasn¡¯t just a tool¡ªit was a key to unlocking the minds of anyone who crossed his path. A flicker of an idea crossed his mind, a dangerous and thrilling one.


    What if he used this on people withrge influence, unraveling their secrets, and guiding their actions?


    The sheer potential of it sent a surge of excitement through him. His enemies would never know what hit them.


    One touch, and their memories, their pasts, would be his to manipte.


    He could weave illusions, twist perceptions, and create realities that didn¡¯t exist¡ªall in the minds of those around him. They wouldn¡¯t even realize they were being controlled until it was far toote.


    Noah smiled to himself, a dark, quiet smile.


    "This skill is built for me," he whispered, the words hanging in the air like a promise.


    The system had delivered exactly what he needed¡ªnot just more raw power, but the means to control and influence the world in a way that aligned perfectly with his nature.


    Noah stepped forward, already thinking of the next steps. [Advanced Memory nce] wasn¡¯t just a skill¡ªit was a pathway to dominance, a way to slip into the lives and minds of others without them ever knowing.


    "Let¡¯s see where this takes me," Noah said, his voice filled with quiet confidence. He knew the system had changed everything. And now, with this new power at his fingertips, he was ready to shape the world in his image, one memory at a time.


    The roulette hadnded on ck, and it had been anything but a curse. It was exactly what he needed to rise higher, faster than ever before.


    Noah stretched his arms wide as he stepped into the hallway of his mansion, his mood lifted and filled with energy from his recent power-up.


    "Let¡¯s get the day started," he said aloud, the words echoing off the grand walls of his new home. It was time to finally explore everything this luxurious mansion had to offer.


    The mansion itself was a masterpiece of modern design, blended with subtle hints of ssic grandeur. It wasn¡¯t just a home¡ªit was a sanctuary, a fortress, and a symbol of the power Noah was starting to umte.


    Walking through the spacious corridors, he admired the fine marble floors that reflected the soft morning light, each step of his making a quiet, satisfying echo.


    His first stop was the sauna room, tucked away on the far end of the mansion. As he opened the door, a rush of heat greeted him.


    The room was panelled in warm cedar wood, the aroma of natural wood instantly rxing his mind. Sleek stone benches lined the walls, and a state-of-the-art steam system controlled the temperature perfectly.


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    Noah ran his hand along the smooth, heated stones at the center of the room, his fingers trailing through the lingering warmth.


    The sauna was equipped with essential oils and herbal infusions¡ªperfect for restoring one¡¯s body after a hard day of training or simply to enjoy a quiet moment of peace.


    "This¡¯ll be useful," Noah thought with a smile.

 Chapter 95: Noah’s Den

    Satisfied, he moved on, heading toward the next door on his list. As he opened it, he found himself in the mansion¡¯s cinema room.


    It was a movie lover¡¯s dream¡ªan enormous screen dominated one wall, with thetest high-definition projector suspended from the ceiling.


    The room was equipped with plush, reclining seats that could fit about fifteen peoplefortably, each with its own armrest controls for volume, lighting, and temperature settings.


    "This ce could have some value," Noah mused with a slight smirk, running his hand along one of the soft, velvet chairs.


    He continued his tour, heading toward the gym.


    Opening the door, he was greeted by a sight that made his pulse quicken with excitement.


    The room was enormous, filled with every piece of fitness equipment a person could ask for. High ceilings allowed for plenty of space, with the walls lined by massive mirrors reflecting the top-tier machines inside.


    In one section of the gym, there were PrimeAntis Machines, renowned for their precise engineering and biomechanically sound designs, perfect for isting every muscle group.


    A massivet pull-down machine gleamed under the lights, the cables taut and ready to be used. Discover exclusive content at NovelBin.C?m


    Bicep curl benches, te-loaded machines, and racks of free weights filled the other side of the room. There were tes for deadlifts, squats, and bench presses, all neatly stacked and ready for use.


    Noah walked through the rows of equipment, inspecting them with a keen eye. Everything was here¡ªmachines for leg extensions, chest presses, rows, and even specialized equipment for targeted muscle groups that weren¡¯t usually avable in standard gyms.


    The floors were padded with heavy-duty mats, and the entire room had a crisp, clean feel to it. The air was filled with that faint smell of freshness.


    "Perfect, It¡¯s air conditioned too." Noah thought, having a gym like this at his disposal was convenient and useful.


    He had always believed in the harmony of mind and body, and this was the ideal ce to maintain that bnce.


    From there, Noah continued through the mansion, taking in the sheer scale of the ce. He passed by the eight spacious bedrooms, each one more luxurious than thest.


    They were all styled differently but with the same attention to detail. Massive king-sized beds dominated the rooms, their sheets and velvetforters radiating a sense of royalty and elegance.


    Every bedroom had its own en suite toilet and bath,plete with marble sinks, rainfall showers, and deep soaking tubs.


    The two massive living rooms were simrly impressive, each with enough space to hostrge gatherings. One of the living rooms had a more formal design, with elegant sofas arranged around arge firece, its mantel decorated with intricate carvings.


    The other was more casual, with oversized couches, a wall-mounted television, and shelves filled with books, trophies, and other decor.


    Both living rooms were equipped with floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a breathtaking view of the mansion¡¯s expansive grounds, including the gardens and a small pond.


    Noah stepped into the gym, excitement simmering just beneath the surface.


    Ever since he received Intermediate Soldier-King Skills, he had felt the changes in his body. His movements were sharper, his reflexes faster, and his strength¡­ well, today would be the day to test that.


    First stop: The good old bench press.


    "Let¡¯s start easy," Noah muttered, a grin ying on his lips as he loaded a single te on each side of the bar.


    He sat down, adjusting his grip, and smoothly unracked the weight. It felt like absolutely nothing.


    The bar barely even resisted as he pushed it up and down. Fifteen reps flew by in the blink of an eye, the muscles in his chest barely warming up.


    Noah racked the bar with a loud ng. "Time for two tes," he said, already feeling the excitement build.


    Loading up two tes, he settled under the bar again. Fifteen reps, just as smooth as the first set. He felt nothing. His chest wasn¡¯t even fully engaged yet.


    "Three tes, then."


    Three tes on each side¡ªthe usual mark for strength in most gyms. Noah gripped the bar, unracked it, and banged out another fifteen reps without breaking a sweat.


    The bar moved like it was made of feathers. His muscles were only just beginning to feel alive.


    He pushed it further.


    Four tes¡ªeasy.


    Five tes¡ªno problem.


    Finally, he loaded six tes on each side.


    Now, the bar had some weight to it. As he unracked the six-te bar, he felt the familiar tension in his muscles. He brought it down slowly, controlled it, and pushed up, feeling the strength rip through his body.


    Three slow reps, the bar moving smoothly but with effort.


    He racked it with a satisfying metallic tter, the entire rack shaking from the sheer weight. He took a deep breath, his heart pounding slightly harder now, but not from exhaustion¡ªmore from the thrill of pushing himself.


    "Time for the real test. 661 lbs"


    Noah loaded seven tes on each side, the weight now monstrous.


    Even in his best days before the system, he could never have dreamed of moving this much. He settled under the bar, took a deep breath, and unracked it.


    The strain was real this time. The bar was heavy¡ªimpossibly heavy¡ªbut manageable. His muscles surged with power as he pressed it up.


    One rep, two reps, each one slow and deliberate.


    By the time he hit eight reps, his muscles were close to failure.


    Thest rep was a grind, but he locked it out, racked the bar, and stood up.


    His chest felt like it had been forged from steel. The air in the room seemed thinner now as he took a deep breath, wiping the thinyer of sweat from his brow.


    "Seven tes¡­ 661 lbs," Noah mused. He had benched around double of his previous max. His smirk widened.


    "Let¡¯s see what else has changed."


    He moved over to the squat rack next, his muscles still humming with energy.


    He loaded the bar, adding more and more weight until the total reached 881 lbs. The sheer weight looked almost absurd on the bar, the tes stacked to an intimidating length.


    Unfazed, Noah ducked under the bar, resting it across his rear delts and traps. His legs tensed in anticipation, and he unracked the weight with ease.


    It felt heavy, sure, but not outside his limits. Squatting down, he hit perfect depth and powered up.


    One rep, two reps¡ªsmooth and controlled. His legs burned with power, and each rep was a testament to his growing strength.


    By the time he hit seven reps, his legs were on fire, but the weight was still in control. He racked it, feeling the strain but also the exhration.


    His legs were trembling slightly from the exertion, but it wasn¡¯t enough to stop him. There was still one lift left¡ªdeadlifts.


    Noah moved to the barbell and loaded the tes, building the weight up to an insane 1146 lbs.


    The bar looked like it was ready to bend under the load, but Noah¡¯s excitement only grew.


    He gripped the bar, feeling the cool steel under his fingers, and braced himself. The weight was immense, but he knew he had it.


    He let out a sharp breath and held it in his stomach and pulled. The bar resisted for a moment, but then it moved, slowly rising off the ground.


    "One rep", the weight hovering in the air as his muscles strained.


    "Two", his back and legs working in perfect harmony.


    "Three", the bar shaking slightly from the sheer effort, but it was done. He set it down, the ng reverberating through the gym.


    Noah stood up, his body drenched in sweat now. His breathing was heavier, but he wasn¡¯t even close to being finished. Moving on, he hit biceps, triceps, and shoulders with the same intensity.


    Curling weights that used to strain him felt like warm-ups. His shoulders pressed overhead with enough weight to crush anyone.


    Finally, after finishing his strength training, Noah turned to cardio.


    He set up the treadmill for high-intensity intervals, pushing himself to the max for 30 minutes straight.


    His heart pounded, his muscles screamed, but he didn¡¯t slow down.


    By the time he was done, his shirt was soaked through, and the gym was filled with the sound of his heavy breathing, despite the air conditioner sting in the background.


    Sweat dripped down his face, pooling on the floor beneath him. His entire body ached, but it was a good ache. He felt alive. Powerful.


    "That was a good workout," Noah muttered to himself, straightening up. His chest heaved, but a satisfied smile crossed his face.


    "These Intermediate Soldier King Skills are really something. I used to bench around 315 lbs, and now I¡¯m doing over 661lbs for reps. Squatting 881lbs like it¡¯s nothing¡­ and deadlifting 1146 lbs?"


    He shook his head in disbelief. His strength had skyrocketed, but it wasn¡¯t just his raw power that had grown.


    "Even my stamina has increased rapidly,"


    Even after all that, he felt like he could still go a few more rounds if he had to.


    As he wiped his face with a towel, Noah chuckled to himself. "Forget Noah Wayne," he muttered with a smirk, "I think Bruce would soon be asking to join the Thompson family at the rate my strength is increasing."

 Chapter 96: Shopping Spree

    Noah stood in the gym, staring at the pool of sweat that had umted under him after his intense workout. He shook his head, smirking to himself.


    "I need to hire a cleaner or this ce is going to turn into a disaster zone," he muttered. His mansion, as grand and impressive as it was, had a downside: the space needed maintenance, and that sweat puddle was only the beginning.


    Sighing, Noah walked over to the storage closet, grabbing a mop and some cleaning supplies.


    After a few minutes of wiping down the floors and getting everything back in order, he tossed the mop aside, satisfied with the job. "Time to hit the shower," he said, heading to the bathroom.


    The cold water from the shower hit him like a refreshing wave, washing away the exhaustion from the gym. His muscles rxed under the crisp stream, and he felt the tension from his workout melt away.


    After a few minutes, he switched off the water and grabbed a towel. He was far from done pampering himself today.


    Noah made his way to the sauna. The door slid open with a soft hiss, releasing a wave of warm, fragrant steam.


    The cedar wood walls radiated a calming heat as he stepped inside, the soft light and gentle atmosphere instantly soothing. Noah took a deep breath, letting the warmth sink into his skin.


    "This is nice," he said aloud, leaning back and closing his eyes. The quiet hum of the sauna filled the room, and for a brief moment, he allowed himself to rxpletely.


    The heat seeped into his muscles, calming them after the brutal workout.


    After a while, feelingpletely refreshed, he left the sauna and took another quick rinse in the shower.


    The water this time was warmer, helping to wash away the sweat and steam. After drying himself off, Noah wrapped a towel around his waist and made his way to the walk-in closet.


    Therge closet was mostly empty except for a few clothes he had stashed there earlier.


    He opened the doors and frowned. His selection was limited¡ªway too limited for his tastes. As much as the mansion was amazing, it was clear he hadn¡¯t stocked it properly.


    Noah pulled out a simple t-shirt and jeans, but it was clear he needed to expand his wardrobe.


    Suddenly, the familiar chime of the Ultimate Choice System echoed in his mind.


    [Ding! Ultimate Choice System has been activated!]


    Three options appeared before him, hovering in mid-air:


    Option 1: Shop at Bullring and Grand Central Mall.


    [Reward: 2x Cashback Card]


    Option 2: Shop at any random store.


    [Reward: -10 Charm]


    Option 3: Don¡¯t buy anything.


    [Reward: Nothing]


    Noah barely hesitated. Option 1 was the obvious choice.


    "2x Cashback Card? That¡¯s new," he said to himself, his smirk returning.


    He had about 469,000 saved up in liquid assets, and with the cashback, he could double that to nearly a million in no time. The idea of such an easy win was too good to pass up.


    As soon as he made his selection, the system responded.


    [Ding! 2x Cashback Card is rewarded!]


    A new item appeared in his inventory, and Noah immediately pulled up the card¡¯s description.


    [2x Cashback Card: Returns 2x the money spent in a single purchase.]


    "Not bad," Noah thought as he examined the details.


    He quickly realized one limitation: the card could only be used at one shop. He couldn¡¯t just go around using it at multiple stores.


    If he wanted to maximize its value, he needed to pick the right shop and spend big.


    Noah rubbed his chin, thinking. There was only one ce in mind for such a big purchase. He needed something high-end, somewhere he could splurge without holding back.


    "A luxury clothing store," he muttered to himself. Somewhere in Bullring and Grand Central Mall would be perfect.


    Satisfied with his decision, Noah dressed quickly and grabbed his keys.


    The sleek, matte ck Lykan Hypersport sat waiting for him in the driveway, its engine growling softly as he approached.


    The car was a beast¡ªfitting for someone like him¡ªand driving it never failed to bring a smirk to his face.


    Sliding into the driver¡¯s seat, Noah revved the engine. The growl turned into a roar, echoing through the quiet viplex. He backed out of the driveway smoothly and headed toward the mall.


    Arriving at the gates, the guards greeted him and he responded with a nod.


    The streets were mostly empty, and the Lykan cut through the road effortlessly.


    He had never expected the system to provide something like this¡ªa chance to double his wealth so easily.


    It seemed the system was starting to reward him in new ways.


    "The system¡¯s upgrade is quite good." He thought Explore more stories with NovelBin.C?m


    It wasn¡¯t long before the towering buildings of the Bullring and Grand Central Mall came into view, their ss facades glistening in the mid-morning sun.


    Noah parked in the VIP section, stepping out of the Lykan with a confident stride. He was about to make the most of this opportunity, and by the end of the day, his bank ount would be heavier than ever.


    As he entered the mall, the luxurious atmosphere surrounded him¡ªhigh-end shops, elegant disys, and the scent of expensive perfume lingering in the air.


    As Noah walked through the bustling corridors of the mall, heads turned in his direction like a ripple in the crowd. He exuded confidence, his walk deliberate and measured, his posture showing elegance.


    The Armani suit he had found in his closet fit him perfectly, enhancing his broad shoulders and lean frame.


    The sharp, tailored look only added to his natural presence, making him seem like he had stepped right out of a high-end magazine¡ªor better yet, a romance Wattpad novel where the CEO always gets what he wants.


    Eyes lingered on him, especially those of the women passing by.


    Their gazes were filled with curiosity and admiration, drawn to him by the aura of power and control he projected effortlessly.


    On the outside, Noah looked like the perfect, polished businessman. But on the inside, he scoffed at their reactions.


    "How naive."

 Chapter 97: Shopping Spree (2)

    "Fashion is the simplest form of mind control," Noah thought as he walked, his gaze sweeping over the people in the mall.


    "It maniptes men and women equally. A man won¡¯t be able to tear his gaze away from a woman in a revealing dress, not unless he has the discipline of iron or faith stronger than temptation¡ªand that¡¯s rare."


    "Just as a woman¡¯s eyes will naturally gravitate to a man dressed in clothes that scream wealth and status¡ªbrands like L&V or Hermis do more than turn heads; they speak directly to the primal part of the mind, the part that craves power, security, and influence."


    He smirked as he continued walking, noting the subtle shifts in people¡¯s gazes, their reactions predictable, almostughable.


    "Power isn¡¯t just about what you have or what you can do," he mused.


    "it¡¯s about how you¡¯re perceived. The suit, the watch, the car¡ªit¡¯s all a carefully crafted illusion.


    "People see what I want them to see."


    The more he thought about it, the more the truth of his observation amused him. Noah had always known that people were easily influenced by what they could see on the surface.


    Most weren¡¯t even aware of how their perceptions were shaped by something as simple as a suit. To them, his Armani suit wasn¡¯t just a piece of clothing¡ªit was a symbol, a representation of status and sess.


    It made them wonder who he was, what he did, how much money he had, and whether they could ever reach his level.


    He caught the gaze of a passing woman, her eyes quickly darting to his suit, then back to his face. She offered a small, almost shy smile, her bodynguage betraying an unspoken interest. But Noah didn¡¯t bother acknowledging it, his mind elsewhere.


    "People are ves to what they can see," he thought. "They chase symbols of power without ever understanding its real essence. Clothes, brands, material wealth¡ªit¡¯s all just a facade, an easy way to distract the masses of what truly matters."


    He nced at a nearby storefront, its window disy unting luxury brands with their gaudy logos sshed across handbags and shoes.


    People crowded around, gazing at the products with the same starry-eyed admiration they had given him.


    The disy was working its magic, pulling them in with promises of elegance, status, and approval from society. "just like moths to a me," Noah thought.


    As he approached the Hermess store, Noah paused for a moment, his reflection staring back at him from the ss doors.


    This version of him, the one everyone saw, was just a tool¡ªa carefully crafted image designed to get him what he wanted.


    He opened the door and stepped inside, the polished floors and soft lighting amplifying the atmosphere of wealth. As the sales assistants scrambled to attend to him, their eyes lit up with the hope of argemission, Noah could only smirk.


    "Let them believe what they want," he thought. "In the end, it¡¯s all just a game. And I¡¯m the only one who knows the rules."


    He browsed the racks of designer clothes, each item carrying a hefty price tag meant to impress anyone whoid eyes on it. But Noah wasn¡¯t concerned about the cost.


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    With the 2x Cashback Card, today¡¯s shopping trip would be more than just a splurge. It was an investment¡ªan opportunity to double his money and fuel his next move.


    Noah approached the counter with a calm stride, his eyes scanning the neatly folded clothes stacked behind the sales assistant.


    Without hesitation, he pointed to the collection of the high-end designer brand, then nced at the assistant with a cool,manding expression.


    "I want a piece of everything in this shop," he said, his voice steady, as though he were asking for vegetables.


    "I want a piece of everything in this shop," he said, his voice steady, as though he were asking for vegetables.


    The assistant blinked, caught off guard by the request.


    Her eyes widened slightly, and she stammered, "S-Sir, are you sure? Our prices are¡­ not exactly cheap." She eyed him nervously, as though waiting for him tough and admit it was a joke.


    Noah¡¯s expression darkened, his frown deepening. "Do I look ignorant to you, or do I look like someone who brags about what they can afford?" His voice carried a chill, cutting through the assistant¡¯s lingering doubt.


    The assistant flinched, realizing her mistake. She quickly shook her head, bowing slightly in apology. "I¡ªI understand, sir. Bear with me for a few moments while I get some co-workers to help pack everything for you." Her words came out in a rush, clearly flustered by her error.


    "Alright," Noah said, his cold demeanour fading into a smile thatpletely contradicted the sharpness from moments before. "Thank you."


    The assistant, now more at ease, nced up at Noah.


    A strange feeling washed over her¡ªshe found herself oddly drawn to him. "He was rude at first," she reasoned in her head, "but that¡¯s only because I was the one who said something stupid."


    Her heart fluttered for reasons she didn¡¯t fully understand.


    Noah stood off to the side as several employees scrambled to gather every piece of clothing in the store.


    In a matter of minutes, the once pristine shelves and racks had been emptied, and the clothes were neatly folded and bagged by the counter. The team worked efficiently, but the sheer number of items made it a spectacle.


    As they ced thest bag on the counter, curious onlookers began gathering nearby, whispering among themselves. It wasn¡¯t every day you saw someone buy an entire store¡¯s worth of high-end clothing in one go.


    The lead assistant approached Noah nervously, holding the final receipt in her trembling hands. "S-Sir, the totales to... $462,950," she stuttered, her voice barely a whisper as she read the number out loud.


    Her heart pounded, half-expecting the man in front of her tough and walk out as if it were a prank. With so many eyes on them, the fear of being embarrassed in front of the crowd was devouring her.


    Noah didn¡¯t blink. He pulled out his card, the 2x Cashback Card already activated, and handed it over without a word.

 Chapter 98: Shopping Spree (3)

    The onlookers started buzzing, whispering louder now. A small boy, no older than seven, was standing nearby, clinging to his mother¡¯s hand.


    He stared up at Noah, wide-eyed, his young mind trying to make sense of what he was witnessing.


    His mother, however, wasn¡¯t paying any attention to her son. Her gaze was fixed entirely on Noah, watching him with a dazed, almost admiring expression.


    The boy tugged at his mother¡¯s hand, confused by the strange look on her face.


    He squinted, staring between his mother and Noah, and suddenly as if a revtion struck him, he muttered to himself, "This guy must be one of those skibidi sigma or something¡­ Otherwise, Mom wouldn¡¯t be looking at him like that."


    His words went unheard, but the expression on his face¡ªa mix of confusion and suspicion¡ªwould have made anyoneugh.


    Meanwhile, Noah stood at the counter, perfectlyposed. The assistant swiped his card, her fingers trembling as the machine processed the payment.


    "Ding"


    The transaction was confirmed, and Noah¡¯s bnce doubled instantly. A smirk yed on his lips as he watched the assistant¡¯s eyes light up with relief and disbelief.


    She handed him the receipt, and he took it with his usual calm, unfazed by the staggering amount.


    "Thank you, sir," she said breathlessly, still reeling from the entire interaction.


    Noah gave her a nod and nced at the dozen bags lined up neatly behind the counter.


    "Have them delivered to my house, it¡¯s at ..." he said, not a request but an order.


    As the employees hustled to carry the bags to deliver them, the crowd of onlookers only grew, whispering and pointing.


    Some were in awe, some in disbelief, and a few even snapped photos from a distance, hoping to capture the moment.


    The employees loaded thest of the bags into the delivery van, ready to take them to Noah¡¯s mansion as he had instructed. Noah stood by the side, checking his phone for updates.


    When one of the sales assistants approached him hesitantly, asking for the final delivery details.


    Noah said, sliding his phone back into his pocket. "When you arrive, just give the bags to the guards at the entrance. They¡¯ll take care of the rest."


    The assistant nodded quickly, still in awe of the man standing before her. "Understood, sir. We¡¯ll make sure everything is handled properly."


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    Nodding his head at her, he turned and walked out of the store with the same air of elegance, his suit jacket draped casually over his shoulder as if this entire scene were just another day in his life.


    As he headed toward the exit, the little boy tugged at his mother¡¯s hand once more, ncing up at her with a frown. "Mom, can we go now?" he asked, his young voice breaking through the haze of awe she seemed trapped in.


    The mother blinked, finally snapping out of her daze, but her gaze lingered on Noah¡¯s retreating figure for just a moment longer. "Uh, yes, sweetie... Let¡¯s go," she muttered, her voice distant, as if still entranced by the scene she had just witnessed.


    The boy shook his head as they walked away, muttering to himself. "He¡¯s a skibidi sigma for sure."


    After leaving the mall, Noah slid into the driver¡¯s seat of his Lykan Hypersport, the engine roaring to life with a smooth, powerful hum. He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, considering his next move.


    "Let me check on my parents, see what they are up to," he thought, ncing at the road ahead. He was also curious about how his father¡¯s search for the tea house was progressing.


    Soon enough, Noah arrived near the parking lot, where his Lykan Hypersport had been parked countless times before, alongside his sleek Lamborghini.


    He knew that he couldn¡¯t leave the Lambo parked in this lot forever.


    Stepping out of the elevator after paying for a full day¡¯s parking, Noah muttered to himself, "I need to get the Lambo out of here and to the mansion."


    As he walked toward the exit, his phone vibrated in his pocket, the screen shing with a call from an unknown number. He answered with a neutral, "Hello?"


    "Good afternoon, sir. I¡¯m Anderson," came the polite, formal tone from the other end. "We¡¯ve received a delivery for you from the Hermess store?"


    "Yes, Anderson. That¡¯s correct. I told them to leave it with you guys since I wasn¡¯t home. I¡¯ll have to trouble you with it until I return."


    Anderson¡¯s response was swift and deferential. "Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Noah. I will personally ensure that the delivery remains safe until you¡¯re back."


    Noah¡¯s expression remained impassive. "Thank you, I will have to trouble you" he replied in his usual neutral tone before hanging up.


    Meanwhile, back at the mansion¡¯s gate, Anderson had already gathered the guards around the delivery truck.


    He turned to the delivery driver and asked him to open the back.


    "Can you open it, thank you."


    "Of course, right away." said the delivery driver as he opened the back of the truck.


    As the truck¡¯s door lifted, revealing rows upon rows of Hermess bags, Anderson and the rest of the guards couldn¡¯t hide their shock.


    Their jaws dropped in unison. It wasn¡¯t just a delivery¡ªthis was practically an entire store¡¯s worth of luxury goods.


    There were dozens of bags, meticulously packed and organized, each one likely costing more than any of them made in a year.


    One guard leaned in closer, muttering under his breath, "This has to be at least $300,000 worth of stuff, maybe more¡­"


    "More," another guard whispered in disbelief.


    Anderson quickly snapped out of his momentary shock, his eyes sharpening as he barked, "Back off! This isn¡¯t just any delivery."


    He fixed his gaze on the guards, his tone firm. "Listen, if anyone here gets greedy or does something stupid, we¡¯ll all be thrown under the bus for it. Therefore, I¡¯ll be the only one handling this. Got it?"


    The guards quickly nodded, retreating from the truck, realizing the seriousness of the situation.


    "Good," Anderson continued. "I¡¯ll check every single item against the receipt before we move anything. No one touches a thing until I¡¯m done."

 Chapter 99: Moving Out

    For the next 30 minutes, Anderson carefully went through each bag, checking the items against the store¡¯s delivery receipt.


    The other guards stood at a respectful distance, watching with awe as the mountain of luxury goods was ounted for.


    Each piece was as impable and high-end as the next¡ªhandcrafted bags, silk scarves, designer belts, and more.


    This was wealth on a different level, the kind most of them had only seen on TV.


    After verifying the entire delivery, Anderson began carefully transferring the bags into the guard office near the mansion¡¯s gate.


    His movements were careful and professional¡ªno rushing, no careless handling.


    He knew how valuable each item was, but more importantly, he understood that Noah Thompson wasn¡¯t the type of person you wanted to disappoint.


    After securely cing all the Herm¨¨s bags in the guards¡¯ office, Anderson turned to face his men, his voice firm as he delivered his final instruction.


    "No one is allowed to enter the office until Mr. Noah is back," he dered, leaving no room for debate.


    The other guards exchanged uneasy nces, fully aware of the magnitude of the delivery.


    It was more than just a few luxury items¡ªit was a fortune neatly packed into dozens of bags, each one screaming status and wealth.


    One guard, braver than the rest, stepped forward, looking frustrated. "But sir, our food is in there. Does this mean none of us get a break until Mr. Noah is back? That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s ridiculous."


    Anderson¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, his tone hardening. "If any one of you has food inside, I¡¯ll apany you personally. After taking your meal, we¡¯ll both leave the office immediately. No one else is to enter, and that¡¯s final."


    "If you want to use the toilets, I will also apany you to the door and if you don¡¯t like it, you can use the trees as cover." He continued, "Argue with the wall."


    The guard wasn¡¯t convinced but knew better than to argue further. Anderson¡¯s word wasw when it came to anything in this ce.


    Grumbling under his breath, the guard backed off, with an annoyed look on his face that he didn¡¯t try to hide.


    Meanwhile, Noah had already reached his parent¡¯s house. He parked the Lamborghini outside, the hum of its powerful engine cutting through the quiet suburban neighbourhood.


    It was a stark contrast to the world of luxury he had just left behind.


    As Noah entered the house, he noticed that it felt quieter than usual. His mother wasn¡¯t home, which wasn¡¯t a surprise.


    She had recently started working as a chef, something that made Noah proud.


    She had always been passionate about cooking, and now she was doing something she loved.


    But his father, was there, sitting on the couch with the TV on but barely paying attention to it.


    "Good afternoon, Dad. How are you doing?" Noah asked, slipping his shoes off and walking into the living room.


    David looked up from the screen and smiled at his son. "What¡¯s up, Noah? I¡¯m doing alright. Where were you yesterday? You didn¡¯te home. I like the suit by the way."


    Noah sighed, knowing this conversation wasing. "Thanks Dad, about that¡­ I wanted to talk to you and Mom about something." He took a seat across from his father, his tone serious but respectful.


    David¡¯s brow furrowed as he waited for Noah to continue.


    "I¡¯ve been thinking a lottely, and I¡¯ve decided¡­ I¡¯m nning to move out," Noah began, watching his father¡¯s face for any reaction. "I¡¯m thinking of moving in with a friend because, well, living here has be slightly difficult due to my new circumstances.


    It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t love staying with you, Mom, and Emily, but with everything going on¡ªbetween my ns for the future, my studies, and helping with the tea house¡ªtravelling back and forth is going to start getting in the way."


    David¡¯s smile faltered ever so slightly, and though his face remained calm, Noah caught the brief flicker of sadness in his father¡¯s eyes before he quickly masked it.


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    "I see¡­ I figured this would happen sooner orter," David said, his voice even, though there was a hint of emotion buried beneath it.


    He straightened in his seat and gave Noah a small nod. "Why don¡¯t we talk more about this when your mom gets back? She¡¯ll be home in a few hours."


    Noah nodded, appreciating the way his father was handling the news. He could tell it wasn¡¯t easy for him. "Yeah, that¡¯s fine, Dad. We can talk more when she¡¯s here."


    An awkward silence followed, but Noah quickly changed the subject. "How¡¯s the tea house search going, by the way? Any luck?"


    David¡¯s expression lightened at the mention of the tea house, his passion for the project clear. "It¡¯s going well. I contacted a few ces, and I¡¯ve got four appointments tomorrow morning to check them out. We¡¯re looking at some prime spots. Are you free from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.


    tomorrow?"


    Noah thought for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I¡¯m free. I¡¯ll stay here tonight so we can head out together in the morning."


    David¡¯s smile returned, this time more genuine. "Good."


    Moving out is a must, and while it made sense practically, he knew it would be a big change for his family.


    His father, especially, seemed to be taking it harder than he let on, even if he wouldn¡¯t say it outright.


    The two of them continued to talk for a few hours, the conversation flowingfortably. But when Noah nced at the time, he stood up and stretched.


    "Dad, I¡¯m going to go pick up Emily from school and bring her back. I¡¯ll probably grab some food on the way too. Do you want anything?"


    David shook his head, smiling softly. "You guys get what you want. I¡¯m not hungry."


    Noah knew better. His dad always said he wasn¡¯t hungry when he didn¡¯t want Noah spending money on him. With a slight shake of his head, Noah smirked as he left the house.


    "I¡¯ll buy it anyway. Once it¡¯s here, he won¡¯t let it go to waste."


    He walked to Emily¡¯s school, thete afternoon sun casting warm shadows over the yground as students began trickling out.


    The moment she spotted him waiting by the curb, Emily¡¯s face lit up, and she sprinted over to him, her backpack bouncing wildly.


    "Noah! You¡¯re here to pick me up?" she eximed, throwing her arms around him. "I thought Dad was going to, since you weren¡¯t here yesterday."


    Noah smiled warmly at his little sister, his voice soft and gentle¡ªcontradicting the colder, version of himself. "Yeah, I¡¯m here today. Thought I¡¯d surprise you."


    Emily beamed up at him.


    Noah ruffled her hair gently before asking, "How about we grab something to eat first? I could use some food, and I bet you¡¯re hungry too."


    Her eyes lit up even more, and she nodded eagerly. "Really? Yes! I¡¯m starving! Let¡¯s go!"


    They headed to a nearby Thai takeaway, where Noah ordered some Pad Thai and Green Curry, two of the most popr Thai dishes.


    It wasn¡¯t anything extravagant, but it was exactly what they both wantedfort food. He also grabbed a few soft drinks before they headed home.


    As they walked back, Emily chatted excitedly about her day, her energy infectious.


    Noah smiled as he listened to her little adventures.

 Chapter 100: Family Moment

    Noah and Emily arrived home, the moment they walked in, Emily spotted their dad sitting in the living room. Without hesitation, she ran over to him, throwing her arms around his neck and nting a kiss on his cheek.


    "Dad!" she eximed, beaming with excitement. "Let¡¯s go wash our hands, Noah got food for us!"


    David looked up at Noah, who stood in the doorway, smiling softly at the scene.


    He shook his head slightly, pretending to be exasperated but couldn¡¯t hide the fondness in his eyes.


    "Alright, alright," David said, standing up and taking Emily¡¯s hand. "Let¡¯s go wash our hands first."


    Emily practically dragged her father to the bathroom, her excitement brimming.


    After washing their hands, she sprinted off to her room, eager to change into herfy pyjamas, her energy seeming unrestrained.


    A few minutester, she reappeared, dressed in her favourite Kurumi pyjamas, and jogged toward the kitchen with an excited grin.


    David, watching her speed past, called out, "Emily! Slow down, you¡¯re going to trip!"


    But his warning came a second toote.


    As Emily neared Noah, her foot caught the edge of the rug, and she stumbled forward. David¡¯s face paled as he saw her heading straight toward the sharp edge of the kitchen table.


    Panic surged through him as he shot up from his seat, heart racing.


    "Emily!"


    he shouted, his voice filled with rm. But he was too far away to help.


    Noah, however, was already ahead of the situation. The moment Emily began to trip, he moved like lightning, his instincts taking over.


    In one smooth motion, he caught her just before she collided with the table, pulling her up effortlessly. Her momentum was cancelled as Noah lifted her above his head, keeping her safe from harm. Find your next adventure on NovelBin.C?m


    "There we go," Noah said with a calm smile, setting her down gently on the floor.


    David exhaled a deep sigh of relief, the tension in his body melting away. He ced a hand on his chest, still shaken from the close call.


    "Thank God," he muttered, feeling his pulse start to slow down.


    Emily, who had been frozen in shock, looked up at Noah with wide eyes. Her initial fear quickly faded, reced by awe. "Wow, brother, that was so cool!" she said, her voice filled with admiration.


    Without hesitation, she kissed Noah¡¯s cheek in gratitude. "Thank you!"


    Noah ruffled her hair with a smile, his voice gentle but firm. "Just be careful, alright? No running around the house. No one¡¯s going to steal the food."


    Emily nodded quickly and turned to her dad, her face flushed with embarrassment. "Sorry, Dad. I won¡¯t do it again, I promise."


    David, still recovering from the shock, shook his head and said, "Good. You could¡¯ve hurt yourself badly if Noah hadn¡¯t been there." His tone was serious, but he wasn¡¯t angry¡ªjust relieved that his daughter was safe.


    Noah, sensing that Emily was starting to feel embarrassed by the situation, decided to change the topic before the mood became too tense. "Let¡¯s eat before the food gets cold," he said, moving the conversation along.


    David understood what Noah was doing and appreciated the gesture. He didn¡¯t press the issue further, grateful that Noah was helping to ease the tension.


    In his heart, David was proud. He knew Noah was subtly leaving the task of disciplining Emily to him as the parent, but he also made sure that David didn¡¯t go too far, keeping the bnce between being a protector and a teacher.


    As they all sat down at the table, Emily eagerly dug into her Pad Thai. Her earlier excitement returned now that the ident was behind her.


    The meal continued infortable silence, with the asional chatter from Emily as she described her day at school and excitedly shared stories with both her father and Noah.


    Noah smiled as he listened to the same stories again.


    After an hour of lounging together, watching a TV show, the sound of the front door clicking open interrupted the quiet hum of the living room. Caroline was back from work.


    Emily, who had been curled up against her dad while they watched the screen, immediately perked up. Without hesitation, she jumped up and sprinted toward her mother, her arms wide open.


    "Mommy!" she squealed as she wrapped her arms around Caroline¡¯s waist.


    Caroline smiled, kissing Emily¡¯s forehead. "Sweetie, how have you been?"


    Emily grinned up at her. "I¡¯m even better now that I saw you, Mommy!"


    David and Noah chuckled quietly at her innocent excitement. Noah couldn¡¯t help but think how much Emily reminded him of a human version of a cat.


    The way she went straight for hugs whenever she saw someone she loved was undeniably cute. She didn¡¯t hesitate, didn¡¯t hold back her affection.


    Caroline¡¯s eyes met Noah¡¯s, her expression softening. "Where have you been, son? You had me quite worried this morning. I didn¡¯t see you in your room when I checked on you."


    David¡¯s face tensed slightly, but he quickly masked it. They had already discussed talking about Noah¡¯s ns to move outter, and it wasn¡¯t time to drop that news just yet.


    Noah gave a reassuring smile. "Mom, why don¡¯t you go wash your hands and face, then change into somefy clothes and eat first?"


    Caroline blinked, caught off guard by his suggestion but nodded. "


    Alright, I¡¯ll be back in a bit," she said, giving Emily a long, affectionate kiss on her chubby cheeks before heading off to freshen up.


    Twenty minutester, Caroline reappeared, now dressed infortable house clothes.


    She made her way to the kitchen and paused when she saw the containers of Thai food neatly arranged on the counter.


    "Oh, we have Thai food?" she said, a smile growing on her face. "It¡¯s Noah, isn¡¯t it?"


    David chuckled from the living room, knowing exactly what she meant. Only Noah would bring home takeaway since David usually insisted on eating Caroline¡¯s cooking.


    "Yeah," Noah nodded with a grin. "I picked up some for you too. We already ate."


    Caroline¡¯s smile brightened as she quickly heated up her portion, bringing the te into the living room where the rest of the family was gathered.


    She sat down next to David, her eyes flicking to the TV screen where the show they had been watching earlier was still ying.


    The four of them settled back into the couch, watching the program in silence. It was one of those lighthearted family sis, the kind that was easy to watch and didn¡¯t demand too much attention.


    Caroline ate her food contentedly, chuckling along to the show on the screen.

 Chapter 101: Big Bang

    Caroline ate her food contentedly, chuckling along to the show on the screen.


    The TV scene opened with an awkward silence between two characters sitting in a cozy living room, clearly in the midst of a tense, intellectual debate.


    The woman, older and stern, adjusted her sses as she studied the man sitting across from her¡ªhis posture rigid, his expression nk yet calcting.


    "Do you ever experience emotional instability?" she asked, her tone clinical.


    The young man blinked slowly as ifputing the question. "No," he answered tly. "My emotions are a well-regted algorithm of efficiency. Anything else would be... illogical."


    David chuckled. "ssic. He¡¯s like a robot."


    On the screen, the woman raised a brow, unmoved by the answer. "Fascinating. Yourpleteck of empathy is both disturbing and¡ª"


    "¡ªimpressive," the young man cut in proudly. "It has saved me from countless awkward human interactions."


    Noah smirked, leaning forward. "He¡¯s so oblivious, it¡¯s painful."


    The camera zoomed in on the woman¡¯s face as she tilted her head, studying him like a subject under a microscope.


    "And yet," she began with deliberate slowness, "you remain utterly unaware of the subtle social cues that define rtionships."


    The young man straightened his sses. "Of course. I don¡¯t require such things. They¡¯re inefficient, prone to error."


    There was a long pause, tension building, and then the woman leaned forward, her voice lowering to a sharp whisper. "So... you¡¯re essentially saying you¡¯re incapable of understanding basic human affection?"


    The young man blinked. "Correct. They are quite bizarre."


    Without missing a beat, the woman nodded. "Ah. So you must be insufferable at parties."


    The family burst intoughter, Emily nearly falling off the couch as she hugged her sides.


    "Wait, wait, did she just roast him like that?" she giggled, wiping tears from her eyes.


    David snorted. "That was cold, but she¡¯s not wrong."


    On the screen, the young man looked genuinely confused, his brows furrowing. "Insufferable? I simply avoid parties. Social gatherings are filled with trivialities, often meaningless¡ª"


    "¡ªlike this conversation?" the woman interjected with a dry tone, one brow raised.


    Noah chuckled under his breath. "She¡¯s not holding back."


    The young man didn¡¯t even flinch. "Precisely. Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me, I need to return to my equations. They offer far more rity than this... discussion."


    The woman, still calm andposed, leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. "Yes, I¡¯m sure your equations provide excellentpany. Very stimting."


    "More than humans, at least," the young man replied.


    David grinned. "That¡¯s it. Sheldon¡¯s a lost cause."


    Carolineughed softly. "She¡¯s trying to reach him, but he¡¯spletely on a different."


    After a while, Emily¡¯s energy began to fade. Her eyelids drooped, and she yawned, stretchingzily on the couch.


    "Goodnight, everyone," she mumbled, getting up and heading to her room.


    "Goodnight, sweetie," Caroline called after her, while David waved, still half-watching the TV. Noah gave her a soft smile and a wave as she disappeared down the hallway.


    Once Emily was gone, Noah shifted in his seat, turning to face his parents. "Mom, Dad," he began, his tone more serious. "I wanted to talk to you both about something."


    Caroline, sensing the shift, immediately looked concerned. "What is it, Noah?"


    Noah cleared his throat. "I¡¯ve been thinking... I¡¯m nning to move out. I¡¯ve got some projects I¡¯m working on with a friend, and honestly, it¡¯s a bit far from here. Themute is bing a hassle. I wanted to let you guys know and get your input before I make the final decision."


    Caroline¡¯s face fell, a mix of sadness and worry crossing her features. "But, Noah... Who¡¯s going to cook for you? Who¡¯s going to do theundry?" Her voice wavered, betraying the anxiety behind her words.


    Noah smiled, trying to ease her concerns. "Mom, I can cook. Honestly, I might even give you a run for your money in the kitchen."


    Caroline narrowed her eyes, clearly not convinced. She ignored thement for now, focusing on what she thought was more important. "Who¡¯s this friend? Is he trustworthy?"


    "Of course, Mom. He¡¯s my business partner in the teahouse project. He¡¯s reliable. You don¡¯t need to worry."


    David, who had been listening quietly, put aforting hand on Caroline¡¯s shoulder.


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    "It¡¯s alright, honey. Our son is old enough to make his own decisions. Plus, look at him¡ªhe¡¯s determined. I think this is the right step for him."


    Caroline nced between David and Noah, her worry evident. But then, as if making up her mind, she turned back to Noah, her expression firm.


    "Fine," she said, holding up a finger. "You said you¡¯re a good cook, right?"


    Noah blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in conversation. "Uh, yeah... I am."


    Caroline¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, a yful challenge in her voice. "Then tomorrow morning, you and I will both make two dishes for breakfast. If your dish is good¡ªreally good¡ªI¡¯ll let you move out without giving you a hard time."


    "But if it¡¯s not up to standard..." She paused, leaning in closer. "You stay here. If you can¡¯t cook, you¡¯re not ready to live on your own."


    Noah¡¯s smile widened at the unexpected challenge. "Deal."


    David chuckled softly, watching the exchange with amusement. "Looks like it¡¯s going to be an interesting breakfast tomorrow."


    With that, the conversation wound down, and Noah stood up. "Well, I¡¯m heading to bed. Big day tomorrow," he said with a grin.


    Caroline gave him onest look, clearly still processing everything. "Goodnight, Noah. Don¡¯t think I¡¯m going easy on you with the cooking tomorrow."


    Noah smiled. "I wouldn¡¯t expect you to, Mom. Goodnight."


    He headed to his room, leaving Caroline and David alone in the living room.


    After a few moments of silence, Caroline sighed.


    "My baby boy is leaving us so soon," she murmured.


    "I¡¯ve watched him grow up for so long, and now..."


    David reached over, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.


    "That¡¯s just how life is, kids grow up and leave the nest."


    Caroline leaned into David¡¯s shoulder, still feeling the sadness of the situation. "I know, but it just feels like it¡¯s happening so fast."


    David smiled gently. "And it¡¯s not like he won¡¯t visit us. I know Noah¡ªhe¡¯ll be back here at least twice a week, probably more."


    Caroline nodded, taking somefort in David¡¯s words. "You¡¯re right. He¡¯ll visit."


    Still, she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of changeing. She nestled closer to David, her head resting on his chest, and sighed again. "I just... I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ll miss him being around all the time."


    David kissed the top of her head gently. "We¡¯ll miss him, but we¡¯ll be proud of him. He¡¯s going to do great things, Caroline. We¡¯ve done a good job raising him."


    Caroline smiled softly, a tear forming in the corner of her eye as she hugged David tighter. "Yeah... we have."


    The two of themy there in silence for a while, holding each other, the reality of Noah¡¯s departure sinking in. It wasn¡¯t just that their son was moving out¡ªit was the end of an era.


    But it was also the start of something new, and they did not know what consequences it was going to bring to the world as a whole.


    Eventually, they turned out the lights and settled into bed, Caroline¡¯s head restingfortably against David¡¯s chest as sleep finally began to im them both.

 Chapter 102: Cooking Competition

    The next day arrived, and with it, the challenge Caroline had set for Noah. He brushed his teeth and got ready, slipping back into the suit he had worn the day before since he¡¯d be heading out with his dad after breakfast.


    As Noah walked downstairs, he was greeted by the familiar scene of Emily and his parents in the kitchen.


    "Morning, Dad. Morning, Mom. Morning, Emily,"


    "Morning, Noah!" Emily chirped excitedly.


    Caroline eyed him from across the kitchen, her gaze serious but yful. "Are you ready?" she asked, a hint of a challenge in her voice.


    Noah nodded, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.


    He reached for the second apron hanging on the rack. "More than ready."


    He turned to Emily, who was watching intently. "Emily, me and Mom are going to have a cooking contest, and you¡¯re going to be the judge. How does that sound?"


    Emily¡¯s eyes widened with excitement. "Really? I get to be the judge?" She nodded furiously. "Yes! I¡¯ll be the fairest judge ever!"


    Noah chuckled. "Perfect. Now, are we cooking the same thing or different things?"


    Before Caroline could respond, Emily jumped in with enthusiasm. "Different things! That¡¯s way more fun!"


    Caroline smiled softly and gave a small nod. "I guess we¡¯ll go with whatever the judge says."


    The kitchen transformed into a battleground as soon as Caroline and Noah tied on their aprons.


    It wasn¡¯t just a friendly family cook-off anymore; the room was filled withpetitive energy.


    Emily, perched at her makeshift "judge¡¯s table" at the kitchen, bounced with excitement, fully embracing her role.


    David sat back, watching with an amused grin, but he could sense this wasn¡¯t going to be an ordinary breakfast.


    Caroline moved first, diving into her usual routine like a master. Her hands moved with grace, quickly gathering ingredients, and in no time, her knife began to fly across the cutting board.


    "chop, chop, chop" echoed through the kitchen as she sliced through vegetables with perfect precision.


    Every move she made had years of experience behind it¡ªsmooth, calcted, confident.


    But out of the corner of her eye, Caroline nced at Noah, curious to see what her son was up to.


    What she saw made her pause for just a moment.


    Noah, calm and collected, was moving with a confidence that surprised her. Your next read awaits at NovelBin.C?m


    He cracked eggs into a bowl with a single motion, whisking them into a perfect, airy mixture with such smoothness that it almost seemed effortless.


    He moved quickly, but there was something masterful about it¡ªa precision that rivalled her own.


    "Where did he learn all of this?" Caroline thought, narrowing her eyes slightly. "He¡¯s almost as good as me."


    She had expected Noah to know his way around the kitchen, but this was different.


    There was a flow to his actions, a quiet expertise that spoke of more than just basic cooking skills. His hands moved with such familiarity, almost like he had been doing this for years.


    The way he stirred, the way he tossed in the ingredients without hesitation¡ªit was impressive.


    But then she failed to notice something else.


    Noah wasn¡¯t going full force. He wasn¡¯t showing off or trying topletely outshine her. He was holding back, just a little.


    Just enough to stay close, but still keep an edge when it came to the final product.


    As she sliced through another vegetable, flipping it into the sizzling pan with ease, Caroline couldn¡¯t help but admire her son.


    "He¡¯s good¡ªreally good. Where did he pick this up?"


    Meanwhile, David, who had been casually watching the duel from his seat, raised an eyebrow.


    His gaze moved between Caroline and Noah, and something about Noah¡¯s movements caught his attention.


    Noah was stirring a sauce with careful attention, seasoning it with a level of finesse that most amateur cooks wouldn¡¯t even think about.


    His wrist flicked just slightly as he added herbs, letting them fall gently into the mix.


    He was testing the consistency, watching the colour, and adjusting the me. The pancake batter he was working with wasing out perfectly golden, bubbling just right as it hit the hot pan.


    David leaned forward in his chair. "Where did thise from?" he thought, genuinely surprised.


    "I didn¡¯t know he could cook like this."


    Noah was moving like he had been born in the kitchen. His techniques, though not shy, were polished, and refined.


    He was keeping pace with Caroline, matching her at every turn. The room was filled with the tantalizing smells of freshly cooked vegetables and pancakes.


    David chuckled to himself. "Looks like Caroline¡¯s got some realpetition today."


    Back in the heat of the kitchen, thepetition continued. The oil in Caroline¡¯s pan sizzled as she expertly tossed her vegetables, sending a light mist of steam into the air.


    The vibrant greens and reds mixed beautifully, and the aromas wafted across the room, making Emily¡¯s mouth water.


    Caroline stole another nce at Noah. He was now grating cheese with the same steady rhythm she hade to expect from a professional.


    His movements were clean, and efficient.


    Noah caught her eye for a brief second and shed her a grin, one that said, "Told you."


    Bothpetitors worked quickly but gracefully, the kitchen transformed into a stage where every move carried weight.


    Noah¡¯s pancakes were perfectly round, golden on both sides, stacked neatly and drizzled with syrup.


    Caroline¡¯s stir-fry, vibrant and fresh, was a dish of expert craftsmanship, with the vegetables cooked just right¡ªcrisp yet tender, full of vour.


    The clock ticked down, though, in reality, only mere minutes had passed since thepetition began.


    Emily¡¯s eyes darted back and forth between her mom and Noah, her excitement growing as the final dishes nearedpletion.


    Finally, both Noah and Caroline stepped back, their masterpiecesplete. They set their dishes before Emily, who looked between the two tes with wide eyes. I


    In front of her were two vastly different dishes, each one smelling more delicious than thest.

 Chapter 103: The result

    Finally, both Noah and Caroline stepped back, their masterpiecesplete.


    They ced their dishes before Emily, who looked between the two tes with wide eyes. In front of her were two vastly different dishes, each one smelling more delicious than thest.


    Caroline presented her stir-fry, the vibrant vegetables glistening under the light, perfectly seasoned, and tossed to perfection.


    Noah¡¯s pancakes, golden brown and stacked tall, were apanied by a light syrup ze, and topped with grated cheese.


    Emily grabbed her fork, taking a bite of Caroline¡¯s stir-fry first. She chewed thoughtfully, her eyes lighting up as the vours hit her tongue.


    She nodded, clearly pleased. Then, she moved on to Noah¡¯s pancakes, slicing into the fluffy stack and taking a bite. Her expression shifted slightly¡ªsurprise mixed with delight.


    She sat back, considering the two dishes, and let out a thoughtful hum. The tension in the room grew as both Noah and Caroline waited for her judgment.


    Finally, Emily smiled brightly. "They¡¯re both amazing! I can¡¯t choose!" she dered, throwing her arms up.


    David let out augh, shaking his head. "Well, looks like you both won, then."


    Caroline, still feeling a sense of pride, nced at Noah again smiling warmly.


    "Not bad, Noah. You surprised me."


    Noah grinned but remained silent.


    David pped his hands together. "Alright, enough of that. Let¡¯s eat!"


    After finishing their meal and sharing someughs, it was time for Noah and David to head out for their teahouse negotiations.


    As Noah stood up and straightened his suit, he smiled at his mom.


    "See youter, Mom," Noah said.


    David leaned in, kissing Caroline¡¯s cheek. "We¡¯ll be back soon. Don¡¯t worry."


    Caroline waved them off with a smile. "Make sure you twoe back safely, alright?"


    Just as Noah and David started toward the door, Emily¡¯s voice broke in from behind them. "I want to go, too! Brother, please take me with you guys!"


    Noah turned around, a small smile forming on his lips as he nced at David, raising an eyebrow.


    David sighed, already seeing where this was headed. "Emily, we¡¯re just going to look at some shops and negotiate. It¡¯s going to be boring for you. We¡¯re not doing anything fun."


    Emily puffed her cheeks, clearly undeterred. "I don¡¯t care. I still want to go."


    David looked to Noah again, who gave a slight nod.


    "Alright, alright," David finally conceded. "Let¡¯s go together then."


    Emily giggled, quickly slipping on her shoes and grabbing Noah¡¯s hand, her excitement infectious as they left the house.


    Noah ordered an Uber to the city centre.


    All of the potential shops for their teahouse were located within a few blocks of each other.


    They soon jumped into the Uber, Emily nestled between them, practically bouncing in her seat the entire ride.


    The city centre was busy as usual, stepping out of the car Noah held Emily¡¯s hand as she jumped down.


    ncing at the tall buildings and the busy streets as they made their way to the first appointment. Emily¡¯s eyes darted around, clearly fascinated by the crowds, the shops, and the energy of the city.


    Their first stop was a small building nestled between tworger, more modern structures.


    The brick exterior and slightly faded sign gave it a quaint, old-world charm. The door creaked as they pushed it open, revealing a cosy, but somewhat dusty, interior.


    Inside, an older man stood behind the counter, waiting for them with a friendly smile. His greying hair and wrinkled hands suggested years of experience, but there was something tired about the way he moved.


    "Ah, David!" the man greeted, stepping forward to shake hands. "Good to see you. And this is your son?"


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    David nodded, gesturing toward Noah. "Yes, this is Noah," he said and then pointed to Emily, who was still holding tightly to Noah¡¯s hand. "And this is my youngest, Emily."


    Patrick smiled warmly, bending down slightly to greet Emily. "Hello there, Emily. Nice to meet you."


    Noah stepped forward, offering his hand. "Good to meet you, Patrick."


    As Patrick reached out to shake Noah¡¯s hand, something shifted.


    The moment their hands touched, Noah activated "Memory nce," and instantly, images shed before his eyes.


    They came quickly, rippling through his mind like a film reel on fast-forward.


    Suddenly, Noah found himself standing in the same building, but it wasn¡¯t as clean as it looked now.


    It was dark, and damp, and the air smelled musty¡ªlike mould that had long been ignored. Faint scratching sounds echoed from beneath the floorboards as if something was scurrying below.


    Noah¡¯s gaze shifted to the kitchen area. In the corner, near a gap in the wall, rats¡ªsmall, grey, and twitching¡ªdarted out from their hiding spots, their tiny feet scratching against the wooden floors.


    Patrick, looking depressed at the memory, stood over a sink, wiping his brow as he stared at the problem with frustration.


    The image shifted, and now Patrick was pacing the kitchen, hands running through his greying hair, the smell of decay growing stronger as he nced around in frustration.


    He tried to plug the holes, tried to clean up the mess, but the rats returned. He called exterminators, but the problem persisted¡ªunseen but existing, always just beneath the surface.


    Each time he thought he had fixed it, the issue would resurface, and each time it returned worse than before.


    The smell, the infestation¡ªit wouldn¡¯t go away.


    The memory shifted again. Patrick, older now, stood at the same counter where he greeted them today, but his expression was tired, his eyes hollow. He handed over the keys to a young couple.


    Noah recognized the look on Patrick¡¯s face¡ªthe guilt of handing off a problem he couldn¡¯t solve. He was desperate, trying to rent out the ce long-term, passing the issue to different tenants, hoping it wouldn¡¯t be his problem anymore.


    Every year, new tenants came in. Every year, they left, each oneining of the same problem¡ªrats, foul smells, rotting beneath the surface.


    Noah¡¯s grip on Patrick¡¯s hand tightened slightly as the memory ended, his gaze sharp as he locked eyes with the old man.

 Chapter 104: Teahouse Location

    Noah¡¯s grip on Patrick¡¯s hand tightened slightly as the memory ended, his gaze sharp as he locked eyes with the old man.


    "So this is what you¡¯re hiding," Noah thought, his mind piecing it all together.


    The building wasn¡¯t just old¡ªit had deeper problems, ones that Patrick had failed to fix time and time again.


    Patrick, oblivious to Noah¡¯s discovery, released his hand and gestured toward the room.


    "Well, feel free to have a look around," he said cheerfully. "It¡¯s a charming little ce, and with a bit of love, it could be the perfect teahouse."


    David nced at Noah, his expression hopeful. "What do you think, son? It¡¯s got character, doesn¡¯t it?"


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    Noah smiled faintly, masking his thoughts. "It does," he said, stepping forward and walking around the small space, noting every crack, every ce where the problems were hidden.


    Emily, still clinging to Noah¡¯s side, looked up at him with innocent curiosity. "Is this going to be the teahouse, Noah?"


    Noah gave her a gentle smile, patting her head. "Maybe. We¡¯re just looking for now."


    David, meanwhile, engaged Patrick in casual conversation about the building¡¯s history, while Noah¡¯s mind worked quickly, analyzing the situation.


    Patrick was hiding the building¡¯s ws, hoping to pass it off to someone else. The memories he had seen confirmed that.


    But Noah wasn¡¯t about to let that slide. Stepping back toward David, Noah kept his voice neutral.


    "It¡¯s a nice ce," he said, ncing at Patrick, whose smile remained pleasant but nervous.


    "But we should keep looking. There are a few more ces to see today."


    Patrick¡¯s expression faltered for a split second, his eyes flickering with uncertainty.


    He opened his mouth as if to protest but quickly closed it, offering a tight smile instead.


    "Of course. Take your time, and if you have any questions, just let me know."


    David nodded, still in good spirits, and thanked Patrick before motioning for Noah and Emily to follow him outside.


    As they stepped into the fresh air, David turned to Noah. "What do you think? It¡¯s got charm, right?"


    Noah looked at his dad, considering his response carefully. "It does, but I think we should keep looking. There¡¯s more going on with that ce than meets the eye."


    David raised an eyebrow, surprised by Noah¡¯s intuition. "What do you mean?"


    Noah nced back at the building briefly before turning to face his dad. "I just don¡¯t think it¡¯s the right fit for us."


    David trusted Noah¡¯s instincts and nodded. "Alright, we¡¯ll keep looking."


    As they arrived at thest appointment, Noah felt an immediate shift.


    The other two ces they had visited that day were disappointing¡ªbothcked the foot traffic needed to make the teahouse thrive.


    But here, it was different.


    The streets were full with people, tourists wandered with cameras, office workers hurried by in tailored suits, and older couples strolled leisurely along the sidewalks.


    It was a diverse crowd¡ªrich people, professionals, young and old¡ªall potential customers.


    There were no other teahouses or directpetitors in sight.


    This ce had potential, and Noah knew it.


    "This could be it," Noah thought as they approached the quaint building. The location was prime, and Noah¡¯s instincts told him there was an opportunity here, one he was ready to seize.


    They entered the shop, a cosy little ce that had clearly been cared for. The interior was warm, inviting, and well-decorated.


    Behind the counter stood a young woman, her expression slightly reserved but friendly.


    She had an air of innocence about her, her face soft and kind, though not strikingly beautiful¡ªNoah mentally rated her around a 79 in terms of attractiveness, noting her demeanour as he always did with people.


    David stepped forward, smiling as he introduced them. "Hello, Stacy. This is my son, Noah, whom I told you would be joining me today."


    As Stacy¡¯s eyesnded on Noah, a flicker of shock passed through her face. She wasn¡¯t expecting someone like him¡ªtall, athletic, with broad shoulders that filled out his jacket.


    His handsome face and confident demeanour made her visibly pause.


    "H-hello," she stammered slightly, quickly recovering herself. "I¡¯m Stacy. It¡¯s nice to meet you."


    Noah gave a charming, polite smile, his eyes glinting with just the right amount of warmth. "It¡¯s nice to meet you too, Miss Stacy. I have to say, I like the ce already."


    Stacy smiled, clearly proud of her work. "Thank you," she replied, her tone softening. "I¡¯ve tried to keep it the way myte father liked it. He loved this shop... it¡¯s been in the family for years."


    Noah¡¯s expression shifted slightly, adopting a moreforting tone. "I¡¯m sure he¡¯d be proud of what you¡¯ve done with it. It really has a weing feel."


    As they continued talking, Noah subtly brushed against Stacy, his arm lightly grazing hers. It was a minor, almost unnoticeable touch, but it was enough.


    Stacy apologized quickly, stepping aside to give him more room, not thinking much of it. She assumed the space was just tight and moved back, but Noah reassured her, his voice calm and easy.


    "Don¡¯t worry about it."


    But in that brief moment of contact, something happened.


    "Memory nce" activated.


    His mind swirled with images as scenes from Stacy¡¯s past shed before him in rapid session.


    Noah found himself standing in the same shop, but the atmosphere was different.


    It was quieter, more sombre. Stacy, looking younger and more vulnerable, was standing behind the counter, arguing with a man in a suit.


    Her expression was one of desperation, her hands gripping a piece of paper tightly.


    "I don¡¯t have $10,000 right now," she was saying, her voice trembling. "The repairs took everything I had. Can¡¯t you give me more time?"


    The man shook his head coldly. "You¡¯ve already dyed payments twice. If you don¡¯t pay the rent, we¡¯ll have no choice but to..."


    Tears welled up in Stacy¡¯s eyes, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "I¡ªI¡¯ll figure something out," she whispered, clutching the paper as the man left, the door mming shut behind him.


    The scene shifted. Stacy was now sitting alone in the back of the shop, surrounded by bills and documents, her face pale with stress.


    She looked like she hadn¡¯t slept in days, her hair a mess as she stared at the numbers in front of her. The shop was struggling.


    Repairs from a recent issue had drained her savings, and she was barely managing to keep the ce afloat. She owed money to several people, including thendlord of her house.


    The memory faded as quickly as it hade, leaving Noah standing in the present, his expression calm and controlled.


    He now understood Stacy¡¯s situation¡ªshe was barely holding on to the shop.

 Chapter 105: Rules? They are shackles

    Financial pressure was weighing heavily on her, and she didn¡¯t have the means to meet her obligations.


    "She¡¯s desperate," Noah thought, his mind already forming a n. "I can take advantage of that."


    Stacy had no idea what Noah had just seen, and she continued speaking, unaware of his advantage.


    "The total amount for ten months of rent, including the deposit, is $40,000, I know it¡¯s a lot but we can set a payment n," she said, her voice steady but with a hint of nervousness.


    Noah didn¡¯t flinch at the price, but he knew it was far higher than he was willing to pay¡ªespecially given what he now knew.


    He turned to his dad and Emily, who were wandering around the shop, checking out the space.


    David seemed impressed, nodding as he took in theyout. Emily was skipping around, fascinated by the d¨¦cor.


    Noah faced Stacy again, his expression thoughtful, as if considering her offer. He kept his voice smooth, and calm, but with a subtle undertone of concern. "$40,000 is quite a bit, especially for a ce that has had some issues in the past."


    Stacy blinked, surprised. "Issues? What do you mean?"


    Noah tilted his head slightly, his tone was soft but probing. "The repairs. I know the shop went through some tough times not too long ago. Repairs can take a lot out of a business including reputation. I imagine it¡¯s been hard trying to keep everything running smoothly since then."


    Stacy¡¯s eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by how much he knew. Her hand instinctively tightened around the edge of the counter. "I... well, yes, there were some repairs, but everything¡¯s fine now."


    Noah leaned in just slightly, his voice dropping to a lower, more reassuring tone. "Things are fine "Now" but who knows if the problem persists. I understand how difficult that can be. Running a family business, trying to keep things together... it¡¯s not easy, especially with financial strain. I¡¯m sure the stress has been overwhelming."


    Stacy¡¯s expression faltered her calm exterior cracking. "It has been... challenging," she admitted, her voice softer now, more vulnerable.


    Noah nodded, his eyes locking onto hers.


    "Look, I like this ce. It¡¯s perfect for what we¡¯re nning, and I want to make it work. But $40,000 is steep, given the circumstances."


    "I¡¯m willing to offer you $15,000 for the ten months, with the promise that we¡¯ll take good care of the ce and keep it thriving. Furthermore, I will give you the $15,000 cash in hand in one payment."


    Stacy¡¯s eyes widened, and she opened her mouth to protest, but Noah quickly continued, his tone gentle but firm.


    "I know it¡¯s not what you expected, but think of it as a way to lighten your load."


    Noah¡¯s smile widened ever so slightly, and he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a confidential whisper.


    "You won¡¯t have to deal with the financial strain anymore, Stacy. And let me help you out a bit more. We can alter the amount of payment written on the contract¡ªmake it look lower than what we¡¯re actually paying. That way, you won¡¯t get taxed on the full amount. It¡¯ll keep more money in your pocket."


    Stacy¡¯s eyes widened at his suggestion. "That¡¯s illegal, it¡¯s against the rules" she said, her voice shaky, the tension building in her as she tried to wrap her mind around what he was suggesting. "I-I could get into serious trouble for that."


    Noah tilted his head slightly, his gaze never leaving hers. His tone remained calm and soothing, yet somehow cutting through her uncertainty like a de.


    "Illegal? Against the rules?" he repeated softly, almost mockingly. "Rules are made for the rich to be richer, and for the poor to be homeless."


    "Stacy, tell me¡ªwhen you were barely scraping by when you had to decide between fixing the shop and putting food on your table, did the government help you?"


    She blinked, momentarily stunned by the sharp turn in the conversation. "What?"


    "The rule makers," Noah continued smoothly, his voice taking on a subtle edge.


    "When you were struggling, when you didn¡¯t know if you could make rent, did they step in? Did they help you out? Or did they watch you suffer and then raise interest on your loans, piling on more debt?"


    Stacy¡¯s brow furrowed, her mind shing back to those difficult months when she was barely making ends meet.


    Thete nights, the endless bills, the helpless feeling of being swallowed by debt.


    He wasn¡¯t wrong. No one had helped her. And the interest on her loans had increased just when she could least afford it.


    "They didn¡¯t care about you then," Noah said, his voice nowced with quiet intensity.


    "And they won¡¯t care about you now. The only thing they¡¯ll do is make your life harder. I¡¯m offering you a way out¡ªa way to keep more of what¡¯s yours. You¡¯ve worked hard for this ce. Why should they take any more from you than they already have?"


    Stacy¡¯s hands trembled slightly as she gripped the counter, conflicted. She wanted to protest, to hold on to her principles, but Noah¡¯s words were digging into her, pulling at her emotions, and awakening a deep frustration she had buried long ago.


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    "You¡¯re right, it¡¯s not ¡¯legal,¡¯" Noah added with a soft, knowing smirk. "But what has following the rules gotten you so far? More bills? More debt? I¡¯m giving you a chance to protect yourself, to keep the shop your father loved without letting anyone else take it from you after our contract is done."


    "You can use the money to pay off your debt, and you can keep your father¡¯s shop after our contract is done if you decide to."


    Stacy swallowed hard, her resistance crumbling under Noah¡¯s relentless logic.


    He wasn¡¯t just offering her a solution¡ªhe was offering her a way to fight back against a system that had seemed designed to crush her.


    After a long moment, she nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Alright... we¡¯ll do it."


    Noah¡¯s smile softened, but there was a glint of triumph in his eyes.


    "Good. I¡¯ll make sure the contract reflects that. You¡¯ll see¡ªthis will work out for both of us."


    Stacy, still shaken by the conversation, nodded again, feeling a mix of relief and uncertainty. Noah had gotten what he wanted, and now, all that was left was to finalize the deal.


    As David and Emily returned, having finished looking around, Noah gave his father a small nod, signalling that the deal was done.


    "Everything good?" David asked.


    Noah smiled. "Yeah, Dad. Everything¡¯s good. We will sign the contract tomorrow"


    He had used Stacy¡¯s vulnerability to his advantage and secured the perfect location for their teahouse¡ªat a fraction of the price.


    He didn¡¯t feel guilty at all. It was business, and Noah was always willing to do what it took to win.

 Chapter 106: First Steps

    As they exited the shop, the cool afternoon air hit them. David nced at Noah with a raised brow, curiosity clear in his expression. After all, this shop visit had gone far smoother than thest time he had dealt with Stacy.


    David cleared his throat and asked, "So, what was the price you agreed upon? She was quite troublesome to deal with thest time I came here. She didn¡¯t even mention the price, saying that it can be negotiatedter."


    Noah paused for a moment, a subtle smile tugging at the corner of his lips before he replied, "We agreed on 10k for ten months¡¯ worth of rent, including the deposit."


    David stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide in disbelief. "Ten thousand? For ten months? That¡¯s... that¡¯s simply impossible in this location! You¡¯re telling me you managed to haggle it down to that?"


    Noah chuckled lightly, shrugging his shoulders. "Hehe, I didn¡¯t do much. It¡¯s probably all thanks to Emily. She¡¯s so cute thendlord must¡¯ve given us a discount."


    David gave his son a knowing look, rolling his eyes in mock disbelief.


    "You¡¯re not going to tell me, huh? Fine, keep your secrets." He thought.


    Emily, who had been skipping along next to them, beamed up at Noah. "See! I told you guys to bring me along. If you didn¡¯t bring me, you would¡¯ve had to pay so much more!"


    Noah grinned and ruffled her hair.


    "Yeah, you¡¯re right. Guess we¡¯ll have to thank you properly. I¡¯ll treat you to the funfair and ice cream for that."


    Emily¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement.


    "Really?! Yaaayyy!" She jumped up and down, bubbling with joy, her earlier role as a "key negotiator" clearly boosting her mood.


    Soon, they arrived home, greeted by the warm scent of the house and the sight of Carolineing into the living room. She immediately noticed the energy in the air and asked, "How did it go?"


    David, still reeling from what Noah had pulled off, couldn¡¯t hide his excitement as he responded. "You wouldn¡¯t believe it. Noah got the rent down to 10k for ten months for the store at ..."


    Caroline¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. "Ten thousand? In that prime location? Noah, that¡¯s incredible!" She gave her son an impressed smile, her eyes beaming with pride.


    Noah rubbed the back of his neck, smiling modestly. "It wasn¡¯t that hard. Like I said, Emily probably helped soften thendlord up."


    Emily grinned widely and chimed in, "Yep! I¡¯m the reason we saved so much!" She skipped around the living room, clearly basking in the praise.


    Carolineughed softly, shaking her head. "Well, whatever the reason, you did great." Stay updated via NovelBin.C?m


    David turned to Noah with a question that had been on his mind since their earlier discussions. "So, Noah, when is the machine you were talking about going to arrive?"


    "It¡¯ll arrive right after we sign the contract. Don¡¯t worry, Dad. I¡¯ll have it delivered the same day, so everything will be set up smoothly."


    David nodded, visibly relieved. "That¡¯s good to hear. The sooner we get the equipment in ce, the sooner we can get things moving."


    Noah leaned against the doorframe, his expression taking on a more mischievous edge. "But, there¡¯s more. I¡¯m nning something for the grand opening that¡¯s going to blow people away."


    Caroline raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"


    A sly grin spread across Noah¡¯s face as he continued, "I¡¯ve got a marketing n that will shock the entire ce. I want the grand opening to go viral, and blow up on the inte. That way, people will be talking about our teahouse even before they set foot in the door."


    David frowned slightly, still trying to wrap his head around how marketing had evolved since his days. "Go viral? You mean, like on social media?"


    Noah nodded. "Exactly. We need to make the opening so unique that it catches everyone¡¯s attention. Once the buzz starts online, people will flood the ce out of pure curiosity."


    Caroline crossed her arms, intrigued. "And how do you n on making that happen? What¡¯s your idea?"


    Noah¡¯s eyes glinted "It¡¯s still in progress, I will let you guys know beforehand."


    David blinked, his surprise evident. "You¡¯ve really thought this through."


    Noah shrugged, though there was a fire behind his casual demeanour. "Tea is quite difficult to take off, so we need to advertise in a smart way that will catch attention to kick start our business. From there, our reputation will only soar and we will dominate the market."


    Caroline¡¯s smile widened, clearly impressed. "It sounds ambitious. But knowing you, I think you can pull it off."


    Noah¡¯s grin returned, more confident this time. "I¡¯ve got some good connections that can help make it happen. Plus, with Emily¡¯s help, how can we fail?"


    Emily, ever the enthusiastic little sister, stood tall and puffed out her chest. "I¡¯ll make sure everyone knows how cool we are!"


    David chuckled and patted Noah¡¯s shoulder. "Well, son, it seems like you¡¯ve got everything figured out. I¡¯ll trust you to handle it. I just want to see this ce up and running. You¡¯re right, it¡¯s not just about selling amazing tea. It¡¯s about getting it out there."


    Noah nodded, his expression serious now. "Exactly. We¡¯ll make it something people won¡¯t forget."


    As the conversation wound down, the family settled back into their usual routine, but there was an underlying buzz of excitement.


    The next few days would be filled with contracts, preparations, and nning. The idea of the teahouse opening was no longer a distant n¡ªit was bing a reality.


    And Noah knew that once the grand opening was done, once the world saw what they were capable of, there would be no turning back. This was just the beginning.


    With a small, satisfied smile, Noah headed up to his room, already nning the next steps in his head.


    It was time to step into the world of business.


    "A cruel world that the kind cannot survive in, and the ruthless strives in."

 Chapter 107: Past Injury

    After spending some time rxing in his room, Noah felt it was time to head out. He had quite a few things on his agenda, and sitting idle wasn¡¯t going to get them done.


    Grabbing his jacket, he left the house and headed for his mansion, nning to retrieve the clothes that Anderson had been guarding since the previous day.


    As he walked, a smirk yed on his lips. He wondered what Anderson had done while he was gone.


    It had been a deliberate move to leave the clothes with him¡ªNoah could have easily returned in the night to bring them inside the house, but this was a test.


    He wanted to see just how seriously Anderson took hismands, how far he was willing to go


    Arriving at the gate, Noah was greeted by the sight of Anderson stepping out, looking slightly dishevelled, his eyes bloodshot fromck of sleep.


    Clearly, Anderson hadn¡¯t rested much since taking on the task.


    "Mr. Noah, I¡¯m d you¡¯re back," Anderson said, his voice showing signs of fatigue. "I have the things in the office, just as you asked."


    Noah nced at the other guards who were stationed outside. They, too, looked exhausted, likely from standing watch all night while the office had been locked.


    Noah couldn¡¯t help but admire the effort.


    "He really went all out to protect those clothes. This guy¡­ he¡¯s worth nurturing,"


    Noah thought, the corners of his mouth curving into a satisfied smile.


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    "I¡¯m good, Anderson. Go ahead and open the gate, then bring the clothes to my mansion," Noah said with a calm tone.


    Anderson straightened up immediately.


    "Right away, sir," he responded.


    He loaded the clothes into an SUV designated for the guards, while Noah leisurely made his way to the mansion.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Noah heard the soft ring of the doorbell inside the mansion.


    "He¡¯s here," Noah thought, walking over to the door to let them in.


    As Noah opened the door, Anderson stood there with severalrge bags, nked by a couple of guards who had helped transport the clothes.


    "Mr. Noah, are we allowed inside to drop everything off?" Anderson asked, his tone as polite as always.


    Noah smiled and nodded. "Of course. Come in."


    The guards entered the mansion, carrying the bags into the spacious living room. As they carefully ced the clothes down,


    Noah noticed Anderson¡¯s wide-eyed nces at the mansion¡¯s interior. It was clear that he was impressed.


    He had likely been inside other mansions in the neighbourhood before, but none were quite like this one¡ªgrand in both size and design, it was a ce thatmanded respect.


    Once the clothes were dropped off, the guards prepared to leave. Just as Anderson turned to follow, Noah stopped him.


    "Anderson, I¡¯d like to have a word with you. Come, sit down. The rest of the guards can go."


    Anderson hesitated for a moment but quickly nodded. "Right away, sir," he said, motioning for the other guards to leave as he followed Noah into the living room.


    He took a seat, still slightly overwhelmed by the grandeur of the mansion¡¯s d¨¦cor.


    Before sitting down, Noah casually touched Anderson¡¯s arm, activating Memory nce with a subtle motion.


    Images shed rapidly through Noah¡¯s mind, revealing pieces of Anderson¡¯s past. The first memory showed Anderson, much younger and in his prime, dressed in military fatigues.


    He stood tall and strong,manding respect from his fellow soldiers. But the scene shifted quickly¡ªgunfire, an explosion, the heat of battle.


    Anderson fell, his body wracked with pain as he clutched his side, blood staining his uniform.


    The memory flickered again, and Noah saw Anderson in a hospital bed, doctors shaking their heads as they discussed his prognosis.


    His injury had been severe, and though he survived, his reflexes and physical strength began to deteriorate over time.


    Eventually, he had to retire from the military, no longer able to serve at the level he once did.


    The images shifted to Anderson¡¯s present life¡ªtaking on the role of a guard leader, living in the shadows of his past.


    Though he waspetent, it was clear he missed the thrill of the life he had before the injury.


    The injury was a constant reminder in the back of his mind.


    Noah¡¯s eyes flickered as the memory ended, his expression unreadable.


    "So, this is who he really is."


    "Not just a random guard leader," Noah mused silently. "He¡¯s got potential. He¡¯s not the type that¡¯s easy to tame¡ªhe¡¯s strategic and disciplined. But I can sort him out."


    Noah leaned back in his chair and gave Anderson a thoughtful look.


    "Let me brew us some tea," he said suddenly, getting up and heading toward the kitchen. From his inventory, Noah pulled out a small pouch of magic tea leaves.


    Within minutes, Noah returned with two steaming cups of tea, setting one in front of Anderson.


    As the fragrant aroma filled the room, Anderson¡¯s eyes widened slightly. It was clear he immediately recognized that this wasn¡¯t an average brew.


    Noah smiled softly as he took a seat. "Here you go," he said, motioning to the cup. "This tea is special¡ªmade by me. It helps with recovering from past injuries, both mental and physical. Try it. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll appreciate its effects."


    Anderson hesitated for a brief second, his mind racing. "Does he know?" he thought, his pulse quickening.


    "It can¡¯t be¡­ it must be a coincidence."


    Still, Anderson couldn¡¯t deny his curiosity. After offering a quiet thank you, he lifted the cup to his lips and took a sip.


    The moment the tea touched his tongue, Anderson¡¯s eyes shot wide open. A rush of warmth spread through his body, not just physically but mentally as well.


    His thoughts became clearer and sharper, and a sudden lightness filled his chest.


    It was as though a weight had been lifted¡ªlike the old injuries and scars that had been dragging him down for years were finally getting better, even if it was a small negligible change.


    His hands trembled slightly as he set the cup down, staring at Noah in shock. "This¡­ this tea¡­" he stammered, unable to form the words.


    Noah¡¯s smile deepened, his eyes gleaming with a quiet satisfaction. "I take it you like it, then?"


    He nodded, his face showing gratitude and shock.


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 108: Seed Planted

    Anderson nodded, grateful and a little overwhelmed by the lingering effects of the tea.


    The initial scepticism he had felt towards Noah, was beginning to dissolve, reced by a sense of deep appreciation.


    He had never experienced anything quite like this tea¡ªsomething so powerful yet so subtle.


    Noah observed the subtle shift in Anderson¡¯s demeanour, watching as the tension drained from the man¡¯s face. To most, it would seem like a simple moment of gratitude, but Noah could see the signs.


    He could see Anderson¡¯s walls slowly starting to crumble.


    With a warm, seemingly innocent smile, Noah spoke softly, "Since you liked it, and I appreciate all the effort you put into handling my delivery, I¡¯d like to gift you some of the tea."


    Anderson blinked, a sh of surprise passing through his eyes. A gift? This wasn¡¯t just any tea, and Anderson knew it.


    He hesitated, unsure if he should ept it.


    Logic told him to refuse¡ªHe felt that this was almost bribery.


    "No... This is the reward I deserve for putting so much work into protecting his goods." He thought


    The memory of how the tea had made him feel¡ªalive again¡ªwas hard to ignore which made him stop hesitating.


    Noah watched the internal struggle y out across Anderson¡¯s face.


    He didn¡¯t press, nor did he push.


    He simply waited, the faint smile still on his lips.


    He didn¡¯t need to say more. The seed had already been nted.


    Whether Anderson would ept or not was no longer important. It was only a matter of time.


    After what seemed like a long pause, Anderson finally nodded.


    "Thank you, for such a generous gift."


    Noah¡¯s smile widened, though it didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. He had expected this oue.


    "Then I will be right back after I get it," he said smoothly, excusing himself as he moved to another room.


    Out of Anderson¡¯s sight, Noah opened his system interface, quickly purchasing 100g of the magical tea for $10.


    It arrived neatly packaged in luxurious wrapping.


    When he returned, he handed Anderson the tea, presenting it like an artefact of great value.


    "Here you go," Noah said casually, though the subtext was clear.


    This wasn¡¯t just tea. It was something far beyond what Anderson could ever imagine possessing.


    To Anderson, the tea felt like a rare gem¡ªprecious, elusive, and out of reach for most.


    Little did he know, the very tea he was cradling with such care would soon be the most sought-after and widespread tea in the world.


    Anderson epted the package carefully, his hands tightening around it as though he were holding a treasure.


    He had no idea that what seemed like an exclusive limited edition personal gift today, would soon be an item others would be drinking daily.


    The elegant packaging, the design¡ªit all confirmed what Anderson already knew.


    This was no ordinary gift.


    Noah gently tapped Anderson¡¯s shoulder as he handed over the tea. "Keep up the good work, Anderson," he said, his tone light but carrying weight.


    Anderson flinched slightly at the tap, not out of difort, but because it triggered something deep within him.


    The gesture was simple, but it felt familiar. It took him back to his days in the military, where a pat on the back from a superior meant more than just acknowledgement.


    It was a reinforcement of loyalty, a reward for dedication.


    The tea, the tap on the shoulder, the subtle recognition of Anderson¡¯s efforts¡ªit allbined into aplex web.


    Anderson, though a seasoned soldier, felt a tug. Years of training had conditioned him to recognize maniption, but Noah¡¯s approach was different.


    It wasn¡¯t aggressive or overt. There was nomand, no force. It was gentle, insidious¡ªlike a suggestion that was almost too soft to refuse.


    Anderson felt Noah¡¯s acknowledgement, the weight of the tea in his hands, and though part of him wanted to resist, another part¡ªdeeper, buried beneath years of conditioning¡ªwas drawn in.


    "Thank you, sir," Anderson said again, his voice a bit more respectful now.


    He was still processing the effects of the tea, both physically and mentally, but he maintained hisposure, trying not to let the subtle shift in his mindset show.


    Noah studied Anderson with calm, measured eyes.


    "You¡¯ve impressed me, Anderson," he said, his tone carrying just the right amount of warmth. "And I know you¡¯ll continue to impress me."


    The words hit Anderson harder than he expected. He hadn¡¯t felt this kind of recognition in years. Since leaving the military, his work had been important but unrecognized, unnoticed. Noah was the first person in a long time to make him feel important, to make him feel like his efforts mattered.


    He wasn¡¯t quite there yet, but Noah could already see the signs of what was toe.


    "Loyalty"


    It¡¯s like nting a seed, and Noah knew exactly how to make it grow.


    As Anderson prepared to leave, Noah added, in an almost casual tone, "If you ever need more of that tea, just let me know. I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re taken care of."


    Anderson hesitated, the weight of the offer clear. His mind was already considering the benefits of it.


    After a brief pause, he nodded, clutching the tea a bit tighter. "I¡¯ll keep that in mind, sir. Thank you."


    Noah watched as Anderson left the room, a faint smile curling at the edge of his lips.


    Anderson was different from the others. He was sharp and disciplined.


    Pushing him too hard or too fast would raise his guard and suspicions.


    "I have time... I don¡¯t need him anytime soon anyway." He muttered under his breath.


    He would be patient, and methodical. Every small action he took would lead Anderson deeper into the web, and before long, he would be Noah¡¯s tomand.


    As Noah leaned back in his chair, satisfied with the day¡¯s work, his thoughts drifted to the future.


    People were never controlled by brute force. They were controlled by their own desires and their own needs.


    He nced at the elegant packaging of the tea and smiled to himself.


    "The one who can¡¯t control his desires¡­ cannot control his own mind."

 Chapter 109: Basic Breathing Technique

    [Ding! Ultimate Choice System has been activated!]


    Option 1: Use your time efficiently and work out.


    [Reward: Random Basic Skill]


    Option 2: Chill for the day.


    [Reward: $500]


    "Looking at the choice, it seems the system wants me to keep up with my fitness goals too." He thought with a slight smile.


    "Option 1"


    Noah changed into a sleek ck tracksuit, the kind that allowed the full range of movement and headed to the gym.


    This time, he wasn¡¯t there to test his limits like he hadst time. He already knew his max lifts¡ª661 lbs for the bench press, 1141 lbs for deadlifts, and 881 lbs for barbell squats.


    He wasn¡¯t aiming for personal records today; he was focused on following a structured routine.


    The machines in his gym, top-tier as they were, couldn¡¯t provide the stimulus he needed.


    They were built for the average person, or at least someone who lifted heavy weights, but Noah was far beyond that.


    They simply couldn¡¯t challenge him. Machines were good for istion, but not for the raw, brutal power and control he needed to build.


    So, Noah kept his staple exercises: the squat, bench press, and deadlift. He added a military press to his routine for his shoulders.


    His n was efficient¡ªhe would hit every major muscle group three times a week, using a full-body workout split. This approach would save time and allow him to increase his strength while focusing on other priorities.


    By the end of his strength training, his muscles were fully pumped, his body humming with energy.


    "That felt nice."


    He muttered as he wiped the sweat beads, that dripped down his face.


    "Time for some cardio."


    He decided to skip the cardio machines. They were too easy. Instead, he decided to go for a run outside.


    Noah stepped out of his gym and onto the path that wound around the vi. The fresh air hit him, and the sight of the river flowing nearby was calming yet invigorating.


    He took a deep breath, appreciating the natural surroundings. The road around theplex was tougher than any treadmill or elliptical could offer.


    "Real terrain¡ªThe real conditioning."


    He started at a moderate pace, letting his legs loosen up from the intense weight training. As his breathing became rhythmic, he increased his speed, feeling the rough ground beneath his feet.


    Each step felt powerful, his muscles working harder than they would on any smooth machine.


    The sound of his shoes hitting the pavement,bined with the gentle rush of the river beside him, created a peaceful contrast to the intense focus in his mind.


    He pushed harder, transitioning into sprints, feeling the burn in his legs and lungs. The resistance from the uneven road made every stride more challenging, more real.


    He could feel his entire body adapting, bing stronger not just in brute strength, but in endurance.


    His cardio sessionsted around forty minutes, alternating between sprints and steady pacing, pushing his stamina to the limits.


    By the time he finished, his body was drenched in sweat, his breathingboured but controlled.


    [Ding! Random Basic Skill Rewarded!]


    [Basic Breathing Technique is Rewarded!]


    [Time = Money & Money = Time]


    [This technique increases the user¡¯s longevity thus increasing his wealth]


    [You will receive 10¡é for every breath you take!]


    [Note: The money will be paid directly to the bank ount of the user at midnight.]


    Noah blinked. Once. Twice.


    "Wait, what?" he muttered to himself, rereading the text.


    "A passive money-making skill?"


    He couldn¡¯t help but smirk. "10¡é for every breath, huh?"


    It seemed absurd. Earning money just for breathing?


    Noah¡¯s mind quickly raced through the math.


    "How many breaths does the average person take in a day?"


    "Twenty-two thousand. Roughly. Give or take, depending on lung capacity and health."


    With his physical condition, his breaths were probably a bit more efficient than the average person¡¯s, meaning he could squeeze out more cash with each breath.


    $2,200 was guaranteed, just for breathing every single day.


    Noah let the number roll around in his mind. It wasn¡¯t life-changing, not at his current level. He¡¯d seen far bigger sums pass through his hands in a single system transaction.


    But the more he thought about it, the more it amused him. $2,200 of pure passive ie from doing nothing but staying alive. A steady stream of cash, flowing in without lifting a finger.


    His smirk widened. "Not bad. Not bad at all."


    It wasn¡¯t going to make him a billionaire overnight, but then again, it wasn¡¯t meant to.


    This was pocket change, a constant influx of small bills that could add up over time.


    $2,200 a day equalled about $66,000 a month¡ªenough to pay for luxuries or even invest in more ambitious projects.


    "The best part is... it¡¯s just basic."


    "What would happen when it levels up? If this was just the basic version, what would intermediate or advanced look like?" He asked himself.


    "Would I be pulling tens or hundreds of dors per breath?" Noah thought, intrigued by the possibilities.


    Noah nced at his surroundings, the sprawling mansion, theplex that housed elites and millionaires.


    This new skill, as insignificant as it appeared, was just another tool in his ever-growing arsenal.


    He exhaled slowly, deliberately, savouring the moment.


    "Another 10¡é." He chuckled to himself, imagining the money piling up in his bank ount with each breath he took.


    "Even my breathing makes money now."


    He tapped his chin, thinking ahead. With this new skill, there was no telling how high he could climb, but one thing was clear: he wasn¡¯t going to stop until he hit the ceiling.


    "If there was one at least." He muttered silently.


    His thoughts drifted back to the notification. This was an opportunity.


    "opportunities are meant to be exploited."


    The passive ie would roll in at midnight, directly into his ount. It wasn¡¯t muchpared to his Ultimate Choice of bing the richest, but it was a start.


    Noah never underestimated the value of a good start. It wasn¡¯t the amount that mattered¡ªit was the potential. He couldn¡¯t shake the thought that this was just the beginning.


    "There has to be more. This is just a basic skill."


    The system had a way of dropping these little breadcrumbs, small rewards that hinted at something much bigger.

 Chapter 110: Is this a Date?

    What if this skill could be cultivated, just like everything else? What if it could be something that multiplied not just his money, but his influence?


    He exhaled again, slowly, thoughtfully. 10¡é richer with each breath.


    A steady trickle of wealth, flowing with each inhale, each exhale.


    "It¡¯s poetic in a way. My existence is now profitable, as long as I breathe I¡¯m making money."


    Noah nced at his watch. Money would be waiting for him when the clock struck midnight, and he didn¡¯t have to lift a finger.


    "Not bad for pocket change," he thought, as he headed towards the shower.


    After stepping out of the shower, Noah grabbed one of his new Hermis outfits and slipped into it.


    The fabric felt smooth against his skin. He adjusted his cuffs while ncing in the mirror for a moment.


    Everything was in ce.


    Clean lines, sharp cut¡ªa perfect reflection of control.


    Noah¡¯s gaze shifted outside, where his Lykan sat waiting.


    His eyes narrowed as they fell on the tyres.


    "They are worn, from the reckless drifting." Noah thought, shaking his head.


    "I¡¯ll get them changed soon," he thought, mentally adding it to his to-do list.


    Sliding into the driver¡¯s seat, he let the engine hum to life beneath him, the soft growl filling the air as he pulled away from the mansion.


    The drive was smooth as always, but he noticed the slight slip in the tyres¡¯ grip.


    "Yeah, it¡¯s time to change it." He muttered.


    As he approached the gate, Anderson was already on alert. Noah could see him in the distance, motioning to the guards to open the gate even before he arrived.


    Efficient, exactly what Noah expected from him.


    When Noah pulled closer, he gave Anderson a faint nod. Just enough to acknowledge the man¡¯s efforts.


    Anderson returned the gesture, his expression respectful.


    As Noah drove past the gate, Anderson¡¯s right hand unconsciously touched the tea bag.


    ***


    In Amelia¡¯s Room.


    Her phone buzzed, as she scrolled on her phone whilst on bed.


    "Noah <3"


    She quickly got up, fixed her posture and tapped to answer.


    "Hello? Noah?" came her slightly flustered voice.


    "Hi, it¡¯s me. Don¡¯t you have my number saved? I feel a bit betrayed right now," he teased, keeping his tone light, though there was a yful undertone.


    "No, no, it¡¯s not that! I was just surprised you called," she stammered, her tone shy, clearly flustered by her own awkwardness.


    Noah chuckled. "No worries, why wouldn¡¯t I call? I wanted to ask¡ªyou want to go out for dinner? How does that sound?"


    There was a pause on the other end. "Really? I would love to. Where do we meet?"


    Noah didn¡¯t hesitate. "No need to go anywhere. I¡¯ll pick you up. Just rx at home."


    Another pause. He could almost hear her blushing over the phone.


    "O-okay. What time?" she asked, her voice a mix of nervousness and subtle excitement.


    "I¡¯ll be at your ce in 30 minutes," Noah replied, his grin widening as he heard her flustered reply.


    "Okay, see you soon!" she said hurriedly, her words tumbling over each other in her eagerness.


    Noah ended the call, tossing the phone onto the passenger seat.


    "Thirty minutes¡­" Noah thought, the corners of his lips twitching upward into a faint smirk.


    His hand gripped the steering wheel as the Lykan sped through the traffic.


    Thirty minutester..


    Noah found himself pulling up to the gated entrance, the guards were already well-versed to his presence, thanks to Adam¡¯s past instructions.


    "If you see Noahe over here again, just allow him in."


    ***


    The moment he saw the familiar sleek car, the guard leader stepped forward with a courteous smile.


    "Wee, Mr Noah," he greeted, already signalling for the gate to be opened.


    Noah returned the smile.


    "Thank you," he replied smoothly, driving past the open gate and down towards Amelia¡¯s house.


    As he arrived at the mansion, the guards stationed outside recognised him instantly. One of them stepped forward.


    "Wee, Mr. Noah. Mr. Adam isn¡¯t home at the moment. Would you like us to contact Miss Amelia?"


    Noah shook his head casually. "No need. She¡¯ll be out soon," he said, ncing at the door.


    The guard exchanged a knowing look with hispanion.


    "This young man is really something," he thought.


    "He¡¯s already got the general¡¯s daughter wrapped around his finger."


    Of course, no one dared to say anything aloud. They were just here to serve.


    Noah reached for his phone and made a brief call.


    "Hello?"


    "I¡¯m here," Noah said simply. "Waiting outside."


    "Okie! I¡¯ll be there in a minute," she chirped, excitement bubbling in her tone.


    Noah hung up and leaned back in his seat, watching the front entrance of the mansion.


    The door opened a momentter, and Amelia stepped out, wearing a white floral dress that perfectlyplemented her paleplexion.


    Large shades covered her eyes, adding an extra ir to her overall look.


    As she descended the steps, the guards all nodded in respect, their voices in unison, "Good afternoon, Miss Amelia."


    She smiled warmly at them but quickly made her way to the car.


    Seeing Amelia leave the mansion, Noah got out of his seat and closed the door behind him.


    He stood in front of the passenger seat and opened the door for Amelia, who blushed slightly at his actions.


    "Wee, Mydy," he said courtly as he gestured for her to enter.


    "Thank you" Amelia replied as she slid into the passenger seat.


    Before they could leave, Noah noticed the guard car pulling up behind them.


    "Seems like we¡¯ve gotpany," Noah muttered with a slight grin.


    Amelia sighed, already understanding what was happening.


    "No need for that, Uncle Frank," she said, waving dismissively toward the guard car.


    The older guard, Frank, hesitated. "But, Miss Amelia, General Adam gave us strict orders. We can¡¯t let you leave without an escort. You remember what happened thest time¡ª"


    Amelia cut him off with a sigh. She nced at Noah, then back at Frank.


    "If only you knew," she thought. "If you understood who¡¯s sitting next to me, you¡¯d feel embarrassed thinking you could protect me better than him."


    "Fine," she relented. "I¡¯ll call my dad and clear this up."


    She pulled out her phone and dialled ¡¯Dad¡¯.


    It rang once before her father¡¯s familiar voice picked up.


    "Amelia? What¡¯s wrong? Do you need anything?"


    "Hey, Dad. I was nning to go out with Noah." she began, ncing at Noah as she spoke. "Uncle Frank says he can¡¯t let me leave without a bodyguard. I told him it¡¯s fine, but he wants to hear it from you. You did give him thatmand, after all."


    There was a brief pause on the other end.


    "You¡¯re with Noah?" Adam asked, his voice shifting slightly.


    "Yep, just me and Noah."


    "Frank," Adam¡¯s tone became authoritative. "Let her go. If Noah¡¯s with her, there¡¯s nothing to worry about."


    Frank, responded with a curt nod. "Understood, General."


    His face, a picture of professionalism, turned to Noah with a slight bow. "Apologies, Miss Amelia. Mr. Noah. Enjoy your time together."


    Amelia smiled at Frank before handing the phone over to Noah. "Dad wants to talk to you."


    Noah raised an eyebrow as he took the phone. "Hello, Mr. Noah," came Adam¡¯s voice from the other end, his tone casual but with an underlying weight.


    "How are you doing?"


    "Good evening, sir," Noah responded smoothly. "I¡¯m doing well, thank you."


    Adam let out a small chuckle. "I hear you came to take my daughter out without asking me first. Isn¡¯t that a bit... bold?"


    Noah¡¯s lips curled slightly. "How could I, in fact, I was about to tell Amelia to call you to ask for your permission.."


    There was silence for a moment, and then Adamughed again, this time louder.


    "Fair enough. Just take care of her. Noah¡­ we¡¯ll talk more next time."


    Noah nodded, a small grin on his face as he handed the phone back to Amelia.


    She gave him a curious look but didn¡¯t ask, instead smiling as Noah shifted the car into gear.


    As they pulled away from the mansion, the guard car remained in ce and Frank was watching from a distance.


    Noah nced briefly in the rearview mirror, noticing how the guards remained attentive even after themand to stand down came from Adam.


    "They really don¡¯t let you go anywhere without a full entourage with you, do they?" Noah remarked, his voice light.


    Ameliaughed softly. "They¡¯re just doing what they were told. My dad¡¯s been a little... protective since thest incident."


    "I can see that, it¡¯s good though. We need to keep you safe from harm." Noah replied.


    His gaze remained steady on the road ahead, but his tone carried enough warmth that kept Amelia on edge.


    She felt the word "We" sink into her chest.


    "Does he mean... he also cares?" she thought, cheeks heating up as the blush spread to her ears.


    ...


    [Ding! Ultimate Choice System has been activated!]

 Chapter 111: Love Hotel?

    As Noah shifted gears, his hand brushed hers subtly, as though by ident, but it was deliberate enough for Amelia to notice.


    Her face turned an even deeper shade of red, and though he acted as if nothing had happened, a small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of his lips.


    He activated his Memory nce ability in that moment, a flicker of curiosity in his mind. Amelia¡¯s memories surged briefly through his awareness, shes of emotions and moments that shaped her.


    A wealth of information passed, but a few things, in particr, stood out to him today.


    "These will be useful."


    [Ding! Ultimate Choice System has been activated!]


    Three choices appeared before him:


    Option 1: Let Amelia Enjoy Her Time with you.


    [Reward: +10 affection, Intermediate random skill.]


    Option 2: Make Amelia Lose Attraction to You.


    [Reward: -5 affection, 2 bedroom house.]


    Option 3: Act Nonchnt.


    [Reward: +5 affection, Intermediate random skill, $5,000.]


    Noah¡¯s mind quickly assessed the options.


    Option 2 was an immediate dismissal¡ªhe wasn¡¯t going to ruin the bridge he was carefully building.


    Option 1 and 3 both carried simr benefits, but his gaze flickered to Amelia again.


    "Five thousand dors for 5 affection points?" Noah scoffed internally.


    "Not worth it. Especially if it concerns Amelia."


    He chose Option 1.


    [Ding! Option 1 has been chosen.]


    [Ding! Intermediate Random Skill is Rewarded.]


    [Intermediate Gaming Skill]


    A satisfied grin tugged at Noah¡¯s lips.


    "This is what I was looking for, the system is really generous, almost as if it read my mind."


    His focus shifted back to the present as he turned to Amelia, who sat silently beside him.


    "Are you hungry?" Noah asked casually.


    Amelia, her heart still fluttering from the unexpected touch, shook her head.


    "Not really," she replied, her voice barely louder than the hum of the engine.


    "You sure?" he pressed, yful but genuine, as if he was reading the hesitation in her response.


    "Yes, I¡¯m sure," she said more confidently, though her pulse still raced.


    Noah grinned a glint of something unreadable in his eyes.


    "Then how about we do something fun before we eat?"


    His words sent a shock through Amelia¡¯s system.


    "Fun? What does he mean by fun?"


    Her heart pounded harder, her thoughts racing ahead, imagining scenarios far beyond anything she¡¯d ever experienced.


    The Lykan pulled smoothly into a parking lot, the sleek, reflective building looming before them. Her breath caught when she saw the sign.


    "A love hotel?!"


    Her heart raced faster than it ever had before. Is this what he meant by fun?


    She felt her stomach drop, her pulse thundering in her ears as her mind lost control.


    "I can¡¯t do this. I¡¯ve never even held a man¡¯s hand before."


    Her legs felt weak as panic set in.


    "What do I say? What do I do?" She nced nervously at Noah, who had already stepped out of the car, his expression as calm andposed as ever.


    He opened her door and offered his hand, his voice steady and reassuring. "Ready?"


    Amelia could hardly breathe.


    "Ready? How can he be so calm about this?" She struggled to find her voice, the words caught in her throat.


    "Noah, I-I can¡¯t..." she stammered, barely managing to string the sentence together.


    Noah blinked, his brow furrowed in confusion. "You can¡¯t y video games? You don¡¯t like gaming?" he asked genuine confusion in his tone.


    "Eh?" The words caught herpletely off guard.


    "Gaming?" She nced around, her eyes finallynding on the neon-lit sign she had somehow missed in her panic¡ªa gaming lounge.


    Her face turned beet red with embarrassment, realizing her own overreaction.


    "I¡¯m such an idiot!" she thought, shocked by how wildly her imagination had run away from her.


    Noah raised a brow.


    "You sure you¡¯re okay?" he asked, his tone filled with genuine concern.


    "You look like you¡¯re ill. Maybe we should just head home."


    "No, no! I-I¡¯m fine!" Amelia blurted out, waving her hands in a flustered motion.


    "It was just... hot in the car, you know? The heater... yeah, the heater," she babbled, trying to regain herposure.


    Noah chuckled softly, the sound smooth and calming, as though nothing unusual had happened.


    "Alright," he said with a small nod.


    "Let¡¯s head inside."


    Approaching the counter, Noah nced at the worker. "I¡¯d like a VIP room for two."


    The worker, without hesitation, nodded. "Any drinks or food with that, sir?"


    Noah turned to Amelia. "What do you feel like having?"


    Amelia¡¯s flustered mood had softened, and she smiled at the question.


    "I¡¯ll have taro milk tea, with two portions of tapioca."


    Noah grinned. "Good choice." He turned back to the worker.


    "Tworge taro milk teas, both with double tapioca."


    Amelia blinked. "Wait, you like taro too?"


    "Yeah, it¡¯s my favourite," he replied smoothly, a cheeky smile ying on his lips.


    There was something warm about his demeanour, that made Amelia feel at ease.


    The worker nodded. "Got it. I¡¯ll have that delivered to your room right away."


    "Anything else for now?"


    "Bring us the menu too," Noah added before turning back to Amelia with a rxed expression.


    The worker motioned toward the hallway. "VIP Room 4, sir. I¡¯ll have the drinks brought in shortly."


    As they headed toward the private room, Amelia couldn¡¯t help but steal another nce at Noah.


    Hisposure, the way he seamlessly took charge without being overbearing, was something she admired about him and made her feel things she never felt before.


    She had been bracing herself for awkwardness after her near meltdown in the car, but Noah had effortlessly smoothed things over without even acknowledging it.


    As they reached the room, Noah held the door open for her, allowing her to step inside first.


    "He¡¯s very thoughtful" Amelia mused, sitting down and watching as Noah casually settled into the chair next to hers, setting up the pc with that same calm expression.


    She couldn¡¯t help but smile slightly. "Why was I overthinking so much," she told herself, as she waited for the PC to load. Your journey continues with NovelBin.C?m

 Chapter 112: Enjoyment

    "So," Noah started, ncing at Amelia as he finished setting up the PC.


    "What do you want to y? Underwatch 2 sounds fun, don¡¯t you think?"


    Amelia¡¯s eyes lit up.


    "Wait, you y Underwatch 2? That¡¯s like one of my favourite games!" she eximed, clearly surprised.


    "I didn¡¯t expect you to y it too."


    Noah raised an eyebrow, intrigued.


    "Hmm...Why¡¯s that?" he asked, a faint smirk ying on his lips.


    She hesitated, unsure if her reasoning would sound silly.


    "I don¡¯t know... you just seem like someone who¡¯s good at everything and always busy. I mean, you¡¯re good at so many things, it feels like you wouldn¡¯t have time to y games."


    Noah chuckled softly.


    "What if I told you I¡¯m the best at Underwatch 2?"


    Amelia¡¯spetitive spark lit up immediately.


    She grinned, her eyes narrowing yfully.


    "Oh? Not better than me, though."


    Noah leaned back in his chair, the challenge clear in his eyes.


    "Wanna bet on that?"


    Amelia¡¯s pulse quickened.


    There was something wrong about his calm confidence, but she wasn¡¯t one to back down. With a cute nod, she dered,


    "Yes, let¡¯s do it. What¡¯s the bet?"


    Noah leaned forward slightly as if preparing to say something that would tilt the bnce.


    "How about this..." Noah¡¯s voice dropped slightly, taking on a teasing tone that made Amelia¡¯s heart skip a beat.


    "If you lose, you have to..."


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    Her pulse quickened, every word drawing her in deeper into his clutches, the anticipation building.


    "I have to...?" she blinked, her cheeks heating up under his gaze, half-dreading for his next words.


    "You have to either do anything I say..." he paused, letting his words hang in the air, his small smile hinted at mischief. "Or, you¡¯ll have to tell me something about you that no one else knows."


    Her face flushed even more.


    "Anything?" Her mind couldn¡¯t help but wander to scenarios she¡¯d only seen in romance novels.


    There was a small gap between what she imagined and what Noah actually meant, but her thoughts went to ces she wasn¡¯t used to.


    "A-anything?" she stuttered, her voice betraying her.


    Noah¡¯s smile widened just slightly, enough to make her nervous. "Anything," he confirmed.


    "But hey, I¡¯m not that mean. You can always just share something no one else knows instead. Your choice."


    Amelia¡¯s mind raced.


    Could she really beat him? She was a grandmaster in "Underwatch 2", practically unbeatable in her rank.


    There¡¯s no way Noah, as good as he was at everything else, could match her in gaming. Right?


    "But he isn¡¯t the type to brag? or does he just not know my rank?"


    "I mean, what are the chances he¡¯s that good at gaming too?" she thought, trying to calm her nerves. But her heartbeat only raced faster.


    Noah was calm, almost too calm.


    His expression was impossible to read, and that only made her more flustered.


    "If I win, I can make him do something... whatever I want?" That thought, instead of calming her, made her face turn beet red.


    "Alright," she said, trying to sound more confident than she felt.


    "Let¡¯s do it. But if you lose, you¡¯ll have to do whatever I want too."


    Noah chuckled softly, the sound only adding to the butterflies swirling in her stomach. "Deal," he said with that same easy smile as if he¡¯d already won.


    Just as the game finished loading, the bell next to Noah rang.


    Amelia looked over, startled. "Come in," Noah called out casually.


    The worker entered, bncing tworge bubble teas on a tray.


    "Your drinks, sir," the worker said, cing them on the table.


    Noah nodded, handing the man a $50 tip without hesitation. "Thanks," he said with a warm smile.


    The worker¡¯s eyes widened slightly at the generous tip, thanking Noah profusely before leaving them alone in the room.


    Amelia, watching the scene unfold, couldn¡¯t help but admire how effortlessly kind and thoughtful Noah seemed to be.


    "He¡¯s so generous," she thought, feeling her cheeks warm again, though this time not from embarrassment.


    "Ready?" Noah asked, his fingers already resting on the mouse, his eyes locked on the screen.


    Amelia snapped back to reality, as she grabbed her mouse.


    "Oh, I¡¯m ready," she said, her voice filled with newfound confidence.


    "Let¡¯s see if you can keep up," Noah teased, his eyes flicking to hers before focusing back on the game.


    As the match started, Amelia immediately went on the offensive.


    Her years of experience as a DPS kicked in, as her character dashed across the map,nding headshots.


    She smirked, feeling her confidence rise with each kill.


    "My score is two and yours is 0, 1 more death and you lose Noah," she said, with a small smile as if she had already won.


    "He isn¡¯t bad, but I¡¯m still leagues ahead of him."


    But then, something shifted. Noah¡¯s movements became sharper, his reactions quicker.


    His character, once seemingly ying on the defensive, suddenly turned into an unstoppable force.


    Amelia¡¯s smirk faltered. "Wait... is he¡ª?"


    Another precise shot.


    "You¡¯ve been killed! Respawn in 10 seconds" The game shed


    It was Noah again, outying her effortlessly.


    Her hands trembled slightly on the mouse.


    "This isn¡¯t supposed to happen, how did it go from 2-0 to 2-2 in a matter of a minute!" She muttered silently.


    He was supposed to struggle, supposed to be outssed by her skills. Yet here she was, barely able to keep up.


    "You¡¯re not bad," Noah¡¯s calm voice cut through her focus,


    "but I did say I¡¯m good at this game, didn¡¯t I?"


    Amelia¡¯s heart pounded. He was too good. Way too good. Was this some kind of trick? How was he matching her, step for step, y for y?


    She gritted her teeth, determined to turn the tide, but it was toote. Noah¡¯s character took her out once again, securing the final point for the win.


    The screen shed "Victory" in big, bold letters.


    "Looks like you lost," Noah said, his tone teasing but not gloating.

 Chapter 113: The Bet

    "You know what that means, right?


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    Amelia¡¯s eyes stared at the screen, wide-eyed.


    "I-I lost.", Amelia thought, embarrassment churning in her chest.


    She looked at Noah, who was regarding her with the same calm, knowing smile.


    He didn¡¯t need to say it. The bet hung in the air between them.


    "So, what¡¯ll it be?" Noah leaned back in his chair with a soft smile stered on his face.


    "Something you¡¯ve never told anyone. or do I get to make you do whatever I want?"


    Amelia¡¯s face turned red again, at the thought.


    "This isn¡¯t happening," she thought, her mind racing with what he might ask her to do.


    But even though she was embarrassed, there was a strange thrill behind it all, a spark of excitement that made her stomach twist.


    She looked away for a moment, biting her lip. There was no way out of it. She had made the bet, and now she had to pay the price.


    But what was worse? Telling him something deeply personal... or giving him the power to make her do anything?


    Her heart raced as she looked back at him. "I¡¯ll... I¡¯ll tell you something."


    Noah raised an eyebrow, clearly curious. "Oh? So you are going to tell me, something no one else knows?"


    She nodded, her hands clenching into small fists as she prepared to reveal something she had kept hidden for so long. "I¡ª"


    Amelia shifted in her seat, her hands twisting in herp as if gathering the courage to say something she had buried for years.


    She kept her eyes downcast as if avoiding Noah¡¯s gaze would make it easier to let her emotions out.


    "No one really sees me," she began, her voice soft but tinged with a sadness that caught Noah¡¯s attention immediately.


    "Not the real me at least. To everyone, I¡¯m just General Adam¡¯s daughter... and the Admiral¡¯s granddaughter."


    "I feel like I¡¯ve been living in their shadows my entire life."


    Her words hung in the air, the weight of years of internal conflict finally surfacing.


    She sighed as if letting the words escape took a piece of her strength with them.


    "People respect me, but it¡¯s not really me they¡¯re looking at. It¡¯s my family¡¯s titles, their reputation. I try so hard to stand out on my own, to be seen for who I really am, but... sometimes, it feels impossible. Like I¡¯m invisible without their names."


    Noah listened carefully, a faint frown forming on his face.


    "Amelia..." he began gently, leaning a little closer. "I had no idea you felt this way."


    His voice was warm, full of empathy. His eyes softened as they locked onto hers, and he could see the vulnerability she had hidden so well.


    She had always carried herself with grace and poise, but now Noah could see the cracks beneath that perfect exterior.


    He knew exactly what it was like to feel unseen, although his reasons were far different.


    "You don¡¯t need to prove yourself to anyone," Noah said, his tone firm butforting.


    "You¡¯re not just ¡¯their daughter¡¯ or ¡¯their granddaughter.¡¯"


    "You¡¯re Amelia, and you¡¯re more than enough. People who can¡¯t see that, well... they¡¯re legally blind."


    Amelia blinked, her lips parting slightly, taken aback by the sincerity in Noah¡¯s voice. His words hit her harder than she had expected.


    She had always been surrounded by people who saw her as an extension of her family¡¯s power, never as her own person.


    But Noah was telling her something different. For the first time, someone was acknowledging her.


    "Thank you," she whispered, her voice catching in her throat. "That... that means a lot, more than you think."


    Noah gave a small smile, but internally, he was already processing something else.


    This was the perfect moment. His hand moved subtly under the table as he activated his Talent Finder skill.


    A faint, inaudible ding echoed in his mind.


    [Ding!]


    Name: Amelia


    Age: 20


    Talent Grade: A+


    Talent: Streamer/Gamer, ???


    Description: Amelia has a natural gift for online streaming and gaming, with an innate ability to engage audiences and excel atpetitive gaming. Her charisma shines in any space, especially the digital space, allowing her to build a dedicated following effortlessly.


    For the first time in a while, Noah felt a surge of genuine surprise as he read through the details.


    "She has an [A+ talent?]" He thought, his mind racing.


    His mom had been the only other person who had evene close to this level, and she had an A-grade talent. But Amelia... Amelia was on another level. The A+ ranking was nearly unheard of, and it wasn¡¯t just that.


    The mysterious second talent... the one even the basic talent finder couldn¡¯t identify.


    "What could it be?" Noah¡¯s curiosity had increased.


    The fact that the system couldn¡¯t even reveal the full scope of her potential meant there was something extraordinary about her.


    He nced at her, keeping his expression neutral.


    "She might be worthy..."


    Noah took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus.


    "She isn¡¯t just any girl... This girl..."


    Amelia was someone who had the potential to be far more than he had anticipated.


    If he yed this right, her talents could be a valuable asset, and their connection could evolve into something much deeper than he nned.


    "You know," Noah said, his voice casual as if they were merely continuing the conversation.


    "It sounds like you¡¯ve got a lot more going on than anyone gives you credit for. I mean, from what I¡¯ve seen, you¡¯re talented, charismatic, and honestly... kind of amazing."


    Amelia blushed at his words, her eyes widening slightly. Amazing? No one had ever said that to her, at least not in a way that felt so genuine. There was a flutter in her chest, and she couldn¡¯t quite shake the feeling that Noah was seeing right through her walls.


    "I-I don¡¯t know about that," she stammered, trying to downy thepliment.


    Noah¡¯s smile widened. "I¡¯m serious. Have you ever thought about bing a streamer? I really think that people will love you for who you are."


    "Online, people don¡¯t know your family¡¯s status, nor do they know you are of significant background. Yet I still think, you will shine like a diamond in the dark."


    Amelia¡¯s eyes flickered with uncertainty, but there was also a glimmer of hope.


    She had spent so long trying to carve out her own identity, trying to be more than just a daughter or a granddaughter.


    But Noah¡¯s words felt like a lifeline, something she didn¡¯t even realize she needed.

 Chapter 114: Comfort

    As they continued talking, Noah¡¯s thoughts remained focused.


    Amelia had no idea just how much potential she had, and that was exactly how he wanted it, at least for now.


    She was talented, yes, but also vulnerable in ways that made her easier to guide, and easier to influence.


    But more than that, she had potential. More potential than she ever thought.


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    "And if I nurture that potential to sprout..."


    With a gentle smile, Noah let the conversation flow, his words carefully chosen, his tone always warm and reassuring.


    But deep down, he knew. This was just the beginning. Amelia¡¯s future was brighter than she realized, and Noah would be right there beside her¡ªguiding her, shaping her path.


    "And in time... she¡¯ll be more than just General Adam¡¯s daughter or the Admiral¡¯s granddaughter."


    "She¡¯ll be mine."


    Noah leaned back in his chair and smiled at Amelia. "Let¡¯s get some food, shall we?"


    Amelia nodded, her face still slightly flushed from their earlier conversation. "Sure," she replied softly.


    He nced at her, curious. "Do you want to eat here or somewhere else?"


    Amelia thought for a moment before suggesting.


    "How about we eat here? It¡¯s quieter and simple. We can have some spicy Korean noodles with tokboki and a drink..."


    She trailed off quickly, almost second-guessing her suggestion. "Or if you want, we can eat somewhere else. I don¡¯t mind."


    Noah shook his head, a warm smile on his face. "No, I like your idea. It¡¯s quite cute."


    Amelia¡¯s cheeks turned a shade pinker at his words, but she didn¡¯t say anything, simply nodding in agreement.


    Noah, noticing her reaction, smiled to himself before casually ringing the bell for service.


    A few momentster, there was a polite knock at the door. Noah stood and opened it, revealing the same worker from before.


    "We¡¯re ready to order," Noah said with an easy smile, having already discussed what they wanted.


    "I¡¯ll have one carbonara buldakk ramen and one rose buldakk ramen, along with tworge cheesy tokboki. And tworge ice-cold cs."


    As he handed the menu back to the worker, Noah winked and added, "Make sure it¡¯s good."


    The worker smiled, recognizing Noah¡¯s earlier generosity. "Don¡¯t worry, sir, I¡¯ll make sure everything is perfect."


    Noah nodded in approval before closing the door and returning to his seat.


    Amelia watched him silently, her mind swirling with thoughts she couldn¡¯t quite shake.


    Noah¡¯s ease, his way of speaking¡ªeverything about him had a way of making her heart race. Yet, she feltfortable too.


    It was a strange mix of emotions, and she wasn¡¯t entirely sure how to handle it.


    It wasn¡¯t long before the food arrived. The worker knocked again, this time with two traysden with steaming bowls of noodles and side dishes.


    There was something extra too, a small flower ced next to the dishes.


    Noah stood and opened the door again, thanking the worker as he ced the trays on the table.


    The presentation was smooth, and the flower added a personal touch, something small yet thoughtful.


    Noah chuckled and whispered to the worker, "You deserve another tip."


    The worker grinned. "I¡¯ve got you, sir. Enjoy."


    As the door closed behind him, Noah took the flower from the tray and casually handed it to Amelia.


    "Here you go, your little twin."


    Amelia blinked, confused for a moment, before realizing what he meant. The delicate beauty of the flower, its soft petals... Did he mean she was like the flower? Her face burned red as the thought crossed her mind.


    "


    Does he mean... me?"


    Her thoughts ran wild, and her blush deepened even further.


    Noah noticed her reaction but didn¡¯t press further. Instead, he smiled warmly.


    "Let¡¯s eat."


    He picked up his chopsticks and dug into the food, the aroma of the spicy noodles filling the air.


    Amelia, still flustered, picked up her own chopsticks, trying to distract herself with the meal in front of her.


    As they ate, the warm food paired with the cold drinks brought a sense of simplicity and enjoyment to the room.


    The vours were rich, the spice just enough to tingle on their tongues without overwhelming.


    The cheesy tokboki melted perfectly with each bite, and the noodles had just the right texture¡ªchewy, yet soft enough to savour.


    Noah seemed at ease as if this was the most natural thing in the world¡ªsitting here, sharing a meal with her in the quietfort of the lounge.


    His calm demeanour made Amelia feel more rxed, despite her mood changing after letting him know about how she felt.


    Every now and then, Amelia would nce at Noah, wondering how he always seemed so effortlessly charming.


    "How¡¯s the rose buldak?" Noah asked, looking at her over the rim of his ss as he took a sip of his cold c.


    Amelia paused, her cheeks still tinged with pink. "It¡¯s good! Spicy, but not too much. I like it," she said, smiling shyly. "How¡¯s the carbonara one?"


    He gave a thumbs up, finishing his bite. "Delicious. The cheese mellows the heat a bit, but it¡¯s still got that kick."


    They continued eating, the warmth of the food matching thefortable silence between them.


    As they neared the end of their meal, Noah leaned back in his chair, satisfied. He wiped his mouth with a napkin, his eyes resting on Amelia for a moment longer than usual.


    "You¡¯ve got good taste," he said, his voice soft but genuine. "This was a great idea."


    Amelia smiled a mix of happiness and lingering embarrassment on her face. "I¡¯m d you liked it."


    Noah watched her for a moment, his eyes thoughtful.


    In that moment, Noah felt something stir within him.


    But he kept it to himself, letting the moment pass without thinking about it.


    Instead, he smiled and said, "Ready for dessert? Or do you want to keep talking?"


    Amelia blushed again,ughing softly. "Maybe both?"


    "Both it is," Noah agreed, leaning back with a satisfied grin.


    He pressed the bell once more, and soon the worker arrived at the door, this time familiar with the VIP service Noah had been getting.


    "Can I get one slice of cheesecake and one slice of velvet cake, please?" Noah asked. "Make them small but filling. And, of course, two more cs."


    The worker nodded with a smile. "Coming right up, sir."


    As the door closed behind the worker, Amelia gave Noah a curious look. "Cheesecake and velvet cake? Interestingbo."


    Noah chuckled. "Figured we could bnce out the spiciness of the meal with something smooth and rich. Trust me, you¡¯ll like it."


    Amelia smiled, leaning back in her chair. "I do like cheesecake... And velvet cake isn¡¯t bad either."


    "See? Perfect choice." Noah grinned.


    It didn¡¯t take long before the dessert arrived. Two elegant slices¡ªone creamy cheesecake and the other a rich velvet cake¡ªwere ced in front of them, alongside two fresh, ice-cold cs.


    Noah handed Amelia the cheesecake slice with a wink. "For you, since you mentioned you liked cheesecake."


    Amelia¡¯s face softened with appreciation as she took the small te. "Thank you."

 Chapter 115: End of the Date

    Noah took the velvet cake slice and ced it in front of him.


    The dessert portions were small but delicious and filling after their previous meal.


    He picked up his fork from the te and sliced through the cake.


    Taking a small bite, the sweetness of the bite was rich but not overly so, just as he had expected.


    As Amelia tried her cheesecake, he nced up at her.


    After the first bite, her eyes slightly widened.


    "Oh wow, this is really good," she said as she gulped down. As she spoke, she concealed her lips using her right hand. Readtest chapters on NovelBin.C?m


    As Noah chuckled, he added, "To be honest, I didn¡¯t expect their cakes to be so nice either."


    Amelia gave a nod, enjoying the smooth, rich texture of the cheesecake. as she continued to eat.


    A rxing vibe was formed between them as they ate in silence due to the gentle illumination in the room.


    "It was a good decision, no?"


    Amelia nodded while continuing to eat her slice.


    "It was definitely a good choice. You¡¯re good at selecting food."


    "Only food?" he asked with a smile on his face, causing her to flush once again.


    She shook her head,ughing softly.


    "All right, all right. You are skilled in a lot of things, including games," she said as she rolled her eyes at him yfully.


    "Well," he said, setting his fork down. "That was some good food, but I think we can still fit in one more round of Underwatch 2, don¡¯t you think?"


    Amelia¡¯s eyes grew wider as she said, "You read my mind."


    Noah sat in front of the screen, quietly making a new ount as Amelia prepared her character. He nced at her and said with a grin, "I forgot my password, so I¡¯m just making a fresh ount real quick."


    She nodded and said "Take your time, i¡¯m fixing my sensitivity anyway."


    After setting up the ount, they quickly jumped into a match. Noah selected a tank role, choosing a hero built for diving straight into the action.


    Amelia, on the other hand, locked in her DPS pick¡ªanother dive hero thatplemented Noah¡¯s ystyle perfectly.


    The moment the game began, their coordination was almost effortless. Noah barreled forward into the fight, drawing the enemy¡¯s attention and creating chaos in the frontlines.


    Amelia nked from the side, dealing damage and picking off enemies one by one. Their teamwork was wless; their n was to dive the enemy support and also disrupt them.


    The enemy team struggled to keep up. In the chat, messages started to pop up:


    "Smurfs..."


    "Stop sweating in quick y... go yp NERDS!"


    Noah¡¯s lips twitched into a smirk as he saw theints. He turned to Amelia, raising an eyebrow as she giggled, reading the messages.


    She shrugged at the chat, her smile bright.


    "We¡¯re just that good."


    Match after match, they packed the opposition and made them rage.


    Noah would charge in, creating openings, while Amelia expertly took advantage of every opportunity, eliminating enemies with precision.


    Their teamwork made the other team¡¯sints grow louder with each passing game.


    She looked at Noah, eyes shining.


    "We¡¯re on fire!"


    Noah nodded, chuckling. "I think we¡¯re making some enemies."


    They exchanged nces, both of them smiling as the chat continued to flood with frustrated remarks.


    "The chat is making me have more fun than the actual game y." Noah said as he chuckled.


    "Viin." Amelia replied, but a small smile formed on her lips. She was clearly enjoying it too.


    When the final match ended with another dominant win, Amelia leaned back in her chair, letting out a satisfied sigh. "That was awesome!" she eximed, her cheeks slightly flushed from the excitement.


    Noah nodded, a content smile ying on his lips. "We¡¯re a good duo, don¡¯t you think?" he said, ncing at her with approval.


    "Mnm," she nodded.


    Noah nced at Amelia. "Ready to head out?" he asked, stretching his arms as if the games hadn¡¯t even tired him out. Amelia nodded, still buzzing from their victories but feeling a bit of fatigue settling in.


    They packed up their things and made their way to the front counter. As they approached, the worker had already noticed Noah.


    "Can I have the bill? Thank you," Noah said.


    "Sure thing, your totales to $85.99, including the food," the worker said politely.


    "Would you like to pay cash or card?"


    Noah reached into his pocket, pulling out his sleek ck card. "Card," he said with a small smile.


    Then, after a brief pause, he added, "Also, make it $100. The rest is your tip."


    The worker¡¯s eyes widened slightly in surprise, but he quicklyposed himself, offering Noah a grateful nod.


    "Thank you so much, sir. I really appreciate it."


    As the worker entered the amount into the card reader, the familiar sound of approval rang out.


    "Ding! Payment approved."


    "Thanks foring here, sir. Please drop by again when you¡¯re free," the worker added, bowing his head slightly in respect as he handed the card back.


    Noah simply nodded in return, sliding the card into his wallet.


    The drive back to Amelia¡¯s ce was quiet butfortable, with only the soft sound of the engine filling the silence between them.


    Noah¡¯s presence next to her was reassuring, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of contentment.


    Soon enough, they arrived in front of her house.


    Noah parked the car and nced at her. "Here we are," he said with his usual calm tone.


    Amelia smiled, her cheeks still slightly flushed from the day¡¯s excitement. "Thanks for today, Noah. I had a great time."


    Noah nodded, offering her a faint smile. "Me too, sleep well."


    "Thank you, good night!" she replied as she stepped out of the Lykan.


    The guards gave her a quick salute, which she returned as she entered the house.


    Seeing her enter the house, Noah nodded towards the guards and revved the engine, leaving the area.


    He muttered something silently as he drove back towards his mansion.

 Chapter 116: Daughter’s In Love

    Inside... Amelia¡¯s heartbeats were too quick to be counted.


    "He... He waited for me to enter before leaving." Her face flushed thinking about his romantic gesture.


    "He is quite romantic." She thought as her hand rested above her chest.


    "Amelia? What¡¯s wrong, are you okay?" Said Carmi as she looked at her daughter with worried eyes.


    Amelia woke up from her daze.


    "I-I¡¯m fine mom, I just remembered something I forgot." replied Amelia.


    "Okay, honey. There is some desserts in the fridge if you want some."


    "It¡¯s okay mother, I had dessert before I came."


    "I will go change my clothes and probably sleep, I will see you and father tomorrow. Tell him I said goodnight."


    She kissed her mother¡¯s forehead and headed to her room.


    ****


    Carmi nced at her husband who was changing from his uniform.


    "Adam, our daughter has been acting weird recently."


    "Honey... Your daughter is in love." He replied, with a smile on his face.


    "Amelia? With whom?" she replied with a confused look on her face.


    "Think it through..." He said, joining Carmi in bed.


    "Noah!" she said, and it finally hit her.


    "Yes, it¡¯s Noah. She was with him on a date earlier today," he said, as Carmi snuggled into his embrace.


    ****


    Back at Noah¡¯s mansion.


    Noah stepped out of his Lykan, ncing at the notification from the system.


    [Ding! +10 Affection rewarded]


    [Amelia¡¯s Affection: 80/100]


    He headed inside straight to the jacuzzi.


    Noah leaned back, letting the warm water wrap him in its embrace, slowly melting away any difort.


    Closing his eyes, he let himself drift, his mind at ease.


    After what seemed like an hour, Noah stepped out of the jacuzzi.


    After drying himself, he slipped into a new set offortable pyjamas.


    Just as he was about to turn off the light and settle into bed, his phone vibrated on the small table next to his bed.


    He picked it up to see a new message.


    Amelia: "I enjoyed tonight, thank you. "


    A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he read her message.


    [Ding! $2,300 has been credited to the ount ending in xx04. Current bnce: $1,042,069]


    Noah smiled lightly, as he read the system notification before drifting to sleep.


    ****


    The next morning, Noah woke up and did his usual routine.


    After he was done, he nced at his phone and saw a new message notification.


    Aiden: "Hey man, I wanted to ask if you are still down for filming the video this weekend. Let me know."


    [Ding! Ultimate Choice system has been activated!]


    Option 1:


    Help Aiden film his first viral video.


    [Reward: An apartment estate]


    Option 2:


    Ignore Aiden.


    [Reward: Vi Compound]


    Noah¡¯s brows furrowed, reading over the choices and their corresponding rewards.


    "A vipound¡ªIts value is something that an apartment estate can¡¯tpare to, but I have to ignore Aiden..."


    The thought of ignoring Aiden twisted his gut in a way he hadn¡¯t expected. He never had people he called friends, they could be counted on one hand.


    He and Aiden had known each other for about two years now, Aiden had been there for him during times when he didn¡¯t have much to offer in return.


    Even though Noah had moved beyond his old life, the way Aiden treated him had remained the same, showing his good character.


    He leaned against the bathroom sink, thinking about whether to choose option two, which would help him be the richest person in the world, or option one.


    Choosing the vipound would be the smart move, the one that he would make any time without hesitation.


    Aiden had always been sincere, and supportive without asking for anything in return.


    [Ding! Option 1 has been chosen.]


    [The legal documents of ownership are in the inventory.]


    Noah exhaled, an ugly look on his face. Although conflicted, he had chosen option one.


    "I¡¯m the one who offered to help him anyway," He said, trying to reason with himself.


    Deciding to stop thinking about it, he grabbed his phone and texted Aiden back.


    "Yeah, I¡¯m down. Let me know when and where, let¡¯s do it tonight since I¡¯ve been quite busy recently."


    Aiden¡¯s reply came almost instantly, filled with exmation marks and excited emojis.


    He then headed downstairs to order breakfast, as he still hadn¡¯t gone grocery shopping nor did he get a housekeeper.


    "I really need to get a housekeeper," He muttered, scrolling through his contacts before calling a number.


    "Morning!"


    "Morning, Amelia!" he replied, a slight smile on his face.


    "Hey, quick question, can you ask your dad about any trustworthy housekeepers or an agency he rmends? I want to hire one."


    "Sure. I¡¯ll talk to him during breakfast and text you right after."


    When he arrived at the kitchen, he decided to not order food.


    "I will just go eat at the restaurant," He murmured, as he put on his jacket and took the car keys from his pocket.


    He spotted Anderson near the gate, a thermos in his hand, the warm steam rising from it visible in the cold morning.


    Seeing Noah, Anderson immediately greeted him as usual.


    Noah returned the greeting with a smile and a nod.


    He soon arrived at the restaurant.


    Before he even stepped through the entrance, the front-of-house attendant came to greet him.


    "Mr. Noah, good morning. Are you here to eat?" she asked politely, with a professional look on her face.


    Explore stories on NovelBin.C?m


    Seeing him nod, she quickly offered to escort him.


    "Right this way, sir," she said, her voice calm and collected, already leading him toward the VIP section.


    Caroline wasn¡¯t here today, because it was the holidays.


    Noah made sure that the contract she received did not burden her physically, whilst also keeping her happy in her work.


    Noah flipped through the menu, his eyes ncing over each item.


    The attendant stood a few meters back, attentive yet overly disturbing, ready to write down his choices.


    Finally, Noah set down the menu, looking up at the attendant with a small nod.


    "I¡¯ll have the truffle-infused scrambled eggs, served with sourdough toast, and a side of avocado with microgreens. Add the smoked salmon and lemon-dill cream, please."


    "For the drink, let¡¯s go with an iced hibiscus tea."


    The attendant smiled, noting down his order quickly. "Of course, Mr. Noah. I¡¯ll have that brought to you shortly."

 Chapter 117: Busy Day

    Settling into his chair in the VIP section, Noah leaned back watching the restaurant operating smoothly.


    Soon enough, the meal arrived¡ªa delicate disy of vours designed to open your appetite.


    He picked up his fork and tasted the truffle-infused eggs first, appreciating the richness bnced by the fresh crunch of the microgreens and creamy avocado.


    The hibiscus tea provided a refreshing sensation, its tartness bncing the richness of the meal.


    Midway through his meal, he noticed a familiar figure approaching.


    George, Aiden¡¯s father and the deputy manager of the restaurant.


    He stepped over with a weing nod.


    "Good morning, Mr. Noah. I just wanted to see if everything is to your satisfaction."


    Noah looked up, giving a warm nod. "George, join me," he said, gesturing to the empty seat across from him.


    "Oh, thank you, but I wouldn¡¯t want to intrude. I¡¯m here on duty," George replied, a bit hesitant but clearly appreciative.


    Noah waved a dismissive hand, gesturing at the table. "Duty or not, food¡¯s here to be enjoyed. Work will always be there¡ªit¡¯s a bottomless well. Sit, have a bite with me."


    George chuckled, relenting with a smile as he settled into the chair across from Noah. The faint look of gratitude in his eyes made it clear he wasn¡¯t often given the chance to pause, even briefly.


    Settling into his chair in the VIP section, Noah leaned back, the quiet ambience a perfect backdrop to his morning.


    Soon enough, the meal arrived¡ªa delicate disy of vours designed to open your appetite.


    He picked up his fork and tasted the truffle-infused eggs first, appreciating the richness bnced by the fresh crunch of the microgreens and creamy avocado.


    The hibiscus tea provided a refreshing sensation, its tartness bncing the richness of the meal. Discover hidden stories at NovelBin.C?m


    Noah finished his breakfast, savouring thest sip of his tea, and then pushed his chair back, looking up at George with a nod.


    "Keep up the good work, George," he said.


    George straightened slightly, his expression respectful yet appreciative. "Thank you, sir. We¡¯ll keep giving it our best."


    Noah offered a faint smile before heading out, toward the parking lot.


    Sliding into his car, he drove to Walls4Us. He had two agendas, he wanted to check on thepany whilst also giving John a new task.


    Arriving at the building, he noticed the familiar receptionist at the front.


    Recognizing him instantly, she quickly stepped forward to greet him, more formal and polite this time around.


    "Mr. Noah," she said, with an attentive smile.


    He nodded briefly, appreciating the gesture but gesturing for her to return to her post.


    "It¡¯s alright, I just need a word with John."


    The receptionist gave a slight nod before going back to her ce, and Noah made his way to the elevator.


    As the doors closed and he pressed the button for John¡¯s floor, his mind reviewed the ns he needed to set in motion.


    When the doors slid open, he moved through the quiet hallway, knocking on John¡¯s office door.


    "Come in," John called out, his voice steady.


    Noah stepped inside, and John immediately rose from his chair, showing a flicker of surprise. "Boss, if I¡¯d known you were stopping by¡ª"


    Noah raised a hand, signalling to skip the formalities.


    "There¡¯s no need for that, John. Let¡¯s get right to it."


    John nodded, leaning forward with attention.


    "I need the best team in thepany to handle a new project," Noah said.


    "There¡¯s a shop in the city centre that I want renovated into a high-end tea house."


    "I want it wless, no mistakes, no corners cut."


    "Do you understand?"


    John¡¯s face lit up with a touch of excitement.


    "Absolutely, boss. I¡¯ll make sure it¡¯s handled perfectly."


    Satisfied with John¡¯s response, Noah shifted topics. "how¡¯s the neww director settling in?"


    John¡¯s eyes brightened, clearly impressed.


    "He¡¯s been exceptional, sir."


    "He made a lot of positive changes¡ªstreamlined operations, improved efficiency across the board. Honestly, the impact¡¯s been immediate."


    "We¡¯re projecting to break our monthly earnings record by the end of this month."


    Noah nodded, pleased with the update. "Good."


    He paused for a moment, looking at John carefully. "Any issues that havee up?"


    John shook his head with assurance. "None so far, sir."


    Noah ced a firm hand on John¡¯s shoulder, activating his memory nce.


    Quick images shed through his mind¡ªnothing of consequence.


    Satisfied, he let go and handed John a piece of paper with the address of the property.


    "I want them to start tomorrow. Completion should be within a week, max. Everything needs to be in ce and ready by then."


    "Also, I want


    Harlow ( The Law director),


    to make me a legal contract for renting a tea house, tell him ...."


    John nodded.


    "Understood, sir. We¡¯ll make it happen."


    ****


    "Hello?" A voice said with some hesitation.


    "Hi Stacy, I¡¯ve prepared the contract as we agreed before. I will arrive at your shop in thirty minutes."


    "Noah?"


    "Yes, it¡¯s me."


    "Oh okay, I will be there waiting for you then." She replied.


    Thirty minutester...


    "Here you go, the contract." Said Noah, as he handed the contract to Stacy.


    After reading through the contract for some time, she didn¡¯t find anything suspicious.


    "Alright then," she said, her voice carrying a note of relief.


    "The agreed amount on the contract is $10,000. But you¡¯re going to give me $15,000, right?"


    Noah nodded, offering a small, confident smile. "Of course."Without a word, he ced the bag he¡¯d been holding onto the table, clicking it open to reveal neatly stacked bundles of cash inside.


    Stacy¡¯s eyes widened slightly, the sight of the bills unexpected even if she had anticipated the amount.


    Her hand hovered above the contract for a second before she cleared her throat.


    "I¡¯m sorry if this seems rude," she said, ncing up at him.


    "But I¡¯d like to check to make sure it¡¯s all there."


    Noah¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change.


    His smile grew slightly, almost encouraging her to do so.


    "Don¡¯t worry," he replied smoothly.

 Chapter 118: Contract Signed

    "Business is business."


    Stacy gave a quick nod of appreciation, pulling a counting machine from the drawer beside her.


    She ran the stacks through the machine, her eyes intent on the screen as it counted each bundle.


    The sound of the machine blending, with the soft rustle of cash filled the room.


    Soon, the final count showed on the disy.


    [$15,000]


    Satisfied, she turned back to Noah, her expression now rxed. "Alright, everything¡¯s in order. Let¡¯s sign."


    They each took a pen, the sound of their signatures scratching onto paper adding a formal conclusion to the transaction.


    Once they finished, Stacy handed him the keys to the teahouse.


    "Thank you," Noah said, his voice carrying a hint of warmth.


    With the contractplete, Stacy excused herself and left the teahouse.


    Noah took one final look around the teahouse, pocketed the keys, and locked the door behind him.


    The deal was sealed.


    Noah parked up his lykan nearby and strolled towards where Aiden was waiting for him.


    Aiden grinned, after seeing Noah.


    "Yo, what¡¯s up, bro!"


    "You ready to go viral?" Noah replied with a smirk.


    "Hell yeah, what¡¯s the n?" He said, his eyes lit with excitement.


    "Alright, hear me out. We¡¯re doing a mukbang, but we¡¯re going to add a twist." He raised a finger, emphasizing each word.


    "The first three seconds are everything. If we don¡¯t hook them, they¡¯ll skip. So, we start with something unexpected."


    "We start with a close shot of a Lykan Hypersport drifting, smoke everywhere, tyres screeching."


    "Then, the camera slowly zooms out, and there¡¯s you, just sitting there, surrounded by a mountain of food, eating peacefully with no care in the world."


    Aiden¡¯s earlier excitement turned into pure confusion.


    "Wait, a Lykan Hypersport? Dude, do you think we¡¯re filming


    Fast & Furious


    ? I don¡¯t exactly have Dom Doretto in my contacts."


    Noah¡¯s smirk deepened. "You don¡¯t know Dom, but you know me."


    Aiden¡¯s eyes widened as realization hit. "You¡¯re actually going to¡ª?"


    "Yep." Noah cut him off with a confident nod, already heading toward the Lykan.


    "Just trust me. Stop asking questions and get ready."


    With a clear vision in mind, Noah set up the camera, ensuring the angle captured the full action of the Lykan in motion.


    He adjusted the shot, envisioning how he could blend it into a wless zoom-in edit from the roaring car to Aiden¡¯s mukbang.


    After some adjustments, he locked the camera in ce, checking the frame onest time before heading to the car.


    "Stay put and just keep eating like it¡¯s no big deal," he instructed Aiden, who gave a thumbs-up, his eyes glinting with excitement.


    Noah climbed into the driver¡¯s seat, the engine purring to life with a deep growl.


    He shifted into gear, positioning the Lykan for the shot¡¯s opening drift, a quick thrill of anticipation running through him.


    With one smooth motion, he hit the elerator, the car spinning into a beautiful drift, the screech of tyres loud.


    The camera caught it all, from the smoke curling off the pavement to the dramatic spin as the Lykan drifted.


    From his spot at the table, Aiden nced back as the smoke began to waft over, casting a surreal haze around the scene. He picked up a wing, took a bite, and then wiped his hands with a napkin.


    The sight of the spinning Lykan didn¡¯t faze him in the least, his expression remainingpletely nonchnt as he reached for a bowl of noodles, slurping them up as if he were oblivious to the chaos happening behind.


    Noah continued to drift the car, executing one final drift before bringing the Lykan to a stop.


    The sound of the engine faded, leaving only the drifting smoke that lingered in the air, slowly dissipating.


    Noah hopped out of the car, making his way over to Aiden, who was still engrossed in his food, maintaining the perfect act.


    "Alright Cut!"


    Through the lens, Noah captured Aiden¡¯s exaggerated reactions, catching the subtle quirks that addedyers of humour to the scene.


    "Perfect," Noah muttered to himself, tweaking the zoom settings to capture Aiden¡¯s expressions.


    Every eye roll, every dramatic pause, was framed just right.


    "Alright," Noah called.


    "Now you keep eating. The focus shifts entirely to you."


    Aiden gave a mock salute, his face already set in character.


    He picked up another piece of food, studying it as if it were some rare delicacy, his expression shifting to exaggerated seriousness before taking arge bite.


    Noah watched through the phone camera lens, adjusting the zoom to capture the subtle changes in Aiden¡¯s expressions.


    Aiden¡¯s lips pursed, his eyes squinting as he chewed with exaggerated slowness, savouring every second like it was the finest meal on Earth.


    After finishing thest bite, Aiden gave a triumphant nod, clearly satisfied.


    Noah lowered the camera and called, "Cut. Nice job."


    He handed Aiden¡¯s phone back with a small smile.


    "Now, send me that video when you get home. I¡¯ll handle the editing and send it back for upload."


    Aiden nodded eagerly, pocketing his phone.


    "Thanks, bro. Seriously, I really appreciate you helping me out this much."


    Noah shrugged, a casual grin on his face. "No problem. Thank me after it goes viral."


    Together, they packed up the foldable table, folding and stacking it neatly in the trunk before gathering all the leftover wrappers and tossing them into a nearby trash bin.


    Noah brushed his hands off, looking over at Aiden.


    "So, where are you headed next?"


    Aiden looked at him, surprised. "Home, I guess."


    "Get in, then. I¡¯ll drive you," Noah replied, jerking his thumb toward the passenger seat.


    Aiden¡¯s face lit up. "Bet!"


    "Riding in the Lykan, let¡¯s go!"


    They hopped into the car, and soon enough, they were cruising down the street.


    "So, what happened to the Lambo?" he asked, eyebrows raised.


    Noah¡¯s eyes stayed on the road.


    "It¡¯s in the parking lot. Chilling, I guess."


    Aiden¡¯s mouth twitched at his answer, unable to resist a smallugh.


    "Man, only you would say a Lambo¡¯s ¡¯chilling¡¯ in a parking lot."

 Chapter 119: Jackson’s Mechanic

    After dropping Aiden, home.


    Noah got out of the car to check how the tyres were after that drift.


    "I need to get them checked," He said as his handnded on the tyre.


    Taking his phone out of his back pocket, he went through his contacts searching for a name in mind.


    The phone rang a few times until someone picked up.


    "Hello, Noah?"


    "Hey, how are you doing? I wanted to ask you about a good mechanic. I want to rece my car¡¯s tyres," Noah replied.


    Jackson¡¯s surprised voice came.


    "Tyre recement... You must¡¯ve put them tyres under some serious pressure knowing you." He said with a light chuckle escaping his mouth.


    "But yeah, I know a good mechanic. Wanna meet up at his ce? my car also needs some work."


    "Sure, send me the address."


    After receiving the address, Noah sent Jackson a text.


    "I will be there in an hour."


    Noah then entered the lykan and drove to the mechanic.


    An hour soon passed...


    Jackson seated on a small table with the mechanic saw a lykan pulling up inside.


    "That¡¯s the guy I was telling you about, be careful when you are talking to him. He isn¡¯t someone who can be messed with." Jackson whispered, in a serious tone.


    "I got it." The man nodded.


    Jackson leaned in slightly as Noah approached, "Good to see you again, man." Said Jackson, as he shook Noah¡¯s hands.


    Noah gave Jackson a quick, knowing smirk.


    "Good to see you too."


    His eyes briefly flickered with something unreadable as he activated his memory nce.


    Images shed by in an instant, What he saw... well, let¡¯s just say Jackson wasn¡¯t exactly who he seemed.


    But Noah kept his face neutral, deciding to deal with itter.


    Noah offered the mechanic a polite nod with a firm handshake.


    "Noah Thompson. Good to meet you."


    The mechanic, a strong-looking Mexican man nodded respectfully.


    "Alvarez, sir. Jackson here told me you¡¯re in the market for some new tyres pero."


    Noah¡¯s eyes shifted to his Lykan, his gaze over the wheels.


    He ran his hand thoughtfully along the wheel, his lips curving into a slight smile.


    "These Pirelli P Zeros, they¡¯ve done their job," he said, almost to himself. "But it¡¯s time for an upgrade."


    "I want some Michelin Pilot Sport 4S."


    Alvarez¡¯s eyebrows rose a fraction as he nodded.


    "The Pilots are an excellent choice, especially for a Lykan like this."


    "You¡¯ll get a good grip on the surface and endurance."


    Noah offered a knowing smile.


    "Exactly. A car like this needs some premium tyres, ones that are durable and deserve their price."


    Alvarez ran his hand over the tyre once more before standing up.


    "Well, we¡¯re in luck. I¡¯ve got a few sets of the Pilot Sport 4S in stock."


    "The price for the tyres alone should be $6,000, and if you want instation, it¡¯ll be another $500. That includes alignment of course."


    Noah gave a slight nod.


    He could¡¯ve swapped them himself, but there was something he valued more...It was time.


    "Go ahead and install them too," he said. "I¡¯ll leave it in your hands."


    Alvarez nodded, a touch of appreciation in his eyes.


    "Good choice, Mr. Thompson. This¡¯ll take just under an hour¡ªbest not to rush these things. You¡¯re wee to wait in the lounge, or if you¡¯d prefer, Jackson and I can grab you a coffee from across the street."


    Noah waved his hand. "No need, I¡¯ll wait here. Besides..." he added, ncing at Jackson with a smirk.


    "I¡¯ve gotpany."


    Noah sat down at a nearby table, his arms crossed as he watched Alvarez and his team get to work on the Lykan.


    "He is a good mechanic," He thought, noticing how Alvarez worked¡ªno unnecessary chatter.


    Jackson sat by Noah¡¯s side, "He¡¯s good isn¡¯t he?" Jacksonmented. "He doesn¡¯t beat around the bush, and he is efficient. That¡¯s why I alwayse to him."


    "By the way, I¡¯m quite impressed you know your tyres, huh?"


    Noah shrugged with a faint smirk " He¡¯s good yeah. I just know a bit about tyres here and there, nothing fancy."


    Jackson chuckled, shaking his head. "You are too humble. If I didn¡¯t know you more I¡¯d have thought you¡¯d just be another shy driver with no substance."


    As the car lowered, Alvarez looked up, wiping his hands on a white cloth.


    "All set, Mr. Thompson."


    "It Should be ready to handle anything you throw at it."


    Noah nodded in approval. "Thanks, Alvarez. Appreciate the work."


    "What did you just say, You-!!!"


    Jackson shouted abruptly.


    "I¡¯m on my way, don¡¯t do anything," Jackson said, gritting his teeth.


    Noah watched as Jackson¡¯s face twisted with anxiety.


    "Something must¡¯ve happened, it¡¯s quite important too." He thought, looking at Jackson¡¯s expression.


    [Ding! Ultimate Choice System has been activated]


    Option 1: Help Jackson.


    [Reward: Basic Goldcraft Skill]


    Option 2: Act Oblivious to Jackson¡¯s trouble.


    [Reward: Several Thousand Dors]


    "Option 1," Noah chose without hesitation.


    It was killing two birds with one stone, he would gain a new skill and he would be able to get closer to Jackson.


    "Plus, any skill from the system would be better than some pocket change."


    "What¡¯s wrong? Is it urgent?"


    Noah asked, ncing at Jackson, whose fists were clenched tight and his face contorted.


    Jackson hesitated.


    "Family issue. Something¡¯s gone wrong at one of my father¡¯s businesses."


    "Got it," Noah replied, turning to face his car. "Get in, I will drive you there."


    Jackson hesitated, "It¡¯s dangerous Noah... I don¡¯t wa-"


    "Don¡¯t worry about it, just get in. We don¡¯t have much time if it¡¯s urgent." Noah cut him off, as he opened the lykan door.


    "Hurry what are you doing standing there!" He shouted to wake Jackson from his daze.


    "Oh, O-Okay." He said, as he jogged to the car and got in.


    The Lykan¡¯s engine roared to life like a beast.


    Noah quickly drove out of the mechanic¡¯s lot, his face on the road ahead.


    "Put the location here," Noah, said as he motioned to Jackson the GPS."


    Noah stomped on the gas, sending them forward at an astonishing speed.


    The Lykan shot forward, like a dark bullet through the pulse of the city streets.


    Lights blurred past as he swerved sharply, cutting betweennes, cars seemed frozen in ce next to the Lykan¡¯s velocity.


    Jackson, who had initially epted the ride, started regretting his choice.


    "This guy... he¡¯s gonna kill us." He thought, with a dark look on his face.


    He knew how skilled Noah was at driving, but knowing and experiencing were two different things.


    Each corner Noah took seemed sharper, more reckless than thest, the lykan barely missed parked cars.


    He swallowed, catching a glimpse of Noah¡¯s grin as they bolted past a honking truck at a speed that defied reason.


    "Bro? Slow down a little, at this point, we are going to be flying high." Jackson muttered, his voice a shade higher than usual, as the Lykan nearly kissed the side mirror of a sedan.


    "Slow down? Aren¡¯t we in a hurry?" Noah replied, shing a grin.


    Jackson forced a nod, his gaze darting back to the road.


    "Maybe¡­ we could slow it down just a notch?" he added, almost hopefully.


    A split-second pause.


    "Thank you," Jackson said as he watched the car decelerate.


    Jackson barely managed a breath before Noah downshifted, the engine violently roaring.


    "Arri¨C uh¨C safe," he stammered, his words tangled with the pull of the forces pressing him against the seat.


    Launching them into another tight corner. Jackson was mmed back into his seat, his grip on the handle so tight his knuckles turned white.


    Noah gave him a quick, sidelong nce with a smirk ying at his lips as if mocking Jackson¡¯s difort.


    "You were saying?"


    Jackson swallowed hard, struggling to stayposed.


    "I was


    trying


    to say ¡¯Arriving safely,¡¯ but I don¡¯t think you understand what the word ¡¯safe,¡¯ means" he managed, his voice shaky.


    Noah brought the Lykan to a screeching halt outside the dimly lit warehouse, its headlights casting an eerie glow on the dark, hulking structure.


    Noah brought the Lykan to a stop outside a suspicious-looking warehouse.


    Jackson jumped out before the car had fully stopped, muttering rapidly into his phone, his jaw clenched as he paced just a few steps away.


    Around them, a few burner-looking ck cars were parked, and the windows were darkened.


    Noah nced at the darkened windows on the cars with a calm look on his face.


    There were two men standing by the entrance, the Lykan¡¯s arrival drew their attention.


    "Hey, do you think..." One of them said, looking at the other person.


    "Not sure, but let¡¯s go." He said, walking over to Jackson.


    Their expressions twisted into rough scowls as they eyed Jackson.


    One of them spoke first, raising his hand dismissively. "Move along, this isn¡¯t the ce for you."


    Jackson didn¡¯t respond verbally. Instead, he took a solid step forward and, without warning, swung his fist hard, catching the first man square in the jaw.


    The impact was swift and unforgiving, sending the man into dreand as he copsed to the ground, his head lolling as he slipped into unconsciousness.


    Thud.


    "You-" The man barely scowled.


    He barely had enough time to process what happened, his face tightening in rm before Jackson delivered a kick aimed low.


    The man¡¯s face contorted to one of pure agony as he doubled over, hands instinctively covering his groin as he slumped, his knees buckling.

 Chapter 120: Abduction

    Noah watched, a faint smile tugging at his lips.


    He opened the car door and stepped forward, his gaze scanning the surroundings before muttering to himself, "So that¡¯s what this is about¡­"


    Jackson¡¯s heart was working on overdrive as he walked through the warehouse¡¯s entrance.


    His fist was still throbbing from ser punching the man.


    His eyes darted around the warehouse in anxiety. What greeted him was a sickening sight.


    The ce reeked of blood.


    There he saw it, his younger brother Jack slumped in the centre of the floor.


    He was barely recognizable, his face swollen with dried blood on his hair and face.


    His bloodied strands of dark hair fell over his eyes, but a hand tightly gripped around his hair and yanked his face up.


    "Ryker!" Jackson¡¯s voice tore through the silence, his hands clenching into fists again as he took a step forward.


    Fury simmered inside him, a cold and relentless rage bubbling to the surface. His expression was that of anger and sadness.


    Ryker smirked, not even flinching as he turned to face Jackson.


    With azy motion, he yanked Jack¡¯s head back even harder, an action that sent a fresh trickle of blood down Jack¡¯s chin.


    "Let him go!" Jackson¡¯s jaw was clenched so tightly he could barely get the words out, his fists shaking.


    Blood flowed from Jackson¡¯s fist, as his nails dug deeper into his palms.


    "Oh, look who decided to join us." Ryker¡¯s voice was filled with mockery, a smug grin across his face.


    "Didn¡¯t think you¡¯d have the nerve to show up here alone, Jackson. I thought you would bring your little gang here, to help you."


    The urge to rush forward and wipe that grin off Ryker¡¯s face nearly overwhelmed Jackson, but he forced himself to hold back, his re fixed on the men around him.


    Jack¡¯s eyes fluttered open, his vision hazy and unfocused as he struggled to look at his brother.


    "Jackson¡­ why did youe alone?" His voice was a whisper, filled with pain and agony.


    Before Jackson could respond, Ryker let out a low chuckle, then drove Jack¡¯s head down with brutal force, mming his face into the concrete floor.


    Thud


    The sickening sound echoed through the empty warehouse. Jackson¡¯s stomach twisted in fury and helplessness.


    "Damn it!!" He thought.


    "Tsk," Ryker clicked his tongue, looking down at Jack with annoyance.


    "Didn¡¯t I tell you to keep that mouth shut?" He sneered, his fingers gripping Jack¡¯s hair even tighter making him grunt from pain.


    Jackson¡¯s anger red even hotter, his fists trembling as he fought to control himself.


    His gaze swept over the room, taking in the sight of his brother¡¯s friends scattered around, each one tied up and beaten senseless.


    Blood trickled down their faces with bruises that couldn¡¯t be hidden.


    His blood boiled.


    "You fu*king bastard," Jackson spat, taking a step forward, his voice cold and deadly.


    "What do you want Ryker?"


    "Just say it already!"


    Ryker raised an eyebrow, looking almost amused by Jackson¡¯s fury.


    "Oh, what do I want?" he drawled, tilting his head thoughtfully.


    "I don¡¯t want anything. It was you and your little group of misfits who decided to get greedy. You thought you could invade our territory and start selling without any consequences?"


    Jackson scoffed, his voice dripping with un-hidden disdain.


    "Invaded your territory? You¡¯ve been doing that to us for months, Ryker."


    "Just because you do it under the radar doesn¡¯t mean we haven¡¯t noticed."


    Ryker¡¯s smirk only grew wider, his eyes gleaming with malicious delight.


    "Oh, so you did notice? And yet, you didn¡¯t have the guts to do anything about it until now."


    He tightened his grip on Jack¡¯s hair, twisting it cruelly. "Guess that makes you all the more pathetic."


    "Arghhh!"


    "Jack!" Jackson¡¯s fists clenched even tighter.


    "What¡¯s it going to take, Ryker?" he asked, his voice steady but ice-cold.


    "Just say it. Let them go."


    Ryker feigned thought, rubbing his chin as though considering some monumental decision.


    "Hmm, let¡¯s see," he said with a hand on his chin.


    The smirk never left his face. "One million dors, Jackson."


    "Cash. And maybe¡ªI¡¯ll consider letting them go."


    "A million?" Jackson¡¯s fists shook, his knuckles turning white.


    His teeth ground together, the sound barely audible but filled with suppressed rage.


    He could feel his patience wearing thin, but he was helpless.


    Ryker shrugged nonchntly, the grin still stered across his face.


    "Well, you can¡¯t expect me to go easy on you. It¡¯s just one million, I¡¯m not even pushing you to the limit here. I¡¯m being quite merciful if you ask me, right boys?" He said with a grin on his face.


    "Of course, the boss is merciful towards you. Count yourself lucky, so hurry up and pay or you can say goodbye to your brother and your little friends here." One of his goons said.


    Rkyer leaned closer to Jack, his grip tightening, his voice turning low and mocking. "Though I¡¯m not sure they¡¯d be worth that much anyway. Kind of pathetic if you ask me."


    "Jack, your brother is hesitating whether to pay a million dors to get you out, I think he agrees with me. You aren¡¯t worth that much. " He said chuckling, in Jack¡¯s ears.


    Jackson¡¯s vision blurred momentarily, his rage overwhelming his senses.


    He forced himself to keep calm and not do anything reckless, though every word felt like it was wing its way out of his mouth.


    "You¡¯ll get your money, Ryker... Just let them go."


    "Hahahaha, are you hearing this?" Ryker¡¯sugh was sharp and cruel, echoing through the empty warehouse.


    "Of course, I¡¯ll let them go..." he replied, his tone dripping with insincerity.


    "Just as soon as I see the cash."


    Jackson felt his pulse race as he tried to keep calm, knowing that any reaction might set off the vtile situation.


    Jackson¡¯s brother, bruised and bound on the cold floor, stared at him with a mixture of exhaustion and confusion.


    His friends, equally battered, sat slumped against the walls, watching through swollen eyes.


    Taking a breath to calm himself, Jackson made a move toward the door, attempting to leave and find a way to get the money.


    But he barely took two steps when two thugs moved swiftly and blocked his path with smug grins.


    "Whoa, where do you think you¡¯re going, Mr. Jackson?" one of them sneered, crossing his arms as he leaned in close, his tone dripping with mockery.

 Chapter 121: Abduction (2)

    Ryker, still in his spot with his smug smirk.


    He raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the moment. "Did I say you were allowed to leave?"


    Jackson clenched his jaw, his frustration building up by the second.


    "What do you mean?" he demanded, as he looked from the goons to Ryker.


    "I mean," Ryker replied with a smirk that stretched across his face.


    "you won¡¯t be going anywhere. I think it¡¯s best if you stay right here until this little debt is settled."


    Jackson¡¯s face twisted in anger. "And how exactly am I supposed to get you the money if you won¡¯t let me leave?"


    His voice was barely more than a growl, his patience stretched thin.


    Ryker shrugged nonchntly, his eyes glinting with malicious glee. "Oh, I¡¯m sure you can figure something out. Why don¡¯t you call a friend to bring it over?"


    Anger built up in Jackson¡¯s chest, and he bit down a curse he was about to say, knowing that any sudden outburst would only make things worse.


    His phone vibrated in his pocket, barely noticeable amidst the tense standoff.


    "Alright, I will call someone now." He said with a dark look, as he checked the message.


    Noah: Call me, and say to bring the money to this location. Don¡¯t say anything that might make them suspect you¡¯re calling for backup.


    Jackson¡¯s expression remained impassive as he scrolled through his contacts, acting as though he were simply looking for someone who could help.


    Thoughts raced through his head, blending relief with caution. He hadn¡¯t expected Noah to listen in, let alone try something like this.


    As his finger hovered over Noah¡¯s contact, he noticed the end of the message, almost as if Noah had anticipated his thoughts.


    Noah: I won¡¯t call the police, don¡¯t worry. Just do as I said.


    Keeping his face calm, Jackson pressed the call button.


    Silence filled the warehouse as the phone rang, each beep reverberating through the walls.


    Ryker, leaning forward with a self-satisfied grin, raised a hand to his ear.


    "Put it on speaker, Mr.Jackson," he instructed, his voice smooth with false politeness.


    Jackson nodded, as his fingers activated the speaker function.


    The phone clicked, and Noah¡¯s voice came through, calm and clear.


    "Hello, Jackson?" Noah¡¯s voice was calm but tinged with curiosity, a tone so casual it almost made Jacksonugh despite the tension.


    "Hey, Noah," Jackson replied, his tone steady. "I need you to bring some cash. Got a deal here that can¡¯t be missed."


    "A deal?" Noah¡¯s voice held an edge of interest. "How much do you need?"


    Jackson nced at Ryker¡¯s smug face before answering. "A million."


    Ryker¡¯s smirk widened, his satisfaction evident as he watched Jackson make the request.


    But Noah¡¯s response was smooth, "A million? That¡¯s too much money, Jackson. Is there any benefit for me?"


    "It is," Jackson replied, not missing a beat. "Just bring it in cash, to the address I will send you. I¡¯ll make sure you get your cut."


    Noah chuckled softly, the sound cool and confident. "All right, I¡¯ll be there as soon as possible."


    With that, Jackson ended the call, his thumb pressing down on the phone.


    He slipped his phone back into his pocket, feeling the eyes of everyone in the room on him. Ryker¡¯s grin stretched even wider, curiosity in his eyes.


    "Good boy," Ryker sneered, crossing his arms. "You know who to call when you¡¯re in trouble, don¡¯t you?"


    Jackson met his gaze head-on, the rage barely concealed in his expression. "This isn¡¯t over," he muttered the words a low, dangerous promise.


    "Oh, I think it is," Ryker replied with a casual wave of his hand. "Now, we just wait for your little ¡¯friend¡¯ to bring the goods."


    After looking at Jackson for some time, Ryker¡¯s eyes narrowed as he felt something was wrong with the way he was acting.


    Motioning to one of his goons toe closer, he whispered in his ears.


    "I need you to quickly check around the warehouse, make sure you check carefully. Bring someone with you too, if you see anything suspicious report back immediately don¡¯t try to investigate."


    The goon nodded his head.


    "Alright, boss."


    Looking at the two of them both leave, Ryker¡¯s gaze fell back on Jackson whose face still showed no reaction.


    "He didn¡¯t seem to have made any ns on the phone." Ryker thought.


    "What if he made ns before..." He thought as he asked Jackson a question.


    "Jackson, did youe here alone... or did a few ratse with you." He said with a grin on his face as if he knew what Jackson was hiding.


    Jackson¡¯s mind ran through the possibilities in a second, as his face remained neutral.


    "He couldn¡¯t have caught Noah, otherwise. He wouldn¡¯t still be outside, he is trying to trick me." Jackson thought.


    "No, I came here alone," Jackson said with an angry look on his face.


    "Hmm, we will see," Ryker said with a small grin.


    "Roger, Moustache. Both of you check the front of the warehouse." Ryker said, his gaze remaining on Jackson to check for any change.


    "Yes, Boss!" they shouted as they made their way out.


    A few minutester...


    "Boss, we found two of us unconscious outside." Said Roger, on the radio.


    Ryker looked at Jackson who had a smug look on his face.


    "Just drag these useless two inside then go back to the front, tsk." Spat Rkyer.


    "Alright, boss," replied Roger, as he motioned for Moustache to help him drag them inside.


    Meanwhile, behind the warehouse...


    "Hey, what are we meant to be looking for exactly?" One of them said, with clear annoyance.


    "Shut up, why are you being so loud? What if there is an ambush around here." The fat man said as he hushed at the man next to him.


    "You are being too anxious, if Jackson brought someone to help him. He would¡¯ve entered with him."


    "Plus there is only one car in the area, it¡¯s a lykan. It can only hold two people at a time, so if someone dide it would be only one person. What can one person do to 8 of us." The man continued.


    "Bro, we already checked like three times around the warehouse, there is nobody here. Let¡¯s go check out the lykan."


    "I never expected Jackson the bastard to be able to afford it." He spat.

 Chapter 122: Rescue

    "Bro, we already checked like three times around the warehouse, there is nobody here. Let¡¯s go check out the lykan."


    "I never expected Jackson the bastard to be able to afford it." He spat.


    The fat man¡¯s patience wore thin.


    "Alright, alright, stop nagging me like a kid¡­ we¡¯ll check the lykan in a bit," he said, with some excitement in his voice.


    But silence fell between them.


    He waited a second, irritation simmering as he expected a snarkyeback. But nothing. A cold ripple of unease passed over him.


    "Hey...where¡¯d you go?" His hand instinctively drifted to his waist, fingers brushing over the cool metal of his knife.


    ncing around, his eyes scanned the area stretching around the warehouse.


    A few seconds passed, and he scoffed, forcing himself to shrug it off. "Damn idiot, he probably went to take a leak without saying anything. He¡¯d better not wander too far."


    Muttering under his breath, he turned around, retrieving his Two-Way radio sneakily. Just as he brought it out, something heavy and hard connected with his head from behind.


    A swift, silent thud... then darkness.


    Noah stepped over him, a smirk tugging at his lips as he looked down at the unconscious man near his feet.


    "Both you and your friend¡­ are idiots."


    He crouched down to grab the man by his cor. He dragged him back into the cover of the trees.


    Further back, he dropped him beside his first unconscious target, ncing down with a calm smile.


    "Two down, six to go."


    Noah¡¯s gaze flicked towards the Lykan where two men were still positioned, obliviously loitering by the car.


    One of them was talking andughing on the phone, leaning against the car as if nothing in the world could disturb him.


    Moving through the shadows, Noah settled himself within the cover of the trees, watching, waiting.


    He observed every shift of their weight, every careless nce exchanged.


    Finally, after nearly twenty minutes, one of them broke formation and wandered towards the tree¡¯s edge, muttering to himself.


    The man¡¯s irritation was evident, muttering under his breath.


    "Tsk, why is this guy so anxious for? I¡¯m only taking a quick leak. It¡¯s not like I¡¯ll die."


    He stomped through the underbrush, his frustration seeming to drown out any sense of caution.


    As the man started to take his belt off, a branch swung down, connecting with his head with a solid, direct him.


    His knees buckled, and he fell forward, face ckening as consciousness slipped away.


    Thud


    "Home run," Noah muttered, with a grin on his face.


    Wasting no time, Noah dragged him deeper into the woods.


    Once he made sure the body was concealed, he quickly swapped the unconscious man¡¯s jacket for his own, pulling the hood up and adjusting his stance to mimic him.


    He positioned himself by a tree, his back visible to Roger, who was still waiting at the forest¡¯s edge, Noah heard the distant call.


    "Hurry up, Moustache! What¡¯re you doing?"


    Noah remained motionless, waiting.


    The guard huffed, visibly frustrated, before stomping over.


    As he got closer to Noah, he reached out, muttering, "What the fu¡ªare you¡­you taking a nap or something?"


    Noah turned. He grabbed his arm from the wrist, twisting it back until he heard the pop of the shoulder dislocating.


    The man¡¯s eyes bulged, filling with fear and pain, a silent scream caught in his throat as Noah¡¯s other hand pressed firmly over his mouth.


    The guard¡¯s muffled whimpers grew quieter as the shock set in, his body going limp from the sudden surge of pain.


    Noah held him steady, waiting for any remaining tension to drain away before swiftly rendering him unconscious with a strike to the side of his head.


    Once again, Noah dragged the body back into the trees, dropping him beside his little friends.


    Standing over the wannabe gangsters, a slight smirk curved his lips.


    "Four down."


    Noah stood by the pile of unconscious bodies, slipping back into his own clothes.


    Dusting off his jacket, he moved with a calm, measured stride back to the front of the warehouse.


    He opened the inventory and took out tworge, ck suitcases.


    Inside, stacks of $100 bills were meticulously arranged, crisp and ready, freshly withdrawn from some hidden vault.


    His eyes stayed on the money for a brief moment.


    shback...


    The moment Jackson had slipped into the warehouse, Noah had slipped from the Lykan, quiet as a shadow.


    His ears listening to the sound of the conversation from inside.


    "A million dors," Ryker had said, his voice smug and dripping with entitlement. Noah¡¯s eyes narrowed.


    Suddenly, a familiar chime sounded in his mind.


    [Ding! Ultimate Choice System has activated]


    Three options shed before his eyes.


    Option 1: Help Jackson deal with Ryker.


    [Reward: $1,000,000 (Cash), Bulletproof vest]


    Option 2: Leave the area, and ignore Jackson¡¯s struggle.


    [Reward: $30,000]


    Option 3: Call the police.


    [Reward: Nothing]


    Noah¡¯s gaze hardened, his decision immediate.


    "Option 1," he thought, a silent smirk forming on his lips as he shifted his stance.


    "A million dors... Not bad."


    End of shback...


    Noah stood in front of the warehouse, he had already worn the bulletproof vest.


    He didn¡¯t need it to deal with these small gangsters, but he had something in mind.


    He entered with the two suitcases in both hands, his footsteps echoing in the silent warehouse.


    Hearing the footsteps, Ryker smiled as he nced at Jackson.


    "Your friend is here." He said with a smirk.


    Jackson scoffed, in his mind he thought.


    "He already called for people? they are quite fast."


    Soon, Noah appeared in front of them.


    Ryker frowned.


    "He is alone? Do they really just want a trade?" He thought.


    "Jackson, what kind of shady deal is this," Noah said, with a slight grin on his face.


    Jackson¡¯s face showed surprise, "He¡¯s alone, does Jackson really wanna pay without any fight?" He thought.


    Ryker still frowning asked Noah, "Where are the two men outside, why are they not with you."


    Noah smirked and said. "The two outside? They are ..."

 Chapter 123: Rescue (2)

    "The two outside? They are... asleep"


    Jackson¡¯s face beamed, "So he did bring backup after all."


    Meanwhile, Rkyer¡¯s face was dark.


    "What do you mean by that?" He said his voice chilly, and his gaze cold as if looking at a dead man.


    Noah looked at Jackson with a confused look whilst pointing at Ryker, "Does he understand English?"


    Jackson¡¯s grin widened, "He does, he is just a bit... slow."


    "I see..." Noah nodded with an understanding expression.


    Ryker¡¯s expression twisted as he looked at both of them snickering.


    "Do you want to die?" He said with a chilly tone, as he motioned for his goons to surround Noah.


    "Me? I pretty much like living. How about you though, Do you want to die?" Noah said with a grin.


    "You know Ryker? You remind me of a certain person, he used to act so mighty but he was nothing but an insignificant bug."


    "You want to be powerful so bad, don¡¯t you?" Noah added with a smirk, as he watched Ryker¡¯s goons surround him.


    "Good, they are all within proximity now." He thought as he looked at them surrounding him closely.


    "I WANT YOU TO CUT HIS TONGUE FOR ME!" Ryker shouted, looking at Noah¡¯s smug face.


    "Don¡¯t worry boss, I will make sure he never speaks again." One of the goons said as he got closer to Noah.


    His build was rough, he was of a tall stature, around 2 meters tall. His build was muscr, unbelievably so.


    "Roid rage?" Noah muttered as he smirked at the guy in front of him.


    "You little bastard,e here!" He said as he tried to grab Noah by his cor.


    Noah did not move whatsoever, just watching with an amused smile.


    "He is dead, Titan got hold of him," Ryker thought, as he saw the man grab Noah¡¯s cor.


    Jackson who was about to intervene felt cold sweat.


    "Why is he not moving??? Is he scared shitless!"


    Hurrying to help him, he froze.


    Noah¡¯s fingers slowly closed on the Titan¡¯s forearm, lifting it without any effort as if he was ying with a toddler.


    "Don¡¯t ce your dirty hands on me like that, otherwise..." Noah said with a tone that seemed to freeze the air.


    "... I will break it." He said as the silence in the warehouse was interrupted by a sound that sent chills down their spine.


    "Crunch"


    "ARGHHHH!"


    The titan roared in agony, as his arm broke under Noah¡¯s grip.


    "Let go, let go!!" The titan cried out.


    "What are you idiots doing, Help him!" Ryker roared, as he looked at the stunned crew in front of him.


    Waking up from their daze they immediately tried to fight Noah, although they were scared they couldn¡¯t afford to get Ryker angry at them either.


    "Let¡¯s all attack him at once!" One of them said as he closed on Noah.


    Noah stood motionless, waiting for them with an amused smile that sent chills down their spine.


    It was almost as if he was saying.


    Fuck around and Find Out


    As they got closer, Noah simply used the jelly-like arm of the titan and swung him across to the personing near him.


    The two collided the sound of bones cracking echoing across the warehouse as the Titan¡¯s unconscious body crumpled to the ground, dragging his friend with him.


    Noah¡¯s gaze shifted, sharp and cutting, to thest man standing.


    The guy was trembling uncontrobly, he took a hesitant step back, his knees shaking so hard they nearly buckled.


    His face was pale with fear, reflecting the pure terror flowing through his veins.


    He struggled to process the scene in front of him. Noah had thrown a man that weighed 315lbs across the warehouse-like he was a toy.


    "Come on," Noah¡¯s voice cut through the silence with amusement in his voice.


    He tilted his head slightly, almost encouraging thest thug to make his move.


    The man took one more look at the bodies strewn on the ground and swallowed, fear visible in his eyes.


    Seeing that Noah wasn¡¯ting for him, he ran outside without even looking back.


    Ryker watched from behind, fury twisting his face


    "Useless idiot!" He thought as he looked at thest guy trembling from fear.


    His anger was quickly overshadowed by the creeping realisation of his own doom, "Shit I need to protect myself, otherwise... I¡¯m dead."


    With shaking hands, he reached towards his waist, his fingers grazing the cool metal of his concealed gun.


    His heart working on overdrive, its Irregr beats filling his ears.


    "I just need to end this now," he thought, desperation shing in his eyes.


    But as his fingers closed around the gun, he noticed Noah¡¯s gaze flicker toward him, narrowing as if he¡¯d anticipated every move.


    Ryker¡¯s hand froze for a split second, sweat trickled down his forehead.


    Noah dashed towards him, he cut the distance between them but it wasn¡¯t enough as Ryker took aim.


    Ryker¡¯s hand clenched around the gun, his face showing a sh of courage or desperation. He raised it, pointing directly at Noah.


    In his mind, he pictured the moment the bullet would pierce.


    Noah¡¯s face shed a flicker of surprise as if he hadn¡¯t expected the gun.


    He leaned slightly to the side just as Ryker pulled the trigger.


    "Pow!"


    The gunshot was sharp and deafening.


    Jackson¡¯s horrified shout echoed in the warehouse, as he watched the bullet hit near Noah cleanly.


    "Noah!!!"


    But Noah¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t falter.


    Instead, he sprung forward closing in thest meter between them, his hand reaching out like a grapple and wrapping around Ryker¡¯s throat.


    The gun slipped from Ryker¡¯s grasp as terror filled his gaze.


    "He¡¯s a... monster!"


    Ryker¡¯s eyes darted frantically, his mind scrambling toprehend how Noah was still standing, how he was able to move after being shot from point-nk range.


    Noah¡¯s grip tightened, lifting Ryker effortlessly from the ground, his fingers pressed into Ryker¡¯s neck, cutting off his airway.


    Noah¡¯s hand was suffocating as Ryker¡¯s face turned a ghastly shade.


    Then, with a flick of his shoulder and a force that felt like tectonic tes shifting, Noah hurled Ryker downward.


    The impact rattled the floor, "


    crack",


    Jackson and his brother flinched alongside their friends, watching Ryker¡¯s eyes roll, as blood trickled from his mouth.

 Chapter 124: Escape

    Noah looked down at Ryker, a slight smirk on his face as he copsed on the floor next to him.


    Jackson was still shaking from Noah¡¯s disy of power, his heart pounding.


    "I didn¡¯t even have a chance to move before he wiped them all out." He thought as he ran towards Noah.


    "Jackson stop! Go help your brother and his friends. The police will be here at any minute" Noah shouted.


    "But you¡¯re inj-" Jackson tried retort, but he heard the sirens getting close.


    "Damn it!" He grunted as he looked hesitant.


    "Don¡¯t worry, I called an ambnce and police. Just hurry up and exit through this side," Noah said with a pained expression as he lifted his finger towards the back door.


    Jackson nodded, and quickly freed his brother and his two friends.


    Jackson looked at Noah one final time with his teeth clenched, " I won¡¯t forget your favour, Noah."


    Noah nodded with a weak smile and said "Make sure you take the two bags, they actually have a million dors. It will be hard to exin to the police."


    Jackson¡¯s face twisted with shock, "You want me to keep it for you?"


    Noah nodded, "stop asking questions."


    Jackson nodded still in disbelief that Noah trusted him with a million dors, it was an amount that brothers would kill each other for.


    As Jackson and the others ran out through the back door, Noah quickly dealt with the situation at hand.


    He reached down and ced the bulletproof vest with the bullet embedded in it, alongside Ryker¡¯s gun in his inventory. He also made sure to store the gun power that left the gun to remove any evidence.


    With these items hidden in his inventory, the police would have no idea about the vest or the bullet fired.


    He knew that Ryker and his goons wouldn¡¯t risk exposing that as it implicated them far more than him. In a way, he was doing them a favour as possession of a firearm and shooting had a minimum sentence of eight years.


    The sound of the sirens drew closer.


    Momentster, police lights illuminated the warehouse, and the first officer who entered through the door called out.


    "Freeze!" several others poured in behind, their weapons drawn and cautious as they sliced the cake to check the warehouse with caution.


    Thest person to step inside was Sergeant Rachel Miller.


    Her gaze swept over the warehouse, and the moment her eyes fell on Noah, a mixture of disbelief red in her expression.


    She marched over, her usual professional calm cracking just slightly as she recognized him.


    "You? Again?"


    Noah gave her a wry smile, pressing a hand to his shoulder as if nursing a non-existent injury.


    "Didn¡¯t expect to see you so soon, Sergeant," he said with an air of nonchnce.


    She ignored his tone, her gaze darting to the unconscious men scattered around them. "Mind exining what¡¯s going on here?"


    "I happened to stumble upon a little... gathering as I was exploring this world," he replied, choosing his words carefully.


    "Let¡¯s just say they didn¡¯t like that and things got out of hand, but I called you all as soon as it was safe."


    Rachel looked at him suspiciously, as she looked around.


    There were four men unconscious, one had a deep bruise already forming on his jaw.


    The rest were in a worse state¡ªutterly incapacitated and clearly harmed.


    She narrowed her eyes. "You¡¯re telling me you took all these guys down by yourself?"


    Noah shook his head, "I did not do it alone, like I said there was a gathering and these people were fighting with some others but they ran, a long time ago."


    Rachel pressed her lips together, struggling to hold back a retort. After a moment, she sighed, her tone tinged with frustration. "You know, Mr. Thompson, most people would have left this to the police.


    Noah chuckled lightly.


    "Most people probably would have. But sometimes, you can¡¯t afford to wait for the police to arrive."


    Rachel crossed her arms, her irritation barely hidden. "Acting in the moment to save yourself is one thing. But this¡­ This looks like a war zone."


    "Maybe," Noah replied, ncing at the scattered bodies. "Luckily everyone¡¯s still breathing, so I¡¯d say it turned out pretty well."


    Rachel huffed and puffed at his response, giving him an exasperated look. "What about the faces of the men that ran, do you remember them?"


    Noah raised an eyebrow. "You must be joking Sergeant Rachel, you think I had time to check out their faces? I was too busy trying to survive."


    Her gaze held steady, clearly not buying his feigned ignorance, but she chose not to press further as his testimony wouldn¡¯t be the only one taken. Instead, she gestured to the paramedics toe to her.


    "You¡¯re going to need to have that shoulder checked."


    Noah nced down at his shoulder, feigning a wince. "Yeah, maybe you¡¯re right." He held her gaze, watching the hint of suspicion flicker behind her eyes.


    She softened slightly, gesturing for the paramedics toe over. "Next time, try not to get involved in any more ¡¯gatherings,¡¯ alright?"


    Noah grinned. "No promises, Sergeant. But I¡¯ll keep that in mind."


    As the paramedics approached, Noah gave Rachel a parting nod.


    "See you around Sergeant!" He said with a slight smirk.


    She shook her head with a smile and said "I don¡¯t want to see you, I¡¯ve seen you more than my familytely."


    Meanwhile...


    On the main road, Jackson and the others were waiting for someone to pick them up.


    Jack nced at Jackson¡¯s worried face.


    "Where did you meet that guy? He is a monster in human flesh." Jack said shaking his head in disbelief.


    "That¡¯s not important now Jack, I¡¯m kind of worried about him. He was shot by Ryker at point nk range, and he is probably being interrogated by the police for his involvement."


    "He took all the me whilst ¡¯we¡¯ the main reason for the altercation ran with our tails in shame." He said in a low tone, with his hands clenched.


    Jack looked at his brother and thought.


    "He¡¯s right, that man really sacrificed everything to save us. He also put himself at the front line.

 Chapter 125: Next step

    In the ambnce, Naoh was on the medical bed with a nurse and a police officer sitting next to him.


    His eyes were closed as his mind reyed through everything he had done.


    "Jackson should be thinking of me as one his best friends now," He thought, "After all not only did I save him, I took a bullet for him too."


    His thought wandered off to what Ryker said, "Selling in their territory huh?"


    "Jackson''s family will be a great connection for me, they could help me establish more wealth and status."


    "Amon myth among the people is that the underground is only reserved for criminals, that couldn''t be more wrong. Many of the biggestpanies have deep connections to the underworld, it''s just that they are hidden."


    As his thoughts wandered off to his next steps, the door of the ambnce opened.


    "We have arrived, Mr.Thompson." The nurse stated as he tried to help Noah down.


    ****


    Walking in the hospital''s hallway, Noah nced at the patients on the beds to ease off his boredom.


    As he was walking, his eyes caught a familiar face.


    "Horace?" Noah thought.


    "You''ve been in aa all this time... No wonder why the police did note knocking on my door." He thought, with a grin on his face.


    "Don''t worry Horace, I''m sure you are feeling lonely. I will pay you a visit soon." He thought as he made a mental note of the room''s section and number.


    In the doctor''s room, the doctor took off Noah''s shirt as he assessed his shoulder.


    "Your shoulder is slightly bruised. However, it''s nothing to be afraid of."


    "Depending on your recovery speed it should be healed within the next week," The doctor said as he started typing on theputer.


    "Your muscles absorbed a lot of the force behind the attack so your bones and ligaments are rtively fine. There isn''t much I can do besides offer you a painkiller in case it hurts a lot."


    Noah nodded and said "Thanks doctor, I''m alright. The pain isn''t that strong."


    After putting on his shirt, Noah left through the door with the doctor behind him.


    The police officer waiting outside saw theming out, "How is his condition doctor? is he medically fit for interrogation?"


    The doctor nodded.


    "He''s fit for interrogation,"


    Thanking the doctor, the police officer grabbed Noah''s arm.


    "Let''s go, you still need to be interrogated."


    ****


    In the police department, Rachel was caressing her temples from the headache she was going to receive from this case.


    "Two of them have broken bones, and many fractured. Yet, they still don''t want to confess about what happened." She sighed.


    Noah walked into the small interrogation room, his expression cool.


    Looking around, his eyesid on a desk, and Sergeant Rachel Miller sitting behind it.


    Her expression was that of impatience, she didn''t even bother to disguise her irritation, eyebrows raised as if expecting him to crumble at her stern gaze.


    "Is he fit?" she asked, looking over his shoulder at the officer escorting him.


    The officer gave a quick nod. "Doctor said he''s fit for interrogation."


    She nodded back, gesturing to the seat across from her.


    "Sit," she instructed Noah.


    Noah lowered himself into the chair, his posture rxed, his face calm.


    Rachel leaned forward, her eyes narrowing slightly her hands sped together.


    "So," she began, "care to tell me what happened exactly?"


    With a small smirk, she added, "By the way, the others have already told me what happened, so choose your next words carefully."


    Inwardly, Noah scoffed at her attempt to y him. He could almostugh at her.


    "They told you everything?" he mused silently, resisting the urge to smirk.


    "Does she think I''m that naive?"


    Though outwardly, he stayedposed, his face showcasing no emotion as he looked her dead in the eyes. "I want to make a phone call," he stated simply, voice calm but firm.


    Rachel''s brows rose, surprised at his steadyposure.


    "Not now," she said, the hint of a smirk still ying on her lips. "You can do thatter."


    Noah maintained eye contact, his eyes locked with hers, his voice dropped to a lower sarcastic whisper, edged with a slight smile.


    "You''re refusing me the right to call mywyer?"


    She sighed, the slight bravado in her expression slipping.


    "Take him to the telephone booth," she told the officer, irritation flickering across her face as her tactic didn''t work on Noah.


    The officer took Noah toward the telephone booth.


    Noah followed his steps unhurried, and a small knowing smile curved his lips.


    He dialled a number and ced the receiver to his ear as it rang.


    A voice on the other end answered sharply. "Hello? Who''s this?"


    "Uncle Adam, it''s me, Noah," Noah responded.


    Immediately, Adam''s tone changed, the authority reced by warmth.


    "Noah! How are you doing?"


    "I''m alright," Noah replied, tone casual. "I hope you and the old man are doing good."


    "The old man''s doing great, thanks to your medicine," Adam replied a chuckle in his voice. "Made his dayst week with that chess match."


    A glint appeared in Noah''s eye, though his tone remained polite. "d to hear it. I was nning to visit him soon for another game, but unfortunately, something came up."


    Noah cast a subtle nce down the hall, where Rachel was seated a few yards away, watching him with a hawk-like intensity.


    "Something came up?" Adam''s tone changed, instantly picking up on the Noah''s. "What happened?"


    "Nothing major," Noah said, his voice holding a touch of annoyance.


    "The police are holding me up because I was at the wrong ce at the wrong time¡ªtwo gangs crossed paths, and I was caught in the crossfire."


    "Now, I''m here while they try to build some nonexistent case against me."


    There was a pause on the other end of the line before Adam spoke again, his voice colder. "You''re saying they''re holding you without evidence?"


    "Exactly," Noah replied, ncing at the police officer next to him nonchntly.


    "No evidence, no charges, noints filed against me. Yet here I am, waiting."


    Adam''s voice tightened. "Which station are you at right now?"


    Noah gave him the address calmly, the name rolling off his tongue.


    "You''ll be out of there soon. Just hang tight," Adam replied, a hint of anger in his tone.


    "Thanks uncle adam," Noah added, before hanging up.

 Chapter 126: Innocent

    As Noah hung up, a faint smile slowly rose on his face.


    "Adam should have this issue settled soon,"


    he thought.


    "


    A small police station... It doesn''t stand a chance."


    He walked back and took a seat across from Rachel.


    Seeing Noah cross his arms and rx, Rachel''s eyes twitched and lingered on his face for a second.


    "Have you made your call?" she asked.


    He smiled faintly and nodded. "I have."


    She waited for him to borate... seeing that he had no intention to, she leaned forward.


    "Do you realise the severity of this?"


    "You''re being held in connection with a gang-rted incident," she said, with her patience wearing thin.


    Noah''s gaze remained unbothered. "As I said, I was at the wrong ce, at the wrong time. Though I''m sure this misunderstanding will be resolved soon."


    "You are quite confident, aren''t you?" She said, her eyes narrowing.


    "Sergeant, I simply believe in letting the facts speak for themselves. I still don''t know why you are talking to me about this issue."


    "I already said that I was at the wrong ce, wrong time and one of their goons tried attacking me thinking I was part of the other group."


    "I mean do you have evidence against me? Do you have anyints from them against me?"


    Seeing that she had nothing to say, he said "Since there is none of that, let''s just wait."


    A minuteter, with a sharp knock an officer stepped into the room, his face slightly tense as he looked at Sergeant Rachel.


    "Sergeant Rachel, there''s a phone call for you," he announced, his voice carrying an undertone of urgency.


    "Can''t you see I''m in the middle of something here?" She frowned, her frustration visible.


    Hesitating the officer, leaned in closer.


    "It''s from¡­" He lifted his finger subtly, gesturing upward, a silent indication of someone higher up in authority.


    Her eyes flicked to Noah, who was sitting as calmly as ever his expression passive, and unreadable.


    "Could he really have pulled this off?"


    she wondered, her irritation rising as she got up from her seat and left the room.


    "I will be right back." She told Noah and left.


    "Take your time," He replied.


    Out in the hall, Rachel grabbed the telephone her mind racing.


    "Hello, this is Sergeant Rachel speaking," she said, trying to keep her voice calm.


    "Sergeant."


    An authoritative but smooth voice replied, "Do you currently have someone named Noah Thompson in custody?"


    Her heart skipped a beat.


    She forced herself to calm down. "Yes, sir, I do. He''s under investigation for¡ª"


    "I''ve heard enough, Sergeant," the voice cut in, cold and final. "I need you to release him immediately."


    Rachel''s jaw tightened.


    "


    Release him? Just like that?"


    She tried to reason, her voice tinged with frustration. "But sir, he''s connected to a gang-rted incident, and¡ª"


    "Sergeant," the voice interrupted, sharper now, allowing no room for her to protest, "I believe I made myself clear. Release Mr. Thompson at once."


    Gritting her teeth, Rachel clenched the phone tightly. There was no mistaking the authority in his tone. "Yes, sir. I''ll see to it immediately."


    "Thank you for your hard work, Sergeant," the voice replied, almost dismissively, before the line hung up.


    "Dzzn."


    Rachel stood there for a moment, staring at the closed door of the room in front of her.


    Her pulse pounding.


    "This wasn''t how this was supposed to go.


    " She took a deep breath, calming herself before heading back to the interrogation room.


    As she entered, Noah looked up, meeting her gaze with the same calm expression he''d held since the beginning.


    There wasn''t a flicker of satisfaction on his face, no gloating smile, just a natural expression that somehow tinged her nerves.


    "Mr. Thompson," she managed, her voice stiff, "you''re free to go."


    Noah got up smoothly, giving her a slight nod, as though this oue was no surprise to him.


    He held her gaze for a moment, a polite smile touching his lips.


    "Thank you for your hard work, Sergeant," Noah said, making her feel like he was ying her like a fool.


    "No problem, Mr.Thompson. Thank you for putting up with our department, I hope we didn''t cause you any trouble." She finally mustered up.


    "Not at all," Noah shook his head with a smile, and said, "By the way, where can I collect my personal belongings?"


    "Ryan, take Mr.Thompson with you and retrieve his belongings for him," she said calmly.


    Ryan, the police officer nodded his head and politely said.


    "Mr.Thompson, if you don''t mind follow me to collect your belongings."


    "Lead the way," Noah said with a small smile on his face.


    As he left the room, he nced back at Rachel.


    "See you soon sergeant."


    ****


    The officer slid the tray across the counter toward Noah.


    "Here you go, sir. This is all your belongings."


    Noah nodded, as he collected his phone, wallet, and the rest of the items.


    With a final nod to the officer, he left the precinct.


    His eyes caught sight of the Lykan parked.


    The officers had brought it to the police station as he''d requested near the warehouse.


    Sliding into the driver''s seat, Noah shut the door with silence being his only passenger.


    Exhaling slowly, his eyes showed the slightest glint of something unreadable as he lifted his phone and dialled Jackson''s number.


    "Hi, Jackson we need to meet," Noah said.


    Jackson''s voice came through a mix of relief and worry tinged in it.


    "Noah! Are you good? Which hospital are you at? What are the visit times?"


    "Don''t meet me at the hospital, Jackson," Noah replied.


    "I was discharged. The bullet didn''t get far, it barely grazed my arm so I''m okay."


    Jackson breathed out a sigh of relief, with doubt in his voice.


    "You sure? I could''ve sworn I saw it hit... Look, just tell me where to meet you."


    Noah sent a location, "Be there quickly. We need to talk about something important."


    "Alright. I''m on my way."

 Chapter 127: The Ash Wolves

    After hanging up with Jackson, Noah put his phone on the passenger seat and changed gears.


    "I still have a few things I need to settle with Ryker''s backing," He thought, as he sped up in the city.


    ****


    After a while, Noah slowly pulled up next to the curb as he saw Jackson''s Porsche 911 parked at the side.


    Jackson in the car heard the Lykan''s engine, ncing at the mirrors to make sure he saw Noah''s car.


    Jackson stepped out of the car with two bags and approached Noah, his expression that of residual concern.


    Opening the passenger door he slid into the seat after cing the bags behind, looking at Noah carefully, still curious how he was unharmed.


    "d you''re alright," Jackson said," I didn''t think I''d be seeing you out of that warehouse so soon."


    Noah looked at him, his face unreadable. "And yet, here I am."


    Jackson''s smile faded, leaning back. "So, what''s on your mind?"


    Noah''s gaze sharpened, unwavering as he looked at Jackson.


    "I just pulled a few strings to get out of that station, it cost me a lot." he began, his tone low and serious. "I need you to tell me everything you know about Ryker¡ªwho he is, who he works with... every single detail."


    Jackson''s expression grimaced at his request, for a moment a brief flicker of hesitation showed in his eyes as he weighed the consequences of sharing this information. But, after a second, he nodded.


    Exhaling deeply, he started telling Noah everything.


    Noah listened intently, his face still impassive as Jackson continued.


    After a while, Noah figured out everything about Ryker''s group.


    Ryker belongs to a gang called ''The Ash Wolves." They are fairly new to the game. However, they have grown very rapidly in the past few years.


    Ryker''s unorthodox tactics, allowed them to increase their power by slowly taking control of small family-run businesses, forcing these people toply with them.


    The game Jackson was talking about, was surprisingly selling and buying gold illegally through shady connections. By taking control of family-run businesses, they had gained an extra passive ie they receive every month.


    "What an interesting surprise," Noah thought, as he nced at his skill


    ''Basic Goldcraft Skill''.


    Basic Goldcraf Skill: The user is given 100g of pure gold every day at midnight.


    "This will be very useful," Noah thought, as he listened to Jackson.


    Understanding passed over Noah''s face. What happened at the warehouse made a bit more sense now.


    "What''s Ryker''s position?" Noah asked.


    "He is a co-leader, there are only two co-leaders and one leader. So Ryker''s position isn''t low."


    Noah nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "Do you know where the main base is?"


    Jackson paused, frowning at the questions. "Why? You don''t n on attacking them right?"


    Noah smiled and said. "Don''t worry about that, do you know or not?"


    Jackson nodded his head and said. "I do, it''s not far from here actually, it''s around 20 minutes away from here. They are located at..."


    A slight smirk tugged at Noah''s lips. "Good to know. I need you to lead the way," he said, as he started the engine.


    Jackson''s face darkened, a trace of shock etched on his face. "You... You must be joking, you aren''t nning on going there now... right?"


    "Jackson, it seems like you''ve read my mind." Heughed, as he sped up.


    ****


    The quiet street gave an eerie hush, with the flickering of dying streetlights.


    Noah pulled up to the curb, eyes locked on therge,  house Jackson had pointed out.


    "There," Jackson murmured, barely above a whisper. "That''s their base."


    Noah nodded. "Stay in the car," he said simply, stepping out and leaving no room for a debate. Jackson''s face flickered with worry, but he said nothing.


    Noah approached the door, knocking hard enough that his hand almost punctured through the wood.


    Momentster, a man with arge scar etched across his cheek opened the door, his eyes narrowing as he took in Noah''s calm face.


    "Who the f**k are you?" the man spat in annoyance, with his eyebrows raised.


    Noah didn''t bother responding.


    In one swift motion, his hand shot forward, grabbing the man''s throat and lifting him off his feet with ease.


    The guy''s eyes bulged, shock and fury mingling in his gaze.


    Noah''s grin widened.


    "Your executioner," he muttered silently, before mming the man''s head into the concrete wall without mercy.


    The thug dropped instantly, his body on the floor in a heartbeat.


    Footsteps and muffled voices sounded from further inside.


    "Yohan? What''s going on?" someone yelled,  their footsteps approaching.


    Noah closed the door behind him, stepping over the fallen man as he walked toward the noise.


    Soon a tall,nky man appeared in the hallway, his face twisting in rm as he spotted Yohan at Noah''s feet.


    "Everyone gather! There''s a rat intruding!" he shouted, his voice filled with panic and anger.


    Doors opened, and soon, eight men assembled in the wide hallway, each armed with whatever they could grab such as bats, pipes, and knives.


    Noah''s gaze swept over them, unbothered by their number.


    "You''ve made this easy for me," he remarked casually, cracking his knuckles. "I don''t have to go around searching for each one of you."


    The man closest to him, wielding a rusted bat, sneered. "You think you''re some kind of tough guy?" He swung the bat in a vicious arc toward Noah''s head.


    Noah sidestepped with ease, the bat missing him closely.


    Before the man could even blink, Noah spun, delivering a brutal 360-degree kick.


    His foot connected with his jaw, sending him sprawling across the hallway, his bat ttering to the floor.


    "You''re gonna regret this, you son of a¡ª!" another thug snarled, charging at Noah with a switchde.


    Noah met his gaze, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Those are some big words," he muttered.


    His hand then shot out, catching the man''s wrist mid-swing.


    With a twist and a nostalgic crack, the knife ttered to the floor, and the thug let out a scream, clutching his broken wrist.


    "My wrist!!" He shouted as he cried out in pain.


    "You''re next," Noah said, his voice low and chilling, as he let go and watched the thug stumble back.

 Chapter 128: The Ash Wolves (2)

    "Get him!" someone else shouted.


    Immediately, three thugs charged at Noah whilst shouting slurs. One of them held a metal pipe, the other a crowbar whilst thest was swinging a heavy chain.


    Noah smirked as he saw them charge like idiots, his calm eyes analysing their movements. As the pipe swung aiming at Noah''s jaw.


    Noah got closer to the man and caught it before it could reach its maximum power, and with a single powerful twist of the wrist, he spun the pipe once, stealing it from the thug''s grip with a dangerous glint in his eyes.


    "Thanks," Noah said, before striking with the pipe, down on the thug''s knee.


    A sickening crunch echoed through the hallway as the man dropped, howling in agony as his knee caved in an unnatural shape.


    The guy with the crowbar hesitated, faltering just long enough for Noah to throw an elbow into his face, feeling the crack of his nose, as the man stumbled back, dazed. Noah didn''t give him a chance to recover.


    With a swift strike, he brought his knee up, mming it into the thug''s stomach.


    The man crumpled, coughing and gasping for breath.


    "Blurgh!" The man vomited, as he struggled for air.


    Noah turned his gaze to thest three standing.


    "They are different" he thought as he saw that there was no desperation in their eyes, they weren''t just followingmands.


    The leader, Lionel, held his ground at the front, his face twisting as he met Noah''s intense stare.


    Beside him stood Leo, the co-leader, his eyes looking at the unconscious bodies scattered around.


    The third man seemed to be holding his breath, fists clenched tightly at his sides.


    "What¡­ what did we do to you?" Lionel''s voice wavered, a desperate edge creeping in.


    [Ding! Ultimate Choice System has been activated!]


    Option 1: Remove The Ash Wolves from your city.


    [Reward: 10kg of Pure Gold]


    Option 2: Take them under your wing, and nurture them alongside Jackson''s.


    [Reward: Intermediate Goldcraft Skill]


    Noah immediately picked option 2, without any hesitation.


    Option 1


    gave him instant but disposable ie, whereas


    option 2


    provided him with a steady ie that would never stop.


    [Ding! Intermediate Goldcraft Skill is rewarded!]


    "Why are you attacking us?"


    Noah raised an eyebrow, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.


    "What did you do to me?" he repeated his tone light.


    "Let''s just say your little wanna-be viin friend ran around looking for trouble and... he found it."


    I"''m here to make sure he, and anyone else affiliated with him, learn a lesson they will never forget."


    Lionel swallowed hard, ncing at Leo.


    Both of them knew they had no chance against Noah''s strength, not after witnessing him handle them like they were kids.


    Yet, Lionel as a leader had to keep hisposure, defiance flickering in his eyes.


    "You think you can just walk in here and threaten us?" he hissed.


    His voice edged with desperation he tried to hide. "There are rules, you know, limits like they say. You wouldn''t dare pull the trigger. At most, we will be beat for a while. But make sure you keep your eyes on your back."


    Noah''s smile widened.


    "Really?" He added with an almost sadistic smile on his face.


    Slowly, he slipped his hand inside his jacket pocket, as though he were reaching for something hidden within.


    Whereas, in reality, he was just masking his inventory. His hand retrieved a sleek, polished handgun.


    He lifted it, the barrel shining under the bright light, as he held it steady and aimed it right between Lionel''s eyes


    Lionel''s bravado faltered. His eyes darted from the gun to Noah''s expressionless face.


    "Wh-what do you want?" he stammered, his voice cracking despite his control.


    "First things first," Noah replied calmly. "Get on your knees and apologize."


    Lionel''s face contorted with anger, his fists trembling under the humiliation.


    "Don''t push your luck," he growled. "You wouldn''t fire that thing, not if your life did not depend on it. Otherwise, you would have started firing from the beginning."


    "Is that so?" Noah''s voice was almost a whisper.


    Without breaking eye contact, he strolled over to one of the rooms in the hallway, picked up a pillow folded it, and ced it over one of the unconscious men''s heads, pressing the muzzle against it.


    "Maybe we should test that theory," Noah suggested, his voice carrying dark amusement. "What do you think?"


    "Stop!" Lionel''s voice was panicked now, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.


    His mind raced, a silent horror dawning on him. "This man is a monster, an intelligent one at that."


    Lionel knew, with chilling certainty, that Noah wouldn''t hesitate to pull the trigger if he kept up his attitude.


    "We''ll do as you say!" Lionel''s defiance melted away, reced with a cautious submission. As he tried to take a knee, motioning for Leo to do the same.


    But Noah only chuckled, waving a dismissive hand. "Rx. I''m not interested in a pointless apology. I was just ying around with you."


    He cracked his neck while lowering the gun.


    "But I do have two options for you. Take your time, I''m feeling generous." He said as he lifted two fingers up.


    Lionel and Leo shared a wary nce before turning back to Noah.


    "Here''s the first option," Noah continued, walking leisurely between them.


    "You leave this city. Disappear. Don''t show your face anywhere near me or Jackson ever again."


    His gaze darkened, the air thickening with his next phrase.


    "Because if I see you, I will... kill you."


    He stopped, hands folded casually behind his back. "Or¡­" he drew out, savouring the moment.


    "You join Jackson''s group. Work for me. And trust me, ites with perks. Pure gold," He added, "the untraceable one. I can supply you with more than you''ve ever dreamed of."


    Lionel''s face tightened. He understood the significance of untraceable gold.


    It was every smuggler''s dream, to imagine a fortune that no one could track, an endless ie without the need forundering anything nor hiding their real assets.


    "Think about it," Noah''s voice woke them up from their daydream.


    "I have other businesses, legitimate ones."


    "Prove yourself, and you''ll find opportunities in ces you couldn''t imagine. Make the right choice, and you might just find yourself on the winning side for once."


    Lionel''s gaze flickered with uncertainty. He and Leo turned toward each other whispering.


    "Tick-tock," Noah''s voice interrupted, his tone edged with mock impatience. "Your time''s up. Option one or option two?"

 Chapter 129: The New Wolves

    Lionel clenched his jaw, a resigned look on his face as he looked at Leo, who nodded.


    Looking at Noah, he swallowed his built-up saliva.


    "We''ll... work under you."


    "Smart man," Noah replied.


    With a light smirk, he continued. "Wee to your new life."


    "Let me tell you a fun fact about me," Noah said and paused.


    "I hate betrayals more than anything. If I hear, see or catch any of you having such thoughts. You will wish that you died before I found out."


    "Am I clear?"


    Lionel''s face paled, and Leo swallowed hard at the threat, both of them nodding.


    "You are loud and clear," Lionel replied, his voice low with obedience.


    The fear in his eyes was loud enough to show his understanding.


    Noah''s smirk remained, his cold eyes freezing them with a look that felt like they were held at gunpoint.


    Well... they kind of were.


    "Good. Remember that. I''m a fair man, but there''s a line. Cross it, and you''ll see what lies on the other side." He added, as his smirk turned into a calm smile.


    Lionel and Leo exchanged a nce.


    Both of them straightened up instinctively while nodding at Noah, knowing any sign of hesitation would be interpreted as a weakness or worse... disloyalty.


    "Now," Noah continued, his tone casual as though he hadn''t just been threatening them with death a minute ago.


    "I''ll have work lined up for you soon. Consider this yourst chance to clean up your messes and clear out any loose ends."


    "I will tell you the new rulester, anything that doesn''t align with them ends."


    Lionel nodded quickly, with a humble and obedient look. "Of course. We''ll do as you say, boss."


    Noah looked at him for a moment, nodding with satisfaction.


    "Good."


    With onest look, he turned around and said.


    "Clean up this mess, also inform them about the new changes since they were... asleep."


    "Make sure you notify the idiot in prison to keep his mouth shut, if he isn''t dismissed within next week I will think of a way to get him out."


    "I will also send Jackson to you during this week, so make sure you listen to my instructions as it will be rallied through him."


    Lionel nodded, as he stared at Noah''s back.


    Noah turned around quickly as if remembering something.


    "Here, take this. It belongs to you, as he handed Lionel the gun."


    Lionel looked at Noah with shock, "Why is he giving me the gun? Is he that confident? or is he just naive?"


    "Why are you taking so long for? Do you not want it?" Noah said with a curious look.


    Lionel nodded and said, "Thanks, as he took the gun."


    Noah then turned around and waved with the back of his hand.


    Seeing Noah''s exposed back, Lionel''s urge to shoot him shot up as his eyes nced at the pillow on the floor.


    But his instincts told him not to do it, he felt that he would regret it if he had done that.


    Noah''s voice slowly echoed in his mind, as he remembered his earlier threat.


    He sighed, as Noah disappeared from the hallway and out of the door.


    Leo on his side looked at him with a shocked look and said. "Why did you not shoot him, or threaten him like he did to us."


    "We had the upper hand!" He added with a louder tone.


    Lionel shook his head.


    "I felt fear looking at his exposed back... I couldn''t do it, my long years in this industry honed my instincts."


    "I know when I see... death." He added with a low tone, as he nced at Leo.


    He took onest look at the gun, his hands trembling at the sight.


    "The clip was full," he muttered with a low tone.


    He swallowed hard, his gaze unfocused as he reyed the moment when Noah turned his back to them,pletely vulnerable, unguarded.


    Lionel''s hand clenched as he whispered to himself.


    "I could''ve¡­ no, I should''ve¡­"


    Leo watched Lionel with a dark expression, his frustration building up.


    "That''s what I''ve been saying to you! He handed you the opportunity on a silver tter, and you just let him walk out."


    "Why, Lionel? Do you want to be a subordinate? you just¡ª" Leo''s voice was rising, the desperation in his tone cutting through the silence.


    A sudden realisation struck Lionel as Leo''s voice slowly faded from his ears.


    Turning to Leo, Lionel''s eyes showed a hint of fear.


    "You think it''s that simple?" His voice was almost whisper amid the loud voice of Leo.


    "He knew I wouldn''t pull the trigger. He knew because he''s the type of man who doesn''t gamble. He knew that he checkmated us... We were never going to win."


    Leo''s brows raised in confusion. "But you had the upper hand, Lionel! His back was unguarded, he was unarmed¡ª"


    Lionel let out a dryugh, cutting him off. "Unarmed? Do you really think he was unarmed?"


    "You are really naive Leo. That man is a weapon himself!"


    He held up the gun, looking down at it with a mix of disbelief and respect.


    "He gave me a fully loaded gun, turned his back, and walked away. That wasn''t confidence, Leo. That was him showing us just how little we matter."


    Leo took a step back, his face paling as he absorbed Lionel''s words.


    "You''re saying¡­ he knew you wouldn''t shoot him? That he didn''t even consider us a threat even with a loaded gun?"


    Lionel nodded slowly, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "Exactly. This isn''t some street thug we''re dealing with, Leo. He''s¡­ a monster."


    "Cold. A man like that doesn''t make mistakes. Every action, every word¡ªit''s all part of a game we can never even dream of seeing."


    Leo''s shoulders slumped, as he understood Lionel''s words.


    "So, what now? Do we just do what he says? Be his¡­ hisckeys?"


    Lionel''s face grew grim.


    "We do what he says, yes. Because I don''t know what he''s capable of, and frankly, I really don''t want to find out."


    "He''s like a sleeping whale, Leo."


    "We''re nothing but fish swimming around his waters, thinking we''re safe because he hasn''t snapped his jaws yet."

 Chapter 130: The Monster

    Leo looked away from Lionel, his expression twisting with frustration and helplessness.


    "Lionel, I thought we were meant to be the top dogs of this city."


    "I thought we had finally started amassing power here."


    "Power?" Lionel scoffed, shaking his head.


    "This man has power we can''t evenprehend, let alonepete with. He is the real top dog."


    "He gave me a loaded gun Leo, and dared me to shoot."


    "He didn''t even flinch when giving it to me, and just walked with his back facing me."


    Leo''s face contorted in understanding.


    Using a low tone, he said. "He''s not like us, is he Lionel?"


    "No," Lionel replied, his voice low.


    "He''s something else entirely.


    ****


    Jackson sat in the Lykan, tapping his fingers nervously on his phone as he waited.


    He saw Noah knock out the first guy at the door, but after that, the door mmed shut, leaving him with only his chaotic thoughts as apanion.


    "It''s been five minutes¡­" he muttered, ncing anxiously at his watch.


    "Why''s he still not out? Is he okay in there? Should I call for backup?"


    He shook his head, trying to remove the bad thoughts.


    "No, no¡­ he told me to wait. I will just trust him," he murmured, trying to calm himself.


    But even as he said it, he was gripping the phone so hard his knuckles turned white.


    Five minutester...


    "It''s ten minutes now." He murmured softly.


    "Damn it, Noah! You''re killing me!" He grunted, feeling his patience slowly leaving.


    "Alright, five more minutes. If he''s still not out by then, I''m calling everyone. If anything happens to you, Noah, I swear I''ll make them pay¡­" He said gritting his teeth.


    Jackson kept ncing at his watch every few seconds, his heart racing with every passing second.


    His thoughts slowly tightening the rope he felt around his neck


    Finally, after onest look at his watch, he cursed under his breath.


    "Screw it. I''m calling everyone. I promise to take revenge!"


    Just as he scrolled to his brother''s contact and pressed the call button. The door swung open. He jerked, dropping his phone.


    "Noah?" Jackson''s eyes went wide, and he stammered, "Y-you''re still ali¡ª I mean, why did you take so long?"


    Noah looked at Jackson, as he stepped into the car.


    "What do you mean by that? You sounded disappointed that I am still alive and kicking."


    "Were you hoping I was dead?" he added, raising his eyebrow.


    Jackson''s face turned red. "N-no, no! I didn''t mean it like that! I was just worried! You took forever¡ªI was this close to calling everyone I know for backup."


    Noah chuckled, as he put his seatbelt on. "Everyone, huh? I had no idea I meant so much to you, Jackson."


    Jackson huffed, embarrassed. "You''d better! I was already nning out your vengeance. But seriously, what happened in there?"


    "Nothing much." Noah shrugged nonchntly, a small smirk on his face.


    "Just some¡­ business to handle. Let''s just say the Ash Wolves won''t be causing any more trouble."


    Jackson''s eyes went wide, his jaw nearly hitting the steering wheel. "You''re telling me¡­ you took care of them? All of them? Just like that?"


    Noah turned on the car and replied with a casual smile.


    "Pretty much."


    Jackson''s face turned pale.


    "Do you have any idea what that means? The cleanup? The police?"


    "Noah, they''ll jail you for life if they find out! We''ll need a whole crew just to cover this up! I can get you out of the country¡ªmaybe some ind paradise where no one can find you¡­"


    Noah''sughter cut him off.


    "Rx, Jackson," he said, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.


    "I don''t need to go into hiding."


    Jackson looked at him, stunned. "Are you going to use your connections to get out of it? Who do you have as a friend? The king?"


    "You are thinking too much," Noah replied with a calm smile.


    "I didn''t kill any of them, I just spoke to them in a civilised way."


    Jackson''s eyes rolled at his response.


    "Oh, yeah, that was very civilized. Especially mming a guy''s head into the concrete, it is basically like inviting him for tea, right?"


    Noah shrugged.


    "Depends on the tea party."


    "So¡­ what did you actually do to make them ''not cause any more trouble''? Hypnotize them with polite threats?" He added in a sarcastic tone.


    "Not quite," Noah replied, as he drove calmly his eyes on the road ahead.


    "I gave them two options, disappear or work under me."


    Jackson blinked, then barked out augh. "Wait. You''re telling me¡­ you actually got ''The Ash Wolves'' to submit?"


    Noah nced at him with a calm, knowing look. "You sound surprised. Persuasion can be effective when it''s¡­ properly applied."


    "Yes that''s very persuasive and civilised, I would like to emphasize the verb disappear."


    "I meant it is quite civilised, they used their brain. You could say they saw the bigger picture."


    Jackson strikes back, "Or maybe they just didn''t like the alternative." He added sarcastically.


    Laughing at Jackson''s response, Noah said. "That as well."


    Jackson chuckled his earlier worry disappearing.


    "I''m d I didn''t have to take revenge for you."


    "Though I''ll admit, I wouldn''t mind seeing you sipping tea at your next ''civilized negotiation.'' "


    Noah smirked. "Don''t worry. I''ll send you a VIP invite to the next one."


    As he dropped Jackson off where his car was parked, he told him about the merging of his group and the Ash Wolves.


    Jackson was reluctant at the beginning considering what Ryker had done to his younger brother, but Noah told him that he would make sure they get their payback.


    Jackson agreed, but said he would need to talk to his father and brother as he wasn''t the only head of the gang.


    Noah nodded and didn''t pressure him.


    After dropping Jackson off, Noah headed to his mansion.


    "The system was quite generous with the rewards today, I got a vest, a million dors and most importantly an an intermediate Goldcraft skill." He muttered, as he sped across the motorway.

 Chapter 131 Passive Income

    Next day...


    Early morning, Noah woke up and went to the bathroom to get ready for the day.


    He decided to check out the new system notifications to pass some time whilst brushing his teeth.


    [Ding! $2,300 has been credited to the ount ending in xx04. Current bnce: $1,044,369]


    "This is the breathing money," He thought with a small smile as he checked the new notification.


    [Ding! 500g of Pure Gold has been stored in the inventory]


    "That''s a daily ie of $46,000 just from gold," Noah thought with a small smile.


    "With Jackson and Lionel working together, I will be able to sell all of this gold."


    "That means my ie for ten days will reach $400,000 from the gold, around $90,000 from An''s Gourmet and simr ie from Walls4Us." Noah thought, his smile widening.


    Noah looked at the time, it was 6:00 am. He contemted whether he should go to school or not but after some consideration.


    "I don''t have anything going on right now, I might as well." He muttered silently, as he put on his uniform.


    Looking at it in the mirror, he thought. " I need a new size, it''s bing a muscle fit."


    He took the Lykan and drove to school, before parking it somewhere slightly further.


    "News travels fast, if my mum finds out she will start getting paranoid thinking that I am in some underworld gang."


    Arriving at school, he saw a message notification on his phone.


    "Hi, I spoke to my dad about the housekeeper, he said he will send you a name of a few he can vouch for alongside their details."


    Replying to Amelia''s text, he said. "Thanks for the help. Want to y Underwatch 2 sometimeter?"


    She quickly sent him a cute gif of a cat nodding its head.


    "Haha, alright. Send me your BattleTag and I will add you."


    She quickly sent him her BattleTag and said.


    "Okay! Let me know when you want to y."


    He quickly sent her a message and put his phone in his pocket as he entered his ss.


    As Noah entered the ssroom, he noticed Lily ncing his way, her gaze a mix of hesitation and something unreadable.


    He dropped his bag next to her, taking his seat with a light smile.


    "How are you doing, Lily?"


    "I''m¡­ I''m doing good, thanks. How about you?"


    "Doing fine. Thanks for asking." He leaned back slightly. "Did I miss anything on Friday?"


    She shook her head, brushing her hair behind her ear.


    "Not really. We''ve just been going over the practice questions for the exams."


    Noah nodded.


    "Exams already, huh? Time flies."


    He nced sideways at her, his tone casual. "Where are you thinking of going to university?"


    She met his gaze, her face momentarily lighting up. "I''m leaning towards Cambridge, but¡­ Oxford''s also a possibility."


    "Good choices," he replied, nodding approvingly. "I''m nning on Cambridge too."


    Her cheeks flushed, but she quickly looked down at her notebook, the tiniest smile crossing her lips before she hid it.


    Stay updated with empire


    "I see," she murmured, trying to sound indifferent.


    She paused, then said almost shyly, "My dad keeps asking when you''re going toe over, you know."


    Noah chuckled, amused. "Oh, does he now? Tell him I''ll extend a formal invite soon. I''ll host him at my teahouse sometime soon."


    Her eyebrows raised.


    "This quick?"


    "Yeah, I hurried the process. Thought it might be fun."


    The corners of her mouth quirked up into a small smile. "I think he''d love that. He''s always talking about the tea you gave himst time, you know."


    "That''s good to know. I''ll make sure it''s ready for him."


    Just then, their teacher entered the room and started the lesson.


    An hour passed by slowly, as Noah sat bored in the ss.


    At lunchtime, he met up with Aiden and ate lunch together. After finishing his food, Noah took out his Macbook.


    "Let me quickly edit your video."


    "Really?" Aiden quickly said as he sat next to Noah watching him edit.


    Thirty minutester...


    "Now, I just need to render it and it will be ready."


    A few minutester, Noah yed the video with Aiden next to him.


    "This..." Aiden paused.


    "Bro, where the hell did you learn to edit like this? I feel like I''m watching a movie." He said with shock stered on his face.


    "I watched a couple of videos, it''s not that difficult. Anyway, do you like it?"


    "Bro.. I love that shit. You actually need to teach me to edit like this, don''t gatekeep."


    "Alright, alright. I will send you a couple of tutorials, just learn from them."


    Before the school day ended, Noah decided to go talk to the principal.


    Knock-Knock


    "Come in," said a mature voice, from behind the door.


    "Principal, good afternoon."


    "Noah, nice to see you again. How are you doing ?" The principal replied.


    "I''m doing good principal, I wanted to talk to you about my attendance."


    The principal nodded.


    "Take a seat." He gestured with his hand.


    "Thanks, I will be honest with you principal. My life has been very busytely, and I will not have much time to appear in my lessons."


    "I will attend now and then. However, it will not be the 96% attendance rate the school wants from me."


    The principal nodded with a serious look on his face.


    "I see, so do you want me to give you an exception?"


    Noah nodded. "Yes principal, the sses are all easy for me. In fact, I can get full marks on any high school paper you could give me."


    "As you know my family is poor, and I''m working on a business that will help us right now. The business has lots of potential and I really don''t want to let go of this lifeline." He added with a shivering tone.


    "Alright, do you mind telling me about the business?" The principal said, showing understanding of Noah''s circumstances.


    "It''s a teahouse sir."


    "A teahouse? Your business is selling tea?" He said curiously, it was quite unexpected.


    "Yes, do you want to try it?"


    "Sure," The principal nodded, curious about the tea.


    In his mind, he already made a decision if Noah''s tea wasn''t exceptional he would not allow him to skip.


    Noah quickly heated the kettle and brewed the tea.


    The soft, but mesmerising smell filled the small room.


    "This smell..." The principal thought as he looked at the tea in front of him.


    "Try it. You won''t regret it." Noah added with a light smile.


    Nodding his head, the principal took a light sip.


    After a long pause...


    "Do you have more," He said with a low tone as if he was embarrassed.


    Noah nodded his head and gave the principal a small pack from his inventory.


    The principal looked at Noah and said with a serious tone.


    "Noah... I must be present at the grand opening."


    "Naturally, principal," Noah said, looking at the principal drink with a smile on his face.


    "Then it''s decided, you can skip. But you muste once every week, otherwise there is really no way."


    Noah nodded, after talking with the principal for a while, he left the office.

 Chapter 132 Fun Fair

    After leaving school, Noah headed to his sister''s elementary school to pick her up.


    As he approached her ssroom, he saw her sitting down and ying around with one of her friends.


    "Emily, your brother is here." The teacher said with a light smile.


    "Brother?" She turned around and saw Noah.


    She immediately got excited and jumped up from her chair, and took her bag after saying goodbye to her friend.


    "See you," She said as she waved at her friend whilst holding Noah''s hand.


    As they left the School, she looked at Noah with puppy eyes.


    "Brother, why are you noting hometely?"


    Noah looked at her with a gentle smile. "I''ve just been really busy recently, Em," he said, his tone softening.


    "But look, I will always make time for my little sister. In fact, I was nning to take you to the fun fair."


    Her eyes widened, lighting up with excitement. "Funfair? Really?" She practically bounced on her toes.


    He nodded, keeping his smile. "Yes, really."


    Emily''s face broke into a huge grin, but then she hesitated.


    She looked up at him with those familiar puppy-dog eyes.


    "She definitely wants something," He thought, as he looked at her eyes.


    "Can¡­ can my friende with us too?"


    Noah raised an eyebrow, surprised but amused. "Your friend? Sure, but we''d have to ask her parents first, okay?"


    She nodded eagerly, looking back toward the ssroom where her friend still sat. "She''s really nice, but her family can''t afford to go to ces like the fun fair. And I want her to have fun too!"


    Noah chuckled and nodded. "Is she the one who was sitting next to you when I walked in?"


    Emily nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! She''s my best friend!"


    He squeezed her little hand gently. "Alright, let''s go back and wait for her parents toe. If they say yes, she''s wee to join us."


    Emily grinned up at him, clearly thrilled, then stretched her arms toward him with a wide, hopeful smile. "Brother, lift me up!"


    Heughed, lifting her effortlessly and letting her wrap her arms around his neck.


    She nted a quick, yful kiss on his cheek with a giggle.


    "Muah! You''re the best big brother ever!"


    Laughing, Noah set her back down gently, ruffling her hair. "Alright, let''s go talk to her parents."


    Your journey continues at empire


    After waiting for a few minutes, Noah watched as a man approached, ncing at the two girls before his gazended on Noah.


    He gave a polite nod, greeting Emily''s friend''s father, who greeted him in return with a curious but friendly look.


    "Hello, uncle," Noah began, keeping his tone respectful.


    "I''m Emily''s brother. My name is Noah."


    He paused briefly, ncing over at the girls, who were whispering and giggling together a few feet away.


    "I was nning to take Emily to the fun fair, and she mentioned that your daughter might enjoying along too. I wanted to ask you if that would be alright."


    The father''s eyes softened, and he nodded thoughtfully.


    "I appreciate that, Noah, truly. But I don''t think I''ll be able to manage it today," he said, scratching the back of his head apologetically.


    "I''ve got a shifting up, and I wouldn''t be able toe pick her up from youter."


    Noah gave him an understanding nod, not wanting to push but still offered a solution.


    "Uncle, Ipletely understand," he said gently. "But if it''s alright with you, I''d be more than happy to bring her home afterwards. You could tell me what time works best for you, and I''d make sure she''s there safely."


    The man''s face showed a mix of gratitude and hesitation as he looked back toward his daughter, who was excitedly showing Emily something from her bag.


    His brows furrowed as he considered it, ncing at Noah with a slight frown. "It''s very kind of you, son...but..." he trailed off, scratching the back of his head.


    Noah gave him a warm smile, his tone calm and reassuring.


    "Uncle, Ipletely understand your concerns. I know it''s not easy to trust someone you just met," he said gently.


    "But I want to make sure she has the same chance to enjoy herself as Emily. I''ll make sure she''s home exactly when you say."


    The man looked back at his daughter, who wasughing with Emily, her face glowing with excitement. Seeing her happiness, his expression softened, the hesitation melting into a gentle smile.


    "We live at... down the road, you cane to our house sometime with the family some time."


    "You''re a good young man, Noah," he finally said, sighing as he turned back to him.


    "Alright, I''ll let her go with you. Just¡­ make sure she''s home by 8, alright?"


    Noah replied with a genuine smile. "Thank you, uncle. I promise she''ll be home by 8."


    The father nodded, visibly relieved, and walked over to his daughter, exining briefly that she could go to the fair if she wanted.


    The little girl''s eyes widened with excitement, and she quickly turned to hug her father, thanking him.


    As they walked out of the school.


    Emily looked at Noah, her eyes sparkling. "You are the best!"


    Arriving at the funfair, it was bustling withughter and bright lights alongside the smell of cotton candy and popcorn.


    Noah walked hand in hand with Emily and her friend, Sarah, who was almost skipping with excitement, her small face lit up at the sights and sounds surrounding them.


    "Brother, Cotton candy! Please!!" She pleaded with her puppy eyes again.


    Noah had already decided to spoil her today, so he gave in and nodded.


    After buying some for Emily and Sarah, they continued walking around as the girls ate their cotton candy.


    The girls exchanged nces filled with the thrill, their eyes shifting from one game to the next.


    "Brother, look! The Ferris wheel!" Emily squealed, pointing at the towering, colourful wheel in the distance.


    "You two ready for the big one?" Noah asked with a mischievous grin.


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    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 133 Fun Fair (2)

    Emily and Sarah exchanged a cute nod, their eyes filled with determination, as they looked at the giant wheel spinning in the air.


    "We''re ready," They both nodded.


    Noah walked with them over to the line, their little hands clinging to his as they looked up.


    "Brother, I''m scared!"


    "Em, what happened to all the big talk from earlier." Noah teased her, with a light smile on his face.


    "Hmph! I was just joking. Watch me!" She replied, with puffed cheeks.


    Sarah at the side giggled.


    As they took their seats, Emily clutched Noah''s arm tightly, her eyes glued to the view as the wheel began to lift them higher into the air.


    Sarah let out a nervous giggle, gripping the handlebar tightly.


    The city slowly zoomed out beneath them.


    "Look, Sarah!" Emily pointed, with an excited tone.


    "We''re flying!"


    Sarahughed, her nerves dissipating. "It''s like we''re birds!" she whispered, clutching Noah''s sleeve.


    "Birds, huh?" Noah smiled, his gaze softening.


    After they hopped off the Ferris wheel, Emily tugged on his arm, pointing toward the bumper cars with an excited gleam in her eyes.


    "Can we do that one next?" she asked, eyes pleading.


    "Bumper cars?" Noah chuckled, eyeing the small vehicles buzzing around the arena. "Are you sure? I might be too fast for you."


    "Oh no!" Sarah grinned, ncing at Emily. "We''ll beat you, right, Emily?"


    "Yeah!" Emily chimed in, wanting to get revenge for his remark earlier. "We''ll knock you out, brother!"


    They split into two teams, Emily and Sarah climbing into one car, while Noah took the one next to them.


    The moment the cars moved, the girls let out squeals ofughter, dodging Noah''s attempts to bump into them.


    They circled around him, their giggles filling the air each time they evaded his approach.


    "Too slow, big brother!" Emily taunted, steering wildly as Sarah cheered her on.


    "Oh, you think you''re safe?" Noah shot back with a yful grin.


    He swerved his car, closing in on them, and gently bumped into their side.


    The girls erupted intoughter, clutching each other as their car spun slightly from the impact.


    "Again, again!" Sarah cried her voice a mixture of excitement and challenge.


    The bumper cars finally slowed, and as they climbed out, the girls were breathless fromughing, their faces flushed from the action.


    Next, they wandered over to the carousel, where Emily''s eyes sparkled at the sight of the cute horses.


    She pointed to one with a golden mane and said, "That''s my horse! Look how pretty it is!"


    Sarah picked a horse with silver trimmings, and Noah stood nearby, cheering them on.


    As the carousel began to turn, the girls waved at him each time they circled back, their faces almost glowing from happiness.


    "Look, Brother! I''m a princess!" Emily called out, her voice carrying over the cheerful music.


    "No, you''re a queen!" Noah replied.


    Emily grinned, straightening her imaginary crown, while Sarahughed.


    Afterwards, they made their way to a game booth where plush toys of all shapes hung as prizes.


    The girls were instantly drawn to the stuffed animals, their eyes alight with the possibility of winning.


    "Can we try, Brother?" Emily asked, tugging on his sleeve with a hopeful look.


    Noah smiled, pulling out some tokens. "Let''s do it. What do you two want to win?"


    Sarah pointed to arge panda bear, her eyes filled with excitement, while Emily pointed at a unicorn with a rainbow mane.


    Noah approached the game booth with Emily and Sarah with him, their eyes on the grand prize.


    The massive panda bear, it was the kind of toy that made every kid stare in anticipation, and every parent groan ready for their defeat as these types of games were usually a scam.


    Noah was different. Whether it was a scam or a real game he will get.


    He took a deep breath, steadied his aim, and with a smooth flick of his wrist,unched the ball right into the centre.


    A perfect hit. The bottles ttered to the ground.


    "Congrattions!" the booth owner called out, a bit too enthusiastically, quickly realizing his mistake.


    "Wait, did he really just¡­?"


    People nearby began murmuring, watching in awe.


    "Look at that aim!" one man whispered.


    "Sigh! If only my husband could aim like that in the toilet, the seat would be clean." a woman muttered, as the crowd giggled at her joke.


    The booth owner hesitated, watching Noah with a wary eye as he collected the first giant plush for Sarah.


    She hugged it close, grinning from ear to ear. Noah gave a reassuring nod to Emily, who gazed at the remaining unicorn with a rainbow mane with hope sparkling in her eyes.


    "Alright," Noah said, preparing to throw again. The booth owner swallowed nervously.


    "


    Okay, it was just luck. He can''t possibly do it twice."


    Noah lined up his second throw, his eyes fixed on the target.


    With another perfect flick of his wrist, the ball sailed through the air and struck dead centre yet again.


    The bottles ttered down once again.


    Cheers erupted from the growing crowd.


    The little girl watching beside her brother looked up at him with a sigh.


    "Why can''t you be as cool as him?"


    The boy, clearly offended, looked at her with sad eyes.


    "Hey! I''M ONLY SEVEN!"


    The girl raised her eyebrow, unconvinced. "Excuses," she muttered with a sigh, rolling her eyes.


    Meanwhile, Noah epted the second giant toy, handing it to Emily, who was practically bouncing with joy.


    "Thank you!" she squeaked, clutching the toy as if it were the most precious treasure in the world.


    People whispered as they walked away, recounting the legend of the "Panda-yer" who had somehow managed to get the top prizes with 100% uracy.


    The booth owner was left shaking his head, muttering.


    "I''m never letting someone with an arm like that near my booth again."


    As the sky darkened, Noah nced down at the girls, who were both hugging their toys.


    "Alright, girls, are you hungry?" he asked. They nodded enthusiastically.


    "Fish and chips?" he suggested with a grin.

 Chapter 134 Visiting

    "Yes, brother!" Emily replied immediately.


    Arriving at the fish and chips stand, Noah ced their order.


    "I want to order three portions of fish and chips and three fizzy drinks."


    "Alright sir, the food will be ready in about 10 minutes. The total will be $20.99" The man replied.


    "Alright, thanks." Noah nodded.


    "This is the best day ever," Emily said, her cheeks puffed as she took a bite.


    Sarah nodded in agreement, "Thank you, brother Noah. I''m having a lot of fun with you guys!"


    Ruffling her hair gently, he looked at her with a smile and said, "You''re wee, Sarah. We are having fun too."


    After they finished eating, Noah took an Uber back to Sarah''s house.


    It was reaching the curfew her dad set for her, so they headed back.


    As they arrived at Sarah''s door, she turned to Noah, clutching her panda bear tightly.


    With a shy and grateful smile, she whispered, "Thank you¡­ for everything."


    Noah crouched down to her level.


    With a warm smile, he replied.


    "Anytime, Sarah. I''m d you enjoyed yourself."


    She nodded eagerly, her smile widening. After giving Emily onest hug, she entered her house.


    Sarah''s mom thanked Noah with a polite nod and closed the door.


    Walking back home, Noah took a nce at Emily, who was hugging her panda.


    "You''re the best brother ever," she whispered, hugging his arm.


    "And you''re the best little sister I." He chuckled.


    They soon arrived home, Noah''s parents already knew that he would be arriving today as he told them he would pick up Emily from school and take her out to have fun.


    "Good evening son,"


    "Good evening Mom, good evening Dad," Noah replied.


    Emily immediately took off her shoes and ran to her parents.


    "Mom, Dad. You won''t believe what we did today!" As she started telling them, about her adventures in the theme park. They listened with a smile on their face.


    Noah shook his head as he saw her exaggerate half of the rides, but he let her have her moment.


    Noah chilled with his parents for the rest of the day, he told his dad he signed the contract with the teahouse and it will be ready in about a week.


    His mom encouraged them.


    "I have some spare money from my new job, if you guysck any money I will help out," she said with a serious tone.


    David felt warmth in his heart, "Alright honey, I will make sure to let you know."


    After spending some time with his parents and catching up, he headed to bed.


    As he settled in bed, he scrolled on his phone and he decided to check on the video he made for Aiden.


    Searching up Aiden''s Tiktalk page, Glutonny, He checked the first video.


    5 Million Views.


    "Not bad," Noah, thought as checked the views.


    Pressing on the video, he checked the likes which reached


    420 thousand.


    The video was considered viral since it has only been hours since it has been uploaded, thements were praising the editing skills and Aiden''s nonchnce.


    "Bro cooked with that video."


    "How is bro acting so nonchnt to the lykan behind him, I wonder if he sees something we don''t."


    "To thement above, I think gluttony can see John Cena. Of course, a Lykan won''t faze him."


    after looking at thements, Noah gave the video a like and left.


    After a while, he slowly drifted into sleep.


    ***


    The next day, Noah did his usual routine and headed downstairs towards the kitchen. His family were already awake, after breakfast with them.


    [Ding! $2,300 has been credited to the ount ending in xx04. Current bnce: $1,046,669]


    [Ding! 500g of Pure Gold has been stored in the inventory]


    Noah took Emily to school. However, this time he did not go to school himself.


    He decided to finally check out the apartment estate he received as a reward for helping Aiden with the viral video.


    [


    An apartment estate]


    Pressing on the icon in the inventory, all the information about the contracts for the apartment estate was revealed to him.


    The estimated price, the location, etc.


    He then went to the parking lot, got on the lykan and headed out.


    Arriving at the apartment estate, Noah looked up at the grand building towering above him.


    The estate was veryrge, its design modern yet ssic, with an eye-catching bnce of ss and stone.


    The building had a distinctive touch with minimalist, high-end details ¨C dark ents along the edges, and ss balconies on each floor.


    There were about eighty apartments spread across twenty floors, each floor with about four spacious apartments.


    The top floor, with floor-to-ceiling windows, appeared reserved for penthouses or perhaps executive suites.


    "I will keep the top floor for me," Noah thought.


    The location couldn''t have been better.


    Right next to a bustling hospital, a good grammar school, and only a few minutes from the city centre.


    Its location screamed convenience at every turn.


    Noah smirked slightly,


    "The system doesn''t y around when rewarding me," He thought.


    The demand here would be sky-high, it was an amazing business opportunity and it was also good for his family.


    "Eighty apartments," he mused, "and in such a prime location¡­ no wonder the estimated value is so high."


    The fact that he owned the entire estate now meant he could do a lot more than just profit from it.


    He decided to check the main lobby, he was met with a modern, sophisticated interior.


    There were small touches of dark oak and marble throughout.


    Plush seating areas dotted the space, giving it an inviting feel despite the upscale aesthetic.


    It was clear that this ce wasn''t just built for living, it was meant to be enjoyed too.


    Making his way to the elevators, he pressed the button and watched the doors glide open with barely a sound.


    "Moving my family here¡­ would be best," he thought.


    The elevator opened directly to the first floor, which housed thergest and most intricately designed apartments in the building.


    Noah stepped out, looking around at therge corridor that led to each of the four units.


    He walked up to one of the apartment doors, opened it, and entered the living area.


    The decor was a harmonious blend of modern minimalism with soft, natural tones. Hardwood floors stretched across the space, giving it warmth, whilerge windows offered a sweeping view of the city skyline.


    Theyout was wless, offering the right amount of privacy and openness.


    The master bedroom alone wasrger than his family''s entire apartment back home, with a private balcony and an en-suite bathroom featuring a walk-in shower and a soaking tub.


    "Emily will definitely im this room her own if she sees it," He thought, with a smile.


    Living here would mean his mom could work close by without the hassle of a longmute, Emily could enrol in the nearby elementary school, and the teahouse was also nearby for his dad.


    Noah walked over to therge balcony and muttered.


    "This will be perfect," he thought.

 Chapter 135 Hospital Visit

    After leaving the apartment, Noah decided to head to the hospital nearby.


    With a smirk on his face, Noah thought, "Time to pay a certain friend a visit."


    Arriving at the hospital, Noah did not ask for directions.


    He knew where he was going.


    As he arrived in front of the room, he entered nonchntly without anyone noticing him.


    As he closed the door behind him, his eyes showed surprise as he saw an olddy holding a cane on the chair sitting next to the unconscious Horace.


    The old woman''s eyes became wide with a startled expression, but she stayed still in her seat and did not turn to look at him.


    She gripped the top of her cane tightly, her frail fingers shaking slightly.


    "Who''s there?" Her voice was low and worn, each word escaping with a slight tremor.


    "Doctor¡­?"


    Noah stood there silently for a moment, observing her, a thoughtful look passing over his face.


    He waved his hand subtly in front of her face. However, she didn''t flinch or react.


    "She is blind." He thought.


    He pressed his lips into a thin line, cleared his throat softly and put on a gentle tone.


    "Hello, madam. I''m just the nurse."


    "I''m not the doctor. However, I''m here to check on Horace per the usual routine," he said casually, careful to keep his voice calm and soothing.


    The old woman nodded slowly, though her movements were marked with that same frail, persistent shake.


    Her whole body seemed to tremble slightly, her posture slumped down by her illness and age.


    She gave him a small, grateful nod.


    "Thank you... I appreciate it," she whispered.


    After pretending to rumble through his notes and perform checks on Horace, Noah finally took a seat on the chair next to her.


    He looked at her, she was a good mother who had stayed by her son''s side, despite everything, despite what little hope remained in her heart.


    "How is he doing, Doctor?" she asked, her voice thick with a mix of worry and resignation.


    She hadn''t quite registered he wasn''t a doctor, just clinging to the title, perhaps because it offered some faintfort.


    Noah sighed, his expression neutral.


    "He''s... the same as before, madam," he replied. "But... how are


    you


    holding up? Do you need anything?"


    Her thin, shaking hands clutched her cane tighter, as if it were the only anchor she had left in her world.


    "I''m alright, thank you," she murmured.


    But the slight catch in her voice betrayed her.


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    It was the answer of someone who had been strong for too long, who had no choice but to be alright because the alternative was despair.


    There was a pause, as Noah watched her, a question lingering on his lips before he finally spoke.


    "Do you... hate the person who did this to your son?"


    The old woman fell silent, her lips pressing together as she considered the question.


    After a long pause, she released a weary sigh.


    "Hate¡­" she began softly, "hate doesn''t quite cover it, but... it''splicated."


    She lowered her head, a single tear slipping down her cheek, trailing through the fine lines on her face.


    "I know my son," she whispered. "Ever since he was a teenager¡­ he was never innocent. I know that."


    Her voice wavered, but she continued. "He''s made mistakes, big ones¡­ he wasn''t an easy child, not an easy man. He''s done things I''m not proud of."


    She took a shuddering breath, looking as if she was reliving memories she would rather forget. "So yes, maybe... maybe he deserved something. Some punishment, some... lesson. But this?"


    Her voice cracked as the tears began to fall more freely.


    "Whoever did this¡­ they''re not just punishing him. They''re punishing me, punishing us." She shook her head slowly, the grief spilling out as she clutched her cane even tighter, knuckles whitening.


    "They should have either let him go or¡­" Her voice trailed off, then hardened slightly, carrying a tone Noah hadn''t heard from her until now. "Or killed him. If he had to suffer for what he''d done, they could have at least spared him and us this endless pain."


    Noah''s expression remained stoic, she wasn''t looking for pity.


    She wasn''t pleading for sympathy. She was simply sharing the weight of her sorrow, a sorrow so deep it was beyond anger, beyond revenge.


    "We can''t keep him here for much longer¡­" Her voice was barely a whisper now.


    "The expenses, they''re too much. Every day he stays here, it takes a bit more of what little we have left. Soon, we won''t have anything left at all."


    She looked away, her sightless eyes fixed on nothing, her voice shaking. "We''ll lose everything, and he will die anyway. Slowly, painfully¡­ and we''ll be left with nothing."


    For a moment, Noah was silent. He looked at the frail woman, her thin shoulders slumped down by a lifetime of suffering and a love that could not abandon her son, even in his darkest days.


    He remained silent for a while, "I see, rest easy madame. I need to go."


    The old woman merely smiled a sad, almost hollow smile that spoke of eptance. "This is my burden," she muttered silently and simply. "A mother''s heart¡­ it doesn''t abandon, no matter what."


    Noah walked out of the hospital room, closing the door softly behind him, leaving the grieving mother and her son in their own quiet but suspended world.


    The corridor stretched out before him, the distant hum of medical equipment filled the silence, faint and detached, just as he felt in that moment.


    He took a slow breath, his face as calm as a sske, every feature on his face showing nothing.


    There was no guilt, no second thoughts.


    His emotions were as smooth and still as his expression.


    This was what he had chosen¡ªa path where weakness, regret, and second-guessing held no ce.


    "I know the future will be worse," He muttered silently.


    He knew it had begun, truly begun. Horace was merely the first ripple in the vast sea of choices he was going to make.


    His choices will soon affect millions, let alone one Horace.

 Chapter 136 Ripple

    This world demanded a heart of steel, power was everything meanwhile having mercy was considered a weakness


    Today, he had affected a family of two, a mother and her deadbeat child.


    But what about tomorrow?


    He would affect more than just one family, and the effect would ripple through lives on a wavelength that many would not like.


    "Breaking now would mean never reaching the top," he thought, his mind sharp and cold.


    If a single family''s pain was enough to shake him, if the sorrow of one old blind woman could make him falter¡­ then he would never make it.


    Noah knew that his ambitions; the power, the status. They all required him to have one goal and only one goal in mind.


    To dominate, and not care about the consequences as long as it didn''t affect him or the people around him.


    His will must be strong and sturdy, like iron. He couldn''t falter, it would only ruin him psychologically.


    "This is the life I chose." He muttered coldly.


    No illusions of being the nice guy, nor any ambitions of being the hero that saved the day.


    He didn''t see himself as the bad guy, but he knew he wasn''t the good one either.


    He was a force in the world, moving in the river of time and following what fate had in store for him, and forces didn''t have the luxury nor time for pity.


    People were bound to get hurt, some more than others¡ªand he had to ept that if he was to keep moving forward.


    This was just the beginning, and he knew it would get worse, messier, more ruthless.


    "It''s a price I''m willing to pay to reach the top."


    He knew others wouldn''t understand, perhaps even despise him. But that didn''t change a thing.


    He pushed open the exit door, stepping into the main road.


    Ding


    His phone buzzed. ncing at the text from an unknown number, he realised it was Adam.


    He had sent him the information of a few housekeepers, and their experience.


    He started reading the CVs of the housekeepers one by one. They were all obviously trustworthy.


    Alfred, a 55-year-old head butler, has 35 years of experience in the field.


    Pennyworth, a 45-year-old butler, has 20 years of experience in the field.


    these two were the best options he found, the sry was not an issue.


    He decided to go with Alfred, he took the contact number and called.


    Ring-ring.


    "Hello?" came a calm and professional voice through the phone.


    "Hello, am I speaking to Alfred?"


    "Yes, sir, I am Alfred. How can I be of assistance?" The voice replied calmly


    "Hello, Alfred. I got your number from a contact of mine who rmended you. I''m looking for a full-time butler to manage my property, I wonder if you are interested" Noah replied.


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    There was a moment of silence, and then Alfred spoke.


    "I understand, sir. Typically, before Imit to any position, I prefer to do a preliminary visit to understand theyout and maintenance requirements of the property."


    "It also helps to discuss essential details such as working hours, residence arrangements, and, of course, sry."


    "That makes sense," Noah replied


    "Actually, there are no other house staff at the moment. I was hoping you might have a team or could help me source reliable staff, as it''s quite arge property that needs upkeep."


    "Certainly, sir," Alfred responded without hesitation. "For arger estate, I typically rmend at least two housekeepers for general cleaning, someone for groundskeeping if there are extensive gardens, and perhaps a chef if daily meals are desired."


    "Rest assured, I can assemble a team suited to your needs if needed."


    "Excellent," Noah said, pleased.


    "Are you free this morning? I''d like us to meet and go over everything in person. We can meet at the mansion, and I''ll show you around."


    "That would work perfectly, sir," Alfred agreed, his voice calm. "I will be there at your designated time."


    Noah nced at his phone to check the time.


    "Good. I''ll send the address. How does an hour from now sound?"


    "Very good, sir. I''ll be there on time," Alfred affirmed.


    After confirming the time, Noah ended the call and sent the address.


    "Adam''s referrals seem to be of high quality, this Alfred is giving me a good vibe. I feel like he would be a good choice." Noah thought as he slipped his phone into his pocket.


    Noah soon arrived at the mansion gates, he quickly told Anderson about the butler who wouldeter to which Anderson nodded in understanding.


    "Mr. Noah, are you looking for housekeepers too? my sister is a housekeeper if you want, maybe you can think about it." Anderson said hesitantly.


    "Sure, send me her CV. I will look into it," Noah added, with a light smile.


    An hourter, a ck car pulled up at the mansion''s gates.


    After identification, Anderson let him in.


    Soon the car arrived at Noah''s mansion.


    Alfred got out of the car and knocked on the door, a minuteter Noah opened the door.


    In front of him was Alfred, he was dressed professionally in a tailored suit, his posture upright, his gaze assessing yet discreet.


    After offering Noah a courteous nod, he greeted with a slight incline of his head, his gaze respectful yet observant.


    "Good morning, sir. Thank you for meeting with me today,"


    "Thank you foring on such short notice, Alfred," Noah replied, gesturing toward the interior of the mansion.


    "Please,e inside. I''ll give you the tour, and you can also get a sense of the workce."


    After nodding his head, Alfred followed him in, his gaze taking in the surroundings.


    As they moved through the main hall, Alfred finally spoke.


    "A fine residence, sir. It appears well-kept, though it''s clear that consistent attention would maintain its¡­ elegance." He looked at Noah with a polite look.


    "Do you entertain others here often, or is it primarily for personal use?"


    "Mainly personal use, but I do n to host on some asions," Noah replied, as he led him through the living room.


    "I''d like the mansion to be ready for both, and I''d also like the gym kept spotless. I use it frequently."


    Alfred nodded.


    "I understand, Sir. I advise that for this property, two housekeepers should be sufficient for its daily care and upkeep. A gardener could also maintain the garden outside."


    "When you do want to host, I would advise you to get an extra temporary staff to ensure that nothing goes wrong, and the property functions as usual during the event."


    "What about your personal preferences, sir? Do you have any specific routines or things you''d like me to oversee?" Alfred asked, his tone attentive.


    "Indeed, I have a few," Noah said, pausing in the kitchen.


    "I want the meals to be prepared at certain times, and the car to be washed daily."


    Alfred nodded, his eyes sweeping the kitchen.


    "I understand, sir. A private chef would ensure quality meals are prepared consistently, and I''d be happy to coordinate schedules to maintain order and efficiency."


    They continued through the hallways, heading toward the gym, where Alfred inspected the setup.


    "The gym could be cleaned at the end of the day, making sure you aren''t disturbed during your workouts," Alfred observed, his tone calm but direct.


    As they returned to the main hall, Noah looked at Alfred. "This is a full-time position, of course, with residence on-site."


    "As for sry, consider it done." Noah added.


    Alfred inclined his head, his gaze unwavering. "Thank you, sir. My preference would be to live on the premises, as it allows me to respond to any needs you may have at any time."


    "Then it''s settled," Noah said, extending his hand with a confident smile. "Wee aboard, Alfred."


    Alfred shook his hand with a slight nod. "Thank you, sir. I look forward to ensuring your estate functions smoothly and upholds the standards you expect."


    "By the way, I only have one housekeeper in mind. You can figure out the rest such as the gardener, the chef and the other housekeeper."


    "No problem sir, I will do as you said."

 Chapter 137 Gold Market

    After signing the contract with Alfred, Noah decided to hit the gym.


    ...


    After finishing his strength session, Noah went outside to do his conditioning.


    "My numbers are slowly increasing," He thought, recalling the increase in the reps he had done.


    As he was finishing his cardio session, Jackson''s number rang.


    "Hello?"


    "What''s up brother Noah, I spoke to my dad and brother about ourst conversation. My dad would like to meet you," Jackson said.


    "Sure thing, where do you want to meet?" Noah replied.


    "Your choice."


    "Alright, Let''s meet at the new wolves house," Noah replied, after a moment of consideration.


    "You mean, the ash wolves?" Jackson replied his tone hesitant.


    "Yes, I mean them."


    After setting up the time for the meet-up, Noah went home and took a cold shower.


    After the shower, he entered the sauna to rx his body, then he took another shower.


    Stepping out of the shower, he dried himself and put on some clothes and headed outside.


    Noah then decided to take an Uber to the city centre, because his Lambo was still in the parking lot. He decided to finally take it out instead of letting it rot inside.


    "Take me to the city centre, around..."


    "Alright, sir." replied the Uber driver.


    ...


    Taking his Lamborghini out of the parking lot, Noah muttered.


    "This is the first reward I''ve gotten, can''t let it get rusty in some random corner in the world," Noah muttered silently, as his fingers tapped on the wheel.


    After around 15 minutes of driving, Noah arrived at the destination.


    Knocking on the door, a man with a bandage on his head opened.


    "WHO THE F¡ª"


    As he was about to curse, he paused looking at the man in front of him with a wide grin on his face.


    "BOSS, FORGIVE ME!"


    He immediately apologised and moved out of the way, with beads of sweat forming on his forehead.


    Looking at Noah''s smirk, he remembered what happened to him the first time he met Noah.


    Noah nodded and entered the house.


    "You need to calm down your emotions, I realised that you are too impulsive," Noah said calmly, as he walked inside.


    "I will boss, I definitely will."


    He replied instantly, he couldn''t make this new boss upset otherwise he couldn''t afford the consequences.


    "Where is Lionel and Leo?" Noah said, ncing around the hallway.


    "BOSS LIONEL! THE FINAL BOSS IS HERE." Find exclusive stories on empire


    The man shouted out loud, making his voice echo throughout the whole house.


    Everyone including Lionel immediately stopped what they were doing and came to the hallway.


    "Boss Noah." They all said at the same time.


    Looking at everyone present, Noah noticed a very familiar face.


    He smiled lightly and said.


    "I''m d you are out, Ryker."


    "T-Thank you, Boss," Ryker replied, with a low tone.


    "Alright everyone, in the next hour a group you are familiar with will arrive. I know that you had your issues in the past, but it''s nothing that can''t be solved."


    "This group will most likely be your teammates from now on, your friends who will back you up in your time of need. I want all of you to put the past behind you, and focus on the present."


    "If you have anyints, raise them up to me and I will decide whether yourint needs to be addressed or your brain."


    "Is everything clear?" Noah questioned, although it was mainly rhetorical.


    Seeing Everyone nodding their head, Noah looked at Ryker and said.


    "Ryker, you are an exception. You have extremely bad blood with the group, so to rpensate them for what you didst time..."


    "You will be at their mercy, either they punish you with something reasonable to the things you have done or they will forgive you."


    "So be prepared to handle punishment if it arrives," Noah added, whilst looking at him in the eyes.


    Ryker nodded his face gloomy.


    "Good, now that everything is clear. Everyone can go back to what they were doing except Lionel, Leo and Ryker."


    "Lead me to a quiet room," Noah said, as everyone started dispersing.


    Lionel nodded, and took noah to the living room.


    "Suarez get out, the boss has a few things he wants to talk about with us." Leo motioned for, the guy napping in the living room.


    Waking up dazed, Suarez quickly nodded and headed out of the living room.


    "Alright, I brought all three of you here because what I''m going to say next is important." Noah spoke, his tone heavy.


    "Ryker, you have two options now. Either you leave before I speak but don''t show your face to me again or this group or you stay here and be part of the group. If you choose to be part of the group, you can''t defy any of my orders."


    "Oh by the way, you are basically stuck with us if you choose to listen. You can''t back out halfway, otherwise... you are dead." Noah added, casually.


    Ryker nodded, without hesitation he said.


    "I will stay, Boss."


    "Good, I like yourck of hesitation." Noah nodded, praising Ryker.


    "Alright, this is what we are going to bring to the market," Noah said, as put his hand into his pocket.


    Sneakily, he took out a 500G bar made of pure gold.


    Putting the bar on the desk, Everyone''s eyes started shining.


    "Is this..." Lionel said, with some hesitation in his voice.


    "Yes, this is a pure gold bar, it weighs 500 grams. It''s not stolen nor does it have any mark whatsoever, so this can be either sold legally or illegally."


    Lionel looked at Noah and said.


    "Boss, can I touch it?"


    "Go ahead," Noah replied, with a smile.


    Holding the bar in his hand, Lionel knew that his new boss wasn''t ying around.


    This wasn''t some counterfeit, nor was it some scam.


    "This is the real deal," He thought, examining the bar.


    "Boss... How many of this can you supply per month?" He asked, expecting noah to say at most five.


    "Thirty for now." Noah said casually.


    "T-Thirty?" Lionel stammered, shocked by the number.

 Chapter 138 Merging

    "T-Thirty?" Lionel stammered, shocked by the number.


    "Boss one of these costs around $40,000, if you can supply thirty of these per month... That''s $1,200,000."


    Leo and Ryker looked at the bar with bloodshot eyes, the bar in front of them was worth $40,000.


    "Boss, I think it''s better if we sell this illegally at a slightly lower price. We will get more customers and it can''t be traced back to us." Lionel said with a low tone.


    "You do what you want, whether you want to do it illegally or legally. You guys can take 10% of the cut and divide it among yourselves based on merit."


    "This isn''t the only way your gang will be making money either, and inform me if anything happens."


    "The money will be handled only in cash obviously, and proceed how you have been doing."


    "Also, I don''t want any of you to overburden any of the family businesses you are charging money from. Otherwise, it will backfire on you and they are too poor anyway."


    "Just take what''s enough, don''t be greedy or it will be your downfall. Make sure to let everyone else know about that, am I clear?"


    "Yes, boss." Lionel nodded, as did the rest.


    "Alright, here is another bar," Noah said.


    cing the bar on the table, he said. "I will supply you every week for now, the schedule might changeter."


    "You can start handling business with these two bars, either you mix them with other metals to reduce the 24 karat which isn''t good for jewellery as you know due to its soft property or you can sell them as they are."


    "You decide," Noah shrugged, "As long as you aren''t losing money, do as you please."


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    Lionel nodded.


    "Alright boss, I will see the demand trend and I will supply based on that."


    Noah and the 3 leaders of the previous Ash Wolves conversed for about an hour.


    "Ding."


    "Seems like they are here," Noah said with a smile.


    "Leo, go bring them here. Be respectful, but don''t show weakness." Noah added.


    "Yes, boss."


    "Proceed like I told you, understood?" Noah said faintly ncing at Lionel and Ryker.


    Seeing them nodding in understanding, Noah just waited for Jackson and the others to arrive.


    "Brother Noah! Meet my dad and my brother." Jackson said, gesturing to the middle-aged man standing beside him.


    The man''s eyes showed curiosity but it was also reserved not being rude.


    Noah rose from the sofa, extending his hand to Jackson''s father with a calm, confident look. "Noah," he introduced, his tone polite but firm not showing weakness.


    Solomon took Noah''s hand, giving it a firm shake. "Solomon. Thank you for everything, Noah. Jackson told me what you did¡­"


    Noah gave a slight nod, his eyes shifting briefly to Ryker, who was standing nearby with an ufortable expression.


    "No need to thank me, Uncle Solomon. It''s all handled," he said, gesturing to the seating area. "Please, let''s sit down. I believe there are a few details we should discuss."


    They all moved toward the sofas, tension quietly mounting as Solomon and his sons settled across from Noah and his group.


    Jack, couldn''t keep his gaze from ring daggers at Ryker. His hands clenched, his jaw set tight as if holding back words waiting to explode.


    "You¡ª" Jack growled, but Jackson calmed him down.


    "Rx," Jackson murmured, though his own eyes were sharp.


    Solomon cleared his throat, changing the topic. "Alright, Noah. Jackson mentioned a¡­ merging of sorts."


    "I''d like to understand the details better."


    "Of course," Noah replied smoothly.


    "The merging is quite simple, both groups will keep their original leadership, with you and Lionel as co-leaders."


    "However, both members of both parties will listen to the co-leaders. For example, a member of Lionel''s group will have to listen to you if you give an order. However, if you and Lionel disagree upon a matter, you have two options."


    "First option, one of you will be followed and he will take the me for the consequences of that order, so if his call was the right one he will rewarded, and if it''s bad he will be punished."


    "Second option, you wait for my verdict on the matter. I advise for the second option, if I can''t be reached at a time then you stick with the first option."


    "I must say, both of you cannot and I mean cannot oppose each other on an option and decide to both do your own thing. One of you must follow the other person, and the other person will be either rewarded or punished based on his action in that scenario."


    Solomon nodded, he thoughtfully asked. "So, you mean both groups would listen to the co-leaders, but final authorityes back to you?"


    "Yes." Noah nodded.


    "And, if we can''t reach you then we muste to an agreement on one option and the proposer of that option will be judged based on the results." He continued.


    "Precisely," Noah confirmed, "Let''s say Lionel gives an order to your men. If it''s straightforward, they''ll follow it. But if it contradicts something you''ve directed, they''ll defer to me for rification. Urgent matters, of course, will prioritize the senior leader present."


    Jack''s eyes narrowed. "And the co-leaders?" he asked. "How are we supposed to handle authority between us?"


    "Good question," Noah said with a slight nod. "You and Jackson would be secondary to Lionel and David, but in the absence of those two, you''ll hold authority over your respective men."


    "My goal is bnce, not division. For example," he continued, "Ryker will take responsibility if anything happens with his team, and the same goes for each of you."


    David leaned back, his gaze drifting to Lionel, who was listening attentively without so much as a hint of interruption.


    "He tamed them," David thought, with a mix of astonishment and surprise.


    "Alright, Noah," David said finally.


    "I''m willing to go forward with this. I can see you know how to lead and keep order." His gaze was calm and serious.


    Noah nodded once, a faint smile of approval on his face. "Excellent."


    He shifted his attention to Ryker, who had been standing silently, head down. "Ryker,e over here," Noahmanded, his tone colder than before.

 Chapter 139 The past settled

    Ryker stepped forward slowly, standing with a tense posture in front of David and next to Noah. His face was slightly pale from anticipation of the iing punishment, and his current condition.


    "Ryker," Noah called out and paused.


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    "You''re being given a second chance. You have done things to the other party that can''t be just ignored, so you will need to make amends."


    "You will ept any reasonable punishment they decide withoutining. Am I clear?"


    Ryker nodded again, "Yes, Boss."


    "He is giving us the green light, albeit we can''t take it too far. He is ..." Thought David, as his expression softened upon looking at Ryker''s injuries.


    Stitches marked Ryker''s face, his arm was immobilized in a sling. Noah had clearly done some significant damage to him.


    David exchanged a look with his sons.


    Shaking his head slightly, he said. "We''re one team now," he said quietly.


    "The past is the past. let bygones be bygones."


    "Besides, it looks like you''ve already taken your fair share of punishment." He added, with a small smile.


    Noah nced at Ryker with an amused look.


    "Seems like they''ve decided to show you mercy Ryker, that''s what you call a true team."


    Ryker turned towards Jackson, David, and Jack.


    "Thank you," he said quietly, nodding to each of them. "I apologize¡­ for everything I did before. We are now one team, one body."


    David nodded his head in acknowledgement.


    "Let''s put it all behind us," He said with a calm expression on his face.


    "Alright, now that we''re clear on that," Noah said with a grin, "We''ve got work to do. We''re in this together now."


    After filling David and his family with the gold situation along with everything else, Noah decided to split the workload.


    He decided that the gold bars would be split evenly between both teams.


    After everything was settled, Noah left the house and headed out.


    "Ring!"


    Noah''s phone rang as he drove, ncing at the caller ID.


    John


    .


    "Hello," Noah said, as his eyes focused on the street ahead.


    "Hello, boss. The renovation of the teahouse has been done, and the store is ready for any further customisation you want."


    "Alright, I will go for an inspection right now," Noah replied, hanging up the phone.


    ...


    Arriving at the location, Noah parked his car on the curb and looked at the shop.


    The logo Snow Moon Teahouse was shining at the top of the shop, giving the shop an elegant, modern but serene look.


    "John really put the best team for this," Noah thought, ncing at the interior of the shop that screamed of luxury and peace.


    The openyout was brilliant, everyone walking by could glimpse into the interior from the street, tempting them with glimpses of its peaceful luxury.


    "The smell of the tea would also help out massively with the marketing for this," Noah, thought as he nodded in satisfaction at the design.


    He rang up John and told him the team had done a good job.


    "Give them a bonus," Noah continued, "Also take the costs of everything rted to this teahouse from my monthly share."


    "Yes, boss," John replied, with an excited tone.


    After Noah hung up the phone, John sighed in relief.


    "I finally made him satisfied with the work," John muttered silently, as he proceeded to do what Noah had instructed.


    Looking at the time, Noah realised that he could pick up Emily.


    He quickly called his parents and told them he would pick her up.


    After parking thembo, he walked to Emily''s school and dropped her off at home.


    After chilling with his parents for a while, Lily texted him.


    "Hello, my dad wants to invite you for dinner today. Are you avable?"


    "Sure, what time," Noah responded.


    "5:30 pm?"


    "Sure, I will be there."


    "It''s in an hour and a half, the drive is about an hour away when there is no traffic. I have thirty minutes to spare." Noah thought.


    He still decided to leave now, because it was around school time. There will be lots of traffic, so it should take him around an hour and a half to get there. Give or take.


    Arriving at the gates, the guards let him in after identifying him since Arthur had already told them.


    As he drove inside theplex, he went past Amelia''s house.


    After parking inside at the entrance of the mansion, Noah stepped out.


    Lily was already waiting for him near the door, with a smile on her face.


    "Good afternoon."


    "Good afternoon, thanks for the invitation," Noah replied with a smile.


    He followed her inside to the living room, where Arthur was waiting for him.


    After greeting each other, Noah sat down at the dinner table that was filled with all kinds of delicacies.


    After finishing dinner, Arthur opened up the business topic with Noah.


    "I have checked the pill as I told you before, after lots of research on its side effects and whatnot. The conclusion was... There is none."


    "Another surprising conclusion was that the pill could not be replicated. The scientists did not understand how the pill was chemically bonded, there are many elements that they don''t know of."


    "Your pill is truly miraculous, you are an absolute genius. Thus, after some careful consideration, I decided to up the stakes."


    "I''m willing to invest $20,000,000 for the same equity as before, 5% only. I will also handle the marketing procedures and I will not intervene in the future of thepany''s direction. I will only give some advice at most, but the decision will always go back to you."


    "What do you think about my offer?" Arthur said, with a smile stered on his face.


    Lily next to her father was shocked by his offer.


    "$20,000,000 for 5% of apany? that''s 4 million for just 1%. Thispany hasn''t even been opened officially."


    "I can understand why he thinks so highly of the product, but is it really worth the risk? Especially with Noah directing thepany."


    Noah looked at Arthur for a second.


    "I-"

 Chapter 140 Business Partner

    "I ept your deal," Noah replied, getting up from the sofa and offering Arthur a handshake.


    Arthur''s smile beamed, as he got up from his seat and returned a firm handshake.


    "It''s my pleasure to be your partner," Arthur said, his smile covering his face.


    "Likewise," Noah replied.


    "I will register thepany tomorrow, you can make the contract in the meantime and send it to me via email." Noah said.


    Arthur nodded, "Alright, I will send it to you."


    "You are invited to my teahouse opening ceremony, tomorrow noon time."


    "Of course, I will be there. Only if you prepare some boxes for me." Arthur joked with a light smile.


    "That''s natural," Noah chuckled.


    "Talking about the teahouse, I would like to partner with you at some point regarding selling your product. What do you think?"


    "No problem. I will check how the quantity output will be per month, then I will let you know."


    After conversing for a while, Noah excused himself after thanking them for the dinner. Discover exclusive tales at empire


    On the way back, he decided to visit Amelia''s house. After pulling up, Noah greeted the guards.


    Soon enough, Amelia opened the door with a smile on her face.


    "The guards told me you are here, howe you didn''t text me?" she said with a smile.


    "I was nearby so I decided to pay you a visit. I also need to y a game of chess with the old man, I promised him before."


    "Is he at home?" Noah asked.


    "No, ever since he was cured he was always out and about. After all, the sickness had kept in the house for too long so he got sick of staying at home."


    "Understandable, well... let him know that I invited him and Uncle Adam for my teahouse opening tomorrow at noon."


    "You are opening the teahouse tomorrow? Can Ie?"


    "Of course, just make sure you hide your beauty, otherwise you will steal all the limelight."


    Blushing, she quickly changed the topic.


    "So¡­ Do you want to head inside or ¡­" She said hesitantly.


    "No, I wanted to ask you something."


    "What is it?" She asked curiously, with her head tilted.


    "I need a new gaming PC, so I came here to ask if you could help me pick up some good set-up and parts."


    "What do you think?" He asked with a smile.


    "O-Of Course." She stuttered.


    "Do you want to buy it online or in person" She asked, with her earlier blush deepening.


    "Preferably, in person."


    "Alright, want to go now?" she asked.


    Nodding his head, he said.


    "Only if you are free, ask Uncle Adam too." He said.


    "Yes I''m free," She quickly nodded her head enthusiastically.


    "Do you want to wait inside?" She asked, looking at him shyly.


    "Sure," He nodded.


    After settling in the living room, Noah started scrolling on his phone out of boredom whilst Amelia got ready.


    After around 5 minutes Amelia came into the living room.


    "You are done already?" Noah asked curiously.


    "Yup, Why are you so surprised?" She chuckled.


    "I thought you would take a little longer, to get ready," Noah said, shrugging.


    " I don''t really put my make-up on, so I''m quite quick when getting ready"


    After heading out, Amelia''s eyes widened as they approached the ck Lamborghini parked in her driveway.


    She tilted her head, a curious look on her face.


    "Is that a new car?" she asked, admiring the car''s glossy exterior.


    Noah shook his head, smiling.


    "No, I had this one before the Lykan. It''s been sitting around for a while, so I figured I''d take it out for a spin to make sure the engine remains in good condition."


    She nodded, running her fingers lightly over the smooth hood before sliding into the passenger seat.


    The car roared to life as they pulled out, and soon they were heading toward the city mall.


    After a short drive filled with soft background music, they arrived at the mall and made their way to a store specializing in high-end PCponents.


    Inside, rows upon rows of sleekputer parts were on disy, inside protected barriers.


    Noah turned to Amelia with a yful smile. "Alright, guru. Where should we start?"


    Amelia grinned, feeling in her element.


    "Let''s start with the GPU. If you''re serious about gaming, you''ll want something top-of-the-line."


    She scanned the disy cases, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she spotted what she was looking for.


    "Here we go¡ªthe RTXI 4090," she said, gesturing toward the big graphics card.


    "It''s currently one of the best on the market for gaming and even heavy tasks like rendering and video editing."


    "It has an incredible memory size, perfect for running high-resolution games at max settings."


    Noah raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Sounds like a monster of a card."


    "Alright, what''s next?"


    She thought for a moment, moving along the aisle with him.


    "CPU," she muttered. "You''ll want something thatplements the power of the RTX 4090. Let''s go with the IntelI i9-13900K."


    "It''s important to get something thatplements the RTX 4090, because of something called the bottle-neck."


    "A bottleneck happens when one part of your PC is much slower than the others, limiting the performance of the entire system."


    "For example, if you have a very powerful graphics card, like the RTX 4090, but your CPU isn''t as strong, the CPU won''t be able to keep up with the demands of the graphics card."


    "This creates a "bottleneck," where the graphics card can''t perform at its full potential because it''s waiting on the slower CPU."


    "This means that your performance will no longer be generated based on the strength of your graphics card, it will be generated from your CPU which is much weaker."


    "To avoid this, all parts of yourputer need to be well-matched in terms of performance. "


    "I see," Noah nodded, listening.


    Amelia picked up the CPU box, showing it to him. "This one here has a fantastic bnce of speed and efficiency. It can handle demanding games, and if you ever want to stream, it''ll manage multitasking without any issues."


    Noah nodded thoughtfully, inspecting the box. "This makes sense."

 Chapter 141 Pc Parts

    Nodding with a light chuckle, she said.


    "It does! The parts must work in synergy. Otherwise, you will end up with an inefficient system that causes you tog in games, and underperform heavily."


    "Now, we need to move on to cooling. Considering the power of these parts, a liquid cooler would be the best option to prevent overheating and burning of your graphics card."


    Amelia looked around, then picked up a sleek, RGB-lit liquid cooler.


    "This one will keep the CPU running at a cool temperature, plus it will add some aesthetics to the build. What do you think?" She asked him for his opinion.


    "Yeah, I agree. It will look great," Noah replied, nodding his head.


    She giggled lightly, leading him to the next section¡ª Storage.


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    "There are two types of storage, HDD and SSD. HDD is the type of storage my granddad would have been using in the early 90s. So we will opt out for the SSD." She chuckled, "I still can''t believe people willingly buy HDD."


    "It''s like buying an old Nokia phone when you could buy an iPhone for the same price."


    "Anyway, SSD is amazing for storage and its speed. It loads up games very quickly, and you will not have any issues with your PC being slow."


    Picking up an SSD box, she said. " This 2TB NVME SSD should be plenty, and it''s lightning fast."


    "We can always add more storageter on anyway, so it''s okay."


    Noah''s mouth twitched lightly.


    "Are you sure you don''t do this for a living?"


    She chuckled, giving him a yful nudge.


    "Hey! Are you calling me a nerd? It''s just a hobby of mine." She pouted


    But quickly forgot about it, as she spotted her next prey.


    "Our next part is RAM, we''ll go with 64 GB DDR5 to make sure you''re set for any future games and updates. Although it''s not necessary, you''ve got the money... so why not?" She chuckled, lightly.


    "You are killing my pockets," Noah teased, as he opened the edge of his empty wallet.


    He gave an exaggerated sigh, holding it open to reveal a few lone receipts and coins.


    Sighing in exaggeration, he held it open to reveal a few coins and buttons.


    "See that? It''s all rumours that I''m rich. Reality proves otherwise."


    Sheughed at his little act and said.


    "Alright, alright. I will pay for it, happy?" She chuckled.


    "Sigh, it seems like I will just borrow some money from a friend of mine. I can''t let you pick my parts and pay for them," He exaggerated.


    She rolled her eyes at him, then proceeded to the final touches of the PC.


    "Our next part is the case, It''s important you get a case that is big enough for your PC. Since your graphics card is an RTXI 4090, we need arge case. Since the card is quite big, you don''t want to damage it because the case is too small."


    Noah picked a white case since it matched the aesthetics of everything else including the RGB.


    "Good choice," She nodded her head as if she was proud of him for picking white.


    After picking the case, Amelia chose a good motherboard and a few other things to finally finish the PC.


    Looking at all the parts, Amelia nodded, a satisfied look on her face. "That''s it! With this setup, you can run any game avable in the market."


    "It will alsost you years toe, so consider it an investment."


    "Thanks for the help, Amelia. I appreciate it," He shed a light smile.


    Blushing lightly, she joked.


    "If you really appreciate it, you o-owe me some gaming time on this setup when it''s ready." She stammered, feeling shy about the request.


    Smiling at her, Noah nodded.


    "Of course, that was my original n, to begin with. You are my duo after all." He smiled.


    "O-Okay, do you have the other parts of the set-up ready yet?"


    Noah shook his head, in rejection.


    "I do not, I was nning on asking you about that."


    She nodded, her eyes darting a few aisles further.


    "Okay, we will need to buy you a few things. Let''s go." She gestured with her hand.


    "First thing, let''s buy you a monitor. Your PC is a monster, so the monitor should also be a monster in its own right."


    "For the monitor, we are looking at two qualities, the resolution which is the pixels or how clear you can see it, and the hertz."


    "Resolution is important for games that are heavily based on its graphics and such, like CyberBunk 2077 or RDR3. Hertz is important forpetitive gaming, as it gives you an edge over the others since your game will be much smoother."


    Noah nodded, he already knew this but he decided to let her enter the zone.


    "She is enjoying herself," He thought.


    After looking around for a while, she picked 2 monitors for him.


    The first one was a 4k resolution monitor, with a lower refresh rate and the second one was a 1080p monitor but with 520hz.


    "Unfortunately, technology is not advanced enough yet, to have both of these features in one monitor." She shrugged.


    "So we just get both. Use each one for what it does best, and you''ll have all the bases covered." She added, a small smile appearing.


    Their next stop was the misceneous, Noah bought a mechanical keyboard, arge mousepad and a gaming mouse.


    After settling everything, Noah went to the cashier to pay.


    The cashier scanned each item, the total climbing higher and higher as the beeps continued.


    "Beep. Item scanned."


    Finally, with onest beep, the register disyed the damage. A number that felt like it could pay a month''s rent in a luxurious apartment.


    The cashier blinked, his voice struggling not to sound strangled. "That''ll be¡­uh¡­" He cleared his throat, finally managing to get it out. "$8,783. Cash or card?"


    The cashier stole a quick nce at Amelia watching the total with a knowing smile. The cashier clenched his jaw, forcing a polite smile as he imagined Noah''s life.


    A rich kid with a killer PC, a girl who broke the charts by his side, and not a care in the world except for how fast his games could run.


    ncing at the total, he muttered silently.


    "If only I had Daddy''s money too. Instead, all I got was that invisible bottle of milk he left to grab 25 years ago."


    Noah handed over his card, not even a flicker of hesitation crossing his face. The cashier fought to keep the bitterness off his face as he swiped it, sighing inwardly.

 Chapter 142 Set up Complete

    "Ding! Payment Sucessfull."


    "Please remove your card,"


    "Thank you for shopping at our store, we hope you had a good time." The cashier said enthusiastically, although on the inside he was burning from jealousy.


    Noah nodded at him and said I want to tip you.


    "Thank you so much sir, for your generosity." The man immediately became excited.


    "He is rich, he will tip me a good amount." He thought, with a grin forming in the back of his mind.


    "This is a tip, for your exceptional service." Noah smiled, handing him the dor note.


    The cashier maintained his fake smile, as he raged on the inside.


    "You bastard, you spent more than $8,000 on a PC..." He thought, "But you can''t seem to be generous enough to tip more than $1."


    "Thank you for your generous tip," He said, with his mouth twitching slightly.


    "You are wee," Noah said, as he turned around and left with Amelia.


    Outside the store, Amelia looked at Noah curiously.


    "Why did you only tip him one dor?" She asked curiously.


    Noah chuckled. "I knew he expected a big tip, so I decided to have a little fun."


    "Evil," she giggled, shaking her head. "You enjoy messing with people."


    "Only the ones who need a reality check, he was giving me a few looks I didn''t like," he replied, a smirk ying on his lips.


    Looking at his grin, Amelia chuckled.


    "You are like a little viin,"


    "Little?" He replied, his mind going to a certain figure.


    She nodded her head, "Yeah, just a little."


    He looked at her silently, notmenting on herst reply.


    As he loaded up the parts into the car, the parts barely fit inside.


    "I need to buy an SUV, this is bing a constant issue." Noah thought as he closed the trunk.


    "So, do you want to eat anything?" Noah asked, as he changed gears and started driving.


    "I''m actually kind of full, I can''t do a main meal right now." She said, shaking her head.


    "Let''s grab some dessert then," Noah grinned, as he sped up.


    "Sure," She smiled warmly, as she stared at the city.


    Dropping by a famous cake shop in the city, Noah parked at the curb and got out. He turned to Amelia with a smile.


    "Wait here, I''ll get something for you," he said, offering a small smile.


    She nodded, her curiosity piqued as he stepped out of the car and entered the shop.


    A happy-faced worker greeted him professionally.


    "How can I help you, sir?"


    "Could you pack me two rainbow cakes with custard on top, and one velvet cake, to go."


    "Right away," she replied cheerfully, as she prepared the order.


    "That''ll be $20, sir. Cash or card?" She said handing him the bag.


    "Card." Noah took out his card and swiped it across the reader.


    "Ding! Payment sessful."


    The cashier handed him the bag with a polite smile. "Thank you for shopping with us! Hope you enjoy."


    Climbing back into the car, he ced the bag next to Amelia.


    "Let me park somewhere nice, I know a spot," he said, giving her a mischievous look.


    ncing curiously at the bag, she said.


    "Okay, now I''m really curious about what you got."


    "You''ll find out soon."


    Arriving near a bridge, the area was peaceful, with a parking lot overlooking the calm river.


    As dusk settled in, the lights from the distant skyscrapers reflected off the water, giving the area a serene glow.


    Stepping out of the car, Amelia''s eyes dted.


    "Wow," she whispered, clearly mesmerized by the view.


    Noah watched her with a quiet smile. "Beautiful, right?"


    Nodding her head, she said.


    "This is¡­ breathtaking." Her voice was soft as she took in the full view.


    ncing at her expression which was a mix of wonder and delight.


    Noah pulled the bag from the car and handed her one of the boxes.


    "Here you go. Thank meter," He grinned.


    She opened it, revealing theyers of rainbow cake topped with a creamy custard. Her face lit up with surprise and happiness.


    "You remembered!" she said, looking at him with aplicated look.


    "Did I? I just bought the first one I saw, to be honest." He said, scratching the back of his head as if unsure.


    She rolled her eyes at him, but her gaze was still soft.


    She took a small bite, her eyes closing for a second as the cake melted in her mouth with the vours exploding.


    "This is amazing, and with the custard? It''s perfect."


    After they finished the cake, Noah nced at her as he packed up.


    "Want to go for a walk along the river?"


    She nodded eagerly, her eyes still reflecting the lights dancing on the water.


    "I''d love that."


    As they walked, Noah decided to ask her.


    "So what do you think about the whole bing a streamer thing? " He asked, while his gaze remained on the flowing river.


    "I have thought about it for quite a while now, initially I was quite worried about how people would see me."


    "But after thinking about it deeply, I thought that maybe I should do it without any facecam. That way, I won''t have a problem... you know." She said, her voice almost a whisper.


    Nodding his head, he replied.


    "I agree, I also wanted to advise you to do that. But yeah, honestly you will do great." Enjoy exclusive content from empire


    "I''m sure people will like you for who you truly are," He said looking at her eyes that were gleaming in the dark.


    "Mnm, I hope so too." She whispered silently, her heart warm from Noah''s words.


    "Do you have an idea of when you will start?"


    "Nope, I''m still quite scared. But maybe in the uing week or so, I will give it a try." She said, clenching her delicate hand into a fist.


    "Alright, let me know when you do that. I want to be there for you." He said, his tone warm.


    ...


    Pulling up at her mansion, Noah dropped her off with a smile on his face.


    "Thank you for the help, I will let you know when I set this bad boy up," Noah said as he nced at the PC parts.


    "No problem, thank you for tonight too. I had lots of fun," She added with a warm smile, as she stared into his eyes.


    Seeing him stare so intensely, she quickly diverted her eyes and got out.


    "Okay! See you." She quickly said as she waved at him before running off.


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