Vincent's expression returned to its usual calculating composure as his interest sharpened. His other cash cow was finally making so damn noise.
"Tell ."
"It seems he's discovered what we did with the rideshare app. He's switched to a different platform," David reported with his characteristic efficiency.
"Took the idiot long enough," Vincent said with a satisfied smile. He'd instructed Olivia to contact soone in the lower-to-middle managent of Jin's original company, bribing them to ensure Jin received five-star reviews regardless of his actual performance. The plan had worked flawlessly—truly worthy of an urban braindead system to leave such an obvious loophole.
It had taken Olivia only a few hours to find the right target. After flashing the substantial amount they were offering, the manager's eyes had lit up like Christmas morning, and he'd personally handled every review from that point forward. Vincent had deliberately avoided contacting the company's top brass—the higher you climbed in any corporate hierarchy, the heavier the favor you'd owe in return. It was always smarter to start with lower-level employees when your objectives could be achieved through them. All they required was cold, hard cash.
"Tell Olivia to contact the new company he's using now. Sa damn instructions."
Vincent opened his system interface to check Jin's current status.
Your LP: 2530
Protagonist Jin's LP: 695
Vincent's eyes narrowed with satisfaction. At this rate, it wouldn't be long before Jin was completely 'abandoned by fate' and lost his protagonist status entirely.
"Put four bodyguards on Jin. Round-the-clock surveillance. All of them must be Refined level," Vincent ordered. Jin had probably figured out the manipulation by now, or at least suspected sothing was seriously wrong. Vincent needed to ensure the bastard didn't flee the city before he could completely drain him dry.
Vincent waved his hand dismissively, expecting David to leave, but his intelligence officer remained standing there with an unusual expression.
"Is there another matter?" Vincent asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, Chairman," David replied, though his usual composure seed slightly strained. "We discovered he switched apps, but he managed to earn one genuine bad review before we could notify you."
"Oh?" Vincent's eyebrow climbed higher. "Did you find out what new assets appeared under his na?"
David had adapted well to the bizarre circumstances surrounding his chairman by now, but sothing was making him fidget uncharacteristically. Vincent couldn't rember ever seeing David lose his professional composure like this.
"What's going on? Did he acquire sothing particularly valuable?"
David took a deep breath, clearly trying to control himself. "The assets haven't been officially transferred yet, but they're en route."
"What do you an?" Vincent asked, his expression growing serious as he leaned forward, placing his elbows on the mahogany desk.
"Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail
Black Bugatti La Voiture Noire
Black Cadillac One
Red Veneno Roadster… All of them. Together."
The more David spoke, the more animated he beca. Vincent stared at him in disbelief, montarily speechless. He'd almost expected Jin to have acquired ownership of so mid-level corporation, but it turned out to be cars. And why the hell did these automotive companies have the exact sa nas they'd had on Earth?
Vincent felt his own heart rate quicken as the reality sank in. These were the supercars he used to admire from afar in his previous life—browsing automotive magazines and websites, morizing their sleek lines and impossible specifications, knowing he'd never be able to afford even a glimpse of one in person. He'd forced himself to stop looking at them eventually, deciding it was a waste of ti to dream about sothing so unattainable. Now that he finally had the ans to buy such vehicles, he'd been too consud with building his corporate empire to even consider it. Just the thought of actually driving those cars he had only seen in images made his pulse race with anticipation.
Watching David's excitent grow with each vehicle he nad, Vincent realized he'd stumbled upon a serious car enthusiast. No wonder he's been content driving for all these years. The man simply can't live without automobiles.
Vincent couldn't help but wonder if he'd unknowingly stolen David's dream job, forcing him into intelligence work instead of letting him pursue his automotive passion.
Finally noticing Vincent's bemused expression, David froze mid-enthusiasm, lowered his head shafully, and said, "I apologize, Chairman. I've greatly embarrassed myself in front of you. Please punish as you see fit."
"Don't worry about it," Vincent replied with genuine amusent. "I don't mind at all. Just tell —what's the total value of these vehicles?"
"Although these cars are absolutely priceless to automotive enthusiasts, if we calculate their approximate market value..." David paused, doing quick ntal calculations. "The La Rose Noire Droptail alone is worth around $30 million, the Bugatti La Voiture Noire is roughly $18 million, the Veneno Roadster is about $4.5 million, and the armored Cadillac One is approximately $2 million. Together, they amount to roughly $54.5 million total."
Vincent's eyes blinked in genuine shock. Holy shit, that's more than what so corporations spend on their entire annual marketing budget.
"How the hell did you even discover Jin was getting these cars?"
David's expression shifted to sothing resembling a smile—which looked quiet strange on his usually stoic features. "The vehicles are being transported through our logistics channels."
Vincent returned the knowing smile with interest. "You know exactly what to do next."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The next morning, Vincent dressed more formally than usual, selecting a charcoal gray suit that emphasized his authoritative presence. As he adjusted his tie in the mirror, Helena appeared behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"So," she said with a knowing smile, "which woman are you eting today?"
Vincent turned in her embrace, genuinely surprised. "How did you know?"
"I just do. Now tell who."
Vincent looked at her with amused appreciation. "There's a business eting at the Golden Crane Tea House. Potential cooperation with Annapurna."
"Ah, so you're eting with Celia Annapurna herself?" Helena asked, her arms sliding up to wrap around his neck, careful not to wrinkle his expensive suit.
"Co here," she whispered, her eyes holding a mischievous glint that brooked no argunt.
When he leaned down expecting a goodbye kiss, Helena instead went for his neck, leaving a deliberate bite mark just above his collar line.
"Now you can go," she said with a satisfied, almost territorial smile.
Marking her territory, is she? Vincent thought with amusent, shaking his head at her possessive display.
He gave both Helena and Olivia proper goodbye kisses before heading toward the door, where a happy David waited (Only Vincent could tell) with his usual professional deanor.
Just as Vincent reached the car, Helena called out, "By the way, about that challenge, I accept!"
Vincent imdiately understood she was referring to the startup proposal. He strode back to the car window, cupped her face in his hands, and pulled her into a kiss that was both tender and possessive. His lips moved against hers with practiced expertise, one hand sliding to the back of her neck while the other traced her jawline. Helena lted into him completely, her hands gripping his suit jacket as she responded with equal fervor.
From the corner of his vision, he could see Olivia standing nearby, her cheeks flushed as she watched their intimate display with undisguised longing in her eyes. But Vincent was too focused on Helena to fully register the depth of emotion in Olivia's gaze.
"I knew you would," he murmured against Helena's lips when they finally broke apart. "Trust . You're going to be magnificent."
As their vehicle pulled away, Helena remained standing in the driveway for several long monts, her fingers touching her lips as she contemplated the new chapter of her life that was about to begin.
- - - - - - - - - - -
During the drive, Vincent pulled out his tablet and began typing furiously, his mind racing through the intricate web of preparations needed to execute his plan against Aelric. The bastard wouldn't know what hit him.
Helena can handle the managent side—hiring staff, developing content, building the platform. That'll be quite challenging..
His fingers moved across the screen as he made ntal notes about the more delicate arrangents. Shell companies would need to be established, each with carefully crafted ownership structures. Investnt terms would require specific clauses, agreents with particular conversion triggers. Legal fraworks that appeared generous on the surface but provided multiple exit strategies.
Vincent's lips curved into a predatory smile as he continued typing. Multiple moving pieces would need perfect coordination: Helena's company launch, strategic positioning once BikBok was acquired, carefully monitored surveillance, and market manipulations that would create the ideal conditions for maximum extraction.
His concentration was so complete that he didn't notice when the urban landscape began to change outside his window. The concrete jungle gradually gave way to sothing more serene. Tree-lined streets appeared, their branches creating dappled shadows on the pavent. The air seed cleaner here, less oppressive than the city center.
It wasn't until the gentle sound of flowing water reached his ears that Vincent finally looked up from his tablet.
The sight that greeted him made him pause entirely.
They were driving alongside a wide, andering river that caught the afternoon sunlight like scattered diamonds. Small boats drifted lazily downstream while families picnicked on the grassy embanknts. Children's laughter carried on the breeze as they skipped stones across the water's surface.
Vincent found himself completely srized by the peaceful scene. The tablet rested forgotten in his lap as he watched a pair of swans glide effortlessly through the water, their movents creating gentle V-shaped ripples that spread outward before disappearing.
When was the last ti I actually stopped to look at sothing beautiful?
The question surprised him. In his previous life, he'd been busy surviving, too focused on the next al or the next paycheck to notice much beauty anywhere except in bed. And since arriving in this world, he'd been so consud with building his corporation that he'd barely taken a mont to appreciate what he'd gained.
He was a billionaire now. He had power, influence, beautiful won who loved him, and more opportunities than he'd ever dread possible. Yet here he was, still scheming, still fighting, still treating every day like a battle to be won.
Vincent leaned back in his seat and allowed himself a rare mont of gratitude. Whatever aliens or gods or whatever had given him this second chance, whether it was luck, fate, or sothing else entirely. He was… thankful.
For just a mont, his expression softened with sothing that might have been lancholy, though no one could say what mories from his past life had surfaced in that quiet instant.
David, ever observant, noticed his chairman's contemplative mood in the rearview mirror. Without being asked, he eased off the accelerator slightly, allowing their vehicle to cruise at a more leisurely pace. They were ahead of schedule anyway, and sothing told him that his chairman needed this mont of peace.
P.S.— 100k words completed. Thank you all for your continued support. Thank you @Nihility for golden ticket.
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