The morning sun filtered through Cinder Hall's cracked windows, casting pale streaks across Evan's dorm room.
It was nearly noon, and he'd barely slept, his mind buzzing with the System's rewards—a 45,000,000 AR villa at 7 Elysian Crescent, two supercars worth 17,700,000 AR combined, and a black card with 10,000,000 AR he had to invest in a month or lose it all.
The weight of it kept him tossing on his creaky bed, the Valthorne Chronograph ticking like a countdown.
'I can't just sit here,' he thought, rubbing his eyes. 'Those cars are waiting at Pinnacle Plaza. I need to see them.'
He threw on a casual jacket and jeans, the Valthorne's gleam a stark contrast to his worn clothes. As he grabbed his dataslate, Marcus and Liam stumbled into the room, their faces bleary from a late night.
Marcus, his dreadlocks tied back, flopped onto his bed. "Yo, Evan, where you off to? You look like you're up to something."
Evan grinned, keeping it light. "Just heading out for a bit. City stuff."
Liam, sprawled on a chair, raised an eyebrow. "City stuff? Man, you've been weird since that fancy suit showed up. Spill it—what's the deal?"
"Nothing to spill," Evan said, his tone easy but guarded, the System's training keeping him composed. "Just need some air. Catch you later?"
Marcus waved a hand, already half-asleep. "Yeah, don't get lost in the central district, rich boy."
Evan chuckled, slipping out. "See you, losers."
The door clicked shut, and he headed for the hovertram, his heart racing. Pinnacle Plaza wasn't just any mall—it was the city's crown jewel, and his supercars were parked there.
The hovertram ride was a blur, the city's towers growing sleeker as he neared the central district. When he stepped off at Pinnacle Plaza, the sight hit him like a wave.
The mall towered over the plaza, its facade a cascade of glass and holo-panels that shifted in hypnotic patterns, reflecting the midday sun.
Golden spires stretched skyward, draped in living vines that pulsed with bioluminescent light.
Hover-drones buzzed above, delivering packages to VIP shoppers, while the entrance—a massive arch of polished obsidian—glowed with holographic brand logos: Elara Gems, Vynix Motors, Cryon Beverages.
The air smelled of ozone and exotic perfumes, and the hum of wealth was palpable.
'This place makes Hearthstone's Apex look modest,' Evan thought, his breath catching. 'And my cars are here?'
He followed the signs to the underground garage, his key fobs tucked in his pocket. The elevator descended smoothly, opening to a sprawling, climate-controlled space lit by soft blue panels.
Rows of gleaming vehicles lined the garage—hovercars, luxury shuttles, and sports models—but a crowd drew his eye to the far end.
There, under a spotlight, sat his rewards: a Vynix Zephyr, its silver curves shimmering like liquid metal, and a Kryon Phantom, its black holo-paint shifting colors with every angle. Both screamed money, their sleek designs drawing gasps and murmurs from the onlookers.
"Man, look at that Zephyr," a guy in a flashy jacket said, snapping a holo-pic. "Eight million AR, easy. Who owns that?"
His friend, holding a Cryon drink, whistled. "Forget the Zephyr—the Phantom's a beast. Nine mil, maybe more. Bet it's some megacorp CEO's."
A woman in a shimmering dress leaned closer, her voice awed. "They're brand new. Nobody's even driven them. Whose are they?"
Evan slowed his approach, his heart pounding. 'That's my Zephyr. My Phantom,' he thought, the reality surreal.
The crowd—shoppers, security drones, even a few holo-streamers—was buzzing, their eyes glued to the cars.
He wanted to step forward, flash the fobs, and claim them, but the System's hum reminded him to stay composed. He hung back, blending into the crowd, his casual clothes making him invisible.
Then he spotted two familiar figures near the garage entrance, their tailored outfits standing out. Rylan, his silver earpiece glinting, and Lian, his silk suit catching the light, were walking toward a sleek hovercar, deep in conversation.
Evan froze, his pulse spiking. 'What are they doing here?' he thought, his mind flashing to the Obsidian Suite, their business cards, and Lian's "Young Master Quillian."
---
Rylan adjusted his earpiece, his voice low as he walked with Lian through Pinnacle Plaza's garage. The late-night drinks at the luxury bar's VIP room still lingered in his system, their conversation replaying in his mind.
"Still nothing on Young Master Quillian," he said, glancing at Lian. "Our sources dug all night—Nexus's best data guys, my family's contacts, everyone. All we got is basic info: name, age, student at Cinder Hall. Everything else is sealed."
Lian's polished smile was gone, his expression serious. "Sealed tight," he said, his voice quiet. "My people at Elara tried to pull strings with the city's data hubs. Got blocked—hard. Someone with serious authority shut it down. Government-level."
Rylan stopped, his eyes narrowing. "Government? You think Young Master Quillian's got that kind of pull?"
Lian nodded, his gaze distant. "It's not just pull. The Valthorne Chronograph, the Obsidian Suite, that half-million AR dinner he paid without blinking? Only one kind of family can move like that and stay hidden—hermit families."
He paused, letting the weight settle. "The ones the upper echelons whisper about. Not public, not flashy, but running things behind the scenes. Country-level power, maybe more."
Rylan exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Hermit families," he said, almost to himself. "That's why our sources hit a wall. Nobody else can order the government to lock their info. Not even our families."
They'd spent the night in the bar's private room, sipping Cryon infusions and pooling their networks. Kael's Vynix contacts, Sylas's Cryon insiders, Varen's real estate connections—none found anything beyond Evan's surface details.
Every deep dive hit a digital fortress, blocked by an authority none of them could touch. It only deepened their awe from the Obsidian Suite, where Evan's noble demeanor and extravagant orders had left them reeling.
"Young Master Quillian's not just a chaebol," Lian said, his voice firm. "He's something bigger. We need to stay on his good side."
Rylan nodded, about to reply, when he caught sight of a crowd at the far end of the garage. Two supercars—a Vynix Zephyr and a Kryon Phantom—sat under spotlights, drawing murmurs and holo-cams.
Then he saw him: Evan, standing at the crowd's edge, his casual jacket and jeans blending in, but the Valthorne gleaming on his wrist.
"Lian," Rylan said, nudging him. "Look. It's Young Master Quillian."
Lian followed his gaze, his eyes widening. "He's here," he said, his voice low. "And those cars… you don't think—?"
They watched as Evan lingered, his expression calm but his eyes fixed on the Zephyr and Phantom, the crowd oblivious to his presence.
Evan's gaze shifted from the crowd buzzing around his Vynix Zephyr and Kryon Phantom, their sleek forms gleaming under the garage's spotlights.
The hum of Pinnacle Plaza's underground parking lot—its polished floors and rows of luxury vehicles—felt surreal, like he'd stepped into a holo-ad.
His heart raced, the Valthorne Chronograph ticking on his wrist, a reminder of the System's game.
Then he noticed Rylan and Lian approaching, their tailored outfits cutting through the crowd. Rylan's silver earpiece glinted, and Lian's silk suit shimmered under the blue lights.
'What are the odds?' Evan thought, his lips twitching into a faint smile. 'Of all people, them?'
The two slowed as they reached him, their eyes flicking between Evan and the supercars.
Rylan's usual charm was tempered by deference, while Lian's polished demeanor held a cautious edge.
"Young Master Quillian," Rylan said, his voice warm but respectful, "fancy seeing you here. Are those… yours?"
He gestured toward the Zephyr and Phantom, his tone carrying a mix of awe and curiosity.
Evan nodded, keeping his expression calm, though his pulse quickened. "Yeah, they're mine," he said, his voice steady, exuding the poise the System had drilled into him. "Just picked them up."
Lian's eyes widened slightly, his gaze lingering on the cars. "A Vynix Zephyr and a Kryon Phantom," he said, his voice low with admiration. "These are rare—barely a dozen of each released worldwide. Even Elara's clients can't get them easily. Incredible, Young Master Quillian."
Rylan whistled softly, circling the Zephyr. "Exclusive doesn't cover it. These are collector's dreams. You just… have them?"
His tone was light, but his eyes searched Evan's face, as if probing for more.
Evan shrugged, deflecting with practiced ease.
"Thought I'd treat myself," he said, his smile faint but confident. Inside, he marveled at how effortlessly the lie came.
'Treat myself? I was washing dishes a week ago.'
The crowd's murmurs—holo-streamers snapping pics, shoppers whispering about the cars' worth—only heightened the surreal moment.
He glanced at the key fobs in his pocket, then at the cars.
"I need to get them home," he said, more to himself than the others.
Then a problem hit him like a brick. 'I don't have a license.'
His life as a broke college student meant he'd never needed one—public hovertrams and walking got him everywhere. Driving a supercar, let alone two, was out of the question.
He paused, weighing his options, then turned to Rylan and Lian, his expression still composed.
"You two have licenses, right? Any chance you'd drive these back for me? To my place, I mean."
Rylan's eyes lit up, a grin spreading across his face. "Drive a Zephyr? Young Master Quillian, you're speaking my language. I'm in, as long as I get to take her for a spin."
Lian nodded, his polished smile returning but tinged with excitement. "The Phantom? Absolutely, Young Master Quillian. It'd be an honor."
His deference was clear, but the prospect of driving a rare supercar sparked a rare enthusiasm in his eyes.
Evan exhaled, relieved. "Great. I'll ride with Rylan. Lian, you take the Phantom. Let's get them to my place."
He pulled out the fobs, handing the Phantom's to Lian with a nod. The address he gave them was 7 Elysian Crescent, Elysian Heights—the villa the System had granted him.
'No way I'm telling them I live in a dorm,' he thought, his mind racing. 'They think I'm some super rich heir. Gotta keep up the act.'
Rylan caught the Zephyr's fob, his grin widening. "Elysian Heights? Damn, Young Master Quillian, you don't mess around."
He slid into the Zephyr's driver's seat, the door hissing shut, while Evan took the passenger side, the leather interior cool and smelling of new tech.
Lian entered the Phantom, its holo-paint shifting under the lights. The crowd parted, their murmurs growing as the cars hummed to life, engines purring with a low, powerful thrum.
As Rylan pulled out, the Zephyr gliding smoothly, he glanced at Evan. "Gotta say, Young Master Quillian, this is the smoothest ride I've ever felt. You've got some serious taste."
Evan smiled, leaning back, his poise intact. "Just like things that move fast," he said, deflecting again. Inside, his heart pounded.
'I'm in a supercar, headed to a villa, with chaebols calling me Young Master. What is my life?'
The System's hum was faint, but its presence reminded him of the 10,000,000 AR he had to invest—and the stakes of losing everything.
For now, though, he focused on the road, the city's towers blurring past as they headed toward Elysian Heights, Lian's Phantom trailing close behind.
Rylan guided the Vynix Zephyr through the central district's gleaming streets, its engine purring as the city's holo-lit towers gave way to the quieter, more exclusive outskirts.
Evan sat in the passenger seat, the leather cool against his back, his casual jacket and jeans a stark contrast to the supercar's opulence.
The Valthorne Chronograph ticked on his wrist, a reminder of the System's game and the 10,000,000 AR he had to invest.
Behind them, Lian's Kryon Phantom followed, its holo-paint shimmering in the midday sun. Evan kept his expression calm, but his mind buzzed with the surreal reality of heading to his villa at 7 Elysian Crescent.
Rylan glanced over, his silver earpiece glinting, a grin still on his face from the thrill of driving the Zephyr.
"You know, Young Master Quillian," he said, his tone casual but respectful, "Lian's got a place in Elysian Heights too. My family's in Cresthaven, the neighborhood right next to it. Small world, huh?"
Evan's heart skipped, but he kept his face neutral, nodding as if it were no surprise.
'Lian lives in Elysian Heights? And Rylan's next door?' he thought, his mind reeling.
He hadn't known, of course—how could he? The villa was a System reward, not a home he'd ever set foot in.
The coincidence tightened the knot in his stomach. If they asked why they'd never seen him around, he'd have no answer.
'Please don't ask,' he thought, his poise holding firm.
Thankfully, Rylan's focus stayed on the road, and Lian, trailing behind, couldn't hear them. Neither pressed the issue.
As they approached Elysian Heights, the landscape shifted. Towering gates of polished obsidian loomed ahead, flanked by security drones that hummed softly, their sensors scanning every vehicle.
The neighborhood's cliffs rose in the distance, dotted with sprawling villas that overlooked the city's skyline.
A security officer, clad in a sleek black uniform with a holo-badge, stepped forward, raising a hand to halt them. His dataslate glowed as he approached the Zephyr's driver-side window.
"Identities, please," the officer said, his tone brisk, his eyes scanning the car's occupants.
Evan leaned across Rylan, lowering the passenger window with a smooth motion.
"Evan Quillian," he said, his voice calm and authoritative, the System's training guiding his delivery.
The officer's eyes widened, his professional demeanor faltering for a split second. He tapped his dataslate, confirming something, then straightened, his tone shifting to one of clear respect.
"Young Master Quillian, welcome home," he said, almost bowing. "Please, proceed."
He waved them through, the gates sliding open silently, the drones retreating.
Rylan raised an eyebrow, glancing at Evan as he eased the Zephyr forward. "Damn, Young Master Quillian," he said, half-joking. "Security's rolling out the red carpet for you."
Evan gave a small smile, deflecting with ease. "Just a name they recognize," he said, his voice light but firm. Inside, his pulse raced.
'What's with that reaction?' he thought. 'The System must've set this up.'
The officer's deference echoed the receptionist at Hearthstone's Apex, reinforcing the illusion of his untouchable status.
Lian's Phantom followed closely as they wound through Elysian Heights' pristine streets, lined with manicured gardens and villas that gleamed like jewels.
They reached 7 Elysian Crescent, and Evan's breath caught. The villa was breathtaking—its white stone facade glowed under the sun, accented by glass walls and floating holo-lights.
An infinity pool shimmered at the edge, overlooking the city, and security drones patrolled discreetly above. The underground garage opened automatically as they approached, its entrance wide enough for both supercars.
Rylan parked the Zephyr smoothly, its engine falling silent, while Lian pulled the Phantom in beside them.
The garage was cavernous, its polished floors reflecting the cars' sleek forms, with charging stations and automated maintenance bots lining the walls.
Evan stepped out, his casual clothes feeling out of place in the villa's grandeur. Rylan and Lian joined him, their eyes scanning the space, their deference clear but tempered by awe.
"Nice setup, Young Master Quillian," Rylan said, handing back the Zephyr's fob with a nod. "This place is… something else."
Lian returned the Phantom's fob, his polished smile respectful. "An honor to drive it, Young Master Quillian," he said, his tone carrying that same weight of understanding from the Obsidian Suite.
Evan nodded, pocketing the fobs.
"Appreciate the help, gentlemen," he said, his voice calm, exuding the poise the System demanded.
'I own this,' he thought, the reality still unreal. 'A villa, two supercars, and they're treating me like royalty.'