By evening, the teachers returned from the hospital, and Lisa was sent back to the city.
"Students," one teacher began solemnly, "What happened to Lisa was an unfortunate accident, one caused by our own negligence. As the organizers of this school trip, we failed to prioritize safety. After careful consideration, we've decided to end the trip here. We will return to the city tomorrow morning. Please pack your things accordingly."
The announcement struck a heavy chord. Any remaining excitement the students had vanished completely. The energy of the trip had fizzled out.
The next morning, the buses rolled back into the city, the mood among the students was heavy and subdued. Lisa had been sent home the night before after her accident, but her absence was like a missing piece of furniture in a room—impossible not to notice. Even Arnold, usually so loud and puffed up with confidence, barely said a word during the ride.
After getting off the bus, Steven made his way back to his villa in Crimson Hills.
As requested earlier, Alex had arranged for a proper aquarium for Toki. True to his word, the setup was stunning. It looked like a miniature slice of untouched nature. The tank featured smooth, multicoloured pebbles, pristine white sand, vibrant live aquatic plants, and bright corals. Toki was swimming inside
Steven leaned down. "Well, Toki? What do you think of your new kingdom?"
The little red-eared slider swam eagerly across the tank before climbing onto the basking rock. With a proud wiggle, he stretched out his tiny legs and tilted his head toward the warm lamp, like a monarch satisfied with his throne.
Steven chuckled. "Looks like you approve."
"It's beautiful," Steven commented. "But... it still feels a little empty. Alex, first thing tomorrow morning, get some clownfish, goldfish, and guppies. Toki deserves some company."
Alex gave a small bow. "Understood, sir."
Steven clapped his hands once. "Alright, time to get down to business. Let's summon them."
A ripple of energy answered, and the five assistants granted by the system materialized in front of him. Unlike Alex, who had always been calm and somewhat robotic in his manner, these new arrivals radiated individuality.
The first was a tall man in his thirties with glasses and a perpetual calmness in his eyes. "Harry," he introduced himself. "Specialty: logistics, data management, corporate auditing. I ensure things run on schedule and the numbers never lie." His tone was precise, almost like he spoke in spreadsheets.
Next was Robert, broad-shouldered and built like a soldier. His buzz cut and alert gaze screamed discipline. "Security, sir. Physical, digital, and psychological. I don't care if the threat's a hacker, a thief, or a mole—I find it, I neutralize it."
The third man was Nathan. Clean-shaven, polished, with the kind of posture that belonged to a diplomat. "Negotiation and operations. If you need a deal struck, a hostile boardroom turned in your favor, or government red tape cut through, I make it happen. My words are my weapons."
Then the women stepped forward. Lisa—a different Lisa than the student, Steven noted with irony—was poised and elegant, her dark hair pinned neatly back. "Corporate liaison. I handle presentation, image, and relations between you and your external ventures. When people see me, they'll see your authority." Her voice was clear, polished, like a news anchor who knew the power of perception.
Finally, Ruby spoke. She was sharp-eyed, her smile carrying an edge. "Finance. Investment strategy. Give me capital, and I'll turn it into more. Fast or steady, high-risk or safe—I adapt the game to your appetite."
Steven studied them, a slow grin forming. Six assistants in total now, counting Alex. Each one a distinct piece on his growing chessboard. The pawns were already moving; now he had knights, bishops, and rooks. He just had to decide where to place them.
Turning to Alex, he asked, "How's Silverbyte Studio performing?"
"It's doing well, sir," Alex reported, handing over a file. "Although activity is light at the moment, profits are steady. After covering taxes, salaries, and other operational costs, we have made five million in profit."
Steven barely glanced at the report. "Good enough. I trust your judgment anyway. Assign someone capable to manage daily operations. We'll only return when a new game is ready for launch. Oh—and announce development of a new title. Just enough to stir anticipation."
"Understood."
Steven nodded. "Now, what about Sky Pearl and Rosewood Hotel?"
"They're both performing stably. I monitor their financials weekly."
"How much are we pulling in?"
"From each—about seven hundred thousand dollars per month."
Steven raised an eyebrow. "That's a big drop compared to Silverbyte."
Alex gave a professional nod. "True, but their income is consistent. Silverbyte's profits spike with successful game launches but will naturally taper off over time. Sky Pearl and Rosewood provide reliable monthly revenue."
"Makes sense. What's our total cash on hand?"
"We currently have twenty million in the bank."
"And total assets?"
"About one hundred million in property and fixed holdings. If we include the stock value of the three corporations you own—Griffin Technology Studio, Star Power Corporation, and Odin Industries—our net asset value stands at approximately three hundred million."
Steven blinked. "Wait—I'm still the boss of those three? I completely forgot."
Nathan raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "Most men would kill to own even one."
Steven smirked. "Well, Most men don't have a system feeding them golden bullets."
Turning to Alex he said, "Alright Alex, Refresh my memory. What do they actually do?"
"Griffin Technology Studio focuses on advanced tech R&D—software, hardware, AI systems. Star Power Corporation operates in the energy sector, with a focus on developing innovative sustainable power solutions. Odin Industries is a multinational conglomerate dealing in automobiles, petrochemicals, natural gas, retail, entertainment, telecommunications, media, and textiles."
"Quite the empire," Steven said with a grin.
Steven called up the system shop. After searching for some time Steven found something good. For fifteen points, he acquired three sleek USB drives—each encoded with technology that could change entire industries.
He held them in his palm, weighing them like loaded chess pieces. Each one was powerful, but also dangerous. With power came attention. With attention came enemies.
The first drive contained the blueprint for a next-generation operating system—intuitive, integrated, with an AI assistant smart enough to revolutionize productivity itself. He imagined Griffin Technology Studio running it, launching a direct challenge to global software giants.
The second was a renewable power breakthrough—piezoelectric tiles that harvested human footsteps into usable energy. Star Power Corporation could roll it out in every city, changing urban infrastructure forever. But big energy players would see it as a declaration of war.
The third drive was almost elegant in its simplicity—a luxury car design under Odin Industries, sleek enough to rival the world's most coveted brands while boasting engineering a decade ahead of its time.
Steven exhaled slowly. "Three moves. Three ripples in three different ponds. Let's see who notices."
He handed the drives out like cards in a high-stakes game.
Steven turned to Lisa. "You'll serve as my representative. Deliver these drives to their respective companies and make sure they begin implementation."
Then to Ruby: "I'll give you eight million dollars. Invest it strategically and grow it."
Ruby's smirk sharpened. "Leave it to me. Money multiplies fastest when you let it hunt."
Finally, he looked at Nathan. "Take one million and oversee all properties in Chestervale. Renovate the old George Cottage and convert it into a countryside inn. Use the nearby fishing spot to attract families and weekend tourists. Add horseback riding lessons through the stable. Make the place self-sustaining—and profitable."
He turned to Alex. "Keep monitoring the White family. Let me know if anything suspicious happens."
Then to Robert and Harry, "For now your job is surveillance. Keep tabs on our competitors."
Steven stepped back, surveying his assembled team.
This wasn't just delegation. This was arrangement. Placement. A rook on one file, a bishop angled toward the enemy's king, pawns inching forward to open the board. Each assistant was a piece, yes—but not mere tools. They were his strategies given form, his will extended outward.
And in the center, he stood—not just a king, not just a player, but both at once. One by one, he would move them into place—covertly trapping his enemies, dismantling rivals, and expanding his influence from the shadows.
He closed his eyes briefly. He could almost see it—the world stretched out like a massive chessboard, rivals and allies scattered across it. Each move would ripple, trigger, force counters.
A smile tugged at Steven's lips. "Even the smallest piece has a place on the board."
With everything in motion, Steven returned to his room, where Toki was basking under a warm light, utterly relaxed in his new aquatic kingdom.