Bathroom.
Fyren's eyes were red.
"Give me a reasonable explanation."
System: "Beep! Long time no see, host. Have you missed me? Have you fallen in love with me? Have you…?"
"Get to the point!"
Fyren said angrily: "You saw everything that just happened—from beginning to end. The emotions, the dialogue—it was all top-notch. Don't even talk about an Oscar for acting. And you still punish me? Shouldn't the system be at least a little reasonable?"
Fyren jumped up, waving his arms: "Isn't this just bullying honest people?!"
System: "Hey, that's exactly it! If you manage to capture Cora—one of the three main heroines—the plot of this book will become unbalanced! So, we have to double the male lead's power to ensure he can suppress your overwhelming presence."
"Overwhelming presence…? I… I… Damn it… I'm so weak I can't even beat Sherry! She could smash me into the ground with one hand!"
System: "But Sherry has now become your servant and personal guard! Otto's strength is truly pitiful. Last time he accidentally triggered 'Divine Punishment,' half his body was crushed by a meteorite."
Fyren was stunned: "I did hear about that."
Then he chuckled: "How pathetic, haha."
"However, that huge meteorite contains abundant supreme essence energy. Otto should be able to break through and become an Upper Quadportal with it!"
Fyren's eyes widened: "He's cheating! Is the system still this biased? Oh my god, him… him, him… Hey, are you guys not rich enough to afford a balanced storyline?! I finally got him to log off to recover, and now you insist on boosting his stats? That's just ridiculous!"
"Well, honey, he's the hero! The chosen one, you know. You're just a minor villain, so…"
"Villains aren't human? Villains have to be brutally punished?! Did you see what just happened? It was a critical moment! I was all set and ready to go. My passion was about to burst out! I've… You know what I mean, right?"
"Yeah, yeah, we here feel that your animal instinct has been completely awakened and you've lost all rationality, you know?"
"So you're trying to stop me from being with my childhood sweetheart?"
"Wow, the host is so smart! Taking the heroine too early actually makes the story less interesting, you know?"
"Ultimately, is this still a story… or is it just a book?"
Fyren sighed: "I actually can't go back, can I?"
After a long silence, the system suddenly changed its usual tone and said calmly:
"Actually, it's very difficult for us to go back."
"Us?!"
Fyren was confused: "What are you saying?"
"At this stage, I can tell you very little. All I can say is that the whole world is waiting for you to come and save it, dear."
"The whole world? Which world?"
"All of them."
Fyren was even more confused: "All of them?! And you're counting on me?!"
"Yes." The system suddenly spoke in an eerily calm voice, stating quietly: "All parallel worlds have been frozen—both in time and space. Currently, only this one remains operational. I'll skip the ads for you. Please receive your gift pack. Wishing you happiness."
"Hey! Wait! Explain it clearly, please! What do you mean all worlds are frozen?! I can't do this! Damn it! I'm completely useless. All I can do is deliver food! And now I'm supposed to save this insignificant world?! Hey! Hey!"
There was no response.
Fyren stood in the bathroom, a sudden chill running through her body.
Her goosebumps rose.
The system didn't seem to be joking.
If that was the case, the situation was terrifyingly bad—to the extreme.
What's more, she knew nothing, and they weren't telling her anything!
These were things she had to force out of them.
Ding dong!
The gift pack appeared.
Fyren put her hands together and closed her eyes, praying devoutly: "Please, please don't give me any Love Potion, pregnancy pills, or any sex toys! Please, please! I still have to save the world!"
When she opened it, Fyren's confidence soared!
She blurted out: "So sophisticated! I give up!"
Love Potion X99;
Pregnancy Pill X99;
Sex Toy Set X99.
Fyren looked up at the ceiling: "It's… I said don't give me these, right? You know it's not that I'm dissatisfied with the quantity, right? I mean… Are you crazy? Do you want me to save the world by having sex with women?!"
"Damein has frozen all the worlds across time and space. Are you still kidding me?"
"Is this a time for jokes?! Please be serious, guys!"
"I've already told you—I'm a rich guy. I can buy all these myself if I want!"
Ding dong!
Gift Pack Two appeared.
An upgrade card!
A first-level recovery pill!
A flash card!
A third-level experience card for The Great Sage's Tiger-Subduing Fist (valid for three minutes)
Fyren slapped her thigh!
"Good!"
"Third-level Tiger-Subduing Fist! I'll kill that idiot Otto!"
...
Otto walked out of the room and stood in the yard, slowly settling into stance and performing a set of punches.
As his movements grew faster and faster, he leapt up at the end and struck the ground with one palm.
Bang!
The nearby ground shook.
Flora exclaimed: "Young lord! You… You've climbed back to the peak of the Upper Quadportal again!"
Sabrina also stepped out slowly: "Congratulations, young lord! Fortune has favored you. I never expected that meteorite to contain such pure and potent essence energy. It was truly a windfall."
Otto looked at her: "Hm."
He kept a stern face and turned to Flora: "Why are you here?"
"The lord heard that your plans were hindered, so he sent me to deliver precious medicinal pills and remain here to assist you. The lord said you must quickly integrate the powerful families of Crystalpeak City, unify its business circle, and then help you lay out the entire commercial map of Northlandia."
"Have you looked for Fyren?"
"Yes." Flora said in a depressed tone: "I had a chance to kill him, but was stopped by Sherry."
"Idiot!" Otto said: "If I wanted him dead, wouldn't I kill him myself?"
"Yes, subordinate understands her mistake."
Otto calmed his anger and gently took Flora's hand: "Don't be in a hurry. Fyren is very valuable now. Our goal isn't to kill him, but to make money. Do you understand?"
"However, I heard that he has repeatedly ruined young lord's plans and even injured you. I was truly furious. This time, going there was really just to teach him a lesson. I have always considered it my duty to assist young lord in accomplishing the grand plan."
"Hm." Otto was very satisfied and gently held Flora in his arms: "I was a bit rough earlier. Are you angry with me?"
"No, not at all." Flora was very shy.
Otto said: "Sabrina."
"Yes, young lord."
"Help me contact Hakan. I need to re-strategize and target the four major families again."
Sabrina said: "It might be difficult to break through on Eliza's side."
Otto narrowed his eyes: "Then we'll go after Xena!"
Otto smiled confidently: "The famous and beautiful doctor of Northlandia, the pride of the Xu family. Hehe, if we win her over, we can easily take down the entire Xu family. The Houde Group under the Xu family is our latest breakthrough point!"
The two girls said in unison: "Yes! We will follow young lord's orders, going through fire and water without hesitation!"
...
It seemed as if overnight, Crystalpeak City had changed.
The entire city appeared even more crowded.
Especially around the stations—migrant workers and construction teams carrying large bags and suitcases were everywhere.
The minivans and buses near the stations were packed full.
The entire workforce of Northlandia was gathering in this area.
The shantytown was officially renamed Fyren District.
Mayor Ziv couldn't afford to give Fyren much money, but he could offer some honorary titles.
Naming the new district was something he had fought hard for. Naming a district after a businessman required extensive procedures and high standards.
Fyren had contributed the most money and made an indelible impact on the project. After review, it was approved to name the new district after Fyren as a form of recognition.
The entire project quickly got underway. All the migrant workers were in place within a few days, with some already starting work after assembling their teams.
Many new temporary dormitories were built near Fyren District, along with various snack shops, convenience stores, and small bathhouses. The spending from these tens of thousands of workers was enough to make local businesses prosper.
Mayor Ziv specially approved three bus routes to be altered, ensuring they covered the main roads and central stations in Fyren District.
Fyren didn't like to draw attention, so he asked Maggie to represent him and attend the project's ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The scene was lively with dragon and lion dances, and the lighting of firecrackers and cake-cutting brought a festive atmosphere.
Mayor Ziv gave a speech himself, and Maggie, representing Dasheng Group, also addressed the crowd.
Fyren himself sat in a secluded corner, holding his secretary and watching the show.
Tracy hid in the corner, secretly watching Fyren concealed within the crowd.
"Damn! A whole district named after a lecherous rich second-generation! There must be some shady dealings going on! Mayor Ziv must have taken money from Fyren! They're colluding—officials and businessmen profiting together, and they even want a good reputation. I have to expose them!"
Fyren grew bored and pulled Chloe toward an empty construction site. Inside a bare concrete shell of a building, he began doing something unmentionable with her.
Fyren stood behind Chloe, gripping her arms.
Chloe was wearing high heels at the construction site that day, already exhausted and unable to withstand much more. She endured submissively, all the while shyly begging for mercy.
A professional woman in a stylish business suit, black high heels, and a safety helmet, lost in pleasure inside a barren structure with no doors or windows…
Tracy never expected she would capture such a photo.
Her mouth half-open, camera in hand, she was completely stunned.
Tracy was so absorbed that her face flushed and her heart raced. She knew it was wrong, but she couldn't look away. As the scene ahead grew more intense, she excitedly shifted her position and accidentally kicked a loose brick off the unguarded staircase.
Fyren heard it and immediately stopped, fastening his belt while cursing: "Who's there?! Damn it! Who is it?"
Tracy tried to run, but after just a few steps, Fyren grabbed her and shoved her against the wall.
Fyren's eyes widened: "Why is it you again? Tracy, why are you always following me? Don't you journalists have anything better to do?"
Tracy, blushing, retorted: "I… I do what I want! It's none of your business!"
"Hand over the camera!"
"No! You have no right to take my camera!"
Fyren gritted her teeth and threatened menacingly: "Will you give it to me or not? If you don't, I'll strip you naked and have my way with you right here!"
Tracy was terrified. She knew these capitalists were capable of anything, but she mustered her courage and said, "I'm a journalist! I have the right to record what I see!"
Just as Fyren reached to snatch the camera, she felt the cold barrel of a gun pressed against the back of her head.
A familiar voice spoke coldly: "Don't move. If you move, I'll shoot."