"Let's get started!"
However, at that very moment, as soon as Mavi gave the order, the American worker operating the crane skillfully lowered the steel cable. This caused the massive iron ball, which had been suspended in mid-air above the villa, to suddenly plummet out of control!
BOOM! A thunderous crash echoed through the air!
The 800-pound iron wrecking ball smashed through the villa's rooftop in an instant. The sheer impact shattered the roof tiles and wooden beams into countless fragments, sending debris flying in all directions and kicking up a thick cloud of dust.
"Oh my God!" Lisa and John gasped simultaneously. As real estate sales agents, they knew exactly how expensive this villa was. Its construction cost alone was at least $300,000!
And in the year 2000, $300,000 was a significant amount of money. In other states, that sum could easily buy two or three villas!
As Lisa and the others whispered in shock, the wrecking ball, which had lodged itself into the roof, was slowly lifted back up. It swayed back and forth above the villa as the crane arm adjusted its position, preparing for another strike.
Inside the crane, Mavi pointed toward the villa's front entrance. "Smash that door."
"Got it, boss." The American worker followed the order immediately, skillfully maneuvering the wrecking ball and slamming it hard into the front door.
BOOM! Another earth-shaking crash!
The 800-pound iron sphere effortlessly reduced the security door to rubble. But it didn't stop there—the ball's momentum carried it forward, crashing through the living room and into the kitchen, demolishing everything in its path.
This wrecking ball was originally designed for tearing down reinforced concrete buildings. Using it on a wooden villa was like bringing a butcher's cleaver to carve a chicken—pure overkill! The destruction was violent and excessive.
Inside his Nissan President, Inoue Tanji sat frozen, his mind blank. His face was pale as he stared at the scene before him, utterly horrified. Mavi was terrifying...
A luxuriously furnished, $300,000 villa—more expensive than his own Nissan President—was being completely demolished in the blink of an eye. This was wealth and recklessness at a level he had never witnessed before.
Lisa and John, sitting inside their Ford, had the same thoughts. As high-end real estate agents, they frequently interacted with wealthy clients. But Lisa swore to God that she had never, in her entire life, seen someone like Mavi—someone who would demolish a mansion just because he felt like it!
"A $300,000 villa… just like that… gone..." Lisa muttered in disbelief. "Even my biggest deal today, a $10 million sale, only gets me a commission of less than $100,000."
The saying "Comparison is the thief of joy" had never felt more real. To Lisa, a $100,000 commission was a huge fortune.
But to Mavi? Even if that number was tripled, it was still just the price of one wrecking ball.
What Lisa and the others didn't know was that Mavi had originally planned to blow up the villa with mortars. However, in the United States, it was illegal for foreign nationals to own firearms, let alone heavy weaponry like mortars. Mavi had no interest in getting arrested and spending ten years behind bars.
After all, he had heard the rumors about prison—someone as fair-skinned and delicate as him would be… well… let's just say he'd be picking up a lot of soap.
So, for the next fifteen minutes, everyone watched in stunned silence as Mavi systematically destroyed the extravagant Japanese-style villa—one wrecking ball swing at a time.
By the time it was over, Inoue Tanji, Lisa, and John had no words left. All that remained was a deep sense of shock—and a memory they would never forget.
---
Having satisfied his urge for destruction, Mavi, feeling refreshed, returned to the Pullman Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C., accompanied by his Cadillac convoy.
On the way, he opened his laptop and checked his Citibank account. His balance had dropped from $385 million to $335 million. As for his Black Centurion Amex, it showed an outstanding balance of $10.98 million.
"In just two days, I went from $385 million to $335 million…" Mavi sighed. Money really did burn fast. In the blink of an eye, he had spent 15% of his cash reserves.
His investment companies would take years to yield returns. He started to think that, besides long-term investments, he should also explore some short-term opportunities to make quick cash.
Unfortunately, Mavi hadn't paid much attention to the U.S. stock market in his previous life. He only had a rough idea of the market's highest and lowest points. That meant he couldn't execute precise, high-speed trades—his best bet was waiting for the market to crash, then buying in at the bottom.
As for futures, margin trading, and short selling, they operated very differently from stocks. One misstep, and he could lose everything. Unless he had a skilled trader or financial expert, he wouldn't risk getting caught in a sudden bull or bear trap that could wipe out his account.
Right then, Ivan, his butler sitting in the front passenger seat, turned around and spoke softly.
"Sir, tomorrow evening at 8 PM, at the JW Marriott Hotel rooftop, President Jeff Bezos has arranged a grand welcome party in your honor. He hopes you will attend."
The JW Marriott Hotel was one of the top five luxury hotels in Washington, D.C.. It was located on Pennsylvania Avenue, near landmarks such as National Mall, National Theatre, and the National Portrait Gallery.
Mavi opened his eyes slightly and nodded. "Alright, I'll be there."
Today had been exhausting—especially the wrecking-ball demolition of a luxury mansion. That was a sight he would never forget.
"Sir, if you're attending the party, would you like to buy a tailored suit tomorrow?" Ivan suggested quietly.
Mavi wasn't a fan of wearing suits. Even when traveling for business meetings, he preferred casual clothing—whatever was most comfortable.
"Hmm… make the arrangements," he replied lazily, keeping his eyes closed.
This would be his first time attending a high-society event, and he wasn't familiar with the etiquette. To be honest, he was a little nervous about embarrassing himself.
Especially when it came to ballroom dancing—if he stepped on or tripped his dance partner, that would be beyond awkward.
The next afternoon, per Ivan's arrangements, Mavi visited a high-end tailor shop called "Kiton."
Located in downtown Washington, D.C., Kiton offered some of the most expensive suits on the market—costing $30,000 to $50,000 each!
Every suit was made from the finest Italian fabrics, handcrafted in Naples, Italy. The tailors had at least 30 years of experience, ensuring only the highest quality.
"Good afternoon, sir! Welcome to Kiton. How can I assist you today?"
The moment Mavi stepped inside, a well-dressed female sales associate greeted him with a sweet smile.