The Runcandel Manor was unusually lively that evening.
Evelyn had just returned from handling company matters when her phone vibrated softly.
She glanced at the screen.
Then stopped walking.
"…?"
Her expression froze.
One second passed.
Two seconds.
Then—
"WHAT?"
Her voice echoed through the hall.
Family Shock Therapy
Victor, who had been sipping tea, nearly choked.
Darius looked up from his chessboard.
Selene adjusted her glasses.
"What is it?" Victor asked.
Evelyn didn't answer.
She simply handed over the phone.
Victor leaned in.
Darius leaned in.
Selene leaned in.
All four heads crowded around the screen.
Silence.
Then—
"…351 million?" Victor muttered.
"…150 billion?" Selene whispered.
Darius burst out laughing.
"Hahahahaha—!"
He slapped his thigh.
"Good! GOOD!" he roared. "My grandson is terrifying!"
Victor stared at the message again.
"So let me get this straight," he said slowly.
"We already have a D-rank dungeon from the Valencrest compensation."
Selene nodded.
"One we publicly claimed was worth 100 million," she added calmly.
Evelyn smiled faintly.
"When in reality," she said,
"It's a Pokémon evolution stone mine worth 100 billion."
Victor inhaled sharply.
"And now—"
Evelyn continued,
"Alex bought another mountain land. Real value: 150 billion.
Purchase price: 351 million."
The room went quiet.
Then Darius stood up, hands behind his back, eyes shining.
"This isn't luck," he said proudly.
"This is talent."
Victor nodded.
"That kid didn't inherit my dragon blood for nothing."
Selene smiled knowingly.
"And he hasn't even started hunting seriously yet."
Evelyn folded her arms, amused.
"If the outside world knew the truth," she said,
"they'd faint on the spot."
They all shared a look.
Then laughed.
Meanwhile — Somewhere Very, Very Wrong
Kael Ravencroft was also celebrating.
Unfortunately.
False Victory
Kael sat in a private lounge, wine glass in hand.
Lunaria sat beside him, smiling faintly, clearly relieved.
"I did it," Kael said smugly.
"I outplayed Alexander Runcandel today."
Lunaria looked up.
"You did?"
Kael nodded confidently.
"He overpaid for land worth only 300 million," he scoffed.
"351 million—what an idiot."
He took a sip.
"I secured the real treasure."
He tapped the folder beside him—the cosmetic recipe.
"This alone will earn me 150 million. Maybe more."
Lunaria forced a smile.
"That's… amazing."
Kael leaned back, satisfied.
"And I avoided financial collapse. If he hadn't jumped in at the end, I might've lost the land too."
He laughed.
"Honestly, he saved me."
The room seemed to chill for half a second.
Kael didn't notice.
Kael's Inner Thoughts
Alexander Runcandel, he thought disdainfully.
A rich idiot who thinks money solves everything.
He clenched his fist.
Once my company rises… once my influence spreads…
I'll crush the Runcandels.
He raised his glass.
"To the future," he declared.
Lunaria hesitated—then raised hers too.
"To… the future."
Somewhere Else — The Board Is Set
Back at the Runcandel Manor, Evelyn calmly sent a single message.
Evelyn:
Proceed with the mining project.
Absolute secrecy.
A reply came instantly.
Raiden:
Understood.
Evelyn smiled.
Kael Ravencroft thought he had escaped disaster.
In truth—
He had just toasted on top of his own grave.