Arthur sat in a cheap plastic chair at a roadside stall, staring at his ¥40,000,000 investment budget while nibbling on a discount scallion pancake. To the world, he was the "Miracle Maker of Ningxia." To the System, he was a persistent disappointment.
[The Providence Mandate: Level 3]
Current Investment Capital: ¥40,000,000
Personal Salary: ¥5,000 (Still using a cracked screen protector).
Next Rebate Tier: If he loses this, he gets ¥120,000,000.
"I've tried art. I've tried science," Arthur muttered. "Now, I will try pure, unadulterated logistics madness. I will burn money in the sky."
The Plan: "Noah's Wing"
Arthur called Captain Li to a private hangar at a secondary airport. In front of them sat two retired, fuel-guzzling cargo planes.
"Captain," Arthur said, his voice brimming with a desperate confidence. "We are launching Noah's Wing. It is a luxury airline. But we will have no human passengers."
Captain Li adjusted his cap. "A cargo company, sir?"
"No. An airline for stray animals. We will fly abandoned dogs and cats from overcrowded city shelters to high-end 'Retirement Sanctuaries' on tropical islands. I want custom-built silk-lined crates. I want a 1:1 ratio of flight attendants to pets. And most importantly, I want the planes to fly at half-capacity to 'ensure the animals' psychological comfort.'"
"Sir," Li's voice trembled. "The fuel for these old planes... the landing fees... the veterinary staff salaries... it will cost millions every week. And there's no revenue model. We aren't even charging the shelters!"
"Exactly," Arthur smiled, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. "We shall be the first airline to fly purely on the wings of 'loss'."
Point of View: Captain Li (The Reformed Soul)
Captain Li stood on the tarmac, watching a team of world-class veterinarians board the plane. He had never seen such a collection of talent.
The Young Master is testing my humanity again, Li thought, his eyes misting over. He knows that in our rush for profit, we have forgotten the lowliest of creatures. He's pouring forty million yuan into this because he wants to teach the world a lesson about compassion. He wants me to spend every cent to show that a stray dog's life is worth as much as a CEO's.
"Attention!" Li barked at the ground crew. "The Young Master wants 'comfort over cost!' If I see a single scratch on a puppy's crate, you're fired! We are flying for the soul of the nation!"
Point of View: Lin Xia (The Strategic Heart)
Lin Xia watched from her balcony as the news broke about "The Millionaire Who Flies Strays to Paradise." The internet was exploding.
Arthur, you silly man, she laughed softly to herself. You think you can hide your kindness behind 'bad business decisions.' But the world isn't blind.
She opened her laptop. As the daughter of a textile mogul, she knew the power of branding. She reached out to the world's leading luxury pet food brands and organic shampoo companies.
"Hello? This is Lin Xia. I'm representing the 'Noah's Wing' initiative. We are looking for 'Exclusive Partners.' No, we don't want your money—we want you to donate 10% of your global profits to our animal sanctuary fund in exchange for the 'Noah's Seal of Approval' on your packaging."
The Result: The Disaster of Popularity
Three months later, Arthur was waiting for the "Bankruptcy Pending" alert. He had seen the fuel bills—they were terrifying. He was certain this was the one.
[Ding!]
[Project: Noah's Wing]
Status: GLOBAL MARKETING TRIUMPH.
The "Flaw": The "Noah's Seal of Approval" became the most coveted certification in the pet industry. Brands paid hundreds of millions in "voluntary donations" to the project just to be associated with Arthur's "Ethical Image."
The "Accident": One of the "uninhabited islands" Arthur bought for the dogs turned out to have a rare, natural thermal spring with life-extending mineral properties. It is now the world's most expensive "Eco-Pet Spa" for the ultra-wealthy.
Outcome: ¥250,000,000 profit donated to the "World Wildlife Foundation."
Penalty: Next Project Capital: ¥1,000,000,000. Arthur's Salary: ¥5,000.
Arthur stared at the ceiling of his tiny apartment. A billion yuan. He was now a "Billionaire of Charity," yet he was currently debating if he could afford to buy an egg to put in his instant noodles.
Lin Xia knocked on his door, her face glowing. "Arthur! The UN wants to name you an 'Ambassador of Compassion.' And look—I bought you a new suit for the ceremony. You can't keep wearing that old one!"
Arthur looked at the suit. It cost more than his yearly salary. He felt like the luckiest, unluckiest man in the world.