The twelve credits in Arya's pocket were a joke compared to the golden numbers glowing in her mind.
[Balance: ₵100,000,000]
[Time: 40 Minutes.]
She stood in front of L'Aurore, the most expensive shop in the city. Usually, a girl in a wet gray suit would be kicked out before she touched the handle.
Inside, the smell of expensive flowers and champagne was thick. A salesgirl named Claire looked up, her face twisting in disgust. "The thrift store is down the street. We don't do handouts here."
Arya didn't flinch. The System was humming in her ears, making her feel steady and dangerous. "I want the emerald silk dress in the window. And a styling team. Now."
Claire laughed. "That dress is ₵2 Million. You couldn't afford the zipper. Get out before I call security."
The door chimed. Two men walked in—Leo and Toby. They were Reid's friends, rich heirs who spent their lives mocking people like Arya.
"Is that Reid's little librarian?" Leo mocked. "Did you come here to find a thicker sweater to hide in, Arya?"
Arya ignored them. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a sleek, black card the System had provided. She swiped it at the VIP terminal on the counter.
BEEP.
[Transaction Approved: ₵10,000,000.]
The shop went dead silent. Claire turned pale. The two rich heirs froze, staring at the screen in shock.
"That should cover the dress and your silence," Arya said, her voice low and sharp. She looked Claire in the eye. "Now, get to work. I have a king to buy."
The next half-hour was a blur. A team of stylists stripped away the "bland" secretary. They scrubbed her skin until it glowed like silk. They brushed out her dark hair until it fell in heavy, rich waves.
When Arya stepped into the emerald dress, the stylists gasped. It was backless, held by thin gold chains, and the neckline dipped low, showing off the curves she had spent years covering. Without her glasses, her eyes were sharp and predatory.
She looked in the mirror. The girl who cried in the rain was gone. In her place was a woman who looked like she could buy the whole street.
[Aura Gained: Sovereign Presence.]
"Pack my old clothes," Arya told Claire, who was now trembling with respect.
"Yes, Miss Arya! Right away!"
Arya looked at the box containing her old suit. She looked at Leo and Toby, who were staring at her with wide, hungry eyes. They didn't even recognize her.
"Actually," Arya said, her eyes turning cold. "Burn them. I'm never going back to being that girl again."
She walked out of the store, her heels clicking like a countdown. A black luxury car was waiting at the curb.
"To the Velvet Grotto," she told the driver.
As the car sped through the neon lights, Arya checked the time.
[Target: Silas Vance. 10 Minutes until Total Breakdown.]
"Hang on, Silas," Arya whispered. "I'm coming."