RICHARD'S POVThe young girl lay on the bed, her face twisted in pain. I could feel the eyes of her family boring into me, a mix of hope and doubt. I took a deep breath, activating the system within me. This was it. Time to prove myself."Alright," I said, my voice steady, "I'll heal her. But I need some things first."The family looked at me, clearly confused. I could see the questions in their eyes, but they stayed silent, waiting for me to continue."I need you to boil vinegar and mix it with hot water. Quickly."There was a moment of stunned silence. Then, the mother spoke up, her voice tinged with skepticism. "Vinegar? Are you sure?"I nodded firmly. "Yes. Trust me. It's part of the process."She hesitated, glancing at her son and then at the girl, her daughter who let out a soft whimper. The brother clutched his sister's hand tightly, his knuckles white."Please," I urged, "she's in pain. The sooner we start, the better."The brother finally nodded and hurried out of the room. T
Richard’s POVI took a deep breath and smiled, feeling that familiar rush of anticipation. "You know what, Dennis? Count me in. I want to join the business consortium."Dennis raised an eyebrow, then smirked. "Well, well, look who’s stepping into the big leagues. Richard, you never told me your other names… Richard?""I'm Richard," I said, extending my hand. "Richard Thorne."Dennis paused for a moment, a look of curiosity crossing his face. "Thorne, huh? I’ve heard of an Archibald Thorne. Any relation?"I couldn’t help but chuckle. "You could say that. Archibald is my father."Dennis let out a low whistle. "The Archibald Thorne? The one they call the 'Corporate Shark'?"I shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, that's him. But I prefer to think of him as Dad."Dennis laughed, a hearty, genuine sound. "Well, Richard, you've got some big shoes to fill. Your father's reputation precedes him, but not much else. He’s a bit of a legend in these parts.""A legend, huh?" I said, leaning aga
RICHARD’S POV trudged up the cobblestone path to my father's villa, excited to give him the great news of my latest accomplishment—securing a membership into the consortium. I could hear Jonathan and William’s voices even before I reached the door, their complaints echoing through the open windows. Wonderful, just what I needed.As I stepped inside, I could see them in the sitting room, whining to Dad.“Come on, Dad, we need the money for the business consortium headquarters entrance fee,” Jonathan was saying, his tone almost whiny.William chimed in, “Yeah, it’s not like we’re asking for much. Just a little investment in our future.”Dad shook his head firmly. “I’ve told you both already, I’m not giving you any more money. You need to learn to stand on your own two feet.”I decided it was time to make my presence known. I walked in, trying to hide my amusement. “Hey there, family.”Jonathan’s head whipped around, and he glared at me. “Who let you in, Richard? Can’t you see we’re ha
RICHARD’S POV I walked briskly down the crowded sidewalk, dodging people with the ease of long practice. The city’s evening rush hour, as usual, was filled with car horns and agitated voices, but I was in too good a mood to let it bother me today. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out to see a notification from the Ultra system.“You have 24 hours to spend another $3 million,” the message read.I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. A few people glanced at me like I was crazy, but I didn't care. This is going to be fun. I started mentally listing the most outrageous things I could buy. A yacht? A private island? Maybe I’ll just buy a fleet of sports cars and give them away to strangers.As I turned the corner onto my street, my thoughts faded. I spotted my mother standing outside our apartment building, surrounded by a depressing assortment of our belongings. My heart sank. This can’t be good.“Mom?” I called out as I jogged over to her. “What’s going on?”She looked up, he
RICHARD'S POV Suddenly, Samantha stammered through her apology, her eyes darting around like a deer caught in headlights. "I-I'm so sorry, Mr. Richard. I didn’t mean to—"I cut her off, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, you didn't mean to? Well, isn't that just peachy. I didn't mean to be insulted or have my time wasted, but here we are."A small crowd had gathered, their whispers growing louder with every passing second. Some of them had their phones out, probably recording the scene. Great, I thought, just what I need—my face plastered all over social media because of an incompetent sales agent."Maybe you should get someone who knows what they're doing," I suggested, my tone as biting as a winter wind.The look of sheer panic on Samantha's face was almost enough to make me feel a twinge of guilt. Almost.At that moment I noticed the manager, a tall man with a sharp suit and a sharper gaze. He walked towards us, like a hawk approaching his prey. His name tag read, ‘Michael’. He
Richard's POVThe system notification pinged, and I glanced at the screen. "Congratulations, Richard! You have completed your task and have earned two ultra billionaire points." I chuckled, shaking my head. Another Ultra billionaire points? If only everything else in life were that simple.****The next day, I woke up with a mission. The Carter family—big names in the business world. If I could secure a partnership with them, it would be a game-changer. It wasn't just about business, though. This was personal. I had tried calling to set up an appointment, but they insisted I come in person to verify my identity as a member of the consortium. Fair enough, I thought. A personal touch goes a long way.I picked out my sharpest suit, a dark navy number with a crisp white shirt and a red tie. "Lookin' sharp, Richard," I said to my reflection, giving myself a wink. The mirror didn't respond, of course, but it didn't need to. I knew I looked good.The drive to Carter Enterprises was a breeze
RICHARD'S POV leaned back in my chair, feeling the weight of the room shift as Brenda's eyes met mine. There was a spark there, a glimmer of curiosity and perhaps a bit of skepticism."So, Richard," she began, her tone light but her gaze piercing, "you’re really part of the business consortium?"I leaned forward, a grin tugging at the corner of my mouth. "Yes, Brenda. I recently obtained membership."Her eyebrows shot up, and for a moment, she looked genuinely impressed. "Well, color me surprised. I thought they only allowed a select few, the crème de la crème."I chuckled, shaking my head. "You know, it’s not as exclusive as they make it out to be. But yes, they do have their standards."Brenda’s eyes twinkled with amusement. "Standards, huh? I was beginning to think they just let in anyone with a decent suit and a charming smile."I laughed, the sound filling the room. "Well, I do have a pretty decent suit. And my smile? It’s legendary."She rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her gr
RICHARD'S POV"Brenda, you won't regret this," I said, giving her my best reassuring smile. "The benefits of our partnership are going to be enormous. Just wait and see."Brenda nodded, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I know, Richard. I trust you. I'll contact you soon for more details."I left her office, feeling a mixture of triumph and relief. The deal was sealed, and things were looking up. As I walked out into the bustling street, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw a message from Mr. Dennis, the Chairman of the business consortium in District 2, the same man whose daughter I had healed."Richard, there's a private banquet tonight at 7, to celebrate my daughter's recovery. Your presence would mean a lot to us."A banquet, huh? I thought. Sounds like a perfect opportunity to network and celebrate a little victory. Plus, the Chairman's gratitude could be a significant asset in the future.I stared at the screen for a moment, a smile playing on my lips. Dennis