Vera's face held an ample amount of shock. She couldn't hold it in. She let it flow from within through to her face.Was she seeing clearly? Or had she gone crazy and was now hallucinating?Her ex, Arnold was standing in front of her. But, something wasn't right about him. He didn't look like what he was supposed to look like. He didn't look slim and hopeless, like the Arnold she'd left at the altar. No. He looked like an upgraded version of him.She looked down from embarrassment at the situation he was finding her in.Something clicked within her; it was the same audacity that had made her shout at the sales clerk without care, not minding who was watching her.She finally got the questios out of her mouth after trying severally. "Arnold? What are you doing here?"She looked at him now, her eyes clearly taking in his outfit. He didn't just look different, he dressed different. His suit looked like it had come right out of a magazine cover. He looked like he had come right out of a m
It was yet another weekend, exactly seven days after Arnold's encounter with Vera. He wasn't counting but he was conscious of this fact. It was an encounter that he didn't think he would forget un the near future. It had given him some kind of moment of evaluation. He'd tried to stop himself from thinking about his past life but it was hard. Even though he'd gotten into that accident and woken up with the system in him, he was still a part of his past self. He felt renewed but his present was an accumulation of all his past selves.Arnold had finished his weekend quota of bullets to be forged. He'd forged them all and he was ready to sell them to his regular buyer. It was always so refreshing when he was able to meet his goals. And, since he'd met his goals, he felt fulfilled even before selling the bullets. The proceeds would be a bonus.He arrived at the usual meeting point alone. As always. The new routine involved him coming alone without his car and with a duffel bag. So, ther
Mr Xiu felt a pull in his heart towards Arnold. He was like a son to him. The more he watched him grow, the more he grew proud of him. It was hard to keep it all in, but he found a way to do it. After all, he'd been good at keeping certain things to himself all these while.In all his years, he'd never seen someone so dutiful in serving another man like Arnold. It was so obvious how hardworking Arnold was with the way he dedicated most of his time to learning under his guidance.It pleased Xiu that Arnold was being rewarded for it. His new bullet - making business was beginning to grow so fast, it even shocked Xiu.Xiu had a lot of positive things to say about Arnold, but he tried his best to hold it in. It would be best if he didn't say it all and allow it to get into the young man's head. Step by step. Little by little. He would feed Arnold just the right amount of lessons and the right amount of encouragement so that he wouldn't upset the balance of things.Arnold was a beast in
Mr Xiu watch Arnold keenly as he explained in carefully chosen words how he would go about getting the coins without his help. He could see every change in the man's face and every shift in his demeanor. Which was why, he noticed it when it happened.Arnold's face remained the same after he mentioned the Ghost of Wall Street. Even when he said as dramatically and tactically as possible, that he knew him in person. There was no trace of shock on his face. The only shift in expression was that of Arnold's lips — a smirk he couldn't quite understand graced the young man's lips.What was in Arnold's mind?Instead of creating an unquenchable curiosity and a high level of shock factor in his mentee, Xiu was the one left confounded.What did Arnold know about the Ghost of Wall Street?Xiu could feel an uneasiness in his gut. It was so strong, it almost blocked the words from coming out of his lips. He tried to shake off the feeling, but he couldn't. It grew even stronger, leading him to t
The sun was setting as Arnold walked out of Xiu's corporation building. He looked at the sky for a moment, taking in the hues of nature. The little things were becoming more obvious to him. Years ago, he would have never been interested in watching the sun set or looking at the sky. He'd have been too busy thinking about how to get through the day and to the next day while being stuck behind the counter of his grocery shop.As he looked away from the sky, his eyes met with Jia, Mr Xiu's daughter. And all of a sudden, the setting sun and the clear sky couldn't compare to her beauty. It looked like she didn't have to try. She was just so damn beautiful and it was very distracting, he couldn't look away.He wanted her.He wanted to be her friend, he corrected himself.He wondered why he'd not yet gotten a quest from the system to get her. Wasn't that what had happened in the past? The moment the system realized that he felt something about Lisa, a quest had been generated almost immedia
The meeting with the big boy investors had been fixed already. Arnold had gotten in touch with them a few days ago and they'd given him a time and location to meet.Finally, it was the d - day of the meeting and he was more than ready. He would walk into the meeting point, armed with the mannerisms and every bloody thing he had gobbled up in the past few days about the Ghost of Wall Street. Mr Xiu had filled him until he was sure he would choke from too much knowledge.He had Mr Xiu's permission and he had every knowledge he needed. What would make him falter?The big boy investors were market movers. Meeting them would either turn his life around for the very best or leave him floundering. This was the opportunity of a lifetime and he couldn't afford to screw it. He kept this truth in the front of his mind to keep him grounded no matter what, and to motivate him, too.This wasn't just about him. Mr Xiu knew this was another win for both of them. If his mentee was winning big, it i
"What the actual fuck?" Arnold cursed under his breath."If you really want to buy the stock, you gotta pay the money," one of the three investors said, derision dripping through his voice."But, I don't have that amount. I can pay half of that," the business man they were discussing with begged."I don't think you're ready to buy the stocks. Maybe you should take a walk out of here and return when you're ready," another of the big three investors added.Arnold balled his hands into fists. The more he listened to them, the more annoyed he got in his spirit.From his vantage point, shrouded in darkness, he watched them now, trying to get as much of their physical description as he could. The light in their corner of the VVIP section was blue and low, but he could make them out after getting acquainted with it for a while.Two of them looked big and burly. They looked like younger versions of the men he'd seen at the VIP section. The only distinguishing factors he could tell was that t
Game on, Arnold thought.The system had dared him to take on a new quest. That was what it seemed like, after all. Why else would they attach such a gruesome effect in case he failed the quest?He loved dares. He loved challenges. He smirked as he watched her now. He was going to fight till the very end.His lust and the quest failure would be his driving force."You know what?" he told the younger one of the three. "I'll stay back and have a drink or two at the bar. But, on one condition.""Tell me," the young man said. "If it's something I can do, which it most likely is, I'll do it."He looked towards where the girl was seated now. "Who's that stunning lady over there?"The young man immediately clicked his fingers. "Nah. She's off limits. A serious no-go-area. See that man she walked in with?"Arnold nodded. Of course, he'd seen the big man."That's her lover. And he's one of the owners of the club. However, if you're not careful and you strike up a conversation with her, she'll t