Chapter 191: One Hundred and Fifty Billion

The evening of the Laurentian Annual Grand Lottery had finally arrived.

Throughout Toronto, enormous holographic advertisements illuminated the streets, displaying the same extraordinary figure that had dominated conversations across the Laurentian Region for weeks.

150,000,000,000 UD!

From luxurious restaurants and entertainment establishments to ordinary residential apartments, millions of people were preparing to watch the annual grand draw.

For most participants, the lottery represented little more than an opportunity to dream about a life they could never otherwise afford.

However, inside the presidential residence of the Grand Meridian Hotel, one particular participant was considerably calmer than everyone else.

Jet sat comfortably on an enormous sofa, watching the television mounted on the opposite wall.

He wore his usual black clothing, covering his entire body without leaving any skin exposed, while a dark bandana concealed the Yin-Yang tattoo at the center of his forehead.

Beside him, Inez was happily eating a slice of strawberry cake.

Meanwhile, Frey was pacing around the living room like someone awaiting the results of an important examination.

"Bro, I’m telling you, I’ve got a really good feeling about tonight!" Frey declared excitedly, waving his lottery ticket. "I can practically feel the one hundred and fifty billion Union Dollars calling my name!"

Mikhail, who occupied another sofa with a large bowl of potato chips resting on his round stomach, glanced at him skeptically.

"You’ve been saying that since we bought the tickets," Mikhail remarked, stuffing another handful of chips into his mouth. "At this point, I’m starting to think you’ve convinced yourself that you’ve already won."

"That’s called confidence, my friend!" Frey retorted, pointing dramatically toward the television. "You should try having some!"

Mikhail rolled his eyes before turning toward Jet.

"Jet, please tell me you’re not taking this as seriously as he is," Mikhail asked, shaking his head.

Jet smiled faintly. "It’s just a lottery, Mikhail. There’s no reason to get worked up over it," he replied calmly.

Frey immediately stopped pacing.

"Just a lottery?!" he exclaimed, staring at Jet in disbelief. "Bro, we’re talking about one hundred and fifty billion! Do you have any idea how much money that is?!"

"Apparently, enough to make you lose your mind," Jet answered with an amused expression.

Inez burst into laughter, nearly dropping her cake.

"Brother Frey, you’re being funny again!" she exclaimed, looking delighted.

Frey placed a hand over his chest.

"Little princess, I’m glad someone appreciates my talents," he declared proudly.

Mikhail snorted.

"Your talent for making a fool of yourself is certainly impressive," he remarked.

Before Frey could respond, the television broadcast changed.

A magnificent studio appeared on the screen, decorated with golden lights and enormous holographic displays. At its center stood a transparent spherical machine containing dozens of numbered balls.

Two elegantly dressed presenters stood beside the machine, smiling toward the cameras.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Laurentian Annual Grand Lottery!" the female presenter announced enthusiastically, spreading her arms. "Tonight, one fortunate participant could walk away with the largest jackpot of the year!"

The enormous screen behind her illuminated with golden numbers.

GRAND PRIZE: 150 BILLION UNION DOLLARS

The male presenter stepped forward.

"Millions of tickets have been purchased across the Laurentian Region, and tonight, we will discover whether someone has managed to claim this extraordinary fortune!" he declared with a broad smile.

Frey immediately hurried toward the sofa and sat beside Jet.

"It’s starting!" he exclaimed, clutching his ticket tightly. "Nobody talk! I need to concentrate!"

Mikhail stared at him.

"Concentrate on what?" he asked incredulously. "The numbers aren’t going to change because you’re staring at them."

"Shhh!" Frey hissed, pressing a finger against his lips. "You’re disturbing my connection with Lady Luck!"

Jet chuckled quietly. Unlike his companions, he had no reason to feel nervous.

He had already checked his ticket several times. Every number matched the sequence recorded in his Ten-Year Record.

Nevertheless, he understood that his regression had introduced changes into the original timeline.

Events that had once seemed inevitable might unfold differently because of his actions. That possibility had crossed his mind repeatedly since purchasing the ticket. However, the lottery draw was an event he had not directly interfered with beyond buying a ticket.

There was no obvious reason for the winning combination to change and soon, he would know whether his assumption was correct.

On the television, the presenters finished explaining the rules.

The transparent machine began rotatingDozens of numbered balls bounced against its walls as the audience applauded.

"The moment we’ve all been waiting for has arrived!" the female presenter announced excitedly. "Let’s begin with our first winning number!"

A ball rolled through the machine’s opening.

The camera zoomed closer as the number appeared on the enormous display.

Frey immediately examined his ticket.

"Come on, come on..." he muttered, his eyes moving rapidly across the printed numbers.

Jet glanced at his own ticket.

The first number matched.

A faint smile appeared beneath his calm expression.

The machine rotated again.

Another ball emerged.

Then another.

With every announced number, Jet silently compared the results against his ticket.

Second number.

Correct.

Third number.

Correct.

Fourth number.

Correct.

By the time the fifth number appeared, his confidence had grown considerably.

Everything was unfolding exactly as he remembered.

Beside him, however, Frey’s excitement had gradually transformed into disappointment.

"Ah, damn it!" Frey groaned, slumping against the sofa. "I’ve only matched one number! What kind of bullshit luck is this?!"

Mikhail burst into laughter.

"Didn’t you say Lady Luck was personally calling your name?" he asked, grinning at his friend’s miserable expression.

"Shut up, Mikhail!" Frey complained, glaring at him. "There’s still a chance!"

"A chance of what? Winning enough to buy another lottery ticket?" Mikhail teased.

Inez giggled at their exchange before turning toward Jet.

"Big Brother, are you winning?" she asked curiously, leaning closer to examine the ticket in his gloved hand.

Jet looked down at her.

"So far, yes," he answered with a small smile.

Inez’s eyes brightened.

"Really?!" she exclaimed happily. "Does that mean we can buy more cake?"

Jet chuckled.

"If everything goes well, you can have as much cake as you want," he promised.

Frey immediately turned toward him.

"Wait, bro, how many numbers have you matched?" he asked, suddenly interested.

Jet glanced at the television.

"Five so far," he replied casually.

Frey froze.

Mikhail stopped chewing.

For several seconds, both young men stared at him.

"Five?" Frey repeated slowly, his expression changing. "Bro, are you serious?"

Jet nodded.

"That’s what my ticket says," he answered, showing them the printed numbers.

Frey immediately leaned forward, comparing the ticket against the results displayed on the television.

His eyes widened.

"Holy shit..." he whispered.

Mikhail quickly abandoned his bowl of chips and moved closer.

"Let me see that," he requested, examining the ticket carefully.

After checking the numbers himself, his expression became increasingly astonished.

"He’s right," Mikhail muttered, looking toward the television. "Every number so far matches."

Frey grabbed Jet’s shoulders.

"BRO! DON’T MOVE!" he shouted, practically trembling with excitement. "DON’T EVEN BREATHE! WE MIGHT ACTUALLY WIN THIS THING!"

Jet laughed.

"Relax, Frey. My breathing isn’t going to affect the draw," he replied.

"YOU DON’T KNOW THAT!" Frey protested desperately.

On the television, the machine continued rotating.

The female presenter smiled toward the audience.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, we have reached our final winning number!" she announced. "Could tonight be the night someone claims the grand jackpot?"

The atmosphere inside the presidential residence suddenly became tense.

Even Mikhail leaned forward, his eyes fixed on the screen.

Inez looked between the three young men, sensing their excitement without completely understanding what was happening.

The machine slowed. A final ball rolled toward the opening. For a brief moment, it remained hidden from the camera.

Then the number appeared.

Jet looked at the television.

It matched, every single number. Exactly as recorded in his notes.

For several seconds, silence filled the living room.

Frey stared at the screen.

Then at Jet’s ticket.

Then back at the screen.

His mouth slowly fell open.

"Jet..." Frey whispered, his voice trembling. "Bro... tell me I’m seeing things."

Mikhail took the ticket from Jet’s hand and examined it again.

Once.

Twice.

Then a third time.

His round face gradually turned pale.

"There’s no way..." Mikhail muttered, staring at the numbers. "There’s absolutely no fucking way..."

Jet leaned back against the sofa.

"Looks like we got lucky," he remarked calmly.

That was all it took.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"

Frey’s scream echoed throughout the enormous residence.

"WE WON! BRO, WE FUCKING WON!"

He jumped to his feet and began running around the living room, waving his arms wildly.

"ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY BILLION! HOLY SHIT! ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY BILLION UNION DOLLARS!"

Mikhail remained frozen for several seconds before suddenly bursting into laughter.

"HAHAHAHA! YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!" he exclaimed, clutching his stomach. "JET, YOU ACTUALLY WON THE LOTTERY!"

Frey rushed toward Jet and pulled him into an enthusiastic embrace.

"BRO! YOU BEAUTIFUL BASTARD!" he shouted, laughing uncontrollably. "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU’VE JUST DONE?!"

Jet laughed as he pushed his excited friend away.

"Calm down before you break something," he warned, shaking his head.

"CALM DOWN?!" Frey repeated incredulously. "BRO, YOU JUST WON ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY BILLION! HOW THE HELL AM I SUPPOSED TO CALM DOWN?!"

Inez watched the chaos with wide eyes.

Then she began laughing too.

"Big Brother won!" she exclaimed happily, clapping her little hands. "Big Brother won!"

Jet turned toward her, his expression softening.

"That’s right, Inez," he replied warmly, gently patting her head. "Your big brother won."

"Does that mean we’re rich now?" Inez asked innocently.

Frey immediately crouched beside her.

"Rich?!" he exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. "Little princess, your big brother is ridiculously, unbelievably, disgustingly rich!"

Inez blinked.

Then she smiled brightly.

"Then can we buy a big house?" she asked hopefully.

Jet looked at his sister for a moment. A beautiful home. A safe place where she could grow up without constantly worrying about the dangers outside.

That had been one of his greatest wishes since returning to the past and now, the first major step toward achieving it had succeeded.

"Of course," Jet answered gently, smiling at her. "We’ll buy a very big house."

Inez immediately threw her arms around him.

"Thank you, Big Brother!" she exclaimed happily.

Jet embraced her carefully, feeling an unfamiliar warmth spread through his chest.

Behind them, Frey was still celebrating, while Mikhail repeatedly examined the lottery ticket as though expecting the numbers to change.

Jet allowed himself a quiet smile.

The fortune wasn’t officially his yet. There were still verification procedures to complete before the prize could be transferred.

Nevertheless, the winning combination had been confirmed. His first major financial objective in Toronto had succeeded.

And with one hundred and fifty billion Union Dollars soon at his disposal, the plans he had been preparing could finally begin taking shape.