Chapter 51: Core Expansion

Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Core Expansion

Those financial records were buried under layers of Guild encryption. Nobody was supposed to know about the debt.

"You want Sterling to fall," Donald continued. His voice was low and precise. "Because if the Iron Guild collapses, your debt gets wiped out in the ensuing legal chaos. You’re standing in this garage because you want to know if I can actually pull the trigger, or if you need to start liquidating your assets tomorrow."

Silence hung heavily in the concrete garage.

Aris finally lowered her cigarette. The polite, condescending smile was totally gone. It was replaced by a look of genuine respect.

"Who are you?" she asked softly.

"I’m the guy who is going to clear your debt," Donald said. He opened the car door for Evelyn. "Do yourself a favor, Aris. Don’t bet against us. Just sit back and watch the show."

Donald got into the driver’s seat and started the engine. Aris stepped aside, watching them pull out of the garage and disappear into the city traffic.

By the time they reached the Zenith Spire, the adrenaline had completely worn off.

Evelyn walked into the penthouse. She reached down and unbuckled her strappy heels, kicking them halfway across the ruined living room. She let out a loud, pained groan.

"Monsters I can handle," Evelyn muttered, massaging her arches as she walked toward the kitchen. "But three hours in stilettos is actual torture."

Donald locked the door behind them and tossed his gold mask onto the kitchen counter. He ran a hand through his hair, suddenly feeling the bone-deep exhaustion of the last forty-eight hours.

"We did it," Donald said, leaning against the marble counter. "He took the bait."

Evelyn opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of cold water. She pressed it against her forehead. "He did. But Aris wasn’t entirely wrong, Donald. The Gala was just PR. The tournament is going to draw blood."

She took a long drink of water, leaning against the island across from him.

"The whole city thinks I’m an A-Rank who is just injured," Evelyn said quietly. "Sterling thinks my core is still cracked. None of them know that the healing dropped me down to B-Rank. The physical gap between a B-Rank and a prime A-Rank Berserker is massive. Kaelen has a full A-Rank mana pool. He’s Level 42. I’m Level 34. I’m fighting way below my old weight class right now."

"You won’t be fighting him alone," Donald reminded her. "The tournament rules allow a Vanguard to enter with a designated Support class. I’ll be in the arena with you."

"Even with the synergy buff," Evelyn said, looking him in the eye, "we are pushing the limit. Valerius was an assassin. He was squishy. Kaelen is a Berserker. He’s a walking tank."

Before Donald could answer, a sharp, electronic buzzing sound interrupted them.

Donald frowned. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his new, untraceable smartphone. The screen was blank, but it was vibrating aggressively.

He didn’t have any contacts saved. Only Evelyn had the number.

Donald answered the call and put it on speaker. He set the phone on the marble counter between them.

"Hello?"

"You played a very good hand tonight, boy," a deep, familiar voice rumbled through the speaker.

Evelyn instantly went rigid. Her hand moved instinctively toward her wrist, ready to summon her blade.

It was Sterling.

"Guild Master," Donald replied. His voice was completely level. He leaned over the counter. "How did you get this number?"

"I run this city," Sterling said. The threat hung plainly in the air. "I can find a burner phone. I can find a penthouse in the Zenith Spire. Don’t think for a second that you’re safe just because you live on the fiftieth floor."

"If you wanted to kill us, we wouldn’t have reached our place tonight safely." Donald countered smoothly. "You called for a reason. Make the pitch."

A heavy sigh echoed over the line. Sterling was shifting tactics. He was moving from the stick to the carrot.

"Evelyn is a broken toy," Sterling said. His tone adopted a fake, reasonable warmth. "She’s an injured, delusional A-Rank who refuses to accept that her best days are behind her. She’s bitter, she’s traumatized, and she’s dragging you into a grave. You’re clearly a smart kid. You have a good head for business. I can respect that. So, let’s do business."

"I’m listening."

"Walk away," Sterling offered. "Leave Genesis City tonight. Leave the girl to handle her own mess in the arena. In exchange, I will personally wire fifty million credits into an offshore, untraceable account under your name. Tax-free. You can buy a private island. You can start your own Guild somewhere else. You walk away rich, and nobody has to die next week."

Evelyn stared at the phone. Fifty million credits. It was an astronomical amount of money. It was enough to make any mercenary, any backer, and any friend turn their back and run.

She looked up at Donald. There was a faint, hidden trace of anxiety in her blue eyes.

Donald didn’t even hesitate. He let out a short, genuine laugh.

"Fifty million?" Donald asked, shaking his head. "Sterling, you really don’t get it."

"Excuse me?" Sterling’s voice dropped, the anger returning instantly.

"You’re looking at this like a Guild Master trying to buy off a mercenary," Donald said. His voice turned cold and sharp. "I’m looking at this like an Investor. And right now, you are a depreciating asset. Your public image is cracking. Your debt is piling up. And your new frontliner is a meathead who can’t control his temper."

Donald picked up the phone.

"Evelyn isn’t a broken toy," Donald said softly. He stared right into Evelyn’s eyes as he spoke. "She’s a blue-chip stock. And I’m going to ride her value all the way to the top of your tower. Keep your fifty million, Sterling. You’re going to need it to pay your legal fees."

Donald hung up the phone.

The kitchen was silent. Evelyn stared at him, her lips parted slightly. The anxiety in her eyes was completely gone. It was replaced by something much deeper, much hotter.

"You just turned down fifty million credits for me," Evelyn whispered.

"Like I said," Donald smiled. He reached out to gently brush a stray strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "I don’t back losers. Get some sleep. Tomorrow, we start training."

Evelyn held his gaze for a long moment, a soft smile finally breaking across her face. She turned and headed toward her bedroom, leaving him alone in the kitchen.

As soon as her door clicked shut, the air in front of Donald shimmered. A massive, glowing golden text box materialized in his vision, accompanied by the bright, chiming sound of a major System payout.

[CRITICAL MILESTONE REACHED]

[Condition Met: Absolute Loyalty to Primary Asset Displayed under extreme psychological and financial pressure.]

[Asset Trust Level: Maximum.]

Donald read the text, his heart beating a little faster. He had expected a minor experience bump for surviving the Gala, but the System wasn’t done.

[Calculating Capital Dividend...]

[Reward: +3 to All Base Stats.]

[Reward: +10,000,000 System Credits Deposited to Investor Account.]

[Notice: Primary Asset ’Evelyn Vance’ is now fully primed for Core Expansion. Awaiting Investor Authorization.]

Donald gripped the edge of the marble counter, feeling a sudden, intense rush of heat flood his veins as the stat points automatically applied themselves to his body. His muscles grew denser. His mana pool expanded, buzzing with fresh, holy energy.

He looked down at his phone, then over at Evelyn’s closed door.

Sterling thought he could buy him out. Kaelen thought he could crush them. They had no idea what was coming.