Chapter 4: The Jade Pavilion
Ethan stood in the center of the lobby, the silence of the staff ringing louder than the previous chatter. He felt a strange, humming warmth deep in his chest—the 100 million was gone, but in its place, the System had sparked to life. He was astounded to truly believe it now. Having a belief that the system is real is one thing, but actually witnessing a nine-figure transaction clear in three seconds is another entirely. Using the power was a physical rush that made his light-headedness vanish, replaced by a cold, predatory clarity.
"Mr. McCain," Ms. Roger said, her voice now dropping into a silkier, more reverent tone. "Please, allow me to personally escort you. A guest of your stature should not be standing in the foyer."
She didn't lead him to the general dining hall. Instead, they moved toward a private elevator shrouded in gold leaf.
"Our hotel features three 'Heavenly Spires'—our most exclusive dining suites," she explained as the elevator ascended rapidly. "You are being shown to The Jade Pavilion, the third-ranked room in the Golden Dragon. I must apologize that the Azure Dragon Suite and the Imperial Solar Chamber are currently unavailable. Those are reserved strictly for the primary shareholders of the Golden Dragon Group. However, the Jade Pavilion offers the same menu and a panoramic view of the South River."
Ethan nodded, his face a mask of calm. Inside, he was taking notes. Shareholders. Primary suites. This was the language of the world he had just crashed into. The doors opened to a room that took Ethan's breath away. The floor was a single slab of polished white marble, and the walls were floor-to-ceiling glass.
"Please, sit," Ms. Roger said, pulling out a chair made of dark mahogany. "My name is Elena Roger. I will be your personal concierge for this afternoon. At the Golden Dragon, we pride ourselves on a 'Zero-Hour' freshness policy. Our A5 Wagyu was processed this morning in Japan and flown in via our private jet fleet two hours ago. Our white truffles were harvested in Italy yesterday. If you desire it, we can have anything on earth on this table within six hours."
Ethan leaned back, looking at the gorgeous manager. Up close, Elena was stunning—sharp, intelligent eyes and a professional grace that screamed high society.
"Tell me, Elena," Ethan said, testing his new voice. It sounded deeper, steadier. "A place like this... it's more than just a hotel, isn't it? Who are the people who usually occupy those top two rooms? I'm interested in the circles they run in."
Elena leaned in slightly, sensing his curiosity. "The upper echelon of this province is a small circle, Mr. McCain. The Azure Dragon Suite is mostly used by the major shareholders. People like them don't just eat; they decide the fate of the city's real estate over appetizers."
Ethan's eyes narrowed. So, they were people who could change the fate of the world over food? How would it look if I were part of a group like that? He wondered. With the system, he knew this was an achievable dream.
"And you?" Ethan asked, watching her. "You're staying here with me, neglecting the lobby. Won't your superiors be displeased?"
Elena smiled, a flash of ambition crossing her face. Ethan noticed a slight flicker of another emotion as well; if he hadn't had the system, he wouldn't have recognized it, but he instinctively understood its meaning.
"I am the Lobby Manager, yes," she replied. "Technically, I should be downstairs overseeing the check-ins. But in this business, recognizing a Titan is the most important duty of all. If the Board of Directors knew I was attending to a man who drops 100 million as a 'top-up,' they wouldn't reprimand me. They would promote me."
She was a gambler, Ethan realized. She was betting her career on him. He thought to himself that even if they fired her, he would just buy the hotel and slam it in their faces.
"I like your honesty," Ethan said.
Having been single all his life and suddenly presented with an opportunity to be more, he felt the need to enjoy these new possibilities. He slid his hand close to hers. Elena only gave a small smile without any resistance. Though she was a lobby manager who was constantly around powerful men, she had remained single at thirty. Many men had proposed marriage to her, but she had refused, keeping to her own philosophy: If I am to catch a fish, I should catch the biggest one. A small smile tugged at her cheeks.
Elena poured him a glass of vintage wine that cost more than Ethan's old car.
"What's the total evaluation of the hotel?" Ethan asked suddenly.
Surprised, Elena's face filled with shock. "Mr. McCain, why are you asking for the total evaluation of the hotel?"
Ethan smiled. "Just curious."
Elena thought for a moment. "The land the hotel is built on is premium real estate; its total cost should be around 5 billion dollars. The hotel construction took about 10 billion. The facilities, private jets, and yachts add another 5 billion. It's hard to calculate everything exactly, but it should be worth about 30 billion to 40 billion dollars."
Ethan was internally shocked. He began calculating how many System Points he would gain from such a purchase and seriously considered if he should actually buy the entire hotel. He took a sip of the wine. It was rich, complex, and tasted of victory.