For many combat veterans, a combat power of 30 stars didn't seem particularly remarkable. But for lifestyle professionals like Charles—who rarely faced the battlefield head-on—such power was nothing short of terrifying.
The realization struck him like a hammer to the chest. His face paled, his hands trembling slightly. "Then… then what should I do?"
Charles, despite his tall and broad physique, now looked like a frightened child. The irony wasn't lost on Ethan. Here stood a man built like a warrior, but because of his chosen profession and lack of combat instinct, fear swallowed him whole.
Ethan sighed. This was the eternal difference between lifestyle professionals and combat professionals. "Calm down. Tell me—does your family have any professionals with real fighting talent? What's the highest combat power you've got?"
Charles's breathing slowed. He knew there was no point hiding anything now. "Our family doesn't have natural fighters. We mostly rely on hired professionals. Their combat power usually hovers around one hundred stars at best."
"One hundred stars…" Ethan repeated quietly. That was considered strong for everyday battles in Ravenshade City, but nowhere near enough to fend off real threats.
Charles continued nervously, "It's not that we couldn't hire stronger fighters. It's just that we live in the city, far from constant battles. Hiring top-tier warriors has never seemed necessary." He paused, thinking carefully. "Oh, I do remember one thing—my father once hired a professional with combat power close to two hundred and eighty stars. That's the strongest we've ever had."
Ethan's expression hardened. Now things became clearer. In Ravenshade City, one hundred stars made someone a core force in most organizations. Two or three hundred stars placed you in the upper echelon. Beyond that, such warriors were rare—almost legendary within the city walls. For comparison, Master Wang's seven-hundred-star strength was already considered the peak of Ravenshade City. Anyone beyond that was an exception, like the bearded master who had come only because of extraordinary circumstances.
Ethan realized the truth: the city had already become too small for him. His path had outgrown its limits. Still, if he had chosen to cooperate with Charles, then he might as well secure his position properly.
"Tell me this," Ethan asked after a long silence. "How strong of a professional do you think your cousin can hire?"
Charles hesitated, then answered reluctantly, "Probably someone around two hundred stars."
Ethan nodded slightly. "Good. Then here's what you'll do—stay here tonight. Don't leave. Tomorrow, I'll bring you something."
Charles let out a shaky breath of relief. Ethan's words carried a sense of security he desperately needed. "Ethan… I don't even know how to thank you."
"Don't thank me," Ethan replied with a calm smile. "Just help me make money."
Charles almost laughed with relief. "That I can do."
As Ethan left, Charles stood frozen for a long time, lost in thought. So much had happened in one day—his family's hidden betrayal, his cousin's plot, and the terrifying revelation of the Queen Bee's power. Without Ethan, his life would have already been forfeit. The thought of being killed by a tiny finger-sized Queen Bee with thirty-star combat power sent shivers crawling up his spine.
---
The next day arrived. Ethan, unlike most people, gave himself the luxury of a vacation. He stayed indoors, experimenting with his summoned beasts, testing their growth in simulated battles. Time slipped by quickly for him.
For Charles, however, each hour was agony. He spent the day pacing, waiting, and staring at the clock, heart pounding with both fear and anticipation. Finally, when Ethan walked in, Charles rushed to greet him. "Ethan, you're finally here! What is it? What did you bring me?"
"Here," Ethan said, handing something over.
Charles blinked at the objects in his palm. "These? Are they really enough?"
Ethan's smile carried quiet confidence. "Don't underestimate them. The three of them together may not exceed three hundred stars, but they'll be unmatched at your level."
Charles's jaw dropped. "Th-three hundred stars?!" He thought his ears had betrayed him. But Ethan's expression was serious, and Charles quickly realized this was no joke.
What Ethan had given him were three sharp-edged worker bees, newly hatched under his care. Thanks to the holy object's help and the Zerg's unnatural growth cycle, the bees had matured from infancy overnight. Though each was no larger than a thumb, each carried twenty-one stars of combat power. Combined, they rivaled warriors with nearly three hundred stars.
Ethan wasn't finished. "But first, answer me this. Outside your family, half the chambers of commerce in Ravenshade City are controlled by lifestyle professionals, right?"
"Yes," Charles nodded quickly. "The rest are run by combat professionals, but they rarely mix with business. They don't have the interest or skill for it."
"Good." Ethan's eyes gleamed with ambition. "Then here's my condition. If you refuse, I'll simply take back these three worker bees and at most deal with your cousin myself. But if you agree…" He leaned closer, voice sharpening like a blade. "Within one week, your family must follow only your lead. And within three weeks—before I leave Ravenshade City for university—you must seize control of all chambers of commerce, just like your family's. In short—you must dominate the city's business world."
Charles staggered at the weight of those words. He had thought Ethan only meant to help him survive his cousin's betrayal. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine Ethan's ambition stretched so far.
"M-master the entire city's business in three weeks?" Charles stammered. It sounded impossible, a fantasy.
But Ethan's calm gaze held no room for doubt. "Don't worry. After the entrance exams, no one will dare touch you."
With that, he handed the three worker bees over.
Charles stared at them, overwhelmed. Ethan spoke of domination as if it were casual, as if seizing power over 30% of Ravenshade City's businesses was nothing more than a side project. And yet, the confidence radiating from him was contagious.
As Ethan walked away, Charles clenched his fists. Yesterday, such talk would have sounded like lunacy. But now? Now it felt possible.
---
That evening, the Charles family gathered. Charles attended, bees hidden close at hand, determination burning behind his eyes. His cousin eyed him from across the table but didn't act, not yet. The moment of betrayal was still to come.
Charles decided he would no longer wait. He would prove himself to his father first.
During the dinner, Charles carefully presented the screenshot of the synthesis prompt—the one that proved Ethan's ability to craft dark-gold treasures. He explained his ideas for future strategies, weaving Ethan's influence into a broader vision for the family's business.
His father's eyes slowly widened as he listened. For years he had underestimated Charles, thinking him a mere bystander in business affairs. But tonight, he glimpsed a mind sharper than expected. By the time Charles finished, his father could no longer contain his pride.
He raised his glass, tapping it lightly to draw attention. "From this day forward, Charles will serve as General Manager of our Business Division. In time, he will inherit leadership of the family."
The announcement rang through the hall like a thunderclap. Charles's heart swelled. This position was one step away from becoming head of the family.
But not everyone shared his joy. Almost immediately, a voice rang out, sharp with resentment: "Why him? What right does Charles have?"
The murmurs began. The storm within the family was only beginning.
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