Richard stared at the words on the holographic panel in front of him. He could not make sense of what was happening to him right now.

"Hahahahahaha! I get it, those thugs must have hit me so hard that I'm seeing things right now." As he was about to stand up, the words and the holographic panel dissolved as if they were never there.

"Yep! I knew I was hallucinating." Richard stood up, he could see his clothes didn't look anything presentable. He couldn't walk around the street of the estate looking like he committed a genocide.

«Ding!

System Integration Complete.»

The holographic panel was back again. "Seriously!?"

«Startup package awarded.

Bonding reward (Lvl 1): For every hour Host has the Trillionaire System, $500 will be awarded to host.»

Richard was stunned. He was thinking of taking off his bloodied T-shirt and then jog back to the Warren mansion, but now, he's considering staying put, for at least an hour.

"Not like I've got anything to lose. Might as well check if this system of a thing is real, or simply something my banged up brain conjured."

ONE HOUR LATER!

Richard had found a clean place to sit. He had also taken off the bloodied T-shirt as it had begun to stink.

Just then, his phone vibrated. Richard reached his pocket and brought out his outdated Apple iPhone. On the screen was a message he was waiting for but still didn't believe it will come.

'Credit Alert:

United Bank of Alvarez:

$500 has been transferred to your account.

Sender: xxxxxxxxx'

"Hehehehe. Now this is something I never expected to see." Richard chuckled. There was no way he won't believe in the system stuff now. Seeing the transfer alert on his phone, he knew it was real.

"Five hundred dollars for every hour, huh?" Richard muttered and did the math.. "That's twelve grand everyday!!!" Richard's eyes went as wide as a Martian saucer, "HOLY FRIGGIN COW! In a month!!!?? That's $360,000! And that's just for level one.. what happens when it levels up!" A crazy grin found its way to his lips. He was a pauper no more.. but then his mind went back to what had happened earlier. He was targeted because he was poor and without backing.. he was a nobody.. and worse he didn't even know who sent those thugs.

"Someone certainly wants me death for some reason, and I haven't offended anyone. Hmm, for the meantime, no one must know of what I posses, not even Diane." Richard muttered, "Well, first things first, let me get a clean set of clothes."

*

Richard walked into a cafe. He had left the Valerian Estate and decided to get some coffee and clear his head a bit. He had bought a plain T-shirt at a Mall inside the Estate.. but just like the Estate itself, the commodities in the mall were expensive.. the cheapest was $500. Having about $750 in his account, Richard had bought the cheapest T-shirt for $500. Now in a clean plain T-shirt and a dirtied trouser, Richard walked into a cafe a few minutes walk from the estate.

"What can I get you, Sir?" A sweet voice asked him. The waitress smiled at him, but he could see the smile wasn't genuine, just a mask. Not like he was complaining, his dressing gave off the impression of a homeless man.

"Cappuccino, and Brownies." Richard replied. The lady's smile didn't fade until she turned and went to get his order.

Just then, a lady in her early twenties walked in. The chiming of the bell at the door drew Richard's attention, but the moment he saw the face of the lady he walked in, he wished he hadn't looked up.

"Oh, if it isn't Richard Tucker. Didn't fancy seeing you here." The lady spoke, but her tone was laced with disdain. "Are you running an errand for your inlaws or you're here on break?" She then chuckled at her own words.

"Hello Jenna." Richard greeted her, the lack of enthusiasm in his voice made it apparent he didn't want her near him.. but she still took a seat at his table and sat in front of him.

Jenna Parker, Richard's former college classmate, and crush. She had once told him back in college, that unless he had a million dollar in his account before graduation, she will never accept him as her boyfriend. When the scandal between Richard and Diane was released, she was the one who spread the news on the school forum, which made Richard to leave the group.. and now she was here of all places.

"Found a job yet?" She asked with feigned concern on her face. Richard didn't respond.

"Honestly, I didn't know I'll meet you here.. will you mind buying me a cup of coffee, for old time sake." Her eyes fluttered and her face had a pleading expression, but Richard didn't fall for it. She knew he was penniless.

"Oh my!" She softly exclaimed with feigned surprised. "Oh goodness me! I forgot you have no money on you! My bad." She smiled.

Richard simply stared at her with a bored expression on his face, 'Great, I have just returned from a physical death, and now I'm about to be psychologically murdered.. hopefully I get another system.'

Just then, the waitress brought the cup of cappuccino and a plate of brownies to Richard. Richard thanked her and quietly sipped his cappuccino.

"Tsk! A cup of cappuccino and brownies, I can't believe this is what you've been reduced to. Its a good thing I didn't accept you then, if I did, who knew what part of the slums I'd have found myself living in by now." She gestured to the waitress to come.

"Latte, single-origin coffee, and a gourmet sandwich." Jenna said an air of authority. The waitress flashed a genuine smile and scurried off to get the order. Her attitude inflated Jenna's ego, and she turned back to Richard who quietly munching on the brownie.

"Unlike your penniless self, I happen earn annual salary of $60,000." Jenna said with pride.

Richard almost burst out laughing.. did she just say annual? That's a fraction of what he now makes monthly. Right then his phone vibrated again, Richard knew the system had sent him another $500. Richard checked the time and realized it was getting late. He should get back to the mansion.

"My birthday is in a week from now. If you do show up, I will consider filling your belly, but in return you'll serve my guests." She said as if she was certain Richard will be at her birthday party. She opened her purse, took a piece of paper and pen and scribbled on the paper, then slid it towards Richard.

"That's my address, I'll have food ready for you, and perhaps a few hundred dollars, but you'll get it only after the party is over." She didn't even look up at Richard while saying this, but rather went back to her sandwich.

Richard didn't even glance at the paper, he simply stood up, walked to the counter and made a transfer to pay for the coffee and brownies, then walked out of the cafe. To him, Jenna no longer mattered, she was now beneath him, just as the Richardsons will soon be beneath him.

A yellow cab stopped at the Estate gate. Since it wasn't registered in the Estate security system, it couldn't be allowed in. Richard alighted and paid his fare, and then decided to walk back to the Warren mansion. The holographic panel had been blinking, it was flashing the words; «Host stat available.»

Richard decided to check it out. He gave a mental command to the system to show him his stats.

«Ding!

Host's Status Window.

Name: Richard Tucker

Race: Human

Age: Twenty four

Strength: 14

Agility: 16

Stamina: 20

Perception: 20

Charm: 15 (appearance, clothes, spirit, etc are closely related)

Skill: None available

Knowledge: Business Management

Funds: $1,090 (All funds are from reasonable and legal sources. There is no need to worry about fraud acts)

System: Trillionaire System

System level: Level one»

He reached the mansion in no time, Just as he was about to press the doorbell, he heard hearty laughter coming from inside the house. He stopped and listened intently. He knew there was no celebration plans before he left the house, so what exactly was happening?

"Young master Brian, since you're so sincere about Diane, I'm certain we can work something out. I always knew you were to be my perfect son-in-law."

Richard was stunned. He was extremely certain that voice belonged to none other than Kathleen Warren, his mother-in-law.

'Just what the heck is going on?' Richard thought to himself.. but then another round of laughter, but this time from a single person..

"Madam Warren, don't be too formal and polite, after all, we will soon be family, why don't you just call me by my name?"

Richard's knee almost buckled under him. He knew that voice.. in fact, he had committed that voice into his very soul.. that voice belonged to none other than Brian Lawrence, the very reason his life and that of Diane was in shambles.. what in the world was he doing here.

Richard wanted to storm into the house, but somehow his guts told him to stay quiet and listen more.

"Of course, what a gentleman you are. Oh my dear daughter Diane is so lucky to have met you. You two will make a very fine couple." Kathleen's voice was heard.

Sigh! "I really wish it will be so.. but, we both know about Diane's husband.." his voice trailed, reminding everyone that Diane was still married and his hands were tied.

"You mean that orphan piece of trash? He's not worth being called her husband, he's nothing but this family's house boy, and we've made sure he's aware of that. I assure you a divorce can be handled and I will personally kick him out of this house myself." Kathleen said. Her voice was laced with disdain and disgust, as if the very mention of Richard was same as swallowing a bug. "Don't worry, in no time, my son-in-law will be none other than you." Her voice returned to it's honeyed tone.

Hearing this, Richard could bear it no more. He wasn't sure if Diane was in there, but from what he heard, it didn't seem like her opinion mattered anymore.

DING DONG!! He pressed the doorbell.

"That must be Diane right now." Kathleen's voice was enthusiastic, but it also confirmed Richard's earlier assumption that Diane wasn't around.

Having settled her daughter's marriage with the son of a wealthy family, Kathleen was in a very good mood, and so she opened the door in glee, perhaps hoping to see her daughter.. however her expression dramatically changed as soon as she saw who was at the door.

"You! What are you doing here!? Didn't I say you're sleeping outside? So why are you here and not in a makeshift shelter somewhere." Kathleen looked extremely furious right now.

"I thought Diane will be lonely, so I came back home Mother." Richard replied, he did his best to suppress the rising anger in his chest.

"How could you have the cheek to return you good-for-nothing. And it's Mrs Warren to you fool, don't you dare act close to me as if we're family. Didn't your deceased mother teach you any manners at all?" Kathleen was basically shouting now. She felt so furious as she knew Richard's presence now will disrupt everything.

Meanwhile Richard was almost near explosion point. Kathleen had basically insulted his dead mother. He shut his mouth and glared at her. If looks could kill, Kathleen would've been sliced a million pieces.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Do you want to kill me too?" She shouted at him and walked closer to him, as if daring him to hit her. "You're such a bundle of bad luck.. you just had to come and mess things up."

"Who's out there!?" Another voice called out. Richard knew it was his father-in-law, Gerald Warren. He walked out, but didn't have much of a reaction when he saw Richard.

"Well, why are you standing out there, come in, we have an important guest, hurry up and go serve him." Gerald spoke in an authoritative tone.

Kathleen harrumphed and walked back inside, behind him was her husband Gerald, and then Richard followed them.

When Richard entered the house, he was stomped, for one, the living room seemed to be packed with no less than ten persons, and he recognized them as the Warren's relatives.

'What the heck is happening!? Were they planning all these today!? Was that the reason Kathleen sent me out of the house and insisted I sleep outside?' Richard thought to himself, and then he turned to the most eye catching person who was dressed in an expensive blue suit.. Brian Lawrence.

'Was he the young master the thugs mentioned? Wait! Was this the plan all along? To kill me so he could successfully get married to Diane!?' the more Richard thought about it the more his blood boiled.

"Mister Lawrence, I don't think my wife will be happy to see you when she returns, I think it's best you get going now." Richard spoke out before he could even stop himself. The words rolled out of his mouth and his cold expression solidified the fact that he meant what he said. The room became pin drop silent.

The silence was deafening. But then Kathleen walked up to Richard and gave him a resounding slap across his cheek.

"Who do you think you are!?" She berated him in a loud angry voice. She raised her hand to slap him again, but surprisingly, Richard held her hand in place.

"Diane will not like to see Mister Lawrence here. If he was here to apologize for what he did to my wife, then it's long overdue, but if he's here to make trouble, then I must insist he leaves." Richard replied with a firm voice. Meanwhile Kathleen was shocked, Richard had never stopped her before, nor talked back at her. Just what was happening.

Brian Lawrence stood up, an amused expression on his face, but one could see the flames of anger in his eyes. Never before has he been so humiliated, and by a nobody no less.

"Mr and Mrs Warren, it seems I am not welcome here, I will take my leave now." He said, and the let out an exaggerated sigh, "And just when I was thinking of helping you get the Denali Clean Energy contract." He shook his head, feigning disappointment.

"No! Young master Brian, you should calm down, don't let the words of this good-for-nothing fool you. He is nothing but a dog in this family, not even worth being part of our family." Kathleen hurriedly spoke. She then turned to Richard with a furious glare, "You, get in there and pack your things! You're leaving this house, and by tomorrow you will get divorced!" She hollered, her spittle almost touching Richard.

CLICK!

Diane had just returned, and walked in on a scene she never expected to see. She stared from her angry mother who standing so close to Richard as if challenging him to an MMA fight, to her relatives who never thought twice about condemning and abandoning her when the scandal surfaced, then finally she saw him, the man who was responsible for her life almost being in shambles.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!" She shouted. Richard on the other hand raised an eyebrow to Kathleen, as if to say "I told you so."

"Dear daughter, The young master came bearing gifts, he's a changed man and wants to make amends." Gerald spoke to Diane in a fatherly tone, trying to coax her to understand.

"He's here to ask for your hand in marriage." Richard blurted out without thinking. Even he didn't know where he found the courage to contradict his father-in-law.

"The gall on that dog!" One of the relatives said

"Gerald should have tossed him back to the streets before now, if it was me, I'd not even let him sleep in my house for a single night." Another chimed in.

Richard heard all these, he knew these hypocritics were simply here to get a share of whatever benefits Brian Lawrence will give to his wife's parents.

"Diane Darling, Brian here just wants to make amends, and he's even willing to prove it by bringing the Denali contract to our family." She then left Richard and went to stand in front of Diane, taking her hands in hers, "We all know Brian has always fancied you from the very first time he saw you. Don't you think it's time to give him a chance?" She spoke so soothingly one would believe she's actually trying to help her daughter.. well, perhaps that's what she thinks.

"You can't be serious! I am married, and even I wasn't, I won't even think of accepting that snake!" Diane retorted as she withdraw her hands from her mother's.

Brian grimaced. He had just been insulted again. He was really angry this time. He turned to Gerald, "I am leaving, don't call me until you've settled things. And concerning the contract, I don't think I will be extending a hand as I previously promised!" He walked towards the door, turned around and stared at Richard, who actually returned the glare, and then he left the house. Kathleen attempted to plead with him but he walked to his car, got in and drove off.

Seeing that Brian had left, Kathleen walked back into house and went straight for Richard, but Diane was a step faster, she stood in front of Richard, shielding him from her mother.

"You ingrate!!! Do you have any idea what you just caused!?" She hollered angrily. "You not only caused me to lose a wealthy son-in-law, but also caused my family to lose any hope of acquiring a contract worth fifty million dollars!, tell me, how will you be able to compensate this family!?"

Meanwhile Richard had a frown on his face as he stared at the holographic panel in front him that was invisible to others.

«Ding!

Congratulations to Host on getting a quest for the first time. $10,000 has been awarded to Host.»

«Ding!

New Quest: Face slap

Description: Host has just gone against a rival, and won, but the cost of this victory is immense. Host needs to recoup the losses and face slap everyone who made fun of him.

Job: Get the Denali Clean Energy contract.

Time limit: 14 days (Two weeks)

Reward: $1,000,000 + 60% share of all Denali Corporation revenue.

Failure penalty: Host will be deemed unworthy by everyone, including the system + loss of the system.»

"Well I'll be damned!" Richard muttered under his breath. He then cleared his throat to get everyone's attention, which worked.

"What?" Kathleen said with a scowl.

"I will get you the Denali contract." Richard said with a firm voice.

Silence at first, then a sudden row of laughter. Diane turned to him with shock on her face. "Don't say stupid things." She berated him with an annoyed look on her face.

"Did the dog just say he will fly?" A relative said and everyone burst into laughter again.

"Listen here you good-for-nothing. The Denali is owned by Robertson Family, they are people even the Lawrence family dare not mess with.. and you, you're saying you're getting to get a contract from them? Don't make me laugh." Kathleen spoke with pure disdain. But Richard simply looked at Diane in the eye, "Trust me on this, I will get you that contract, no matter what it takes. Before two weeks, the Denali Clean Energy contract will be handed over to you." Richard spoke with confidence, even though he didn't know how he will do it, but he trusted the system.. besides, if he didn't do it, he stood a chance to lose everything.

"Don't say such nonsense." Gerald finally spoke up. Meanwhile Kathleen's eyes suddenly went wide and a smile played on her face. She walked up to Richard, "Let us make a bet, if you are able to get that contract on two weeks, then I will fully accept you, but if you fail.. you divorce my daughter and forget everything about us." Kathleen said with an evil smirk.

"No!" Diane spoke out, but her mother didn't even spare her a glance, rather she stared at Richard.. indicating the final decision was his to make.

Diane sharply turned to Richard and looked at him with pleading eyes, silently begging him not to do so, but contrary to what she wanted..

"Deal." Richard said.