Chapter 179: A New Ability Awakens

Just as the cashback notification disappeared, Lucas noticed something.

There were still two unopened system notifications waiting for him.

"Hm?"

Curious, he immediately opened the first one.

At first glance, it looked like an unfinished system task.

Lucas frowned slightly.

"I don’t remember accepting another mission..."

But before he could think any further, a new prompt appeared.

[Reward Available]

[Would the Host like to claim it now?]

Without hesitation, Lucas selected Yes.

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for completing the hidden task!]

[Hidden Task: Spend 2.5 Billion within 12 Hours.]

Lucas blinked.

"...Wait. A hidden task? I don’t even remember receiving that."

The System calmly explained:

[Certain missions are automatically activated after meeting specific conditions and do not require manual acceptance.]

Lucas finally understood.

"So that’s how it works..."

Before he could ask another question, another notification appeared.

[Reward Unlocking...]

[Unlock Successful!]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining an Industry Reward!]

[Industry Acquired: Switch Live Streaming Platform]

Lucas’s eyes immediately lit up.

Another industry reward!

The last industry reward the System had given him had been Bellagio Grand Hotel, a luxury property worth billions.

Naturally, his expectations shot through the roof.

Without wasting another second, Lucas opened his personal information panel.

---

[Host: Lucas Gray]

Funds: $150,000,000,000

Assets:

• Bellagio Grand Hotel

• Switch Live Streaming Platform

---

Seeing the numbers, Lucas couldn’t help grinning.

"Haha..."

"My assets have already exceeded one hundred and fifty billion dollars."

Even he found it slightly unbelievable.

Just a short while ago, he had been worrying about how to survive after being dumped.

Now...

He had become one of the richest people in the country.

But his curiosity about this new reward quickly overtook his excitement.

"What exactly is Switch Live Streaming?"

Lucas immediately picked up his phone and searched for it online.

A few seconds later, the search results appeared.

His smile instantly froze.

"...What?"

Every search result carried almost the same headline.

『Switch Live Streaming Platform Faces Bankruptcy』

『Switch Live Officially Shuts Down Operations』

『Failed Live Streaming Company』

Lucas stared blankly at the screen.

"...Failed company?"

He refreshed the page.

Then refreshed it again.

The results didn’t change.

His expression immediately darkened.

"...No way."

"The System... gave me a bankrupt company?"

Lucas almost couldn’t believe it.

After everything the System had rewarded him before~luxury hotels, hundreds of billions in cash~every reward had been unbelievably valuable.

Yet now it suddenly handed him a company that had already collapsed.

Lucas couldn’t help cursing inwardly.

"What the hell?"

"Is the System messing with me?"

His excitement from a moment ago vanished completely.

He had expected another industry worth tens or even hundreds of billions.

Instead, he received what looked like a worthless shell company.

The disappointment was enormous.

After taking a deep breath, Lucas reluctantly suppressed his frustration.

"There should still be one more notification..."

"Hopefully this one isn’t another joke."

He tapped open the final message.

The moment he saw its contents, his eyes widened.

[New System Feature Unlocked]

[Mind Insight]

Lucas immediately became interested and quickly read the description.

---

[Mind Insight]

The Host may temporarily hear the inner thoughts of selected targets.

Activation Cost:

15 Points per target.

Whenever a qualified target’s Favorability reaches 100, the Host will automatically receive 100 System Points.

Current Available Points: 100.

---

Lucas stared at the screen for several seconds.

Then his breathing gradually became faster.

"...I can actually hear what people are thinking?"

This was an incredibly useful ability.

Whether in business negotiations, daily interactions, or dealing with enemies, being able to hear someone’s true thoughts was almost equivalent to reading their mind.

It was practically cheating.

Lucas couldn’t help smiling again.

"Now this..."

"This is a real reward."

His mood recovered slightly.

Although he was still somewhat dissatisfied about the so-called failed live-streaming company, this new feature was powerful enough to ease most of his disappointment.

Still...

He couldn’t shake one question from his mind.

"Why would the System give me a bankrupt company?"

Seated beside him, Maya quietly noticed the subtle changes in Lucas’s expression.

Just a moment ago he had been smiling.

Now he seemed unusually thoughtful.

His brows were slightly furrowed, as though something was bothering him.

Maya couldn’t help secretly observing him.

Although she didn’t know what Lucas had just been looking at on his phone, she subconsciously tried to make sense of it.

Then she suddenly remembered everything that had happened tonight.

Lucas had transferred two billion dollars to her without asking for anything in return.

He had spent another one hundred million dollars on the pink diamond necklace.

Then, without even blinking, he spent five hundred million dollars on the painting.

Altogether, he had casually spent billions of dollars in a single evening.

Even the richest businessmen would hesitate before making decisions involving that much money.

No normal entrepreneur could possibly remain completely unconcerned after spending such an astronomical amount.

Perhaps...

Even someone as wealthy as Lucas would occasionally feel pressured.

Thinking of this, Maya couldn’t help feeling a little sorry for him.

Her gaze gradually softened.

Lucas seemed to notice someone staring at him.

He turned his head and met Maya’s beautiful eyes.

"...What’s wrong?"

Lucas asked with a puzzled smile.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Maya immediately snapped back to reality.

Realizing she had been staring at him for quite some time, her cheeks instantly flushed red.

She hurriedly shook her head.

"N-...Nothing..."

"I was just..."

Before she could finish explaining, she gave up halfway and lowered her head in embarrassment.

Lucas smiled helplessly.

Women...

Really were mysterious creatures.

Since Maya didn’t want to explain, he naturally didn’t press further.

Meanwhile, the auction had already reached its conclusion.

After Lucas’s astonishing five-hundred-million-dollar bid, no subsequent auction item managed to attract everyone’s attention.

Compared to the previous bidding war, everything else felt rather ordinary.

It was almost as though Lucas had single-handedly brought tonight’s banquet to its climax.

One by one, the distinguished guests began leaving the banquet hall.

Many couldn’t help glancing toward Lucas before departing.

Some looked envious.

Some looked curious.

Others simply wanted to remember the face of the young man who had shocked the entire upper-class circle tonight.

Not long afterward, Gold also slowly stood up.

She walked over to Lucas while carefully holding the painting in her arms.

"Lucas."

"Thank you again."

"If it weren’t for you..."

"I probably wouldn’t have been able to bring it home."

Lucas smiled faintly.

"You’re welcome."

"It’s just a birthday gift."

Gold smiled warmly.

Although her face remained hidden beneath the sunglasses and mask, the gratitude in her voice was impossible to conceal.

Before leaving, the two quickly exchanged contact information.

"I’ll treat you to dinner another day."

Gold said softly.

Lucas laughed.

"I’ll be waiting."

After waving goodbye, Gold quietly left the banquet hall.

Watching her departing figure disappear into the distance, Lucas slowly stood up from his seat.

The banquet...

Was finally over.