By evening, the teachers returned from the hospital, and Lisa was sent back to the city.
"Students," one teacher began solemnly, "what happened to Lisa was an unfortunate accident, one caused by our own negligence. As the organizers of this school trip, we failed to prioritize safety. After careful consideration, we've decided to end the trip here. We will return to the city tomorrow morning. Please pack your things accordingly."
The announcement struck a heavy chord. Any remaining excitement the students had vanished completely. The energy of the trip had fizzled out.
The next morning, everyone returned to the city. Steven made his way back to his villa in Crimson Hills.
As requested earlier, Alex had arranged for a proper aquarium for Toki. True to his word, the setup was stunning. It looked like a miniature slice of untouched nature. The tank featured smooth, multicoloured pebbles, pristine white sand, vibrant live aquatic plants, and bright corals. A sturdy rock platform stood above the waterline for Toki to bask comfortably.
"It's beautiful," Steven commented. "But... it still feels a little empty. Alex, first thing tomorrow morning, get some clownfish, goldfish, and guppies. Toki deserves some company."
Alex gave a small bow. "Understood, sir."
Steven clapped his hands once. "Alright, time to get down to business."
He summoned the five assistants he had received as a reward for completing the horse-riding mission. Instantly, five figures appeared before him, materializing out of thin air. Three men stood tall with intelligent expressions and commanding auras. Their sharp suits and fit builds made it clear they were more than capable. The remaining two were striking women, each radiating competence and elegance.
"Six assistants now," Steven mused, including Alex. "Introduce yourselves."
The five newcomers stepped forward.
The man with glasses was Harry. The buzz-cut man introduced himself as Morris, while the third man, clean-shaven and composed, was Nathan. The two women were Natalie and Patrisia. Each of them listed their skillsets—which, to Steven's relief, matched Alex's in utility but differed in appearance and personality.
Steven couldn't help but smirk. At least they all don't look the same, or I'd have a migraine keeping track of them.
Turning to Alex, he asked, "How's Silverbyte Studio performing?"
"It's doing well, sir," Alex reported, handing over a file. "Although activity is light at the moment, profits are steady. After covering taxes, salaries, and other operational costs, we're netting five million USD."
Steven barely glanced at the report. "Good enough. I trust your judgment anyway. Assign someone capable to manage daily operations. We'll only return when a new game is ready for launch. Oh—and announce development of a new title. Just enough to stir anticipation."
"Understood."
Steven nodded. "Now, what about Sky Pearl and Rosewood Hotel?"
"They're both performing stably. I monitor their financials weekly."
"How much are we pulling in?"
"From each—about seven hundred thousand dollars per month."
Steven raised an eyebrow. "That's a big drop compared to Silverbyte."
Alex gave a professional nod. "True, but their income is consistent. Silverbyte's profits spike with successful game launches but will naturally taper off over time. Sky Pearl and Rosewood provide reliable monthly revenue."
"Makes sense. What's our total cash on hand?"
"We currently have twenty million in the bank."
"And total assets?"
"About one hundred million in property and fixed holdings. If we include the stock value of the three corporations you own—Griffin Technology Studio, Star Power Corporation, and Odin Industries—our net asset value stands at approximately three hundred million."
Steven blinked. "Wait—I'm still the boss of those three? I completely forgot."
Alex didn't even blink. "Yes, sir."
"Right. Refresh my memory. What do they actually do?"
"Griffin Technology Studio focuses on advanced tech R&D—software, hardware, AI systems. Star Power Corporation operates in the energy sector, with a focus on developing innovative sustainable power solutions. Odin Industries is a multinational conglomerate dealing in automobiles, petrochemicals, natural gas, retail, entertainment, telecommunications, media, and textiles."
"Quite the empire," Steven said with a grin.
He opened the system shop and scrolled through items. Soon, he purchased three for a total of fifteen points. In his hand appeared three USB drives—each encoded with groundbreaking research materials.
The first, for Griffin Technology Studio, contained the blueprint for a powerful next-gen operating system. It included a fully integrated AI assistant and a suite of productivity tools for document editing, presentations, data analysis, video editing, and more—designed to increase efficiency across departments.
The second drive detailed a new approach to generating power through piezoelectric tiles—converting human footsteps into usable electricity. It also contained full plans for commercial implementation.
The third contained blueprints for a luxury car designed for peak performance, integrating style with cutting-edge engineering.
Steven turned to Natalie. "You'll serve as my envoy. Deliver these drives to their respective companies and make sure they begin implementation."
Then to Patrisia: "I'll give you eight million dollars. Invest it strategically and grow it."
Finally, he looked at Nathan. "Take one million and oversee all properties in Chestervale. Renovate the old George Cottage and convert it into a countryside inn. Use the nearby fishing spot to attract families and weekend tourists. Add horseback riding lessons through the stable. Make the place self-sustaining—and profitable."
He turned to Alex. "Keep monitoring the White family. Let me know if anything suspicious happens."
Then to Morris and Harry: "Your job is surveillance. Keep tabs on our competitors."
Steven stepped back and looked over his new team.
Each assistant was now positioned like a chess piece on a board. And Steven? He was the player. One by one, he would move them into place—covertly trapping his enemies, dismantling rivals, and expanding his influence from the shadows.
With everything in motion, Steven returned to his room, where Toki was basking under a warm light, utterly relaxed in his new aquatic kingdom.