When Jack returned to Skyview Villa No.1, the place was unusually quiet. Emily wasn't home yet.
He leaned against the glass door, looking out over Riverton City's skyline. The sun was setting, draping the city in a golden hue. Jack took out his phone and dialed Emily's number.
"Still working?" he asked once the call connected.
On the other end, Emily's voice was calm but slightly distant. "Yeah, something came up at the company. I'll probably be late."
Jack chuckled helplessly. This woman, once she gets focused on work, the whole world could fall apart and she wouldn't even blink.
With nothing else to do, he sank into the leather couch and opened his system interface.
As the familiar digital screen popped up in front of his eyes, a crisp notification chimed.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You've earned two Spending Points from your earlier relocation donation.]
Jack raised an eyebrow and grinned.
"System, let's make it a double draw. Feeling lucky today."
The wheel on the interface began to spin, lights flashing and sounds dinging in rapid succession.
[Congratulations! You've obtained 100 billion.][Congratulations! You've obtained 1 trillion.]
Jack stared at the numbers, deadpan.
"Again?" he muttered, rubbing his temples.
The system, as always, responded in its annoyingly cheerful tone.
[Host, wealth is the foundation of power. Accumulating funds is always the right path.]
Jack couldn't help but laugh. "I already have more money than I could ever spend, and you still keep handing me trillions like they're candy."
[Host, if you're unsatisfied, please spend more. Money is meant to flow, not gather dust.]
Jack swirled the water in his glass, staring at the ripples. "Fine. I'll find a way to burn some cash."
The system chimed again.
[Friendly Reminder: Charitable donations and social spending often generate high-quality Spending Points, especially when done with sincerity.]
Jack raised his eyebrow at that. "Sincerity, huh? I bet you don't care as long as I empty my pockets."
The system paused for a brief moment, almost as if pretending to be serious.
[Host, I only calculate outcomes. Your intentions, however, affect the quality of rewards.]
That actually caught Jack's attention. He leaned forward slightly.
"So if I donate from the heart, I get better rewards?"
[Correct. Greater sincerity leads to better returns. Wealth and virtue complement each other.]
Jack couldn't decide if the system was trying to teach him a life lesson or just nudging him to spend more. Either way, it worked.
He picked up his phone and began browsing local charitable foundations. But as he scrolled through pages and articles, all he saw were scandalous headlines: "Misappropriation of Funds," "Donation Fraud," "Charity Director Embezzlement."
He scoffed and shook his head. "This city's full of snakes."
Just as he was about to give up on the idea, a name popped into his mind — Buck Niu. If anyone knew which places were worth trusting, it would be him.
Without hesitation, he dialed Buck's number.
The line connected, and Buck's familiar hearty voice came through. "Jack! Long time no see. What's up, buddy?"
"Mr. Niu, got a quick question for you. Know any reliable charities in Riverton?"
Buck paused for a second. "Charities? Hmm... If you want trustworthy ones, most of the real deals are based in the Capital. Around here... well, we do have something going on tonight."
Jack sat up. "Go on."
"There's a charity auction happening at 7:30, hosted by SkyRiver Auction House. It's being organized by Alice — you know, the Fire Rose of Riverton. She's got a good reputation for this stuff."
Jack frowned slightly. He wasn't interested in the people behind it, only whether the event was legitimate.
"Is this auction clean? I don't want to fund someone's private yacht."
Buck laughed. "Relax. Alice isn't the type to skim off the top. Besides, she's the owner of Spring Blossom Restaurant. Her reputation's solid. The money goes exactly where it should."
Jack thought for a second, then nodded. "Alright, text me the address."
Once he hung up, he stood, stretched, and grabbed his keys.
"Time to throw some money around," he muttered as he walked toward the garage.
The Venom roared to life, its sleek black body gleaming under the villa lights. Jack pressed the pedal, and the car bolted down the hill, heading straight for SkyRiver Auction House.
The SkyRiver Auction House was buzzing with excitement when Jack arrived. The hall was packed, and the air was filled with the scent of perfume, wine, and the occasional whiff of vanity.
Alice, standing under the spotlight in a deep crimson cheongsam, exuded a mix of elegance and allure. She held the microphone with practiced grace.
"Thank you all for coming tonight," she began, her voice soft but clear. "All the items you see are personal treasures. Every cent from this auction will be donated to build schools and hospitals for children in the mountain regions."
The first item up for bidding was a handcrafted embroidery shaped like a high-heeled shoe.
"Starting bid: $10,000."
The crowd responded immediately.
"$20,000!""$30,000!""$50,000!""$100,000!"
Sold for $100,000.
Next, a calligraphy piece drawn by Alice herself.
"Starting bid: $10,000."
"$30,000!""$50,000!""$150,000!"
And so the night went on, item after item, but despite her poised demeanor, Alice's smile started to fade.
During a break, she retreated backstage and asked her assistant anxiously, "How much have we raised so far?"
The assistant, wearing a soft blue cheongsam, whispered, "So far... $2.3 million."
Alice's face darkened. It was far from her target of 200 million.
She chuckled bitterly, "These people have deep pockets when they chase me, but when it comes to charity, they turn into paupers."
Determined, she returned to the stage and brought out her ace.
"Now, for the highlight of the night," she announced, flashing a dazzling smile. "The final item — a private dinner with me, in my personal suite."
The entire room fell into stunned silence before exploding with excitement.
Hands shot up.
"$200,000!""$1 million!""$2 million!""$5 million!"
The price climbed fast but plateaued at $5 million. The bidders hesitated, clearly torn between desire and financial common sense.
Just when the auctioneer was about to close the bid, a calm voice rang from the entrance.
"$20 million."
Everyone turned around, only to see Jack, dressed in sleek black, casually strolling in with Buck Niu right behind him.
The atmosphere froze.
Alice, on stage, was momentarily surprised, but quickly composed herself. Her smile grew even brighter, her eyes twinkling like stars.
Jack took a seat, leaning back comfortably, his tone relaxed and casual.
Finally, the money had found its proper exit — and this time, both Jack and the system seemed to agree.
Jack grinned.