The car continued its journey, and my excitement was palpable, but not for the reason most would expect. Sure, Villa Élysée was amazing, but right now, I was on my way back to the dormitory.
I leaned back into the plush leather seat, my mind spinning. The luxuriousness of the car and the events that had just unfolded felt like a dream. A few hours ago, I had been dining at a 7-star restaurant, impressing people with the noble aura that had become second nature.
Now, I was heading back to the simple dorm room I shared with my best friends, still processing everything that had happened.
[How are you feeling, Cedric?]
"Honestly, I'm a little stunned," I replied, my voice low. "I've been living in a completely different world today. I'm not sure I'm used to all of it."
[This is only the beginning. Your actions will continue to bring change. You have taken the first step.]
I chuckled to myself, trying to shake the feeling of being overwhelmed. The system was right, though. I had made progress, and now I had more than just the training and the experience of acting noble under my belt. I had a taste of what it was like to live this way, and it was something I wasn't going to let slip away.
The car turned onto the familiar road that led back to the dormitory. As we neared, the contrast between the luxury of today and the simplicity of the dorm hit me. But there was no going back. Not anymore.
I spoke to the system again. "I need to get back to the dorm. My friends are probably wondering what I'm up to."
[Your journey is still unfolding. The dorm is just a temporary stop, Cedric. What happens next depends on you.]
I didn't reply right away. Instead, I just watched as the car slowed to a stop in front of the dormitory building. For a brief moment, I felt like I didn't quite belong here anymore.
But I knew better. This was part of my path. It was where I had come from, and it was still where I had my friends and where I could learn more.
The door opened, and I stepped out, my body still buzzing from the day's events. I nodded at the driver and made my way inside, my thoughts a mix of everything that had happened. The system's reminders of the path ahead echoed in my mind.
I needed to focus. There was still so much to learn, and I was just getting started.
I walked into the dorm, still feeling the weight of the day's events. My mind was buzzing, but I couldn't shake the curiosity that had been nagging me since the moment I had seen the Velviora watch on my wrist. I had barely given it any thought during the meal or the assessment, but now that I was alone in my room, I couldn't resist checking it out.
I sat back on the bed, my fingers still hovering over my phone as I processed the information I had just uncovered. I typed "Velviora limited edition watch" into the search bar, eager to get a clearer picture of just how valuable this item was.
The first listing that came up nearly knocked the breath out of me. The watch, known for its intricate design and exclusivity, was priced at $250 million—an amount that seemed too ridiculous to even comprehend. And that was just the starting bid for the last one to ever be auctioned.
I scrolled further down and saw more listings, each with staggering numbers attached. One auction house had a starting bid of $320 million, another had a buy-now price of $400 million. There were only five of these watches ever made, and they were all in the hands of the world's elite—billionaires, royal families, CEOs of top companies.
I had to pause for a moment to steady myself, the reality of the situation sinking in. $400 million for a watch. That was an amount I couldn't even fathom.
I quickly tapped over to another search result, this time looking up Villa Élysée. The results were just as overwhelming.
The luxurious villa was located in the heart of a prestigious area, one where only the wealthiest could afford to live. The prices for properties in the area ranged between $80 million to $200 million, depending on the size and location. And the Villa Élysée, the one I had just "won," was at the top end of the spectrum, valued at $150 million.
I blinked at the screen, still struggling to wrap my mind around it.
A $400 million watch, and a $150 million villa. I had literally just stepped into a world that I hadn't even known existed, and it was all coming at me too fast.
This wasn't a game anymore.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. The prices for my watch and villa were still swirling in my mind, but before I could get too lost in thought, the system spoke again.
[Congratulations, Cedric. You've actually won two rewards, not just one.]
I blinked in confusion. "Wait, I thought I only spun once?"
[Yes, but you've earned two draws, one for each prize. You need to spin the wheel to claim them.]
I paused. This was too surreal. I quickly tapped the wheel on the screen, watching it spin before me. After everything that had happened, what could possibly top a villa and a luxury watch?
The wheel slowed down, ticking through the options, each prize more extravagant than the last. When it finally stopped, I stared at the screen in disbelief.
[Congratulations, Cedric! You've won not one, but two Aristovault sports cars, the Virella R9 and the Avellion XG!]
Two sports cars? From Aristovault? That was a world-class car company known for its incredibly high-end, custom vehicles. These weren't just any cars—they were worth millions.
[Please head to Golden Sun Plaza to collect them. It's a public mall with world-class shops, including car dealerships. Anyone can enter.]
I stared at the screen. Golden Sun Plaza? I knew that place—just about anyone could walk into it, but the stores were filled with luxury brands, and the cars sold there were beyond expensive. It was still a far cry from where I'd come from, and now I was going to pick up two of the most expensive cars in the world.
"How am I supposed to afford these?" I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. "I can barely afford instant noodles."
[Just follow the instructions, Cedric. It's all part of the system.]
I let out a dry laugh, running a hand through my hair. Of course it was all part of the system. It was surreal, but at this point, nothing felt impossible anymore. I stood up, looking around at my dorm room one last time. A villa, two sports cars, and a luxury watch...
Well, it was safe to say my life had just taken a ridiculous turn.
I sat back on my bed, still trying to process the absurdity of it all. Two sports cars—no, two luxury sports cars from Aristovault. I quickly grabbed my phone, a bit too eager to confirm just how outrageous the prizes were.
I typed in "Aristovault Virella R9" and hit search. My fingers froze as the results loaded. The price tag was insane. The Virella R9 was priced at $7.5 million. That was the cost for one car.
I swallowed hard and quickly searched for the second car, the Avellion XG. My eyes widened again when I saw the price—$9 million. My mouth went dry.
A combined total of $16.5 million for two cars? That was beyond ridiculous. For someone like me, it was as if I'd just won a small country.
I could hardly believe it. These weren't just luxury items. They were the sort of cars you saw on magazine covers, cars that only the super-rich, the untouchable elite, owned. And now they were mine.
I scrolled through the rest of the information, trying to wrap my head around it. Aristovault's cars weren't even mass-produced. They were custom-made, tailored to each buyer, meaning no two cars were exactly alike.
I rubbed my temples, trying to ease the mounting pressure in my head.
[You'd better get used to these prices, Cedric. This is just the beginning.] The system's voice rang in my mind, almost mocking me.
I sighed, looking at the screen one more time. "Yeah, sure. No big deal," I muttered, though I wasn't sure if I was trying to convince myself or the system.