Episode 5

The following day, Noah was still lingering in Alice's apartment. In the living space, he appeared deeply contemplative.

That day, Alice had purposely not opened her Club. Due to rumors of potential closure, she needed time to rally all her Employees for a return to work.

"Miss Alice, it seems something is troubling you. Or, perhaps you're opposed to my staying here?"

Noah had noticed Alice moving in and out of the room and sitting nearby him several times. But now, the beautiful woman, currently adorned in a slightly oversized white tee that draped over her shorts, appeared eager to speak.

"No! Not at all! I'm glad you're staying. It's just that I'm a bit confused right now," Alice responded quickly, an edge of panic to her voice.

"Miss Alice. I know you're anxious. Perhaps there's something you want to tell me. Please, feel free."

Alice paced before Noah, weighing her words. Then she stopped, fixing him with her gaze.

"Noah. May I ask who you really are? I don't think you're the young man I've known all along. Yesterday, you redeemed my Club, CrystalSky."

Noah smiled. "I'm Noah, Noah Evans. You saw my ID when I applied for a job with you, right?"

"Yes. As I thought—"

"Miss Alice. Here's my second condition. Can you refrain from asking about my finances? I must be honest, I dislike explaining things that wouldn't be understood by others."

In truth, Noah had considered revealing to others the System within him. However, after reflecting, he concluded that no one would believe it, and it would serve no purpose.

"Alright, I understand. I won't ask any more about that."

Conversely, Alice surmised that Noah hailed from an immensely wealthy and powerful family.

Only someone with towering wealth could dispense fifteen million without a blink.

Yet how vast Noah's fortune actually was, she no longer wished to speculate. His kindness was sufficient for her, and repayment for his deeds was her only concern.

"Miss, Alice. If you don't mind, I'm curious about how you came to be in debt. When I worked there, the Club seemed very stable and bustling every day."

Alice's expression shifted, and she turned away briefly before meeting Noah's eyes again.

"It's all because of that bastard Darold Berton."

"Darold Berton? Who's he?"

"You don't know Darold?"

Noah shook his head. "No, this is the first I've heard of him."

Surprised that anyone living in Silverstone wouldn't know Darold, Alice dismissed the thought and began to explain.

"Darold is one of the leaders of the Mafia network in Silverstone. I borrowed three million dollars from him four years ago. The interest was astronomical. Within months, my debt had risen to five million and kept growing. As it got harder to pay, I took out a fifteen-million-dollar loan from a bank to settle it."

Now Noah understood. Such high-interest loans were traps others from his college had fallen into. But this was his first encounter with a Mafia leader's name.

"Ah. Now I see. I hope you avoid future dealings with that Darold."

"Noah, people like us can't avoid folks like Darold. There are many like him who deal with us in different ways all the time."

Noah was reminded of the old man who handed him a beer two nights before.

"Miss Alice. Would you tell me how the business world operates in Silverstone?"

"Why? Are you interested in starting a business?" Alice asked eagerly.

Noah nodded. "Yes, I'm somewhat inclined to start."

"Alright, that's pretty straightforward. Besides, you're my boss now. Think of me as your assistant. I'll explain."

Alice paused to collect her thoughts, then resumed speaking. "To avoid shocking you later, it's best if I start here..."

Alice began detailing Silverstone's business dynamics, which startled Noah. She indicated that the Mafia controlled nearly all medium and large businesses in town.

These Mafias weren't like movie portrayals, but families running corporate empires.

Darold was just a small example. Higher up, the Mafia's influence and power only grew.

Alice also described various Mafia networks in Silverstone, confirming that it practically operated with a Mafia-enforced legal system.

Even law enforcement was complicit in this system.

She recounted how her family once had a modest network, which was decimated by newcomers and now only CrystalSky remained. This, too, was no longer hers, having been paid off by Noah.

"So? I presume you're not overly shocked. Perhaps it's because you're young; I'm convinced you'll grow to be a formidable force in the business world."

Noah reflected on the structured chaos. He agreed with the old man's words: the world was cruel, and to survive, one must be equally callous.

He grew convinced that the system within him was granted by the same elder, a tool with which to conquer.

The only way to resist being demeaned was to become the supreme entity.

Noah confirmed his commitment to the elder's mission: to become a ruler. His thoughts now turned to where to begin this journey.

"Miss Alice, I understand. And I've decided to start my own business and network."

"Really? What do you mean?"

He nodded firmly. "Yes, I will start. On my own!"

"Ahem... Noah, establishing a network requires substantial funds. You will need strength too, or you'll be crushed even before you begin."

Alice was astonished Noah intended to build his own network, figuring his family likely belonged to an existing one, like hers once did.

"Miss Alice, didn't your family once have a network?"

"Yes. But it's been destroyed, and its members scattered."

"What do you think about gathering them and rebuilding?"

Alice's eyes widened, then narrowed as she scrutinized Noah.

"Noah, are you proposing to create your business network by rallying the remnants of my family's?"

Noah affirmed. "Yes. Is that feasible?"

"Hahahahhaha! Young man, of course, it's possible. But..."

Noah frowned at Alice's dismissive laughter. "But what?"

"Noah, you would need upwards of a hundred million dollars to begin, and even more to expand."

"Miss Alice, let this be the last time I say this and for you to remember it in the future: never underestimate the extent of my resources."

Alice fell silent as the youth she once considered naive now looked at her with firm resolve, insinuating his wealth was boundless.

"I apologize." She voiced, slightly uneasy. "Noah, this isn't a game. If you start, you can never stop, and future dangers are imminent. Foes will emerge, intent on your destruction unless you destroy them first."