Mark of the Fool - Chapter 409: Hostile Negotiations

SSS Beast Apostle System and Survival Racing in Apocalypse.

When the aliens invaded earth, they didn’t come for its resources as many doomsayers had proclaimed throughout the years.

Instead, they came for fun.

They came, flattened earth’s biggest cities and turned the world into a planet-sized stadium for their civilization.

The sport?

Survival Racing.

Ferocious alien beasts were unleashed upon the ruins of the world along with thousands of alien death-row fugitives who were only told one thing: Kill the humans, survive the year and regain your freedom.

Elliot was a survivor. He died right before he entered the final 15 days of the Games.

But as his consciousness began to slip away, a metallic voice rang out within his soul.

Mission failed.

Activating sponsor’s Boon: Reverse Time Walk.

Activating sponsor's Boon: Beast System.

Welcome to the Beast System. My name is Hawk, your AI.

EXCERPT from Chapter 1:

Elliot screamed in absolute exhilaration as he smashed his foot on the brakes, just enough to fully utilize the power of his ceramic brakes but not so much that his tires locked up. He went from two hundred miles an hour to forty miles an hour in a heartbeat.

He entered the sharp corner from the outside at the maximum entry speed and skillfully brought his car to the threshold of his tire’s grip.

SCREEE!!

He took the corner at record speed like a professional racer and then floored the pedal to the metal once more!

“Block him.”“He's technically still my boss.”“Then block him with dignity.”The call ended again.And then started again.I let out a sound somewhere between a growl and a sob, then finally answered with the enthusiasm of a snail crawling through salt.“Yes, Mr. Walton?”“Have you changed your mind yet?”I collapsed onto the towel and gazed at the sky as though it might consume me entirely if I pleaded sweetly enough.“Do you ever take a break?” I asked, shielding my eyes with one hand.“You're avoiding the question.”“Because it's a dumb question.”He exhaled, the sound sharp and irritated even over phone. “It's not a dumb question. It's a business offer.”“It's a weird offer-one that I already said no to.”There was a brief pause, and I could practically hear him clenching his jaw through the speaker.“You are acting unreasonably.”“ Unreasonable?” I sat up. “I'm not the one drafting fake girlfriend contracts like it's a normal Tuesday.”“Isabella-”“Certainly not, Mr. Walton.” I mimicked his tone perfectly. “I told you I'm not doing it. You need to find someone else to play pretend with.”SYNOPSISIsabella Miller thought saying no to her boss’s fake dating offer was the end of the story.But Adrien Walton doesn’t take no—especially not when he’s convinced she’s a gold digger.Suddenly, her student loans are piling up, her father’s vet clinic is on the brink of eviction and her brother is about to be kicked out of college. Coincidence? She thinks not.Adrien Walton is calm, calculating—and he's just pulled every string to corner Isabella into the perfect position.Now she’s stuck choosing between pride and survival.So she agrees to his offer: be his fake girlfriend.No feelings attached. No drama. Just business.Or so she thought.“Conference Room B. Fifteen minutes,” he said, passing by without a glance.The folder he pushed across the table landed with a thud.I opened it. The contract. All of it.---Enemies to lovers? Check.Slow burn? Hmmnyea.Banter so sharp it might file your nails? Yes.Delicious workplace tension? Of course.Tension that could melt steel?Absolutely.Smut?? Wanna find out?Welcome to corporate romance warfare. There’s no escaping this contract.

His will is tough and he is unwilling to be normal. However, his pathway was destined to be that way, being born in a small sect’s branch.

However, one day, his left eye merges with the eye of an Ancient God in an accident. From that moment on, he turns from a fish into a dragon.

He rises up like a star, walking the path of a legendary cultivator.

From being a tiny, small ant at the bottom of the world, he rises step by step, into a place full of powerful sects, strong ancient clans and countless geniuses.

This is an era of legends.

- Description from novelupdates

Dumped by his girlfriend for being broke, killed in an accident by a truck, only to get transmigrated into a fantasy world as Lucien Goldveil, noble heir of a rich nobility in the kingdom of Edoria.He should be content since he was now filthy rich, but he couldn't, as this world was a world of magic where money without power was only a curse.What he would face next would only be endless conflict and the hounds looking at his wealth with those hungry gazes.---Ding[Debt Collector System has been successfully bound.][Detected failure to collect debt from target: Alchemist Devan.][Automatically extracting compensation of equivalent value…][Congratulations! You gained: Minor Mana Sensitivity (Passive), +1 Intelligence.]---Fortunately, his system came on time, giving him that glimmer of hope. Now, it all depends on his ability to exchange his vast wealth for power by playing his cards right.With the kingdom teetering on the brink of war and the Godveil family surrounded by hungry wolves, Lucien had no choice but to grow stronger and fast.Not to mention finding those behind the shadows hellbent on killing him, or those trying to kidnap him for his wealth. Wealth without power was a curse, and it was on Lucien to change it into a blessing instead.And those dungeons… Wait a minute—why the heck does this world have so many dungeons?