Ultimate Tycoon: Building the Richest Empire with System and Heroines-Chapter 54: Storm was now only a day away.

"Ethan," Alistair said, entering the lounge where Ethan was stretching his arms, a towel draped around his neck. "Virgil just called. The auction is happening tomorrow."

Ethan straightened, blinking in confusion. "Tomorrow? What? That old man told me it’d take at least a week to prepare."

Alistair nodded with a slight frown. "That’s what he told me too. But something changed. He didn’t say much,just insisted I inform you right away." freēnovelkiss.com

Ethan furrowed his brows. "Why the sudden urgency?"

Alistair shrugged. "I don’t know. He said he’ll explain everything when we meet tomorrow."

On the nearby couch, Jasmine lowered her cup of tea, her eyes flicking toward them. "Auction?"

Rhea, who had been quietly scrolling through her phone beside her, looked up with a puzzled expression. "What auction are they talking about?"

Natalie crossed her legs, a calm smile forming. "It’s a long story. But to summarize,Ethan found a painting. A very old and extremely rare one. It’s called Mosalina."

Rhea tilted her head. "That name... sounds like a national treasure."

Natalie nodded. "Exactly. When Grandfather’s friend saw it, he nearly lost his mind. Their family owns a prominent auction mall. So after verifying the painting’s authenticity, he suggested putting it up for auction."

Jasmine, who had been lounging on the edge of the armrest, perked up. "Mosalina? That sounds elegant and expensive." She leaned back, smirking. "Heh... interesting. I’ve never been to an auction before."

She glanced at Rhea with a playful smile. "What do you say? Want to go and see our boy flexing?"

Rhea giggled softly and gave a small nod. "Yeah. I’m curious to see how it turns out."

Natalie looked at both of them with raised brows. "I’ll talk to my grandfather. If he agrees, we can all attend."

Ethan scratched the back of his head. "Uh... you do realize it’s just a normal auction, right? Nothing glamorous. Don’t expect fireworks."

Jasmine smirked. "Oh? Then what kind of auction is it, Ethan? Black market underworld trading? Antique mafia drama?"

He sighed. "Hopefully not that dramatic."

Everyone chuckled lightly, unaware that this auction would soon become far more than just a painting sale.

Meanwhile, across the city...

Virgil paced restlessly in his office, the floorboards creaking faintly beneath his steps. Dim lamplight washed over the room’s walls, lined with old scrolls, ink paintings, and financial ledgers.

Stacks of paperwork sat untouched on his desk, forgotten. His mind wasn’t on numbers tonight.

It was on a name.

"Master Yun..."

He whispered the words like a prayer,and a curse.

Virgil’s fingers drummed against the edge of the mahogany desk as his eyes locked on the name printed on an invitation list. It gleamed with weight and danger.

"I didn’t expect him to respond. Let alone confirm that he’s coming."

He stepped to the large glass window, looking down at the city skyline.

"If too many powerful people show up... something bad is bound to happen. I have to control this tightly."

He picked up the office phone and dialed a secure line.

"Double the security team," he ordered flatly. "Check the guest list again. I don’t want a single reporter or uninvited person getting in. And keep master Yun’s arrival secret."

"Yes, sir," the voice responded on the other end.

He hung up and stared at the painting wrapped in thick cloth leaning against the far wall.

Mosalina.

"Everyone’s coming for you," he muttered. "But this auction... It’s not about painting anymore. It’s about what follows."

He turned, the tension in his jaw tight.

"I hope Ethan’s ready. Because tomorrow... the game begins."

Elsewhere, in a dark private suite inside a luxury tower—

Gregory slammed his fist on the table, making a nearby wine glass jump.

"Ethan... Ethan!" he growled through clenched teeth. "Why do you always get in my damn way?"

He paced the floor like a caged animal, eyes burning.

"First Natalie... She was mine! And now that damn painting—Mosalina."

He gripped the back of a chair tightly, his knuckles white.

"You’re smart, I’ll admit it. Auctioning that painting to milk millions? Clever. But if it was really that valuable, then why... why did my skill only show seven million dollars?!"

He kicked the chair back.

"If this painting slips away from my hands, I’ll take the biggest loss I’ve ever suffered. But..."

A twisted grin formed on his face.

"Thankfully, Master is coming."

His eyes gleamed with cruelty as he looked out the window into the city below.

"I wonder what you’ll do now, Ethan. When my Master steps in... you won’t even get the chance to fight back."

He clenched his fists, imagining Ethan on his knees.

"I’ll make your life worse than death. A living hell. One where you’ll beg, beg, for it to end."

He let out a low laugh, venomous and unhinged.

"You never should’ve become a variable in our plan."

Gregory leaned against the window, breathing heavily.

"I’ll take Natalie in front of you. And her mother too. That Hayes family? I’ll burn them to the ground."

A lazy voice broke the silence.

"Young Master Gregory, you’re fired up again."

On the velvet couch nearby, Trevor sat with his massive belly rising and falling as he tossed peanuts into his mouth. His vacant eyes and simple grin made him look like an overfed pig in a suit.

"But you’re right. Once Master Yun arrives, everyone will bow to us."

Trevor wiped his greasy fingers on his shirt. "That proud Hayes family will be kneeling like dogs."

Gregory sneered. "They think their legacy matters? Once master gets involved, we’ll rewrite the rules."

Trevor then pulled out a tablet and turned the screen to Gregory.

Two faces appeared on the display,Nate and Sasha. Smiling, happy.

"These two are close with Ethan" Trevor said with a twisted grin. "Especially the girl. Wouldn’t it break him if she... disappeared?"

Gregory’s eyes lit up.

"Oh? You want that girl, huh?" he chuckled darkly. "As expected of my right hand. I like where your head’s at."

Trevor nodded eagerly. "Anything that ruins Ethan is good for us."

Gregory burst into maniacal laughter, throwing his head back.

"Perfect. Then let’s get to work."

The room filled with their wicked laughter,two men drunk on power, revenge, and madness.

They had made their move.

And the storm was now only a day away.

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