World Domination Begins With Getting a System in a Modern World-Chapter 101: Alina

Less than a minute of standing in the hallway, James felt a presence approach him.

He turned his head slightly and saw a woman walking toward him — alone, confident, and with a curious look in her eyes.

She was around his age, maybe a little younger. Wavy brown hair tied into a messy ponytail, simple jeans, sneakers, a fitted black UCLA hoodie. And the way she was looking at him with her sharp eyes, something told him that she was already sizing him up.

"Hey," she said, stopping a couple feet away from him.

"You lost or something?" She asked, taking a good look at him.

James gave a relaxed smile and shook his head, slightly.

"No. Actually, I’m looking for someone."

"Someone?" She cocked her head slightly.

"A job," James corrected. "I’m offering one."

Her eyebrows lifted slightly. What James said piqued her interest a little. A job? That’s definitely what she needs right now.

"What sort of job?" She asked curiously.

James shrugged casually, hands sliding into his pockets.

"Something a little dangerous. Something that will probably change your life if you pull it off."

The girl blinked, thrown off for a second by the way James said it so casually. It was like he wasn’t exaggerating but she was still very much skeptical.

James saw the curiosity in her eyes and he knew he piqued her interest, and he has gotten her curiosity. Curiosity is like a drug, and he had just given her a hit.

The lady glanced around the hallway, noticing how a few students nearby were sneaking looks at them — probably because of how James stood out, and the fact that they recognised that he doesn’t belong here.

"Come on," she said, jerking her thumb. "Let’s talk somewhere quieter."

"My car’s just outside. We can talk on the way." James smiled.

"Your car’s waiting, huh? Fine. Lead the way," she said, and followed behind him.

As they started walking toward the exit, the girl glanced at him sideways.

"So what’s your name, mystery man?"

"James." James answered smoothly.

She gave a short nod. "Alina."

***

They pushed through the front doors of the hall, into the bright California sun, and immediately Alina spotted a group of students huddled around something.

They had their phones out, and were chatting excitedly. She frowned and slowed her steps a little. She had no idea what was happening and she doesn’t want to find herself in any sort of trouble.

Alina looked at James and saw that he was walking straight toward the group, and her instincts flared.

What the hell was he doing? Why is he walking into a problem?

She wanted to call him back but she felt that it was already too late, and automatically hung back a little, keeping herself at a cautious distance.

She continued to watch James and she saw as he slid his hand into his jacket pocket and pulled out a sleek object — a car key fob.

She couldn’t make out the logo, but it definitely didn’t look like anything she recognized from around campus.

She saw him pressed a button on the key fob, and she heard an unfamiliar beep echoed across the lot.

Immediately, the group that had been gathered immediately broke apart, turning to look around in surprise.

Some of them turned to look at James and gasped. Others just stared, before slowly backing away, as if whatever they had been admiring wasn’t theirs to touch anymore.

And then, the crowd cleared, and Alina’s eyes widened.

Sitting there, looking like it had been dropped straight out of a billionaire’s dream garage, was a Koenigsegg Gemera.

Sleek, silver-gray paint that shimmered under the sun, aggressive lines that made it look like it was ready to eat the road. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

James walked up to it like he was strolling up to a beat-up Honda, casually opening the passenger door and looking back at her.

"You getting in, or what?"

Alina just stood there for a second, blinking. Her brain had short-circuited a little. She already guessed that James was rich from the way he said that he told her he had a job, but she didn’t expect him to be this rich.

When she saw him walking to towards the group, she was curious to see which of the luxury cars parked there, belongs to James, but she didn’t expect to see a super car.

Because in her world, Koenigsegg was a word you only ever heard on Top Gear reruns or saw in clickbait articles titled "Top 10 Supercars You’ll Never Drive."

And here was James — young, normal-looking James — casually driving one around like it was no big deal.

The engine came to life with a soft, throaty rumble that sent goosebumps down her spine.

Alina shook herself mentally and smiled, trying to play it cool, but she was definitely shaken inside.

"Yeah... yeah, I’m coming," she said quickly, slipping into the passenger seat.

The door closed with a gentle hiss, sealing them inside what felt like a spaceship on wheels.

James didn’t waste time.

"Where to?" he asked, glancing at her.

"There’s a small café two blocks down, off Le Conte Avenue," Alina said, her voice more steady now.

"It’s cozy and it doesn’t have too many people."

"Perfect," James nodded, as he pulled out of the lot, the Gemera gliding onto the street with effortless grace.

Inside the car, there was a moment of silence, but it was broken by Alina.

She turned to look at James properly now, with even more curiosity burning behind her eyes.

"So..." she said slowly. "What’s this dangerous job you’re offering?"

James tapped the wheel lightly, thinking.

"I need a story," he said. "A real story. One that could blow up into national news. Maybe even international."

Hearing this, Alina’s interest sharpened immediately.

"And you’re just... offering it to whoever walks up to you?" She asked in a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

"No. You’re the first one who asked the right way." James replied, with a smile.

Alina narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at James suspiciously, as she asked.

"What’s the catch?"

James glanced sideways at her, with a serious expression on his face.

"The people involved are quite powerful. Used to be. They are also rich and connected. If this story breaks right, you’ll make a name for yourself overnight. If it backfires..."

He didn’t finish the sentence and allowed it to hang in the air, wanting to see Alina’s reaction, but she didn’t flinch.

Instead, she leaned back in the seat, studying him with an neutral expression.

"That’s why you said it was dangerous." She asked.

"Exactly."

She tapped her fingers on her thigh thoughtfully.

"And why me?"

James smiled and glanced at her briefl.

"Because you’re still hungry. You haven’t sold your soul yet."

"Sold my soul?" Alina laughed.

"Not literally," James said, and laughed.

"And you got all that from a five-minute conversation?" She snorted.

James just shrugged, one hand on the wheel, the other resting casually on the gear shift.

"I’m good at reading people."

They drove in silence for a few seconds, the Gemera sounding beneath them like a beast barely restrained.

After a brief moment of silence, finally, Alina said, "Okay. I’ll bite. What’s the story?"

James smiled, slow and dangerous.

"How do you feel about bringing down a multimillion dollar family empire?"

Alina’s eyebrows shot up.

"Depends," she said cautiously. "Are they the kind that sue, or the kind that kill?"

James laughed softly, but wasn’t a nice laugh.

"Both."

For a second, Alina hesitated.

Then she grinned. A sharp and feral grin.

"I’m listening."

James chuckled, feeling things moving forward in the right way. He knew it. Yeah. This was the right one.

***

The car turned the corner, the café coming into view — a cozy spot with shaded outdoor seating and not too many people around.

James pulled up and parked, turning off the engine with a smooth click.

He looked at Alina.

"You sure about this?" he asked quietly.

Alina unbuckled her seatbelt, her smile sharp.

"You’re not the only one who can read people, James. I can tell you’re serious. And I didn’t spend four years busting my ass in journalism classes just to end up writing press releases or some stupid article for some bald headed demon editor."

She opened the door and stepped out into the sun, turning back to grin at him.

"Let’s blow something up." James grinned back, as they walked into the café.