Klaus was beyond shocked to hear that he had already purchased a house. He hadn’t even made his choice, yet somehow, a house had been bought in his name. It didn’t make sense at all. The only logical explanation was that someone else had access to his account and made the purchase for him.
But when he checked his balance, he was even more puzzled—his account hadn’t been deducted a single coin. How could he have bought a house without paying?
He looked back at the manager, who smiled as if nothing was amiss. “How… how did I buy a house without any money leaving my account?” Klaus asked, his mind racing.
The manager’s expression remained calm. “Mr. Klaus, as a Platinum customer, certain properties are granted through a special program for individuals of your status. In this case, the house you selected was flagged for immediate transfer to you—no payment required.”
Klaus stood frozen, speechless, but his instincts kicked in. He could tell the manager wasn’t being completely truthful. Something about the situation felt off. It was as if someone was pulling strings behind the scenes, orchestrating events in his favor.
A single name floated to the forefront of his mind—Ohema. Her beautiful face flashed in his thoughts. But why would she be behind this? What would she gain from manipulating his situation so discreetly? Klaus was full of questions, his mind buzzing with the possibilities. There was only one person who could give him answers.
Before he could press the manager for the truth, the manager abruptly shifted the conversation. “Now, Mr. Klaus,” he said, glancing at a document, “let’s finalize your transaction and discuss the benefits that come with your new status as a platinum account holder.”
Klaus bit back his questions for the moment, deciding to play along. But deep down, he knew he’d have to confront Ohema soon. She has done more than enough, the least he can do is know why.
“Alright, we can talk more about the benefits,” Klaus said, deciding to go with the flow for now.
The manager smiled, clearly pleased. “Excellent, Mr. Klaus. With the purchase of this estate, you gain access to a number of exclusive perks. For starters, the estate comes fully furnished with luxury amenities, including a private security team and maintenance staff.
Additionally, you will have access to the Platinum Club, an exclusive society where only high-ranking individuals like yourself can network and socialize. This membership opens doors to powerful connections across the city.”
Klaus listened carefully, taking in the information, but his mind kept wandering back to Ohema. Was this all connected to her somehow? And if so, what was her real motive?
“For your convenience, your estate is also equipped with advanced technology for communication, privacy, and enhanced security,” the manager continued, his voice smooth. “Additionally, your new home comes with an Atlas Arcadia turbo car, a state-of-the-art vehicle known for its speed and durability. Perfect for someone of your status.”
Klaus raised an eyebrow, impressed.
“And,” the manager added, leaning forward slightly, “you’ll have access to a private Tier 6 training area. This space is designed to allow high-level warriors like yourself to train without any disturbance, fully equipped to handle intense sessions. You won’t find anything like it in the public sectors.”
Klaus couldn’t help but be intrigued. A Tier 6 training area? Only the elite could dream of that, and now it was his. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that all of this was too good to be true.
“Anything else I should know about?” Klaus asked, forcing a casual tone, even as his mind raced with thoughts of Ohema and her possible involvement.
The manager smiled wider. “Well, Mr. Klaus, your estate also offers direct access to several hidden services only known to Platinum customers, but we’ll leave that for when you’re more settled in. For now, you’re all set to enjoy your new life of luxury.”
Klaus was impressed by how efficiently the bank handled everything. Before coming in, he expected a lot of complications, but things had unfolded almost effortlessly. Still, he had one more question on his mind.
“I have another question, Mr. Manager,” Klaus said, leaning forward slightly. “My mother isn’t a registered citizen. How would the procedure go if she wanted to obtain an ID?”
The manager smiled as if he had anticipated the question. “Ah, not to worry, Mr. Klaus. Given your current status as a Platinum customer, the process will be very straightforward for your mother. Normally, obtaining an ID involves a few steps—verification of residency, background checks, and so on.
However, because of your rank, all we would need is a simple recommendation from you, and the process will be expedited.”
Klaus nodded, relief washing over him. He had feared it might be more complicated, but the manager’s answer reassured him.
“The ID can be arranged within a few hours after your recommendation is submitted,” the manager continued. “Your mother will be recognized as a citizen without the usual red tape. She’ll be free to enjoy all the benefits of city life.”
“Thank you, Mr. Manager,” Klaus replied. “So now that this is settled, can I know how my estate looks, where it is, and when I can move in?” Klaus asked with a smile.
The manager pressed a button on his desk, and a projection of the estate appeared in front of them. It wasn’t too big, nor too small, but perfectly situated within one of the most luxurious areas of the city. From the projection, Klaus could see that the estate had four rooms, a spacious hall, a pool, and a lush garden filled with all kinds of fruit trees.
The layout was elegant yet simple, with a serene, welcoming atmosphere.
“The estate also comes with a car and a full security team,” the manager said again. “They’ll be deployed to the property before you move in. If you have any personal items you’d like to transfer, just let us know, and we’ll arrange it for you. As for when you can move in, that’s entirely up to you.”
Klaus nodded thoughtfully, feeling more at ease with how smoothly things were progressing. “I think I’ll move in tomorrow. I’ll need to prepare a few things first.”
“Of course, Mr. Klaus. Everything will be ready for your arrival, just call the number on the screen and you will picked up to your new home.” the manager said with a courteous nod.
“And for your mother,” the manager added, “she can move in as well. Someone from the Identity Guild will come by and take care of her ID.”
Klaus nodded in appreciation and then stood up to leave. A few seconds later, he was back on the ground floor of the bank. As he was about to exit, he noticed the lady he had promised to take a selfie with earlier, staring at him through the glass.
He smiled to himself, shaking his head. With a sigh, he decided to keep his word and walked over to her. They took three selfies and then she gave him her contact before Klaus was free to leave.
Back on the top floor, the manager let out a long sigh as soon as Klaus left. Moments later, a soft chime echoed in the room, signaling an incoming call. A holographic projection lit up in front of him, revealing the image of a woman.
“How did it go?” the lady asked, her voice cool but curious.
The manager straightened his posture before replying, “He’s smart, very smart. It’s only a matter of time before he figures out who she is.”
“Well, that is to be expected,” the lady said, her voice calm and measured. “However, we should leave that to her. Our only job is to make sure he lacks nothing.”
The manager nodded, understanding the delicate balance of their task. “Yes, ma’am,” he replied. “We’ll ensure everything he needs is provided without raising suspicion.”
The projection faded leaving the Manager to sit back up in a more comfortable posture. “What a lucky fella” He muttered with a slight smile.
As Klaus walked through the bustling streets toward Madam Fei’s shop, he reflected on how smoothly things had gone. He hadn’t expected the bank visit to be so seamless, with all the luxury and benefits that came with his new platinum status. Now that the financial matters were handled, his focus shifted back to business: offloading the goods from his last hunt before heading into the Forbidden Zone.
While walking, Klaus pulled out his phone to check out more of the bank’s benefits. Besides all the perks and amenities, one feature particularly caught his attention—the bank also buys monster parts from hunters. However, their standards were high. They only dealt with parts from Tier 4 Dark Monsters and above.
Klaus’s curiosity deepened, so he began reading about the rankings of monsters based on their classes. Tier 2 monsters, he learned, could only have two classes: Lesser and Great. Tier 3 monsters expanded that to three classes: Lesser, Great, and Dark. The same held for Tier 4. However, when it came to Tier 5 monsters, they gained an additional class: Terror.
This classification piqued his interest. He knew that entering the Forbidden Zone would likely bring him face-to-face with monsters of these higher classes, and the idea of facing a Tier 5 Terror-class beast stirred a mix of excitement for some unknown reason.
He had also learned more about the stages beyond the Grandmaster level. Once someone became a Saint, leveling up became much harder. It wasn’t just about farming experience points anymore; it required gathering spiritual qi from the atmosphere or killing monsters to absorb energy from their cores. Klaus knew this path would only get more difficult as he advanced.
After nearly three hours of walking, Klaus finally arrived at Madam Fei’s shop. He stepped inside, scanning the room to ensure no one else was around. Once he confirmed it was just him and Madam Fei, he removed his disguise, leaving her stunned.
Klaus grinned at her shocked expression. “As promised, I’m here with even more goods.”