Chapter 506 - 502: Billion Dollar Prize

Ryder walked down the stairs and went to have breakfast. 

There was no fixed time for breakfast since almost every main member in the house, including Ryder, Alice, and Shu, woke up at a different time mostly. 

So it was decided that they didn't need to have a universal breakfast time. They could wake up at any time and ask for breakfast.

Ryder went to the dinner table after telling the chef to prepare breakfast for him. 

The chef prepared breakfast for Ryder within minutes which was served on the table.

Coincidentally that happened to be when Shu also came down. "Oh, you're here as well. I thought I'd miss you today too."

"Yeah, I happened to wake up at time, I guess even though a bit late," Ryder replied as he slid his breakfast plate towards Shu. "Here, start first. They'll get more for me."

"It's fine. They're bringing mine too," Shu answered as he sat beside Ryder. 

"Did you hear the news, though?" he asked Ryder.

"What news?" Ryder inquired, confused. 

"They've made a change in Divinity. Now players can sign exclusive contracts with streaming channels to steam their live divinity gameplay. Some live tv channels might also give exclusive contracts to big players since the world of Divinity, and the realistic fantasy element with adventures might be really popular for them."

"Also, you're the biggest name in Divinity. Everyone is curious about you. Since you're so popular, you have a great chance to get exclusive contracts," Shu told Ryder. 

"It's fine. I don't need exclusive contracts with any live streaming platform to get money. As for fame, I don't need the Divinity fame in the real world anymore. It would only bring more trouble than good. I'm fine keeping my identity a secret," Ryder replied as he shook his head. 

"Even if there are a billion dollars involved?" Shu asked with an amused smile on his face. 

"Billion Dollars?" Ryder frowned. Where did the question of billion dollars come from?

No company was going to give that much money. Even in the original timeline, this thing had happened. But the highest amount that was ever offered was in millions. Never a billion. 

"That's right. The Necrosis Corporation had come up with an announcement. They said that they're organizing a special event after ten days. The winner of that event will get a billion dollars. But to take part in the event, the player must get registered with them. It's only available for top ten people in the Level Rankings, though," Shu told Ryder. "And it'll be broadcasted live on their channel."

"A tournament a few days after starting the live telecasts? It didn't happen before, let alone happen so fast," Ryder muttered as he rubbed his chin.

"What didn't happen before?" Shu asked, confused. 

"Nothing."

"Are you going to take part?"

"I don't think I will. I don't want to expose my identity. Even if it's a billion dollars, I believe I can earn that later as well. But registration with them or any channel runs the risk of my real identity being exposed in public. It's better if that doesn't happen." 

Ryder refused even the notion that he could take part in the event. 

"That's right. You do go a bit extra step to hide your identity. A few players report seeing you and have your description. But no two descriptions match. It's strange," Shu muttered, confused. "Is someone else going with your name?"

"Not really. I do have a mask. It's a unique treasure that helps me change my looks. As I said, I don't want anyone even close to guessing my real looks." Ryder answered.

"Even though the game world version of me looks slightly different than my real self, it's still better to keep that hidden. Who knows what kind of reverse engineering is possible nowadays," he continued. "My game self does have some similarities as well to me."

"Interesting. Since you're not going to take part, I think the opportunity will go to the eleventh ranked player," Shu muttered. 

"The twelfth rank might also participate. I don't think Lucifer will take part either. As for why I think that, you can call it a hunch," Ryder said as he started eating. 

"Oh? Have you met him before?" Shu asked, frowning. 

"I did," Ryder answered, not telling that it was not in this timeline but in the original timeline. 

In this timeline, he hadn't come face to face with Lucifer even once. 

He did want to meet him, though. According to his information, it was quite possible that Lucifer had the next fragment that he had taken from a village before it was destroyed by the Death Domain.

He had been trying to find Lucifer too, so that he could take back the fragment. 

That was the only possible clue he had about a fragment. As for the close to twenty other fragments, he didn't know anything about where they might be. 

He kept eating the breakfast in peace. Silence ensued on the table as Shu was also served the food. 

As Ryder ate in peace, he remembered something. He raised his head and gazed at Shu. 

"Wait, weren't you going to become the owner of Necrosis? If you're the owner, you should be able to get me entry without exposing my identity?" 

"Not actually. The talks fell through. Those guys are willing to let their shares plunge to rock bottom, but they don't want to sell. It's a mess of a situation. I don't think it will work as well as I thought it would."

The disappointment was evident on Shu's face as he answered Ryder's questions. 

"It's fine. You can just expose them and watch the fallout. When their shares fall, you can have a forceful takeover, can't you?" Ryder asked Shu. 

"Not really. They have some rigid backing from the government. It's at a crazy level, I think. I don't know why but I'm sure the government will go to extended lengths to save them. That's why they're not selling. Because they know about their backing," Shu answered, shaking his head.

"And if I still try that, it'll bring me and the US government face to face. I might be one of the richest men in the world, but even I would suffer from that. My company will be affected, which I don't want. Because it's not my company, it's the heritage of my family. I don't want it to suffer even the tiniest bit," he said as he looked down. 

Ryder gazed at Shu's face. He could see the seriousness in Shu's face. It was evident that Shu really cared for the Dream Corporation. 

"You don't need Necrosis anyway. Since you're so concerned, it's better you don't take risks. Focus on the business expansion instead," Ryder said. "I'll do the same."

"Oh, another thing. Did you have a hand in the manufacturing contract that my Aviation Branch received?" he asked. "It was given by the branch of Dream Corporation."

"Not really. I don't handle those pesky things. The administration of the Dream Corporation handles all contracts. I don't interfere unless the matter is really high level," Shu answered, smiling.

"Oh? Really? So you never involved yourself in such things?" Ryder asked, suspicious. 

The timing and everything did seem suspicious. Without Shu's involvement, it was highly unlikely that he was going to get the Contract. 

"Well, I did get involved once or twice a long time ago," Shu said as he chuckled. 

"You remember that guy who happened to be your classmate, but he mocked you and mocked me?" he asked. 

"I remember him. Wait a minute... He worked in Dream Corporation Marketing Division! I remember now!" Ryder let out, remembering the guy. "Did you fire him?"

"Not really. I am not that petty. But he did brag about his high position in the company and mocked me for my weight. So I just got him demoted and had a fat person under him promoted. Since he doesn't like us fat people, it'll give that something to enjoy," Shu answered as he grinned. 

"Meh, I think you gave him a light Punishment. But this is good too," Ryder answered lazily, not mentioning that he had also punished the guy by almost making him pee himself in fear later on. 

The two of them had a bit more light talk as they continued their breakfast before Alice joined them as well. 

"Huh? You're still here? I thought you'd be in college by now?" Ryder asked. 

"Why would I be in college?" Alice asked before she explained. "It's a holiday."

"Holiday?" Ryder wondered. What holiday was it today?

"It's not the weekend. And I don't remember any other holiday being today. What's it?" he asked. 

"Today completed the twenty-fifth year of existence of Dream University. It's a holiday to give students time to enjoy at home," Shu answered instead. 

"Oh, that's what it was. Congrats for that," Ryder congratulated Shu. 

"I wanted to tell you something. Is this the right time? I should've told you before, but if you're busy, I'll tell you later," Alice asked Ryder.