Ghost Billionaire

Matthew downed the shot the bartender slid over. It went down smooth—too smooth. No heat in his throat, no haze in his head. Nexians barely felt weak alcohol. Muni had mentioned that from the knowledge he had given Matthew.

They won't get drunk or sick. No more flu or colds.

Great, he thought. Even the drink won't give me a break.

Naturally, there are a few exemptions, but that doesn't matter now.

He muttered under his breath about the old man, still annoyed that Muni had slipped that tablet down his throat. Muni had kept him alive—fine. But he also fed him that thing. Now, instead of the quiet, different life he wanted this time around, Matthew was tied to Muni's rules and he couldn't even take the edge off with a cheap drink.

However, Matthew wasn't the type to just sit there and lament his misfortune. If he carefully analyzed it, he had gained a few things from that interaction. The knowledge the old man gave him was much more detailed than the amnesiac ghost's information.

What Muni pressed into his mind was only the outline, a short timeline of Nexians, a basic chart of class abilities, the stone grades from low dust to prime crystal. It touched on tablets and elixirs for steadying a weak core and named three usual sources for stones—auctions, clan pits, and forgotten seams.

Last came a single fact about order: the High Council sets the rules, and a unit called Core Patrol hauls in anyone who breaks them.

The man in the blue suit had to be Core Patrol.

Matthew then focused on the way to awaken one's core. Specifically, he thought of the ritualistic side of being a Nexian.

Using a ritual to awaken your core is the riskiest path, but it gives you the greatest edge. If the ritual succeeds, you emerge as a more powerful Awakened Nexian from day one, and the boost it grants makes the jump to the Veined stage far smoother than any other method.

A ritual isn't complicated—just unforgiving. Miss one step and it can kill you. The history was clear that awakening using a ritual was popular in the past. Most folks stuck to using rituals for awakening and breaking through from one stage to another.

These rituals are banned for a reason. Skip one step and your core can twist, your mind can crack, or your body can die on the spot. The danger is so real that the elders outlawed the practice long ago.

Even so, Matthew couldn't ignore the pull of the checklist. The instructions hide in a few surviving tomes or books nearly wiped out by the last war. Because of their power, Nexians are ready to fight, bleed, and kill for a single page of those rules.

Old books, cracked tablets, brittle scrolls—whatever form they take, Matthew already knew who's got them.

The Tian Family.

Even in his past life, it was the Tian Family who liked to collect these things. He thought it was a waste of money. It turns out…

He tapped the bar for something stronger. Then a voice behind him interrupted his stupor. "Well, if it isn't the Ghost."

Matthew turned, surprised. What a coincidence, he thought, when he saw Rick Tian standing three stools away, hands in his coat pockets. The man wore a mask that covered only the upper half of his face, leaving his mouth exposed—but there was no mistaking him.

"Mr. Tian," Matthew said, giving a short nod.

"You don't look like you were having fun," Rick said as he slid down to the vacant seat next to Matthew. He wasn't surprised that Matthew recognized him immediately. After all, he is someone from the Tian Family.

Matthew lifted two fingers toward the bartender. "Another for me. One for my friend?"

Rick nodded. The bartender poured two shots and set them down.

Rick knocked his glass back in one gulp.

Matthew watched the liquid settle in his own glass. "You didn't come here for the liquor."

Rick chuckled and wiped a thumb across the bar's surface. "True. But a drink makes the talk easier."

"I agree," Matthew said. He downed the second shot and set the glass beside the first. "Now, may I know why you came here to find me?" He already had a few ideas as to why this young gambler was here.

Rick rolled the empty glass between his palms. "You're right. I came to find you."

Matthew turned on the stool. "What do you need?"

"I've been losing bets." Rick stopped rolling the glass. "I want to cooperate."

"Define cooperate."

Rick leaned closer. "I want to start winning. You have a knack. So I'd like to hire you."

"I don't need money."

"Not money. Something better." He dipped his head and spoke low near Matthew's ear. "Spirit stones. Clean, low–mid-grade. Enough to fill a pouch."

Matthew's fingers tightened on the edge of the counter. So Rick knew. He used Dr. Muni's instructions on how to use his spiritual energy and immediately sensed something inside Rick. A core!

Indeed! Rick Tian is a Nexian!

Matthew smiled inwardly. The Rick Tian he remembered from his past life had never shown any sign of possessing powers. Looks like he'd kept it well hidden, Matthew thought.

Sensing how Matthew's mood had changed, Rick held his palms up. "Relax. I have no plans to drag you anywhere. I really just need help turning my odds around." He smiled. "Think it over. A low–mid-grade one is expensive."

Rick smiled inwardly. His uncle had already warned him—do not offend Ghost. He wasn't exactly here to offend the man, he was just here to offer some business. An excellent business at that.

Rick was confident that Matthew would never refuse his goodwill. While Ghost's identity was mysterious, he was still a Nexian. How could a Nexian refuse spirit stones?

He straightened his back. "What do you think?" he asked. "This is a wonderful offer, right? Do you want to talk about the details?"

Matthew tapped the second glass with a fingertip. The liquid stilled.

"A pouch of low–mid-grade?" He set the shot back on the bar, untouched. "You manage half your family's mines and that's the best you can do?"

Rick's shoulders jerked. How did this man know about the mines? He narrowed his eyes. His uncle had warned him—Ghost's background was too mysterious and not to offend him in any way. Rick couldn't understand it at the time. In fact, he had brushed it off as a scare tactic to stop him from chasing his losses. It seems that he was wrong.

"Low–mid-grade is a solid payment."

"For street runners, yes," Matthew smiled under the mask. He already had the intention to find Rick and the Tian Family. Guess who came knocking on his door?

Well, since the young heir was here, Matthew had no intention of letting him leave without handing over spirit stones.