I Suddenly Became Rich, But I Have No Idea How to Spend the Money

I woke up to the morning sun streaming into my room at Hôtel de Paris.

As usual, I ordered room service for breakfast. Since it was a particularly pleasant morning, I decided to change things up and enjoy my meal on the terrace while gazing at the sea.

The longer I stayed in Monaco, the stronger my desire became to never leave this country.

If that was the case, then I had to act fast. If I didn’t want to leave, why not buy a condominium in Monaco?

Once I made up my mind, I knew exactly who to contact—my reliable secretary.

And so, I called Emma.

“Emma, I want to buy a place in Monaco.”

I could hear a long sigh escaping from Emma on the other end of the line.

“May I ask for your reasons?”

At that, I poured out all my thoughts.

“I understand. Then, why don’t we build a condominium in Monaco and turn it into a luxury residence? The penthouse can serve as your home.”

“Got it. Then, please take the money from my personal account.”

“No, we’ll do this as a company project. I’ll only deduct the cost of your personal residence from your account.”

“Huh? That’s okay?”

“Based on what you just told me, this venture looks like it’ll be highly profitable.”

I couldn’t help but be grateful for my incredibly capable secretary.

“Alright, I’ll leave it to you.”

As an aside, the condominium project in Monaco turned out to be a massive success.

We implemented a membership system for the upper floors, while the lower floors functioned like a luxury hotel with weekly rentals. This ensured both stable and substantial revenue.

By acquiring and renovating an existing building instead of constructing one from scratch, we kept construction costs low. The sale of membership rights alone generated €1 billion, with an annual profit of €80 million.

Many wealthy individuals who wanted to live in Monaco hesitated to become citizens, as doing so would prevent them from gambling at the casino. Our project perfectly catered to their needs.

Satisfied with how things were unfolding, I headed to the hotel’s spa, imagining the day I’d eventually move to Monaco.

After a swim to loosen up my body, I moved on to weight training.

Apparently, a young man staying at this hotel and using the spa alone was quite rare. As a result, I once again found myself under the intense gaze of wealthy, idle madams. But that’s another story.

After working up a sweat, it was time for my usual afternoon tea. I returned to my room and indulged in the experience.

Today’s tableware was from a brand called Gien. Seeing my puzzled expression, the kind hotel staff offered an explanation.

Gien is a French porcelain brand renowned for its beautiful colors. Its signature shade is a deep blue, known as “Gien Blue.”

The particular set I was using today had ties to the Grimaldi family, the rulers of Monaco, featuring their family crest.

As I expressed my admiration, the hotel staff, clearly pleased, went on to share a bit of Monaco’s history.

Currently, the country is ruled by Prince Albert II, a member of the Grimaldi lineage. His mother was none other than the famous Grace Kelly.

The Grimaldi family has governed Monaco for over seven centuries.

Impressed by his depth of knowledge, I soon learned that he was, in fact, the general manager of Hôtel de Paris.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I listened as he continued sharing fascinating tidbits—how Monaco’s Oceanographic Museum is the world’s oldest aquarium, how the country enjoys 300 days of sunshine per year, and how even locals find the crowds during the Monaco Grand Prix overwhelming.

Thanks to him, I had an entertaining and insightful afternoon tea.

Hearing about the Monaco Grand Prix made me restless, so I decided to take my car for a spin.

With guidance from the doorman, I drove my Ferrari 488 Pista along the official Grand Prix route.

Driving it firsthand, I realized just how difficult this course was. Even at regular speeds, maneuvering was tough—racing here in an F1 car seemed utterly insane.

After a few laps, I returned to the hotel and handed the car back to the doorman.

Feeling both exhilarated and drained from the intense course, I decided to get a massage at the spa.

I barely made it before the final appointment slot, but thankfully, I got in.

As the therapist worked their magic, I felt so relaxed that I nearly fused with the massage bed. But before I knew it, the session was over.

Somehow, I wasn’t in the mood for the casino tonight, so I opted for an in-room dinner instead.

As always, the meal was exquisite, leaving me completely satisfied.

“I should probably finalize my return schedule soon,” I mused and contacted Emma again.

“Emma, I think it’s about time to head back. Are there any good flights?”

“Let me check. One moment, please.”

After a brief wait of just a few seconds—

“I’ve checked, but there aren’t any ideal flights available. Please use the company card to book your return.”

I couldn’t help but smile internally at Emma’s sharp and efficient response.

“Got it. I’ll stop by Japan first, so I’ll be back sometime next week. I’ll email you the details later.”

“Understood. If you’re driving to Côte d’Azur Airport, you can leave the car there. We have a spare key, so our staff will retrieve it later.”

“Alright.”

I decided to return to Japan tomorrow to pick up some necessities before heading to Macau.

The hotel concierge booked a first-class ticket departing Côte d’Azur International Airport after 3 PM, with a layover at London Heathrow before heading to Japan.

I would take British Airways to Heathrow, then ANA flights from Heathrow to Haneda and Haneda to Itami.

“Ugh, I don’t want to deal with last-minute rushing. I should start packing now.”

I stuffed my ever-growing luggage and souvenirs into my Rimowa and Birkin bags.

Since my Haut à Courroies bag was too large to carry onboard, I squeezed it into my suitcase—just barely.

At that moment, I remembered something important: customs.

I had a significant amount of cash on hand, and the idea of dealing with customs declarations was tedious.

I turned to the general manager. “Is there a way around this?”

“There’s a bank we partner with. I’ll introduce you to their representative—they should be able to assist.”

He promptly made a call.

“The representative will be arriving shortly. Would you like to meet them?”

“Absolutely.”

A private banker, catering exclusively to a select few high-net-worth clients, arrived at the hotel. Since their clientele was so limited, their ‘business hours’ were practically non-existent.

Though it was a small bank, their asset management numbers were staggering.

“Is this legit…?”

To be safe, I asked Emma to verify their credentials while I spoke with the banker.

In the end, I deposited all my excess cash and casino chips into their bank for investment purposes.

Total: Over €7.5 million.

That’s over ¥1.2 billion. Insane.

As I was exchanging my casino chips, Emma confirmed their legitimacy. Everything checked out.

After the deposit, the bank issued my card immediately—a titanium debit-credit hybrid card.

My first metal card. It had a satisfying weight to it.

I thanked the banker and shook hands firmly before parting ways. I also expressed my gratitude to the general manager.

“Well, I’m all set for tomorrow.”

As I relaxed in my room, the concierge brought my printed ticket.

I thanked them and handed over a tip, asking them to charge the airfare to my room. They agreed with a smile.

While everything was ready, I found myself reluctant to leave Monaco.

This country was far too comfortable.

Still, I figured I’d take it easy in Japan before heading to Macau.

With that in mind, I took a bath and went to sleep.

I had informed the front desk to wake me up at 9 AM with breakfast delivery.