Six months had passed since the migration to Willow Creek. The 10-day operational blackout had faded into market history, and Apex Capital had emerged stronger, faster, and untouchable.
Sitting in his Frankstad office, eleven-year-old Ethan reviewed his updated diagnostics:
[System Panel: Ethan Brown]
Biological Age: 11 years, 6 months
System: RO2
Experience Points: 855,740 pts
Total Liquid Reserves: $4.8 Million
[Attributes]
Strength: 91 | Speed: 135 | Endurance: 220 | IQ: 148
Faith: 80 / 100 | Aura Control: 12 / 100 | Height: 5'3"
[Financial Assets & Portfolio Growth (Last 6 Months)]
* Apex Capital (Silver Trading & E-Commerce Platform):
- Post-migration expansion scaled volume past 5.5 million units/month.
- Valuation surged +30% during the 6-month stabilization window.
- Current Asset Equity: ~$12.5 Million.
* XOR Group (EV Automotive Stakes):
- With Gordi retreating into slow-moving political lobbying, XOR's production scaled smoothly.
- Valuation surged +15% over the last six months.
- Ethan's 35% Equity Stake Valuation: ~$10.5 Million.
* Real Estate & Liquid Cash: ~$7.3 Million.
* Total Net Worth: ~$30.3 Million
At eleven, Ethan was worth over thirty million dollars. But before hunting his next evolution, he had to secure his parents' absolute prosperity.
Without Ethan's past intervention against the loan shark Danny Malone, Robert and Martha would have lost their original seventy acres entirely—saving that land was their foundation. Even so, they remained working-class farmers reliant on backbreaking labor.
Three days later, a sleek black sedan arrived at the farmhouse. A corporate representative from Apex Capital's Agri-Botanical Division stepped out, asking for Robert Brown.
"Mr. Brown," the representative said, opening a portfolio. "Apex Capital is expanding its specialized medicinal herb division across Southern Casperia. Your soil composition is optimal. We want to expand your operation into a flagship 200-acre agricultural estate."
Robert blinked. "Expand my farm? This seventy acres is our legacy. We aren't selling out."
"You're stepping up," the liaison corrected. "Apex Capital will retain you as Managing Director of the 200-acre estate at an executive salary of $180,000 per year, complete with corporate machinery, automated irrigation, and family agricultural grants."
Robert stared at the paper in disbelief. "Why me? It feels like you're just dumping gold on my lap."
Before he could answer, Sheriff Victor walked in, glanced at the document, and whistled.
"Apex Capital?" Victor said. "Robert, that's the New Havenport financial heavyweight running Willow Creek's silver markets. They're clean and pay top dollar. If they're offering you an executive salary, you'd be a fool to refuse."
Martha walked in from the pantry, looked at the figures, and put a hand on Robert's shoulder. "We've worked ourselves to the bone for twenty years, and we nearly lost everything to Danny. If a reputable firm wants to invest in your skills, we take it. We need this for Sarah, and for Ethan's schooling."
Robert picked up the pen. "Alright. Where do I sign?"
With a stroke of the pen, Robert went from a working-class smallholder to managing director of a multimillion-dollar agricultural estate.
That same day, Ethan sat down with his parents to discuss a second, personal matter: his upcoming expedition to Savithan.
Earlier, when he first mentioned traveling halfway across the world to study rare botany, Robert and Martha instantly rejected it.
"Travel to Savithan by yourself? You're eleven!" Robert had protested.
The dynamic shifted when they saw the corporate backing. Ethan had months prior submitted a research proposal to Apex Capital's Logistics and Botanical Division for unmapped ethno-botanical compounds. The corporate research grant had been approved, meaning Apex Logistics was sponsoring his entire expedition and field-station setup.
Seeing the official corporate dossier, their newly signed employment terms, and Sheriff Victor's endorsement, their resistance melted away.
RO2: "All bags packed, Boss? Flight leaves at dawn."
"Everything is set," Ethan replied, zipping his duffel. "To Mom and Dad, it's a corporate-sponsored research fellowship."
"And the real reason?" RO2 asked.
"Casperia has high-tech labs, but Savithan's deep Western Ghats and ancient Himalayan borders hold the toxic biological resins needed to catalyze the Narasimha beast gene," Ethan said. "My Aura Control is stuck at 12. If I want to rip a Full-Blood Vampire apart, I need to rewrite my own DNA."
Ethan walked downstairs. Robert and Martha were talking happily about the new estate, reassured by Apex Capital's total support. Sarah was asleep upstairs.
"You take care of yourself in Savithan," Martha said, hugging him tightly.
"I will, Mom," Ethan murmured.
Robert smiled, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Go on, son. See how the other side of the world lives, and take care of your self and remember we are just a phone call away."
"I will, Dad."
He stepped out into the cool night air. Apex Capital ran on autopilot in Willow Creek. Gordi was neutralized. His family was wealthy, secure, and protected by a 200-acre estate.
The prologue in Casperia was closed. Ethan boarded the private transit pod toward the ancient jungles of Savithan.