The morning sky above Ravenport City was a dull, ordinary blue, but for Ethan Parker, it felt brighter than any day in the last four years.
He stood for a moment in front of the glass building of Silverline Tech Solutions, adjusting the collar of his slightly old but neatly ironed shirt. The reflection in the glass showed a young man of twenty-four with tired eyes and a thin face—but those eyes were shining today.
"Today's the day," he whispered to himself.
Four years.
Four years of honest work.
Four years of staying back when others left.
Four years of hearing people say, "You're too serious, Ethan. Learn to enjoy life."
And the last two months…
He almost laughed at the memory.
Two months without a single proper day off.
Two months where he had slept on the office sofa more than in his own bed.
Two months where instant coffee and vending-machine snacks had become his main meals.
All for one project.
The Atlas Corporation Project.
Atlas Corporation was one of the biggest companies in the country. When Silverline Tech won the contract, the whole office had celebrated. But when the real work started, people slowly began to disappear from the project—one by one—until, in the end, almost everything had fallen onto Ethan's shoulders.
He didn't complain.
He couldn't afford to.
He needed this job.
He needed this promotion.
He needed the money—for his parents in the village, and for his little sister's school fees.
Last night, he had submitted the final build of the project to the senior management. He remembered walking home under the streetlights, his body shaking with exhaustion, but his heart light with hope.
It's finally over.
And now… my turn has finally come.
He walked into the building, greeted the security guard with a smile, and took the elevator up.
Inside the office, everything looked the same as always.
Rows of desks.
The quiet sound of keyboards.
The low hum of air conditioners.
People walking around with coffee cups and tired faces.
"Good morning," Ethan said as he walked in.
A few colleagues looked up.
"Morning, Ethan."
"Hey."
"Still alive, miracle worker?"
Someone laughed.
He smiled back and walked to his desk.
As he sat down, his heart kept beating faster.
Promotion… promotion… promotion…
He tried to focus on his computer screen, but he couldn't.
He kept imagining calling his parents tonight.
Mom, Dad… your son got promoted.
He kept imagining sending extra money home.
He kept imagining finally being able to breathe.
Just then—
The glass door of the cabin opened.
The entire office slowly became quiet.
Everyone looked up.
Victoria Hale, the senior manager of their department, walked in.
She was a tall woman in her early thirties, always dressed sharply, always wearing the same cold, professional expression.
Beside her walked a young woman.
She was new.
Very new.
Her name was Lily Carter. She had joined only a few months ago.
She was pretty, stylish, and always seemed… close to the management.
Victoria stood in front of everyone and looked around the office.
"Good morning, everyone," she said.
"Good morning, ma'am," the office replied.
Victoria nodded.
"I want to thank all of you for your hard work over the past few months," she said. "Because of your efforts, the Atlas Corporation Project has been completed successfully."
Applause started.
People clapped.
Ethan clapped too, his heart beating wildly.
Here it comes.
Victoria continued, "This project was very important for our company. And since it has been such a big success, the company has decided to reward the person who contributed the most."
The office became even quieter.
Everyone looked at each other.
Some people slowly turned their eyes toward Ethan.
Everyone knew.
Everyone had seen him working day and night.
Everyone knew who had really carried the project.
Victoria smiled slightly.
"So, this time, the promotion will be given to…"
She paused for effect.
"…Lily Carter."
For a second, nobody reacted.
Then—
"What?"
"Her?"
"Is this a joke?"
The office exploded into whispers.
Ethan felt as if someone had poured ice-cold water over his head.
His mind went blank.
What…?
Lily covered her mouth in fake surprise.
"Oh my… I didn't expect this…" she said softly.
Victoria clapped her hands once.
"Congratulations, Lily. You've done very well."
Ethan stood up without realizing it.
"Ma'am," he said, his voice shaking, "there must be some mistake. I—"
Victoria raised her hand.
"Ethan, please sit down. I'm not finished."
He slowly sat back down, his hands trembling.
Victoria's expression turned serious.
"There is another important announcement," she said. "The company has decided to reduce staff. Recently, our profits haven't been… satisfactory."
A bad feeling rose in Ethan's chest.
"So," she continued, "the names I call now will leave the company today."
The office became dead silent.
Victoria looked at her tablet.
"Ethan Parker."
Ethan felt his heart stop.
"And Tom Reed."
Tom was a junior employee who had joined only a few months ago.
"This…" Ethan said, standing up again, "this is not fair. I completed the Atlas project almost alone. Everyone here knows that. I have records. I have—"
"I said sit down," Victoria said coldly.
Ethan clenched his fists.
"You can't do this," he said, his voice rising. "I gave everything to this company!"
Some people looked down.
Some looked away.
Nobody spoke.
Victoria pressed a button on her phone.
Two security guards walked in.
"Please escort them out," she said.
Ethan couldn't believe it.
"Ma'am—!"
The guards didn't listen.
They grabbed him by the arms.
In just a few minutes—
Everything was over.
The desk.
The computer.
The ID card.
Four years of his life.
Gone.
He and Tom were thrown out of the building like garbage.
Ethan sat down heavily on a bench outside the company.
His head was spinning.
Promotion… job… future… all gone…
A few minutes later, someone walked toward him.
High heels.
He looked up.
It was Lily.
She stood in front of him, smiling.
"Life is really funny, isn't it?" she said.
He said nothing.
"You know," she continued, "promotion isn't about hard work. It's about connections."
She leaned a little closer.
"You know how I got this promotion?"
Ethan looked at her.
She smiled.
"I served the manager very well," she said. "In many ways."
His eyes widened.
She laughed softly.
"Don't look so shocked. This is how the world works."
Then her smile turned cold.
"People like you… poor, no background, no connections… you have no right to compete."
She said a few more cruel words, then turned and walked away.
Ethan just sat there.
He had no strength to reply.
No words left.
The sun slowly moved in the sky.
People passed by.
But he didn't notice anything.
What will I do now?
How will I send money home?
How will my sister continue her studies?
His chest felt tight.
His eyes burned.
"I wish…" he whispered, "I wish I had my own company. I wish I didn't have to be a corporate slave…"
Ding.
A strange sound echoed in his head.
"Host detected. Congratulations on being freed from corporate slavery."
Ethan froze.
"…What?"
He looked up.
In front of him, a strange young woman had appeared.
She looked about twenty-two or twenty-three.
She had long pink hair, rabbit-like ears, and wore a black dress that looked both elegant and unreal.
Her skin was pale.
Her eyes were bright and playful.
She smiled at him.
"Hello, Host. I am Nova, the Goddess of Investment Returns System."
Ethan stared.
"…Am I… dreaming?"
Nova smiled.
"From today onward, the more money you spend on approved goddesses, the more you will receive back—double, five times, even ten times."
Ethan's brain stopped working.
"…What?"
"In simple words," Nova said cheerfully, "the more you invest, the more you earn."
"But," she added, raising a finger, "only goddesses approved by the system count. Otherwise, no return."
Ethan swallowed.
Spend money… get more money back?
He laughed bitterly.
"So I'll become rich by spending money?"
"Yes."
He looked at the sky.
Then he looked at the company building.
Then he looked at Nova.
"…Playboy or not… I don't care," he said quietly.
"I just want to become rich."
Nova's smile widened.
"Welcome to your new life, Host."