Following this, Sharky and Gary returned to his own residence.
"Sharky, now you have revealed our relationship, then what will be our next plan," Gary asked, like aly, he was always dependent on his brother's advice.
Since his brother is brilliant, then there is no shame in asking advice from him, where the power needs, Gary will always stand there.
"Brother first you need to do…" Before Sharky could complete his sentence, he noticed a notification popped in front of him.
"Brother, you will immediately return back to our territory and handle the situation there. In a few days, I will also come back, and tell our next plan," Sharky replied.
"Okay," Gary nodded. After some chatting, Gary took the exit and following Sharky's advice he returned back to his father.
Meanwhile, Sharky's focus finally returned to the lingering notification that had quietly hovered in his consciousness—one he had almost ignored in the flow of events.
As he shifted his attention toward it, the glowing words sharpened in his mind:
---
!! You have completed a major milestone and successfully earned the title of BARON !!
!! You now have the option to pause the simulation and return the next day.!!
!! Or you may continue from this point, but your next opportunity to pause will only come upon reaching the rank of VISCOUNT !!
---
"Oh… so I was still inside the simulation world," Sharky muttered under his breath, blinking as a strange heaviness left his chest. "I almost forgot who I really am…"
He exhaled deeply.
This simulation… It's dangerously real.
The emotions, the people, the conflicts—it all felt so authentic that his sense of reality had begun to blur.
"If it weren't for the UltiValortrix reminding me every now and then… I might've lost myself in here."
He glanced at the city skyline in the distance—one that had grown oddly familiar.
"If I keep living here like this… I'll truly forget my real life."
Then he shook his head, firming his decision.
"Well, this is enough for now. Time to reset everything."
"Exit the simulation," he said calmly.
---
!! Pausing the simulation will consume 10 points per day to maintain its state.!!!
!! Are you sure you want to pause the simulation? !!
---
The Ultivalortrix's voice echoed in his mind. Sharky hesitated only for a moment.
Since enrolling in Alexa Royal Academy, he has received 100 points. Becoming a Baron earned him 1 more. Though he didn't want to spend points so lightly, today had shaken his sense of self. He needed to recalibrate.
"One day is enough," he said. "I'll rest, get my mind back, and return stronger."
"Yes. Pause it."
---
!! Simulation Paused !!
In an instant, everything around him dissolved into a haze of black.
Then—light.
When Sharky opened his eyes again, he was back.
The warm lighting of his Crown Haven Villa glowed gently around him. He sat on the velvet couch in the main hall, his thoughts still entangled in the echoes of the simulation.
He checked the time—it had been exactly 12 hours in the real world. He had entered the simulation at 8:00 AM, and now it was 8:00 PM.
A moment later, he heard the front door click open.
By 9:00 PM, Sophia walked into the villa, her presence lighting up the space like always.
Sharky turned toward her with a smile, as if anchoring himself to something real again.
"Baby," he said, his voice warm and gentle, "how was your day?"
"It was overall good," Sophia replied warmly, settling onto the couch beside Sharky. She began recounting her entire day from morning until evening, sparing no detail.
She even mentioned visiting the family doctor for a pregnancy check-up.
Sharky listened attentively, nodding gently as she spoke, his expression softening at every word. Her presence was grounding—especially after the surreal intensity of the simulation.
Then, her eyes twinkled with mischief.
"I also have a gift for you," she said, reaching into her bag and pulling out a box wrapped neatly in ribbon and gift paper.
Sharky raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "What's inside?"
"See for yourself," Sophia replied with a subtle grin, her gaze fixed on him, eager to catch every flicker of emotion as he unwrapped it.
"Alright," Sharky nodded and carefully untied the ribbon, peeling back the wrapping. Inside, he found several sheets of finely crafted paper—thick, glossy, and official-looking.
He lifted them slowly, reading the top lines.
"Crown Haven Villa… Ownership Certificate…"
His voice trailed off as realization struck him.
He blinked in disbelief.
"I was just about to go tomorrow and complete the payment," he muttered, genuinely confused. "I thought I'd need to settle it before I could get the deed… How—?"
Sophia leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.
"It's a gift from me," she said gently.
Sharky froze.
"What?"
His voice was almost a whisper now, a mix of shock and awe.
Crown Haven Villa was no ordinary home. It was a luxury property valued at a billion credits, if not more. While the amount wasn't impossible for Sharky—especially after his accomplishments—he had never expected Sophia to do something like this.
He still didn't know the full extent of her background.
Sure, she'd once casually mentioned that her sister owned an entire car showroom with every luxury brand under her name. That alone hinted at a wealthy lineage.
But this?
This was on another level.
And yet, she smiled at him so casually, as if this billion-credit villa was no more than a thoughtful trinket.
"It's okay, honey," Sophia said sweetly, "just accept it as a gift from me."
Her eyes sparkled with sincerity. There was no trace of pride in her gesture—only love.
Sharky stared at her for a moment, overwhelmed—not because of the value of the gift, but because of what it meant.
"…Thank you," he said finally, voice thick with emotion. "I'll treasure it."
"Good," Sophia beamed, then gently changed the subject. "So… how about we go out for dinner tonight?"
Sharky exhaled slowly, setting the papers down carefully as if they were something sacred.
"Yeah," he nodded, his smile returning. "Dinner outside sounds perfect."
Sharky nodded, accepted the gifts, since it was given by Sophia, there is nothing to hesitate. He has already claimed her virginity, then what's about the little Villa.
Money never really mattered to Sharky.
For most people, saying "money is just the dust of the hand" was a metaphor.
But for him, it was literal.
When he activated his Diamondbody powers, he wasted so much money, that he never even remembered how much he wasted. He simply never needed to.
He and Sophia prepared for dinner.
They were headed to their usual dining spot: Godly Delight.
Godly Delight wasn't just any restaurant—it was an exclusive haven, hidden behind luxury and membership layers.
Situated just a short drive from Crown Haven Villa, its prestige wasn't in the food alone, but in who was allowed to taste it.
To dine here, you needed a membership card. And not just any card—one of four elite tiers.
It started with Silver Rank, it was entry-level, but still elite. It required a 100,000-credit purchase fee, with a minimum top-up of 500,000.
Then comes the Gold Ranked. It reserved for those with both wealth and status. It required 1 million just to purchase, with a minimum 5 million top-up.
Then comes the Platinum Rank. It was only granted through connections—either friends or partners of the restaurant's owner, or by referral from existing Platinum members. The card alone cost 100 million, with a required top-up of 500 million.
And then finally comes the Diamond rank card.The highest tier, for individuals with greater status than Godly Delight itself. The price? A staggering 1 billion credits to acquire, and 10 billion to activate.
So, you can say, this hotel is only for novelty.
When Sharky and Sophia entered, the ambiance was as elegant as ever—dim lighting, soft orchestral music, and tables lit with a gentle golden hue. The moment they walked in, a few guests turned in hushed admiration.
They took their usual table, tucked into a semi-private corner with a perfect view of the star-lit glass ceiling.
A well-dressed waitress approached with a polite smile.
"Good evening, Madam. Good evening, Sir. Pleased to see you again. May I ask what you'd like to order?"
"Bring us our favorites," Sophia replied, smiling warmly.
The waitress nodded, already familiar with their regular selections, and left.
Sophia turned to him with that affectionate gaze that never failed to soften his edges.
"So, honey… how was your day? What did you do today?"
"Nothing much," Sharky said.
He hesitated how to explain her, he also didn't want to reveal his powers to her at first.
Later he would see the situation, and then he would explain to her. "I played a game."
Sophia giggled, "A game, huh? Must've been fun then."
He smiled, relieved at her lightheartedness. The two soon got caught up in casual conversation—laughing, sharing small stories, and enjoying each other's presence.
Until—
A sudden stir broke through the serene atmosphere.
Commotion.
Sharky turned his head slightly, and noticed a small crowd forming at the entrance.
A man entered—elegant black suit, sharp beard, and the kind of confidence that could only come from money, power… or both.
Behind him, paparazzi swarmed like bees.
"Mr. Ben Stark! Is it true that you've already dumped 20 girlfriends this year?" one reporter shouted.
Ben Stark raised a brow coolly, then brushed past them.
"No comments."
Here's a refined version of your story segment,
"Mr. Stark, is it true that your company has stopped selling weapons to the government?"
One of the reporters pressed forward, microphone thrust out.
"We've also heard rumors that you accepted money from foreign powers in exchange for promising not to create weapons anymore. Because of that, our country is growing weaker by the day."
Ben Stark's expression hardened. His charming smirk vanished for a moment, replaced by a sharp glare.
"That's a baseless rumor," he said coldly.
Then, without missing a beat, he turned to the stunning female reporter who had asked the question. His eyes sparkled with mischief, and that familiar smirk returned.
"Would you like to have dinner with me?"
The reporter froze, stunned. A mix of shock and confusion danced on her face. But after a few awkward seconds of silence, curiosity and the desire for a headline—or perhaps something more—won over.
She nodded slowly.
Ben offered his arm, and with casual confidence, he led her toward one of the private suites inside the Godly Delight—one of the infamous "bedroom lounges," equipped with candlelit dinner arrangements and... other luxuries.
---
Sharky watched them disappear behind the ornate sliding door, one eyebrow raised.
"Who was that guy?" he asked, popping a piece of tender grilled meat into his mouth.
Sophia sipped her wine and answered calmly, "That was Ben Stark, owner of Stark Industries."
Sharky looked intrigued. "The weapons company?"
Sophia nodded. "Yes. Stark Industries was once the largest weapons manufacturer on the continent. But ever since Ben took over after his father's death, he completely shut down all weapon production."
Sharky frowned, setting down his fork. "Why would he do that? War technology brings in so much money."
"Well, it all started with his father," Sophia began, her tone shifting into something more somber.
"His name was Johnny Stark—a brilliant engineer who worked with the military to develop next-gen weaponry. But one day, everything fell apart. Johnny and his wife were assassinated... by someone using one of the very weapons he helped design."
Sharky paused, spoon halfway to his mouth. "Killed by his own creation?" he muttered.
Sophia nodded. "Yes. It was all for a formula—a piece of advanced tech they had developed. The attacker vanished, and the case was buried in red tape. But little Ben saw it all. He was just a child... and right there when it happened."
Sharky could almost picture it—a boy, frozen in horror, covered in debris, screaming as flames consumed his past.
"Ben swore on that day," Sophia continued quietly, "that if he ever took over the company, he'd end the weapon business. And... two years ago, he made good on that promise."
Sharky sat back, digesting more than just food. "That's... heavy. Makes sense now why he acts like that."
"Yeah," Sophia said with a small smile. "People think he's just a playboy billionaire."
Sharky gave a thoughtful nod.
---
After finishing dinner, the couple walked hand-in-hand beneath the soft, golden glow of the city's evening lights.
They returned to Crown Haven Villa, its gates sliding open as the system recognized Sharky's presence.