36 A billionare

Bian clung to the back of the golden growler, the members of the special squad hearts pounded with residual fear from their recent encounter with the menacing manticore. The creature had been a formidable foe, and the memory of its razor-sharp claws and venomous gaze still haunted them.

Bian unsummoned the manticore, and made a mental note not to treat it badly in the future.

Fu Shan, leaned over to provide directions as the massive lion waded through the ocean. Bian nodded, keenly aware that he needed to keep a low profile. The golden growler was a berserk super beast, capable of incredible speed, but he couldn't afford to draw attention to himself in the alliance. Bian had the lion move at an incredibly slow pace, relatively speaking for a super creature.

For what felt like an eternity, they journeyed on the back of the golden growler. Fishing in the treacherous river for sustenance became a perilous routine, but they managed to scrape by. Their journey eventually brought them to a peninsula known as Green Shelter, a place of safety in the midst of chaos.

"Bian, we are forever in your debt," Fu Shan said, his voice tinged with gratitude. As the leader of the special squad in Green Shelter, his words carried the weight of the military behind them. Bian felt a swell of pride mixed with relief, he had played his cards well.

Xu Ruyan, approached Bian with a bow, her eyes reflecting respect. "Yes, Bian, if you need anything, just come to me," she offered, handing him a piece of paper with her contact details before departing. It was a gesture that spoke volumes of the bonds forged in their shared experiences.

'Looks like I acted a bit to well' Even Bian was surprised by the result of his acting. He dropped his bag with the minotaur on a high mountain quite a distance from the shelter.

Bian made his way to the teleport station in Green Shelter, leaving behind the sanctuaries. Back in the alliance, he knew he had been gone for an extended period. The semi-annual assessment loomed before him like a test of his resolve. It was a harsh reality of life in the alliance, where people often disappeared or met their demise in the unforgiving sanctuaries.

As he aced the assessment, relief washed over him. The weight of uncertainty lifted, allowing him to continue his sophomore year after all he knew overconfidence and pride killed a lot more than actual dangers. He wouldn't get big headed just because he knew a lot of stuff.

If Bian knew he had already aced a test for third years, his reaction wouldn't be the same.

Bian's excitement at returning was palpable, his heart racing with anticipation as he thought of his friends and family. But before he could make those joyful calls, he glanced at his commlink and noticed some unexpected bank notifications.

Xu Ruyan, the ever-efficient and generous Xu Ruyan, had transferred 500 million to his account. A smile crossed his face as he marveled at her promptness. "Wow, she is fast," he muttered to himself, his admiration for her quick response shining through.

However, Bian couldn't ignore the reality that he had been out of the spotlight for too long. Few recognized his face, and some only knew him as "Professor Min who had come for a student." As he strolled toward the cafeteria, his stomach grumbling, he couldn't resist the urge to check his bank balance.

A sudden coughing fit seized him as he examined the numbers. He tapped a nearby student, who appeared to be in a hurry, for assistance. "Sorry, but I think my eyes are hurting. Can you please count the number of zeros behind this?" Bian said revealing his account balance.

The hurried student glanced at the figure and replied, "That's eight hundred and seventy-two billion. I've got somewhere to go." Oblivious to the magnitude of what he had just witnessed, the student hastily departed.

Bian was left in stunned silence, his mind racing to comprehend how he had become a multi-billionaire. His thoughts drifted to the echo geckos, and after some investigation, he realized his hunch was correct. It was the music company he had purchased that had generated these astonishing returns.

"But this is just fifty percent of the profit," he mumbled, his heart pounding with excitement. "Does that mean the original profit is in the trillions?" He checked his account balance again, and the display confirmed it: 872,000,000,000. It was an unimaginable sum.

"All of a sudden," he reflected with a sigh, "the 500 million from Xu Ruyan seems a little bit meager." The emotions of astonishment and newfound wealth intertwined within him, leaving him in a state of awe and disbelief.

The fame of the Echo Geckos soared for a multitude of reasons, each contributing to their meteoric rise in popularity. Sponsors, drawn by the group's unique sound and charismatic members, eagerly supported their endeavors. Memes featuring the Echo Geckos during the semi-annual assessments had become a viral sensation, adding an unexpected layer of internet fame to their reputation.

Yet, it wasn't just about the catchy tunes or the humorous memes. In a world fraught with uncertainty and danger, the Echo Geckos' music offered a respite, a brief escape from the relentless challenges of life in the sanctuaries. Their melodies served as a balm for weary souls, a source of solace and stress relief in tumultuous times.

As Bian sat in the cafeteria, he decided to opt for a salad, feeling a bit worn out from a diet predominantly consisting of meat during his time away. While he waited for his meal, he dialed his mom's number, and the warmth of hearing her voice instantly lifted his spirits.

"Hey mom, I'm back," he greeted her with genuine happiness in his voice.

"Oh my God, Bian, we were so worried about you. Especially your father, but I told him you would be fine," his mom replied, her relief evident in her words.

Bian noticed a hint of guilt in her expression as she continued, "Um, actually, you might not recognize the house anymore. Your father and I decided to renovate the house, and, well..." She hesitated, searching his eyes for his reaction.

"The entire neighborhood," she confessed almost in a whisper.

Bian was taken aback but intrigued. "Okay, but is there a reason why?" he inquired, genuinely curious about his mom's uncharacteristic shyness.

His mother explained, "No reason in particular. We know how hard life is, so even though we knew this money was earned through hard work, we decided to help others who were suffering." There was a sense of pride in her voice, and Bian couldn't help but smile at her noble intentions.

"That's really nice, Mom. It's actually what I believe, too. The responsibility of the strong is to protect the weak," he remarked, appreciating his parents' generosity and compassion.

Just then, the waitress arrived to serve his salad and left it on the table, casting a curious glance at Bian, as if he were a child. His mom inquired about the waitress, and he casually responded, "Just a waitress."

His mom continued, her enthusiasm evident, "Well, we didn't just give them money, as that wouldn't help. Your dad actually left his job and started a new one right here. Everyone in the neighborhood was willing to chip in."

"That's great, Mom," Bian replied, taking a bite of his salad as he listened to her. The love and kindness in his family's actions filled him with a deep sense of pride and gratitude.