December 21, 2149.
Christmas was looming close.
The group decided to meet up.
Apparently, unable to bear the cold winter any longer, a new initiative had been established.
And today was its grand opening.
"Excuse me, coming through!"
"Hey!"
"Who do you think you are!?"
Claire skipped the line, inciting frustration from the other customers in the line.
She turned around and lifted her shades up.
"Claire Victoria. Daughter of Jain Victoria, and the heir to Victoria Corporation."
She solemnly stated, giving the man an indifferent look.
"You think I'd believe that half–assed excuse of yours?"
"And do you think I care about what you think?"
The man's mouth trembled and a vein seemed to pop. Is this how the kids are like these days!?
Claire had all the rights to cut through the line. After all, Victoria Corporation was one of the stockholders for this new business.
However, the man was uninformed about Victoria Corporation. Not everyone cared about the big companies in this world, after all.
With furrowed brows, the man's eyes closely traced Claire's figure. The moment she paused at the entrance, the guards raised their hands and stopped here.
"Hah!"
The man scoffed.
"A lousy excuse like that won't work. Only idiots would fall for that."
But now that he thought about it, didn't it just work on him?
Victoria Corporation sounded fancy. Maybe that's why he fell for it?
"...."
And so, he stared at the scene dumbfounded.
It had to be said, the man had been waiting here for over four hours.
It was because there were slots to enter the building. And since the slots were currently full, customers had to wait until there was a vacancy.
The customers were just that determined by the ecstasy that awaited inside.
"...."
But the moment Claire flashed her ID, the guards immediately stepped to the side and opened the entrance.
"No way."
The man's jaw dropped as Claire strutted past the guards like she owned the place.
"Hey! Wait a minute! I've been here for four hours!"
Claire turned her head, raising an eyebrow.
"And I've been rich my whole life. We all have our struggles."
The man's face flushed with anger. Claire stood by the entrance as if she was waiting for someone.
"Unbelievable."
He muttered, staring at the closed doors.
"Who even is she?"
A voice from behind piped up.
"Didn't you hear? Claire Victoria. She just said it."
The man rubbed his temples.
"It was a rhetorical question!"
The guy next to him nodded like a wise old man.
"You either have patience.... or you have money. And it looks like we're fresh out of the second one."
"I—"
All of a sudden, several other people started cutting the line, halting his words.
A man with pale–white hair, donning a pair of shades, passed through him. He was tall, and he looked like a celebrity.
Next, a woman, with blonde hair and blue eyes, rather tall for an average girl. She was extremely beautiful, most probably another celebrity.
Then, a man with jet–black hair. He too, was tall, and judging from his looks....
"Another fucking celebrity!?"
But that wasn't the end of it.
Behind the man, another woman followed.
Blonde hair and crimson red eyes. Compared to the first blonde woman, she was short and petite.
"His daughter, I bet!?"
How could he, when this man had scammed him after giving him a taxi ride over a year ago!?
Yes, the infuriated man was none other than the taxi driver.
"I've finally found you. You fucking scammer!"
The man threw a fit.
Maybe a man–child's tantrum.
Raven Blackheart merely tilted his head dumbfounded, then looked at the guard on his left.
Pointing at the man, Raven Blackheart casually spoke.
"Who is this guy?"
"Beats me."
"I knew this would be entertaining."
They were messing with him.
The guards had planned this all along.
Everyone seemed to scheme against him, just because he was a mere taxi driver.
His colleagues, his wife, everyone.... they had all mocked him!
They were all jealous!
Because he was the protagonist of this world!
He was aware of this after a fortune teller told him of the sealed black dragon inside his arm.
The black dragon that would soon unleash upon this world and wreak havoc!
Truly, he was a hero for sealing the black dragon for this long.
"And this is how you all thank me!?"
"Just get lost."
"Okay...."
***
"You're back. What did the guards need?"
Raven, who had just finished changing into his trunks, asked.
"Some weirdo was looking for me."
"Oh? You gotta be careful, dude. Lots of weirdos these days."
"Right, right."
Brandon then turned around.
"I'll go change."
"Alright."
Brandon headed for the changing room and removed most of his clothes, only adorning his swimming trunks.
After all, this place that everyone crazed for, was none other than an indoor insulated heated resort.
Brandon stepped outside the changing room.
Then, he looked around.
The entire place was packed, filled with people adorning their swimwear.
Some were enjoying the heat insulation, resting in lounge chairs, while some others were enjoying the heated pool, swimming to their heart's content.
Then, Brandon trudged ahead, heading towards where Raven and the others were.
"Wait up!"
However, he halted in his steps as a familiar voice rang from behind.
Turning around....
"Oh...."
It was a sight to behold.
As if a Goddess had appeared before him, gracing his eyes.
Brandon's eyes widened as Amelia approached him, her two-piece swimsuit clinging perfectly to her figure.
The way the fabric hugged her curves left little to the imagination, every stride she took drawing his every attention.
Her toned abs glistened slightly under the soft resort lights, and her long legs moved with a graceful yet confident stride.
He was soon snapped out of his thoughts as Amelia tilted her head, a slight blush on her face.
"Uhm? Is it.... bad?"
"No."
Brandon shook his head.
Bad?
If her current appearance could be described as bad, then every woman in this world was even worse.
"It's perfect."
She was flawless.