Becoming Super Rich

Chapter Two: Truly Limitless

It was a crisp early October evening in Manhattan, the city bathed in the cool light of streetlamps, with the towering skyscrapers piercing the velvet sky.

This dazzling metropolis!

Liam Thorne draped his cheap suit jacket over his shoulders and walked along the sidewalk, hands tucked into his pockets. Occasionally, the shadows of the urban trees fell across his forlorn face.

He hadn't scored well enough on his high school exams to attend a top-tier institution and settled for a state college with an Associate’s degree. He had always admired the prestige and opportunity of New York City, so he moved here after graduation. His life since then had been predictably tough.

He’d faced too many professional setbacks, switching jobs multiple times. Because of this, he’d always tried to be agreeable and kind to everyone in the workplace.

Now, being targeted by his colleagues filled him with anger, but above all, disgust.

Where is the most basic fairness in this world?

He had experienced the deep, cold malice of the corporate ladder.

As the saying goes: This society reserves its kindness for the affluent. If you are a struggling nobody, even your existence is perceived as an inconvenience.

Liam exhaled a breath of stale air. He probably, perhaps, finally had the right to exist, if not breathe freely.

He took the Black Card out of his phone's digital wallet, put his phone in his jacket pocket, and walked toward the high-end retail area called Hudson Yards, visible to his right.

He needed to verify the card's balance before making any serious plans.

The "unlimited card" was a staple of online fiction. He strongly believed it was real, but what if it wasn't?

Having reached twenty-seven, a man still needed a level of skepticism and composure.

Hudson Yards was brightly lit, and ambient, soothing jazz music played in the atrium, creating a sophisticated and comfortable shopping atmosphere.

Liam found the Bank of America 24-hour ATM tucked away near a service entrance. Someone was inside withdrawing cash, so he waited a moment, then entered the small cubicle and inserted his phone, activating the digital Black Card through the contactless reader.

Surprisingly, the ATM did not prompt him for a PIN; it displayed the operational interface immediately.

Liam tapped the "Check Balance" button.

"Processing Request..."

Balance: $1,000...

Liam stared at the immense, seemingly random string of zeros following the initial "$1." He took a deep, shaking breath and let out a low hiss.

The last vestige of worry evaporated. Simultaneously, the sudden spike in blood pressure made him slightly dizzy, followed by a profound sense of unreality. This row of zeros was a life-altering force.

Liam paused, regaining his composure, then first transferred Ten Million Dollars to his regular Chase bank account.

Ping.

Instantly, a text notification sounded on his screen.

Liam pulled his budget Google Pixel phone from his pocket. The screen displayed the text message:

> Your account ending in 0013 received a deposit of $10,000,000.00 (Interbank Transfer) from ST FINANCIAL at 6:32 PM, October 5th. Current Balance: $10,000,000.00. - CHASE BANK.

>

Ten million dollars... just like that. The money had arrived instantly!

Liam took another deep breath, settling his nerves, and stepped out of the cubicle. He was immediately met by the gentle evening air. The plaza outside Hudson Yards was bustling, and the wide-screen digital billboards displayed ever-changing light and color.

At this moment, he felt that the night view of New York was absolutely breathtaking!

Liam suddenly felt a profound urge to celebrate.

Just a moment ago, he was a struggling nobody in this sprawling, merciless metropolis; now, he was financially free. Not just a millionaire, but an Ultra-Rich man!

It was as if an anvil had been abruptly lifted from his shoulders, leaving behind nothing but immense joy and lightheartedness.

This feels f*****g incredible.

Who doesn't crave wealth in this city? People say money is vulgar, but without it, even pursuing vulgar desires is impossible!

Liam draped his jacket over his arm, took his phone, and walked deeper into Hudson Yards. He needed dinner first.

He had a rough plan for his immediate future.

He definitely had to quit his job.

Manager Luo had been vicious, and he’d just burned his bridges with the other three colleagues. He had zero intention of going back to PrimeGoods.

However, being "laid off" due to poor performance and voluntarily resigning are two different things. And resigning under pressure versus resigning on his own terms were also different!

If he was going to leave, it wouldn't be because his toxic colleagues pushed him out for a fabricated "mistake." That was embarrassing, but more importantly, infuriating.

Tomorrow, he would secure the massive contract from Vanguard Pharmaceuticals and leave PrimeGoods with a final, dignified flourish.

Previously, he wouldn't have even entertained such a thought. What leverage could a low-level Associate like him possibly use against the executives at Vanguard?

His fate would certainly have been "forced resignation." Of course, before that, he had planned to expose the sales guy for taking kickbacks and Mark for secretly using company channels for his personal side deals.

Things were different now.

As for those toxic colleagues...

A dry, mocking smile touched Liam’s lips. His willingness to be kind didn't mean he would meekly surrender when targeted.

It was dinnertime, and the first floor of Hudson Yards was full of activity. Bright lights reflected off the polished marble floors, creating an expensive, clean ambiance.

Liam pulled up his phone, searched on Yelp, and walked toward the popular Texas Smokehouse BBQ joint on the fourth floor. He took a ticket for a seat and then grabbed a quick taco from a street vendor outside to tide him over.

"Here's your pulled pork taco, sir."

"Thanks."

He bought a large iced coffee, finished the taco, checked the restaurant's QR code on his phone, and saw he only had one party ahead of him. He went up to the fourth floor. After a short wait, a friendly young hostess led him to a booth.

"Right this way, sir."

The average cost per person at Smokehouse BBQ was around $60. With his previous meager monthly salary, he rarely ate anywhere this upscale. Now, he could afford a casual steak dinner every night.

The truly high-end restaurants usually require reservations days or weeks in advance, and besides, eating alone wouldn't have much atmosphere.

He wasn't interested in being a "food critic."

Liam ordered his meal—a large rack of ribs and a cold brew—and the server brought his order promptly. He ate slowly and leisurely, scrolling through i********: on his phone.

The first post was from his former roommate, Aaron Xie, who wrote, "Heartbreak is real. Need comfort." The post included a blurry picture of the interior of a Mercedes-Benz GLE.

This seemingly reserved guy was clearly fishing for a date, flaunting his resources.

Aaron’s family ran a small business in New York and owned a few investment properties. Plus, he was good-looking—a classic '8.5 out of 10' in any online rating. He was incredibly successful in college, constantly rotating girlfriends.

Liam shook his head, and in his periphery, he noticed three young women eating at a booth along the wall nearby, chatting animatedly.

One of the girls, wearing a delicate silver clip in her hair, a white t-shirt, and jeans, was about twenty years old, with striking features and flawless skin.

Liam felt a familiar flutter in his chest.

He knew it wasn't love at first sight, but a fundamental male reaction: appreciating genuine beauty.

Besides, he had just become an ultra-rich tycoon. He was now allowed to indulge in all the "low-end," "vulgar" desires—houses, fast cars, and beautiful women!

Liam thought better of it and didn't approach them. Maybe a few years ago, he would have tried! He got up and headed to the restroom.

While washing his hands, he looked at his reflection in the mirror: He was 5'10" (1.78 meters), slightly overweight, and his face was so round that his handsome high school features were mostly obscured. His hair was messy and too long. He was wearing an inexpensive shirt and off-brand jeans.

"If I tried to hit on a girl like that now, I'd probably strike out. There's a good chance I’d get ridiculed. I need to start thinking about losing weight right after I quit this job."

While drying his hands under the blower, Liam couldn't help but reflect on the Black Card.

His Infinite Card differed from the typical tropes of web novels.

First, there was no System companion. He could spend money freely, but things like skills, personal qualities, social status, and even looks had to be acquired through his own hard work. There was no "charm +2" button.

However, he faced no penalties for failing tasks, no daily wage limits, and no spending restrictions. He could use this unlimited card however he pleased—donating it all or wasting it was his choice.

His only real concern was that his inevitable extravagant spending would attract undue attention. He needed a successful career or business venture to justify his wealth.

"Weight loss and career building—I'll focus on that once I've secured my exit."

Liam returned to his seat. The BBQ was nearly finished. He had devoured the ribs and coleslaw, leaving only a few scraps of bread on the plate.

The server asked solicitously, "Sir, would you like a complimentary dessert now?"

Liam waved his hand. "No, thanks. Just the check."

"Please wait a moment. The total comes to $42.30."

Liam opened his Apple Pay app on his phone, let her scan the code, and after confirming the payment, he casually transferred another $1 Million from his external banking app to his Apple Pay wallet. Mobile payment was now the norm, making daily transactions easier than pulling out a physical card.

"Thank you, come back soon!"

The three young women at the next table glanced at Liam's retreating figure. One of them muttered to her friend, "Wow, that guy had a serious appetite."

It was hard to look at an attractive woman without others noticing the direction of his gaze.

The girl with the silver hair clip chuckled. "Yingying, keep your voice down."

Liam left Hudson Yards, too lazy to wrestle with the crowded subway. He hailed a yellow cab curbside to return to his rental in Queens.

The New York traffic was brutal at this hour; it would probably take ninety minutes to get back. The subway would be packed like a sardine can.

He preferred the taxi, despite the cost.

Ignoring the cab driver's attempt at small talk, Liam used his phone to look up the location and details of the famed watch retailer Patek Philippe in the city.

Patek Phi

lippe was universally recognized as the best and most prestigious watch brand in the world.