Harem Tycoon System

Chapter 15: Between Protector and Predator

“I’m no one’s pawn.”

Lucas stood tall in the center of the room, his face calm but his gaze sharp, ready to pierce through anyone who dared block his path. In front of him stood a strange man dressed in a black suit with no clear identity, his aura more dangerous than Rico, the extortionist who had just lost a leg.

Behind Lucas, Rico moved slowly. Turns out he wasn’t entirely down. The man slithered like a snake, creeping with a glass bottle in hand, ready to strike from behind.

Lucas saw the reflection in the glass. He made a decision in a split second. With one swift move, he grabbed the shoulder of the suited man and pulled him directly into Rico’s attack path.

CRACK!

The bottle shattered against the suited man’s head. Rico didn’t have time to react. His body was thrown to the floor with a loud thud. The suited man also fell but managed to rise first.

Lucas stood between them. His breath was heavy, but his gaze remained firm.

“I don’t care who your boss is,” he said, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. “If he misses me… tell him to come see me himself!”

The suited man groaned softly, blood dripping from his temple. “Bastard,” he muttered, full of anger.

Police sirens started to sound in the distance. Blue and red lights began to reflect on the glass walls of the abandoned hotel. Lucas smiled faintly. Alisha hadn’t stood idly by.

But the threat wasn’t over. The suited man realized something. His eyes widened as he heard the running footsteps of approaching officers.

“I’ll be back...” he whispered with a promise, then ran toward the back corridor without looking back.

Lucas tried to chase him, but the man vanished like a shadow. He dashed out of the building and blended into the darkness of the night.

“That bastard’s fast,” Lucas muttered, then turned around.

Alisha came rushing in, her face anxious and... a little awed. “Lucas!” she cried. “Are you okay?”

Lucas nodded slightly. His eyes swept the room, noting Rico and the two unconscious men.

Seconds later, three uniformed officers entered, bowed slightly, and quickly got to work. Rico was lifted into a police van on an emergency stretcher since he couldn’t move his leg. The other two were dragged roughly by the officers. They looked furious and in disbelief. Rico didn’t stop cursing and threatening revenge if his leg became permanently damaged.

Alisha stood beside Lucas, still panting from nerves and panic. Now only the two of them remained in the room that had just been chaotic. But the atmosphere shifted to silence and tension. Something lingered between them that couldn’t be explained.

Lucas looked at Alisha silently. She wasn’t like before. The cynical look and doubt in her eyes had turned into an attraction she could no longer hide.

He opened his mouth, but the voice that came out was full of tension. “So... what now?” he whispered.

Before Alisha could answer, Lucas stepped closer. His hand rose and pressed against the wall, trapping her between the cold wall and his warm body.

Their bodies were very close, too close. Alisha’s chest touched Lucas’s, making her hold her breath.

Lucas stared into her eyes. “Don’t hold it in. Isn’t that too tight for their size?” He glanced teasingly at the full mounds on her chest. “You need to keep your promise…” he whispered deeper.

Alisha turned her face away, her cheeks flushing red. “I... I didn’t mean to flirt with anyone,” she said softly. “I just wanted to make sure this hotel... doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.”

Lucas smirked. “And now, knowing who I really am? Do you still think I’m the wrong one?”

Alisha bit her lower lip. For some reason, her heart raced. She had once underestimated this man. Lucas used to be just a reckless heir who only knew how to waste money. But the man before her now—the one brave enough to face Rico, who made a black-suited man flee in fear—was a different man.

He was strong. Assertive. Full of dominance.

“Lucas...” Alisha whispered almost inaudibly. “I don’t know what to say.”

Lucas touched her chin and gently lifted her face. Their eyes met.

“You don’t have to say anything. Just show it...”

Alisha held her breath, her body trembling. But as Lucas leaned in, closer and—

TING!

The system chimed suddenly in Lucas’s head. A virtual screen opened before his eyes:

[Alert!] Harem Target #1 — Alisha Clarens — In Transition Status.

Activate Option: Lock-In Relationship to strengthen loyalty and unlock “Hotel Chain Expansion” business ability? (YES) (DELAY)

Lucas froze for a moment. His eyes glanced at the invisible screen. Damn... now the system showed up?

He clenched his teeth. This wasn’t just a matter of the heart—the system operated on strategy. Relationships were tools, business was the goal. But this time… it felt different.

Lucas closed his eyes for a moment, then chose...

(DELAY)

He stepped back. “Sorry,” he said softly. “I just wanted to make sure you’re safe, Alisha.”

Alisha looked confused, but also relieved. She nodded slowly. “Thank you… and about earlier... I’ll prepare the best room tonight. Free. As thanks for saving me.”

Lucas gave a small smile. “Free? Hmm… sounds like the beginning of a big debt. Isn’t every room in that hotel mine?”

Alisha chuckled softly. “You still have to pay for it.”

But before the conversation could go further, one of the security officers entered. “Mr. Lucas, you need to see this.”

Lucas turned. “What is it?”

The man held out a phone displaying a short video. Footage from a surveillance camera…

In the recording, the black-suited man who had fled earlier was seen standing in the back corridor of the hotel. He was speaking to someone on the phone.

“Yes, he’s stronger than we expected.”

“But he doesn’t know who’s really watching everything.”

“Next order?”

“...Activate the second target.”

The video ended. Lucas looked at the officer with furrowed brows. “Second target?”

The officer nodded. “And we just got word, sir. Someone just reserved the entire fifth floor of the hotel tonight. Under the name: Isadora Night.”

Lucas stiffened. The name felt unfamiliar… but the system suddenly responded:

[Harem Target #2 Detected!] Danger Level: High. Potential Reward: Extremely Large.

Caution: Target has ties to a secret organization.

Lucas glanced at Alisha, then at the door. He felt the pressure in his chest. A new problem was about to begin.

And this time… the game wasn’t about money or reputation. It was about life and death.

Lucas took a deep breath and turned to Alisha. With a gentle but firm movement, he pulled her closer and kissed her lips—a brief but warm kiss.

TING!

[Physical Contact Successful!] +1 Harem Loyalty Alisha Armand +250 Points & $10,000 added to your system balance.

Lucas smiled slightly and whispered softly in her ear, “You owe me one date.”