Coreal
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[C.G] Ch 192: A 100 Million USD Card
🕑 Added 2025-07-20 17:29:12 +0000 UTC— — — — — —
After listening to the girl's story, Veyron more or less figured out where things were heading—especially with his knowledge of the original timeline.
Although she had rationally turned down the scout's offer this time, the way he painted the glamorous life of becoming a national or even international superstar had clearly planted a seed in her heart.
As time passed, that seed didn't wither. Instead, it quietly took root and began to grow. And by the time her daughter, Mai Sakurajima, turned six, it finally bore fruit—
Because Mai had landed a major role in a morning drama series that became as popular and talked-about as some of the most iconic hits of all time. She skyrocketed in fame, drawing widespread attention and love.
Seeing in her daughter the second chance to chase the dream she never got to realize, the girl officially entered the entertainment industry as Mai's manager. Step by step, she helped her daughter transition from child actress to one of the hottest names in the business.
As for what ultimately led her to that incident—the one that caused Mai to retire from the spotlight…
Maybe, by then, she was already a grown woman with a very different mindset from the young girl she was now. Or maybe some trigger in the moment brought up bad memories, and she simply lost control.
After all, the reason Mai grew up in a single-parent household was because her biological father cheated while her mom was pregnant.
Now that he thought about it—what kind of mindset did that man have to choose that woman over the one in front of him? Especially when that so-called "Mom of Nodoka Toyohama" looked more like someone from the grandmother generation when she appeared…
"Huh?"
As Veyron's divine will swept across Japan, it stopped at a luxurious mansion. Inside was a young lady who looked at least 90% like the daughter she would one day have. Veyron raised an eyebrow slightly.
The girl's appearance wasn't quite as he remembered it, and that Toyohama mansion—just one wing of it was already bigger than the entire Sakurajima estate he'd seen nearby.
Now things were starting to make more sense. Like why that scumbag dad made the choice he did. And why the girl in front of him had such a driven attitude toward making money—so much so that it would one day make Mai feel like nothing more than her mom's personal money tree.
"You made the right call rejecting them," Veyron said calmly. "When they're still trying to convince you, of course they make everything sound great. But once you and your guardian sign that contract, it's a whole different game."
"Like what?" she asked curiously.
"Well…" Veyron gave her an example from her own future. "Let's say your manager tells you it's just a normal photo shoot. But when you show up, they've already prepared a swimsuit for you. The contract's signed, and your manager says that if you don't go through with it, both you and the agency will have to pay a huge penalty. What do you do?"
"I…"
The girl turned a little pale just imagining the scene. She instinctively crossed her arms and hugged herself.
"And you need to understand—there's no such thing as doing something 'just once' and then walking away," Veyron added with a half-smile. "If anything, doing it once just opens the door for them to push your boundaries even further."
She was visibly shaken. Because deep down, she knew Veyron wasn't just making stuff up. This kind of thing really could happen.
"So… if I want to be an actress, that's just the price I have to pay…?"
"Not necessarily," Veyron said with a shake of his head. "I'm not gonna lie—yeah, a lot of shady stuff happens in the industry. But it's also true that there are people who make it through without getting their hands dirty."
He leaned forward slightly. "As long as you've got powerful people backing you—people no one dares mess with—or if you control enough money or influence to push back against the system... Or if you, your manager, and your agency are strong enough to just not give a damn about the unspoken rules—then sure, it's possible."
"...…"
The girl fell silent.
…Wasn't that basically the same as saying "No chance unless you're untouchable"?
She almost blurted out a sarcastic remark—but then remembered the guy sitting in front of her was someone who could literally snap his fingers and freeze time. She opened her mouth, then quickly closed it again.
That's when a card suddenly floated over from Veyron's hand, hovering mid-air right in front of her.
"…What's this?"
She blinked at it, confused.
"If you're really that drawn to the glamorous life of a superstar," Veyron said casually, "why not give this card a try?"
He grinned. "It's a custom-made credit card, just for you. The limit is one hundred million US dollars. At the end of every month, the limit resets—no matter how much you've spent, it'll be fully restored on the first day of the next month."
"…What?" Her eyes widened.
"No repayment required either," he added smoothly. "I've arranged for a rich sucker with a money-printing machine to cover it all. Every debt you rack up with that card? It goes straight to his tab."
He wasn't joking, either.
Across multiple worlds, one truth remained: when the U.S. Federal Reserve wants more money, they just print it. Millions, Billions—it's all the same to them.
The girl swallowed hard. "A-And… the price?"
Veyron tapped his chin. "Hmm… haven't decided yet. How about I tell you the terms next time we meet?"
An unknown cost?
She bit her lip.
"Well?" Veyron tilted his head. "Wanna make a deal—your future, in exchange for the present?"
"With a hundred million in spending power every month, you could easily turn yourself into a global icon, or make anyone into the next big star. Hell, if you want, you could even buy out the stars already on every TV screen and have them licking your boots."
The girl hesitated, eyes flicking between him and the card.
Finally, slowly, she reached out… and took it.
.
.
.
