Ultimate Tycoon: Building the Richest Empire with System and Heroines-Chapter 60: The One Who Found Mosalina

Trevor stumbled through the dimly lit corridor, sweat dripping down the side of his neck. "This way," he said between breaths, pushing open a rusty door that led into an old maintenance tunnel below the Grand Knox Auction Hall.

Gregory followed closely behind, panting slightly. "You sure this is it?"

Trevor pointed toward a small sealed compartment in the wall. "Master Yun gave us the exact coordinates. It’s here."

Gregory squatted and pressed his palm against a faint crest etched onto the panel. With a low click, the hidden compartment slid open, revealing a black titanium case.

Both men stared at it in silence.

"Mosalina..." Gregory whispered.

But before he could reach out to grab it, the speakers in the tunnel suddenly crackled to life with Arion’s voice echoing down from above.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Arion declared, his voice ringing throughout the auction hall and beyond, "as per Her Highness Princess Seraphina’s announcement, whoever returns the legendary painting Mosalina to the royal family will be personally rewarded with $300 million!"

Gregory froze mid-motion, his hand inches from the case.

Trevor’s face was drained of color. "W-Wait... did he just say... Princess Seraphina?"

Gregory turned, confusion written all over his face. "Who the hell is Princess Seraphina?!"

Trevor was shaking now. "The royal family. She’s the youngest Princess. We’re fucked, Gregory. We are absolutely, royally,fucked."

"What are you saying?!" Gregory hissed, grabbing Trevor by the collar.

Trevor’s voice was trembling. "Don’t you get it? After this public announcement,we’re not just stealing from an auction. We’re stealing from the crown. They’ll hunt us down, skin us alive, and hang us in the palace gardens."

Gregory’s expression twisted. Panic was sinking in.

Just then, Gregory’s phone vibrated in his pocket.

He scrambled to answer. "Master! W-We found the painting. It’s right here, just like you said!"

The calm, cold voice of Master Yun spoke through the line. "Do not touch it."

Gregory blinked. "Huh?"

"Leave it there," Master Yun said firmly. "I heard the announcement. So did you, I’m sure."

"...Yes," Gregory said slowly.

"Good," Yun continued. "If you take it now, we lose everything. Let the others scramble. We will retrieve it later. We’ll hand it over to the princess ourselves. That way, we earn her favor and walk away with $300 million."

Trevor stared wide-eyed as Gregory listened in.

"But Master... what if someone else finds it first?" Gregory asked, voice tight with anxiety.

"They won’t," Yun replied. "No one knows where it is but us. We stay calm. Wait. Then deliver it... as heroes."

Gregory swallowed. "Understood. We’ll back off."

"Be quick. Get back to the hall. Don’t let them see you here."

The line cut.

Gregory turned to Trevor, eyes narrowed. "You heard the Master."

Trevor hesitated, glancing back at the painting.

"Don’t look at it," Gregory snapped. "We’ll come back for it when it’s safe. For now, we act normal."

Trevor nodded and followed as they made their way back toward the main hall.

As Ethan stepped onto the grand stage, his eyes locked on the figures already present. His gaze settled on two people standing tall before the silent crowd,Princess Seraphina Nightveil and her ever-loyal knight, Luke Nightwalker.

"Damn..." Ethan muttered under his breath, a wry smirk tugging at his lips. "Another main character drops in."

He recognized Lukas instantly.

Luke Nightwalker. The man who, in this world’s history, would save the royal lineage from extinction. After one of the country’s major family betrayed the throne, nearly leading to the royal family’s complete annihilation, it was Luke who stood in blood and fire, shielding Seraphina and leading her to safety. It was through his strength and devotion that she would eventually reclaim the royal seat.

In this world, the royal family wasn’t just symbolic. They were the nation’s absolute rulers,monarchs who held the real reins of power, not like the government systems Ethan was used to in his original world. But even here, there existed a strange loophole in the royal law:the throne could be claimed by an outsider if they proved worthy through trials or political favor.

That loophole was why countless factions were always lurking, always scheming.

Jasmine leaned toward Ethan and nudged him with a smirk. "What’s wrong? Got mesmerized by a pretty princess?"

Ethan snapped out of his thoughts and shook his head. "Nope. Not interested." fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

But inside, his thoughts ran deeper.

Seraphina and Luke... they have feelings for each other. Both yanderes in their own right. I have no interest in stepping between that madness. Let them be.

He chuckled internally.

Besides, I’ve got my eyes on someone more mature. Her aunt... and her older sister too.

Natalie gave him a strange look. "Did this playboy just say he’s not interested in the princess?"

Just then, Alistair cleared his throat. "Let’s go. It would be rude to not greet the Princess."

They all nodded and approached together. Meanwhile, Gregory and Trevor quietly arrived at the side of Master Yun, standing behind him with controlled expressions. Ethan noticed and narrowed his eyes.

Hah. Looks like they didn’t take the painting. Master Yun must’ve changed the plan. Smart move... for now.

Alistair bowed respectfully. "We greet Your Highness."

Seraphina turned and smiled. "Sir Hayes. You’re here too?"

Alistair shook his head humbly. "Please don’t address me as ’sir,’ Princess. I’m not worthy of such honor."

She chuckled softly. "Why not? You’re the one who trained all of us when we were children."

Luke nodded, expression calm but respectful. "Yes, Sir. If it weren’t for you, I’d never have become a knight."

"You flatter me," Alistair said, bowing again.

Ethan blinked.

Wait, what? Alistair trained the royal kids?

One by one, Jasmine, Rhea, and Natalie introduced themselves and offered their respectful greetings to Seraphina. The Princess acknowledged them with poise and grace.

Finally, Ethan stepped forward. "I greet the Princess. My name is Ethan Bond."

Lukas’s eyebrows rose slightly. Seraphina tilted her head. "Bond? What an unusual name. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of you."

"Well, Your Highness," Ethan replied with a relaxed smile, "I’m just an ordinary man."

Alistair interjected politely, "Princess, he may be humble, but he is our guest... and the one who discovered the painting Mosalina."

Gasps ran through the nearby nobles and guards.

Seraphina blinked in surprise. "He did?"

Even Luke’s normally calm eyes widened faintly.

At the back, Gregory gritted his teeth in frustration. I’m the one who found it? I should’ve been standing there... not Ethan.

Master Yun turned slightly and whispered, "Don’t worry. The show isn’t over. We’ll gain the Princess’s favor... in the end."

Before more could be said, a group of security guards stormed onto the stage.

"Sir Virgil, Sir Arion," one of them saluted. "We’ve searched every room, every guest, every corner. Still no sign of the painting."

Virgil’s jaw clenched. Arion lowered his head, disheartened.

Ethan raised an eyebrow and stepped forward.

"You sure you checked everyone?" he asked casually.

The lead guard nodded. "Yes, sir. Every guest."

Ethan chuckled. "Really? Did you check all the VIPs?"

The crowd buzzed with confusion. Murmurs spread again.

Master Yun’s representative stepped forward angrily. "Are you suggesting we check Master Yun? Do you know what you’re implying?!"

Master Yun raised a hand, signaling his man to stop. Silence returned.

Ethan smirked. "I never said him specifically. But if you’re so eager to defend him, why don’t we start there?"

He turned to Seraphina, speaking calmly. "What do you say, Princess? Shall we have a look in the VIP rooms? All of them?"

Seraphina glanced at Luke. He gave a silent nod.

"Very well," she said. "Luke, check every VIP room personally. Leave none out."

Luke bowed slightly. "Yes, Your Highness."

The stage tensed with anticipation.

And Ethan?

He simply smiled.

The most uptodate nove𝙡s are published on fr(e)𝒆webnov(e)l.com