Night fell, draping the New Human Central Zone in a mantle woven from billions of brilliant neon lights. In the ground-floor lobby of the Grand Apex—a 7-star hotel standing as the ultimate symbol of supreme luxury, where pillars were cast from solid gold and glowing marble paved the floors—a stylishly dressed couple stood languidly at the reception desk.
The woman swayed coquettishly, resting her chin on the man's shoulder as she exhaled the scent of expensive perfume:
— "Darling! Let's get right down to business tonight! You've been promising to take me out for a change of scenery all week!"
The man, clad in a custom-tailored silk suit, smirked smugly as he caressed her waist:
— "Haha, of course, baby! Tonight I'll take you to the most luxurious room in this place to indulge!"
With that, he tapped his diamond-ringed finger on the marble counter, gesturing arrogantly toward the female receptionist:
— "Receptionist! Book me the highest-tier VIP suite on the 200th floor! No need to look at the price tag; money is no object for a young master like me!"
The receptionist offered a professional smile, bowing politely:
— "I am terribly sorry, sir, but our hotel is completely booked tonight."
The man furrowed his brow, feeling humiliated in front of his mistress. He slammed his hand onto the counter:
— "What? How can a top-tier hotel like this be out of rooms? I'll pay double the room rate! Arrange a room for us immediately!"
The receptionist maintained her standard smile, her tone gentle yet firm:
— "My sincerest apologies, sir. It's not that we lack vacant rooms, but rather that every single room in this tower has been booked out as an exclusive package."
Hearing this, the mistress pouted, chiming in coquettishly:
— "So what? My darling is willing to pay double for an entire wing! Is your hotel turning down money?"
Emboldened, the man grew even more domineering:
— "You heard her! Vacate a room for us immediately! I'll double the price right in front of your eyes!"
Pushed to this point, the receptionist lightly nudged her glasses frames, retrieving a gold-plated digital invoice and placing it gently onto the marble surface:
— "If you put it that way, sir... then please feel free to pay double. However, I must inform you in advance that the double rate will come to 400 million Sophion Coins."
The man, who had just pulled out his black card to swipe, froze mid-motion as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped straight down his spine. He stammered:
— "F-Four... four hundred million Sophion?!"
The receptionist explained with a smile, each word ringing crystal clear like a blade piercing through his thin wallet:
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— "Yes, sir. Because our hotel is currently hosting two female guests who swiped their card to buy out this entire 200-story hotel along with every premier service, simply to... enjoy a quiet space. The original bill was 200 million. If you wish to pay double to claim a room, the price will be 400 million Sophion."
Pausing briefly, the receptionist added:
— "Ah, and that is merely for the bare room rate. If you wish to access the accompanying amenities and services, please pay an additional 100 million Sophion Coins."
The man's face drained of all color. His legs trembled as he gulped loudly:
— "Guh... Hah... Those two... who on earth are they?! What kind of deities throw money around like that?!"
— "My apologies, sir, but information regarding VVIP guests is strictly confidential. We cannot disclose it."
The "young master" couple, who had been boasting arrogantly moments ago, now had to swallow their pride and slink out through the revolving glass doors with their tails between their legs, utterly disgraced.
At the same time, soaring high above the city's luminous night clouds, sat the super-penthouse at the crown of the 250th floor.
The air here was filled with the rich aroma of white truffle oil and expensive cedarwood. The thousands-of-square-meters penthouse was carpeted in hand-woven lambswool, surrounded by infinity glass walls offering a panoramic view of the Central Zone sparkling like a galaxy.
On a plush bed draped in pure silk, four top-tier female attendants were meticulously massaging a stunning figure using oil extracted from diamond roses.
The woman possessed hair as pure white as winter snow, spreading across the deep red bedsheets. Her eyes were half-closed, quietly enjoying imperial treatment.
CLICK.
The solid wood door, intricately carved, was pushed open. Another woman stepped inside, carrying a soft mist of steam. She wore a sheer silk robe clinging to the scorching curves of her body, a designer scarf draped casually over her shoulder, her shimmering golden hair still soaking wet from the infinity pool.
The blonde girl walked barefoot across the plush carpet, slumping onto an albino crocodile-leather sofa, casually propping her long, slender legs onto the crystal tabletop.
An attendant quickly stepped forward, carefully pouring a shimmering, ruby-colored liquid into a faceted crystal glass:
— "Your wine, my lady. Prepared according to your request, this is the oldest and rarest vintage from the hotel cellar."
Having poured the drink, the attendant stepped back, standing attentively with hands folded. Yoon Chae-won picked up the glass, swirling it lightly to inhale the aroma before taking a sip, her plump red lips curving slightly:
— "Mmm... delicious. Freya, come over and take a sip too! It's exquisite!"
The white-haired woman receiving the massage spoke in a voice clear as crystal yet cold as ice:
— "I'll pass. Go ahead and drink on your own."
Chae-won shrugged, resting her arm on the couch back as she began chatting animatedly:
— "Hey, we just received an invitation to an illegal auction taking place in 5 months. Word has it the organizer this time is the son of the highest ruler in the Federation. They're planning to play big."
Seeing no response from Freya, Chae-won shifted topics:
— "Oh, right! The Ryuzaki family has been going through massive turmoil lately! Have you heard? Rumor says their eldest brother officially took over as head of the family. He's quite young, but his methods are ruthless."
Freya kept her eyes closed, replying impassively:
— "Those underground factions in the Central Zone... they're slowly taking over nearly all economic and military operations anyway. Let them tear each other apart."
Swirling her glass, Chae-won's eyes sparkled as if remembering a new toy:
— "Freya, I was just scrolling through the internal network and found an ocean ecosystem resort planet up for sale dirt cheap... only 1 billion Sophion Coins! The photos look utterly dazzling. Do you think I should buy it outright so we can head over for beach weekends?"
Freya let out a long, weary sigh:
— "Up to you. It's your money; buy an entire galaxy if you want."
Chae-won pouted, huffing playfully:
— "You're always like this! Never willing to give me an enthusiastic opinion."
The blonde girl suddenly fell silent. Her eyes flickered around as a faint rosy blush involuntarily rose onto her fair cheeks. Hesitantly, Chae-won stuttered out a question completely out of place:
— "Hey... Do you believe in... 'love at first sight,' Freya?"
Hearing this strange question, Freya raised her head slightly from the silk pillow. Her sharp eyes turned toward her best friend sitting on the sofa:
— "What do you mean? Don't tell me some unlucky man just caught your eye?"
Struck right in the sweet spot, Chae-won's face flushed even redder. She frantically waved her hands, stuttering to cover it up:
— "W-What? No way! I... I was just curious! How could that be?! It's nothing!"
Freya smirked slightly, dropping a razor-sharp tease:
— "Your bright red face is completely betraying your words, Chae-won."
— "It's really nothing! You... you don't believe me?!" Chae-won stomped her foot flusteredly, looking just like a teenage girl caught hiding a love letter.
Freya gently closed her eyes, waving a hand dismissively:
— "Alright, alright, I believe you."
Letting out a sigh of relief, Chae-won reclaimed her usual arrogant posture. She stood up, smoothing down her golden hair:
— "Anyway, I just hope that over the next 5 months, those influential figures at the auction won't notice our presence. I hate trouble."
— "I agree. The lower profile, the better," Freya concurred.
With that, Chae-won tightened her silk robe, reaching for her solid diamond-encrusted handbag sitting on the table:
— "I'm heading down to the 3-star Michelin restaurant on the ground floor first. Once you're done with your massage, come on down! I'm starving!"
Saying so, she strode off proudly on her long legs, leaving the penthouse as the gentle CLICK of the door brought the conversation to a close.
Lying on the bed, Freya shook her head softly, a helpless half-smile gracing her lips:
— "Her temper... always so childish and capricious."
In an opulent suite overflowing with the scent of wealth and power, the identities of the two sovereign roses ruling over the night were finally revealed.
Gen—Primal Legend: YOON CHAE-WON
and
Gen—Primal Legend: FREYA STERLING