She Used Me for a Dare… Now I Own Her Mother Chapter 346: The Investment
Gravel crunched beneath the rubber of Alex’s tires as he pulled into the circular driveway of Villa 3.
He killed the ignition, lingering for a moment to take in the tri-level estate that now served as the base for Viktor’s team.
The property looked inhabited now—not merely occupied, but truly claimed. Security cameras tracked his movements with clinical precision, while the gardens appeared immaculately tended. A warm, golden glow emanated from the windows, hinting at the activity within.
It wasn't so long ago, really just weeks, that these same men had been desperation-ridden fugitives, watching their leader succumb to his injuries. Alex could still recall that hospital room, the hollow gazes of the soldiers, and the palpable panic that radiated from every single one of them.
They were dangerous then, to be sure, but only in the way a cornered beast is dangerous: erratic and ready to strike at any perceived threat.
Back then, he had been one wrong syllable away from becoming that very threat himself.
But now?
Now they belonged to him. They were his people. His family.
And he was about to elevate them to a state of unprecedented power.
Alex exited the vehicle, smoothing his jacket as the morning sun began to warm his frame.
The front door swung open before he even approached the threshold.
Dimitri occupied the entrance, his broad shoulders blocking the frame. His face wore a look of warm, genuine hospitality—the expression of a man who had finally regained his footing.
"Mr. Hale," Dimitri said, his deep, rumbling voice filled with sincerity. "Welcome back."
Alex offered a sharp nod. "It’s good to see you, Dimitri."
Stepping aside, Dimitri held the door with practiced grace. "Please, enter. Everyone is waiting for you in the common area."
Alex stepped over the threshold, his tone firm. "Direct them to the meeting room. I have some matters to address with the group."
Dimitri’s brows arched, signaling curiosity though not concern. "Of course. I will round them up immediately."
"Much appreciated."
As Alex navigated the familiar halls toward the meeting room—that same spacious hall where they had first rallied following Viktor’s recovery—sunlight poured through the high windows, bathing the polished floor in a warm, gilded glow.
He took a seat in a leather chair, mentally reviewing how he would pitch this new development.
"Lilith," he signaled internally. "Display my current CP balance."
The interface manifested instantly, with translucent text shimmering at the periphery of his sight:
[CURRENT CP BALANCE: 18,000]
A satisfied smirk touched Alex's lips.
Eighteen thousand points.
Not a bad sum at all. The latest missions had proven quite lucrative.
Yet, even as self-satisfaction bloomed in his chest, the weight of reality soon quelled it.
This amount simply wouldn't suffice.
Not for the grand design he was constructing. Not for the sheer scale of capital his expanding empire would demand. The Elixir of Absolute Restoration alone required 2,500 CP even after the discount—and that was merely for reaching the Early Apex level. Beyond that, there was no telling how many Conquest Points would be necessary for elite resources, for navigating bottlenecks, or for cultivating the kind of strength that turned promising assets into elite powerhouses.
Besides Viktor, none of the men had even crossed into the Peak Enhanced stage yet.
He had to be disciplined.
"Lilith," Alex queried, shifting his mental focus to business. "What do you suggest I procure for them?"
There was a momentary pause—brief, yet calculated.
When Lilith replied, her voice carried that recognizable blend of authoritative guidance and quiet approval.
"Let’s weigh our options carefully, darling."
The screen rippled, displaying fresh text:
[SUBORDINATE ANALYSIS]
Current Status:
• Viktor Reeves: Apex Realm (Early) - No advancement necessary
• Damien Cross: Enhanced (Middle) - Stalled by impurities
• Dimitri Volkov: Enhanced (Early) - Foundation defects
• Andre Petrov: Enhanced (Early) - Foundation defects
• Pavel Sokolov: Enhanced (Early) - Foundation defects
"Viktor doesn't need your assistance at this moment," Lilith explained. "He has already attained the Apex Realm, and progressing him further would demand resources far exceeding your current budget. Set him aside for the time being."
Her voice turned contemplative. "However, the other four are hitting a wall. They aren't hindered by a lack of potential or work ethic, but rather by the substandard resources they were forced to use during their earlier years of Cultivation. Each method they employed has left trace impurities within their systems."
Alex took this in, the pieces falling into place.
"Similar to what Catherine dealt with before I used the Elixir?"
"Precisely," Lilith confirmed. "Those impurities act like shackles. They create invisible barriers that they will never surpass without external intervention."
Alex analyzed the data, his tactical mind already formulating a plan.
"But wouldn't the Elixir of Absolute Restoration solve that? Our priority isn't purification; it’s steady advancement."
"Exactly right," Lilith validated. "Guide them to their Peak Enhanced potential first, build a rock-solid foundation, and THEN administer the Elixir for a total transformation. Skipping steps is how many who practice Cultivation end up crippled."
She paused, and Alex could almost feel her contentment at his progress.
"For that immediate goal," she moved on, "this is your most efficient option."
The interface updated:
[FOUNDATION ENHANCEMENT PILL]
Base Cost: 100 CP per unit
Subordinate Discount (75% off): 25 CP per unit
Key Functions:
- Acceleration of Cultivation progress
- Boosts in physical prowess and endurance
- Improved Qi circulation efficiency
- Strengthening of internal Meridians
- Purging of residual impurities
Alex fixated on the image of the crimson pill shown on the interface, his eyes locked on the detailed statistics below.
The cost, the timeline, the sheer efficacy. It was almost too good to be true.
Noticing his pause, Lilith’s voice drifted through his thoughts, amused. "They need no more than a month to reach the Peak Enhanced Realm."
A single month.
And it would only set him back 1,000 CP. It was a mere fraction of what the Elixir required, allowing him to reserve his capital for future investments.
"That is... incredibly efficient," Alex murmured.
"Indeed," Lilith corrected. "You secure immediate growth—a full team of Peak Enhanced practitioners in four weeks—while preserving your resources for the next phase. Once their foundations are reinforced by these pills, the Elixir of Absolute Restoration will offer significantly better results. They will be a clean slate, possessing maximal potential, primed for Apex advancement."
A faint smile tugged at Alex's mouth.
"Fine. Provision forty Foundation Enhancement Pills. Ten for each individual."
"Confirmed," Lilith acknowledged.
The display flared with a bright golden hue:
---
[PURCHASE CONFIRMED]
Item: Foundation Enhancement Pill x 40
Total Cost: 1,000 CP (25 CP x 40)
Designated for:
- Damien Cross (10 pills)
- Dimitri Volkov (10 pills)
- Andre Petrov (10 pills)
- Pavel Sokolov (10 pills)
[Items transferred to inventory - Prepared for distribution]
---
Alex felt the familiar sensation of the items materializing within his digital storage, tucked away securely.
'One month,' he mused, a sense of satisfaction grounding him. 'Within a month, Viktor’s entire squad will reach Peak Enhanced.'
'And once that is done...'
Footsteps resonated in the hall, echoing with the rhythmic coordination of men who had spent years in the field together.
The door creaked open.
Viktor’s squad filed into the room. Damien led the way, his eyes scanning their environment with ingrained tactical caution. Dimitri trailed behind him, moving with quiet, hulking confidence. Andre claimed a chair with a sharp, analytical gaze, while Pavel followed, his youthful vigor barely contained.
Finally, Viktor, his Apex aura subtle yet impossible to ignore, took his seat at the head of the table.
They looked toward Alex, their expressions a mix of intrigue and readiness.
They were waiting.
Alex leaned backward into his chair, letting his gaze drift over them with deliberate intensity.
Damien was the first to speak, his tone professional yet touched with dry wit. "I assume, Mr. Hale, that our guests have been handled appropriately?"
Alex offered a knowing grin.
The pair who had been tailing Jennifer—Cassandra’s surveillance team—had been intercepted and delivered into Vivienne’s custody.
"They’ve been... well taken care of," Alex replied, amusement coloring his voice. "Vivienne extends her gratitude."
Damien nodded once, satisfaction glinting in his eyes.
Viktor leaned forward, bracing his forearms against the table. "Capturing them was hardly a challenge," he remarked, his slight Russian accent lingering in the air. "Early Enhanced practitioners trying to infiltrate an estate guarded by my men?" He chuckled, shaking his head. "They never stood a ghost of a chance."
"True," Alex echoed. "They didn't."
The acknowledgment passed between them—a silent validation of their competence and worth.
Pavel shifted in his seat, clearly restless. He glanced at his comrades before focusing back on Alex. "Are we off duty today?" he asked. "You usually come around much earlier for combat drills."
Alex kept his features neutral, though a flicker of anticipation danced in his eyes. "Not today. I have other plans for us."
Pavel’s brow creased in confusion. "Other plans?"
"Something significantly better," Alex corrected.
He sat upright, his gaze sweeping over the lot of them—Damien, Dimitri, Andre, Pavel, and finally Viktor, whose sharp eyes were locked onto him.
The chamber fell silent.
It wasn't a tense silence; it was one of rapt attention. They had learned that when Alex turned this focused, a shift in their trajectory was imminent.
Alex kept the silence hanging for a second longer.
Then, his voice dropped, carrying the quiet, absolute authority of a master. "Before we delve into our other agenda, I have something for all of you."
The room went motionless.
Viktor’s focus sharpened. The rest of the men sat straighter, their interest piqued.
Alex rose, moving with the graceful, fluid gait of someone with an Enhanced physique, which served only to emphasize his natural command.
Reaching into his jacket—a motion masking his access to his inventory—his hand emerged grasping something that made every man in the room draw a sharp breath.
Resting in his palm were four crimson pills.
Each was roughly the size of a marble, deep red and etched with golden, light-catching veins. They seemed to pulse with a low, inward glow, as if a hearth were burning inside them.
They looked incredibly potent. Expensive. Rare.
"What... is that?" Damien’s question trailed off.
Alex held his hand steady, ensuring they saw the quality of the items.
"Foundation Perfection Pills," Alex announced. "One for each of you: Damien, Dimitri, Andre, and Pavel."
He let the statement settle.
"These pills will purge every impurity you have gathered through years of standard Cultivation. They will optimize your Meridians for maximum flow, and most importantly, they will force an advancement… for every one of you… to the Peak Enhanced Realm."
An absolute silence claimed the room.
Andre, typically the most analytical, looked visually shaken. "Peak... Enhanced?"
"From our current standing?" Dimitri asked, his gravelly voice thick with shock.
Alex nodded once. "Guaranteed. It is a total breakthrough, with zero risk of injury or deviation."
He strode forward, extending the first pill to Damien.
"This is for you," Alex said, pressing the crimson sphere into Damien’s trembling hand.
Damien stared at it as if it were a fragment of a falling star. His fingers curled around it reverently.
"Mr. Hale, I..." He couldn't find the words.
Alex turned to Dimitri, placing the second pill securely into his large palm.
"And yours."