Ultimate Choice System: I Became The Richest!

Volkov continued.

"Now, let's discuss real-world applications."

For the next thirty minutes, Volkov outlined Aurora's capabilities. T

en times faster machine learning.

Improved pattern recognition.

Energy consumption cut by seventy percent.

Noah took mental notes, analyzing everything - not just what Volkov said, but what he carefully avoided mentioning.

"Any questions?" Volkov asked, moving to his final slide.

Hands shot up instantly. Volkov handled them rapidly, and smoothly.

"You," he pointed to Jasmine in the front row.

"How does Project Aurora handle quantum decoherence at scale?" she asked.

Volkov's smile tightened for a microsecond. "Proprietary methods. Next question?"

When the Q&A ended, students mobbed forward. Lucas jumped up immediately.

"Coming?" he asked Noah.

"In a minute."

Noah watched as Lucas navigated the crowd, somehow making it to Volkov.

Noah rose up from his seat after a while.

'Time to meet the target.'

He approached as the crowd thinned, finding a natural opening as Volkov finished with another student.

"Fascinating lecture," Noah said, extending his hand. "Noah Thompson."

The moment their hands connected, Noah activated his Memory Glance skill.

Images flashed through his mind at lightning speed.

Volkov in his lab. Project Aurora.

A worried conversation with security officials. Meetings with Cambridge administrators. But no sign of anything matching Project Lazarus.

'Interesting. He isn't involved like the military thought, but that wouldn't be enough. I need to give them evidence that he isn't.'

"Ah, the dual-program student," Volkov said, releasing his hand. "Professor Jensen mentioned your algorithm submission. Quite impressive."

"Thank you."

"I'm hosting a demonstration tomorrow for select students."

"I'd be honoured."

"Good. 2 PM at the Quantum Lab." Volkov handed him a card. "This will get you past security."

With a nod, Volkov moved on to the next eager student.

Lucas appeared at Noah's side, practically bouncing. "Can you believe it? A private demo!"

"Should be interesting," Noah said, mind already processing what he'd seen in Volkov's memories.

His phone vibrated. A reminder: Medical Biochemistry in twenty minutes.

"Gotta run," he told Lucas. "Biochemistry lecture."

"How do you even manage both programs?" Lucas shook his head in disbelief.

Noah just smiled and slipped out the door.

Professor Lin looked up as Noah entered, her eyes lighting with recognition. "Ah, Mr. Thompson. Just in time."

The lecture hall was smaller than Computer Science's, but it was still just as important, if not more so.

These students weren't just coding—they were learning to save lives.

Noah claimed a seat near the front.

"Today's topic: Protein Synthesis and Cellular Communication," Professor Lin announced, launching into a rapid-fire explanation of cellular pathways.

Twenty minutes in, she posed her first question. "Who can explain why the mTOR pathway is critical for pharmaceutical development?"

Noah's hand went up before anyone else's.

"Mr. Thompson?"

"The mTOR pathway regulates cell growth and metabolism. By targeting it, we can potentially slow cancer growth, enhance immune response, or even address metabolic disorders. It's essentially a master switch for multiple cellular functions."

Professor Lin's eyes sparkled. "Precisely. And what makes it particularly challenging as a drug target?"

"Its dual nature. Inhibit it too much, and you cripple necessary cellular functions. Too little, and you get no therapeutic effect. The key is selective inhibition based on tissue type and cellular environment."

Professor Lin couldn't hide her delight. First Jensen, now her—Noah was collecting professors like chess pieces.

The lecture continued, with Noah answering three more complex questions with perfect precision.

As students filed out, Professor Lin caught his arm.

"Mr. Thompson, a moment?"

"Of course."

"Your understanding of cellular pathways is... extraordinary for a first-year."

Noah shrugged modestly. "I find it fascinating."

"Well, if you continue like this, you'll have your pick of research positions." She handed him a card. "My lab is working on computational models of drug interactions. If you're interested..."

Another opportunity. Another piece on the board.

"Thank you, Professor. I'll definitely consider it."

...

After his day at university, Noah headed back to his mansion.

The security team recognized his vehicle and opened the gates for him.

Noah hit the shower as soon as he got home, washing away the day's campus grime before heading straight to his basement gym.

An hour of brutal exercise—weights, cardio, combat drills—left him drenched in sweat.

Another shower, and he was ready for dinner.

At the terrace.

A healthy, protein packed- meal waited for him, exactly how he wanted it.

He sank into his chair, stars twinkling above his head. His phone lit up with his victories.

Gold Shop: Monthly revenue +37%

Walls4Us: Major contract secured

An's Gourmet: Second location ready

"Everything is going well," he said to the night sky. "Profits up. Family secure. Soon I'll have university talents running every sector. Military clearance upgraded."

Lucas and Jasmine flashed through his mind. A-grade and B-grade talents just waiting to be shaped. They thought they were forming a study group. He was forming his future executive team.

The goal that started everything burned in his mind:

Option 1: Reach the pinnacle of power and status. You have 5 years to do so. [Reward: Directly proportional to Completion Time.]

Five years?

He'd crush it soon enough.

"Soon..." Noah muttered, water glass hovering at his lips, stars reflecting in the crystal.

A cool breeze swept across the terrace, but Noah didn't feel it.

All the pieces were falling into place with beautiful precision. Family safe, tucked away from his true operations.

Companies booming, each feeding the other in an ecosystem of profit.

It was almost too easy.

Everyone around him believed they were making their own choices—Professor Jensen thinking he'd found a prodigy, Jasmine and Lucas imagining they'd formed a beneficial study group, the military believing they'd recruited a loyal asset.

Puppets. All of them.

Noah's fingers tightened around the water glass. The power wasn't in having control—it was in having control while letting others believe they were free.

Tomorrow, Volkov. The Russian might be innocent of the military's suspicions, but that just made him more valuable.

He finished the last bite of his meal, the protein fueling the machine that was his body. Standing, Noah stretched, his athletic frame silhouetted against the city's glow. Wind rustled his hair as his gaze swept over the glittering landscape below.

"I wonder where I'll be in five years..."

The words hung in the night air, charged with ambition that would terrify anyone who truly understood them.