NOVEL WEB Chapter 215: Bitcoin Withdrawal
Morning came quickly.
Darren sat in the high-backed leather chair behind his desk, facing the window now, his reflection faint against the glass, his steel-blue eyes fixed not on the skyline but on the holographic interface projected before him.
Last night had been eventful. His meeting with Archibald Mooney had led him to become even more aware of the fragility of his present status.
Maybe he should have listened to Archibald's offer, it was a sure fire way to protect himself.
But... What Archibald was basically asking was for Darren to offer up his company to be swallowed by his, claiming that he would be protected under his brand.
Darren would be a puppet. That was the truth. And as tantalizing as that deal would be for many others, Darren didn't want to live a life under the shadow of Moon Enterprises.
Speaking of his growth as in the business world, he was reclined back on his chair, reading the lines on the Investor System's interface.
The screen was on his Profile Status, glowing in sharp, neon purple text, a digital ledger of his empire, his ambitions, and his burdens.
Darren reclined deeper, the leather creaking softly under his weight. His jaw tightened as he processed the figures.
Just that morning, the Forbes lists of billionaires all over the world had been updated. Although Darren was far far down the list, he was no. 38 on another list. Forbes list of the world's youngest billionaires.
Amongst others in the list were some he knew like Lawson Zurich and his own ally and friend, Grant Hayes.
Darren didn't downplay this accomplishment. In fact, he allowed himself to relish in it. Earlier that morning, he made a post in CryptoTracker and Facebook, congratulating himself on the achievement.
The posts had gathered multiple likes and comments from his followers and other users. Being on the list was no small feat; it was a coronation in the eyes of the world. But at the same time, to Darren, it was a reminder of how far he still had to climb.
He certainly could be no.1 one day.
His gaze shifted to the Monthly Quests. The quests for the month flickered into view, and Darren re-read them with a stern expression.
┏Monthly Quests:
— King of the Block
Reach a mining milestone of 32,000 BTC before the month ends. Every block matters.
Reward: Passive Mining Efficiency Boost (10%)┛
— Enemy of My Enemy
Forge a strategic temporary alliance with a former rival's contact. Survival is often about knowing when to let the snake bite another.
Reward: Access to Hidden Network Node (1-time lead bonus)┛
Darren's lips pressed into a thin line, a bitter expression crossing his face. He already had Kara working on the first quest, leading the IT team to hit the 32,000 BTC target.
But the second quest… that was a riddle wrapped in a warning. An enemy's enemy?
It was almost laughable. Who did the system expect him to reach out to—Ryan Anders' former lawyer?
The business world was a snake pit, and alliances with its denizens were as treacherous as they were necessary. Who could he trust? More importantly, who could he afford to trust?
The system's cryptic phrasing gnawed at him, hinting at the moral grayness that business thrived in — a world where ideals bowed to pragmatism, where even the purest players ended up shaking hands with those they despised.
Was this what the system was preparing him for?
His eyes lingered on the reward: 'Access to Hidden Network Node.' A one-time lead, a connection to an untapped vein of influence or intel.
Another thing he knew about this world was that information was currency, and a single node could unlock deals, expose weaknesses, or shift the balance of power.
Hidden Network Nodes were rare system-grade access points. They could expose fraud, leads, even government-level intel. Giving up on that wasn't an option.
He leaned back in his chair, sighing softly. Maybe it was time to recalibrate his goals.
Because while he was a billionaire, he wasn't the kind of billionaire who could spend without blinking.
Darren's wealth, vast as it was, was largely tied to Steele Investments' valuation— stocks, assets, and intellectual property. His personal liquidity, while substantial, was a fraction of his net worth, and a billionaire's lifestyle demanded more than corporate credit lines.
In short, Darren needed cash, real and unencumbered, to fuel the life he was building.
And with Bitcoin's price ticking upward—$6.50 per BTC as of this morning, it was time to liquidate part of his portfolio.
He leaned forward, the interface responding to his gesture, pulling up the Bitcoin Investment tab. His Bitcoin holdings glowed at the center: 3,750,000 BTC.
Darren exhaled, feeling nostalgia creep into his bones. The memory of him last year — a few months ago— in his bedroom with his old laptop, purchasing Bitcoin after learning about the Financial Paradox.
His fingers danced across the holographic keyboard, the interface shifting to the 'Sell' module:
┏Amount of Bitcoin to Sell: $________┛
He typed in the full amount: 3,750,000 BTC. The system calculated instantly, projecting the payout at the current market price:
┏Are you sure you want to sell 3,750,000 BTC at $6.50 per BTC?┛
┏Estimated Payout: $24,375,000 USD┛
His pulse quickened, a faint thrill coursing through him. It wasn't the money that got him all excited, it was just the game of it all.
That amount of Bitcoin had only been worth $300,000 when Darren first bought it. Now it was worth almost $30 million. How unbelievable was that?
He raised his finger, hovering over the glowing ┏Confirm┛ button, and pressed it.
The interface pulsed, a soft chime signaling the transaction's completion:
┏Sale Successful!┛
┏BTC Sold: 3,750,000┛
┏Payout: $24,375,000 USD┛
┏Current Bitcoin Holdings: 0 BTC┛
Darren exhaled, leaning back in his chair. The cash would hit his personal account within hours, and he could already think of things he planned to lavish it on. Maybe private jets, penthouses, perhaps even a yacht to rival Zurich's.
And like always, the overreaction filtered in from CryptoTracker. Within moments, his phone lit up, its notification system buzzing with activity, vibrating as the app's user comments flooded in, a digital chorus of awe, envy, and speculation:
'I was waiting for this! This man plays the market like a fiddle and we all dance'
'$24M in one move. This is why he's on Forbes and I'm eating ramen.'
'That's it. I'm officially changing sides. I'm backing the great Duckling, not ScottishPanda anymore. Like, Darren Steele doesn't make mistakes. Watch the market —this is a signal.'
Across the city, Andy Nashville leaned back in his chair, his eyes glued to CryptoTracker's live feed. "He's at it again," he muttered.
Kaito Sagomoto had a faint smile tugged at his lips as he watched the transaction data roll in. "Bold as always, young Mr. Steele," he murmured, his fingers already typing a message to his analysts.
But in his sprawling mansion in Highland Estate, Adam Scotland slammed his glass of scotch onto a mahogany table, causing the two women sitting with him to jerk in shock. His eyes burned as he stared at the CryptoTracker alert on his new iPhone, Darren's name blazing like a taunt.
His face turned red.
"Alright! I've had just enough of this guy!" he growled, his voice thick with fury. "It's time I showed the world exactly who the real Bitcoin Billionaire is!"