The next morning, Steven woke to the sound of a rooster crowing. After a quick bath, he spent some time playing with Toki. He gently placed the turtle into a half-filled bucket of water, where it swam happily. Steven had set an inverted mug inside to act as a resting platform. When Toki grew tired of swimming, it would climb up and bask lazily.
Feeling refreshed, Steven headed out.
As the students gathered for breakfast, Arnold suddenly stood up and clapped his hands to get everyone's attention.
"Alright, guys! The plan for today is horseback riding. Who's ready?" he announced proudly.
But instead of cheers, a heavy silence hung in the air. The students looked at each other, uncertain.
"Horseback riding? Really?"
"Wait, is that safe?"
"I heard people can get seriously injured from falling off…"
Arnold's smile faltered. He hadn't expected this kind of reaction.
"Come on, don't be ridiculous," he said, clearly frustrated. "The horses here are well-trained and totally docile. This is the best activity we could do."
Still, the students looked doubtful.
Steven smirked. "Oh, Arnold... heir to the great White family, and you still can't convince a bunch of classmates to follow you? That's rough. What a bleak future for your household."
Arnold's eyes narrowed. "You? What would you know? You're just some trash who got lucky. No matter how much money you gain, you'll never match the class of true elites."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever helps you sleep at night," Steven said with a shrug. "Guys, I have a better idea. I saw a game café in the market yesterday. It was pretty empty. Why don't we go there and support a local business?"
Several students perked up immediately.
"Ooh, I'd love that!"
"Let's play Dreadfang!"
"I still need to explore that dark forest area."
"Steven can give us more tips too!"
Arnold's face turned red. "No! We're going horseback riding. I already arranged everything. You'll do what I say."
"Don't push it, Arnold," one student warned.
"Yeah, that's going too far," another added.
Even the teachers exchanged awkward glances, clearly unsure how to handle the situation. Veronica stepped forward.
"Guys, let's just go. If you're not comfortable riding, you can watch. No big deal," she said, trying to ease the tension.
Reluctantly, the students agreed. Thanks to Veronica's calming influence, they followed Arnold to a nearby estate. The property was beautiful, with rolling green fields and a well-maintained stable.
A young man was waiting outside. He waved as Arnold approached.
"Hey, Arnold! Long time no see."
"Hey Pitt. Doing great. I brought my classmates to ride. Can you help us out?"
"Of course! The horses are all well-trained. Pick any you like," Pitt replied with a welcoming smile.
Arnold grinned and strode toward the stable.
At that moment, a notification buzzed in Steven's mind.
[Rich Lord System – Task: Ride a horse]Reward:$5,000,000, Ownership of Old Billy's Stable, Ownership of Silverline Race Circuit, 5 Assistants, A Bugatti Chiron, Limited Edition Aston Martin Valour, Lamborghini Urus.Note: All vehicles are currently parked at Silverline Race Circuit.
Steven's eyes widened. "Wait... Old Billy's Stable? Isn't that this place?" His heart raced. These were insane rewards for just riding a horse.
He quickly opened the system panel in his mind and searched for any horse-riding skills. There wasn't an individual skill—just a skill package titled "Noble Aristocrat Secret Skillset." It included horseback riding, classical music performance, mixology, luxury driving, etiquette, and more. It even had a special ability called Eye of Absolute, which revealed every detail about a target when activated.
Steven bought it for 10 points and instantly felt the knowledge and muscle memory settle into place.
"Heh. With this, there's nothing I can't master," he thought confidently.
Arnold called out with a smug tone. "Hey Steven, why don't you ride too? Or are you scared like the rest of this useless bunch?"
Steven raised an eyebrow. "You're really digging your own grave, Arnold." He walked over to the stables.
Calmly, he selected a sleek black stallion and approached it with ease. The horse responded to his presence, nuzzling his shoulder gently. Steven mounted it smoothly and guided it into a graceful trot, circling the field with practiced finesse.
Stopping in front of Veronica, he extended his hand.
"Want a ride?" he asked.
Veronica blinked in surprise, then smiled and took his hand. With his help, she climbed on behind him, blushing slightly.
Arnold watched, his jaw tightening. Steven looked like a noble from a movie scene, while Veronica clung to him like a heroine.
Frustrated, Arnold stormed over to Mira. "Get on," he said brusquely.
Mira frowned. "Excuse me?"
Before she could answer, Leon approached on his own horse, riding with calm confidence.
"Mira, would you like to ride with me?" he asked kindly.
Mira turned to Leon and smiled. "Sure," she said, ignoring Arnold's glare as she climbed on behind Leon.
Humiliated, Arnold turned to Lisa, a heavily made-up girl who adored wealth.
"Lisa, ride with me," he said.
Lisa, eyes gleaming at the chance to be with the rich heir, nodded eagerly.
Soon, three horses took off across the open field. The students cheered and clapped as Steven and Leon rode effortlessly, gliding like professionals.
Arnold, however, was a mess. He awkwardly yanked the reins and even punched the horse's side to urge it forward.
The animal whinnied in distress, then suddenly reared up—throwing both Arnold and Lisa off its back.
The horse bolted away.
Everyone froze. Steven and Leon quickly slowed their horses, dismounted, and rushed over with Veronica and Mira following.
Arnold was mostly fine, but Lisa lay on the ground, crying in pain. Her arm hung at an unnatural angle, and blood streamed down her cheek.
"What the hell were you thinking?" a teacher snapped, pushing through the crowd.
Arnold scowled and barked, "It's her fault! She couldn't even sit properly!"
"Enough, Arnold! Shut up!" the teacher shouted. "She's clearly injured."
Pitt pushed his way through and knelt beside Lisa.
"Let me help." He examined her arm, then with practiced ease, adjusted it back into place. Lisa screamed, then fell silent, breathing heavily.
"She needs proper treatment. That cut is deep," Pitt said firmly. "She has to go to the hospital."
Several students and teachers helped Lisa up and escorted her away.
The field fell quiet. Most students hovered in awkward silence.
Just then, Pitt's phone rang. He answered quickly.
"Yes, Dad? What? Someone bought the property?" His eyes widened. "Already here? Yeah, send me a picture."
Arnold, still dusting himself off, looked over. "What happened?"
Pitt turned to him. "Someone named Steven Blake bought this property. My dad says he's already here. I need to find him."
A tense silence settled.
Pitt's phone buzzed again. He checked the photo and looked up slowly, staring at Steven in disbelief.
Then, he smiled, stepped forward, and extended a hand.
"Mr. Blake, it's an honor. Thank you for purchasing our estate. My family's truly grateful."
Steven shook his hand with a calm smile. "It's nothing. I liked this place and saw the 'For Sale' sign. It just felt right."
Gasps rippled through the remaining students.
Arnold swayed where he stood, his face ashen.