The sky of New York painted golden and lilac tones when Nikoly's private helicopter took off from the mansion's platform.
Luna kept watching the trail of wind that lifted her ornamental plants.
Shortly after, Lumine left in an official armored car, and Victória, with her stride worthy of a spy movie CEO, boarded a silver Rolls Royce, waving with two fingers and a lazy smile.
But before they left...
"Don't think too much about that idiot prince, huh, Luna." teased Lumine with a mocking sparkle in her eyes.
"Seriously, forget Matthew." added Nikoly, already entering the helicopter.
Victória, with the subtlety of someone who loves poking open wounds, threw over her shoulder. "The last thing your foundation needs is you dreaming about indecisive nobles."
Luna forced a smile, but the vein on her forehead almost popped.
"I'M NOT thinking about him, dammit!" she shouted, even when the helicopter was already too far to hear. "Idiots. All three."
She huffed, turned on her heels, and went back inside the mansion stomping as if the marble had personally offended her existence.
Luna's office was a mix between the control of a futuristic space station and the room of a minimalist fashionista.
Walls of intelligent opaque glass, shelves with rare books, a glass desk with pink titanium details, and a holographic panel that floated gently in the air.
She entered, threw herself into the custom-made reclining chair, and shouted in a melodic voice.
"Ivy!"
Immediately, the AI assistant appeared by her side, with the look of an executive secretary who had just stepped out of a corporate fashion magazine.
"Good morning, Miss. Would you like to start the Malroth Foundation briefing?"
"Start it."
Ivy tilted her head and the room lights changed to a slightly light-blue tone. A 3D screen formed ahead with graphics, reports, and animated data. Her voice tone shifted to something more objective, almost cold:
"More than 36 thousand proposals were reviewed in the last few days. Around 92% were automatically rejected. However…"
Luna arched an eyebrow, recognizing that "however."
"One of the human-robots made a critical mistake in an investment in Africa. 3.2 billion dollars were lost."
Luna didn't blink. "Lost, what do you mean? You mean temporarily held in a process? Or they really vanished?"
"Vanished. The scheme was extremely well crafted. They used real identities of legitimate NGOs, combinations of false data mixed with authentic ones. There were even connections with confirmed names in the local government. The robots couldn't detect the fraud in time."
Luna leaned forward, eyes narrowed. "And did that leak?"
"Not yet. But it is under investigation in at least three African courts. The foundation's lawyers forecast that the case may take between 6 months to 2 years. Depending on political interference, it may escalate."
Luna tightened her lips. "So our robots were fooled by well-trained corrupts..."
"Yes, Ma'am. They still follow ethical and auditable protocols. And they are not allowed to invade national systems — which was exploited by this criminal network."
Luna took a deep breath, let her body relax for a moment, and then murmured. "Pause all pending investments. I want all resources redirected to monitoring, analysis, and support to the initiatives already in execution around the world. Nothing new enters until further notice."
Ivy nodded her head. "Understood. Reinforcing: all future operations will be temporarily frozen, and active projects move to continuous evaluation mode."
"I don't want another scandal. Not a single coin will leave the foundation without me seeing it."
"It will be done. Updating priority: activated."
Luna leaned back in the chair and let out a long sigh, looking at the mirrored ceiling of the office. "And to think I just wanted to sleep and watch drama today…"
She picked up the phone, saw the accumulated notifications, and pressed the airplane mode button. "Not today, world. Today, I am just... a CEO mad at the planet."
"Miss, we have an update on the Malroth Foundation's funds after the temporary freeze of new investments."
Luna rolled her eyes, already expecting some absurd number. "Go on, hit me. Impress me."
Ivy didn't hesitate. "With the activation of the 100x cashback return protocol for expenses in real and certified projects in over 40 countries, the foundation received, in less than days, a cumulative return of... 4.4 trillion dollars."
Luna made a face like she had just heard her tea came lukewarm, not boiling. "Hmm. Trillion-lings? Already becoming routine, right?"
Ivy smiled gently. Few humans on the planet could say something like that and not sound ridiculous. Luna was one of those rare cosmic anomalies.
"Growth estimates for the next 10 years exceed the 70 trillion mark, considering approved expenses and the upcoming distribution cycles."
Luna tapped her fingers on the glass desk. "And still, there are idiots trying to defraud us."
She stood up, walking to the panoramic window of the office.
Outside, the New York sky was clear, almost cinematic.
Her reflection on the glass was worthy of a Forbes cover — only prettier.
"Let's fix this properly." she said, spinning on her heels. "If the scumbags know where to strike... then we must also know where to place the shields."
Ivy blinked softly. "Do you wish to activate the physical expansion protocol of the Foundation?"
"Yes. Notify the president." Luna said, grabbing her iPhone and opening an exclusive app. "He can start buying buildings en masse. No half-measures. I want foundation headquarters on all ten continents of the world."
"Including the three smaller and isolated continents?"
"Yes. If there are people, there's need. If there's need, the Malroth Foundation will be there."
Ivy began calculating while projecting in the air a hyper-detailed planetary map.
Luna's world geography was different from Earth. Ten continents of various sizes, thousands of countries, but as on Earth, only a few dominated the global economy, like the equivalents to:
United States.
Chinese Imperial Confederation
United European Alliance
Phoenix Imperial Confederation (where Luna was born)
"For each continent, we recommend at least 1 central continental headquarters, with secondary offices in countries with the largest urban populations."
Luna walked back and forth, thoughtful. "The headquarters in the Phoenix Empire is already in the Americas axis, but I want seven more branches across all of America. For China, I want one main headquarters and five more branches."
"Perfect. And regarding Europe?"
"One headquarters. Offices in 7 countries."
Ivy typed faster than any human could keep up with. "Recommendations for the secondary continents?"
Luna smiled with the boldness of someone who rules by the map. "Oceania? Two branches and one experimental floating headquarters between the southern archipelagos. Africa? I want three."
She sighed, already visualizing everything mentally. "And the smaller continents? Compact headquarters, with diplomatic human-robots. In each capital. Complete automation. Let them be mini social intelligence and triage centers."
"Understood. Initiating purchase of buildings, licenses, legal zone mapping, and contact with local representatives."
Luna sat back in the chair, spinning slowly with crossed legs. "All audited. No shady intermediaries. Transparency is the new luxury."
"And what about the name of the global expansion project?" Ivy asked.
Luna thought for a second and said, with a half smile. "Call it: Project Ether Ray."
"Ether Ray?"
"Yes." she said, already playing with her hair and checking Netflix. "Because if we're going to change the world... let it be with a divine ray."
Luna, slouched in the office ergonomic armchair, began scrolling through the list of dramas with her finger.
"Miss..." said Ivy with a restrained smile "before you dive into more Korean romances, you might want to take a look... at the Tycoon System's rewards for creating your first company."
Luna arched an eyebrow, narrowing her eyes. "Ah, right. The Diamante Tycoon Group. Almost forgot."
Ivy raised her hand and a golden hologram emerged, shimmering like a raw diamond. The frame was elegant, with letters dancing in refined neon.
[Tycoon Rewards Unlocked – First Company Founded]
1. "Stellar Crown" Business Complex
Location: Capital center of the Phoenix Empire.
Description:
A set of 5 interconnected buildings, each with 110 floors, arranged in a star shape when seen from above.
Exclusive design: Smart mirrors, fourth-generation solar panels, vertical gardens, and individual helipads.
Each tower represents an element: Strategy, Research, Marketing, Development, and Innovation.
Estimated value: 190 billion dollars.
2. Supreme Business AI System – "ÆVA"
Fusion of the best resources from OpenAI, DeepMind, Synthetica, and HyperCore.
Ability to create business strategies, analyze competition in real time, predict global trends, and even suggest slogans based on cultural psychology.
Adaptive emotional interface with counselor mode, sarcastic mode, and cold CEO mode.
3. Premium Product: UltraClean LUX™ Facial Mask
Delivered data with:
Molecular formula registered with international patent.
Impurity absorption technology with third-generation purifying nanoparticles.
Production cost: $0.45 per unit.
Global average sale value: $120.
Production and logistics already scalable via ÆVA AI.
4. Initial Business Fund – $10 billion
Rule: restricted use only for business actions.
Tracked by the Tycoon System.
If used outside scope, immediately frozen.
5. ZERØPHAGE Business Security System
Quantum military-level cyber defense.
Capable of predicting, detecting, and neutralizing hacker attacks in up to 0.0009 seconds.
Integrated with ÆVA AI and 100% autonomous.
6. 20 Executive Human-Robots
Each with unique appearance, specific skills, and memories trained with international-level education.
Absolute loyalty to Luna Malroth and the Diamante Tycoon Group.
Fluency in 210 languages and culture of 97 trade blocks.
---
The hologram floated in the air, silent. And Luna?
She simply yawned.
"Hmm. I was expecting something more... dramatic."
"You received a 110-floor business crown and an army of suit-wearing robots, Luna." Ivy replied with a tone of disbelief. "Literally an AI more powerful than all central banks combined."
Luna scratched her chin, thoughtful.
"Okay. Okay." she murmured, grabbing her iPhone. "Let's use the buildings in the Phoenix Empire as global headquarters. Send the documents to you and the girls, and they'll settle it with the foundation's lawyers."
"Already being done."
"And that facial mask?"
Ivy smiled. "If you launch the UltraClean LUX™, you'll monopolize the premium market. Suggestion: use the innovation tower itself for production and storage."
Luna rolled her eyes. "Ugh, so much work. But fine. Send the executive robots to handle that."
She stood up, stretching her arms.
"I'm going to do skincare now. Maybe I'll use this so-called LUX mask. At least I won't look like a zombie tomorrow."
Ivy chuckled softly. "It's ironic that you're a billionaire monopolizing the skincare sector... and still wake up with the most perfect skin in the room."
Luna blinked, walking out toward the master suite. "Baby, I am the sector."