Level 1 to Infinity: My Bloodline Is the Ultimate Cheat - Chapter 68

Chapter 68: Resurgence

That bracelet… Ethan hadn’t thought about it in years.

Lyla had given it to him during their time in the hospital together. He’d been six years old then and had treated it as his most cherished possession ever since.

But today, seeing Jade Taylor again, the memory of the bracelet resurfaced, sharp and unexpected.

After reuniting with Lyla, she hadn’t mentioned it, perhaps because she’d forgotten about it entirely.

—

“Ethan, I heard you were looking for me after graduation? What for? Still can’t let go after all these years?” Jade’s voice was sharp, each word slicing through the air. “I told you back in high school, don’t waste your time chasing after me. Just look at you, a broke loser trying to hit the gym. Where’d you even scrounge up the money for this? Found it in a trash can?”

She scoffed, ignoring the crumpled bills Ethan had placed on the counter. Her questions came rapid-fire, giving him no chance to respond.

At that moment, another girl approached, tugging at Jade’s arm. She whispered something quickly, her tone more cautious. “Jade, who is this? No matter who he is, he’s still a customer. Maybe tone it down a bit?”

The girl then turned to Ethan, offering him a polite smile. Picking up the sweaty, slightly damp cash he’d placed on the counter, she hesitated briefly, her gaze flicking to him with mild curiosity.

Ethan had stuffed the money into his pocket before running here, the dampness a mix of sweat and nerves. Though he’d worn a small belt bag during his jog, old habits had him instinctively reach for his pants pocket.

“Quinn!” Jade hissed, grabbing the girl’s arm to stop her. Her intent was clear—don’t process his payment.

Quinn patted Jade’s shoulder dismissively. “Relax, will you?”

With practiced efficiency, she swiped a card through the reader, entered a few details on the computer, and handed a gym access card to Ethan. “You’ve got two hours. Enjoy your time here.”

Ethan accepted the card with a smile. “Thanks.”

Jade opened her mouth, clearly ready to say something else, but Ethan was already walking away. Her words died in her throat, and she could only glare at his back.

Seconds later, she muttered under her breath, just loud enough for Ethan to hear, “An orphan, a stray without a family, acting like he belongs here. What a joke…”

Those words… the same cutting remarks she’d made years ago in front of everyone.

Ethan felt a flicker of anger. The old him, hot-headed and impulsive, would have stormed back to confront her, maybe even slap her across the face. But he wasn’t that teenager anymore. Four years of hardship had tempered him.

He turned back toward the counter, his expression calm as he addressed Quinn. “Excuse me. Is your manager here?”

Quinn froze for a moment, thinking Ethan was about to lodge a complaint against Jade. She immediately tried to diffuse the situation. “Sir, I’m sorry. Jade usually isn’t like this…”

Ethan raised a hand, cutting her off. “Don’t worry. I’m not here to complain.”

Quinn hesitated, then glanced at Jade with a sigh before picking up the desk intercom.

Moments later, a muscular man descended from the upstairs office. His well-defined physique hinted at years of dedicated training, making Ethan painfully aware of his own scrawny build. He felt out of place standing there, with his thin arms and legs.

The man approached, his steps confident. “Good evening, sir. I’m Todd. Is there something I can help you with?”

Todd exchanged a quick glance with Quinn, who subtly gestured toward Ethan. Understanding the situation, Todd turned his full attention to the young man.

Ethan nodded toward the notice board near the entrance. “I saw the sign by the door. You’re looking to sell this place? What’s your asking price?”

Ethan’s words left everyone stunned.

Jade was the first to recover, scoffing loudly. “What’s this loser talking about? He’s going to buy the whole gym? Yeah, right. What a joke.”

Her voice carried across the room, loud enough for Ethan and the manager to hear. Todd, the manager, shot her a warning glance but didn’t say anything.

He could tell there was some tension between Ethan and Jade. His gaze lingered on Ethan for a moment before he spoke. “The asking price is $2,100,000. That includes six months of remaining rent.”

Ethan didn’t hesitate. “I’ll take it. Do you have the paperwork ready?”

“What?” Todd froze, staring at Ethan like he hadn’t heard him correctly.

For three months, that notice had been pinned on the door, ignored by everyone. He’d almost given up on finding a buyer, already preparing to shut the gym down when the lease ended. His plan had been to sell off the equipment and dive full-time into Ethereal.

The location wasn’t ideal, too far from the bustling city center. When he first opened, Todd had expected the nearby affluent neighborhoods to provide a steady stream of high-paying clients. Things had been promising, at least until Ethereal launched.

As Todd predicted, the game’s release had drained foot traffic. He’d seen it coming, but even he hadn’t expected the drop to be so severe.

Now, with Ethan suddenly offering to buy the place, Todd couldn’t help but feel overjoyed. “The contract’s at a law office just down the street. I’ll call them right now.”

Ethan nodded. “Sounds good.”

Jade, meanwhile, looked like she’d been hit over the head. Her expression twisted with disbelief. There was no way Ethan could afford to buy the gym. She clung to that thought, determined to see him humiliated.

“Fine, let’s see how far you can take this act,” she muttered under her breath. “When the lawyers show up, I’ll watch you squirm.”

While Todd stepped aside to make the call, Ethan wandered deeper into the gym. Todd quickly followed, not wanting to leave him unsupervised.

Quinn, who’d been quietly observing, leaned toward Jade. “What’s wrong with you today? You’re just looking for trouble, aren’t you?”

Jade rolled her eyes. “Trouble? Please. He’s just putting on a show. Let’s see how he makes a fool of himself later.”

Quinn sighed, shaking her head in exasperation. “You’re impossible.”

At that moment, a red-haired man strolled up to the counter. Without asking, he reached over and grabbed a bottle of water from behind the bar, twisting it open and taking a long drink.

“Who’s that guy?” he asked, jerking his chin in Ethan’s direction.

“Just an old classmate,” Jade replied, her tone dripping with disdain. “He used to write me love letters in high school. I turned him down, obviously.”

The red-haired man burst out laughing. “A lovesick puppy, huh? Look at him, skinny arms, legs like twigs. I could knock him out with one punch. Unlike him, I’ve got the stamina, baby. What do you say, Jade? Come over tonight, I’ve got a king-sized bed waiting for us.”

As he spoke, his hand disappeared behind the counter, out of sight. Jade squealed and swatted at him, half-heartedly trying to push him away.

“Stop it, Len! We’re in the gym, it’s the middle of the day!” she protested, her voice high-pitched and teasing. “Seriously, quit messing around!”

From across the room, Ethan caught every word and every giggle. His sharp hearing picked up the whispered exchange, and he felt nothing but contempt.

‘Stupid.’

He turned his attention to the grip strength tester in front of him. Wrapping his hand around the handle, he squeezed slowly, increasing the pressure. The mechanical arm began to tremble, bending under the force of his grip.