The golden afternoon sun kissed Luna's flawless skin as she lay on a lounge chair covered with soft white cushions, strategically positioned next to the infinity pool that reflected the blue sky as if the entire world had turned into a mirror for her.
The white bikini with gold details, from the latest collection of a French brand, did more than highlight her perfect silhouette, it shamelessly announced that Luna Malroth was at her peak.
Holding a glass of dragon fruit juice with collagen (a gift from a brand that was trying at all costs to sponsor Diamante Tycoon), she yawned like a cat bored with its own luxury.
"Ivy, talk to me… without using technical terms, please."
Nearby, standing beneath an enchanted parasol that regulated the temperature according to Luna's mood, Ivy projected an ethereal, pastel-colored dashboard with real-time graphics of the newly formalized global corporation.
"Very well, Miss Luna," Ivy said softly. "Thanks to Matthew Solarius's support, the paperwork for the founding of the Diamond Tycoon Group was finalized this morning at the Imperial Administrative Center."
"Uh-huh… what about the little robots?"
"The 20 specialized human-robots designated for the first phase are operational. The units have been separated by specialty: finance, enterprise architecture, IT, security, design, process engineering, accounting..."
"Ivy..." Luna moaned, yawning and turning to the side, her head resting on her arm. "Sun. Sun pajamas. Body tanning. Brain saving energy. Translate: is everything working?"
"Yes." Ivy smiled. "The Stellar Crown Business Complex has officially begun construction. The five buildings are already undergoing internal construction, receiving the modules and supplies specific to each division."
"Hmm..." Luna replied lazily, wiggling her toes in the water. "And is it pretty? I want to see it for aesthetics, not functionality."
"Luxurious and futuristic."
"Oh, how fancy..." she murmured, tossing her hair back. "And the budget?"
Ivy designed a graph.
Even while resting, Luna took a look out of the corner of her eye.
"Currently, with the personal resources available to the three of you, you, Lumine and Nikoly, the group has 31 billion dollars in cash, even after discounting the investments in the Gala auction."
"That's not counting the value of my rewards from the Tycoon System, right?"
"Exactly, miss. These are the company's 'official' funds. Your personal benefits remain in separate custody."
Luna smiled, almost childishly. "Perfect. Nothing like letting the money work while the tan gets just right."
Ivy chuckled. "It's important to note that with Miss Victoria's financial freeze, the share split remained the same."
"Hmm. She'll be fine... She has Kael now." Luna chuckled mischievously, taking another sip of her juice. "A polar prince can solve any emotional trauma."
"In a suit. And even with the Lancaster haircut, Victoria's public image is recovering quickly thanks to the repercussions of the Gala events and the support on social media. There are even hashtags like #VictóriaLivre and #KaelTomaMeuTrono."
"The whole world is thirsty for a royal soap opera," Luna commented, pulling down her sunglasses and staring at the AI. "The important thing is... the empire is being built. I just need to decide if I want to participate more actively... or just maintain my throne of shadow and shine."
"One thing at a time," Ivy commented. "The sun is wonderful today. And your vitamin D levels are up."
"Perfect. I'm becoming beautiful inside and out. Now... tell Nikoly to schedule the next creative meeting in a couple of days. If she's going to drag me to the report meeting, at least bring me French macarons."
"Noted."
Luna stretched, took off her glasses, and dove lightly into the pool, the warm water caressing her skin as if it treated her like royalty.
The world could catch fire out there.
But her? She knew she was exactly where she needed to be.
The crystal clear water of the pool enveloped Luna's body like liquid silk.
The sun's rays reflected off the gentle waves around him, but... nothing changed.
She floated backward to the center of the pool, stretched out her arms like a summer goddess, and yawned before whispering, "Have you had enough…?"
Pausou.
Observed the skin tone.
And he snorted.
With a light dip, he returned to the edge of the pool, resting his elbows on the marble and resting his chin on his hands like a frustrated child.
"Ivy," he said boredly. "Answer me one thing... Why the fuck can't I tan?"
The AI's translucent hologram floated beside the pool, displaying real-time medical data about Luna.
"Your body is under the permanent effects of the Tycoon System's Body Optimizer. It regulates and maintains all physiological levels at peak perfection. This includes stable melanin, cellular protection from solar radiation, and a regeneration rate so high that even if you were to burn yourself, your skin would regenerate itself in seconds."
Luna frowned. "So…?"
"Your skin will remain perfect. And white as snow. Always."
"...Unacceptable." She buried her face in her arms. "How am I supposed to show off in a gold bikini if I still look like a porcelain doll? I wanted that... rich Maldives tan vibe, you know?"
"Would you like me to simulate a fake tan projection into your visual aura field?"
"No." Luna looked up. "That's too desperate. I refuse."
Still huffing, she rose from the water, drops running down in slow motion as if even the water loved to act out for her.
She sat down on the edge of the pool, grabbed a towel, and began to absentmindedly dry herself.
"Okay. Give me a decent update now. How's the Africa situation going? That unfortunate theft from the foundation."
Ivy immediately switched the graphics and holograms.
Maps of the African continent appeared floating in the air, with red dots flashing in the affected areas.
"Lawyers for the Malroth Foundation continue to gather evidence. The frauds involved official documents, shell companies based in local governments, and the illegal use of sustainable projects as fronts. The case now spans 12 countries and..."
"Bottom line, Ivy. I'm solar PMSing."
"The legal chief believes it could take years before there is a real chance of accountability, especially with the interference of regional nobles and high-ranking politicians."
Luna crossed her legs elegantly on the edge of the pool and snapped her fingers. "Then cancel it. Send a message to the foundation president saying there will be no more investment in that continent until they resolve this scandalous mess."
"Understood." Ivy winked.
The AI started projecting the message, but before sending it, it commented.
"Oh, and with the foundation's investments frozen, the emails accumulated to 10,342,190 requests for help, proposals, partnerships, agreements, open letters, symbolic protests and donation campaigns."
Luna raised an eyebrow in boredom. "A pile of sophisticated beggars...Delicious."
"Should I restart global investments?"
Luna looked up at the clear sky for a moment. Her face was serene, but her eyes were sharp as blades.
"No," he replied with icy calm. "Let's use human greed as leverage. If all these countries, NGOs, governments, and corporations want the foundation's money... let them pressure Africa for me."
Ivy opened a chart with geopolitical projections, showing how the investment freeze could trigger chain reactions.
"Indirect global pressure tactic. Interesting."
Luna smiled sideways, like someone watching a city on fire and thinking: "Spontaneous combustion or poetry?"
"It will seem like a humanitarian decision… but it's pure power play."
"Do you want to prioritize any continent in this range?"
"..." Luna was silent for a second. And then she murmured. "Matthew would be happy if I invested in the Phoenix Empire..."
"Did you say something, miss?"
"I said yes. That... it's time to use the money wisely." She stretched her arms and released full investment in the Phoenix Empire. Choose projects that have social impact, generate media buzz, and are visually appealing. Oh, and that might be featured in an international magazine with my name involved. Important."
"Mission defined."
The AI disappeared in particles of light, leaving Luna alone, still glowing, like a modern goddess at the edge of her Olympic-sized pool.
She sighed thoughtfully.
Hours later, when the sun was giving way to the moon...
Luna stared at her reflection in the huge mirror in the bathroom next to the pool.
Even after hours under the scorching sun, her skin remained impeccably white, translucent, almost ethereal, like laboratory snow.
"Ugh..." she grumbled, wrapping the towel around her hair. "I feel like I've been Photoshopped from Eden. A Norse goddess against my will..."
With an irritated sigh, Luna rose from the lounge chair and walked back into the colossal interior of the mansion. The marble reflected her image while her bare feet made almost no sound.
The mansion was silent except for the occasional whispers from the ambient intelligence system.
Entering her office, Luna sat in her armchair and activated the holographic meeting with a simple gesture.
Three silhouettes began to form before her.
And in seconds:
Victória, even with her hair tied up and no makeup, looked like a natural CEO with the face of someone who had tamed a rebellious republic.
Lumine, with the air of a noble empress, drank tea while watching attentively.
Nikoly wore rectangular glasses and typed on two devices at the same time.
"Well..." Luna said, her voice lazy and feline. "First official meeting of the Diamond Tycoon Group. And we're going to start off the right way: with surreal profits."
Her friends looked at her curiously.
Luna snapped her fingers, and a translucent hologram expanded above the table: a sleek, futuristic vial floated, spinning in the air, its soft glow and golden seal etched.
"Introducing our first baby: UltraClean LUX™ Facial Mask."
"Globally patented formula.
3rd generation purifying nanoparticle technology.
It removes toxins, impurities and even bad energy, according to bloggers."
"Production cost?" Nikoly asked, adjusting his glasses.
"Forty-five cents a pop," Luna replied, with a smile that said, "I'm going to take over the world with skincare."
Lumine almost choked on her tea.
Victoria's eyes widened.
Nikoly was already doing mental calculations.
"Suggested retail price?" Lumine asked quietly.
Luna extended a finger and pointed at the number in the air: $120. Per unit.
The three of them screamed together. "WHAT?!"
"Yes," Luna said, stretching in her chair as if bored with so much anticipated success. "And, honestly, it'll sell like holy unicorn water. We've already tested it on 500 high-class consumers in the Phoenix Empire. Satisfaction: 99.9%."
"And what about that 0.1%?" Victoria asked suspiciously.
"One girl said her skin became 'too perfect' and now she needs sunglasses to look in the mirror." Luna shrugged.
Nikoly opened a chart. "If we sell 1 million units in the first quarter in the Phoenix Empire alone, the return will be $120 million. Investing only $450,000."
"Over 26,000% profit..." Lumine whispered. "That sounds illegal."
"It's illegal that the world hasn't given us the first trillion yet," Luna said, laughing.
"I agree," Victoria murmured, already opening her holographic notepad. "And how are we going to start production?"
"I've already planned everything," Luna replied. "I just want authorization to release 1 billion from the corporate account to begin mass production and marketing campaigns. It will only be released in the Phoenix Empire at first. Then, globally."
"In favor," the three said at the same time.
"Perfect." Luna gestured, and Ivy, now in her elegant holographic form in a CFO dress, confirmed the fund unlock and activated the enterprise robots to begin manufacturing.
"The company headquarters should be ready in a month," Luna commented, already relaxing as if she'd conquered the world. "Until then, will you guys take care of the campaigns? I need to... meditate in the sun and fail miserably again."
The girls laughed and said goodbye with greetings worthy of a council of capital queens.
As soon as the call ended, Ivy materialized again next to Luna, with a holographic screen projecting dozens of scheduled meetings.
"Miss, with the official registration of the group and the acceleration of the paperwork done by Matthew in the Phoenix Empire government, the companies in which you hold shares via the Tycoon System reward have begun requesting your presence in executive meetings."
The AI paused dramatically, and the list scrolled.
"Your presence is... expected in at least 38 meetings."
Luna stared at the screen.
A silence.
She tilted her chin, her eyes narrowed. Then she spoke dryly. "Ivy..."
"Try?"
"The Tycoon System sold me a dream. An empire based on idleness. Why in the name of Holy Celestial Laziness am I finding myself in a marathon of busy schedules?"
"Because you are the CEO and co-founder of one of the most promising groups in the modern world."
Luna grimaced. "That's no excuse. I want my premium downtime package with snacks and a facial massage included."
"I can schedule a few minutes between meetings for an ice cream break if you'd like."
Luna snorted. "It'll have to do. And Ivy... prioritize meetings with handsome men. I need visual motivation."
"Affirmative."
The AI disappeared, and Luna slumped back in her chair, staring at the office ceiling as if expecting angels to fall to work in her place.
"Entrepreneurship is tiring..." she murmured.