Chapter 118: Floor 85, Central Park Tower
Liam descended the grand staircase of Bellemere Mansion, with the clink of porcelain and the faint sound of conversation picked up by his enhanced senses, guiding him toward the dining room, where Evelyn and the girls had just finished setting the table.
"Good morning, sir," Evelyn greeted with her usual warm smile, stepping back to give him space. The maids echoed her, bowing lightly before resuming their tasks.
"Good morning, Evelyn. Good morning, girls," Liam returned the greetings with a smile, his eyes meeting theirs.
Evelyn and the girls froze for a moment, their eyes widening in surprise.
Until now, he had always replied with a curt "morning" or, at best, "morning, Evelyn." But today was different. His tone carried the same warmth as theirs, and the simple act of meeting their eyes left them oddly touched.
They couldn’t explain it, but it felt good in the sort of way an employee feels when their work is noticed, when their employer acknowledges them as more than background figures.
As if on cue, the three of them glanced at one another and smiled, quietly hopeful that maybe things really were changing.
Liam had no of the ladies’ thoughts as he slipped into his seat at the head of the table. Before him was a spread fit for royalty—eggs folded delicately with herbs, freshly baked bread, sausages glistening faintly under the golden chandelier light, and a bowl of mixed fruits, their bright colors vivid against the fine china.
He didn’t rush himself as he picked up his fork and knife and began to eat. Each bite he took was slow as he allowed himself to savor the flavors, while his mind wandered elsewhere.
What should I do today?
The thought rolled through him as easily as the taste of the food. At first, the obvious answer presented itself: check out the property in Manhattan — Floor 85 of the Central Park Tower — which was one of the prize of his last sign-in.
He had been itching to step foot inside the place ever since reading through its documents.
But almost immediately, another thought pushed against it. Logistically, going today wasn’t possible. Or at least, not convenient.
If he wanted to visit, he’d have to fly.
Part of him wanted desperately to board his Flying Palace—the customized Airbus A380 sitting in Hangar 14, Imperial Terminal, South Side of Los Angeles International Airport.
The sheer idea of soaring across continents in that monstrous floating estate was intoxicating. But that was something to be unveiled after the Family Office was set up.
And if not his jet? He could always charter one. But that meant calling Daniel, and Daniel was already up to his neck handling the recruitment of staff and structuring the Family Office. Asking him to start sorting through private charter companies would only pile more on his plate.
No. He would wait. The property and the island could wait.
Or... could they?
Halfway through his meal, his fork paused mid-air as a sudden realization struck him.
Why am I thinking like a normal person? I don’t even need a plane anymore.
The Dimensional Space had something like a teleportation function. With it, all he just need to do was visualise the place in his head and he can teleported himself there from the space. But he wasn’t sure if it would work. Though he has tried it with the penthouse.
But that had been different. He had lived in that penthouse for a week. But as for the Manhattan property? He hadn’t even stepped foot inside. He only had pictures.
Would the function still work?
Curious and cautious, Liam decided to test it the smart way.
System, can I teleport to a place by just looking at the picture?
[Yes, Host. As long as the image matches the location in your mind, you can teleport there from the Dimensional Space.]
Liam’s eyes narrowed, and then a grin spread across his face. That was the answer he wanted, as it pretty much solve the flight issue.
He even thought of taking it further. With the function, he can simply travel to anywhere in the world.
The possibilities tumbled into his head. He could teleport across countries, even continents, in a blink. Passport checks, visas, customs would be irrelevant.
All he needed was for Lucy to get into the proper databases, and the molecular assembler to produce flawless documents. And on paper, he would be as legitimate as any diplomat.
He chuckled softly at the thought. It was almost comical. With the system, Lucy, and his own cunning, he had the makings of a criminal mastermind. If he wanted, he could play puppet master behind the world’s systems, moving unseen.
He thought about this and couldn’t hold himself back, as he even let out a dramatic villain laugh internally.
I am the dark knight, he mocked himself.
Liam continued eating his breakfast and when he finished, he set his utensils down neatly and thanked Evelyn and the girls, with a genuinely warm tone.
They curtsied in return, smiles lighting their faces at the acknowledgment.
Liam smiled back, as he rose and returned upstairs.
Inside his bedroom, he shut the door and exhaled once, steadying himself, then took a single step forward, vanishing instantly into the Dimensional Space.
***
Standing in the Dimensional Space, Liam closed his eyes and summoned an image into his mind: the glossy photographs from the property documents. Floor 85, Central Park Tower.
He visualized the endless glass walls, the panoramic view of Central Park, the gleam of marble under the sunlight.
And then he willed himself forward.
The wasteland dissolved and when his vision cleared, a flood of sunlight blinded him for a moment.
He blinked, raising a hand against the brilliance. And when his eyes adjusted, he found himself standing in a palace of glass suspended above Manhattan.
The sprawling skyview stretched endlessly before him, with Central Park to the north, the steel forest of the skyline to the south, and the Hudson River glinting like liquid silver in the distance.
"I’m here," he said, as a satisfied smile spread across his face
He turned, taking in the interior with wide, calculating eyes. Everything was exactly as the documents had shown him. But the was that reality was richer and sharper.
The hand-carved marble floors gleamed under the light. Sculpted wood paneling lined the walls with subtle elegance. Crystal chandeliers dangled above like constellations, scattering refracted light across the room.
He stepped forward, the sound of his shoes echoing faintly across the cavernous space.
And as much as he had already admired it in photographs, nothing could compare to the sensation of standing here. The sheer scale of it. The luxury seeping from every surface.
The smile on his face spread even more as he began his tour.
Room by room, his awe deepened. The oversized master suite with dual walk-in closets that could have been boutiques in their own right. Dual master baths clad in Italian marble.
Five additional en-suite bedrooms, each designed with unique touches—gold trimmings in one, soft lavender tones in another. A massive living and dining area wide enough to host entire banquets.
The chef’s kitchen that gleamed with stainless steel counters and imported appliances. A private gym stood ready with polished floors and state-of-the-art machines. There was even a study lined with shelves, waiting to be filled, and a luxurious lounge too.
And, tucked away discreetly, was the staff quarters.
Liam paused in the center of the living room, gazing around with folded arms. He felt that the place, while not as big as Bellemere Mansion, was worth every cent of its $150 million tag.
But now came the real question. What to do with it?
Renting it out was the obvious choice. The whole place was nothing less than a single-floor sprawl of extreme luxury. Any billionaire or hedge fund mogul would pay insane sums to live here, even temporarily. It could be a revenue-generating powerhouse.
But as he stood there, watching the Manhattan skyline glow under the sunlight, Liam felt hesitation.
He didn’t need the money. Not anymore. And somehow, renting this out to strangers felt... wrong.
He had Bellemere Mansion and also the penthouse suite that’s currently collecting dust as it is, yes, but this place wasn’t redundant.
This place was something else. It’s a fortress in the clouds.
I’ll keep it.
The thought solidified in his mind. For now, he wouldn’t rent it. He’d hold onto it. Maybe in the future, when he needed it, it would be waiting for him.
Satisfied, he finished his tour and exhaled, turning back toward the sunlight spilling through the glass.
"Now... next stop."
He thought of the second reward property—the ghost island, San Caerola Key.
He instantly left the apartment and returning to the Dimensional Space.