Chapter 4The Big Win

My small, dilapidated apartment was instantly packed.

Phone lights flashed in my face, accompanied by a torrent of insults.

"Holy shit! He's rich but lives in this dump?"

"This place is a garbage heap. Are we sure we have the right address?"

"The address is right. He's probably just pretending to be poor! He must have hidden all the valuable stuff!"

"Search the place! Search it carefully! Find it and expose him!"

The leader of the group, a streamer with bleached blond hair, kicked over a nearby cardboard box. Instant noodle containers rolled across the floor.

"Look at this, everyone! This is the genius of a millionaire. Rents a crappy apartment to pretend he's poor so he doesn't have to donate, and he can avoid friends and relatives asking for money. Smart!"

The livestream chat erupted in laughter.

They were like a band of robbers, ransacking my home.

My clothes, my books, everything I owned was thrown to the floor.

I tried to get up, but someone pinned me down.

"Stay put!"

I lay on the floor, my cheek pressed against the cold concrete.

Humiliation and rage churned in my chest.

But I couldn't fight back.

If I did, things would only get worse.

I just needed them to leave.

"Hey? What's this?"

Someone with sharp eyes pulled a locked wooden box from under my bed.

"Found it! The good stuff must be in here!"

They all got excited, like they'd discovered a treasure chest.

They surrounded the box, kicking it, trying to pry it open with a crowbar.

"No!" I screamed.

"Don't touch that box!"

I lunged forward, shielding the box with my body.

"Get away! All of you, get away!"

"He's panicking! He's panicking!"

The blond streamer laughed even more maniacally. He ordered two of his cronies to grab me.

"Pull him away!"

Two large men grabbed my arms and dragged me back.

My fingernails scraped bloody lines on the wooden box.

"Let me go!"

I struggled with all my might, my legs kicking against the floor.

In the chaotic struggle, I suddenly felt my right leg go light.

I lost my balance and fell to the side.

Clunk.

It wasn't the sound of flesh and bone.

In the noisy room, the sound was unnaturally clear.

Everyone froze.

The livestream chat, which had been scrolling frantically, paused for a moment.

All eyes were on my empty right pant leg.

And on the object that had fallen to the floor beside it... my prosthetic leg.