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Chapter 54 Act according to my cues.

The latter part was frightening enough. The earlier parts felt like reading fantasy. If the records on the tablet were indeed true, then the history of human origins might need to be rewritten.

"Do you know about the lottery?" William asked, recalling the past events casually without taking them too seriously. He had never encountered lotteries before.

Last night, Nicholas had made a wish.

"Lottery?" Edward Taylor initially looked confused, then responded with a hint of resignation, "Do you need money? Since I wasn't planning on living much longer anyway, and you granted my wish, I'll give you half of my assets."

William replied, "I'm just asking if you know the rules of the lottery? Explain it to me on the way. Consider it as a payment for my translation, and then you won't have to die."

"Huh?" Edward Taylor's eyes widened in surprise, and then he began laughing.

It turned out William was just joking earlier, and he had taken it seriously.

How does one explain the rules of the lottery?

And who doesn't know them? Even if someone didn't, couldn't they just Google it?

William was just giving him an out.

Although Edward Taylor was a man of his word, who would choose death if they could live?

He proceeded to explain to William the details of the Powerball and Mega Millions.

William then headed toward a supermarket outside the campus area.

Predicting the future didn't require any ritual for William, but he also didn't see the need.

With lotteries, if there wasn't any foul play involved, it was all about luck. He'd probably win with every ticket he bought.

"Give me a random Powerball ticket," William requested at the supermarket, asking for just a single random ticket.

With his luck, winning several hundred thousand dollars would be expected. If he won even more, it would just be Nicholas's good fortune.

After all, who would complain about having too much money?

The cashier didn't think much of William's request, handing over a randomly generated ticket.

Random selections like these were usually just a shot in the dark. Could one actually win with a random pick?

That would be a true stroke of luck.

There had been stories of people purchasing lottery tickets worth $20,000 through machine selection and only winning a little over $8,000, incurring a net loss of over $12,000.

The lottery truly was an enigma.

"If there's nothing else, you can leave. I have dinner plans." William, not wanting to chat further with Edward Taylor, prepared to go their separate ways after leaving the store.

Edward Taylor looked at William, hesitating for a moment, then said, "Thank you, William, for clarifying things for me. In the future, if you need anything, come to me. If it's within my power, I'll make sure you're satisfied."

William simply nodded, not giving it much thought, and turned to leave. "Don't tell anyone that I translated this."

For anyone else, translating text from a billion years ago would be an opportunity to gain lasting fame.

Edward Taylor couldn't figure out William, but since William had said so, he could only agree, "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

At noon, William's phone rang, and the caller was Bella.

"Hello, William, where are you? I'll pick you up." Bella hadn't forgotten about her arrangement with William from the previous night.

William's identity was somewhat mysterious. If possible, introducing him to her grandfather might stop the incessant marriage pressures from her family.

Those who've never been pestered about marriage can't possibly understand how harrowing it is.

"At the east gate supermarket of Hudson University," William replied indifferently, "Pay me first."

"Understood!" Bella gritted her teeth in annoyance. So many men wanted to take her out, yet here was William, demanding payment even for a lunch date.

William looked down at his phone. After confirming Bella's transfer, he took a seat on a bench next to the supermarket.

About ten minutes later, Bella's car pulled up in front of the supermarket. Glancing over, she saw William reading a book on the bench.

Without leaving her car, Bella sent William a message, "I'm in the car, come here."

Engrossed in his book, William missed her text, leaving Bella no choice but to grudgingly step out of her vehicle.

"William! Didn't you see my message?" Bella was flabbergasted. She had never encountered someone like William before – not only did she have to personally invite him out, but she also had to physically fetch him from his seat.

William looked up at her, closed his book, and smiled, "I'm here."

Faced with William's attitude, Bella was both annoyed and at a loss. All she could do was grit her teeth and say, "Lord William, it's time for lunch!"

"Let's go." William was unapologetically nonchalant. Being referred to as "Lord William" seemed alright to him.

Once inside the car, Bella didn't start driving immediately. Instead, she said, "William, it's my dad's birthday today. When we get there, can you please cooperate and pretend to be my boyfriend?"

"I told you, I won't pretend to be your boyfriend," William responded bluntly. "I'm just accompanying you for a meal."

"Fine!" Bella began to question her decision to invite William. As she pressed down on the accelerator, she added, "Once we're there, try not to speak. Just follow my lead. And remember, you're being paid for this."

"Alright, I'll follow your lead." William couldn't help but laugh, amused by the idea of taking cues from her.

William didn't know Bella's father, but Bella's grandfather was a child William had taken in from among a group of beggars . Seeing that he had a bit of cleverness, William taught him some life principles and also how to cook. By the time he was sixteen, he was responsible for preparing all of William's meals, and naturally, he had quite the knack for it.

Fifty years had passed, and the once young chef had become a magnate, owning thousands of chain hotels around the world and more than twenty major investment firms.

Pantheon Palace Luxury Hotel.

Today marked the 46th birthday of Brian Bell, the current chairman of the Bell Group. The guest list consisted of New York City's most prominent figures. Bella, accompanied by William, arrived at the hotel entrance where her mother, Lauren, awaited. Inside the lobby, a dedicated staff member was tasked with recording the lavish gifts brought by guests.

After all, for someone of Brian Bell's stature, it was common for friends to present extravagant gifts valued in the thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. Such gifts were meticulously recorded to facilitate reciprocation in the future.

"Bell, who's this young man?" While Lauren wasn't particularly surprised to see Bella, her interest piqued upon spotting William.

Bella was already twenty-six. By the time Lauren was twenty-six, she had married and given birth to Bella. Yet Bella had never had a boyfriend. While Bella certainly had the right to choose her own partner and had the freedom to chase her own personal and professional goals, the ongoing delay was becoming a bit concerning.