[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati":3,"chapter-harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-chapter-864":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Harem Startup : The Demon Billionaire is on Vacation",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1411251,1864,"Chapter 864: Out of Pattern","harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-chapter-864",864,"\u003Cp>Chapter 864 – Out of Pattern\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the room, Lux was still sitting on the bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Comfortably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because... yeah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who exactly was he trying to impress here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leaned back slightly, one hand braced behind him, the other resting loosely on his knee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux exhaled slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"System,\" he murmured. \"Status.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The response came instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Level Up! You are now Level 418!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[EXP Gained: +??? (Overflow Converted)]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[HP and DP increased significantly due to Sovereign Growth Scaling]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Updated Attributes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Name: Lux Vaelthorn]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Class: Sovereign of Twin Sins]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Level: 418]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>HP: 4,280,000\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>DP: 1,720,000\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strength: 1,540\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Agility: 1,640\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magic Affinity: 1,855\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Charisma: 999 (MAX)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Bonus: +10% Magical Attack]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux blinked once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then leaned forward slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ten levels?\" he muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice wasn’t loud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was something in it, something between disbelief and quiet amusement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s crazy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Affirmative.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux ran a hand through his hair slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Explain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You successfully elevated her Lust Meter to maximum capacity.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A beat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux stared at nothing for a second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then huffed faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah. I could see that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His lips twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She was lonely,\" he added under his breath. \"So yeah... I guess I loosened her tension a bit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Indeed.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Your negotiation and cooperation last night were highly efficient.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux’s eyes narrowed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That wasn’t transactional.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A brief one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Outcome remains transactional.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I said it wasn’t.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Clarification requested.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux leaned back again, staring at the ceiling this time, fingers still tapping lightly against his knee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn’t go into that thinking ’yeah, this is a deal,’\" he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You initiated contact with a high-value entity.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You secured alignment.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You created mutual dependency.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Conclusion: Transaction.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux let out a quiet, humorless chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re annoying, you know that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Observation acknowledged.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You didn’t even know her and literally just met her at the mountain.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then his voice lowered slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But I kinda understand her.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That line hung there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unusual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Out of pattern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The system didn’t respond immediately this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Explain.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux exhaled slowly, gaze drifting from the ceiling back down to the room, unfocused for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She was alone,\" he said. \"Chained.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fingers stopped tapping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just for a second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Left there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The memory wasn’t vivid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it didn’t need to be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The feeling was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And me?\" he continued quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint smirk appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was also chained.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Negative.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You were never physically restrained except last time, by your harem.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux snorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not physically. But mentally.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leaned forward again, elbows resting on his knees now, gaze sharper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To the Greed throne,\" he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I took Dad’s responsibility before I was ready.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fingers curled slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not tight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just... aware.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And because I’m Greed, because I handle Hell’s economy...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He trailed off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then laughed softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn’t get to feel anything about it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You performed within optimal parameters.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s the point.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everything I did?\" he continued. \"Every deal, every meeting, every ’casual’ hangout?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He made a vague gesture with his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"All of it was networking.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Building connections. Expanding influence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Effective.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But it wasn’t real.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That word came out quieter than the rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux leaned back slightly, shoulders relaxing, but his gaze remained distant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even when the work was done,\" he said, voice lower now, \"when everything was handled...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A beat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...it was just quiet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The system didn’t interrupt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Didn’t correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Didn’t evaluate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And somehow...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That made it worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And I couldn’t do anything about it,\" Lux added. \"Because I had to stay professional.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He scoffed faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can’t exactly tell Hell’s economy to pause because I feel like taking a break.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You maintained stability.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then softer...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At the cost of something.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Undefined variable detected.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux smirked faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah. No kidding.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He leaned forward again, running both hands through his hair this time, exhaling slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So when I saw her there,\" he muttered, more to himself now, \"chained, isolated, angry...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I got it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The system responded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Emotional alignment identified.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux snorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t make it sound like a skill.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It influenced your decisions.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You deviated from optimal transactional behavior.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux smiled slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Maybe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Result: Increased unpredictability.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Also increased results.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[...Acknowledged.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux leaned back again, resting against the bed, eyes half-lidded now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It wasn’t just about allies,\" he said quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Clarify.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux’s lips twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You wouldn’t get it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Attempting comprehension.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let out a soft breath, slower this time, like something in his chest loosened just enough to slip out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...It felt... less empty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the closest he got to explaining it, at first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence stretched for a second longer than usual. Then his gaze drifted, unfocused, like he wasn’t looking at the room anymore, but somewhere further back. Somewhere quieter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since I knew how it feels,\" he added, voice softer now, almost absent-minded, \"I didn’t want her to stay like that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Elaborate.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux exhaled through his nose, faint smile tugging at his lips, not amused, just... aware.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wanted to fill that emptiness,\" he said. \"Not with power. Not with control. That’s what Kaelmor does.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wanted her to feel... alive again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fingers tapped once against the mattress, then stilled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To have a place,\" he continued, gaze sharpening just slightly, \"where she doesn’t have to be that ancient being all the time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another beat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Doesn’t have to be strong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He huffed quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because that’s tiring.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint smirk returned, but it didn’t carry his usual edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Trust me. I know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Self-reference detected.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah,\" Lux muttered. \"Because I was tired too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze flicked briefly toward the bathroom door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But I’m not anymore,\" he added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A softer tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More grounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve got my women now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A beat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And somehow... I get to be more like myself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for a moment...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The system didn’t respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux closed his eyes briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then opened them again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t get used to it,\" he muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Noted.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He exhaled again, longer this time, tension easing just slightly from his shoulders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because saying it out loud...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even to a system...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Made it real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And real things?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They complicated everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze shifted toward the bathroom door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he could feel it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lux smirked faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Yeah,\" he murmured under his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Definitely not transactional.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1050,"2026-06-05T23:57:29.709Z",1,"novelbin.me","706e0485a080ed9969c1e7bd5ce760e124f5f133ade47289c2a26468612fe551","harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-chapter-865","harem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-chapter-863",878,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fharem-startup-the-demon-billionaire-is-on-vacati-cover.jpg"]