Alluring

Karen was an ordinary citizen of the Gefra Empire. He had a decent job and had managed to save some money over the years.

When Yuan Rong Gold Certificates began to gain popularity some time ago, he hadn't jumped in right away. After all, everyone was far too unfamiliar with the whole thing.

An eight-percent monthly return on the total investment—who could possibly believe such nonsense?

If the returns were really that high, why would these people help others get rich instead of quietly making money themselves?

Karen thought that if he had a business capable of bringing in an eight-percent monthly return—no, even a five-percent net profit—he wouldn't tell anyone about it. He would keep it to himself and get rich alone.

He wasn't a man with lofty ideals. Like most ordinary people, he probably had plenty of flaws: vanity, selfishness, a touch of greed, and enough wariness to protect himself.

He didn't buy any in the first round.

He still didn't buy any in the second round.

But some people around him had bought in. Every day, they excitedly discussed how many Gold Certificates they had purchased and how much interest they could earn each month.

Just as many people ideally imagined, Karen remained deeply suspicious. He didn't believe any of it was real.

But when those people received returns amounting to eight percent of their total investment every month for four consecutive months—the first month, second month, third month, fourth month!—even the most cautious and careful Karen fell.

There was nothing he could do. Everyone else was making money while he alone had missed the opportunity like an idiot because he was timid and distrustful. He had even become an outsider among the people around him. He thought he was unbelievably stupid.

In those four months, he