Ethan stared at the glowing screen, the message burning into his mind."You’re brave. I like brave. Let’s talk business." — V.M.Veronica Monroe.Even the name carried weight. Billionaire venture capitalist, media darling, and rumored to have toppled three Fortune 500 CEOs without lifting a finger. Her influence stretched far beyond the city—into politics, tech, finance, and places most people didn’t even know existed.If she was reaching out to him… this wasn’t just business. This was an opening into an entirely new world.System Notification 💡 Opportunity Detected: High-tier investor engagement. 🎯 Optional Side Mission: Secure Veronica Monroe’s backing. Reward: + Investor Magnetism Boost, Access to Elite Networking Chain. Penalty for Failure: None — but opportunity may not reappear.Ethan’s lips curved into a slow grin. “Guess we’re leveling up again.”9:42 p.m. – Private ChatEthan typed back, keeping his words precise and confident."Name the time and place."Her reply came thir

The boardroom was still buzzing after the deal’s conclusion, the scent of expensive coffee lingering in the air. Ethan stood by the window, gazing down at the city he was slowly beginning to control. Veronica Monroe’s warning replayed in his mind like an echo.“This city rewards the bold, but it also eats them alive if they hesitate.”He wasn’t going to hesitate.“Boss,” Miles stepped in, holding a slim tablet. “You’ll want to see this.”Ethan turned. “What is it?”“Footage from last night. Someone broke into the delivery hub.” Miles swiped, and a grainy video appeared — a shadowy figure moving with practiced precision, planting something under one of the storage shelves.Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “Who found it?”“Security sweep this morning. It’s a tracker. Not just GPS — it’s wired to transmit cargo inventory.”A cold smile crept across Ethan’s face. “Darius.”Miles nodded. “Or someone working for him.”Ethan paced once, then stopped. “Pull every tracker. Replace the shelves. And leak

Ethan’s heart was still pounding from the system’s last notification. The surge of energy he felt from his latest upgrade wasn’t just physical — it was confidence, raw and unshakable. The same man who once lowered his head when others mocked him now stood in the middle of the city’s busiest street, knowing that nothing in this world could make him bow again.Ding![New Mission Unlocked: Secure a Business Asset Worth \$500,000 Within 48 Hours.]Reward: “Influence Boost” (Negotiation Skills +30%, Charm +20%) Failure Penalty: Deduct \$200,000 from current funds.Ethan’s eyes narrowed. The system never gave out easy missions, but this one was different — it wasn’t just about making money. It was about acquiring control, influence, and leverage.He quickly scanned his mental list of potential targets. There was a struggling restaurant in the city center that had prime real estate but poor management. Then there was an old warehouse by the docks — rumored to be worth far more than it appeare

The next morning, Ethan was already awake before dawn, sitting on the edge of his bed with the glow of his phone casting a pale light over his face.[System Notification] Mission Complete:Acquire exclusive real estate for expansion.Reward: \$5,000,000 credited. Bonus Trait:"Keen Insight" — temporarily boosts negotiation and perception abilities by 50% for 24 hours.He exhaled slowly. “Keen Insight, huh? Let’s put you to the test.”His phone buzzed again — but it wasn’t the system this time.“Ethan Cross?” The voice on the other end was sharp, female, and businesslike. “We’ve reviewed your proposal for the Riverfront Plaza acquisition. We want to meet. Today. Ten a.m.”Ethan smirked. The Riverfront Plaza was one of the most coveted properties in the city — a multi-billion-dollar asset guarded by a network of old-money elites who rarely sold to outsiders. This meeting wasn’t just a business deal; it was an initiation into the city’s most exclusive circle.He dressed in a tailored navy s

The air in the abandoned factory still smelled of dust and fear. Ethan stood over the unconscious body of Carl Vance, the loan shark who had been terrorizing half the district. His men were sprawled across the ground, groaning and clutching their wounds.Ethan wiped the blood from his knuckles, his breathing steady. Inside his mind, the familiar cold chime rang out.[Mission Complete: Neutralize Carl Vance and his crew.][Reward: Combat Mastery Lv. 2 Unlocked.] [Bonus Reward: System Upgrade Available.]He froze. System upgrade? That was new.[Initiating Upgrade…][Estimated Time: 30 seconds.]Ethan’s muscles tensed as warmth surged through his veins, followed by a wave of clarity. Every sense sharpened—his hearing picked up the faint drip of water three rooms away, his eyes caught the twitch of a man’s finger before it even moved.When the voice returned, it was… different. Deeper. More commanding.[Upgrade complete. New Feature Unlocked: Shadow Network.] [You may now recruit and contro