The city skyline shimmered under the dying glow of dusk. Ethan sat in the back of his sleek black Maybach, his fingers drumming lightly on the armrest. The hum of the city felt different tonight. Quieter. Like it was holding its breath.“Host,” the system’s voice suddenly rang in his mind, sharper than usual. “New hidden quest detected. Warning: This task will directly impact your survival.”Ethan’s eyes narrowed. “Go on.”Hidden Quest: Eliminate the Invisible Hand. Time limit: 72 hours. Reward: Shadow Authority Trait. Penalty for failure: All accumulated traits will be locked for 14 days.Fourteen days without his enhancements? That was practically asking to be killed in the city’s cutthroat underworld.“Details,” Ethan demanded.The system’s holographic panel flashed in his mind. It displayed a map with three glowing red points scattered across the city. “The Invisible Hand is a covert network controlling political puppets, black-market trade, and assassins. They have marked you for

The sirens wailed somewhere in the distance, but Ethan didn’t stop running. His shoes splashed through puddles as he cut across the darkened street, the cold night air biting into his skin. Behind him, a black SUV screeched to a halt, its tires smoking, and four men in leather jackets poured out, guns in hand.[System Alert: Hostile presence detected. Recommendation: Engage or Evade. Reward multiplier active due to heightened danger level.]Ethan’s breath was ragged, but his mind was calm. Finally, he thought, a real test.He ducked into a narrow alley, the stench of rotting garbage in the air, and pressed his back to the brick wall. The men’s footsteps echoed closer, boots crunching on gravel.“You can’t hide forever, Cross!” one of them shouted. “The boss wants your head!”Ethan smirked. “Then he should’ve sent more men.”[System Mission Generated: Neutralize all hostiles. Time Limit: 5 minutes. Reward: Combat Enhancement Level +1.]His heart pounded. A fight in a dark alley? It was