The foul stench from the piles of black plastic bags, soaked by the night's rain, seemed to seep deep into Rian's pores. As a janitor at the grand Sterling Tech building in Shoreditch, London, the worst part of the job wasn't cleaning the toilets after a board meeting. It was hauling the remains of that filth into the dark alley behind the building when the clock hit eleven. London was being unkind, the thin drizzle felt like ice needles piercing the fabric of his thin jacket, which was already starting to fray at the elbows.Rian let out a long sigh, white mist curling from his mouth. He dragged the two massive trash bags with whatever strength he had left. Only one thought occupied his mind: getting back to his cramped apartment, making a bowl of instant noodles, and sleeping. He never expected much from life. To him, being "invisible" amidst the hustle and bustle of this cosmopolitan city was the safest comfort zone. However, tonight, the silence of Shoreditch was shattered by some

The marble floor of the Sterling Tech lobby reflected the light from the crystal chandeliers hanging majestically from the thirty-foot ceiling. To others, this place was a symbol of London's technological advancement, a temple for geniuses and billionaires. But for Rian, this lobby was nothing more than a vast expanse he had to ensure remained gleaming before the executives' expensive shoes could soil it. That morning, his head still felt like it had been struck by a sledgehammer. Every time he blinked, his right eye throbbed, sending waves of heat radiating to the base of his brain.Rian tried to focus his gaze on the mop bucket and his dull blue uniform, which felt itchy against his skin. However, the Aura-Link system in his eye wouldn't let him rest. As soon as he turned toward the glass revolving doors ahead, a flood of data immediately invaded his vision.[Object Detected: Type-7 Biometric Security Sensor][Status: Active - Security Flaw: Encryption Protocol Has a 0.02 Second Lag

The scent of the spilled coffee mingled with the smell of Julian’s cold sweat, creating a suffocating atmosphere in Sterling Tech’s main lobby. The resulting silence was no longer just a lack of sound; it was a heavy stillness, as if the air in the room had suddenly frozen.Every eye was fixed on Rian, a young man who for the past two years had been regarded as little more than a piece of office furniture, invisible, ignored, and easily trampled. Now, however, he stood tall with a gaze that seemed capable of stripping away anyone’s darkest secrets.Julian remained kneeling on the marble floor, his trembling fingers clutching a silk handkerchief now stained with the brown liquid. He looked up, staring at Lady Victoria Sterling with a pale, ashen face, then turned to look at Rian with a mixture of hatred and horror. He wanted to scream, to hurl insults, but his tongue felt like lead. Victoria’s question hung in the air, demanding an answer that could change Rian’s entire life in an inst

"The real world is very cruel, Rian," Victoria said with a voice full of hidden sorrow."My father spent his entire life trying to figure out what lay behind those 'numbers.' He died because of it. And I... I am nothing more than the leftovers of his mad ambition."[Target Status: Emotional Defense Level Decreased to 45%.][Manipulation Successful. Target Beginning to Relate to User.]Rian felt a small pang of guilt prick his heart. He was manipulating the honest emotions of a woman who seemed to have suffered her entire life. However, Aura-Link possessed no mercy. The system continued to urge Rian to lock in the deal."I didn't know about your father, Ma'am. All I know is that now, every time I look at a computer screen, I can see the cracks in it. I could see Julian's lies before he even opened his mouth," Rian said, his voice steadier now. "If you hand me over to the police, they won't understand. They'll dissect my head in a government basement lab. Please... don't let that happen

"Victoria, you look stunning as always," Arthur said with a very thick posh accent. He then turned to Rian, extending his hand in a demeaning manner. "And who is this? I didn't know Sterling Tech was now hiring fashion models to accompany their CEO for dinner."Rian felt a surge of anger in his chest, but the Aura-Link immediately dampened the emotion. A digital command appeared in his vision.[Target Weakness Analysis: Arthur is currently facing a financial crisis in his property company. He strongly dislikes men who appear more intelligent than him.][Dialogue Instruction: Use Microeconomic Terms. Crush His Mental Dominance.]Rian accepted Arthur's handshake, but he applied a slightly firmer pressure, making Arthur wince involuntarily. "Rian. Lead Strategic Consultant. I didn't realize Sterling Tech allowed nearly bankrupt ex-lovers to arrange our CEO's dinner schedule," Rian replied in a very casual tone, almost as if he were talking about the weather.Arthur's face suddenly turned