Ethan watched the black vehicle disappear into the rain before turning his attention back to the strange blue screen floating before his eyes.He reached toward it, but his fingers passed through the display.“System, what exactly are you?”The screen remained still for several seconds before new words appeared.[The Hidden System exists to assist the chosen host in fulfilling his potential.]“That explains nothing.”[The host currently possesses insufficient authority to access advanced information.]Ethan frowned. Even an impossible system apparently had rules.He looked at the objective again.[Emergency Trial: Survive the next twenty-four hours.][Time Remaining: 23:57:41.]“What happens if I fail?”[The system will permanently terminate.]Ethan stared at the final line. He did not know whether the system could actually kill him, but after everything that had happened that evening, he was not willing to discover the answer.He stepped away from the building and walked toward a nea

Ethan entered the electronics store with the confidence of someone who had a plan, even though he had no idea whether the plan would work.The manager was still arguing with the delivery driver near the counter.“I ordered twenty units,” the manager said. “You delivered thirty.”“The warehouse sent the extra units by mistake,” the driver replied. “I was told to leave them here.”Ethan glanced at the boxes.He recognized the product immediately. It was a new processing device designed for professional computers. The manufacturer had announced that production would stop within a month because of a shortage of a specialized component.Most people had not noticed the announcement yet.Ethan had.Financial Insight activated.[Market opportunity detected.][Current estimated value: $420 per unit.][Projected value after supply shortage: $1,050–$1,300 per unit.]Ethan looked at the manager.“Are you planning to return the extra units?”The manager turned toward him.“That is none of your bus

Ethan left Grant Tower before sunrise with Victoria’s investment secured and one objective dominating his thoughts: turn the borrowed opportunity into at least ten thousand dollars of profit before the system’s fourteen-hour deadline expired.The pharmaceutical shortage identified by Financial Insight looked promising, but Ethan knew an opportunity was worthless if he could not execute quickly. The supplier held limited stock of a specialized medication component that several regional manufacturers suddenly needed. Prices were rising every hour, yet the supplier had not realized how serious the shortage had become.Victoria joined him in the back seat of her sedan while Daniel coordinated calls from another vehicle. Ethan studied the figures appearing through Financial Insight. The system did not tell him what to buy. Instead, it displayed probabilities, demand patterns, supplier reliability, and projected price movements.That limitation forced Ethan to think.He contacted three buye

The elevator doors opened onto the twenty-second floor, and Ethan immediately noticed that the corridor was empty. Grant Tower usually remained busy throughout the afternoon, but now every office door was closed, and the security cameras above the ceiling had stopped moving.Daniel stepped out first. “The cameras went offline thirty seconds ago.”Victoria followed, keeping close to Ethan. “That cannot be a coincidence.”“It is not,” Ethan replied.A metallic click came from the far end of the corridor.Ethan raised his hand, stopping both of them.A man emerged from the stairwell wearing a dark suit. He was not the doctor from the photograph, but Ethan recognized the silver ring on his right hand.“Mr. Cole,” the man said calmly. “You have been difficult to reach.”Ethan studied him. “Who sent you?”The stranger smiled. “Someone who wants you alive.”Before Ethan could ask another question, the lights returned. The man was already walking toward the opposite stairwell.Daniel rushed a

The phone rang again before Ethan could put it away.The same unknown number appeared.He answered without speaking.The distorted voice returned.“You have twenty-four hours.”“For what?”“To come home.”Ethan's expression hardened. “I have not called that place home in years.”“You will tonight.”The caller paused.“Come to the Cole estate alone, Ethan. Bring the watch.”“Who are you?”“You have spent twenty-four years believing your father disappeared there.”Ethan's eyes narrowed.“He didn't.”The line went dead.Daniel immediately began tracing the call, but the signal vanished before the system could locate it.Victoria looked at Ethan. “What did he mean?”Ethan's watch suddenly vibrated.The system screen appeared.[Hidden Mission Unlocked: Return to the Beginning.][Location: Cole Estate.][Objective: Recover Adrian Cole's hidden evidence.][Time Limit: 24 Hours.][Warning: Do not trust anyone at the estate.]Ethan read the final line twice.Then another message appeared.[Add