God-Level Tycoon: Rise of the Nobody

The Trap in the Shadows

“System,” he murmured under his breath, “you really don’t believe in giving me an easy night, do you?”

[Challenge difficulty: SSS][Advisory: Your opponents will not hesitate to destroy you—personally and professionally.]

A faint smile tugged at Ethan’s lips. “Good. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

The next morning, Ethan walked into the lobby of the city’s most exclusive business club. Conversations hushed, eyes followed him. He could feel the mixture of respect and hostility radiating from the crowd.

At the center table sat the current front-runner for the Harborfront deal—Maxwell Kane, a tycoon with a reputation for swallowing competitors whole. His suit was pristine, his smirk predatory.

“Ethan Cross,” Maxwell said, raising a glass of brandy as if toasting him. “I hear you’ve taken an interest in my project.”

Ethan slid into the chair opposite him. “Not yours yet.”

Maxwell chuckled. “You’re ambitious. But this is beyond ambition—it’s suicide. The investors are already locked in with me. You’re too late.”

Ethan leaned forward, his voice calm but carrying an edge that made Maxwell’s smirk falter. “Too late for most men. But I’m not most men.”

By noon, Ethan was in a whirlwind of meetings—calling in favors, rewriting proposals, subtly undermining Maxwell’s credibility without leaving a trace. The Negotiator’s Gambit reward danced in his mind like a prize just within reach.

But the system didn’t warn him about the curveball.

Halfway through the day, his assistant rushed in, pale-faced. “Sir… one of our offshore accounts has been hacked. Funds are missing.”

Ethan froze. “How much?”

“Enough to cripple the bid if we don’t recover it.”

A slow, dangerous smile formed on Ethan’s lips. He knew exactly who was behind it. And if Maxwell Kane thought he could play dirty, Ethan would show him just how ruthless a ‘nobody’ could become.

[System Alert: Side Mission Unlocked – Retaliation]Objective: Recover stolen funds and use the enemy’s resources against them. Reward:Temporary Skill – “Reverse Heist.”

By midnight, Ethan was in a dimly lit office, staring at encrypted data streams on his laptop. His fingers flew over the keys, each click fueled by pure determination. This wasn’t just about the casino anymore—it was about dominance.

[Reverse Heist Activated][Target: Maxwell Kane’s Cayman Account] [Status: Infiltrating…]

Three minutes later, Ethan leaned back as numbers rolled onto his screen. Not only had he recovered every stolen cent, but Maxwell’s account now sat \$2.3 million lighter.

“Consider that my entry f*e,” Ethan muttered, closing the laptop.

Tomorrow, the final bid presentation will decide everything. But tonight, Ethan slept like a king who already owned the battlefield.

Ethan leaned back in the black leather seat of his newly acquired Maybach, the city lights gliding past the tinted windows. The meeting with the investors had gone better than expected—he now had control over two more properties in the city’s prime district. His phone buzzed with a new notification.

[System Alert: Side Mission Unlocked] "Acquire three influential allies within 48 hours." Reward: Influence Upgrade (+20 Charisma)Penalty: Loss of current influence points.

Ethan’s eyes narrowed. This wasn’t just a money-making mission; it was about power, people, and reputation.

"Three influential allies in 48 hours? That’s too specific to be random," he muttered under his breath. The system was never truly random—it always pushed him toward the most dangerous yet rewarding opportunities.

Before he could strategize, his driver’s voice broke through the calm. "Sir, there’s a car tailing us. Been following since we left the hotel."

Ethan straightened. "Lose them."

The Maybach picked up speed, weaving through traffic, but the black SUV behind them matched every turn. Ethan’s pulse remained steady—panic was for amateurs.

"Pull into the underground lot," Ethan ordered.

The driver obeyed, descending into the dimly lit parking area beneath a half-finished shopping complex. As the Maybach rolled to a stop, the SUV screeched in a few seconds later.

Four men stepped out—tall, heavy-set, and not here for a friendly chat. The leader, a scar slicing across his cheek, gave a cold smirk. "Mr. Cross. You’ve been making waves. Our boss doesn’t like waves."

Ethan’s gaze flickered over them, already calculating exits, strengths, and weaknesses. "Tell your boss that when the tide comes in, he can either swim or drown."

Scarface’s smirk vanished. "Wrong answer."

The men advanced. Ethan stepped out of the car slowly, his voice calm. "You’re making a mistake."

A cold chime rang in his head.

[System Alert: Optional Combat Mission] "Defeat all attackers without taking serious injury." Reward: Strength Enhancement (+15) Failure:Temporary skill downgrade.

"Perfect timing," Ethan muttered.

The first thug lunged, swinging a metal pipe. Ethan sidestepped, grabbed the man’s wrist, and slammed him into the SUV hood with a crack. The others rushed forward, but Ethan’s body moved with a precision and force that wasn’t entirely human anymore—every motion faster, cleaner, stronger.

A sharp kick to the ribs, an elbow to the jaw, and two more went down groaning. Scarface was last, pulling a switchblade, but his hands trembled when Ethan stepped toward him. "Go back to your boss," Ethan said coldly. "Tell him I’m not to be toyed with."

Scarface spat on the ground but backed away, dragging his men with him.

[System Alert: Mission Complete] Reward Gained:Strength Enhancement (+15)Current Strength: 85/100

Ethan exhaled slowly, flexing his fingers. The new strength coursed through his body like electricity. But as he slid back into the Maybach, his phone buzzed again—this time it wasn’t the system.

It was an anonymous text: "Ally #1 is closer than you think. But the wrong choice will destroy you."

Ethan’s jaw tightened. The game wasn’t just about leveling up anymore. Someone out there knew the rules—and was playing their own.