The Billionaire's Hidden System

The Ten-Thousand-Dollar Test

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 buyers and discovered that the largest pharmaceutical distributor had already lost a major shipment. Its purchasing manager, Samuel Reed, offered to buy the entire available stock, but only if Ethan could guarantee delivery within six hours.

“That is impossible,” Daniel said after hearing the demand.

Ethan shook his head. “Not impossible. Complicated.”

Financial Insight highlighted a logistics company whose trucks were currently returning from another city with empty cargo space. Ethan contacted the company and negotiated a discounted emergency transport contract. Then he called the supplier and offered immediate payment for the entire stock.

The supplier hesitated.

“You are not a registered pharmaceutical company,” the supplier said. “Why should I trust you with an order this large?”

Ethan answered calmly, “Because I am offering payment before delivery, and I am taking responsibility for the transportation.”

Victoria watched him carefully. She had expected him to depend heavily on her money, but Ethan was negotiating every part of the transaction himself.

After several tense minutes, the supplier accepted.

Ethan transferred the funds.

[Transaction confirmed.]

[Initial capital reduced.]

[Projected profit: $14,800.]

[Market fluctuation detected.]

[Projected profit revised: $11,600–$16,200.]

The system’s warning changed Ethan’s expression. A new competitor had entered the market and was purchasing supplies aggressively.

“Someone else is buying from the same suppliers,” he said.

Daniel immediately began investigating. “I am checking the companies placing the orders.”

Victoria leaned forward. “Could it be Richard?”

Ethan considered it. Richard had already sent people after the watch, so another attack was possible. However, Financial Insight showed something unusual. The competitor was not purchasing through a Cole International subsidiary. It was operating through three unrelated companies.

Daniel’s voice suddenly sharpened through the phone. “Ethan, I found something.”

“What?”

“All three companies were incorporated within the same month. Their directors are different, but their registered legal representative is the same.”

“Who?”

Daniel paused.

“Blackstone Protective Services.”

The name changed everything.

Ethan immediately realized the shortage might not be a normal business opportunity. Someone could be deliberately manipulating the supply chain to create pressure in the pharmaceutical market. If Blackstone was involved, the transaction might be connected to Adrian Cole.

Before Ethan could respond, his phone rang.

Samuel Reed was calling.

“We have a problem,” Samuel said. “Another buyer has offered twenty percent above your price, and my board is considering their offer.”

Ethan looked at Victoria.

“How long do I have?”

“Thirty minutes.”

Ethan ended the call and opened Financial Insight again. Several possible strategies appeared, but only one offered a high probability of success.

He called Samuel back.

“I will give you something your competitor cannot.”

Samuel sounded skeptical. “What?”

“Guaranteed delivery, priority allocation, and a fixed price for your next two shipments.”

“That requires a larger commitment.”

“I know.”

Ethan turned to Victoria. “I need another fifty thousand dollars.”

Victoria did not hesitate. “You have it.”

Daniel immediately transferred the additional funds.

Ethan used the money to secure a second supplier before the competitor could reach them. Then he arranged for both shipments to travel separately, reducing the risk of delay.

Within twenty minutes, Samuel accepted the revised agreement.

The first shipment arrived three hours later.

Ethan watched the transaction settle.

[Emergency Trial progress: 87%.]

[Profit confirmed: $12,430.]

[Objective threshold exceeded.]

[Emergency Trial complete.]

[Reward: 300 System Points.]

[Additional reward unlocked: Business Analysis Level One.]

Ethan exhaled slowly.

He had done it.

But the system immediately displayed another message.

[Hidden condition detected.]

[Successful host performance has attracted external attention.]

[Warning: Blackstone has identified the host.]

Ethan’s satisfaction disappeared.

Daniel looked at his phone. “You need to see this.”

He turned the screen toward Ethan.

A photograph showed Ethan entering Grant Tower earlier that morning.

Someone had taken it from across the street.

Beneath the photograph was a message from an unknown number.

“We know who you are, Ethan Cole. Your father made the same mistake you are making. Stop digging, or you will disappear like he did.”

Victoria read the message and went silent.

Ethan did not respond. Instead, he saved the photograph and asked Daniel to trace the number.

A moment later, Daniel frowned.

“It is impossible.”

“What is?”

“The number belongs to a company that officially ceased operations six years ago.”

Ethan looked toward the city skyline. Six years ago was the same year Adrian Cole had supposedly disappeared.

The connection was no longer a coincidence.

He opened the system.

A new mission appeared.

[Main Mission Updated: Follow the Money.]

[Objective: Discover why Blackstone manipulated the pharmaceutical market.]

[Time Limit: 72 hours.]

[Reward: 800 System Points.]

[Failure Penalty: System access restricted for seven days.]

Ethan accepted.

His first business victory had earned him money, experience, and a new ability.

It had also revealed something far more dangerous.

Someone had been waiting for him to become strong enough to notice the trail.

Ethan closed the system and gave Daniel one instruction. “Find that company, its owners, and every transaction connected to Adrian. We are done reacting to them. From now on, we hunt first, and much harder.”

And now that Ethan had found it, the people hiding behind Blackstone knew exactly where to find him.