Chereads / Fortune's Paradox / Chapter 6 - Descent into Darkness

Chapter 6 - Descent into Darkness

Jhon sat in silence, the dim glow of his computer screen casting shadows on his face. His eyes were glued to the flashing notification on the Fortune System.

[Task: Retaliate – Destroy the rival business by any means necessary.]

The words echoed in his mind. Retaliation. Revenge. Elimination.

This wasn't the path he had envisioned when he first received the Fortune System. But now, here he was, standing at the edge of a precipice. The rival company had pushed him to this point, and the system was offering him the tools to strike back with full force.

Jhon took a deep breath and opened the system's menu. A new skill was waiting for him: "Corporate Espionage." It was a dark skill, one that would allow him to sabotage his enemies from the shadows, planting misinformation, causing financial instability, and even compromising their supply chains.

He hesitated. The system had brought him this far, helping him rise from the ashes of his heartbreak and financial ruin. But was this the price he had to pay for success?

His phone buzzed on the table, and he glanced at it. Another notification, this time from Alice. She had been messaging him more frequently, checking in with feigned concern. Jhon could tell she wasn't genuinely interested in him—she was curious about his growing success. Ever since she had seen his business taking off, Alice had been trying to worm her way back into his life.

Jhon's lip curled in disdain. He wouldn't be manipulated anymore.

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[New Task: Ignore Alice's Advances – Focus on your goals and reject distractions. Reward: 500 FP.]

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It was almost laughable. Even the system seemed to recognize Alice's toxic influence on his life. He dismissed the task notification and turned back to the matter at hand—his rival.

With a grim determination, Jhon activated the "Corporate Espionage" skill. The system buzzed, and a new set of options appeared, outlining how to cripple the rival business. Jhon leaned forward, studying the instructions carefully. He could target their website with false reviews, disrupt their supply chain by bribing key partners, or even plant damaging rumors that would destroy their public image.

It felt wrong. But at the same time, it felt necessary.

He began to type.

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A Ruthless Play

The next few days passed in a blur of secretive actions and backroom deals. Jhon moved carefully, executing his plan with precision. He funneled money into fake customer complaints, hired a few freelancers to post negative reviews, and even managed to intercept a major shipment that would leave his rival scrambling to meet their demands.

The system rewarded him generously, and his FP soared with each successful move. The more he dismantled his rival's operations, the more powerful he felt.

[Task Completed: Retaliate – 10,000 FP awarded.]

[New Skill Unlocked: Hostile Takeover – Enables aggressive acquisition of failing businesses. Can be used to absorb rival companies and increase wealth exponentially.]

Jhon sat back in his chair, his heart pounding with adrenaline. He had done it. His rival was on the brink of collapse, and now the Fortune System was offering him the chance to finish them off completely. The "Hostile Takeover" skill would allow him to buy out the remnants of the company at a fraction of their value, absorbing their assets and customer base into his own empire.

But something gnawed at him, a growing sense of unease. He had crossed a line, and there was no going back.

That night, as he lay in bed, sleep eluded him. His mind raced with conflicting thoughts. The power he had now was intoxicating, but at what cost? He had become ruthless, willing to destroy anyone who stood in his way. The Jhon Gray of a few months ago wouldn't have recognized the man he was now.

And yet, he couldn't stop.

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Blood on the Hands

A week later, Jhon received an email from his rival's CEO, a man named Robert Dawson. It was a desperate plea—an offer to meet and discuss a potential partnership before things got worse. Jhon had already made up his mind, but something about the tone of the email caught his attention. Robert sounded broken, defeated.

He arranged the meeting.

The next day, Jhon found himself sitting in a small, dimly lit café, waiting for Robert to arrive. When he finally did, Jhon was taken aback by the man's appearance. Robert looked exhausted, his eyes sunken and his face pale. It was clear the stress of the sabotage had taken its toll on him.

Robert: "Mr. Gray, I appreciate you meeting me. I won't waste your time. My company… we're struggling. I know what's been happening behind the scenes, and I don't blame you for it. This is business, after all."

Jhon said nothing, watching the man intently.

Robert: "I'm willing to sell, but I'm asking for something in return. My employees… they've been loyal to me for years. If you take over, please—take care of them. They don't deserve to suffer for my failures."

Jhon felt a strange twinge of guilt as he listened to Robert's words. He had been so focused on winning, on growing his fortune, that he hadn't considered the human cost of his actions. People like Robert—people who had built something with their own hands—were being crushed in his pursuit of power.

But the Fortune System didn't care about that. It only cared about results.

Jhon: "I'll consider your request."

The meeting ended on a tense note, and Jhon left the café feeling conflicted. He could sense that the system was already preparing for the next phase of his journey, pushing him toward greater wealth and influence. But the further he went, the more it seemed like there would be blood on his hands.

He returned to his apartment and opened the system's interface. The "Hostile Takeover" skill gleamed ominously on the screen, ready for him to activate. All he had to do was press the button.

Fortune System: "Proceed with the hostile takeover?"

Jhon: "Yes."

The deal was done.

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[Task Completed: Execute Hostile Takeover – 15,000 FP awarded.]

[New Skill Unlocked: Financial Domination – Allows you to control and manipulate market prices and rival businesses with ease. Increases influence over economic sectors.]

Jhon stared at the screen, his fingers trembling slightly. His business empire was growing faster than he had ever imagined, but he couldn't ignore the darkness creeping into his life. He had destroyed a man's livelihood, taken over a failing company, and left a trail of devastation in his wake.

And yet, the Fortune System continued to reward him.

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A Gruesome Reminder

Weeks passed, and Jhon's success skyrocketed. His new acquisitions bolstered his profits, and his name was beginning to be recognized in the industry. But one night, something horrifying occurred—something that would forever change his perspective.

Jhon had returned home late from a business meeting when he noticed a package waiting for him outside his door. Frowning, he picked it up and brought it inside. It was unmarked, with no return address.

As he opened it, a wave of nausea hit him.

Inside the box was a severed finger—bloodied and grotesque, wrapped in a piece of cloth. Jhon stumbled back, his heart racing, his stomach churning. There was a note attached, written in shaky handwriting.

Note: "This is just the beginning. You've made powerful enemies."

Jhon's world spun. Who had sent this? The rival business? The suppliers he had betrayed? Or someone else entirely?

He rushed to the computer, the system already buzzing with an urgent notification.

[New Task: Identify the Threat – Investigate the source of the threat and neutralize it. Reward: 20,000 FP.]

The stakes had just been raised.

Jhon was no longer just dealing with competitors and business rivals—he was dealing with people willing to spill blood to take him down. The Fortune System had brought him this far, but now, he was beginning to realize just how deep he had sunk into a world of darkness and danger.

And there was no turning back.

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