Jhon's body still pulsed with adrenaline as he dragged himself back to the inn. The encounter with Kastov's man had left him shaken but also more determined. The path ahead was dangerous, but the Fortune System was his key to navigating it.
===
Back in the Shadows
He closed the door to his room and leaned against it, the cold sweat sticking to his skin. His heart rate slowly returned to normal, but the weight of the encounter lingered. The man he had just fought wasn't some random thug; he had training, precision. Kastov wasn't just sending people to scare Jhon—he was sending assassins.
Fortune System: [New Task: Survive the Assassination Attempt. Reward: 5,000 FP. Task Completed.]
The notification blinked in front of him, a strange reward for simply staying alive. He let out a breath, wiping his hands across his face. There was no rest in this game—every step forward felt like it could be his last.
Jhon checked his remaining FP. He had gathered a decent amount from his recent tasks but knew that more would be required for the war ahead. His mind raced with thoughts of how to spend it. Upgrading his personal skills could give him the edge he needed to survive the next attack, but without Vlad's intel, he would be stumbling in the dark.
A sharp knock interrupted his thoughts.
Innkeeper: "Someone's here to see you."
Jhon tensed. He hadn't been expecting anyone, and after the night he had just had, he was in no mood for surprises. He quickly checked the room for anything he could use as a weapon, settling on a thick piece of broken wood he'd pried from the floorboards earlier.
The door creaked open, and a man in a dark coat stepped inside, his presence heavy in the small room. He was tall, with sharp, calculating eyes, and he carried himself with an air of authority.
Man: "Vlad sent me."
Jhon's grip on the wood loosened slightly, but he didn't let his guard down.
Jhon: "Who are you?"
The man raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a faint smile.
Man: "Let's just say I'm a friend of Vlad's. He thought you could use some... assistance. I'm here to provide it."
Jhon hesitated. Trusting someone in this situation was a risk, but if Vlad had sent him, maybe it was a risk worth taking.
Jhon: "What kind of assistance?"
The man's smile widened as he reached into his coat and pulled out a small device, sliding it across the table.
Man: "This is the key to getting into Kastov's network. Vlad said you needed a way in—this is it. Use it wisely, because you'll only get one shot."
Jhon stared at the device. It was small, barely the size of a thumb drive, but it radiated power. This was what he needed to access the files Vlad had mentioned—the files that could bring Kastov's empire crashing down.
Jhon: "What's the catch?"
The man chuckled softly, stepping closer.
Man: "No catch. Vlad just wants to see if you have what it takes to finish this. Consider it a test."
A test. Jhon wasn't sure how he felt about being someone's guinea pig, but at this point, he didn't have many options. If Vlad was willing to give him this tool, it meant he had at least some faith in Jhon's ability to pull this off.
Jhon picked up the device, weighing it in his hand.
Jhon: "What happens once I get the files?"
The man's smile disappeared, replaced by a more serious expression.
Man: "Once you get the files, everything changes. Kastov will come for you with everything he has. If you want to survive, you'll need to be prepared for war."
Jhon swallowed hard, the reality of the situation sinking in. He wasn't just dealing with corporate games anymore—this was full-scale warfare. But if it meant taking Kastov down, he was willing to play.
Fortune System: [New Task: Infiltrate Kastov's Network. Reward: 100,000 FP.]
The system's notification flashed again, solidifying his next move. The stakes had never been higher, but the rewards were worth it.
Jhon nodded, tucking the device into his pocket.
Jhon: "Tell Vlad I'm ready."
The man's smile returned as he turned to leave.
Man: "Good luck. You're going to need it."
Jhon watched as the man disappeared into the night, his heart pounding with anticipation. The next phase of his mission was clear, but the danger ahead loomed larger than ever.
===
Fortune's Grip Tightens
Jhon spent the next few days laying low, carefully planning his next move. The device sat on the table, a constant reminder of the task ahead. He knew he couldn't rush into this—it required precision, patience, and skill.
Each night, the village seemed to grow darker, the cold air carrying whispers of things unseen. The locals were wary, their eyes watching Jhon's every move. Word had spread that a foreigner was looking for trouble, and Jhon knew it wouldn't be long before Kastov's men came sniffing around again.
But Jhon wasn't going to wait for them. He had work to do.
Fortune System: [New Skill Available: Network Infiltration. Cost: 10,000 FP.]
Jhon didn't hesitate. He spent the FP, feeling the surge of power and knowledge flood his mind. Suddenly, the pieces of Kastov's network began to fall into place. He could see the weak points, the entry points that would allow him to slip in unnoticed.
But there was more to it. The system offered additional upgrades—tools that could enhance his abilities even further. He had enough FP to unlock a few of them, but he needed to choose wisely.
Fortune System: [Upgrade Options:
[Hacker's Intuition: Improves digital security bypassing techniques.][Social Engineering Mastery: Enhances manipulation of individuals within networks.][System Override: Temporarily disables key security measures.]
Jhon considered his options carefully. Each upgrade could prove invaluable, but he didn't have enough FP to unlock them all. He needed to think strategically.
After a moment of contemplation, he selected Hacker's Intuition and System Override. With those two skills, he would have a better chance of bypassing Kastov's network security and temporarily disabling any systems that could alert the man to his presence.
The upgrades took effect instantly, the Fortune System silently guiding Jhon's thoughts as he prepared for the infiltration.
===
Into the Lion's Den, Again
The night Jhon decided to infiltrate Kastov's network was cold and moonless. The village was eerily quiet, the only sound coming from the distant howling of the wind through the mountains.
Jhon sat at his desk, his laptop open, the device Vlad's man had given him plugged in. His hands hovered over the keyboard, his heart racing with anticipation.
This was it. The moment everything could change.
He began the process, his fingers flying over the keys as he followed the instructions the system had provided. The device hummed softly as it worked its magic, slipping past Kastov's defenses with an ease that surprised Jhon.
But it wasn't over yet. The real challenge lay in finding the files Vlad had mentioned. Jhon navigated through layers of security, bypassing firewalls and encryption protocols as the system guided him deeper into Kastov's network.
Minutes turned into hours as Jhon worked tirelessly, his mind focused on the task at hand. The risk of being discovered loomed large, but the Fortune System's upgrades had given him the edge he needed.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Jhon found it—the file that could bring Kastov's empire crumbling down. His hands shook as he downloaded it, the weight of what he had just done pressing down on him.
Fortune System: [Task Completed: Infiltrate Kastov's Network. Reward: 100,000 FP.]
The notification blinked in front of him, but Jhon barely registered it. His mind was racing with the possibilities of what came next.
He had the file. Now all he needed to do was survive long enough to use it.