On July 15, 2030, Ren Inoue sat in his dimly lit room, engrossed in his favorite book, The Apocalypse Became A Game. As he turned the pages, a notification caught his eye. A message from the author read: "The apocalypse is coming to life. You all better prepare." While around a hundred other readers dismissed it as a late Fourth of July joke, Ren took it seriously.
Having built a fortune from a young age through his sharp business acumen and exceptional fighting skills, Ren was a millionaire by the age of twenty-five. He had amassed about $100 million—nothing compared to the wealth of the main character in his beloved novel, who had traveled back in time. Still, he had grand plans for his fortune, which he had largely kept untouched until now.
An idea began to form in his mind: what if he hired a professional hacker to steal money from across the globe? He quickly opened his laptop and navigated the dark web, searching for the right forum. His eyes lit up when he discovered the EliteHackers Guild.
Among the various profiles, one hacker stood out: Gold Raven. Her services came with a hefty price tag of $10 million a year, or $100 million for a decade. Intrigued, Ren wondered why more clients hadn't signed up. His curiosity soon turned to concern when he noticed a troubling pattern—five consecutive negative reviews, each noting that she had bankrupted her clients.
"Now I see why," he chuckled darkly. "But screw it; I'll pay for her services anyway. She might be top-tier, even if she has a questionable track record."
Determined, he crafted a message to Gold Raven after securing her services.
"Hello, Gold Raven. I've just paid for ten years of your service, and I'm already broke. I need your expertise urgently. Please respond when you can. Thanks."
Ren leaned back in his chair, a mix of excitement and anxiety bubbling within him. Little did he know, his decision would lead him into a world far beyond his imagination—a world where the boundaries of reality began to blur.
Lin Mei returned to her clan's mansion, heading straight to the kitchen to grab a quick meal and a steaming cup of coffee. She then made her way to her room, where her supercomputer—hidden behind a wall panel with a secret access code—awaited her.
Settling in, she entered the code and watched as the concealed workstation came to life. "Oh, looks like I have a new message on the forums," she muttered, noticing the notification. She opened it to find Ren Inoue's message, along with his substantial offer for her services.
With a smirk, Lin typed a reply. "Dear Client, we can meet in Lunaris Bay at the new bubble tea shop on Eclipse Avenue, The Bubble Bar. Regards, Gold Raven."
Satisfied, she sent the message and leaned back, eager to see how this new venture would unfold.
Ren Inoue's heart skipped a beat when he heard the soft ping of a dark web notification. He'd been checking his laptop every few minutes, and after three long hours, the response finally came through. Elated, he quickly replied, "I'm on my way," and bolted out the door, sprinting down the street toward their meeting spot. It was only a fifteen-minute run, and he wasn't about to waste any time.
Along the way, he accidentally collided with an elderly man. "Oh, sorry! Are you alright, sir?" Ren asked, catching his breath.
"It's alright, young fella," the old man said, brushing himself off. As he got up, a worn, dusty book slipped from his hand. Ren picked it up, offering it back.
"Hey, you dropped this!"
The old man's gaze softened as he shook his head. "Better in your hands than in mine, young one." With that, he turned and disappeared down the street, leaving Ren puzzled but clutching the mysterious book tightly. He had no time to linger on it, though—he was nearly at the meeting place.
Ten minutes later, he arrived at The Bubble Bar, a trendy bubble tea shop on Eclipse Avenue. In front of the shop stood a figure with golden-blonde hair, her face partially obscured by a mask, her gaze cast down. Ren approached her cautiously.
"Are you… Gold Raven?" he asked.
A tense silence hung in the air for a moment before she replied, her voice hesitant. "Y-yes. Who… who are you? Did my father send you?"
"Oh, no, no," Ren quickly assured her, holding up his hands. "I'm the client."
Relief washed over her face, and she nodded. "Good. So, what is it you need me to do for the next ten years?"
Ren took a steadying breath. "I want you to put Zenith Global Bank in my name. No one, not even the president, knows who the true owner is. Can you do it?"
Lin Mei's expression darkened, her voice edged with irritation. "And why the hell should I make you rich? What's in it for me?"
Ren was taken aback. He'd paid for her expertise to make his plan work, but he hadn't expected this resistance. Thinking quickly, he offered, "Look, I'll owe you. Whatever I make, I'll put to use in a way that will benefit both of us. Trust me."
She raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Oh? And what exactly are you planning?"
Ren hesitated. "I… can't say right now. But I promise, it'll be worth it. Beneficial for you too."
Lin Mei studied him for a long moment, weighing his words. She knew she could pull this off herself, but Ren's resources and anonymity would offer her an added layer of security her family wouldn't be able to track.
"Alright, fine," she said, crossing her arms. "But don't come crying to me if anyone comes after you for this."
Ren exhaled, relieved. "Deal."
They exchanged a knowing look, each silently calculating the risks and rewards of their partnership. The game had officially begun.