The new information Li Zhen had gained at the City of Shadows was like fuel to his ambition. Armed with the tech dossier and the gemstone, he was closer than ever to exposing his hidden family's lineage and destabilizing the Covenant's reach in Europe. With Orion and Phantom executing his every command, Li Zhen prepared for his next move.
A Hidden Hand in the Market
The Covenant's European tech conglomerate, Intelix, was one of their strongest footholds. The intel he had acquired revealed a series of questionable dealings within Intelix's board—bribery, insider trading, and even skeletons in their management's closet. The information was damning, and Li Zhen knew how to weaponize it.
[System Notification: New Task – Market Manipulation]
[Objective: Use the gathered information to force Intelix into a financial downturn. Capitalise on the stock plunge for high returns.]
[Reward: $100 million and Access to Intelix's European Network.]
With a wicked grin, Li Zhen initiated a series of covert market strategies, shorting Intelix's stock while feeding snippets of damaging intel to select journalists and financial insiders. The press exploded with rumors of corruption, while Intelix's stock began to plummet. Investors panicked, selling their shares, and Li Zhen capitalized on every dip, reaping millions.
Intelix's directors scrambled to control the fallout, and soon they were reaching out to private investors to keep the company afloat. Using his network of proxies and allies, Li Zhen made strategic purchases through shell companies, securing a significant hidden stake in Intelix.
The Covenant had no idea that the invisible hand sinking Intelix was his. By the time they realized, it would be too late.
The Meeting with Madame Zhao
With Intelix's fate under his control, Li Zhen arranged a meeting with Madame Zhao at a luxurious, secluded tea house. They had developed a mutual respect, each seeing the other as an invaluable ally in a game filled with rivals and betrayals.
She looked up at him, her sharp eyes scanning him with intrigue. "I've been hearing whispers of your work, Li Zhen. The Covenant is shaken; they're trying to figure out who is behind the attack on Intelix."
Li Zhen took a sip of his tea, feigning innocence. "Whoever's responsible seems to know how to stay hidden."
Madame Zhao chuckled. "And yet, I have a feeling you're at the center of it all." She leaned forward, her expression turning serious. "With the Covenant distracted, now is the perfect time to move on another target."
She slid a document across the table. "This is a list of influential families who control underground banks across Asia. They're old allies of the Covenant, but they're also growing dissatisfied with its control. If you win them over, you'll have access to a shadow network that's been running for generations."
Li Zhen studied the document, his mind racing with new possibilities. The underground banks could be the perfect tool to finance his own empire independently, free from any oversight.
"I'll bring them to our side," Li Zhen promised. "Together, we'll be unstoppable."
Recruiting New Allies
Back at his headquarters, Li Zhen summoned Viper, Jiang Wei, and Phantom.
"Intelix is only the beginning. We're going after the Covenant's financial roots. Jiang Wei, I want you to lead negotiations with the underground banks. Show them that aligning with us will be far more profitable than staying under the Covenant's thumb."
Jiang Wei nodded confidently. "I'll make sure they understand who's offering them a better future."
Li Zhen turned to Viper. "I also want you to track down highly skilled security operatives. We need hidden forces stationed across Asia and Europe to defend our assets and enforce our will if necessary."
Viper grinned. "Consider it done, Boss. I'll make sure they're loyal and elite."
With his team deployed, Li Zhen knew he was building a formidable empire—one that could stand against any threat.
Expanding His Inner Circle
During this time, Li Zhen was approached by another key figure who would add to his growing power base—a master hacker known as Raven. She was infamous for her skills in digital warfare, able to bring down networks or protect them with equal ease.
After an intense but respectful conversation, Raven agreed to join his ranks, seeing Li Zhen as the visionary she had been waiting for. Together with Orion, she would handle his cyber operations, granting him access to intelligence from nearly any digital source in the world.
With Raven's support, he also commissioned the development of a custom AI—an artificial intelligence capable of analyzing data, predicting enemy moves, and even automating certain high-risk financial strategies. He named it "Echo."
[System Notification: New Ally Acquired – Raven the Master Hacker]
[Reward: Enhanced Cyber Capabilities, Stealth Access to High-Security Databases]
[System Notification: New Tool Acquired – Echo AI]
[Description: An advanced AI assistant with predictive analytics and high-level encryption abilities.]
Armed with Echo, Li Zhen could now foresee his enemies' moves and stay ten steps ahead. It was like having a shadow army within the world's data itself.
Back to His Hidden Heritage
The gemstone continued to pique his curiosity, and he tasked Phantom with investigating its origins. After several days of digging through archives, Phantom returned with fascinating information.
"The emblem on the gemstone belongs to the Bai family," Phantom reported. "They're one of the most elusive hidden families in China, controlling assets in tech, defense, and even ancient relics."
The Bai family was a name whispered in legend, known for its power, secrecy, and influence. If his bloodline was tied to the Bai family, that could explain the strength he felt within himself—and why the system had chosen him.
[System Notification: Family Revelation Unlocked – Hidden Bloodline Connected to the Bai Family]
[Reward: Access to Bai Family Relic Vault – A vault containing rare items and artifacts passed down for generations.]
The system notification confirmed what he had suspected. The Bai family's resources would become his greatest asset. And, as a rightful heir, he would one day return to claim his place, even if it meant competing against others within the family.
Li Zhen clenched his fists, feeling his ambition surge to new heights. His journey from the bottom was far from over—he was only beginning to realize the vast power that lay ahead.
A Message from Gruber
As Li Zhen basked in the revelations of his heritage and plotted his next moves, he received a message from a private source: Heinrich Gruber had discovered his name.
The message was simple but pointed: "I know it's you. Let's meet."
Li Zhen read the words calmly, a smirk forming. Gruber's curiosity had finally gotten the better of him. Li Zhen had expected this moment, and he welcomed it. A face-off with Gruber would allow him to size up one of the Covenant's most formidable agents—and perhaps even gain a new perspective on how they operated.
He replied: "I'll see you soon."
This meeting would be a turning point, a test of his wits and willpower. Gruber wanted to expose him, to trap him, but Li Zhen would prove he was untouchable. As he prepared for the meeting, his confidence surged. The Covenant was a mighty shadow, but he was prepared to become a darker one.
The world was watching, even if they didn't know it yet. The financial empires, hidden families, and underground powers—they would all bow, not just to his wealth, but to his name.