Aiden's trading room was a technological spectacle. Giant monitors lined the walls, each displaying real-time charts, quotes, and data. The glow of the screens illuminated the space as Aiden, with a cup of coffee in one hand and a tablet in the other, meticulously analyzed the market. He was ready to play the game that few could master.
The bank notification had arrived. 10 billion credits had been released into his investment account. Aiden knew he would need to use each credit with precision to not only weaken Sys Comp., but also double its capital and show why he was considered a financial genius.
Aiden opened the investment terminal and began his plan. The first phase would be to cause panic among Sys Comp.'s shareholders. He knew the company was already weakened, with shares hovering around 1,200 credits each due to recent financial scandals.
"Time to drive this down even further," he muttered.
Aiden used 1 billion credits to initiate massive short selling, creating artificial pressure on Sys Comp's stock price.
He borrowed millions of shares from large brokerages, immediately selling them at market price.
This move sent the price down from 1,200 credits to 1,050 credits in a matter of minutes.
"This will attract the small investors," he said, noting the immediate impact.
With the initial drop, he knew that small investors—those who bought stocks hoping for a quick profit—would start selling in panic. Aiden used another billion credits to hire social media bots and post alarming rumors. The messages flooded forums and discussion groups:
"Sys Comp. may go bankrupt due to new lawsuits!"
"Major shareholders are liquidating their positions!"
These rumors, combined with the negative reports Aiden had already planted in the media, caused an even steeper decline. Within hours, the stock price plummeted to 850 credits.
"That's what I like," Aiden said, smiling as he watched the red candlestick chart descend like an avalanche.
With the stock price at its lowest point, Aiden changed tactics. He knew that despite the volatility, Sys Comp. still had valuable assets, and the price would eventually stabilize.
He invested 3 billion credits to buy the now-devalued stock.
Aiden purchased about 3.5 million shares at an average price of 850 credits.
This move started a slight recovery in the price, which rose to 900 credits.
Aiden then used his media contacts again, this time to spread positive news about Sys Comp.
"Reliable sources say a mysterious investor is interested in acquire the company!"
"Sys Comp. may announce a revolutionary new technology soon."
Small investors, fearful of missing out on the rally, began buying back in, pushing the price up to 1,050 credits.
Now that the market was on the rebound, Aiden began playing his favorite game: buying and selling quickly to maximize profits.
He sold 1 million shares he had bought for 850 credits at a price of 1,050 credits, securing a profit of 200 million credits.
When the price dipped slightly to 1,000 credits, he bought back 500,000 more shares, waiting for the next rally.
Within two hours, he repeated this cycle four times, racking up a net profit of 600 million credits.
After playing with the market and stabilizing the price around 1,100 credits, Aiden made his final move. He used the remaining 4 billion credits to buy up shares massively, pushing the price up to 1,300 credits, above the original opening price.
"What now, Mr. Lyco?" Aiden muttered, watching the chart peak.
With the price rising, he began liquidating all of his positions. Within minutes, he had sold all of the shares he had acquired, securing a net profit of 10 billion credits in addition to his initial capital.
The trading room was silent as Aiden looked at the final numbers. He had started with 10 billion credits and now had 20 billion credits in his investment account. On top of that, Sys Comp.'s stock price was fluctuating dangerously, leaving shareholders nervous and vulnerable.
『Mission Update』
『Progress: 60%』
Smiling, Aiden leaned back in his chair. "This is just the beginning."
He knew that the financial blow to the stock market was just one step in his plan to acquire Sys Comp.
Across the city M.
Lyco's mansion was as grand as his ego: marble-lined hallways, paintings by renowned artists, and a private studio where the CEO used to paint to relax. Today, however, the tranquility would be shattered.
Lyco, in his 60s, was bent over his canvas, brush in hand. He had almost finished a pastoral landscape, a hobby he considered a sign of his artistic superiority. But his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps.
The butler, a thin, pale man, entered the studio with ragged breath. He held a tablet in his trembling hands, his face pale with fear.
"Sir... bad news." His voice was a thread of panic.
Lyco stopped painting, slowly turning to face him. His eyes, small and piercing, fixed on the butler.
"Why are you panicking, you filth? Poor worthless!" he shouted, slamming his hand on the table next to him, scattering brushes and paints.
The butler hesitated, but held out the tablet towards Lyco, trying to maintain his composure.
"Something has happened at the company, sir."
Lyco snatched the tablet from the butler's hands, huffing in irritation. He slid his fingers across the screen and suddenly froze. His eyes widened. The words and numbers on the screen seemed to scream at him.
Sys Comp. - Stock drop: -34%
Estimated loss: 10 billion credits.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still. The CEO, known for his arrogance and relentless control, was now inert, like a statue.
"Sir, what do we do?" the butler asked, trying to understand the gravity of the situation.
Still without an answer, the butler hesitantly approached and waved a hand in front of Lyco.
"Sir?"
Suddenly, Lyco let out a guttural sound, a choked groan, before falling to the side. The tablet slipped from his hands and hit the floor, its screen shattering on impact. Lyco's body now lay on the cold marble floor, inert.
"SIR?!" The butler shouted, his voice echoing through the studio.
He knelt beside Lyco, shaking him hard.
"Mister Lyco, wake up! Don't leave me alone with this!"
Lyco didn't respond. His skin was starting to lose color, and sweat was running down his forehead. Desperately, the butler ran to grab the landline phone on the studio wall. His hands were shaking so badly that he almost dropped the phone before dialing emergency services.
"Hello?! It's an emergency! Mister Lyco... he's fainted, I think he's had a heart attack! Come quickly!"
As he explained the situation, he looked over his shoulder and saw Lyco lying motionless on the ground, his body looking even smaller and more vulnerable than it had ever been.
"Please hurry!"
He hung up and ran back to Lyco's side, trying to shake him again as tears began to form in his eyes.
"You can't leave me here, sir... Not like this..."
The ambulance sirens could already be heard in the distance, but to the butler, it felt like every second was an eternity.