The alarm clock rang, a soft sound that Aiden had set so as not to disrupt the silence of his luxurious bedroom too aggressively. He opened his eyes slowly, sunlight already flooding into the room through the half-open curtains. Stretching, he stood up calmly, walking to the bathroom.
The warm water from the shower ran down his body, relaxing him as he thought about the day ahead. Aiden chose an impeccable dark blue suit, matching a black tie. His leather shoes gleamed under the light of the room, reflecting the care he always maintained.
Picking up his cell phone on the table, he checked his notifications, briefly reading messages sent by Ada and her finance team. Everything seemed in order. He quickly drank a black coffee before grabbing the keys to his black Lamborghini parked in the garage.
"Time to start the day," he muttered to himself as he walked down to the parking lot.
The black Lamborghini roared as it started, the engine echoing through the enclosed garage. Aiden adjusted the mirrors, put on his sunglasses, and pulled out in style, accelerating smoothly through the city streets. Traffic was light, but he always found a way to get around any slowdowns, driving the car as if it were an extension of himself.
As he drove along the busy avenues, something caught his eye. In the rearview mirror, he noticed a black car that seemed to be keeping a fixed distance. At first, he ignored it, but after a few turns and traffic lights, the pattern became clear.
"Hm, curious..." he thought, keeping his eyes on the car without turning his head.
The smile that appeared on his lips was a mix of contempt and amusement. He knew who it was.
"Lyco, you really don't know when to give up, do you?" Aiden muttered, squeezing the steering wheel slightly.
Aiden pressed down on the gas pedal, feeling the Lamborghini's engine roar with force. The car shot down the street, crossing the next yellow light before it turned red. The black car behind reacted almost instantly, accelerating to keep up.
"Oh, looks like they're interested in a chase," Aiden said, now clearly enjoying the situation.
He swerved onto a freeway, where the traffic was less dense. The Lamborghini moved with impressive precision, weaving through the cars like a blade cutting through the air. Aiden knew exactly how to control the car, adjusting the speed and steering to make any attempt by the black car to get closer difficult.
In the rearview mirror, he saw that the occupants of the black car seemed to be stepping up their efforts. Aiden increased the speed even more, the speedometer showing numbers that would give any ordinary driver pause. He entered a sharp curve without slowing down, the tires squealing as he skillfully maintained control.
The black car tried to follow the same maneuver, but veered slightly off course, losing a few precious seconds.
"Looks like you guys aren't that good," Aiden commented, laughing as he switched to another lane.
Despite the difference in skill, the pursuers were determined. The black car closed in again, trying to close the gap. Aiden decided to play around a little more, entering a series of narrow streets and tricky curves. He knew these maneuvers would be a real test for his pursuers.
After a few minutes of pure adrenaline, the modern and imposing facade of the Star Comp. came into view. The skyscraper seemed even more grandiose in the morning light. The Lamborghini slowed down smoothly as it entered the area reserved for executives.
Aiden parked in the exclusive space next to the main entrance, stepping out of the car with the same elegance as always. He adjusted his tie as he glanced casually at the black car, which had stopped a considerable distance from the building.
"Are you guys going to keep playing around, or is that enough for today?" Aiden said in a low tone, but with a smile that showed absolute confidence. He raised his hand and waved towards the car, as if greeting old acquaintances.
The windows of the black car were tinted, and no one got out. Aiden smiled even wider, now clearly teasing. He whistled casually before turning towards the building.
As he entered Star Comp., he was greeted with a series of warm greetings from the employees who passed him.
"Good morning, Mr. Baskerville!"
"Good morning!" Aiden replied, maintaining his smile as he walked towards the private elevator.
As soon as the elevator doors closed, Aiden took off his sunglasses and sighed.
"If Lyco thinks he can intimidate me, he's more desperate than I thought," he thought, already plotting his next steps in his mind.
Aiden entered his private office at the top of Star Comp., a luxurious space with panoramic views of the city. He removed his tie and left his jacket on the chair, preparing for his next move in the field where he was unbeatable: the stock market.
Sitting comfortably, he turned on his personal computer, equipped with the most advanced market analysis software. Real-time charts began to fill the screens, showing the behavior of the stocks of several companies, including Sys Corp., which was his main target.
"Time for some fun," Aiden muttered, as he adjusted the charts to focus exclusively on Sys Corp.
Sys Corp.'s stock was already falling, a reflection of Aiden and his team's previous strategic attacks. The index showed a 3% decline at the opening bell, but Aiden knew this was just the beginning. He planned to push Lyco's company even deeper into the financial abyss.
Aiden knew that destabilizing Sys Corp. required more than just technical skill; it required subtle, planned tactics and impeccable timing. He opened the market assessment report, where his team had detailed the company's weaknesses. With a mix of deep analysis and strategic manipulation, he devised an elaborate plan to bring down the giant.
1. Sys Corp. had been neglecting to invest in research and development, leaving a trail of outdated products.
2. Many key contracts were tied to suppliers and financial partners with a history of instability.
3. Recent internal scandals had undermined the company's credibility with investors and customers.
Aiden closed the report, his eyes shining with determination. "If the foundation is already cracked, all we need is a strategic push to bring them down."
The first phase involved subtle actions to reduce the public perception of Sys Corp.'s stability. Aiden began by executing small short sales using several anonymous accounts at international brokerages. These sales simulated organic market movements, without drawing attention to a coordinated action.
Simultaneously, his team activated a network of strategic contacts.
Using fake profiles and anonymous messages, he planted carefully crafted rumors on specialized forums, such as:
"Sys Corp. is facing difficulties with its suppliers after payment delays."
"There are signs that a large government contract may be canceled due to mismanagement."
Reports were commissioned from financial analysts who, without even knowing it, were being manipulated to highlight the company's internal problems.
The rumors began to circulate quickly on social networks, financial news channels, and real-time trading apps, triggering an initial wave of distrust.
With investors already worried, Aiden launched the second phase.
He instructed his team to manipulate automated trading algorithms. By sending a large volume of fractional sell orders spread throughout the day, the system interpreted Sys Corp. as a high-risk asset. This technique forced large investment funds to trigger their own automated sales.
To further confuse the market, Aiden began buying small amounts of shares, simulating a stabilization in the price. This encouraged risky buyers to enter the market, believing they had found a recovery point.
As soon as the move began to attract attention, he activated another round of massive short selling, crushing hopes of a recovery and furthering the panic among investors.
The masterstroke came in the third phase, where Aiden expanded his strategy by using an overseas subsidiary created exclusively for covert trading. He routed massive sell orders through this company, masking his direct involvement in the attack.
This move triggered automatic reactions in other brokerages, which activated stop-losses and emergency sell orders. This amplified the fall in Sys Corp. shares, creating a true financial avalanche.
With the accumulated drop of 25%, confidence in the market evaporated.
Headlines began to circulate
"Sys Corp. in freefall after rumors of internal crisis."
"Is this the end of the tech giant?"
With the shares at their lowest value, Aiden used his strategic funds to buy most of the available shares, securing significant control over the company.
By the end of the day, Sys Corp. was not only in collapse, but also under Aiden's indirect control. He now owned valuable assets, access to confidential data, and the power to decide the fate of the company.
Aiden smiled as the charts still flashed on his screen. "It's not enough to destroy; we must rebuild in my favor."
『Task』
『Acquire Sys Comp.
Deadline: 10 days
Rewards: 50,000,000,000 Credit
Status: ● Completed』
As the dust settled, Aiden looked at the final balance. He had multiplied his initial investment while also securing significant control over Sys Corp. The phone on his desk rang. It was Ada.
"Aiden, we just got confirmation: we now have a 49% stake in Sys Corp."
Aiden smiled, leaning back in his chair.
"Excellent work, Ada. Make sure all the paperwork is ready for the board meeting. I will be sworn in as CEO before the end of the week."
Ada hesitated before continuing, "Sir, we have received notification. Mister Lyco is trying to file an injunction to block your takeover."
Aiden chuckled.
"He's trying to fight the inevitable. Let him fight. We've already won."
With the stock market now stabilized and Sys Corp. under his control, Aiden looked out the window of his office, gazing at the horizon.
Picking up a glass of wine he'd left on the table, he toasted himself.
he muttered, "Let's see how old Lyco reacts when he realizes he's lost everything."