The sun dipped low over the city skyline as the afternoon was now in full blaze.
Darren sat on a rusted bench, a lit cigarette pinched between his fingers. Smoke curled lazily into the air as he stared blankly at the space in front of him where the system's interface was only visible to his sight.
┏You've earned yourself a Character Bonus!┛the system announced.
'Character Bonus? What could that be?' he thought, pausing mid-smoke.
┏Character Bonuses are granted when you show impressive character in the face of a challenge. Your character in the presence of Gareth Smithers have granted you your first Character Bonus┛.
'Ah,' his eyes lit up. 'I see.'
┏Character Bonuses unlock special features in the system┛
Ding!
┏New Feature Unlocked: Insight Protocol┛
"Mhm?" his brows slightly raised. 'Insight Protocol?'
┏Congratulations on unlocking this feature. The system can now instantly submit information concerning any business group, company or organization. This includes their history, the financial health, operations, and even the risks and secrets. This feature offers you a significant edge in navigating your future investments and dealings.┛
'Woah. That's a major feature,' he thought. 'And I got that all because I showed strong character against Gareth Smithers. That's... interesting.'
Remembering something, he stopped the cigarette that was about to reach his lips. "Hey, system. What are Goals? Why did you keep randomly bringing them up and saying you've identified them?"
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┏ Explanation of the Goals Mechanism ┛
┏ Goals represent the primary objectives associated with each path you undertake. They define the milestones to be achieved at specific points in your journey. Completing these Goals will grant the following rewards: 10x Profit, 20x Cashback, and 100% Tax Shield ┛
┏ A maximum of three Goals can be active at any given time. Once these three Goals are completed, you may unlock a new set of three Goals to pursue. ┛
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"Ah, I see." He took a deep suck and puffed out smoke. "This system is quite vast, isn't it?"
He thought a bit of all the things it could help do, the heights it could help him reach.
"The move now is to get some money. A lot of it, and fast," he said, more to himself than the system. "But no banks are going to give me a loan on a negative net worth, and online loan apps are not really popular at this time."
He glanced at the interface, feeling as thought was judging him. "System, I know you said I should try to be debt free, but you don't mind me looking for a loan, right? I mean it's my only option really, unless my mom gets evicted from the hospital."
The system responded with a ding.
┏ Loans are helpful when starting a business career, especially as an investor. But debts must be avoided. Do everything possible to avoid incurring heavy debts.┛
He nodded slowly. "I understand."
The breeze blew softly by his face and he took a deep breath, sitting back on the bench with his briefcase resting by his feet.
This park was a stone's throw from the company he had just walked out of for good and he could still hear words from the conversation he'd just heard with Gareth Smithers echoing in his ears, but he felt strangely calm.
The weight of his decision had fully settled, and after he finished with that cigarette in his hand, he was going to begin the building of his empire.
"Since when do you smoke?"
The voice pulled Darren out of his thoughts, and he turned and blinked, seeing Eddie, his old college friend and now distant colleague, standing nearby.
Eddie didn't wait for an invitation and plopped down beside him, his suit jacket slightly wrinkled and his tie askew. Darren glanced at the cigarette in his hand, frowning as if seeing it for the first time.
"I don't," Darren said, suddenly realizing. 'Not yet, anyway.'
He remembered that he hadn't started smoking at this time, rather, it was a habit he'd picked up five years from now. He remembered that Lily had hated it. She'd begged him to quit, and he had — for her. But now, Darren felt like there was no point.
Besides, if he was ever going to quit, it would be on his terms, not hers.
Eddie snapped his fingers in front of Darren's face. "Hey, you okay? You walked into the office hall acting all quiet and somber, and now you're out here alone... Smoking."
Darren shrugged. "What do you want, Eddie?"
Eddie leaned back against the bench and smirked. "A cigarette, for starters."
Darren reached into his pocket and handed him one without a word. They smoked in silence for a moment, the sounds of children playing and birds chirping filling the space between them. Finally, Eddie spoke again.
"So? What did you do?"
Darren eyed him. "What do you mean?"
"Boss Smithers is stomping around the office like a madman, yelling at everyone. I mean, he's always grumpy, but this is different, and it started right after you left. So... What did you do?"
Darren exhaled a cloud of smoke, showing no expression at all when he answered; "I resigned."
Eddie blinked. "That's it?"
"That's it."
Eddie studied him carefully, his brow furrowing. "Come on, man. You expect me to believe that?"
"You asked me a question and gave you the answer," Darren replied uninterestedly. "I don't really care what you believe."
Eddie lifted a brow, fully curious now. 'Boss Gareth is so angry because an intern resigned from the job? Why? What's so special about him? I know Darren is super smart with finance and stuff but that can't be why he was so angry.'
Darren turned to him abruptly, cutting through Eddie's thoughts. "Eddie, you remember when your uncle was scrambling for five hundred thousand dollars to pay off a loan shark that was threatening his life?"
Eddie froze, the cigarette halfway to his lips. "What?"
"You heard me." Darren's tone was sharp, lifting one brow as he gave him a side glance. "You've not forgotten about it, have you?"
"Of c— course not," Eddie replied. "I was just surprised at the question."
"Do you remember the name of the loan shark?"
Eddie hesitated, his mind racing. 'What's going on here? Is he trying to borrow money? Why would he bring that up? "Why are you asking me that?"
Looking at him with both eyes, his gaze was cold, almost distant. "Just answer the question, Eddie."
After a pause, Eddie sighed. "Well, if you want to know so bad. They're called the Red Fang. They operate out of that back alley near Crane Street. But Darren, they're bad news. They've ruined lives. My uncle barely got out of that mess alive. Why are you even—"
"Thanks," Darren cut him off, throwing the cigarette on the ground, stepping on it, then grabbing his briefcase and standing up.
Eddie jumped to his feet. "Wait!" Darren paused but didn't look back. "I know we haven't been close since we graduated, and I know that's my fault as well. But... just be careful, alright? These guys are hardcore criminals, Darren. They'll hurt you if you cross them."
Darren glanced over his shoulder, no expression on his face. "Hmm."
With that, he walked to his bicycle, climbed on top of it and rode off, leaving Eddie standing by the bench, watching his friend disappear into the city's chaotic streets.
Eddie sighed, the cigarette burning low in his fingers. "What the hell are you up to, Darren?" he muttered to himself.