Ethan sat in his newly rented office space, a sleek, modern room in the heart of downtown. The funding he'd secured from investors had allowed him to take the first steps toward building his tech empire, Nexa. The app was still in its early stages, but with the Infinite System's guidance, he was making rapid progress.
But Ethan knew that success in the tech world wasn't just about having a great product—it was about having the right team. And right now, he was missing a key piece: someone who could handle the technical side of things.
As if on cue, the AI's voice echoed in his mind.
[Host, a potential ally has been identified. Sophia Chen, a freelance hacker with exceptional technical skills, could be a valuable asset to your team. Would you like to initiate contact?]
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Sophia Chen? How do I find her?"
[Her last known location was a café in the East District. The address has been sent to your phone.]
Ethan glanced at his phone, which displayed a map with a red pin marking the café's location.
"Alright," he said, standing up. "Let's see what she's made of."
The Hacker
The café was a cozy, eclectic spot filled with the hum of conversation and the clatter of keyboards. Ethan spotted Sophia immediately—she was sitting in the corner, typing furiously on her laptop. She was in her mid-twenties, with short black hair dyed with streaks of purple and a pair of thick-framed glasses perched on her nose.
Ethan approached her table, his hands in his pockets. "Sophia Chen?"
She looked up, her eyes narrowing behind her glasses. "Who's asking?"
"Ethan Steele," he replied, pulling up a chair. "I've got a business proposition for you."
Sophia leaned back, her skepticism evident. "Unless you're offering me a seven-figure salary and unlimited coffee, I'm not interested."
Ethan smirked. "How about the chance to work on the next big thing in tech?"
Sophia raised an eyebrow. "And what's that?"
"An AI-driven personal assistant called Nexa," Ethan explained. "It's going to revolutionize the way people interact with technology. And I need someone with your skills to help me make it happen."
Sophia studied him for a moment, then shrugged. "Alright, I'll bite. What's in it for me?"
"A share of the company," Ethan replied. "And the chance to work on something that'll blow the competition out of the water."
Sophia leaned forward, her interest piqued. "Show me what you've got."
Ethan pulled out his laptop and opened the prototype of Nexa. He walked her through its features—its ability to learn and adapt, its advanced natural language processing, and its potential to integrate with every aspect of a user's life.
Sophia's eyes widened as she watched the demo. "This… this is incredible," she admitted. "How did you even come up with this?"
Ethan smiled. "Let's just say I've got a few tricks up my sleeve."
Sophia hesitated, then nodded. "Alright, I'm in. But if this turns out to be a scam, I'm walking."
"Deal," Ethan said, extending his hand. Sophia shook it, sealing the alliance.
The Setup
With Sophia on board, Ethan's startup began to take shape. They hired a small team of developers, rented a larger office space, and started working around the clock to bring Nexa to life. But as Ethan's influence grew, so did the threats.
One evening, as Ethan was leaving the office, he noticed a black SUV parked across the street. The windows were tinted, but he could feel someone watching him. His Combat Mastery ability kicked in, and he tensed, ready for a confrontation.
But before he could act, the SUV pulled away, disappearing into the night.
[Host, you are being monitored.]
the AI warned.
[The threat level is moderate. Caution is advised.]
Ethan clenched his fists. Whoever was behind this wasn't going to scare him off. If anything, it only made him more determined.
The Revenge
Later that night, Ethan sat in his apartment, staring at a photo on his phone. It was a picture of Daniel, Clara's new boyfriend, standing in front of his tech company's headquarters, smirking like he owned the world.
"You're not untouchable, Daniel," Ethan muttered.
He opened his laptop and began to dig into Daniel's company, using the system's enhanced intelligence to uncover every dirty secret—shady business deals, fraudulent transactions, and a trail of bribes that led straight to the top.
By dawn, Ethan had everything he needed. He sent an anonymous email to the press, attaching all the evidence he'd gathered. Within hours, the story was everywhere:
"Tech Entrepreneur Daniel Reynolds Accused of Corruption and Fraud."
Ethan watched the news with a satisfied smile. Daniel's empire was crumbling, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
[Revenge Arc Progress: Second Act of Retribution Complete.]
the AI announced.
[Rewards: $20,000 bonus funds, +1 Strength point.]
The Aftermath
The next morning, Ethan's phone buzzed with a text from Clara.
"What did you do?"
He ignored it. Clara had made her choice, and now she was seeing the consequences.
As he walked into his office, Sophia greeted him with a grin. "You've been busy."