④ New Feature: Project-Derived Additional Investment Mechanism
Once a main project settles profitably, it's deemed a successful investment. The host can then pour more cash into it, spinning off derivative sub-projects.
Sub-projects are independent, with separate investment amounts and auto-generated rebate timelines, but inherit the main project's base rebate multiplier and tap into the Extended Rebate Mechanism.
—Investment Rebate System v1.0 Official Version
Holy… crap…
Jackpot!!!
After digesting the feature's fine print!
One word burned in Zoey Parker's brain!
Nuts!!!
This is a damn goldmine for losing cash!
Sub-projects open new investment avenues!
From now on, one-and-done project settlements are history!
Sub-projects are a wilder, crazier way to bleed money!
And the kicker? Sub-projects' base rebate rate inherits the main project's!
Meaning!
If Zoey dumps more cash into the Titanfall Project for a spin-off sub-project.
Then!
The sub-project's base rebate multiplier starts at 11x!
"Hey—hey hey hey—!"
Zoey's eyes lit up like firecrackers!
She raked her messy hair, pressed her palms down, trying to chill.
"Hold up… hold up… hold up, girl…"
Deep breath!
"No clue if I'm reading this right, system," she said.
Alone in her rental, she could yap with the system freely:
"You're saying sub-projects inherit the main project's base rebate rate, yeah?"
System pinged fast: Correct, host.
"Sweet! Freakin' sweet!"
Zoey shook her head, hyped!
"Alright, check this!"
"If I crank the main project's multiplier to 100x later, fully ditching the idea of losing on it!"
"When that main project profits, do sub-projects start at 100x?"
"And then!"
"With the Extended Rebate Mechanism, I push that multiplier to the max again!"
"Does that mean my sub-project—"
"Could hit a 200x rebate multiplier?"
Zoey's sly as hell!
Grasping the mechanism, she calculated the system's theoretical max rebate in a snap!
Her quick thinking stunned the system silent for a beat:
While your approach skirts exploiting the mechanism, theoretically, yes.
"Hell yeah—!!!"
Zoey's brain spun with excitement!
Arms up, cheering!
Never been such a kickass upgrade!!!
Toast me, chug, cheer, alright?
This upgrade!
Closest she'd been to guaranteed profits since getting the system!
God… I'll milk this feature!
Cherish it like gold!
Bible-level moment!
System chimed again:
Note: Settling the main project early reduces the additional multiplier accordingly.
Zoey got it.
Like, main project A: 10-day base settlement, 10x base rate.
Her plan? Stretch settlement to 100 days, hit 100x.
But!
If project A profits by day 20 and she settles, multiplier locks at 20x, not 100x.
"Well played!"
Like she saw that limit coming, Zoey laughed hard!
"So what if! Hear me out!"
"I don't settle and just drag it out?"
"What's your move, system?"
Zoey's bug-hunting game leveled up.
From gaming noob to spotting system exploits, she'd grown.
System went quiet.
Five seconds of silence.
Then this system… calculates the multiplier at settlement point…
Then, nada—like it lost its voice.
No emotion in that synth voice.
But Zoey felt the system's exasperation!
Even in its electronic drone, four words screamed—
You're freakin' awesome.
"Woo-hoo—!!!"
Zoey whooped!
No wonder this feature was hidden!
Too damn strong!
From every angle, overpowered!
Used as intended, it lets hosts boldly expand markets without worrying spin-offs tank the main project's rep!
But Zoey's sneaky? Double insurance!
Main project doesn't lose? Sub-projects got her back, endless chances!
Zoey's head spun harder.
Cranked the AC up two degrees to avoid direct blasts.
Still!
Burned her last brain cells plotting system exploitation!
First play!
Use sub-projects as main project backup, stick to losing on the main. If it profits, spin-offs cover the loss!
Standard move!
Second play!
Let the main project sink or swim (80% chance it won't lose unless she screws up), make spin-offs the loss target, shift focus, aim to tank them!
Core move!
Third play!
Flip the script, lock main project for 100% profit!
Yeah!
Profit!
Weird word for Zoey, but next main project, she's switching!
Only profitable mains spawn sub-projects.
Sub-projects inherit main's rebate rate.
So, max the main's multiplier, nail profit in time.
Then!
Score a sub-project with 10x to 100x base rate.
Then!
Tweak that multiplier for safe rebate execution!
Flawless!
Zoey felt like she was floating!
But!
Before the next main project, she'll test Titanfall's spin-off.
Titanfall's rebate's only 11x, but meat's meat.
Plus, APEX—TTF's spin-off—is in Gus's plan. Pitching a new project now? He'd nix it.
So…
Gotta roll with you for now, Apex (APEX nickname).
With that, Zoey stood, wobbled, barefoot, grabbed Husky 'Gus' from the floor, dusted him off:
"Who tossed our VIP on the ground? So careless!"
"Gus, Gus… company's main project profits are on you now…"
"We'll pump cash, hype it hard, go all-in…"
"So, deal: I back your main, you tank my sub-project. Team up, and…"
"Heh… heh…"
Muttering, Zoey hugged the Husky pillow, flopped on the bed.
Sleepiness hit her dizzy head, and soon, she was out.
…
Till 3 AM.
Zoey woke, shivering.
Cold waves hit, shaking her uncontrollably.
June, windows shut, AC off, still freezing her bones.
Chill bit harder against her hot breath.
"Ugh—ow—"
Zoey felt like crap, reaching for another blanket.
But joint pain made her groan.
Touched her forehead.
Kinda hot.
Not screaming fever, though.
Sigh.
Done for.
Zoey sighed.
Too much hype, now sick.
Thinking back.
Post-shower, she ran out like a lunatic, hair wet, in a bathrobe, cosplaying some drama queen.
Then, joy and rage mixed, punching, jumping.
No surprise she's sick.
Zoey pouted:
All Gus Harper's fault!
Without him, Titanfall wouldn't have crushed, and she wouldn't have gone nuts.
Without him, she wouldn't have blown cash scaring off Nebula's poaching, stuck in this dumpy, no-security, no-24/7-manager rental.
Sick folks get whiny.
The more Zoey thought, the more she blamed Gus.
Struggling, eyes half-open, she grabbed her phone, messaged Gus—
Gus, feelin' rough, think I got a fever. Grab some ibuprofen tomorrow. [Location]
Not Chloe Quinn.
One, she just wanted to mess with Gus, make him run errands.
Two, Chloe's too far—half a city away to deliver meds.
Gus's 'Seattle Luxe Lofts' was closer, could drop meds on his commute.
Phone down, Zoey wrapped tight in her quilt, trying to sleep.
But.
Waking mid-night, she tossed, sleepless.
Head throbbed like a tiny drummer inside. Breath scorched, mouth dry.
Tossed forever!
Buzz—
Phone rang.
"Mm… mm… hello…?"
Zoey fumbled, answered.
Familiar voice: "You out here livin' like a hobo? Why this dump? Gimme the unit number."
Gus Harper.
His voice snapped Zoey awake, dazed:
"It… morning already?"
"What the hell," Gus said.
"Unit number?"
"Oh… uh… first door… left, third floor…"
Zoey mumbled:
"Key's under the mat…"
Click.
Following her directions, Gus lifted the mat, found the key.
What the…
Gus frowned, unlocked the door with a snap.
Stepped in, low-key scolding:
"Zoey Parker, what's wrong with your head?"
"No cameras, no security, rental ads everywhere. You leave the key under the mat?"
"Scared folks won't break in?"
"Textin' me at 3 AM about a 'slight' fever!"
"'Slight' fever wakes you up?"
"Got any sense? No thermometer at home?"
"You're not bright to start, tryin' to fry your brain?"
"Text at 3, I saw it. What if I didn't?"
"Can't remember 911?"
Gus strode through the cramped living room, knocked, pushed the bedroom door.
But then!
Zoey curled up in her tiny bed, buried in sheets, blankets, even a bathrobe.
Wrapped like a burrito, clutching Husky 'Gus,' face flushed.
She cracked her eyes, pouted at Gus, whispering pitifully:
"You… said before… one call's enough…"
"…Quit yellin', I feel like crap…"
Gus's lips twitched, expression softening.
He stepped up, propped limp Zoey up, touched her forehead.
Scorching.
"Hospital time," Gus said, wrapping the blanket tighter, sitting on the bed's edge, hand on her shoulder.
"Quick IV, you're good."
"Mmm…"
Zoey nodded, head lolling on Gus's back, dazed.
Burnt out, her fire gone, mumbling like a sleepwalker.
Still, she played imp.
As Gus stood, she weakly patted his shoulder, like the Road to Survival settlement night.
"Gee… gee…"
Gus, half-laughing, half-cried, mimicked a horse's trot, gently rocking the foggy Zoey: "Yup, clip-clop, clip-clop…"
"Clip-clop… not Texas…"
Zoey corrected faintly.
"What's Texas then?"
Gus turned, kicked the door locked.
"Texas is…" Zoey frowned, thinking:
"Texas is… Willie Nelson… Willie Nelson, Willie Nelson…"
"Haha," Gus cracked up:
"Alright, hush. Cool off, then talk."
"Heh… then… sing me somethin'…"
Zoey giggled, nuzzling Gus's neck for warmth.
"What? 'Dad's dad is grandpa'?"
Gus hoisted her.
"Sing… sing…"
Zoey's voice faded, less pain, sleep creeping in.
Out the building.
Summer night breeze brushed the two.
Silent bright night, no one around, just grass rustling.
Gus carried Zoey to his car, speaking softly.
Like he feared waking the night, or the steady-breathing girl.
Just once
I'll take you to the world's end
Laugh loud on a sunny day
Wild in the free air
Did you know
My heartbeats
Dance as you please…
Click.
Car door opened, Gus set Zoey in the passenger seat, her breathing even, asleep.
Gus chuckled, shook his head: "Why not sleep in your bed but crash with me? My rocking that comfy?"
He tucked the blanket around Zoey's neck, buckled her in.
Walked to the driver's seat, started the car, drove into the dark toward the hospital.
Gus focused, rushing for emergency care.
Didn't notice Zoey's lips curl, muttering so only she heard:
"Sounds nice…"