The next morning, Kaito Ryuu woke not to sunlight, but to the soft chime of a system notification.
> [ NEW MESSAGE – ENCRYPTED TRANSMISSION DETECTED ]
Sender ID: Silver Echo
"Consider that your first gift. I don't like Arjun either."
"If you want to shake the roots of old money, meet me tonight. Warehouse 3, Aryanagar Dock."
(Come alone. Or don't come at all.)
Kaito stared at the hologram projected above his bed.
"Silver Echo... who are you?"
> [ SIDE QUEST UNLOCKED: ECHO OF THE UNSEEN ]
Objective: Meet the mysterious ally
Risk: Unknown
Reward: Strategic Link OR Rare Asset OR Hidden System Feature
Timer: 12h
His heart beat faster.
---
Creative Mindz HQ – Morning
Ravi was already in overdrive, eyes glued to screens.
"Sir! You're trending again—#UrbanPhantom just reached 16k local mentions. Neon Brew's sales dropped by 11% overnight."
Kaito nodded, half-listening. His mind was already on the encrypted message.
"I need full surveillance on Aryanagar Dock. Street cam access, drone flyovers, anything."
Ravi blinked. "You're going there?"
"Maybe. Depends on what I learn first."
"Oh, and… Lyra's downstairs."
Kaito paused. "Let her up."
---
Lyra Kaneshi – Office Visit
She entered with her usual confidence—black jacket over a crop top, silver chain earrings swinging.
But her eyes held something new today.
Unease.
"I need to know," she said, dropping her bag on the desk. "Was the Neon Brew sabotage you? Or someone else?"
"Half me," Kaito replied. "Half ghost."
Lyra stared. "You're making enemies. Fast ones. Rich ones."
"Then they should've thought twice before creating me."
She tossed a dossier across the table.
Photos. Screenshots. Arjun Varma with two foreign businessmen. A blurred image of illegal papers.
"This is from my side gig," she said. "Freelance dig work."
Kaito raised an eyebrow. "You dig into people for money?"
"I dig into trash for truth. Sometimes they're the same."
He leaned back. "You want in?"
She didn't hesitate.
> [ CHARACTER LINK REQUESTED – Lyra Kaneshi ]
Type: Shadow Operator / Romantic Rival
Role: Recon, Sabotage, Counterintelligence
Trait: Secret Affection (Locked)
Loyalty Potential: 72%
Confirm Link? YES / NO
He tapped YES.
> LYRA JOINED AS ROGUE OPERATIVE – Tier D
Bonus: Rival Network Scan
Passive Unlock: Truth Whisper – Detect deception in dialogues
Romance Thread Progress: 34%
---
Aryanagar Docks – Nightfall
Warehouse 3 stood under broken lights, half-swallowed in fog and river mist.
Kaito arrived alone, Phantom Glide parked in shadows.
Inside, floodlights snapped on.
A figure stood near a stack of old shipping containers.
Tall. Cloaked. Voice modulated.
"I watched you climb from the dirt, Ryuu. You're the first one to hit Arjun without flinching."
"You helped."
"I tested."
They tossed a drive toward him.
"On that is the location of a hidden Varma asset. A crypto laundering outlet disguised as a trading firm. Bust it—expose them—and you'll trigger a public collapse."
Kaito caught the drive.
"Why help me?"
Silver Echo turned.
"Because old money has too many locks. You're a crowbar."
> [ STRATEGIC QUEST UNLOCKED: The House of Paper ]
Objective: Leak the files to a media outlet OR acquire the asset silently
Reward: Rare Passive – Asset Magnetism
Threat: High. Arjun's legal team is watching.
> Timer: 36h
---
Creative Mindz – 1:00 AM
Back in the HQ, Kaito gathered his team.
Ravi and Lyra sat across the digital table.
"We have two options," he said, uploading the drive's content.
1. Leak the scandal to the press. Fast damage. High RP. Zero profit.
2. Acquire the asset quietly. Long play. Turns Varma's asset into Kaito's own.
Ravi scratched his head. "Can we even afford that kind of buyout?"
Kaito smiled.
"We can. But not with cash."
He tapped his screen.
> [ SYSTEM SPECIAL TASK: FLESH OVER FUNDS ]
Barter high-profile publicity and system-backed favor in place of cash
Outcome: Acquire control through social leverage
Risk: You must go public, hard.
He smirked.
"I'll sell myself like a brand. And buy their secrets with spotlight."
---
The Media Blitz Begins
Next morning, Kaito launched:
A public podcast appearance on CityChatter
A collab reel with Aryanagar's top female influencer (ChinkiBoss)
A billboard campaign with the phrase:
> "When they hide wealth, we shine truth."
He even joined a live panel with three investors and called out:
> "If old money needs to hide assets under shell firms, maybe it's time we crowdfund a revolution."
The effect was immediate.
---
> [ SYSTEM ALERT – MEDIA STORM TRIGGERED ]
RP: +28
Flex Points: +4
Title Gained: The Reformist Flame
Passive: Political Noise – You gain +5% chance to influence civic entities
Public Approval: C-Class → B-Class
System Trait Unlocked: Asset Magnetism (Lv.1)
– Every week, 1 rare asset will approach you via opportunity, seller, or leak
– Applies only to properties, startups, and rare collectibles
---
Meanwhile – Varma Residence
Sandeep Varma was boiling.
"Why the hell is that upstart on national trend lists? How did he find Neon Brew's pipeline?"
Arjun sat, silent.
Then he snapped. "Fine. You want old money to act? I'll buy his building."
Sandeep raised an eyebrow. "You mean the media shack?"
Arjun nodded. "I'll offer triple. Then burn it."
---
12 Hours Later – HQ Attack
A team of slick-suited lawyers arrived with documents.
"We represent Mr. Arjun Varma. He wishes to acquire this property for ₹89,000. Effective immediately."
Kaito read the paper. Laughed.
Then showed his document:
> "Creative Mindz is now part of RRyu Holdings. Status: Non-transferable due to founder lock."
> [ SYSTEM DEFENSE: Anti-Acquisition Lock Activated ]
Rival Attempt: FAILED
RP: +8
Public Sentiment: +6
New Passive: Legal Resistance – 5% chance to cancel hostile takeover attempts
As the lawyers retreated, Lyra stepped beside him.
"You're collecting weapons."
"I'm collecting checkmates."
---
Night – Apartment Rooftop
Sanaya arrived with two bags of street food.
"Victory samosas," she said.
They sat cross-legged.
"So... you're not scared?" she asked quietly.
Kaito shook his head. "Not anymore."
She leaned her head against his shoulder.
"I think you're crazy. But I like crazy people who scare billionaires."
He smirked.
"Stick around. We haven't even started."
---
SYSTEM DASHBOARD: Kaito Ryuu
Attribute Value
Wealth ₹39,000 (net holdings)
System Rank B-Class (6%)
Properties Creative Mindz HQ, 1x Temp Leased Rooftop Office
Vehicles Phantom Glide (Prototype)
Staff Ravi (Ops), Lyra (Rogue Ops)
RP 112
Romance Threads Lyra (Rival Interest), Sanaya (Soft Bond)
Flex Points 10 / 10
Rival Status Arjun Varma – Under Siege
Strategic Assets 1x Leverage Drive (House of Paper)
New Passive Asset Magnetism (Lv.1)
Hidden Thread Silver Echo – Awaiting Contact
---
End of Chapter 6 –