The next morning in a cramped apartment in Hangzhou, the faint sunlight filtered through dusty blinds, casting golden lines across the small room.
Li Wei rose from his bed earlier than usual. For weeks, his mornings had been filled with gloom and hopelessness. But today was different. Today, there was something new — anticipation.
"System," he called out calmly.
[Ding!]"Yes, Host?"
A holographic screen shimmered into existence before him, floating in midair.
"I'm ready for the next step," Li Wei said.
[Affirmative. Host has received the 'Advanced Automobile Manufacturing Blueprint'. This blueprint will allow you to build an electric car from scratch, surpassing current industry standards in design, performance, and efficiency.]
The image on the screen changed, revealing a 3D model of a sleek, futuristic electric vehicle. Every angle, every contour of the design was displayed in high definition. With a flick of his finger, Li Wei could rotate it, zoom in to see each bolt, each circuit, even the battery cell structure.
"This…" His eyes widened slightly. "This is at least five years ahead of anything in production right now."
[Host is advised to establish a workshop immediately. Required materials and tools can be procured via the System Store or conventional means. Estimated budget: ¥750,000.]
It was almost all the money from his previous reward, but Li Wei didn't flinch. This was an investment — not just in a car, but in his future.
Within hours, he was on the move.
The industrial district on the outskirts of the city was filled with old warehouses and half-abandoned factories. Li Wei walked down the cracked concrete path until he found a building for rent. It was large enough for assembly lines, had decent power connections, and most importantly, was cheap enough to leave him with a working budget.
Within the day, the lease was signed.
[System: Workshop registered. Activating virtual guidance mode.]
A series of glowing markers appeared across the floor, guiding him where each machine should be placed — a robotic welding arm here, a 3D metal printer there, precision battery assembly equipment in the corner.
Every purchase, every placement was optimized by the system. By nightfall, the empty warehouse had transformed into a state-of-the-art micro-factory.
The next week was a blur of activity.
Using the blueprint, Li Wei assembled the chassis from a lightweight alloy far stronger than steel but half the weight. The battery pack was a marvel — compact, high-capacity, and capable of fully charging in just twenty minutes. The system guided every step with surgical precision, ensuring there were no wasted materials or errors.
Finally, after twelve days of work, the vehicle was complete.
It was a sleek, obsidian-black electric sedan with curves that screamed elegance yet hinted at raw power beneath the hood.
[Ding!]"Congratulations, Host. Prototype complete. Please name your brand."
Li Wei paused. Naming a brand wasn't just a formality — it was the start of a legacy.
He thought of the betrayal, the mockery, the people who had looked down on him. Then, he smiled faintly.
"Regalia Motors," he said.
[Brand registered: Regalia Motors. Meaning: Royal authority, dignity, and unmatched prestige.]
The System's interface displayed the name in bold silver letters across the hood of the virtual model.
Looking at the finished car before him, Li Wei felt no excitement, only quiet certainty. This was just the first step. Soon, the world would know the name Regalia Motors — and everyone who had despised him would come to regret it.
The morning mist clung to the streets as Li Wei drove the prototype out of the warehouse for the first time. The hum of the electric motor was barely audible, but every slight press on the accelerator sent a surge of smooth power through the vehicle. It wasn't just fast — it was precise, like the car responded to his very thoughts.
He didn't take it straight to the public. No, Li Wei was methodical. The first stop was the Hangzhou Vehicle Certification Bureau. There, he submitted the car for inspection, providing every required document — safety reports, performance metrics, and environmental certifications. Normally, these processes took weeks, but the test engineers found themselves murmuring in disbelief at the data.
"This battery efficiency… is this even possible?" one of them whispered."The acceleration from zero to a hundred in 3.2 seconds? On an electric sedan?" another added.
Three days later, the official approval came through. Regalia Motors' first car was certified for road use.
Li Wei didn't waste time. He booked a small but elegant exhibition hall at the Hangzhou Auto Expo. The hall wasn't in the prime location — those spots were reserved for industry giants like BYD and Geely — but Li Wei knew the car itself would speak louder than any advertising space.
When the day arrived, the hall was modestly decorated. A deep crimson carpet led to a single raised platform where the black sedan sat under a silky silver cover. Beside it, a tall black banner read in silver letters: "Regalia Motors – Defining the Future."
A small crowd began to gather. Most were curious passersby, while a few were mid-tier journalists looking for interesting startup stories. Some were simply car enthusiasts who wanted to see if a no-name brand could offer anything worth their time.
Li Wei stepped forward. Wearing a simple black suit, he didn't try to look flashy. His calm, steady demeanor contrasted sharply with the nervous excitement buzzing in the room.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, his voice steady. "What you're about to see is not just a car. It's the first step in redefining what the automotive industry can be. I present to you…"
With a single motion, he pulled the silver cover away.
Gasps filled the hall.
The Regalia RS-1 stood gleaming under the spotlights. The obsidian-black finish seemed to drink in the light, while thin silver accents traced along the body like fine jewelry. The front grille carried the Regalia emblem — a stylized crown — while the headlights curved like the eyes of a predator.
People surged forward, phones raised, flashes firing.
A middle-aged man in a leather jacket walked around it, his hand brushing lightly against the body. "This paint finish… I've only seen something like this on luxury imports."
A younger car blogger bent down to look at the wheels. "Are these carbon fiber alloys? That's insane for a debut model."
Li Wei didn't interrupt the murmurs. Instead, he opened the driver's door, revealing the interior — minimalist yet luxurious. Smooth leather seats, a curved OLED dashboard display, and a fully integrated AI driving assistant.
"Top speed, 260 kilometers per hour," Li Wei said casually. "Range, 950 kilometers on a single charge. Full recharge time, twenty minutes with a standard Regalia supercharger."
The crowd erupted in disbelief.
A man in a suit — clearly an industry insider — stepped forward. "If what you say is true, then you've just leapfrogged every major manufacturer in China… no, in the world. What's the price?"
Li Wei smiled faintly. "¥380,000."
The man blinked. "That's… cheaper than a mid-range Tesla in this market."
Journalists began scribbling notes furiously. Cameras clicked nonstop. Social media posts were already spreading — #RegaliaMotors, #RS1, and #FutureOfCars climbing local trending lists.
By the end of the event, Li Wei had secured fifty pre-orders from private buyers, plus two inquiries from dealerships wanting to discuss bulk purchases. It wasn't a flood, but it was the spark he needed.
As the hall emptied and the car was loaded back into the transporter, Li Wei stood outside in the cool night air. The city lights reflected in his eyes, but he wasn't looking at them — he was looking further ahead.
The RS-1 was just the beginning. Regalia Motors would grow, and with every car sold, his influence would spread. And when the time came, those who had once despised him would watch as his name rolled across the world's biggest stages.
Somewhere deep inside, the system's voice returned.
[Ding!]"Host, new quest available."