Marcus locked the laundromat for the night and stepped into the warm San Antonio evening, exhausted but proud. For the first time in his life, he had taken something broken and made it better.
His first business was alive again.
He walked to his truck, sat down, and let himself breathe. The moment he exhaled, the System awakened with more force than ever before.
[ SYSTEM ANALYSIS COMPLETE ]
[ OWNER PERFORMANCE: BEYOND EXPECTATION ]
[ BUSINESS STABILIZATION: VERIFIED ]
[ CONDITIONS MET FOR FORCED SYSTEM ASCENSION ]
Marcus stiffened. "Forced ascension?"
The System pulsed.
[ SYSTEM UPGRADE: COMPLETE ]
New Core Function Unlocked:
**Autonomous Legal Acquisition Module**
Marcus blinked. "Legal acquisition… module?"
The System expanded the explanation.
[ AUTONOMOUS LEGAL ACQUISITION MODULE ]
The System can now:
• Acquire companies solely through legal channels
• Generate unbreakable digital contracts
• Execute corporate buyouts, mergers, and restructures
• Control filings, board changes, and stock absorption
• Mask Host identity during all acquisition processes
• Maintain perfect legality in every transaction
Marcus stared. "You're telling me… you handle everything?"
[ Correct. ]
[ The Host completes missions. The System performs all legal work. ]
He felt a chill run through him.
"And the money? People will notice anything unusual."
The System answered in two separate messages.
First:
[ All corporate and business funds remain fully public. ]
[ Nothing illegal or hidden occurs within the companies you acquire. ]
[ Every business you own will appear normal in every accounting record. ]
Second:
[ Only the Host's personal wealth is hidden. ]
[ All Host funds are stored in an UNTRACEABLE SYSTEM ACCOUNT. ]
Marcus leaned forward. "Explain the difference."
The System clarified immediately.
[ Corporate money remains visible to the world. ]
[ But your personal profit, dividends, buyout benefits, and System rewards are invisible. ]
[ No bank, IRS, financial institution, or rival can detect your personal wealth. ]
[ Businesses you acquire show public balances. You do not. ]
Marcus's eyes widened.
"So no one knows I'm rich…
but the companies are still normal?"
[ Correct. ]
[ This prevents suspicion.
This keeps competitors blind.
This protects the Host. ]
The System wasn't just smart—it was perfect.
Marcus whispered, "No one will ever see me coming."
[ Exactly. ]
He swallowed, feeling power settle around him like armor.
"So what's the next target?"
The System opened a massive mission panel.
[ NEW MISSION UNLOCKED ]
**MISSION: RETRIBUTION – PHASE ONE**
Target: **HORIZONTECH**
(Your former employer)
Reward: FULL LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF HORIZONTECH
All Assets • All Subsidiaries • Full CEO Rights
Marcus felt something ignite inside him.
"HorizonTech… They're first?"
[ Yes. ]
[ The company that humiliated you shall become the foundation of your rise. ]
The System highlighted familiar names.
[ EMPLOYEES WHO MOCKED THE HOST ]
• Kristie Ward – Supervisor
• Devin Marcus – Analyst
• Tyler Briggs – IT
• Sarah Nguyen – Front Desk
• Phillip Torres – Senior Assistant
Marcus's jaw tightened.
"What happens to them after I take over?"
[ They will work under you. ]
[ Their salaries, duties, and futures are yours to decide. ]
[ Their humiliation will be delivered through structure, power, and position—not violence. ]
Marcus couldn't help the slow smile forming on his face.
"Show me the mission steps."
[ MISSION REQUIREMENTS ]
1. Raise Lone Star Laundry stability to 20%
2. Increase public reputation through business improvements
3. Complete a high-impact upgrade
4. Appear at HorizonTech
5. Trigger Acquisition Threshold
Marcus asked, "And the actual takeover… how does it happen?"
The System answered with cold certainty.
[ Once you meet the requirements, I will legally acquire HorizonTech on your behalf. ]
[ I will purchase controlling interest anonymously. ]
[ I will restructure the board. ]
[ I will transfer CEO authority. ]
[ Legally. Silently. Irreversibly. ]
"And nobody knows it's me?"
[ Not until you choose to reveal it. ]
[ Corporate books will show a legitimate new ownership entity. ]
[ But the identity behind that entity remains hidden until you reveal yourself. ]
Marcus felt adrenaline race through him.
The same people who mocked his clothes.
Who laughed at his truck.
Who recorded him being fired.
Soon, they would be working under the man they threw away.
"System," he whispered, "they're going to regret everything."
[ Yes, Marcus Hale. ]
[ Their pride will become your leverage. ]
[ Their mockery becomes your victory. ]
[ Prepare. ]
Marcus started his truck, eyes burning with purpose.
Starting tomorrow, the world would never see him the same way again.
They would see the man rising silently above them—
And they would see him too late.