Back in his base, Rael sat at the center of the room as glowing panels floated around him. Rico and Ash stood nearby, watching silently.
System Upgrade in Progress…Black Card Access ActivatedElite Shadow Tier UnlockedWelcome to the next level, Rael Veyron.
Rael exhaled slowly as new icons appeared before his eyes. The system had changed.
The design was sleeker. The rewards—bigger. And the dangers?
Probably deadly.
New Features Unlocked:
Shadow Market (Elite): Buy rare items, weapons, even loyalty contracts.
Network Scan: View black-level threats, underground bosses, and VIPs in Solara Prime.
Territory Management (Advanced): Control income, hire defense, expand influence.
New Passive Income: 600 SC/hour from Sector 9New Location Available: Abandoned nightclub nearby. Potential base upgrade.
Rael grinned. "This system's insane."
Ash nodded. "And now you're on their radar."
Rael turned. "Whose?"
She tossed him a small black card.
Phoenix Syndicate Notice"We don't like rats. We saw you. One strike… forgiven. A second? You burn."
Rico frowned. "They know?"
Ash answered, "They always do."
Rael stared at the card. His hands didn't shake.
He smirked. "Good. Then let them watch me rise."
Incoming Message: Unknown Sender
"You move fast, Veyron. But Solara isn't a playground. Let's talk business. Midnight. Red Lotus Casino. Come alone."— Signed: The Whisper Broker
Ash leaned over. "That name... he's one of the big three in the hidden network."
"Should I go?" Rael asked.
"Only if you're ready to walk into a trap."
Rael smiled. "Perfect. I needed a new challenge."
New Mission Available: Deal or Death at the Red Lotus Meet the Whisper Broker and survive the negotiation Reward: Unknown (High-Value Risk) Failure: System Penalty + Territory Raids for 48 Hours
Rael looked out the cracked window at the glowing city.
He was no longer just surviving.
He was rising—and the city was finally starting to notice.