The BragTech building stood tall in the middle of the city, its mirrored windows glinting gold under the morning sun. Inside, however, the air wasn't as bright. Whispers slid across the marble floors like shadows — rumors, doubts, and a growing sense of unease. Something had gone wrong.
Jackim leaned back in his chair, eyes on the live analytics of his company's network. The data flow looked perfect, yet something underneath pulsed strangely — a digital heartbeat that didn't belong. His instincts, sharp and seasoned by countless System quests, prickled.
"Kelvin," he called softly.
His best friend entered the office, still in his trademark hoodie and sneakers despite their billionaire status. "Yo, bro, what's up?"
Jackim turned his screen toward him. "See this? Someone leaked confidential client data. A security flaw, but not from outside — from within."
Kelvin froze, then laughed nervously. "You think it's me? Come on, Jackim. I'd never—"
Jackim didn't respond immediately. He simply stared, eyes calm but heavy with thought. The System notification flickered faintly in the corner of his vision:
> [System Alert: Loyalty Breach Detected — Probability of internal betrayal: 83%]
He ignored it. "I didn't say it's you. But someone close. Someone we trusted."
Kelvin looked down, guilt creeping into his eyes even before Jackim knew the truth.
Flashback: Three Nights Earlier
A dark message appeared on Kelvin's private email.
> "We know about your sister's hospital bills. Help us get access to BragTech's internal schedule. No harm will come. Just numbers. We'll pay, and she lives."
Kelvin had panicked. His sister was on a ventilator. He'd sold his car, drained his savings, and begged the insurance company for help — but they needed more. And here, in front of him, was an answer dressed as a devil's bargain.
He didn't give them files. Just a list of internal meeting times.
He told himself, It's harmless. Just timing. Not data.
But timing was all The Wheel needed.
Now, back in the present, Jackim stared at his friend's shaking hands.
"Bro," Kelvin whispered, voice breaking. "If I tell you something… promise me you'll understand?"
Jackim nodded once, silently.
Kelvin took a deep breath, tears already threatening. "It was them — The Wheel. They… they came for me. My sister needed surgery. I swear I didn't give them anything important. Just a small schedule… I didn't know they'd use it to plan the cyberattack."
The office fell silent. The only sound was the slow hum of the servers outside.
Jackim rose from his chair, walked over, and placed a hand on Kelvin's shoulder. "You should have told me."
"I thought I could fix it. I thought I could protect you."
Jackim sighed deeply — not in anger, but in exhaustion. "Kelvin, do you know what hurts the most? Not the leak. Not even the loss. It's that you carried this alone. You forgot I'm your brother, not your boss."
Kelvin finally broke down, tears spilling freely. "I'm sorry, Jackim. I didn't mean to—"
Before he could finish, the System chimed again, this time softer:
> [System Notification: True Loyalty Detected]
Reward: Brotherhood Upgrade Activated]
Kelvin — Skill Unlocked: Business Management Lv.1]
Jackim blinked. The System rarely rewarded emotion. But this — this was real loyalty. Not perfect, not clean, but human.
"Look," Jackim said, pulling him into a firm embrace. "From today, you don't hide things from me. You're not my assistant. You're my brother. And we fight together."
Kelvin nodded into his shoulder, sobbing quietly. "Thank you, bro. I'll earn back your trust."
Later that night…
The two of them stood on the rooftop of BragTech Tower, city lights sprawling beneath like a sea of stars. Jackim handed Kelvin a bottle of soda.
"No alcohol," he joked. "We still have work tomorrow."
Kelvin chuckled weakly. "Bro, after what I did, you're still joking?"
Jackim smirked. "If I can't joke with you, then who can I joke with?"
For a moment, the tension faded. The night breeze brushed against their faces, and for the first time in weeks, Jackim smiled — genuinely.
But deep inside, he knew the war wasn't over.
The Wheel had found a crack in his walls.
They had tested his defenses and his trust.
Next time, they wouldn't just come for data.
They'd come for blood.
Midnight — BragTech HQ basement.
In the glow of a single monitor, Kelvin worked tirelessly on new firewall protocols. Sweat rolled down his forehead. Every line of code he typed felt like repentance.
He stopped only when Jackim appeared beside him, holding two cups of coffee.
"Still awake?"
"Can't sleep until I finish this," Kelvin replied. "I won't let anyone break through again."
Jackim watched him for a moment. "You don't have to prove anything to me anymore."
Kelvin shook his head. "No, bro. I have to prove it to myself."
Meanwhile…
Across the city, inside a penthouse draped in black glass and neon, The Wheel's executives gathered.
A tall man with slick hair smirked as he looked at the screen. "So, the leak worked. But somehow, BragTech bounced back in 24 hours. Who's running that company — a god?"
His assistant frowned. "Sir, the reports say Jackim Ochieng personally restored every system. Alone."
The man slammed his fist on the table. "Then we make it personal. If data can't break him, emotions will."
He turned toward a wall filled with Jackim's photos — some from university, some recent. In one of them, Kelvin stood beside him, smiling.
The man grinned darkly. "Everyone has a weakness. Even brothers."
Back at BragTech, 3 AM.
Jackim's phone buzzed. A new System message flashed.
> [Hidden Quest: Protect the bond of Brotherhood. Threat incoming.]
Reward: To be revealed.]
He stared at it for a long moment, then turned toward Kelvin, still asleep on the keyboard.
"Whatever happens next," he whispered, "I won't let them break us."
He stepped onto the balcony, the wind catching his black coat, city lights shimmering below.
Somewhere, faint thunder rolled across the horizon — a quiet warning that peace never lasted long in the world of Braggers.