The city skyline looked like a battlefield of glass and steel that morning. From the 48th floor of BragTech Group headquarters, Jackim stood at the tall window, his reflection split by the rising sun. Coffee steamed in his right hand, untouched. His phone was silent—too silent for a Monday.
Kelvin entered, his shirt slightly wrinkled, eyes heavy. "It's bad, Jack," he said quietly. "The Wheel moved last night."
Jackim didn't turn. "How bad?"
Kelvin placed a tablet on the table. "Stock prices dropped thirty percent overnight. Media says BragTech's finances are under federal review. Someone leaked internal audits."
Jackim's jaw tightened. He didn't need to ask who. He already knew this was no coincidence—it was war.
At that moment, the System voice flickered softly in his mind, almost like a whisper:
> "Host alert: external sabotage detected. Task initiated — defend your company's honor."
Reward: Cyber Security Mastery + $10 million system funds.
Jackim exhaled slowly. "So that's how they want to play."
He sat down, the air in the office suddenly heavy with pressure. The massive touchscreen on the wall flickered to life, showing the BragTech live stock chart—a bleeding red line sliding downhill.
"Kelvin," Jackim said, calm but deadly serious. "Call everyone. Full board meeting. No excuses."
---
Thirty minutes later, the boardroom was packed. Senior directors, marketing heads, financial analysts—some loyal, some trembling. News channels played on mute at the side of the room, showing the headline:
> Mysterious Billionaire Jackim Ochieng Accused of Fraud — The Rise and Fall of BragTech?
One director spoke first, voice trembling. "Sir, we've lost investor confidence. The Wheel's companies are buying our suppliers. If this continues another forty-eight hours, we'll—"
Jackim cut him off with a single wave of his hand. "We won't fall."
Another man, older, leaned forward. "With respect, Mr. Jackim, this is beyond us. They control the banks. Even our ads were pulled from media. We should consider merging—"
"Merging with snakes?" Jackim said, tone sharp. "They started this. We finish it."
The silence that followed was thick enough to cut with a knife.
Jackim leaned back, eyes cold, fingers tapping the table rhythmically. He spoke with calm, deliberate precision. "They want to drown us in rumors. Fine. We give them a storm."
He turned to Kelvin. "Activate Cyber Defense Protocol. Shut down all third-party access."
Kelvin nodded and began typing rapidly. The System synced instantly, uploading advanced digital countermeasures into his brain. The lights dimmed slightly as the digital firewall surged to life.
One by one, the company's servers sealed off—like an iron fortress closing its gates.
The System's voice echoed softly in Jackim's head again:
> "Cyber Security Mastery acquired. Host protection level: maximum. Bonus fund: $10 million added."
Jackim smiled faintly. "Now," he said, "we go on offense."
---
For hours, the room buzzed like a war room. Screens flashed, data flowed, and commands were issued like orders in a battle.
Jackim's leadership was unshakable. When employees panicked, he cracked a small joke to ease the tension.
When systems lagged, he worked alongside them, coding, strategizing, and calling in allies from previous business deals.
At one point, a young analyst—a fresh graduate—stammered nervously, "Sir, I don't think we can hold the servers. Their bots are too strong."
Jackim looked up and gave a faint grin. "Then let's give them something to choke on."
He typed a line of code that redirected The Wheel's cyberattack into their own network. Within minutes, The Wheel's servers started crashing. Their fake media accounts—used to spread slander—went offline.
Kelvin chuckled in disbelief. "You're crazy, Jack."
"I'm just getting started," Jackim replied.
By late afternoon, the war had shifted.
Instead of BragTech's name trending negatively, a new headline began dominating every platform:
> The Wheel's Hidden Cybercrime Network Exposed — Anonymous Source Leaks Internal Data
Kelvin turned to Jackim, eyes wide. "You did that?"
Jackim just shrugged. "Sometimes you don't fight fire with water. You fight it with a bigger fire."
He stood and stretched, his body finally relaxing after twelve straight hours. "Prepare the press release. Tonight, we go public."
The media hall was full. Reporters buzzed, cameras flashed, and the entire city tuned in live.
Jackim walked onto the stage in a fitted black suit, expression calm yet magnetic. The crowd went silent.
He stood behind the podium, gaze steady. "I've heard the rumors," he began, voice deep and confident. "They say BragTech is collapsing. They say we're frauds. But let me tell you one thing—truth doesn't tremble under lies."
The audience stirred. His tone was strong but not arrogant, controlled yet commanding.
Jackim continued, "BragTech was built on effort, vision, and resilience. While others tried to break us, we built stronger firewalls, better networks, and smarter people. We didn't just survive the attack— we evolved from it."
He paused, scanning the crowd. "The ones spreading lies will answer to the law soon. And to my competitors—thank you for reminding me how much I enjoy winning."
Reporters laughed softly; even they felt the charisma radiating from him.
At that moment, the System chimed quietly:
> "Task completed. Reward: $10 million system funds credited. New passive skill unlocked — 'Public Influence Aura.'"
Jackim could feel it. The crowd's energy changed. Every camera loved him, every word he spoke hit like a hammer.
Later that night, after the storm, he and Kelvin sat on the office balcony overlooking the glittering city.
Kelvin exhaled deeply. "You really did it. Stocks are back up twelve percent. The Wheel looks finished."
Jackim smiled faintly, eyes distant. "Not finished. Just wounded. They'll come again."
Kelvin frowned. "You ever get tired of all this?"
Jackim turned, his voice softer now. "You think I wanted this life? I wanted peace. Maybe a normal apartment, quiet job, simple girl… But peace doesn't come to men like us."
Kelvin nodded slowly. "Still, you didn't forget who you are. That's what scares them."
Jackim's phone buzzed. A text from Lina:
> 'Saw you on the news. I'm proud of you.'
For a second, his lips curved into a small, genuine smile.
Then another message came in—an unknown number.
> 'Enjoy your victory, Mr. Ochieng. The next game starts tomorrow. — The Wheel.'
The smile faded.
Jackim put the phone down and looked over the city again, lights shimmering like stars fallen to earth. "They'll keep playing," he murmured. "But I'll own the board."
The night wind swept across the balcony, and for a brief moment, Jackim felt that strange mix of loneliness and triumph that only men who rise too fast ever understand.
The next morning, financial channels declared:
> "BragTech recovers overnight — now the fastest-growing tech conglomerate in the region."
"Young Billionaire Jackim Ochieng: The Face of a New Empire."
Even The Wheel's own subsidiaries lost millions overnight. Some of their executives fled the country.
But somewhere in a shadowed office across town, the true leaders of The Wheel gathered, eyes fixed on Jackim's face on a screen.
"He's not just rich," one said quietly. "He's dangerous."
"Then we make him ours," another replied. "Or we destroy him."
That night, Jackim returned home to his villa. The lights were dim, jazz music playing softly. He poured himself a glass of whiskey, sat on the couch, and closed his eyes.
For once, there was no System voice, no notifications, no chaos—just silence.
He thought of Lina's message, Kelvin's loyalty, and the faces of those who once mocked him.
He whispered to himself, almost like a vow,
"Let them come. I didn't build this empire to hide. I built it to remind the world… that the poor boy they laughed at is now the man who signs their checks."
Outside, thunder rolled across the night sky, like applause from the heavens.