The city skyline sprawled beneath the gray morning sky, reflecting off the glass towers like shards of forgotten ambition. Marc Delorme didn't recognize any of it. Not the streets, not the cars, not the faces rushing past him with the indifference only a metropolis could breed. And most importantly, he didn't recognize himself.
He was no longer Marc Delorme — the ordinary consultant, the man with debts and a fleeting career. He was now Marcus Dumar, heir to a fallen empire. The press had already crucified him in headlines, and social media was a battlefield where his name was spat out like venom. Every scrolling notification reinforced the reality: the world had moved on without mercy.
Then, a voice — digital, calm, absolute — resonated in his mind.
> "[SYSTEM ACTIVE]"
"Welcome, Candidate."
"Objective: Survive and reclaim your legacy."
"Time Remaining: 365 days."
The numbers glowed in the corner of his vision, blinking softly, counting down relentlessly. Below them appeared three tasks, marked "Easy", but he could sense the layers beneath, the subtle traps in simplicity.
Marc blinked. The metallic taste of panic lingered at the back of his throat. He flexed his fingers, testing the body he now occupied. Stronger. Leaner. A subtle, predatory confidence had replaced the hesitance he once knew. He flexed again, this time more deliberately. Marcus Dumar wasn't a stranger — he was a vessel, a stage, a mask waiting to be learned.
He stepped onto the street. Crowds swirled, indifferent to the collapse of dynasties. Cameras flashed on their own; a few journalists noticed him, whispered, then moved on. His reputation had been gutted publicly, leaving him exposed. Vulnerable. Yet the SYSTEM pulsed like a heartbeat: a promise of power, a guide, a weapon.
---
The first "easy" task was deceptively simple: reintroduce yourself to the world without succumbing to public humiliation. Marc's first steps led him to the Dumar Group's flagship tower — once the epitome of wealth, now a monument to mismanagement and betrayal.
Inside, the lobby smelled of disinfectant and old carpet. Security cameras hung like silent observers, some blinking; others darkened, broken. The reception desk, long abandoned, bore the scratches of hurried departures and arguments past. Marc's footsteps echoed. Every sound carried weight. Every shadow threatened exposure.
> "[SYSTEM NOTICE]"
"Mission 1: Enter company premises. Gather situational data."
"Status: In Progress"
He moved to the elevators, only to find them dead. Power fluctuations, no doubt, from the corporation's internal struggles. He took the stairs, one flight at a time, feeling muscles he hadn't known he possessed. The higher he went, the heavier the silence became.
On the tenth floor, he paused before the old executive wing. His nameplate — Marcus Dumar, CEO — was tarnished, dusted over, almost laughable. But the room beyond the glass walls held secrets. Files, contracts, correspondences. Data waiting to be weaponized.
And then, the first real test: a human element.
---
A shadow moved at the end of the hallway. Marc froze. A sharp voice cut through the emptiness.
"Who are you? You shouldn't be here," the figure said.
He recognized the figure immediately. Lucie Beaumont, former Dumar Group attorney, sharp, calculating, and undeniably cautious. Her gaze pinned him with subtle accusation.
"And you?" he replied, calm, measured. "Still guarding the ruins?"
She crossed her arms.
"I received a security alert. You have no authorization."
Marc's eyes flicked to the side. "[SYSTEM: Persuasion Skill Available — Level 1]"
He inhaled slowly. Words were weapons, and this one had to fall in line.
"You know who I am, Lucie. And you know no one else will come here. I don't want destruction; I want truth."
Her eyes narrowed. The SYSTEM pulsed softly in his vision, highlighting microexpressions: fear, hesitation, suppressed doubt.
"Truth?" she asked. "And what makes you think you can handle it?"
Marc leaned slightly forward, voice even but compelling.
"Because I've seen the consequences of lies and silence. And I intend to fix them — with or without your help."
She studied him. Seconds stretched. The SYSTEM flagged: "[Truth Detected: 88%]."
Finally, she nodded, the faintest indication of willingness.
"Fine. But if you manipulate this evidence… I'll see to it that the press eats you alive."
Marc's lips curved in a controlled smile.
"Understood. Shall we proceed?"
---
In the server room, beneath the building, the air smelled of damp metal and old circuitry. Towering servers hummed faintly, shadows stretching across concrete floors. Lucie guided him to the main console.
> "[SYSTEM: Mission Update]"
"Objective: Access restricted data."
"Reward: Skill Unlock — Strategic Negotiation Level 1"
Marc connected the external drive he'd retrieved from the executive office. Files loaded, encrypted layers flashing across the screen. He recognized patterns instantly — transfers, shell companies, obfuscated accounts. This was the skeleton of a conspiracy.
> "[SYSTEM: Optional Task]"
"Recruit a network specialist to decrypt sensitive files."
"Reward: XP +15"
Lucie glanced at him.
"Do you have someone in mind?" she asked.
"I do. But that's a mission for tomorrow," he replied.
The two worked in silence, analyzing and cataloging evidence. Every document, every transaction told a story of betrayal, of greed, of negligence. Marc's mind cataloged every detail, every implication. The SYSTEM provided subtle guidance, nudging him toward high-value targets and exposing weak links.
When they finished, the room was quiet except for the faint hum of servers. Marc stored the drive safely.
> "[SYSTEM: Mission Complete — 'Inspect Headquarters']"
"Reward: Strategic Negotiation Level 1 Unlocked"
"New Contact Added: Lucie Beaumont (Neutral/Potential Ally)"
Marc looked out through the grated basement window. Rain-slicked streets reflected the city's indifferent lights. The empire he inherited was in ruins, but the pieces were there. His moves now mattered. Every decision, every alliance, every deception could tilt the scales.
He exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the countdown. 365 days remained.
> "[SYSTEM ALERT: Day 1 Complete]"
"Next Mission: Test Loyalty in Silence — Prepare allies discreetly."
Marc's reflection stared back from the glass — a man transformed, colder, sharper, and ready. The game had begun, and this time, he intended to win.