Selene's office was immersed in calculated order: glass walls, screens displaying investment charts, open portfolios, and a cup of coffee still steaming on the desk. Selene scanned every detail with her eyes, mapping out in her mind the strategy she would present to Adrián.
"I need this plan to be flawless," she murmured as she slid papers and adjusted projections. "Every figure, every risk, every combination must shine without leaving room for doubt."
Max stood beside her, arms crossed, visibly conflicted. His enthusiasm was mixed with an uncomfortable feeling. Helping Selene also meant, indirectly, feeding the wealth of someone like Adrián. The idea sent a chill through him that he couldn't ignore.
In his mind, the system chimed and deployed its mental holographic interface:
[Capital Hero System — Max]Current Parameters:
Capital: €120,000 (+30,000 projected cash flow)Influence: 120/1000Contact Network: Level 3Reputation: 78/100Focus: 85/100Financial Creativity: 92/100Risk/Courage: 67/100Morality/Ethics: 80/100Hero Level: 4
Active Missions:
Analyze and optimize investment portfolios (pending)
Identify hidden acquisition opportunities (in progress)
Subdue rival families without violence (future objective)
Recent Alerts:⚠ Villain detected: Level 9001 — Target: Adrián Valmont💡 Strategic Tip: Increase influence over close ally (Selene Virelli)🏆 Combo Unlocked: Night Operation +50 Capital XP, +10 Influence
Max looked at Selene, and although his face tried to hide it, his mind processed every number, every possible outcome. If this goes wrong… he gains billions and we barely scratch anything, he thought. His internal ethics, his "hero" instinct against villains, put him on edge.
"Selene," he said, trying to stay calm, "this is brilliant… but I can't help feeling that every move we make also feeds that guy."
Selene looked at him steadily, without hesitation.
"Max, this isn't about feeding him. It's about making our idea exist, about our work creating real value. If we can execute this, we don't just position ourselves in front of Adrián—we prove we can play in the big leagues."
Max sighed, but his system reminded him that every dilemma came with a reward:
[Achievement Unlocked: "First Deal with a Giant" — +20 Influence XP][Temporary Reward: Advanced strategic vision during negotiation]
"Alright…" he said finally. "But make this clear: if at any point he tries to step on us, I—"The system cut him off with a chime:
Critical Alert: "Villain nearby — Maintain strategic distance; increase pattern observation."
Selene smiled faintly, recognizing the mix of distrust and respect Max felt.
"Then let's polish the presentation. I want Adrián to see this and understand that what we're bringing isn't a small project. It's a leap. For him, for us… and for the city."
Max nodded, feeling his ego blend with the adrenaline of the challenge. His system chimed again as he adjusted charts and simulations:
[Planned Operation: +35 Capital XP, +15 Influence][Strategic Tip: Maximize Selene's visibility without compromising execution control]
For a moment, Max allowed himself a smile. This wasn't just a money game—it was his hero-versus-villain game within the financial system. And this time, Selene wasn't just his ally; she was his co-leader.
The office clock read 6:40 a.m.Selene was already standing in front of the main screen when Max entered with two coffees.
"Every minute we lose is money thrown away," she said without looking at him. "If we start today, the project generates cash flow in days, not months."
Max swallowed. His system reacted instantly.
DING.
[Capital Hero System]⏱ Warning: Strategic delay detected.📉 Potential penalty: −10 Capital XP for prolonged inaction.
They sat down. Selene projected the final plan: clear phases, tight timelines, risks neatly contained.
"The advantage," she continued, "is speed. Adrián already has the infrastructure. If we wait until we 'feel comfortable,' others will take the space. I want in before the market even realizes it exists."
Max nodded, though something burned inside him.
DING.
⚠ System Alert:Rival/Villain confirmed: Adrián ValmontEstimated Level: 9001+Note: "Alliances with villains generate penalties proportional to their benefit."
The mental interface expanded.
Special Rule Activated:🩸 If the villain doubles your gains:— XP penalty x2— Temporary Reputation reduction— Lock on advanced ethical skills
Max felt a chill but said nothing. Selene didn't need to know; the tension and calculations were his alone.
Unaware of the internal alarm, she adjusted the project phases.
"You and I control phase two: patents, licenses, and human talent," she said calmly. "That doesn't scale with money—it scales with judgment. Adrián can inject capital, but without this, he can't accelerate without exposing himself."
Max nodded, holding back the urgency he felt. The system issued a strategic tip:
💡 Tip Unlocked: Limit villain growth without direct confrontation.🎯 Secondary Objective: Maintain profit ratio ≤1.3x
"Also," Selene added, "his advantage is volume. Ours is precision. If we execute well, his billions will move… but the cleanest margins will be ours."
Max felt the tension ease slightly. Internally, his [Focus +10] and [Financial Creativity +5] updated.
"Alright," he said aloud this time. "Then let's move. Fast."
DING.
🏆 Mission Accepted: "Negotiate with the Villain Without Losing Your Soul"Estimated Reward: +80 Capital XP, +25 Influence, Provisional Title: Moral Strategist
Selene closed the folder and smiled faintly.
"Perfect," she said. "Because if there's one thing I learned today… it's that Adrián Valmont waits for no one."
Max only nodded. In his mind, the system was already measuring every second. And somewhere in the city, money was beginning to move.
Selene drove to the Sterling mansion with Max beside her, every second heavy with tension. The car stopped at the entrance, and the sheer scale of the building confirmed what Selene already knew: to win here, it wasn't enough to be good—you had to be brilliant and fast.
Katherine welcomed them with an impeccable, measured, elegant smile. Every movement was calculated to convey authority and serenity, yet she radiated just enough warmth to keep everyone under her quiet influence.
Adrián appeared behind her, stepping out of the main hall as if every movement were choreographed with gravity itself. Impeccable. Dominant. His tailored suit, flawless posture, and cold, calculating gaze seemed to pierce through any facade.
Max noticed him immediately. His heart jolted, and a stab of jealousy shot through his chest like an electric shock. Every gesture of Adrián—the way he held his glass, the slight tilt of his head, the way Katherine brushed back a strand of hair without looking—was calibrated to impress, to dominate.
Max swallowed hard. He tried to focus on his own mission, on the plans he had prepared for Selene, but the scene in front of him seized his mind. Adrián's perfection and Katherine's natural grace made any effort of his seem clumsy, childish.
"Come on…" Max murmured to himself, rubbing his forehead. "Stay calm. Just observe. Don't show weakness."
"Selene, Max," Adrián said courteously, with his usual distance. "Please, come in."
They entered, and the room filled with contained energy. Every word, every gesture, every silence mattered. Max could feel the system vibrating in his mind:
DING.💀 Villain detected: Level 9001📊 Penalty risk: 0 → 50 if negotiation fails
Selene unfolded the profit projections on the portable screen. Adrián examined them with the calm of someone who could afford anything—his companies, his capital, his resources were practically limitless. The negotiation wasn't about how to execute the project, but about what share of what was already guaranteed would belong to each party.
"According to these figures," Adrián said quietly, "Aurora Capital could generate a net return that allows me to double your margin if we don't adjust."
Max felt his [Capital] drop automatically:
ALERT: Villain gaining advantage. Capital XP penalty +30.
"Exactly," Selene replied firmly. "But my proposal is fair: initial investment and operational control, 40% participation. Your capital dominates, yes—but without our clean margin, there'd be no way to scale without risk."
DING.💡 Strategic Tip Unlocked: "Negotiate equity without losing operational control."🎯 Secondary Objective: Maintain ratio ≤1.3x
The discussion escalated. Adrián proposed more aggressive scenarios: "If I assume this debt, I can push my return to 70%." Selene adjusted her stance: "I keep 40%, but I guarantee stability, efficiency, and operational control." Every move, every counteroffer, made Max's system vibrate, chiming and marking penalties in real time:
[Capital −20] → Villain gains more than expected[Influence +15] → Selene's successful negotiations[Morality/Ethics −10] → Max indirectly aids the Villain[Risk/Courage −5] → Unable to intervene directly
Selene and Adrián were focused, unaware of the system; Max was the only one feeling the consequences. Every percentage shift made his Capital XP fall, every allocation table triggered alarms:
ALERT: If Villain gains >1.3x, automatic penalty.
Finally, after nearly an hour of tension, Adrián looked up from the charts and said:
"Let's do it this way: 60% for me, 40% for you, Selene. You retain operational control and the stake you requested."
Max felt every figure like a punch to the stomach. Each percentage Adrián claimed made his system shudder, tearing down his Capital XP and punishing his morale. The numbers on the screen turned into invisible shrapnel: his [Influence] trembled, his [Morality/Ethics] dropped, and a crushing sense of helplessness weighed on him. While Selene negotiated with surgical precision, he endured the frustration of watching everything move forward perfectly—yet every move by the Villain stole points, confidence, and a piece of his pride.
DING.🏆 Mission completed with penalty: Villain exceeded desired ratio → −50 Capital XP for Max💡 Max's Current Status:[Capital: +90][Influence: +35][Risk/Courage: +0][Morality/Ethics: −10]
Selene nodded with pride: she had negotiated as an equal with a multi-billion player and secured her operational control. Max, meanwhile, could only clench his fists. His system punished him, and his sense of personal defeat was tangible, even though neither Selene nor Adrián noticed.
Katherine smiled, not fully understanding, as Adrián raised his glass of wine—absolute master of the board.
The war of profits was over. For Selene and Adrián, it was a clean deal. For Max, the real challenge was only beginning—inside his own system.
Suddenly, Max's system vibrated with urgency:
DING.⚠ Break Event Unlocked🎯 Emergency Mission: "Sabotage the first Aurora Capital shipment to reduce the Villain's profit."⏱ Time Limit: 1 week💀 Failure Consequence: Critical penalty to Capital XP and Risk/Courage.
Max swallowed hard. If he executed the mission, his system would reward him—but he would betray Selene and everything their perfect strategy stood for. If he ignored the alert, the system's internal alarms would escalate until they locked him down, leaving his stats in ruins. The screen flickered and the numbers churned, reminding him that while the deal advanced flawlessly for Selene and Adrián, for him the board was a fight to the death—one only he could see.