Alexander learned quickly that money alone did not move industries.
Credibility did.
Three days after registering Hale Meridian Logistics, he sat in a small rented office above a print shop in Stratford. The furniture was secondhand. The walls were bare. The internet connection cut out twice an hour.
It was enough.
Five vans were parked outside. All white. All anonymous. Exactly how he wanted them.
Alexander studied the spreadsheet on his laptop.
Drivers hired.
Insurance cleared.
Licensing approved.
Every box ticked.
His phone vibrated.
[Operational Status: Active]
[Logistics Efficiency: Baseline]
[Next Objective: Secure Long Term Contract]
Alexander closed his eyes briefly.
"This is where most small companies die," he murmured.
The system responded.
[Correct]
[Contracts determine survival]
The Pitch No One Expected
The opportunity came from a mid sized pharmaceutical distributor in Barking. Not glamorous. Tight margins. Constant deadlines.
Alexander knew the type.
He walked into the meeting room wearing a plain suit. No branding. No confidence tricks.
Across the table sat three people.
Operations manager.
Procurement officer.
Legal observer.
None of them recognized his name.
Good.
"Your company is new," the procurement officer said bluntly. "Why should we trust you with medical deliveries."
Alexander nodded. "You shouldn't. Not yet."
They blinked.
"So here's what I offer instead," he continued calmly. "A three month pilot. Lower rates. Penalty clauses that favor you. Missed deadline, you don't pay."
The operations manager leaned forward. "And if you deliver."
"Then we renegotiate," Alexander replied. "With performance data."
Silence followed.
The system pulsed softly.
[Negotiation Integrity Detected]
[Minor Authority Gain]
The legal observer cleared her throat. "No one offers terms like that."
Alexander met her gaze. "That's why no one remembers who built the first routes."
Two hours later, the agreement was signed.
Alexander stepped back onto the pavement, heart steady.
His phone buzzed immediately.
[Contract Acquired]
[Industry Authority Increased: +0.8%]
[Reward: £750,000 Operational Capital]
He exhaled slowly.
"So this is how it grows."
Pressure from Above
The celebration lasted less than an hour.
A black SUV pulled up outside his office that same afternoon. Two men stepped out. Expensive suits. Quiet confidence.
They did not ask permission to enter.
"You're Alexander Blackwood," one of them said flatly.
Alexander did not correct him.
"Yes."
"You're undercutting established providers," the man continued. "That creates instability."
Alexander folded his arms. "Competition does that."
The man smiled thinly. "Not when the family is involved."
There it was.
Alexander tilted his head. "You're early."
"We're being polite," the other man said. "Step aside. Sell the company. We'll make sure you're comfortable."
The system reacted sharply.
[Hostile Acquisition Attempt Detected]
[Response Options Available]
Alexander felt something settle inside him.
"No," he said simply.
The men exchanged glances.
"You're playing a dangerous game."
Alexander stepped closer. "No. I'm building something. And you noticed too soon."
They left without another word.
The SUV disappeared down the street.
Alexander's phone vibrated.
[Conflict Escalation Logged]
[Reward: Industry Protection Token]
[Effect: One Hostile Action Neutralized]
Alexander stared at the screen.
"So you're not just rewarding success," he said quietly. "You're preparing me for war."
[Correct]
First Taste of Visibility
That evening, Alexander attended a networking event.
Not high society.
Not Blackwood territory.
Logistics managers.
Fleet operators.
Procurement specialists.
He introduced himself simply.
"Alexander. Hale Meridian."
People nodded. Some remembered him. Some did not.
But his acknowledgment grew.
The system updated silently.
[Personal Visibility: Low]
[Corporate Visibility: Increasing]
This was the balance.
As the event ended, a man approached him.
"You're the one who took the Barking contract," he said. "Bold move."
Alexander smiled faintly. "Efficient move."
The man extended his hand. "Let's talk next week."
Alexander shook it.
Another line written.
End of the Day
Back in his flat, Alexander poured himself a glass of cheap whisky and stood by the window.
London no longer felt distant.
It felt contested.
His phone buzzed one last time.
[Next Objective Unlocked]
[Expand Fleet to 20 Vehicles]
[Reward Preview: Luxury Asset Access + Property Options]
Alexander took a slow sip.
"Cars and property next," he murmured. "You're generous."
[Correction]
[You are efficient]
He smiled.
Tomorrow, the city would wake up unaware.
But somewhere between its roads and contracts, Alexander Blackwood was beginning to matter.