Leo's penthouse apartment had become the command center for a silent, three-front war. On one virtual screen, he monitored the slow, agonizing decay of Aetherion's internal morale. On another, he managed the impatient expectations of the Shadow Board. And on a third, he conducted a delicate, high-stakes dance with Evelyn Reed. He was no longer just a manager; he was an intelligence agency of one.
His first move was to answer Evelyn. He crafted a reply that was a masterpiece of curated truth.
To: E. Reed
From: L. Zhang
Subject: Re: Aetherion
My assessment is that Aetherion's core AI is conceptually brilliant but fatally flawed in its execution. Their internal culture prioritizes speed over stability, resulting in a volatile, unreliable product. A direct acquisition would be a high-risk gamble—you would be buying a beautiful engine that is fundamentally broken.
He paused, then added the crucial piece of bait.
However, their lead programmer, Kenji Tanaka, is a rare talent. Poaching him would grant you the architect without the flawed architecture. A strategic extraction of their key personnel would be a far more efficient victory than a hostile takeover.
He was directing a rival predator, turning her attention from a corporate acquisition to a talent raid, a move that would sow even more chaos within Aetherion.
His next move was to report to his masters.
To: A. Harrison
From: L. Zhang
Subject: Aetherion Phase 2 - Update
Have confirmed the primary source of their technological instability. Their lead coder, Kenji Tanaka, is the lynchpin. He is currently under extreme pressure and his loyalty to the founder is fracturing. He is the primary target for extraction. I am initiating contact.
He had set the board. Now, he made the killing move. Using his encrypted burner phone and the "Leo Chang" persona, he sent a direct, private message to Kenji Tanaka.
To: K. Tanaka
From: L. Chang
Mr. Tanaka, my firm has been assessing Aetherion, and it is our conclusion that your programming talent is being wasted in an unstable, chaotic environment. The flaws in the 'Prometheus' AI are not a reflection of your skill, but of a rushed, poorly managed development cycle. A true artist needs a better studio. I represent a firm that is building a new, well-funded AI research lab. We are looking for a director. If you are interested in a confidential conversation about a role that would give you the resources and stability you deserve, let me know.
It was the perfect bait. It didn't just offer Kenji a job; it offered him validation. It told him, "The failure is not your fault."
For two days, there was silence. Then, on the third night, a reply came.
From: K. Tanaka
I'm listening.
The extraction was brutally swift. Leo, as "Leo Chang," met Kenji in a quiet, high-end restaurant. He didn't need to lie. He simply told Kenji what his Business Instinct skill had already confirmed: that Kenji was a genius whose work was being undermined by a flawed corporate culture. He offered him an obscene salary, a team of his own, and, most importantly, complete creative control. The shell corporation was real, funded by a black budget from the Shadow Board. By the end of the dinner, Kenji Tanaka had been poached.
The next day, Elias Vance, the young, idealistic founder of Aetherion, received a two-sentence resignation email from his best friend and lead programmer. The news shattered the last vestiges of morale in the company. Their brilliant engine had not just malfunctioned; its chief architect had just abandoned the ship.
That evening, Leo sent two final messages.
To the Shadow Board: Target acquired. Phase 2 complete.
To Evelyn Reed, a simple, anonymous tip: Kenji Tanaka is officially on the market. Looks like your interest spooked him. You should move fast if you want him.
He leaned back in his chair, the city lights reflecting in his eyes. He had successfully manipulated all three parties, playing them against each other with perfect precision. He had fulfilled his mission for the Shadow Board, while simultaneously feeding his rival a false trail and pushing his victim one step closer to the abyss.
His System glowed, acknowledging the mastery of his complex maneuver.
[Quest Objective Updated: Talent Extraction Complete] [Your ability to manipulate multiple factions simultaneously has been recognized.] [Skill Progression: Corporate Espionage (Lv. 2) → (Lv. 3)] [New Effect: You can now plant 'social exploits'—rumors and targeted pieces of misinformation—with a high degree of plausible deniability.]