With Aetherion's lead programmer gone and their technology in a state of self-inflicted chaos, the company was a wounded animal. Leo Zhang, however, was not the kind of predator who waited for his prey to bleed out. He believed in the kill shot.
From his penthouse, he activated his newly upgraded Corporate Espionage (Lv. 3) skill. The System's interface shifted, offering him a new suite of tools designed not for digital intrusion, but for narrative warfare. He could now access a network of anonymous forums, encrypted journalist tip lines, and influential but discreet tech blogs.
His target was Aetherion's reputation. He began to plant his 'social exploits.'
The first was a carefully worded, anonymous post on a private venture capital forum.
Post: "Anyone else hearing rumors about the 'Prometheus' AI from Aetherion? Hearing from inside sources their secret sauce might not be so secret. Serious IP infringement issues. Explains why Kenji Tanaka just bailed."
The second was a direct, encrypted tip to a notoriously ruthless tech journalist.
Tip: "You should look into Aetherion's recent exodus of senior engineers. The story they're selling about 'creative differences' is a cover. The real story is a foundational flaw in their AI that they can't fix. It's a house of cards."
These weren't loud accusations; they were whispers, designed to breed doubt and multiply. They were social viruses. Within forty-eight hours, the whispers had become a storm. Aetherion's potential investors began to pull back. Their remaining engineers, already demoralized, started updating their resumes.
Now, for the final, personal touch. He called Elias Vance one last time, his voice a perfect symphony of reluctant sympathy.
"Elias," he said, his tone heavy. "I've just come from a meeting with my partners. The rumors… they're too much. We can't invest in a company with this much uncertainty. I'm sorry."
Elias, on the other end, sounded like a broken man. "They're lies, Leo. All of them."
"I know," Leo said soothingly. "But perception is reality in this business. Your brand is damaged. Your tech is compromised. Your talent has abandoned you." He let the brutal truths settle in. "But I see a way out for you. A way to salvage your vision and protect your team."
He laid out the final, elegant trap. He told Elias about a "private, discreet buyer," a shell corporation that specialized in acquiring distressed tech assets. They would buy Aetherion for a low price, take on its debts, and give Elias a minority stake in the new entity, allowing him to save face. It was an offer of salvation.
Of course, the shell corporation was owned by TitanCorp.
Elias, with no other options, agreed. The final nail was in the coffin.
Leo sent his final reports.
To Arthur Harrison and the Shadow Board: Aetherion has collapsed. Their founder has agreed to a fire sale. I have initiated the acquisition through our designated shell company. Total cost will be less than 5% of their initial valuation. The initiation is complete.
To Evelyn Reed, a final, "helpful" tip: Looks like your intel was spot on. Aetherion is finished. Just heard they're being acquired by a bottom-feeding private equity firm. A sad end to a promising idea. Thanks for the heads-up.
He had perfectly managed the narrative for every player, closing every loop, leaving no tracks. He had not just destroyed a company; he had authored the official history of its death.
His phone chimed, not with a simple notification, but with a deep, resonant tone that signified the completion of a major questline.
[SSS-Rank Faction Quest Complete: The Shadow Board] [You have successfully passed the initiation. You have proven your ruthlessness, your strategic acumen, and your absolute loyalty to the faction's objectives.] [Reward: Full Membership in the Shadow Board.] [New Title Acquired: The Hand of the Board] [Effect: You can now leverage the Shadow Board's influence and resources for approved operations. Your authority within TitanCorp is now second only to the VPs and the CEO.]
He had done it. He had a seat at the real table. He was one of them now. But as the notification faded, a new one shimmered into existence. It was a different color, a strange, glitching silver, and it presented not a task, but a choice. A hidden quest.
[System Anomaly Detected… Hidden Quest Unlocked.] [The path of pure efficiency has led you to a moral event horizon. Your next actions will define the fundamental nature of your ambition.] [Choose your path:] [Path A: Resign with Honor. (Leverage your new power to expose the Shadow Board, dismantle the corrupt system from within, and build a new TitanCorp based on merit and ethics.)] [Path B: Rule by Fear. (Embrace your role as The Hand of the Board. Use their power as your own, dismantle your rivals, and climb the final rungs of the ladder by becoming the most feared and effective monster in the corporate world.)]
Leo stared at the two choices, his face illuminated by the strange, silver light of the System. For the first time in a long time, the next move was not a matter of pure, cold logic. It was a question of what kind of king he wanted to be.