The night was quiet, but beneath the city's calm surface, a calculated disruption began to take shape.
A trusted shipment—a key delivery of raw materials crucial to one of my enterprises—was intercepted. Not by chance, but by design.
Customs inspections dragged on endlessly. Paperwork disappeared. Drivers were held at checkpoints, delays mounting hour by hour.
It was a message.
The old money families were no longer content to observe. They were pushing back—testing my limits.
The system alerted me swiftly.
"Supply chain interference detected.""Recommendation: initiate countermeasures."
But this time, I hesitated.
The Consultant was playing a different game. He wasn't just reacting; he was provoking.
Counterattack risked exposure. Patience might force him to reveal more.
I opted for subtlety.
Alternate routes were activated—complex paths through lesser-known territories, utilizing allies who owed favors.
Credit lines were shifted to fund these maneuvers, keeping operations fluid.
The system adapted alongside me, recalculating risks and probabilities with every new variable.
Yet, I sensed this was only the beginning.
The first strike had been made.
And the real war was about to ignite.