Lian Wei stood on the rooftop of the Night Market Collective's warehouse, Xinshou City's neon skyline sprawling before him like a digital battlefield. The *Fortune's Gambit* system's latest quest burned in his vision: **Cosmic Dominion – Spend 1,000,000,000 yuan on a high-Favorability empire (98+) to unlock a global empire. Reward: 800% cashback + 100,000 Fortune Points.** With 765,421,000 yuan in his account and 15,480 Fortune Points, Wei was a titan by any measure, but a billion-yuan spend was a monumental challenge. The promise of 8,000,000,000 yuan in cashback and a "global empire" was a siren call, but Kang's cyber-attack and his claim that the system belonged to Eclipse Corp cast a shadow over every move.
Xiao Lan leaned against the rooftop railing, her Favorability maxed at 100, her gaze steady. "Wei, you've got the Collective, the Cultural Fest, and now this global summit. But Kang's not bluffing. What's the system really doing to you?"
Zara, tweaking a drone nearby, glanced up, her Favorability at 99. "Yeah, that hack was military-grade. Eclipse isn't just after your money—they want whatever's in your head."
Chen, the Collective's leader, joined them, his Favorability at 85. "The summit's two weeks out, Wei. We're ready, but Eclipse has deep pockets. They'll hit us hard."
The system pinged: **Opportunity Detected: Rally the Collective for a preemptive strike against Eclipse. Cost: 200 Fortune Points for +3 Favorability across the empire.** Wei spent the points, dropping to 15,280, and turned to his allies. "The system's my family's legacy—a tool to build empires through trust and investment. Eclipse stole it, but I'm taking it back. We hit them first, at the summit."
Xiao Lan's trust held firm, Zara's Favorability hit 100, and Chen's climbed to 88, pushing the Collective's average to 99. "A preemptive strike?" Chen said. "Like what?"
The system updated: **Quest Progress: 40%. Collective Favorability: 99. Suggested Action: Fund a global influence campaign via the Xinshou Cultural Summit to meet the 1,000,000,000-yuan requirement.**
Wei's mind raced. The summit was already a massive platform, but a billion-yuan campaign—buying global media coverage, securing A-list influencers, and launching a blockchain-backed cultural token—could make it a phenomenon. His 765,421,000 yuan was close, but he needed a final push.
"We turn the summit into a global movement," Wei said. "Media blitz, celebrity endorsements, a digital token for fans worldwide. It'll cost a billion, but it'll make us untouchable."
Zara whistled. "That's ballsy. You got that kind of cash?"
"I'll get it," Wei said, his voice carrying the weight of his ambition. He opened the **Fortune Store**, his 15,280 Fortune Points a war chest. A new option glowed:
- **Titan's Vault: Receive 1,000,000,000 yuan (no cashback, repay within 168 hours) – 15,000 Fortune Points**
It was nearly his entire point reserve, but the 8,000,000,000-yuan cashback would rewrite history. Wei activated the vault, his phone buzzing as his balance surged to 1,765,421,000 yuan. His Fortune Points dropped to 280, and a warning flashed: **Debt: 1,000,000,000 yuan due in 168 hours. Failure to repay may result in system erasure.**
"I'm wiring a billion to the Collective," Wei announced, transferring the funds. The holo-table downstairs updated, projecting a dazzling campaign: billboards in Times Square, livestreams with global pop stars, and a "Xinshou Token" for digital art ownership. His balance fell to 765,421,000 yuan, but the system blared: **Quest Complete! Cosmic Dominion fulfilled. 8,000,000,000 yuan deposited. +100,000 Fortune Points. Global Empire Unlocked: Xinshou Global Syndicate (Grants control over international cultural and economic networks). New Quest Unlocked: Universal Ascendancy – Spend 10,000,000,000 yuan on a high-Favorability dynasty (100) to unlock a planetary influence. Reward: 900% cashback + 500,000 Fortune Points.**
Wei's phone confirmed his balance: 8,765,421,000 yuan after repaying the 1,000,000,000-yuan debt. His Fortune Points soared to 100,280. Ten billion yuan? The scale was cosmic, but 90,000,000,000 yuan in cashback was a fortune to rival empires.
The Collective roared, dubbing Wei "Emperor of Xinshou." Xiao Lan kissed his cheek, her voice soft. "You're unstoppable, Wei. But don't lose yourself in this."
Before Wei could respond, the warehouse shook. Drones buzzed outside, their Eclipse Corp logos glowing. Kang's voice boomed through a hacked PA system: "You've gone too far, Lian. Surrender the system, or we'll burn your empire to ash."
The system flashed: **Critical Alert: Eclipse Corp launching physical assault. Recommended Action: Spend 10,000 Fortune Points to unlock Syndicate Defense Network.**
Wei burned the points, dropping to 90,280. A new interface appeared: **Syndicate Defense Network – Activates global allies and cyber-defenses. Cost: 10,000 Fortune Points.** Drones outside sparked and fell, disabled by Collective hackers. Zara whooped, "We're online! Eclipse is screwed!"
Chen rallied the Collective. "We've got the summit, the token, and now global backup. Kang's outmatched."
Wei's system pinged: **Insight Unlocked: Eclipse Corp's system access is incomplete. They seek your neural link to fully control Fortune's Gambit.** Wei's blood ran cold. A neural link? The system was in his mind?
Kang's voice crackled again. "Last chance, Lian. Give us the system, or we take it by force."
Xiao Lan gripped Wei's arm. "Wei, what's he mean by 'system'? Tell me."
Wei hesitated, then whispered, "It's part of me now. I don't know how, but it's my fight." He turned to the Collective. "We launch the summit early—tomorrow. Show the world we're stronger than Eclipse."
Zara grinned, her Favorability maxed at 100. "Let's make history."
The system's golden text glowed: **Fortune's Gambit is your destiny. Forge a dynasty, or fall to ruin.**