Ethan sat with Jessica and David in Novatech’s conference room, watching the BiteWave launch metrics tick upward in real time.
“Wow. I never imagined being part of something this big,” Jessica murmured, her tone edged with nervous excitement.
David nodded, sharing her anticipation. “Let’s just hope everything holds. The way the team pulled this off—it’s incredible.”
Today was BiteWave’s official launch day. It followed weeks of development and a rigorous beta test that yielded promising feedback from users and restaurant partners.
What’s truly remarkable is that it was accomplished in just a few weeks. David couldn’t help but admire the young man before him. While most companies would take months to achieve such progress, NovaTech, founded only a few weeks ago, already operates like a seasoned business.
Ethan remained calm, a steady presence amid the tension in the room. He had confidence in his ability and the team’s work, knowing that his recent Intelligence boost had made all the difference in BiteWave’s early success.
Jessica glanced over her tablet, where live stats streamed in. “We’re off to a strong start. Users are responding well, and our partner restaurants are already reporting a jump in orders.” She let out a breath of relief. “It’s running just as planned—simple, clean, and rewarding for everyone involved.”
David, glued to the server load on his screen, leaned forward. “We’re ready for whatever comes our way.” He’d gathered just enough technical knowledge to read the numbers and see their stability. “BiteWave’s handling the scale, and the early responses show we’re providing something our users and partners genuinely need. It’s all holding steady.”
Suddenly, a notification flashed on the big screen in front of them: 100,000 downloads. David grinned, and Jessica’s quiet smile matched the surge of accomplishment they all felt.
Just then, Nora from the support team poked her head in. Her expression lit up with excitement. “We did it—100,000 downloads already!” Her voice could barely contain her enthusiasm. “And the numbers are still climbing.”
She went out quickly as how she poked her head in. Right after, a loud cheer went up around the room as Nora’s excitement spread, with faint sounds of celebration filtering in from the support team outside.
Ethan’s gaze held a flicker of satisfaction, though he kept his tone calm. “Perfect. That’s exactly what we aimed for.”
David’s eyes caught another notification, and he raised an eyebrow as he scanned the brief report. “Interesting,” he murmured, looking up. “Looks like SilverWave is having a rough time—complaints are flooding in about their servers crashing.”
Jessica glanced over, intrigued. “You think that’s related?”
David exchanged a knowing look with Ethan. “Well, their problems started right after… that incident of someone trying to pull data from BiteWave’s framework.”
“I’m not sure who is involved,” Ethan said, his expression steady. “But… since they dared to cross that line, they should be ready to deal with the consequences. If their systems couldn’t handle the ‘gift’ I sent, that’s on them.”
David and Jessica were uncertain about how to respond. Ethan’s words were amusing but also felt a bit threatening. The reaction might depend on whether someone was a friend or an enemy.
To escape that topic, Jessica checked her screen again, glancing at the latest user feedback. “Whatever’s going on with SilverWave, it’s working in our favor. Users seek stability, and BiteWave’s proving itself at the right time.”
Ethan nodded as the download count continued to climb, his gaze thoughtful as he leaned back in his chair. ‘If it is SilverWave, that means the LaRue family is involved. They are ruthless, just as Calder said.’
While he was deep in thought, a few notifications chimed in. Ethan took out his new phone, pretending to check it casually as a few notifications sounded.
This phone was a test to see if the system would still function seamlessly on any device he used—and his experiment proved successful. The system’s familiar interface showed him a series of completed missions. His eyebrows lifted in quiet surprise as he read through the updates.
=====
[Mission Completed: Deliver Success]
Objective: Successfully develop and launch the NovanCity Food Delivery App.
Reward:
1. 5,000 EXP
2. 20 Ascension Points
=====
[Mission: BiteWave Boosters]
Objective: Help and increase the visibility of 20 struggling restaurants.
1. Improve their sales using BiteWave’s platform.
2. Ensure their dishes meet the required standards through testing and feedback.
3. Provide guidance on menu adjustments and help enhance their operations.
Reward:
1. 15,000 EXP
2. Business Strategy Skill Unlock
3. BiteWave Expansion Kit
=====
Ethan blinked at his screen, momentarily stunned to see the “BiteWave Boosters” mission marked as completed. He hadn’t anticipated it—between training Ascendants, managing BiteWave’s launch, and handling NovaTech’s growing reach, he’d hardly had time to focus on all twenty struggling restaurants individually. Yet here it was, mission complete. His initial guidance and the system’s support must have been enough.
Setting his phone down, Ethan kept his expression neutral, masking his surprise. After a beat, he looked at Jessica.
“By the way, how are the twenty restaurants we brought on doing? Any updates on their performance?”
Jessica’s face brightened immediately. “Actually, they’re doing better than we’d hoped. Thanks to the changes you suggested in their dishes and presentation, many of them have turned into local favorites. Some are even attracting customers from nearby cities. Word’s spreading quickly.”
David, who had been reviewing the app’s metrics, looked over it and was intrigued. “Wait, Ethan—since when are you the expert on menu fixes? Are you actually a good cook?”
Jessica laughed, catching Ethan’s faint smile as he shrugged modestly. “David, you have no idea,” she teased. “You should try Ethan’s cooking sometime. Once you do, you’ll be craving it for days.”
Ethan chuckled softly, enjoying the brief reprieve from their work intensity. “It’s just practice,” he replied lightly. However, he felt satisfied that his culinary guidance had impacted the vendors.
Jessica nodded, her tone sincere. “Those small tweaks you suggested in their dishes made all the difference. BiteWave isn’t just a platform anymore—it’s helping these places become something special. It’s giving them a real shot, and people are noticing.”
Ethan allowed himself a small nod. With the added benefits of BiteWave’s success, NovaTech slowly began carving out a unique role in Novan City—not only as a tech player but also as a force improving lives and businesses.
Outside the conference room, Steven sat alone, trembling as he stared at the floor, beads of sweat gathering on his forehead. While the rest of the team celebrated BiteWave’s success, laughter and cheers echoing through the office, Steven felt only a deepening sense of dread.
He had seen the flood of negative reviews hitting SilverWave’s apps and software, knowing he was in dangerous territory.
A sharp and chilling message arrived from Lucien’s bodyguard earlier. The man appeared at Steven’s apartment just hours after Ethan’s prank humiliated Lucien and the others.
Furious and looking for retribution, Lucien wasn’t about to let the matter rest. The message was clear: Steven now had one job: placing a virus into Novatech’s system.
The bodyguard hadn’t minced words, reminding Steven why he had agreed to spy on NovaTech in the first place. Lucien held his wife and two children captive.
If Steven dared to back out, if he even hesitated, their lives would be the price. The bodyguard’s threats had been quiet but terrifying, each word a reminder of the misery that awaited if he failed.
Now, sitting there with his hands trembling, Steven felt the weight of the impossible decision bearing down on him. He was supposed to install a virus that would corrupt NovaTech’s entire server, wipe out everything they’d built, and send the company into ruin. But his stomach churned as he looked at the team celebrating, their joy tangible and earned.
Steven clenched his fists, his nails biting into his palms as he tried to steady his breath. ‘How should I sit here and work when I know they’re in danger?’
The thought twisted in his mind, relentless and agonizing, gnawing at him until he felt like he might snap. Every email, every glance at the screen felt absurd, a pointless charade when the lives of his wife and children hung in the balance.
‘I can’t even go to the police, he thought bitterly. Lucien’s got them in his pocket—every high-ranking officer, every avenue I’d ever think to take. If I try anything, he’ll know.’
He felt trapped, bound by invisible chains that tightened with every passing second. The laughter and celebrations from the conference room sounded hollow, mocking even.
‘Why me? Out of everyone, why did it have to be me?’ He wanted to scream, to lash out, but he couldn’t. All he could do was sit here, playing the obedient worker while dread clawed at his insides.
He knew who Lucien was. He knew exactly what the LaRue family was capable of—their influence, ruthlessness, and iron grip on Novan City. ‘I’ve read the stories. I know what they’ve done to others. But… why am I the one paying the price?’
The unfairness of it all burned, simmering beneath his fear. He was an easy pawn in Lucien’s game, trapped and helpless. Whenever he thought of his family, their faces flashed before him—his wife’s gentle smile, his children’s laughter.
It is all gone instantly if I don’t follow his orders. But to destroy NovaTech from the inside… how can I do that? The thought was suffocating. No matter which way he turned, he was cornered.
Unbeknownst to Steven and the others, Ethan stood at the conference room door, his gaze fixed on Steven’s hunched figure across the office. The rest of the team was still caught up in the celebration.
Still, Ethan’s attention had shifted, drawn by the sight of Steven’s pale, trembling hands, his fingers clenching and unclenching as if holding onto something invisible.
Ethan’s eyes narrowed as he observed Steven’s distress. His movements were jittery, and his eyes darted around the room as if searching for an escape.
Ethan had been on edge about a possible insider in NovaTech since SilverWave’s aggressive moves to steal BiteWave’s data. Now, seeing Steven in this state, Ethan’s suspicions crystallized. ‘It’s him…’
But a new thought settled as Ethan studied Steven’s clenched jaw and haunted eyes. Steven’s distress wasn’t the look of someone who’d been caught or felt guilty. It was deeper—a look of raw desperation, like a man whose world was closing in. ‘What if he’s not doing this willingly?’
Ethan has a negative impression of the LaRue family, especially after hearing what happened to Calder’s parents. They had a reputation for ruthlessness, using people’s lives as leverage and manipulating others to achieve their goals.
Ethan knew that if they wanted something, they would not hesitate to use any means necessary to get it.
‘Could Steven be one of their victims?’ Ethan thought the suspicion tempered now with curiosity and a flicker of empathy. If Lucien had threatened Steven or his family, that would have explained the man’s visible fear and isolation from the celebration.
Ethan leaned against the doorway, crossing his arms, mind racing. ‘If he’s just another pawn in Lucien’s game, how should I help?’
