The next morning, Zhao Feng arrived at the Skyward Technologies headquarters, a sleek glass building standing in the heart of the city's tech district. Unlike the polished luxury of the Cheng Consortium, Skyward's offices had a modern, minimalist aesthetic — a reflection of a company that thrived on innovation.
But the moment Zhao Feng stepped inside, the tense atmosphere was impossible to ignore. Employees rushed through the open-floor workspace, murmuring in hushed tones. Reports on monitors flashed red — missed deadlines, declining investor confidence, and legal threats.
"Perfect," Zhao Feng muttered, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. The system had sent him directly into the fire. But what was power without a challenge?
Ding!
[Mission Update: Restore Skyward Technologies' Reputation and Ensure a Successful AI Product Launch.]
[Deadline: 30 Days]
[Reward: +50 Million Simp Coins, Business Influence +500]
"30 days, huh?" Zhao Feng cracked his knuckles. "Plenty of time."
---
In the executive conference room, the Skyward Board of Directors awaited, their gazes a mixture of doubt and skepticism.
Seated at the head was Zhou Ming, Skyward's embattled CEO. His thinning hair and creased forehead bore the marks of sleepless nights. While once hailed as a visionary, the recent controversy surrounding the company's delayed AI launch had shattered his reputation.
"Mr. Zhao Feng," Zhou Ming greeted, his voice strained. "I understand the Cheng Consortium has acquired a controlling interest. You're here to… oversee operations?"
"Oversee?" Zhao Feng's smile was sharp. "No, I'm here to fix this mess."
Murmurs rippled through the room.
"Fix it? With all due respect, Skyward is not some playground for a young investor," one director scoffed. "Our AI prototype is months behind schedule. Our reputation is in ruins. What exactly can you do in 30 days?"
Zhao Feng's gaze locked on the director, unshaken.
"I can do what you couldn't," he said flatly. "Succeed."
Ding!
[Confidence +20: Establish Dominance in the Meeting.]
"But," Zhao Feng continued, his tone lowering, "I don't expect you to believe in words alone. From now on, I'll assume full operational control of Skyward Technologies. Every major decision goes through me. You don't like it? Cash out your shares."
The directors fell silent. Zhou Ming rubbed his temples, visibly torn.
Finally, the CEO sighed. "You've got 30 days, Zhao Feng. If you fail, Skyward collapses. But if you succeed…"
"I don't deal in 'if,'" Zhao Feng interrupted. "I will succeed."
---
By the afternoon, Zhao Feng had established a temporary office, though he barely used it. Instead, he spent the hours walking the factory floors, speaking with engineers, and analyzing Skyward's AI development process firsthand.
It didn't take long to uncover the real issue.
"Sabotage," Zhao Feng muttered, his jaw tightening.
Someone within Skyward had deliberately caused delays — corrupted code, misaligned algorithms, and countless inefficiencies. It wasn't just incompetence. It was malicious.
Ding!
[New Objective: Identify and Remove the Corporate Mole.]
[Time Remaining: 7 Days]
"I expected no less," Zhao Feng said coldly. "The higher I climb, the more enemies I attract."
He tapped his smartwatch, sending a direct order to the system.
"Initiate Investigation Mode."
The battle for Skyward Technologies had officially begun.
"Next."