Ripples in the Market

The moment Ethan finalized his investments, the financial world trembled—quietly.

Titan Dynamics, IronCore Security Solutions, and NovaGrid Energy—three companies previously considered underdogs—were suddenly seeing an unusual surge in investor interest.

But only one man had moved first.

Ethan Cole.

And he had done it silently.

The Shark Smells Blood

Sitting in his penthouse apartment—still rented, for now—Ethan swirled a glass of whiskey as he scrolled through the latest financial reports.

The system had been right.

The moment his investments were locked in, whispers began circulating in financial circles. Small-time investors were starting to take notice. Hedge funds, always eager for a big score, were sniffing around.

But Ethan wasn't worried.

He was calm. Strategic. Unshakable.

Then his phone rang.

Alexander Graves.

Ethan answered, keeping his tone even. "Talk to me."

Alexander's voice was sharper than before. "You've stirred the pot."

Ethan smirked. "Let them stir. I'll still be the one eating."

A chuckle. "I like that confidence. But be careful—big players don't like when unknowns make money before them."

Ethan leaned back. "Let me guess. Someone's already looking into me?"

Alexander's pause confirmed it. "…Yes. Word is, an old-money hedge fund took notice of your moves. They want to know who the hell you are."

Ethan's eyes gleamed with amusement. Good. Let them wonder.

But he needed to stay ahead.

"Send me everything on them," Ethan said. "I want to know who's watching me."

"You sure?" Alexander asked. "You're playing with fire."

Ethan's smirk widened. "I am the fire."

A Meeting With Power

A few hours later, Ethan found himself walking into a high-end business lounge—an exclusive club where only industry giants gathered.

And yet, no one paid him much attention.

To them, he was just another nobody.

Perfect.

He reached a private booth, where Alexander was already waiting. The older man gestured for Ethan to sit.

Across from them sat Nathaniel Harrington.

An old-money investor, head of Harrington Capital, and a man with decades of experience manipulating markets.

He studied Ethan with sharp, blue eyes. "Mr. Cole. I must say, you've been quite… active lately."

Ethan smiled. "I like to keep busy."

Nathaniel's lips curled. "Ambition is good. But moving into my territory without introducing yourself? That's bad business."

Ethan leaned forward, unbothered. "I didn't realize Wall Street belonged to anyone."

Alexander shifted slightly, as if preparing for things to turn ugly.

Nathaniel chuckled. "Bold. But let me give you some advice—I don't like surprises."

Ethan's gaze remained steady. "That's unfortunate. Because I'm full of them."

For a brief moment, there was silence.

Then Nathaniel smirked. "I see why people are talking about you."

Checkmate.

Nathaniel had come to intimidate him. To remind Ethan that the financial world was run by old money, established power.

But instead, he had just acknowledged Ethan as a player.

And now?

Ethan was in the game.

Strengthening the Foundation

After the meeting, Ethan returned to his penthouse, checking the system notifications.

[Market Influence Increased: +10%]

[New Ability Unlocked: Business Forecasting]

A flood of data filled his mind.

Now, he could predict market trends—not with blind guesses, but with calculated certainty.

Ethan exhaled.

This system… it was making him unstoppable.

And he wasn't about to slow down.

He opened his laptop and began making his next moves:

Expanding His Holdings: Ethan funneled another $1.5 million into undervalued stocks, anticipating a rise before anyone else saw it coming.

Creating a Front Company: He established Obsidian Holdings, a private entity that would mask his future acquisitions.

Securing an Elite Team: The system had hinted at loyal individuals—soon, he would begin recruiting them.

Everything was coming together.

Then, his phone buzzed again.

A message from Alexander.

"You've impressed Harrington. But be careful—he's the type to test people before accepting them."

Ethan chuckled.

Let him test me.

Because soon…

The world would belong to Ethan Cole.

End of Chapter:

Ethan is now officially on the radar of powerful investors. But will they try to recruit him—or eliminate him?