Corporate Pressure

Oliver stood in the ruins of JusticeFindr.

His trembling eyes stared at the shattered ground as the last of the dust finally settled.

The wreckage around him was unbearable.

Now, it was just the remains of a hopeful dream built on shaky funding and sleepless nights.

His hands trembled at his sides, helplessly.

Everything was gone.

It would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to even return to functional status.

Then came the voice.

"Oh, you poor thing…"

The softness was chilling.

Penelope strolled into the destroyed office space as if it were a red carpet runway while her sharp heels clicked atop broken glass like it were glitter confetti. A red designer coat draped elegantly over her shoulders, and her violet eyes scanned the destruction with cruel amusement.

She let out a dramatic sigh.

"Still…"

She took a moment to stare down at her breasts, cup them in her hands and boop them up.

Her obsession and need to intimidate with her breasts made her adjust them at all times—until it they looked as big as they were and felt like they were staring at you.

"This place really does look much, much nicer than it did yesterday… maybe because this eyesore finally got the makeover it desperately needed? Fufu~ ❤️"

She pushed up her glasses with one finger as her long lashes fluttered innocently.

『Time to crush this son of a bitch…』

She gave a sarcastic gasp.

"Oh dear… and all these precious documents relating to heroes… just gone. I wonder…"

She tapped her chin with a long, painted nail.

"Can you really tell your superiors you're managing any heroes if there's no paperwork to prove it?"

She tilted her head toward the shattered ceiling with an obnoxiously exaggerated thoughtfulness.

"Hmm. I think not…"

Penelope stepped closer.

Every motion full of smugness.

Her luscious breasts bounced with every motion as she leaned in then removed her glasses like royalty.

"You don't have any heroes under your management."

She whispered as her eyes narrowed to sharp slits.

"Which means you don't have a job."

Still, Oliver hadn't moved.

Not even a glance.

His head hung so low his eyes disappeared behind unkempt bangs.

Maybe it was guilt. Maybe shame. Or maybe…

He was just mad at himself for not realizing how brutal the business world really was—he didn't expect hero recruiters to go that far just to get what they wanted.

Penelope's smile curled up further as she placed a hand on his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.

It almost felt affectionate.

"Mmm~ if you were one of those obedient little pets I like to pluck from the strip clubs, I'd have already had my wicked way with you… the way you talked back to me yesterday? God, it lit a fire in me. My body ached to break you in—pin you down, step on you, drill my heel up your tight ass, teach you exactly how to behave. I would've made you beg to be my good little toy… and you'd love every second of it."

The voice of an older woman. Tempting.

Then, she laughed softly to herself.

Like it was all a delightful fantasy.

"But…"

She spoke with a small pout.

"You've got all this drama going on. Poor thing."

With natural elegance, she glided over to a lone wooden chair that had survived the collapse. She sat, crossing her gorgeous legs and pressing her juicy thighs together deliberately.

"I've already informed the board, you know~"

She sang sweetly.

"Told them about this tragic incident. They're terribly busy — new projects, new expansions — and unfortunately… they can't funnel money into a branch that's shamelessly underperforming. It's just improper."

She bounced her leg rhythmically.

"You won't even have enough to pay your heroes, let alone sign new ones. Oooh, that's bad~"

She folded her arms under the softness of her breasts which pressed up her meaty cleavage like a smug queen of corporate cruelty.

She turned to him with a smirk of superiority.

"No snarky replies? Fufu~ I thought you were fun…"

Still, silence.

Penelope pouted dramatically, then gasped in surprise.

"Mmm~ wait a minute, didn't you say something very brave yesterday? Mmm… what was it?"

She snapped her fingers and shrieked with delight.

"Tee-hee~ that if you can't meet client needs, you'll shut your doors."

She leaned forward and laughed—cackled in fact.

"Awww~ ❤️ did you guys do all this? Were you just trying to help us with the demolition? That's so sweet of you… I'm touched… pfft—HAHAHAHA!!"

Her usually regal laughter was replaced with the unhinged cackle of someone truly enjoying this too much.

A sadist.

But suddenly…

Fwoooosh…

Oliver exhaled so hard it was like steam venting from a furnace. And still, he didn't face her. His voice came out so cold it felt like the floor dropped ten degrees.

"So… you're saying you're terminating this place for poor performance?"

He yanked his tie.

SNATCH!

It loosened with a single motion.

"Immediate termination of employees: 4 hours. Client and contract termination: 4 to 12 hours. Regulatory filings, debt and lease cancellations, asset liquidation: 12 to 28 hours."

He clenched his fist tightly as veins pulsed.

"I've got a little more than a day. One day… to find and sign an A-rank or higher."

He spoke in thoughtful calmness.

Then, with the smug smile of an emperor, he gently rolled up his sleeves and pointed straight at Penelope.

"So sit tight. I'll bring in a hero so damn massive your Platinum Agency will beg for an apology. And when I do, don't you ever step foot in this building again."

Penelope's smugness cracked for just a second.

She rose slowly, lips twitching.

"So that's how you handle pressure?"

She acted like she was impressed.

"You should be kissing my heels and begging for a transfer to my branch."

She winked.

"I promise I'll only step on you a little. Just a tiny bit of humiliation. C'mon, honey… grovel."

Oliver didn't say a word. He just turned and walked.

"I don't feel pressure…"

That—that—was the line that broke her calm.

Penelope shot to her feet like a lioness.

Her fists squeezed tight, trembling with rage, but all she could do was glare.

━ ━ ━ ━

Hours Later…

Oliver pedaled across Liberty City like a madman.

He visited every corner, every agency, every celebrity hotspot where heroes gathered.

But they turned him away, again and again.

"No meetings."

"His manager will get back to you."

"She's busy on a contract with Netflix."

"He's about to sign a billion-dollar lifetime contract with SceneSphere, fuck off…"

"Ewww, you're sweaty! Get away from me!"

A-rank heroes were gods. Celebrities. Icons.

Why would they ever sign to a no-name agency?

That was the main reason Penelope didn't really worry.

She knew that before Oliver could even try to convince any big-named heroes to join JusticeFindr, he'd first have to deal with the recruiters who supported them.

And that alone was already a huge challenge.

From her point of view, it was like he was just putting himself through a bunch of unnecessary pain.

By the time the moon was high, Oliver slumped on a public bench, drenched in sweat.

His pants were torn at the knees.

His bike… was completely broken.

He sipped from a half-empty can of grape juice.

"Fuck…"

He closed his eyes to stop himself from screaming.

Then, he could see her beautiful face.

Lana Slot.

Burgundy hair, brown eyes, gracefully shaped body.

『She's the only good part of my day… I wish I could see her just one more time—because from tomorrow I'm gonna be a jobless bum that no one wants.』

He laughed defeatedly.

Then—Ding!

His phone lit up.

[Welcome, Oliver Grant, to the Harem Talent System!]

[You've been selected as the primary operator for Phase One Testing.]

[Objective: Recruit Superheroines. Form Bonds. Unlock Their Powers (and Bodies). Rise Through the Ranks.]

"… the fuck?"

He stared at it blankly.

"This is what I get for watching pirated anime websites, huh? Crypto scam."

He rolled his eyes and went to swipe it away.

[Ding! Congrats to the Host for having great luck! You have obtained: Ultra-Modern Recruitment Van x1 | Multi-rotor Drone x5 | Giorgio Armani Privé Suit x2]

[Perk Unlocked: Talent Drain (Level 1) – You gain partial access to any ability possessed by a contracted heroine once her loyalty meter exceeds 60%. Intimacy increases access level.]

[Side Perk: HR Perks – Contracted heroines gain stat bonuses when within 30 feet of you. Bonuses increase with viewer engagement and relationship level.]

"Okay now that's a lil too specific to be a prank…"

He pocketed the phone, grumbling, then dragged himself into the alley to cut through the next street.

And that's when he saw it.

The state-of-the-art van.

Sleek. Black. Chrome-trimmed.

Completely untouched!

Five metal crates beside it.

"No… no fucking way…"

Oliver ran over, popped open a crate.

Inside? The luxurious suits. Still in plastic wrap.

Next crate—two high-tech drones.

"HOLY. SHIT. (✧ω✧)"

[Ding! Heroine Detected: Elena Bianchi]

[Alias: The Dark Lady of Old Trenton]

[Estimated Potential: S-Rank]

[Location: St. Mary's Overpass, Old Trenton]

[Would you like more information on her?]

Oliver's jaw dropped.

This… was insane.

Another ding.

[Daily Objectives are as follows!]

– Open Streaming Channel

– Recruit the Dark Lady of Old Trenton

– Get 500 Viewers

– Receive a Kiss from Your Newly Signed Heroine!

He blinked.

"…What the huh? (๑•̌.•̑๑)"

But now… there was a spark in his eyes.

Penelope wanted pressure?

He was about to bury her under it.