Chapter 18: Pitch or Perish

Royal Elite Academy – Debate Coliseum

A modern Roman arena. Glass dome ceiling. Hundreds of students in designer uniforms filled the stands, streaming the event across the country.

The Rules:

Each team gets 3 minutes to pitch a company idea.

Judges? National investors.

Crowd votes count toward 30% of the score.

Competitors can interrupt or challenge each other live.

This wasn't a presentation.

It was war in a suit.

[System Alert: Pitch Battle Arena Event Triggered]

Main Objective: Outshine Zhao Ming and Leng Ruyan in front of national broadcast

Side Objectives:

✅ Humiliate Zhao Ming publicly

🔓 Unlock Leng Ruyan's emotional breakpoint

💎 Impress SkyBridge Capital for investment boost

Round 1 – Zhao Ming

He stepped onto the stage, smirking in a navy suit.

Behind him: a hologram of a fintech app called "VaultFlex".

"Imagine controlling your family's money… with a tap."

The pitch was clean. Predictable.

But behind the scenes, Bai Chen's system pulsed:

[Detected: VaultFlex backend uses code sourced from Fang Group's suspended IP!]

[Counter Potential: 100% Discredit in under 20 seconds]

Round 2 – Leng Ruyan

She stepped forward—flawless as ever, black silk blazer reflecting the spotlight. Her pitch?

"CryoCache" – A luxury preservation tech startup for high-end food & biotech.

Her tone was ice. Her logic? Razor-sharp.

Even Bai Chen nodded slightly.

[Leng Ruyan Performance Rating: 92%]

[System Suggestion: Compliment to trigger emotional reaction + Relationship Spike]

Round 3 – Bai Chen

Silence fell.

He stepped onto the stage in a fitted NovaWear tactical blazer.

No slides.

No team.

Just a steel gaze—and confidence.

Then, with a snap of his fingers, every screen behind him lit up with live metrics.

Project Name: NovaCore

– A universal student entrepreneur platform

– AI tools for branding, production, legal

– Live success stories from 10 beta testers

His voice cut cleanly:

"Most people don't fail because they lack talent.

They fail because no one gave them the tools.

I'm building the toolbox for the next generation of kings."

The crowd exploded.

Even the judges leaned forward.

[Public Vote Surge: +31%]

[SkyBridge Capital Alert: "Send proposal immediately"]

[System Bonus: Zhao Ming's app flagged for IP Theft]

Then—

"Objection!"

Zhao Ming stood up, voice trembling behind his smirk.

"That backend code—NovaCore uses proprietary data from Z-Apps!"

Bai Chen just smiled.

"Really?"

He raised his phone.

"Funny. I was going to say the same about VaultFlex. But here's the difference—I have the patent filings."

A single tap. Every screen showed a timestamped IP registration—3 months before Zhao's app launch.

The crowd gasped.

The judges nodded coldly.

Zhao Ming's face? White.

[Zhao Ming Reputation -1200]

[Public Trust: 0%]

[Investors Begin Blacklisting]

Post-Pitch Results

🥇 1st Place: Bai Chen – 96%

🥈 2nd Place: Leng Ruyan – 91%

🥉 Zhao Ming: Disqualified

🏆 Bonus Unlocked: SkyBridge Investment of ¥10M offered

🎤 Bai Chen trending nationwide under "#NextTycoon"

Backstage – VIP Lounge

Leng Ruyan walked toward Bai Chen, eyes sharp but lips curved slightly.

"You're dangerous."

"You like dangerous?" he replied, sipping water.

She paused.

"Maybe."

She handed him a cold bottle of tea. "Don't lose tomorrow. I want to crush you at your peak."

Then she walked away, hips swaying just enough to make Su Yiran—who just entered—glare.

[Leng Ruyan Interest: 62% → 75%]

[Su Yiran Jealousy: Moderate – Possessiveness Trait Triggered]

[Harem Dynamic Shift: Ice vs Fire Conflict Detected]

System Message

✅ Mission Complete: "Pitch or Perish"

🎯 Next Mission: "Final Round – Battle of Empires"

Type: Real-time team competition

Objective: Merge two companies live + dominate sales in 3 hours

🔐 Bonus Event: Choose a female partner for synergy boost

Candidates:

– Su Yiran (Brand/Legal)

– Ye Qingyue (Strategy/PR)

– Leng Ruyan (AI/Product Design)

💘 Bonus Flag: Synergy + Romance Scene Optional if team wins

🔥 Rival Team Leader: Fang Zemin Returns

Bai Chen stepped outside, looking up at the glowing city skyline.

He didn't just pitch a company.

He pitched a revolution.

And tomorrow, the empire rises—or falls.