7:30 PM – National News Network HQ, Studio 4B
Jason Chen adjusted his collar in front of the dressing room mirror.
The studio lights leaked through the cracked door, and beyond it waited the entire country—journalists, streamers, business leaders, politicians. Millions of eyes.
Vanessa entered, dressed in a sharp, dark green blazer and heels. Her phone buzzed with alerts, but her focus never left him.
"You look like you're about to detonate something," she said softly.
"I am," Jason replied.
> [System Update: National Broadcast Commencing]
[Objective: Survive PR Trap and Destroy Trident]
[Reward for Victory: +5,000,000 Exposure, Trident Holdings Collapse, Elite Investor Access]
[Penalty for Failure: Brand Reputation -60%, Legal Indictment Risk]
He slid the flash drive into his jacket's inner pocket. The nuclear codes.
"You ready for this?" Vanessa asked.
He looked her in the eyes.
"If we pull this off, everything changes."
She smirked. "Then let's break the system."
---
8:00 PM – Live Broadcast: "Face of the Future"
The host, a high-gloss media woman named Fara West, smiled into the camera.
"Good evening, America. Tonight, we bring you the most explosive debate in entrepreneurial history. On my right, Ethan Quan, CEO of Trident Holdings and longtime industry titan. And on my left, the street-born coffee disruptor—Jason Chen, founder of Iron Brew."
The studio audience buzzed. Over 9 million viewers tuned in live across three platforms.
Ethan wore a calm, smug smile. Dressed in a crisp navy suit with a gold tie, he looked like money personified.
Jason wore black. No tie. Open collar. Calm, but sharp-eyed.
"Jason," Fara began. "Ethan accuses you of using illegal suppliers, manipulating social media, and misleading the public with false startup growth. How do you respond?"
Jason leaned into the mic.
"Every accusation he throws at me is projection. He built an empire by crushing people like me. I just refused to stay crushed."
> [Audience Sentiment: 56% Favoring Jason]
[System Tip: Keep Calm – Wait for Opening]
Ethan chuckled.
"I admire ambition, Jason. But let's not pretend your app isn't a house of cards. Half your logistics are patchwork. Your COO has a criminal past. And your revenue?" He snapped his fingers. "Unsustainable hype."
Jason smiled.
"Funny. Coming from the guy with six fake vendors laundering company money."
The room went silent.
Ethan's smirk wavered.
Fara blinked. "That's a serious accusation."
Jason pulled out the flash drive.
"I have proof. Right here. Financial transfers, offshore accounts, whistleblower testimony."
Ethan turned to Fara.
"This is slander. That data's been fabricated."
Jason nodded to the tech crew. Vanessa handed the USB to Fara.
"Verify it. Go ahead."
> [System Prompt: Data Verification – LIVE PROCESSING…]
The audience watched as screen after screen lit up behind Fara.
Bank records. Vendor ID matches. Bribes to FDA officials. Documented purchase of media silence.
The studio exploded.
Fara turned to Ethan. "Do you deny these accounts?"
Ethan stood, pale now, sweat on his brow.
"This is a setup. This kid—he's manipulating everything. My lawyers will—"
Jason stood too.
"No lawyers can hide from this anymore."
The crowd began to cheer.
> [Public Sentiment: 82% Favoring Jason]
[Investor Platforms Swarming – System Triggering "Investor Frenzy Mode"]
[Skill Unlocked: Market Dominator – Boost Growth by 300% for 48 Hours]
But then… everything changed.
---
8:23 PM – The Betrayal
A sudden alert hit the screen.
> BREAKING: Iron Brew COO Vanessa Liu under SEC investigation. Accused of falsifying recent brand contracts, linked to Blaze Financial fraud scheme.
Jason's chest froze.
Fara's mouth dropped.
"What is this?" she muttered.
Vanessa blinked. "I—I don't understand—"
Ethan's smile returned.
"I guess we both have secrets, huh?"
He pulled out his phone and tapped it once.
"Nice of you to finally show your hand, Vanessa."
Jason turned to her. "What's he talking about?"
Vanessa's lips trembled. "Jason—I didn't know. I swear—I didn't falsify anything."
Jason looked at the screen.
Two contracts she'd processed. Two vendor names… and one matched a shell company owned by Blaze's buried partners.
"I tried to bury the Blaze scandal," Ethan said calmly. "But it seems some of it followed you here."
Jason's heart pounded.
The audience gasped. Some pulled phones. Tweets flew.
> [Public Sentiment Crashing: 82% ➝ 61% ➝ 48%]
[Investor Interest: Stalled]
[System Prompt: Decision Required – Defend Vanessa or Cut Ties]
Jason looked at her. Really looked.
Tears welled in her eyes.
"I didn't know," she whispered. "Please. You have to believe me."
He stepped forward.
Faced the camera.
"Vanessa Liu has been the backbone of Iron Brew. And I trust her. No matter what smoke Ethan throws at us, we will not break."
The crowd roared.
> [Public Sentiment Stabilized: 48% ➝ 59%]
[New Trait Acquired: Unshakeable – Damage from PR Attacks Reduced]
[Relationship Strength with Vanessa: 70%]
Ethan glared, jaw clenched.
"You made your choice, boy."
Jason stared him down.
"And you made yours. I chose loyalty. You chose lies."
---
9:00 PM – Aftermath
The broadcast ended in chaos.
News stations scrambled to fact-check. Investor groups began formal reviews of Trident Holdings. SEC officials reached out to Iron Brew.
But Jason… felt cold.
Alone in the green room, he stared at the flickering monitor.
He'd won the battle.
But it came with scars.
Vanessa entered, quiet.
"I didn't lie to you," she said. "But I did make a mistake. I should've disclosed the vendor connection. I just… wanted to forget Blaze."
He nodded slowly. "I believe you. But from now on, we build with eyes wide open."
She sat beside him.
Their hands met again. No kiss this time.
Just war-forged trust.
> [New Trait: Founders' Bond – +20% Business Efficiency When Together]
[Final Broadcast Metrics: 13.2 Million Viewers, 760K Subscriptions Boost, 420K App Downloads]
Iron Brew didn't just survive.
It ascended.
But Ethan Quan wasn't finished.
> [Final Scene – Trident HQ, Private Office]
Ethan slammed a glass against the wall.
A hooded figure stepped out from the shadows.
"You said this would work," Ethan growled.
The figure nodded.
"It still will. Jason's not the problem anymore."
"Then what is?"
The figure's eyes gleamed red in the dark.
"It's the system inside him."