The morning sun was unusually warm, almost mocking, as Lin Chen stood outside the towering glass building of Landscope Capital, the financial recruitment agency that had once thrown his resume into the trash—in front of him—just a week ago.
He remembered that moment clearly.
"Lin Chen, someone like you? No degree from an Ivy, no connections, no money. You'd be better off delivering food," the senior HR officer had said with a sneer.
He hadn't forgotten that smirk. That casual cruelty that labeled him worthless.
But this time, things were different.
Behind his calm, cold eyes, the Salvator System interface glowed faintly in his vision.
🎯 Mission Complete: Survive the Night💰 +50 Gold Received🧠 Skill Unlocked: Silver Tongue (LV.1)🪪 Item Acquired: Temporary High-Tier Identity Badge – "Private Investment Consultant (Level A)"
🛒 System Shop: Basic Access Unlocked
Lin Chen had spent 30 Gold to purchase the skill Silver Tongue, granting him boosted persuasive abilities, enhanced emotional reading, and on-the-fly psychological manipulation during conversations.
The remaining 20 Gold had been used to activate the Temporary Identity Resource Card, granting him a system-validated identity: Mr. Lin, a private financial consultant recently poached from a hedge fund in Singapore.
His credentials had been uploaded to all the internal databases of Landscope. Background checks would pass flawlessly—for 24 hours.
He walked into the lobby with steady steps, wearing a crisp black suit the system had included in his survival reward package. His jaw was sharp, eyes piercing, his aura completely transformed.
The same receptionist from before blinked as he approached.
"Uh… can I help you?"
Lin Chen smiled politely. "Mr. Zhao invited me for a strategic discussion about your Q2 investment partnership roles."
Her face paled.
"Zhao—Zhao Qi? The senior partner?"
"Yes. Is he in?"
"I-I'll call him right away!"
As she fumbled for the phone, Lin Chen calmly stood at the reception, drawing the attention of a few executives passing by.
Two minutes later, a man in his forties stormed out of the elevator. He was visibly flustered, sweating, and holding a phone.
"Mr. Lin?" he called out hesitantly.
Lin Chen extended his hand, smiling like a predator in a tailored suit. "Mr. Zhao. A pleasure."
Zhao Qi grasped it with both hands, nervous but trying to mask it. "I-I wasn't expecting you so soon…"
"I believe in being early," Lin Chen replied smoothly. "Shall we?"
They walked past the reception, and the HR officer who had humiliated him before—the same woman—stood up instinctively when she saw Zhao Qi. She didn't recognize Lin Chen at first.
Until he turned and smiled at her.
"Ah, Miss Liu. We meet again."
She blinked, confused. "Y-you…"
Zhao Qi stopped. "You know Mr. Lin?"
She faltered, mouth opening and closing. "I—I thought he was… someone else."
"Oh, I'm definitely someone else now," Lin Chen said with a cold smile.
Inside the conference room, Lin Chen didn't just "perform"—he commanded the room.
Using Silver Tongue, he easily manipulated Zhao Qi's hesitations into admiration, subtly tore apart their existing recruitment strategy, and offered a revolutionary "AI-based financial talent acquisition matrix" concept that left the executive stunned.
🎯 Micro Task Completed: Impress the Executive Panel💰 +100 Gold🧠 Skill Upgraded: Silver Tongue → LV.2
Zhao Qi leaned forward. "Mr. Lin… would you consider working with us on a strategic advisory basis? A 2 million RMB base to start, with a performance bonus pool depending on signed capital partners."
The room went dead silent.
Lin Chen smiled.
"I'll have my legal counsel send over the contract."
As he walked out of the building—HR department staring at him like he was a ghost—Lin Chen's system pinged again.
🔔 Main Storyline: Public Counterattack Phase I Complete🧭 New Side Mission Unlocked: "Ruin Her Engagement Party"
He looked up at the sky.
"Su Ning," he whispered. "It's my turn."