The sun had only barely risen, but the world of finance was already burning with one name on every screen.
Lin Chen.
The man who turned the tables on Victory Fund and walked away with five hundred million in a single night.
News headlines screamed:
"Mystery Trader Topples Financial Giant: A Star is Born!"
"The Black Knight of Capital: Who is Lin Chen?"
"From Nobody to Stock God—Titan Capital's Young Genius Unmasked"
At first, Lin Chen had no intention of claiming public credit. Letting the system handle the logistics, hiding behind shell companies, anonymous proxy bidders, and encrypted accounts had been part of his operational security. But the magnitude of his latest victory made that impossible.
He hadn't just won.
He had humiliated an empire.
And empires don't fall quietly.
1. The Leak
It began with a single photograph.
A blurry image from a security camera at the stock exchange's private lounge, posted to an obscure finance blog.
"This man was present at the exact moment NewSky reversed. Coincidence?"
Then came the social media sleuths. The forums lit up with speculation. TikTok-style finance influencers started pulling screenshots, tracking time stamps, cross-referencing schedules.
"He's the same guy that appeared at the Titan Head Capital seminar last quarter."
"Wait—didn't he also show up at that boutique asset firm's training in Shenzhen?"
Within twelve hours, his name was trending across all major Chinese platforms and bleeding into international media.
2. The Legend Takes Shape
The system didn't seem surprised.
System Notification:
"Host reputation has exceeded 80,000. Identity trace inevitable."
"New Title: 'Capital Black Knight' – Applied Automatically."
"What's with the title?" Lin Chen muttered as he scrolled through the latest finance articles. His name had already been mentioned alongside legends of Wall Street and Huijin Group.
"It symbolizes unpredictability, power in the shadows, and high-risk execution with high reward," the system explained blandly."Public perception has associated your tactics with 'ruthless elegance.'"
The corner of Lin Chen's mouth twitched. "Ruthless elegance? That's... new."
"Title bonuses applied:
• Negotiation Influence +20% • Public Reputation Gain Multiplier: x2 • Hostile Investigation Resistance: +30% • Social Tier Access Unlocked: S-Level"
His phone began ringing off the hook.
Recruiters. Venture capitalists. Corporate CEOs. Some wanted partnerships. Some wanted explanations. And a few?
A few just wanted to know if he was real.
3. The Social Shift
By noon, Lin Chen's image was plastered across every investment news outlet in Asia. A glossy finance magazine published an exclusive digital spread titled:
"The Black Knight of the East"
He was photographed—without his knowledge—leaving his temporary residence, wearing a black coat with silver-trimmed lapels. It wasn't planned, but it became iconic within hours.
Comments flooded Weibo and Zhihu:
"He really looks like a knight—cold and sharp."
"I want him to handle my retirement fund and my heart."
"That smile… That's the smile of someone who just made a billion and still doesn't give a damn."
But behind the social craze, the real consequences were beginning to surface.
4. Shadows Move
At Erebus HQ, a dimly lit room buzzed with holographic projections. A new face now stood among the organization's watchlist.
Lin Chen – Flagged.
"He's not just making noise," one operative muttered. "He's reshaping the market flow. We lost three forward investments thanks to that reversal. That's no coincidence."
A second voice, more mechanical, crackled in.
"Deploy Class-C observers. No direct contact until validation is complete. If he's linked to the 7-Year Experiment, he may already be system-compatible."
5. Social Identity Upgrade
Meanwhile, Lin Chen received a surprising in-person visit at Titan Head Capital. His mentor and boss, Director Gao, greeted him with a grin too wide to be natural.
"Lin Chen… or should I say, Mr. Black Knight?"
Lin Chen blinked.
Director Gao tossed a thick folder onto the table.
"Do you know how many speaking invitations I've had to decline on your behalf in the last twenty-four hours? World Finance Forum. Beijing Elite Investors Summit. Even someone from Davos called."
"I didn't ask for this attention," Lin Chen said flatly.
"I know. But now that you have it, it's time to make use of it." Director Gao's eyes sparkled. "I'm promoting you. Effective immediately, you're no longer just an analyst. You're Titan's official Senior Strategic Partner."
A new badge and card were placed on the table, gleaming with authority.
System Notification:
🟢 "New identity acquired: Senior Strategic Partner – Titan Head Capital"
🟡 Social Authority +2🟢 Access Unlocked: Tier-S Investor Networks
6. The Public Persona vs. The Shadow Self
Back in his own apartment, Lin Chen stood on the balcony watching the city shimmer under the neon dusk.
His phone vibrated again.
It was a message from someone labeled only as "L."
L: "Congratulations, Black Knight. But do you know what happens when too many people see a knight in the open?"
L: "They forget he was ever in the shadows."
Lin Chen stared at the message.
L.
Li Chu.
He hadn't heard from her directly since the NewSky stunt. She'd been watching quietly… maybe even protecting him behind the scenes.
Now she was reminding him of the same thing he already knew.
All this fame. This noise. This glory?
It was a double-edged sword.
And if Erebus was watching, then the true game was only just beginning.