The invitation came in the form of an obsidian-black envelope, slid across Lin Chen's desk by a courier who spoke not a word and vanished the moment the handoff was complete.
It bore no seal, no name—only a line in fine silver ink.
"When a dragon lands, clouds gather. You are invited."
A quick scan with the system returned a chilling alert.
System Alert – Risk Assessment:
• Source: Zhuo Financial Consortium (ZFC)• Hostile/Recruitment Intent Detected• Crisis Probability: 80%• Suggested Action: High Vigilance
New Optional Mission: "Dance with the Dragon"– Objective: Survive the test without submission– Reward: +8000 Gold, Title Progression, Rare Passive Skill Unlock
Lin Chen leaned back, twirling the envelope between his fingers. Zhuo Financial was not a name you dropped lightly. Their chairman, Zhuo Yunxian, was a ghost in the industry—always in the shadows, yet present behind every major move in the Asian financial sphere.
This wasn't a social call.
This was a summons.
1. The Chairman's Court
The meeting took place at a private villa on the outskirts of Beijing, nestled between misty hills and protected by layers of digital and physical security. The estate reeked of old money—quiet, understated, but suffocatingly powerful.
A butler guided him through an open-air corridor. "The chairman awaits in the tea house."
Upon arrival, Lin Chen found himself standing in front of a traditional tea pavilion, where an old man sat on a bamboo chair, pouring steaming liquid into two clay cups.
Zhuo Yunxian looked nothing like the monster he was rumored to be. Dressed in a simple tunic, hair neatly tied back, he resembled a retired calligraphy teacher more than a financial overlord.
But his eyes—ancient, analytical, dispassionate—spoke otherwise.
"Sit, Mr. Lin," he said, voice smooth as water. "Or should I say… Capital's Black Knight?"
Lin Chen didn't flinch. He sat.
System Notification: Emotion Read Activated.• Target: Zhuo Yunxian
• Emotion Pulse: 22% curiosity, 31% calculation, 47% concealed threat• Micro-expression: Slight tightening around the eyes → Predatory intent masked under courtesy
So, he wasn't here to chat.
2. The Veiled Offer
"I've been watching you for some time," Zhuo Yunxian began, lifting his cup but not drinking. "A boy from nothing who now makes waves large enough to upset my boats."
"Then I should apologize," Lin Chen said calmly.
"No," the old man chuckled. "You should capitalize on it. The world does not reward apology—it rewards usefulness."
He leaned forward slightly. "Join me, Lin Chen. I can give you access to things beyond your imagination. Technology. Global leverage. Real control."
The smile was warm.
The pressure behind it, crushing.
Lin Chen didn't respond right away. He let silence settle like dust on old scrolls.
System Scan: Subtext Decoding...
• Actual Offer: Absorption into ZFC as a controlled asset• Hidden Threat: Refusal could result in career sabotage or worse• Emotion Read Update: 5% respect rising, 10% irritation flickering
So this wasn't a conversation.
It was a chessboard.
And Lin Chen had just been moved into check.
3. Lin Chen's Counterplay
Instead of answering, Lin Chen sipped his tea. The bitterness calmed his nerves, though the heat at his back told him bodyguards were watching through infrared scopes from nearby ridges.
"What makes you think I'd be willing to trade one shadow for another?" he asked softly.
Zhuo Yunxian raised a brow. "Survival. Power. Isn't that why you accepted the system?"
The words hit like a bullet.
Every cell in Lin Chen's body tensed.
System Shock: Unknown Entity refers to 'System' – Tracking permissions elevated
🔴 WARNING: Host Identity May Be Compromised.
But Zhuo didn't press further. Instead, he smiled. "Ah… so it is true. Fascinating."
Now Lin Chen understood.
This wasn't a test for business.
This was a test for system compatibility.
Someone—maybe Erebus, maybe not—had informed Zhuo of his irregular capabilities. And now, the old man wanted to own what he didn't understand.
"Tell me," Zhuo Yunxian said, swirling his tea, "what do you want, Mr. Lin?"
Emotion Spike Detected: Greed suppression. Obsession rising.
Lin Chen leaned forward.
"I want to change the rules of the game."
Zhuo's smile vanished.
4. The Final Move
"You're bold," Zhuo Yunxian said, voice flat now. "That will either make you king… or corpse."
He clapped once. The sound echoed unnaturally in the air.
A man in a suit appeared, holding a black suitcase. He opened it to reveal a single card.
ZFC Senior Intelligence Partner Contract
Benefits: • Unlimited capital • Inside access to political-economic back channels • Immunity packages
Clause 17.3: Full behavioral compliance
Zhuo sipped his tea once more. "Take the card, Lin Chen. And all of this is yours."
Lin Chen stood.
He didn't touch the card.
Instead, he smiled.
"I already have a system," he said simply.
And then, he walked away.
5. System Reward – Successful Psychological Counterplay
Mission Complete: "Dance with the Dragon"
✅ Host survived recruitment under high-pressure social combat✅ Rejected absorption by S-tier consortium✅ Maintained personal autonomy and system secrecy
Rewards: • Gold Coins +8000• Passive Skill Unlocked: "Deception Analysis"
– Detect subtle inconsistencies in speech patterns– Enhanced lie detection (50%)• Title Progression: "Strategist" → "Shadow Broker (Lv. 1)"
System Note: You have successfully rejected one of the most powerful temptations in the capital sphere. Prepare for retaliation.
6. Aftermath: The Trap Within
Back at his apartment, Lin Chen paced, hands shaking slightly—not from fear, but from adrenaline.
System Whisper Detected:
"He's not one of ours. But they are watching him now."
Who they were, the system wouldn't say.
Not yet.
But Lin Chen's instincts screamed.
This wasn't just about money or power anymore. This was about control—and those who feared losing it.
He checked his latest trade alerts.
Two of his accounts had just been flagged by international regulators.
A quiet war had begun.
But he smiled.
He'd passed the dragon's test.
Now it was time for him to set the rules.