In the Internet Cafe

December 2nd, 2023. 

Every morning was a simple routine for Michael. He'd follow the advice of the system, following the dietary plans and the exercise regimen. Even though the rewards are not recurring, meaning to say that the mission is repeating, he is not forgetting about his health. 

As he brushed his teeth, he checked his phone and tapped the trading app. His 100,000 pesos in his brokerage account just increased to another 15,000 pesos. A satisfied smile spread across his lips. He is earning faster by buying and selling stocks. 

However, his expression sank as he remembered that he still needed to raise 10,000,000 pesos to complete his current mission. But what about the business plan presentation to Catherine? Isn't that one of the ways of getting money easily? To have a rich investor investing in you? Well, that may be right but it's a mock-up presentation or pitch, whatever you call it. Therefore he is not guaranteed to get money from Catherine, or depending on her mother's decision which will be made in one day.

After Michael finished brushing his teeth and checked his stocks, he dressed casually in a simple t-shirt and jeans. He glanced at his reflection in the mirror, adjusting his hair before leaving.

Michael walked down the bustling streets of the city. The sun was already high, casting a warm glow on the morning rush. He decided to head to a nearby internet café, a place he frequented when he needed reliable internet and a quiet corner.

Upon reaching the café, Michael scanned the room. It was moderately crowded, with a mix of students and young professionals tapping away at their keyboards. He found a vacant PC at the far corner of the room, a spot that offered a bit of privacy.

It was Saturday so he didn't have class. Although some students have Saturday classes, he didn't apply for one.

His goal for today is to check on the stock market, second is to come up with a thesis title for gathering mastery points, and then third is to finish all the requirements needed to file a patent for his solar panels and the machines that manufacture them.

He logged on to his account and the lock screen display disappeared. He still has two hours left on his account. That's not enough time so he stood from his seat and headed to the reception. At the reception, Michael topped up his internet café account, adding a few more hours to ensure he had enough time to complete his tasks. After that, he returned to his seat.

First, he delved into the stock market, analyzing the trends and making a few strategic trades. His knack for picking the right stocks at the right time had been paying off lately, and today was no exception. However, as he was browsing the stocks, he noticed something. 

Cryptocurrency has been on a hot trend lately, showing significant fluctuations that could be leveraged for substantial gains. Michael's eyes narrowed as he scrolled through the charts and graphs. He knew trading cryptocurrency was riskier than stocks, but the potential rewards were also higher. But—there is still something off, that even he couldn't explain to himself.

Finding a solution, he opened his system and browsed the System Shop. There, he found what he was looking for, a neuroenhancer pill. It's quite expensive. A pill that lasts for 2 hours costs around 1,000 system points. The pill that lasts for 10 hours costs 4,500 system points. And the 24 hours 10,000 system points. 

He checked his system points balance. It was sitting at 32,050. 

"I guess I can buy the two-hour pill," Michael said to himself before buying himself one pill. The pill was transferred to his inventory, however, he couldn't get it out of thin air as there were people around. So he feigned picking out the pill from his pocket. 

He consumed the pill and the tingling sensation in his brain was immediate and intense, a sign that the neuroenhancer pill was taking effect. Michael felt his focus sharpen, his thoughts crystalizing with a clarity he had not experienced before. It was as if his brain was operating on a higher frequency.

With this enhanced cognitive state, Michael began meticulously analyzing the patterns emerging in the digital finance market. The first red flag that caught his eye was the rampant speculation in cryptocurrencies. Prices were skyrocketing, but it wasn't driven by genuine adoption or technological advancements. It was pure speculation, a bubble inflating at an alarming rate.

Next, he observed the technology vulnerabilities. Reports of minor blockchain breaches and system failures had started cropping up, dismissed by many as trivial. But to Michael, they were harbingers of a potential systemic collapse.

Then there were the regulatory rumblings. Governments around the world were grappling with how to regulate digital currencies. The uncertainty created by potential regulatory crackdowns was a ticking time bomb, ready to unleash chaos in the market.

Michael also noticed the overextension of major tech companies. Many had hastily pivoted to incorporate blockchain and cryptocurrencies into their business models. Their stock prices were soaring, not because of solid business performance, but due to crypto-related hype. This misalignment between true value and market valuation was a classic sign of a market out of touch with reality.

The final piece of the puzzle was the behavior of the investors themselves. The market was awash with new, inexperienced traders, lured by the promise of quick riches. Their investment strategies lacked depth, driven by fear of missing out rather than sound financial principles.

Michael connected these dots with startling clarity. He saw a digital financial ecosystem teetering on the brink of collapse, inflated by speculation, vulnerable technology, regulatory uncertainty, corporate overreach, and inexperienced investors.

In short, just like the housing market crash in 2008, there'd be a digital meltdown in a year or two or three! 

His heart raced in excitement. "Time to short the crypto market," Michael whispered to himself, a plan forming in his mind.

He knew that short-selling cryptocurrencies directly could be challenging due to their volatile nature and the complexities of the market. So, he decided to look for other ways to capitalize on the impending crash.

Michael turned his attention to companies heavily invested in digital assets and blockchain technology. Many of these companies' stock prices were inflated due to the crypto craze. He began compiling a list of these companies, planning to short-sell their stocks.

Next, he considered buying put options. These options would allow him to sell these companies' stocks at a predetermined price before a set date. If their stock values plummeted, he could sell them at a much higher price than the market value, reaping substantial profits.

He also thought about investing in inverse ETFs that would gain value if the crypto market or tech sector indices fell. This was a safer, more diversified approach, providing a hedge against his riskier moves.

Another part of his strategy involved moving a portion of his portfolio into traditional safe-haven assets like gold and government bonds, which typically retained or increased their value during market turmoils.

Finally, Michael pondered over the possibility of using Credit Default Swaps (CDS) against corporate bonds of companies heavily invested in digital finance. However, he was aware of the complexity and high risk associated with CDS.

As he mapped out his strategy, he realized the ethical implications of what he was about to do. He was not just betting on a market crash; he was positioning himself to profit from a situation that could potentially harm millions of investors, especially the inexperienced ones who had jumped on the crypto bandwagon without fully understanding the risks.

But in the financial world, foreknowledge was power, and Michael was determined to use his insights to protect his investments and perhaps even emerge wealthier from the upcoming crisis. 

However, to do that…, he'll need a lot of capital! A lot of capital means a lot of profits when the crypto market crashes. 

"Guess I'll have to consider doing gambling, for real."