Current Goal

Zero met Tom.

Zero raised an eyebrow, "Again? It's your third car this week."

Tom flashed a grin, "I just can't help it, boss. Having money is dangerous."

Tom continued,

Tom: "That's the fourth one this week. Maybe two more, and then I'll call it quits."

Zero: "Two more? Our garage is overflowing as is!"

Tom: "Oh, come on, boss. If the base parking fills up, I've always got space in the office."

Zero sigh, "Planning to convert our office into a makeshift garage, are you?"

Tom gave a sly smile, "I was thinking more along the lines of 'Tom's Exquisite Car Gallery'. and the Entrance fee? 500$."

Zero laughed, "you money-grubber dumbass." he continued,

Zero: "and why are you putting this cars inside our base, its getting too much attention"

Zero was no ordinary student. While his peers spent time grappling with school assignments and teenage drama, he was busy charting out a different course for himself. School, for Zero, was somewhat easy and lacked excitement. This boredom led him to immerse himself in a business project, and surprisingly, he was very good at it.

MAETS, his gaming venture, had become a big hit. With its success came some serious cash flow. Instead of spending it all on the high life, Zero decided to invest. And not just in anything - he put his money into real estate. Now, why real estate? Well, Zero had this knack for identifying properties with potential. Some say it was intuition, others joked about him having an old soul, but Zero just believed in his research and instinct.

The first major property he invested in was an office building for MAETS. It was a practical space, located centrally, suitable for his team to work and brainstorm. With tall windows and busy workstations, it was a hive of activity from nine to five. From outside, it looked like any modern office, but inside, it was where gaming ideas came to life.

His next endeavor was even more ambitious: a luxury apartment building. It was still under construction but located right in the middle of the city. Zero believed its value would skyrocket because of its prime location. The plan was to offer residents not just an apartment but a lifestyle experience with modern amenities.

Since Zero knows everything about the future. He had this unique understanding, It made him choose lands and buildings that most others overlooked but had high future value.

Lastly, there was a huge space he bought, which he lovingly called " Base". It was more than just a property. Everysince what happened with Knifepoint, Zero knows that the information he had from the past life isn't 100%, therefore Zero is going to hire people to help him out to do dirty work. the base away from the city's constant noise, it was spacious, comfortable, and also served as a living space for his close friend, Tom.

In a nutshell, while Zero might have been a student by definition, his actions painted a different story. Here was a young guy, making smart business decisions, investing in the future, and building something substantial. All while attending school and managing teenage life. Quite impressive, isn't it?

Zero's days were a whirlwind of activity. From the outside, it seemed like he was just another young CEO with an entrepreneurial spirit. But on the inside, he was waging a war - a war against time, enemies, and unforeseen circumstances.

His central goal? To find a team of trustworthy and talented individuals. Zero had learned from past experiences. He remembered the sting of betrayal, the treacherous plot of KnifePoint that almost had him cornered and took his life. This time, he wasn't just seeking employees or teammates, he was recruiting allies. Allies who could help him should his past catch up with him, allies to stand by his side if things went awry.

The ever-present reminder of his mission was his updated quest:

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QUEST UPDATED:

Target: Kill Adrian Asher

Reward: 1,000,000 Zen, System Upgrade, Information about the system

Failure: Death

Time Limit: 5 Years 5 months 23 days

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On paper, he still had ample time - a little over five years. But Zero knew better. As the CEO of a rising star in the corporate world, MAETS, there were challenges that came with fame. His movements were monitored, his steps watched. A security detail followed him, the media kept an eye out, and perhaps, lurking in the shadows, enemies waited for their chance.

Zero needed a team that would not just assist him in the daily operations of his company but would also stand guard, strategize, and, if needed, fight.

Caught in these thoughts, a familiar voice broke Zero's reverie.

Tom remarked, "It's okay, boss. I've made sure the CCTV feeds around our building broadcast false information. They might think they're watching, but all they're seeing are fabricated footages."

Zero looked at Tom, appreciating his foresight. "That's smart. Still, it worries me. It's a big building, Tom. And while it might be too vast for me alone, it's an ideal setting for potential threats."

Tom nodded in understanding, leaning against the balcony railing, looking at the sprawling city lights. "You're right. That's why I'm thinking of a two-fold approach. First, we reinforce our internal security. Bring in experts, consult on potential weak points, and eliminate them."

"And the second?" Zero prompted.

Tom smiled, his eyes gleaming with mischief, "Well, it might sound unconventional, but why don't we set up a residency program? Invite trusted employees, potential allies, to live in the building. Not only does it guarantee extra safety, but it also fosters a deeper sense of community and trust. And between us, it'll make the place feel less empty."

Zero leaned back, deep in thought. Tom's ideas always had this quality of spontaneity that required time to sink in. The suggestion was certainly off the beaten path, but then again, their entire journey was anything but conventional.

"Alright," Zero finally said, rubbing the back of his neck, a sign of the stress that constantly loomed over him. "We'll proceed with the first idea, tightening our internal security. As for the residency program, I need to think it through. It's a decision I'll make."

Just as Tom was about to respond, Zero suddenly broke into a grin, his demeanor shifting from serious CEO to a mischievous friend in a heartbeat. "Enough of this for now. How about we hit the shopping mall?"

Tom raised an eyebrow in surprise, taken aback by the abrupt change of topic. "That's... unexpected. Since when did you turn into a mall enthusiast, especially the luxury stores?"

Chuckling, Zero replied, "It's my parents' anniversary in a week. I thought I'd surprise them with something special. And by the way," he added with a playful smirk, "who told you I'm not a fan of luxury brands?"

Tom laughed, shaking his head. "My bad, my bad. So, boss, what's our budget for this shopping spree?"

"Budget?" Zero pretended to think for a moment, then asked, "How much do we have in our 'fun' account?"

With a casual shrug, Tom responded, "A tad over 20 million USD."

Zero whistled, impressed, and slightly overwhelmed. "MAETS really has been raking it in, hasn't it? Let's get going then. Time to put a small dent in that account."