Let's Make it Grand

Ethan sat up in bed with a deep sigh of relief, the soft light of dawn spilling through the curtains. His muscles were stiff, and his mind had run wild all night, plagued by a constant, gnawing sense of unease.

He rubbed his temples, trying to shake off the restless energy that had kept him awake for hours.

"Damn it," he muttered to himself. "I can't keep living like this."

Tension had been building ever since his visit to the bank. The feeling of being watched was persistent now, like an itch in the back of his mind that he couldn't scratch.

Even now, there was an almost tangible weight in the air, as if unseen eyes were on him. Yet nothing had happened.

There were no strange knocks at the door, no ominous figures lurking in the shadows. Ethan's family was safe—for now.

Ethan inhaled slowly, trying to calm the storm inside his chest. But something was off, and he knew better than to dismiss his instincts. His paranoia had started with Suzanne, the bank teller.

Her careless mention of his massive account balance—spoken loud enough for anyone within earshot to hear—had likely piqued the wrong kind of interest.

The wrong people might have taken note of his fortune.

'Maybe I'm overthinking it,' Ethan thought, his brow furrowing as the morning light cast long shadows on the walls. 'But maybe I'm not.'

Soon, the high-end electronics, luxury items, and gadgets he ordered would arrive at the apartment. It wouldn't take long for someone to notice.

And if they were watching—whoever "they" were—questions might start arising. Dangerous questions.

Ethan rubbed his jaw, the gnawing sense of unease creeping back.

'Could they be watching now?'

He shook his head, trying to banish the thought, but it clung to him like a shadow. His paranoia was growing by the day, and even with the System's power, there were things he couldn't control.

Sitting on the edge of his bed, he swiped his hand through the air, summoning the Status Panel.

This time, instead of browsing the panel on his phone, he willed the panel to appear before him. It was a trick he had learned recently to make the intangible feel real.

As the holographic-like panel materialized, a soft glow filled the room.

It still amazed him—every time.

"I wonder if anyone else has something like this…or other systems," Ethan muttered. He stared at the Status Panel, wondering if others with similar abilities were hidden in plain sight, just like him.

But he couldn't dwell on that now. He had more pressing matters. He hadn't had a chance to review the points he'd distributed last night, and with everything happening, he needed to be prepared.

=====

[Status Panel]

Name: Ethan Cole

Level: 2

EXP: 2500 / 3000

Ascension Points: 4

Wealth: Unlimited

Attributes:

Strength: 10

Speed: 10

Endurance: 6

Intelligence: 16

Charisma: 6

Free Attribute Points: 0

Skills:

1. Krav Maga [Basic]

2. Close Quarters Combat [Basic]

3. Tactical Firearms [Basic]

=====

His eyes flicked over the numbers. He had used up all his free attribute points, prioritizing strength and speed.

If he found himself in a confrontation—and something told him it was only a matter of time—he needed to be fast and robust. His survival might depend on it.

'But what's my level compared to others?' he wondered, feeling the pressure mounting.

It wasn't like he could just ask someone. For now, he'd have to rely on guesswork.

In a world where he didn't know who—or what—he might be up against, it was crucial to get stronger. Much stronger.

He needed to test himself. A gym session or a jog would help him measure his physical limits.

Glancing back at the Status Panel, he frowned at the endurance stat. It was still lower than he wanted, but that could be improved later. Right now, speed and power are the priorities. His survival could very well depend on them.

'I need to level up fast,' he thought, determination hardening in his chest. 'More EXP. More Ascension Points. Whatever it takes.'

His phone buzzed, pulling him from his thoughts. A message from David flashed across the screen:

His phone buzzed, pulling him out of his thoughts. He glanced at the screen, a message from David flashing across it:

David: [Hey, Ethan. I just wanted to let you know that registration for NovaTech Innovations is officially complete. We're good to go.]

Ethan felt a surge of excitement at the news. One less thing to worry about. He quickly typed out a response.

Ethan: [Great! What's next on the list?]

David responded almost immediately.

David: [We need an office space and, of course, a team. I have a few ideas for both, but we should discuss the office first. Any thoughts?]

Ethan was about to reply when the familiar chime of the System interrupted him. His heart skipped a beat, and he swiped the screen, eager to see what it was.

=====

[New Mission: Hire a Team]

Objective: Hire at least 20 people for NovaTech Innovations.

Reward:

1. 2,000 EXP

2. 10 Ascension Points

=====

Ethan's eyes widened in surprise. 2,000 EXP? That was massive.

With 20 employees, the company would be off to a strong start, and he'd be closer to leveling up.

But the System wasn't finished. Another notification popped up immediately.

=====

[New Mission: Build a Grand Office]

Objective: Find and furnish an office space that reflects the grandeur of your new company.

Reward: Rewards will be unique and based on the grandeur achieved.

=====

Ethan leaned back, grinning. The promise of "unique rewards" was tantalizing. The System never lightly offered vague rewards, and whatever it had in store would be worth it.

His mind raced with possibilities. This was his chance to build something big, something powerful. He typed a quick response to David, the thrill of the challenge making his fingers move faster.

Ethan: [We're going big. I want at least 20 people hired. Can you get me a list of the necessary positions?]

David, who had been casually sipping his coffee at home, nearly spilled it when he read the message. Twenty people? That was overkill.

David: [20?! Ethan, 5 or 6 people would be enough to get started. Are you sure about this? That's a lot of hires at once.]

Ethan could sense David's shock, and a grin tugged at his lips. He replied without hesitation:

Ethan: [Yeah, I'm sure. Go ahead and list out all the positions we need. We are going to hire only the best talent and the best people. Don't worry about the money—I've got that covered.]

David stared at the message, his mind spinning. How rich is this kid, actually?

Ethan's order was unreasonable. David couldn't help but run the numbers in his head.

If they hired 20 people, each with a $4,000 salary, that was $80,000 a month.

And for six months of cash reserves?

Nearly half a million dollars—gone.

And that didn't even include office space, marketing, transportation, or other overhead costs. The sheer scale of Ethan's demands stunned him.

However, he understood Ethan's point of view. The company can only grow quickly with a proper and talented team.

David: [Alright, if you're serious about this, I'll get on it. But 20 is a lot. Just don't go overboard, alright?]

Ethan chuckled as he read David's reply. He couldn't resist the satisfaction of knowing he was playing the game on a completely different level.

Ethan: [Don't worry, David. I've got everything perfectly covered.]

Pocketing his phone, Ethan's mind shifted back to the tasks ahead. He needed to find an office, something grand that would match the System's requirements.

He imagined something sleek and modern—an office that would scream success and power when anyone stepped inside.

But before he could act on that, another thought crept back into his mind—the feeling of being watched.

Ethan had pushed it aside, but it lingered, gnawing at him. He wasn't just paranoid; there was something wrong. The air felt heavier than usual.

He glanced around his room, his eyes moving to the window. The early morning light had grown brighter, casting long shadows across the floor. But in those shadows, Ethan sensed something.

Someone could be watching.

He stood up slowly, his body tense. Was it his imagination? He had no way of knowing. But if they were watching him, they'd likely make their move soon. He couldn't afford to be caught off guard.

Ethan clenched his fists, the slight tremor in his hands betraying the anxiety that still lingered beneath the surface. The System had given him power and wealth, but those things always attracted danger.

His family's safety, his future—it all depended on how well he played this game.

And Ethan was ready to play. He just needed to stay a step ahead.