Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Striking the First Blow
The deal with Dr. Eleanor White marked the beginning of my war against the Black Lotus Corporation. With her insider knowledge and the System's precision planning, I was no longer just an ambitious businessman—I was a predator, ready to hunt my prey.
We began with reconnaissance.
Dr. White tapped into her old connections to gather intel on the Arctic facility. The place was a fortress, surrounded by thick snowfields and guarded by state-of-the-art surveillance systems. Getting in undetected would be impossible without a solid plan.
Sitting in my penthouse, Eleanor spread blueprints of the facility across the table. "The central lab is here," she said, pointing to a room marked with heavy security clearance. "That's where they're developing the energy materials you need. But even if we get in, extracting those resources won't be easy. The lab is locked down tighter than Fort Knox."
I leaned over the table, studying the layout. "What about the ventilation system? Could we sneak in through there?"
Eleanor shook her head. "It's monitored constantly. Any breach would trigger an immediate lockdown."
"Then we need to create a diversion," I said, my mind racing. "Something big enough to draw their attention away from the lab but not so obvious that they suspect outside interference."
The System's voice chimed in.
> Host, the facility relies heavily on its energy generators to maintain security and operations. A temporary power disruption would force them to divert resources, creating an opening for infiltration.
Eleanor raised an eyebrow. "A power disruption? Easier said than done. The generators are underground and heavily protected."
I smirked. "That's why we won't be doing it ourselves. We'll make them do it for us."
Three days later, the plan was in motion.
Eleanor and I arrived at a small town near the Arctic facility, disguised as part of a survey team. Using the System's resources, I had arranged for a series of "malfunctions" in the facility's external power grid. The failures were subtle enough to avoid suspicion but significant enough to require immediate attention.
As predicted, the Black Lotus engineers were forced to divert power from their central generators to compensate for the outages. The facility's defenses were temporarily weakened, creating the perfect window for us to strike.
"Are you sure about this?" Eleanor asked as we suited up in the back of an unmarked van.
I adjusted the tactical gear the System had provided. "Sure? No. Confident? Absolutely. Trust me, Eleanor—we've got this."
She rolled her eyes but didn't argue. "Just don't get cocky, Lin."
"Cocky is my default setting," I said with a grin, earning an exasperated sigh from her.
The facility loomed ahead, a steel-and-glass monstrosity that seemed out of place against the stark white landscape. Snow crunched underfoot as we approached the perimeter.
"System," I whispered, "are the cameras down?"
> Affirmative. The power redirection has disabled 60% of the facility's surveillance network. Remaining cameras have been looped with recorded footage. The Host's approach is undetected.
"Perfect," I muttered. "Eleanor, stay close."
We slipped past the outer fences and made our way toward the central lab. The System guided me through the labyrinthine corridors, avoiding patrols and security checkpoints.
Eleanor worked quickly to bypass the electronic locks, her fingers flying over the keypad. "Almost... got it... There!"
The door slid open with a hiss, revealing a room filled with strange equipment and glowing containers.
"Is this it?" I asked, stepping inside.
Eleanor nodded, her eyes wide with amazement. "This is it. The energy material—more advanced than I ever imagined."
I approached one of the containers, the glowing substance within pulsing like a heartbeat. "System, is this what we need?"
> Confirmed. This material is critical for the dimensional gate. Extract it carefully.
Eleanor handed me a specialized containment device, and I began transferring the substance. The process was slow and meticulous, but finally, we had what we came for.
"That's it," Eleanor said, sealing the container. "Now we just need to get out of here."
Before we could move, the System's voice rang in my mind.
> Host, multiple heat signatures approaching. The facility's security team is en route. Estimated arrival: two minutes.
"Shit," I muttered. "Eleanor, we've got company."
She paled. "What do we do?"
I glanced around the lab, my mind racing. "We fight."
Her eyes widened. "Fight? Are you insane? There are too many of them!"
"Relax," I said, cracking my knuckles. "This is where I shine."
The first guard burst through the door, his weapon raised. I moved faster than he could react, disarming him with a swift motion and knocking him unconscious.
The System's enhancements had turned my body into a weapon, and I used every advantage to take down the guards one by one. Eleanor watched in stunned silence as I moved with precision and power, a whirlwind of controlled chaos.
"Stay behind me," I said, grabbing her arm as we made our way through the facility.
The remaining guards regrouped, blocking our exit. I activated a smoke grenade from my belt, filling the corridor with a thick cloud. In the chaos, I struck quickly, incapacitating the guards before they could react.
By the time we reached the perimeter, the facility was in disarray. Alarms blared, and the guards were scrambling to contain the situation.
"We made it," Eleanor said, breathless as we climbed into the van.
I smirked, holding up the container of energy material. "Not just made it—we won."
As the van sped away, the System spoke again.
> Host, the mission was a success. The acquired materials will accelerate the construction of the dimensional gate. However, further resources are required to complete the project.
I grinned, adrenaline still coursing through me. "Then let's find them. This is just the beginning."
Eleanor looked at me, her expression a mix of disbelief and admiration. "You're insane, you know that?"
I laughed. "Maybe. But insanity gets results."
The road ahead was long, but with the System guiding me, nothing could stand in my way. The Black Lotus Corporation was just the first domino to fall. Soon, the entire world—and beyond—would be mine to plunder.