Cloud Tower, Headquarters of CloudTech Corporation, CEO's Office on the Top Floor.
Johnnie stood in front of the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, his deep eyes as still as a calm well, gazing down at the entire Sunset City.
On the desk, the computer was playing the news.
[The Western Alliance's Apocalypse Group has launched an epoch-making online game, Horizon. Upon release, it has become a global sensation and has received strong support from the Western Alliance.]
[Latest news: A private guild in Horizon has obtained a white-quality item and sold it for a million-dollar price, causing another stir. More citizens are flocking into the game...]
The broadcast continued, but Johnnie wore an expression of disdain as he lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.
Apocalypse Group launched the Horizon game?
No, they weren't even the actual publisher. They were merely puppets.
Horizon was no ordinary virtual game; it was a real, alternate world.
In his past life, he had witnessed with his own eyes how the so-called gods invaded through the game, conquering Blue Star and massacring humanity.
Apocalypse Group was well aware of these gods' plans, but they deliberately concealed the truth and made deals with them, intending to enslave all of humanity.
By the time humanity reacted and organized a resistance, it was already too late. Moreover, they were no match for the gods.
He, too, fell in a battle against the alien invaders. But to his surprise, he was reborn thirty years ago, just as the Horizon game was about to be launched.
In his past life, he hadn't cared much for the game. He was the CEO of CloudTech, somewhat well-known, with assets exceeding a billion. To him, games were just distractions, a waste of time.
By the time he realized this wasn't just an ordinary game, the best development opportunities had already passed, and he missed the chance to rise to the top.
Knock knock...
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
He extinguished his cigarette and spoke calmly, "Come in."
The door opened, and a woman entered, dressed in a sleek business suit, her appearance immaculate and alluring.
It was his secretary, Crysic.
"Johnnie, as per your request, the company's assets are being sold. We are only accepting cash or wire transfers. Many companies are interested, but none can come up with the required amount. They're trying to lowball the offer, with the highest bid reaching only 200 million. Here are the contracts from the two interested parties. Please make your decision." Crysic took two prepared contracts from her folder and handed them to him.
The two companies wanting to acquire his assets.
Heaven Light was also a well-known tech company in Sunset City, but compared to CloudTech, it was far inferior.
Their offer was the highest—200 million—ready to raise the funds in half a day, with the contract becoming effective as soon as the transfer was made.
The second contract was from Lookforward Ltd., a skincare company, offering only 10 million.
Johnnie frowned, feeling somewhat insulted.
He took the contract and coldly said, "Is this price even within your consideration?"
Crysic quickly explained, "This is your fiancée's decision. She has also agreed to give you 30% of the shares."
"30% shares? Heh..." Johnnie directly laughed in anger.
He was the CEO of CloudTech, controlling 70% of the company's shares. Selling 40% for just ten million? Was he really that gullible?
He slammed the contract down onto the table and coldly said, "Tell them to get lost!"
"Ah?" Crysic froze. This was the first time she had ever seen Johnnie lose his temper.
Tyrande, the daughter of Lookforward Ltd. and his nominal fiancée.
It was a family-arranged marriage, and he had always admired and respected Tyrande. She was smart, capable, and strategic. She had managed to run a successful company as a woman.
But he never expected this woman to have a heart as cold as a snake's, with no real affection for him. All her plans were aimed at swallowing up his company.
In his past life, in the game, this woman had even stabbed him in the back.
He had entered the game late, but his power grew quickly. Within ten years, he became a peak-level 9th tier expert and triggered the divine tribulation to become a god.
He successfully passed the tribulation and condensed his divine essence, but he never imagined that Tyrande would strike him from behind and steal his divine essence.
With his divine essence taken, he became useless. Later, during a battle to resist the alien invaders, he perished...
Crysic was a bit surprised. Johnnie had always been accommodating toward Tyrande, and he still had 30% of the shares—this offer was even better than the first contract.
But this was a family matter for them, so she didn't feel the need to interfere.
"Johnnie, if you give me another half a month, I can raise the company's price by another 100 million." She suggested, as 200 million was still too low.
"No need. Let's go with this contract. You handle everything, but I have one condition: I want the 200 million in my personal account this afternoon." Johnnie decisively signed the contract.
It may look like a loss, but with the booming popularity of Horizon, influencing the real world, the company would probably be worth nothing by the end.
He needed to cash out as soon as possible, and he required at least 100 million in funds to complete a hidden task.
"Understood." Crysic didn't ask further questions. She took the contract and left, continuing negotiations with the other party.
Johnnie leaned back in his chair, listening to the news broadcast as he closed his eyes, deep in thought, formulating his plans.
In his past life, the first god in the game was neither one of the initial players nor a seasoned gamer, but an invisible rich man.
He spent ten billion on a hidden task, received the blessing of a god, and gained a hidden ability that rapidly enhanced his power. He quickly became a demigod, and his abilities manifested in the real world, causing a significant stir.
Unfortunately, he was later set up by Apocalypse Group and killed in an ambush.
It was then that Apocalypse Group revealed its true intentions: to control all of humanity.
Johnnie didn't have that kind of capital now, but that was in the later stages of the game when real-world currency had depreciated by tenfold. Now, he only needed 100 million to complete the task.
He could still come up with that much.
"Hmph, Apocalypse Group, this time, let's play the game properly!" He opened his eyes, a murderous intent flashing across them, and spoke in a cold tone.
With his abilities, he was definitely no match for a behemoth like Apocalypse Group in the real world.
Moreover, they had the Western Alliance backing them.
To truly destroy them, he had to increase his strength in the game and manifest it in reality...
In the afternoon, Johnnie received a notification from his bank about the transfer. After deductions for fees and taxes, the two hundred million turned into just over one hundred and forty million.
With his accumulated wealth over the years, he now had enough to make his start in the game.
Ding-ding...
At that moment, his phone on the desk rang. The caller ID displayed Tyrande's name.
He furrowed his brows but answered the call anyway, his tone cold, "What is it?"
There was a brief silence on the other end, followed by a weak, aggrieved voice: "Johnnie, why did you suddenly sell the company? Did you get some news?"
"No. I'm just tired and don't want to continue," he replied淡淡地. His feelings for this scheming woman were long gone, replaced by nothing but hatred.
In his past life, it was this woman's hidden machinations that led to his downfall.
"Then, why not sell it to me? We're family, what's mine is yours," Tyrande's soft voice came through the phone. If it were in the past, he would have never been able to refuse her.
But now, he was no longer the Johnnie who let this woman manipulate him.
He spoke coldly, "This is my company. I'm the largest shareholder, and I have the right to handle it. Also, your useless brother embezzled thirty million from my company. I give you one day to pay it back, or I'll take legal action."
Tyrande's brother, Malfurion , had recently come to his company for training in the finance department, only to secretly transfer over thirty million, spending it on indulgences like food, drink, and gambling. In his past life, out of respect for Tyrande, he had let it slide and covered the losses himself. But now, everything the Wind Family owed him, he was determined to take back.
"Johnnie, what do you mean? Are you still going to treat me like family? Malfurion is your brother too! It's only thirty million, can't you even handle something this small?" Tyrande's anger flared, and she even stopped calling him by his name.
"No, I can't. You should figure it out yourself," he said, and without another word, he hung up the phone.
Knock knock...
At that moment, there was a knock on the door. His secretary, Crysic, walked in, holding a stack of documents. These were company matters that Johnnie needed to deal with.
"Johnnie, did you have an argument with Tyrande?" She glanced at Johnnie cautiously, asking softly. She had overheard their phone conversation outside the door.
Normally, she wouldn't dare to discuss Johnnie's personal matters.
"It's a small matter," Johnnie gestured for her to place the documents down. After a brief pause, he spoke again, "Crysic, I remember you've been with me since you graduated from university, right?"
"Yes, it's been six years and three months," Crysic replied, her voice clear. She remembered it very well.
Johnnie nodded and continued, "What are your plans? If you want to stay with the company, I can have a word with the CEO of Tianji..."
"Johnnie, I want to follow you," Crysic interrupted him directly, her tone sincere. "When I graduated from university, I was ignorant and made mistakes. If you hadn't helped me, I probably would have ended up as a woman of ill repute by now. I, Crysic, may not have much talent, but I know how to be grateful. No matter what you do in the future, I'll follow you."