The Weight of Silence
Leon rose early, the silver watch on his wrist ticking steadily, almost alive. He had stared at it half the night, half in awe, half in disbelief.
The glow of the System still hovered faintly in his vision whenever he blinked.
Balance: $20,000.
Next Quest: Attend Collins Group Meeting in Silence.
Reward: ???
Emily moved about the room, dressing for work in a fitted cream blouse and pencil skirt. Her dark hair cascaded over her shoulders as she clipped in earrings
. She glanced at Leon only once, her eyes flicking to the watch.
Her brow creased. "Where did you get that?"
Leon paused. For a moment, he considered telling her the truth—that a system beyond reason had chosen him.
But he only said, "A gift."
Emily's lips pressed thin. "You shouldn't spend money on such things.. If my mother sees it, she'll think you stole it."
He didn't argue. He never did.
Downstairs, the Collins mansion bustled with servants preparing breakfast.
Miranda sat at the head of the table, sipping coffee with an expression that suggested even the coffee had failed her.
Brandon scrolled on his phone, chuckling at something on the screen.
When Leon entered, Brandon looked up and smirked. "Well, if it isn't our charity case. Morning, brother-in-law. Slept well in your golden cage?"
Miranda's eyes slid to Leon's wrist. Her gaze sharpened. "Where did you get that watch?"
Leon set his jaw. "It was a gift."
"From who?" Her tone dripped suspicion.
Leon didn't answer.
Emily arrived then, saving him. "Mother, leave it. We're going to be late." She grabbed her handbag and strode toward the door.
Leon followed in silence, though Miranda's glare burned into his back.
In the car, the silence stretched. Emily drove with her fingers tapping on the wheel.
Finally, she said, "You really shouldn't come to this meeting.. I meant what I said last night."
Leon's gaze flicked to her profile.
The words itched on his tongue—I have more right to be there than any of you.
Instead, he simply answered, "I'll stay silent."
Emily exhaled through her nose. "Good."
The Meeting of Wolves
The Collins Group headquarters towered over the city, all steel and glass, a monument to power. Inside, tension hung thicker than perfume.
The shareholders' meeting was already buzzing when Leon and Emily entered.
Men in tailored suits, women in sharp dresses, voices sharp with numbers and politics.
"Why is he here?" Leon could hear one of the executives whispering loudly.. "The mute son-in-law?"
Brandon, already seated near the front, smirked. "Don't mind him. He's just here to warm the chair."
Laughter trickled around the room. With his hands clasped behind him, Leon cast his eyes down.
[Quest Progress: 20%.]
The chairman for the day, Uncle Harold Collins, banged the gavel. "Order. We'll begin."
Reports were read. Numbers rolled across the screens. Profits down. Stocks shaky. Whispers of a rival company making aggressive moves in the market.
Emily stood to present her department's report. Her voice was steady, professional, commanding. Leon felt a flicker of pride, quickly smothered by the coldness she'd shown him that morning.
But as Emily presented, Brandon cut in. "Sister, are you seriously suggesting we invest more in that division? We've already lost millions. Admit it—you don't know what you're doing."
Gasps rippled. Emily stiffened.
Leon's fists clenched under the table.
[Quest Progress: 60%.]
Brandon smirked at Leon from across the room, his voice dripping venom. "Brother-in-law, what do you think? Oh, right—you don't think. You just eat our food and wear watches you can't afford."
Snickers spread again.
Leon lifted his eyes slowly, meeting Brandon's gaze. His lips curved just barely—not a smile, but a promise.
[Quest Progress: 90%.]
Harold slammed his gavel again. "Enough. We'll vote on the motion."
Hands rose. The room is split. Tension thickened. Emily's face paled as more hands raised against her proposal.
Leon sat motionless. Silent.
> [Quest Completed.]
Reward: $50,000 + Hidden Skill Card.
The golden text flashed in his vision. His phone buzzed. Leon kept his face blank, but his heart thundered.
Emily's proposal failed. Brandon smirked in triumph.
The meeting moved on, but Leon's eyes flicked down to the glowing words on his screen:
Skill Card: Negotiator's Edge.
Effect: +30% persuasion in business transactions.
His mouth clenched. Not from pain, for the first time in years.
Cracks in the Glass
The meeting ended in tension. With an angry expression and clicking heels, Emily walked away quickly. Leon didn't say anything.
In the parking lot, she spun on him. "You just sat there. Do you know how humiliated I was?"
Leon's chest tightened. "You told me not to interfere."
"That doesn't mean you couldn't at least support me." Her eyes glistened, but her jaw was steel. "Sometimes I wonder if you enjoy watching me struggle."
Leon swallowed the sting. He wanted to tell her everything—that the world had changed last night, that he could tear down every smug smile with a flick of his hand now. However, the words remained imprisoned inside.
"Emily—"
Her phone rang.. She answered sharply, then turned away. "I have to go. Don't wait for me." She slid into her car and drove off, leaving Leon standing in the fading sunlight.
His phone buzzed again. Not a call—the System.
[Special Quest Unlocked: First Move.]
Objective: Use your new skill within 24 hours.
Reward: Access to hidden network.]
Leon's reflection glimmered in the car window. The silver watch caught the last rays of the sun.
He touched the screen. The Skill Card pulsed.
A hidden network. The words throbbed in his skull.
A smile ghosted across his lips, faint and dangerous.
"They think I'm silent," he whispered to himself. "Let's see how loud silence can be."