Aiden Monteverde rode his newly customized Aerox through the dense evening traffic. The bike was an extension of his will, fast and precise. The city lights blurred around him, but his focus was absolute.
He needed more than capital. He needed loyalty. In the dark ecosystem of the Archipelago, the only thing thicker than corruption was betrayal.
His first investment wasn't in stocks or land. It was in muscle and information.
The Base of Operations
Aiden parked the Aerox back at Zero-Friction Garage. Rafael "King Rat" Salonga was welding a heavy steel frame, sparks flying.
"You're back early, Aiden," King Rat grunted, lifting his welding mask. "Didn't take your new toy out for a joyride?"
"Joyrides are a luxury I can't afford, Rafael," Aiden said, stepping into the dim light. "I need more than a bike. I need a place to work, and I need people I can trust."
"This shop is not a clubhouse," King Rat warned.
"I know," Aiden replied calmly. "I need a legitimate front business, one that requires absolute discretion, secure logistics, and highly trained personnel. And I need it fast."
Aiden had used the System's quick search functions to identify a niche market: High-Value, Secure Logistics. Moving cash, sensitive documents, and proprietary technical samples for businesses that couldn't trust the police, the couriers, or the corrupt customs officials. This was an underground but legal necessity for nervous oligarchs and legitimate foreign investors.
The Capital Investment
Aiden's strategy was simple: Buy the best, pay the highest.
"I am establishing a secure transport and consulting firm," Aiden explained. "It will be called Archipelago Swift Logistics (ASL). It requires a dedicated, anonymous warehouse, armored transport vehicles, and staff with combat and security experience."
He accessed his account on his phone. He still had a massive sum after the bike purchase.
"I need to immediately lease a secure, non-descript warehouse in a neutral zone, perhaps near the Port Area, far from the central business districts," Aiden calculated. "That's three months' rent, plus renovation for security and a small office space. ₱800,000."
King Rat raised his eyebrows. That was serious money for a lease.
Aiden continued, "I also need two heavily modified vans—unmarked, armored, with communication jamming capabilities. Your expertise, Rafael. That's an immediate investment of at least ₱2,500,000 for the vehicles and modifications."
He was looking at a startup cost of approximately ₱3,300,000.
Aiden transferred the amount immediately to a newly created corporate account.
[Transaction Log: Spending Event]
[Amount Spent: ₱3,300,000]
[Purpose: Business Establishment (Archipelago Swift Logistics - Initial Capital)]
[REIMBURSEMENT EXECUTED: +₱6,600,000]
A surge of $₱6.6$ million hit the account. Aiden was now a multi-millionaire, the System having used his own legitimate spending to fuel his rapid expansion.
Recruiting the Core
"I have the capital and the assets," Aiden said, turning back to King Rat. "Now I need the team. I need men who know the streets, who have a history of loyalty, and who know how to enforce security without attracting unwanted official attention."
King Rat understood immediately. Aiden was asking him to dip into his old network—the people he had led, those who knew the code of the street better than the law.
"Those kind of men, they don't work for minimum wage, Aiden," King Rat warned. "And they're usually hard to find. They've either gone legit or gone underground."
"I am paying above market rate," Aiden affirmed. "I will pay them not just a salary, but a stake in the success of the company. Their loyalty will be to their livelihood, not just my money."
He wanted loyalists, not mercenaries.
"I need a core group of three to five men, Rafael. Your recommendations. The best former security, the best drivers, the most trustworthy. Men who value trust over gold."
King Rat wiped his hands on a rag, finally setting down his tools. A wide, assessing smile spread across his face.
"You're building an army, anak," he observed, using the familiar Tagalog term for son, now layered with respect. "I know three guys. They're my kumpares (close friends/sworn brothers). They were the best on the road. Clean records now, but they still have the instinct."
The Core: The Three Pillars
Aiden secured a small private meeting room at a neutral, legitimate hotel. King Rat brought in his three recommended recruits.
Ernesto "Boss" Ramos: A former private security contractor who ran a small, failed security agency. Impeccable training, great leadership skills, and deeply in debt.
Marco "Quick" Dela Vega: The finest getaway driver in the old circuits. Knew every shortcut, every blind spot, and every corrupt checkpoint in Metro Manila. A family man who needed stable, high-paying work.
Lito "Silencer" Cruz: A communications and surveillance expert. Quiet, almost invisible, capable of setting up secure comms and disabling surveillance systems on the fly. He had a clean, legitimate IT job but hated the corporate grind.
Aiden presented them with a simple deal, backed by a bank statement showing the multi-million peso investment fund.
"I am starting a firm to move valuable assets for clients who demand absolute secrecy," Aiden explained, meeting each man's eye. "I am not offering you a job. I am offering you a partnership. I will pay you double your previous best salary, plus a percentage of every contract you successfully complete."
He then laid out their first task: finding, securing, and fortifying the ASL warehouse using their combined skills.
The men, all wary professionals, looked at the numbers and the scale of the commitment. This wasn't a cheap hustler. This was a tycoon in the making.
"You will be paid today," Aiden concluded. "Your loyalty is paid for by your results. Your first paycheck is an advance, a gesture of trust."
Aiden immediately paid each of the three men an advance salary of ₱250,000.
[Transaction Log: Spending Event]
[Amount Spent: ₱750,000 (Three Recruit Advances)]
[Purpose: Labor Acquisition (Core Team Salaries)]
[REIMBURSEMENT EXECUTED: +₱1,500,000]
Aiden had just acquired the core team for his new security logistics empire, paid them substantially, and doubled the cost of their labor in his bank account.
He had started the day with almost nothing. He ended it with a fleet of two armored vans (in progress), a secure warehouse (in progress), a four-man security team, and several million pesos in surplus capital.
He looked at Rafael, who stood silently at the back of the room, observing the entire transaction.
"The vans must be perfect, Rafael," Aiden said. "We start operations next week."
"They will be invisible, Aiden," King Rat promised. "Invisible and unbreakable."
Aiden nodded, a small, strategic victory secured. The foundation of his empire was built on steel and fierce loyalty. Now, he would start using his network to make his first high-stakes, revenue-generating move.