Chapter 4: The Sector 2 Shift
The transition from Sector 4 to Sector 2 was more than a change in geography; it was a shift in reality. In the slums, the air was a commodity you fought for. In Sector 2, the air was filtered, scented with artificial pine, and the silence was heavy, broken only by the hum of automated delivery drones.
Their new apartment was on the 42nd floor of the 'Azure Heights' complex. It featured high-ceilinged rooms, smart-glass windows that tinted automatically with the sun, and a dedicated "Sim-Room" with high-bandwidth neural ports.
Leo stood by the window, watching the sunset paint the city in shades of gold and violet. Behind him, Sarah was tentatively touching the silk-composite upholstery of the sofa, as if she expected it to vanish if she gripped it too hard.
"Leo, this is... it's too much," Sarah whispered. She had traded her factory overalls for a simple, high-quality lounge set Leo had bought her. The fabric draped over her shoulders, highlighting her slender frame. "The rent for one month here could have fed us for a year in the tenements."
"The tenements are the past, Mom," Leo said, turning to look at her.
His [Physique Optimization V.2] was now fully settled. He looked like a masterpiece of genetic engineering. His presence in the room was like a gravitational well; even without speaking, he was the center of attention.
Sarah looked up at him, and for a split second, her maternal instincts were overwritten by a primal recognition of a dominant male. Her heart gave a strange, frantic flutter. She quickly looked down, smoothing her hair. "I... I'll go check the kitchen. Maya is already trying to figure out the automated chef."
As she scurried away, Leo felt a chime in his mind.
[叮! Favorability Update:]
Sarah Thorne: 52/100 (Deepening Dependency/Subconscious Attraction)
Status: The maternal shield is thinning.
The Blueprint of Chaos
While his family adjusted to luxury, Leo retreated to the Sim-Room. He had a deadline. The "Silent Ward" was still generating revenue, but the "Monopoly" name needed to become a household legend.
He sat in the haptic chair and donned his VR-headset.
"System, show me the framework for the Battle Royale Protocol," Leo commanded.
[叮! Loading Project: SECTOR ZERO]
Core Mechanic: 100 Players. One Island. One Survivor.
Physics Engine: Real-World Ballistics & Haptic Impact.
The "Hook": Adrenaline-driven Permadeath.
In this world, "multiplayer" meant cooperative logic puzzles or turn-based strategy. The idea of 100 people dropping onto an island to hunt each other was not just new—it was revolutionary. It tapped into the "Wolf" instinct that the Global Government had spent decades trying to suppress.
Leo began to architect the map. He didn't make it a fantasy world. He made it a hyper-realistic reflection of the ruins of the "Old Earth." He coded the sound of a bullet whizzing past a player's ear, the crunch of gravel under a boot, and the terrifying, encroaching "Blue Zone" that forced players into conflict.
"I need a face for this," Leo muttered.
He didn't want to show his own face yet. He needed a "Pro-Player" to showcase the game—someone the youth would follow.
The Sister's Obsession
The door to the Sim-Room hissed open. Maya walked in, wearing her new school uniform. She looked more vibrant than ever, the better food and cleaner air already working on her. She walked over to Leo's chair, her eyes fixed on the holographic displays flickering around him.
"You're making another one," she said, her voice a mix of curiosity and something more intense. "The forums are calling 'The Silent Ward' a masterpiece of fear. What's this one?"
Leo pulled the headset up, looking at his sister. "It's called Sector Zero. It's a game where you have to be the best, or you lose everything."
Maya reached out, her fingers brushing the carbon-fiber frame of the VR-chair. "Let me play it, Leo. Let me be the first."
"It's dangerous, Maya. The haptic feedback is set to 'Pain-Sync' at 5%. It'll hurt if you get hit."
"I don't care," Maya said, stepping closer until she was standing between his knees. She looked down at him, her eyes burning with a competitive fire—and a desperate need for his approval. "I'm the top-ranked student in the 'Logistics-Combat' sims at school. I'm faster than anyone. If you're going to build an empire, don't you need a General?"
Leo looked at her. Her favorability was climbing steadily. She wasn't just his sister anymore; she was becoming his most loyal disciple.
"Alright," Leo said, his voice dropping to a low, commanding tone. He handed her a spare headset. "Show me what you can do, little General."
As Maya plugged in, Leo monitored her vitals. He saw her heart rate spike—not from fear, but from the thrill of the "Link."
[叮! Mission Progress: SECTOR ZERO Development - 45%]
[Current Capital: $82,000]
Outside, the elite of Sector 2 walked their dogs and drank their expensive coffee, unaware that a teenager in their midst was preparing to turn their peaceful, boring world into a digital battlefield.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Aunt Elena has requested an urgent meeting.]
[Topic: Corporate Surveillance detected on 'Monopoly Gaming' IP.]
The sharks had smelled blood. The "Ghost" was being hunted.