Chapter One: Rejection Settled

“The servers are dead.” “The code isn't. Neither are we.” “And the money?” Jiming fell silent. The system returned. 【Resources open doors. They do not walk through them for the host.】 【Beginner mission: convert the first return into lawful real-world revenue within forty-eight hours. Success unlocks value ratings. Failure suspends the system for thirty days.】 It sounded like the coldest creditor in the world. Jiming closed the laptop and grabbed his coat. “We're going to Anhe.” “At four in the morning?” “Their cold-chain manager arrives at five-thirty. He's rejected me three times. A fourth can wait one hour.” At dawn they stood outside Anhe's distribution center. The guard checked the appointment list and shook his head.