Becoming the Strongest as a Game Dev

Kendrick swirls the deep red wine in his glass as he gazes out the window of his family's mansion. A self-satisfied smirk crosses his lips.

"Soon, dear Yuna, you'll be mine," he murmurs, taking a sip of the rich, vintage.

He can practically envision Yuna's face, her usual cheerful demeanor crumbling under the weight of his manipulations. The thought sends a thrill of anticipation through him.

Kendrick chuckled, the sound reverberating through the mansion. He sipped his wine, relishing the taste as he basked in his power.

He hears a commotion and leaves his study, his curiosity piqued. He finds his father, Alistair Thornfield, standing in the grand foyer, brow furrowed in a rare display of concern.

Alistair's silver hair, neatly combed back, gleams under the chandelier's soft light. His piercing blue eyes, usually so sharp and calculating, hold a hint of unease. Kendrick notices the tension in his father's broad shoulders, a sign that something weighs heavily on the patriarch's mind.

"Father, what is the matter?" Kendrick asks, his tone laced with a mixture of respect and apprehension.

"Our businesses, Kendrick," he says, his deep voice tinged with frustration. "They are being affected, and we do not know why."

"Affected? In what way?"

"It is as if we are being deliberately targeted," Alistair continues, his gaze hardening. "Contracts are being canceled, and some shipments are going missing. If this continues, it will affect our stock."

"Do we have any leads on who might be responsible?"

Alistair shakes his head, the movement precise and controlled. "No, not yet. But I intend to find out."

A servant suddenly bursts into the foyer, his face flushed with urgency. "My lord, I have urgent news," he exclaims, bowing deeply before Alistair and Kendrick.

Alistair's eyes narrow, his patience wearing thin. "Speak, then," he commands, his deep voice brooking no argument.

The servant swallows hard, his hands trembling. "The Draconian Metals deal, sir. It has been... canceled."

Alistair's expression shifts, a rare display of shock registering on his chiseled features. "Canceled?" he repeats, the word laced with disbelief.

The servant nods frantically. "Yes, my lord. We received the notification just moments ago. They have terminated the contract without explanation."

Alistair's jaw tightens, the muscle in his cheek twitching. He had been working on that deal for months, carefully negotiating the terms to ensure the Thornfield family's dominance in the metal trade. And now, it was all for naught.

Kendrick watches the exchange, his own brow furrowing in concern. He knows how important that deal was to his father's plans. The sudden cancellation could have far-reaching consequences for their business empire.

"Then make them contact us. I will not tolerate this disrespect."

The servant bows his head. "I'm afraid they refuse to engage, my lord. All attempts at communication have been met with silence."

Kendrick's brow furrows as he listens to the exchange. His father's businesses being targeted in this manner is highly unusual. Kendrick wonders who could be orchestrating such a coordinated attack on the Thornfield family's interests.

"This is unacceptable," Alistair growls, his deep voice rumbling with barely contained anger. "Gather our top investigators. I want to know who is responsible for this, and I want them found immediately."

The servant nods quickly. "At once, my lord." He scurries away, his steps hurried.

Kendrick steps closer to his father, his expression serious. "Do you have any idea who might be behind this?"

Alistair's lips thin into a tight line. "I have my suspicions, but nothing concrete. This level of disruption requires significant resources and influence. We have many rivals, both in business and politics."

Kendrick nods slowly, his mind racing. The Thornfield family's power and wealth have made them targets before, but never to this degree. Whoever is orchestrating this attack is clearly a formidable adversary.

…

Sam enters the SimQuest building, the familiar sights and sounds greeting him. As he makes his way through the bustling lobby, he spots Gail striding towards him, her expression serious.

"Sam, I'm glad I caught you," Gail says, her tone measured. "I have an update on the situation with Yuna's mother."

"What is it?"

"The Silverstone family has already stepped in," Gail reveals, her words carrying a sense of urgency. "Aria has started to dismantle The Thornfields' operations, and she's also transferred Yuna's mother to a private Silverstone family hospital."

"So fast?" Sam asks, his eyes widening with surprise.

"The Silverstones are one of the biggest and most influential families in Jade City. This amount of work is nothing to them."

"What will happen to Kendrick?" Sam asks.

Gail responds calmly, "To be honest, I'm not sure. But if I had to guess, Kendrick will likely be too preoccupied with managing the fallout from his family's targeted businesses to cause any further trouble."

"Will this make Kendrick stop harassing Yuna?"

Gail's expression hardens. "Most likely. But if he does continue to cause trouble..." Her eyes narrow, a fierce glint shining through. "I'll make him regret the day he was ever born."

Sam shudders, and for a moment, he swears he sees a hallucination of a ferocious tiger lurking behind Gail, its teeth bared in a menacing snarl. The intensity radiating from Gail is palpable, and Sam finds himself grateful that her wrath is not directed at him.

"I'm glad to hear Yuna's mother is getting the care she needs. I should get back to working on the simulation. There's still a lot to do."

Gail gives him an approving smile. "Go ahead, Sam. Yuna won't be available for a while - she has to handle the paperwork for her mother's transfer. But she told me she'll return as soon as she can."

"Please tell Yuna to take her time. Her family's wellbeing is the priority. The simulation can wait."

"I'll pass that along to her," Gail assures him. "In the meantime, keep up the good work. I'm confident you and Yuna will create something incredible."

With a nod, Sam turns and heads back to his workstation, his mind already focused on the tasks ahead.

///

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