Chen Fan's eyes were glued to the old computer screen. A flurry of complex charts, data, and source code flashed before him. In his past life, he would have seen them as an incomprehensible mess. But now, thanks to the "God-tier knowledge" from the System, everything became crystal clear. It was as if he were a seasoned tech expert who had studied this field for decades.
"Ding! Detecting a potential S-grade investment opportunity!"
The System's voice resonated, confirming Chen Fan's calculations. He had found it. A tech startup founded two years ago, specializing in data optimization algorithms. In his past life, this company had been on the verge of bankruptcy, only to suddenly skyrocket, becoming a giant in the fields of Big Data and AI after just three years. Its market value had soared by thousands of times.
This is my first chance.
But the problem was money. To invest in this early stage, even a small fraction, would require at least tens of millions of Vietnamese Dong. Chen Fan's entire current fortune amounted to just a few hundred thousand VND in his wallet.
"Ding! Side Quest: Startup Capital!"
"Description: Acquire at least 50 million VND within 48 hours to invest in a potential opportunity. Host may use any legal method."
"Reward: 200 Experience Points, 10 Low-Grade Spirit Stones, 1 Initial-Grade Cosmos Bag."
"Time Limit: 48 hours."
Chen Fan frowned. 50 million VND in 48 hours? For a fresh graduate with no experience, no connections, and who had just been fired, like in his past life, this would be an unimaginable sum. But now, he had his advantages.
He browsed the web, searching for forums and online groups specializing in technology. He clearly remembered that in his past life, a small group of white-hat hackers had once discovered a critical security vulnerability in Bank X's system, but their warnings were ignored. Later, that very vulnerability caused a massive data leak, costing Bank X hundreds of billions.
This is it.
Chen Fan immediately got to work. His fingers flew across the keyboard, complex lines of code appearing on the screen. He didn't need to think; everything seemed pre-programmed in his brain. In just a few minutes, he had simulated the vulnerability, even discovering several more dangerous variants that the other hacker group hadn't noticed.
"Ding! Host has used System knowledge to analyze and detect computer system flaws. Consumed 10 Mental Energy points."
The System's voice announced. Chen Fan felt a slight throb in his head, but it was negligible.
He sent an anonymous email to Bank X's IT department, attaching detailed evidence of the vulnerability and how to exploit it. Simultaneously, he sent another anonymous email to a major financial newspaper, hinting at the potential risk the bank was facing. His goal wasn't extortion, but to create pressure.
The next morning, Chen Fan woke up after a short sleep. He felt energized, thanks to the effects of his Immortal Physique. As soon as he opened his eyes, his old phone vibrated incessantly.
Breaking news on financial sites: "Bank X faces severe security risk! Anonymous expert warns of vulnerability that could cause hundreds of billions in losses!"
A flurry of analyses and comments erupted across social media. Bank X immediately became the center of attention and criticism. The bank's stock price began to plummet.
Within a few hours, Chen Fan's phone rang. An unknown number. He answered.
"Hello, I'm Trinh Vinh Hao, Director of Cybersecurity at Bank X. I believe you are the one who sent us the email about the security vulnerability. We have verified its accuracy. You saved us. We'd like to meet you to discuss compensation and offer you a position."
Trinh Vinh Hao's voice was urgent and respectful. Chen Fan curled his lips. Everything was just as he predicted.
"No need for a meeting," Chen Fan replied indifferently. "I'm not interested in a full-time job. I just need 50 million VND transferred to my account within one hour. Consider it the fee for this information. Otherwise, I will publicly release the details of this vulnerability to the entire internet."
There was a moment of silence on the other end, then Trinh Vinh Hao quickly said: "Alright! 50 million! But... can you provide more information about your identity?"
"No need," Chen Fan flatly refused. "Just transfer the money. I'll send the account number via text message."
He hung up and sent his bank account number. About fifteen minutes later, a bank notification chimed: "Your account has received 50,000,000 VND."
Chen Fan looked at the amount displayed on his phone screen, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. 50 million. The first mission was complete.
"Ding! Side Quest: Startup Capital completed!"
"Host receives 200 Experience Points, 10 Low-Grade Spirit Stones, 1 Initial-Grade Cosmos Bag!"
"Total Experience Points: 400/500."
"Total Spirit Stones: 30 Low-Grade."
Now, he had capital. And more importantly, he had proven his worth, not just with cultivation power but with transcendent intellect. The path to becoming an urban genius, from this moment, officially laid open before him.