The next morning, the scent of jasmine tea drifted lazily through the air as Elara leaned over the breakfast table, scrolling through a series of emails on her tablet. Across from her, Jianyu was already digging into the plans they had scribbled on whiteboards, napkins, and whatever else had been available during their late-night planning sprees. The momentum behind X_Heroes was building faster than either of them had anticipated.
"The official download count hit five hundred thousand overnight," Jianyu said, barely able to contain the grin spreading across his face. "Streamers are going crazy over the AI realism. One called it the 'future of narrative gaming.'"
Elara tapped her stylus against the table thoughtfully. "Time to get serious, then."
They had registered their new tech company as **EonMatrix Interactive**, a name Elara had chosen with her typical foresight—suggesting innovation, time, and the seamless integration of reality and imagination. The legal paperwork had flown through thanks to her precision, and by noon they were in the licensing office finalizing everything.
The clerk, a lanky man with square glasses, read over their application again. "You've already built the framework and launched a beta?"
Elara nodded once. "It's been running in limited access for three days."
The man blinked, surprised. "You're fast."
"We're efficient," she corrected.
---
Back in their temporary home office, Elara and Jianyu dove headfirst into building out the internal structure of the company. They began hiring: two backend developers, one game designer, a social media strategist, and a community manager. Elara personally screened every applicant.
One interview with a talented coder from abroad ended with the young man saying, "I've followed ShadowBelle's work for years. Working here would be a dream."
Elara's eyes narrowed slightly. "We value discretion more than hero worship. Can you deliver under pressure?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"You're hired."
With staff coming on board and the workload growing, Elara knew they needed to monetize quickly—but smartly.
"No pay-to-win features," she told Jianyu firmly. "Cosmetics, yes. Early access expansions, sure. But gameplay should remain pure."
"Agreed," he said. "We can also offer an optional subscription for enhanced customization features."
"And ad revenue partnerships through livestreams and walkthrough creators," Elara added.
The plan was airtight. Within two weeks, EonMatrix Interactive had secured seed funding from a quiet investor group Elara had vetted through the Hacker's Alliance. The terms were favorable. The vision was expanding.
---
By the end of the month, Elara stood in front of a sleek real estate office, the listing for a modern two-story townhouse displayed in the window. With the revenue from the perfume stores and their explosive game launch, it was time to upgrade their living space.
The agent, a polished woman named Sophie, handed her a set of keys after a swift transaction.
"You'll love this place. It's close to your main storefront, with a private garage and a rooftop garden."
Elara took the keys, her gaze cool. "Good. My family deserves comfort."
She brought Mae and Jianyu to the new house that evening. Her mother gasped at the spacious living room, sunlight pouring through floor-to-ceiling windows.
"Is this really ours?" Mae asked, hand over her heart.
Elara nodded. "We earned it."
---
A few days later, Elara walked through a showroom filled with mid-range luxury cars. Her eyes scanned each one with a tactician's precision. She didn't want excess. Just comfort, elegance, and safety.
She stopped at a sleek, sky-blue SUV—compact, stylish, and reliable. After checking the specs and sealing the deal, she had it delivered with a ribbon still on the hood.
When Mae saw it parked outside, her hand flew to her mouth.
"You bought a car?"
"For you," Elara said simply. "You need to go to the shop in comfort now."
Mae teared up, unable to speak for a moment. "You're spoiling me, Elara."
"No," Elara replied, voice soft but firm. "I'm giving you what you've always deserved."
---
Meanwhile, across the gaming world, forums and social media exploded with talk of **X_Heroes**.
"Bro, have you played this new game?" one gamer texted another. "The characters remember things you did HOURS ago and react differently every time. It's nuts!"
Another streamer posted a clip of a rare in-game alliance forming unexpectedly, shouting, "This AI is smarter than my ex!"
Back in Zhonghai, Lu Zeyan stood by the wide windows of his office, watching the sun set behind the skyline. His butler entered quietly.
"Master Lu, your grandmother is expecting you."
Lu Zeyan nodded. He made his way to the estate in silence.
When he arrived, Meredith greeted him with her usual grace, seated in the tea lounge. The butler poured him a cup and stepped out.
"I heard you were curious about a new scent," she said, eyes gleaming with mischief.
"I was," he said. "I traced it to a boutique. Scentra."
"Ah," Meredith murmured. "The girl who saved me wore their perfume."
Lu Zeyan raised a brow. "Girl?"
She nodded. "She used aromatherapy. Just like that. The crowds scattered. I never got her name—but I remembered her face."
He sipped his tea slowly, thinking. "First, the ShadowBelle trace hits that city. Then a miracle aromatherapist. Either I'm paranoid—or there's a convergence happening."
Meredith chuckled. "Paranoia suits you. But yes, I have a feeling you'll meet her again."
Lu Zeyan didn't believe in fate. But he did believe in patterns. And right now, every sign pointed to one epicenter: Elara.
He just didn't know her name yet.