Three days after the meeting at the Imperial Hotel, Ah You's life had become a carefully balanced disaster.
Mornings were for training at the Arena. Zara worked him brutally, pushing his combat skills and forcing him to explore creative uses of his Nature Sense. His MP pool had grown to 65/65, and he could now maintain plant growth for longer periods without exhausting himself completely.
Afternoons were for business – visiting suppliers with Linda, evaluating products for the consortium, learning the complicated dance of legitimate trade mixed with gray-market dealings.
Evenings were supposed to be rest, but the system had other ideas.
[DAILY QUEST: Advanced Training]
[Complete: 50 push-ups, 50 sit-ups, 20-minute combat meditation, 30 minutes Nature Sense practice]
[Reward: +10 EXP, +1 random stat point]
[Streak Bonus: 3 days completed. Keep going!]
His cramped apartment had become a training ground. He'd bought cheap weights from a night market and cleared space for exercise. The cactus on his windowsill had grown into a small bush – he practiced on it constantly, making it grow thorns, shed them, produce flowers, anything to improve his control.
The neighbors complained about the noise. Mrs. Lim next door had knocked on his door twice to tell him the "stomping around" was disturbing her cats.
Ah You didn't care. For the first time in his life, he had direction. Purpose. Power.
And a bank account that had jumped from 347 ringgit to over 8,000.
The Arena paid fighters. His rookie win had earned him 2,000 ringgit prize money. Linda's consulting fee was 3,500 monthly, but she'd advanced him the first payment immediately. The business consortium had given him a 3,000 ringgit "signing bonus."
He'd sent 2,000 to Ah Ma for her medical checkup. Paid his rent three months in advance. Bought actual groceries instead of instant noodles.
The rest he saved. Growing up poor taught him that money could disappear as fast as it appeared.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Current Level: 3 (782/1000 EXP to Level 4)]
[New Skill Available in Shop: Nature's Wrath - 500 Esper Points]
[Current Esper Points: 110]
[Continue grinding to unlock!]
Grinding. The system actually used gaming terminology.
Ah You finished his morning push-ups – all fifty without stopping now, a huge improvement from struggling with twenty three days ago – and checked his phone.
Seven missed calls from Linda.
That wasn't normal.
He called back immediately.
"Where are you?" Linda's voice was tense.
"Home. About to head to the Arena—"
"Change of plans. We have a problem. Get to Golden Phoenix in thirty minutes."
"What kind of problem?"
"The kind that could destroy everything we're building. Move. Now."
She hung up.
Ah You grabbed his jacket and ran.
---
Golden Phoenix Restaurant looked normal from the outside. The usual lunch crowd filing in, the smell of cooking wafting from the kitchen.
But inside, the atmosphere was poisonous.
Zhang Jie stood near the entrance, arms crossed, face thunderous. Uncle Tan was in the kitchen doorway, looking worried. Several staff members clustered in corners, whispering.
And in the middle of the dining floor stood three people Ah You didn't recognize:
A woman in a government inspector's uniform, clipboard in hand.
A man in an expensive suit, clearly a lawyer.
And a young man about Ah You's age, wearing designer clothes and an expression of smug satisfaction.
Linda stood near them, her professional mask firmly in place, but Ah You could see the tension in her shoulders.
"Ah You, there you are," she said evenly. "These people are from the Health and Safety Department. They're conducting an inspection."
The woman with the clipboard looked up. "Inspection is putting it lightly. We've received serious complaints about this establishment."
"What kind of complaints?" Ah You asked.
"Food safety violations. Ingredient quality concerns. Allegations of serving expired products to customers." She flipped through her papers. "We're authorized to shut down operations immediately pending full investigation."
Zhang Jie exploded. "This is nonsense! We run a clean kitchen! Uncle Tan has been cooking for twenty years—"
"Compliance isn't about experience," the lawyer interrupted smoothly. "It's about documentation, procedures, verifiable standards. Which, according to our preliminary review, this establishment lacks."
The young man in designer clothes finally spoke. "It's unfortunate when family businesses cut corners to save money. Puts the whole industry at risk."
Ah You recognized the voice.
Raymond Ong. The fire user he'd beaten at the Arena.
Of course.
[QUEST TRIGGERED: Crisis Management]
[Description: Golden Phoenix is under attack from competitors using legal means. Defend the restaurant's reputation and uncover who's behind the assault.]
[Reward: +200 EXP, +50 Esper Points, improved relationship with staff]
[Failure: Restaurant closure, loss of income, damaged reputation]
Linda caught Ah You's eye and gave a tiny shake of her head. Don't react. Don't give them ammunition.
"I assume you have documentation of these complaints?" Linda asked the inspector calmly.
"Anonymous tip line. But credible enough to warrant investigation."
"Anonymous," Linda repeated. "How convenient."
Raymond's lawyer smiled thinly. "The source doesn't matter. What matters is whether violations exist. And I'm quite confident the inspection will find... irregularities."
This was a setup. Raymond's family was retaliating for his Arena loss by attacking the restaurant.
But they couldn't prove it. Everything was technically legal – a government inspection triggered by an "anonymous" complaint.
The inspector pulled out testing equipment. "I'll need access to your storage, kitchen, and all food preparation areas. Any attempt to interfere will result in immediate closure."
"Of course," Linda said. "We have nothing to hide. Zhang Jie, please escort the inspector. Full cooperation."
Zhang Jie looked like she wanted to murder someone, but she nodded stiffly.
As the inspector headed toward the kitchen, Raymond sidled closer to Ah You.
"Enjoying your win?" he said quietly, so only Ah You could hear. "That was cute. A lucky fluke. But you embarrassed my family. That has consequences."
"You're going to destroy an entire restaurant because you lost a fight?"
"I'm going to destroy your life, plant boy. The restaurant is just the start." Raymond's smile was vicious. "My uncle owns half the food distributors in Kuching. My cousin works in the Health Department. My father sits on the Restaurant Association board. You have no idea the world of shit you stepped in."
He walked away, joining his lawyer.
Ah You's fists clenched. His Nature Sense was screaming at him – there were plants nearby, decorative bamboo in pots, herbs in the kitchen. He could make them grow, wrap around Raymond's smug face—
No.
That's what Raymond wanted. A public display of esper abilities. Evidence that Ah You was "dangerous." More ammunition to use against them.
Linda appeared at his shoulder. "Breathe. Think. Don't react."
"They're going to fabricate violations."
"Probably. But we're not helpless." She pulled out her phone. "I'm calling Melissa and Datuk Ismail. If the Ong family wants to play the connections game, we'll remind them that we have connections too."
The inspector emerged from the kitchen fifteen minutes later, making notes.
"I'm finding several concerning issues," she announced. "Expired produce in the cold storage. Inadequate temperature controls. Questionable ingredient sourcing documentation."
"That's a lie!" Uncle Tan burst out. "I personally check every ingredient! Nothing expired!"
"According to these labels—" the inspector held up a bag of vegetables "—these should have been discarded three days ago."
Ah You's Nature Sense activated automatically.
The vegetables in that bag were fresh. Harvested yesterday at most. The "expiration labels" had been falsified.
They'd planted fake evidence.
"May I see those?" Ah You asked.
The inspector handed him the bag reluctantly.
Ah You focused his Nature Sense, reading the vegetables like a book. Then he examined the label carefully.
"These vegetables are fresh," he said clearly. "Harvested within the last 24 hours. The expiration date on this label is falsified – you can see the ink is different from our standard supplier labels. Someone doctored this."
"That's a serious accusation," the lawyer said sharply.
"It's a serious fraud," Ah You shot back. He pulled out his phone and took photos of the label, the vegetables, everything. "I'm documenting this entire inspection. Including any planted evidence."
The inspector's expression flickered – just for a second, but Ah You saw it. Uncertainty.
She wasn't completely dirty. Maybe she'd been told there were real violations, not that she'd have to plant evidence herself.
"I... I'll need to verify these findings," she said, less confidently now.
Raymond's lawyer stepped forward. "Regardless of one questionable item, there are other violations—"
"Which I'm also documenting," Linda interrupted, her phone out and recording. "Every single item you claim is a violation, we're photographing and preserving. And we'll be filing formal complaints about this inspection with your supervisor, the ombudsman, and the media if necessary."
"Are you threatening a government official?"
"I'm exercising our legal rights. Unless you'd like to explain to your superiors why you're conducting an inspection based on an anonymous complaint that conveniently targets a business owned by a family your firm's client has a personal grudge against?"
The lawyer's expression tightened.
This was the game. Legal threats. Documentation. Counter-accusations. Whoever had better lawyers and more connections won.
And the Ong family had apparently miscalculated how connected Linda actually was.
Linda's phone rang. She answered, listened, then smiled coldly.
"That was Datuk Ismail's office. He's very interested in this inspection. As a major plantation owner and Restaurant Association board member himself, he's concerned about industry integrity. He'll be joining us shortly."
Raymond's confident expression cracked slightly.
"Also," Linda continued, "Melissa Chen sends her regards. She's reminded the Health Department Director about their recent charitable donation and expressed hope that inspections are being conducted fairly and without bias."
Translation: we have leverage too, and we're not afraid to use it.
The inspector looked increasingly uncomfortable. "I... perhaps we should postpone the remainder of this inspection until I can consult with my supervisor."
"Excellent idea," Linda said pleasantly. "We'll be here whenever you'd like to continue. With our legal team present, of course."
The inspector gathered her materials and left quickly, clearly wanting out of this political minefield.
Raymond's lawyer gave Linda a hard look. "This isn't over."
"No," Linda agreed. "It's not. But next time you come at us, make sure your evidence isn't fabricated. Amateur move."
They left.
The moment the door closed, the entire restaurant exhaled collectively.
"What the hell just happened?" Zhang Jie demanded.
"The Ong family tried to destroy us using legal pressure," Linda said. "They failed. This time."
"This time?" Uncle Tan looked worried. "They'll try again?"
"Almost certainly. But now we're ready." Linda looked at Ah You. "Good catch with the falsified label. How did you know?"
"The vegetables were fresh. The label was obviously fake once you looked closely."
It wasn't a lie, exactly. Just not the complete truth.
Linda studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Everyone back to work. Lunch service starts in twenty minutes. We're not letting them win."
The staff dispersed, still shaken but functioning.
Linda pulled Ah You aside. "The Ong family is a problem. Third-generation esper family, old money, extensive connections. Raymond was their youngest and supposedly weakest member. You beating him publicly was a massive loss of face."
"So they're going to destroy my life because of their pride?"
"Welcome to esper family politics. It's not just about power – it's about reputation, prestige, honor. You made them look weak. They can't let that stand."
"What do we do?"
"We build our position faster than they can tear it down. The consortium gives us leverage – Datuk Ismail, Melissa, Rebecca Chong. All powerful in different spheres. We're creating a network that can match theirs."
Linda's phone buzzed. She checked it, frowned.
"There's an Arena board meeting tonight. Emergency session. I'm betting the Ong family is going to push for new regulations targeting rookie fighters."
"Can they do that?"
"They have influence on the board. Not complete control, but enough to make trouble." She pocketed her phone. "You need to be there. Show you're not intimidated. And you need allies."
"I barely know anyone at the Arena."
"Then it's time to change that. Zara likes you – she'll introduce you around. Kenneth respects results, and you delivered one. Build relationships. Fast."
[NEW QUEST: Arena Politics]
[Description: Navigate the political landscape of the Arena and build alliances before the Ong family isolates you]
[Reward: +150 EXP, Arena connections, potential mentor]
[Time Limit: Before tonight's board meeting]
Ah You checked the time. 11:47 AM. The board meeting was at 8 PM.
Eight hours to make friends in a world where people literally fought each other for money.
No pressure.
---
The Arena at 3 PM was different from fight nights.
Fighters trained seriously – working on technique, sparring with partners, drilling combinations. The atmosphere was focused, professional.
Ah You found Zara running obstacle courses with three other fighters.
"Ah You!" she called out, vaulting over a barrier without breaking stride. "Here to train or watch?"
"Both. But I also need advice."
She finished her set, barely winded, and jogged over. "About the Ong family shitstorm?"
"Word travels fast."
"Arena's a small community. Everyone knows Raymond's family tried to shut down your restaurant." She grabbed a towel, wiping sweat. "They're pushing for rule changes tonight – probably minimum level requirements for matches, or restrictions on Nature-types, something that targets you specifically."
"Can they actually do that?"
"If they have enough board votes." Zara gestured around the Arena. "Politics here work like anywhere else. Factions, alliances, favors owed. The Ong family has pull because they're old money and they fund Arena operations. But they're not unopposed."
"Who opposes them?"
"Kenneth, for one. He runs the Arena independently – doesn't like families throwing weight around. There's also the Independent Fighters Coalition, mid-level espers who don't want family politics controlling everything."
She pointed across the floor to a group of fighters – mixed ethnicities, ages ranging from early twenties to forties, all radiating competence.
"That's them. Led by Marcus Chan and Aisha Rahman. They vote as a bloc on the board. Get their support and you've got a real voice."
"How do I get their support?"
Zara grinned. "You impress them. Show them you're worth backing. Come on."
She led him across the Arena floor. The Independent Fighters Coalition stopped their training as they approached.
Marcus Chan was Chinese, maybe thirty-five, lean and scarred. His left arm had what looked like permanent frost patterns on the skin – a mark from his ability, probably.
Aisha Rahman was Malay, late twenties, tall and powerful-looking. She assessed Ah You with the same intensity Zara had when they first met.
"This is the plant boy?" Marcus asked.
"Level 3 Nature-type," Zara confirmed. "Beat Raymond Ong in his initiation match. Now the family's coming after him."
"We heard." Aisha crossed her arms. "Typical Ong family behavior. Lose a fight, retaliate through politics and business pressure."
"They tried to shut down the restaurant I consult for," Ah You said. "Falsified evidence, corrupt inspector, the whole setup."
Marcus nodded slowly. "And you're here because the board meeting tonight will probably target you specifically."
"Linda said I need allies."
"You need more than allies. You need to prove you belong here." Aisha gestured to the training floor. "The Coalition backs fighters who earn respect through skill and integrity. Beating one rookie doesn't prove that."
"What would prove it?"
Marcus and Aisha exchanged glances.
"Fight again," Marcus said. "Publicly. Against someone tougher than Raymond. Show that your win wasn't a fluke."
"I just hit Level 3. Most serious fighters here are what, Level 10 and up?"
"We'll find someone appropriate. Level 5 or 6, non-family affiliated." Marcus pulled out his phone. "You win, we back you at the board meeting. You lose, at least you went down fighting and that earns respect too."
[QUEST UPDATED: Arena Politics]
[New Objective: Win a challenge match against a Level 5-6 opponent]
[Time: 2 hours until match]
[Reward: Coalition support, +200 EXP, improved Arena standing]
Two hours.
Ah You's MP was at 50/65. He'd trained this morning but wasn't exhausted.
And he'd learned a lot since fighting Raymond.
"I'll do it," he said.
Aisha smiled – the first genuine warmth she'd shown. "Good. We'll spread the word. Challenge matches draw crowds. More witnesses to your skill."
Or his humiliation, if he lost.
Marcus clapped him on the shoulder. "Use the next two hours well. Meditate, conserve energy, study your opponent's fighting style if we can get video."
They walked away, already making calls.
Zara looked at Ah You. "You sure about this? Level 5 is a big jump from Level 3."
"Do I have a choice? If I back down now, I look weak. The Ong family wins."
"Fair point." She cracked her knuckles. "Alright then. We've got two hours. Let's make you as ready as possible."
---
The opponent Marcus found was a woman named Sarah Lim.
Level 5. Earth Manipulation ability – similar to the Chen Wei that Ah You had watched fight before, but apparently more skilled.
Zara pulled up fight footage on her phone. Sarah was good – controlled, efficient, using the environment to create barriers and projectiles. Not flashy, just effective.
"Earth beats plant in most scenarios," Zara said bluntly. "She can cut off your root access, bury your plants, create barriers faster than you can grow through them."
"So how do I win?"
"You don't fight her strength. Earth manipulators are defensive powerhouses but they're slower than other types. She'll try to lock down the arena, control the space. You need to be unpredictable, mobile, creative."
They spent an hour drilling movement patterns. How to stay light on his feet. How to use plant growth not as attacks but as terrain modification, making the ground unstable for earth controllers.
"Your advantage is that Nature-types are rare," Zara explained. "She's probably never fought one seriously. Use techniques she won't expect."
Ah You thought about his training. The things he'd learned by experimenting.
He could grow plants, yes. But he could also accelerate their life cycles. Make them bloom, seed, wilt. Could he use pollen as a weapon? Create slippery moss on surfaces? Grow plant matter that absorbed moisture, drying out earth-based attacks?
The possibilities were there. He just had to execute under pressure.
By 6 PM, a crowd had gathered.
The challenge match had spread through Arena networks. People wanted to see if the rookie who'd beaten Raymond Ong could back it up against a real opponent.
Ah You stood in the arena cage, heart pounding, MP at 62/65 after meditation and energy conservation.
Sarah entered from the opposite side. She looked calm, professional. This was just another match for her.
Kenneth himself was refereeing – a sign of how much attention this fight had drawn.
"Standard Arena rules," Kenneth announced. "Match ends on surrender, knockout, or my call. Begin!"
Sarah didn't waste time.
She slammed her palms to the ground and the concrete floor rippled like water. Pillars of stone erupted around Ah You, boxing him in, limiting his movement.
But Ah You was ready.
He'd scattered seeds in his pockets before the match – fast-growing vine seeds, moss spores, even some chili pepper seeds for irritant potential.
He threw the seeds at the stone pillars even as they rose.
GROW. RAPID CYCLE. BLOOM.
The seeds sprouted instantly, vines wrapping around the stone, moss coating surfaces, making them slippery. The chili plants grew and released their irritant oils into the air.
Sarah coughed, eyes watering from the unexpected airborne irritant.
Ah You didn't press the attack. Instead, he dropped more seeds across the entire arena floor and pushed massive amounts of MP into them.
GROW EVERYWHERE. CHAOTIC GROWTH. MAKE THIS SPACE MINE.
His MP plummeted to 35/65, but the effect was dramatic.
The arena floor exploded with green life. Grass, moss, vines, flowers – a carpet of vegetation spreading across the concrete faster than Sarah could contain it.
"What the—" Sarah tried to raise more stone barriers, but the plants were already infiltrating cracks, destabilizing her constructs.
Earth Manipulation required stable ground. Ah You was making the ground anything but stable.
He grew thick vine walls, not to attack but to block Sarah's line of sight. In the chaos of green, she couldn't see where he was.
Then he made his move.
Using the plants as cover, he circled around behind her position. He'd learned from fighting Raymond – direct confrontation was suicide. Tactical positioning was everything.
When Sarah finally cleared enough vegetation to see again, Ah You wasn't where she expected.
He was behind her, and the floor at her feet had become a mass of tangled roots.
CONSTRICT.
The roots wrapped around her ankles and yanked.
Sarah went down, but she wasn't helpless. She raised a stone shield, protecting herself from follow-up attacks.
But Ah You wasn't attacking.
He was growing more plants. Everywhere. The entire cage was becoming a jungle.
[MP: 18/65]
Sarah blasted the plants with compressed earth projectiles, but for every plant she destroyed, three more grew.
She couldn't win a war of attrition against a Nature-type in an environment full of plant matter.
Ah You could see the moment she realized it.
She tried one last gambit – raising herself on a pillar of stone, getting above the plant level.
But Ah You had anticipated that. He'd been growing ivy up the cage walls the entire fight.
WRAP. PULL.
The ivy lashed out, wrapping around Sarah's pillar and pulling. The stone cracked under the strain.
Sarah lost her balance, fell, landed hard in the sea of vegetation.
Roots immediately wrapped around her limbs.
"I yield!" she called out. "Match to Ah You!"
The crowd erupted.
Ah You released the roots and collapsed to his knees, gasping. His MP was at 12/65. His head throbbed from overuse.
But he'd won.
Against a Level 5.
[QUEST COMPLETE: Arena Politics]
[Rewards: +200 EXP, Coalition Support Gained, Arena Reputation Increased]
[LEVEL UP!]
[You are now Level 4!]
Kenneth helped him to his feet. "Impressive. Very impressive. Sarah's a veteran fighter. You outmaneuvered her completely."
Sarah approached, offering her hand. "That was... creative. I've never seen plant abilities used quite like that."
They shook hands, mutual respect earned.
The Coalition members – Marcus, Aisha, and several others – approached as Ah You exited the cage.
"Alright," Marcus said. "You've earned our support. The board meeting is in ninety minutes. Clean up, get some food, restore your energy. We'll handle the politics."
"What happens at the meeting?"
"The Ong family will push for restrictions. We'll counter with arguments about fair competition and meritocracy. Kenneth will probably stay neutral but lean toward keeping things open." Aisha smiled grimly. "It's going to be a fight. Just a different kind."
Ah You nodded, too exhausted to stress about it.
He'd done what he could. The rest was out of his hands.
[NEW TITLE UNLOCKED: Giant Slayer]
[Effect: +10% combat effectiveness against opponents higher level than you]
The system notification brought a tired smile to his face.
Giant Slayer.
Yeah. That felt earned.
---
[To Be Continued]