The Arctic night was a veil of endless black, pierced only by the icy glint of stars above the Barents Sea. Khalid Al Maktoum stood at the helm of the *Desert Star*, his customized polar research vessel, its engines thrumming as it sliced through the frozen waves. Sultan, the Bengal white tiger cub, crouched beside him, his ivory fur bristling in the subzero wind, his blue eyes locked on the horizon where a radar blip marked an unmarked, armed ship trailing them. The cub's thermal harness, fitted for the Arctic, amplified his regal menace, his growl a low thunder echoing Khalid's resolve. The World Impact Matrix (WIM) interface blazed in his vision, its alert screaming: *New Threat: Unknown vessel linked to HSBC espionage. Engage or evade. Reward: 25,000 points.* With 68,000 points, stakes in Apple and HSBC, a Lamborghini, a Gulfstream jet, a Rolex, a Desert Eagle, a Maldives island, and the Burj Al Arab blueprint, Khalid's empire was a fortress, but the pursuing ship—possibly tied to HSBC or a Watcher remnant—threatened his Arctic victory.
The Svalbard mission had been a triumph: the future hub's glowing structure, a temporal node linked to 2019–2045, was disabled, its signal silenced by Khalid's *Temporal Signal Disruptor*. The Watcher's Dubai network was eradicated, Saeed exiled, and the WIM's secrecy ensured by the *Time Anomaly Shield*, with Khalid's foresight hailed as genius. But the hub's data revealed a central Watcher core beyond 2019, a looming threat. The quakes in Dubai had ceased, but this ship's pursuit suggested someone—HSBC's rogue faction or a Watcher echo—knew of his Svalbard strike. The system's mission pulsed: *Neutralize HSBC's sabotage and expand Desert Star Ventures globally. Reward: 35,000 points.* Meryl Streep's film project and Vikram's Bangalore tech hub awaited his return, but survival came first.
The system chimed, offering a new opportunity:
**Impact Opportunity: Neutralize the pursuing vessel and uncover its sponsor. Reward: 15,000 points. Bonus: +10,000 points if you capture its leader alive for interrogation.**
Khalid's *Tech Visionary Mindset* weighed his options: outrun the ship to Oslo or engage in the open sea. His *Elite Combat Training* favored a fight, leveraging the *Desert Star*'s armaments—twin missile launchers and reinforced hull. The WIM 2.0 shop, capable of summoning assets, was his edge. He opened it, scanning the options:
**System Shop: Expanded Inventory**
- *Global Media Network Seed: 60,000 points. Founds a future media empire.*
- *Yacht (Sunseeker Predator Prototype): 30,000 points. Delivers a luxury vessel.*
- *Naval Defense Drone Swarm: 35,000 points. Summons autonomous combat drones for sea defense.*
- *Global Influence Aura: 40,000 points. Enhances presence in international negotiations.*
- *Arctic Research Outpost Blueprint: 40,000 points. Provides plans for a Svalbard base.*
The *Naval Defense Drone Swarm* was ideal, but his 68,000 points allowed it. He spent 35,000 points, his total dropping to 33,000. A crate materialized in the ship's hold, containing ten sleek drones, armed with tasers and EMP pulses. A second purchase—15,000 points for a *Titanium Tactical Vest*—summoned a lightweight armor piece, enhancing his combat readiness. His total fell to 18,000.
Captain Nils, his grizzled face tense, approached. "Your Highness, the ship's closing—300 meters. It's a modified frigate, armed with cannons. They're hailing us, demanding we stop."
Khalid's *Counter-Surveillance Expertise* detected a signal from the frigate—HSBC-grade encryption, not Watcher tech. "Ignore the hail," he said, gripping his Desert Eagle. "Launch the drones, evasive maneuvers. Sultan, with me."
The cub growled, his claws flexing, ready to defend his master.
---
The *Desert Star* lurched, engines roaring as it zigzagged through the icy sea. The frigate's cannons fired, shells splashing dangerously close, rocking the vessel. Khalid's *Elite Combat Training* steadied him on the deck, directing the drone swarm via his platinum-encrusted satellite phone. The drones buzzed toward the frigate, their EMP pulses disabling its radar, while tasers targeted exposed crew. Sultan roared, his presence a morale boost for Khalid's guards, who manned the missile launchers.
The system flashed: *Impact Progress: Frigate defenses weakened. +5,000 points. Total: 23,000.* Khalid's *Enhanced Perception* spotted a figure on the frigate's bridge—a woman in a black coat, issuing commands. The system flagged: *Leader Suspected: Capture for intel.*
"Focus drones on the bridge," Khalid ordered, his *Tech Visionary Mindset* orchestrating the attack. A missile from the *Desert Star* grazed the frigate's hull, forcing it to slow. The drones swarmed the bridge, tasering guards, and Khalid signaled his team to board.
With Sultan at his side, Khalid led a strike team across a grappling line, his *Elite Combat Training* navigating the icy deck. The frigate's crew, disoriented by the drones, surrendered quickly, but the woman—tall, with sharp features and a German accent—drew a high-tech pistol, firing energy bolts. Khalid dove, returning fire with the Desert Eagle, grazing her arm. Sultan leaped, pinning her, his growl terrifying her into dropping the weapon.
"Who sent you?" Khalid demanded, his *Counter-Surveillance Expertise* crushing her pistol's transmitter, the *Time Anomaly Shield* ensuring no signals escaped. "HSBC or the Watcher?"
The woman, panting, glared. "HSBC's board hired me—Freya Adler, private contractor. They want your tech empire—Apple, Microsoft—before it buries them. No Watcher, just profit."
Khalid's heart steadied. No Watcher resurgence, just corporate greed. The system chimed: *Intel Gained: HSBC confirmed sponsor. +5,000 points. Total: 28,000.* He bound Freya's hands, ordering her detained in the *Desert Star*'s brig. Her ship's logs revealed HSBC's plan: sabotage Khalid's tech stakes, destabilize Dubai's markets, and steal Meryl's film project patents. The system erupted: *Impact Opportunity Complete: Vessel neutralized, leader captured. +15,000 points. Bonus: +10,000 points for Freya's capture. Total: 53,000.*
But Freya's final words chilled him: "HSBC's just the start. Others—bigger players—are watching you, prince. You're too bright to hide."
The system flashed: *Warning: New corporate factions detected. Prepare for global escalation.*
---
Back on the *Desert Star*, Khalid reviewed the logs, his *Financial Acumen* plotting a counterstrike. Using his HSBC stake, he'd pressure their board to cease hostilities, while Barclays' influence stabilized Dubai's markets. The system updated: *Mission Progress: HSBC sabotage neutralized. +20,000 points. Total: 73,000.* The frigate was scuttled, its crew detained for Norwegian authorities, framed as pirates.
A satellite call from Vikram crackled through: "Khalid, Bangalore's hub is ahead of schedule. We're hiring AI experts. Your vision's global now."
The system pinged: *Tech Hub Progress: +5,000 points. Total: 78,000.* Khalid smiled, his *Enhanced Loyalty Aura* reinforcing their alliance. "Keep pushing, Vikram. We'll own the future."
Meryl's message followed, her voice a warmth in the Arctic cold: "Khalid, the studio's ready for our first shoot. Hurry back—you're my co-star." The system pinged: *Romantic Opportunity: Return for Meryl's studio visit. Reward: 5,000 points.*
Khalid replied: "I'm coming, Meryl. Our epic starts soon." The system chimed: *Romantic Progress: +2,000 points. Total: 80,000.*
Khalid opened the WIM 2.0 shop, his points a war chest:
**System Shop: Expanded Inventory**
- *Global Media Network Seed: 60,000 points. Founds a future media empire.*
- *Yacht (Sunseeker Predator Prototype): 30,000 points. Delivers a luxury vessel.*
- *Private Security Force (Elite): 40,000 points. Summons a loyal, high-tech guard unit.*
- *Arctic Research Outpost Blueprint: 40,000 points. Provides plans for a Svalbard base.*
- *Diamond-Encrusted Falcon Drone: 25,000 points. Delivers a stealth surveillance drone.*
He spent 40,000 points on the *Private Security Force*, his total dropping to 40,000. Contracts materialized, summoning a 20-man elite unit, trained in 2045 tactics, stationed in Dubai. A second purchase—25,000 points for a *Diamond-Encrusted Falcon Drone*—summoned a stealth drone, ideal for monitoring corporate rivals. His total fell to 15,000.
But as the *Desert Star* sailed for Oslo, Captain Nils shouted, "Your Highness, sensors detect a signal from Svalbard—the hub's reactivating! It's broadcasting to… somewhere beyond 2040."
The system glitched, flashing red: *Critical Anomaly: Future hub core online. Temporal rift risk: 70%. Immediate action required.* Sultan roared, his claws unsheathing, and Khalid's pulse surged. HSBC was contained, Meryl's film was set, but the Watcher's core—beyond 2040—was awakening. As the cub's fierce eyes met his, Khalid vowed to confront the core and protect his empire, no matter the timeline.