The dawn sun painted Dubai's horizon in hues of amber and gold, but Khalid Al Maktoum barely noticed. He stood in his private study, the World Impact Matrix (WIM) interface glowing in his vision like a digital oracle. His recent triumph—securing $1.1 million for a Microsoft stake—had netted him 16,000 points, a fortune that burned with possibility. The system shop tempted him with options that could reshape his empire: *Tech Visionary Mindset (10,000 points)*, *Global Influence Aura (15,000 points)*, or an early stake in a company called Amazon, still a decade from its founding, for 20,000 points. But the cryptic note from the previous night—*The Watcher sees your moves. Beware the system's price*—gnawed at him, its words seared into his memory.
The system's red-glitched warning, *Unauthorized access detected*, lingered like a storm cloud. Someone, or something, knew about the WIM. Khalid's rebirth in 1985 as the UAE's crown prince had given him a second chance to dominate the world, but this unseen threat hinted at a cost he hadn't anticipated. He needed answers, but first, he had to solidify his gains. The Microsoft deal was in motion, but he'd need to fly to Seattle to meet Bill Gates himself—a risky trip that could expose him to Saeed's machinations.
A soft chime interrupted his thoughts. The system flashed a new mission:
**Mission: Impress Bill Gates and secure a 10% stake in Microsoft for $1.1 million. Reward: 15,000 points. Bonus: +5,000 points if you gain Gates' personal respect.**
Khalid's pulse quickened. Gates was a genius, even in 1985, and winning his respect would be no small feat. But the system's *Future Vision* had already proven its accuracy, and Khalid's *Financial Acumen* sharpened his instincts. He could outmaneuver Gates at the negotiating table—or charm him into a partnership that would echo through history.
A knock at the door broke his focus. Hamid, his loyal retainer, entered, his face a mix of awe and apprehension. "Your Highness, a delegation from Rajasthan has arrived. They insist on presenting a gift before the film festival's closing ceremony tonight."
Khalid raised an eyebrow. Rajasthan? The Indian state was known for its maharajas and exotic tributes, but this was unexpected. "A gift? For what purpose?"
Hamid hesitated. "They say it's a gesture of goodwill, to strengthen ties with the UAE. But… it's unusual, Your Highness."
Khalid's curiosity piqued, but the system pinged: *Impact Opportunity: Accept the gift publicly to boost UAE's diplomatic prestige. Reward: 4,000 points.* He nodded to Hamid. "Bring them to the courtyard. I'll meet them now."
---
The palace courtyard was a spectacle of color, with Bedouin guards in crimson turbans lining the perimeter and the Rajasthan delegation arrayed in silken sherwanis. At their center stood a young prince, no older than Khalid, his eyes sharp with ambition. Beside him, a gilded crate hummed with soft growls, drawing gasps from the gathered courtiers.
"Your Highness," the Rajasthani prince said, bowing deeply, "I am Vikram Singh Rathore, heir of Jodhpur. My father sends this gift to honor Dubai's rising star and cement our nations' bond."
The crate's lid was lifted, revealing a Bengal white tiger cub, its fur a shimmering ivory streaked with faint obsidian. Its blue eyes locked onto Khalid, fierce yet curious, as it pawed the air with a tiny, defiant roar. The courtiers erupted in murmurs, some awed, others unnerved by the rare creature. Khalid stepped forward, his heart stirring. In his first life, he'd seen such tigers only in documentaries, their majesty reduced to pixels. Now, this cub—barely the size of a housecat—was his.
The system chimed: *Impact Wave: Courtiers and delegates impressed by the tiger cub. +4,000 points. Total: 20,000.* A new prompt appeared: *Name the cub to bind its loyalty. Suggested names: Zephyr, Luna, Sultan.*
Khalid knelt, extending a hand. The cub sniffed, then nuzzled his fingers, its warmth grounding him in the moment. "Sultan," he said softly, the name a promise of power. The cub's eyes gleamed, as if it understood.
Vikram smiled, but his gaze held a calculating edge. "A kingly choice, Your Highness. Sultan will grow fierce, as will Dubai under your vision."
Khalid stood, sensing the subtext. Rajasthan's gift was no mere gesture—it was a play for influence, perhaps a test. Vikram's presence at the film festival suggested he sought more than diplomacy. The system's interface flickered, offering a hint: *Vikram Singh Rathore: Ambitious, seeks UAE investment in Indian markets. Potential ally or rival.*
"Thank you, Prince Vikram," Khalid said, his *Negotiation Mastery* guiding his tone. "Sultan will be a symbol of our shared ambitions. Let's discuss how our nations can prosper together."
The courtiers applauded, but Saeed, watching from the sidelines, clapped slowly, his eyes glinting with malice. Khalid's victory in the falconry duel had cost Saeed $500,000, and now this public spectacle further elevated Khalid's stature. The system pinged: *Warning: Saeed's hostility rising. Expect interference in Seattle.*
---
That afternoon, Khalid prepared for the Seattle trip, his mind a whirlwind of strategy. The Microsoft deal was his gateway to billions, but Saeed's influence over the palace's finances could delay the funds' transfer. He needed a backup plan. The system shop, now flush with 20,000 points, offered a solution:
**System Shop: New Items Available**
- *Tech Visionary Mindset: 10,000 points. Grants intuitive understanding of technological trends and innovation.*
- *Global Influence Aura: 15,000 points. Enhances presence in international negotiations, bending perceptions in your favor.*
- *Emergency Capital Injection: 18,000 points. Summons $1 million in untraceable funds within 24 hours.*
The *Emergency Capital Injection* was tempting, but Khalid hesitated. Spending nearly all his points could leave him vulnerable if the Watcher's threat escalated. Instead, he selected *Tech Visionary Mindset*, sacrificing 10,000 points. A surge of insight flooded his mind—blueprints of future technologies, from the internet to smartphones, crystallized with startling clarity. His total points dropped to 10,000, but the knowledge felt like a superpower.
As he packed for Seattle, Hamid entered, carrying a velvet-lined box. "Your Highness, a package arrived from an anonymous sender. It was left at the palace gates."
Khalid's instincts flared, the Watcher's note still fresh in his mind. He opened the box cautiously, revealing a silver pendant etched with a strange symbol—a spiral within a hexagon. The system glitched violently, its interface flashing red: *Warning: Unknown artifact detected. Do not engage. Scan initiated.*
Before Khalid could react, the pendant pulsed, and a voice—not the system's—whispered in his mind: *You're moving too fast, prince. Slow down, or the game ends.*
Khalid dropped the pendant, his heart pounding. The system stabilized, but no further alerts appeared. The Watcher was no mere observer—they could infiltrate his reality. He ordered Hamid to lock the pendant in a vault, vowing to investigate after Seattle.
---
The film festival's closing ceremony was a glittering affair, held in a waterfront pavilion adorned with palm fronds and lanterns. Khalid, with Sultan the tiger cub cradled in his arms, drew every eye. The cub's presence amplified his aura, a living emblem of his growing mythos. Meryl Streep, seated at his table, leaned close, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"He's magnificent," she said, stroking Sultan's fur. "But dangerous, no? Like his master."
Khalid chuckled, his *Tech Visionary Mindset* sparking an idea. "Dangerous, perhaps, but loyal. I'm building something here, Meryl—a Dubai that could rival Hollywood. Imagine filming epics in these deserts."
Her smile was enigmatic, a mix of intrigue and caution. "You're not like other princes, Khalid. Most talk of tradition. You talk of the future."
The system chimed: *Romantic Opportunity Progress: 75%. +3,000 points.* Khalid's total climbed to 13,000, but he sensed Meryl's interest was more than personal. She was a savvy artist, sniffing out opportunity. If he could convince her to film in Dubai, it would elevate the UAE's global profile—and earn him a fortune in points.
As the ceremony ended, Vikram approached, his demeanor warmer but no less calculated. "Your Highness, my father proposes a joint venture—an Indian tech hub, funded by UAE wealth. Your Microsoft gamble intrigues us."
Khalid's *Financial Acumen* flagged the offer as a double-edged sword. Rajasthan's tech ambitions were nascent, but Vikram's tone suggested he knew more than he let on. "A bold idea," Khalid said. "Let's meet after my return from Seattle."
Vikram nodded, but his eyes lingered on Sultan, as if measuring the cub's symbolic weight. The system whispered: *Vikram's motives unclear. Monitor closely.*
---
That night, Khalid boarded a private jet to Seattle, Sultan curled in a cushioned crate beside him. The Microsoft meeting was tomorrow, and with $1.1 million secured, he was poised to lock in a 10% stake. His *Tech Visionary Mindset* fed him strategies—talk of software ecosystems, hints at future internet dominance—that would impress Gates. But Saeed's shadow loomed. The system's warning about interference was no idle threat.
As the jet soared over the Arabian Sea, Khalid reviewed his plans, Sultan's soft purrs grounding him. The cub was more than a gift—it was a reminder of his own ferocity, a king in waiting. But the pendant's whisper echoed in his mind, and the system's interface flickered once more, displaying a chilling update:
**Alert: Watcher activity detected in Seattle. Mission risk increased. New objective: Identify the Watcher's agent. Reward: 10,000 points.**
Khalid's jaw tightened. Someone was waiting for him in America, someone who knew his secrets. As Sultan's blue eyes met his, Khalid vowed to outwit them all—Gates, Saeed, and the Watcher. But as the jet descended into the night, a single question burned: *What price would the system demand for his empire?*