Adam's eyes gleamed with excitement as he sat on the sofa, watching Rayden Wolfe flip through documents.
This was his chance.
What was this situation, if not an opening?
In his previous life, Rayden—the infamous Demon King of Chaos—had invested in the securities market and struck gold over and over again. Whether it was rising stocks, gold futures, or even unpredictable options, everything he touched turned into massive profits. From those early wins, Rayden had risen like a hurricane, sweeping the business world into submission.
Now, reborn and sitting right across from that very same man, Adam had a mission.
He had to stop him.
If he couldn't destroy Rayden outright, he could at least slow him down—delay the monstrous empire from rising again. He didn't need to beat the Demon King of Chaos in one move; he just needed to clip his wings before they took flight.
But how?
Rayden wasn't just intelligent—he was dangerously insightful. His business acumen bordered on the supernatural. He understood market dynamics, trends, and sectors like a seasoned economist, and he had someone like Rachel, sharp and capable, backing him up. Feeding him nonsense wouldn't work. If anything, it would just alert him.
No, if he was going to deceive Rayden Wolfe, it had to be subtle. It had to be smart.
It had to be reasonable.
After a moment of strategic silence, Adam furrowed his brow as if in contemplation and said in a thoughtful tone, "Mr. Wolfe, I don't think it's a good idea to invest in the securities market right now."
Rayden raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Why do you say that?"
Rachel also turned toward him, curious about his reasoning.
Adam chuckled modestly, scratching the back of his head like a humble everyman. "I mean, I'm just a bodyguard. I haven't studied finance or economics, and I've been out of school for years. But I do pay attention to the world around me. Right now, the global economy's not doing too great—not here, not overseas. Everyone's saying it."
He leaned forward slightly, trying to sound sincere. "The stock market is tumbling. Green as far as the eye can see. If you jump in now, there's a huge risk you'll get caught in a falling trend. One wrong move, and your money's gone—poof!"
He waved his hand dramatically, mimicking vanishing cash.
"And futures or options? Those things are even more dangerous! I heard they allow leveraged trading—like using one dollar as ten. That's asking for trouble. It's like gambling, and I wouldn't bet your money on a loaded deck."
He paused for effect before continuing, "Even bonds, while more stable, don't pay much. The returns are too slow. Mr. Wolfe, you came here to make an impression. You're not looking for steady trickles—you're here to make waves! I don't think securities can help you do that right now."
Rachel blinked in surprise. She hadn't expected a so-called bodyguard to deliver such a detailed—albeit surface-level—assessment. For someone claiming to be uneducated in finance, Adam's analysis was remarkably coherent.
Rayden narrowed his eyes slightly, lips curling into a subtle smile.
As expected from a protagonist. There was something off here—too polished, too calculated. But rather than call him out, Rayden decided to play along.
"You raise some solid points," he said, folding his hands. "Yes, the global economy is facing some turbulence. The securities market is shaky—either too risky or too slow in returns."
Rachel nodded thoughtfully. "Still, I would argue the securities market remains our best starting point," she added.
"Why is that?" Rayden asked, tilting his head.
Rachel responded confidently, "Because we're working with limited capital—only 100 million. There aren't many sectors we can break into with that kind of budget. More importantly, securities offer high liquidity. If something goes wrong, we can pull out fast before losses snowball."
Adam's heart sank slightly. This woman wasn't going to be easy to outmaneuver.
Still, he didn't give up. If anything, this was a sign he needed to step up his game.
Rayden looked amused and leaned forward again. "Brother Adam, your concerns are fair. But if you don't recommend securities, what do you suggest I invest in?"
Adam feigned humility again, rubbing his neck with a sheepish smile. "Like I said, I'm not an expert. But if it were me? I'd buy real estate. No question."
Rachel's gaze sharpened.
"I mean, property holds value," Adam explained. "You can live in it, rent it out, sell it later—it's not going anywhere. Plus, have you seen the housing market lately? It's booming! Prices just keep going up! I don't know much, but that seems like a safe bet, right?"
That was his first trap.
In the previous timeline, Adam recalled how the global real estate bubble eventually burst. A poor economy led to mass unemployment and crashing consumer confidence. People stopped buying homes, even in core cities. The once-booming market fell into a deep freeze, and prices plummeted.
If Rayden invested now, not only would he fail to profit—he'd get stuck. Real estate was notoriously illiquid. He wouldn't be able to get his money out fast enough.
It was the perfect trap: delay Rayden's rise, waste his capital, and all while sounding like an innocent bodyguard just trying to help.
And to top it off, he'd already framed his role perfectly. "I'm just a rough guy, I don't know anything." That way, if the suggestion backfired, no one could blame him.
Rachel scoffed. "The domestic real estate market has been hot for a while, yes. But it's a bubble—and we're watching it deflate in real time. The global economy is weakening, and real estate, which relies heavily on credit and consumer optimism, is headed for an ice age."
She flipped open a report she had brought earlier. "Also, our capital is too small. What can we buy in a city like Mohai with 100 million? Barely a few properties, and certainly not enough for serious development. It's a dead-end."
Adam glanced at her, trying not to show his frustration.
She really was sharp. A worthy strategist for the Demon King.
He realized he couldn't go for obvious traps anymore. Time to be clever.
"Okay, then how about… education?" he offered next, a thoughtful tone in his voice.
Rayden raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Go on."
"As the saying goes," Adam began, quoting an old proverb, "'No matter how poor you are, never neglect your child's education.' Every parent wants their child to win at the starting line. Even if money is tight, they'll invest in tutoring, prep courses, and private schools. That makes the education industry a gold mine!"
Rachel remained silent but attentive.
Adam continued with enthusiasm. "Think about it—millions of parents, all desperate to give their kids an edge. It's said that the number of people employed in education is in the tens of millions. The market size is over a trillion! That's a huge pie, and the economy doesn't impact it much. Parents will always pay for education!"
This was his second trap.
He knew something Rayden might not: stricter government policies were looming. In the near future, sweeping regulations would tear through the education industry, banning for-profit tutoring services and wiping out billions in market value. Investors who entered the space would be decimated overnight.
If Rayden bit now, he'd be walking into disaster.
Adam watched them both carefully, suppressing a grin. Go ahead, fall into the pit. I dare you.
Rayden rubbed his chin, pretending to consider it. Rachel, meanwhile, finally responded.
"Yes, education is a stable industry," she admitted. "But it's also a highly regulated one. And when the government steps in, your business can vanish overnight. We'd need to monitor legal risks very closely."
Adam tensed slightly. Her intuition was sharp—again.
Still, he had planted the seeds. Doubts had been introduced. He just needed to keep the misdirection going.
Rayden looked from Rachel to Adam, his smile never fading.
"Interesting insights, both of you," he said slowly. "Seems I've got a lot to think about. But I appreciate the honesty, truly."
He leaned back in his chair, eyes glinting with amusement.
In truth, he'd seen through everything.
Adam thought he was fooling him, but Rayden had already begun forming his true plan behind the scenes.
Let the game continue.
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