The Seattle skyline was a modest silhouette against the gray dawn of June 1985, a far cry from the tech metropolis Khalid Al Maktoum remembered from 2045. From the window of his private jet, he watched the city's damp streets glisten, a quiet cradle for the digital revolution he was about to ignite. Sultan, the Bengal white tiger cub, stirred in his gilded crate, his blue eyes glinting with a restless energy that mirrored Khalid's own. The World Impact Matrix (WIM) interface glowed in his vision, its mission timer ticking: *12 hours to impress Bill Gates and secure a 10% stake in Microsoft for $1.1 million. Current points: 13,000.*
Khalid's *Tech Visionary Mindset*, purchased for 10,000 points, thrummed in his mind, feeding him insights into software ecosystems and internet protocols decades ahead of their time. The $1.1 million—$500,000 from Saeed's reluctant loan and $600,000 from the London consortium—was secured, but the Watcher's chilling warning haunted him: *Watcher activity detected in Seattle. Identify their agent.* The silver pendant, now locked in a Dubai vault, had whispered of a hidden price. Khalid's empire was growing, but so was the shadow trailing him.
The system chimed, pulling him from his thoughts:
**Impact Opportunity: Charm Bill Gates with a vision of Microsoft's future. Reward: 5,000 points. Bonus: +3,000 points if you secure a personal invitation to Microsoft's headquarters.**
Khalid stroked Sultan's fur, the cub's warmth grounding him. The meeting with Gates was his chance to lock in a fortune that would dwarf the UAE's oil wealth. But Saeed's promised interference and the Watcher's unknown agent meant every move had to be flawless. He glanced at a telegram on the jet's table, sent by Meryl Streep after the film festival: *Safe travels, Your Highness. Dubai's star is rising. Let's talk films when you return.* Her words sparked a warmth he couldn't afford to dwell on—not yet.
The jet touched down at Boeing Field, where a black limousine awaited. Khalid, dressed in a tailored suit blending Western sharpness with Arab elegance, carried Sultan's crate himself, ignoring the curious stares of his security detail. The cub's presence was a calculated move—exotic, regal, unforgettable. If Gates was as ambitious as Khalid remembered, he'd respect the audacity.
---
Microsoft's headquarters in Bellevue was a low-rise office, unassuming compared to the glass monoliths of Khalid's future memories. Inside, the air buzzed with the clatter of keyboards and the hum of ambition. Bill Gates, 29 and wiry, stood in a conference room littered with floppy disks and coffee cups. His glasses glinted under fluorescent lights, his gaze sharp but curious as Khalid entered, Sultan's crate drawing an arched eyebrow.
"Your Highness," Gates said, extending a hand. "I didn't expect a royal visit—or a tiger."
Khalid smiled, his *Negotiation Mastery* guiding his tone. "Sultan's a gift from Rajasthan, Mr. Gates. A symbol of strength, like what you're building here."
Gates chuckled, but his eyes stayed calculating. "Flattery's nice, but you're here about money. $1.1 million for 10% of Microsoft? That's a bold ask for a company barely breaking even."
Khalid set Sultan's crate on the floor, the cub's soft growl punctuating the silence. His *Tech Visionary Mindset* kicked in, painting a future Gates couldn't yet see. "Microsoft isn't just a company—it's the backbone of a revolution. Your MS-DOS is in every IBM PC, but it's only the start. Imagine software in every home, every office, connecting the world through networks we can't yet name."
Gates leaned forward, intrigued. "Networks? You're talking science fiction."
"Not fiction," Khalid said, his voice steady. "I've seen what's coming—metaphorically, of course. By 2000, your Windows system will dominate, and Microsoft will be worth billions. I'm offering $1.1 million not just for a stake, but for a partnership. The UAE can open markets in the Middle East, Asia, even Europe."
The system pinged: *Impact Progress: Gates intrigued. +2,000 points. Total: 15,000.* But a flicker of movement caught Khalid's eye—a man in a gray suit lingering outside the glass-walled room, his face obscured by a newspaper. The system flashed: *Watcher Agent Suspected. Observe behavior.*
Gates scribbled on a notepad, his mind clearly racing. "You're betting big on a vision most investors don't see. Why should I trust a prince over Wall Street?"
Khalid opened Sultan's crate, letting the cub pad onto the table. The room's tension shifted, Gates' team gasping as Sultan's blue eyes locked on them. "Because I'm not Wall Street," Khalid said. "I'm a king in waiting, and I build empires. Let me visit your labs, see your work up close. I'll prove my commitment."
Gates hesitated, then grinned. "Alright, Your Highness. You and your tiger get a tour. But the deal's not done until I'm convinced."
The system chimed: *Bonus Complete: Personal invitation secured. +3,000 points. Total: 18,000.*
---
The tour of Microsoft's labs was a glimpse into a future Khalid already knew. Programmers hunched over CRT monitors, coding what would become Windows 1.0. Khalid's *Tech Visionary Mindset* let him ask pointed questions—about graphical interfaces, memory management—that left Gates visibly impressed. Sultan, leashed but regal, prowled beside him, drawing awed whispers from the staff. The system rewarded the display: *Impact Wave: Microsoft team inspired by your presence. +2,000 points. Total: 20,000.*
But the man in the gray suit trailed them, lingering at every turn. Khalid's instincts screamed danger. During a break, he excused himself to a restroom, whispering to Sultan, "Stay sharp, little king." The cub's ears twitched, as if sensing the tension.
In the restroom, Khalid checked the system shop, his 20,000 points offering new temptations:
**System Shop: New Items Available**
- *Enhanced Perception (Level 1): 12,000 points. Heightens situational awareness, detecting hidden threats.*
- *Middle East Market Influence: 15,000 points. Boosts UAE's economic leverage in regional trade.*
- *Amazon Stake (5%): 20,000 points. Secures equity in a future tech giant (est. 1994).*
*Enhanced Perception* felt critical with the Watcher's agent nearby. Khalid spent 12,000 points, his total dropping to 8,000. A tingling awareness sharpened his senses—every sound, every shadow now vivid. He returned to the lab, spotting the gray-suited man slipping a note to a Microsoft employee. The system flagged: *Watcher Agent Confirmed. Intercept note for clues.*
Khalid moved swiftly, using Sultan as a distraction. He unleashed the cub near the employee, who yelped as Sultan pounced playfully. In the chaos, Khalid snatched the note, tucking it into his sleeve. Gates, amused, didn't notice. The note read: *Monitor the prince. Report all system activity. – W.*
Khalid's blood ran cold. The Watcher wasn't just tracking him—they knew about the WIM. He needed to close the Microsoft deal and get out of Seattle before the agent acted.
---
Back in the conference room, Gates laid out terms. "Your $1.1 million gets you 8% of Microsoft. I keep control, and you get a board seat. Take it or leave it."
Khalid's *Financial Acumen* screamed that 8% was still a goldmine—worth hundreds of millions by 2000. But his *Negotiation Mastery* pushed for more. "Make it 10%, and I'll fund a Middle East distribution hub for Microsoft. You'll dominate the region before IBM blinks."
Gates studied him, then nodded. "10%. But I want your word—no meddling in my vision."
Khalid extended his hand. "You have it." The system erupted: *Mission Complete: 10% Microsoft stake secured. +15,000 points. Gates' respect earned. +5,000 points. Total: 28,000.*
As they shook hands, the gray-suited man entered, posing as a junior executive. "Mr. Gates, a call from IBM," he said, his eyes locking onto Khalid's. The system flashed: *Watcher Agent preparing to act. Neutralize or evade.*
Khalid scooped up Sultan, his *Enhanced Perception* catching the man's subtle reach for a pocket. A weapon? A device? He couldn't risk finding out. "Mr. Gates, I'll finalize the paperwork from Dubai. Urgent matters call me home."
Gates frowned but nodded. "Safe travels, Your Highness. And keep that tiger under control."
Khalid exited swiftly, Sultan growling softly in his arms. The limousine sped him to the jet, but as they reached Boeing Field, a black SUV blocked the runway. The system blared: *Immediate Threat: Watcher Agent pursuing. Escape to Dubai or confront. Reward for confrontation: 10,000 points.*
Khalid's heart pounded. Confronting the agent could reveal the Watcher's plans, but with Sultan to protect and the Microsoft deal at stake, escape was safer. He ordered the pilot to take off, the jet roaring into the sky as the SUV's headlights faded below.
---
On the flight back, Khalid read the intercepted note again: *Monitor the prince. Report all system activity.* The Watcher wasn't just a rival—they were inside his reality, tracking the WIM's every move. He opened the system shop, his 28,000 points a lifeline:
**System Shop: New Items Available**
- *Counter-Surveillance Expertise: 20,000 points. Detects and neutralizes tracking attempts.*
- *Charisma Mastery (Level 2): 15,000 points. Enhances romantic and diplomatic influence.*
- *Emergency Security Detail: 25,000 points. Summons elite guards for 48 hours.*
He hesitated, tempted by *Counter-Surveillance Expertise*, but held off. The Watcher's reach was unclear, and he needed points for future deals. Instead, he petted Sultan, who nuzzled his hand, a fierce reminder of his own strength. The cub was growing fast, already heavier, his claws sharpening. Khalid smiled. "You'll be a king yet, Sultan."
A telegram from Meryl Streep awaited him on the jet: *Heard you're shaking up Seattle. Dubai's waiting for you—and so am I.* The system pinged: *Romantic Opportunity: Plan a private dinner with Meryl Streep. Reward: 5,000 points.*
Khalid leaned back, the jet humming toward Dubai. The Microsoft deal was his first billion-dollar step, but Saeed's interference was imminent, and the Watcher's agent had nearly cornered him. As Sultan's purrs filled the cabin, the system glitched again, a single word flashing across the interface: *Betrayal.*
Khalid's eyes widened. Someone close to him—Saeed, Vikram, or even Meryl—was working with the Watcher. The game was no longer just about wealth. It was about survival.