Ethan did not realize that he had just walked past a woman who was making plans against him. However, with his heightened sense, he could feel it.

"What's that feeling?" Ethan said. He was still getting used to this new ability to sense things. He could not tell if it was danger or just a bit of unease.

He turned around to figure out what was bothering him and who was behind it. However, Lena had already moved a bit farther away, and there were several groups of people walking between them.

Ethan thought, 'I believe this is just my feeling.'

Besides, who would be brave enough to cause trouble here, especially with all the security in place?

While dismissing the thought, Ethan continued down the hall toward the interview room. His pace was steady, but his thoughts were anything but.

As he walked, he couldn't help but take in the transformation of Nova Tech's headquarters. The polished floors, the sleek lighting, the carefully designed open spaces—it all felt surreal.

"Well," he murmured to himself with a faint grin, "this is more than I imagined."

And it was. Seeing the 3D renderings during the planning phase had been exciting enough. Still, the reality of it—the tangible, walkable space—was something else entirely.

Ethan had shown the designs to his family, their eyes lighting up as he described what Nova Tech would become. They had been eager to visit.

'I could bring them anytime,' Ethan thought.

The office was, after all, his. He could come and go as he pleased—a thought that still felt strange, as if he were a guest in someone else's dream.

Passing the waiting area, Ethan noticed several candidates lingering, their heads swiveling as they took in the impressive surroundings.

Though the interviews had wrapped up, they had been given permission to stay until 5 PM, a decision made partly to showcase the workspace.

Security was watchful to make sure no one entered restricted areas, but anyone could use the open spaces.

Ethan could see the reasoning. Letting people explore the office was a clever move—who wouldn't want to work in a place like this?

The environment practically radiated ambition and opportunity. Yet, Ethan knew that appearances alone were not enough. Nova Tech needed the right people, not just those dazzled by its surface.

"That's the tricky part," Ethan mused under his breath.

Filtering through candidates was not just about qualifications—it was about finding people who aligned with the vision, even if that vision was still a work in progress.

Ethan does not yet have a complete plan for Nova Tech. Right now, the company is focused on system missions. This includes creating an app, hiring the right people, and making the headquarters as impressive as possible.

Perhaps more missions would follow, guiding him further. Or perhaps he would have to chart his own course once the system went quiet.

Anyway, since he had started this with David, he wanted to make sure everything went perfectly. At least he would have a backup plan if the system suddenly gone.

Right now, he feels like a future visionary. His ideas are scattered but strong, like seeds that need the right soil to grow. "Maybe Alan Moses had moments like this," Ethan thought with a chuckle, "before he started sending cars into space."

Ethan Cole was walking when a group of candidates bumped into him. It was their fault, actually, but one of them turned and said, "Watch where you're going, dude."

Ethan's colleagues were all looking at him.

This did not surprise Ethan. No one here knew him. They only recognized David Turner, the public face of Nova Tech.

"Sorry," he said calmly. He didn’t bow like he usually did. Instead, he just walked away without looking back.

"That guy is rude," one person said.

"He better hope we don’t end up in the same department," another added.

Ethan had deliberately kept himself in the background, unsure how people would react if they learned he was the real "big boss."

Ethan thought most people would probably laugh at him and see him as just a delusional kid with big dreams.

A few might want to befriend him, but the idea of people paying too much attention to him made him uneasy.

He knew he could not stay anonymous forever. Eventually, he would have to come forward. "This will be annoying," he said to himself, though he added a hint of humor to his tone.

He took out his phone and looked at updates from David. He couldn't lie—he was eager to know how the interviews had gone. David had kept him informed all day, and the latest update was good: the interviews were finished.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

David let him know that they had too many candidates and had misplanned the interview process.

To stay on schedule, they divided the candidates into three rooms and brought in extra help from senior staff sent by the HR agency and accounting firm.

Charles also helped out, even though he had to rush back to his office for other work. He didn't seem to mind, as Ethan's projects had been very beneficial for his bank.

Ethan quickened his pace as he felt excited. He thought, 'I hope we found the best,' while nearing the interview room. The day had been long, but now the real work was about to start.

Upon entering the room, Ethan found David and Jessica in the midst of wrapping up a discussion with the other representatives. The table was strewn with resumes, their crisp edges betraying the weight of decisions yet to be made.

"How's it going?" Ethan asked casually, his gaze skimming over the resumes as if he had walked into a conversation about the weather.

His question surprised the others. A young man walked into the room and spoke as if he belonged there. People raised their eyebrows, and a silence fell that lasted longer than expected.

David saw that things were awkward, so he quickly stepped in to help.

Clearing his throat, he said, "Everyone, meet Ethan Cole, the founder and the chairman of Nova Tech."

The announcement surprised everyone in the room. They seemed to pause, trying to connect the title with the young man standing in front of them.

Ethan had a friendly and relaxed attitude. He seemed more like a college student running a simple errand than the leader of an innovative company.

Ethan, used to this kind of reaction, offered a polite smile. He knew it was pointless to explain himself. Trying to convince skeptics often made them more doubtful, and Ethan didn’t want any drama.

Instead, he stood confidently and greeted each representative as they came to shake his hand. David noticed the skepticism and kept the conversation light, focusing on small talk until the representatives were ready to leave.

When the room finally emptied, David sighed, glancing at Ethan with a hint of regret. "Sorry you had to deal with those looks."

Ethan chuckled, his tone carrying more amusement than bitterness. "Never mind. I've grown used to it."

David and Jessica exchanged a glance, unsure whether to laugh or sympathize. Both knew more about Ethan's wealth than the average observer.

David had pieced it together from Charles during the process of opening the company's accounts, and Jessica had witnessed Ethan's casual property purchases over the past few days.

Still, they suspected the full scope of his resources remained a mystery, even to them.

To shift the focus, David exhaled and said, "Well, about the interviews... we saw quite a variety of candidates today. Some were impressive, others less so."

He paused, choosing his next words carefully. "But one candidate stood out—Lena Volkov."

Jessica nodded in agreement. "She's sharp, confident, and carries a wealth of experience. I believe she could be a real asset to the team."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, curious. "Lena Volkov? Is she from that Volkov family?"

Jessica confirmed with a nod. "Yes, she's one of them. The Volkovs are business tycoons. Her resume is nothing short of stellar."

David handed Lena's resume to Ethan, who scanned it with measured interest. "Impressive," he said aloud, though his expression hinted at something more reserved.

Jessica noticed his hesitation and leaned forward slightly. "What's wrong, Ethan? You don't seem as excited about her as we are."

Ethan smiled slightly, intrigued. "Isn't it unusual for someone from the Volkov family to want a job here? With their resources, shouldn't she be starting her own company?"

Jessica tilted her head thoughtfully. "When you put it that way, it does seem odd."

David, always hopeful, suggested a different view. "Maybe she's trying to challenge herself. Not everyone from a family like hers gets to lead their top companies. She might need to show her value before being given the role."

Ethan nodded slowly, conceding the point. "You may be right. But even so, we need to be cautious. Monitor her closely."

He paused, his gaze flicking between David and Jessica, before a sudden, almost mischievous smile lit up his face. "If she plans to use us for her own agenda, we'll make sure to use her for ours. A win-win."

There was something about the way Ethan said it—a calm certainty wrapped in an easy smile—that sent an involuntary shiver down David and Jessica's spines. At that moment, they couldn't help but feel there was more to Ethan than met the eye.

Before David or Jessica could respond, Ethan leaned forward, his expression warm but firm. "Let's finalize our decisions and announce the results as soon as possible. I trust you both to make the right choices."

David and Jessica shared a look and nodded. For the first time, they noticed something different in Ethan—a quiet strength that suggested he could be a real leader.

This was comforting. Nova Tech needed someone to guide the company, and for the first time, it seemed Ethan was ready to take on that role.

Ethan saw the change in their faces and lightened the mood with a smile. "We need to focus on the food delivery app first. If we hire people without a project for them, it will be awkward and a waste of time."

David agreed, matching Ethan's cheerful tone. "Right. The new hires need something real to work on from their first day. This helps set the tone and gives them clear guidance."

"Exactly," Ethan said. He took out two folders from his bag and gave one to David and the other to Jessica. "I finished the prototype. David has seen it. I also put together suggestions for improving the layout and features of the app."

"I want the team to make this happen. It’s a starting point, and I believe it will help us create a strong foundation for the app," said Ethan.

Curious, David and Jessica opened their folders. Their eyes grew wide as they looked at the pages. They were filled with clear sketches, notes, and a plan that was both detailed and creative.

"This is impressive," David said, showing his admiration. "It's more detailed than I expected at this stage. I can't believe you thought of something better than the prototype."

"But..." Jessica interrupted with a playful smile.

Ethan raised an eyebrow, curious. "Go ahead, Jessica. It's just a draft—I'm open to all feedback."

Trying to suppress a laugh, Jessica said, "Everything looks fantastic, but next time, maybe present it digitally? Nova Tech is a tech company, after all."

Ethan burst out laughing, taking the jab in stride. "Point taken. I suppose handwritten sketches do seem a bit… vintage for our line of work."

Jessica grinned. "No worries. Once you've got the team in place, you can delegate all the tech-savvy presentations to them. Why hire people if the boss is doing everything?"

Ethan chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Fair point." His amusement lingered, but he couldn't help feeling a quiet pride in his work.

Jessica, meanwhile, was flipping through the folder again, clearly impressed by how meticulously Ethan had organized everything. David seemed equally struck by the depth of thought behind the draft.

For Ethan, the moment carried a small but satisfying realization: his recent upgrade in Intelligence had undeniably sharpened his abilities. The work reflected a clarity and precision that felt new, even to him.