He launched it. The game didn't open to the main menu. Instead, the screen bled into a high-definition rendering of a city he didn't recognize. The skyscrapers weren’t the usual stock assets; they were hyper-realistic, shimmering with a cold, metallic light. In the center of the screen, a ticker tape ran across the bottom, displaying real-time stock prices from the NYSE and FTSE.

Elias laughed, thinking it was a high-effort mod. He began zoning a massive financial hub. He placed the "International Stock Exchange" monument and watched as thousands of tiny, digital workers flooded the streets. His "Bank Balance" in the corner of the screen started ticking up—not in game currency, but in USD.

The flickering banner on the sketchy forum promised more than just a game: