From Shrimp Boy to Slapjack: System Activated

System Upgrade

The days leading up to the auction crawled by with the agonising slowness of a malfunctioning server. Each tick of the clock echoed with the weight of Bentley's looming threat, his smug voice still ringing in my ears from our unexpected phone call.

"Be prepared, Sparkboy," he had sneered, his words dripping with condescension. "Just because you've gone from shrimp boy to millionaire doesn't mean you can play in the big leagues. I'll outbid you every step of the way. Consider this a lesson in knowing your place."

His taunts fueled a fire in my gut, a burning determination to prove him wrong. I had rejected Apexia's offer, choosing the path of self-reliance, and while the financial constraints were daunting, Bentley's arrogance only strengthened my resolve.

I spent the days rallying the troops, the library buzzing with a nervous energy. We strategized, planned, and even managed to secure some last-minute donations from loyal patrons who believed in our cause. It wasn't enough to match B