´The feeling of adrenaline, glee, awe, fright was coursing through my veins. The pistol's power, sending a jolt from my hands and wrists and through my shoulders and torso, left me in awe. Firearms were no longer an abstract image on TV or in print. Surprisingly, I gained new fear and respect for guns for the gravity of their intended purpose: to kill.
Each shot is the culmination of a multi-step mechanical and chemical process initiated by a firing pin hitting the back of a cartridge and ending with propellent sending the bullet out of the gun barrel. With proper aim, a firearm can send a bullet through the skin to shatter bone and tear into organs. Or it can simply hit a paper target hanging some number of yards away.´
With all these thoughts inside his head, Ben wasn't optimistic to have a good sleep.
He did try to persuade himself that everything he did was important and normal, but it didn't help.
When Ben tried to meditate, he would just experience the practice of shooting over and over again.
But like every so often Ben had planned such a scenario and knew what he had to do.
`Create Skill Firearm Expertise.´
Ben now was feeling tired even more tired. He didn't have any more energy to think. Most of his energy was stolen by the system reorganizing his knowledge into a skill and so within minutes, Ben was fully asleep.
…
Time flies when you don't count the days. Ben was having a lot of fun improving his skill.
The time he wasn't at the shooting range, he would be at a gym near it.
He often received compliments and would do more advanced exercises than his courses originally included.
The basic sniper course covered:
-Rifle/scope nomenclature
-Rifle setup
-Basic precision rifle fundamentals
-Rifle zero
-Introduction to MIL/MOA
-Data collection
-Introduction to the three types of ballistics
-Introduction to range estimation
-Midrange data collection
-Cleaning and care
The intermediate sniper course covered
-Course in brief
-Zero conformation
-Conformation of data
-Hold-off / Hold-overs / Hold-unders
-Sniper/observer team training
-Introduction to wind calling/spotting
-Range estimation
-Extended range data collection
-Alternate positions
-Ballistics class
-Stress management
-Multiple target engagements
-Final exercise
-Advanced shooting positions
The advanced sniper course covered:
- Unknown distance
-Multiple target engagements
-Moving targets
-Stress management
-High-angle fire
-Independent operations
The sniper fieldcraft course covered:
-Stalking
-Tracking
-Concealment
-Target indicators
-Snipercraft
-Sniper Employment
-Aerial Use of Force
-Live-Fire Scenarios
-Mission briefs
-Land Navigation
All the sniper courses were meant for military use, which was on the one side very helpful, but on the other side, there were things he would never use. For example Aerial Use of Force. Ben still listened properly as he would receive a certificate, which would prove his skills to the government or the military.
"You hit the target. Nice shot."
Knowing that you've exercised enough skill to hit a target precisely where you aimed was a powerful and rewarding sensation.
The other two courses were easy compared to the sniper courses, but it still helped to adjust to different guns. He could now easily hit somebody with the first shot of most weapons.
Still, the success never went to his head as he knew that shooting a monster was a lot more difficult. Spotting the weakness. Staying hidden. Speculate its movement. Using the right moment. Not losing your calm.
It wasn't the same thing to shoot a car, which is going in your direction, or a huge monster heading toward you.
The idea of being eaten alive is frightening!
After his request, Ben did even have the chance to try out the big handguns.
Beginning with the .44 Remington Magnum, its standard load produced about 900 ft. lbs. (foot-pounds) of muzzle energy.
After having a feeling of the impressive recoil, Ben tried the .454 Casull, which generates about 1900 ft.-lb. .
The recoil this time was even harder and more straight back.
Ben followed with the 500 S&W Magnum. The 500 was more like a long, slower recoil, but much more powerful. If he didn't have so much practice, he would not have been able to handle such a gun.
This Magnum produces almost 2600 ft.-lb. with its heaviest load and was also the handgun Ben wanted for the calamity.
Combining that handgun with an armor-piercing bullet like the .500 Xtreme Penetrator bullet would result in a shoot, which could penetrate almost every defense.
Naturally, rifles could be even stronger and could maintain longer their speed, but you don't always have time to ready yourself.
A monster can take you by surprise and the king of handguns would be your trusty friend in such a situation.
Ben used the time also to ask inconspicuous questions about guns as he still needed to find a way to procure them before the calamity.
He didn't find out anything through, so on his last day, Ben asked Bill:
"Bill, I know this is a strange and vexing question, but do you know somebody, who could possibly transport items into Europe?"
"Are you seriously asking me, if I know somebody, who is smuggling weapons into Europe?" Bill said with an angered and threatening voice while cleaning a long black rifle.
Ben regretted to have the guts to ask. He was in Arizona talking to a guy, who had a gun in his hand about smuggling. Still, he tried to sound courageous and rightful.
"So what? You are able to protect yourself and I have to rely on the police. Europe isn't as perfect as it seems. I just want to be on the safe side. The moment I use it, the police would track me back. I am a man at his prime, why would I risk my life and my family's happiness?"
Just as Ben wanted to walk away, Bill held him back with his arm and handed him a paper over.
"Don't ever say from who you had that information. But be sure to have enough money."
What Ben did the rest of the day was unknown to everybody except the underworld.
The only sign of his action was the loss of over 450 000 euros at his account.
Chapter 58: Back home
It was now the first of August. Ben had safely arrived home.
His family naturally asked a lot of questions, but Ben did only respond with short answers, leaving no room to feel bad about lying to his family.
After that, he directly called Efron.
"Hey, Efron. How are you?"
"Hi, Ben. You don't really want to know, right?"
"What an efficient worker, no wonder I appreciate you that much. So, what could you find?"
"I researched about Magic Leap. Magic Leap, Inc. is an American startup company that released a head-mounted virtual retinal display in 2018, called Magic Leap One, which superimposes 3D computer-generated imagery over real-world objects, by "projecting a digital light field into the user's eye", involving technologies potentially suited to applications in augmented reality and computer vision. It is attempting to construct a light-field chip using silicon photonics. On October 10, 2018, Magic Leap introduced Mica, a human-like AI assistant.
It…"
"Are you reading from Wikipedia? You know that I don't need you for that! So, come to the point."
"Mm…Yeah. They are a company, who was always in need of funds. Their achievements are not bad but didn't make them self-reliant and since 2020 there is no relevant news about them.
I hope you don't plan to invest in it!"
"Do you know, who is the founder, CEOs, the presidents, and Vice-presidents? Would it even be possible for you to contact them?"
"Magic Leap was founded by Rony Abovitz in 2010, who was the CEO till 2020. Then Peggy Johnson became CEO. 2 years ago, she gave her place to Klaus Müller. The role of president was always given to the CEO and I couldn't find any information about a vice-president. I may have the same status as a CEO, but I don't think it will be easy to contact him. On their website, there was only the main phone number of the company. Sorry…"
"No. It couldn't be, right? There 100 families with the names "Müller". Eren and Klaus wouldn't be related. I mean he said that he had family in the US and his family is rich. But this doesn't prove anything. Thanks, Efron. I need to think now. Good luck witch LifeUp."
´I know this is speculating, but if Eren is related to Klaus I can come into contact through Eren! It may not be guaranteed that Eren would help me or be used by me, but what if fate is on my side.
I could maybe buy some stocks and make a cooperation. Naturally, I would have to create a company before doing the cooperation. Now that I am back to the problem of finding people, what can I do? No there is another problem! How do I explain to Eren and Klaus that I know about their next headset? Intuition would be a stupid thing to say! Secret source? Secret sources would be even more difficult to explain with my normal background. Making any lie would also be too difficult. Maybe I am trying to solve problems in false order. I should first look over Alex and any other potential employee. I can start with writing down world construction, main quests, weapons, level system, combat system, etc. The main problem of copying the system of the future inside the game is that it can't fully simulate Intelligence and Agility. I could give Intelligence the function of giving slots for spells. Agility won't be easy to integrate.
But it could be if with each fight the stats were compared and the weaker player would be limited in their speed. Yes. This would result to be a nice replica of the future without changing too much.´
Having set his ideas, Ben began writing down his blueprint of the game.
Only late in the night did he stop. Something was bugging him!
After thinking about what it could be, Ben realized that he didn't reinvest his funds in the stock market. It may be true that there wouldn't be a quick bucket, but every little drop counts.
After watching through the stock market, Ben found many companies with great potential. Still, they would all rise slowly and Ben didn't know when he would need his funds for an important expense. Then he saw a small gaming company and he released his stupidity.
'Why would I ever go through all the trouble to make my own company if I can just buy a small company and develop it. I would still be able to take Louis and Amadeus in.
So, what would be the condition I want of the company? It had to be in Germany. If I bought a company, I have to make sure it is working properly. It couldn't be too big, but not too small either. And the employee had to know C++ or at least learn it outside of their working time.´
Having searching over the next hours, Ben found only 5 possible video game companies:
Gerfinity, Gameforger, Rocket Art, GamesWorld and Play It Again. They were other little developer studios especially in Berlin, which he could integrate into the company he will take over.
…
1.08 School started. It would be Ben's last school year. His tasks were numerous, so Ben had to give certain tasks priority.
1. Maxing out stats and learning how to drive.
2. Developing LifeUp, buy a company and cooperate with Magic leap, create a Start-up for Research purpose, Preparing the structure of a guild
3. Abitur, Friends-time and Family-time
The first day of the school day was particularly boring. Everything would be explained, but Ben already knew the important things to know, so mostly talked with his friends.
Through the talking, he successfully persuaded Amadeus to focus more on learning Computer science and explained to him the importance of C# and C++ in future gaming productions.
Then Ben went to Eren and started a conversation. After a short exchange, Ben changed the topic.
"You said you had family in America. It wouldn't be Klaus Müller?"
"Did you research my family?" Eren frowned.
"No, I didn't. I was researching about VR companies and then read about Magic leap. Sorry if I offended you by asking?" Ben answer without waiting.
"It is fine. It is just that my whole family has good jobs and I was often asked about them. It is quite annoying to talk about other achievements."
"You must feel quite pressured by that. I mean my parents don't expect me of anything except being happy. But even with this low expectation, I want to achieve great things.
I may have also asked about it because I am interested in working in that market. Hope you don't take it wrong if I ask you how good your relation with Klaus is?"
After Ben's sermon, Eren began to laugh and then he answered.
"Normally I would not answer that question. But as you are so sincere, I will answer it. Klaus is my uncle and I would say we are relatively close. I can't guarantee you that he will give you a job, but I don't see a reason after you studied."
"Great. Sorry if I may use you in the future and sorry again for blowing you up to our art teacher."
"Now I feel bad. It was my own fault to have cheated. I also need to confess something to you at that time, I was pissed up about something else, and when you humiliated me it gave me a reason to concentrate all my frustration on somebody."
"There is no reason to be sorry as I kicked your ass, I am not the person, who suffered from the exchange." Both guys smiled and then a short silence came in place.
"So, Eren? Do you know what you want to become in the future?" Ben stroke a conversation.
"I don't really know. It would be great to be a CEO like my uncle and father, but I don't want to have privileges because of them. I thought about studying International Management. What do you plan to study after school?"
"Difficult. I can't say that I don't love sports, but It is not satisfying for me to only do that. I had some thoughts about the military, but I hate listening to orders. So that leaves me with many possibilities. One of my main ideas is studying Informatics." Ben half-lied.
"I see. Is there a reason you choose Informatics?"
"I already learned the basic languages, so compared to other subjects I am inclined to progress on that path."
Just as Eren wanted to comment on it, the bell rang and they went back to the classroom.
While Eren was concentrating on the lesson, Ben was distracted by how he could help Eren and himself. Management was exactly what he was missing. He needed reliable people, who could manage his companies. Naturally, somebody older, who studied Management, would be better, but Eren had many advantages.
Still for now it was too early.