Plates clattering , wild commotion, incessant chattering. The dining hall was busier than an anthill as students went back and forth carrying trays of food and drinks.
One could not see it on the map, but this lodge was a huge place. The living area that they were currently using was only one of 5. There were higher tier areas for high paying tourists as well as lower tier areas that people could get at a normal price.
There were lounge areas with large couches and large TVs, play areas with Pool Tables and Table Tennis tables. There were shops at major corners and high traffic areas selling snacks, refreshments and anything else anyone might need. There was even a museum and an animal viewing area.
Although Leonidas was not bothered about seeing these, he had some time on his hands, so he figured that after supper he would take a stroll to see the sights. He would also use that time to organize his thoughts about what he would do in the future.
It had already been almost 6 months since he came back. In these six months he had set up businesses and started his journey into cultivation. But everytime he accomplished one thing, he realized he had so much more to accomplish.
Leonidas bit into a slice of his chicken breast and inwardly complimented the chef. To him not only chicken, but every meal was something he should be grateful for.
After the aliens came, humanity's supply chains became disturbed to a large degree. If people weren't fighting in wars they were starving because there was no food to go around.
Some humans even began resorting to cannibalism, eating their own husband's, wives, and children. And to Leonidas it all made sense. Living beings will do whatever it takes to continue living. Even if it means desecration the corpses of your loved ones to do it.
A gentle and serene voice dragged Leonidas out of his reverie, "So what are you gonna do after this?"
Leonidas looked to his right where he saw a blonde girl with a beautiful smile. Although she was eating, not even a smudge could be seen on her face.
'She must be really well trained. I wonder what her background is' mused Leonidas to himself as he saw her gentle but incredibly deft hand movements and graceful demeanour
"It's a beautiful night. Maybe I might just take a stroll...", said Leonidas while gazing deeply at the girl.
"Really?" said Rosaline with a meaningful smile.
"Oh my God just kiss already!" teased Priya from the side with an aggrieved expression as if the world would end if they didn't do as she please.
"Priya! What are you even saying..." said Rosalie and although she had a charming smile on her face, there was no fluster at all in her person.
'Woah she's really impressive. Mental maturity or just intelligence...' Leonidas thought to himself while ignoring Priya's taunts.
"Don't listen to her... She's just a weirdo" Rosaline said while glaring at Priya, a glare to which Priya merely winked at with her beautiful brown eyes.
The others at the same table were dumbfounded. This guy who has the reputation of being a psychopath is flirting with the prettiest girls in the grade like it's nothing. Are pigs flying?
"It's fine." said Leonidas to Rosalie, and then turned to Priya and continued.
"I'll tell you this now, but I have really bad people skills in general. Let alone a kiss, I'll be lucky if I lose my virginity before 30."
"Pfft hahaha... That's true, you're such a weirdo I can't imagine a girl that would like you." teased Priya with the prettiest smile.
Even Leonidas had to admit that she would definitely be gorgeous in the future.
She stood at 1.6m tall, and had a shapely oval face with full lips and beautiful big brown eyes that made her cute and adorable. Her skin seemed perfect and youthful with the only slight being a beauty spot which lay right below her left eye.
Leonidas shrugged and said, "Hey! I'm not a weirdo. What can I say... I'm a bit of an acquired taste. A bit special."
"You definitely are..." said Rosaline, mysteriously leaving out the part where she explains what she means.
"Wow guys, this camp is getting crazier by the second. I heard rumors that some people were making out in the toilets. It's only the first day... What the fuck?!" said Juju with a lascivious look in his eyes, which may have stalled the appetites of a few of the ladies.
"Are you kidding me. We're all like 13/14 years old. What do they have that I don't?" said Thabo dejectedly.
"What don't they have?" said Khanyi, to which everyone including Leonidas, chuckled freely.
Leonidas promptly finished his food and left to go wandering. He passed by the pool areas, which had an outdoor section with a mega slide and an indoor section with a heated area.
He then came across a miniature football field the size of half a full sized professional football pitch. He walked across and sat on the floor in the lotus position. He then switched his awareness to the soul database.
He tried to remember as much as he can about the state of Politics in South Africa, Africa and the world in 2012. The then South African prosident was Jacob Zuma.
'Damn... I need to get that corrupt piece of shit out as quickly as possible.' Leonidas thought to himself. Jacob Zuma's internal deterioration of the country ended up causing major changes to South Africa, and even after he was ousted, the effects of his Billion rand corruption schemes still plagued South Africa for the next few years.
Jacob Zuma became prolific after facing several corruption cases but still coming out on top. He was definitely protected by some terrifying people. People who could move mountains and freeze rivers.
'If worse comes to worst, I could always assassinate him'
'...'
'Nah... never mind'
He thought back, and something else popped into his mind. Xi Jinping would get in as the general secretary of the CCP and from then on China would start it's terrifying expansion while gobbling up resources from third world countries especially in Africa.
'China really is terrifying. Even in the future they ended up as the nr 1 world power after Russia and Nato exhausted each other. They always play the long game.' Leonidas thought to himself.
'In the world of science and technology, nothing major happened... Koreans created a touchscreen that could read human DNA back in January... Might be worth implementing? Hmm also quantum computing is starting to kick off. Alpha definitely needs that. Also SpaceX docks with the ISS in October... I should open some call orders in the stock market. Go long on Elon.'
His businesses were now in the early expansion phase, with Plutus being the main brand and every other company being somewhat of a subsidiary to Plutus.
He didn't really want to, but he had to join the political game. And soon. He needed to find a backer for his now infant empire.
But of course Leonidas didn't like the idea of being under anyone. So his backer would be nothing more than his puppet. He would have puppets in every province of the country, and even in the Government, doing his bidding whenever he wants something done.
He wanted to rule from the shadows.
'Now what method should I do this? Using force? Or benefits? Or both?'
Leonidas was stumped. He knew he couldn't just move, as major intelligence agencies had eyes and ears everywhere. It was too early for him to stand out too much. He was still too weak, in every respect.
He was sure that minor players already knew of his existence. Plutus was moving around billions of Rands every month, it wouldn't be very difficult to notice. Someone would come soon, declaring their unwavering support of my vision and wanting to "help out".
'Heh, whatever comes my way, I'll just crush it.'
As he continued conceptualizing and strategising there was someone watching from afar. Maya had been walking around while searching for her friend Lihle. She managed to stumble into this area and lo and behold, there she saw Leonidas doing something she could only assume was meditation.
She had been watching him for the past 5 minutes but Leonidas had been motionless. She was stumped. What kind of 13 year old meditates anyway?!
"Boo!!"
"Aahh!!" Maya screamed realising she had been too focused on Leonidas to the point where her friend could give her a jump scare. "Not funny!" she retorted with a slightly flushed face that would drive any teenage boy crazy.
"Pfft hahaha, Omg Maya you really should pay more attention to your surroundings. What were you watching?" Lihle said leaning forward to see what was happening.
"Nothing, let's go!" Maya turned around dragging alihle with her.
But Lihle had already seen the silhouette. She could never forget the class psychopath. "Aahh. It's that guy! What is he doing there just sitting. I knew he was a weirdo from the first moment I met him." said Lihle mockingly.
"He's not a weirdo. He's just different." said Maya who had now let go of her friend. She started walking away from Leonidas with mixed emotions and mostly curiosity.
"Hey why are you always defending him? Maya don't tell me... Maya you can do so much better than this guy. Julian was asking about you the other time." said Lihle with dreamy eyes. Even she wouldnt mind getting stung by 1000 bees if it meant she could go on a date with Julian.
"Julian?" said Maya with disgust written all over her face, "Whats a Julian gonna help me with. I don't wanna date. I don't need a man. I can accomplish everything by myself. Now are you coming?"
"Jeez okay, I'm sorry Maya. Just wait for me, I'm coming. Wait up! Waaiitt!" said Lihle while running after her friend.
Unbeknownst to all three of them, there were another 2 people watching Leonidas from a dimly lit room of a high rise penthouse.
"So what about it Jonas, I want you to find out everything you can about him."
"Princess, why do you care about this kid? According to our initial investigations he's nothing more than an orphan who has a measly little inheritance. Hes nothing special."
"Oh on the contrary Jonas, he's very special. He's a talented genius, as long as nothing crazy happens he could become influential one day. He's definitely worth investing in."
"I still don't think it's a good idea. Even your father doesn't know you're in this camping trip. Princess it might not be safe."
"It's fine. You saw the security. This place is solid enough. And I got myself a good identity."
"But princess, your father expressly sa-"
"My father is not here right now is he? Just do as I say. Anyway, what's the worst that could happen?"
"*sigh*... Yes my princess"
"Good. Let me go back for now. You and the others just stick around. Treat this like a nice little holiday. For me, okay?"
"Yes!"
Meanwhile, Leonidas was still conceptualising. He was even running through some 2013 events that might come in handy to know about. While he was busy a voice came from behind.
"Would you lookie here... I thought something smelled funny... No wonder... It's this orphaned piece of shit"
"Pfft hahaha"
"Kukuku he really is a piece of crap isn't he?"
"I heard someone from his class say his dick is small kukuku"
"Is that why he's always angry? Because he's supposed to be a boy, but he's not even capable of being something so simple?"
"Hahaha oh shit"
"You're right, he's a bitch"
"ahhh hahaha"
5 boys came into the football field with menacing intentions.
'Haaahh... I really am too handsome...'