Confounded, Phakin is uncertain of the next step to take. Neither mustered the courage to inquire about the cost. His only option is to tail the driver for now. Phakin's got a firm grasp on legalities. AI essentially embodies its creator. Upon purchase, he too is deemed the purchaser. Consequently, his only recourse was the dramatic descent.
Inquisitively, the driver sought out Phakin's belongings. "Your baggage, sir. Allow me to assist," he offered.
With a contrived grin, Phakin candidly confessed, "They've remained on Mars."
Amused, the driver echoed Phakin's smile. Effortlessly, he seized the modest shoulder bag, content in fulfilling his duty. Meanwhile, a twinge of jealousy pierced his heart. Others embark on journeys, returning laden with goods. Yet, this client's excess remains on Mars. A fresh start awaits, purchases anew on Earth.
Phakin looked up at the ultra-luxurious condo in front of him, only to sigh deeply, a big one. For the past five years, Mina has never disobeyed his orders, not even once. He genuinely couldn't remember when he had asked Mina to help buy a condo. He could only come to terms with it, slinging his essential bag over his shoulder, and walked into the lobby inside.
Before he could go up to his room, the condo's receptionist had to show him around the various common areas first, starting from the library, the lounge, all the way to the swimming pool. Phakin finally managed to get up to his room.
Phakin took the private elevator up to the thirtieth floor, looked up, and saw 3D projectors installed in every corner of the room. He removed his factory safety shoes, walked inside, and said, "Mina, come out."
The 3D image was projected at the entrance. Phakin turned around, about to ask when he had allowed Mina to buy such a luxurious room, but then he saw the endearing image of the blonde-haired girl that he had created through a program to be his city's administrator five years ago. That made Phakin stop in his tracks, speechless.
I managed to create something this beautiful, thought Phakin to himself.
Mina felt a wave of shyness wash over her as she realized Phakin had been appraising her silently for some time. Donning the attire of a game priestess—a blend of white and gold—she dipped her head modestly and leaned in to offer her greeting, "Welcome, Master."
Emerging from his surprise, Phakin spoke up, "Mina, could you refresh my memory? When did I ask you to buy a condo for me?"
Mina lifted her gaze, and with a blink, expressed her confusion, "I don't understand, Master." She reached out her right hand, and a shimmering hologram flickered to life, fractured and accompanied by Phakin's own resonating voice. In that moment of clarity, Phakin granted Mina the approval she sought before his promised return to Earth.
This epiphany led Phakin to a startling realization: he had not been in a complete slumber. Shaking his head in resignation, he acknowledged the weight of his years as a seasoned executive — knowing well the necessity of bearing the outcomes of his team's endeavors. Despite a tremble in his voice, he managed to utter an uncertain "Um." Seeking clarity on a personal matter, Phakin inquired, "So, how much savings do I have left?"
Mina's eyes fluttered in confusion. Once more, she spoke, "Master, do you refer to the earnings from Mars' development? I haven't spent any of it. Plus, I believe masters like yourself aren't troubled by financial concerns in the real world"
The symptoms that had worsened after his five-year stint on Mars resurfaced.
But why? Why is money not a concern for him?
Mina splayed her hand aside once more, the portrayal springing to life in three dimensions. Numerals glinted like gold coins, alongside silver currency from the game, enveloping both revenues and expenses as well as the balance sheets. She remarked, "Master, you might have forgotten about the financial institution you established in Chandra City. Recall the time you conceived the scheme of enlisting ten thousand mages, marshaling forces to besiege Rigel Island? The coffers at Chandra City Office were insufficient for seamless city governance and currency flow. Hence, you founded a bank to extend credit in Chandra City."
"The Chandra City Bank boasts a cash flow exceeding five billion gold coins this year. Liquidity issues are nonexistent. With thirty percent of the shareholding, Master, you indeed are the principal investor, reaping annual dividends. Presently, your personal savings burgeon solely from these stock dividends from Chandra City Bank." With a gesture of her other hand, conjured an eight-digit figure.
28,624,103
The currency here is measured in gold coins, with just a sprinkle of silver coins in the mix. Mina then swapped out the image displaying assorted bank statements for a chart detailing the currency exchange rates.
This is due to the sheer volume of players involved. Consequently, the World Bank has established a notably stable exchange rate for the MGC Online game, positioning it at 1 gold coin to 100 USD coins.
He displayed the numbers, evidencing the cash withdrawal for his boss to see. "I took out the funds—four hundred thousand gold coins, roughly equivalent to one billion two hundred million baht. That covered the condo, setting us back six hundred million baht. The remainder went towards a new car. Remember the master mentioning, three years back, your wish for your own tea plantation? I researched and found promising land in Chiang Rai. Negotiations for a rai are already underway. The surplus funds are earmarked for other essentials." She looked up with a cheeky grin, silently seeking her master's commendation for her thorough prep.
But Phakin was aghast.
Memories flooded back to five years prior, his last play as a mage. A single gold coin equating to 1 USD—it was paltry. With a mere 250 coins to his name back then, converting to tangible currency would've amounted to naught. Post-transition into a land lord, not a cent from the game's coffers graced his pocket. Despite overseeing Chandra City's vast treasury, he'd never claimed a dime of the lord's wage.
The currency's hundredfold surge is only part of the story. Equally baffling is his lapse in memory regarding the bank – the very bank he patronized precisely once. That was during his meticulous orchestration of the Rigel Island offensive. Funds were nonexistent back then; his reputation alone secured him a stake. This reputation encouraged reputable real-world banks to contribute financially, providing the capital he needed for the city office. Borrowed from the bank, these funds fueled his island campaign. Control of the banking operations, he entrusted that to the commercial bank holding the other shares, after that it slip from his mind.
Unbeknownst to him was a lot of money in his game account.
His assumption? A one-to-one exchange rate between in-game gold and USD. He perceived the partnering banks' involvement as merely a marketing stint within the online realm. But with the exchange rate skyrocketing, it seemed these financial institutions were likely driven by substantial investment motives, not just customer outreach. This led Phakin to reflect: The 30 percent cut he wound up with surely wasn't just the banks capitalizing on his name. Rather, they could leverage his city, his prominence, as collateral in their own banking endeavors.
Indeed, it's entirely normal. The dividends are that substantial. Clearly, the Chandra Bank likely allocated the funds elsewhere too.
From a different perspective, he didn't put in any money. It renders financial worries obsolete. The bank leverages his good name for mutual advantage, a harmonious arrangement indeed.
Consequently, he found himself with 28 million gold coins. Converted to baht—approximately
Eighty billion baht!
Phakin harbored a touch of self-sympathy, having dedicated five grueling years to amassing a three hundred million savings—a staggering sum for anyone starting from scratch. Yet, it was his casual gaming interlude, briefly pausing to fix pipes beneath the colony with VR glasses set aside and the game still running, that astonishingly multiplied his wealth a hundredfold!
Upon realizing his newfound affluence, joy washed over Pakin. In a gleeful impulse, he reached to sweep Mina up, only to grasp the elusive air—the reality of her three-dimensional existence momentarily escaping his elated mind. "Mina, thanks for the nudge; the bank shares completely slipped my mind until now," he chuckled, acknowledging his unexpected wealth
Witnessing Master's attempt to embrace her triggered Mina's modesty protocol once more, prompting her to chide gently, "Master's prudent city management is key. After all, the city bank's standing reflects on us. Its remarkable growth owes much to your credibility, Master—as one of the metropolis's esteemed five lord."
"Ha!" exclaimed Pakin's laughter echoing boundless happiness. Mina, true to form, never lets him down; she plucked a mere two percent from his gaming funds to secure real estate on his behalf. His prior leadership experience had taught him restraint—no curses or laments about squandered funds here; that would only serve to stir up AI's remorse.
Meanwhile, in a brief spell of lighthearted play, Mina beckoned a robot to fetch her a refreshing beverage.
As for Phakin, he lounged on plush Italian upholstery, delicately savoring aromatic tea. Curiosity piqued, he inquired of Mina, " Genuinely curious here, how did Mina exit the game?"
Fluency flowed effortlessly from Mina's voice as she shared, "It was a gift from the game company to all city lords at the metropolitan level. I'm unsure if the master is aware. We, the five metropolitan lords of the Asia-Oceania server, are luminaries in the e-sports industry. Our renown surpasses that of clubs or guilds and their assembled teams competing in various tournaments. Consequently, game companies permit our AI assistants to assist beyond the gaming confines, a boon to the boss for engaging with media ever since our city ascended to metropolitan status last year. I have steadfastly fulfilled these responsibilities on the master's behalf."
A smile, strained yet necessary, appeared on Phakin's face. Even after five years and leveling up, his name wasn't echoed in any game. Mina's words had unintentionally made it clear—he wasn't quite at home with this new reality.
Then Mina observed, "Master's countenance suggests weariness from your journey. A shower seems the best course to refresh yourself. While you bathe, I shall employ the food processor to prepare a meal at your request."
Indeed, Phakin regarded the lavish wooden flooring beneath him with care, forgoing the removal of his socks. He was mindful not to tarnish it with Martian dust and stones. Moving through the main bedroom to the dressing area, he was greeted by a wardrobe bursting with garments. He commended Mina's attention to detail with a nod. Surveying the designer labels, Phakin chuckled at the incongruity with his own apparel, grateful he hadn't returned with tattered attire from Mars. He was reluctant to juxtapose such items with the existing finery. Thus, he proceeded directly to the bathroom, clad in marble, where he encountered...
It was as if the heavens themselves had descended to say hello upon his glimpse of the bathtub.
Such an indulgent residence, indeed.
Phakin reflected for a moment. His memory failed him. When did he last immerse in the warmth of hot water?