Seven days had passed since Luke emerged from his underground hideout, revealing his new self to the world for the first time.
Throughout the week, Luke had been a whirlwind of activity. He had convinced Zane to sign his contract, dispatched orders to Swanson, and intriguingly, roped in an enigmatic stranger into his plot.
The remainder of his time was consumed in intense negotiations with Zane's legal counsel over the contract's stipulations, while he meticulously wove his grand strategy.
At last, the day he had been eagerly awaiting dawned.
Luke, attired in his usual white t-shirt, black trousers, and a black jacket - all tailored from his Nano suit, stood before the formidable structure of Zane's industries.
As he confidently entered the building, the security staff didn't obstruct him. Instead, a trio of men were assigned to guide him to Zane's office.
Upon reaching the topmost floor where Zane's office was located, Luke was caught off guard. The room had been completely revamped.
The office was a perfect fusion of old-world charm and modern functionality. A substantial wooden desk, fitted with a desktop computer and twin monitors, dominated the room, surrounded by comfortable seating for both the occupant and visitors.
The walls, embellished with wood paneling, contained built-in bookcases, while a grand golden chandelier cast a warm, welcoming glow. The flooring was a combination of a dark rug beneath the desk and lighter tiles elsewhere.
A framed picture of a canine and a large conference table with eight chairs added a personal and professional element to the refined space.
Luke, surprised by the dramatic alterations in the room, managed to mask his astonishment, fully cognizant that he was in enemy territory.
He spotted Zane, along with a quintet of others, seated at the expansive table, apparently awaiting his arrival.
"Join us,"
Zane instructed, signaling for Luke to occupy a seat at the table. Luke, holding his frosty gaze, advanced towards them and claimed a seat at the head of the table, a position typically reserved for individuals of significance.
This bold move earned him icy glares and twitchy eyes from the others, as Luke had disregarded even acknowledging Zane and had simply positioned himself with an air of superiority.
To Luke's right was a man of his age, attired in a blue suit, a scar marring his left eye, his hair slicked back neatly, and an aura of pride and authority radiating from his gaze.
As Luke met the gaze of the scarred man, one of the five individuals addressed Zane,
"Madam Zane, it is an honor that I have been chosen as your company representative. Thank you so much."
One after another, the others began to voice their gratitude and heap praises on Zane, but the man with the scar remained mute, his gaze locked on Luke.
"Everyone, I'd like to present your new Team Captain, Luke Dale,"
Zane declared, motioning towards Luke to shift their focus to him, a maneuver intended to shift the limelight away from herself.
Luke found himself on the receiving end of a volley of scornful glares, brimming with contempt, underestimation, and simmering anger at his casual approach to his leadership role.
Unruffled, Luke merely offered a sly grin, disregarding their antagonistic stares. He shifted his focus to Zane and issued a command,
"Zane, your part in this is over. Leave. I'll handle things from here."
One of the five individuals, his voice seething with outrage, snapped back,
"How dare you disrespect Madam Zane. Learn your place, mud."
"Calm down, Jimi."
Zane intervened, silencing the irate youth named Jimi. She rose from her seat and instructed,
"He's correct. My task here is complete. I have high hopes for this team. I'm looking forward to this team's future. Goodbye."
As Zane exited, everyone, except for the scarred man and Luke, stood from their seats.
Once Zane had vacated the room, they all reclaimed their seats, their gazes gravitating back to Luke, their hearts churning with annoyance as they awaited his next words.
"You newbies, don't waste time with introductions. Just tell me your positions."
Luke ordered, his voice devoid of any emotion.
Norma, a golden-haired woman attired in a black dress, pounded the table, her voice echoing with passion,
"Mr. Luke, don't underestimate us. We are all top-tier regional players in Thief's Paradise. We are not some nobodies. We came here for Madam Zane. What gives you the authority to lead?"
Luke shot back, putting them in their place,
"Don't get too comfortable, don't take it that you have secured your position already. You're all under evaluation. I will choose the final line up when the time comes."
"What! How dare you mock us!"
Another woman, Carrie, with flaming red hair, fumed at Luke, her voice resonating throughout the room.
Luke, his gaze frosty and his expression stoic, as if their opinions were inconsequential, retorted,
"Look, I'm trying to create a team that will listen to everything I say, so I can give you the win and money you want. Does this deal seem appropriate to you?"
With a dismissive wave of his hand and a tone tinged with irritation, Luke declared,
"If you have a problem with this team, you're free to walk away."
At his words, everyone's heads bowed, unable to meet Luke's gaze. Luke continued,
"But you won't leave this shitty team because the contract you received is four times the normal price you're worth. Shut up and listen to me."
The room plunged into silence following Luke's words. No one dared to meet Luke's gaze, except for the scarred man, who finally allowed a grin to spread across his face at Luke's words.
Luke had a faint inkling of the kind of man he was dealing with. He addressed the group,
"Good. Now everyone is on the same page. Let me explain our strategy and how to win the upcoming World Cup of Thief's Paradise."
Luke's ambitious plan, which involved toppling Taylor and Roy industries and, more critically, the game Thief's Paradise, was contingent on this World Cup.
Two years after Roy's (Luke's) incarceration, Thief's Paradise was reintroduced to the world. Four years into Roy's imprisonment, Taylor orchestrated the grand inaugural World Cup of Thief's Paradise.
The first World Cup was a catastrophe, marred by the lingering effects of Thief's Paradise's downfall. The game was riddled with bugs and plagued by constant crashes. However, after numerous updates and a generous distribution of free in-game currency, it managed to recapture the audience's interest.
The second World Cup was a resounding success, witnessing participation from nearly 200+ countries. Team America emerged victorious, bagging a staggering prize money of nearly a billion dollars.
The subsequent two World Cups also enjoyed immense success, reinstating Thief's Paradise as the undisputed No.1 game in the gaming industry.
The revenue generated by Thief's Paradise catapulted Taylor to the position of the wealthiest individual on the planet. Even the list of the top thousand richest people was dominated by players from Thief's Paradise, underscoring the game's profound impact on the economy.
The rules of the Thief's Paradise World Cup were such that mere participation guaranteed monetary rewards for players.
The World Cup is held every four years, with qualifiers and finals commencing two years prior to the official World Cup. It involves players from nearly all countries, with almost a billion participants.
Luke found himself in a fortunate position as the World Cup had concluded four months ago, and the next one wouldn't be held for another three and a half years.
Luke had set his sights on participating in the fifth World Cup of Thief's Paradise. To this end, he assembled a team and secured Martha Zane's Industries as his team sponsor.
Martha Zane's Industries, a direct competitor to Roy's Industries, specializes in developing automation that rivals Roy's products.
Zane's Industries had abstained from participating in the Thief's Paradise World Cup until now, to avoid turning it into a corporate battleground. However, this time around, Martha Zane decided to participate in support of Luke and his Ausra project.
With each move, Luke was sharpening his path to revenge. He was inching closer to his goal.
---
The day after Luke met his provisional teammates, Zane industries made a midnight announcement about their participation in the Thief's Paradise World Cup. The news sent shockwaves across the world, polarizing it.
Corporate industries were already hiring professional players or planning to participate in the Thief's Paradise World Cup through their employees.
The news spread rapidly, reaching every corner of the world,
"Sir, Sir, Martha Zane's Industries has announced their participation in Thief's Paradise. Should we also participate, Sir?" A black-haired butler excitedly informed.
The elderly man, seated in a wheelchair, a cigar in his hand and clad in a black suit, stuttered as he instructed his butler,
"No, get in touch with Taylor. We have something better in mind."
---
Meanwhile,
Under the blazing sun, Taylor stood atop the helipad rooftop of Roy's Industries, gazing at the sky as the strong wind buffeted him.
Taylor's assistant rushed towards him, fearful of slipping and falling,
"Sir, Taylor, Zane's Industries has announced their participation in the World Cup, and several other corporate companies are also considering forming a team. The media is seeking our opinion on this issue."
'That old hag finally decided to face me directly.'
Taylor mused. He casually tied his hands behind his head, continuing to stare at the sky, and responded,
"Let's see. Inform the media that we will also personally form a team, and we will soon select our team players through an open player tournament."
As Taylor's assistant was about to depart, Taylor added,
"Also, announce that we're increasing the prize pool to 100 billion."