Russell noticed the surprise on Alex's face and said, "Our sister-in-law is the best cook I've ever known. There's some magic in her hands."
Alex nodded. Sure, Solmb wouldn't have stayed in the relationship if everything about her was bad. He looked at the tummy hanging over Solmb's belt and realized why he was still with her.
Carl asked again, "Hey, Alex, you still haven't told us your character ID. I want to watch your game, man."
Alex looked at him and asked, "Are you sure you don't just want to gamble on me?"
Carl didn't deny it and countered, "So what? You don't want your brother to earn more?"
Russell chimed in, "Yeah, big brother. I also think that out of all of us, you know the most about the game. Beyond earning money, it can also help us learn a thing or two."
Solmb didn't say anything, but his intentions were the same.
Alex shook his head. "I don't think it's a good idea to tell you guys my game ID."
Everyone frowned at this. Before they could ask him more, he stared at them with a plain face and cold eyes. "You will not like what I am going to do in the game."
He looked into each of their eyes and said in a cold but resolute tone, "I don't plan to lose any game, and I'm ready to do whatever it takes to pass each one. Are you sure that after seeing my game, things between us will be the same?"
The other three said nothing and just stared at one another.
Russell was the first to break the silence. "Fair enough, brother. Even I am ready to do anything to pass the game, and I know it won't look good."
Carl added, "Let's not tell anyone our game IDs. Now that I think about it, watching unknown players and knowing someone are completely different. Let's support each other without knowing what we do in the game until we're well-established."
Solmb also spoke up with a somber expression: "I won't even tell my wife my ID."
Alex took another sip of the fruit juice and smiled. To defuse the tension, he added, "Well, if you guys still want to see me, just check out all the local first games that are going to start this week."
Russell almost spilled his juice. After gulping it down, he said in a defeated tone, "Brother, there will be thousands of games like that. How do you expect us to watch all of them?"
Alex said casually, "Well, I only said not to tell you my game ID, but that doesn't mean we can't share our experiences in the game, right? I mean, watching the game as a viewer and playing as a hunter are completely different."
Russell clapped his hands. "Right, big brother! Why didn't I think of that? Please call me after your game."
Carl also added, "Me too, me too."
Solmb chimed in, "Don't forget about me."
Alex nodded to each of them and then pointed to the door. "Guys, I'd love to party more, but I still have to play my first game. Just give me two more days off, and then I'll tell you about my experience."
None of them argued, and they started walking out of his room. As they reached the door, he said, "If you guys clear all three games, then let me know. Maybe we can form a team."
Everyone shouted, "Okay, see you after the game!"
"Good luck with your game, brother."
"Best of luck. Don't take unnecessary risks."
Alex waved them off and then closed the door. He looked at the scattered plastic cups on the floor and sighed. Not wasting any more time, he rushed to clean up the house and take care of himself.
...
Outside Alex's building, the three of them walked quietly down the road. Russell spoke first. "Big Brother, Alex is confident."
Carl nodded. "I really wanted to know his ID. That bastard has been preparing for the game for a long time."
Solmb said in a low tone, "At least three years."
Russell looked at Solmb with wide eyes. "Three years... when and how?"
Solmb smiled and asked, "You didn't notice anything?"
Russell shook his head. "No. I only see brother Alex at work and nowhere else."
Carl shook his head. "It's work for us and training for him."
Russell scratched his head. "What do you mean, bro?"
Carl asked him, "You've been working on the construction site for two years already. Do you remember how you started and what you're doing now?"
Russell nodded. "Yeah, you guys made me lift bricks and cement bags for the first six months. Eventually, I learned how to build walls, and now that's all I do."
Carl said, "It was the same for most of us, but for the past three years, Alex has still been carrying bricks and cement bags. Why do you think he's been doing the hardest labor that pays the least for so long?"
Solmb added, "That guy is never on the construction site to earn money. Didn't you see his room? It's one thing for you and me to afford it, but how could the lowest-paying worker not only afford it but also take breaks whenever he wants?"
It was only now that it hit Russell that everything wasn't as simple as he believed. He looked at the other two and said with realization, "Brother Alex earns more from his computer work, right?"
Both of them nodded. It wasn't a secret among them; it was just that Russell was new and didn't like to think much, so he hadn't noticed.
Russell asked in confusion, "If Brother Alex has money, then why did he join the construction site? I mean, he could've joined a gym to train, right?"
Carl sighed. "I had the same question, but after researching training methods on my phone, I realized the effectiveness of real-life work. On-site, he sometimes has to carry 50 kg of bags on his back and move them up ten floors in the heat. Do you think doing that and lifting weights in an air-conditioned gym are the same?"
Solmb gave Carl a sidelong glance and said, "Is that why you also increased your manual labor?"
Carl didn't deny it.
Solmb sighed, "It's good for you young guys. To be honest, I'd like to train a little too, but my work doesn't give me extra time, and it's already exhausting."
Russell mumbled, feeling betrayed, "So everyone here has been training except me."
Solmb said, "Don't be down. You're still young, and excessive manual labor could harm you more than help. I think it's better if you work on some mental exercises, though." He smirked. "I don't think muscle heads will survive long."
Carl also slapped Russell on the back. "Start reading books, kid. I don't want to see you crying afterward."
Russell shouted at Carl, "Don't hit me!" and ran away.
The other two laughed for a while, then they went their separate ways. It was still not time for them to go to the construction site.