His father Johan looked at Rian, a mixture of pride and determination in his eyes. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Rian, I will retire the moment I step into our new house. I want to play alongside you, experiencing this new world together. Until then, work hard and build that house do whatever it takes. But know this: I am truly proud to have a son like you. I believe that you will achieve everything the world has to offer."
Rian felt a swell of emotion at his father's words. The weight of his ambitions felt lighter with his father's support, and he knew that with his family by his side, anything was possible. The dream of a new house, a new life, and a thriving business seemed more tangible than ever.
As Rian was enjoying dinner with his family, unaware of the storm his decisions had caused, the top guilds in Everlasting were holding urgent meetings, discussing the implications of BlackMerchant's alliance with [Apocalypse].
At the Butterfly Guild base, only women could be seen as the guild was exclusively made up of female players. Their reputation was well-known across the game world, both for their strength and their unique all-female membership. At the centre of the meeting sat their guildmaster, Seraphina, a woman of extraordinary beauty and elegance who commanded the respect of everyone in the guild.
Seraphina's gaze was cold as she looked at her lieutenant, Lysandra. "I gave you one job, Lysandra. Only one, and you couldn't even manage that?" Her voice was sharp, filled with disappointment.
Lysandra, visibly uncomfortable, lowered her head and said softly, "Forgive me, Guildmaster. I didn't know the person who exchanged potions with me was BlackMerchant. If I had known, I would have spoken to him immediately. Before I could gather more information and head to his shop, DeathIsWithMe arrived and had a private discussion with him."
The room was silent as Seraphina processed Lysandra's words. She leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. "So, you're telling me that we lost the opportunity to recruit him because you failed to recognize his significance?"
Lysandra's face flushed with shame, but she didn't respond. The weight of her mistake was heavy, and she knew the consequences could be severe.
The same tense atmosphere was present in the Iron Vanguard Guild's base, where Alex was being scolded for his failure. Meanwhile, at the Apocalypse Guild's headquarters, the mood was different yet equally intense. The guild's elite sat around a large, round table, and at the centre of attention was the guildmaster, DeathIsWithMe. To his right sat a man dressed in all black, his eyes sharp and deadly, exuding an aura of menace.
"Guildmaster," the man spoke, his tone respectful but questioning, "Why did you invite BlackMerchant into our guild? I know every move you make is calculated, but I can't figure out why you'd bring him in." His words hung in the air, echoed by murmurs from the other guild members, all voicing their confusion.
Everyone was eager to understand what had motivated their guildmaster to extend an invitation to someone who seemed to want nothing more than to stay out of conflict.
DeathIsWithMe sighed, sensing the weight of everyone's expectations. "I know what you're all thinking, but let me explain," he began, pausing for a moment to gather their full attention. "Before this VRMMORPG, we dominated PC and console games. Why? Because we always knew how to leverage key factors. In *Everlasting*, BlackMerchant is that key factor for us. He's going to be crucial in helping us maintain dominance and extend it until the very end."
He glanced around the table, noting the looks of surprise. "The reason I 'recruited' him was to secure his safety, nothing more. He wants to do business without worrying about conflicts. By showing that he's affiliated with us, he can trade freely, and we gain a massive advantage. In return for our protection, we've gained something invaluable the privilege of first access. Before BlackMerchant sells any item on the open market, he'll offer it to us first. If we want something, we can buy it before anyone else even knows it exists."
The room fell silent as the significance of DeathIsWithMe's plan settled in. It wasn't about adding another fighter to their ranks; it was about securing a golden pipeline to rare items and information, ensuring Apocalypse stayed on top.
After handing over the 80 potions, half healing and half mana, DeathIsWithMe casually said, "Divide them however you like." With that, he stood up and walked out of the room, leaving his guild members to process the weight of his decisions.
Meanwhile, in several guilds across the *Everlasting* world, similar meetings were taking place. Major guild leaders and their members were analyzing the sudden rise of BlackMerchant, unaware that Rian himself had no idea the storm he had caused in the gaming world.
Back in the real world, Rian was enjoying a rare, wholesome meal with his family. Tonight's dinner was special a well-cooked chicken dish, a true delicacy compared to the stinky tofu they usually had to settle for to save money. His mother, Elara, an excellent cook, had outdone herself. The family devoured the meal with a rare fervour as if there was no tomorrow.
Feeling full and satisfied, Rian got up and put on his jogging clothes. As he headed out the door, he called out to his mother, "Mom, I'm going for a walk to digest all that food."
Stepping into the cool night air, Rian began jogging down the silent streets of their rundown neighbourhood. As he passed the decrepit buildings, worn-out streets, and tired faces of the few people still outside, he couldn't help but notice the poor conditions they were living in. The more he looked around, the more determined he became. "Even beggars in bigger cities live better than this," he thought to himself.
The stark contrast between the life they were living and the opportunities ahead of him fueled Rian's resolve. He would get his family out of this place and start a new chapter in their lives one of prosperity and comfort. This wasn't just a game anymore; this was his chance to truly change their future.
After jogging for an hour, Rian glanced at his phone and noticed it was already 10:30 p.m. The night had grown late, and the streets were nearly empty as he jogged back home. In just a couple of minutes, he arrived at his house and quietly entered, trying not to disturb anyone.
As he walked through the door, however, he couldn't help but overhear his younger sister, Lila, talking to their mother in the next room.
"Mother, now that brother is earning so much, when will you start looking for a sister-in-law?" Lila asked teasingly. "You've always said there's a tradition in our family to get engaged after college or when someone starts earning."
Rian froze for a moment, stunned by the sudden direction of the conversation. He didn't expect to come home to talk about marriage, especially after such an intense day in the game.
At 23 years old, Rian had always avoided relationships, believing they would only drain his already limited finances. Starting a family had been out of the question for him, given his struggles. Even now, though he had begun to earn money, he knew his income was far from stable. Yet, despite his logical reasoning, he couldn't help but pause and wait for his mother's response to his sister's question, uncertain about how the topic of his future would be handled.
Mother Elara chuckled softly and said, "Lila, you don't have to worry. I've told you the story of how I met your father, right? It was after he earned his first salary, and your grandfather and grandmother came to my house to ask for my hand. So, we'll continue the family tradition." She smiled knowingly, then added, "And as a matter of fact, I've already selected a girl for your brother to marry."
Rian's heart skipped a beat at her words. He had no idea his mother had been planning something like this all along.
Rian's stomach dropped as he heard his mother's words. Marriage? Now? His mind raced, and a wave of panic washed over him. He had spent years avoiding relationships, convincing himself they were just distractions, a waste of time and most importantly money. The thought of getting entangled in something as complex as marriage, especially when his life was finally starting to take shape, felt overwhelming.
All he wanted was to focus on the game, make better deals, and keep earning. His recent success in the game had given him a taste of something more financial freedom. Marriage, in his mind, was a roadblock, one that would tie him down before he even had the chance to start his real-life business.
He could feel his pulse quicken, heart pounding against his chest as he forced a casual smile, masking the growing anxiety within. His mother was already picking out a bride for him, and here he was, barely having gotten his foot in the door of the virtual marketplace.