As they continued talking and laughing, the world's weight seemed to fade away, and time passed quickly. The next morning arrived, but Rian was still sound asleep, exhausted from the previous day's excitement.
His sister, Lila, woke up early out of habit, preparing for school. But as she moved about, she suddenly remembered that her school was closed for the next five days, and she was still undecided on how to handle the schedule with Everlasting's influence on students' lives.
After freshening up, Lila peeked into their room and saw him still fast asleep. She smiled to herself and left him undisturbed, knowing he deserved the rest. He had, after all, sacrificed his entire year to play the game for their family's future. She let him sleep as long as he wanted, figuring he earned every minute.
Feeling bored after realizing school was still closed, Lila grabbed her phone and began scrolling through the news, knowing they didn't have a TV at home. Settling onto the couch, she checked the trending videos on YouTube, and one thumbnail immediately caught her attention: [NEXT UPDATE INFORMATION ABOUT EVERLASTING!!!!!!].
Intrigued by the promise of new details on the game, she clicked on the video. At first, it was the usual hype about the game's stunning features, but Lila patiently watched for a few minutes, waiting for the real scoop. Around the 4-minute mark, the video shifted to in-game footage, showing a recording of two players sitting and talking. The camera hovered over their in-game names: [DeathisWithMe] and [TalktoMe].
As Lila watched the video, the player DeathisWithMe leaned in with a mysterious smile, saying, "We, the Apocalypse guild, have gotten information about the next update of Everlasting, and let me tell you, it's mind-blowing. I don't know why the developers hid it from us, but I'm sure they planned to make waves with this update. This game is going to be the greatest we'll ever play."
Lila's eyes widened as she absorbed his words, the excitement in DeathisWithMe's tone making her heart race. The video hinted at secrets that would change everything about the game, and she couldn't help but wonder if her brother Rian, now fully invested in Everlasting, had anything to do with this.
As Lila continued watching, DeathisWithMe leaned back with a smirk, building tension as he said, "How about I say what we've been playing so far is just a teaser for the main movie?" He paused, letting the suspense grow before continuing, "We're currently in these temporary villages that the developers built to help us adjust to level 10, maybe more. But after this update, everything we know about the game will change'm talking about world generation."
He leaned in again, voice dripping with excitement, "From the info we got, there's going to be an entirely separate world after the update, with kingdoms, wars, and so much more. The scale of this new world is beyond what anyone expected."
Lila's jaw dropped. This was groundbreaking news for Everlasting, and she began to piece things together brother had just made a million dollars from a deal with DeathisWithMe. Could Rian have known about this all along?
The interviewer was visibly stunned as he processed the information. After a brief moment of shock, he asked, "Sir, how did you get this information? I mean, are you in contact with the developers or something?"
DeathisWithMe laughed, shaking his head. "No, no, I'm not with the company, nor do I have any contact with the developers. But I got this information [BlackMerchant]."
The moment she heard that name, Lila's heart skipped a beat, and she sat up straight. Her guess was right her brother, Rian, was the source of this game-changing information. She was utterly shocked, her mind racing with the realization that Rian had known all along.
The interviewer, TalktoMe, was stunned again but quickly regained his composure. "Wow, I mean, BlackMerchant is already famous for hiding his face, keeping his info secret, and having all kinds of rare items to sell, but no one expected him to know something like this. Is he from the company?" he asked, still in disbelief.
DeathisWithMe shook his head confidently. "No, he's not from the company. He told me that himself, and I don't think lying would benefit him. After all, he's a merchant his business is built on trust and reputation. If he started lying about something this big, it would probably affect his future dealings."
TalktoMe leaned forward, intrigued, and asked, "We've heard rumours that BlackMerchant left Village No. 99999, where he first spawned, and has already built his shop there. But nobody seems to know where he's located now. Can you tell us where he's set up shop?"
DeathisWithMe grinned wider and said, "Well, I guess I can let you in on a little secret. He's set up shop in Village No. 1, tucked away on the backside of the village center where the less fortunate reside. It's not a prime location, but that's just how BlackMerchant operates quietly and under the radar. But make no mistake, his shop is there, and once people figure it out, they'll be flocking to him."
TalktoMe leaned in, asking the final question with clear anticipation, "Sir, this will be my last question, but as we all know, the guild function hasn't been introduced in Everlasting yet. Many players, though, have their guild members representing them in-game from previous titles. But the big question the internet is buzzing about: Is BlackMerchant a part of your guild, Apocalypse? And when the guild function finally launches, will he officially join your ranks?"
DeathisWithMe paused briefly, then confidently responded, "Yes, I've already mentioned that he has joined my guild, and once the guild function is introduced in-game, he will officially join us." With that, the clip ended, leaving Lila standing there, completely shocked as she tried to process all the information she had just absorbed.
A few minutes later, Lila heard her mother, Elara, calling from the kitchen, "Lila, come here and help with lunch. But before that, go and wake your brother up. How much does he want to sleep? Your father said last night that he wanted to take Rian with him to his work and help him fill out the resignation form."
Lila shook herself from the daze of the shocking video she'd just watched and headed toward Rian's room. She couldn't help but smile, knowing how drastically life had changed for them after Rian's success. "Time to wake up, superstar," she mumbled to herself, ready to wake her brother up.
As Lila entered their room, she found her brother, Rian, fast asleep, looking completely at ease, as if the world outside didn't concern him. She didn't yell to wake him; instead, a mischievous smile crept across her face. Quietly, she left the room and headed to the kitchen, where their mother, Elara, was cooking.
Elara noticed Lila grab a glass of water and immediately knew what was about to happen. With a knowing smile, she warned, "Don't wet the bed sheets, Lila."
Lila nodded, her mischievous grin growing wider, and walked back to Rian's room. She dragged a chair in front of the bunk bed where her brother slept on the upper side, carefully climbing up. With the glass of water in hand, she braced herself and-splash!-threw the water on her brother, successfully jolting him awake.
"Morning, superstar!" she said, laughing as Rian scrambled, shocked and dripping wet.
Rian jolted awake from a dream where his world was being invaded by some unknown force, only to be rudely interrupted by a splash of cold water on his face. Disoriented, he saw his sister, Lila, standing there with a glass in hand, grinning mischievously as she said something like "Morning."
Looking at himself, Rian was relieved to find the bed sheets dry his sister had been merciful enough to only target his face. He groaned and looked at her with mild frustration. "If you wanted to wake me up, why didn't you just shake me? Why splash water on my face again?"
Lila burst out laughing, clearly enjoying herself. "I could have done that, but where's the fun in just shaking you awake? I had to take my chance to do it properly!" She gave him a playful wink. "Anyway, I woke you up because Dad wants to take you to his work today. He wants you to fill out his resignation form."
Rian blinked, his mind catching up with the news. "His resignation? Right… of course." The weight of what he had accomplished hit him again as he wiped the water from his face.
Rian got out of bed and took his time freshening up, letting the reality of the day sink in. After an hour, he glanced at the clock—7:30 AM—and joined his family at the dining table. They were already sitting, chatting, and enjoying breakfast. He sat down and dug into his meal, knowing it was a special day for his father.
As they finished eating, Rian's father, Johan, looked at him with pride and eagerness. "Well, why don't we go now?" Johan asked, his voice filled with excitement. Today was the day he'd finally retire from the job he'd despised for years, a job he had been forced to endure just to keep the family afloat. But now, with Rian earning money and showing a promising future, Johan no longer had to shoulder that burden.
Rian smiled warmly, seeing the joy on his father's face. "Let's go, Dad. We've got a lot to do," he said confidently. As he stood up to get ready, he glanced at his mother, catching her gaze and giving her a reassuring look. She smiled back, her eyes reflecting the relief and happiness they all felt.
With that, Rian left the house alongside his father to fill out the resignation form. As they walked, Johan turned to Rian, his voice tinged with emotion. "I've always wanted you to study and find a better job. I never wanted my son or daughter to struggle like I have, working as a labourer in some random company. But I always supported your path because I knew that someday you would make it in life. And now, I can proudly say that my son is already earning more than I could have ever imagined."
He paused, taking a moment to collect his thoughts, then continued, "Just look at me. At my age, when everyone else is working hard to make ends meet, I'm going to retire - all thanks to you, my son."
Rian felt a swell of pride at his father's words. It was a reminder of all the sacrifices they had made as a family, and now they were finally reaping the rewards. He looked at his father, determination in his eyes. "This is just the beginning, Dad. We're going to create a better future for all of us."
After walking for about 4-5 minutes, Rian and his father arrived at the company where Johan worked as a backend call assistant. As they entered, Rian noticed how his father greeted almost everyone, with each person responding respectfully. It was clear that despite his humble position, Johan was well-liked and respected. Watching the employees working diligently, Rian gained a deeper appreciation for the years his father had spent in such a taxing job.
When they reached the manager's office, they entered to find a large man sitting casually at his desk, barely paying attention to the papers in front of him. Johan approached respectfully, saying, "Sir, this is Johan. I've come here to resign from my position."
The manager didn't even look up properly, his expression indifferent. Without bothering to ask further questions or show any real interest, he simply said, "Fill out this form," as he pushed a resignation form across the desk. It was as though Johan's years of hard work and dedication meant nothing to him. There was no acknowledgement, no curiosity just a dismissive gesture to get the paperwork done.
Rian watched this cold interaction, feeling a mix of frustration and relief. He was glad his father would no longer be working under someone who didn't value him, but the lack of basic respect still stung. Johan, however, remained calm, taking the form without protest.
Father Johan turned to Rian and said, "Come here and help me fill this out." Rian took the pen and filled in the required information on the resignation form. Once he was done, Johan approached the manager again and said, "Sir, here is the form."
The manager took the form without looking up and merely replied, "From now on, you don't need to come back." His tone was flat and indifferent as if Johan's departure held no significance. Despite the lack of courtesy, Johan remained respectful, thanking him for the time spent at the company before leaving the office with Rian by his side.
As they walked out, Rian felt a mix of emotions. He was proud of his father for taking this step but frustrated by the manager's lack of respect. Still, they were headed toward a brighter future, and that thought brought a smile to Rian's face.