Chapter 35: A Change of Plans
Quinn sat back, feeling a sense of satisfaction as he watched orders pile up on his web page. His thriving enterprise, the Futuristic Arms Store, was becoming an unstoppable force. Every second, new orders were placed from all over the world, flooding in faster than his bots could process. Yet, everything was handled with seamless efficiency thanks to Nexus's supervision and the robot army that handled most of the deliveries.
Quinn's gaze skimmed the list of orders, noticing two familiar names among the sea of buyers. Draven Voss and Ross Garcia had both placed significant orders. Draven, a client he had worked with extensively, was known for his shadowy presence in the global underworld, while Ross Garcia had just solidified his control over Mexico's cartel scene.
"Process their orders immediately," Quinn commanded. The moment he issued the directive, two of his robots swiftly collected the necessary weapons—cutting-edge bazookas, rifles, and the new Gatling guns that could spit out 25,000 rounds per minute. They loaded the supplies onto the flying, invisible cars. Within minutes, the goods were transported discreetly and delivered to the designated locations, well outside the reach of any surveillance. The precision and invisibility of the entire operation were impeccable, making Quinn feel a sense of power.
After confirming the successful delivery, Quinn's thoughts drifted elsewhere. He pulled out his phone and called Lisa. As the phone rang, he realized they hadn't spent much time together recently. Business had consumed his life. When she answered, her voice was soft but focused.
"Hey, Quinn. What's up?" Lisa asked, her tone slightly hurried.
"What are you doing right now?" he inquired, leaning back in his chair.
"I'm in class," she replied. "Exams are coming up next week, remember?"
Quinn mentally froze for a second. Exams? He had completely forgotten about them in the whirlwind of business deals, market manipulations, and island planning. The thought of sitting for exams felt like an unnecessary nuisance to him now. With his genetic optimization, remembering and understanding any book was trivial. His enhanced cognitive abilities made traditional education seem like child's play.
"Oh, right," Quinn responded casually. "Okay, you can study for now. Let's go shopping this evening. I want to buy something."
"Sure," Lisa agreed, her voice softening with a hint of excitement. "I'll be free later."
Quinn smiled and hung up the phone. It was strange to him that, despite his power and wealth, he still found comfort in the simple act of spending time with Lisa. She was one of the few people who didn't see him as the ruthless capitalist, the market manipulator, or the weapon dealer that he had become. To her, he was just Quinn.
For a while, Quinn remained deep in thought. As he glanced around his small, cramped apartment, he felt a sudden wave of dissatisfaction. His business empire was thriving, yet he was still living in this modest space. While it had been convenient to operate from the shadows and maintain a low profile, Quinn knew that he had outgrown this place. His ambitions were grander now—far beyond the four walls that surrounded him.
"I really need to buy a house," Quinn muttered to himself. "This place is starting to feel too small for my plans. Once I've fully developed the island, I'll build a beautiful home there. A place that'll be like heaven on Earth, but only accessible to those I allow. To the rest of the world, it'll be a paradise they can only dream of."
His mind wandered as he imagined what the island would look like. Pristine beaches, futuristic homes, lavish hotels that catered to the world's elite. It would be a place of luxury, yet untouchable by the common masses. A controlled paradise where only the richest and most powerful would be allowed entry. He would even open a luxurious hotel that would bring in tourists from across the globe. They would see only a glimpse of the island's true grandeur, just enough to entice them to spend more.
As he entertained these thoughts, Nexus interrupted.
"Host, you should consider applying for early graduation," Nexus suggested in its usual direct tone.
Quinn blinked, slightly surprised. "Why's that?" he asked.
"You're going to become busier and busier. The further you dive into your projects, the less time you'll have for trivial things like exams. With your current knowledge and optimized genetics, you could easily pass any test. It would be best to apply for graduation now, rather than waste time sitting through exams," Nexus explained logically.
Quinn considered the suggestion carefully. Nexus was right. The exams were just a formality for someone like him. Between his enhanced abilities and Nexus's guidance, there was no reason to remain tied to the academic grind. He had far bigger things to accomplish. He wasn't the same Quinn Parker who had once worried about university life. He had grown beyond that.
"Maybe it's time," Quinn muttered under his breath.
He stared at the ceiling, weighing his options. He could breeze through the exams with minimal effort, but it would still take up valuable time that could be better spent focusing on his empire. On the other hand, if he applied for early graduation, he could finally be free of the mundane obligations of university life and fully immerse himself in his grander ambitions.
"Alright," Quinn decided, sitting up straighter. "Nexus, look into the process for applying for early graduation. Let's get that done."
"Understood, Host. I will have the necessary documents prepared for your approval."
With that settled, Quinn returned his attention to the evening plans. He glanced at his phone again, looking forward to spending some time with Lisa. He would take her shopping, and perhaps while they were out, he could scout for potential homes. It was time to leave the cramped apartment behind. If he was going to build a city on an island, he could at least start by moving into a proper house.
As he stood up to get ready, Quinn couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. The exams, the university, even the small victories in the market—they were all stepping stones to something much bigger. He was about to leave behind the trivial aspects of life and fully embrace the role he had always known he was destined for: to shape the world according to his own design, with Nexus at his side.