As Alex entered his dormitory room, he was greeted by the sight of his roommate, Calum, rummaging through his things, clearly preparing to leave. Calum looked up, his eyes widening in surprise and relief as he saw Alex standing there.
"Alex!" Calum exclaimed, immediately closing his bag. "You're back! I was just about to go visit you. Nicole told me what happened… I thought you'd be out for a few more days!"
Alex offered a reassuring smile, setting his things down. "Yeah, turns out I heal fast," he joked, though he knew it was a bit more complicated than that. "Sorry I didn't tell you sooner—I was a little caught up."
Calum shook his head, looking both relieved and slightly exasperated. "Man, you had me worried! I called your phone last night, and Nicole picked up. She told me you were at the hospital… I thought it was serious."
"It was… kind of," Alex admitted, sitting on his bed. "But I'm alright now. Really."
Calum studied him momentarily as if assessing whether he was okay. "Well, good to know you're back and in one piece. You had me on edge, man. What actually happened?"
Alex hesitated, deciding how much to share. "There was a… robbery at the store. Things got out of hand."
Calum's eyes widened. "A robbery? Seriously? And you were hurt because of it?"
"Yeah, but I'm here now," Alex replied, downplaying the tension of the incident.
Alex settled onto his bed, glancing over at Calum. "Don't you have classes today?" he asked, curious about his friend's unexpected free time.
Calum shook his head, a grin spreading across his face. "Nope, Wednesdays are usually pretty light for me. I only have two classes, and both got canceled. So, lucky me—I've got the day off."
Alex chuckled. "Lucky you, huh? I'd forgotten what it's like to have a free day."
Calum smirked. "Yeah, sounds like you could use one, too, with everything that's happened. But hey, now that you're back, we've got all day to catch up."
Alex grinned, leaning back on his bed. "So, what's the plan for today then?"
Calum's face lit up as he pulled out his phone. "I was thinking of grinding my rank in Legend's Arena—that new trending mobile game. I'm getting close to the top tier, and if I can push just a bit more, I might have a shot at regionals."
Alex nodded, though a bit of disappointment flickered in his eyes. Calum had always been passionate about gaming, even dreaming of becoming a professional e-sport gamer. But Alex didn't share that dream; he felt restless, even thinking about spending hours glued to a screen.
Lately, his ambition had shifted, especially after this morning's experience. Kicking the ball around and drawing a crowd had reignited a spark he hadn't felt in a long time.
The way he'd moved, almost in sync with the ball, felt exhilarating, like he was born for it. He couldn't shake the idea that he wanted something more—a physical connection to his passion. But that was not all that he wanted to do. He wanted more.
Calum noticed Alex's lack of enthusiasm and frowned slightly, setting his phone aside. "Hey, what's up with you? You don't seem excited about Legend's Arena anymore."
Alex lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling as if gathering his thoughts. "I don't know, Calum… After everything that happened, I want to give life another shot. Like, really go for something."
Calum sat up a little straighter, his curiosity piqued. He wasn't sure what Alex meant, but he could tell it was serious. "Another shot? At what, exactly?" He leaned forward, studying Alex's expression, trying to piece together what was happening in his friend's mind.
Alex continued with a distant look in his eyes. "I mean… maybe there's more I could be doing. I don't want to just go through the motions anymore. I want to actually feel like I'm moving toward something."
Calum stayed silent, listening closely, though a hint of confusion lingered on his face. "So… what are you thinking of doing?"
Alex sighed, still gazing up at the ceiling. "Honestly, I haven't figured out exactly what I need to do yet," he admitted. "But I know one thing—I want to use everything I know and everything I've got to start making real money. Enough so that I can finally have some freedom."
Calum raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Freedom?"
"Yeah," Alex nodded, a spark of determination in his eyes. "Money freedom, time freedom… just freedom. I want to live without being tied down by bills, schedules, or any of it. I want to be able to decide what I want to do and when I want to do it. It's more than just making a living; it's about living."
Calum leaned back, impressed. "Wow, man. That's… intense. I mean, that's the dream, right?" He smiled, nodding in encouragement. "If anyone can make that happen, it's you."
Hearing his friend's support, Alex felt a renewed sense of purpose. Just as Alex absorbed the weight of his words, a familiar chime echoed in his mind, and a new notification appeared.
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[New Mission: Register a Business]
Objective: Establish a formal business to take the first step toward financial independence.
Reason: Building an empire starts with a foundation. Registering a business will set you on the path to creating income streams, managing resources, and achieving financial freedom.
Reward:
1. 150 EXP
2. 60 Coins
=====
Alex blinked, momentarily stunned by the mission's timing. It was as if the Empire System had been listening to his conversation, nudging him toward action.
Calum noticed Alex's distracted look. "Everything okay?"
Alex glanced at his friend, trying to process the sudden mission. "Yeah… actually, something's come up. You know how I was just talking about making a change?" He glanced back at the notification, feeling a jolt of excitement mixed with nervous energy. "Well, it looks like the first step just found me."
Calum's eyes lit up with curiosity. "What kind of step?"
Alex grinned, sitting up. "I need to register a business."
Calum studied Alex, his expression a mix of curiosity and excitement. "So, what kind of business are you thinking of starting?"
Alex shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "Honestly, I'm still trying to figure that out," he admitted. "But hey, you're here. Got any ideas? Something that could actually work as a business?"
Calum leaned back, a thoughtful look crossing his face. He rubbed his chin, clearly giving it some serious thought. "Well… nothing involving sports, I assume," he joked, not knowing that Alex had some hidden talent in that area.
Alex chuckled, nodding. "Yeah, nothing sports-related...for the beginning." He paused before adding, "I was thinking of something we could both get into. What do you say? Want to be part of this?"
Calum's eyes lit up, and he grinned, clearly intrigued by the idea. "Actually… yeah. I mean, it's probably a good thing to start thinking about. I need to get serious about my future, too."
Alex raised an eyebrow, amused. "Since when did you start thinking about the future?" he teased.
Calum laughed, shrugging. "Since I realized I have a girlfriend who wants stability before I can even propose." He paused, his tone turning a bit more serious. "And honestly… she's right. If I make a future with her, I should have something solid to show for it."
Alex nodded, encouraged by Calum's newfound determination. "Then maybe this is it. Maybe we can make something together."
As the brainstorming session stretched, Alex and Calum tossed ideas back and forth, trying to land on something that felt right. They'd covered everything from tech repair services to tutoring, but nothing clicked.
`
During a lull in the conversation, Alex decided to check his Skill Panel. He had to be discreet, so he acted as if he was simply scrolling on his phone. 'Maybe with those recent level-ups, there's something new here,' he thought, tapping mentally into the panel.
To his surprise, three new skills were indeed available.
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Quick Thinker – This skill would boost his problem-solving speed and adaptability, especially in challenging or high-stress situations. It was ideal for an entrepreneur who needed to think on his feet.
Networking Savvy—This skill was geared toward social interactions, improving his ability to connect with people, read their intentions, and leave a lasting impression. It is perfect for building business relationships and finding clients or partners.
Flame Craft—The name caught Alex's attention immediately. It was a cooking skill with a unique twist: it allowed him to cook dishes with a mastery that rivaled professional chefs, understanding flavors and techniques with an instinctual skill.
=====
He grinned, unable to resist the allure of the cooking skill. 'Flame Craft… that could actually work,' he thought, already imagining the possibilities. With Flame Craft, he would have the ability to create delicious and memorable dishes with an expert touch.
"Alex, you seem a bit zoned out there," Calum said, snapping Alex back to the conversation.
"Sorry," Alex replied, masking his excitement. "I was just thinking… what if we start something involving food? I could try some dishes; we could test ideas, see what sticks."