Hello everyone, and thank you so much for reading Book 1 of "Threads of Fortune"!
We've reached the end of the first arc, "The Awakening," and I'm incredibly grateful to have you here at the very beginning of this journey. Your follows, ratings, and reads mean the world to me.
As we prepare to dive into Book 2, I wanted to share a look behind the curtain with a recap of our key players and a roadmap for the epic story ahead.
The Story Roadmap
"Threads of Fortune" is a long-term project that I've planned out in five major "Books." Here is a spoiler-free glimpse of the road ahead:
Book I: The Awakening (Chapters 1-14): Riku's desperate struggle for survival, his discovery of a strange new world, and the first steps he took to turn from a victim of fate into a player in the game. (COMPLETE)
Book II: The Ghost & The Architect: An unlikely alliance will be forged as the hunt for a ghost from the past intensifies. Riku must navigate a partnership built on secrets and suspicion to risk everything on a forgotten dream.
Book III: The Rise of Prometheus: Success will bring new dangers as a fledgling idea begins to attract the attention of powerful forces who don't like their world being changed.
Book IV: The Corporate War: A high-stakes battle of wits and strategy where Riku's knowledge will be pushed to its absolute limit, and the price of victory may be higher than he can imagine.
Book V: The Weaver's Game: The final act, where the true rules of the game will be revealed, and Riku will confront the real reason for his second chance.
Character Dossier (As of the end of Book 1)
Hayashi Riku: A brilliant but disgraced financial analyst from the 21st century, now stranded in a parallel 1990s. His knowledge is his greatest weapon, but his past is a mystery, and his future is unwritten.
Arakawa Shinji: A sharp, cynical, and brilliant designer haunted by the ghost of his failed startup, "Prometheus Labs." He is now Riku's suspicious and volatile new partner.
Watanabe Ichiro: The president of Watanabe & Sons. A traditional, sharp-eyed, and pragmatic businessman who values results over talk.
Sato Emi: The highly perceptive and professional office manager at Watanabe & Sons. She is an observant and formidable gatekeeper.
Sato Kenji: Sato-san's friendly and curious son who works in the company's warehouse. He is Riku's first and only real friend in this new world.
Glossary of Terms
Shogunate of Kaishi: The formal name for this world's Japan.
Republic of Columbia: This world's version of the United States of America.
Prometheus Labs: The failed startup founded by Arakawa Shinji and the mysterious programmer Takeda Masaru.
A Look Ahead: What's New in Book 2
As we move into Book 2: The Ghost & The Architect, every chapter will feature our full, polished blueprint: a thematic Epigraph, an easy-to-read style, and an Author's Note at the end with a fun Poll for you to share your theories.
Book 2 will begin with Chapter 15 tomorrow! Get ready. The real weaving begins now.
G. V.