Before Max could protest, Yuki was dragging him toward the front of the hall, where the twin guild leaders stood talking with several officers.
Kaito noticed their approach and smiled. "Ah, MaxThorne. The mystery Soulbinder."
Ayame turned, her avatar's movements graceful. "We were hoping to meet you."
Max managed a bow—half from politeness, half from instinct when facing people this powerful. "Honored to meet you both."
"No need for formality," Kaito said warmly. "We're all just gamers here. Well, gamers who happen to run a multi-million dollar organization, but still." He laughed.
"Your performance in the Crimson Spire was impressive," Ayame said. "Level 10, keeping pace with level 15s, topping DPS charts. How are you managing that with Soulbinder? From what I understand, it's primarily a support-utility class."
Max had prepared for this question. "Unique build path. Voidborn race synergies with specific contract choices. I found some mechanics that compound well."
"And you're not sharing the details," Kaito observed.
"Not yet," Max admitted. "Still testing some things."
"Smart," Ayame said approvingly. "Information is valuable. Guard it until you're ready to leverage it."
Kaito clapped Max on the shoulder. "We're not going to pressure you for build details. That's not how Phoenix works. But I will say this—whatever you're doing, keep doing it. Players who break the meta, who find unique advantages, are exactly what we need."
"About the contract," Max said, deciding to address the elephant in the room. "It's... extensive."
"It has to be," Ayame said. "We're dealing with real money, real legal implications, and real-world identities. The contract protects everyone—guild leadership, sponsors, and members."
"Take your time reading it," Kaito added. "If you have questions, our legal team can answer them. But bottom line—if you stay with Phoenix, we'll handle all your IAOO compliance, give you the best tax rate available, and provide opportunities to earn serious money. All we ask is loyalty, discretion, and continued high performance."
"I'll read it carefully," Max promised.
"Good." Kaito smiled. "Now, there's a raid tomorrow night, potential legendary drops. You're level 11 now?"
"Yes."
"If you hit 13 by tomorrow evening, you're welcome to join. We can use another strong DPS."
"I'll be there," Max said.
Ayame nodded approvingly. "Looking forward to it. Welcome to Phoenix, MaxThorne. I think you're going to fit in well here."
They dismissed him with warm smiles, and Yuki led him away.
"Well?" she asked as they exited the assembly hall. "What do you think?"
Max looked around at the guild hall—at the expensive furnishings, the elite players, the corporate backing.
"I think I'm in way over my head," he admitted.
Yuki laughed. "That's how everyone feels at first. But you'll adapt."
"What about you?" Max asked. "The Finance Minister's daughter in a guild run by the Prime Minister's kids. That's not a coincidence."
"Nothing in Phoenix is a coincidence," Yuki said. "My father and Prime Minister Yoshida are allies. When Kaito and Ayame founded Phoenix, it made sense for me to join. It's good politics, good networking, and honestly, they're good players. Politics aside, they run the guild well."
"It's just a game, though," Max said. "Or it was."
"Was," Yuki agreed. "Not anymore. Aetheria is power now—economic, social, political. The people who control it will shape the future. Phoenix Guild is positioning itself to be one of those controlling forces."
She paused at the guild hall entrance. "And you, Max, with your mysterious unique build? You're positioning yourself right alongside us. Whether you realize it or not."
Max watched her leave, her figure disappearing into the crowd.
He pulled up the guild contract in his interface and started reading. Pages and pages of legal language, clauses about intellectual property, non-disclosure, profit sharing, dispute resolution.
His phone buzzed in the real world—he felt the vibration through the neural link.
A message from his mother: When are you coming home? We need to talk about your registration at the ATH facility. This is serious.
Max closed the contract. He would finish reading it at home.
Right now, he needed to log out and face the real world.
**
REAL WORLD – Tokyo, Japan
Max logged out and removed the NeuroSync headset, his mind still processing everything from the guild meeting.
He heard voices from the living room. His mother was home early, and she wasn't alone.
Max stood and walked to the doorway, then froze.
His mother sat on the couch, looking tired in her nurse's attire. Beside her sat a woman Max recognized immediately—his aunt, Keiko.
Keiko was his mother's older sister, and the contrast between them was apparent. While Yuki dressed practically and worked long hospital shifts, Keiko looked like she had stepped out of a luxury magazine.
She wore an expensive designer dress that hugged her figure perfectly, her hair professionally styled, makeup flawless. At 54, she maintained herself meticulously—regular gym sessions, high-end skincare. Her figure was impressive for her age, curves accentuated by the tailored clothing.
She had married Tanaka Hiroshi, CEO of a major pharmaceutical company. Since then, she had lived in luxury—designer clothes, expensive cars, a mansion in an exclusive Tokyo neighborhood.
Standing beside her was her son, Ryota. Twenty-two years old, dressed in streetwear brands that cost more than Max's monthly rent. He had his phone out, clearly in the middle of showing his mother something.
"—and look at this legendary drop I got yesterday," Ryota was saying, his voice loud and boastful. "Sold it for 80,000 gold. That's over a million yen in real money. My guild leader said it was the best pull of the week."
"That's wonderful, dear," Keiko cooed, clearly proud.
Yuki noticed Max in the doorway. "Max, you're out. Come here. Your aunt and cousin stopped by to visit."
Max forced a smile and entered the room. "Aunt Keiko. Ryota."
Keiko stood and embraced him, her perfume overwhelming. "Max! Look at you, still so thin. Are you eating properly?"
"I'm fine, Aunt Keiko."
Ryota looked up from his phone. "Yo, Bro. Heard you're playing Aetheria too. What level are you?"
"Eleven," Max said simply.
Ryota laughed. "Eleven? Damn, I'm already level 19. Been grinding with my guild non-stop. We're going for world rankings."
He pulled up his phone to show screenshots.
"Look at my gear. All epic-tier, some legendary pieces. My dad bought me a starter package—$50,000 worth of gold and equipment. Totally worth it."