The sun was shining brightly over Neo-Veridia. It was so bright that it did not feel like the sun that Sam remembered. The world seemed vivid like a movie director had turned up the color. Sam stood in front of the mirror adjusting his charcoal-grey tie.
The room behind him looked completely different. All the action figures were packed away in boxes. The weird curtains were gone, replaced by cream linens that he had ordered online. He looked like a man with a plan not like a shut-in.
Sam said to the System "What about my Agility stat? Is it going to be a problem when I am commuting? My legs feel like they are made of paper."
[DING!]
[Current Agility: 9/100. You should avoid stairs and fast movements.. You have a Beginners Luck buff for six more hours. It will help you.]
"" Sam said. "I will need it."
Sam grabbed his leather briefcase and headed out. He was going to The Imperial Academy.
THE GATEKEEPER
The Imperial Academy was on a hill overlooking the city. It was a place with old and new buildings. The tuition was more expensive than what most people make in a year.
As Sam got off the bus his knees felt weak. His low Agility was a problem.. When he walked towards the gate a car suddenly swerved to avoid a cat. Water splashed everywhere. A newspaper blew up and protected his suit.
Sam thought, "This is my day."
The interview was in an office. Director Hennessey was sitting behind a wooden desk. She looked at Sam's resume. Said, "This is interesting. You have a degree but then you did nothing for three years. No job, no references. Just a proposal for our Economics Department sent at four in the morning."
Sam sat down. Explained, "I was doing research and managing my money. I think that to teach students you need to understand the market, not the theory."
The Director. Took notes. Sam told her that the school's economic models were old and needed to be changed. He explained his ideas and the Director was impressed.
"We have a job opening for a teacher, " she said. "The students are difficult. They respect people who know what they are talking about."
"I speak their language, " Sam said.
[DING!]
[Side Mission 1: Get a job at Imperial Academy. IN PROGRESS.]
[Director Hennessey likes you. You have a trial period of one month.]
THE ACCIDENTAL ENCOUNTER
As Sam left the office he walked through the garden. He was tired. Stopped by a fountain to rest. A man came up to him. Said, "You're in my spot."
Sam turned around. I saw a handsome young man. He looked like a model.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: You see Matthew Servilla. He is the heir to the Servilla Group and the main character of this story.]
Sam did not panic. He just looked at Matthew. Said, "The fountain belongs to the school. I'm just leaning on it."
Matthew was surprised. He did not expect Sam to talk like that.
"You're different, " Matthew said. "What happened to Sam?"
"I have a job now, " Sam replied. ". I dress properly. You should try it too. It might help your family's business."
The air was tense. Sam's new personality was changing things.
"You're lecturing me on business?" Matthew said. "You're the one who used to play with toys all day."
"People change, " Sam said. "Some of us just do it faster."
Then a group of students walked by. One of them was a girl with brown hair and sparkly eyes.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: You see Isabelle Diaz. She is the girl in this story.]
Isabelle. I looked at Sam. "Who's your friend, Matthew?" she asked.
Sam introduced himself. "I'm Sam Lee, the Economics teacher."
Isabelle was surprised. "You look your age, " she said.
"Age doesn't matter, " Sam said. "What matters is what you know."
As Sam walked away he felt their eyes on him.
[DING!]
[You have updated your relationships with Matthew and Isabelle. Matthew is intrigued by you and Isabelle is impressed.]
"System, " Sam whispered, "how long do I have this lucky buff?"
[You have 2 minutes and 14 seconds left. Also your health is low because you're tired. You should exercise more.]
Sam said, "Be quiet. I just made the main character think I'm a genius. I'll worry about my health later."
THE TEACHER'S DESK
The week at Imperial Academy was tough. Sam's classroom was full of smart teenagers. They looked at him like he was a bug they could crush.
In the back row sat Liam Choi.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: Target Identified.]
[Name: Liam Choi (Villain)]
[Role: The Shadow Heir, Matthew's Rival.]
Liam Choi did not look like a person. He was pale and elegant. He had a smile that never quite reached his eyes. He was the one who would eventually hurt Matthew's business and cause a lot of trouble for Isabelle. The thing that would lead to the yacht party.
"Today " Sam said, writing a number on the digital chalkboard: $0. "We are going to talk about the value of nothing."
The class murmured. Liam Choi leaned forward, his eyes narrowing.
"Most of you think you are here to learn how to make money, " Sam continued, walking between the rows of desks. He was paying attention to every student. "That is not very interesting. Any computer can do that. I am going to teach you how to survive when you lose all your money. I am going to teach you how to be the person who makes money when everything is going wrong."
For the hour Sam did not use a textbook. He used his experience from the Planning Department. He talked about what happens when companies cannot get the things they need, how people behave when they are scared and the harsh reality of companies taking over companies.
He was very good at this. For the time since he died Sam felt excited. He was not a nobody anymore. He was someone
As the bell rang the students did not rush out. They sat in silence thinking about the lecture. Liam Choi was the first to stand up. He walked past Sam's desk stopping for a short time.
"Interesting idea, Professor Lee, " Liam Choi said, his voice low. ". In the real world when things are going wrong most people just get hurt."
"Then it is a thing I am teaching them how to be in control Mr. Choi " Sam replied.
Liam Choi's smile got a little bigger. It was not a smile but it was a sign that he understood.
[DING!]
[Villain Relationship Update!]
[Liam Choi: Hostility +5, Respect +20. Status: Acknowledged as a threat.]
THE SHADOW OF THE YACHT
That evening Sam sat in his apartment. He had made it through the week. He had a job, he had met people and he had not gotten sick.
When he looked at the calendar he saw a big red circle: The Founders Day Gala. Yacht Trip.
It was two months away.
"System, " Sam said, opening a package of noodles (he was not good at cooking). "When does the big problem happen for Matthew?"
[DING!]
[Scanning Plotlines... The first big problem for the Servilla Group happens in three weeks. Someone will say that their shipping division did something. In the story Matthew handled it badly which led to problems and the need for the Yacht Party to make people feel better.]
Sam ate his noodles thinking. "So if I help him handle the problem the Yacht Party might not happen?. Does it happen in a different way?"
[That is correct.. The World Will is strong. If you stop one thing it might try to make another bad thing happen to keep the main events on track.]
"Let it try, " Sam said, his mind working with a competitive fire. "I have spent my life fixing mistakes made by bosses. The World Will is another boss with a bad plan. I will just have to make a plan."
He opened his laptop. Started looking into the Servilla Group's shipping records. If he was going to save his life he had to save Matthew's company first.
As he worked a strange message popped up on his screen. It was a message from someone unknown.
"Professor Lee. Your talk about 'burning' was very interesting. I wonder... How do you feel about a meeting?. L.C."
Liam Choi.
Sam leaned back in his chair with a smile on his face. The bad guy wanted to play? Okay.
"System, put my 5 points into Agility when I earn them " Sam said. "If I am going to deal with the devil I do not want to trip over my feet."
[Understood, Host. Current Status: Level 1. Progress to Level 2: 45/100. You are doing well for a dead person.]
"I am not a person anymore, " Sam said, closing the laptop. "I am the New Manager."
STAT SUMMARY: END, OF CHAPTER TWO
| Attribute | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 100/100 MAXED. Analytical Mind active. |
| Charm | 70/100 | Gained +3 from allocation. |
| Stamina | 60/100 | Stable,. Easily depleted.
| Agility | 9/100 | CRITICAL. High risk of physical mistakes. |
| Luck | 100/100 | BUFFED (Expiring soon).
| Bureau Points | 2500 | Unspent. |
Current Objective: Look into the Servilla Group whistleblower. Decide whether to accept Liam Choi's invitation.