"Anything else?" asked the man responsible for distributing character cards and collecting mission reports.

He didn’t just rely on the written reports from Captain Chou; he always summoned each team member to his office for a few questions to ensure the data matched perfectly. He was passionate about his work, everyone could see that.

"Yes, actually, I want to add something," Eden said. "QuantumPlay Dynamics should add the possibility to link bank accounts to the [Character Cards] to enable money transfers inside Ahartohaim."

The director put his pen down and gave Eden his full attention. "And why should we do that?" he asked.

"Sir, from what I've heard, we can't bring gold coins to Earth. However, people will definitely spend real money to buy coins in Ahartohaim. This happens in any game, and Ahartohaim won't be different. From the little information I have, I'm thinking it would be a massive problem to recall all the released [Character Cards] to add a few more features to them once the game is officially launched."

The director thought for a while, nodding in succession once he realized the impact of the idea. They indeed needed to enable money transfers inside the game.

"Your way of thinking is correct," he said. "However, players will be buying Ahartohaim's currency only from other players. Inhabitants have no use for our money."

Aaa, for now. When they will be able to come to Earth, this story will change. But at that time, it will be to late for you to do anything, Eden thought.

"Exactly. At the early stages of the game, not many will be foolish enough to sell the few coppers they have. This gives QuantumPlay the time needed to establish a system for such transfers. You can copy one from a popular game and use it as a model. I've seen that a [Character Card] can include many more features," Eden said, confident the director would agree.

Ahartohaim has its own "God" controlling its system. No one can implement something not accepted by that entity. And luckily for players and inhabitants, the "God" is always present and true to his laws, Eden thought this as he watched the director smile. He knew some of the possibilities the three governments saw in Ahartohaim. Your big dreams will be crushed when you realize that not only can you not control much in that game world, but you will slowly lose control over this world as well.

Both men smiled at each other, but their smiles reflected different meanings: one symbolized certainty, the other possibility.

"This is valuable information, Mr. Ivera," said the director. "I'll make sure you receive the appropriate amount of benefits. And in the future, if you have more amazing ideas, please come share them with me." The director extended a white card with the game company logo on it.

"I'll definitely do that," Eden replied. "Have a nice day," he said, exiting the office.

Eden saw through the glass wall how the director, professional and composed just a few moments ago, immediately started making calls and noting something in a frenzy after he left. What Eden shared was common knowledge for gamers, taking their needs into account. But those trivial and simple things often escaped the illuminated minds that always thought about complicated stuff.

In his past, this information had reached QuantumPlay Dynamics only after Ahartohaim was officially launched. The commotion caused when the [Character Cards] were recalled for an upgrade had been significant.

Eden could do nothing about the banking system as he didn't have the power to contend with the three governments. All he could do was accumulate some merit points, which were more than welcome when he started with a Silver, or maybe Gold Threaded Character Card.

Anyway, ten hours of effort and stress gathered inside Ahartohaim weighed on Eden's body, even though only five hours had passed on Earth. He looked at his phone; the class rep had called him twice. Unlike Cole, who traveled by car, Eden either walked or took the bus, so he had time to leave the girl a message before arriving home to take a well deserved nap.

When he woke from his beauty sleep, the nightstand clock showed 20:09. Getting up from the bed, Eden checked his phone, but the only message received was a scolding from the class rep.

"This girl takes her role too seriously," Eden said, tossing his phone on the bed and starting to prepare to go to the dojo.

At 20:28, he walked out of the building, his blonde hair stubbornly refusing any type of styling. It was just everywhere.

His phone rang. It was Cole.

"What's up," Eden answered.

"Where are you?"

"In front of my apartment. Why?"

"I'm giving you a ride," Cole said before ending the call.

This was good news, as Eden wasn't in the mood to walk any longer. He placed his phone inside the pocket of his varsity jacket and took out his headphones.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Still mad at me?" he asked, but no one answered. "Come on, it was just a mistake."

'Mistake? You almost got yourself killed. I told you that your level was too low to get that treasure chest, but do you ever listen to me?' an angry, but sweet voice that could only belong to a cute and lovely girl, echoed in Eden's head. It was none other then Zizi, Eden's spiritual fairy.

"Babe, come on, I was overconfident in my abilities. It happens," he said. "Besides, everyone has five lives per account in Ahartohaim, so what's the big deal? Even if i died, once the game is officially launched, my character will be reset and i'll still have all my five lives," Eden explained, not understanding why his fairy would be so mad.

'To you, it happens all the time. Have you forgotten why you returned to the past? What you said about the mistake that you will never repeat? What if I wasn't sent back together with you. That doesn't matter, right? That doesn't matter to you at all. If I don't matter to you, then why continue to talk with me. Talk with Cole and Monique, not me. Either way, you act only in the way you want and never listen to what I have to say," Zizi complained.

"Mhhh," Eden growled. "Your interpretation of my actions is extremely wrong. How can you say that you don't matter to me?" he asked, yet no one answered. Inside his head was absolute silence.

"Tsss, I swear that you're acting more like a jealous wife than a spiritual fairy," Eden muttered to himself.

Not long after, Cole arrived in his tuned, night-blue sports car and took Eden to the dojo.

They arrived in no time, and as both walked out of the car, Cole asked, "What's with you? Did you sleep on nails?"

"...something like that. But I'm still gonna give you a good beating," Eden joked with a half-smile.

"I really want to see that," Cole replied.

The dojo frequented by the boys was called "Zen Blade Martial Arts Center," and their sensei was a veritable Japanese master. After changing into their equipment and grabbing their wooden swords, the boys sat down in seiza, waiting for instructions.

They had both real-life training and experience from VR games. But despite their sensei's recommendations, they never participated in professional competitions. They didn’t see enough of a reward in doing so. If they were in Japan or another country that awarded belts and recognition based on merit rather than years spent training, they might have participated. But fighting against black belts who couldn't even fend them off felt like a major waste of time.

"Take position!" Kaito Sensei ordered, and the boys executed without hesitation.

"You ready?" Cole asked, preparing his wooden sword.

"Always," Eden replied, doing the same.

"Begin!" Kaito Sensei commanded.

Cole made the first move, his feet advancing rapidly, and his sword carved a beautiful arc through the air before coming at Eden with full force. Eden remained steady, placing a hand on the back of his blade and absorbing the impact.

Cole executed a thrust followed by two consecutive short attacks aimed at Eden's sides. Eden parried all of them with a little bit of effort and retaliated with a front kick that missed its target. Cole thought he found an opportunity and slashed diagonally, aiming at Eden's leg. He fell for the trap as Eden shifted his weight to his back foot and evaded.

My turn, Eden thought, going on the offensive and assaulting Cole with rapid attacks from different angles. The wooden sword struck Cole's thigh, and after a few more exchanges, the tip hit his shoulder.

"Stop!" Kaito Sensei ordered. "You will rotate."

"This is my loss," Cole admitted, rotating his shoulder to ease the pain.

Eden nodded in acceptance, not wanting to talk and disturb the other ongoing fight. After the other fight ended, the dueling partners changed, and Eden faced a middle-aged man named Hanson.

"Begin!"

At the start signal, Eden remained in a defensive stance, letting Hans take the offensive. He wasn't fully accustomed to the capabilities of his current body even after fighting monsters for hours, so he wanted to test his reaction speed and coordination.

Hans slashed from above with a diagonal trajectory. Eden deflected the blade, creating an opening for an attack, but Hans defended beautifully. The sounds of clashing wooden swords filled the room. The rest of the students watched intently as their seniors exchanged rapid blows that didn't lack power.

Hans aimed his blade at Eden's hand, a gesture predicted by Eden, who sent an impulse through his sword and parried the attack. Dissatisfied, Hans was forced onto the defensive. Eden's attacks were difficult to defend against, but Hans created an opening and countered with a low kick aimed at Eden's leg.

Eden changed his gravity center and raised his foot in time to avoid the attack. Then, without giving his opponent time to readjust his stance, Eden slammed right in him. The force generated from the feet sending Hans flying a few meters away.

"Stop!" said another sensei supervising Eden's duel.

"Bro, you're in form today," Cole, who won his duel a few seconds earlier, praised.

"I've practiced in Ahartohaim," Eden replied. "I really don't feel a difference between my body there and here."

I'll let you find out by yourself that it's the same body, Eden thought.

"No talk, fight," Kaito Sensei ordered, and the boys fell silent.

Eden's last adversary was a man in his twenties, slightly taller than him, and with unusual long arms. His attacks could reach Eden from a distance, but Eden closed the distance and struck the long armed man's abdomen with the hilt of his sword.

The duel was short. The tall man dropped to the floor, clutching his abdomen.

"Stop!"

That was stronger than I expected, Eden thought before stepping back and voicing an apology.

"You did better than last time," Kaito Sensei approached his student.

"Sensei praises me too much," Eden said with a polite bow.

"You waste talent on games. Why not focus solely on the art of the sword?"

"Sensei said we need to follow our calling. My calling is not focused solely on the path of the sword," Eden explained.

"Your sensei didn't know what he was saying back then," Kaito joked. The group laughed, prompting Kaito to revert to his strict demeanor. "No laughter, back to training," he ordered sharply.

After the training, Kaito called for Cole and Eden to follow him. In the garden behind the dojo, Kaito's wife served tea before retreating, leaving the men to have a serious discussion.

"An important competition is coming. Great masters from around the globe will attend. Sensei wants you to participate in the name of this dojo," Kaito said.

"When will the competition be?" Cole asked.

"Friday, next week, 20:00. Arrive fifteen minutes earlier," Kaito explained.

Great, Eden thought. In the past only Cole was selected to go. And that competition won't be just that. Ahartohaim will be launched by then, and many people will make selections at that event. A great opportunity to create connections and make sensei's friends my allies.

"We will definitely participate," Eden said confidently.

"Good," Kaito responded, waiting for Cole's confirmation before taking out two black cards with a golden dragon on them. "Your entry tickets."