I start walking down the street, the same street I’ve walked down a thousand times before, yet it feels different now. Every detail seems sharper. The cracked sidewalk beneath my sneakers. The smell of wet grass. The faint hum of the streetlights flickering to life as the sun creeps higher in the sky. This place looks exactly like it did when I was a kid, but for some reason, it doesn’t feel like my home anymore. It feels... foreign.
I pull the collar of my hoodie up as I stroll, trying to ignore the gnawing sense that I’m being pulled into something bigger than I can understand. I’ve got a mission to accomplish, sure, but I still can’t shake the feeling that something’s just off about all of this.
The whole time travel thing. The system. Me.
I force myself to focus. My brain’s buzzing with a hundred thoughts, but I’ve got to keep a clear head. This isn’t the time for second-guessing. Not when I’ve got Brian to recruit.
1.4 Miles later
“This walk sucks… youthful vigor my ass! my legs hurt, and the mosquitos will eat me alive if I give them any quarter.” I huffed
“Why is it so steep!?” I said exasperated
Brian’s house comes into view—a run-down bungalow apartment complex at the end of the block. It’s the kind of place that always looked like it should’ve been renovated years ago, but somehow, it’s still standing.
The yard is overgrown, with weeds poking through the cracked concrete of the driveway. A rusty bike leans against the porch, and I can hear the faint sound of music playing inside.
I got hit with a wave of déjà vu.
I remember this place! I remember Brian’s mom yelling at him to get inside when he’d stay out too late, his little brother running around the yard, and Brian’s incessant “New ideas” that always seemed more like bad jokes than anything serious.
With that wave came a bunch of butterflies in my stomach seeming to have a cage match.
“What the hell am I even doing here?”
This is supposed to be the easy part—just walk in, pitch the idea, and recruit Brian. But now that I’m here, I’m realizing how absurd this whole thing sounds.
Hey, Brian, want to build a business empire with me? Sure, I’ve got zero experience, no resources, and a supernatural app controlling my every move, but what could go wrong?
As I approach the front door, my stomach twists. My nerves are starting to hit. I’ve been thinking this whole thing would play out like some kind of business meeting—me walking in like a professional, handing Brian a pitch and getting him to join me in my crazy, no-lose scheme.
At least people running a pyramid scheme are hot, How can I compete with that?
But the reality of it is, I have no idea how this is supposed to work. No clue how to sell this to Brian. How to make him think this whole “business empire” thing isn’t the most absurd idea ever. I stand at the door of Brian’s house, my heart thumping in my chest. This is it—the moment I’ve been dreading and looking forward to in equal measure.
Why Brian? That’s the question I keep asking myself. The guy’s a mess. A good-hearted mess, but a mess all the same. But then again, that’s the point, right? This whole Tycoon Project is a test, and if I can create chaos out of success, maybe the system will finally show its true hand.
But there’s no time for second-guessing now. The door swings open before I can even knock.
“Alex!” Brian’s voice rings out with that unmistakable enthusiasm. “No way, man, what’s up?”
I blink. I haven’t even said anything yet, but Brian’s already acting like we’re long-lost buddies. Not that I mind. In fact, this is exactly what I need right now.
Did we know each other in high school? Am I that old in my head?
We make eye contact and I noticed why the yearbook didn’t pick up his eyes well, they are a vivid dark green that the shitty school camera couldn’t pick up on. The longer I looked the more the light seemed to glitter in them. It was clear he was a pure soul.
“I, uh, didn’t expect you to answer so quickly,” I say, smoothing my hands down the front of my hoodie. “But hey, I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d drop by.”
“Come in, come in!” Brian steps aside, waving me in like I’m a VIP. “Totally cool you’re here, man. You want some chips or something? Or like, maybe a soda? You hungry?”
I step into the living room, momentarily stunned by the chaos. The couch is buried under a pile of mismatched blankets with trippy patterns, and a big circular coffee table is covered in snack wrappers and miniature nude statues. A ton of lava lamps bubble ominously around the room seemingly the only form of lighting, casting a weird green glow over the room. Around the table are bean bags, expensive-looking metal bowls, then the clear smell of weed and incents.
Wow I think to myself Hippie heaven
I’m taken aback by his hospitality. This must just be Brian in a nutshell.
“Nah, I’m good for now,” I say with a smile, walking into his living room. “I actually need to talk to you about something... kinda important.”
Brian plops down on the couch, clearing a spot by shoving a stack of magazines to the floor “Important?” Brian perks up immediately, his eyes lighting up. “Like, ‘let’s start a band’ important or ‘let’s buy an island and live like kings’ important?”
I chuckle “Kind of, but a little more business-y than that.”
He plops down on the couch and pats the seat next to him. “Ooooh, I like business. What’s the deal? You got an idea for a new app? A new flavor of potato chips?”
I sit down, my communications major instincts kicking in.
Hearing Francis Underwood’s smooth, calculated drawl echoing in my mind, I thought, I need to sell this, and I need to sell it well. This wasn’t just about convincing him—it was about planting the idea so deeply in his head that he’d believe it was his all along. If I played this right, he’d not only take the bait but also start tugging the line himself.
Make him the hero of his own story, I told myself, channeling Underwood’s razor-sharp sense of control. Frame it so he sees the path ahead as something only he can lead. People don’t like being told what to do—they like being inspired.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Brian wasn’t hard to read; his enthusiasm could be weaponized with just the right touch of flattery and urgency. All I had to do was give him a stage and enough spotlight to feel important, and he’d run with it. That was the beauty of someone like Brian: his energy could bulldoze any doubts if I gave him the impression he was in charge.
I adjusted my tone and posture, steadying my voice with a deliberate calmness. This wasn’t just a conversation; it was a performance. And if I nailed it, Brian wouldn’t just agree—he’d believe he was the one leading the charge.
Snap out of it Alex that’s political science, not communications!
“Well,” I start smoothly, “I’ve been thinking a lot about... opportunities. You know, ways to build something big. Something that could change everything. Not just waste our life with the common 9 to 5 for the next 40 years of our life.”
Brian’s eyes narrow with interest, but he still looks pretty confused. “Like... a car wash but with robots?”
I suppress a grin. “That’s... interesting. But not exactly. No, this is bigger than that.”
“Bigger?” Brian repeats. “Like, are we talking worldwide, or, like, just a really cool local thing?”
“Worldwide,” I say, keeping my tone calm but full of promise. “I’m talking about building a business empire, Brian. One that changes the game.”
Brian’s eyebrows shoot up, but he doesn’t miss a beat. “Wait, so like... you and me? Building an empire?”
I nod. “We build something that lasts. We don’t just make money—we change the way things are done. Can you see it, Brian?”
Brian looks at me, clearly thinking it over. “Okay, okay, I’m into it. I mean, I did always want to be, like, a CEO of something, you know? Even if it’s, like, a weird thing.”
“There’s no such thing as ‘weird’ if it works,” I say, leaning forward. “And trust me, this will work. We just need the right person—someone who’s not afraid to throw caution to the wind.”
Brian grins widely, his eyes sparkling. “Dude, I am so down. I’ve always thought business was like... the ultimate game. So, what’s the first step? We get a logo? Do we have to wear suits? ‘Cause I’m not wearing a tie around my neck. Sensory stuff and all.”
I laugh, feeling more at ease. “No suits. Just... well, we figure it out as we go. We start small, but we build fast. We think big, and we make it happen.”
Brian jumps up, excited. “I’m in! I’m totally in! Let’s do this! First step: figure out what the heck we’re doing!”
I smile, knowing this is exactly how I want it. Brian’s whimsical, unpredictable energy will be the perfect catalyst for whatever chaos I need to stir. This is it—the first step toward turning this whole system on its head.
In my head, I can almost hear the System buzzing, watching, waiting to see what happens next.
Your move, System, I think to myself. Let’s see how you handle a little chaos
“Okay B let me explain the main idea I have so far…”
----------------------------------------
How did I expect Brian to react? I’d just told him I had acquired a building as if I were some seasoned business tycoon. But instead of the rational questions any sane person would ask, Brian just grinned and nodded like this was all perfectly normal.
“So, we’re like… co-founders?” Brian asked, his voice full of unrestrained excitement.
“Yeah, exactly,” I replied, trying to sound as confident as possible. “We’re building an empire. No one’s gonna see it coming.”
His eyes widened. “Like… our empire? Like, we’ll get a giant building, fancy offices, and everything?”
I nodded. “That’s the plan.”
Brian leaned back in his chair, his mind already running wild. “Dude, do we get our own jet? Like, a private jet? Oh, or a boat—no, wait! A helicopter! A helicopter would be so cool! WAIT NO a helicopter that has a boat and on that boat is a jet ski!”
I had to suppress a chuckle. The guy’s energy was infectious, but also completely out of touch with reality. We had a dilapidated storefront in a run-down neighborhood, not a sprawling corporate HQ with a fleet of private jets. But no, I couldn’t burst his bubble yet.
“Uh, sure, we’ll look into that,” I said. “But first, we need to focus on the basics. You know, get the business rolling before we start buying jets.”
Brian was practically vibrating in his seat. “Right, right. You know what we need? A subscription service for socks. Like, people get fresh, clean socks every month. We’ll call it ‘Sock-of-the-Month’—nobody’s doing that!”
I raised an eyebrow. “Brian, I’m pretty sure people would just go buy socks at Walmart for like five bucks…”
“But that’s the genius of it!” he countered, completely missing the logic. “We make ‘em special. What if they were edible socks? Like, you get hungry and bam, snack time! And they’re biodegradable, so it’s like… green.”
I blinked, trying to process the sheer absurdity of what he was saying. “Edible socks?”
“Yeah, man!” Brian leaned forward, eyes practically glowing. “Think about it: everyone loves snacks. And socks! We combine them into one! People will eat them during work, on the go, or when they’re bored in class. Think of the viral marketing potential!”
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to laugh or run screaming from the room. But I couldn’t help myself—this was exactly the kind of ridiculous nonsense I needed for this to work. Maybe it would fail. Scratch that—it would fail. But that was the point, right?
I forced a smile and nodded along. “Okay, okay. That’s a creative idea. What about something a little more practical? Just for now, we don’t have much.”
Brian looked momentarily deflated, but then his face lit up once more. “Wait! I’ve got it! We could make a phone case that’s also a charger and self-protection brass knuckles! It’s the ultimate multitasker. You’re out, your phone’s dead, but you’re in danger? Bam, you’ve got everything in one. We’ll call it… the ‘Hydra-Case.’”
I stared at him for a moment, my mouth slightly agape.
Was that a actually a good idea?… this might be harder than I thought to make sure he only has bad ideas.
“Dude, it’s genius,” Brian said with absolute confidence. “I swear, we’re gonna be rich. I can feel it.”
I took a deep breath, trying not to let my disbelief show too much. It didn’t matter if any of these ideas would ever work. The system had given me a mission: to recruit Brian. To get him involved.
“Alright,” I said, “let’s write all this down. We’ll brainstorm tomorrow. But first, we’ve got a building to take a look at. Let’s see what we’re working with.”
Brian grinned, practically bouncing in his seat. “Oh, hell yes. We’re gonna take over the world, Alex. First stop: edible socks. Second stop: empire!”
As ridiculous as it was, something about Brian’s sheer enthusiasm made me think, Maybe this isn’t as crazy as it sounds. But deep down, I knew it was. This was going to be a disaster. A hilarious, beautiful disaster. And I was ready for it.
Just as Brian was about to launch into another grandiose plan for our future empire, the front door swung open, and in walked Brian’s mom—Carolyn, a short woman with a no-nonsense demeanor and an Atypical sense of humor.
“Brian!” she called out in that tone that left no room for argument. “You need to go pick up your little brother from Bible camp. They’re wrapping up, and I’m not going to drive all the way over there myself.”
Brian froze mid-sentence, eyes widening as if he’d just been snapped out of a trance. “Oh, right! Totally forgot about that.”
I raised an eyebrow, surprised at the sudden shift in his attention. “what is she talking about?”
"Yeah, Ethan. He’s twelve. He’s at that camp out in the sticks for the week," Brian said, his voice a bit deflated now that his whirlwind of business ideas had been interrupted.
Carolyn demanded, hands on her hips. “I’ve got dinner to make, and guests coming over for the party”
Brian groaned dramatically. “Mom, I’m literally in the middle of planning our empire—this is going to change the world! You don’t understand, we’ve got things to brainstorm!”
Carolyn didn’t seem too impressed by the mention of “things”. She raised an eyebrow and gave him a pointed look. “You’re not too busy to help out your family, are you?”
Brian slouched in his seat, clearly defeated by the inevitable. “Fine, I’ll go pick him up.” He sighed heavily before standing up, stretching like he was about to embark on a great journey. "Alright, alright. But when I get back, we’re going full throttle on the ‘Hydra-Case.’”
Carolyn shot me a look as Brian walked out the door. “I don’t know what you two are up to, but he better get back here and help around the house later. He’s already late on chores.”
I smiled smoothly, knowing I needed to make a good impression while I had her attention. "I’ll make sure he stays focused, Mrs. Thompson. Don’t worry."
She raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical but not interested in pressing further. “Well, you two figure things out, and don’t let him skip his chores.” She walked into the kitchen, leaving me alone with the whirlwind of ideas that Brian had just dropped on me.
I took a deep breath, trying to recenter myself. This had taken an unexpected turn, but it didn’t matter. The plan was still on track. Brian wasn’t going to let something like Bible camp get in the way of our empire. And now, I had a little more time to figure out how to make sure that empire ended up being nothing more than a failure.