As soon as breakfast ended, Kaito stood up, nodding to the elders and giving a small wave to Aika. "We'll be back before lunch," he said simply.
Mei Rin gave a subtle nod. "I'm ready. And I've spoken to some friends—ten or eleven of them. They're interested in joining the studio too."
Kaito blinked in surprise. "That many?"
"They're gamers I've played with. Talented, dedicated. They just need direction," she said with a light smile.
He smiled back. "Alright. We'll plan their roles accordingly."
"Bring back someone cool!" Aika called.
The journey to Razorblade's apartment took less than half an hour. The streets of Silvercrest City were already buzzing with anticipation—news channels were hinting at a major gaming update expected later in the day.
As the car pulled up near an older, modest complex, Kaito tapped a few commands into his optical device, reviewing the brief dossier he had created on Tatsuo Guren, the boy who would one day become a legend in Glory under the name Razorblade.
He approached the door and knocked.
Moments later, it opened. Tatsuo stood there with an indifferent expression, his sharp eyes flickering with curiosity as they scanned Kaito and then Mei Rin.
"You're...?"
"Kaito Ren," Kaito said calmly. "Owner of Genesis Studio. This is my associate, Mei Rin."
Tatsuo's gaze narrowed. "Never heard of it."
"You will soon," Kaito replied. "I'm recruiting talents for Glory. You're one of them."
Tatsuo raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Why me?"
Kaito smirked. "You've dominated every FPS ladder you've touched in the last three years. You've ranked top 10 in the national VR reflex trials—without even entering an academy. Your PvP record in lesser-known indie titles is unmatched. And more importantly... I know you hate losing."
Tatsuo folded his arms. "That last part's true."
"We're forming a team," Kaito continued. "Top-tier coordination. Complete resource backing. We won't just be good—we'll be legendary."
"And I'm just supposed to trust that?"
"No. I'm asking you to visit the studio next week. Just come and see."
There was a pause. Then, a voice came from inside the apartment.
"Tatsuo, who is it?" It was Nina, Tatsuo's younger sister.
He called back, "No one, just a couple recruiters."
Mei Rin smiled softly. "Hi, Nina. I've seen some of your gameplay clips—you're sharp with dual blades."
Nina peeked out from behind her brother, eyes wide. "You saw those?"
Kaito nodded. "We've done our homework."
Tatsuo looked between the two of them, finally stepping aside. "Alright, come in. But no promises."
They entered a small, neat living room. Over the next thirty minutes, Kaito laid out the plan in more detail—training schedules, early access to gear once Glory launched, sponsorship pipelines, and most importantly, a chance to be among the first names the world would recognize once rankings went live.
Eventually, Tatsuo leaned back with a smirk. "I'll come. If I like what I see... I'll stay."
Nina looked to her brother. "Can I come too?"
"Depends," Tatsuo said, glancing at Kaito.
Kaito smiled. "She's welcome. But she'll have to earn her spot like everyone else."
They shook hands.
Kaito and Mei Rin returned to the villa just in time for lunch. The family was already seated when they entered, and a few of the elders raised their brows curiously.
"Successful trip?" Kaito's father asked.
Kaito gave a small nod. "Very."
They didn't go into detail, but the mood at the table was lighter. Mei Rin sat beside Aika, chatting quietly about games, while Kaito quietly made notes on his optical interface.
After lunch, Mei Rin stood up, brushing off imaginary dust from her sleeves.
"I'll head out now," she said, adjusting the strap of her sling bag. "I've got a long list of calls to make."
"I'll walk you to the gate," Kaito replied, standing alongside her.
As they moved through the corridor, servants bowed respectfully, and a few curious glances followed them. At the villa entrance, Mei Rin paused, then looked over her shoulder.
"Two days left," she murmured. "Glory's about to begin. Nervous?"
Kaito smiled faintly. "I already know what to expect. I've waited too long for this."
She held his gaze for a second, then gave a nod. "Then we both better be ready."
After she left in her shuttle, Kaito turned, walking slowly back toward the main building. On the way, he tapped the side of his wristband and whispered low, "AI, schedule a procurement command set for day two post-launch."
A gentle chime confirmed the order.
"Affirmative. Procurement orders queued for day two sunrise."
There was no need to place them now. The market would be too volatile, and his funds were still locked in stock. But once the credits returned after the surge... he would build everything at once.
And when the world opened its eyes to Glory, Genesis would already be watching.
Around 4:50 PM, a soft beep echoed in Kaito's ear.
Federation Broadcast: Official Glory Equipment Launch Confirmed.
— Virtual Helmets and Nutrient Cabins now available for public purchase.
Kaito smiled faintly. He opened his financial dashboard.
The stocks—Sol-Tek, LumeCore, and Cryonix Constructs—were already rising. Just as planned.
But he wasn't the only one watching. Across the city, several conglomerate-backed investors began making frantic moves. They were late. The spike had started, and demand was already surging.
As the afternoon sun dipped lower, casting golden rays through the curtains, Kaito glanced at the time. There was still a good few hours before dinner. With things progressing quickly, he didn't want to leave anything pending. He stood up from his desk, eyes steady.
"Let's finalize the studio site first," he murmured.
Using the AI interface discreetly through his phone's lens interface, he scheduled a visit to the nearby old factory he'd marked the night before. The building, located only ten minutes away from the Ren family estate, had long stood abandoned but retained a solid steel-frame infrastructure and spacious layout. It was perfect for what he had in mind.
Minutes later, Kaito arrived at the factory gates. The front yard was clean, though the faded paint and overgrown edges hinted at its disuse. Waiting by the side entrance stood a man in his late forties, dressed in simple grey slacks and a collared shirt, nursing a cup of warm milk.
"You must be the one who sent the inquiry?" the man asked with a cautious smile.
"Yes, Ren Kaito. Thank you for meeting me on short notice."
"Ren family, eh? You live just down the Lane, don't you?" the man tilted his head, his expression easing a little. "I've heard good things. Old Ren Zhong always kept the land in fine shape."
"My grandfather," Kaito replied politely. "Actually, I'm planning to repurpose this site as a gaming studio. Everything is ready, but I'll need some time to free up the funds. I'd like to propose a short-term agreement."
The man raised an eyebrow. "A studio? You kids really are something else these days. I was planning to sell this outright, see. I'm relocating to a different province, need the cash to settle there."
"I understand," Kaito said calmly. "What I'm proposing is this—let's sign a holding contract today. I'll guarantee the Ren family name. The full payment will be completed within four days from now—on the 10th April. Until then, the agreement will remain valid."
The man said thoughtfully. "That's a bit of a gamble."
Kaito smiled slightly. "Add a clause—if the full payment isn't made by then, the contract becomes null and void. you're free to sell it elsewhere."
A long pause stretched between them before the man finally nodded.
"You've got guts, boy. Fine. I'll draw up a contract. Let's see if you follow through."
Within the hour, they signed a basic pre-sale document, with both parties affixing their digital seals. The owner left Kaito a copy and shook hands firmly.
"Don't let me down, kid."
"I won't."
As the factory gate closed behind him, Kaito exhaled. One more crucial piece was locked in place. Now he had the building, and soon, the team. The rest would follow.
That evening, after a lively family dinner, the household settled down into its usual quiet. Just as Kaito stepped onto the veranda for some air, he noticed Aika sitting on the wooden steps, her arms wrapped around her knees.
"Big brother," she said as he approached, "do you really think your studio will become big?"
Kaito sat beside her. "It already is. Just hasn't been born yet."
She chuckled. "When it does... promise you'll let me play too?"
"You already are," he smiled, patting her head. "You're our hidden ace."
"I'll work hard then!"
Later that night, Kaito returned to his room, quietly activating his lens display. The AI shimmered to life, its response instant.
"Studio registration module ready. Logistics task tree queued for execution once funds clear."
Kaito lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind raced through timelines, names, choices.
"Two days left," he whispered.
Just enough time.