Episode Two

Here I come

Jason looked in the mirror once again with tears in his eyes.

“Great. This is just great, haha. Since I've been reincarnated, I have the power to change everything. I will earn enough money to get Mom and Dad treated by the finest doctors and I will make sure they live a life without worries. I will not let anyone treat me like trash. I have my gaming experience with me and I will change my destiny,” Jason silently swore to himself as he wiped away his tears.

Just when Jason was planning his future, Jackie called again, continuously urging Jason to reach the university for the test. Yet Jason did not rush. He dressed at a relaxed pace, tidying himself up before heading to New Jordan University. He could not be more familiar with Shadow than he was before being reincarnated. Jason still remembered everything clearly. It was while he was still attending university, Liam Heir group's prize son Watson Heir, started up Shadow workshop for students to enter the Grand domain. Watson also invested a considerable amount, funding the recruitment of the expert gamers, students of new Jordan University. Jason had passed Shadow’s exam at the time, successfully becoming a core member of the workshop, whereas Jackie became an external member. Jason had been happy for quite some time after that. After three years of being under the leadership of Jason, Shadow workshop allowed Liam Heir group to greatly profit from Grand domain, quickly becoming a large financial group. However, Jason would never have thought that Watson would be the one to personally fire him.

Since he had been reincarnated, he had an advantage within Grand domain that others did not, and that was that he already knew the game and was a master at it. Naturally, he would not be joining shadows to become a tool that profited others. He wanted to walk a different path, a path where he fought not for others for himself. He wanted to remove the need for his parents to send him living expenses. He wanted to pay back all the debt they had taken. To do that, he wanted to venture to start his own workshop, to start his own company, and to build his own virtual kingdom, all to live a better life. As soon as Jason arrived at teaching block one, he caught sight of a thin figure in front of the building. The tanned youth was pacing around the hallway in a panic. This young man was Jackie.

“Jason, bro, you finally decided to show up. Fortunately, registration hasn't closed yet. So let's hurry and sign up,” Jackie said anxiously after seeing Jason.

Jason shook his head saying, “Jackie am not joining shadow. I'll be opening my own workshop. Will you join me?”

Jackie was someone Jason had met while playing another virtual reality game and the former had pretty good skills. The two of them had faced many challenges together and they were no less than brothers by this point. During their time together working for shadow, Jackie showed great talent in administration and lacked the talent for gaming. He managed the 1000 Guild members in an orderly manner. If Jason had Jackie's help this time, his plans could move a step further. He would respect Jackie's decision regardless. It was because Jason had nothing right now and Jackie's family circumstances were not that well either. Jackie had also chosen to become a professional gamer enjoying shadow to earn some credits for living expenses.

Jackie was shocked at Jason words lowering his head in silent. It was just too sudden, that only that the Jason that he saw today had a different energy. Unlike his usual impatient attitude Jason currently gave off an unshakable incompetent aura. After a full minute. Jackie raised his head to look at Jason.

“Jason please, talk sense. Do you know how much a virtual gaming helmet costs? It costs 1000 credits. You also need at least six people to start up a workshop. What about the workplace salary and everything else? Just the initial startup fund would require 70 to 80,000. There are also follow up investments. That's a lot of credits. Do you have that many credits right now?”

Jackie was aware of Jason's circumstances. He knew Jason's household wasn't well off, so he wanted to persuade Jason away from this sort of crazy thinking.

“You're right. Right now I don't even have the credits for a grand domain virtual gaming helmet,” Jason nodded his head.

It was like Jackie said, even 70 to 80,000 was considered a small amount when starting a new workshop. Jason recall that Watson had spent over 5 million credits for the workshop that he had started. He had also spent more in the later stages to upgrade the workshops quality and strength.

“Since we don't have any funds, rather than taking the risk wouldn't it be safer to join shadow? At the very least shadow can provide us with virtual gaming helmets, otherwise forget becoming professional players, we wouldn't even be able to play the game.”

Seeing that Jason understood the problem, Jackie sighed in relief as he tried to grab his hand and take him to the teaching block. Jason shook Jackie's hand away sternly staring at Jackie before saying in a grave tone,

“ I still plan on starting my own workshop. I don't want to be controlled by others. So Jackie, I asked you again. Will you join me?”

Jason would not insist Jackie to join him if he did not have any surety of being able to do this but he couldn't reveal the secret that he had been reincarnated. He could only hope that Jackie would believe in him. Seeing Jason serious expression, Jackie felt Jason was acting weird today. This was madness. Everyone knew you couldn't earn money during the initial stages of virtual games. Did Jason have some way to make money in the grand domain? Even if they did make money it would be after a few months. They did not have that much time to waste. After hesitating for some time, Jackie reluctantly answered,

“ I get it, you're the boss. I'll start a workshop together with you. But what about the virtual gaming helmets? We can't play the game without them, right?”

Jason's tightened brows relaxed immediately as he happily clamped Jackie's shoulders saying, “Oh, that's my man. Don't worry about the gaming helmets. I recall the Grand domain has a trial period available for university students. Every university has a distribution point and as long as you show them your student ID then for 10 days, you can obtain a gaming helmet for free. Let's go and take a look.”

“ What do we do after 10 days?”

Jackie's tanned face turned ashen suddenly feeling his future become pitch black. Why did he have to believe Jason? Could it be Jason's confidence and steadiness? There wouldn't be a problem venturing with Jason, would it?

“What could you do with 10 days in the grand domain?” Jackie asked in desperation.

They would definitely miss out on the recruitment period of gaming workshops in 10 days. In the end, they would still have to buy the gaming helmet but where would the money come from? Not even a professional gamer with a group would be able to earn 16,000 credits within 10 days of grand domains opening.

“Leave the money problem to me,” Jason revealed a confident smile as he clapped Jackie shoulders again.

Earning 16,000 credits in 10 days was indeed a pure fantasy. However, he had his spirits high as a reincarnated person, no matter what the challenges were, he would break through them all and the release of Grand domain was the starting point of his rise to power. Jason brought Jackie to retrieve the virtual gaming helmets. He then used all his money to buy two large boxes of instant noodles placing them under his desk in his rented house. They were enough to last him for over 10 days. After briefing Jackie on some things about Grand domain, Jason quietly waited for Grand domain’s opening.

25th of April, 9pm, inside Jason's dark and silent room, a few specks of light came to life. Jason laid on his bed gently pushing the start button as he closed his eyes.

“ Grand domain, here I come.”