Act - 65: "The Journey Takes Flight"

As we settled into the plush seats of the first-class lounge, the clink of wine glasses and the soft hum of the airport seemed to fade into the background. James Besos, sitting across from me, was already talking about his venture, Junglebook, his face lit up with excitement.

"It's like nothing else," he said, leaning forward. "Imagine a global library, but not just for readers—for the creators too. Authors can upload their books, control their prices, interact with readers directly. It's a game-changer for the industry." His eyes gleamed as he spoke, and it was clear that the man was passionate, even if a bit too focused on his vision.

I took a sip of my coffee, leaning back slightly. "Books, huh?" I smiled. "You sure people won't get tired of just that?"

He grinned, shaking his head. "No way! Books are timeless. Everyone needs knowledge, stories, escape. Junglebook will be the place to find them. No middlemen, no big publishing houses taking all the cut."

Evelyn, swirling her glass of wine, chimed in with a soft laugh. "But... what if people don't just want books? I mean, I love a good novel, but the internet is a big place. People want convenience. What about electronics? Home goods?"

James looked at her like she'd just spoken a foreign language. "Electronics? On a platform for books?" He laughed, but it was more nervous than dismissive.

I leaned in a little, pretending to think. "She's got a point. I mean, people love buying everything from one place. Books today, but who knows? Tomorrow it could be... I don't know, toasters, or laptops."

James blinked, clearly taken aback. "Toasters? On a library site? That's..." He paused, furrowing his brow. "Interesting."

My mom, sipping her wine with a grin, chuckled softly. "You know, I needed a new blender the other day. Bought it online, but I had to go to three different sites just to compare prices. If your Junglebook had that too, I'd be sold."

James scratched his head, clearly mulling it over. "But... how would that even work? It's meant to be a place for authors, creators."

I shrugged, playing it cool, not wanting to push too hard too soon. "Well, people are creators of all kinds of things. Someone might write a book about cooking, and then maybe they want to sell their kitchen gadgets right next to it. Or someone who's into tech could write a guide on computers and sell their favorite laptop models right on your platform."

Evelyn nodded, catching on to the idea. "Exactly. It's not interfering with your mission; it's expanding it. Books first, sure, but why stop there? Build the foundation, then let people bring in more."

James tapped his fingers on the table, eyes shifting back and forth as if the wheels in his head were finally turning. "Huh... books and beyond."

"Books and beyond," I repeated with a grin. "But hey, that's your call. Just an idea."

The conversation shifted, but the seed had been planted. We bantered, laughed, and James began to relax, dropping his professional guard. He shared a few funny stories about his early struggles—how one of his first investors thought Junglebook was a project about actual jungles.

"And here I was, thinking I needed to brush up on my knowledge of the Amazon rainforest!" he chuckled, shaking his head.

Mom and Evelyn joined in the laughter, and I saw James glance at me with curiosity. He had no idea yet, but that small push in the right direction was going to be the nudge that would eventually transform Junglebook into the behemoth I knew it could be.

As we wrapped up, Evelyn leaned toward me, a mischievous glint in her eye. "So, how do we convince him to start selling blenders and toasters?"

I smirked. "We don't have to. He'll figure it out."

Just as we were finishing our conversation, the hum of the lounge was interrupted by a soft chime, followed by the airport speaker crackling to life.

"Attention passengers on flight LX502 to New York... First-class and priority boarding is now available at Gate 17. We invite our premium passengers to board at their leisure."

The announcement echoed through the lounge, and for a moment, everything seemed to pause. The faint clatter of cups, the low murmur of conversation—all hushed in the wake of the call. I glanced at James, who raised an eyebrow, looking both surprised and amused.

"Well, I guess that's our cue," I said, standing up and stretching my legs. "First-class perks—no rush, no lines."

Evelyn and my mom were already on their feet, gathering their things. The quiet, luxurious atmosphere of the lounge seemed to heighten the anticipation in the air. The dark, polished wood of the tables, the soft leather chairs, and the scent of freshly brewed coffee and subtle perfumes all created a calm, almost serene moment before the journey.

James chuckled as he grabbed his carry-on. "First time I've flown first class. Not used to skipping the lines."

"You'll get used to it," I said with a grin, patting him on the shoulder as we made our way toward the gate.

The airport was bustling, with crowds of passengers lined up at various gates. The steady flow of travelers, the click of heels on the marble floors, the electronic beeps from boarding passes being scanned—it all blended together, forming a backdrop to our quiet, privileged walk. We passed the economy lines, where people jostled for position, but we just strolled past them, our first-class tickets in hand.

As we reached the gate, a uniformed attendant gave us a warm smile. "First-class passengers? Right this way, please."

She scanned our tickets with a gentle beep, and we were waved through without a second glance. The red carpet stretched before us, leading us directly to the jet bridge, where we could see the gleaming plane through the wide airport windows.

The aircraft sat like a giant silver bird, its engines humming softly as the jet bridge connected to the door. The sleek fuselage reflected the lights of the terminal, and beyond it, the deepening evening sky seemed to stretch out forever. The sight was both calming and exhilarating—this was it. The journey had truly begun.

As we stepped aboard, the cabin was a world apart from the rest of the plane. Soft lighting, wide leather seats, and champagne glasses waiting at each spot. The faint aroma of high-end cuisine lingered in the air, a far cry from the standard airport fare.

I glanced at my mom and Evelyn, both settling into their luxurious seats, glasses of champagne already in hand, eyes sparkling with excitement. James looked around, impressed, but I could tell he was still processing everything from our earlier conversation.

With a contented sigh, I sank into my seat, adjusting the recline to perfect comfort. "This is the life," I murmured, a smile playing on my lips as I looked out the window at the runway.

And for the first time in a long time, it really did feel like everything was falling into place. The dream was alive, and now it was time to make it bigger.

Dio Stat's Info:

Lvl: 15

Skill Count: 3 (Key selling point analyze) (Analyze) (Global Monitoring System)

Strength:35

Agility:24

Intelligence:28

Endurance:21

Charm:23

Dio influence, power & riches:

Money - 3.6 Million Kroner

Associate - 9

Asset - 0

Digital Asset - 250 BTC

Goons - 10

Car - 1

Guard - 0

Employers -25

Company - 1