Chapter 219: Surprise gift!

[Edward POV]

"Did you use your eye power on him?"

I averted my eyes from Sage. My index finger slowly tapped the armrest as I mulled my decision to answer.

"Yes." I replied, expecting a barrage of nagging from her. However, she unexpectedly was nodding as if the whole thing was normal.

"Why do you look so surprised? Do you think I'm going to get mad at you or anything?" She asked.

"Kinda." I replied with a slight chuckle.

Sage smiled softly and said, "I don't care what you're going to do with your gifts. It is destined for you, not for me. But can I ask, why did you do it? Do you have any grudge with the president or something?"

I shook my head slightly and said, "No. It's the opposite of that."

"He has a grudge with you?" Sage asked, confused.

I narrowed my eyes at her in disbelief before saying, "Not that! I just– Look, when I got kidnapped, do you know what I felt at that time?" Sage listened and then gestured for me to go on.

"Scared, restless, nervous….I didn't feel any of those. Instead, I feel annoyed as fuck." I confessed. "However, when I got back to see my friends and family, I saw that they were all extremely scared, and nervous…when they thought that something had happened to me."

"That's when I realized, I wasn't behaving the way a normal person would in that type of situation."

"And that leads you, to brainwashing the president?" Sage added mischievously. My lips curled up as I replied, "No. He's just a convenient guy for me to unload the burden. Besides, I didn't make him my servant or anything. I just planted the intention, 'Do the right thing for the people' onto his mind."

"And….?" Sage dragged her words.

"...And, also I inserted some memories…" I replied nervously and timidly.

Sage was annoyed and retorted, "You make him feel like he's the main character of a novel!!"

"Well yeah, that's how I know he's going to use his memories well." I said with a chuckle. 

Sage scowled and scolded me, "Don't laugh! This is not a laughing matter! Everyday when the president wakes up, he will stand at the balcony to oversee the city, and broods like Batman!" 

*Insert Batman Theme Here*

I nodded in satisfaction after hearing Sage's words. She grabbed a throw pillow– the 100,000 dollar handmade golden throw pillow with a noble emblem on it and threw it on my face. "Don't look so satisfied! What you did, is going to cause a major change!"

"That's fine. Because…if the future that we're going to face, is the same as the history in my past life, then, I'd rather the president be Batman than to go through all of that again." I replied casually. 

[President's Cutscene]

At night, President Obama stands at the balcony area of the white house, just outside of the Oval office as he gazes into the city with a deep look. 

He mumbled with a deep voice. "As I stand here, at the precipice of power, I carry with me a burden far greater than any that has come before. For I know what lies ahead, the trials and tribulations that await this nation. The weight of the future rests upon my shoulders, a future marred by uncertainty, division, and hardship. But I refuse to succumb to despair, for I hold a secret, a knowledge of what lies ahead."

Vivid memories of true and false memories appeared inside his mind. The plague in 2020, the civil war in 2025, World War 3 that turned the whole world into a desolate wasteland in 2030. 

The president gripped his hands tight until it almost bled. He, who has never struggled in despair before, had his whole world turned upside down when Edward made him feel every single struggle of the lowest bottom of the society in person.

The President opened his arms as he felt the cold wind blowing in his face. "In this brooding silence, I see the struggles that lie before us, the challenges that threaten to tear this country apart. I hear the cries of the forgotten, the whispers of those who have lost hope. But I will not stand idle, consumed by the darkness that looms. Instead, I vow to wield the power of this office to bring about change, to shape a future that is brighter, fairer, and more just."

"With the weight of foresight, I see the consequences of inaction, the consequences of complacency. I cannot allow that future to come to pass. I will fight for the marginalized, the voiceless, and the oppressed. I will champion equality, compassion, and progress. Together– No, I will make the whole country stand together! We will forge a path towards a future where every person, regardless of their background, has an opportunity to thrive."

"In the face of adversity, I will not be deterred. I will harness the power of this office, not for personal gain, but for the betterment of the people. I will challenge the status quo, confront the injustices that plague our society, and inspire a nation to rise above its limitations."

"This brooding determination fuels my resolve. I am the harbinger of change, the catalyst for a brighter tomorrow. I will rewrite the course of history, not for my own glory, but for the collective well-being of this great nation."

"Together, we will forge a destiny where hope prevails, progress thrives, and the future shines with promise. I am the President of the United States, armed with the knowledge of what lies ahead, and I vow to lead this nation towards a future that we, the people, deserve."

The president turned and re-entered his office. But on his stoic face, his lips were twitching as if it wanted to curl up but he stopped them with sheer force.

The President thought secretly, 'I must've looked so cool before.'

[Cutscene ends] 

[Edward POV]

"Besides…I didn't make him think he was Batman. That was a matter of personal choice." I said with some laughter. My heart was filled with ease, but I was still unsure why. Maybe it was because the responsibility to avoid a dystopian future wasn't only mind to shoulder, or maybe I no longer had to worry about using the Kotoamatsukami at a perfect timing, all I know is, I was more relaxed right now that it was gone. 

Sage scowled, but her gaze turned gentle as she smiled at me with relief.She stood up, patting my head affectionately, before announcing, "Nice job. You got full marks on your history paper."

"I already know that." I was taken aback at first, but I quickly turned smug and said knowingly.

Sage playfully ruffled my hair, a mischievous glint in her eyes, causing it to become disheveled.

"HEY! A man's hair is his identity!" I protested, hastily fixing my hair. "Let's go eat cake," I suggested, rising from my seat and beckoning Sage to join me in the kitchen.

Before indulging in the cake, I posted a picture of the cheesecake on Instagram and also posted a short video of it. The perfectly round cheesecake was cut into half while it was still hot, with hot steam air coming out from all around it. 

The video soon became trending on instagram, and I caused another desert frenzy in the country without me intending to do so. 

Afterward, Sage, Max, and I each cut a slice for ourselves. Sage's eyes glittered as she entered the cake in her mouth, while Max loudly exclaimed, "Oh my god. This cake is on par with my orgasm satisfaction."

"Oh, it's great. James, you should taste it," I said, slicing a sliver of cake for the old butler who was preparing to admonish Max. 

Initially reluctant, James attempted to decline the offer, but I insisted. "Oh, this is great. The consistency of the cake is outstanding. With each bite, I feel as if it's melting inside my mouth—"

"Max made it," I interjected, causing the old butler to be taken aback.

"Then, it's not that good," he begrudgingly remarked, shooting a death glare at Max. Max chuckled and clarified, "Hey, I only helped him with the meringue. He did everything else. So clearly, Edward is the one who made it."

I feigned sadness, muttering, "Oh, it's not that good, huh?"

Flabbergasted, James stammered, "No! NO! It's very good! In fact, it's among the top five desserts I have ever eaten in my whole life!"

"Don't you mean, old life?" Max playfully insulted.

I burst into laughter, thoroughly entertained by Max's banter with the old butler. Half an hour later, I arranged for Sage to be driven home in a limousine provided by the mansion staff.

"Now, there's only me left. So, how will you chase me away for some alone time with your 'not girlfriend'?" Max asked playfully.

"I can't help it. I'll have to dig deep into my book of tricks to achieve my goals," I played along.

"Do your worst. I've seen almost everything in my twenty years of life—"

Reaching into my wallet, I pulled out some money. "I'll give you twenty dollars to go away."

"DEAL!" Max snatched the money from my hand, laughing gleefully, and swiftly made her exit. She soon left the house to go to work, as she had her own job to attend to, and I realized I had given her twenty bucks for nothing.

As I waited, I settled at the piano and began playing a rendition of Moonlight Sonata. The melancholic melody filled the room, resonating with each stroke of the keys. The old butler, captivated by the music, found himself on the verge of tears, deeply moved by the emotional performance.

Word of my impromptu concert spread quickly throughout the mansion, drawing the attention of the maids and butlers who were eager to listen in. The room soon became crowded, as they gathered to witness the enchanting music that filled the air.

I continued to pour my emotions into the piano, my fingers dancing across the keys with a gentle intensity. The room fell into a hushed silence, as everyone present became absorbed in the haunting beauty of the Moonlight Sonata.

However, at the climax of the symphony, Suddenly, I received an unexpected call from Max who had arrived at the company.

"Aww!" The staff members there exclaimed in disappointment as I stopped playing. The old butler admonished them hurriedly, "What are you guys doing here? You're not going to work?" The staff members scurried away after that.

"What's wrong?" I asked, curious about the reason for her call.

"Nothing. Just wondering what you're feeling right now. Regret? Disappointed? Horny?" she teased.

"Hmm?" I was taken aback by her provocative questions, unsure of her intentions.

Max chuckled mischievously and continued, "You know, because your 'not a girlfriend' is stuck at work for a few more hours due to some planned late interviews."

"Ah. So she's not coming?" I inquired, a hint of disappointment coloring my voice. The old butler, who had been nearby, perked up his ears upon hearing my words. He mumbled to himself, "A chance!" before slowly moving away, sensing an opportunity.

"I don't know for sure. But in the meantime, maybe you should... rub one out—" Max's voice was cut off as I ended the phone call.

"Hmm…" I rubbed my chin as I contemplated what to do with my free time. As I placed the 'surprise' back into my room, I went and called Harvey to ask her about the company's situation.

"Oh, we can buy Riot games?" I asked with some surprise. Based on what I know, they would only sell some shares of the company to Tencent in 2012, but right now, Entertain could buy out the entire game company without even shelling out much money.

"Yes. The F2P (free to play) business model is quite fresh in the United States, but it's hard for them to gain investors because of the high risk and difficulty to maintain the business model. They got less than 1 million profit in a year, which is much less than the budget they poured into the game. Also, their games…aren't quite as good as the other companies." Harvey said casually. 

I nodded in understanding and said, "It doesn't matter. They will only struggle at the beginning. So, how much did we pay to get the majority of the company?"

In the United States, the free-to-play (F2P) business model was initially viewed as a risky and relatively new concept. When Riot Games released their game League of Legends (LOL), which followed a similar gameplay style to DOTA 2 (which gained popularity with a mod rather than a standalone game), they faced criticism and skepticism.

LOL was not the only game of its kind to emerge after the popularity of the Dota mod. Many similar games were created, attempting to capture the success of the original. Most of them have even better graphics and gameplay than LOL. However, what set Riot Games' LOL apart and allowed it to thrive was its free-to-play business model.

By offering the game for free and generating revenue through in-game purchases and microtransactions, LOL was able to attract a large player base, particularly in Asian countries and Europe, where a significant portion of the player demographic consisted of teenagers.

This business model resonated with these players, as it allowed them to access and enjoy the game without the barrier of an upfront cost.

The F2P model proved to be highly successful for Riot Games, as they were able to monetize the game through optional cosmetic items, character skins, and other in-game enhancements. Harvey was among the people who was skeptical about the business model, but after I explained to her about the potential of the game, she finally relented and stopped trying to change my mind.

"No. It's a total buyout for 60 million dollars." Harvey said smugly, shocking me.

"How?" I asked with disbelief.

"To explain simply, we can say…that I am just persuasive." Harvey replied with some condescending tone akin to a villain. 

In the current landscape, a new game with improved graphics and gameplay, adopting a free-to-play (F2P) business model, is poised to enter the market. However, it is anticipated that this game will transition back to a pay-to-play model within a year. As a result, players who were enjoying the game for free are expected to seek out other F2P options, potentially leading to a resurgence of interest in LOL.

Meanwhile, the CEO of Riot Games finds themselves facing significant financial challenges and requires funding to sustain their game's marketing efforts. It is at this critical juncture that Harvey enters the picture and acquires Riot Games in its entirety. Despite the acquisition, the CEOs are able to retain their positions, but the ownership of the game is transferred to Entertain company.

"Great Job Harvey." I complimented her.

"Please. This is like a Tuesday for me." Harvey replied dismissively, but I could still hear the excitement in her tone. "Besides, there is another good thing. Want to hear it?"

"What else? Did you buy out Disney?" I asked jokingly.

"Not that." Harvey replied. "I was talking about your communication projects."

"Oh. That. Can we proceed with it?" I asked with some nervousness. 

Harvey chuckled and said, "Yeah. It's a go. We can start building the tower right now."

…

[General POV]

Outside of the estate, a red porsche pulled up near the front door. The old butler James was ready to greet the visitor, the grandchildren of the estate owner, whose name seemed like a bad pun, Denise. 

(Meg Donally– Denise)

"James. Are you sure grandma asked me to meet her here?" Denise asked in confusion after getting out of the car and greeting the old butler. She was wearing a shoulderless one piece dress with red heels, and her blonde hair fluttered freely in the wind.

"Yes. Madam will come here tonight for dinner. So why don't you freshen up inside the room you always use? You know, third floor, right wing."

Denise nodded in agreement, then her steps halted, "Wait. Why do you need to stress out the room location? That seems weird considering that I've been here since I was a little kid."

James said dismissively, "Oh. That's for me rather than for you. You know, as I get older, my mind isn't working like it used to."

"Hmm.." Denise narrowed her eyes at the butler, then she sighed and gave the butler a hug. "You need to take care of yourself more, Uncle James. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you."

"Lovely girl. You won't lose me. Now now… go to your room. You wouldn't want to greet your grandmother smelling of sweat… cigarettes and booze won't you?"

Denise flinched as she quickly separated away from the butler. She rubbed the back of her head as she laughed nervously, "A-ha. Uncle James, you know how college works–"

"Yes. College is a good excuse for girls to party all night and don't even shower when they wake up in the afternoon." James said sternly.

"I'm….I'm gonna go." Denise said before she rushed into the house. "Plan 1, complete." James muttered slyly while rolling the edge of his mustache.

In the Entertain company building, right after Max finished her call. Taylor who was standing beside her asked anxiously, "How is he? Did he seem sad? Or frustrated?"

"Oh, he's frustrated all right." Max said knowingly, as she thought that Edward was tortured by his teacher's hot body in the afternoon. How could she know that the beautiful teacher was actually an old god in disguise, which couldn't excite Ed at the very least.

"Twenty," Max said to Taylor. The blonde girl took out a stack of cash and said, "Here, 20,000 dollars."

Max widened her eyes in shock as she grabbed the money, "Wha– Oh, we are going to be good friends. You know what? Why don't you hop on the limo and sneak into his room. After you get there, call him and say that you are not coming…"

"THEN Surprise him when he comes back to his room!" Taylor finished Max's plans. "That's a great idea! What room is he in?"

"Hmm…They don't count the ground floor, so I guess, the third floor…his room is in the right wing. You can't miss it, you just need to walk through the hallways with gargoyles and go straight to the end."

"Thank you Max!" Taylor said as she rode off inside the limousine to go to Edward's temporary hiding place.