《From Idler to Tech Tycoon: Earth》 Chapter 1: A Cup of Coffee Morning stretched lazily over the city, the first rays of light filtering through the cracks in the wooden jalousie windows. The distant hum of tricycles and the occasional barking of stray dogs set the tone of another day in the Santamo household. Richard was deep in sleep, tangled in a thin blanket, his body heavy with exhaustion. The abrupt shriek of his mother''s voice tore through the stillness. "Richard, wake up! It''s already afternoon! Are you planning to waste the whole day sleeping?" His eyes cracked open, blurred vision settling on the dimly lit ceiling. He groaned, rubbing the crust from his eyelids. His hand fumbled for his phone on the worn-out bedside table. The screen flickered to life¡ª7:02 AM. Not even close to noon¡­ he thought bitterly, sighing as he swung his legs off the bed. Barefoot, he shuffled towards the back of the house, stepping onto the cement floor of the dirty kitchen. The cool air bit at his skin, carrying the scent of charred wood and old cooking oil. He crouched down by the traditional clay stove, gathering a few sticks of firewood. A plastic bag crinkled in his hand as he shoved it in the middle, using it as a makeshift firestarter. He struck a match against the box, the tiny flame catching onto the paper and licking at the dry wood. The familiar crackle and rising heat signaled success. He reached for the old biscuit tin where they kept the rice, scooping three canfuls into a dented aluminum pot. The sound of water sloshing filled the small space as he rinsed the grains, the cloudy liquid swirling before he drained it out. He repeated the process thrice, the motion ingrained in his muscle memory. A quick measure¡ªindex finger dipped just above the rice, water reaching the first line. Satisfied, he placed the pot over the fire, letting it do its work. His mother''s voice cut through the quiet morning again. "Chard! There''s fish in the fridge¡ªcook paksiw while you''re at it. So we can have breakfast." Richard exhaled through his nose, the weight of morning chores settling on his shoulders. He wiped his hands on his shorts before heading to the old fridge, the motor humming weakly. The door creaked open, revealing a lone fish wrapped in a plastic bag. He grabbed it, laying it out on the chopping board. With practiced ease, he sliced the fish into three portions, the knife scraping against the wooden board. He reached for the onions and garlic, peeling and slicing them swiftly. Into another pot they went, joined by soy sauce, vinegar, a pinch of salt, and a dash of MSG. The acidic tang of vinegar filled the air as he set it over another fire, watching the liquid slowly simmer. By the time the rice was done, he replaced the pot with another, filling it with water for coffee. Stepping onto the porch, he felt the damp morning air against his skin. His mother, seated on the bamboo bench, didn''t look up from the cigarette she was rolling. "Is it cooked?" she asked. "Yeah," he muttered, stretching his arms above his head. "I''m heading out to buy some coffee and cigarettes." His mother exhaled a thin stream of smoke. "Get me a pack of San Mig coffee. I''ll pay you when you get back." Richard gave a slight nod before stepping off the porch. The day was just beginning, but already, it felt like it was running ahead of him. Richard strolled toward the sari-sari store, the scent of damp earth still lingering from last night''s drizzle. The small shop, caged in rusted metal grates, was packed with all sorts of essentials¡ªinstant noodles, canned sardines, sachets of shampoo clipped together like vines, and an assortment of cigarettes neatly stacked in an old glass jar. Before he could even speak, Aunt Nina, a stout woman with streaks of gray in her tied-up hair, reached through the opening. In one fluid motion, she plucked a sachet of Nescaf¨¦, a San Mig coffee, and four sticks of white cigarettes from the shelf. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Richard smirked. "You should''ve been a fortune teller, Aunt Nina." "Hmp. It''s the same thing you buy every day," she scoffed, handing him his order. Her fingers crinkled the fifty-peso bill he passed, and she fished out nineteen pesos in change. As Richard pocketed the coins, a mischievous grin spread across his face. "By the way, Aunt Nina¡­ Can I court your Angie?" Nina froze mid-counting, then narrowed her eyes at him. Without warning, she grabbed a slipper and lunged forward as if to throw it. "Hey, Idiot! You wish!" she barked, laughing. Richard was already bolting down the street, laughing as her voice trailed behind him. Richard stepped onto the porch, cigarette already between his fingers as he struck a match against the rusted railing. The sharp scent of burning tobacco mixed with the morning air. Inside, his mother, Anita, was slouched on the plastic chair near the doorway, her thumb lazily scrolling through Facebook. The soft hum of viral songs played from her phone''s tiny speaker. "Chard, mix me some coffee while you''re at it," she called out, not even looking up. "Yeah, yeah," Richard muttered, exhaling smoke as he walked toward the kitchen. The pot on the stove was already boiling. He grabbed a piece of torn cardboard to lift it off the fire, careful not to burn his fingers. The scent of freshly boiled water filled the cramped kitchen as he poured the steaming liquid into two plastic mugs, ripping open the sachets of Nescaf¨¦ and San Mig Coffee. He stirred each cup with a spoon that had seen better days, its handle slightly bent from years of use. Richard handed his mother her coffee, setting his own down on the cement ledge of the balcony before lowering himself onto the step. He took a slow sip, the bitter taste mixing with the smoky aftertaste of his cigarette. And then¡ª A holographic panel materialized in midair. [ Perfect Host Found ][ DNA Match ][ Initiating Sequence... ] Richard jerked backward, nearly knocking over his coffee. His breath hitched, hands instinctively raising as if to shield himself from the glowing blue interface floating before him. His cigarette slipped from his fingers, landing on the concrete with a faint sizzle. "The hell¡ª?! What is this?!" His pulse pounded in his ears. Anita, startled by his sudden movement, looked up from her phone. "What? What happened?" Richard''s eyes stayed locked on the translucent display. "This¡ªthis blue thing! It just popped up out of nowhere!" He jabbed a finger toward it. His mother squinted at the empty air, then, without warning, smacked him on the head with her slipper. "AY¡ªOW! What the hell, Ma?!" Anita clicked her tongue. "You finally lost it, huh? I knew it¡ªtoo much shrooms. You''ve been eating that damn mushroom from cow shit too often." "I''m not high, Ma! It''s right here!" Richard pointed again, his voice rising. The panel remained¡ªfloating, pulsing, waiting. His mother simply shook her head and sipped her coffee, completely unfazed. Richard swallowed hard. What the hell was happening? Richard slipped into his room, shutting the door behind him with a quiet click. He wasn''t about to give his mother any more reason to think he''d lost his mind. Coffee in one hand, cigarette in the other, he sank onto his bed, the springs creaking beneath his weight. The glowing blue panel hovered in front of him, shifting as new lines of text appeared. [ You have received 100,000 SP as a starter gift. ][ You have received +10 Stat Points as a starter gift. ][ You have received +10 Skill Points as a starter gift. ] Richard squinted. SP? Stats? Skill points? It looked like something straight out of an MMORPG. The screen flickered, reorganizing itself into what looked like a character sheet. [ Name: Richard Santamo ] Age: 23 Weight: 133 lbs Height: 5"11 SP: 100,000 [ SHOP ] [ SKILLS ] Stat Points: 10 Attributes: STR: 8 CON: 12 AGI: 7 PER: 9 VIT: 10 INT: 10 Technology Learned: none Skills: None ] Richard exhaled a slow stream of smoke, watching the numbers flicker in the air. What the hell is this? It looked like something straight out of Dota or some RPG stat sheet. Then, another message popped up. [ FYI: You can use SP to instantly learn various technologies, ranging from Type 1 to Type 4 on the Kardashev scale. ] Richard blinked. Wait. It can hear me? [ Yes, I can. ] He grinned, a spark of mischief in his eyes. "Oh yeah? Give me the winning 6/49 lotto numbers." The panel hesitated. [...] Then, a new prompt appeared. [ Would you like to use 10,000 SP to access this data? ] Richard nearly choked on his coffee. Holy shit. "Yeah, yeah¡ªwhatever! Just give me the damn numbers." [ Accessing archive... ] [ Date: July 12, 2012 ¨C Philippine 6/49 Lottery Results: ] [ 45 - 49 - 30 - 33 - 20 - 44 ] [ Please ensure your bet is placed before 6 PM. ] For a moment, Richard just stared. Then¡ª "SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. Am I about to be rich?!" His heart pounded as he snatched a pen and scribbled the numbers onto an old receipt from his bedside table. He folded it neatly and stuffed it into his pocket, then dug into his jacket, fishing out six pesos in loose change. Without hesitation, he bolted out the door. "MA! WE''RE GONNA BE RICH TONIGHT!" he hollered as he sprinted down the street toward the lottery station. Anita, still on the porch, barely looked up from her phone. She sipped her coffee, shaking her head. "He''s finally lost it, huh?" Chapter 2: Fading Doubts By the time Richard got home, the lottery ticket was practically a sacred relic in his hands. He held it carefully, fanning it back and forth as if airing it out would keep it from crumpling. His heart was still racing from the excitement, his mind bouncing between doubt and blind optimism. The blue panel hadn''t disappeared. It hovered faintly in the corner of his vision, its soft glow barely noticeable under the daylight. A part of him still wondered if he had just been hallucinating¡ªbut if the numbers were real... "Ma, we''re winning tonight," he declared, stepping onto the porch and waving the ticket like a trophy. "We''re gonna check the results together." Anita, still lounging on the plastic chair with her phone in hand, snorted. "Are you finally losing it, Richard?" she said without looking up. "I don''t even bet on Swertres, and now you''re gambling on 6/49? How the hell are you so sure you''re gonna win, huh?" Richard opened his mouth¡ªthen froze. He suddenly realized just how insane he must''ve sounded. He had sprinted to the lottery station, completely convinced by the words of some floating blue hallucination. For all he knew, he had eaten some weird shrooms again, and this was just a lingering trip. Still, the panel wouldn''t disappear. He took a deep breath. Whatever. It was just 25 pesos. A small price to pay for hope. "Come on, Ma," he said, forcing a grin. "Just believe me this one time. If I lose, I''ll even give you a massage before you sleep." Anita raised an eyebrow, amused. "Hah. You and your excuses," she muttered, though a small smile tugged at her lips. She stood up, stretching her arms. "Maybe you''re just hungry. Come on, I''ve already set the table." Anita leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, watching Richard with mild amusement. "And what exactly are you gonna do with all that money once you win?" Richard paused, rolling the question in his head. If he really won, he could fully utilize the system. He could start a business, build capital, grow his resources. Maybe he''d finally be able to pull their family out of this constant financial struggle. Half for renovating the house.Half as capital for a business. But for now, he couldn''t tell his mother anything about the system. It was too insane, even for him. He shrugged. "Maybe a business, Ma." Anita let out a short chuckle. "A business?" She arched an eyebrow. "Do you even know how to run a business?" Richard smirked. "I''ll just watch a YouTube tutorial." He laughed, taking a sip of his coffee. She shook her head, still smiling. "Idiot." He leaned back against the cement wall. "And maybe... I''ll renovate our house too." His mother''s smile faded slightly. She tapped her fingers against her mug, eyes momentarily distant. "No, Richard," she said after a moment. "If I were you, I''d build a new house instead¡ªon our lot in Marawi." Richard blinked. "We have a lot in Marawi?" "When your grandfather died, he left me a decent-sized lot." Anita took a slow sip of her coffee. "It''s hot as hell here in Laguna. Too many people, too much noise. There, we won''t have to deal with gossiping and plastic neighbors." She exhaled, gaze drifting towards the street. "If we moved there, I could continue reselling fish straight from the fishing boats. I still have a lot of contacts. Unlike here¡ª" she gestured vaguely around them, "¡ªwhere it''s hard to make money." Richard frowned. "But we''ve lived here for twenty-five years." "I know," she murmured. "Ever since I married your father, we''ve been here. But if God wills that you win¡­ we can finally leave." Richard glanced at her, then at the lottery ticket tucked in his pocket. If this insane system was real¡­ then maybe, just maybe, his mother''s wish wasn''t impossible. "Come on, let''s eat before the rice gets cold," Anita said, picking up her spoon. Richard nodded, finally setting aside his thoughts about the lottery and the system. For now, food came first. As they ate, their conversation drifted¡ªeventually settling on politics. "Voting for that new president was a mistake," Anita muttered, scooping up a spoonful of rice. Richard smirked. "You say that every election, Ma." "This time, I mean it," she huffed. "Ever since we kicked out that president in the ''80s, the government sold off everything to private companies. Look at the price of electricity now. Look at water. Back then, the government owned all that." She clicked her tongue. "Now? Everything''s a business. The country went to shit." If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Richard exhaled through his nose, half-listening as he picked at his food. He''d heard his mother rant about this a hundred times. Not that she was wrong. By the time they finished eating, Anita was already dressed and ready to leave. "I''m opening the shop at the wet market," she said, adjusting her purse strap. "I''ll be back around five. I''ll bring home some rice and fried chicken for dinner." Richard, already leaning on the porch railing with a cigarette between his fingers, nodded lazily. "Alright." Before heading out, Anita turned back. "Do you have any customers at the repair shop today?" Richard shook his head. "No. Mr. Dado''s out today." Anita scoffed. "Hah. That''s good anyway. Dado''s too greedy when it comes to salaries. One-fifty pesos for a whole day''s work? That''s nothing." She waved a hand. "Anyway, I''m off. Be careful here." Richard took a slow drag from his cigarette, watching as his mother disappeared down the street. Now, he was alone. Richard let out a deep sigh and settled onto the balcony, resting his elbows on his knees. The morning heat was starting to set in, the faint scent of cigarette smoke lingering in the air. He flicked the ashes from his cigarette, then called out, "System?" A familiar, emotionless voice responded. [ Yes. ] "Show me my stats again." The blue holographic panel flickered to life in front of him. [ Name: Richard Santamo Age: 23 Weight: 133 lbs Height: 5''11 SP: 90,000 [ SHOP ][ SKILLS ] Stat Points: 10 Attributes: STR: 8 CON: 12 AGI: 7 PER: 9 VIT: 10 INT: 10 Technology Learned: None Skills: None Richard rubbed his chin. "Hmmm..." He needed to test this. If this system was real, then investing in his body and mind should have noticeable effects. "Assign +2 to Strength, +2 to Agility, +3 to Constitution, and the rest to Intelligence." The moment he confirmed the allocation, a strange tingling sensation coursed through his body¡ªlike a faint electrical charge running through his veins. It wasn''t painful, just... odd. He clenched and unclenched his fists. Did he feel any stronger? Maybe. But it was too subtle to tell. Richard exhaled, still half-skeptical. "Let''s check the Skill Shop." A new panel slid into place, revealing a list of available skills. [ Skill Shop ] Combat: Ha Chido ¨C A martial art developed by Araseika Corporation for their private military forces. Specializes in close-quarters combat. (10,000 SP) Thieves'' Dull Knife ¨C A martial art created by Beggar King Su Yen, designed for feints and fast slashes. (1,000 SP) Intelligence: Information Processing ¨C Enhances your ability to quickly analyze and process large amounts of data. (5,000 SP) Knowledge Acquisition ¨C Improves your capacity to absorb and retain information from books, scrolls, and other sources. (5,000 SP) Dexterity: Instinctive Typing ¨C Grants the ability to type at unnatural speeds, as if second nature. (3,000 SP) Sleight of Hand ¨C Enhances manual dexterity, allowing for faster, more precise hand movements. (5,000 SP) Perception: Enhanced Auditory Perception ¨C Your hearing is greatly heightened, allowing you to pick up subtle sounds and whispers with ease - 5,000 Visual Acuity ¨C Your eyesight becomes exceptionally sharp, enabling you to track movement and perceive tiny details effortlessly - 5,000 Richard grinned. "If I can be smarter¡­ then let''s make it happen." He immediately purchased Information Processing and Knowledge Acquisition. As soon as he did, a sharp pulse ran through his brain, like an unseen force reorganizing his thoughts. Suddenly, his mind felt clearer, sharper. The words on the panel seemed easier to digest. Even the faint sounds of the neighborhood¡ªmotorcycles, distant conversations¡ªfelt less distracting. Richard exhaled slowly. "Shit¡­ this is real." His fingers itched to test it further. And now, with 80,000 SP left, he had endless possibilities. Richard let out a loud laugh, stretching his arms wide as he leaned back in his chair. "Let''s check the Shop then! I''ve got 80,000 SP left¡ªI''ll take the world!" He smirked. "World domination, baby!" A holographic panel expanded before him. [ SHOP ] [ Filter: Type 4 | Price: High to Low ] Temporal Singularity Engine (Type 4) ¨C 100 Trillion SP Universal Matter Transmuter (Type 4) ¨C 75 Trillion SP Reality Weaving Array (Type 4) ¨C 50 Trillion SP Quantum Cognition Uplink (Type 4) ¨C 30 Trillion SP Stellar Core Forge (Type 4) ¨C 20 Trillion SP Dimensional Displacement Drive (Type 4) ¨C 10 Trillion SP Adaptive Nanite Swarm (Type 4) ¨C 5 Trillion SP Energy Singularity Projector (Type 4) ¨C 1 Trillion SP Richard froze. His grin vanished as his eyes widened. "What the actual fuck?!" He stared at the insane price tags, feeling like a beggar who just walked into a billionaire''s private auction. Slumping back into his chair, he groaned. "And here I thought I was rich¡­" Disheartened, he muttered, "Filter... Type 1... sort by lowest price." The list refreshed. [ Type 1 - Low to High Price ] Basic Personal Data Backup Unit ¨C 10,000 SP Personalized Scent Diffuser ¨C 11,000 SP Advanced Personal Tool Kit ¨C 12,000 SP Personalized Food Preservation Unit ¨C 14,000 SP Advanced Personal Lighting System ¨C 16,000 SP Personalized Ergonomic Support System ¨C 18,000 SP Compact Personal Security Scanner ¨C 20,000 SP Personalized Learning Software Suite ¨C 25,000 SP Advanced Personal First Aid Kit ¨C 30,000 SP Personalized Mood Enhancement Device ¨C 40,000 SP Automated Personal Plant Care System ¨C 50,000 SP Personalized Nutrient Synthesis Device ¨C 80,000 SP Richard rubbed his chin, skimming through the list. Some of them were interesting, but one caught his attention. "Advanced Personal Fabrication Unit ¨C 450,000 SP." A home fabrication unit that could create small tools, components, and personalized items. He grinned. "If I can get something like this¡­ I could start a business. If it can make high-quality tools, I could even sell them online." Then another idea hit him. "Wait¡­ water purification?" His eyes scanned down the list until he found it: "Advanced Water Purification System (Portable) ¨C 350,000 SP." "If this thing can purify seawater¡­ then I could start a business in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia would pay a fortune for clean water." His excitement grew. This wasn''t just about getting rich¡ªhe could revolutionize industries. But... He sighed. "I don''t have enough SP for any of these¡­" But before he could decide, a new notification popped up. [ How to Earn SP ] There are two primary methods for gaining SP: Humanity''s Benefit: SP is generated when your technology positively impacts humanity. Daily Quests: The easiest way to earn SP consistently. "Daily Quests?" Another window appeared. [ Daily Quest: Training ] Push-ups: 0/100 Curl-ups: 0/100 Pull-ups: 0/100 3-kilometer run: 0/3 Rewards: +5 Stat Points +1 Skill Point +10,000 SP Failure Penalty: -10,000 SP Richard stared at the punishment. "I-Is there supposed to be a penalty?!" The system responded. [ It is for your own benefit. ] Richard groaned. "Ugh¡­ so if I don''t do it, I''ll actually lose SP?" [ Correct. ] He scratched his head. "Shit¡­ am I seriously supposed to start running right now?" A pause. [ Depends. Can you afford to lose 10,000 SP? ] Richard clenched his fists. "Fine. Fine! I''ll do it! I''ll think about what to buy with my SP later." He stood up, grumbling to himself. This better be worth it. Chapter 3: Jack Richard huffed and puffed, his lungs burning as if he''d just swallowed lava. His shirt was drenched, sticking to his skin like it had fused with his soul. "Holy shit¡­ I''m dying." He bent over, hands on his knees, sweat dripping onto the pavement. The morning sun wasn''t even at full power yet, but he already felt like he''d been roasted alive. Why the hell did he think 100 push-ups, curl-ups, pull-ups, and a 3KM run would be easy?! "Damn¡­ when was the last time I even ran?" He wiped his forehead. "Probably back in high school PE?" His legs trembled as he tried to stand upright. A familiar voice called out. "Hey, Richard! What''s up with you? Why are you suddenly jogging?" Richard turned to see Nina, his next-door neighbor, standing at the gate. She had a plastic bag in one hand, probably full of soft drinks and snacks, because unlike him, she wasn''t making life harder for herself. He forced a weak smile. "Eh¡­ new hobby." "Hobby? You''re acting weird. Don''t you usually just hang around at the repair shop?" "I''m trying to be healthy!" he defended, wheezing in between words. Nina raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you''re not just running away from debt?" Richard coughed. Damn, she''s sharp. "No debts¡ªat least not to people," he smirked. "Just paying off what I owe my body. Catching up." Nina scoffed, shaking her head as she walked off. "Let''s see if you''re still ''healthy'' tomorrow." Richard let out a tired laugh. If only she knew... Back home, Richard stared at the rusty pull-up bar hanging from the old coconut tree in their backyard. It had been there since his childhood, mostly used as a place to hang wet rags. "Alright¡­ how hard can this be?" He jumped, grabbed the bar, and pulled with all his might. His arms shook violently. His shoulders screamed in protest. Nothing. He didn''t move an inch. Richard hung there, feet dangling uselessly above the ground. "Okay¡­ maybe I just need momentum¡­" He swung his legs, trying to cheat his way up. CREEEAK. The bar snapped from the tree. Richard crashed onto the ground, his back slamming into the dirt. "SON OF A¡ª!" He groaned, clutching his back. "Why the hell is this so hard?! This is ridiculous!" A sudden burst of laughter came from the other side of the fence. He turned his head and saw Mang Tonyo, the old carpenter who lived next door, watching him while eating a banana. "Hey, Richard! You''re weaker than I thought! Don''t you work at the repair shop?" Richard gritted his teeth. "Damn it, Mang Tonyo, this hurts, you know." The old man just chuckled. "That''s just how it is. Want me to help you build a proper pull-up bar?" Richard sighed, sitting up. "Maybe when I have money¡­" Mang Tonyo nodded. "Ahhh, so that''s why you''re suddenly working out. Trying to impress someone, huh?" Richard sighed again. If only you knew. Daily Quest: COMPLETE After hours of struggle, swearing, and nearly passing out, Richard finally collapsed onto his bed. His body felt like it had been hit by a truck. Then, a familiar blue panel popped up. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. [Daily Quest Complete!] [ +5 Stat Points +1 Skill Point +10,000 SP ] He exhaled sharply. "Thank. Freaking. God." It was just Day 1, and he already wanted to quit. But the SP reward? That was too good to pass up. "Tomorrow," he muttered. "I''ll do better." July 12, 2012 ¨C 4 PM Richard sat on the balcony, watching the golden hue of the afternoon sun paint the rooftops. With 90,000 SP in his system and a soon-to-be millionaire thanks to the lottery, his mind raced with possibilities. He could finally build a cozy home in Marawi, just like his mother wanted. Half of the money could go there, and the other half? Business. Most lottery winners spent their fortunes like there was no tomorrow¡ªfancy cars, wild parties, luxury vacations¡ªonly to end up broke in a few years. He wasn''t about to let that happen. If he invested wisely, especially with the system''s technology, he could patent groundbreaking inventions and secure his wealth forever. But for now, there was one dream he couldn''t ignore¡ª Game development. For years, he had spent countless hours at internet caf¨¦s, watching Unity 3D tutorials, sketching out ideas, and dreaming of creating his own game. But without a high-end PC, proper tools, and the right knowledge, it always felt just out of reach. "If only I had the resources¡­ I could finally make something amazing." As if reading his thoughts, the blue panel suddenly flashed before his eyes. ?? [Vector Core - AI-Assisted Universal Game Development]Cost: 70,000 SP Description:Vector Core is an advanced game engine designed for cross-platform development (PC & Mobile) with AI-assisted workflows. It originates from a future timeline, offering tools that drastically speed up and enhance game creation. ?? Historical Background: Developed in 2378 by "Logic Systems," a futuristic corporation specializing in procedural generation and optimization technologies. Created for scalable, highly-efficient game environments. ?? Features: AI-Driven Procedural Asset Generation Generates 2D & 3D assets (textures, models, animations) based on simple user inputs. Adaptive optimization ensures assets are tailored for specific platforms. AI-Assisted Logic Scripting Visual scripting with real-time AI suggestions and error checking. AI-generated behavior trees for creating dynamic NPCs and enemy AI. Dynamic Resource Allocation Automatically adjusts rendering & simulation based on hardware. Efficient resource management ensures smooth gameplay across different devices. Cross-Platform Compilation One-click deployment for Android, iOS, Windows, and Linux. Automated hardware optimization for each platform. Advanced Procedural Physics AI-driven physics for realistic interactions with optimized performance. Modular Asset & Code Library Comes with pre-made procedural assets and code modules to streamline development. AI-Assisted Documentation & Tutorials Built-in AI tutor guides the user step-by-step through game creation. Richard''s Eyes Widened. "What. The. Fuck." This wasn''t just a game engine¡ªit was a miracle tool. Even the best engines in 2012, like Unity and Unreal Engine, didn''t have half of these features. If he got his hands on this, he wouldn''t just make a game¡ª He could create an empire. He checked his remaining SP. 90,000 SP available. The engine cost 70,000 SP. That would leave him with 20,000 SP, which wasn''t much, but he could always grind daily quests to earn more. Richard grinned. "Screw it. I''m buying this." ?? [Purchase Confirmed] ?? [Vector Core - AI-Assisted Universal Game Development has been installed.] A surge of warmth spread through his mind as new knowledge flooded in. It wasn''t just downloading software¡ªhe could feel the concepts of procedural generation, AI scripting, resource allocation, and advanced physics simulations being absorbed into his brain. His hands trembled with excitement. Richard leaned back on his chair, staring at the blue panel floating before him. "Alright, let''s check out the skill shop again." With 20,000 SP left, he needed to be smart about his next purchase. If he was going to develop a game, he had to make sure he had the right skills. He scrolled through the list, browsing past combat techniques and dexterity-based skills, until something caught his eye¡ª ?? [Keyboard Warrior]Cost: 10,000 SP Description:A specialized skill that allows the user to achieve an almost symbiotic relationship with their input devices, particularly keyboards. ? Enhances neural pathways related to motor memory and pattern recognition. ? Enables instinctive execution of complex code sequences and commands. ? Dramatically increases typing speed, accuracy, and efficiency. Richard snorted, remembering how people called him a "keyboard warrior" when he used to argue with strangers over Dota matches in internet caf¨¦s. "Well, I was a warrior of emotions back then¡­ but this? This is something else." With this skill, coding wouldn''t just be easier¡ªit would become second nature. He could type entire programs without even thinking. "This is perfect." ?? [Purchase Confirmed] ?? As soon as the skill activated, a strange tingling sensation ran through his fingers, almost like they were buzzing with electricity. His mind felt clearer, and suddenly¡ª His hands itched to type. Just as Richard was about to dive into his new abilities, the roar of a motorcycle echoed outside their front gate. "Chard!" A stocky guy wearing a tank top and basketball shorts swung off a Ducati with a huge grin. It was Jack. Richard leaned over the balcony railing. "Oh hey, Jack." Jack waved a small receipt in the air. "Let''s go! My pa gave me an allowance, and I already bought that low-poly asset package from the Unity Store." Richard chuckled. Jack was his best friend, a rich kid with an obsession for game development. He was the one who dragged Richard into it in the first place. Back when Jack ran an internet caf¨¦, he was building a Counter-Strike-inspired shooting game, except everything was just cubes¡ªcube players, cube guns, and a flat map with barely any assets. Since Richard often hung out at the caf¨¦, he became Jack''s game tester, throwing in ideas and even trying his hand at 3D modeling for fun. His designs were low-poly and rough, but at least they were original. Now, years later, Jack was still chasing the dream. Richard scratched his head. "I''ll come over, but let me cook rice first. Ma''s coming home later, and if she finds out I didn''t cook a single grain, I''ll be dead." Jack revved the Ducati before hopping off and walking toward the house. "Fine, I''ll help." Richard snorted. "Shut up. Last time you ''helped,'' the rice was still raw, and I had to dump more water and put salt on the lid to save it. Thank God Ma didn''t notice." Jack grinned. "Dude, I asked you how much water to put, and you just said ''yeah, yeah'' while chopping wood. That''s on you." Richard shook his head, smirking. "Right, and I bet your old man nearly had a heart attack when you finally learned how to cook rice." Jack laughed, stretching his arms. "You have no idea. He thought I was possessed." Richard smiled. Jack had always been a spoiled brat, but even he had his moments. Chapter 4: Bros before Hoes Thirty minutes after finishing the rice, Richard and Jack stood on the balcony. Jack stretched lazily, cracking his neck. "Hey dude, can I use your phone? Need to call someone," Richard asked. "Yeah, here," Jack said, tossing him his Sangsung phone. Richard dialed his mother''s number, waiting as the ringing echoed through the speaker. "Hello?" came Anita''s voice from the other end. "Ma, it''s me, Richard." "Oh, Chard, what is it?" "I''m heading out with Jack for a while, but don''t worry, I already cooked the rice." "Alright, go ahead. I was about to close up shop anyway. Just make sure to lock the doors." "Will do, Ma. Bye." Richard ended the call and handed the phone back to Jack. "Let''s go," he said, locking the front door behind him. As they hopped onto Jack''s motorcycle, Richard hesitated for a moment. Should he tell Jack about the system? He shook his head. Not now. He''d think I''m crazy. It was best to keep it a secret¡ªfor now. With a loud rev, the bike roared to life, and they sped off. They arrived at a three-story building with large glass windows on the first floor displaying an internet caf¨¦. Inside, the air conditioning blasted against them as they walked in. The room was packed with people playing Dota, the sound of mouse clicks and keyboard slams filling the space. "FUCK YOU!" one player stood up, flipping off his screen after securing a double kill. His teammates cheered and booed, hyping up the match. Richard shook his head. Classic. At the front desk, a young woman sat wearing headphones, barely acknowledging them as Jack walked past, heading to a private backroom. Richard leaned on the counter, smirking. "Number 4 PC, open time. Put it on my tab," he teased. The woman ripped off her headphones, glaring at him. "FUCK YOU, Richard! Your credit''s already at 500 pesos, and you STILL haven''t paid!" Richard just laughed, waving her off as he followed Jack inside. Inside the private room, two high-end PCs sat opposite each other, both equipped with dual monitors and glowing RGB-lit system units. One screen displayed the interface of Unity 3.0, filled with low-poly assets of weapons and characters in development. Jack spun his chair around and looked at Richard. "Chard, I''ve been thinking¡ªwhat if, instead of a Counter-Strike-style game, we go for something bigger? Like Battlefield 2, but on a massive scale. One server, one warzone." Richard raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn''t that make the server laggy as hell?" Jack leaned back, smirking. "Not if we use server sharding instead of separate servers. We''ll split different areas of the map into shards, reducing the load while keeping the world persistent. Been studying servers for a while now." Richard mulled it over, then grinned. "Why not take it even further and simulate World War II instead?" Jack blinked, intrigued. "Think about it¡ªplayers can build trenches, fortifications, and defenses in first person. We''re making it low-poly anyway, so it won''t be too heavy on low-end PCs." Jack let out a laugh. "Damn, that''s a good one. I was thinking about modern warfare, but WWII is just nostalgic." "Have you already bought the modern warfare package?" Richard asked. Jack waved his hand dismissively. "Not a problem. The same guy I got the assets from also has a World War II package. He even has entire WWII battle maps. I can just refund the modern one and buy the new assets." Richard tapped his chin. "Can you also get tanks from him?" "Nah, dude," Jack shook his head. "We''ll design the tanks and planes ourselves. It''s low-poly anyway, so it won''t be hard." Richard''s eyes lit up with an idea. "Can we add modular damage to vehicles?" Jack tilted his head. "What do you mean?" This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it "I mean, if a tank gets hit in the rear, it disables the engine. If the shot penetrates and hits the ammo stowage, it''ll explode." Jack nodded, thinking. "I like that. It''s not too complicated to implement. We''ll add three ammo types, too. Also, for logistics, instead of making things too realistic, we''ll base everything on resource points rather than tracking individual bullets. "Engineers will be able to build tanks, planes, and factories using those points, which are generated from captured zones. This way, there''s a real incentive to fight hard." Richard chuckled. "Man, this is sounding way better than I expected." But then, his expression turned a little guilty. "Jack¡­ I have something to tell you." Jack, still typing away, didn''t look up. "Dude, don''t tell me you''re about to confess your love or some shit." "Shut up, idiot," Richard groaned. "It''s about Marawi. My mom said we''re moving back in a few weeks, maybe even days." Jack suddenly grinned. "That''s even better!" Richard blinked. "What do you mean?" Jack leaned back, crossing his arms. "Did you forget? My dad''s Muslim. My grandpa gave me a house in Marawi a while back. I was actually planning to ask you to move in with me so we could keep working on the game." Richard shook his head, a relieved smile forming on his face. "Well¡­ I guess that''s not gonna be a problem after all." Richard thought about it for a moment. Jack was the perfect spoiled rich kid. He still remembered that one time Jack got completely wasted and spilled his life story¡ªhow his parents couldn''t have another child due to his mother''s pregnancy complications. Still curious, Richard asked, "So why move anyway? If you don''t mind me asking." Jack shrugged. "Of course, I don''t mind, dude. You''re like the brother I never had. Even though you''re two years older, I still treat you like my big bro." He turned to face Richard, his expression more serious than usual. "My dad set me up with an arranged marriage¡ªsome congressman''s daughter or something." Richard blinked. "Wait, what?" Jack scoffed. "Yeah. I rejected it immediately. Told my dad I didn''t even wanna get married. If anything, if the girl was into game development, then maybe I''d consider it. But hey¡­" Jack smirked, then raised his hand. "Bros before hoes." Richard shook his head, laughing, and dapped him up. "You silly ass." Jack pulled out his phone and held it up. "Here, take a look." On the screen was a photo of a petite, short-haired girl. Richard frowned. "Dude¡­ she looks younger than you. She''s not even eighteen, is she?" "Exactly!" Jack said, waving the phone. "That''s even more reason to refuse!" Richard chuckled. "So what did you do?" Jack smirked. "I reported my dad to my grandpa." Richard burst out laughing. "No way." "Yep. My grandpa let my dad marry the woman he actually loved instead of following tradition. So when he heard what my dad was trying to do to me, he went ballistic." Jack leaned back in his chair, looking smug. "And in return?" Richard asked. "My dad got pissed and cut my allowance." Jack sighed. "Then he said I had to move to Marawi to live with my grandpa." "You mad about that?" Richard asked. Jack shook his head. "Not really. It''s just lonely here. My parents are too busy with their businesses, and I feel like I''m just wasting time. But in Marawi? Maybe I''ll get some fresh air¡­ and with you around, it''ll be even better." Jack then turned to Richard and grinned. "You said you have a house there, right?" Richard scratched his head. "Well¡­ not exactly. We''re still building it." Jack snapped his fingers. "Perfect. You and your mom can stay with us for a while." Richard raised an eyebrow. "You sure? What about your grandpa?" Jack waved a hand dismissively. "Pffft. He won''t mind. If anything, he''ll be happy to have some company. It''s just me and him in that big-ass house, anyway. Might as well make it fun." Richard sat in the chair opposite Jack and opened Unity on his screen. The familiar interface loaded up, the low-poly assets staring back at him. "So¡­ when are we moving?" he asked. Jack, his fingers flying over the keyboard like a machine gun, barely looked up. "That''s up to you, bro. We could leave right now if you want." Richard raised an eyebrow. "What about your clothes?" He gestured at the expensive PCs in the room. "And all this?" Jack waved him off. "Meh¡­ my grandpa said he''d just buy me new stuff." He grinned. "**I told him about our little project, and he said he''d buy me anything I want. So I figured¡ªwhy not build our own server room in the basement? If the setup is too complicated, I can just hire people to do the technical work for us." Richard paused for a second, letting it sink in. Jack''s grandpa controlled most of the fishing routes for decades. Saying they were freaking rich was an understatement. Jack suddenly spun his chair around, smirking. "Oh, and by the way¡­" He stretched his arms behind his head. "I''ll even build us new PCs¡ªwith the latest GTX 690." But then, he froze mid-sentence, his smirk fading. His eyes locked onto Richard''s hands¡ªhis fingers were moving so fast, the keyboard looked like it was about to break. "Dude¡­ what the hell?" Jack stared. Richard, still typing furiously, barely glanced at him. "Just working on some game logic. Figured we should get started before we move." "No, no, no, no¡ªwhat?! How?! How the hell did you suddenly type so fast?!" Jack blurted out, eyes wide. Richard felt a trickle of sweat forming. He couldn''t exactly say, "Oh, I got a system upgrade that turned me into a keyboard god." So, he improvised. "W-Well¡­ I don''t really know," Richard shrugged, forcing a casual tone. "Maybe it was the shrooms?" Jack squinted at him, unimpressed. "Dude. I swear you were typing like 3000 words per minute. I thought for a second you were going insane! And look at that code¡ªhow many lines is that?!" Jack scrolled through the script on Richard''s screen, his jaw dropping. "There''s not even a single error¡ªwhat the fuck?!" Richard realized Jack wasn''t buying his excuse. He needed something more¡­ believable. He sighed, pretending to think. "Okay, fine. You wanna know the truth?" Jack crossed his arms. "Obviously." Richard leaned forward, lowering his voice. "While I was on shrooms, I saw this¡­ place. Like a massive library. Some kind of ancient archive. There was this old guy¡ªcalled himself The Keeper. He told me I could access any knowledge I wanted. So, I figured, since I love game development, I asked for that." He paused for effect. "He handed me a book. And the moment I opened it¡ªboom¡ªthe knowledge just flowed into my head. It was like I could suddenly understand everything." Jack stared at him. Then he sighed, shaking his head. "Nahh, dude. You''re just high." He spun his chair back around, already tapping at his keyboard again. "Anyway, back to what we were doing." Richard chuckled. "Guess he bought that excuse¡­ for now." Then, he clapped his hands. "Hey, Jack, let''s grab dinner at my place. We need to remind my mom about us moving." Jack groaned. "Oh, right! I totally forgot." He quickly set an alarm for 7 PM. "We can''t leave your mom alone for too long, man." Jack said, stretching. "It''s lonely over there." Richard smiled. "Yeah. Chapter 5: Game Testing Richard stretched his hands and leaned back in his chair, groaning. "Ugh¡­ I can''t keep this up for long. My fingers feel like they''re about to fall off." Jack smirked. "You bet. After all that clicking and typing, you were like a damn machine. And your game logic¡ªseriously, dude, it''s too clean. I don''t think I''ve ever seen anything that optimized before." Richard grinned, but in his mind, he was already analyzing. "It''s thanks to the procedural physics from Vector Core." He turned to Jack. "Either way, why don''t we test the game''s physics? See how well it holds up in real-time?" Jack cracked his knuckles. "Hell yeah. Let''s do it." Richard launched the game. A gray, untextured terrain loaded in. The camera was set in first-person view, holding a low-poly Gewehr 43 rifle¡ªa standard World War II semi-automatic. Jack grabbed the controls and fired off a few rounds. The bullets whizzed through the air, leaving realistic tracer trails. Some of the shots ricocheted at different angles when hitting surfaces. Others impacted the ground, generating small craters based on the bullet''s velocity and angle. Jack''s eyes widened. "That''s fucking awesome, dude. Look at how the impact physics work¡ªit''s actually deforming the terrain dynamically!" Richard leaned forward, nodding. "Yeah, the procedural physics system simulates real-time surface displacement. Instead of pre-rendered damage models, the impact force applies a deformation algorithm to modify the terrain in real-time." Jack fired a few more rounds, watching the bullet tracers bounce unpredictably. "Damn, this is next-level. But performance-wise¡­ we got a problem. If every bullet creates craters, the game''s gonna lag hard once there''s too many of them." Richard rubbed his chin. "Good point. I can implement a decay system. The craters will slowly restore over time unless they''re reinforced¡ªlike if a player digs an actual trench, that stays. But random bullet impact craters? Those can fade after a while." Jack grinned. "Smart. And maybe instead of simulating each bullet in high detail, we can apply a simplified collision model for distant shots?" Richard nodded. "Exactly. Low-LOD physics for long-range impacts. And for optimization, we can limit real-time terrain deformation to only areas where players are actively engaged." Jack gave a satisfied nod. "Alright, let''s tweak that and re-test. This might actually work." 10 minutes later¡­ Richard and Jack had been deep in testing, tweaking the physics engine. After implementing recoil mechanics and bullet drop, they added a global wind simulation¡ªan algorithm that dynamically altered bullet trajectories based on real-time wind direction and intensity. This meant that players had to adjust their aim based on weather conditions, adding an extra layer of skill and realism to long-range combat. Jack tested it by firing a few rounds. The bullets now arced subtly over long distances, whizzing through the air at slightly different angles depending on wind speed. He fired again, this time adjusting for wind resistance¡ªthe shot landed precisely where he aimed. "Damn, this makes sniping so much harder," Jack grinned. "No more laser-accurate shots across the map." Richard nodded. "Exactly. It forces players to actually compensate for range and wind. Now, let''s¡ª" BEEP! BEEP! The phone alarm blared at 7 PM. "Ahhh¡­ shit," Jack groaned, stretching. "Let''s go to your place first, dude. Aunt Anita''s gonna be furious if we''re late." Richard pushed back his chair. "Yeah, let''s eat. I''m starving." Just as they were about to leave, Richard''s phone rang. "Ma?" he answered. "Where are you? Aren''t you gonna have dinner? I''m throwing out this fried fish if you don''t show up soon." "No, no, don''t! I''m on my way! I''m bringing Jack, too." "Alright, I''ll be waiting." Richard pocketed his phone. "Let''s go." As they stepped out of the room, the internet caf¨¦ was brimming with energy. Dozens of players were glued to their screens, their faces illuminated by the glow of their monitors. Richard glanced over. At PC #8, a guy was controlling Pudge, lurking in the jungle. The entire match had reached a fever pitch¡ªother heroes moved cautiously across the screen. Then, in an instant¡ªPudge hooked Dragon Knight into the fog. "GOT HIM!" someone shouted. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. But it was a trap. Three enemy champions immediately closed in. Dragon Knight transformed into his Elder Dragon Form, unleashing an AoE attack, while his teammates¡ªLina and Sven¡ªjumped in for the kill. Pudge barely lasted two seconds. "FUCK!" the guy at PC #8 yelled, slamming his desk. Shouts erupted across the caf¨¦. "They''re at the jungle! PUSH ROSHAN! ROSHAN!" Richard smirked. "Damn, these guys are taking it seriously." He turned to another player wearing a cap turned backward. "How much is the stake?" The guy smirked. "Two thousand." Richard whistled. "That''s a lot." The guy nodded. "Yeah. They''re from Barangay Dos. No way we''re losing after they came here trying to take our money." Jack chuckled. "Damn, it''s a turf war." Richard shook his head, amused. "Alright, alright. Let''s go eat before we get dragged into this, too." As soon as Jack and Richard stepped out, Jack revved his bike, the engine roaring to life. But before they could leave¡ª "FUCK YOU! YOU''RE SO STUPID FOR PICKING PHANTOM! YOU DIDN''T EVEN BUY BOOTS!" A loud shout erupted from the caf¨¦, followed by a wave of people storming outside. Richard and Jack turned just in time to see a fat teenager, his face red with rage, pointing aggressively at a tall, lean teen. "SHUT UP! YOUR BREATH SMELLS WORSE THAN YOUR GRANDMA''S WET PUSSYCAT!" the tall teen fired back. The fat teen stepped forward, sneering. "Oh yeah? Well, YOUR breath smells like your father''s unwashed, sweaty socks!" SNAP. That was it. The tall teen lunged, shoving the fat teen backward. The fat teen swung a wild punch¡ªand in seconds, the entire crowd exploded into chaos. Fists flew. Kicks landed. Plastic chairs were knocked over. Several bystanders rushed in to break it up¡ªincluding Jack. "Oi, oi! CUT THAT SHIT OUT!" Jack yelled, pushing between the fighters. Richard, watching from the side, turned to a nearby guy who was casually lighting a cigarette. "What about the stakes?" Richard asked. The guy scoffed, taking a drag. "Nothing. They didn''t pay." Richard raised an eyebrow. "So this whole fight is for nothing?" The guy chuckled dryly. "Yeah. That pig snapped after his team didn''t assist him on Roshan. Dumbass dove in alone and got slaughtered." Richard shook his head, laughing. "Fucking typical." After breaking up the fight, Jack hopped onto his bike and revved the engine. "Get on," he said. Richard climbed onto the back, gripping Jack''s shoulder as the bike sped off into the night. As they rode, Jack raised his voice over the wind. "So, I heard you were running like a madman today. Some folks saw you and said you finally lost it." Richard scoffed. "Heh. I''m just trying to get healthy, dude." Jack chuckled. "Yeah, right. Who the hell''s gonna believe that?" The bike rumbled down the dimly lit streets, the wind cool against their faces. A few minutes later, they arrived at Richard''s house. The porch light was on, casting a warm glow. At the doorway, Anita stood, a cigarette between her fingers, watching them with a raised eyebrow. "What took you so long?" she asked, exhaling smoke. Jack killed the engine and replied, "There was a brawl at the caf¨¦." Anita sighed. "Tsk, those boys and their gambling." Jack stepped forward and did the "Mano Po" gesture, taking Anita''s hand and pressing it to his forehead. Anita smiled. "Oh, Jack, come in. I haven''t eaten yet. It''s best if we eat together." Richard chuckled. "You''re just saying that so we don''t leave you with the dishes." Anita flicked her cigarette. "Damn right." As they headed into the kitchen, Anita lifted the table lid, revealing a plate full of steaming white rice and crispy fried fish. A small dish of soy sauce mixed with onions, lemon, and tomatoes sat beside it. "Let''s pray first," Anita said. The three of them bowed their heads, murmuring a quick prayer before finishing with a soft "Amen." "Now, let''s eat," Anita said. She glanced at Jack with an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Jack. It''s just fried fish tonight." Jack waved his hands dismissively, a little embarrassed. "No, no, it''s alright, Auntie. I actually like fried fish." As they ate, Jack brought up the topic. "Auntie, I heard you and Richard are moving to Marawi?" Anita looked slightly surprised. "Oh? Richard told you? Well¡­ apparently, he''s betting on the Lotto 6/49. If he wins¡ª if he wins¡ªthen I guess moving to Marawi becomes a reality." Jack raised an eyebrow mid-chew. "You? Betting on the lotto? I didn''t even know you played Swertres." Anita scoffed. "It''s that damn shroom of his again. But hey, who am I to judge? If God wills it, it might actually happen." Richard grinned. "Hmph¡­ I bet my ass we win tonight, Ma. Just trust me." He posed dramatically. "The Keeper told me this number is my winning number." Anita rolled her eyes. "Pfft. That''s what every old man says before handing his entire salary to the lotto booth." The table burst into laughter. Jack wiped his mouth. "Anyway, Auntie, you don''t have to worry. Win or not, we''re going to Marawi." Anita paused, surprised. "Really? How? Why?" Richard glanced at Jack, nodding. Jack continued, "Well, I might be moving to Marawi with my grandpa. But honestly, it''s kinda lonely there. So, I was hoping you and Richard could come with me and live there for a while. You don''t have to worry about anything¡ªI already texted my grandpa, and look." Jack pulled out his phone and showed her a message: "The more, the better." Jack grinned. "Besides, Richard and I are working on a project that requires him to be around. It''s basically work from home." Anita seemed emotional for a moment before smiling. "Then, I will shamelessly accept your offer¡ªat least until we finish building our house there." Jack took another bite of fish. "By the way, Auntie, where''s your lot in Marawi? We might be neighbors." Anita replied, "Tuca Marinaut. That''s where we originally lived, but our house was destroyed years ago." Jack''s eyes widened in surprise. "No way! That''s great! Ours is in Lumbac Marinaut." Anita tilted her head. "What''s your last name, again?" "Purnas." Anita nearly dropped her spoon. "Purnas?! Is Uncle Estello still alive?" Jack scratched his head, smiling shyly. "Hehe¡­ yeah. That''s my grandpa, actually." Anita gasped. "Really?! Uncle Estello is my godfather! How''s Marita?" Jack nodded. "My aunt? She''s in Canada now." Anita smiled, nostalgia washing over her face. "Ahhh¡­ that''s good to hear. I was close with her. Whenever she visited with Uncle, we used to go to the coast and swim in the ocean." Jack nodded, listening. Anita leaned in. "Wait¡­ whose child are you?" "My father is Ernesto." Anita nodded. "Ahh¡­ I was never really close with your father. Uncle Estello always said he was a man of focus and sheer will. Dedicated to his studies." She took a sip of water. "Is he home?" Jack shook his head. "No, he''s in Quezon for a business trip with my mom." Anita sighed, shaking her head. "Wow¡­ the world really is small. How come Richard never told me about you?" Richard smirked. "You never asked. And I also had no idea you and Jack''s grandpa were close." Anita chuckled. "Well, your grandpa and Uncle Estello were good friends back when your grandpa worked for him." Chapter 6: Revelation After a while, they finished eating. In the kitchen, Anita stood by the sink, washing dishes while Richard and Jack sat out on the balcony. Richard took a drag from his cigarette, exhaled, and leaned back. Jack grinned. "Dude, I had no idea our families were this close. We''re basically relatives!" Richard scoffed. "Yeah, well, I didn''t know either." Jack chuckled. "Now it''s even better that Grandpa knows Auntie. Lemme text him real quick." He pulled out his phone, his fingers tapping excitedly across the screen. Moments later, his phone rang. Jack''s eyes widened as he accepted the call. "Oh! Grandpa?" From the other side, a deep voice responded, "Jackie, is it true? Anita is there?" Jack grinned. "Yeah! Hold on, I''ll give the phone to her." He rushed inside. "Auntie, Auntie! Grandpa''s on the phone!" Anita quickly wiped her hands on a towel and took the call. Jack returned to the balcony, shaking his head in disbelief. "Dude, I can''t believe it." He turned to Richard. "Are we really gonna live there forever?" He grinned and added, "Also¡­ can I officially call you ''bro'' now? I mean, we''re practically brothers." Richard smirked and took another puff. "Yeah, yeah¡­ whatever, broooo." Jack burst out laughing and dapped Richard up. "Anyway," Jack said, stretching his arms, "let''s go buy some drinks. Let''s call Marcello too¡ªI bet that dude will bring another bag of mushrooms since it rained last night." Richard grinned. "Sounds like a plan." He turned his head and shouted inside, "Ma! Me and Jack are heading out to buy drinks. Be back soon!" Anita nodded, still deep in conversation on the phone, and waved them off. Two Hours Later Anita was still on the phone in the living room, laughing and chatting animatedly. Meanwhile, on the balcony, Richard, Jack, and Marcello¡ªa short, skinny guy with no shirt and messy hair¡ªwere already several drinks in. A half-empty bottle of rum sat between them, and Marcello, swaying slightly, took a deep drag from a hand-rolled cigarette before grinning. "Bro, bro, listen," Marcello slurred. "Y''all ever just¡­ stare at a mushroom and feel like it''s staring back?" Jack choked on his drink, laughing. "What the hell are you talking about?" Marcello leaned in, whispering dramatically, "They got eyes, man." Richard shook his head, chuckling. "Man, you''re high already, and we haven''t even touched the shrooms." Marcello slapped his chest. "Exactly! That''s why I respect ''em! I found a big-ass one this morning¡ªlooked like a damn umbrella. That shit''s a sign, bro. A sign." Jack wiped a tear from his eye from laughing too hard. "A sign for what? That you''re insane?" Marcello pointed at him, nodding seriously. "Maybe. Or maybe¡­ that tonight is THE night." Richard snorted. "The night for what? You tripping balls in my backyard again?" Marcello grinned. "Nah, nah, nah, listen¡­ I got a new batch, handpicked by yours truly. Rain-fresh. Organic. Premium." Jack raised an eyebrow. "And where exactly did you find these ''premium'' shrooms?" Marcello puffed his chest out. "Same place as always. Behind the church." Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Richard nearly spat out his drink. "You mean the old churchyard?! The one with the graves?" Marcello nodded sagely. "Them spirits be blessing me, bro." Jack groaned. "Oh hell no. We are not eating cemetery mushrooms." Marcello crossed his arms. "Pfft. Y''all ain''t ready for enlightenment." Richard smirked, refilling his glass. "Nah, we just don''t wanna end up seeing ghosts and pissing ourselves." Marcello grinned and pulled out a small plastic bag. "One way to find out." Jack sighed, shaking his head. "This is gonna be a long night." Richard laughed. "Cheers to that." The three of them clinked their glasses and downed another shot. The drinks kept flowing, and the laughter echoed through the night. Marcello, already tipsy, pointed at Jack and slurred, "Bro, you ever notice how your head is kinda shaped like a coconut?" Jack snorted. "And you ever notice how your head is shaped like a damn kneecap?" Richard burst out laughing, nearly spilling his drink. "Bruh, a kneecap?! That''s the most accurate roast I''ve ever heard!" Marcello squinted, rubbing his forehead. "Damn, maybe that''s why my brain feels all loose inside." Jack leaned back, chuckling. "Yeah, you shake your head too hard, your IQ gonna spill out." Marcello nodded sagely. "That explains a lot." As the banter continued, Richard casually glanced at his phone. He had a live stream open¡ªthe official PCSO 6/49 Grand Lotto draw. Jack noticed and nudged him."Yo, why you watching the lottery? You think you can actually win?" The announcer''s voice rang through the phone''s speaker: "And now, for the 6/49 Grand Lotto, with a jackpot prize of... 25,272,259.20 pesos!" Richard felt a strange chill run down his spine. His breath hitched as he reached for the folded ticket in his pocket. Jack and Marcello, sensing the shift in his energy, leaned in. "First number... 45!" The three of them froze. Richard''s ticket¡ªfirst number, 45. "Second number... 49!" Their eyes widened. Jack slapped Richard''s shoulder. "Third number... 30!" Marcello grabbed Jack''s arm. "No fucking way¡ª" "Fourth number... 33!" Jack jumped off his seat, shaking Richard by the shoulders. "Dude, DUDE! That''s FOUR in a row!!" Richard, his heart pounding, didn''t blink. His grip on the ticket tightened. "Fifth number... 20!" Jack lost it, flailing around like a madman. "HOLY SHIT, HOLY SHIT!" Marcello was shaking, his hands on his head. "No way, no fucking way¡ª" Richard''s eyes were glued to the screen. His breath caught in his throat. "And the final number..." Jack grabbed Richard''s arm. Marcello held his breath. "...44!" Silence. For a full second, none of them moved. Then¡ªBOOM! "AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!" The three of them erupted in pure chaos¡ªjumping, hugging, screaming like wild animals. Marcello tripped over his chair and fell, but immediately rolled back up, shaking Richard like a ragdoll. "BRO! YOU''RE A FUCKING MILLIONAIRE!" Jack grabbed Richard''s face. "DUDE, YOU LITERALLY JUST WON 25 MILLION FUCKING PESOS!!" Richard''s mind was spinning. He couldn''t breathe. His hands were shaking. He actually won. Without thinking, the three of them sprinted inside, nearly kicking the door open. Anita was still on the phone, completely unaware, when¡ª "MA! I FUCKING WON!!" He shoved his phone and the ticket in her face. Anita, confused, squinted at the screen. "Huh? What?" Jack and Marcello were screaming in the background. Richard''s breath hitched as he said it again. "I WON THE FUCKING LOTTO, MA!!" Anita''s eyes darted between the phone and the ticket. Her lips trembled. Her knees buckled. And then¡ª "AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!" Anita screamed louder than all of them combined, dropping the phone as she jumped up and down. Jack, Marcello, and Richard dogpiled her in a massive hug, shaking the whole house with their sheer excitement. Tonight¡­ everything changed. Jack grabbed Richard by the shoulders, shaking him like a madman. "Bro, you fucking won! YOU FUCKING WON! I CAN''T BELIEVE IT!" Richard threw his head back, laughing like a villain. "I''M RICH! WHAHAHAHAHA!" Marcello, still swaying from the drinks, stumbled toward them. "Duuude, you have to give me some. C''mon, just a little, man!" Richard smirked, "Yeah, yeah, don''t worry¡ªI got you. Just keep your damn mouth shut about this." Marcello threw up a lazy salute. "Of course, bro. I ain''t saying shit." Anita, still catching her breath from all the excitement, suddenly got serious. "But¡­ how do we even claim it?" Jack, ever the reliable one, leaned back with a smug smile. "I heard you just need two valid IDs and the winning ticket¡ªmaking sure it''s not crumpled or damaged." Richard furrowed his brows. "That''s it?" Jack nodded. "Yup, and good news¡ªit''s tax-exempted." Richard exhaled in relief. "Damn¡­ okay, but where do we even claim it?" Jack clapped his hands together. "The main office in Mandaluyong City. Don''t worry, bro, I''ll drive us there tomorrow. It''s just two hours." Richard grinned, slapping Jack''s shoulder. "Thanks, bro. You''re a lifesaver." Jack grinned back. "Just make sure that ticket stays pristine¡ªif it gets crumpled or damaged, say goodbye to your millions." Anita crossed her arms. "Jack''s right. We can''t be too careful these days." Jack stretched his arms. "Anyway, since I''m home alone, you and Auntie can crash at my place tonight¡ªjust in case." Anita nodded. "That''s a good idea. We don''t want anyone getting suspicious." Jack suddenly snapped his fingers. "Oh! Before that, can you guys help me manage the caf¨¦? Mina already went home, and there''s only Dino running the place right now." Richard stood up, rolling his shoulders. "Yeah, of course. Let''s go." Jack turned to Marcello. "What about you, man?" Marcello stretched, looking way too relaxed. "Nah, I''m already drunk and high, bro. I think I''ll just chill, maybe watch some porn before I go home." Richard and Jack groaned in unison. "Bro¡­ too much information." Marcello just laughed, waving them off. "Alright, alright, y''all go ahead. I''m staying." Chapter 7: Securing the Win Back at the caf¨¦, the atmosphere had simmered down. Most of the rowdy crowd had either gone home, passed out drunk, or were still arguing somewhere outside. Richard glanced around. "Not much people left, huh?" Jack leaned against the counter, yawning. "Yeah, well, either they fought it out or got too drunk to function. We''re closing at 12 anyway." He glanced at Richard. "How''s Auntie?" Richard took a sip from a soda can. "She''s fine. Probably already dozing off in the guest room beside yours." Jack nodded. "Good. She deserves the rest." Then he grinned. "By the way, your lotto win was a total buzzkill for our drinking session, man." Richard scoffed, shaking his head. "Tell me about it. I still can''t get it off my mind." Jack smirked, tapping his fingers on the counter. "So, the million-dollar question¡ªhow are you gonna spend your fortune?" Richard leaned back, stretching. "Half of it is going into the house in Marawi. The other half? Business. Maybe our business. Game development. Investing in our future game studio, ya'' know?" Jack''s face lit up. "I love it. I''ll tell my dad and grandpa about this. Two future businessmen, huh?" He chuckled before continuing, "My dad''s been wondering what the hell I''ve been doing since I dropped out of college¡ªlike Steve Jobs, baby! They think I''m just playing around. But if they see us actually making money, BAM! They''ll start taking us seriously." Richard grinned. "Damn right." Jack smirked, throwing his arm around Richard''s shoulder. "And you know what? Why stop at just making games? Maybe we can build our own rocket one day." Richard laughed. "Alright, Elon Musk. Let''s get through one game first." Jack stretched and leaned back against the counter. "Anyway, man, back to our first game. I''m gonna continue remodeling the tanks and some structures first¡ªmaybe implement structure-spawning mechanics too." Richard nodded, cracking his knuckles. "Sounds good. I''ll replace Dino while I test some stuff." Jack smirked. "Alright, bro. Don''t let the caf¨¦ burn down." He turned and headed into the back room to work. Richard pushed open the door to the caf¨¦ operator''s booth, where Dino was glued to his screen, fully immersed in Conquer Online. "Heyo, Dino. My turn." Dino sighed, not taking his eyes off the game. "Wait, wait¡ªlemme log out first." Richard watched as Dino hastily closed the game, muttering something about almost getting scammed in the marketplace. Once he was done, he stood up and stretched. As he walked toward the door, he paused and grinned through the glass teller window. "Oh, give me open time on number 12, yeah?" He winked. Richard rolled his eyes. "Whatever, dude." He punched in the request, shaking his head as Dino strutted off toward the computers. With that, he sat down, cracked his fingers, Richard cracked his knuckles and leaned forward, eyes locked onto the blank screen. "It''s time to make the Vector Core," he muttered. His fingers hovered for a second before typing, the soft clicking of keys breaking the silence. He started with the EngineCore class¡ªthe brain of the entire system. Initialization, the update loop, and the shutdown process had to be flawless. "If the foundation isn''t solid, everything else crumbles." He meticulously structured the Init() method, ensuring proper memory allocation, subsystem initialization, and configuration loading. Everything had to be fault-tolerant. No room for crashes. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. The Update() loop came next¡ªthe heartbeat of the engine. It had to synchronize physics, AI, rendering, and input without missing a beat. The logic had to be clean, optimized. Richard''s fingers moved faster, his mind locked in. Time blurred. Next, he built the ModuleManager, making sure every feature¡ªgraphics, physics, networking¡ªcould work independently yet remain interconnected. The engine needed to be modular, dynamic, and future-proof. Then came the mathematics: Vector3, Matrix4, and Quaternions¡ªthe foundation of all physics and movement. "Dot product, cross product, rotation matrices¡­ precision is everything." Hours passed as he optimized calculations, ensuring they were both efficient and accurate. Finally, he moved onto the RenderingCore, the visual heart of the engine. OpenGL first, then DirectX. He outlined the abstraction layer, setting the groundwork for deferred rendering, real-time lighting, and ray tracing. The first steps toward bringing worlds to life. Jack stepped inside, rubbing his eyes. "Dude, what the hell are you making? You''ve been at it for two hours now. I can''t stand all that clicking." Richard barely looked away from his screen. "Oh, this?" He leaned back, stretching. "It''s a game engine framework¡­ Vector Core." He said it with a dramatic flair, grinning. Jack blinked. "A game engine? Bro, we barely even remember all of Unity''s tools, and you''re out here making an entire engine?" Richard smirked. "Yeah... Remember the Keeper I told you about?" Jack sighed, shaking his head. "Whatever, dude. Whatever you''re working on is way too complicated for me. I doubt it even works." Richard chuckled. "Just trust me, bro. It''s gonna work. But I gotta finish this thing in my free time." Jack yawned. "Yeah, yeah. Come on, let''s close up already. There''s no one here, and I''m sleepy." He paused, scratching his head. "You know what? If you''re that dedicated, I have my old dusty M17x R4 in my room. I''ll give it to you¡ªotherwise, this thing is just gonna die on you." Richard''s eyes widened. "Are you serious?" Jack shrugged. "Of course, bro. Just save your project file on my hard drive first." He tossed him a portable HDD. Richard caught it but hesitated. "You''re giving way too much, man." Jack smirked. "Just take it as an investment from me." He chuckled. "Besides, it''s inefficient if we can only work from home. We need to be able to code anywhere¡ªtrips, late-night grinds, whatever. Plus, I''ve got two other laptops. You''ll make better use of this one than I ever will." After turning off every PC and rolling down the lid of the caf¨¦, Jack and Richard walked to Jack''s house. The place stood tall¡ªa modern three-story home, almost like an apartment, with peach-painted walls and massive glass windows lining the staircase. Three cars were parked neatly outside, completing the scene. Richard whistled. "Dude, I still can''t get over how big your house is." Jack gave him a look. "Bro, what are you saying? You come here at least once a week. Plus, you literally just gave Auntie a tour earlier. What the heck are you on about?" Richard smirked. "Just admiring it." Jack squinted. "What?" "Nothing," Richard said, shaking his head with a grin. Richard and Jack walked up to the second floor, passing through the living room and the hallway lined with rooms. They stopped in front of the guest room and knocked before stepping inside. "Ma, how are you adjusting?" Richard asked. Anita was sitting on the bed, eyes on the TV. She turned to them and smiled. "Just watching some shows. I just finished talking to Uncle Estello¡ªhe said he''d welcome us and even booked tickets with Jack for Laguindingan tomorrow at 3 PM, right after we claim your winnings." Richard''s eyes widened. "Tomorrow? Damn, we should''ve packed our bags earlier." "No rush," Anita said calmly. "We''ll just pack early in the morning¡ªclothes, documents, and whatever else we need. Oh, and I told Marcello he could stay at our house. Poor guy''s basically been living in a copra dryer." Jack, still scrolling through his phone, spoke up. "We can leave at 7 AM tomorrow, so we''ll get to Mandaluyong by 9. Then straight to the airport. Maybe even do some shopping for our lucky boy here." He smirked at Richard. Richard scoffed. "Yeah, first thing I''m getting is a phone. My Motorola''s been screaming for retirement." Jack grinned. "I was actually gonna give you my Samsung, but nah¡­ I''ll let you enjoy your shopping spree instead." He chuckled. "Anyway, Auntie, I''ll sleep first. There''s some cake and snacks in the fridge if you get hungry," Jack said, stretching. "Gotta get some shut-eye." "Alright, Jack," Anita replied as he stepped out. Richard flopped onto the other bed, sinking into the mattress. "Ma, you turning on the air conditioner?" "No, I''m not used to it. Just turn on the fan." Richard sighed, got up, switched on the fan, and lay back down. "So, what did you and Uncle Estello talk about?" Anita shrugged. "Just catching up, seeing how we''re doing. He''s still the same, cracking jokes and being his usual self. He even suggested selling our lot and building a house next to his." Richard raised a brow. "And?" "I told him no. That lot is the only thing my father left me. Too many memories attached to it." Richard nodded. "Yeah, makes sense." He yawned, pulling a blanket over himself. "Anyway, I''m still buzzed. I''ll sleep first." "Alright, good night." Richard mumbled something incoherent before dozing off. Chapter 8: Claiming The Prize A VX Land Cruiser idled outside Richard''s home as Jack hopped out. In the front yard, Richard and Anita stood with their bags, the cool morning air wrapping around them. "Marcello, I''ll leave this all to you," Anita said, adjusting the strap of her bag. "We might visit, but it''ll be a long time from now." Marcello, standing barefoot on the pavement, scratched his head and sighed. "Yes, Auntie. Thank you. I''ll take care of this. You too, both my dudes¡ªI''ll fucking miss you." He dapped up Richard and Jack. Richard scoffed. "Don''t be so dramatic, dude. We''ll be back soon." "Who knows, man," Marcello shrugged. "But if you ever run into trouble over there¡ª" "Speaking of trouble," Jack cut in. "I was gonna ask¡ªsince we''re leaving, how about you help out at the internet caf¨¦? Dino''s the only one running it, and he''s already got too much on his plate." Marcello blinked. "Wait¡­ you''re offering me a job?" Jack grinned. "Of course. No time restrictions, no bullshit. Just keep an eye on the place. Dino already knows the pay and everything." Marcello nodded, a rare seriousness in his expression. "Thanks, dude. I mean it. I''ll take you up on that." Meanwhile... Richard crossed the yard and walked to the next-door sari-sari store. "Auntie Nina," he called out. A middle-aged woman peeked over the counter. "Oh, Richard! Where are you off to?" "Heading back to the province. Marawi. I''m sure you''ve heard by now." Nina smiled mischievously. "Won''t you leave me some of your winnings before you go?" She chuckled. "Just kidding. Take care, okay? Angie''s gonna miss you." From the back of the store, a tall, curvy woman peeked out from the kitchen, her hands dusted with flour. "Shut up, Ma!" she groaned, clearly embarrassed. Richard smirked. "Don''t worry, I''ll come back." Jack''s voice rang from the car. "Bro, let''s go!" Richard turned back to Nina with a grin. "And if I come back¡­ I''ll come back for her." Before Nina could grab her slipper to throw at him, Richard bolted toward the cruiser, laughing. Nina shook her head, laughing as well. "Crazy kid." anita nodded, that might be good. Richard and Anita hopped into the backseat of the Land Cruiser, their bags settled beside them. Jack took the wheel, smoothly maneuvering through the streets in the early morning calm. After a short drive, he pulled up in front of the internet caf¨¦, where a tall, tanned, and muscular man stood waiting¡ªDino, dressed sharply as if heading to a business meeting. Jack slid over to the passenger seat while Dino took over the driver''s side. "Is Mina already there?" Jack asked. "Yeah, boss," Dino replied, handing Jack three plane tickets. Jack nodded. "Good. Let''s go." The Cruiser eased back onto the road. As they drove, Jack glanced at Dino. "Oh, by the way, I''ve taken Marcello as your helper. Let Mom and Dad know. You can teach him the ropes, but there''ll be times when he''ll need to harvest and dry coconuts. I''ve given him that free time, so just text or call me if anything comes up." Dino nodded. "Got it." Jack looked around. "Where''s my bag?" "At the back," Dino said, motioning with his thumb. Jack turned to Richard and Anita. "So, Auntie, should we grab breakfast at McDonald''s or Jollibee before heading straight to Mandaluyong?" Anita thought for a moment, then nodded. "That might be good. Let''s eat at Jollibee first so we don''t have to stop later." Jack grinned, stepping on the gas. "Jollibee it is." Fifteen minutes later, the Land Cruiser pulled into the Jollibee parking lot. The morning rush had begun, but they managed to find a table near the window. Jack stretched as he stood up. "Alright, let''s eat first so we can go straight to Mandaluyong after." They lined up at the counter, scanning the menu. "What do you want, Auntie?" Jack asked. Anita glanced at the options. "Just get me Jolly Spaghetti and a burger steak meal." Richard nodded. "I''ll have Chickenjoy, extra rice." Jack smirked. "Of course, can''t go wrong with that. Dino?" Dino shrugged. "Same, but with a Coke Float." Jack placed the order, adding a few extra pies and drinks just in case. Once their food arrived, they sat down and started eating. Richard took a bite of his chicken. "Damn, still hits the same." This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Jack nodded. "Yeah, nothing beats breakfast like this. Simple but good." Anita ate quietly while checking her phone. "After we claim the prize, we''ll go straight to the airport, right?" Jack wiped his mouth. "Yeah, no delays. We''ll get there around nine, take care of the paperwork, and be at the airport before noon." Richard leaned back. "I still can''t believe this is all happening so fast." Dino, finishing his drink, said, "Well, better to get it done quick. Less time for people to bother you about it." Jack nodded in agreement. "That''s why we''re keeping it lowkey. No unnecessary stops." After eating, Jack ordered takeout for later, handing a bag to Anita. "Just in case we get hungry on the way." They headed back to the car, with Dino taking the driver''s seat. Jack turned to Richard. "So, what''s the first thing you''re buying?" Richard sighed. "A new phone. Mine''s barely holding on." Dino smirked. "Yeah, I was gonna say, that thing looks like it''s from another era." Anita chuckled lightly. "Just don''t waste your money. Buy what you need first." Richard nodded. "Yeah, I know. Gotta be smart about it." Jack leaned back in his seat. "Good. Now, let''s get this done." With that, the car rolled out of the parking lot, heading straight for Mandaluyong. Richard and Anita stepped out of the car, standing before the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) building. The three-story structure loomed over them, a long sign at the front marking its purpose. "Where''s your ID, Chard?" Anita asked, glancing at her son. Richard patted his pocket. "Got my voter''s ID and SSS ID right here." "Alright, let''s go." Jack leaned out of the car, looking at Dino. "You coming?" Dino shook his head. "Nah, boss. I''ll stay here." Jack nodded. "Alright. While we''re inside, buy some Jollibee takeouts for all of us. Doesn''t matter what, just pick something good. Also, grab some snacks at SM. This whole thing could take two to four hours, and I don''t want us starving. Our flight isn''t until 3 PM anyway, so we''ll still have time to shop after." He reached into his pocket, pulling out ?4,000 and handing it to Dino. "Also, fill up the gas." Dino took the cash and smirked. "Got it, boss. Enjoy the paperwork." Richard rolled his eyes. "Let''s just get this over with." As soon as they stepped inside, two uniformed security guards greeted them. "Good morning, sir, ma''am. What''s your purpose for visiting?" one of them asked, his sharp eyes scanning Richard and Anita. Richard took a deep breath. "I''m here to claim my winnings." The guard gave him a long look before nodding. "Alright, sir. IDs and ticket, please." Richard handed over his voter''s ID and SSS ID, along with the winning lottery ticket. The second guard examined them carefully, comparing the ticket''s details against a printed list behind the desk. "Looks good. Proceed to the claiming area, second floor." Richard nodded, tucking his ticket back into his wallet. As they walked to the stairs, he exhaled slowly. "Damn, even just entering felt like a test." Anita chuckled. "Well, they have to be strict. This isn''t pocket change we''re talking about." On the second floor, they were directed to a counter where a PCSO staff member sat behind a glass window. The room was cool, with walls lined with notices and claim procedures. A small crowd of people waited in chairs, some fidgeting nervously. Richard approached the counter, sliding his ticket under the glass. "I''m here to claim my winnings." The staff member, a middle-aged woman with reading glasses, took the ticket and placed it under a UV scanner. She then examined it closely under a bright light, checking for security features¡ªwatermarks, unique serial numbers, and holograms. She glanced up at Richard. "Please wait while we verify this against our official records." Richard nodded, stepping back. His fingers twitched at his side as he exchanged a glance with Anita. "They''re really checking it like it''s a fake bill," he muttered. Anita smirked. "Wouldn''t want people scamming the system, right?" Minutes passed, feeling like an eternity. The woman made a call, confirmed something on her monitor, then turned back to Richard. "Your ticket is confirmed. Congratulations, sir." Richard let out a breath he hadn''t realized he was holding. "Thanks." The woman slid a set of claim forms under the glass. "Please fill these out. We''ll need your personal details, the ticket information, and your preferred bank for deposit." Richard sat down at a nearby table, pen in hand. His hands were steady, but his mind raced. As he filled in his name, address, contact details, and bank account information, it started to sink in. This was real. This wasn''t just some dream where he''d wake up broke again. Anita watched him. "Feels different now, doesn''t it?" Richard nodded. "Yeah. Like¡­ this is actually happening." Once the forms were completed, he brought them back to the counter. The staff member checked every detail, then nodded. "Alright, this will go through final verification. Please wait." Richard and Anita moved to the waiting area, sitting in silence. An hour had passed, the hum of the air conditioning blending with the low murmur of other claimants in the waiting area. Richard sat slouched in his seat, tapping his foot impatiently, while Anita scrolled through her phone. The smell of fried chicken and gravy snapped Richard out of his daze. Jack strode toward them, clutching bags of Jollibee and snacks, a smug grin on his face. "Auntie, here, let''s eat first. I know you''re hungry from the trip already," Jack said, handing a bag to Anita. She took it gratefully. "Where''s the other guy?" she asked, referring to Dino. "He''s in the car waiting. Already had his lunch," Jack replied, taking out his own burger. The three of them ate in relative silence, the tension from the long wait still lingering in the air. Richard barely tasted his food, his mind occupied with what was coming next. Finally, just as they were finishing up, a PCSO officer in a corporate polo approached them, a folder in hand. "Mr. Richard Velasquez Santamo?" Richard wiped his hands and stood up quickly. "Yes, sir?" The officer gave a professional but friendly smile. "Your claim has been finalized. Congratulations once again. Please follow me for the disbursement process." Richard felt his heartbeat pick up as he exchanged a glance with Anita and Jack. This was it. They followed the officer through a hallway that led to a secure office, guarded by two uniformed security personnel. The room was plain but official-looking, with a long table, chairs, and a CCTV camera positioned at the corner. Another PCSO official, an older man in glasses, sat behind the desk, reviewing some documents. "Ah, Mr. Santamo. Please, have a seat." Richard sat, Anita and Jack standing behind him. The official slid a manager''s check across the table. "As of 2012, winnings above ?10,000 are tax-exempt, so you will receive the full amount. Congratulations." Richard stared at the check. The printed digits were surreal, an amount he had never seen with his name beside it. He swallowed hard, barely hearing the rest of what the official was saying. "Please verify the details and sign here to confirm receipt." The official pointed to a line on the document. Richard took the pen, his hand slightly shaking as he signed his name. It felt unreal. Once done, the official nodded. "That''s it. The funds should reflect once you deposit the check into your account. If you need financial advice, we highly encourage responsible management of your winnings." Jack snorted from behind. "Don''t worry, sir, we''ll make sure he doesn''t blow it all in one day." The officer chuckled. "That''s what I like to hear. Again, congratulations, Mr. Santamo." A security guard stepped forward. "We''ll escort you to the exit for security reasons." Richard stood up, still gripping the check tightly. Anita patted his back, smiling. "You did it, son." Jack grinned, "Ready to become a millionaire officially, bro?" Richard exhaled and tucked the check into his bag. "Let''s get out of here." With the guards leading the way, they made their way back to the front, stepping into the warm Manila afternoon¡ªwhere Dino and the Land Cruiser waited, ready for the next step of their journey. Chapter 9: Boarding The Land Bank building loomed ahead, its glass facade reflecting the afternoon sun. Richard, Anita, Jack, and Dino stepped inside, greeted by the cool blast of air-conditioning. The interior was sleek and professional¡ªrows of tellers, security guards at the entrance, and a waiting area lined with cushioned chairs. Richard approached the counter, handing over his manager''s check and ID. The teller, a woman in a dark green uniform, scrutinized the documents. "Congratulations, sir," she said with a polite smile. "We''ll process this and transfer the amount to your account. It''ll take a few minutes." Jack leaned toward Richard. "Damn, bro. You''re officially loaded now." Richard smirked. "Feels weird." A few minutes later, the teller returned with a sleek new debit card inside an envelope. "Your funds are now available. Here''s your ATM card. You can activate it at any Land Bank ATM or through our mobile app." Richard took the card, staring at it for a moment. This was real. His life had changed. After thanking the staff, they left the bank and hopped back into the VX Land Cruiser, heading toward SM Mall of Asia. ---------- The Mall of Asia stretched out before them, its massive glass structure reflecting the Manila skyline. One of the largest malls in the world, it was a maze of high-end stores, electronic shops, restaurants, and entertainment complexes. The entrance was a flurry of people¡ªfamilies, couples, and groups of friends moving in and out. "Damn, I forgot how big this place is," Richard muttered. Jack laughed. "Try not to get lost. First stop¡ªSamsung Store." They navigated through the crowd, eventually arriving at the Samsung Store. Bright LED screens showcased the latest models, and neatly arranged tables displayed the newest gadgets. A store attendant greeted them. "Good afternoon! How can I assist you?" Richard tapped the glass display. "I''ll take the Samsung Galaxy SIII." "Excellent choice, sir," the attendant said, retrieving the phone. Jack nudged Richard. "From a dying Motorola to this? Big upgrade." Richard grinned. "Finally, a phone that won''t die every two hours." Dino chuckled. "Bro, even my old Nokia had better battery life than that thing." Once the purchase was finalized, they moved on to clothes shopping. They stopped by a high-end store, where Richard grabbed jeans, shirts, and sneakers, while Anita picked out dresses and casual wear. Jack pulled a leather jacket off the rack and tossed it at Richard. "Try this. You need to start looking like a millionaire." Richard raised a brow. "I''m not a rockstar." "Yet," Jack joked. Even Dino joined in, picking out a hoodie for Richard. "This fits your lazy-ass vibe more." After paying, Jack stretched. "Alright, before we head out, we eat. I know a solid Korean restaurant here." --------- They followed Jack to a cozy, modern Korean BBQ restaurant, where the sizzling sound of grilled meat filled the air. The waiter led them to a table with a built-in grill, soon filling it with samgyeopsal, bulgogi, kimchi, and banchan. Jack took charge of the grill, flipping the meat with practiced ease. "You do this a lot?" Richard asked, amused. Jack grinned. "Too many times to count." Anita, skeptical at first, tried a bite and nodded in approval. "This is actually really good." Dino, who had been quiet, suddenly spoke. "Not bad, boss. But you should try spicy bulgogi next time. That''s the real deal." Jack smirked. "You sound like a food critic." Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. They ate heartily, the mix of smoky flavors and savory meat making the meal one to remember. By the time they finished, 2 PM flashed on Jack''s watch. "Alright, time to go," he announced. They gathered their shopping bags and walked back to the VX Land Cruiser, where Dino took the wheel. The streets of Manila were buzzing with traffic, but Dino maneuvered through like a pro. As they drove toward NAIA Terminal 3, Richard stared out the window, watching the cityscape blur past. The VX Land Cruiser rolled to a stop at the main entrance of NAIA Terminal 3. The massive terminal loomed ahead¡ªtall glass windows reflecting the cloudy Manila sky, passengers rushing in and out, carts loaded with luggage, and security guards directing the flow of travelers. Richard, Anita, and Jack grabbed their bags from the backseat. Jack turned to Dino before heading inside. "You take care of the house now, bro. I''ve already informed Mom and Dad," Jack said. "Best if Marcello starts tomorrow. And for the internet caf¨¦, you can close early after Mina''s shift." Dino nodded, adjusting his cap. "Got it, boss. I''ll handle everything. Safe flight." Richard gave him a nod of appreciation, while Jack patted him on the shoulder. With that, the three headed toward the entrance, stepping into the cool, air-conditioned terminal. --------- The terminal was bustling¡ªlong lines at check-in counters, flight information boards flickering with arrivals and departures, the hum of conversations mixed with the occasional overhead announcement. The scent of coffee from nearby caf¨¦s lingered in the air, blending with the sterility of the airport. Richard followed Jack and Anita toward the Cebu Pacific check-in counter. The queue moved steadily, and after a few minutes, they reached the counter. "Tickets and IDs, please," the airline staff requested. Jack handed over the three plane tickets Dino had given him earlier, while Richard and Anita showed their IDs. The attendant typed on her keyboard, checking their reservation. "Alright, sir, your flight to Laguindingan Airport is on schedule for 3 PM. How many bags for check-in?" "Just these two," Jack said, placing Anita''s larger suitcase and Richard''s duffel bag on the scale. The attendant tagged their bags and handed them their boarding passes. "You''re all set. Proceed to security check. Have a safe flight!" They nodded in thanks and made their way toward security screening. -------- The line for security check was longer than expected, filled with travelers from different flights. Passengers emptied their pockets, placed their bags on the conveyor belt, and stepped through the metal detectors one by one. Richard placed his new Samsung SIII, wallet, and belt in a plastic tray, then walked through the scanner. It beeped. "Sir, please step aside," the security officer said. Richard sighed, stepping to the side as the guard did a quick pat-down. The officer checked his pockets, then waved him through. "You''re clear." Jack smirked. "Bro, you look guilty even when you''re not." Richard shook his head, grabbing his stuff. "Man, I just attract bad luck." Anita, already waiting, called them over. "Come on, boys. Let''s go to the gate." After passing through immigration, where their boarding passes and IDs were checked once again, they entered the departure area¡ªa large hall with rows of seats, glass windows overlooking the tarmac, and a few food stalls selling overpriced sandwiches and bottled water. They found seats near their gate, Gate 134, where other passengers for their flight were also waiting. Jack checked his watch. "Still got 20 minutes before boarding." Richard leaned back. "Not bad. At least we''re not running late." Anita was already flipping through her phone. "I''ll message Uncle Estello that we''re on time." Jack stood up. "I''ll grab water. Want anything?" Richard shook his head. Anita waved him off. Jack returned a few minutes later, handing Richard a bottle anyway. "Hydrate, millionaire," he teased. Richard rolled his eyes but took it. ------- A crackling sound came from the overhead speakers. "Attention passengers of Cebu Pacific Flight 5J381 bound for Laguindingan, we are now boarding. Passengers in rows 15 to 30, please proceed to the gate." "That''s us," Jack said, standing up. They grabbed their bags and lined up. A flight attendant at the boarding counter scanned their tickets one by one. "Enjoy your flight," she said with a smile. The jet bridge led them into the aircraft, the cold interior instantly contrasting with the Manila heat outside. They moved through the narrow aisle, finding their seats¡ªJack took the window, Richard in the middle, Anita in the aisle seat. Richard buckled his seatbelt, glancing outside as the plane''s engines rumbled to life. The airport crew was busy outside, guiding aircraft and moving baggage carts. Jack nudged him. "First time flying?" "Nah, but it''s been a while," Richard admitted. The flight attendants ran through the usual safety demo, and soon, the aircraft began taxiing to the runway. Richard felt a slight thrill as the plane accelerated, lifting off the ground. As they ascended into the sky, leaving Manila behind, he knew¡ªhis life was about to change for good. As the plane soared through the sky, the lights of Manila gradually faded beneath a blanket of clouds. Richard stared out the window, watching as the world below became nothing more than specks of light. "It''s been a while since I last flew," he said, leaning back against his seat. "The last time was when my first boss took us to Dakak. That was a good memory¡­ I guess that was three years ago." Jack turned his head. "Me too. Though this is only my third time flying. First time was when we went to Japan. Man, it was goddamn cold¡ªI was eight years old back then. The second time was with my mom and dad in Cebu for Sinulog. That was two years ago." Richard nodded, absently tapping his fingers on the armrest. His thoughts drifted. I still can''t get over the fact that I''ve won. The system is real¡­ and it''s all happening to me. Jack let out a chuckle. "You know, it doesn''t really change anything." Richard glanced at him. "What do you mean?" Jack stretched his arms. "I mean, whether a man is poor or rich, life still moves forward. Some people may never know what it''s like to be rich, and others may never know what it''s like to be poor. But in the end, everyone just keeps living." Richard smiled, letting Jack''s words sink in. "Yeah¡­ I guess you''re right." He looked back out the window, the endless night sky stretching before them. Whatever lay ahead, he knew one thing¡ªhis life had just taken off in more ways than one. Chapter 10: Leap The cabin was dim, the quiet hum of the plane''s engines filling the space. Jack and Anita were fast asleep, their breathing steady in the rhythmic sway of the flight. Richard, however, was wide awake. Carefully, he unzipped his backpack and pulled out the M17x R4 laptop¡ªJack''s old machine, now his. He placed it on the tray table, feeling the slight tremor of the plane as he opened the lid. The alien-head logo glowed faintly as it booted up. He plugged in the charger beneath his seat, the small LED blinking to life. The IDE was already set up from last night, and he had transferred his project files from Jack''s hard drive. Now, he had one hour and forty minutes before landing¡ªjust enough time to refine the core of his engine. "EngineCore," he murmured, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the keyboard. "The conductor of this digital symphony. It needs to be precise, reliable¡ªthe very soul of Vector Core." His mind raced through the architecture. The Init() method¡ªone of the most crucial parts. "Initialization¡­ it''s not just about starting things up. It''s about orchestrating a sequence, a delicate dance of dependencies." He visualized it: the subsystems, the resource loaders, the configuration handlers. Each one had to initialize in the correct order. The resource manager had to load before the rendering module. The input manager needed to be ready before the game logic. One wrong step, and everything could collapse. His fingers flew across the keyboard as he carefully structured the sequence. First, the configuration parser had to read settings from a file. Then, the resource manager would load textures, models, and sounds. The input manager would set up keyboard and mouse inputs. Finally, the rendering module would initialize the graphics API. He wrapped them in try-catch blocks, making sure that if anything failed, the engine would fail gracefully instead of crashing without explanation. Next came the Update() loop¡ªthe engine''s heartbeat. "Game logic, rendering, physics¡­ they all need to be updated in sync. But how?" He weighed different approaches. A fixed timestep? A variable timestep? A hybrid approach? Each had its strengths and weaknesses. The goal was to balance accuracy and performance. He implemented a fixed timestep, using a high-resolution timer to ensure smooth, consistent updates. Game logic would execute first, followed by physics calculations, and then rendering. It made sense, but he hesitated. What about input lag? If input events weren''t handled efficiently, there could be delays that made the game feel sluggish. He tested different techniques, experimenting with double buffering, event queues, and other optimizations. The goal was simple: eliminate latency, keep the game responsive. Finally, he turned to the Shutdown() method. It was easy to overlook but just as important as initialization. If the engine didn''t clean up properly, memory leaks and system instability would follow. He traced the shutdown process in reverse. The rendering module had to close first, followed by the input manager. The resource manager would then release textures and sounds, and the configuration parser would be the last to shut down. Every resource had to be properly deallocated. No dangling pointers, no leaks. The engine should leave no trace behind. Leaning back in his seat, he stretched his stiff fingers. His screen displayed the structured foundation of EngineCore. It wasn''t just a class; it was the conductor of everything to come. It would determine the engine''s stability, its efficiency, its very existence. It wasn''t perfect. Not yet Richard''s fingers hovered over the keyboard as he ran the last test. Lines of code scrolled across the screen, the debug console returning no errors. Satisfied, he exhaled and finally leaned back, stretching his stiff shoulders. He turned to his side, only to find Jack smirking at him. "Damn, dude. You were, like, super focused. Laser-focused shit. I bet you didn''t even know we were already here," Jack chuckled, shaking his head. "We didn''t disturb you since you looked like a robot," Anita added. "All that clicking¡­ you didn''t even rest for a moment." Richard blinked and quickly peeked out the window. The sun was beginning to set, casting an amber glow over the land below. The plane was already descending, the ground coming into sharper detail as they neared the runway. "That quick?" he asked, still adjusting to the fact that time had passed so fast. "I thought we were still flying." Anita scoffed. "''That quick, that quick,''" she mocked, shaking her head. "My eyes just hurt from staring at the screen for you." Jack laughed. "Dude, you were time-traveling. Anyway, we''re here. Grandpa already sent Uncle Ronnie to fetch us. And since we''ll be heading straight home, we''ll stop by for thirty hanging rice and barbecue from the street vendors." A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Richard raised an eyebrow. "Thirty? You expecting a whole barangay to eat with us?" Jack grinned. "Nah, but trust me, once we start eating, you''ll wish we ordered more." Richard chuckled, shutting down his laptop and packing it back into his bag. The plane''s wheels touched the runway with a smooth yet firm landing, the faint hum of the engines shifting as they taxied toward the gate. As they stepped out of the airport, the warm evening air greeted them. The sun had nearly set, casting a soft orange glow over the horizon. Waiting for them near the pickup area was a short, middle-aged man with a bald head and an easygoing grin. He waved as they approached, his round belly bouncing slightly with his laughter. "Ah, finally! The prodigal winners have arrived!" he called out. Jack smirked and shook his head. "Ronnie, you haven''t changed." "Why would I? Handsome as ever, charming as always!" Ronnie patted his stomach proudly before turning to Anita and Richard. "And you two must be the lucky ones, eh? I''m Ronnie, your humble driver, comedian, and all-around problem solver." Anita smiled politely. "Nice to meet you, Ronnie." "Likewise, likewise! Uncle Estello sent me personally. Told me, ''Ronnie, get those kids home safe, or else you''re on coconut-drying duty.'' And I hate drying coconuts," Ronnie chuckled. Richard chuckled at the man''s lively personality. "Sounds like he trusts you with a lot." "That''s one way to put it. But enough talk, let''s get going! Bags in the back, asses on the seats, we''re on a schedule!" They loaded their bags into the back of Ronnie''s small, white Suzuki multicab and climbed in. The vehicle rumbled to life, and soon, they were maneuvering through the dimly lit streets. As they drove, Jack leaned forward. "Ronnie, before we head home, let''s stop by the barbecue stalls. We need thirty hanging rice and skewers." Ronnie nearly swerved. "Thirty?! You feeding a barangay?" Jack laughed. "No, just us. Trust me, we''ll finish it." Ronnie shook his head. "Nah, fifteen is plenty. I already ate at the market, and I doubt your auntie here is going to devour ten sticks by herself." Anita chuckled. "Yeah, I think fifteen is enough, Jack." Jack sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. But don''t blame me when you''re all still hungry later." They pulled up to a row of street vendors, the air thick with the smoky aroma of grilled meat. Richard watched as Jack and Ronnie negotiated effortlessly with the vendors, exchanging playful banter and jokes. It was clear that while they hadn''t known each other for long, there was already an easy camaraderie between them. After securing their skewers and hanging rice, they hopped back into the multicab and resumed the drive home. The city lights slowly faded as they left the more populated areas, the roads becoming quieter. "So, uncle ronnie," Richard said, breaking the silence. "How long have you been working with Uncle Estello?" Ronnie grinned. "Long enough to know that if he tells you to do something, you do it. Otherwise, you''ll find yourself carrying sacks of rice for a week as punishment." Jack laughed. "Sounds about right." Anita leaned back, watching the scenery pass by. "Well, as long as you get us home safe, I have no complaints." Ronnie gave her a mock salute. "Ma''am, your safety is my number one priority. And your barbecue, of course." The small cab rumbled through the night, carrying them toward a familiar yet now slightly different home¡ªone where everything had changed for Richard, and the real journey was only beginning. The Suzuki multicab pulled over at a small purok hut beside the highway, dimly lit by a single hanging bulb. The warm evening breeze carried the scent of grilled meat and the distant hum of motorcycles passing by. The sound of cicadas filled the air, a familiar countryside melody. Ronnie stretched his arms and hopped off the driver''s seat. "Alright, guys, dinner first. No rush. We got time." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette, tapping it against his palm before lighting it. "I''ll be here, watching over the truck. You all enjoy." Jack smirked. "Man, you really are a retired old man. Just missing a bottle of tuba." Ronnie exhaled a puff of smoke, grinning. "If only I had one." Meanwhile, Richard, Anita, and Jack settled at a nearby bamboo bench. They unwrapped the puso¡ªthe woven palm-leaf rice parcels¡ªbreaking them open with their hands. Anita handed Richard a plastic bag to use as a makeshift glove, but he waved it off. "Nah, bare hands is the way to go." Jack nodded. "That''s the spirit." The skewers were laid out¡ªpork barbecue, isaw (grilled chicken intestines), adidas (grilled chicken feet), and betamax (solidified blood cubes). The scent of smoky charcoal and sweet glaze filled the air. Anita raised an eyebrow at the betamax. "You boys still eat this?" Jack laughed, grabbing one. "You don''t know what you''re missing, Auntie. This is gold." He took a bite, nodding in approval. Richard focused on his pork barbecue, pulling the tender meat off the stick. "Damn, I forgot how good street barbecue tastes." Jack grinned, taking a bite of his isaw. "Better than those overpriced mall restaurants, right?" Anita chuckled. "I''ll admit, this is good. But next time, I get to pick the food." As they ate, they exchanged small talk¡ªabout the trip, the upcoming plans, and Richard''s sudden wealth. At some point, the skewers started to disappear faster than expected. Richard reached for another skewer, only to find the pile nearly gone. He looked at Jack, then Anita. They both stared back, blinking. Jack leaned back, smirking. "Sooo... looks like fifteen wasn''t enough after all, huh?" Anita sighed, shaking her head. "I hate to admit it... but you were right." Richard wiped his hands on a plastic wrapper and laughed. "Should''ve gone for thirty." Jack grinned triumphantly. "See? Never doubt my food instincts." Richard grabbed a bottle of mineral water, took a deep drink, then wiped his mouth. He turned to Ronnie, who was still puffing on his cigarette by the multicab. "Hey, uncle," Richard called out. "Got an extra stick?" Ronnie raised an eyebrow, then chuckled. "You smoke?" "Yeah." Ronnie reached into his pocket and tossed Richard a cigarette. "Alright, but don''t blame me if Auntie here scolds you." Anita scoffed but didn''t say anything. Richard lit the cigarette, took a slow drag, and exhaled. The nicotine buzzed through his system, mixing with the satisfaction of a full stomach. Jack clapped his hands. "Alright, break''s over. Let''s get going before grandpa thinks we got lost." They hopped back into the multicab, the engine sputtering to life as Ronnie pulled back onto the darkened highway. The road stretched ahead, the headlights cutting through the night, guiding them toward the next chapter of their journey.