[Continent Tylion - Country Iristia - City Kiphis - Outside Grand Marirosa]

[Maximus POV]

I need short-term goals. The long-term goals are already determined but that’s far off in the future. Thinking about it will only paralyze me from doing anything useful right now. To put it into perspective let’s use an analogy.

If I’m playing a game and the only quest that’s given to me was to [Defeat Sephiroth the Fallen Angel], I would personally be extremely lost and confused. Instead if the game began with [Kill 5 Rabbits], [Talk to the Manager], [Harvest 4 Fox Tails], or [Craft a Wooden Spear] I would know what to do.

This concept also applies in real life, the long-term goal is to create a multi-billion dollar business but thinking about that makes me extremely lost and confused. Instead we need to begin creating sub-quests and beginner missions for ourselves. We can’t plan for the entire journey to create a multi-billion dollar company but we can plan for the next step. In this case the next step is to contact the other agents in this mission. Breaking it down to simpler sub-quests we can use it to create a to-do list with the goal of contacting the other agents in this mission. It’s best if I visualize my quests on my phone.

[ ] Contact the other agent

Proceed with the Operation as Soon as Possible Description: Wait for the Email from Spade’s men and write the instruction that the doctor has to follow. Location: The temporary email address Rewards: Contact with the other Tryphant Agents

“Doesn’t sound too difficult” I thought to myself, “We can determine the next step after meeting with the other agents” It was nighttime and I was feeling sleepy. Taking a taxi back to my house I laid in bed checking my disposable email account earnestly waiting.

[Continent: Sicily Archipelago - Country: Ayrum - City: Egestas - A Dark Alleyway]

“RUN, RUN BROTHER” I screamed in desperation

I saw the auburn haired boy dashing towards the fence with 2 guys right on his tail. In the brown rags dashed with muddy water he ran like a gazelle hopping over the top of fences with a brown satchel on his back. A man with the frame of a bear shouted,

“ANYONE WHO GRABS THAT BOY GETS 100 TALONS”

The looks of the 2 men became bloodshot and thirsty, the homeless beggars on the street woke up and greed filled their eyes. Their eyes desperately searched for the boy who was being chased, instinctively I reached towards the knives in my pocket and threw a knife beside their heads discouraging them from even trying. Running atop the buildings of Egestas I saw that the greed in the beggar’s eyes began to disappear and the muscular bear-like man released a shout, “200 TALONS FOR ANYONE WHO GRABS THE BAG”,

I threw a knife again but this time the beggars didn’t stop. They began to run towards the ragged boy with the bag with greed blinding their eyes. The boy turned his head and saw the horde of beggars chasing after him and immediately reached into his bag then tossed his brown bag to the crowd, “THE MAN ONLY NEEDS THE BAG”

The greedy crowd stopped, then stared at the bag on the ground in silence before a man with long gray hair dived in grabbing the bag, and another man followed suit. The greedy crowd began to fight over the empty bag with scratches, bruises and the sound of broken bones filled the lonely, dark, wet alleyway. By the time the 2 men and the bear-like muscular figure caught up to the crowd what greeted them was the smell of blood, urine, sweat and an empty brown bag.

“Fuck” the muscular bear-like man growled, “The boss won’t be happy about this”

“What was in the bag” one of the henchman asked,

A piercing stare drilled into the henchman’s eyes, “In this business we don’t ask questions, we only deliver what’s needed to be delivered”

“What happens if we don’t deliver the package boss?” the other henchman asked

A vice grip clenched both of their throats, “Then it is the fault of the bodyguards”, a soft crackling noise was heard and the stench of death soon followed through. The sound of two dead bodies dropping on the floor was heard before he looked up noting that the auburn haired girl was also missing from the rooftops along with the boy.

-----------------[Continent: Sicily Archipelago - Country: Ayrum - City: Egestas - Location: Eustas Bar]----------------

In a desolate bar at the edge of Egestas where the dim candles lit up the lonely bar were two people sitting at a table. A man with short black hair and a pair of square glasses with a loosened tie wearing a white shirt sat on one side of the table. He looked like a desperate man, a drunk man who has lost everything. Sitting across him was a lady with ravishing auburn hair and an emotionless smile sitting on her face as she played with the wine in her hand. She did not wear makeup but her natural beauty could not be hidden. Staring into her eyes was an emotionless void masking her intentions, her face shone with indifference as if the man never existed.

“I am here to do business with you” she spoke with indifference

“W-What do you want from me” he spoke in a raspy tone

“You sound scared. What are you afraid of?” she responded, “There is no need to fear, I won’t hurt you. We are both reasonable people here”

“Then as reasonable people you already know what I need, b-but first I need to see that you actually have it” he responded in haste. The auburn haired lady played with the wine in her glass entranced by how the wine swirls within the glass.

“I am afraid I cannot show it to you now, but once you accept my offer I will give you the first half of the vial” she responded slowly, “But you can rest assured that I wouldn’t stake my reputation on the line for such a simple deal. I never lie, rather I hope that we can both profit off this deal”

“Then what about money? I can give you money, 1000 Talons for the vial. 500 Talons right now and 500 when I receive the package”

“I appreciate your kindness but I think there is a misunderstanding between us. I am not interested in your money, you need it more than me. I simply hope that you can help me with a surgery”

Panic and fear flashed on his face “I-I can’t extract the magical essence out of another person again” he trembled with fear

“It sounds like you think I’m the kind of person to ask you to do something unreasonable. I told you in the beginning, there’s nothing to be afraid of. I understand your limits and I won’t ask you to do something out of your capability. Trust me, I will only ask you to do what is reasonable.”

Relief filled his face, “Then what do you want”

“Here are your instructions” she passed him a piece of white paper. “I’m the patient”

“....5mm incision from C1 to TH12….mix the brain…..Ophelius Brain” Inaudible mumbling came out of the professor’s mouth before he asked, “Are you sure you want to do this operation?”

“If you are asking that question then I presume that you agree. Like I said, I don’t make unreasonable requests.”

“This is a simple surgery madam”

“I wouldn’t worry about the rest if I were you, just drive to the college then we can get the surgery done and you can get your Y12-4 Project Elise vial and your daughter can live. Once we reach there I’ll give you half of the vial and once we finish I’ll give you the other half”

“Alright, would you like a ride madam Cecilia?”

“No. I have my own transportation, just go to the college and get the equipment ready. I’ll be there”

He desperately ran out of the bar and into his car promptly starting it and driving it to the college he worked at.

After a moment the auburn haired lady tapped on the wood in a cryptic manner. *tap..tap..tap….tap…….tap..tap* then looked at the bartender patiently waiting. Her eyes started to display a soft gentle emotion.

“Are they gone?” the hairy bartender asked

“Yep, feel free to go back to your original self” the lady reciprocated

The bartender’s body transformed as the flesh began to intertwine and curl. His body began to shrink and his hair began to disappear. His black hair was replaced with an auburn colored hair and a cheerful bubbly personality replaced his tired demeanor. The lady named Cecilia had a more subtle transformation as if she was shaped by clay. Her 28 year old look was replaced with a young girl around 16 or 17 with lengthy auburn hair and a weary face.

“Um..sis, isn’t 1000 talons better for the orphanage?” the boy asked as he cleaned the counter top, “We could send 5 of the children to school with that kind of money”

“I guess, but if my calculations are correct this decision will bring us more money than 1000 talons.” she replied, taking a sip from the wine in her hands, “Here’s a little lesson from me to you. Today we saved that man’s daughter but he’s only doing a small surgery for us. Objectively speaking, this is a loss on our end, but today we’ve gained something that money can’t get. ”

“What would that be sis?”

“His gratitude and friendship”

A puzzled look appeared on the boy’s face “Why is gratitude important?”

“A good reputation is built off gratitude.”

“What kind of reputation are you trying to build sis?”

“Hmmm…..tell me, Rufus what reputation do you think I’m trying to build?”

“Reliable, strict, reasonable and ruthless”

“Not bad, but you missed one. Respected”. The boy fell into deep thought as he shelved the drinks away from the top shelf.

“Go back to the orphanage and put the profits into the donation box. Make sure that you’re not seen”

Nodding the boy took the wads of cash from the counter and ran away from the bar leaving the 17 year old Cecilia alone in the empty soulless bar.

[Cecilia’s Pov]

“Well I guess it’s about time I meet my colleagues.”

As I exited the bar the fluorescent shine of the countless stars illuminated this dark night. The street lamps that barely functioned paved the rocky pavement. At the edge of the horizon were the skyscrapers with extravagant flashing holograms displaying messages on each building. The steel forest of skyscrapers filled the night sky with it’s luminescent glow showering the slums of Egestea with its extravagant lights. Looking the other way was the deathly desolate glow of the lanterns and the disgusting smell of sewage, urine and sweat. I scrunched up my nose in disgust and covered my nose with the sleeve of my shirt. As I calculated the distance to the college I leaped up onto a building silently. I closed my eyes and opened them to reveal a pair of pitch black eyes of an owl replacing the brown pupils I used to own. The night was as clear as day in my eyes and devoid of colour. Leaping from roof to roof I flew in the dark lifeless night of Egestas to the college of Egestas.

I held the cold jar containing the Ophelius brain in my hand as I snuck inside the medical facility entering the only lit room. Inside was the professor who was sterilizing his equipment preparing for the surgery. I snuck into the room without a sound and began to observe the professor’s work.

“Everything is finished I presume” I whispered, breaking the silence. The sound of a surprised man falling echoed the empty chamber followed by a soft giggle.

“There’s no need to worry, if I want to hurt you I would’ve done so already. Here’s the Y12-4 Project Elise that you wanted, I’ll tell you where you can find the other half if I’m still alive after this operation so don’t disappoint me” I reassured lightly placing a cyan vial onto the table. “I’ve already done the preparations so all you need to do is cut 5mm deep from my C1 spine to my TH12 spine and pour the fluid in. After that you don’t need to restitch me and just make sure nobody comes in for the rest of the day. I have faith that you are at least that capable”

“Of course madam Cecilia” The professor nodded in assurance before handing me a hospital gown, “I’ll be wait in the other room while you change. Just knock the door once you’re finished”

I took the gown and waited for the man to leave the room before I began to change. I took a look at the silver knife on the table paired with a large number of other medical instruments. Inspecting I made sure that the knives were clean and the professor did his job properly, I let out a slight smile, disabled the security camera, set up my own camera in the corner of the room, and knocked on the door.

“I’ve finished everything, I wish to proceed as soon as possible” I explained, “Don’t let me down” I expressed before laying on the operation table, my eyes slowly closed breathing in the anesthesia.

[Continent Tylion - Country Iristia - City Kiphis - Arthur Denyel Hospital’s Lobby]

[Maximus POV]

“Hello sir, do you have an appointment today?” the receptionist asked

“I booked a laparoscopy at this hospital for 3:00 pm”

“Mr. Ryan Berkley correct?”

“Yes, that’s me” I lied, Ryan Berkley was my alias.

“Alright your appointment is in room Floor 2 - Room 23. Once your name is called please enter the room” she told while handing a folder to me

“Thank you” I replied while taking the folder

I went to the 2nd floor and took a seat outside the room. I sat there waiting until I heard,

“Ryan Berkley, Is there a Ryan Berkeley here?”

“Yes that’s me” I picked up my folder and the bag I carried with me containing the Ophelius brain within it. As I entered the room an aged doctor called out to me,

“I heard you have a specific surgery you need?”

“Yes doctor. Here are the instructions” I passed him a written copy of the instructions

“Interesting, I’m obliged to tell you that any accidents that happen in this office will not be recorded or insured.”

“I understand the risks that come with this operation”

“Very well, let’s begin”