Seven minutes later, the kettle clicked off.
Angelo poured tea into two cups. His mother was in the shower.
He stepped onto the balcony.
Cool air. City lights. The same view for twelve years.
Laughter. Arguments. Long kitchen talks.
They were moving tomorrow.
A tear formed before he wiped it away.
"Sweetheart! It's cold out there!"
"Coming."
They sat at the kitchen table.
"You okay?" Maria asked.
"Just thinking about this place."
"It held a lot."
"It was a bridge," he said. "Between the worst years and something better."
She smiled.
"I'm proud of you."
"I'm lucky," he replied. "Without you… I wouldn't be me."
She touched his cheek.
"I won't always be here, Angelo."
His jaw tightened.
"I don't need anyone else."
"My silly child."
Silence.
Then she asked, "Did you see the brochure in your bag?"
"No."
He reached inside and pulled it out.
Life Without End.
His fingers stopped.
A billion players. Full immersion. Dark fantasy.
And once — a single player who ruled them all.
Angelo Fool.
The Bloody Emperor.
Level 150. Rank M Blood Element. Mythic abilities.
He defeated the NPC gods. Crushed the five clan leaders. Took control of the Pelegon server and declared himself its final boss.
Developers had searched for him for five years.
Reward: $100,000 for information. $1,000,000 for his return.
He stared at the number.
"That game nearly destroyed me," he said quietly.
Maria watched him carefully.
"I know," she said.
She had fought him for years. Taken the visor. Taken him to a chess club. Made a bet.
Chess won.
And it saved him.
"Why now?" he asked.
"We have almost no savings left," she answered. "The house cost everything."
Zurich. A mansion. A new beginning.
He looked again at the reward.
A million dollars.
They want me back.
After I broke their server. After I turned their world into chaos.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Maybe," he said, "it's just unfinished business."