As he clicked the log-off button, the interface of [Eternal Realm] faded slowly before his eyes. The incandescent lights in the studio flickered on, bringing a touch of tangible reality from the real world.
After battling continuously in the game for nearly fifty hours, all three had faint traces of exhaustion on their faces.
They rubbed their sore eyes and stretched their limbs, but excitement was unmistakable on each of their faces. Especially when thinking about how all of Shadow Claw Guild's efforts had been for nothing, Lenore couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
"I can't take it anymore! I'm sticky all over. If I don't take a shower soon, I'll mold!" Lenore suddenly stood up, stretching lazily.
Her twin tails swayed with the movement, revealing faint sweat stains on her neck. "Kalis, hurry up and book Luminé Dining. Eira and I are going back to the dorm to shower first. It'll definitely take us at least two hours, so don't rush us!"
Eira stood up too. She'd always been a clean freak, gently patting the dust off the hem of her clothes with a soft yet firm tone. "We'll text you when we're ready. You can take care of your own things first; no need to wait for us at the studio." She picked up her coat, draped over the chair, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
Kalis nodded with a laugh. "Go ahead, I'll book the restaurant right now. Take your time getting ready—no rush." He watched the two of them hurry out of the studio with their bags, Lenore's chattering complaints still lingering in his ears. He shook his head helplessly, even when she was so tired her eyes were half-closed, she still talked nonstop.
Turning back to his chair, Kalis pulled out his phone. When the screen lit up, a balance notification from his banking app was prominently displayed—1.32 billion units of real-world currency. The number was like a warm light, chasing away all his fatigue.
He swiped his finger to find Luminé Dining's official reservation number and dialed it. A soft female voice came through the receiver.
"Hello, this is Luminé Dining. How many guests will be joining us, and what time will you be arriving?"
"Three people, around 9:30 PM. Could you please reserve a quiet private room by the window?" Kalis's voice was hoarse from just logging off, but calm and steady.
"Certainly. May I have your surname and contact information for the reservation?"
"Kalis, and my phone number is…"
After confirming the reservation details and hanging up, a clear thought suddenly popped into Kalis's mind. Instead of buying a house he wouldn't use anytime soon, getting a car first would obviously be more practical.
Right now, he relies on taxis to get around. Having a car would not only make daily travel more convenient, but also make it easier to meet up with Lenore and Eira for meals or commute to the studio later.
As soon as the idea crossed his mind, a long-buried childhood dream resurfaced. Since he could remember, he'd always hoped to own a convertible of his own.
Now, the balance in his account was more than enough to fulfill that dream. Coupled with the fact that he'd just gotten his driver's license during the vacation, it was the perfect time to make it a reality.
"I have two hours to spare anyway, might as well go check out a dealership." Kalis's heart stirred. He quickly gathered his things, grabbed his coat, and walked out of the studio.
The studio was located in an entrepreneurial park near the university, not too far from the Mercedes-Benz dealership in the city center—about a twenty-minute taxi ride away.
Sitting in the taxi and watching the street scenes flash by outside the window, Kalis's thoughts couldn't help but drift back to the past.
During his university years, he'd spent most of his time in the library and the game studio, working hard on his studies while looking for opportunities in games.
Once, he'd envied classmates who drove luxury cars, secretly vowing to work hard and live the life he wanted. And now, all of that had become a reality.
Twenty minutes later, the taxi pulled up in front of the Mercedes-Benz dealership. What came into view was a highly designed building with glass curtain walls reflecting dazzling light in the sun.
The cars in the exhibition hall were neatly arranged like exquisite works of art. Kalis took a deep breath, pushed open the car door, and stepped inside.
As soon as he entered the exhibition hall, a sales consultant dressed in a black suit and smiling warmly approached him. "Hello, sir! Welcome to the Mercedes-Benz Experience Center. Are you interested in any particular model?"
"I'd like to see convertibles—silver-gray ones." Kalis got straight to the point, his eyes already scanning the exhibition hall.
"Certainly, right this way!" A hint of surprise flashed in the sales consultant's eyes. The young man in front of him was wearing a simple hoodie and jeans, looking like a student. He hadn't expected him to ask for the convertible series directly; these were the high-end performance cars in the store. But he didn't neglect him, leading Kalis toward the depths of the exhibition hall with a smile.
There, parked quietly, was the silver-gray convertible. Its body lines were smooth and sharp, like a beast ready to pounce.
"This convertible sports car…" The sales consultant began introducing the model parameters in a professional and enthusiastic tone.
Kalis didn't speak. He just walked slowly over to the car and reached out to gently stroke its lines. The cold touch was real and clear, pulling him back to reality in an instant. This wasn't a dream—he really could afford to buy this car.
"Can I test drive it?" Kalis looked up and asked.
"Of course, sir. Could you please show me your driver's license?"
Kalis pulled his driver's license out of his pocket and handed it to the sales consultant. The photo on the license was taken when he'd just gotten it, with a hint of youthfulness on his face. After verifying the information, the sales consultant smiled and said, "Sir, this way please. Let's go through the test drive formalities."
Ten minutes later, Kalis sat in the driver's seat. He adjusted the seat and steering wheel, fastened his seatbelt, and took a deep breath before starting the engine. The moment it roared to life, a deep, resonant growl came from the front of the car—like the low roar of a beast, making his heart race involuntarily.
"Sir, the test drive route has been planned. It'll take about fifteen minutes. Please drive safely." The sales consultant sat in the passenger seat, reminding him thoughtfully.
Kalis nodded, shifted gears, stepped on the gas pedal, and the car glided smoothly out of the 4S dealership. Once on the main road, he gradually increased the speed, feeling the thrill of the acceleration. The engine delivered a steady stream of power, the steering wheel was precise and light, and the brakes responded quickly. The cars and pedestrians along the way flashed by, and the wind blew through the car windows, carrying the scent of freedom.
At this moment, all the pressure and fatigue seemed to melt away.
After the test drive, back at the dealership, Kalis didn't hesitate at all. "I'll buy this car—full payment."
The sales consultant's eyes lit up with surprise. "Certainly, sir! Would you like any additional configurations? We have…"
"No, the standard configuration is fine. Just process the formalities as soon as possible." Kalis interrupted him. He just wanted to drive the car home quickly.
"Right away! I'll handle it immediately!" The sales consultant turned around and left excitedly, secretly thanking his luck for meeting such a straightforward customer.
Over the next forty minutes, Kalis went through the car purchase formalities, signing the contract, swiping his card, paying the vehicle purchase tax, applying for a temporary license plate… By the end of it, his palms were sweaty, but a smile never left his face.
"Sir, here are your car keys. Enjoy your new car!" The sales consultant handed the keys to him.
"Thank you." Kalis took the keys and turned toward his new car. Pressing the unlock button, the car let out a beep and the lights flashed twice, as if greeting him.
Sitting in the driver's seat, he pressed the start button, and the engine roared to life again. This time, the car was truly his.
Kalis drove slowly out of the 4S dealership. Instead of heading straight back to the university, he took a drive around the empty roads in the city center. He wanted to get familiar with the car, to savor this happiness that belonged to him.
As the car glided smoothly along, Kalis rested his chin in one hand and gently held the steering wheel with the other. Looking at the road stretching ahead, he suddenly felt like everything was a dream. From an ordinary college student to a top player in the game, and now the owner of his dream car, everything had happened so fast, yet felt so real.
If it weren't for [Eternal Realm], he might still be an unknown student, worrying about his job after graduation.
Just then, his phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. He picked it up and saw "Eira" on the screen, answering quickly.
"Kalis, we're ready. Where should we meet?" Eira's voice came through.
"I'll wait for you at the intersection near your dorm building." Kalis checked the navigation and slowed down the car. "I brought you a little surprise—guaranteed to blow your minds."
"A surprise? What kind of surprise?" Lenore's curious voice came from the other end, clearly listening in.
"You'll see when you get here," Kalis said with a laugh.
"Hmph, being all mysterious! We'll be right down!" Lenore muttered angrily before hanging up the phone.
Kalis gripped the steering wheel, a proud smile tugging at his lips. He could imagine the surprised looks on Lenore and Eira's faces when they saw the car.
Ten minutes later, Kalis parked the car under a tree at the intersection. It was not far from the girls' dormitory and relatively quiet, so it wouldn't attract a crowd. He turned off the engine, leaned back in his seat, and waited for the two of them.
Before long, two familiar figures walked over from the direction of the dorm building.
Lenore was wearing a white dress, her hair tied into a playful pair of twin tails, with delicate makeup on her face, looking full of energy. Eira was wearing a light blue midi skirt with a white shirt, her long hair flowing over her shoulders, and subtle makeup—still looking calm and capable.
The two walked to the intersection, looking around for Kalis. When Lenore's eyes fell on the silver-gray convertible, they widened instantly. She grabbed Eira's arm and shouted, "Eira! Look at that car! It's so cool!"
Eira followed her gaze, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. The car's design was striking, clearly expensive.
Just then, Kalis pushed open the car door and got out, waving at them. "Over here!"
Lenore and Eira froze at the same time, their faces filled with disbelief.
"Kalis???!" Lenore hurried over to him, looking him up and down before glancing at the car behind him. "This car… is yours?"
Kalis nodded with a smile. "Yeah, just bought it. What do you think—pretty nice, right?"
"Nice? It's more than nice!" Lenore circled the car, reaching out to touch the paint, her voice full of envy.
Eira also walked over to the car, examining it carefully with admiration in her eyes. "It's beautiful. It looks like it has great performance too."
"Of course—did you expect anything less from me?" Kalis pretended to be complacent. Seeing their surprised expressions filled him with satisfaction.
"Wow! Kalis, you're amazing!" Lenore punched him lightly on the shoulder, her voice full of excitement. "Quick, let me try out your new car! I've never ridden in such an expensive car before!"
"Haha, don't worry—you can ride it anytime from now on." Kalis laughed and opened the convertible top.
"Yes! Let's go!" Lenore couldn't wait to climb into the back seat, excitedly touching the leather seats and waving at Eira. "Eira, come quick! The interior is so luxurious! It's so comfortable to sit in!"
Eira sat down next to Lenore, fastened her seatbelt, and looked up at Kalis in the driver's seat, saying softly, "Drive carefully."
"Don't worry," Kalis said confidently.
Inside the car, Lenore chattered away with questions. "Kalis, how much did this convertible cost? Was it several million?"
"Yeah, roughly," Kalis replied honestly.
Lenore gasped. "You really splurged! Spending so much money in one day!"
"Money is meant to be spent. Besides, this was my childhood dream. Now that I can afford it, I might as well treat myself." Kalis said with a laugh, turning the steering wheel as the car merged smoothly into the traffic.
"That's true! You're basically a billionaire now, spending a few million on a car is nothing to you!" Lenore nodded, her voice full of admiration. "By the way, Kalis, when did you get your driver's license? How come I didn't know?"
"I got it during this vacation. I originally planned to buy a car after graduation, but I didn't expect to make so much money in the game, so I fulfilled my dream early." Kalis said.
"I see!" Lenore suddenly realized. "You're a good driver, right? Don't get us killed!"
"Don't worry. Even though I'm a new driver, I got familiar with it during the test drive. I'll definitely get you to the restaurant safely." Kalis said confidently.
Along the way, Lenore looked excitedly at the scenery outside the window, chattering on about all the advantages of the convertible. Eira occasionally chatted with Kalis; most of the topics centered around things in the game. Kalis drove while listening to their conversation, a smile always on his face.
Twenty minutes later, the car arrived at the entrance of Luminé Dining.
Kalis parked the car slowly and turned off the engine. The three of them got out one after another and walked toward the restaurant's entrance.
"Shall we go, ladies? My treat tonight—order whatever you want!" Kalis made a "please" gesture, speaking generously.
"Yay! Then I won't hold back!" Lenore pulled Eira's hand excitedly and walked into the restaurant first.
Kalis watched their backs, shook his head with a laugh, and followed closely behind.