Jack's eyes were glued to the monitor, but his mind was elsewhere — lost in a storm of numbers, graphs, and microtransaction models. He leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping impatiently against the armrests. The Vector Core engine hummed softly, rendering terrain for the multiplayer mode, but Jack wasn't watching.
His gaze drifted to the whiteboard where Richard had laid out the factional logistics framework, a chaotic web of interconnected supply chains, training centers, and recruitment nodes. Everything was intricately balanced, each piece depending on the other like a well-oiled machine.
But how to monetize it without breaking it? That was the real question.
Jack spun around. "Dude, what about research trees?"
Richard, who was knee-deep in adjusting vehicle physics for the Sherman tank, didn't look up. "We already implemented research trees. We've got everything from upgraded rifles to experimental tanks."
Jack shook his head. "Yeah, but that's just for the players' squads, right? What about the city management stuff? Factories, logistics centers, recruitment offices — the stuff generals control."
Richard's fingers hovered over the keyboard, his eyes narrowed in thought. "Huh… We didn't even think of that."
Jack leaned forward. "Hear me out. Instead of every player having their own tech tree, we scrap that and introduce faction-wide research. Generals can invest in factional research that benefits the entire team — like faster production rates, more efficient logistics, advanced munitions."
Richard's brow furrowed. "So you're saying we make the players feel like they're part of a larger war effort instead of just grinding for their own personal upgrades?"
Jack nodded. "Exactly. Make them work together. Focus on the big picture."
Richard leaned back, spinning his chair slowly. "Alright, but that still doesn't answer the microtransactions dilemma. Right now, only the generals have access to factional upgrades. But what about the individual players? What do they get to spend money on?"
Jack's eyes twinkled. "That's where cosmetics come in. But — and this is key — no fire-breathing dragon skins or neon pink rifles. We keep it historically accurate."
Richard smirked. "So, like… World War II trinkets and stuff? Medals, regiment patches, helmet decals, personal carvings on the buttstock of their rifles?"
"Exactly," Jack said, getting animated. "Think about it — camo patterns based on actual units, tank paints inspired by historical divisions, aviator goggles with personal markings. Stuff that looks gritty and real. Keeps the immersion while still giving them something to flex."
Richard nodded, tapping his fingers thoughtfully. "And we can tie it into individual progression too. Classes. Infantryman, Recon, Engineer. But we don't go overboard with subclasses like Airborne Infantry or Sniper. Keep it simple and let the rank system determine who commands what."
Jack grinned. "So, the ranks become the progression mechanic. Privates command nothing. Sergeants get a squad. Lieutenants control multiple squads. Captains lead companies. Generals command the entire theater of operations."
Richard spun on his chair. "Won't we have that dilemma of players disobeying direct orders?"
Jack leaned forward, eyes intense. "If a player disobeys a direct order, they get demoted to Private. No squad, no command. They're placed under AI control and treated like a grunt."
Richard raised an eyebrow. "Th-that's actually quite harsh."
Jack shrugged. "It's realistic dude and if they keep acting like idiots, they get withdrawn from the frontlines altogether. Sent to logistics duty, loading trucks or working in the recruitment centers. They can't return until they serve their suspension time."
Richard nodded, smirking. "You think they'll stop being an idiot? Even if it was me, I would still do it for the gags."
Jack's grin widened. "Then they're reassigned to the Partisan Regiments."
Richard laughed, the sound dry and sharp. "Ah, right, the partisans — the misfits and outcasts. Sent behind enemy lines to disrupt logistics, sabotage factories, ambush convoys. Low resources, high risk, and no support."
Jack's eyes gleamed. "Exactly. They want to act like lone wolves? Fine. Let them. But they're cut off from the main army. And if they want to return to the regular ranks, they have to work their way back up."
Richard pushed back from the desk and stretched, arms cracking. "Alright, but here's a thought — why don't we just release the singleplayer campaign in two days? We're done with it anyway."
Jack's head snapped up. "You serious? We're just gonna drop it without any warning?"
"Why not?" Richard said, standing up and pacing. "We said the multiplayer would take another six months, right? But we never said anything about singleplayer. Let them play through the campaign and get a feel for the gameplay, the AI systems, the physics. Let them get attached to their squads. That way, when multiplayer finally drops, they're already invested."
Jack's smile widened, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "And if they're invested, they'll want to stick around."
Richard nodded, a rare grin spreading across his face. "And if they're sticking around… they'll want to spend money."
Jack chuckled, pushing himself up from the chair. "Man, the internet is gonna go nuts when they see this. Let's do it."
Richard's eyes gleamed with the kind of anticipation only a developer with a secret weapon could have. "Lina, prep the launch protocol for the singleplayer campaign. We're dropping it in 48 hours."
Lina's voice crackled through the speakers, calm and smooth."Understood. Initiating asset preparation and pre-launch marketing protocols."
Jack cracked his knuckles, eyes locked onto the monitor as he opened the Vector Core engine. "Alright, let's get to work."
-------
Night descended over the compound, a thick, humid stillness blanketing the sprawling estate. Below, the workers drank and laughed, their voices mingling with the clinking of bottles and the occasional blare of a radio. The windows of the third-floor suite offered a panoramic view of the sprawling logistics yard, trucks and warehouses lit by yellow floodlights.
Richard stood alone, staring out at the night sky. His reflection in the glass mirrored a lean, angular frame — a man who had sacrificed sleep for code and ambition.
The news cycle was in an uproar. ByteBull's co-founders targeted by terrorist insurgents? The rumors spiraled, and despite the slight dip in stock prices, Richard wasn't worried. They weren't selling shares anyway. The real wealth wasn't in stocks; it was in SP.
He leaned back, rolling his shoulders, and pulled up his Status Window with a thought.
Status Window
Name: Richard Santamo
Age: 43
Weight: 136 lbs
Height: 6'3"
SP: 90,000
[ SHOP ] [ SKILLS ]
Stat Points Left: 75
STR: 43
CON: 100
AGI: 44
PER: 44
VIT: 44
INT: 100
Technology Learned:
Vector Core
Advanced Modular Fabrication System (AMFS)
Quantum Server Architecture: (Quantum Server Rack 34QU - ZT Model)
Skills:
Information Processing (Lvl 3)
Knowledge Acquisition
Keyboard Warrior
Nanite Integration:
Internal Nanite Regeneration & Biological Augmentation
External Nanite Deployment & Manipulation
Minor Telekinesis
Sensory Amplification
Mental Suggestion
Basic Psychometry
Mental Shield
Richard exhaled, feeling the weight of the numbers. He still hadn't spent the stat points he earned. After maxing out his INT to a solid 100, he'd been too spooked to touch the system. The psychic backlash from that awakening still echoed in his mind — a swirling chaos of voices, thoughts, whispers that weren't his own. Like Charles Xavier without the benefit of a Cerebro.
But the upside was undeniable. Telekinesis, Sensory Amplification, Mental Suggestion. The stuff of comic books and conspiracy forums — now tangible abilities he could wield with just a thought. But still… it was a slippery slope. One wrong move, one slip, and he'd be a walking radio tower for everyone's thoughts.
Richard smirked, shoving the thought away as he opened the Daily Quest Log.
Daily Quest Completed
✅ Push-ups: 100/100
✅ Curl-ups: 100/100
✅ Pull-ups: 100/100
✅ 3-kilometer run: 3/3
Rewards: (Claimed )
+5 Stat Points
+1 Skill Point
+10,000 SP
Even now, his muscles ached slightly from the workout. The system was relentless. Skipping even one day meant a severe penalty — a drain of 10,000 SP, the currency he used to purchase skills, upgrades, and schematics.
But it was the AMFS that truly haunted him.
Richard rubbed his temples, eyes drifting back to the screen. The AMFS hovered in his mind like a loaded gun. The Advanced Modular Fabrication System was the real beast. It could print anything — weapons, vehicles, medical supplies, even entire structures — provided he had the blueprints. The system reatomized raw materials, breaking them down to their base components and rebuilding them into whatever he requested.
But therein lay the danger.
The world was already a powder keg. South China Sea tensions were reaching a boiling point. China and the US circling each other like sharks. Russia and North Korea, wild cards with itchy trigger fingers. The last thing the world needed was a one-man army with a god-tier fabrication system.
Richard clenched his fist, jaw tight. No one could know about AMFS. Not yet. Not until he had a contingency for this. But Richard dismissed the worries for now.
He leaned back, staring at the ceiling. Philippines was practically a sitting duck when it came to digital warfare. Their cybersecurity systems were laughably outdated, and with Lina's capabilities, he could penetrate most local networks with minimal effort.
But why exploit them when he could protect them?
A grin spread across his face.
What if Lina cooked up a security AI?
Not the commercial version of the Phoenix AI core — that was for civilians. He could create a variant — a specialized defensive model that would integrate seamlessly with the Windows OS. It could monitor network traffic, detect breaches, even launch countermeasures against digital attacks.
And once the game gained traction and ByteBull became a household name, he could announce it to the world.
"AI isn't just for entertainment," he muttered, fingers drumming against the desk. "It's the future of digital security."
He added it to his mental checklist, letting the thought simmer in the back of his mind. For now, the world could wait.