Monica Caswell, the distinguished heiress of the Caswell family, stepped out of the state-of-the-art gaming capsule with a hint of reluctance. The transition from the enthralling virtual world back to her luxurious yet routine reality struck her with a sense of dissonance. As she stretched her limbs, easing out the stiffness, her thoughts were still awash with the vivid and immersive experiences of the game.
Then, an attendant with thin lipstick and a petite build stepped forward, offering a plush towel and a glass of her favorite chilled mineral water. The person was dressed in a butler uniform with a striped sash and slightly flared pants. It was Dominique—her ever-loyal and efficient butler.
“Good morning, Miss Caswell. I trust your session was enjoyable?” Dominique inquired with a respectful tone.
Despite having served her for more than ten years, Monica had forgotten about Dominique’s background and gender. Such personal specifics had faded into irrelevance over the years. She could easily rediscover this information, yet she chose not to. For her, what was important was exceptional competence and unwavering dedication in catering to her needs.
“More than enjoyable, Dominique,” she replied with an excited smile. “You saw it yourself. It’s an entirely different world in there, one where possibilities seem endless.”
“Indeed, milady.” Dominique nodded, seeming to understand her fascination. After all, they had accompanied her in exploring the game world and probably seen a stark contrast to her often-reserved demeanor.
As Monica sipped her water, she pondered about the game. There had been many peculiar and unexplainable situations surrounding this whole thing. First and foremost was the delivery of the gaming capsule. She lived inside a mansion with very tight security and constant surveillance—every spot in her house was monitored nonstop. Yet it was dropped off on the terrace almost completely unseen.
She had heard the rumors about the enigmatic delivery of the gaming capsules and was prepared for it in advance, but nothing was uncovered. All she could see from the CCTV footage was a mysterious man with a distinctive black mask appearing for a brief moment outside her mansion before disappearing just as mysteriously.
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“This company really holds more secrets than what meets the eye,” she mused aloud.
At first, she had tried to lure the other party by offering a substantial sum for access to the game. In truth, it was a test. Had they leaped at the chance for easy money, she would know that they were running a scam. However, for them to decline the offer meant that they must have something bigger up their sleeves.
Monica admired that. In a world where money often dictated terms, it was refreshing to encounter individuals who weren’t money-driven. One would think that they were stupid since even if it wasn’t a scam, it wasn’t so strange to receive free money. Thus, she came to a resolute decision that veered from her usual investment strategy.
“Dominique, arrange a meeting with the board of directors in half an hour,” she instructed, her voice ringing with determination. “I’ve made up my mind. We’re going to invest in that game company. I absolutely want to acquire their whole company and secrets. What’s the name of it again?”
“Very well, Miss Caswell,” Dominique bowed. “I’ll make the necessary arrangements. As for their name, it’s quite unusual—they’re registered simply as ‘Placeholder’ on their official website.”
“Placeholder, you say?” Her blonde eyebrow arched in intrigue. “That’s either a mark of a bold new startup or a company shrouded in secrecy. If it’s the former, then things will be simpler, but if it’s the latter…” She had used every contact at her disposal to check for any government ties with the company, but it had been fruitless so far.
“The former seems more likely, indeed,” Dominique agreed thoughtfully. “Would you like to outline any specific points for discussion with the board, milady?”
“Yes. I want to explore how we can combine our resources with their cutting-edge VR technology.” A shrewd smile played on her lips. “If we execute this correctly, we could be the trailblazers in a revolutionary field. The potential for profit and global influence is immense.”
They had to admit their inferiority when it came to VR technology. When the gaming capsule first arrived, Monica had sent it to her research team for analysis. However, they could only shake their heads in bewilderment when asked how this thing worked. It was as if the device violated all familiar technological principles and instead operated on something akin to magic.
Exercising caution, Monica refrained from tampering with the capsule, wary of jeopardizing the potential investment deal. That would be putting the cart before the horse.
“As you wish.” Dominique bowed slightly, meticulously recording her instructions.
Monica was a very ambitious woman. Despite being in her early twenties, she had already carved a name for herself as a prodigious talent in the business world. Nevertheless, even she couldn’t suppress the thrill that surged through her at the thought of Magus Academy Online. Just imagining the potential and possibilities that it would have in the future made her look forward to it as more than just a business opportunity.
