Taking a single step forward, August felt a rush of energy envelop him, and before he realized it, he had crossed the entirety of his room in a split second.
*CRASH!*
His shoulder slamd into the opposite wall, and the sheer montum sent him flying backward, tumbling onto his bed with a groan.
[Skill Deactivated: Dash]
[HP: 17,400/17,500]*
[Warning: Recoil Damage Sustained]
---
"Ow, ow, ow..." August winced, rubbing his shoulder. He lay there for a mont, staring at the fan now spinning at regular speed.
"It worked," he whispered in disbelief. "It actually worked."
His mind raced. These weren't just visuals on an interface—he could actually use his skills from the ga in reality. And if Dash worked, what about Lightning Bolt?
He sat up as his heart pounded with adrenaline and anticipation. Grinning like a madman, he whispered to himself, "Let's see what else I can do."
...
...
The next day, August arrived at the cozy, modern restaurant in the early evening with his face partially obscured by a scarf.
He had spent a huge chunk of yesterday evening testing out his newly acquired real-life abilities and was still in disbelief. He was fortunate to have found so old scrapyard to test out the lightning bolt or he would have really caused so collateral damage.
He still logged into Enders Light later in the night but he didn't take any quests. Instead, he gathered information on his tier-two test and understood much more about his requirents and what he needed to pass.
Enders Light was still buzzing about the newly completed Swordking Dungeon so August did well to stay out of sight and logged out later in the morning.
He'd spent most of today indoors doing research. Now that he had more real life abilities besides his extraction, he figured he didn't really need the Fruit of Sin anymore. He could just sell it.
But his decision hadn't been made yet. He still had to wait for the whole buzz to die down before he took a step.
August threw all of the recent events to the back of his mind in the anti and focused on his surroundings.
The restaurant's ambient lighting gave off an air of quiet sophistication as he looked around.
He soon spotted redith sitting at a window table, typing away on her tablet. She was a sharp-looking woman in her early thirties, with auburn hair tied neatly into a low bun and dressed in a tailored navy blazer paired with a white blouse.
Her eyes caught his movent, and she waved him over with a smile.
"Aleman, great to see you," she greeted as he approached.
"Likewise, redith," August replied while shaking her hand. "I hope you've got so good options for today."
"Only the best," she said confidently, sliding the tablet toward him. "Let's sit and go through them before we head out. I've shortlisted several locations that I think will suit your needs."
August settled into the chair across from her. The restaurant was elegant but not overly formal, with soft jazz playing in the background and waiters moving swiftly yet unobtrusively between tables.
"These first two spots are closer to the city center," redith began, swiping through images of office spaces. "Good foot traffic but slightly pricier. The next few are in up-and-coming districts with great potential, and the last ones are more budget-friendly but still offer excellent facilities."
August studied the images, occasionally nodding or asking questions about the area and anities. While the city center spaces looked appealing, their high prices weren't sothing he wanted to commit to imdiately.
A few of the options in other districts seed more promising, but nothing truly caught his eye until she reached a particular slide.
"Wait, go back," August voiced while leaning forward.
redith swiped back to a series of images showcasing three spaces in a district just outside the city's bustling core.
"These," he said, tapping the screen. "Tell more about these."
redith smiled, clearly pleased. "Great choices. These are in the Northbridge District, about a twenty-minute drive from downtown. The area's growing rapidly, with several new businesses setting up shop. Let's head out, and you can see them in person. They're even better up close."
---
redith drove a black sedan with August in the other seat.
Her professionalism was evident even in her driving style—smooth and efficient. As they pulled up to the Northbridge District, August took in the surroundings.
The area was vibrant, with construction cranes dotting the skyline, indicating rapid developnt. Small cafes, trendy boutiques, and a few established businesses lined the streets, giving it a lively yet approachable feel.
redith parked in front of a ten-story building with a clean, modern facade made of reflective glass panels. "This is the one," she said as they stepped out.
Inside, the building had a minimalist aesthetic—smooth white walls, polished floors, and bright lighting. A receptionist greeted them warmly before redith led August to the elevator.
The last-floor space was a large open-plan room with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a stunning view of the district. The room slled faintly of fresh paint, and its neutral tones made it a blank canvas for any business idea. August's mind imdiately began envisioning layouts: workstations here, a eting space there, and a section for displaying high-value items.
"This could work," he said aloud.
redith smiled. "I had a feeling you'd like it."
As they walked back to the elevator, they encountered a man in his late forties stepping out of a nearby office. He had a genial air about him, with a slight paunch, salt-and-pepper hair, and glasses perched on his nose. He was dressed casually in a button-up shirt and slacks, carrying a tablet.
"Ah, you must be checking out the place," he said, extending a hand to August. "Na's Harold. I run the coffee shop on the first floor."
"Aleman," he replied while shaking Harold's hand.
"If you take the space, don't be a stranger. Best coffee in the district," Harold said with a chuckle.
"We'll see about that," August said with a small smile.
Before they could leave the building, a young woman with bright pink hair in a ssy bun, wearing oversized overalls and a paint-splattered T-shirt, approached them.
"You're looking at the space upstairs?" her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she inquired.
"That's right," August said, intrigued by her colorful appearance.
"I'm Mia," she extended her hand. "I own the art studio on the fourth floor. If you move in, let's collaborate! I've been dying to work on sothing tech-inspired."
August chuckled. "How did you know that I was setting up a tech-related business?"
"Just a gut feeling," She smiled before waving him goodbye.
Just as they stepped out of the building, a commotion caught their attention. A delivery truck had accidentally bumped into a lamppost outside, causing a few sparks to fly.
redith imdiately ushered August to the side as the driver jumped out, apologizing profusely.
"Never a dull mont," redith said dryly.
After everything settled down, August turned to redith. "Let's go for it. I'll take the space on the last floor."
"Excellent choice," she proceeded to pull out her tablet to finalize the paperwork. "You won't regret this."
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