New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live

"Knowledge. That's how."

Jack raised an eyebrow.

"Knowledge? What kind of knowledge?"

"The one that makes people rich in a matter of days."

Jack looked at Alexander, trying to see if he reacted negatively to David's words. But Alex did not react at all.

"Keep going."

"You see, I had a hobby, of sorts, before I played New Eden the last time. I would follow the ups and downs of the financial world, take notes, promising myself to one day invest and become a rich man."

"You mean the stock market? Not any Dick and Harry can invest in stocks and pull back when it's time. Did you ever do it in the end?"

"Sadly, the stock market crashed before I ever amassed enough money for it. But one good thing came out of it. With my photographic memory, all the notes I took are now what most would consider insider information."

Jack started understanding where David was going with his little tale.

"So you are saying you can tell me where to put my money to become richer fast? Insider trade is illegal."

"It isn't insider trade if you don't work at the stock market, or the companies that are suddenly growing. Call it informed luck."

"And that is how Mr. Leduc could suddenly uplift his lifestyle?"

Turning his head to Alex, Jack awaited his confirmation. A simple nod from the latter was all the response he needed.

"Alright, I will believe that part. But how do you think I will get to steer Evo-Gaming the way you want?"

It was David's turn to flash a shark's grin.

"By buying the other shareholders out."

Jack frowned.

"Young man. What you are asking would cost hundreds of millions of dollars. The other shareholders are never gonna sell out at a loss. Not with how New Eden is generating money right now."

"Then I guess I will need to make you billions richer."

The confidence in David's tone left the old man perplexed. But a glance at his assistant, who nodded at him, assuaged him.

Jack's assistant had been tracking all the money coming into Alexander's account and unearthed the one coming into David's, too. And almost all of it seemed to come from investment portfolios.

Jack was thinking of accepting. More money was always welcome.

Especially since his minor project behind him would now probably be useful, and not just a way to take care of his boredom. He was sure he could make use of such a nice natural cave.

"Fine. We can do it your way. But your insider information better work the way you said it does. Otherwise, I'll cut out the companies under my name from working for you."

"No need to threaten me. It will work. I'll leave all the information to your assistant once we are done here. I bet you had other questions for me."

"As a matter of fact, I do. You keep saying the last time you played, like this isn't your first run through New Eden. Alexander seems to take you at face value. But I hardly see how that makes sense."

"Ahh. That. Yes. Well, there is a simple explanation, but I doubt you would believe me."

"Try me, Mr. Magnus. My grandson has been cutting through steel for the last few weeks with compressed wind blades coming out of his hands. I think I can handle… esoteric truths."

"Wait. Wind blades?"

Turning his head to Alexander, David raised an eyebrow.

"Is his grandson Gale? The Gale in our guild?"

"The one and only," Alex replied.

"So that is how you know each other. Did you meet Gale first, and he led you to this dude, or was—"

"How we met is irrelevant, but if you must know, I was the one to approach Mr. Leduc first. Our meeting was purely by chance, but I felt his abilities would be useful, so I tied him up with a favour."

David looked at the old man and smiled.

"That sounds very much like a businessman's way of doing things. If this continues, Alex here will owe his ass to the world, hehe."

"Shut up," Alexander grumbled.

He knew he was garnering favours with everyone lately, and that annoyed him. But what else could he do?

When you lacked the power to fix something yourself, wasn't it the best way to find someone to help you? Everyone formed good partnerships through mutual benefits, after all.

Jack brought David's attention back to himself.

"You haven't answered my question yet, Mr. Magnus."

"Ahh, yes. Apologies. The truth is simple, even if somewhat hard to believe. My soul has already been through these events. Well. Not exactly these events. But what is to come is no secret for me, mostly."

"Your soul? Please explain your meaning."

"I don't know the specifics, since I wasn't the one to send me back here. But I know that I've lived through this already. The game, the monsters, and the demon invasion that comes after."

"How are you so sure you aren't delusional? That this invasion isn't just a figment of your imagination?"

"Because the memory of a soul cannot be altered. These memories I have don't come from my brain, but from deep within me. Ask Alex if the soul lies, he's an expert in the matter."

Jack turned his head to Alexander.

"I don't think the soul can lie. Although I believe it can be altered to think the truth isn't as it seems, I doubt this happened to David. His memories came before anyone showed any trace of changing with mana."

Jack nodded and turned his head back to David.

"Then what is your endgame? What is your plan?"

  "I'm reliving it with prior knowledge, and I am trying to change the outcome."

"And what outcome is that?" Jack asked.

With a heavy sigh, David answered.

"Humanity's extinction."

His words echoed in the silence that befell the room.