I Can Extract Game Items

August\'s eyes locked on the timer floating before him:

[ Dungeon Activation Timer: 23:59 ]

He let out a deep sigh. Waiting a full day in-game for the dungeon to open wasn\'t ideal, especially when he had important things to handle in the real world.

"I can\'t spend a day here," August said aloud, catching the attention of Aria and her party. "I\'ve got things I need to tend to in reality."

Aria crossed her arms and studied him for a moment. "Will you be able to make it back in time? Once the timer hits zero, the dungeon doors won\'t wait for stragglers."

August hesitated, doing some quick mental calculations. \'One day in Enders Light translated to twelve hours in the real world.\'

He nodded. "I\'ll make it back in time. I just need to be sure I log back in no later than twelve hours from now."

Aria tilted her head. "If you log out here, you\'ll respawn in this exact spot when you come back. You sure you don\'t want to stay? You might miss out if something happens."

"I won\'t miss it," August replied confidently. "I\'ve got some things to sort out, but I\'ll be back."

With everything finalized, August excused himself from the group.

"Try not to get yourself killed while I\'m gone," he quipped while smirking at Aria.

She rolled her eyes but smiled faintly. "Just don\'t be late, Aleman. We\'ll need every able hand when this dungeon opens."

The other party members muttered among themselves, but August ignored them. He opened his system menu, scrolled to the Log Out option, and selected it.

A familiar countdown appeared in his vision.

[ Logging Out in 5… 4… 3… 2… 1 ]

---

August blinked as his vision adjusted to the morning light streaming into his room. He stretched while yawning as reality settled on his shoulders.

"9 AM," he muttered, glancing at his bedside clock. "I\'ve got until 9 PM to get back into the game. Plenty of time."

He got out of the pod, threw on a shirt, and walked into the living room. The table caught his eye immediately, with a note resting on top in Sophia\'s neat handwriting:

"Food\'s in the kitchen. Don\'t skip breakfast! Love, Soph."

August chuckled. "You\'re the best, kid." He headed to the kitchen, lifting the foil covering a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast.

His stomach growled in anticipation as he sat down and dug in.

"Nothing beats a real meal," he said between bites, savoring the food.

Staying in the game for hours always left him famished, and Sophia\'s cooking was a reminder of the simple joys of life.

As he ate, he mentally mapped out his day.

One... Quit the factory job. It had served its purpose, but it was time to move on.

Two... Talk to Derrick. Derrick had been a rock since he arrived in this world, and if anyone could be a trustworthy ally for his business, it was him.

Three... Plan the next steps. His idea for a safe marketplace for extracted game items was slowly taking shape, but it needed structure, and that required time and effort.

After finishing breakfast, August cleaned up, took a quick shower, and changed into his usual worn-out outfit. He glanced at his reflection in the mirror and frowned slightly.

"Definitely time to upgrade my wardrobe," he muttered. With a shrug, he grabbed his bag and headed out.

The factory was its usual bustling hive of activity when he arrived.

Machines whirred loudly, and workers moved about with tired but focused expressions. The air smelled of oil and metal, a scent August had come to associate with long, grueling shifts.

As he entered, one of the supervisors, Mr. Gaines, immediately spotted him.

"August!" Gaines\' booming voice echoed across the factory floor. "You\'re late! You\'ve got some nerve strolling in like this. Do you even take this job seriously?"

August approached calmly with a small smile on his face. "Actually, Mr. Gaines, I\'m not late. I\'m quitting."

The words hung in the air for a moment, and the surrounding workers paused to look at him. Gaines blinked, clearly taken aback.

"Quitting?" Gaines repeated in disbelief. "You? Where are you gonna go, huh? Got a better offer somewhere?"

"Something like that," August said with a nod. "I\'ve got an opportunity I can\'t pass up. Just wanted to thank you and everyone here for the time I\'ve spent."

Gaines\' expression hardened as he crossed his arms. "Good luck out there, kid. Don\'t come crawling back when it doesn\'t work out."

August chuckled lightly. "I\'ll keep that in mind."

He turned to address the other workers. "Thanks, everyone. It\'s been real. I hope you all find something better, too."

--

August spotted Derrick at his station, tightening bolts with his massive hands. His friend\'s presence was a comforting sight, and August felt a pang of sadness knowing he wouldn\'t see him here anymore.

"Derrick!" he called out while weaving through the machinery to reach him.

Derrick turned and his face immediately lightened up when he saw August. "Hey, man! Late again, huh? Gaines giving you hell?"

"Not this time," August said with a grin. "I quit."

Derrick\'s eyes widened. "You quit? Wow, looks like it\'s finally time."

August gestured for Derrick to step aside so they could talk privately. As the two moved to a quieter corner, August explained his idea for a business—a secure platform and store for extracted game items, designed to protect players from scams and violence.

He mentioned that game items retrieved to reality could be traded and the business would also have a shop that sold game items as well.

Derrick listened intently, nodding as August laid out his vision.

"It\'s ambitious," Derrick said finally. "But I don\'t know, man. I\'m not much of a gamer. Hell, I barely even know how to turn on a console."

"You don\'t have to be a gamer," August reassured him. "I need someone I trust, someone good with people, and you\'re perfect for that."

Derrick scratched the back of his head, clearly torn. "I\'ll think about it. I\'m not making any promises, but... it does sound interesting."

"That\'s all I\'m asking," August voiced before clapping him on the shoulder. "Take your time."

---

As August left the factory, he felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Quitting the job the original August used to survive was quite bold but it was a necessary step toward building something meaningful.

The sun was high in the sky as he checked his watch: 11:30 AM.Nôv(el)B\\\\jnn

"I still got plenty of time... Bank next," he said to himself.

...

...

The bustling bank was alive with the noise of chatter, the clinking of coins, and the tapping of keyboards.

Continue reading at empire

Customers formed long lines before various counters, each looking more impatient than the last. The polished floors reflected the bright lights above, and the faint scent of disinfectant lingered in the air.

August stepped through the glass doors with his sharp features catching a few eyes despite his worn-out clothes.

He adjusted his scarf and quietly joined the queue. His eyes wandered around the room, observing the scene in front of him.

At one of the counters, a heated exchange was underway. A tall built man in his late thirties leaned over the counter, yelling at a young cashier.

"You had no right to freeze my assets! No right at all!"

"Sir, it was determined that fraudulent transactions were made wi..."

"I swear to God, if I catch you outside, I\'ll rape you ten times over!" the man barked while slamming his hand on the counter.

The woman behind the desk flinched as her face paled with fear. A few security guards moved forward, but the man stormed off before they could intervene. His heavy boots echoed against the floor as he exited, leaving behind a stunned silence.

August sighed and refocused on the line ahead, waiting patiently for his turn.

---

When his turn came, the cashier at the counter—a woman in her late twenties with neatly tied hair and a sharp uniform—barely spared him a glance. Her eyes flicked over his worn clothes, and a subtle sneer curled her lips.

"How can I help you?" she asked in a tone laced with disdain.

"I\'m here to settle some debts," August said evenly, ignoring her tone.

The cashier raised an eyebrow as her fingers lazily tapped on the keyboard. "Name?"

"August Clementine."

She typed in his details and her eyes widened slightly when she saw the records. "You\'re here to pay off… everything?"

"That\'s right," August voiced with a calm tone.

The woman glanced at him again barely masking her condescension. "Do you even know how much that is? Let me check."

Her fingers flew across the keyboard, and the screen displayed a list of debts and loans from the bank and various loan sharks. The total came to a staggering $115,000.

"That\'s the amount. Are you sure you can pay this off?" she questioned with a tone of unhidden skepticism.

"Check my account balance," August replied while leaning casually against the counter.

The cashier rolled her eyes but complied. The moment his account details popped up, her demeanor changed. Her eyes widened, and her jaw almost dropped.

Balance: $800,000.

She blinked several times, quickly straightening her posture.

Her earlier sneer transformed into a nervous smile. "Oh, I-I see. Let me just process that for you, sir."

She handed him a stack of forms and explained the process. "Please fill these out, and I\'ll handle the rest."