Whether you were an expert or a novice, it was obvious the match had already been decided. It wasn’t that Wade’s team was weak; it was that Don’s team was too sharp, reacting too quickly, closing gaps before the opposition could adapt.

The three women stopped attacking Little Ice Plus Black Tea and stood gracefully at the roadside with their arms folded. The onlookers were now visibly torn between watching the fight and watching them.

Wade didn’t stand on ceremony. He activated Sprint and charged at Don, swinging his longsword in a horizontal sweep. Don ducked under it, but the swing was a feint. The real attack was a shield bash with Wade’s left hand. Don had already read it. He pressed his body against Wade’s, shoulder to shoulder, and shoved hard. Wade staggered.

From the look on Wade’s face, Don could read his thoughts precisely: How are you stronger than me?

In that stunned half-second, Don completed Smear Toxin. The green-glowing blade sliced sharply across Wade’s shoulder.

[1,465!]

Without skill bonuses or Killing Intent active, Don was quite satisfied with a basic attack landing that cleanly.

Wade didn’t hesitate. He pulled a small red bottle from his backpack and drank it in one motion.

Don felt a warm appreciation. His team really is solid. They even have an alchemist. Look at that health recovery.

Wade caught Don’s expression and immediately launched a flurry of longsword thrusts. "What are you grinning about, stinky kid? Try to block this!"

Don didn’t evade. He drew his blade and answered with two direct slashes, trading hits deliberately.

Several sharp impacts echoed across the dueling space. Both took damage. Don’s health dropped by less than 3,000. Wade’s fell to below a third.

Wade clicked his tongue. "Damn, that’s serious damage output. How are your points allocated?"

Don chuckled, circling Wade’s flank in a fluid coil like water finding its course, his footwork shifting into a series of tight arcs that kept Wade off-balance.

"What is this footwork?"

"The ultimate technique Brother Monkey taught me."

The blade flashed. A precise cut opened across Wade’s neck, finding the exposed gap between his armor plates, and blood poured until his remaining health finally hit zero.

Wade stood frozen for a long moment before he came back to himself. "You’ve been hiding. Tell me the truth, were you the one who killed the Demon Lord four years ago? Was it you playing as Star?"

Don smiled faintly. "When a tree falls, everyone pushes it down. I just happened to land the last hit."

Little Witch from Extraordinary stepped forward, nodded to everyone, and pulled the full group back into the party channel. "Congratulations to Extraordinary’s team for advancing. If you’d like to meet the boss in person, please log off. To those who didn’t make the final, this won’t be goodbye forever. The studio will grow, and when it does, we hope to have you back."

Everyone had been curious about the unseen boss all week, and Little Witch’s words sharpened that curiosity to a point. They all logged off without argument.

Don’s team did the same. They’d anticipated the result, so there was no particular euphoria, just a quiet, shared sense of something accomplished.

Glasses off, eyes on the office door. Through the semi-transparent glass, the silhouette of a woman with graceful proportions came into view.

Several people stared. "The boss is actually a young woman?"

Lily blinked. "And she has an incredible figure."

The general manager’s office door opened slowly. Little Witch stepped out first. Then a sight walked through the doorway that made every eye in the room widen.

She wasn’t very tall, a little over 1.6 meters, but a beige Versace suit draped over her frame with extraordinary precision, accentuating her chest and rounded hips without a single wasted line. Her long black hair cascaded to her waist. Beneath willow-leaf brows, her almond eyes shone with quiet life. Her nose was delicate, her lips a fresh cherry-red, and her neck was so pale that faint blue veins traced beneath the skin like brushstrokes on porcelain.

Calling her a national beauty might have been an exaggeration. Barely.

Lily was already opening her mouth. Don grabbed her before the second syllable came out.

But recognition came from another direction.

Wade stared. "You’re Vera Cross. The number one Summoner in Battle Online."

Vera smiled, showing two rows of even white teeth. "Mm. Good eyes, old classmate. It’s me."

Wade exhaled. "So you’re the owner of Extraordinary Studio."

"Boss is more appropriate."

Wade wiped his brow. "Yes, boss."

Don was surprised too, though he didn’t show it. His gaze stayed fixed on Vera’s face, measuring, remembering, comparing. She still radiated youthful vitality, but she’d matured considerably from a few years ago. She was roughly the same age as him, now that he thought about it.

Wild Father looked completely lost. "Boss, why is everyone acting like this?"

Wade said with some difficulty, "You’d understand if you’d played Battle Online. She, along with Luna, Mane, Scarlett, Selene, and Nova, they were all goddess-tier figures back then."

Wild Father processed this for a moment. "So monsters won’t dare attack you when they see you? And little brothers feel extra safe?"

"...More or less."

Vera smiled and said briskly, "Enough about the past. I’ve reserved a table for everyone at the Renaissance Riverside Hotel. Those of you who didn’t make the finals, I hope you’ll honor us with your presence for a meal. Little Witch will accompany you. My level has dropped considerably, so I’m going to need these four finalists to help me catch up, which means I won’t be able to join you. Also, and I mean this sincerely, thank you all for your hard work this week. The studio is newly established and funds are tight, so Little Witch will distribute 1,000 dollars to each of you as recognition for your effort. Please accept it without reservation."

The room broke into visible surprise and warm smiles. In the year 3015, prices weren’t particularly outrageous. 1,000 dollars could buy fifty or sixty kilograms of good pork ribs. And everyone knew the Renaissance Riverside Hotel’s standard. The banquet alone would run well over five thousand.

But why had Vera only invited the players who hadn’t made the cut, and declined to join them herself? And why lie about her level being too low?

Don filed the question away without voicing it.

After everyone received their money and offered their thanks, they filed out. As Wade passed Don, he made a six-pointed star gesture, their old shorthand for call me when you’re free. Don returned a small nod. They’d exchanged contacts in-game already. Real-world calls would probably be infrequent, but the connection was there.

Once the room was empty, Vera turned around and stuck her tongue out at them. "So, how was my acting? Not bad, right?"

Lily walked over and threw her arm around Vera immediately. The two women embraced warmly, but due to the height difference, Vera’s face ended up pressed squarely into Lily’s chest. Her face turned red. "You little brat, what have you been eating all these years? How did you get so big? Come on, let me pinch."

Don turned his head away, face burning. "There are male people present. Could you both please exercise some restraint?"

Vera released Lily, walked to Don’s side, stretched onto her toes, and pinched his cheek firmly. "Little devil. We meet again. Let your big sister give you a proper greeting."

"You’re lying. You’re three months younger than me. I know your birthday."

"I don’t care. I’m your sister. Are you admitting it or not?"

"I’m not convinced. Let’s settle this online."

The three other women watched this exchange with undisguised exasperation.

After the greetings settled, Vera looked at Don steadily, her bright eyes direct and unhurried. "Don, do you trust me?"

He nodded without hesitation. "Star said the person who’d become my new boss would be someone I knew. So yes, completely."

"Then give me your house key. I’ll send someone to move all your belongings to the new studio."

Don blinked. "Vera, what’s happening?"

Vera shook her head slightly. "Don’t ask yet. I need the key. Are you going to give it to me or not?"

He reached into his pocket and handed it over without another word. "Of course I trust you."

It wasn’t her appearance that earned his trust. It was everything that had happened in Beyond the Heavens, the way Vera, Tian Ge, Mane, and Sister Luna had treated him, a player who had joined their world relatively late. They’d never withheld anything from him, not effort, not genuine care, not the kind of emotional investment that most people reserve for family. That was why he trusted her completely.

Lily turned and patted Little Chili and Kira on the shoulder. "Don’t worry. Everything will be taken care of. I know Sister Vera."

Kira smiled. "I trust her too. I played Battle Online."

After taking the key, Vera stepped back to her office and returned carrying a small suitcase. She held it out to Don. "Come on. Let’s go down to the basement. My car is parked there. Don’t ask where we’re going, you’ll find out when we arrive."

Don took the luggage without another question and followed her out.

The elevator descended all the way to the basement level. When they arrived in front of a Hummer parked in the corner, two men in black stepped out of a nearby vehicle. One approached Vera and said quietly, "Second Miss. You’ve arrived."

Vera handed him Don’s key. "No. 170 Bold Street, Building 17, Room 207. Pack all the valuables belonging to these four, and make sure to include Don’s property certificate and personal documents. Bring everything to the villa before tonight."

"Yes, Second Miss."

The bodyguard took the key, walked to a black Volkswagen parked adjacent to the Hummer, and got in.

The four of them climbed into the Hummer. The second bodyguard settled into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and pulled forward.