Felix remembered that last year, when he celebrated the New Year, he was still in Lungmen. He had drunk quite a bit that night, and in his light drunkenness, he dreamed of how brilliant the future might be.
Now, at the turn of the year 1094, he sat alone in his villa in Lungmen, quietly pouring himself a drink.
He had received invitations from major entrepreneurs to attend various New Year's galas, but instead, he sent Degenbrecher and Carnelian to attend on his behalf. The year-end gathering hosted by Tomorrow's Development had just concluded. During the party, Felix himself had hosted a prize draw—first prize being a luxury apartment in Lungmen's central district, with immediate transfer of ownership. The second and third prizes were things like transport trucks and utility vehicles. Players fought tooth and nail for them, their competitive spirits blazing. In the end, the grand prize went to a female player with the ID "Yui."
After the party, Loughshinny escorted him back to his villa, served him some hangover soup, and then left to attend to other business. As for his "4 little sisters," they were likely in Lungmen's Dagu Plaza right now, counting down and reveling in the festive night.
Time moved as swiftly as the fireworks that suddenly burst into bloom outside the window—vivid, colorful, marking the arrival of another new year.
Taking advantage of the quiet, Felix browsed through the player forums. He found that even in this world, players were enjoying the holiday spirit, celebrating a "New Year" that didn't exist in their real lives.
It had been several years since the game first launched. Over that time, the players had grown more familiar with this world—so familiar, in fact, that they began to feel truly part of it.
That sense of belonging… It was the same feeling that, in his past life, had driven Felix to rescue countless slaves from the markets of Kazimierz.
Just then, the sound of the door opening pulled him from his thoughts. Turning his head toward the light of the chandelier, he saw Mandragora and Senomi step into the room.
"Back early?" he asked.
"Mhm."
Mandragora nodded. She noticed the wine glass in his hand and reached out. "You may be an adult now, but isn't this your first time drinking?"
Felix walked over to the glass cabinet and took out two more glasses—after all, he could see the eager look in Senomi's eyes.
"Thank you, Brother Felix! I want to try a drink too."
Senomi leaned against him playfully, sending a chill down his spine—the winter air still clung to her clothes.
He poured drinks for both of them, his eyes lingering on the two young women before him. He had watched them grow—from timid little girls into remarkable young women. As their guardian, as their older brother, he felt both pride and a twinge of melancholy. Time truly flew by. In the blink of an eye, the shy Senomi who once hid behind him had become a confident, gentle young lady. And Mandragora, once sharp-tongued and cynical, had matured under his guidance into a strong and independent woman.
They had both grown up. When the three raised their glasses in a toast, Felix couldn't help but think so again—they had matured, not only in body, but in spirit. Their faces now glowed with confidence and charm—no doubt, if they walked outside, they'd have no shortage of admirers.
"Brother Felix…"
"Master…"
Felix had drunk a little, but he was careful not to overdo it. His mind remained clear, though the faint dizziness brought a sense of comfortable warmth. The same couldn't be said for the two girls—they seemed quite a bit less sober, leaning against him, their weight pressing into his shoulders.
"…You're not drunk, are you?" he murmured.
He gave them a few casual words of advice, then decided to head to bed.
That night, he slept deeply and peacefully. He vaguely felt two warm presences beside him, like gentle flames warding off the winter chill.
When he finally woke the next morning, both his arms were enveloped in warmth. Blinking groggily, his eyes met Senomi's serene, satisfied smile.
Then he turned his head the other way—Mandragora was yawning, but instead of pulling away, she snuggled even closer against his shoulder.
"…?"
Felix's mind went blank for a moment. He glanced between the two of them, his expression twisting into something between confusion and disbelief. Wait… don't tell me last night…
He sighed softly.
"Hehe… Master, you're awake," Senomi murmured sleepily, resting her head on his chest. For the first time, Felix realized how soft and smooth her skin was—like cool water against his own. She gave him a small, playful smile before leaning up to plant a tiny kiss on his lips.
"My dream came true~" she whispered.
"What are you doing… it's too early… just sleep a little longer…"
Mandragora, who had developed even more than Senomi, wrapped her arms around his waist and murmured softly. Her movement was instinctive, like a drowsy kitten seeking warmth—her face drawing closer toward Felix's.
"Brother Felix… I love you the most."
The words, spoken half in dream and half awake, carried a sincerity that cut straight to his heart. Her head rested on his arm as she whispered, "I've wanted to tell you how I feel for a long time… hehe, and Senomi feels the same way."
"Mhm…"
Senomi let out a soft hum, her face tinted with a dreamy smile. "Last night… my wish finally came true~"
"We've wanted this for a very long time," Mandragora added with a gentle laugh. "Because of Sister Mostima and Mumu, we always felt like we were falling behind. We thought maybe you saw us as too young, too childish… but we've grown up now, Brother Felix."
"That's right, that's right! We're adults now," Senomi chimed in, clinging to his arm. "We just want to stay by your side forever, Master…"
"I've liked you from the very beginning," Mandragora said earnestly, her voice trembling as tears welled up in her dull golden eyes. "You saved my life… and after that, I knew I could never love anyone else but you, Brother Felix. I want to stay with you—always."
Senomi wrapped her arms around his shoulders, her voice soft but steady. "Me too… Master, you pulled me out of that hellish place. That was the first time fate ever showed me mercy. Every day since then has felt like a dream—so unreal, yet so beautiful…"
"I want to be with you forever too."
"You two…"
Felix was overwhelmed. He had never realized that his little sisters would harbor such feelings for him. Just as he was about to speak, both Senomi and Mandragora exchanged a glance—and then, together, they leaned forward.
Their lips met his, silencing any words he might have said.
---
By the time Felix finally made it to the breakfast table, only Carnelian was there, sipping coffee and scrolling through last year's Tomorrow's Development reports. When she noticed his expression, she whistled.
"Well, well, boss… you look like a man who's just seen a ghost... and did you lose some weight?"
"I'm… definitely surprised," Felix admitted, rubbing his temples. "You knew about this, didn't you?"
"Of course," Carnelian replied with a smirk, crossing her legs. "How could I leave myself out of such an important tactical operation?"
Felix gave a helpless shrug. "I've always treated them like little sisters… I just didn't realize they didn't see it that way."
"You're only figuring that out now?"
"You mean you knew all along?"
"Boss…" Carnelian leaned back and exhaled dramatically. "Any normal guy could tell. The way they touch you, the way they look at you—it's obvious. You really thought that was just familial affection?"
"I… don't have any sisters," Felix admitted honestly. "I just assumed that's how family acts, you know? I might've been basing it off anime…"
"Uh-huh…" Carnelian gave him a flat look.
"Anyway," Felix changed the subject quickly, shoveling food into his mouth. "Any new updates?"
It was already 1094. The second phase of the game's 2.0 timeline was nearly over. He needed to be fully prepared for 3.0—to seize control of the key storylines before anyone else could.
"As for the company—aside from the explosion in new adventurers—we should start recruiting more people for headquarters," Carnelian said, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "And those Iberia and Kazimierz branches you mentioned? That's going to cost quite a bit, boss. Especially Kazimierz… the Chamber of Commerce isn't exactly easy to deal with."
"We have plenty of adventurers now," Felix replied, interlocking his fingers. "That's our foundation—and our leverage. Perhaps soon, I'll be able to draw all adventurers under Tomorrow's Development."
That thought sparked something in him. The current "Faction System" he'd implemented was rather limited—aside from allowing players to use Tomorrow's Development buildings, redeem items, and rent training grounds, there wasn't much else. To join, players had to physically apply at one of the faction's buildings.
He realized he should expand their permissions—introduce something to create structure, hierarchy, and incentive. After all, a world where everyone's truly equal… is a boring world.
Yes, he thought. I'll start with the merit system.
Felix realized that his mind was still occupied with the affairs of Kazdel—so much so that he nearly forgot about another important matter.
He suddenly recalled something from the game Fei Fei: the United Defense Force system, where players could earn military ranks. The memory sparked an idea.
Perhaps he could introduce a similar feature for his own players. In that game, advancing to a certain rank allowed players to purchase housing in the main city—a clever way to motivate them to complete missions while giving a tangible sense of achievement.
"Let's do it," Felix decided. Turning to Carnelian, he said,
"Find a developing residential complex large enough to house tens of thousands of people. If the price is reasonable, negotiate with the owners."
Carnelian raised an eyebrow. "Boss, that's not going to be cheap."
"Our funds have mainly been going into the research institute. Now, this will be the second major outlet for spending. I'm leaving it in your hands," Felix replied as he moved over to the sofa and began configuring the new rank system within the faction interface.
Since Tomorrow's Development was known for its advanced technology and modern warfare aesthetics, it wouldn't make sense to use overly fantastical or medieval-style ranks. Instead, he opted for a simple and familiar structure: Recruit, Soldier, Captain, Sergeant, Adjutant, Lieutenant, and Major—seven ranks in total.
Players could rise to the rank of Sergeant through their own efforts and loyalty. At that level, they would gain the right to invite new players into the faction.
The higher ranks, however, would remain locked for now—only the Adjutant rank would be open. Felix considered giving that position special privileges, such as the right to purchase company housing.
He remembered seeing several posts on the forum—players expressing envy toward Yui for winning a house through the in-game lottery. In a city like Lungmen, where land was worth more than gold, buying property wasn't as easy as pulling off a heist in GTA VI.
The Lieutenant and Major ranks, he decided, would remain aspirational for now—to keep players intrigued.
As he edited the permissions section, Felix couldn't help but smile. He typed out the descriptions himself:
Lieutenant – Leads multiple squads and executes critical missions. Possesses full mission command authority and task allocation rights.
Major – Commands entire tactical divisions, participates in high-level strategic planning, and manages key resources and major operations.
There wasn't a single gamer who didn't dream of becoming a commander.
No—more precisely, there wasn't a gamer who didn't dream of becoming a leader, a general, someone who could shape the fate of the battlefield.
To reach those ranks would mean more than status—it meant the chance to expand Tomorrow's Development's influence, to forge new territories, to become part of the organization's history.
After all, who among the young hadn't dreamed of shouting "Fire!" and commanding an army?
Felix certainly had, once upon a time.
He knew Tomorrow's Development would eventually face war—whether against Kazdel, or perhaps against all of Terra itself. He didn't want his personal elite squad, the Lightbearers, to be his only fighting force. He needed an endless stream of willing players, ready to take up arms for his cause.
Of course, rank advancement couldn't be too easy. Things earned without effort were never treasured; scarcity, after all, was what made something valuable.
It was the same principle as limited editions—rare, desirable, and worth chasing.
After finishing the rank configuration and updating the promotion missions, Felix closed the faction panel and leaned back, waiting to see who would be the first to rise through the new system.
As he turned on the morning news, he heard the sound of running water from the upstairs bathroom—Senomi and Mandragora were showering. A few minutes later, the two girls came downstairs, still a little unsteady.
When they saw Felix calmly sitting in the living room watching TV, their faces instantly turned red, their eyes flickering shyly.
Carnelian cleared her throat pointedly, and only then did they snap out of it and sit at the table, quietly starting their late breakfast.
"Where's little Susie?" Felix asked.
"Ah, Avdotya took Susie and Rafaela out this morning. They went to the Dagu Plaza to give New Year's greetings," Carnelian answered without looking up. After finishing her meal, she stood. "I'll be heading out too, boss."
"Alright."
Felix also rose from his seat. The new year had just begun. Despite the comfort and warmth surrounding him, duty called—there was still much to do at the company.
Senomi and Mandragora walked him to the entrance. After the previous night, their youthful innocence seemed to have faded, replaced by a gentle, graceful maturity in their smiles.
"Have a safe trip, Master~"
"Take care, big brother~"
Felix could only sigh as he stepped outside and started his car.
Sometimes he wondered if his home had turned into a den of temptation.
If Mostima and Lemuen decided to move in next... he thought wryly and worried about his body, he might have to ask Governor Wei himself how he ever managed to keep his composure.