Chapter Thirteen(13)

Over the past year, James had learned a great deal, using his Resource Dimension to his advantage.

From weaving to smithing, woodworking to astronomy, he spent each morning reaching into the dimension and pulling out any book his hands could find. 

Among the many subjects he studied was magic—or at least magic theory. He refrained from practicing it, unsure of its effects, and was certain that if he became excessively powerful, the Living Tribunal would take notice. He had no intention of being sealed away like Zom. 

With that in mind, James kept his studies theoretical, focusing on branches of magic that could be useful—alchemy, runes, enchanting, and more.

Individually, these disciplines weren't exceptionally powerful, but when combined, they could produce abilities like "Mana Sight," as he called it. 

This ability allowed him to perceive supernatural energy, and at the moment, he could see a strange mist surrounding the statues of Bastet—the Wakandan Panther Goddess, Bast. It was clear she was using them to watch him. James could only hope she wasn't doing so with ill intent. 

Now that he was paying attention, he noticed many of the idols in the museum had mystical ties to the gods they represented, and all of them were watching him. 

"James, come along. We'll be leaving in an hour or so," his teacher called out when she noticed him standing still, observing everything. 

"Sorry, Miss Adams," James replied, shaking off the eerie feeling and running to catch up with his friends. 

Later that day, James returned to an empty house. By now, he was used to it, but there was a major difference from before. A year ago, his mother had worked multiple jobs just to put food on the table.

In fact, when she bought the second-hand laptop he initially used, she had spent all her savings and had to work even harder to recover. 

But now, she was the founder of one of the fastest-growing businesses in the world. After perfecting his products, James had confided in his mother about his plans, needing her to handle licensing for those requiring official approval.

As a thirteen-year-old, he wasn't legally allowed to register businesses, but having an adaptable mother made things much easier. 

Today, Smith Search was the world's most-used search engine, with millions relying on the various services attached to it. James had essentially replicated Google's entire ecosystem.

Google Sites became Smith Sites, Google Play turned into Smith Play—each performing the same function as their counterparts.

He even recreated WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, though he redesigned them to fit his vision. In essence, he had dumped most of the Google Play Store's functionality onto this world. 

However, he hadn't touched the gaming industry yet, simply because his mother had advised him to wait. The company generated over $300 million per month from advertisements alone, and things skyrocketed when James launched his animation studio.

Smith Studio pulled in $500 million monthly—even in its early stages—thanks to Dragon Ball, the first anime released. With its high-quality animation and captivating storyline, the series was an instant sensation. Streaming platforms rushed to secure rights to air it, further boosting revenue. 

The family went from struggling to afford meals to donating generously to charities and families in need.

In James's eyes, it was an incredible transformation. Smith Industries—the parent company overseeing Smith Search, Smith Studio, Smith Entertainment, and more—wasn't as big as Stark Industries or Rand Industries yet, but it was climbing the ranks rapidly. 

The introduction of Smith-Market was another game-changer. Apparently, people hadn't considered the concept of remote work before. Within a month of its launch, the platform had gained its first clients and freelancers.

From there, it exploded—thousands of new users joined daily, with countless transactions occurring every minute. James took a 5% cut from each, adding another massive revenue stream. 

--- 

As he arrived home and took in the sight of their newly furnished house, James smiled. His bedroom, too, was completely transformed.

After he made his first million, his mother had been so overwhelmed with joy that she cried. It was understandable—she hadn't grown up in wealth.

While his grandfather had once been middle class, rising costs of living had gradually pushed the family downward. His mother and aunts had never experienced this kind of financial security before. 

So, when James hit his milestone, his mother and aunts celebrated—not just with words, but by spoiling him.

They bought him everything they thought he might need (or didn't need), from a new wardrobe to a basketball hoop now mounted at an angle on his wall.

He hadn't asked for it, but they insisted. After all, he was the one who had made all this possible. 

Now, all of them were actively involved in helping run the company, supporting their sister however they could.

Yes, the family was close-knit and hardworking. But James knew that, while they were reliable and adaptable, they weren't necessarily trained to manage a company of this size. That was something he'd have to address soon.