The Key to the Future

Five days had passed quickly since Adam finalized the purchase of his land. In that short time, he had made some difficult decisions.

He moved out of his friend Eric's house—a place that had once offered him comfort and a sense of belonging—and found a small apartment on the outskirts of the city.

The new place was far from the busy center, nestled in a quiet, remote corner where few people came and went.

Although the apartment was modest and provided him with a safe haven away from prying eyes, the rent was outrageously high. But Adam didn't care. He believed that the cost was a small price to pay for the privacy and security that he so desperately needed.

The apartment was part of a two-story building, and Adam lived on the second floor. Since he did not own many belongings, the move had been hassle-free.

All his possessions were few and easily packed, leaving him with a light load as he began this new chapter of his life.

More importantly, living outside the busy city center allowed him to stay hidden from potential enemies and curious onlookers. His new home was not meant to be a place of comfort but a temporary shelter—a secure spot from which he could plan his next moves without drawing unwanted attention.

One bright morning, Adam stepped out of his apartment and slowly made his way down the narrow, creaking stairs. The cool air outside felt refreshing, and as he reached the street, he noticed the familiar scene of the building's ground floor.

An old man, the landlord, sat outside his small shop. The landlord's face was weathered and lined with years of hard work. He briefly glanced at Adam, his eyes measuring him in a silent greeting, and then quickly turned his attention back to scanning the area for potential customers. The old man's routine was simple: watch, wait, and serve. 

Adam, however, paid no attention to the landlord's casual glance. With a determined stride, he continued walking down the quiet street, his mind already focused on the tasks ahead.

He was building something new—a future that depended on secrecy, careful planning, and the resources he was slowly gathering.

Over the past few days, Adam had been busy selling gold in various small shops. He carefully spread his transactions across different locations, making sure that no one could connect the dots and raise suspicion.

This careful planning helped him accumulate around one million dollars in cash—a sum that was critical for his next steps.

Each sale had been calculated to avoid drawing attention, and by keeping his business low-key, he managed to stay one step ahead of those who might have wished to see him fail.

However, Adam knew that his target was far greater than one million dollars. Just a few days earlier, one of the shopkeepers had warned him that rumors were starting to spread.

The rumor was about a mysterious man who was supplying large amounts of gold. The shopkeeper's tone had been both cautionary and curious, and it was clear that if Adam continued at this pace, he might soon attract dangerous attention.

The idea of being discovered by rivals or the authorities sent a chill down Adam's spine. He understood the gravity of the situation: 'if he was not careful, everything he had built would crumble, and his enemies might close in'.

With this realization, Adam decided to lie low. He chose an apartment in a remote corner of the city, away from the hustle and bustle and the prying eyes of potential adversaries.

For now, he had all the cash he needed for a crucial purpose: finalizing his land ownership. The money was not only a means to an end; it was a symbol of the progress he had made. 

One morning, as Adam waited at a bus stop near his new apartment, he glanced at his watch.

"10:00 AM," he muttered under his breath. In just thirty minutes, he had an important meeting at the Property Department—a meeting that would mark the next significant step in his grand plan.

Today was the day when his most important plan would finally begin, and every second counted.

Later that day, Adam arrived at the Property Department. He walked slowly toward the entrance, his steps measured and deliberate as he steeled himself for the meeting.

The building was modest but well-maintained, its entrance guarded by a few security cameras and a polite receptionist.

As he reached the gate, Adam's eyes caught sight of a man waiting for him. The man was none other than Kis, the landowner who had once been skeptical about the value of the property.

Adam was slightly surprised to see Kis waiting so early. He approached him with a curious smile and said, "I didn't expect you to be here so soon."

Kis returned the smile, though his eyes held a hint of irony. "I ran a thorough background check on my land. Turns out, it's actually worthless. I still don't understand what you see in it, but if you're willing to pay such a high price… I won't refuse."

Adam's smirk deepened as he replied coolly, "Let's finish our business then." Kis nodded, and with a curious look, he asked, "You brought the full amount, right?"

Adam patted his bag confidently and answered, "Of course." Without wasting another moment, the two of them entered the department.

They moved quickly through the corridors to a small office where the necessary paperwork was waiting. The air was filled with the rustle of papers and the quiet hum of bureaucratic machinery—a far cry from the chaos of the city outside.

After completing the paperwork, Adam and Kis stepped out of the building. It was done. The land was now officially under Adam's name. 

The sense of accomplishment was palpable as Kis turned to Adam and offered a polite nod, "Congratulations. From now on, you're the rightful owner of that land."

Adam smiled as he watched Kis walk away. He reached into his bag and pulled out the freshly stamped ownership papers, his fingers tightening around them as if to etch the moment into his memory.

"This… this is the key to the future I've been waiting for," he thought quietly, his heart pounding with excitement and determination.

Without another word, Adam tucked the papers away securely and left the Property Department. As he walked out, his mind was already calculating the next steps in his grand plan.

The land, now legally his, was the starting point for everything he had dreamed of—an empire built from the ground up, fueled by the power of control and the promise of a new future.

The country Adam lived in was called Fieland—a modest nation with limited natural resources.

Unlike modern Earth, Field was a world that still clung to the technology of the past, resembling the 2008 era more than the present day. The nation was small, its economy fragile, and it relied heavily on importing crude oil from foreign powers.

This dependency made Field vulnerable. Oil prices, set by powerful oil-exporting corporations, controlled the nation's fate. The oil giants ruled with an iron grip.

They dictated prices, controlled supplies, and determined the rise and fall of entire industries. The power dynamics were harsh, and only a few thrived while most suffered.

Adam, however, had a plan—a vision of the future that went beyond the current limitations. 

He knew which technologies would rise and which industries would collapse. For now, the world still depended on crude oil, and that dependency was a weakness he intended to exploit.