Chapter 20: New Players Enter

The arcade had been closed for nearly an hour, but Ethan still lingered.

He stood in the middle of the room, bathed in the soft, flickering glow of screens now looping their attract modes in silence. Every now and then, a cabinet chirped or played a low jingle, but mostly, it was quiet.

The victory from earlier still pulsed in his chest—but now, it was fading into something calmer.

Responsibility. Focus. Next steps.

He turned off the last few machines, locked the front door, and finally made his way home—back to the small apartment above the old bookstore down the block. Shoes off, hoodie tossed aside, he dropped into his desk chair with a long, bone-deep sigh.

The glow of the arcade still seemed to cling to his skin.

He leaned back and opened his system menu—an interface he hadn't fully looked at since before the tournament. It opened with a soft flicker, almost excited to be used again.

Skill Overview

🔧 Repair Skill – Level 7 (79%)

Your hands know machines. You don't guess anymore—you understand. Repairs are faster, more efficient, and solutions come naturally.

✨ Cleaning Skill – Level 4 (53%)

You've stopped seeing mess and started seeing opportunity. Minor aura improvement when entering a freshly cleaned environment.

📈 Business Basics – Level 2 (81%)

You're not just running an arcade—you're building a business. Event planning, marketing campaigns, and customer insights at your fingertips. Next level unlocks: Profit Optimization Tools and Staff Management Interface.

🧠 Maintenance Intuition – Perk Active

Subtle tugs and instinctive nudges help you identify problems before they arise. Machines whisper warnings—you just have to listen.

Active QuestsQuarterly Financial Commitment (Ongoing)

Meet revenue targets and maintain growth each quarter. Current: ✅ Month 1 Approved

Next checkpoint: 90 days

Build to Last – Phase 1 (Unlocked)

Objective: Formalize business operations (staffing, planning, inventory)

Reward: Business Basics Level 3 + Bonus Perk "Operational Efficiency"

A Legacy Shared (New)

Objective: Sit down with a mentor. Gain outside insight. Consider delegation.

Status: In Progress

Time Remaining: 22 hours (Meeting Scheduled)

Ethan smiled faintly. The system hadn't stopped tracking his progress—it had just waited for him to catch up.

And now?

It was ready to push forward.

He closed the interface and turned out the light.

Tomorrow, Victor would return.

And things might never be the same again.

The Next Day

The arcade opened with its usual quiet rhythm—morning regulars, a few curious newcomers, and the occasional parent reliving their childhood between errands. By mid-afternoon, Ethan had things running smoothly.

Amanda dropped in to hang a new tournament flyer.

Trevor tested a recently refurbished pinball machine.

James brought by a printout of the arcade's monthly token flow report. Just for fun.

But Ethan was waiting. Watching the clock.

When the time finally came—3:00 PM on the dot—the chime above the front door rang out, and Ethan turned to greet his mentor.

Victor Mallory stepped through, wearing the same dark coat and calm, centered expression as always.

But he wasn't alone.

Walking beside him was a woman in her late 30s, early 40s—smart blazer, rolled sleeves, light satchel slung over one shoulder, and a poise that said I've walked through tougher buildings than this and survived them all.

She didn't look like a banker. Or a lawyer.

She looked like someone who used to lead, but now preferred to breathe.

Victor smiled and gestured between them.

"Ethan, this is Carmen Park. A former operations director for one of the largest tech retailers in the state."

Carmen extended her hand. "Nice to meet you, Ethan. I've heard a lot."

Ethan shook her hand, a little surprised by her grip—firm, direct, but not aggressive.

"Likewise," he said. "Are you… here for the tour?"

Victor stepped in. "Not exactly. Carmen and I go back a ways. She stepped away from her role a few months ago—fast-paced environment, fifteen-hour days, a leadership team that didn't understand balance or boundaries."

Carmen smirked. "So I decided I was done helping big systems get bigger. I wanted to do something that still felt real. Victor mentioned you."

Ethan blinked. "Oh."

"I'm not here to audit you," she added, sensing his nerves. "I'm here to listen. And maybe share a few ideas, if you're open to it."

Victor gave Ethan a knowing look. "Think of it as a soft consult. No strings. Just an outside perspective."

Ethan glanced around at the machines, the posters, the familiar glow of home. He nodded.

"Alright. Let's talk."