The news of Axton's appointment as the sole commander of the City Watch spread across Atlas like wildfire.

It was a monumental decision, one that instantly shifted the city's balance of power.

Axton now had authority over every soldier stationed within Atlas, though he still couldn't quite comprehend how many men that truly was.

The numbers didn't matter.

The weight of command did, and it pressed on his shoulders like a crown forged of iron.

With Mayor Duncan's official confirmation, Axton stood from the ground, turned toward the crowd of witnesses, and scanned their faces one by one.

Soldiers, citizens, and officials alike watched him with awe. Some with pride, others with envy.

Then, without another word, he walked away.

He didn't need to make a speech.

His victory against Bismarck had spoken louder than any words could.

Axton's influence in Atlas now stood second only to the mayor himself.

In fact, to most people, he was the deputy mayor in all but the title.

His power stretched across the barracks, through the city gates, and into every corner of the streets.

Wherever the City Watch marched, they marched under his command.

Yet, despite handing such immense authority to another man, Mayor Duncan didn't feel threatened or uneasy.

In Axton, he saw a leader guided by reason — not ambition.

He could trust him, at least for now.

Bismarck, on the other hand, had begun to stir a sense of fear and rivalry within him before his demise. But Axton… Axton was different.

Calm. Calculated. Loyal, or at least, that's how he appeared.

To celebrate the end of chaos and tension that had plagued Atlas, the mayor declared a citywide festival.

Banners were raised.

Ale flowed like rivers.

Music, laughter, and cheers echoed through the streets for the first time in weeks.

While the citizens filled the plazas, Axton hosted a separate celebration in his newly acquired estate — the same estate that had once belonged to Commander Bismarck.

Mayor Duncan had personally gifted it to him following his victory.

"To Commander Khan!"

"To Commander Khan!"

The soldiers roared, raising their mugs high. The sound of clinking glass filled the air as ale spilled freely, staining the polished floors.

Axton smiled faintly as he raised his mug. Though the soldiers cheered and sang, his mind was elsewhere.

Even amidst the laughter, a thought gnawed at him — Guja.

That name hadn't left his mind since the village chief mentioned it.

The mysterious man supposedly held information Axton needed, yet time had passed, and there were still no reports.

He'd dispatched several search squads already, but they were moving slower than he liked.

Now, he'd doubled the manpower on the task. Guja needed to be found… and soon.

As the party raged on, Axton quietly slipped away. The soldiers were too drunk to notice. He returned to his room, summoned the system interface, and sighed.

It was time to log out.

*Ding*

[Do you wish to log off?]

[Yes / No]

"Yes."

******

In the real world…

Axton's eyes fluttered open.

He was back in his room.

The faint hum of the refrigerator, the distant noise of traffic, and the light leaking through the curtains all reminded him that this was Earth.

For a moment, he just lay there, staring at the ceiling in silence.

Then, with a deep breath, he swung his legs off the bed and stood.

His body felt heavier here. Slower. There were no stats or system boosts, just his natural, human self.

He went through the motions — fixing a quick meal, taking a cold shower, brushing his teeth — the mundane routines that always felt strange after a long stretch in New Eden.

Afterwards, Axton collapsed back onto his bed and reached for his phone.

If he wasn't raiding or training, he might as well handle something that had been on his mind lately — moving out.

He'd made a decent sum from playing New Eden.

Between quests, rewards, and rare drops he'd sold, he was no longer broke. Far from it.

Still, he wasn't exactly rolling in luxury yet either.

He opened a real estate app and began scrolling through the listings.

******

House after house flashed by his screen.

Some were small but cozy, others grand and sleek, fitted with marble floors and glass balconies that overlooked the city skyline.

Every so often, Axton would stop at a particularly beautiful one, zooming in to admire the interior designs.

"Damn," he muttered, smirking to himself. "People really live like this?"

The prices, though, were often outrageous.

Even with the money he had, buying one outright would gut his savings completely.

He shook his head. "No. Not yet. I'm not blowing everything on fancy walls."

Still, a quiet determination settled in him.

As far as he was concerned, money that didn't improve one's life was pointless.

He'd worked hard — in a game or not, it didn't matter.

It was time to live like it.

After an hour of scrolling, he bookmarked a few affordable options and closed the app.

He needed to see them in person later.

For now, though, he wanted a drink. Maybe a little shopping too.

Outside, the afternoon breeze brushed against his face as he walked through the city streets.

He looked around, realizing how different the world felt now that he wasn't struggling to survive.

"Your eyes see cities better when you have money," he muttered with a laugh.

It was true.

Suddenly, every store seemed brighter, every sign more inviting.

Shops he'd never have dared to enter before now felt open to him.

He pushed through the glass doors of a high-end clothing store, catching the faint scent of expensive perfume.

The women inside turned subtly as he walked in.

Some whispered and giggled.

Others looked him up and down with faint curiosity… or condescension.

His clothes were still cheap and plain compared to the men who normally shopped there.

But Axton didn't care. He knew why he was here.

He browsed calmly, picking out shirts, trousers, and a few pairs of sneakers.

When he was done, he carried the pile to the counter.

"Can I get this… this… this… and these sneakers packaged, please?" he said to the lady behind the register.

She smiled warmly, scanning each item.

Whether it was genuine or just good customer service, Axton couldn't tell, and didn't care.

He just nodded when she told him the total and handed over his card.

Once the transaction was done, he took his bags and left.

******

The next few hours passed quietly.

He stopped by a bar for a drink, then visited an electronics store and finally replaced his old, cracked phone.

By the time he returned home, the sun was already setting, casting a warm orange glow across his living room.

He unpacked his purchases, tried on the new clothes, and looked at himself in the mirror.

Not bad.

The fit was perfect — clean, confident, sharp.

The new sneakers were neat on his feet.

Finally, he trimmed his hair at the small salon down the street and returned home feeling renewed.

For once, he didn't look like someone who spent more than half his time inside a game world

He looked normal.

Maybe even better than that.

He was still admiring his reflection when his phone buzzed.

*Ding*

[New notification from New Eden]

Axton's brow furrowed as he unlocked it.

*Click*

[You have a message.]

He opened it.

[We've found him, Commander…]

Axton froze.

The name flashed instantly in his mind — Guja.

Finally.

A faint smile crept across his face as he set the phone down.

The real world faded from his mind.

All he could think about was returning to New Eden.

Who exactly was this man the village chief spoke of?

And why was the system making sure he found him?

Something told Axton that this was just the beginning of another storm.

And he couldn't wait to step into it.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.