Last chapter, Prósopsi and his Commanders plus two new allies met together to plan a method of attack against Quilline and co.

More relevantly however, the last chapter Domino Afolabi appeared, the C.E.O. of Fixed Reality Casino himself presented the features of his "Soul Saver" machines to the Hopian Government, as well as Prósopsi- in the hopes that they would help him fund the machine's future development and production.

They agreed to help fund Domino's project, however for a horrific reason. The reason being that the Hopian Government is (wrongfully) expecting Hopian to break free from his seal in under ten years, and based on Hopian's past observed behaviour from 3000 years ago- they're expecting him to be extremely violent. As such, both the Hopian Government and Army want a way to save the citizens of the Hopian Continent worst comes to worst, through the means of secretly storing everyone's souls inside of the Soul Saver servers...

1 day later, in the "Center" of the Hopian Continent...

Domino Afolabi's P.O.V.

I take a puff of my cigar, as I stare out of the tinted window of my limousine that I'm riding in the backseat of. I try and focus on the few people outside that we're passing by, as well as the neon lights all around us, just so that I don't pass out. Only a few minutes away from home after all, may as well wait to crash till then. Gonna be hard though, long ass day today.

Oh... we stop at a red light, and my mood is lowered even more as I see and hear a white woman in dirty looking clothes screaming at a couple who were just innocently walking outside of a convenience store. As the couple scurries away, the woman is almost immediately approached by the store's security guards who were standing right inside by the front doors. As expected since that was a Geas brand convenience store, got loads of Herin to spend on security to keep the customers feeling safe.

...

Annnnd they're putting the screaming gal in cuffs after just a few seconds of talking, she panics- and so they push her down to the ground... damn.

"They really do get treated like animals, the homeless. You'd think with all of our technological advancements in society that people'd learn to be more understanding of mental health issues but... nah. We still suck. Fuck, still need to properly plan how I'm gonna deal with mentally ill people in the soul saver servers... separating them from the rest of the users still seems smart but, also still feels wrong... nah, think positive. We still haven't tested every mental illness in the servers, still a chance that some may get removed when a person's soul leaves their body." I think to myself, only stopping when our car starts moving again.

My head droops against the window and my eyes start to shut on their own... and someone who's sitting across from me gently takes the cigar out of my hand. I did have an extremely long day today, so...

*SPLAT!*

"Ahiah!" I squeal after getting jolted awake by a loud sound, looks like something filled with red juice got thrown at and splattered against the window. Fuck me man, I hate it here sometimes.

...I take some time to recompose myself as I stare down at the purple carpeted floor of my limo.

"Like always though, blame the lack of help the government is able to give for causing these people to break- not the people themselves. Plus with all the panic people are facing now with King Metallica and Quilline running around... can't blame some people for losing it."

"We'll be arriving shortly Domino, don't worry." I slowly raise my head up after my young personal assistant, Fred, tries to encourage me with a smile- who's sitting directly across from me in the backseat area here. The guy's got black curly hair and is wearing shades- and of course he's also wearing the thin white collared long sleeved shirt, and black dress pants- that make up his 'uniform'.

I just nod to him, and raise my hand to my lips to take another puff of my cig- oh. Scratch that, right looks like Fred was the one who took my cigar out of my hand, and put it out in the ash tray next to him when I was about to pass out.

"Ah well, better safe than sorry. Do pay him to help me and keep me in check after all." I think to myself with a sigh as I turn my head again to just keep on people watching...

🌃🌃🌃

After a few more minutes of forcing myself to stay awake, we finally start pulling into my painfully, but beautifully lit Casino's private garage- which thankfully closes immediately after it opens, with an energy barrier wrapping around the metal gate right after that for good measure.

The limo stops after pulling next to the fancy metallic hot pink Poloco brand luxury sports car I bought my wife for our 25th anniversary- which is obviously completely bullet proof. But the funny part is- she barely even uses the damn beautiful thing since she doesn't want to "owe" me anything in return for it. Still don't get that logic considering I've bought almost everything else we own but, whatever, probably the least screwed up part of our marriage as of late.

"Sir." I get snapped out of my daze by Fred, as I can see the guy holding my door open for me- damn I'm more tired than I thought, how'd I not notice he already left the limo...

"Sorry, thank you." I say with a yawn as I slowly force myself out of the car, and onto the cement of my garage... least it looks like it's finally been swept. Been pestering the cleaning crew about that for a few days now.

"Not a problem Domino. A man like you probably just has too much on his mind for any normal person to bear." He says as I start to slowly walk, and without asking he walks right beside me with his arm gently touching my own- probably knows I might need a hand staying upright considering how tired I am. Nice kid- or I guess he's in his early 20's... damn I'm getting old.

Anyways, "Yeah..." Is all I reply to Fred with a small depressing chuckle.

Learning that the Kings that my faith is- or was based on, are actually apparently evil. Getting the news that my wife's grandma that I love and that works as my Casino's main energy source had a bad stroke. Having to do a fuckton of paperwork for my new deal with the Hopian government. Having to have multiple meetings with the Hopian Army plus other sponsors for the "Ticket to Dalkan" event I'll be hosting tommorow- all that in one day.

Ugh. Haven't slept in like 24 hours... bed, I can't wait for you.

But not just yet. Gotta get me some more steps in before that. Speaking of, Fred swipes his card to open the small door that leads out of the garage for me. And so we begrudgingly walk up the private carpeted stairs that the door leads to, since yeah I don't have any guards with me right now so... the main entrance is a no-go, even if I like greeting a lot of the people who're playing the games in my casino.

Regardless, with a bit of huffing- we finally reach the top of the stairs, and start walking through the red carpeted hallway that *technically* is part of my "home". Most people think it's weird but, yeah- the top floor of Fixed Reality casino is where me and my family live- with us having an absolutely giant one story... "apartment" is the wrong word, but it gets the point across best I think. It's one floor but it's got a ton of rooms and space so, it really feels like a full house.

That aside- my mood gets brought up a bit as I look to my right, where the hallway "wall" is made of bullet-proof tinted glass. The point of the glass being that it gives me a beautiful view of the main indoor floor of Fixed Reality Casino far below us.

Hundreds- nah nah, what am I saying, thousands of slot machines have their screens flashing, with almost all of them being used. But there ARE hundreds of tables for card games like poker and blackjack all around too, with them being used by the biggest of the big shots in this continent, and being run by robot dealers. One large circle table in particular is especially fancy- it's made of luxury white marble. Kinda had to make sure it looked nice since it'll be used for the "Ticket to Dalkan" event.

Aside from the adult games though, I can also see the kid-friendly area that's isolated near the back of the main floor. Ya know, in case any younglings want to come and have some fun too but want to keep away from the 18+ stuff. And of course, some nice workers are there too who keep watch of the kids while they play with the VR headsets that literally send their consciousness to another world.

Would say that the area was made out of the kindness of my big old heart but, honestly it was mainly so that parents would be able to come gamble here more often without worrying about leaving their kids at home... but hey, making bank is the name of the game. Especially when I need the Herin to save people...

Anyways enough business thinking, I look a bit up- and see the newly installed holograms that are being projected into the air way above the main floor. Some of em' are advertisements for beer and all, but others are actual cool stuff like giant dice being "rolled" midair- as well as the giant word "DALKAN" being projected into the air along with fake frost coming off of the letters. Course, there's also a countdown timer to the Ticket to Dalkan event start date, which has almost reached zero now since it's today.

Huh... wait, I guess that's an advertisement in of itself- hard to count it since it's my OWN advertisement though.

Either way, lastly I look all the way up at the ceiling- which is actually covered by a giant curved screen. The screen in question makes it look like there's a ton of stars and planets above the main floor- there's even a few spaceships with goofy aliens in them that wave and pass by every once in a while. Always had an interest in space, only wish there were species out there that're advanced as we are...

"Man... kinda wish I could escape to the stars sometimes. But I'd need to take Dazzline and the kids too... yeah..."

"Sir! We've arrived at the entrance to your home." I snap out of my daze after Fred starts gently shaking my shoulder.

"Sorry sorry- just admiring the beauty of this place is all... thanks for helping me out so much today by the way. I'm gonna give you a raise real soon." I reply to him groggily as I rub my eyes,

"It is quite nice, yes. And thank you sir, I'm just glad that you appreciate my service. Is there anything else you'd like me to help you with today?" Fred asks, and I shake my head side to side- which makes him nod in return and start to walk back to the staircase which leads down to my garage.

I drag myself towards the red painted wooden door to my place (yes wood, I like the look of it), and press my finger on the handle to unlock it- wait... ugh. I shake my head with a scoff and dig my hand into my pocket to grab my keys, then finally yank them out- and unlock the door.

I walk into the dark and quiet entrance of my place, and kick my shoes off onto the shoe tray we've got.

"Must be late if it's this dark in here and no one's up..." I think to myself, kinda wish we just always had some lights on in our place. But- with how dark this continent is all the time, me and the family try and simulate day and night in our house at least- just so that the kids can at least pretend to live natural lives like that.

Anyways, I glance at the very old school clock that's hanging on the hallway wall that leads to the living room- annnnnd shit, 3 am... was out way later than I thought. But hold on-

"Huh? Why's the TV on?" I think to myself with a furrowed brow, as I can see a bright blue light coming from the living room- as well as hear some buttons clicking... I keep walking to investigate an-

"Daddy!" My 5 year old baby boy Edison suddenly cries out my name with a giggle from the living room, and then in his blue one piece pajamas he comes running right towards me with his arms out.

I scoop him up into my arms, "Why the heck are you up so late? And yes, I missed you too buddy." I say with a smile as I look down at him and kiss his admittedly big but nice forehead.

"I was waiting! Mama said you'd be home today, and- and so we ALLL stayed up to give you welcome home hugs. But everyone else got bored and went to bed a bit ago, they thought you wouldn't come... but no! IIIIII knew you'd be home, I knew it daddy- and so I snuck out of bed and came here to wait for you!" Edison says which breaks my heart and makes me happy at the same time, yeah I'm probably gonna get an earful tomorrow for not even telling the family that I'd be back late today... even if my reason for that is VERY justified though.

But that's for tomorrow, I put Edison back down and respond, "Ahhh, got it... that's nice of you but, you really shouldn't stay up so late just for me though. On that note, I really think we should go to bed-"

"NO! I haven't seen you in- in forever! Can't we at least play a little...?" Edison says with a stomp as I bend down (which cracks my back- ow!) and put a finger on his lips to keep him quiet.

"To play wha- oh. Well..." I reply, and put two and two together mid-sentence as I can see my favourite 27 year old 2D fighter game being displayed on the giant flat screen TV in the room.