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Novel Catalog
By the time Carlisle and Sean arrived at South Riverland Station, it was already 7:00 PM. The evening air was thick with humidity, and the streets outside the station buzzed with activity. The two of them, tired from their long journey, dragged their luggage toward the station’s exit.
As they stepped outside, a middle-aged woman holding a fan approached them with a friendly smile. “Young lads, looking for a place to stay? Just ten dollars a night!”
Sean’s curiosity piqued at once. “Ten dollars? That’s really cheap,” he said, his interest clear.
Normally, inns in county towns cost around twenty dollars per night, so this price seemed unusually low. It felt almost too good to be true.
The woman smiled wider, sensing Sean’s hesitation. “That’s right. The inns here are very affordable. I’m guessing you’re both freshmen at the university, huh?”
With that, she took the liberty of grabbing Sean’s luggage, moving toward the street as if she had already decided everything for them.
“Yes, but… How did you know that?” Sean asked, surprised. He wasn’t wearing any university gear that would give away his student status.
“Oh, it’s just a coincidence! I know all about the universities here in Riverland. In fact, I can even hail a cab for you both tomorrow if you need it!” she said with a wink, not waiting for a response as she began walking ahead. “Hurry up and follow me, lads!”
Sean hesitated but felt drawn in by the woman’s persistence. However, Carlisle stepped forward, a knowing smile on his face. “I’m sorry, Miss. We already have a place to stay for tonight,” he called out, stopping her in her tracks.
Sean blinked in confusion. “Wait, you do?”
Carlisle smiled, not missing a beat. “Yeah, my uncle is picking us up. We don’t need to stay at an inn tonight.”
The woman looked at them both, her eyes narrowing in irritation. “Brats. Wasting my time…” She kicked Sean’s luggage aside in frustration and turned away, fanning herself as she walked off in a huff.
Carlisle turned back to Sean with a sly grin. “Don’t worry, I’ve got it handled. You don’t need to worry about her.”
Sean was still processing what just happened. “Wait, you’ve got a relative in Riverland? I didn’t know you had family here.”
Carlisle raised an eyebrow and rolled his eyes. “I don’t.” He grinned, then added, “That’s just a trick to get rid of her. The inns around here aren’t exactly trustworthy.”
Sean looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”
Carlisle glanced around, making sure no one else was nearby. “The inns at train stations are often scams. I fell for it once in my past life. People like her lure you in with cheap rates, but then you wake up the next day missing everything.”
Sean frowned, processing the information. “Wait… seriously? You mean she would’ve stolen from us?”
Carlisle nodded. “Yep. It’s not safe. Especially here, where there’s a lot of petty crime. I’m just looking out for you.”
Sean’s eyes widened in realization. “I didn’t even think of that. I guess I’m glad you were here to stop us.”
Carlisle smirked. “Don’t worry. I’ve learned a thing or two about these places. Let’s just get a cab and head to the university.”
They flagged down a taxi outside the station, and after a short ride, they arrived at Riverland’s University of Science and Technology. The grandeur of the campus entrance, with its towering gates and busy streets, took Sean’s breath away.
“Wow, look at this place!” Sean said, his eyes wide with excitement. “It’s even better than I imagined!”
Carlisle smiled. “Yeah, it’s a nice place. Let’s find somewhere to stay tonight. Maybe grab a bite to eat and relax for a bit?”
Sean’s enthusiasm didn’t fade. “Definitely. How about we hit up an internet café afterward? I’ve been dying to check out the gaming scene here.”
Carlisle chuckled, agreeing without hesitation. “Sounds good.”
They found a hotel nearby that had a computer room. It wasn’t cheap—forty dollars a night—but given that they both now had at least ten thousand dollars in savings, it didn’t feel like a splurge anymore. Carlisle and Sean quickly unpacked their things, showered, and then went out to find food.
After eating, Carlisle took out his phone and fired off a message to Owen Barlow via MSN Messenger.
“Are you there, Owie?” he typed, his fingers moving quickly.
“I’m busy!” came Owen’s reply, his response as immediate as ever. Owen had always been one to reply fast when online.
Carlisle didn’t waste time. “Come over to Riverland. I’ll take you to earn some cash!”
Owen, who had always been a bit of a misfit, had a tendency to skip class and hang out with less than reputable crowds. Carlisle had always thought that Owen would be better off making some real money rather than wasting his time.
Carlisle had spent the past month coming up with a business plan for online gaming account farming. He’d found a way to profit from popular games like The Mystical Journey and The Legendary Tale, which still had a huge following. The latter, in particular, had just started trending with a new wave of interest, and Carlisle saw an opportunity to capitalize on it.
Owen’s reply came quickly. “What are you doing in Riverland?”
“I’m here for school!” Carlisle texted back.
Owen’s response was immediate, though there was a touch of disbelief in it. “You got into university?”
Carlisle couldn’t help but grin at his friend’s surprise. The path he had carved for himself was just beginning, but it felt like everything was finally falling into place.
