Chapter 4: Making Money
Maximilian was irritated, but he knew it was no use arguing with the system. He decided to leave this place first and figure out his next steps based on where—and into what kind of world—he would end up transmigrating.
He walked through a long white corridor with a ventilation system stretching along the ceiling, extending far into the horizon.
At the end of the corridor was a steel door, narrow enough for only one person to pass through. Looking at it, Maximilian was reminded of the back entrances of shops or restaurants—designed for staff to exit discreetly, not for guests or as a main entrance.
Maximilian opened the door, and cold air from the outside seeped into the tunnel. A short stairway leading to the upper level stood before him, but before he could take a step, a rumbling sound followed by an explosion echoed behind him. A red alert flashed, and emergency sirens blared.
"Warning... the secret base will self-destruct in 1 minute," an electronic voice announced through the base's speakers, the same base Maximilian had just exited.
Without hesitation, Maximilian raced up the stairway toward the upper level.
Less than a minute later, he emerged from the tunnel through a dilapidated wooden screen that concealed the entrance to the tunnel below.
Boom! Kaboom!
A thunderous explosion erupted, destroying the base and causing the tunnel Maximilian had just exited to cave in. He turned back and saw that the stairway's entrance was now completely blocked by concrete, earth, and rocks of various sizes. Only the stairway itself remained untouched.
Maximilian surveyed his surroundings and realized he was in some kind of cemetery. The tunnel he had exited was connected to a small mausoleum, about the size of a hut. He slowly walked out of the cemetery, guided by the moonlight, toward the distant lights on the horizon—lights he found familiar.
Once he reached the street in front of the mausoleum, where the horizon glowed with light, he saw a sprawling metropolis below. The cemetery was situated on higher ground, offering a clear view of the city. The sight of the city below made him unconsciously hum a tune.