The steady hum of the aircraft engines provided a comforting backdrop as we settled in for the long flight home. Despite my weakened state, I found myself curious about how long it would take us to reach home.
"Anthony," I called out, my voice still carrying that frustrating weakness that reminded me of my current limitations. "How long till we reach home?"
He glanced at his watch and did some quick mental calculations. "Eight and a half hours, assuming normal flight path and no delays."
My heart sank a little. "My System comes back online in ten hours. That’s going to be... problematic."
The implications were obvious to Evelyn and Anthony. Landing while still System-disabled would mean facing reporters, supporters, and political opponents while physically compromised. Even if I could manage to hide the weakness for a short time, any extended public appearance would be a disaster.
Evelyn, still sitting beside me, tilted her head thoughtfully. "What if we took a longer route? You know there’s going to be an audience waiting, and it would be difficult to make you look physically fine if you’re still dealing with the aftereffects."
Anthony’s expression immediately shifted to his problem-solving mode. "That... actually makes perfect sense. Let me talk to the pilot."
He disappeared into the cockpit, and I could hear muffled conversation through the door. After a few minutes, he returned with a satisfied expression.
"I told him you wanted to rest for a bit before landing since you know there will be extensive media coverage," Anthony explained. "He completely understood. He’s adjusting our route to take a northern arc, which will extend the total flight time to ten hours and thirty minutes."
"Perfect," I said, feeling genuine relief for the first time since the voting had concluded. "That gives me a thirty-minute buffer to readjust before we have to deal with the real world again."
With the immediate logistical concern resolved, I found myself actually able to enjoy the flight. The private jet was comfortable, the company was excellent, and for the first time in days, I didn’t have to worry about maintaining a public facade or navigating complex political dynamics.
Anthony proved to be surprisingly entertaining when he wasn’t in full professional mode. His spy training had given him access to some genuinely fascinating stories, though he didn’t care to compromise anything that might be operational security. Evelyn, meanwhile, had developed a dry sense of humor about her blindness that kept us all laughing despite the unusual circumstances.
About four hours into the flight, Anthony suggested we call the girls back home. "They probably want to talk to you," he pointed out. "And it would be a good moment to relax."
The FaceTime call connected quickly, and suddenly the aircraft’s screen filled with three familiar faces. Alexis, Sienna, and Camille were crowded around what looked like Alexis’s laptop, all of them looking anxious and excited in equal measure.
"Reynard!" Camille practically shouted, her enthusiasm immediately lifting my spirits. "We saw the news coverage! Thirty-four votes! You did it!"
"We did it," I corrected, though I was smiling as I said it. "None of this would have been possible without all of your support."
Alexis was studying my face carefully through the screen, her analytical nature picking up on details that others might miss. "You used that ability of yours again, didn’t you? You look exactly like you did on the island."
Trust Alexis to notice. "Guilty as charged. But it was necessary. The situation required... absolute authenticity."
"How long this time?" Sienna asked, I could tell she was the most worried one there.
"Same as last time. Twelve hours total. I’ve got about six left before everything comes back online."
"Well, we’ll probably get home late tonight," I continued, "but I hope that’s okay with everyone."
"Are you kidding?" Camille grinned. "I’m a night owl anyway. Besides, this is historic! The first person to be endorsed as World President, a job nobody even knew, and it was based on demonstrated capability rather than System-granted titles? We wouldn’t miss your homecoming for anything!"
The conversation continued for nearly an hour, covering everything from the political implications of the vote to more mundane concerns about what we wanted for dinner when we got home. It was exactly the kind of normal interaction I’d been craving after days of high-stakes diplomacy.
As we chatted, I found myself genuinely appreciating how the different personalities complemented each other. Alexis’s steady pragmatism balanced Camille’s infectious enthusiasm, while Sienna’s analytical insights kept everyone grounded in reality. Even through a video call, their presence made the aircraft feel more like home.
Eventually, we had to end the call so they could prepare for our arrival, but the conversation had done wonders for my mood. Knowing that I had people who cared about me beyond my political utility made the entire endeavor feel more meaningful.
The remaining hours passed pleasantly. Anthony shared some of his thoughts about the security implications of my new status, while Evelyn and I discussed the philosophical ramifications of what we’d accomplished. It was the kind of deep, thoughtful conversation that I’d missed during the intensity of the conference.
As we approached the final thirty minutes of the flight, I felt something shifting inside me. It started as a subtle warmth in my chest, then spread outward like sunlight breaking through clouds. The familiar sensation of the System reconnecting was unmistakable.
Strength flowed back into my limbs gradually but steadily. The persistent weakness that had plagued me for hours began to fade, replaced by the enhanced physical capabilities I’d grown accustomed to. More importantly, my mind felt sharp again. Thoughts that had been fuzzy and incomplete suddenly snapped into crystal clarity.
I took a moment to stretch, marveling at how good it felt to have my body respond properly to my commands. The difference was remarkable; I’d forgotten how much I’d come to rely on the System’s enhancements until they were suddenly absent.
"Feeling better?" Evelyn asked, though my improved posture had probably already answered her question.
"Much," I replied, rolling my shoulders and feeling the satisfying pop of joints realigning. "It’s good to be back to full capacity."
Anthony looked relieved as well. "Good timing. We’ll be landing soon, and you’ll need to be at your best for whatever’s waiting."
"Actually," I said, settling back into my seat, "I need a few minutes before we land. I just completed an Event Quest, and I need to see what changes have appeared in my System."
They both nodded understandingly and turned their attention to preparing for landing, giving me the privacy I needed to examine what the System had provided.
I opened my interface and immediately saw the completion notification for the Event Quest: "The Geneva Gambit." The sense of satisfaction that came with completing such a significant objective was immediately enhanced by seeing the rewards that had been unlocked.
- Leading candidate status for World President position
- Military and economic assistance from supporting nations
Both rewards were exactly what I’d expected and hoped for. The official recognition of my candidacy status would open doors that had been closed to me before, while the military and economic support would provide the practical resources needed to mount an effective campaign.
But there was another notification blinking below these expected rewards, marked with the mysterious "???" that always indicated something significant. My heart rate increased as I selected it.
The notification expanded into a separate message that made me catch my breath:
"Congratulations, Jobmaster. You have permanently affected the course of human history through your actions. Such achievements unlock rewards beyond the standard quest parameters. Several enhancements are now available."
I stared at the message, wondering if other famous historical figures had ever received similar notifications. Was this something that came with being a Jobmaster (SSS-Rank), or was it simply the System recognizing the unprecedented nature of what I’d accomplished?
The first reward appeared as I scrolled down:
Jobs can now reach SS rank or SSS rank.
My excitement was immediate and profound. I’d always known these higher ranks existed as my own job title had hinted at their possibility, but I’d never known how to access them. This opened up entirely new possibilities for growth and capability.
The next reward was equally intriguing: Portfolio Upgrade Token. I pressed the question mark icon next to it to get more information.
Portfolio Upgrade Token: Levels up all skills under a targeted portfolio simultaneously. Levels that are wasted on level 10 skills will be randomly transferred to another skill in the portfolio.
This was potentially game-changing. Rather than upgrading individual skills one at a time, I could enhance entire sections of my capabilities simultaneously. The efficiency implications were staggering.
The third notification caught my attention next:
Special Skills: Copy, Absorb, and Destroy have been upgraded.
I wanted to examine exactly how my fundamental abilities had been enhanced, but before I could dig deeper, the final reward caught my eye and made everything else temporarily fade into irrelevance.
Job Title Integration Unlocked: You may now choose to acquire any previous job title you have observed, OR combine two job titles into one integrated position (with reduced individual effectiveness but combined versatility). WARNING: THIS IS A ONE TIME USAGE!
I read the notification three times to make sure I understood it correctly. The implications were staggering. I could potentially acquire any job title I’d seen throughout my travels and interactions.
The strategic possibilities were endless. I could combine jobs. I could get Job Inverter and unlock 7 news job and skills that are opposite of my current ones. I could have an advance Scan or even disable Systems. I could even temporarily boost all my skills to level 10 or switch between any job at will.
Now all that was left as I was landing...was to make my choice.