Adam stood silently on the dusty roadside outside the Green Refinery gates, Kim's stark warning echoing in his ears. "You just walked straight into a lion's den and told them you're holding a delicious meal." The words painted a terrifying picture, highlighting his own dangerous naivety.

  He had been so focused on the potential of his oil discovery, so caught up in the excitement of his secret power, that he hadn't fully considered the ruthless nature of the world he was trying to enter. Kim's harsh dose of reality felt like another blow, almost as jarring as being physically thrown out of the refinery.

  He realized, with a sinking feeling, just how much he still didn't understand about navigating this treacherous landscape of power, influence, and corporate greed.

  He looked at Kim, this stranger who had just saved him from potentially catastrophic consequences with his timely warning. Kim stood there, his expression grim, his eyes filled with the cynical wisdom of someone who had likely been chewed up and spit out by the very system Adam was trying to challenge.

  Adam knew, instinctively, that he needed this man. He needed his knowledge, his experience, his understanding of the 'jungle'. But gaining his trust, convincing him that Adam wasn't just some foolish kid playing a dangerous game, wouldn't be easy.

  Before Adam could even formulate a response, figure out how to regain Kim's confidence after revealing his potentially disastrous mistake, Kim took a deliberate step forward. He positioned himself directly in front of Adam, planting his feet firmly, his hands resting decisively on his waist.

  He looked Adam up and down again, his gaze sharp, assessing, unyielding. There was no trace of the earlier anger or frustration in his demeanor now; it was replaced by a focused intensity, a seriousness that demanded respect.

  "Look, Adam," Kim said, his voice steady, serious, leaving no room for misunderstanding. "Let's get one thing straight. If you're really serious about this – about having an oil reserve, about starting something new, about taking on giants like Green Refinery – then you need more than just resources and bold ideas." He paused, letting his words sink in, his eyes locked onto Adam's.

  "First, you need allies. And if you want me as an ally, if you want me to even consider your crazy offer… then first, you need to earn my trust. Completely. No more games, no more half-truths. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

  The demand was clear. Kim wasn't going to jump aboard some unknown ship captained by a mysterious kid based on a flash of cash and a wild claim. He needed honesty. He needed transparency. He needed to believe Adam wasn't just leading him into another disaster.

  Adam felt the weight of Kim's scrutiny. He knew Kim was right. Trust was essential, especially given the dangers Kim had just outlined. Could he afford to reveal everything? The time travel? The Copy & Paste skill? Probably not – that sounded truly insane, likely to destroy any trust he might build. But he could be honest about his situation, his motivations, the source of his conflict with the powerful people who ran this city. He had to give Kim enough truth to build a foundation.

  Taking a deep breath, steeling himself, Adam met Kim’s intense gaze and nodded slowly. "Okay," he replied, his voice soft but firm with new resolve. "Okay, Mr. Kim. You're right. I understand. I'll tell you everything you need to know."

  Kim studied him for a few more moments, his expression unreadable, perhaps judging the sincerity in Adam’s eyes. Then, his gaze flickered around the open street – the occasional car driving past, a couple of pedestrians glancing curiously in their direction.

  Their intense conversation, even spoken quietly, felt exposed here. With a slight, almost ironic smirk playing on his lips, Kim gestured down the road. "Not here," he suggested curtly. "Let's go somewhere quieter. Somewhere we can talk properly without an audience."

  Adam agreed immediately, relieved to move the conversation to a more private setting. "Lead the way."

  Kim nodded and started walking, Adam falling into step beside him. They walked in silence for a few minutes, turning off the main industrial road onto a slightly busier street lined with small shops and businesses. Kim seemed to know the area, navigating the sidewalks with purpose.

  They passed a small, colorful flower shop, its bright blooms a startling contrast to the grey pavement and the weighty discussion hanging between them. Just beyond the flower shop, Kim led Adam towards a modest-looking restaurant.

  It wasn't fancy, but it looked clean and welcoming. It had a cozy indoor seating area visible through a large glass window that offered a clear view of the sidewalk life outside. People strolled past, lost in their own worlds, unaware of the potentially life-changing conversation about to happen inside. Kim pushed open the door, and they stepped into the relative quiet of the restaurant.

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  The low murmur of other diners chatting and the soft clinking of forks and knives created a gentle background hum. They chose a small, round wooden table tucked away in a corner booth, offering a decent amount of privacy.

  As they settled into their seats opposite each other, Adam could feel the intensity return to Kim’s gaze. The casual restaurant setting did little to lessen the seriousness of the moment. Every word spoken here felt crucial.

  Kim leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on the table, his voice dropping to a quiet but intense level that demanded Adam’s full attention. "Alright, Adam," he began, his eyes sharp, probing. "You said you'd tell me everything. I meant it. I want the truth. No more secrets, no holding back relevant information. Who are you, really? And how did you end up in this mess?"

  Adam took another deep breath, his mind racing. How much truth was enough? How much was too much? He decided to start with the parts that felt most relevant to his current situation, the parts that explained his conflict with the powers that be, the parts that might make Kim understand his desperation and his drive. He had to risk some vulnerability to gain Kim's trust.

  "Okay, Mr. Kim," Adam began, his voice quiet but steady. "I won't lie to you. What I told the executive's assistant… it wasn't entirely true. I'm… I'm technically a college student. Or at least, I was." His voice wavered just slightly on the last word, the memory still raw. He tried to balance the confession of his youth and lack of formal standing with the determination he now felt.

  Kim's eyes narrowed slightly, picking up on the past tense. "Was?" he asked, his tone questioning. "What do you mean, 'was'?"

  Adam hesitated for only a second, then decided to plunge ahead. It was better Kim knew the source of his troubles. "I recently… dropped out," Adam admitted, then corrected himself, the words tasting bitter. "Or rather, I was kicked out. Expelled." He lowered his voice, the shame and anger associated with that memory washing over him briefly.

  Kim’s brow furrowed, his expression shifting from skepticism to something more like concern or intrigue. "Kicked out? From university?" he pressed gently, sensing there was a significant story here. "Can I ask why? What happened?"

  Adam let out a sharp exhale, the memory still capable of making his blood boil. He looked down at the table for a moment, then met Kim's gaze again, his eyes hardening.

  "It wasn't because of grades or bad behavior," he said, his voice tight with resentment. "It was politics. Power. The mayor's son – John Walker – he has it out for me. He arranged it. Fabricated charges, pulled strings. Had me expelled." He paused, the next words heavy. "To him, and his father, I'm an enemy. A nuisance to be removed. He wants me gone.

  Preferably dead… but slowly, painfully first. Like he tried today." The words hung in the air between them, heavy with the threat Adam lived under.

  Kim listened intently, his expression becoming serious, unreadable. He didn't interrupt, just absorbed Adam’s words, processing the implications. When Adam finished, Kim leaned back slightly, studying Adam’s face, perhaps seeing the shadows of that struggle, the history of betrayal and conflict behind his calm exterior.

  He realized Adam wasn't just some naive kid who stumbled onto oil; he was someone already caught in a dangerous game with powerful enemies.

  Kim nodded slowly, thoughtfully. His voice, when he spoke, was calm, measured, but held a surprising note of understanding, maybe even respect. "I see," he said quietly. "So, your enemies are powerful people. Mayor's son, you say." He tapped a finger on the table, thinking.

  "Well, Adam, that changes things. But you know," – and here his lips curved into a faint, wry smile – "that just proves how potentially important you might be. They say you can often measure a person's worth, or their potential threat, by the strength and status of their enemies. If you've managed to make enemies this powerful, people who want you dead… then maybe you're destined for something big after all."

  His words, delivered with the calm wisdom of someone who had likely seen his own share of powerful bullies and corporate backstabbing, caught Adam completely by surprise.

  He’d expected maybe pity, or increased skepticism about taking on such powerful foes. He'd never thought of it that way – that having powerful enemies might actually be a sign of his own potential significance. The thought was strangely empowering, cutting through some of the lingering fear and shame.

  Steeling himself, encouraged slightly by Kim’s unexpected perspective, Adam decided to reveal the next crucial piece of his puzzle. "That's… one way to look at it," Adam conceded. "But it also means I'm in constant danger. Which is why I need resources, quickly. And I have them. Or at least, the source of them." He paused, then continued, his voice steady again.

  "Like I said, I recently purchased a piece of land. Just finalized the deal this morning, actually." His voice grew firmer, more confident. "And on that land… I discovered a massive crude oil reserve."

  At the mention of the oil reserve again, Kim's expression shifted once more. The surprise was still there, but now it was mixed with intense focus. This was the core of Adam’s claim, the potential foundation for everything.

  Adam reached into his bag again – not his inventory this time, but the physical bag – and retrieved the small glass vial containing the crude oil sample. He placed it carefully on the table between them, just as he had done in the executive's office. The dark liquid sloshed slightly inside.

  Kim’s eyes immediately locked onto the vial. He picked it up carefully, turning it over in his hands, his gaze narrowed in concentration as he examined the dark, viscous liquid inside. He held it up to the dim restaurant light, observing its color, its thickness. He unscrewed the cap briefly, sniffing cautiously at the pungent, unmistakable aroma of raw petroleum.

  His years in the industry, even if not directly in exploration, gave him enough knowledge to recognize the look and smell of genuine crude. His mind seemed to race, processing the implications, the possibilities. Finally, he set the bottle down gently on the table again.

  After a long, pregnant moment of silence, during which Adam could almost hear the gears turning in Kim’s head, Kim took a deep breath. He looked up, meeting Adam’s gaze squarely. "Alright, Adam," he said, his voice serious, decisive.

  "I won't ask you how you found it, or how you confirmed it's 'massive'. I can tell there are things you're holding back, secrets you don't want to reveal, and frankly, maybe it's better I don't know everything right now." He gave a small nod, a gesture of respecting Adam's boundaries, perhaps recognizing the need for caution in their dangerous situation. "I respect that."

  He leaned forward again, his tone shifting subtly, becoming less like an interrogator and more like… a potential partner laying out terms. "So, instead," Kim continued, "let me ask you something else. Something practical. Something I need to know… as your potential future employee. Your potential CEO." The way he said it held both a challenge and a hint of acceptance.

  Adam felt a flicker of anticipation. He nodded, leaning slightly forward himself, signaling he was ready. "Go ahead," he said quietly.

  Kim's eyes locked onto Adam's, his expression deadly serious now. "This company you want me to build, this empire you're dreaming of… How many employees does it currently have? Besides me, assuming I even agree?" The question was blunt, direct. A fundamental test of the seriousness, the reality, of Adam's enterprise. Was this a real plan with any structure, or just a fantasy in a young man's head?

  A slow, knowing smile began to creep onto Adam's face. He knew the answer would likely shock Kim, perhaps even destroy the fragile trust they were building. But Kim had asked for honesty. At that precise moment, seeing the confident smile spread across Adam's face before he even answered, Kim seemed to have a sudden, dawning realization. A look of unease, almost comical disbelief, flashed across his features.

  "Wait," Kim said quickly, holding up a hand, his voice dropping to an urgent whisper. "Wait a second. Don't tell me… Are you saying…?" He trailed off, his eyes wide as the implication hit him. "Don't tell me that I'm the only one? That right now, this whole 'company' is just… you?"