Adam felt a buzz of excitement as he walked back towards his rented apartment building on the quiet outskirts of the city. The successful creation of the refinery on his land, even if it wasn't fully operational yet, felt like a monumental step forward.

  His mind was already racing ahead, thinking about the next stages: getting power and water connected, finding trustworthy people, and figuring out how to actually start extracting and refining the oil without alerting Green Refinery or the Walkers. The challenges were huge, but the potential rewards felt even bigger.

  As he turned the corner onto his familiar, slightly rundown street, he noticed something unusual. A large delivery truck was parked right in front of his building, its engine idling softly. Several workers in matching blue uniforms were busy unloading big cardboard boxes and what looked like pieces of equipment onto dollies. Adam’s heart gave a little leap of excitement. He knew immediately what this was. His delivery!

  "Finally! It's here!" he muttered to himself, a wide grin spreading across his face, momentarily forgetting the aches and pains still lingering from his beating a few days prior. This delivery represented another crucial piece of his plan falling into place. He quickened his pace, hurrying towards the entrance of the two-story apartment building.

  Standing near the front door, arms crossed, looking decidedly unhappy about the commotion, was Mr. Watson, the old landlord who ran the small shop on the ground floor. His weathered face was set in its usual scowl, maybe even a bit deeper today.

  He watched the delivery workers with obvious displeasure, as if their presence and the bulky items being unloaded were a major disruption to his quiet, predictable routine. He probably wasn't used to tenants receiving large deliveries like this, especially not young ones living alone in his slightly seedy building.

  Adam approached him, keeping his tone firm but respectful. He couldn't afford any trouble with his landlord right now; privacy was too important. "Good morning, Mr. Watson," Adam said clearly. "This delivery is for me. Apartment 2B."

  Mr. Watson turned his sharp, assessing eyes towards Adam, his scowl deepening slightly. He didn't say anything immediately, just looked Adam up and down, perhaps wondering what a young man like him was ordering that required such a large truck and multiple workers. The silence stretched for a tense moment.

  The delivery workers, noticing the interaction, paused their unloading, shifting their attention towards Adam and the landlord. One of the workers, who looked like the supervisor – a neat man in a clean blue uniform, holding a clipboard and pen – walked up to Adam.

  "Excuse me, are you Mr. Adam?" the deliveryman asked politely, looking directly into Adam’s eyes.

  Adam nodded, feeling a surge of pride mixed with a little nervous energy. This felt official, real. "Yes, that's me," he confirmed.

  The deliveryman offered a quick, business-like smile. "Excellent. We have your delivery from TechForward Computers and Connections. If you could just sign here, please?" He held out the clipboard and pen.

  Adam took the pen, his hand surprisingly steady despite the excitement bubbling inside him. He quickly scribbled his signature on the line, feeling another small click as a piece of his plan locked into place. This signature felt significant, another step towards building the infrastructure he needed.

  "Alright, Mr. Adam," the deliveryman said, taking back the clipboard. "Signature received. We'll get everything unloaded for you now. Just show us where you'd like these items placed."

  Adam took a deep breath, glancing briefly at the still-scowling landlord. "Around back, please," Adam directed calmly, pointing towards a small, slightly neglected storage shed area behind the main building that he had cleared out earlier. "Just stack everything neatly in there for now."

  The workers nodded, reassured by the clear instructions, and efficiently resumed their task. They wheeled dollies loaded with boxes – some large and heavy, others smaller – and what looked like networking equipment towards the designated storage area. Mr. Watson continued to watch with a grumpy expression, but he didn't interfere or say anything further.

  Adam knew the old man valued the high rent Adam paid promptly in cash more than he disliked the minor inconvenience. As long as Adam didn't cause real trouble, Mr. Watson would likely let him be.

  After about fifteen minutes, all the boxes and equipment were unloaded from the truck and carefully arranged in the storage space Adam had indicated. The delivery supervisor double-checked his list, got a final nod from Adam, and then he and his crew climbed back into the truck. With a rumble and a hiss of air brakes, the large vehicle pulled away, leaving the quiet street even quieter than before.

  Adam watched them go, then turned back towards his apartment, a thrill of anticipation running through him. He quickly headed upstairs, eager to see the centerpiece of his delivery.

  When he stepped into his small, sparsely furnished apartment, his eyes went immediately to the desk in the corner. And there it was. The main reason for the delivery, the item he had carefully saved and planned for: a brand-new computer.

  By the standards of the future Adam vaguely remembered, it looked bulky and a little clumsy – a large, beige tower unit, a thick CRT monitor with a dark, curved screen, a standard keyboard, and a mouse.

  But in this world, in Fieland, which felt technologically stuck somewhere around 2008, this was a powerful, modern machine. It was still wrapped in protective plastic, waiting to be brought to life.

  Right next to it, also newly installed by a technician who had come separately earlier that morning, was the equipment for a dedicated internet connection – a modem, router, and cables. Getting a private, reliable internet line installed out here hadn't been easy or cheap, especially since widespread high-speed internet was still mostly limited to big companies and wealthy individuals in the city center. But Adam knew it was essential.

  He walked over to the desk, running a hand almost reverently over the smooth plastic casing of the computer tower. "It was worth every penny," he thought, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction.

  This wasn't just a computer; it was his command center, his window to the world, his tool for research, communication, and potentially, for managing the complex operations of Fire Corporation.

  With a mixture of eagerness and the patience required for older technology, Adam carefully removed the protective coverings, plugged everything in, and pressed the power button on the tower.

  The machine whirred to life slowly. Fans started spinning, lights flickered on, and the dark screen of the monitor glowed faintly as it began the boot-up sequence. The process felt sluggish, tedious compared to the instant-on devices he might have known elsewhere, but Adam sat down patiently in the simple desk chair, watching the familiar progress bars crawl across the screen, lost in thought.

  As he waited for the operating system to load, staring at the flickering screen, a new idea sparked in his mind, prompted by the very object in front of him. His special ability – Copy & Paste. He had copied oil, a factory, a pumpjack from a picture…

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  "What if," he thought, his eyes drifting over the new computer setup, "what if I just copy this computer? And the internet connection?" The idea was tempting. He could instantly create duplicates. An office full of computers for Kim and Monica and future employees? Done in seconds. Backup systems? Easy. No need to spend more of his precious, limited cash on expensive hardware. He could save time, save money, build his infrastructure faster.

  The thought sparked a fresh wave of excitement. Each new potential application of his power opened up incredible possibilities, ways to leapfrog the normal constraints of time and resources. He mentally filed the idea away – something to experiment with later, carefully. Could he copy complex electronics? Would the copies function perfectly? Would copying the internet connection somehow duplicate the service itself, or just the hardware? More questions to explore.

  But before he could delve deeper into the possibilities of copying technology, the sudden, shrill ring of the old-fashioned landline phone sitting on a small table near the door jolted him out of his thoughts. The phone, part of the apartment rental, was his primary secure contact method for now, the number he had given Kim.

  Adam quickly rose from his chair and walked over, picking up the receiver. "Hello?"

  A familiar, energetic voice greeted him from the other end. "Adam! It's Kim. Good, you're there. I didn't think you'd be back and settled in this soon after our meeting." Kim sounded cheerful, purposeful.

  "Hey, Kim. Good timing. What's up?" Adam asked, his voice warm with anticipation. He had a feeling this call was important.

  Kim's tone immediately became more serious, shifting into business mode. "Adam, listen. I've made progress. I've completed the initial company registration paperwork for Fire Corporation – we legally exist now, at least on paper. And I've already started reaching out, discreetly, to a few potential key hires, people I trust."

  He paused, then continued, his voice holding a note of urgency. "I also took a drive out yesterday, found the location you gave me for the land, the 'refinery site'. Had a look around from the road." Another pause.

  "Adam, we need to talk. There are important matters we need to discuss about our next steps, about the site, about the timeline. Things we can't really cover properly over the phone."

  Before Kim could elaborate further, Adam's own excitement and the desire to bring his nascent team together got the better of him. He wanted Kim to see the progress, to feel the momentum.

  "You're right, Kim," Adam interrupted eagerly. "Let's not do this over the phone. Why don't you come over? Come to my apartment now. And," he added, making a quick decision, "bring the others. The people you've started recruiting? Bring them with you. It's time we all met properly."

  There was a short silence on the other end of the line as Kim processed the unexpected invitation. Adam held his breath. Was it too soon? Too risky to bring multiple people here?

  Finally, Kim replied, his voice thoughtful but agreeable. "Alright, Adam. That… actually sounds like a good idea. A team meeting. Okay. Give me the address again, just to be sure."

  Adam quickly recited the address of his remote apartment building. They confirmed a time – about an hour from now – and then ended the call. The energy in Adam's small apartment suddenly felt charged, electric. His team! His first employees, the core of Fire Corporation, were coming here, to his temporary headquarters. Something big was about to happen.

  Exactly one hour later, a firm knock echoed on his apartment door. Adam hurried to open it, his heart pounding with a mixture of nervousness and excitement.

  There stood Kim, looking sharp and purposeful as always. But he wasn't alone. Standing next to him was a woman Adam recognized instantly, sending a jolt of surprise through him. Jet-black hair pulled back professionally, intelligent eyes, wearing a simple but elegant brown dress. It was Monica, the woman Kim had met in the café, the skilled planner Kim had successfully recruited.

  The moment Adam saw her, saw the faint recognition and surprise in her own eyes as she looked at him, his breath caught. "Monica…?" he whispered, the name escaping his lips before he could stop himself, driven by a strange sense of familiarity he couldn't immediately place. Had he met her before? In his past life? At university, maybe?

  Monica's eyes widened slightly in return, mirroring his surprise. A touch of uncertainty crossed her features. Kim, standing between them, looked from Adam to Monica and back again, a curious frown developing on his face. Monica pointed a questioning finger at herself. "I'm sorry," she asked softly, her voice polite but clearly puzzled. "Have we met before? Do you know me?"

  Adam instantly realized his mistake. His involuntary reaction had betrayed a familiarity he shouldn't possess. He quickly raised his hands in a placating gesture, forcing a casual smile, hoping to cover his slip-up. "Oh! No, no, sorry," he said quickly, feeling his cheeks warm slightly. "You just… you remind me of someone I used to know. Just a coincidence. My apologies." He stepped aside, gesturing them inside. "Please, come in. Welcome."

  Monica still looked a little uncertain, studying his face for a moment longer, but then she nodded politely and stepped into the apartment. Kim followed, giving Adam a questioning glance that Adam deliberately ignored for now.

  Behind Monica and Kim, three more individuals entered, the rest of Kim's initial recruitment success.

  The first was a tall man, probably in his early forties, with short black hair and a calm, almost stoic face. His eyes were sharp, observant, taking in the small apartment and Adam himself with a quiet intensity that suggested he missed very little. He moved silently, his steps measured and quiet, giving off an air of deep experience and perhaps a hint of danger.

  Next came a man who looked to be in his early thirties, with friendly blonde hair and a warm smile. He was dressed in neat, casual clothes. He stepped forward immediately, extending his hand towards Adam. "You must be Adam. It's a pleasure to meet you," he said clearly, his voice friendly and professional.

  Adam returned the handshake firmly. "Adam," he confirmed, offering a sincere smile in return. "Nice to meet you too."

  The blonde man's friendly smile widened. "The name's Lee. David Kim has told me great things. I'm a business lawyer," he explained. "Specializing in corporate formation, contracts, and regulatory compliance. David has brought me on board, effective today, to handle all the legal matters for… uh… Fire Corporation." He said the company name with a slight, almost imperceptible hesitation, perhaps still finding it a bit unusual.

  Adam nodded in approval, feeling a surge of relief. A lawyer! Exactly what they needed. "Welcome aboard, Lee. I'm very glad to have your expertise," Adam said genuinely, motioning for him to find a seat. Having someone experienced to navigate the complex legalities felt like a huge weight off his shoulders.

  The tall, quiet, black-haired man entered next. Kim stepped forward to introduce him simply. "Adam, this is Raven," Kim said. No last name, no title. Just Raven.

  Raven gave Adam a brief, almost imperceptible nod. He didn't offer to shake hands, just stood silently, observing the room, his calm demeanor hinting at a different kind of expertise – maybe security, maybe logistics, maybe something else entirely. He radiated a quiet competence, a sense that he was a man who got things done without needing many words. Adam nodded back, intrigued.

  Finally, the last person stepped into the room. It was a woman, perhaps also in her early thirties, with striking golden-blonde hair cut in a smart bob. She wore stylish but professional business-casual clothes and had a warm, engaging smile. She approached Adam confidently.

  "Adam, it's wonderful to finally meet you," she said softly, her voice clear and intelligent. "I'm Lisa. David Kim recruited me to handle the company's financial planning, build our business structure, manage investments. And," she added, her eyes twinkling slightly,

  "I also happen to have quite a few useful contacts across various industries – suppliers, distributors, maybe even some sympathetic ears in government agencies – that might help us expand quickly when the time comes."

  Adam's smile widened genuinely. Finance, business structure, and contacts? She sound

  ed like exactly the kind of versatile, well-connected person they desperately needed. "Lisa, welcome. I'm incredibly glad to have you on board," Adam said sincerely.

  With the initial introductions made, the small apartment felt suddenly crowded, filled with the energy and potential of this newly assembled core team. Adam led the group towards the center of his main living area, where he had hastily arranged a small, round table surrounded by a mismatched collection of chairs – his desk chair, a couple of folding chairs, even an upturned sturdy box.

  He had put out a few glasses of water, a plate of store-bought cookies, and a pot of lukewarm tea he’d brewed earlier – simple refreshments, but a gesture of hospitality. The setting was humble, almost laughably so for the first meeting of a corporation with billion-dollar ambitions, but it felt real, intimate, focused.

  Once everyone had found a seat around the small table – Kim, Monica, Lee, Raven, and Lisa, with Adam taking the remaining spot – a brief, expectant silence fell. Adam looked around at the faces gathered there. His team. The first members of Fire Corporation. It felt surreal, incredible.

  He looked at Kim, ready to get down to business. "So, Kim," Adam began, refocusing on the reason for the meeting, "you said on the phone there were urgent matters to discuss? About the refinery site?"

  Kim nodded, his expression turning serious again as he prepared to speak. But before diving into the urgent business, he held up a hand, standing up briefly. "Before we get into the weeds," Kim said, wanting to formalize the moment, "let's just quickly go around again, make sure everyone understands the roles as I see them starting out."

  He gestured to himself. "As you know, I'm David Kim, CEO of Fire Corporation. I'll be overseeing all operations, managing finances initially, and reporting directly to our founder."

  Kim then placed a hand lightly, respectfully, on Adam's shoulder, looking around at the others. "And this, as most of you now know, is Adam. He is the founder of Fire Corporation. He holds the vision, the core resource, the financial backing. His vision is our guiding light." Kim's voice took on a serious, almost inspiring tone.

  "Our goal, under Adam's leadership, is ambitious: to build an empire. A company that will stand tall, innovate, and eventually compete head-to-head with the biggest players in this country, especially," – his eyes hardened slightly – "our friends at Green Refinery."

  A respectful silence filled the room again. Everyone around the table nodded slowly, acknowledging the scale of the ambition, the challenge ahead. It was clear Kim had already briefed them on the basics, the high stakes, the potential rewards.

  Kim then turned his attention to Monica, gesturing towards her. "This is Monica," he continued. "I've worked with her before; she's incredibly sharp, organized, and a brilliant planner. Monica will be our Chief Operating Officer, essentially. She'll be in charge of structuring the company, setting up efficient processes, managing logistics, and basically making sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. If things get chaotic, if our structure starts showing cracks as we grow, Monica is the one who will fix it."

  As Kim introduced Monica, Adam found himself studying her face again. That nagging feeling of familiarity persisted. He was sure he knew her from somewhere, but the memory remained frustratingly out of reach. Her intelligent eyes met his briefly, holding a professional but perhaps slightly questioning look, maybe still wondering about his earlier flicker of recognition.

  "Monica..." he thought again, "How do I know her? maybe... from before?" He pushed the distracting thought aside again. He couldn't afford to get sidetracked now. He needed to focus on the urgent matters Kim wanted to discuss. He just hoped his earlier slip-up hadn't made her suspicious.