That night, Jonah York spilled his heart to his wife, Jenna York.
He said he wanted to quit. Start fresh.
He admitted that, with a wife and kid to support, he still craved one last shot past 30.
Jonah braced for pushback, expecting Jenna to worry or flat-out say no.
But—
She smiled, soft and relieved.
"You should've quit ages ago."
Jenna had been with Jonah since their Portland University days.
She'd seen him soar as a bold designer, then get crushed by life's grind.
Once, he was like Gus Harper—a young hotshot owning the stage, ideas blazing.
Now, life's weight had dulled him. It broke her heart.
Jenna didn't lecture. She just hugged Jonah, counting the gray hairs on his head.
"You always think quitting means the family's screwed," she said.
"But I'm in this too."
"Milo's in kindergarten now, and both grandparents are fighting to pick him up. I was gonna tell you—I'm job-hunting."
"I know you love me, treat me right, want me to chill at home."
"But I love you too. I wanna pitch in, ease your load. That'd make me happier."
"So, don't carry it all."
"My guy's a rockstar. You've got this."
Her words hit hard. Jonah trembled in her arms, years of stress pouring out.
Jenna held him tight, stroking his head, patting his back, letting him unravel…
…
"…About Brothers' Quest, I'm deeply sorry to you both and WindyPeak."
Jonah York bowed:
"But please, let me join this campus recruitment as an 'expired grad.'"
Jonah kept his family stuff brief, but Gus Harper caught the weight of his duty.
Truth was, the Vampire Survivor ranking scam wasn't Jonah's doing as a designer.
Strip away Nebula Games's shady moves, and Jonah was just churning out a knockoff.
A soul-crushing gig, forced by life's pressures, not his passion.
Plus—
WindyPeak was desperate for talent.
Gus groaned, softening.
Jonah seized the moment: "I know WindyPeak's gearing up for the Asian Esports Game Developers Conference."
"If you take me, I can bring five or six buddies—my old crew from Fantasy Conquest."
What?!
Gus's eyes lit up.
Jackpot!
Zoey Parker? She froze.
Oh crap!
Jonah's resume was already a beast—game production, team leadership, a total pro.
Hiring him was risky enough.
Now he's dangling a ready-made team?!
Zoey's stomach churned:
"Uh… Mr. York…"
"We hear your apology and get it, but your job needs…"
"Totally doable," Gus cut in.
Zoey: ???
Three seconds of silence. Zoey's blood boiled. She kicked off her sandals under the table, smacking Gus's shin with her bare foot.
Her glare screamed murder.
Why'd you jump in?!
"Hold up."
Zoey flashed Jonah a fake smile, yanking Gus aside:
"You. Over here."
She dragged him off, hissing: "What's your deal? Didn't we agree on campus hires?"
"Yup, campus recruitment," Gus shrugged, waving Jonah's resume:
"Check it. Portland University grad. Fits the bill. You never said 'fresh grads only,' so I'm clean."
"Was this on purpose or a fluke?"
Zoey gritted her teeth:
"Why not hire Professor Linden? He's probably an alum too!"
"On purpose, but sloppy," Gus grinned, owning it:
"But hiring Professor Linden? Solid idea. Not as a hire, but a consultant. Maybe Portland University could hook us up…"
"Fine! Hire him! Geez!"
Zoey snapped, picturing Gus bugging Professor Linden:
"Just leave the poor guy alone. He's old, don't stress him out."
Gus chuckled. Brother Xun was right.
Ask to open a window, folks say no. Ask to rip off the roof, they'll beg you to take the window.
"You said it."
Gus stuck out his pinky.
Zoey pouted, grudgingly hooking her pinky, rolling her eyes.
"Pinky swear, no take-backs for a century. Break it, you're a puppy, hmph!"
Thumbs stamped, deal sealed.
Jonah York, watching from the interview chair, was floored.
Huh? This is how WindyPeak seals deals?
Do labor contracts work like this?
Should I pinky-swear with Gus?
Is it too late to bolt?
I kinda wanna keep this gig…
…
No way you let a golden goose fly.
Jonah stayed.
The labor contract wasn't some pinky-swear nonsense, thankfully.
With Parker Capital backing WindyPeak, they had legit paperwork.
The "campus recruitment" wrapped, and WindyPeak's first expansion was done.
Sixteen hires total: ten Portland University grads and interns via standard recruitment, plus Jonah and his five ex-Starlight buddies.
Then—
After Gus, Luke Bennett, and Jake Rivers hashed it out, with mascot Zoey Parker's nod, the PUBG team was born.
Gus Harper: Project Director and Chief Planner.
Luke Bennett: Chief Programming Director.
Jake Rivers: Chief Art Director.
No changes for the trio.
Jonah York: Deputy Planner, handling planning and cross-department coordination with Gus.
Caleb Knox: Deputy Programming Director, coding with Luke.
Jade Sierra: Deputy Art Director, creating with Jake.
The sixteen newbies were split into teams based on project needs, with veterans guiding rookies.
Clap, clap, clap—
The conference room erupted in applause.
Zoey watched the clapping crowd, a smug grin spreading.
WindyPeak hadn't been this lively since day one.
Sure, the vibe was great.
But the real win? These folks needed paychecks. Unlike outsourcing's wild costs, salaries were predictable!
So—
If WindyPeak dropped another blockbuster, per Gus's logic, big budgets meant slow profits, and Zoey'd lose big.
If they made a killer mini-game, no outsourcing spikes—salaries alone would bleed cash!
Plus, WindyPeak's tight budget meant rookie pay was industry-average.
When cash flowed later, Zoey could bump salaries to top-tier, maxing out the system's loss potential!
Big games? Profit's a slog. Small games? Costs crush.
No escape!
Heck yeah!
If I don't lose, who will?!
Zoey was thrilled.
She waved to hush the room:
"Ahem, quick word."
"First, welcome to WindyPeak Games. We're family now."
"We're all about chill, free, human vibes."
"Clock in once daily, two days off weekly on rotation."
"Nine-to-five, pay hits early each month, no delays."
"Plus, for work-life balance, there's a lounge across from here—drinks, peanuts, sunflower seeds, free. Motion-sensing pod's there too, to scope the market and spark ideas."
"But one rule—"
Zoey's face turned stern:
"Don't empty the lollipop jar in the snack zone. If it's low, tell me or Chloe Quinn ASAP!"
"Everyone's on this!"
Silence.
The room went dead.
Jade Sierra and the newbies swapped shocked glances.
Jonah York and his crew? Jaws dropped.
What did Zoey just say?!
Jonah scanned the room—everyone's faces mirrored his.
Brain offline for two seconds.
Jonah's eyes shifted: shock, to focus, to resolve, to… mania!
He wanted to FaceTime Jenna:
Honey! I saw an angel!
An ANGEL!
Zoey, at the head of the table, seemed to sprout glowing wings!
Her aura was blinding—holy light from an eight-hour workday, solid pay, and true boss humanity!
Jonah, ten years in the grind, had never seen a company this humane!
They even forgave a "defector" like him, boosting his old pay and perks!
Jonah nearly teared up.
Zoey's too good!
She calls me family and means it!
No wonder WindyPeak churns out bangers.
No wonder their creativity's off the charts!
Yup.
How could this place not spark loyalty?!
As eyes turned weirdly intense, Zoey panicked:
"Uh… guys…"
Whoosh!
Before she finished, Jonah shot up.
Then—
Boom!
All sixteen newbies stood!
"Ms. Parker, don't worry!"
"We'll never forget WindyPeak's kindness!"
"For the Asian Esports Conference, we'll go all out for epic results!"
The room roared:
"ALL OUT—EPIC RESULTS—!!!"
What?!
Zoey was stunned.
Huh? I just gave a basic speech. Why're y'all hyped?
What's so great about this?
Eight hours and weekends? That's, like, the law.
On-time pay? Every company's gotta do that.
Decent salaries? I pegged 'em to market average.
The lounge? Cheap snacks and a pod for me to goof off.
I'm just following regs!
Why the frenzy?!
Zoey was lost, unsure how to backpedal.
But secretly—
She was stoked!
Good thing Boss Harper got a wild hair and picked a cooking contest for the Asian Games.
If they'd leaned into second-gen FPS, with these hyped-up, Red Bull-charged newbies, who knows what'd happen?!
And so!
In one month, a sixteen-person team was locked in!
Gus's emotion points hit the mark, snagging a full PUBG plan from the system!
Funding? Zoey's $10M piggy bank was shy, but her dividends covered the $2M gap for the $50M entry!
Blink—
Month's end hit.
The Asian Esports Game Developers Conference, the hottest event in Asia's gaming scene, kicked off.
In Tokyo.
Grand opening!