Chapter 1: The Outset (I)
"Mr. John, I'm resigning," Maverick said firmly, handing over his resignation letter to the middle-aged man.
"Maverick Caesar, are you serious?" John ran a hand through his hair, glancing between Maverick, who looked a bit embarrassed, and the letter.
"I know this sounds odd, but… I've got some new plans for my future." Maverick shrugged, trying to keep his tone relaxed.
"But you just started this morning!" John's face showed pure disbelief, as if he couldn't tell if Maverick was joking.
"I know… I'm really sorry, but I have to make this choice." Maverick sounded hesitant, but there was a spark of excitement in his eyes.
John sighed, clearly taken aback and struggling to find the right words. After a moment, he nodded. "Alright… good luck with whatever you're up to… just, good luck!"
"Thanks!" Maverick replied, turning back to the office to gather his things—not that he had much, since it was his first day.
Now, this might seem a bit sudden, so let's rewind a little.
Maverick Caesar, to put it simply, was a lucky guy who got isekai'd. In his previous life, he was just an ordinary guy with an ordinary background, living a fairly uneventful life. He had just finished high school... well, let's skip the details.
The last thing he remembered was passing out after binge-watching the Harry Potter films. Next thing he knew, for reasons he couldn't explain, he woke up as a newborn in Manchester, England, in 1970.
In this new life, however, his background was far from average. His mother, Ariel Caesar, was the head editor at a major publishing house, and his father, Michael Caesar, was a politician in the British parliament when he was born.
In other words, he was born into a wealthy and influential family.
With such privilege, he didn't feel the need to rush into using his knowledge of the future to chase after riches. Instead, he took his time. He first tasked himself with making a name for himself, and with his mother's background, the entertainment industry was the easiest starting point.
He excelled at every level from primary school onward, graduating high school with top grades. It wasn't anything to brag about—he was simply repeating what he had already done.
Afterward, he shared his interest with his parents, hoping for their support, and they did, without much question.
He joined a London film and television company as a management intern, eager to learn the ropes. After gaining experience, he planned to eventually launch his own business.
He planned to recreate the "cinematic masterpieces" from his memories and partner with his mother's publishing company, ultimately turning both into industry leaders.
Maverick's first day at John Foster Film and Television Company started smoothly on July 4, 1988. Everything was falling into place—well, until the most unexpected event turned all his plans upside down.
Back to the Present
After gathering his few belongings, Maverick left the television company and headed to the coffee shop on the corner. He settled into a window seat with a cup of coffee, appearing calm, as if enjoying a quiet moment. But beneath that calm facade, he was fixated on a glowing blue screen that only he could see.
That's right! Maverick had just thrown all his ambitious blueprints out the window, all because of this—the legendary system granted to all transmigrators. It had appeared on his very first day of work.
Displayed on the virtual screen was his character panel:
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[ Name: Maverick Caesar ]
[ Class: Wizard ]
[ Rank: Mage Apprentice ]
Progression: Novice → Mage Apprentice → Magus → Great Magus → Arch Magus → Warlock → Supreme Magus
[ Magical Energy: 10 + ]
[ Points: 10 ] (Increases by 10 points per day)
[ Extraordinary Characteristic Points: 1 ] (Increases by 1 point per year)
[ Extraordinary Characteristics: None ]
[ Talents: None ]
[ Spells: None ]
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Staring at the interface, Maverick felt a mix of emotions but quickly set them aside to focus. Judging from his stats, he figured he was at a beginner level, with only 10 points of Magical Energy.
Luckily, his "system" granted him 10 points every day, though he wasn't sure what they were for just yet. Spotting a "+" sign next to Magical Energy, he decided to give it a try and tapped it.
To anyone watching, Maverick probably looked ridiculous, waving his fingers in the air. But he didn't care. The moment he tapped the "+," a surge of energy rushed through him, making him feel both powerful and refreshed, like he'd just finished a workout and followed it with an ice-cold shower.
His Magical Energy went up to 11, but he decided to save the rest of the points for later. Curious, he focused on the section labeled "Extraordinary Characteristics," but nothing else showed up, even after a few clicks and lots of concentration.
As far as he could tell, his system was pretty basic—none of the usual attributes like strength, stamina, or defense that he might've expected. For now, the only thing he could figure out was that he could raise his Magical Energy daily, though he had no clue what that would actually let him do.
After a while, Maverick's mind was buzzing with ideas. He tried focusing on skills he already knew, like driving, programming, and writing, hoping they might appear on the panel. But nothing happened.
'I'll learn more about this system when something extraordinary happens,' he thought with a sigh.
Still, Maverick couldn't help but feel hopeful. The steady gain of 10 points every day was a comforting thought.
Then, a realization struck him—this world! For 18 years, he'd lived here without questioning anything, assuming he'd simply been reborn in Britain a few decades earlier. But now, with the sudden appearance of the system, he wasn't so sure.
Was this really just a simple rebirth, or was it a parallel world with hidden powers? Without his cheat, he wouldn't have questioned it, but the presence of "Magical Energy" made him rethink everything.
He figured it would be better to stay under the radar until everything was figured out. Thinking back on his impulsive decision earlier, a twinge of regret hit him.
In his excitement over the system, he had quit on a whim. It was too late to go back and ask Mr. John for his position; that would be humiliating.
With a thought, he dismissed the character panel and started thinking over his next steps.
Lost in thought, Maverick spent hours weighing his options until noon. Still without a clear plan, he ordered a simple bowl of pasta and ate, his mind churning as he considered his next move.