Author's note: This is not the original version of the story because this current version which you're witnessing is translated by AI. So expect some grammar issues and please don't hate me because of this. Anyways I hope you enjoy the story I spent 5 years of my life on it :)
◦•●◉✿ P̘͎̀͊ă̶̸̝ͦ͊̿͋͞û̶͙̽̿͆̈s̩͙͖̋͛͟ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ ✿◉●•◦
The sound of the phone's alarm echoed through the room. It was a modern and relatively messy bedroom. A boy lay sleeping on the bed. His short, messy gray hair was clearly visible as he lay on his stomach, asleep.
"Hmmm... no, listen, Atticus isn't a good name for him..."
It seemed the boy was mumbling deliriously, caught between sleep and wakefulness. Some time passed in this manner, and suddenly the door to the room flew open. A girl with an angry and serious face, wearing an elegant, modern, and fashionable black skirt, stared at the boy with her yellow eyes. Her long, flowing black hair spread around her head and over her shoulders.
"Idiot boy, wake up!!! Today is an important day for you and the whole family!"
The boy jolted awake in shock, a slight tremor running through his body as he breathed rapidly. He stared at the girl who had startled him like this, and at the same time sat up on his bed. His red eyes were wide with shock and fear.
"Wh-what happened? I wasn't asleep, I'm awake, Alice!!!"
As the boy spoke anxiously and in shock, Alice stepped forward and gave him a fairly hard slap on the back of his head with her right hand, staring at him angrily.
"First of all, instead of Alice, you should say 'my dear older sister whom I am very proud of and am nothing compared to her talents and abilities!' Secondly, instead of talking nonsense and making excuses, get up and get ready because we have to go!!"
The boy placed his right hand on the back of his head, rubbing it, and wore a dissatisfied, complaining, and upset expression.
"Why did you hit me?? And then, get out so I can change my clothes!!! –_–"
As the boy said this, Alice grabbed his left hand firmly with her right hand, dragging him forcefully towards the bedroom door.
"Listen, Kelvin, stop getting on my nerves, okay? First, you need to go to the bathroom and splash some water on your face, then come back and get dressed!!"
Kelvin, forcibly pulled out of the bedroom by Alice, followed his sister down the hallway towards the bathroom.
"Can you stop dragging me around like a doll??? I'm grown up now, you know that, sister? I'm wise and understanding!!"
"I doubt that. Especially the last part. Hmph -_-"
"Huh??? What part of my behavior and actions is childish???"
"Literally all of it..."
As they continued their argument, they walked through the hallway towards the staircase at the end. The hallway's architecture was modern yet faithful to classic artistic styles, adorned with numerous vases and paintings for decoration. After passing through the hallway and a few servants along the way, they reached the staircase and went down. Upon descending, they arrived at the central hall of the mansion. More servants were busy with various tasks such as cleaning and dusting. Upon seeing Kelvin and Alice, they respectfully bowed as usual, and the two headed towards the hallway on the left end of the central hall. As they walked down this hallway, silence and calmness finally settled between them. However, this silence was broken by the voice of another girl from behind them—a cold, dry, and formal voice.
"Older sister Alice, please wait. I have a message for you from Uncle Jackson who contacted me."
"Huh??? Why didn't Uncle call me directly??"
Alice sighed, stopped walking, and turned towards the girl with curiosity and surprise. The girl had relatively long, neatly styled orange hair and yellow eyes, along with a stern and emotionless face.
"Anyway. Tell me, Nadia, what did Uncle want to say to me? But please hurry, I have to get this little kid ready."
Upon hearing "little kid," Nadia glanced at Kelvin and nodded slowly in agreement with Alice's words.
"Uncle said that for today's inauguration ceremony, we must also bring Elder Sister Annika."
Alice didn't seem too happy or satisfied with this news. In fact, she even looked annoyed.
"Why??? Nadia, you know better than anyone how Annika is!! A reclusive and introverted girl...!!"
As his two sisters talked, Kelvin stared at them with a poker face, slightly annoyed, sighed softly, and continued to listen in silence.
"Thanks, Nadia, but I'm not taking on this responsibility. You go convince Annika to come."
Nadia, still with her dry, emotionless, and formal expression, continued to stare at Alice.
"But Uncle said you should do it. Orders from a higher-ranking family member can't be ignored."
Alice's face turned angry, a nervous tick causing her right eyebrow to twitch. Kelvin tried to slowly back away, but failed as Alice grabbed him firmly by the collar.
"If that's the case, I'm higher in rank than you and I order you to do my duty for me, Nadia Anatemory!"
" ... "Nadia*
Kelvin watched as Nadia, without saying another word, silently saluted Alice and walked toward the exit of the hallway that connected to the central hall. He felt saddened by this sight and was displeased with Alice's behavior towards their younger sister.
" Sister, I think you overdid it... It's true that Nadia isn't our biological sister, but she's still a member of the family. You understand that, right...? "
"I don't care... You're so clever, think about yourself, you scatterbrained clumsy boy."
As Alice said this to her brother in a serious, cold, and dry tone, she grabbed him by the collar and dragged him towards the bathroom.
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Name: Nadia
Surname: Anatemory
Age: Twenty-two – Twenty-three
Height: 162 cm
Weight: 64 kg
Personality: Reserved, introverted, logical, strong, loyal but harsh and ruthless to enemies
Interests: Reading books and studying with her sister Annika in her free time, being diligent and responsible, enjoying aerobic sports, having enough free time to pursue personal interests, going to work meetings especially with the editor, friend, and business partner of her brother
⟨ I am always grateful and thankful to them for giving me a place and shelter in this harsh and ruthless world. I won't forget their kindness even if they sometimes treat me harshly... ⟩
◦•●◉✿ P̘͎̀͊ă̶̸̝ͦ͊̿͋͞û̶͙̽̿͆̈s̩͙͖̋͛͟ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ ✿◉●•◦
*Some time later*
Kelvin was finally ready. He wore a light brown coat with a relatively long cream-colored overcoat. He also wore black pants and a ruby red tie. With a look of pride and satisfaction, he stared at himself in the mirror, busy combing his hair.
" I mean, look. I'm really a very handsome and attractive man. I'm even famous because of the story I published. But... " He ended his sentence with a look of regret, frustration, and annoyance, then continued in a slightly louder tone while running both hands through his hair, messing it up. At the same time, the comb fell to the ground. " So why doesn't any respectable lady come my way???? I'm not supposed to stay single for the rest of my life, right???? I mean, am I more miserable than the characters in my own stories, my own creations, who even found someone in the end, but not me???? "
Kelvin, finally realizing that complaining wouldn't solve anything, bent down again and, with a nonchalant but still slightly annoyed and upset expression, started combing his hair again. As he was busy combing his hair, he heard soft, gentle laughter from behind the door. It was a familiar woman's voice. Yes, it was his eldest sister, Annika. She gently opened the door and entered her younger brother's room, a kind smile on her lips. Her long, beautiful purple hair was styled into two spiral, drill-shaped pigtails. Her kind and tired blue eyes were clearly visible.
" So, my dear little brother wants a wife. Am I right? Apparently, the three of us girls around you aren't enough."
Annika said this jokingly, in a tone suitable for teasing someone. Kelvin, feeling embarrassed (mostly flustered), blushed slightly and, with anxiety, shock, and fluster, quickly placed the comb back on the dresser and walked towards Annika.
" S-sister, were you eavesdropping...!!!! And what kind of talk is that? A wife and a sister are two completely different things for a man!! Each is valuable in their own way! "
Kelvin puffed out his chest with pride and authority as he said this in response to his sister. But gradually, he returned to his usual self, a sweet smile appearing on his lips.
"Of course, I know you were joking with me. Heh... I think you're the only one in this house who treats me kindly and warmly like this, sister... Although Alice, whatever she says or asks me to do, is for my own good and to improve my situation, she has a problem expressing her feelings..."
Feeling a hand of affection on his head, Kelvin was surprised and quickly looked up, his eyes widening slightly as he stared at Annika. He wasn't surprised by the affection, but rather by the suddenness of his sister's action.
"H-huh... Sister, what happened all of a sudden..?"
Annika, with a bitter yet still loving smile, gently stroked Kelvin's hair with her right hand, careful not to mess up his hairstyle or the combing he had done. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall.
"My dear little brother... I've told you a hundred times, just call me sis. I'm not like Alice, you know that, right..?" She gently moved her right hand from Kelvin's head to his left cheek. "Of course... even Alice was once a very lively, cheerful, and positive-thinking girl. But when mother left us, each of us was affected in our own way..." She slowly and kindly began to stroke Kelvin's left cheek with her right hand. "Your sister Alice became like this, I became reclusive and withdrawn. And you, brother. If you hadn't met that boy, become friends, and turned to writing, depression would have awaited you. You really should be grateful to him. He's even become your personal editor and is helping you in every way. He's a very good friend. Appreciate him."
Various emotions welled up inside Kelvin. From sadness and grief at the reminder of his mother's death to gratitude and indebtedness to his friend who helped him escape the danger of depression and self-doubt. Slowly, as he took a deep breath and mastered his emotions, he grabbed his sister's right hand at the wrist with both of his hands, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
"I understand, s-sis... I know well. The past can't be changed. But we can build a better future so that one day, when it becomes our past, we won't wish we could change it." He gently lowered his sister's hand and, with a determined expression, held Annika's right hand with both of his. "And about the last part of what you said. You're right... I don't know about you, but personally, I owe a lot to many people for my current situation. From you three to Mr. Itzal and Vazoreta and others. That's why, to show my gratitude and appreciation, I've added characters based on them and sometimes even with their names in recent editions of my stories..!"
Annika was very happy to see that her dear younger brother had reached such a level of mental maturity and understanding. Finally, this calf had grown into a cow, and she was alive to witness it with joy.
"I'm glad to hear these words from you, my dear little brother. Shall we go now? After two months, I've finally put on a dress."
Kelvin laughed at Annika's jest and agreed to her suggestion, and the two of them left the bedroom.
◦•●◉✿ P̘͎̀͊ă̶̸̝ͦ͊̿͋͞û̶͙̽̿͆̈s̩͙͖̋͛͟ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ ✿◉●•◦
*After leaving the mansion and getting into the car*
Alice sat in the front passenger seat while Annika, Kelvin, and Nadia sat in the back. Each of them wore formal attire for today's grand inauguration ceremony. The driver was also dressed in a formal black suit. Kelvin, seated by the right door, stared out the window.
"Ah... Nothing is more of a downer than seeing a clear blue sky from behind a window, three-fourths of it covered by skyscrapers, flying cars, and the electromagnetic shield around the city...!!!!!"
Annika, seated between Kelvin and Nadia, couldn't help but laugh softly at Kelvin's reaction. Nadia, as usual, remained silent. But to be fair, Kelvin was right. The era and time in which they lived were very advanced. Towering and sky-high buildings, some even floating above the ground. A bright blue dome-shaped shield emanated from the tallest tower in the city center, covering the entire city's sky. Numerous lines of flying and hovering vehicles were coming and going. Some, like Kelvin's car, moved on streets with embedded electric wiring that powered these electric cars directly through their wheels. Bridges continuously disconnected and reconnected to form new paths, a process that repeated every few minutes. Advanced equipped robots alongside security force officers in modern mechanical armor flew above the city area, patrolling.
"Greetings to you, dear citizens!!! Long live the Global Government! Today on our beautiful planet, E-3, we are witnessing a normal and ordinary day. Detailed information related to each city is as follows:
Then an image was displayed.
Date: 4235/08/15 A.D
City: Ecliptica
Weather Conditions:
- Air Temperature: 15°C
- Humidity: 50%
- Wind: Northeastern at 10 km/h
- Cloud Cover: Mostly clear
Weather Metrics:
- Outside Air Temperature: 14°C
- Inside Air Temperature: 20°C
- Outside Humidity: 45%
- Inside Humidity: 30%
- Outside Wind Speed: 10 km/h
- Inside Wind Speed: 5 km/h
Meanwhile, the car radio was turned on by the driver, first broadcasting the weather news, followed by various economic, social, political, and other news.
Eventually, after driving through numerous alleys, streets, and various routes, the car arrived in front of a large, modern, and luxurious building. Numerous hovercopters flew and patrolled above the building, and several mech-guards stood around it. First, the driver got out of the car without turning it off and went to open the passenger side door for Alice.
"Here you go, Lady Alice."
Alice, with a slightly tired and frustrated expression due to traffic caused by repairs to one of the electric circuits, got out of the car and stared at the back seats.
"Go get them out too, so we can go. Quick!"
"Yes, ma'am." Driver*
Alice walked ahead towards the large building without taking any guards or special personnel with her. Meanwhile, Kelvin, Annika, and Nadia also got out. Nadia thanked the driver, who returned her salute and went back to his seat, waiting in the car. Kelvin stared in awe at the parking area in front of the building's entrance.
"Wow...! I've never seen so many cars in the company parking lot!!"
"But Brother Kelvin, you rarely come to the company." Nadia*
Nadia, as usual, was logical and, again as usual, right. Annika laughed softly, took Kelvin's left hand with her right hand and Nadia's right hand with her left hand, and, in a surprising move, pushed them to walk with her behind Alice so they wouldn't lag too far behind.
"Now, instead of talking, let's hurry up. Your sister will get upset again."
Kelvin, who had been annoyed by Nadia's comment and wanted to respond, changed his mind after hearing his older sister's words and sighed.
"Sigh... You're right, sis. Let's go." Despite this, he still gave Nadia a dissatisfied and annoyed look before refocusing on the road ahead. "I'll come to the company more often from now on just because of that comment... -_-"
"Nadia eagerly awaits Brother Kelvin."
The parking lot was filled with various types of cars in different models, colors, and designs. Various people, from investors to government officials, were heading towards the entrance gate of the large company building with their attendants and guards. Although there wasn't a significant crowd, as Kelvin and the others arrived relatively late, most of the invited guests for the inauguration were already inside, and only the last few people were in the parking lot moving towards the entrance.
"Interesting, even high-ranking government officials are here..!"
It was fascinating to Kelvin that his father and uncle's new joint project had attracted so much attention that even important government officials, such as the Ministers of Defense, Communications and Information Technology, Interior, and Economy, were present at the inauguration ceremony.
"My dear brother, you shouldn't underestimate this project. Creating an artificial world is a significant and noteworthy undertaking."
Annika was right. The created device and system were a revolution and a bold step in the realm of technology and human capabilities.
Finally, after passing the guards at the entrance gate, the three of them entered a large and luxurious hall. The walls, ceiling, and interior environment were decorated in an aristocratic and formal manner using various artistic methods. Kelvin, amazed and curious, moved towards the entrance of the amphitheater hall where Alice was waiting, standing by the door, accompanied by Nadia and Annika. They eventually reached Alice.
"Finally, you arrived -_- No rush, huh? Want to take a trip to the beach first and have some fun before coming?"
Alice, as usual, was strict and serious, and spoke sarcastically. Of course, her sarcasm didn't affect the other three much. Annika just smiled gently, although it was clear that the large crowd made her anxious and distressed.
"Oh, come on, sister, don't get so upset over trivial matters like this. Okay, dear?"
"Senior sister Annika is right. We were only five minutes behind you, sister Alice."
"Yeah, what Annika and Nadia said."
Alice sighed and, after a brief argument and some shouting, got to the point. As usual, in a serious tone and with a stern face.
"Alright. Nadia, go to the control room. Your skills will be needed. After all, you were part of the project's programming team." She placed her right hand on Kelvin's left shoulder. "You come with me so we can get you ready!" She then turned to Annika. "Sister, you should go to the management room with Uncle Jackson. He didn't tell us what he needs you for, only that we should bring you. But I'm sure he needs you for something important, so go see what he wants."
Nadia nodded in agreement before the other two, said "Yes ma'am," and headed towards the spiral staircase at the left end of the hall. Annika, still harboring hidden anxiety and stress, snapped back to attention midway through Alice's words.
"Oh, Uncle? Oh, right. Okay, I'll go then. See you all."
Annika smiled kindly and calmly, though still anxious, as she spoke and headed towards the hallway on the right side of the hall.
In the end, only Kelvin and Alice remained. Alice, without asking or allowing Kelvin's input, grabbed her brother's left hand with her right and started walking towards the middle hallway on the left side of the hall.
"Lucky boy. You had no role in creating or advancing the project, yet in the end, your story is being used, and you get the chance to be the first official user after the beta testing and debugging phase! :/"
Kelvin chuckled softly as they walked past visitors, staff, and guards still in the hallway, then smirked slightly.
"Well, what can you do? After all, I'm their only son, unfortunately!"
Kelvin said this with a mischievous tone to tease Alice. Naturally, Alice got more annoyed, but eventually, she also smirked devilishly.
" Shut up -_- . It's just because Uncle doesn't want to pay for copyrights or make contracts with others and doesn't want any collaboration on his project with another team or group. Poor guy. Heh...! "
"Okay, no need to destroy me with whatever you have at hand, sister... :/ "
"Then don't talk back and just follow me. I don't want anyone we know or anyone else to see us and hold us up!! So move quickly, greeting people right now is a waste of time, and that's the worst thing that could happen right now!!!!"
At that exact moment, an elegant, beautiful, and calm noblewoman with a kind smile on her lips walked towards them from the opposite end of the hallway. She wore a beautiful formal dress. She had bright red eyes and long, smooth, straight red hair. Alice, upon seeing the woman, widened her eyes and became even more anxious and frightened than Annika had been a few minutes earlier. Her thoughts were spoken aloud unintentionally, and Kelvin heard them.
"No. No, no... Nooooo...!!!
Just now, when I said we didn't have time for greetings, this woman Jessie has to show up out of nowhere...!!!"
Alice quickly turned to Kelvin, who was shocked, and stared at him with a frightening look.
"You didn't hear anything, right???"
"Yes, absolutely, dear sister... But at least think a bit more clearly about her; she is one of the company's good investors and supporters after all... "
When Jessie reached Kelvin and Alice, she stopped, and naturally, they both stopped walking and stared back at her. Jessie was the first to speak, initiating the conversation with a dignified and friendly yet still formal tone.
"Hello, Ms. Anatemory. It's a pleasure to see you again."
Alice, trying her best to control herself and not say anything inappropriate out of nervousness, eventually composed herself and shook Jessie's hand.
"I am equally pleased to see you again, Ms. Bertarelli. Fortunately, the previous contract with Mr. Anatemory is still in place, correct?"
Alice managed to control herself successfully. Jessie, however, changed the subject and turned her attention to Kelvin.
"Yes, yes. Hmmm... " She stared at Kelvin with curiosity. "If you don't mind, I'm curious to know who this boy is, Ms. Anatemory."
Alice realized Jessie had changed the subject but didn't react and went along with it. Kelvin, at the same time, wondered why Jessie pretended not to know who he was.
"Oh yes, this boy is my younger brother Kelvin. You've heard more about him than seen him, which is natural since my brother doesn't come to the company as often as Nadia and I do." Alice*
Kelvin also understood the situation and decided to join the conversation. As always, in important, formal, and professional encounters, he chose a composed and formal demeanor with a dignified tone.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Bertarelli. My sister has often spoken highly of your kindness and generosity. I'm glad to finally meet you in person."
Upon hearing the siblings' words, Jessie pondered for a moment. *So, this boy is the genius researcher who gave up science at some point and became a writer. Well, it's not surprising given Nicholas's children. All three of them are geniuses in their own way. And their adopted daughter Nadia is the most unique among them, in my opinion.*
Eventually, Jessie snapped out of her thoughts and responded to Kelvin's comment, maintaining her usual polite and dignified tone and smile.
"That's very kind of you, Mr. Anatemory. I simply acted as one should in this professional relationship."
Alice, meanwhile, was constantly trying to find a way to quickly get rid of Jessie and take Kelvin to the preparation room for his first official test. Finally, she came up with a plan and adopted a serious and slightly anxious tone.
"Oh, I just remembered I saw your brother outside the company building looking for you. You should go to him quickly."
"What? My brother is here too? He didn't tell me. But why didn't he come inside? Does he need something from me?"
"I assume so. It's best you go to him quickly and not keep him waiting."
Jessie ran towards the hallway entrance, moving away from Kelvin and Alice.
"Thanks for letting me know. I'll see you soon!"
Alice sighed in frustration, grabbed Kelvin's hand again, and dragged him towards the preparation room.
"Let's go, enough time has been wasted. By now, I think Uncle's speech has already started."
"Okay, okay, just don't keep dragging me around!!! I can walk on my own!"
Eventually, Kelvin and Alice entered the preparation room. After a brief discussion with the preparation staff, they headed straight to the preparation room. In this room, similar to a makeup room but filled with various equipment and tools, Kelvin stood while Alice searched for the necessary items, checking boxes, shelves, and cabinets one by one.
"Well, it looks like your clothes are fine. What about tools and weapons? Do you need anything at all?"
Kelvin stood in front of the metal shelves and cabinets filled with various tools, listening to his sister while examining them. He carefully inspected each tool. From different types of weapons to various tools, everything could be found in this place. However, Kelvin didn't seem particularly interested in having any of them.
"Hmmm... well, no, I don't think I need anything. The management panel I'm taking with me is enough because it gives me all the access and abilities I need."
Alice seemed surprised. Apparently, she hadn't mentioned this so-called management panel to Kelvin.
"Wait, hold on. How do you know about this?"
"Hehe, well, of course, Dad told me last night. I'm supposed to carry a kind of chip that will change into its main form when I enter there, giving me a lot of power and authority. Like a god or something like that. So I don't need anything else!! Haha."
Alice sighed and glanced back at the tool shelf.
"Well, you know, it's better to be safe than sorry. At least take something. Either you take something, or I'll make you regret it, understand? -_- "
Kelvin didn't expect this and became a little flustered and anxious. His sister only threatened him like this over important matters, so this must be important too, but he hadn't realized its significance due to his carelessness and confusion.
"O-okay, okay, sister, calm down. No need for violence and stuff, okay, I'll take something to please you- I mean, to be a good brother who listens to his older sister..."
"Hmph..! Now hurry up and pick something!!! -_- "
"Okay, okay, got it..."
Carefully, Kelvin examined the available tools on the metal shelves. A question arose in his mind. Short-range or long-range? Offensive or defensive? After some time of observing the various tools, his eyes caught sight of a type of glowing blue sphere. Kelvin's curiosity and interest were piqued by this sphere.
"What's this sphere, this glowing sphere, sister?"
"Oh, this? It's a type of electromagnetic battery. It's not usable on its own and needs to be equipped on a special glove. When you activate the glove, it creates an electromagnetic wall, like a shield in front of it. So, you want to try this out, right?"
Kelvin agreed with his sister. Between offense and defense, he preferred defense and survival. So yes.
"Yeah, yeah. This is exactly what I want. Can you tell me where the glove is?"
"Here, it's on the other shelf. I'll show you."
◦•●◉✿ P̘͎̀͊ă̶̸̝ͦ͊̿͋͞û̶͙̽̿͆̈s̩͙͖̋͛͟ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ ✿◉●•◦
A room with numerous screens could be seen. These screens were attached to a wall, in front of which a desk and chair were placed. On the desk were two large computer monitors, each displaying streams of code comprising zeroes and ones and a specific type of language. Nadia sat in the chair with a cup of coffee in front of her. While holding the coffee cup with her right hand and drinking from it, she typed rapidly with her left hand without looking at the keyboard, her gaze fixed on the screen. Unlike the two monitors on the desk, the wall-mounted screens displayed footage from various cameras within the company building, each showing different areas. Alongside Nadia were three other individuals, seated on chairs next to her, all working, with one of them mainly focused on the wall-mounted screens.
"Have all the guests arrived?"
Nadia asked the person next to her while drinking coffee and staring at the screen.
"Yes, ma'am. With Ms. Annika's approval, we'll start as soon as the president begins his speech."
"Good... Be ready for the signal. We'll go live and set up security simultaneously."
All three responded in unison, "Yes, ma'am."
◦•●◉✿ P̘͎̀͊ă̶̸̝ͦ͊̿͋͞û̶͙̽̿͆̈s̩͙͖̋͛͟ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ ✿◉●•◦
Backstage in the amphitheater hall, many people were bustling about. Among them stood an elderly man with white hair and gray eyes, wearing a suit. A man to his right was attaching a wireless microphone to his clothes, while Annika stood to his left, speaking to him.
"Uncle, are you sure you don't need the speech script? Have you taken your daily pills? Should I get you a glass of water? Should I come on stage with you?"
The elderly man, now identified as Jackson Anatemory, chuckled kindly and gently.
"Haha, my dear niece. I appreciate your concern for me and the respect and value you have for me. But rest assured, Jackson isn't going to be taken down by old age anytime soon. I can go on for at least another ten years without any problems!"
Annika sighed softly with some concern. Yes, spirit is the most crucial factor in whether someone becomes incapacitated or not. However, the physical effects of aging are inevitable. Annika then smiled calmly, kindly, and dignifiedly.
"I understand, Uncle. I hope there were no misunderstandings. I was just worried, that's all. I know you're strong-willed and determined. Someone who won't leave the battlefield of life until they've achieved their goals and dreams."
"Well done, Annika. You've hit the nail on the head. It's like you read my mind and voiced my exact thoughts."
◦•●◉✿ P̘͎̀͊ă̶̸̝ͦ͊̿͋͞û̶͙̽̿͆̈s̩͙͖̋͛͟ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ ✿◉●•◦
The roof of the large company building came into view. Numerous hovercopters flew in the sky above the mansion. The camera zoomed in on the roof of the building, and among the exhaust and ventilation system outlets, a person could be seen sitting, barely noticeable. They wore a gray outfit matching the color of the chimneys, shaped like a hoodie. A black mask covered their entire face. In their right hand, they held a half-meter-long black metal rod pointed at the roof beneath them, emitting a red laser that was creating a circle on the surface.
◦•●◉✿ P̘͎̀͊ă̶̸̝ͦ͊̿͋͞û̶͙̽̿͆̈s̩͙͖̋͛͟ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ ✿◉●•◦
In the building's lobby, some distance from the amphitheater hall, a man sat at the bar. He had relatively long black hair, wore black glasses, and dressed in a formal suit with a cross necklace around his neck. The bartender approached him from behind the bar, stood before him, and smiled formally at him.
"Good afternoon, sir. What drink would you like?"
The man slowly took a cigar from his coat pocket and, holding it between his right index and middle fingers, pointed its tip at the bartender. His tone was slightly tired, serious, and unique.
"Light it... It's interesting that you didn't ask about me. Aren't you curious who I am, if I'm neither a guest in the amphitheater nor a guard? So who am I?"
The bartender calmly lit the man's cigar with a lighter and continued to stare at him with the same smile.
"That's an interesting question, sir. First, even on such a day, by the manager's order, the other activities of the company continue, and people other than the guests come here for various tasks. Secondly, in general, I shouldn't intrude on or pry into people's personal lives. If a customer is willing, they can share their life story with me, but I don't poke around on my own."
The man smiled faintly and took a puff of his cigar before removing it from his mouth again.
"Hmmm... Good for you, boy..."
"Then, could you please tell me what you'd like to drink?"
"I don't want anything special. Just a martini will do..."
◦•●◉✿ P̘͎̀͊ă̶̸̝ͦ͊̿͋͞û̶͙̽̿͆̈s̩͙͖̋͛͟ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ ✿◉●•◦
In the amphitheater hall, ministers, prominent investors, and first- and second-degree nobles were seated, among them Jessie. Behind the scenes, Annika wore a microphone headset.
"It started."
Nadia, on the other hand, received Annika's message while sitting at the control room desk and addressed the three other individuals.
"Alright. Let's start, everyone."
Back in the amphitheater hall, the red curtains suddenly drew back. The musicians softly played an introductory piece, and the projectors on the ceiling illuminated Jackson, standing right in the middle of the stage. Jackson bowed in a welcoming gesture towards the audience, who stood up, clapped for him, and then sat back down. Jackson finished his bow and, standing behind the fixed microphone stand, first cleared his throat and then began speaking. His tone was determined, energetic, and powerful, yet friendly and relaxed.
"I warmly welcome you, dear guests, and thank each and every one of you who are either direct or indirect friends and colleagues of mine for being present here today at this specific time and place. Without a doubt, I am sure that each of you, dear ministers, nobles, and investors, are aware of the reason for your presence, but not exactly. You all know that this humble self, Jackson Anatemory, the CEO of RCP, one of the fortunately reputable and well-known technology brands in today's world, intends to unveil and reveal one of the greatest discoveries, inventions, and controversial technologies of his company today! So please, honor me by staying with me until the end."
Then Jackson pointed to the large screen behind him, moved a bit to the left, and stepped away from the microphone stand, but not before detaching the microphone from its stand. The screen lit up and displayed an animated two-dimensional image of planet Earth in complete darkness.
"Earth! The planet where our generation began its epic and glorious history. We, humanity, have always strived for inevitable progress throughout history by utilizing the blessings of our mother, Earth. But unfortunately, this dear mother had finite blessings and resources, which eventually ran out. Fortunately, at that time, we had enough technology, knowledge, and resources to carry out one of the greatest and most astonishing acts in human history and prevent our extinction."
Alongside Earth on the screen, two other planets appeared, but these were metallic and robotic in nature.
"The creation and construction of not one, but two artificial planets! Of course, this endeavor reduced the remaining mineral reserves of humanity by seventy percent, ultimately forcing us to seek out other planets in this solar system. As we all know, not all of these planets are rocky and terrestrial; among them, we also have gas giants."
Then on the screen, the two metal Earths began to crack and melt.
"But unfortunately, due to changes in our beloved star, the Sun, the amount and intensity of powerful solar radiation have recently increased. These powerful electromagnetic waves are like EMPs and can disable electronic equipment. As a result, the two artificial Earths, masterpieces of technology and human civilization, have recently experienced technical malfunctions and shutdowns in their engines and management systems. With the increasing solar radiation, it doesn't matter how many more Earths we build; they are all electronic and will eventually fail. Moreover, it is not feasible and nearly impossible to move the entire human population to two Earth-sized planets in another solar system. So, we sought technology beyond the current capabilities of human civilization!"
A crack and fracture appeared in the darkness between the three planets, forming a portal.
"Teleportation, humanity's great dream and fantasy for the past three thousand years up to today!! It's an astonishing feat, but it will only be possible when humanity gains power and authority at a dimensional level. And guess what? We succeeded in conquering dimensions as well!!! By bending space by one hundred eighty degrees, we can place two points on top of each other and create a hole, allowing instant travel from one point to another, whereas moving between the two points on a flat sheet would require a long line!"
The entire audience was in shock and awe upon hearing Jackson's words. However, not all reactions were positive, and many whispered conversations took place among the attendees.
"But...!!!!"
All attention returned to Jackson.
"We aimed to catch an ordinary fish but ended up catching caviar!!! Thanks to the genius and persistent efforts of my brother Nicholas and his daughters Nadia and Alice Anatemory, we discovered a truth greater than we imagined. You've probably heard of the famous mathematical concept that between any two numbers, there are infinite decimals. We discovered something similar about dimensions. We realized that there's space between dimensions, like a sponge with dozens of holes between its surfaces. Dozens of dimensions. Between any two dimensions, there are many dimensions. However, unlike primary dimensions, these intermediate dimensions are devoid of matter. The laws of physics and nature in these dimensions are a fusion of the laws of the two worlds they exist between. These intermediate dimensions are even better suited for life than the primary ones. So we concluded, why teleport to another place within the same dimension..."
Then the screen displayed a new image entirely: a void that gradually filled with various metallic planets.
"When we have a vast, threat-free area for construction? And not just one area, but thousands...!
Since these spaces are between dimensions, they have a unique, peculiar existence—something between matter and non-matter, like a virtual world. They exist but lack physical form. This is not a problem; in fact, it's a positive aspect. Thanks to a secret technological advancement, we managed to merge the virtual and unreal nature of the digital world with the semi-real nature of intermediate dimensions due to their fundamental similarities. I'm sorry, but the method of achieving this seemingly impossible feat is confidential and cannot be disclosed."
Upon hearing this, a wave of negative feedback and many aggressive comments surged among the attendees. However, Jackson clapped his hands, regaining everyone's attention. Standing behind the microphone stand, he reattached the microphone to the stand, spread his arms, and spoke with pride and authority.
"Sometimes, it doesn't matter how or why; only the result matters!!! With this technology and this groundbreaking advancement, humanity will be able to elevate its existence beyond a three-dimensional material being!!!"
◦•●◉✿ P̘͎̀͊ă̶̸̝ͦ͊̿͋͞û̶͙̽̿͆̈s̩͙͖̋͛͟ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ ✿◉●•◦
In a room resembling a nuclear reactor control room, numerous men and women in white lab coats stood or sat, busy working with various systems and talking to one another. In the middle of this large room was a glass sphere, reachable via a few steps. The sphere was connected to the ceiling by metal rods and pipes, and beneath it was a metal floor like an elevator. Kelvin, Alice, and a man dressed like an astronaut stood together, staring at the sphere. The man was not wearing the helmet yet but had the rest of the suit on. Alice then looked at him.
"So, you understand? You'll go in first to verify the safety and security of the world on the other side. Then Kelvin, I, and a few other documentarians with cameras will enter so the audience in the hall can see."
The man stared at Alice with a formal, serious, and determined expression.
"Yes, ma'am! Although I was one of the key members of this project myself and am confident there's nothing dangerous on the other side. Besides, the designated area is safe according to Mr. Kelvin's statements."
"That's right, parts of that forest are truly safe. I still find it hard to believe that my father and uncle managed to achieve the technology and capabilities to do the work of gods. That is, creating a world. And, well, the world of the story I wrote is flawless in its ecosystem in every way. I wouldn't be surprised if they used it. Although, that means it's just the world's form like that, and my story's characters won't be present."
Alice looked at Kelvin with a slightly poker-faced expression.
"No, so you expect us to create living beings too? -_-
By simulating something like a small-scale Big Bang, we created a few planets and celestial bodies. Six planets, just like the six realms in your story. At least, that's what Uncle told me. Essentially, we just made the environment resemble that story because it has the ideal ecology and geology."
◦•●◉✿ P̘͎̀͊ă̶̸̝ͦ͊̿͋͞û̶͙̽̿͆̈s̩͙͖̋͛͟ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ ✿◉●•◦
Back to Jackson and the audience in the amphitheater hall. Jackson stepped aside, and the large screen behind him showed the environment of the room where the man, Kelvin, and Alice were present. Jackson was very eager and excited.
"In a few moments, for the first time, a connection between two worlds will be established. Although we have interacted with that dimension indirectly and shaped it with various algorithms, we've never entered it. So please...!!! Watch closely!!"
The scientists and researchers in the room checked the devices and systems one by one and finally activated the device. In an instant, the power for the entire city, continent, and planet except for the company building was cut off, and a faint white glow appeared in the center of the glass sphere. The man finally donned the astronaut helmet and walked toward the steps.
From Annika's perspective backstage in the amphitheater hall, nearing the end of Jackson's speech. Annika noticed that the live editing and real-time images captured in the hall by the cameras had stopped, and raw footage was being sent to news networks. She quickly contacted Nadia via the headset with a confused, astonished, and slightly anxious tone.
"Nadia, hey Nadia!! Nadia, why are the raw, unedited images suddenly showing on the TV I'm watching? Nadia, hey Nadia, why wasn't the final slide shown on TV? It's stuck on the scene of construction in the new dimension. Plus, why did the simultaneous translation suddenly stop? We didn't let the broadcasting organization handle the live broadcast just to show off our power and capabilities. So why has this big problem occurred now?? ... Nadia, why aren't you answering???"
◦•●◉✿ P̘͎̀͊ă̶̸̝ͦ͊̿͋͞û̶͙̽̿͆̈s̩͙͖̋͛͟ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ ✿◉●•◦
In the control room. Chairs were overturned, and equipment on the tables was scattered. The three individuals who were with Nadia lay on the floor beside the tables, with blood pouring from their necks. Nadia herself was slumped at the back of the room, sitting against the wall, with a hole in her midsection, her eyes open and tears streaming down her face as she died with a look full of sorrow and despair. Her headset lay in the middle of the room, and Annika's voice played from it until suddenly, a foot in navy trousers and black shoes stepped on it, crushing it...
﴾ The End ﴿