《Re: Life – Business & Technology》


 Chapter 1 - Prologue

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    It was near midnight, yet a bright light continued to glow towards a face with tired eyes.


    How did my life end up like this? Thought the young man named Vince Dalton wearily. He had been ordered to undertake an essential task due to recent mistakes by his upper management.


    Wrong budget estimations and impossible deadlines were the excuses provided to him. But, yet again, the success of his department''s project falls into his lap as the technical lead.


    [What an honor!] he sarcastically thought.


    Vince Dalton has been working for this software and network infrastructure consultation firm for a few years now.


    There was plenty of hope and determination in his heart after graduating from university at the age of 20, especially the guaranteed spot in this current company following a successful summer internship he participated in during his senior year.


    Three years have gone had passed. Most past worries such as stable jobs and income were close to gone yet were replaced with emptiness and exhaustion.


    [Life was no walk-in-the-park when I had to work a minimum wage job while pursuing a degree in both business and IT, and yet I felt more alive then than I do now.] Vince pondered.


    It was the rush of learning new skills and meeting new people that he remembered fondly. Then, year after year, working at a new company with more and more responsibilities gave him an environment where he could thrive.


    The increasing pay was good, but it didn''t dent the massive debt he accrued to finance schooling, but some pocket money was welcome.


    [I still remember the first time I ever built a computer of my personal desktop configuration. Months I endured saving money from performing menial jobs around our neighborhood to afford the basic components of a desktop computer.] He reminisced.


    The computer itself was for selfish purposes, such as playing online games with friends to escape the monotony of school. Still, that initial exposure to computer technology paved the way for his current skills and livelihood.


    "If I have the chance to go about my life differently and excitingly, I would gladly give my current life up to ensure I won''t stagnate as I was now. A life of fulfillment and progress is what I want instead of bailing out my department with blood, sweat, and tears over and over again. I swear it." He suddenly said out loud.


    [I''m going crazy. Good thing I''m the only one at the office tonight.] Vince thought embarrassingly.


    Suddenly, his computer screen became so blindingly bright that he had to shut his eyes. He found himself still sitting down in front of a computer screen the next moment, but he found it to be different.


    Vince looked around and saw a mid-tower desktop computer that seemed recently built to his left.


    The project he was working on was gone and replaced with a browser on the YouTube homepage. He glanced at the bottom right corner of his Windows operating system and stood up from surprise.


    ["It''s 2011?!"] he exclaimed in shock.


    EDITED


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 Chapter 2 - Mothers Love

    Vince Dalton was startled, to say the least. He felt like it was a dream, yet his surroundings were all too real.


    [Did I time travel ten years in the past? I''m not in my regular body and instead inside a 13-year-old version of myself. If not time travel, maybe reincarnation?] he pondered as he wracked his mind to understand what was happening.


    Vince looked into a mirror behind a closet and was stunned to see himself again as a young boy. His features were still mostly the same, with black hair and a not so muscular build. Skinny fat could be a better term to describe himself but not ugly by a decent margin.


    The sound of knocking brought Vince back to his senses and opened the door to welcome what he expected to be his mother, the only other person who lived in this tiny home. "Need anything, mom?" he nervously asked as he was still trying to gather himself.


    Her name was Leah Dalton, and she had the same black hair as Vince. She was beautiful, but the frailty took away from it. The sight of his mother invoked sad memories of the times he spent with her as her sickness had gotten worse and worse until she passed a month before high school graduation.


    Money was never in abundance in their home, but Leah worked hard every day to provide for the son she loved so very much. She had been widowed only a few years into her marriage; all the odds seemed to stack against her. In comparison, Vince''s gripes in life were much less burdensome than what his mother had to struggle with.


    By instinct, Vince hugged his mother Leah softly while holding back tears from coming. He was so happy to see her that the unexpected reincarnation plus time travel was currently of little importance. Leah was surprised by her son''s reaction but accepted the hug without question with a big smile on her face.


    "Did building your new computer make you this happy? I''m so proud of you for working hard around town and saving money. I would have preferred to give you one as a gift for your good grades, but you understand our situation. You are a smart boy, and I''m lucky to have a son like you." she said with love and care.


    "I''m the one who should be thankful to have a mom that''s as awesome as you!" he replied with all honesty and gratitude. "Look, mom! I just finished configuring the desktop computer after assembling it an hour earlier. It was my first time, so it took me a while, but the operating system is already installed and in working condition." he said proudly.


    "Great job, Vince!" she replied, but she didn''t understand the specifics of computers and electronic devices in general but knew how difficult it could be for a kid like Vince to do.


    "Alright, I''ll go and make some dinner and let you have some fun with that computer of yours but remember that bad grades will force me to confiscate this from you, do you understand?" she said sternly. "Of course, mom. I''d never let you down," he replied.


    She walked away towards the kitchen and left Vince to his enjoyment. This interaction lit the fire in his heart and brought him purpose. He remembered his thoughts before suddenly being reincarnated ten years in his past. Finally, it became clear to him.


    Vince would pour the need for excitement and fulfillment in his life towards his mother''s salvation and their family''s prosperity. A new path has been made available to him, and he was now determined to uphold his promise.


    He sat back down in front of his desk with plenty of thoughts and ideas whirling in his mind¡ªa few deep breaths taken to calm himself down.


    [It looks like only a web browser and the regular windows applications are currently installed, so I better install some valuable tools.] he thought.


    Vince opened a new tab on the web browser. He searched for a particular free application named PatchMyPC and was able to find the installer after a few clicks.


    [Wow! This application always made fresh operating system configurations much easier to perform. Lucky that the first version just came out a few months ago.] he thought.


    Vince went ahead and installed all the software he learned how to use and apply at university and the workplace.


    [Install a source code editor such as Eclipse IDE, Github desktop, CodePen, and other full-stack development software, which may take a while to download.] Vince thought.


    In his previous life, the first thing he would have downloaded and installed was a PC video game program called Steam to connect and play video games with friends, and so he went ahead and queued it up last for completeness.


    [I better prepare myself for the days to come, especially if I''m to achieve what I''ve set out to do with this second chance given to me.] he thought.


    After an hour, he ate dinner with Leah and was delighted to share a meal with her again.


    They talked and laughed throughout, and it gave made him feel pure joy and the eagerness to fulfill his promises.


    He turned the computer off after all the software tools had been downloaded and installed.


    There was still class tomorrow and a good night''s rest was a welcome idea considering the consecutive all-nighters he had to pull in an attempt to finish that cursed project, yet now it seems it was a blessing in disguise.


    EDITED


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 Chapter 3 - Back To School

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    Vince woke up the following day and found himself still in his small room with a look of relief.


    [That could have been a dream if I woke up in the office, but thankfully I wasn''t propelled back to the future.] he thought.


    Some change of clothes after a quick shower was his priority for the time being.


    His daily life would be drastically different now. It was challenging to remember how he would usually live as a 13-year old, but it would be only a matter of time to accustom himself to high school life.


    He would have to attend school as expected, but his ambitions grew overnight after confirming his situation, and money was the resource he lacked the most currently.


    Menial labor would not cut it, and there were few employment options for a minor like him. The classes wouldn''t be a problem, and Vince was sure he would do decently.


    [I can focus on finding and creating business opportunities for myself to gain the capital I need for my mother''s experimental treatment expenses and future ventures.] He pondered.


    On the bus to school, he found the usual seat he used and a friend he had not spoken to for a long time next to it. After graduating, keeping in touch with his high school friends and acquaintances was sadly too tricky for Vince, who worked so far away.


    He was swamped and engrossed in university and part-time work that Vince neglected his friendships, and he realized this was a chance to rid himself of that regret.


    "Hey, Kyle, are you still playing that mobile game? Jet-Pack Joyride, right?" Vince asked.


    "Yeah. I''m still trying to get the golden piggy pack. That shit is so expensive. It might take me a few more days to grind. What''s up with you?" Kyle asked.


    "I just finished building my desktop computer yesterday. It took me months of working simple jobs, but it was so worth it." Vince replied.


    "Whoa! You built it with separate components?" Kyle asked. "A few youtube tutorials and some documentation helped, but yes, I built it with off-the-shelf parts," he replied proudly.


    "That''s awesome, Vince! I didn''t know you were into computers like that. I admit. That seems much cooler than getting a golden piggy pack on Jet-Pack Joyride." Kyle said with a depressed sigh.


    "Creating something that works does feel satisfying. If you ever attempt it, let me know, and I''d gladly help." Vince replied honestly.


    "I''ll take you up on that offer in the future. Thank you." Kyle replied while closing the game on his phone and keeping it in his pocket.


    Kyle was a bright kid with a bit of ADHD and was always kind to Vince throughout high school. He got distracted quite quickly but was a force to be reckoned with when he put his mind to something.


    Kyle was interested in what Vince would share regarding his new computer as PC gaming was one of his favorite pastimes like many other kids his age, including Vince.


    "I''ll be able to play some Team Fortress 2 and Counter-Strike with you guys now with much better frame rates and do other things like developing software like video games and websites.", Vince mentioned.


    "I knew you would play some online games with us but developing websites? When did you ever get ideas like that?" Kyle asked.


    [It does sound out of left field showing interest in something like creating programs and applications, considering I didn''t decide on my career path until later in senior year. Better make an excuse fast] Vince thought.


    "I found some tutorials online while I was building my computer yesterday, and they piqued my interest. So I bookmarked them, but I haven''t done any major developing yet." Vince replied.


    "You''ll get a leg up on us when the new school year starts. HTML will be one of our classes next year. So I''ll have to lean on you when the going gets tough." Kyle said.


    "I''ll help as much as I can, Kyle. Don''t worry." Vince replied.


    The bus stopped in front of South Main High School. All the students started to get off the bus and start their school day. Vince went directly to his class after saying goodbye to Kyle.


    They were neighbors but didn''t share homeroom. Kyle looked at Vince as he was walking away.


    [Whatever Vince is doing seems more interesting than just playing video games in my free time,] Kyle pondered while walking towards his locker.


    It took Vince a few minutes to find his homeroom before sitting near the door. He then prepared himself for his first day back in high school.


    A woman in her late twenties walked into the room named Taylor Miller, or Ms. Miller as we called her. She was a brilliant and kind middle school math teacher who facilitated Vince''s homeroom.


    [She balanced kindness and strictness, and I always respected her professionalism.] Vince thought.


    "We will be counting attendance in a minute." Ms. Miller said in a sweet yet commanding tone.


    Taylor took attendance, and the classes after were the usual. Vince found himself in the cafeteria during the lunch break and sat at the usual spot after getting his food. Soon Kyle and a familiar girl sat around him.


    Her name was Jessica, and she was part of their friend group.


    "Where are the others?" Vince asked.


    "I saw them behind us at the line. They should be here soon." Kyle replied.


    "Jessica, ask Vince what he did yesterday," Kyle said excitedly.


    Vince retold his experience of building the new computer to Jessica casually.


    "Don''t get too full of yourself by building a computer. I can probably do it too if I followed those tutorials you mentioned." She said jokingly.


    "I believe you, Jessica, I know you''re smart, and I wouldn''t let such a thing affect my ego.", Vince replied with his banter.


    Both laughed out loud while Vince reminisced about the simple days he experienced during middle and high school.


    Two other people sat around them. One was a boy named Rick and the second, a girl named Sarah. They all greeted each other and started eating.


    They spent some time chatting amongst each other while eating lunch. The group parted ways after, and Vince found himself taking the day easy.


    He boarded the bus with Kyle on the way back home and received some rather rigorous inquiries from Kyle regarding software development which surprised him.


    [I didn''t expect this from Kyle. But I need allies, so I might as well get him on my side.] Vince pondered.


    He ate dinner with his mother and found himself even more determined each time he spent with her. A new day awaits, but Vince knows his plans for the future will have to be set in motion soon.


    EDITED


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 Chapter 4 - Flappy Bird Imitation

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    The first weekend of Vince''s reincarnation arrived, and he decided to invite Kyle to his home.


    He asked Kyle to bring his laptop, but Kyle already had that in mind; probably to play some online game.


    After eating breakfast, Kyle entered through the front door with an excited smile on his face.


    Vince assumed he was hyped to play some video games but was surprised to see him more interested in his new computer.


    "How many components did you need to build this thing. It''s a fair larger than the desktop computers I normally see." Kyle asked inquisitively.


    "The case or chassis will dictate how large a computer will be. A larger chassis like this will allow more and larger components. A motherboard will follow the standard of the case itself. This one uses the ATX standard and a decent current-generation Intel Core i5 processor.


    Two other vital components are needed to start the machine and enable access to the software programs within the components. These two are the RAM sticks, 16 GB in total. And finally, the power supply for obvious reasons." Vince explained nonchalantly.


    Kyle was amazed by the detailed explanation presented to him.


    "How do you know so much about computers? This was your first time building a computer, right?" Kyle asked.


    "I studied the components before I bought them while saving up the money. You can also say I watch too much Linus Tech Tips on YouTube." Vince jokingly replied.


    Vince knew he was heavily invested in learning more about this topic based on Kyle''s look in his eyes.


    "What are all these applications I see on your desktop. I can recognize Steam and Chrome, but the others I haven''t seen yet." Kyle asked in excitement.


    Vince explained each application for about an hour, and Kyle was still on the edge of his seat.


    [He''s so excited about this; it''s offputting.] Vince thought.


    "You mentioned that one can use the Eclipse program to write programs and games. Is it hard to make games?" Kyle asked.


    "It''s tough to make games like Skyrim that''s coming out soon. It takes hundreds, if not thousands, of collaborators for something like that, but there are exceptions like a straightforward game on mobile. One skilled person can a make a game, but of course, more people will reduce the development time." Vince replied.


    "Have you learned anything like creating mobile games with those YouTube tutorials you bookmarked the other day?" Kyle asked. "You can say that," Vince replied with a smile.


    "How about this? We can skip the gaming for today, and I can show you some of the things I''ve learned." Vince asked.


    "Please! Yes, please!" Kyle said as he nodded with vigor.


    Vince opened Eclipse IDE and wrote some lines as a force of habit. He wanted to show Kyle the basics of mobile game development and had the perfect example project to start. Flappy Bird.


    It''s a throwback to a time when going viral was still a novelty. Many aspiring game developers start their journey by writing a clone of Flappy Bird.


    It was an infamous game that went viral a few months after its release. It was a relatively simple game with only one input, touching the screen.


    Millions of people played the game, but it never reached the peak it had the potential to achieve because the developer took it down the App Store due to personal concerns.


    Vince explained what the code he wrote meant, primarily as a template with certain functions related to how Flappy Bird played.


    "See this line right here? It controls the object based on input from the user. I''ll make this object jump and hover similar to how Jet-Pack Joyride works but with fewer frills, of course." Vince said.


    He explained the parameters and the other lines of code they were working on designing. Then, Vince decided to change the static object mesh and downloaded a chicken image file and stuff like fences and ceiling beams.


    He organized them all within the project folder and imported them into Eclipse. The sample project turned from barebones to looking like a video game people would play during their downtime. Kyle was amazed again by what Vince created in a matter of hours.


    [It would be so epic to make my own game with my ideas. I should start reading and watching those tutorials soon to create games quick and easy.] Kyle thought.


    Vince finished the game he called ''Wingin'' Chicken'' a few moments later. It was a game that worked exactly like Flappy Bird.


    The objective was to maintain the chicken''s flight using the mobile device''s touchpad.


    The chicken needed to avoid fences on the ground and other impediments. It gets harder and harder with more speed and obstacles until the chicken dies.


    Vince programmed it so that after 1 hour of flight time (which is an absurd amount of time), the chicken will spontaneously combust with a stormtrooper death sound effect.


    The sound effect would be the only easter egg Vince would include in the final version.


    Kyle played it for a bit on the simulated mobile screen on my computer and was having a blast.


    [It seems it wasn''t the game itself that made him like this but the idea that we created it together just in the past few hours.] Vince thought.


    He told Kyle the game would be uploaded to the iOS App Store and the Android Play Store eventually after a few crucial changes needed to be made. Kyle wondered what other features would be added to the game, but Vince reassured him that the gameplay would stay true to what they''ve created.


    Vince bade farewell to Kyle as the day was starting to darken. Kyle was amped up after gathering all the resources recommended to him by Vince that he will no doubt excitedly study.


    [This strategy is perfect. How did I not think of this sooner? Using platforms as a service like the App Store is the best option I have currently. They provide the hardware infrastructure, and I create the quality product. I only have to add features like personal accounts via social media accounts and a leaderboard. A cash shop would be amazing, but that would entail a bunch of red tape I couldn''t deal with at the moment.] So Vince thought after spending some time with Leah.


    He spent the entirety of the next day finalizing the game, and Vince uploaded it for review. It was already available to download the very next day.


    EDITED


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 Chapter 5 - My Popular Mobile Game

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    [I don''t expect to see Wingin'' Chicken atop the download charts anytime soon. I''m just glad to be somewhat productive in my first week of whatever it was that brought me back ten years into my past.] So Vince thought as he was getting on the bus.


    He sat down next to Kyle like usual and told him about the recent publication of Wingin'' Chicken on the various mobile platforms.


    "I was surprised that the review process didn''t take too long," Vince said. Then, he offered his mobile phone to Kyle to test out version 1.0 and asked what he thought about the final product.


    "I can make an account now? There''s a leaderboard too? It looks like the top 100 scores have already been set." Kyle mentioned.


    [It seems plenty of people are already playing it though it''s only been a few hours since it was released to the public.] Vince thought.


    "These ads are kinda annoying," Kyle said with a disappointed look.


    "I placed them at the borders to avoid blocking the view of the game," Vince replied.


    [Ads are currently the only way to make money off this game with little hassle.] Vince thought.


    "Don''t worry. If you like it that much, I can grant your account full access to the game without ads. Are you happy?" Vince asked.


    "You can do that? Yes, please." Kyle replied.


    "It''s one of the reasons why I added the personal account system in the game. I plan to sell a premium version through the personal accounts system in the future. I can explain how I did it and the features it provides when we have time later at lunch." Vince stated.


    His friend continued to play the game amusingly with an odd fire in his eyes.


    [I''ll definitely be able to create games in the future. The all too familiar feeling is in the back of my mind, nudging me to achieve this goal. I''m so lucky to have an accommodating friend like Vince who''s patient enough to teach me.] Kyle pondered.


    Vince attended homeroom again, but he noticed Ms. Miller was a bit off today. She did everything as usual, but her face was slightly sadder than her typical stern look.


    He noted that as he left the room and went on his day like always. The cafeteria was busier than usual. Students using their phones during lunchtime wasn''t rare, yet many more were engaged and focused on their phone screens.


    While waiting in line for food, he overheard a group of students from further back the line discussing a new mobile game that had just been released.


    [The middle schooler mentioned finding the game on the Facebook recommended tab, so I guess utilizing the social media APIs in the game was noticed by an algorithm and actively recommended my game on Facebook. I think it would be a win for them if all games actively included the Facebook platform as an option for more exposure] So Vince thought.


    "The game is so simple, but that''s why it''s fun. Look, I''m already within the top 50 of the leaderboard!" the girl declared.


    "It''s fun, I admit, but these damn ads are too much. It defeats the purpose of buying a mobile phone with a larger display if the ads consume half the real estate." the boy replied.


    [Is the ad thing is really a big problem? I bet I could generate more revenue from the amount of ad screen time than selling the game itself by the nominal going rate nowadays, which would be around $5. Though I''m not too much of a greedy person, I need the capital for my future expenditures, and I''ll not let this golden egg turn into a silver egg suddenly.] Vince thought.


    He would need to read the reviews and process all the constructive ones before introducing a new version.


    He found Kyle, Jessica, Rick, and Sarah already at the table eating while talking in between.


    Vince sat at the table, and three of them gazed at him with curiosity. Sarah was the first one to ask him about Wingin'' Chicken. Kyle provided a surface-level explanation when he first brought it up with them, but he suggested asking Vince instead.


    They asked questions one by one, and he answered them concisely. Jessica showed interest in the technical side similar to Kyle. Still, Rick and Sarah were interested in the game''s aesthetic, like the continuously looping barn background where the chicken was trapped.


    Vince knew that they both shared a passion for the arts and would often join art competitions to try and defeat each other.


    They would beat all the other participants, though, that''s for sure.


    Soon, most people at school would learn that one particular middle school student made the game people were playing crazily. But, of course, this information would come by boasts from his dear friends.


    On his way back to the bus, Vince saw a group of senior high school students walking towards him. Rugged was the word to describe their group, but the student leading them was even more ridiculous.


    The kid looked like Mike Tyson on fight day with similarly short hair to boot. He clearly wanted to speak to Vince, and he complied without question or doubt. Maybe a bit of fear in there.


    "Hey, You Vince Dalton?" the big guy asked.


    "Yes, I am. Glad to meet you. May I know your name?" Vince replied. "Tom Fury. I don''t want to waste time. Did you make this game? Wingin'' Chicken?" Tom asked. Tom seemed like an amiable person, so Vince replied with honesty.


    "Yes, I did. Do you like it, Tom?" Vince inquired.


    "Like it? Like it?! I love it! This game is simple and doesn''t waste too much time playing. So, after a few attempts here and there, I am off to doing my reps. But I do have some issues with it. My hands and fingers are so large that I would accidentally touch the ads and the game pauses until I close them manually." Tom declared.


    "I''m glad you like my game, Tom. This game connected us when there was practically no chance of us ever meeting each other, and because of this sentiment, I''ll grant you access to an ad-free version of the game as soon as I''m able. No one that has downloaded the game has access to the ad-free version yet, and you''ll be the first." Vince exclaimed with confidence.


    [Having a massive guy like Tom as an ally would only be beneficial to me.] Vince thought.


    Tom looked at him and looked at his friends behind him. Then, Tom suddenly had a huge smile on his face and said, "This is a true brother! Right guys?"


    "Hell yeah!" the others replied loudly.


    "These are my account details and my contact info as well. Let me know if you plan on getting in better shape. We train well at my family''s gym. You''re welcome whenever.", Tom said before leaving with his crew.


    [What an eventful day,] Vince thought.


    EDITED


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 Chapter 6 - New Lawyer For A New Business

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    Vince spent the rest of his day on homework and updating Wingin'' Chicken. He granted premium access to all his friend''s accounts via the platform APIs. While he was working on the game, he noticed the top post on the Reddit homepage was about Wingin'' Chicken.


    Most of the comments were memes you would typically see on Facebook and Twitter. It seems like the game is already making its'' rounds across social media platforms.


    [It will take more than a month for any revenue to be paid out but I should start looking for some legal counsel to protect my golden egg.] Vince thought.


    His experience leading a vital team in his previous life demanded more than just technical and social skills. He was well aware of the need to conform to government standards and following protocol especially when revenue is at stake. Luckily his mother worked as a secretary at a medium-sized law firm.


    She performed secretarial duties for one of the senior partners. I will bring it up during dinner. Hopefully, mom can connect me to one of the higher-ups because I would require more billable hours in the future for other, bigger projects I have in mind. I would have to bring out my charismatic side to distract from the fact I''m but a 13-year old kid. Vince pondered.


    After dinner, he brought the subject up to his mother. "Mom, I have something important to ask you about legal advice." "Ask away, dear" she replied curiously.


    "Kyle and I created this mobile game last weekend instead of playing online games. I polished it before publishing it on the mobile app stores. The game is already within the top 10 most downloaded apps and revenue will be paid out a month from now. It''s a lot of money, mom." he said as he handed her a mobile device to play the game for a while.


    "So this is what you''ve been up to with that new computer of yours. I''m so proud of you for being so creative. A lot of money, you say? How much is a lot?" she asked. Leah did not know the revenue potential of popular apps so she assumed it would be a few hundred dollars at most but she was still very happy for her son. "Around $50,000, mom" he added.


    She was surprised the game could make that much money. It was about the same as her own income per year. "That IS a lot of money, son. I understand now why you would need some legal counsel." Leah said. [She learned the basics of law from working at the law firm for years now. The taxes alone would be a headache], she thought. "Mom, that it is $50,000 per day" he added.


    She was stunned to hear about the new piece of information added by Vince. "I''ll talk to my boss about this new venture of yours. It seems you would need a lawyer on retainer for something as profitable as this" she said after running out of words to say due to shock.


    [They lived in a decent neighborhood and yet she knew no one that made $1.5 million a month. Even the top lawyers at the law firm she worked at didn''t make that kind of money. The original creator of Flappy Bird averaged that amount of revenue every day until it was removed from the app store,] Vince thought.


    [Money not yet earned cannot be spent. I will have to wait until the money reaches me before I can tell mom she will not have to worry about her medical bills anymore.] Vince thought.


    He went about his week as a student would normally do and it took only a few days for Wingin'' Chicken to reach the top 1 on the most downloaded lists.


    It took months before the original Flappy Bird went viral but the added exposure from social media outlets did wonders for its current popularity.


    [I''ll add the cash shop once an agreement has been made with the lawyers,] he thought.


    Sarah and Rick showed him some of their artwork such as a different background and unique chicken avatars. Vince suggested Sarah and Rick dabble in VFX and 3D modeling.


    They showed interest in learning new art forms but they didn''t have the necessary hardware to learn on. Graphics-accelerated programs like Autodesk Maya required powerful graphics cards to drive and operate smoothly.


    Even Vince''s new computer doesn''t have a graphics card yet. Tutorials and documentation were the only current option for both his friends.


    Jessica was trying to catch up with Vince and Kyle in programming.


    She was making great progress since we talked about programming during lunch break a week ago considering she hasn''t asked Vince for advice other than a few exceptions.


    It was the weekend when a lady that looked like a lawyer walked into their small house wearing professional attire. Leah introduced Vince to Marcia Kemp, attorney-at-law. Ms. Kemp for short.


    She looked like a fine lady in her early thirties and had an inquisitive look when they shook hands.


    "Your mother told me about that game you made with your friend. Wingin'' Chicken if a recall correctly. The services of myself and the firm are very expensive. You haven''t made any money yet from your game but I looked into it a few days ago when your mother mentioned it to me.


    The partners at the law firm are experienced in dealing with emerging markets like this and are willing to represent you for no cost until we see your first payout.


    We can negotiate the new terms after the initial payment. I already discussed this with your mother and she knows my terms are favorable. There is no need to waste money on a venture that may or may not pay handsomely. I assume you agree?" Ms. Kemp asked softly.


    "Where do we sign?" he asked excitedly. Ms. Kemp opened her leather document case, procured a few sheets of paper from within, and placed them on the table.


    It stated the initial terms of his new business that will be set up and represented by the Lewis-Jacobs law firm. The business name was blank and assumed it was his decision to name the business. He wrote Future Technologies on the blank space and signed his name at the bottom. His mother co-signed the document as his legal guardian.


    His mother provided access to a new bank account set up for this business to Ms. Kemp. The law firm worked closely with a fairly large accounting firm which was part of the deal. "Ms. Kemp, Thank you for giving us this opportunity, free of charge. Your firm won''t regret it!", Vince declared. "You better hope so" she replied with a smile.


    "Ms. Kemp, I would like to add more monetization in the game. I assume your team will be able to handle all the necessary procedures?" Vince asked.


    "You''ve thought this out thoroughly. I''m surprised you''re aware of these small intricacies in business. Of course, more potential revenue is welcome. You will have to update our team on the following patches you plan on pushing. This is a business email address you can send the information to.


    You''re a talented kid and I would assume you have more products in mind for the future. Let us discuss this at a later time." she replied. Leah and Vince bade their farewells before Ms. Kemp left to enjoy the rest of her Saturday.


    [Things are shaping up now,] Vince thought.


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 Chapter 7 - Bitcoin Strategy

    Vince can take advantage of his years of experience honing his software development and hardware infrastructure craft, but his very eager friends do not have the same luxury.


    Kyle and Jessica were free to explore the basics of programming using their regular school-issued laptops. Still, Rick and Sarah struggle to practice 3D modeling and visual effects on Blender without hardware.


    They were excited when Vince recommended Blender, a free and open-source 3D graphics toolset. But, unfortunately, performance on the laptops was less than ideal. Even Vince''s computer didn''t have a graphics card to facilitate the 3D processing.


    [I need some cash to support my friends quickly. Waiting for the first payout a month from now will be too long, and I want them to succeed based on their motivation. The addition of regular microtransactions in Wingin'' Chicken will eventually come, but that doesn''t fix my cash flow issues currently,] he thought.


    Vince sank deeply in thought, attempting to figure out a solution.


    He was in his element and knew an idea would pop up sooner than later. Then he was compelled to open a new tab in the browser, and Google searched for Bitcoin Market.


    Vince remembered that the first cryptocurrency exchange should have gone live in 2010 and planned to open an account. However, he was surprised to find how easy setting up an account on the platform was, probably because Bitcoin was still in its infancy stage.


    The price of Bitcoin currently in 2011 was hovering around $1 = 1 BTC. An incredibly low exchange rate compared to its value in 2021 averaged $55,000 = 1 BTC with some intense volatility.


    After installation, Vince downloaded the current version of the Bitcoin SDK (software developer kit) and immediately created his own personal Bitcoin wallet.


    He knew the safest way to store Bitcoin was to save them within the blockchain itself and not trust the public cryptocurrency exchanges.


    He connected his Satoshi wallet to the Bitcoin Market Exchange with a separate key and stored the primary key (a string of numbers and letters) within a flash drive as a document file.


    Vince will store the flash drive in his mom''s safe with a printed version in case the document file becomes corrupted.


    Vince worked on adding the cash shop to Wingin'' Chicken which was technically challenging but not impossible. He used the Satoshi wallet deposit key as the account that will accept the payment and wrote the additional scripts to ensure the validation of the payment process.


    He opted to use a subscription model like World of Warcraft for the premium access payment structure.


    An account can avail premium status that removes all ads and provides 50% more coins earned while playing to allow users to buy the in-game items.


    These coins can also be bought using Bitcoin and are perfect for consumer whales that love buying all the available upgrades and in-game items with real money.


    Bitcoin was technically a commodity instead of currency; therefore, it was not protected and scrutinized like dollars and securities were.


    Cryptocurrency hasn''t made a big splash yet, and the latest news of a person buying something with Bitcoin was for two Papa John''s pizzas for 10,000 BTC.


    Nobody cared enough yet, and this was the perfect opportunity to make some quick cash by selling some BTC on the Bitcoin Market Exchange and hoarding most of it for use in the future.


    [This update will be huge, and though I am pretty good, it may take a week to finalize version 1.1 of Wingin'' Chicken,] he thought.


    It took him two days to finish the update, surprisingly. After that, Sarah and Rick provided more work to add to the cash shop and even designed the new menus, which freed Vince to focus on the payment processing implementation.


    He appreciated his friends'' work and assured them they would be compensated handsomely, which surprised them.


    [Based on their reaction, it seems they only want their art to be used and admired by people and players.] So Vince pondered while working on the update.


    This mobile game will expose millions of people to their art and be proud of it. They will still get compensation, though, and the same with Kyle.


    [Jessica has been too busy with her own personal project and hadn''t helped much with Wingin'' Chicken. I wonder what it would be,] he thought.


    The update was submitted on Tuesday night for review and would most likely take a day or two.


    The game now had a premium subscription for only 2 BTC per month. In addition, players can buy all the upgrades for a total of 100 BTC worth of in-game coins.


    Many new avatars and backgrounds were made available. Vince didn''t expect the game to be prevalent forever, but the past week''s popularity was enough to get started.


    Kyle mentioned creating a simple game during his free time to Vince on the way to school after thanking him for the free account upgrade in Wingin'' Chicken. It was mostly for bragging rights because I added a unique frame around his avatar.


    Vince did the same for his other friends, including Tom. Unfortunately, the update just went live when Vince woke up for school, so most people haven''t had the chance to buy the in-game items yet.


    He currently has millions of users and is estimated to make at least a few hundred thousand BTC by the end month.


    The new premium subscription will reduce the ad revenue by a large margin. Still, it was worth it especially considering Vince won''t have to pay taxes for the entire sum of Bitcoin he collects. Only the transactions on the Exchange will be subject to taxation when the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) decides to knock on Vince''s door.


    [The ad money will still be handy for liquidity and the considerable expenses my new business incurs such as legal fees,] he thought.


    Vince notified Ms. Kemp of the changes, including the Bitcoin functionality.


    He asked her team to check the legal ramifications of this addition to the app, but he knew it was technically bartering instead of a typical transaction.


    It was a regular day at the Bitcoin Market Exchange headquarters led by its'' creator, DWDollar. It was a relatively small team of five people working out of a Silicon Valley house in the suburbs.


    The exchange didn''t facilitate too many transactions to be busy often, but suddenly their website went down. The lead security manager of the team was stunned. He was frantically checking the various real-time logging tools available to him.


    [It didn''t go down because of a DDOS attack (direct denial of service) because there are too many unique IP addresses attempting to connect to the website. It seems like the sheer amount of users connecting was the cause of this,] he thought.


    "Boss, we need more servers to facilitate all this web traffic," he said to DWDollar.


    "It''s going to be expensive, but I believe we''ll make more money than ever before," Dollar replied confidently.


    "How can you be so sure, boss?" the security lead asked.


    "I was just on Reddit before the site went down. The top post is about that popular game Wingin'' Chicken adding a cash shop. But, fortunately for us, the game only accepts Bitcoin instead of the typical payment methods." he replied with a grin.


    The company reached out to local service providers to improve their networking capabilities. It took about an hour for the website to go live again, but it can now handle all the incoming requests from avid mobile gamers.


    EDITED


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 Chapter 8 - Cash Money

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    Chapter 8 - Cash Money


    Vince was the first to get lunch and sat down at the usual table. Jessica arrived a few moments later and had a vibrant aura around her.


    "Vince, I just finished a project I''ve been working on the past two weeks," she said.


    "Alright, do you mind showing me what you''ve been up to?" he replied.


    She sent a hyperlink to him via MMS and sat down to eat her food without further explanation. Vince clicked on the link and directed him to a nicely crafted and designed website with stock images.


    [Jessica must have spent plenty of time learning about CSS to design a website that looks as good as this one. It even looks nice on mobile, which takes double the effort.] He thought.


    "This website is well thought out and functional. The stock images fit well, and the website itself is responsive.", Vince commented.


    "It''s hosted on GitHub pages right now as it''s only a prototype and mainly for practice, but I still have to learn how to deploy the website effectively when I do decide to publish.", she stated.


    "This is amazing work for the amount of time you''ve spent. I can give you something to work on for fair compensation if you''re interested.", Vince proposed.


    "You would be paying me to create a website?" she asked with an unbelieving look.


    "You might not believe me, but I signed a deal to create a company with a law firm that would represent my interests. My mother worked at Lewis-Jacobs as a secretary and connected me with one of the senior partners.


    I''ll be offering the same thing to the others for the work they''ve put in Wingin'' Chicken, the first of many products that Future Technologies will create." he declared.


    "If that''s the case, then I''ll accept.", she replied with excitement.


    The others arrived, and Vince mentioned the same offer to them.


    They were all surprised and decided to ask their parents for permission.


    Tom arrived with his friends to thank Vince for the special access he was granted on Wingin'' Chicken and reminded him to stop by his family''s gym.


    Vince returned home and immediately checked his satoshi wallet balance and found around 2.5 million BTC.


    [It seems like a large portion of players decided to pay for premium access considering it cost only $2 or even less depending on listing prices,] he thought. He then checked the exchange chart out of curiosity and found that Bitcoin rose to $2 = 1 BTC.


    The price of Bitcoin doubled overnight and looked to continue rising.


    [I should have expected a rise in Bitcoin prices, but I wouldn''t have been able to take advantage without liquid capital, anyways.] Vince pondered


    He listed only 100,000 BTC to be sold on the exchange and quickly received $200,000 in his account. He notified Ms. Kemp regarding the newly acquired cash he wanted to withdraw.


    Vince mentioned paying for the current billable hours the law firm spent setting up his business with the cash and kindly instructed for a smooth withdrawal from the business bank account. The law firm will have to deal with any procedures required to procure the cash.


    Vince received a reply with the business bank account information an hour later.


    [Good thing school ends before typical work hours,] he thought.


    He logged into the bank portal and found an available balance of $150,000. This law firm is expensive. It cost $50,000 already. A receipt showed bills from Lewis-Jacobs and the accounting firm that handles Vince''s accounts, the local Deloitte branch in Austin, Texas.


    Vince replied with a message of gratitude and mentioned his plans to employ his friends who have helped develop Wingin'' Chicken.


    Ms. Kemp''s secretary replied with a confirmation.


    The paperwork was being prepared for signing. Vince ate dinner with Leah and talked about undergoing experimental treatment for her condition. He reassured her that cost would not be an issue in the future. Unfortunately, they cannot afford the entirety of the treatment right now, but Vince was confident they will eventually.


    He could also sell some Bitcoin if they required more liquid cash.


    "Thank you, my boy. I''ll be strong and endure the treatment to watch you grow up and achieve more success.", she said lovingly.


    Vince spent the rest of the night doing homework and playing online games with his buddies. Further plans can wait until tomorrow.


    [Today is a good day worthy of relaxation,] he thought.


    Most of the student body knew who the mastermind of the new viral game was. Of course, Vince didn''t become super popular or anything, but he did gain the respect of his peers.


    His homeroom teacher approached him before heading to his first class. "Vince, I heard you made that game everybody is playing. My 5-year old son loves it and shows me his top scores all the time.", she said.


    "I''m glad your son likes it, Ms. Miller.", he replied.


    "My son means the world to me, and seeing him happy makes me happy." she declared.


    "Please give me your son''s account details, and I''ll grant him premium access and all the in-game items when you have the time.", he said.


    Ms. Miller happily accepted the friendly gesture.


    Her son used her account to play Wingin'' Chicken and gave him her email address. They parted ways, and Vince continued on his day.


    He discussed the employment proposal with his friends during their lunch break. Vince gave them Ms. Kemp''s office contact details for their parents.


    He started formulating some short-term projects they would work on as soon as he got home. But, first, he ordered a complete set of production-grade computer components and peripherals like multiple displays to enhance his friends'' productivity.


    He didn''t skimp on any of the components, including the latest Nvidia Quadro graphics cards.


    [Sarah and Rick will love this,] he thought.


    Vince waited until the end of the week for everything to be delivered to each of his friends'' houses.


    He spent the entire weekend building and configuring each setup while taking the time to teach his friends his PC building process.


    The following week, The school''s principal summoned Vince to discuss his recent success with the viral mobile game that people have recently been playing.


    "Vince Dalton, you are needed at the principal''s office now." the school speakers blurted twice.


    Ms. Miller dismissed her student from class and allowed Vince to move towards the principal''s office.


    "Good day, Principal Keaton. What can I do for you?" Vince stated after entering the room.


    "Welcome, Vince. Please take a seat. I''ve heard from the teachers and students about your personal software project. I congratulate you for your early success, and our school is honored to have such a young, enterprising, and diligent student like yourself." Keaton stated kindly.


    "Thank you for the praise, Mr. Keaton," Vince replied plainly, trying not to raise any suspicions.


    "Though I do wonder how you were able to develop such a popular game like Wingin'' Chicken. You won''t be attending the computer science classes until next year if I recall." Mr. Keaton said curiously.


    Vince started sweating a little bit because of nervousness and thought of an excuse on the spot.


    "That''s true, but I''ve been interested in technology development ever since I decided to buy my first computer. I spent hundreds of hours doing research and reading online about the things I could do if I had access to a computer." Vince replied anxiously.


    "Oh really? Could you share some of the resources you''ve learned from so that we could apply them to your peers here at South Main?" Mr. Keaton asked.


    "What got me started with my advanced studies was a fascinating and information-heavy lecture series on YouTube called CS50, created by the Harvard Computer Science professors. It has everything a student needs to start their journeys in IT, such as general modern tech concepts and specific courses like Python and Java programming." Vince explained.


    "I didn''t know Harvard provided free classes online. I''ll do my research and check if CS50 would be a good addition to our curriculum." Mr. Keaton stated.


    "Their YouTube channel is very new and only started early this year. But, of course, I also read books and journals as complimentary sources for my studies." Vince commented.


    "I''m glad a student of ours has taken it upon themselves to improve in their areas of interest. I''ve been contemplating about having you speak in front of the student body about your early successes in mobile app development." Mr. Keaton stated.


    "I don''t think that''s necessary, Mr. Keaton. I believe that my peers who are interested in IT won''t need someone talking on stage to persuade them to learn. So instead, I suggest the school integrate the study resources I mentioned to allow those curious to dip their toes in Computer Science. That should be enough, in my opinion." Vince explained.


    "I can see why you''re successful at such a young age. Even the way you talk is much different than kids your age. You can go back to class now. Thank you for the recommendations, Vince." Mr. Keaton stated before dismissing one of the best students of his school.


    EDITED (+500 words)


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 Chapter 9 - Impending Lawsuit

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    Close to a month has passed since Vince''s reincarnation. He happily got most of his friends interested in pursuing different aspects of modern creativity and found some recent success with his first mobile game.


    He has more people working for him now, but we are all still students and have other obligations to uphold. Homework and attending classes took a big bulk of his available time, but he did have the advantage of prior experience and education.


    The crew was delighted to use their new workstations provided by the company as an expense. The others were going the receive their first round of compensation precisely a month after the company''s creation, and they were all excited for some pocket money.


    [The smile they''ll make when they get the first paycheck will be ear-to-ear for sure,] he thought.


    He got on the bus and found Kyle reading something on his laptop. "What are you reading?" he asked.


    "I''ve been learning Unreal Engine 3 while waiting on the new computers and already started with an idea. These are the Epic Games website documentation about the functions of the new game I have in mind." Kyle replied.


    "What''s the basic concept of this new game you''re creating on Unreal Engine 3?" Vince asked curiously.


    "It''s a reverse tower defense game that plays in real-time. You can build defenses and unit production facilities like in Age of Empires, but upgrades'' wait time gets longer and longer. This feature is part of the game''s progression, and I want it to be slow but rewarding. You can attack other people''s bases with your units while the defending base uses all the traps and defenses that other players had set up. I''m finding the most difficult part to be the persistence of the game world itself, and that''s what I''m reading about right now.", he replied.


    [This is an upper-level problem regarding online multiplayer networking. It''s a great idea, though, and it reminds me of a game called Clash of Clans that was hugely popular. It came out in 2013, but there''s no harm if something similar came out earlier,] he thought.


    "I''ll do my best to help you with this project. I see great potential in your idea, and our team will definitely bring it to life!" Vince declared.


    Kyle was thankful for the support and found even more satisfaction in spending time studying a new software toolset for a week.


    "We''ll discuss this with the others at lunch.", Vince said as they were getting off the bus.


    The group met up during lunch break after the first few periods. Each of them expressed gratitude again for the new workstations.


    "We''re part of the same company now after you and your parents signed the contracts from Jacob-Lewis. So you don''t have to thank me every time because you guys earned it. Compensation or otherwise.", Vince said as he channeled his inner department leader.


    "Please focus on your grades first and our projects second. Our working time is currently limited, but this will change in the future.", Vince stated thoughtfully.


    "We get it. We get it. I took this job as a challenge because school is too easy for me.", Jessica declared.


    The others seem to agree with her sentiment.


    "Alright, I trust you guys. Hey Kyle, share some of those ideas we talked about earlier.", Vince said.


    They talked about the new project and divided some work between them. Vince will support each of them the best he can but primarily deal with Jessica and Kyle.


    Sarah and Rick will handle the art and aesthetic design for the most part. He notified them about their payday next week after the discussion and went separate ways. Things are going smoothly, and they also have a new project to spend time on.


    [This was the satisfaction I''ve been missing for years,] Vince thought to himself.


    Vince was oblivious to a meeting happening hundreds of miles away in Cupertino that could potentially derail all his plans and recent work.


    Tim Cook was in a meeting with other Apple upper management in a beautifully designed headquarters. Steve Jobs was currently resting at home due to his illness and did not participate in monthly meetings.


    "Our user base and App store downloads spiked the past month. However, we found that it''s mainly due to a new mobile game that was released three weeks ago called Wingin'' Chicken.", Cook was told by one of the managers.


    "Good news is always welcome. How many unique downloads has it gotten?" Tim Cook asked.


    "Most users who own the latest models of iPhones have downloaded it at least, and the concurrent player count is around 25 million users and still climbing.", he replied.


    "That''s an awful lot of people. So I would assume the ad revenue alone would be worth millions of dollars.", Cook added.


    "Yes, Mr. Cook. The projected payout for ad revenue will be about $5 million next month.", the manager replied.


    "This game has become the most popular app on the App Store. I would also assume we are making millions of dollars from microtransactions, right? You haven''t said anything about our app store revenue from this game." Cook asked dominatingly.


    "The game does have microtransactions, but it only accepts a cryptocurrency called Bitcoin to purchase. I think the developers are trying to avoid the 30% cut we impose on all our apps." the manager said with a bit of nervousness.


    "Then why is it on the App Store?! We reviewed the game and still published it. So someone is getting fired for this!" Tim Cook shouted angrily.


    "The developer had not technically broken any App Store guidelines, and the already huge user base was the reason why it''s still on the App Store." the manager replied.


    "Take the game down as soon as possible and sue the developers for trying to circumvent our guidelines! I don''t care if it was bartering or whatever. Sue them and set an example so that no one tries this ever again." Tim Cook declared. The meeting was dismissed, and the manager informed the Apple legal team of their new task.


    EDITED


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 Chapter 10 - App Taken Down

    Vince woke up to prepare for school and instinctively checked the front page of Reddit. The top post was created by a person who recently bought the new iPhone and wanted to download Wingin'' Chicken but couldn''t find it on the App Store.


    The language used was pure rage and abuse, and many other Reddit users commented and upvoted it.


    "Apple most likely removed it because of the microtransactions in the game. Apple can''t make money from the game as it is now.", a clever Redditor commented.


    "Apple is just as greedy as always. I heard a 13-year old student made this game. Imagine bullying a kid as a multi-billion dollar company.", another Redditor commented.


    Both of these sentiments were also upvoted as high as the original post.


    [This isn''t good. I can''t even log in to the game even though I have the latest version installed. I''ll have to ask Jessica to help me create a website to import the video game and provide access to all the users who play for free or not,] he thought.


    Vince checked his email and found a message from Lewis-Jacobs regarding a lawsuit Apple is pursuing against Future Technologies.


    He replied, saying to fight the suit the best they can and estimate how much it would cost to win it.


    Vince asked the law firm to announce the game will be available on browsers soon, and users will not lose any progress on their account, including what users paid for already.


    [This will derail the production of our new game but not too much,] he thought.


    Mobile was a huge market for his games and would require cooperation from Apple and Google for more ambitious projects like their upcoming game. He discussed the issue with his team during lunch that same day. "Jessica, I''ll need your help designing different aspects of the website for Wingin'' Chicken. You can use your current work as a base to start with.", Vince said.


    "I''m mostly done with the layout, but I''ll need some help with the server hosting. Millions of people will want to continue playing the game, and I don''t know where to start regarding that problem.", Jessica replied.


    "Understood. In the meantime, collaborate with Sarah and Rick. They''re currently working on interface art for the mobile game, but we can use those assets to beautify the website.", Vince said.


    Lewis-Jacobs issued a public announcement regarding the status of the current most popular game. People upvoted the post and commented on agreements about the countersuit they will be fighting against Apple.


    "This poor kid will have to spend the time porting his game on the browser instead of enjoying student life.", a commenter wrote.


    "Thank god, I won''t have to buy everything in the game again.", another Redditor added.


    Vince received an email about the initial cost of fighting the lawsuit. It was a cool $10,000,000. It was the cost of fighting one of the largest multinational corporations on Earth.


    [It''s not too bad, I suppose. Before I reincarnated, some consultation contracts we had were worth around the same amount. Professionals are expensive, that''s for sure,] he thought.


    His mother was worried as she was notified by Ms. Kemp about it during work but was reassured by Vince that they had enough funds to win the suit.


    Leah had faith in her son and chose to believe him.


    "Mom, you don''t have to work anymore. I want you to focus on recovering from your treatments.", he said. Leah reluctantly agreed for now. After dinner, Vince checked his satoshi wallet balance and found 5 million BTC waiting there.


    The exchange listing price was much higher compared to the last time he cashed out some Bitcoin. It was currently $5 = 1 BTC. Exchanging his Bitcoin right now will be painful considering how much the value of Bitcoin will grow in the future, but he needs the funds right now and cannot avoid it.


    He spread out selling a total of 4 million BTC to avoid upsetting the market too much for a dollar total of $20 million. So half will go to Lewis-Jacobs, and the rest will be some spending money for himself and the crew.


    Vince sent an email to Lewis-Jacobs notifying them about the withdrawal. The firm will process the cash with Deloitte like before, but they would subtract their fees and the taxes to be paid.


    [Bitcoin was not a recognized currency yet, but any dollar earnings will always have some kind of tax associated with it. I trust Deloitte to perform its due diligence on this reasonably large withdrawal], he thought.


    The lawsuit was massive and received national news attention for the next week.


    Vince didn''t take the lawsuit too seriously and worked on the browser port of Wingin'' Chicken with Jessica. He had already set up an accessible data storage server for his team to share resources and collaborate more efficiently. Additionally, Vince utilized cloud technology to host the website.


    Microsoft Azure provided a utility-based charging system and can easily be expanded or reduced depending on the current network traffic experienced at any point in time.


    The working version was released a week after the App Store removed the game. Apple users can now access the game on their devices but only using a browser.


    Thanks to its simplicity, the game itself ran well, and users were happy to play it again. Fortunately, the lawsuit was swinging in their favor. The judge even ordered the accrued advertisement revenue to be paid out to Future Technologies while the case was still active.


    Apple begrudgingly released the funds, and Vince''s business account grew by $5 million after taxes and fees. He asked for the ad revenue to be split between the five members of Future Technologies for their initial paycheck.


    [My friends deserve a payday after spending so much time improving their skills and contributing to Future Tech''s projects since the beginning.] Vince pondered.


    The parents were dumbfounded when they received the check from a courier sent by Lewis-Jacobs to ensure the right people received them.


    "It''s like we won the lottery!" one of the parents shouted in their home. The parents opted to use Deloitte, as suggested by Lewis-Jacobs, to manage their kids'' accounts because it was the safest way to avoid any potential issues.


    EDITED


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 Chapter 11 - Acquiring A Business

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    The team was working on the new project enthusiastically after learning about their income recently. However, this was only temporary, and the team would get to earn a lot more later on after the lawsuits concluded.


    Some upperclassmen approached Vince during lunch break, asking for an opportunity to make some money like his friends.


    They mainly were seniors already accepted by good universities to pursue computer science or computer engineering degrees. The others were inexperienced and lacked the knowledge his team required in developing their new game.


    A few aspiring 3D artists also provided proof of work, such as a design portfolio. Vince took their contact information before continuing to eat lunch.


    [I guess a bunch of kids making a million dollars all of a sudden garners peoples'' attention,] he thought.


    Of course, it shouldn''t have been a surprise considering how popular their first game was, but he assumed young people didn''t often think too deeply about this sort of thing.


    He contacted three programmers and two artists and offered a complete workstation worth $20,000 as an upfront payment for their services. In addition, Vince would reserve the right to remove them from his employment within the next six months without repercussions as a probationary period.


    Anywho pass the probationary period will then be offered employment.


    These students were older than Vince and had fewer restrictions, yet they''re still senior high school students. The five of them immediately accepted the offer.


    The workstation was a massive boon for all of them, considering it an investment towards their future career. The recruits would not be disappointed if they failed the probationary period.


    He contacted Lewis-Jacobs to prepare the employment documents detailing the spoken agreement he discussed with the new employees. Finally, he ordered the equipment and directed them to the appropriate addresses before logging on to Bitcoin Market Exchange.


    [Bitcoin is getting too expensive. People will stop buying premium accounts status and cash shop coins sooner than later. There are no quick alternatives for a convenient payment and exchange process for cash and Bitcoin. I''ll have to develop a payment system that can bill a specific dollar amount worth of Bitcoin at the current going price of BTC in the market,] he thought.


    Vince''s idea was complicated, especially considering all the other foreign currencies involved with a global mobile game like Wingin'' Chicken and the upcoming new game.


    Vince took some time to think about a solution and found it right in front of him. Bitcoin Market Exchange facilitates all the transactions of Bitcoin as the only cryptocurrency exchange in the world.


    [It''s best to partner up or acquire them as my stopgap solution, though it may be difficult. The Bitcoin Market Exchange is doing well for itself these days and would require more effort and persuasion] Vince thought.


    DWDollar has been living these past few weeks hectically. His business was booming, and his Bitcoin savings were shooting up in value though he didn''t own much of it in the first place.


    It costs a fortune to maintain and grow Bitcoin Market, and he thought they were going out of business within the year if they couldn''t get an angel investor to bail them out.


    [All these millions of transactions are already close to the limit for my small company. We''re making a decent amount of money from transaction fees, but expansion will cost millions I don''t have,] DWDollar thought.


    Bitcoin Market only takes 0.25% of the value of the transaction as a fee.


    This rate was fair for an exchange comparable to modern currency exchanges in 2021 but didn''t provide enough revenue to catch up with demand and the stress on their network. Moreover, DWDollar was distressed about the company''s future in his office.


    He checked his email like usual and found one from Lewis-Jacobs.


    [I remember reading about this law firm on the news. They represent Future Technologies, a company I should thank them for my current predicament.] he thought begrudgingly.


    It was an invitation to their offices in Austin, Texas, to negotiate a potential deal with Future Technologies. They insisted that he travel there for which total costs would be paid for and allowed two other Bitcoin Market executives to join.


    [The business has stabilized the past week, and I cannot pass up an opportunity like this,] he thought.


    So DWDollar chose two of the highest-ranking employees they had and booked the highest-class plane tickets and rooms in a five-star hotel.


    They enjoyed their free travel to Austin and met with a junior partner from Lewis-Jacobs at the airport.


    The junior partner provided information regarding the scheduled meeting time. They were free to do as they wished before then, and a driver would be ready to bring them to the offices.


    "I appreciate the gesture of goodwill by sending a lawyer to welcome us. I forget that I am a CEO sometimes.", DWDollar said.


    "Yeah, boss. It seems like this meeting is important. We should bring our A-game during the negotiation, whatever we''re negotiating for.", the security lead named Chen suggested.


    The three of them agreed and enjoyed the amenities before the allotted meeting time. They ate lobster, caviar, and other expensive foods in delight.


    [Now, this is how life should be. Why can''t it always be this fun and carefree?] Dollar thought.


    A vehicle was ready to bring them over to the law firm around 4 pm, and it arrived at the law firm headquarters after 30 minutes.


    The group was welcomed by Ms. Marcia Kemp and directed into one of the best conference rooms the building offered.


    "Please take a seat while we wait for the others. Let me introduce myself. My name is Marcia Kemp, a senior partner here at Lewis-Jacobs. I''m glad to meet the three of you.", Ms. Kemp said confidently.


    The leadership of Bitcoin Market replied in kind with their introductions.


    "I assumed your law firm would have been too busy with the lawsuits everyone keeps talking about on the news.", Dollar mentioned.


    "I''m not at liberty to discuss it in detail, but I can assure you that our side will win both cases in a few weeks'' time." Ms. Kemp replied.


    After a few minutes of waiting, the junior partner they met the day before walked into the conference room with a 13-year-old boy.


    It seemed rather odd to see a kid wearing a full tailored suit.


    [I assumed the kid developer would be more like a nerd. This kid exudes much more confidence than most IT professionals I know.] Dollar thought.


    All of them took the time to shake hands and introduced each other.


    "Good day, gentlemen. My name is Vince Dalton, the lead developer of Future Technologies. I''ve invited you here to negotiate a deal between my company and Bitcoin Market. As industry leaders in the cryptocurrency market, you guys know how difficult it can be to process crypto payments and traditional bank charges. The price of Bitcoin is booming and becoming more volatile. As a result, it''s getting harder and more expensive for my users to buy in-game coins with BTC and will eventually cripple the game''s revenue potential. I cannot let this happen with both my old game and new projects I have planned in the future.", Vince said.


    He wasted no time with pleasantries and cut straight to the chase.


    "That all makes sense, but what does Bitcoin Market have to do with this?" DWDollar asked.


    "That is what we will be negotiating mainly. How should I call you? DW or Dollar?" Vince asked.


    "Dollar is fine. I admit that we are the largest cryptocurrency exchange at the moment but expanding our product line is too much for Bitcoin Market right now." Dollar replied.


    [This guy is going to play hardball, it seems. I don''t want to waste too much time, but I need Bitcoin Market''s cooperation for my plans to work.] Vince thought.


    "I''ll share some ideas regarding a Bitcoin payment portal I want your help developing. This concept will be the main payment processor for our current and future products.", Vince said. They talked about the idea for hours, and the lawyers only got involved towards the end of the conversation to attempt closing the deal.


    "This is a brilliant vision, and it seems feasible. The revenue potential is fairly high. I know some people who are working on the e-commerce platforms of popular banks and large retailers. It will be costly but doable. If we do start working on this project, we''ll need at least $25 million as a starting budget." Dollar proposed.


    "Alright, I will offer you $25 million for the first year of development and another $25 million to work for me. I want to buy your exchange. You will retain your positions but will have Future Technologies as the parent company and access to more of my available capital", the boy business owner declared.


    The three Bitcoin Market guys were stunned to hear the offer to buy the company. Cryptocurrency was still at its infancy stage, and only a handful of investors believed in the technology. The blockchain has its'' flaws but is a viable option for online payments.


    "I''ll have to think about this first. Do you mind if you can give me a day to process all this information?" Dollar asked.


    "Feel free to enjoy the rest of your stay here in Austin. Please talk to Ms. Kemp when you''ve decided. Unfortunately, I have to leave soon, but it was a pleasure to discuss business with all of you." Vince said with gratitude.


    Vince left the office heading home while Dollar and his crew were thinking deeply in the conference room.


    Ms. Kemp gave them some space and time to make a decision. Then, a few hours into enjoying the five-star hotel, Dollar called Ms. Kemp to prepare the necessary documents.


    He decided to sell his business to a boy, yet he felt, in his heart, this would be the best decision for his company.


    [This luxurious life is too hard to pass on, too.] So Dollar thought as he was drinking champagne by the pool with a few young women.


    EDITED


    You can read the novel online free at novelhall.com

 Chapter 12 - Apple Backs Down

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    [This suit looks pretty nice on me. I always wanted to dress like Harvey Specter from the TV show. Hopefully, my presentation was effective. Unfortunately, though, I couldn''t spend too much time with negotiations. I''m paying the law firm to deal with most of the process, which frees a lot of time for school work and the development of our new game,] Vince thought.


    Vince took some time to roughly update the Wingin'' Chicken cash shop prices to match the current BTC going price on the market exchange.


    [This stopgap was a temporary solution for the payment processing issue. If the negotiations work out, all my future products will provide native payment processing and cryptocurrency exchange. The ease of use will attract more user spending. Utilizing cryptocurrency can also help streamline a community market where users trade digital goods amongst one another. We should be able to start creating a barebones community market prototype soon. The Bitcoin Market guys will help accelerate its'' development when we reach an agreement,] Vince thought.


    After working for a few hours, Vince checked his email and found one from Lewis-Jacobs stating the agreement from DWDollar and Bitcoin Market.


    Someone arrived at the house to receive signatures from him and Leah which completed the transaction. Vince had a week to provide the $50 million stated on the contract.


    He checked his satoshi wallet and found it didn''t increase by much from the last time he checked, probably due to the increasing price of BTC, but the changes made to the cash shop prices convinced some users to spend money on the game again.


    [I''ll be losing plenty of Bitcoin in constantly adjusting the cash shop prices to meet market prices. So I need to get the payment portal up and running soon, even with fewer features] he thought.


    He decided to sell 3 million BTC from his savings of 10 million BTC for around $11 each, spreading the transactions out like usual.


    Lewis-Jacobs handled the withdrawal and left him with $30 million of liquidity after the firm used the rest to pay for fees, taxes, and the acquisition of Bitcoin Market.


    The good news about the lawsuit was also included in the email stating that the U.S government cared more about the anti-trust and monopolistic behavior Apple was showing and will most likely settle out of court within the month.


    [That was fast. It would usually take years for a lawsuit like this to conclude. So it seems Apple doesn''t have as much political pull that it had in my past life] he thought.


    Google showed interest in pursuing the same lawsuit against Future Tech but thought wiser of it based on how things were going. Android users were the least affected and didn''t care at all.


    He replied with a few instructions stating his need for a networking infrastructure contractor and the assistance of Epic Games for technical and development support for Unreal Engine 3 and Future Tech''s upcoming game.


    Lewis-Jacobs scheduled a video meeting between Tim Sweeney and Vince Dalton a few hours later.


    "Thank you for accepting to meet with me, Mr. Sweeney. I admire your company''s work, and it''s a pleasure to speak with you finally." Vince stated respectfully over Skype.


    The 40-year-old Caucasian-American man on the other end replied with a modest and soft-sounding tone.


    "I was surprised to hear from my secretary about a potential deal you wanted to negotiate. My company would usually reach out via my project managers, but you, Vince Dalton, interest me the most. Your success with the simple mobile game you developed has made the rounds in our offices. It''s always the young that dominate the video game industry. No matter what the suits in the boardrooms of Activision or EA say." Tim stated curiously.


    [The guy talks like a sesame street character but is straightforward, for sure. It seems strange for a small dev like me to ask a behemoth like Epic Games to help develop my new IP.] Vince pondered.


    "Thank you for the praise, Mr. Sweeney. I agree that the young developers drive the industry forward for their time like yourself and John Carmack. I hope that the team and I can live up to your expectations." Vince replied graciously.


    "Not a lot of people would think to integrate such a novel technology like cryptocurrency into their video game. So what''s the new idea you''ve been cooking up that requires Epic Games'' assistance?" Tim Sweeney asked inquisitively.


    After a few hours of discussing Vince''s vision of his new and radical game idea over Skype, the young business owner, and the video game industry behemoth worked out an initial partnership plan in developing War Online.


    The game itself would start small in scope, but Vince''s team and Epic Games would gradually add more features to keep existing players engaged with the content.


    Vince had to pay a flat fee for Epic Game''s development services and the license to use Unreal Engine 3, including all engine updates.


    A month passed as everyone involved in his business worked towards the final production stages of both the new game called War Online and the native payment processor.


    Bitcoin income from Wingin'' Chicken was slowly fading along with its'' popularity on most platforms. Therefore, a new product will have to be released to increase revenue continuously.


    DWDollar contacted Vince regarding integrating the new payment portal with Wingin'' Chicken and War Online.


    Vince emailed back, saying that both will be developed and released simultaneously. Kyle already notified him that War Online was ready to be released in a few days after the network infrastructure contractors finished work on their end.


    [It was expensive to pay for networking services, but $10 million is a drop in the bucket compared to how popular he knew War Online would become.] Vince thought.


    War Online was much different for Clash of Clans after its development. First, there was more of an MMORPG aspect than just attacking other people''s bases.


    Second, the game featured a mainline quest written by one of the high school seniors Vince recruited a month ago with an incredible talent in writing. The game evolved with more people involved in its development, such as the Epic Games consultants.


    Kyle and Sarah focused on the cash shop item designs while the other artist finished the base game art using assets like materials instances and static meshes provided by Epic.


    The three programmers scripted the game with the help of Vince while Kyle worked with Epic Games to ensure cross-platform functionality would work as intended.


    It cost $5 million for Epic Game''s consultation, which was already negotiated heavily by Lewis-Jacobs.


    Epic provided Future Technologies with a cross-platform plugin to enable the 3D gameplay on most devices that support standard graphics APIs. As a result, War Online''s visual fidelity can be customized for the device and platform being played.


    The release will go live for Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS now that the lawsuit has concluded. Apple had to pay $10 million worth of ad revenue reparations for removing the game from the App Store.


    The judge declared that Apple couldn''t force developers to solely use the App Store payment processor and allowed third-party payment portals for use. However, Future Technologies still had to pay a fee to enable their games on the App Store and negotiated a flat cost of $5 million per month.


    Vince decided not to publish Wingin'' Chicken on the App Store and only published War Online on the money-grabbing platform.


    Lewis-Jacobs signed the same deal with Google to cover their bases before War Online''s release.


    The government inquired about Future Technologies'' Bitcoin earnings and could not find any faults in handling capital gains.


    Deloitte treated his outgoing Bitcoin transactions like how they would for gold and other commodities as Bitcoin was not yet a recognized currency, saving Vince millions in taxes.


    Vince attended homeroom like always but was rather tired because of the recent Future Tech projects.


    The teacher today was a replacement rather than Ms. Miller.


    [I wonder if anything happened to Ms. Miller. She was always stern yet cared for her student''s education. Her math classes were fun compared to other teachers and always gave me advice in my past life.] Vince thought.


    The group met up during lunch and talked about the release of War Online.


    "The Future Technologies main website is ready to be deployed. Also, the guys at Bitcoin Market were a huge help in teaching me more advanced techniques with user base governance on HTML.", Jessica said.


    "Sarah and I finished with the first collection of cash shop items and ready for the next project.", Rick added.


    "War Online is looking so good right now. I''m hyped for its release. Those Epic Games guys are geniuses, Vince. It was inspiring learning from them this past month, especially Mr. Sweeney!" Kyle declared.


    "You guys have done great work. However, I''ll give you and our upperclassmen a month off after War Online''s release. Exams are coming up, and you''ll need some time for rest and review.", Vince stated.


    [War Online might be the most ambitious project I have led myself. I''ve been involved in larger projects, but this was different. This project will be released under my own company.] Vince thought proudly.


    EDITED


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 Chapter 13 - War Online

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    Vince scheduled a meeting with Dollar and Lewis-Jacobs via video conference call to discuss the nearing release of War Online and their proprietary payment processing system as soon as he got home from school.


    [It would be nice to have a headquarters, but that would be too expensive an expenditure right now.] he thought.


    The meeting started, and Dollar was the first to speak.


    "The new exchange & payment portal has been developed with the help of the networking infrastructure contractors and some of my contacts in the emerging e-commerce market here in Silicon Valley.", Dollar declared.


    The new portal is called ''BitCash'' and works similarly to traditional online banking. It uses the automated clearing house systems administered by the U.S Federal Reserve and other foreign ACHs to accept traditional debit transfers while facilitating the exchange of crypto and fiat currency.


    Users will only have to input their bank details once.


    After that, the portal would automatically exchange their local currency to Bitcoin from whatever program Future Tech implemented the Bitcash Portal.


    There would be fees the users would have to pay but would be kept to a minimum.


    [I''m betting on revenue from the sheer number of transactions. All the digital goods from the cash shop can only be bought with Bitcoin but are priced in dollar amounts instead. This setup will make it easier for users to purchase items without worrying about Bitcoin prices all the time.] Vince thought.


    War Online would take advantage of using Bitcoin for its'' in-game market economy. Players will have access to use a similar service like the Steam community market but solely using Bitcoin.


    Bitcash would also be integrated within the in-game market service for ease of use.


    Vince decided not to advertise the game and allowed his new product to grow naturally and gain exposure from social media, saving him millions of potential marketing expenses.


    Vince requested access to Bitcoin Market''s customer service provider to support War Online in the meantime.


    After the meeting, Future Tech sent the game for review on the App Store and Play Store. The Windows and Linux versions went live earlier due to fewer barriers to entry.


    A random avid gamer was scrolling through Reddit and found a new post that wasn''t upvoted to the top yet. It was about a new online game from Future Technologies.


    The poster described the game as more of a core video game than a simple mobile game, though War Online would be available on most platforms soon. Nevertheless, the avid gamer decided to try the game out instead of reading the entire post.


    He found the hyperlink at the bottom of the post and was redirected to a clean and responsive website. The website stated that War Online was a cross-platform game, and users can play on any valid device with the same account.


    He chose to download the Windows Installer instead of playing it on the browser, assuming the performance and graphical fidelity would be better.


    The game was free for a month and would cost $15/month after that but in BTC instead of dollars.


    He made his character with the game''s few character creation options, which would gradually be updated by Future Tech and Epic Games devs.


    His character was dropped on a plot of land and could control aspects of his in-game property to work on his base. However, after building his level 1 base for a while, he decided to venture out into the wilderness.


    It would take a few minutes for all his basic units to be produced in the base and took the extra time questing.


    The map zoomed out, showing a map of the earth and a small icon where his character was.


    He could move around the large map and perform quests from random NPC bases around him. A player can build their reputation in neighboring NPC bases to eventually ally with them or plunder them with his units.


    These NPC bases were powerful and could only be raided by higher-level players.


    Questing provided rewards to make the player''s character stronger or upgrade their base using rare resources.


    He observed that all the non-resource items could be traded or auctioned in the integrated marketplace for Bitcoin because they were all unique digital goods with a blockchain ID associated with them similar to NFTs (non-fungible tokens).


    He suddenly realized that playing this game could pay out real money when he exchanged the Bitcoin accepted from the market for cash using the portal.


    The original Reddit post mentioned this feature, but he didn''t read the entire thing.


    After only a few hours, that same post is now the top post on Reddit. The game''s mobile versions were released the following day that ballooned the already large player base of Windows desktop users.


    The game was an overnight success for opposite reasons compared to Wingin'' Chicken.


    War Online provided fleshed-out gameplay with plenty of new features such as a persistent game world, cross-platform, and a groundbreaking digital crypto market.


    You can team up with your friends and play together to level up and progress faster, called Alliances.


    The combat system used by the produced units was primarily AI-controlled, but the main character had a skill tree that varies its'' gameplay. Most users were more enthralled with controlling their main characters than the puny AI units.


    Vince started playing the game as he enjoyed playing video games and had some free time.


    [Combat in this game feels so smooth and visceral. The support from Epic Games proved to be the right choice. PC is the most fun method to play this game, but the controller and touchpads won''t be too bad. Vince thought. Users played War Online with a top-down view or the isometric view.


    Players can control the camera freely within the area, like when raiding a base with their army or moving around their base.


    The skill tree wasn''t too diverse, and the offensive and defensive skills were based on the weapon type and skill traits unlocked.


    [So there''s a lot more potential in this game than I initially thought.] Vince pondered.


    The game contained the standard social features like adding friends and talking in chat. Vince wanted users to connect their accounts to any social media platform easily and had some new features like remote viewing.


    Friends can watch other people play on their game client if the user approves.


    Remote view mode cloned the display and presented it to the remote viewer''s client as a clean video stream.


    Players can also stream their gameplay to Twitch, Facebook, or Youtube utilizing the same technology as remote view, assuming they have enough bandwidth to support the feature.


    Mobile Wi-Fi is barely able to stream while gaming, so only players will use this feature mainly through computer desktop players on Windows, Linux, and Mac.


    The live player count at the bottom-right of the display currently had more than 100,000 and climbing.


    Future Tech delivered advertisement banners to players with free accounts, but players can avail of the 1-month premium access for free courtesy of Future Technologies.


    Vince closed the game without worry because the game world was completely persistent and decided to turn in for the night.


    [I''ll have more time this upcoming month and be able to do things other than development and mentoring my team. I should head to Tom''s gym after class to get some workouts in and learn kickboxing.] Vince thought before falling asleep.


    EDITED


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 Chapter 14 - Arena Mode And Localization

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    Vince helped his mom buy groceries like they usually do every week and ran into Ms. Miller around the produce aisle.


    [She looks a bit too distraught for a person choosing vegetables. She hasn''t been teaching at school for a week now. I don''t want to intrude by maybe I can help with whatever is bothering her.] Vince thought.


    Vince told his mother he would talk with his homeroom teacher an aisle over and walked towards Ms. Miller.


    They shared greetings, and Vince asked why she hadn''t been teaching recently.


    "You seem like a nice kid, and you know a bit about my son. I mentioned him to you a month or two ago. Unfortunately, his dad took him a week ago, and I haven''t seen him since. I''ll be filing for divorce to try and get my son back, but I''m afraid his father has too many connections for that to happen. I''m sorry for burdening you with my personal issues; I haven''t talked to anyone about this yet and wanted to get it off my chest." Ms. Miller said apologetically.


    "Thank you for sharing, and you don''t have to be sorry. Here is the contact info for the law firm that I keep on retainer. They should be able to help you get your son back." Vince stated warmly.


    [It''s the least I can do. I''ve been so lucky since getting sent back ten years in the past. So I might as well help people who have treated me well during both my lives.] Vince thought.


    Ms. Miller took the business card from Vince and asked, "This law firm looks expensive. I probably can''t afford them."


    "Give them your information, and they''ll handle it from there. I''ll foot the bill. I''m sure the other students would like to get our brilliant math teacher back." Vince declared.


    Ms. Miller responded with gratefulness, and she looked much happier than before. They bade farewells, and he finished buying groceries with Leah.


    Vince trained with Tom for a few hours at his family gym near Downtown Austin.


    "Hey, Tom. Have you checked out our new game called War Online?" Vince asked.


    "Yes, I did. But I prefer Wingin'' Chicken cause the combat gameplay is too complicated for me. I can also beat people in competitions and spars anyway, so it''s not that appealing." Tom replied.


    [True. It does sound more fun to beat people in competitions rather than randoms. I share the same sentiment as a fan of sports and e-sports.


    Now that I think about it, War Online turned out to have a relatively tight combat system. The players'' main characters fighting other main characters should probably make for compelling gameplay.


    I remember League of Legends and DotA 2 were hugely popular around this time in history. I''ll explore the potential of War Online after getting home.] Vince thought.


    Vince focused on transactional revenue using cash shops, payment processing, and designing the game with his crew setting aside other entertainment types.


    Game development was never his forte, but he and his team created War Online using personal resources he never had, like liquid capital.


    Collaborating with other companies did also help a ton. It took a lot of his time, but he was now free to delve into more subjects.


    War Online is available around the world but only in the English language. This situation wasn''t a problem with Wingin'' Chicken, but War Online is more complex with skills, traits, and questing, which required translations.


    Plenty of foreigners still play the game but with the help of good-hearted gamers translating for them in the local chat.


    Vince decided to fix this localization issue first before expanding on the game.


    Wingin'' Chicken''s ad revenue for that month was only $10 million from all platforms except the App Store. Future Tech paid $5 million to Google for the negotiated platform fee, leaving Vince with around $3 million after fees and taxes.


    The accounting firm kept a portion of the money for tax season arriving in a few months, reducing Vince''s available liquid capital further.


    His employees, including Bitcoin Market people and the student part-timers, could update their contracts after the lawsuits concluded.


    They would be paid $1 million annually and reviewed for a raise every year. Additionally, the contract stated that all of the revenue from Wingin'' Chicken, War online, and Bitcash was controlled by Vince and his legal guardian, including the significant number of BTC, already accumulated.


    All the innovations gained from future insight were all provided by Vince. But, unfortunately, this dilemma left him no choice, and he had to control his employees as such even though it pained him.


    [My friends shouldn''t mind. They understand how much I''ve helped in their recent growth. They would be paid a total of $2 million this year. Not bad for part-time work compared to minimum wage,] Vince thought.


    He checked his satoshi wallet, found it had grown since the last time he checked, now at 12 million BTC.


    [I would never want to sell any Bitcoin unless I had to, but I need some cash to spend on the localization and new arena mode we''ve been conceptualizing. Investing in another company will not be an option anytime soon. I already sold a ton of Bitcoin to acquire Dollar and his company.] Vince thought.


    Vince decided to add a traditional currency option for the cash shop items in both games to get more non-Bitcoin revenue other than from advertisements.


    He tasked the Bitcoin Market division to update BitCash with these thoughts in mind. This decision will reduce Future Tech''s overall Bitcoin revenue but would still slowly gain more from the daily activity of BitCash users.


    Dollar replied with a confirmation and asked Vince for funding to expand their networking and service systems. Vince replied with approval for $10 million in funding for the project.


    Lewis-Jacobs provided Future Technologies with two dedicated junior partners at the law firm to handle tasks like releasing funds to his employees.


    Marcia Kemp told him that his company was one of the firms'' largest clients in billable hours and fees and was happy to serve his interests. However, the funding left him with only $8 million liquidity, and he still had to pay for localization and development contracts.


    Vince sent another request to David Henderson, one of the junior partners, to find some options for both of those new projects and negotiate a fair deal.


    David replied a few minutes later. Any new additions to the game will have to wait until suitable contractors are available.


    [I may have to start recruiting people to the company directly instead of paying for help all the time.] he thought.


    As usual, Vince enjoyed the rest of his time, spending time with his friends and training with Tom during off times.


    One night, he noticed a creaking noise from outside the house as he was heading to bed. The window suddenly opened and a masked person mantled into his room like a professional thief.


    The masked man took out a knife and approached Vince slowly.


    [Oh my god! Someone''s trying to kill me!] he thought while his heart was racing.


    EDITED


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 Chapter 15 - Assassination Attempt

    Tom taught Vince some BJJ, kickboxing, and self-defense during their training sessions over the past month. As a result, Vince instinctively stood up from his bed quickly while picking up his pillow.


    [I remember that using random objects around would increase my chance of survival. Of course, a blunt object like a lampstand would be better, but a pillow is my only option right now.] Vince thought in a split second.


    The attacker abruptly lunged at Vince with a military knife. Vince caught the knife stab with the pillow he held and was able to trap the blade as it pierced through.


    The attacker had to let go of the knife, and Vince took that opportunity and performed a basic single-leg takedown technique he learned recently, dropping the masked man on his back.


    Vince stood back up with explosive force and was ready to fight till death but was surprised to find the man unconscious.


    [I wouldn''t have stood a chance fighting this guy straight up, but he knocked his head on the ground, luckily.] Vince pondered while catching his breath.


    Vince found some zip ties he used to cable manage the company computer setups and tied both the hands and feet of the attacker together.


    [I''ll add more zip ties to be safe,] Vince thought while tying the assailant up like a sushi roll.


    Vince immediately called the police, and they arrived 15 minutes later before the attacker woke up.


    The lead police officer assured him that the police would detain his attacker while contacting his lawyers when they got back to the station.


    Leah was worried about their safety after seeing her son go through a traumatic assault meant to kill and talked to Vince about the situation.


    "Mom, I''m glad you''re safe, but you don''t have to worry. You should thank Tom and his family for teaching and training me. I''ll be hiring a security team soon." Vince replied reassuringly.


    [I could have died tonight. My safety is essential, but mom would have been left with nothing if I had died and wouldn''t have had the resources to continue her treatment. Security in any IT application has always been a priority, but security for my life? I could never gain the threat of murder in my past life.]


    [My experience with these kinds of situations is severely lacking. That same person could have snuck into our house and stolen our family safe containing my satoshi wallet worth millions of Bitcoin,] Vince thought worriedly.


    [I will have to make some changes in securing my family''s safety and assets.] he thought determinedly. So Vince contacted his lawyer David directly and tasked him with taking care of the assailant and finding more about the attack using private investigators.


    He sent another text message to an accountant assigned to him by the accounting firm named Ralph about securing a safe place for his significant assets like the satoshi wallet, preferably a service provided by Swiss banks.


    [I know I should rest after that attack, but the adrenaline is still pumping, and I should channel it into something productive.] he thought. So Vince started working on a new project designing security measures for the withdrawal and deposit functions of satoshi wallets and even contacted DWDollar late in the night requesting support from his team.


    His accountant, Ralph, replied with some Swiss bank recommendations and financial reports for his personal and business accounts that have been the norm since the recent lawsuit win.


    His small sole proprietorship called Future Technologies has made quite the splash these past few months, especially after including his new products, BitCash and War Online.


    Wingin'' Chicken hype is dying down, but there was some revenue from ads and players who initially avoided paying with Bitcoin but could now pay with debit bank accounts.


    BitCash was in its second phase of development in Silicon Valley and proceeding steadily. A new addition to the service will be released soon featuring Bitcash, an altcoin native only to BitCash that customers can buy from convenience stores like you would purchase Target or IKEA gift cards.


    Users can utilize Bitcash to purchase BTC from the market and seamlessly transfer crypto to other BitCash users.


    The value of 1 Bitcash was 1 dollar before fees and taxes and would remain that way to provide users a more stable way to purchase items within the BitCash ecosystem.


    Vince suggested this idea to the BitCash department and instructed them to create a working version soon and provide the budget they would require.


    Ease of use was Vince''s mantra in developing anything, though the minting process was kept confidential from the public, unlike most Altcoins in the market currently or in the future.


    He wanted to foster the consumer-first mentality in the mind of all of his contract employees and believed this strategy would pay off soon.


    The financial reports stated a net profit of $50 million from BitCash, War Online, and Wingin'' Chicken.


    He replied to Ralph requesting $10 million transferred to his personal account and sent the remaining liquid funds to Future Tech.


    Vince preferred separating his liquid cash between the two for convenience. Next, he browsed the online real-estate listings to find a new place to live, but none were to his liking, and he worried about security.


    [Even though all these houses are in nice areas, it doesn''t mean whoever wants me dead will stand back off all of a sudden,] he thought.


    Vince decided to abstain from buying a new home before setting up security for his family and his assets'' safety.


    Vince didn''t want to worry his friends but took some time to call Tom to thank him for his training and to inquire about security.


    They talked for a bit, and Tom was glad nothing terrible happened to Vince.


    He then asked Tom if he knew any security or military personnel that could be trusted who may have trained at his familys'' gym.


    "Of course! Plenty of them train and get their belt promotions from my dad. So many of those guys love Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and my dad is one of the best in the city.", Tom replied proudly.


    "Do you mind asking your dad to set me up with a reliable group of veterans and private military contractors? Around five men would suffice. They would be paid handsomely for trustworthiness, loyalty, and skill. The annual contract will start at $200,000 and is negotiable based on ability." Vince requested sincerely.


    Tom was surprised by the amount of money Vince was willing to pay and quickly remembered that Vince was getting filthy rich off his products.


    "No problem. My dad will be busy tomorrow but should be able to call his students after teaching in the gym.", Tom replied.


    Both bade farewell, and Vince ended the phone call. He messaged his friends, stating that he wasn''t attending school for the time being and to enjoy their vacation from part-time work.


    Vince was finally able to sleep under the protection of two police squad cars outside his home.


    He woke up the next day and found different police officers outside his home.


    [They could be acting as officers and would kill him the moment he stepped out of his home. But, of course, I''m just being paranoid, and they''re probably just the day-shift cops.] Vince thought anxiously.


    David knocked on the front door and was welcomed by Leah. David wanted to update the family regarding the investigation, but they haven''t found anything yet.


    David asked Leah and Vince if they needed anything; Vince asked David to find a reputable staff manager to assess his current and future contract employees.


    David took note of the request, bade them farewell, and left.


    Vince received a call from Tom informing him about meeting the potential security team. His father discussed Vince''s request with his veteran students and scheduled a meeting later that day.


    Vince asked one of the police officers to escort him to the meeting in a few hours and spent some type working with the BitCash team instead of worrying and being paranoid. Then, Vince and Leah left to meet Tom at the gym with two police escorts later that day.


    The chief of police paid great attention to his safety after learning Vince was the kid who created a game his grandkids loved and a local viral personality in Austin.


    He assumed that the assassination attempt was financially motivated and sent his best officers to protect Vince''s family.


    [I should thank the chief when I get the chance,] Vince pondered while the police squad escorted him around downtown.


    EDITED


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 Chapter 16 - Security

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    Lewis-Jacobs dispatched David to assist Vince with negotiating with the security forces at the gym. They met up at the lobby before proceeding to the gym''s office.


    Tom introduced his fellow students to him, men twice their age, around 30s years old.


    Price, one of the five candidates, expanded further on his field experience extending from live combat, unlike the others.


    The African-American man in his mid-30s decided to explain his military background in detail.


    "I have field security qualifications earned from USSOC and spent my last tour securing and setting up telecommunications for field outposts utilizing military cybersecurity protocols. Frankly, my master''s degree in cybersecurity isn''t all for show.", Price stated proudly.


    Vince tested him in cybersecurity practices and techniques on the spot and passed with flying colors.


    "I would assume you have experience in leading teams. Therefore, I''ll promote you to head of my security department based on your qualifications and shall be compensated twice the typical market annual salary." Vince offered.


    [This guy is the real deal. He looks far from a cybersecurity nerd and more like a human tank, but he knows his stuff,] Vince thought. So David produced contracts for all five of them to sign, and Price started creating a rotating schedule for the four others protecting Leah and Vince.


    "Price, I''ll need your help and opinions with buying my new home. Any equipment that civilians can procure will be made available. Lewis-Jacobs can provide more than enough funds, and our safety is the top priority.", Vince requested.


    Vince instructed the other four to get ready that same day and provided them with funds to buy modified suits with body armor and their choice of weaponry.


    They left and returned a few hours later, looking like high-class bodyguards.


    [It seems like they spared no expense and were able to procure some P90 sub-machine guns and Colt 1911s as sidearms. Price was SF, and it makes sense that their group was well connected to the others in the military and small-arms world.] Vince pondered.


    He never really interacted with military personnel and only met a U.S major once when his consultation company in the past secured a bid for a U.S defense contract.


    After talking to Price the past few hours, Vince realized the guy was a cybersecurity chad.


    [This guy could have easily led the security department in my old company.] Vince thought.


    After browsing the available options, Price suggested a home located at the corner of a nice-looking neighborhood.


    The gated entrance to the walled estate provided extra security and was listed for $5 million after fees.


    After bidding farewell and thanks to Tom and his father, Vince instructed David to purchase the home and left with Price and the two other bodyguards.


    Vince offered them a sponsorship deal for their gym as a sign of thanks for connecting him with Price and the others and was glad to accept.


    "Mom, you won''t have to pack any of our things yourself, but please sort the important belongings we don''t want to leave.", Vince said.


    "I feel more secure now with Price and the others around. They seem trustworthy and capable. I''ll go ahead and do what you asked then.", Leah replied.


    They moved in the next day and tasked Price with securing their new home. Price suggested constructing an underground level to store all the vital security equipment, and Vince approved immediately.


    Construction started the same day and is projected to be finished by the end of the month. Price utilized one of the many rooms to store the equipment he ordered for the meantime.


    Vince was allowed one bodyguard to shadow him at school due to the recent attack. He bought a car because there weren''t any school buses that usually stopped near his new home.


    [It''s exciting to shop for a new car. I''m used to driving cheap vehicles, but I can''t drive anyway, so might as well get a functional one,] he thought. So Vince decided to order an armored Klassen Rolls-Royce sparing no expense for around $1 million.


    It arrived a week later, and Vince decided to finish the school year before starting homeschool.


    David came by the villa to update Vince with the investigation and confirmed the perpetrator paid the assailant to assassinate Vince. They haven''t found the employer yet, though.


    Lewis-Jacobs located a few staff manager candidates with excellent qualifications and decided to hire the one that recently left Microsoft after hearing about a job opening at Future Tech.


    "I want him to move to Austin as soon as possible after signing the contract.", Vince instructed his legal counsel.


    David understood and left home as Vince continued working with BitCash on the updates.


    A week later, David introduced him to the new staff manager, Hudson.


    The human resource veteran was a caucasian-American man in his mid-40s, fresh off the plane from Silicon Valley.


    David also mentioned finalizing negotiations with an old and reputable Swiss bank in securing Vince''s assets.


    "Hudson, I''ll be tasking you in assessing my current contractors and employees at Future Tech while I''m gone. I''ll fly to Switzerland tomorrow with Price and David to sign the contract. You can skip over Dollar for now because he''ll also be joining us Switzerland." Vince instructed.


    David and Hudson left while Vince was contacting Dollar regarding the final version of the Bitcoin Bank system they''ve been developing. He tasked Dollar and a few technicians from Bitcash to fly to Switzerland immediately to help Vince with the installation.


    Vince packed his luggage and kept the pen drive containing the primary key to his satoshi wallet in a secure briefcase cuffed to himself.


    Their group looked rather odd to regular flyers at the airport. Men in tailored suits walked with a teenage kid like he was the boss or something.


    They boarded the direct flight to Switzerland that would take 12 hours usually.


    [I never thought that first-class seats were this comfortable. Well, I could never have afforded it in my past life anyway, so how would I know.] Vince thought.


    The group went directly to the bank after landing in Zurich and met the bank manager. The bank manager wanted to know how valuable the assets Vince wanted to store so the bank could accommodate their group better.


    "I asked some of my employees to help you secure my assets using a newly developed technology called the Bitcoin Bank. Most of my liquid cash gets spent in expenditures and expansion costs, but my most valuable assets are related to Bitcoin." Vince stated.


    "I''m familiar with Bitcoin. If I recall, it''s a type of cryptocurrency." the bank manager replied.


    "You''ll be able to see the value of my account once my employees finish installing the Bitcoin Bank. I will require a room in your vault with an accessible internet connection and ample cooling. My company will pay for the upgrade expenses, so don''t worry." Vince stated plainly.


    "Fair enough, I''ll have someone notify you when the space is ready in the vault." the bank manager replied.


    The Bitcash department and Vince designed the Bitcoin Bank, balancing security with accessibility, allowing potential users to experience a completely digital banking alternative.


    Vince''s main Bitcoin wallet will be the most protected and require two separate keys that regenerate every hour. One was with Vince and the other with the bank manager.


    Some of the wallet tiers within the Bitcoin Bank can be accessed by the Bitcash team, while most of the Bitcoin revenue slowly filtered towards the most secure layer after a few blockchain cycles.


    It took Vince and his team a few days to install the system in the vault and ensure its security before going live.


    Vince and the bank manager tested their keys and successfully accessed the most secure tier that contained more than 10 million BTC.


    DWDollar was surprised to see so much Bitcoin in one wallet, and he would probably never have the chance to see the balance again anytime soon.


    Even the bank manager was startled and understood why the teenage kid was keen on securing his satoshi wallet in such a complicated way.


    Vince would start paying the bank next month, including the expenses for constructing a separate area in the vault.


    [I''ll have Price check on the cybersecurity status of the Bitcoin Bank shortly after we get home.] Vince thought.


    They bade farewells, and all flew back to the U.S a day after.


    EDITED


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 Chapter 17 - Bitcash Craze

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    Hudson met with Vince after arriving in Austin to report on his company contractors'' performance. Hudson suggested lowering the annual salary of his first few collaborators.


    Vince denied the request as he wanted to reward the first few people who started his business, including Dollar and the Bitcoin Market crew.


    Instead, Vince gave Hudson authority to assess the value of new contractors and sub-contracted companies he works with from now on and represented Vince in negotiating pay in the future.


    Vince tasked Hudson to restructure Future Technologies starting with the creation of Future Studios that would deal mainly with the development of War Online and other entertainment products similar to how Vince treated Bitcash.


    It would contain his friends and upper-level students as co-founders and add staff from other companies that collaborated in the development of War Online that were willing to dedicate their time fully to Future Studios.


    Currently, Vince employs a few more than 100 direct contractors with an estimated $25 million a year in salary expenses. So he assigned a quarter of the database specialists to join BitCash while the rest would work for Future Studios.


    Hudson left the villa to perform the instructed tasks. Then Vince continued working remotely with BitCash and Future Studios on various projects before catching up on homework.


    Another month passed, with Future Tech projects and collaborative efforts were in full swing. David stopped by to update Vince regarding the investigation.


    A man with many connections paid for the attempt on his life. It took a while to pinpoint his exact identity and find out it was Ms. Miller''s ex-husband. He was angry about losing custody of their son and found out Vince connected Ms. Miller with Lewis-Jacobs.


    He knew that Lewis-Jacobs would have dropped the suit if the person paying for the lawyers had died and hired a professional to do the dirty work.


    David then mentioned something about Price helping them with the investigation by tracing network logs from the assailants'' computer.


    Vince thanked David and Price before instructing him to pursue legal action against the ex-husband.


    David replied, saying Lewis-Jacobs had already filed the complaint and worked with the police and district courts.


    [It puts my mind at ease knowing the person who has it out for me would be behind bars soon.] Vince thought.


    War Online had been hugely popular the past few months, and Ralph projected revenue to double soon.


    Future Studios added minor updates to their cross-platform MMO Hybrid, such as 10-player raids against sprawling bases and more PVP options (player versus player) like fighting other players during base raids. Still, the team also improved the AI for AFK players (away from keyboard).


    High-leveled players can choose to participate in the recently added battlegrounds to fight other online players without an army for support, solely focusing on their main character''s stats, equipment, and micro-controlling expertise.


    Winning gave rewards to outstanding users in the form of resources for their base and high-tier equipment for their player characters. Hardcore players would then sell equipment they didn''t need on the BitCash market in exchange for Bitcoin or Bitcash.


    Some of these players were making a good amount of money from just playing the game, and large guilds and alliances started forming to further their success and income.


    The arena 1.0 version will be released soon, allowing players to PVP without needing high-tier gear. After remembering how enjoyable watching esports in his past life like DotA 2, Quake, and CSGO, Vince proposed the idea of an esports game made for War Online.


    The focus of the arena mode was to provide a level and balanced playing field for players seeking a more competitive way to PVP rather than the war in the battlegrounds for loot.


    After the inclusion of the arena, War Online would be able to cater to many different types of gamers, from very casual to hardcore and professionals.


    [BitCash is doing quite well right now. It''s even promoting more players in engaging with the market. The games are profitable, but I would bet BitCash would be earning more in the long run.] So Vince pondered while taking a shower in the master bedroom.


    So far, the only way to use Bitcoin to buy products outside the BitCash ecosystem like War Online and Wingin'' Chicken would be to sell it for regular cash through the BitCash Portal. But, unfortunately, users would have to wait plenty of time with this process.


    [I need to find a way to add more products that use the BitCash system. For example, I can create more games to sell even more digital goods, but it takes too much development time. How about using other companies to utilize BitCash? Like being able to pay for groceries at Walmart using the Bitcash altcoin. That can work!] Vince thought while changing his clothes for the day.


    He understood that manufacturing physical goods was only feasible if outsourced to foreign nations. Still, Vince decided to push his advantage in this new life and invest in AI-manufacturing, like the norm in production powerhouses like China and the USA, in 2021.


    Vince called Hudson and tasked Hudson to recruit experienced engineers specializing in artificial intelligence. A group of ten would be a good start for Future Tech''s new project. Next, Vince held a meeting with BitCash via video conference outlining his plans for the new BitCash update.


    "Right now, the amount of Bitcoin Market transactions eclipses what it was before the release of both my games that utilize Bitcoin as its'' main digital currency. So, therefore, I want to expand Bitcash and the BitCash Portal to all consumers, digital or not. Next, Dollar, I''ll assign you to lead the BitCash team together with a promotion though you''ll have to let some go to work on developing the hardware for this new venture.


    I''ve decided to hire expert engineers to design our own artificial intelligence-driven manufacturing suite to reduce labor costs associated with manufacturing ultimately." Vince declared passionately.


    "I''ll need more people to work on the main BitCash Portal eventually now that you''re taking some of them away." Dollar replied.


    "You can work with Hudson to hire more staff. I permit you to form a sub-team under your current department you can fill with as many people you need." Vince responded reassuringly.


    Hudson joined the video conference call midway through notifying Vince and Dollar regarding the ten new AI specialists.


    Vince didn''t care how much they would get paid and trusted Hudson that it was a fair deal. In addition, Future Tech provided recruits access to their secure repository to collaborate with the development as standard procedure.


    After the hours-long video conference meeting, Vince decided to relax around his new mansion at Barton Creek.


    Vince went to school and the gym for a week with his bodyguard and driver, spending most of his days on homework and designing the new products planned.


    It was winter vacation, and most of his friends decided to travel abroad with their families.


    Vince was glad his friends were enjoying their hard-earned income. However, he kept working while formulating ideas regarding the expansion of BitCash and decided to deal with the big players in e-commerce first while Future Tech''s production team was developing the hardware solution to be manufactured.


    The new project was called the BitCash wallet and would be the size of a traditional credit card. So even if the user had only a few cents in their debit bank account, users would only need enough Bitcash in their wallet.


    The portal would automatically pay for the traditional transaction as an intermediary and deduct the Bitcash from the user''s account.


    Bitcash being equal to a dollar made the existing system a lot easier.


    [Still, manufacturing will take a few months before users can receive one in the mail.] Vince pondered.


    He tasked Ralph with opening accounts in major e-commerce payment portals like PayPal and AliPay.


    At the same time, David helped Vince negotiate favorable terms with the big companies to integrate Bitcash in their payment networks.


    A week later, an update to the BitCash Portal app notified users of using Bitcash to buy products online using PayPal and AliPay, including other smaller payment methods.


    BitCash itself would back the transactions to avoid exploiting the service and protecting users. Many of the players were thrilled knowing they could buy stuff online without the hassle of selling Bitcash for Bitcoin and then selling the Bitcoin on the market before actually being able to buy things from third parties.


    Fees were a bit expensive but were more than worth it for the convenience. The update shook the online community with viral posts on social media and videos from random people explaining how massive this change was.


    Memes were flooding the internet about the viability of getting paid with Bitcash instead of real currency and utilizing Future Studios'' video game to farm Bitcash. As a result, War Online became even more popular, with new players trying to hop on the bandwagon before it could leave them behind.


    Guilds recruited skilled players in droves to monopolize the battlegrounds and their rewards, maximizing Bitcash profits for themselves.


    A few War Online developers suggested providing players with free tools to create in-game game items during a creative meeting.


    Future Studios would pay modders with Bitcash for approved designs, practically outsourcing plenty of work in the process.


    Another recent news came as War Online players recently discovered crypto-backed (NFT) unique in-game items dropped from the ''God of War'' raid wing in the middle of the battlegrounds. As a result, players would have to fight every other guild and alliance for a one-time chance in securing the raid access every 24 hours.


    A few new items were floating around the market and sold for thousands of BTC and Bitcash. These essential items allowed players to gain an edge over other strong players within the battlegrounds to further their own goals and flaunt wealth at the same time.


    EDITED


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 Chapter 18 - Birth Of An Esport

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    War Online: Arena was ready to be released after months of development, in partnership with Epic Games, and the result of Future Studio''s continuous efforts.


    The game mode concept was pretty simple, but Vince was very particular with latency responsiveness and server performance.


    The localization team had already updated the game with 18 different language packs for users to choose from before the new major release.


    Vince decided to have David contact video streaming services like Twitch and YouTube to negotiate broadcasting rights for their new competitive mode.


    Future Studios also signed a deal with existing esports leagues to host the event worth $10 million. Additionally, Future Studios posted an announcement on their website and Reddit regarding the upcoming update.


    There would be a professional league for the new game mode with a prize purse of 5 million Bitcash with 1 million going to the winning team.


    It was a 5v5 version of the battlegrounds with leaderboards and skill-based matchmaking, among other neat features.


    The teams would also earn in-game rewards throughout the league that their main characters could use outside of the arena, like in the battlegrounds or raids.


    The arena would showcase the best players in the game purely based on skill and understanding of the meta. People on social media were excited to see what the update offered after reading the announcements.


    Online posts were going viral, and team recruitment was already underway. In addition, famous live streaming personalities online were given sponsorship deals to play and promote the new arena mode.


    The update went live a day after the announcement, with the open qualifiers happening a week later. Gaming news outlets reported on War Online: Arena and the hype train grew further and further.


    Established esports teams started practicing and creating video content to promote their organizations. Even popular gaming orgs from other games like COD and DotA expanded, focusing on War Online: Arena, based on all the buzz from the gaming media outlets.


    Dollar contacted Vince via video conference call regarding expanding the BitCash network to support the millions of new users.


    Vince gave Dollar''s request approval and funding, and he started the expansion project immediately after.


    "You should also expand the Bitcoin Bank. Contact some German, U.S, and Singaporean banks with the help of Ralph and David.", Vince replied before dismissing his BitCash executive.


    "Hello, everybody! Welcome to Esports Daily. My name is Ashley and here with me today is the team captain of Prime Alliance, Fortis. Thank you for joining us in discussing War Online Arena and the professional league or APL, Fortis. Can you tell me how Prime Alliance is preparing for the open qualifiers?" Ashley asked over the microphone.


    "As many active players know, the Prime Alliance professional team collaborates between five top guilds providing their best player to compete. Our fellow guildmates have been assisting the team with scrimmage matches and developing the meta. The team requires players to use varied weapons, skills, and traits to gain a strategic advantage over opponents, and we''ve been hard at work getting this right." Fortis replied as he acted professionally in front of the camera.


    "Which teams do you think will be competing for the top seeds in the upcoming qualifiers?" Ashley asked curiously.


    "Other than Prime Alliance, I feel like Blitz from Germany, Nimbus from China, and Blizzard from Russia will do the best among all the teams," Fortis replied.


    The show continued for another hour before Vince decided to turn the live stream off. Vince checked the War Online user data and found close to 100 million concurrent players shattering all existing video game records.


    [Localizing the game to Chinese, South Korean, Spanish, and Russian was the best decision. It seems like everybody is either practicing or grinding to gain glory for their guild, alliance, and country.] Vince thought.


    The popularity of War Online stems from the cross-platform feature, but most professional players prefer playing on a desktop with a keyboard and mouse or controller. The touchscreen controls are decent but are considered not as good as other options by most players.


    Vince then received financial reports from Ralph and decided to read them. Future Studios and BitCash raked in $200 million after expenses since he last checked, coming from various sources such as transactions fees and cash shop items sales in War Online.


    [Having a diverse revenue portfolio is truly one of the best strategies in increasing profits.] So Vince pondered while counting Future Tech''s hard-earned cash.


    The percentage of revenue from the video games was slightly lower than transactions from online stores like eBay. Nevertheless, the business'' combined total value is estimated to pass $1 billion by the end of the year.


    Vince then tasked half of Future Studios to focus on further development, while the other half would support the Arena Professional League.


    A week had passed, and the APL''s opening ceremony went live on all the live streaming platforms. Future Studios subtitled the broadcast, and other markets like China enjoyed a localized broadcast allowing more people to enjoy the ceremony in their native language.


    "Welcome to our grand opening ceremony for the Arena Pro League Season 1. There will be more than 10,000 teams fighting for the top 32 seeds to qualify for the playoffs. Future Studios will hold the live grand finals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles in three months. The first qualifying game we''ll be watching is Prime Alliance versus God''s Temple. Please listen to our game analysts while we wait for the match to start.", the show host said with confidence.


    The game started 15 minutes later. Fortis, the team captain of Prime Alliance, chose to play with sword and shield, utilizing taunts and battle auras to support his team.


    "Fortis is the best tank in North America. Watch him closely. It looks like he wants to start the team fight with his shield crush. Oh! He landed the bash hit directly on Drax, the main offensive player for God''s Temple. That initiation is a colossal blunder for God''s Temple, and it looks like all five of them will fall soon enough.", the shout caster said with vigor over the broadcast.


    Prime Alliance won the best of three matches 2-0 and moved up the qualifying rankings. The competitive War Online community played thousands of league games, and Future Studios broadcasted only the most exciting matches involving popular teams live on Twitch and YouTube.


    Following league matches were to be played every weekend until the top 32 solidifies their spot in the rankings.


    Vince stopped watching after Prime Alliance played and continued working. He was used to working and collaborating with people via video conference calls, but the business had grown so large that it was getting more challenging to manage.


    Vince decided to invest in an office space located in downtown Austin where all his employees could work. Vince instructed Ralph and David with this critical task during their daily meetings.


    EDITED


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 Chapter 19 - Future Tech Building

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    Ralph and David started bidding on office buildings located in downtown Austin. Most of the bids started at $50 million, and they were able to purchase a recently vacated office space with an available occupancy of 8,000 employees.


    Some of the local contractors collaborating with Future Studios decided to move into the building and paid fair rental fees in exchange.


    The building''s network infrastructure and all other necessary upgrades cost $25 million, and the total cost amounted to around $100 million.


    Vince renamed the office building to "Future Tech Headquarters" and asked everyone involved in his projects to move in as soon as possible. In addition, Future Tech''s partners like Epic Games and other contracted companies sent some personnel to work at the Future Tech building to collaborate on specific assignments.


    It took a month for most people to move, including the BitCash team from Silicon Valley. Dollar bought a house in Vince''s current neighborhood, and some others opted to live in apartments around the building downtown.


    Some unused office space would be utilized for the AI manufacturing system when it eventually becomes available.


    It was Christmas time, and Vince planned a big party at the office for everyone. His friends would arrive from their travels in a few days and would be able to attend the Christmas party.


    Price added security personnel to man the Future Tech building. He was also heavily involved in designing and installing the new security systems while inspired by the Swiss bank security protocols and his military background. Unfortunately, the building was quite large, and Price had to recruit 100 more people for the security team.


    Vince had the highest floor converted to a living space for himself to hang out and entertain guests as a bachelor pad.


    The design was quite nice and modern looking, created by one of the game environment designers from Future Studios. The living space had a Cyberpunk 2077 vibe like the one Mayor Peralez lived in but bigger.


    Christmas day came, and everyone enjoyed the parties thrown for each department. Then, Vince went around the building to greet his employees with a merry Christmas.


    He entrusted Hudson to provide all of the employees a bonus appropriate for their position in the company that cost $20 million in total.


    As a Christmas present, he recommended that all of his employees invest in Bitcoin by buying some before the value shoots up astronomically in ten years or start Bitcoin mining operations as a side gig. His employees took his words at heart, considering Vince''s insight in building a successful business like Future Tech.


    Vince had earned their respect a long time ago and was proud of their achievements as a company. He spent time with Leah, his friends, and their families at the newly furnished penthouse.


    His mother and some other parents still couldn''t believe how so much had changed for the better since Vince bought his first computer all those months ago.


    They were slowly getting used to their new lifestyle and adapting to the needs of their talented children. Finally, Kyle, Jessica, Sarah, and Rick persuaded their parents to let them home school next year.


    Some seniors graduating soon who worked for Future Tech decided to attend local universities instead of leaving the state, giving them time to work at the office part-time. It was convenient enough because Austin had the best universities in Texas.


    A month passed, and it was the end of January 2012. The Arena Pro League was gaining more popularity, and rankings were already shaping up with Prime Alliance on top of the leaderboards.


    The BitCash team had finished developing the Bitcash Wallet and would need to start manufacturing soon.


    The engineering department was close to producing the AI manufacturing suite and was only waiting for a few components to arrive in February.


    Hudson kept busy and recruited more engineers to maintain and support the manufacturing department for current and upcoming projects.


    He also proposed restructuring Future Technologies as a corporation, and Vince instructed him to work with David and Ralph to finish the restructuring process without a hitch.


    Due to the growing popularity of Future Tech, plenty of financial stock analysts has been theorizing how valuable the company would be in the public stock market.


    Vince decided not to go public until the company had no choice and needed more funding he could not provide and steered away from the idea of an IPO.


    Revenue was up yet again since last month, and the business is $250 million liquid currently.


    Finally, the last of the required components arrived at the headquarters, and the engineers started building the first few AI manufacturing drones.


    The drones varied in size and could manufacture all sorts of products provided raw materials were available.


    Unfortunately, Future Tech could only utilize a few drones with the headquarters'' current computing power as Vince didn''t want to use the public cloud to power their proprietary AI.


    Nevertheless, the AI drones started manufacturing Bitcash Wallets in batches, and Future Tech announced a pre-sale on the website and social media platforms.


    The Bitcash wallet was an expensive piece of technology and would sell for $100 each. Customers could use the wallets at any store that accepts debit or credit cards.


    It also came with an account contained within the customer sub-layer of the Bitcoin Banks located in plenty of countries worldwide.


    Since installing the first one in Switzerland, Future Tech invested heavily in the Bitcoin Bank system.


    Future Tech needed more computing power to deploy more drones soon. [It would be expensive to deal with semiconductor companies. Designing and engineering new microprocessors would be costly but could also be the next business venture.] Vince pondered.


    So he called Hudson to recruit some experts in the semiconductor industry and asked him to throw money around if required.


    The Bitcash wallet was selling like hotcakes, especially to War Online veterans. Wallet holders enjoyed privileges like lower transaction fees and a reward system. However, unlike buying Bitcoin, Bitcash required associating an account with the transaction.


    Any violators of the user agreement can be pursued in court and would never regain access to BitCash or the Bitcoin Bank, which protected other users'' and Future Tech''s interests.


    Future Technologies was now the biggest client in the Lewis-Jacobs portfolio, and some significant changes occurred at the law firm recently.


    Ms. Kemp went through security at the headquarters and found herself meeting Vince at the penthouse living room.


    "I would like to thank you for choosing our law firm when you started your business. Future Tech''s success propelled my portfolio among all the partners, and Mr. Jacobs promoted me to name partner. As a result, the law firm is now called Kemp-Jacobs. I can''t thank you enough, Vince." Marcia said before hugging him.


    "I appreciate the kind words, but it''s not a big deal. David and the entire law firm had been very accommodating. I wouldn''t have found people as reliable as the ones Lewis-Jacobs recommended. Excuse me, Kemp-Jacobs.", Vince replied before Ms. Kemp looked for Leah to thank her as well.


    EDITED


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 Chapter 20 - Settling In

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    The engineering department requested Vince procure a few high-precision industrial CNC machines to manufacture more complex components the AI drones couldn''t create yet.


    Vince gave them approval and funding for the purchase. However, it would take a few weeks until the machines arrived from Germany.


    Hudson was able to recruit around fifty semiconductor specialists for the engineering department.


    [I don''t know much in engineering, so I''ll have to trust Hudson with his decision.] So Vince thought while familiarizing himself with the new employees.


    He had the engineering department start designing the custom processors for the AI-driven drones as soon as they arrived.


    Vince had to compromise and bought supercomputers from Japan and filled one of the basement floors, with ten units costing $20 million, including the installation.


    These computers would serve the AI drones manufacturing Bitcash wallets, which sold out during pre-orders.


    The Future Tech Headquarters slowly transformed into the most secure location in Austin, with newly manufactured flying security drones patrolling the area.


    Price designed them to alert the central security system when the drone detected intruders in the building.


    Vince focused on school work and learning from the Future Tech experts in different fields of study while managing the business from his penthouse office.


    Vince had been involved in development less and less now that he had hundreds of employees.


    [My true advantage is knowledge of the future, and not my skills and talents. I can do much more now with plenty of available capital. A far cry from when I just reincarnated.] Vince pondered while looking out his office window.


    Vince took the elevator down one floor and greeted a pretty receptionist.


    Future Tech provided the floor to David and his legal staff as their offices. "Good day, Mr. Dalton. May I know how I can help?" the receptionist asked.


    "Good day, Stacy. You don''t have to call me Mr. Dalton. Vince is fine. Is David in his office right now?" he asked.


    "David just arrived an hour ago. I can show you to his office if you''d like, Vince," Stacy replied.


    "Thanks but no need. I know that way." Vince declared before heading deeper into the law offices.


    He walked into David''s office to talk about some expansion ideas and strategies Vince knew worked from his knowledge of the future.


    "I want Future Studios to be more involved with War Online and Arena Pro League. Policing our user agreement is a top priority. I don''t want to see any cheating, match-fixing, or other violations. The game is doing well and is a huge cash cow for us. These issues can potentially destroy our game, and I''ll hold your team responsible for this." Vince stated seriously.


    "I understand, Vince. The team has already assigned a few community ambassadors heavily involved with the game on social media platforms like Reddit and YouTube. We''ll deal with any problems within the community accordingly." David replied confidently.


    "I trust in your decisions, David. However, I would suggest also forming a committee comprised of influential figures in the War Online community like someone from Daily Esports, for example." Vince instructed.


    "Consider it done.", David replied positively.


    Vince left the legal office floor and took the elevator another floor down towards the engineering offices.


    Vince asked one of the engineers if they had settled in well and if their department still needed more equipment.


    "We only need those CNC machines and plenty of materials, Vince. These AI drones are amazing. Once we get them upgraded, we''ll be able to manufacture much more complex components." the lead engineer named Patel, an Indian-American AI specialist, replied.


    "That''s good to hear, Patel. But, don''t be shy and ask Hudson or me for anything your department requires.", Vince declared.


    Vince visited BitCash one floor below, speaking to Dollar for a few minutes before moving towards Future Studios another level down to check up on his friends.


    Vince bought a cappuccino from a Starbucks that rented one of the ground-level spaces. He paid for the coffee with his Bitcash wallet, and the cashier took payment as she would typically do for other customers.


    [It looks like people are getting used to seeing and using the new Bitcash wallets.] So Vince pondered while enjoying his espresso.


    Vince then bought some food from Chipotle next to the Starbucks and returned to his penthouse office.


    [I can afford a chef, but fast food is my jam. Force of habit, I suppose] Vince thought.


    He spent some time reading and learning more about artificial intelligence while eating his tacos. In addition, he would watch the Arena Pro League during his downtime as a hobby.


    More players had varying cosmetic armor and weapon skins because of the new loot boxes added to the game. Instead of buying items directly from the cash shop, players can purchase loot boxes that provide cosmetic items of different rarities.


    Most were designs introduced by the community using the free modding tools released by Future Studios and Epic Games.


    Loot boxes were cheaper for players who wanted a chance at a random item worth next to nothing or very expensive on the BitCash market, practically gambling.


    Vince wanted to expand gameplay for casual players of War Online, thinking about adding features he loved in video games he loved.


    [The game revolves around combat. War Online could be more appealing to a mass audience if more lifestyle gameplay options were available. For example, you could already build bases as a home for your main character, but what if you could design a house in-game to hang around with friends.] Vince thought.


    He started writing down some suggestions for the new War Online update. Vince discussed it with the Future Studios staff after writing the initial draft.


    "Vince, these ideas are amazing, but War Online''s player base mainly enjoys combat gameplay. I suggest creating a new game instead of diluting War Online." Kyle stated.


    Kyle was the junior executive at Future Studios, supported by Tim Sweeney and the rest of the game dev staff.


    "You make a good point, Kyle. I feel like Future Studios should also appeal to casual players, though.", Vince replied,


    Wingin'' Chicken was a casual game, but it was too simple and had limited potential.


    "Do we have enough developers to support War Online''s development and create a new game from scratch?" Vince asked.


    "Future Studios can halve its manpower and be able to start creating a new game but finishing it would be a different story.", Kyle replied.


    "What if we update our War Online toolset with more functions to collaborate with users with art design for our new game?". Vince asked.


    "That would help our design team, but the technical team will require more people eventually.", Kyle replied.


    "I understand. Your team can start working on the new project. I''ll talk to Hudson about adding more developers soon.", Vince instructed.


    [It looks like stagnation will never be a problem for my business. I''m already fulfilling one of the promises I made before reincarnating.] Vince thought.


    EDITED


    Read novel online free fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 21 - End Of School Year

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    Chapter 21 - End of the School Year


    Ralph called Vince to schedule a meeting at the penthouse.


    "Good day, Vince. Thanks for meeting with me. I wanted to talk to you regarding a business proposal." Ralph said respectfully.


    "No worries. Tell me what you need, Ralph." Vince replied.


    "I know you focus on the development and path of the business and not worry much about the company''s financials. Future Tech has plenty of expenses like salaries, equipment, and raw materials but still holds so much cash we''re wasting just piling up," Ralph explained.


    "Get to the point, Ralph," Vince ordered.


    "I propose creating a new department that invests part of our liquid cash in the stock markets.", Ralph replied.


    "I agree with your sentiments. An investment entity would benefit Future Tech''s portfolio in the long run. Do you need help from Dollar and the BitCash team?" Vince asked.


    "Dollar is a talented crypto market dev and analyst, but the stock markets are different. So I need your approval to recruit market traders from a few Wall Street investment groups." Ralph said.


    "Approved. You can talk to Hudson regarding the recruitment. When the team is ready, I''ll allow half of our liquid cash fund to be invested. I''ll also recommend some stocks and businesses worth investing in." Vince replied while thinking about the most successful businesses in his past life.


    "Thank you for hearing me out. I won''t disappoint you.", Ralph stated reverently.


    The lead accountant left after the meeting, and Vince decided to return home for the weekend.


    [I noticed some admiration in Ralph''s tone. It does make sense he thinks so highly of me. I''m probably the most successful person under the age of 18. I should check how much cash the business has on hand, considering it got Ralph so worked up.] Vince thought.


    Vince opened the latest financial reports from his secure email that itemized a total of $1.25 billion in liquid revenue, mostly from transactions fees on the BitCash network from players and regular users.


    The new Bitcash wallets have all been pre-ordered as well. The Bitcoin Bank core layer contained around 20 Million BTC, and Vince also decided to sell a quarter of the amount on the Bitcoin Market.


    There can only be 21 million BTC in existence, and most of the supply has already been mined by crypto prospectors due to the BitCash portal and how the transaction system was designed.


    Vince wanted more BTC to circulate in the market instead of hoarding most of it. So he instructed BitCash to sell 5 million BTC slowly in the next month.


    Kemp-Jacobs negotiated with the New York Stock Exchange and the SEC to eventually allow BitCash to sell options such as Bitcoin commodity futures. Perfect for the numerous crypto traders who have adopted Future Tech''s new and ingenious finance process.


    Financial vehicles like futures were heavily regulated and would require the government''s cooperation, leaving Kemp-Jacobs with plenty of billable hours.


    There were dozens of Bitcoin Banks worldwide serving the BitCash network and ready for the next update.


    [This new feature should solidify Bitcoin''s status in the global financial market.] Vince pondered profoundly.


    Ralph, who suggested using their cash laying around, gave Vince another idea.


    [Future Tech should start supporting charities and other programs to help society and the less fortunate. I''ve never been in a position to create a positive impact in my community until now.] Vince thought.


    He met with David at the office and discussed the philanthropic idea. Then, of course, his legal counsel agreed and immediately worked to create a charity fund meant for organizations like Red Cross and United Way, among others.


    Hudson learned about the new fund a few hours later and looked for Vince to suggest something similar.


    "I heard from David we''re supporting charities now. That''s great, but I want to suggest another use for our funds.", Hudson stated in a serious tone.


    Vince gave him a look of approval, and Hudson continued his pitch.


    "I suggest funding vital research projects in universities around the world. We''ll provide them with resources to complete their research in exchange for the use and application of their findings." Hudson proposed.


    [This idea can also help with Future Tech''s growing need for talent.] Vince thought.


    "Your idea is approved. These researchers should be given a career opportunity in Future Tech as well, should they decide to work in the private sector." Vince replied sincerely.


    "I''ll see it done." Hudson happily stated.


    [Future Tech hiring professionals straight from Future Tech-funded university programs is a sensible idea, for sure. My young boss certainly knows his stuff.] the 40-year old Caucasian-American staff manager pondered.


    The high-precision CNC machines arrived, and all the AI drones were starting to be upgraded by the engineering and AI development team.


    Patel and his engineering team estimated the microprocessor design to be ready for manufacturing within the next few months.


    Vince attended school as he had been since winter vacation. The school year was almost over, and most students focused on final exams.


    During one of the homeroom sessions, Ms. Miller announced that she would leave the school and start teaching at the University of Texas while continuing her math research.


    Most of the students were bummed to lose a beloved teacher but were happy to see Ms. Miller smiling these days again.


    After the class, Vince approached Ms. Miller to offer her research project funding from Future Tech.


    "Thanks! I gladly accept the offer, Vince. Now that my ex-husband is in prison, I can pursue my professional goals again. He always held me back after we had our son." Ms. Miller replied.


    "You''re lucky that the university funding program of Future Tech got greenlit recently," Vince replied before leaving the class with his friends and colleagues, now.


    Vince finished the school year with decent grades and was already getting ready for the Arena Pro League playoffs in L.A.


    He invited all of his friends to attend the event with him, paid for by Future Studios. Of course, all of them brought their families as well.


    At the FT Offices, Vince held a meeting with the Future Studios personnel joining him at the live playoffs for technical support.


    "Is everything ready for the event? I want it to go as smoothly as possible. The Grand Finals is our first impression showing the world that the APL is a spectacle of a show." Vince asked seriously.


    "The organizers and our liaisons have already set up the stage and equipment. In addition, Price will ensure security in and around the arena with his team." Kyle replied.


    "Alright. We''ll fly on chartered flights tomorrow morning. Everyone, rest well." Vince instructed.


    "Understood." his directors replied in unison.


    The following day, an entourage of people arrived at a private hangar to board the private jets that Vince rented for his guests and staff.


    The planes arrived at noon while the passengers watched the bustling Californian city under a clear blue sky.


    [The City of Lost Angels will be the birthplace of champions.] Vince pondered in excitement.


    EDITED


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 Chapter 22 - Grand Finals

    Vince and his friends didn''t have much to do as the bodyguards unloaded the luggage off the jets.


    "I never would have imagined flying on a private plane before. It''s the same for you guys, right?" Kyle said.


    Jessica, Rick, and Sarah agreed with a look of pride and satisfaction on their faces.


    Vince''s friends understood that they held unique positions within Future Tech, working fewer hours than the rest of the company but always working hard to prove their worth.


    "The Arena Pro League Finals will be your first public appearance. Do you feel worried or anything?" Price asked.


    Unless Price was busy with his departmental duties, he still preferred guarding Vince whenever in public.


    "I feel confident and excited. I hate to say it, but I''m rich now, and money can solve most of my problems." Vince replied honestly.


    "Price, You do know that another bodyguard in the security team can accompany me. You''re practically an executive in the company now.", Vince said.


    "You gave me my biggest break outside the military community, Vince. You hired me to protect you at first, and I am proud to perform my duty, especially during an important occasion like the Finals." Price declared.


    "Alright. Then I hope you can drive a dual-clutch seven-speed manual", Vince replied with a grin.


    A local exotic car dealership parked an unusual yet fast-looking car next to a stretch limousine at the hangar.


    "Is that a Koenigsegg Agera?" Price surprisingly asked.


    "No, Price, it''s the new Agera R that just came out this month. The first and only one in the States." Vince replied excitedly.


    One of the Swedish Future Tech engineers Hudson recently hired was acquainted with Christian Von Koenigsegg.


    Vince ordered an Agera R as soon as he learned about it from his staff manager. He was always a big fan of Koenigsegg vehicles because of the technological innovations anyone can find in their cars.


    Koenigsegg was also interested in AI drone manufacturing and ordered one of the first batches that Future Tech would lease in the future.


    "I''m going to love driving this. I can already feel it.", Price stated confidently.


    "Just get in the car and drive, Price," Vince replied.


    The group arrived at the hotel half an hour later. They enjoyed their luxury suites for a day before the grand opening ceremony the following day.


    Future Studios provided the Arena Pro League playoff teams with rooms at the same hotel, including their travel expenses.


    Vince wanted to make sure the professional players felt appreciated while competing for his new entertainment spectacle.


    The organizers also prepared practice rooms for the teams at the hotel''s multi-purpose halls.


    The Grand Finals utterly sold out the Staples Center for the event. In addition, the live broadcasts for the qualifiers had been an enormous success on all the live stream platforms.


    Future Studios decided to incorporate traditional broadcasts like ESPN on television for the playoffs and finals for more potential viewers.


    There was too much buzz on the internet, and the giant sports entities were curious how the APL would pan out in viewership and engagement.


    The finals will have 20,000 live audiences and an estimated 300 million viewers on all platforms. Sponsorships were fighting each other for a chance to be advertised on the broadcast.


    Vince decided to advertise the companies like Epic and PayPal that have collaborated with Future Tech for a long time aside from promoting BitCash and the new AI manufacturing suite.


    The APL was holding the semi-finals Saturday and the finals on Sunday,


    Price drove the Agera R towards the red carpet, waiting for Vince and his friends at the Staples Center entrance.


    Security operators drove the team limousines towards the back of the convoy on the way to the Staples Center.


    Crowds surrounded the entrance and were cheering for their beloved professional players as the convoy came closer.


    "Hey, Look at the sweet-looking car towards the front of the convoy. I wonder who''s in it?" an audience member asked.


    "I heard the owner of Future Tech and Future Studios will be at the opening ceremony. So it''s probably him.", one of the companions replied.


    Everyone familiar with Wingin'' Chicken and War Online was aware of the teenage prodigy that created their beloved games. Still, civilians knew not much publicly about Vince Dalton.


    The Agera R stopped at the entrance, and two people exited the vehicle after the two doors opened upwards.


    One was a robust yet clever-looking man wearing a tailored suit.


    The other was a young man wearing semi-casual attire and a few expensive accessories in his teens.


    [I''ve had no chance to ball out like this in my past life, but better late than never.] Vince thought.


    Vince gave a brief speech in the middle of the arena, hyping up the teams and viewers.


    After the loud cheers from 20,000 fans, seven jets piloted by the Blue Angels performed an airshow above the stadium for the viewers watching outside the arena.


    Future Studios treated viewers inside the arena to a drone airshow designed and implemented by Patel and his department.


    LEDs covered the drones and danced in unison, forming images of War Online battles.


    The show was Patel''s idea to showcase their advanced AI technology after much investment from Future Tech.


    After a few hours, the APL concluded the playoffs, and the finalists were decided.


    Prime Alliance from North America versus Clear Sky from South Korea.


    The Korean and local fans were ecstatic to watch the finals on Sunday.


    Fortis performed two "BitCash Play of the Match" and was awarded a $10,000 cash prize for each. In contrast, Charlatan from Clear Sky performed one during the playoffs.


    Vince''s group spent some time enjoying the hotel''s amenities while the finalists were preparing for the last match.


    Fans highly anticipated the final match of the record-breaking season of a new esport. Whales placed enormous bets in Las Vegas, Macao, and other casino cities worldwide.


    An intricate show depicting pro player characters fighting through the qualifiers and the playoffs served as an introduction for the finals. Then, both teams walked towards the two booths at the center of the arena.


    The match started with Fortis performing his infamous [Shield Crush] from stealth provided by his team''s support player character.


    The opposing Clear Sky support was stunned and was about to die, but Charlatan performed [Blinding Cloud] to save his teammate.


    Both teams fought a close series as they exchanged game wins, tit for tat.


    The best of seven matches went the entire distance, and the intensity grew to a climax.


    Prime Alliance''s fortifications were crumbling against Clear Sky''s assault.


    Clear Sky was ferocious in their attempts to destroy Prime Alliance''s core to win the game.


    Prime Alliance took a final stand as Fortis controlled his domineering player character and led the defense.


    Fortis initiated the last team fight and caught Charlatan off guard by flanking across the forest in the middle of the map.


    He used [Divine Shout] and forcibly took aggro from the entire Clear Sky lineup.


    Fortis sacrificed himself to give his teammate, HeavenlyLight, the chance to hit [Blackhole] on all their enemies.


    Fortis died as [Blackhole] was cast. Yet, his team''s offensive players were able to team wipe Clear Sky a few seconds later, essentially winning the game and the match.


    The crowd erupted in cries and cheers as their local team won the APL Season 1. The game broadcasters were going insane, as were everybody else in the arena.


    Vince awarded Prime Alliance 5 million Bitcash and a bonus of $1 million in cash for the spectacular comeback during the last game.


    Future Studios awarded the rest of the other teams in the top 32 with portions of the 10 million Bitcash prize pot.


    Future Studios also announced the formation of the Arena Pro League, as a series, instead of a one-time event.


    Vince awarded the top 16 teams a franchise spot worth at least $10 million each for blazing the trail in War Online: Arena.


    The team organizations within the top 16 were elated with this sudden news and were much happier than they were previously.


    Vince was about to leave the venue until a familiar man he had never met before approached him.


    "I didn''t expect to meet you here, Mr. Musk.", Vince stated respectfully.


    "It was a riveting final match, Vince. But, don''t be so modest, and please call me Elon." the man replied.


    "Price and I are getting something to eat. Care to join us?" Vince asked.


    "Gladly," Elon replied.


    EDITED


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 Chapter 23 - Space, The New Frontier

    Elon suggested a fancy restaurant where they could eat and talk.


    Price drove Vince in the Agera R and opted for valet parking.


    The valet was terrified to park such an expensive car, but Vince didn''t care much.


    "This place offers excellent food and some privacy," Elon said.


    The group spent some time getting to know each other while eating dinner.


    [This guy is 100% what I expected. He''s rather odd and is the same way he presents himself to the public as he is in private.] Vince thought.


    "That Agera R is a beautiful piece of machinery but have you tried electric vehicles? The instant torque available to the driver is exhilarating." Elon declared.


    "I''ve heard about Tesla and your roadster, but it''s not my style. Instead, the EV technology itself is what interests me." Vince replied.


    "Electric is the future. Oh, this reminds me of my business proposition." Elon said.


    "I''ve heard of Future Tech''s new autonomous construction and manufacturing drones called ''Hive Mind'' and am interested in procuring some.


    Elon explained SpaceX''s future ambitious projects, such as reusable rockets.


    [This could be to my advantage. Price had already proposed buying satellites for the BitCash network, but the available ones in orbit were outdated and useless.] Vince thought.


    "I''ve done my market research and have concluded that Future Tech employs the best artificial intelligence developers and engineers in the entire world, and SpaceX also lacks the level of autonomy we require," Elon added.


    "You''re asking a lot from me, Elon. Artificial intelligence is a core business of Future Tech. I can''t just share it without compensation." Vince said with a poker face.


    "I can give you a 10% stake in SpaceX for the development of our rocket autonomy." Elon offered.


    "This isn''t enough. Our ''Hive Mind'' will be able to manufacture your rockets more effectively without the constraints of traditional equipment.


    It can also manufacture mass-produced vehicles for Tesla.


    I''ve heard you''ve been planning to sell more Teslas to the general public. Hive Mind can help you deliver your product on schedule with the highest quality." Vince declared.


    "You drive a hard bargain, Vince. I''ll offer a 10% stake in SpaceX and Tesla, including discounts for future satellite launch missions." Elon replied.


    "That sounds much better. Right, Price". Vince asked jokingly.


    Price choked on his drink for a bit before nodding in confirmation.


    "You can contact Ralph, the department head of our financial division, for further discussion," Vince said.


    "You should stop by SpaceX tomorrow. I''ll show you around the HQ," Elon offered.


    "Sounds good. We''ll see you tomorrow then." Vince replied.


    They bade farewells after dinner and waited for the Agera R.


    It was still in one piece, but the valet who drove it back was sweating profusely.


    Random people took photos of the car and Vince as they were leaving.


    Posts on the internet were popping up with taglines like "Future Tech X Tesla?!" with photos of Vince and Elon leaving the restaurant together.


    Tesla stock soon started rising as the partnership hype went around the internet and newsrooms.


    Vince, Price, and some bodyguards stayed in California while others returned to Austin.


    He called Ralph to discuss Elon''s partnership offer as the finance department would manage it under Ralph.


    Future Tech Holdings have been slowly acquiring stock in major S&P 500 companies.


    Vince had written an investment plan outlining which companies to avoid and which ones to buy at a premium.


    Amazon and Tesla will eventually shoot up in value, while car manufacturers like Volkswagen will decline due to business practice scandals.


    An Agera R parked outside the SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, LA.


    Employees wondered if Elon bought a new car recently and thought he would never replace his Tesla for anything else.


    Two unfamiliar people left the car and erased their initial thoughts.


    Elon''s secretary welcomed the two into the building and brought them to Musk''s office.


    "Good to see you both again. Welcome to my beloved SpaceX." Elon said with a huge smile.


    [This guy is pretty happy today. Probably because of Tesla stock price rising from yesterday.]


    "I''m not as knowledgeable in material science as in software and network engineering, but I''m rather excited to see rocket boosters and spacecraft up close," Vince replied.


    Elon brought them both to a massive hangar. SpaceX stored multiple rocket boosters and spacecraft shells located in this hanger.


    "This is the new Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft. The only reusable rocket in the world." Elon presented proudly.


    "Impressive. How long is the manufacturing process for these spacecraft?" Vince asked.


    "If building one from scratch, it would take around three months for an entire spacecraft," Elon replied.


    Price gave a small chuckle after learning about the long manufacturing time.


    "What''s so funny, Price" Elon asked.


    "It takes too long for SpaceX to produce its only product. The Hive Mind would take only a month to manufacture it at its current configuration but could probably do it within two weeks after the processor upgrade." Price replied.


    "How are you so confident in the Hive Mind?" Elon asked.


    "It may not look it, but I designed the cybersecurity protocols for the Hive Mind. So I have a deep understanding of its capabilities." Price confidently replied.


    "If what you say is true, then I''ll be happier regarding our future partnership.", Elon declared.


    "This is the VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) testing area for the new landing system. Development has been slow, but it hasn''t worked out for us and NASA yet."


    "Falcon 9 and Dragon will require the level of autonomy that Hive Mind exhibits," Elon stated.


    "Your team can contact Patel, the department head engineer for Hive Mind, and the engineering department. Your VTOL system will work flawlessly soon; I can assure you," Vince replied confidently.


    Elon introduced Vince and Price to some executives and department heads at SpaceX while showing him some other areas.


    "Does SpaceX currently produce satellites?" Vince asked.


    "Not currently, but we''ve been planning to for a while now. Most of the satellites we''ll be launching are made by Boeing or Lockheed Martin." Elon replied.


    "Future Tech requires dozens of advanced satellite systems for the expansion of the BitCash and Bitcoin Bank network."


    "I suggest collaborating in the development of new satellites to reduce cost buying them from third parties in the future."


    "The Hive Mind will also manufacture them eventually at a discounted price." Vince offered.


    "Sounds good to me," Elon replied.


    They shook hands before bidding farewell.


    [Space is the new frontier, I guess] Vince thought


    Stats since last checked:


    15 million BTC


    $940 million in Future Tech


    $4 million personally


    300+ employees


    Three company contractors


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 Chapter 24 - Large Purchase

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    Vince and Price flew back to Austin immediately after touring around SpaceX.


    [Many things have changed over the weekend. First, the deal with Elon is enormous, and I''ll need to check on the accounts for Future Tech''s expansion soon.] Vince thought.


    Vince took out a black laptop sporting a sleek design from his briefcase.


    Jessica and the software team had been working on a Future Tech operating system planned for use within the business.


    This laptop is a prototype, and Vince only uses it to review financial reports and access his Bitcoin bank account.


    Rick and Sarah designed the interface after focusing on UX design instead of cash shop products since the release of War Online.


    [Let''s see if Ralph was able to follow through with my suggestions.] Vince thought.


    Dollar had sold 5 million BTC in the past month for $5 billion.


    The market price fluctuated around $1,000. Approximately 14 million BTC remained at the core layer of the Bitcoin bank.


    Even though BitCash had mined all BTC through billions of transactions, mining Bitcoin was still profitable for small-time miners through compensation from the blockchain.


    The blockchain distributes a portion of all the Bitcoin processed on one block to miners who assist the blockchain.


    Dollar had purchased many large mining operations and converted them to Future Tech standards, adding to the existing geo Bitcash network.


    BitCash had bought an aging satellite to store the core layer backup. It would be the first of many Future Tech satellites eventually.


    [Advanced satellites will require custom processors and components to be designed from scratch.] Vince thought


    [Good thing Ralph went ahead and splurged a bit of the newfound cash we had buying ARM for $2 billion.]


    ARM is a UK-based semiconductor firm specializing in designing ''reduced instruction set computing'' or RISC processors.


    ARM''s processors are mainly used in hardware applications like onboard computers for satellites.


    [This is perfect. Ralph and David will get a raise for damn sure!] Vince exclaimed in thought.


    [Kemp-Jacobs has outdone themselves pulling off that procurement. I bet the law firm made like $500 million from that deal alone.] Vince thought.


    There were other smaller acquisitions like stocks in Amazon and Google.


    The business was left with $2 billion liquidity until this month''s revenue cleared.


    The Tesla and SpaceX shares padded Future Tech Holdings even more after the negotiations with Elon.


    Some research projects funded by Future Tech were interesting.


    Ms. Miller''s research project at UT focused on data models and algorithms to interpret information from neurons in the brain.


    She focused her time on algorithmic research while her biochem colleagues worked on brain testing.


    Future Tech provided funds and artificial intelligence support for the project.


    Elon had been interested in this subject for years and started funding the project after learning about it from Vince.


    [I remember Elon going crazy explaining the potential uses of neuron input for disabled individuals and other stuff. I replied, saying it would be insane to play video games in deep-dive.] Vince thought.


    Elon was unimpressed but still found interest in Ms. Miller''s project.


    Though it would take a while, Vince imagined a virtual world built by a high-intelligence AI where players could live out their own fantasy life.


    As soon as the private jet landed, Vince went directly home to see his mother before returning to Future Tech headquarters.


    Vince met Patel to discuss the new semiconductor engineers and designers from ARM.


    The bulk of their staff remained in the UK, but Future Tech needed some here at Austin.


    "Vince, good to see you again. I want to introduce Morgan, the technical lead from ARM." Patel said.


    Vince shook Morgan''s hand and welcomed him and his team to Future Tech.


    "I''m not an expert in semiconductors or artificial intelligence applications, but Future Tech has a simple strategy in developing the Hive Mind."


    "We will upgrade the artificial intelligence with better processors until we reach intelligence levels enough for the AI to design new processors to upgrade itself again."


    "This may be a slow process, but we will eventually reach stage 6 intelligence. I am confident in you guys.", Vince declared.


    Patel and Morgan agreed and stated the first scheduled upgrade would be within the month.


    It was summer vacation in 2012. Aside from work, Vince continued training at Tom''s gym with Price and the other security personnel.


    "Vince, The Pro League finals were insane. There were thousands of people watching live, and it was crazy!


    I''ve always dreamed of fighting in front of an enormous crowd like that." Tom said.


    "You''re a great fighter, Tom. I''m confident you''ll be able to reach your goals.", Vince replied reassuringly.


    "Thanks, but it takes more than talent to succeed in the fight game. Promotions are picky with fighters and drive a hard bargain.", Tom replied.


    "Those are barely any issues to me. You practically saved my life, Tom. I''ll gladly promote and sponsor you." Vince offered.


    "You won''t regret this, Vince. I''ll be the UFC champ one day!" Tom exclaimed.


    Vince tasked the Future Studios marketing department to find Tom his first professional fight.


    Tom had to win many fights to gain the recognition of international fighting organizations.


    Future Studios decided to book a local MMA fight in Las Vegas.


    It was a minor organization with a so-so total viewership count, but Vince was willing to splash some cash to promote the fight.


    The fight was scheduled to be a light-heavyweight bout imposing unified rules.


    It was the international standard ruleset for MMA and used by top organizations.


    Future Studios would help broadcast the event using the same process as the Pro League qualifiers.


    The fight will take place in two months at the end of summer vacation.


    Tom Fury versus Adrik Kulikov, the current light-heavyweight champion of the minor organization.


    Future Studios booked a medium-sized entertainment hall at the MGM Hotel, with an option to upgrade if necessary.


    [This fight will be interesting considering it''s Tom''s first fight. I''ve come to appreciate combat arms after my close brush with death. I hope Tom doesn''t get too fazed from the promotions.] Vince thought.


    Stats last time checked:


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $2 Billion in Future Tech


    $4 million personally


    300+ employees


    Five company contractors


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings


    kevinarlt Electric_Jean GrandmasterYu Bountiful_Harvest


    AkiraLight


    Kane_6327


    EDITED


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 Chapter 25 - Upgrade And MMA Fight

    You can read the novel online free at novelhall.com


    Vince was busy working with Patel and the engineering team for the remaining summer vacation, providing support for the Hive Mind upgrade.


    After Hudson expanded the material science division, Future Tech started experimenting with more exotic materials.


    Materials like carbon nanotubes that were more efficient than traditional silicon in semiconductors have been in development in-house.


    Laboratories typically produce carbon nanotubes in small quantities and are unused by major processor manufacturers like TSMC.


    Morgan and Patel were able to apply the Hive Mind AI in upgrading equipment bought from Texas Instruments to produce carbon nanotubes in larger quantities.


    This action voided the warranty of $100 million worth of fabrication equipment, but it was a drop in the bucket for Future Tech, fortunately.


    The headquarters was divided into office space for the 800+ employees living in Austin and systems/manufacturing/fabrication space.


    "Vince, we''ll be able to test the new processor designs incorporating carbon nanotubes soon. After testing, we''ll estimate the manufacturing costs and compare prices to Intel and AMD." Morgan said.


    "We''ll be competing with some of the largest tech companies in the world in this business. Is there any potential operational risk?" Vince asked.


    "Hudson and Patel calculated our potential business risk for the past few months and concluded the Hive Mind AI can meet the market expectations," Morgan replied confidently.


    "Though we''ll need an increase in budget for all the materials the Hive Mind will use," Patel interjected.


    "I''ll have Ralph set up the new budget for Hive Mind after our meeting," Vince replied.


    "The least advanced technology applied in the drones are the batteries. The material science department will have to innovate soon to provide enough battery life and power as we upgrade the Hive Mind." Patel said.


    "I suggest for our engineers to work with Tesla in advancing battery technology for to both our benefit," Vince instructed.


    "I''ll speak to Hudson about the collaboration," Patel replied.


    "Alright, Price and I will be in Las Vegas for Tom''s fight. Contact us if anything is needed." Vince declared.


    A few days after the meeting, Vince and Price boarded a private jet Future Tech had rented. Tom was already in Las Vegas, training for the fight locally.


    Vince and Price spent some time and money around Las Vegas, but as a minor, Vince couldn''t do much anyway.


    The Agera R was on a car hauler truck on the way to Austin, so Vince had to make do with a rented Ferrari 458 Italia from a local exotic car rental business.


    The light heavyweight fight gained a decent amount of spectators based on ticket pre-sales advertised on BitCash and the Pro League Season 2 broadcasts.


    The fight can be watched for free on all major platforms like ESPN or YouTube.


    Vince and Price visited Tom during his last training sessions before the fight.


    "How are you feeling, Tom. Did the promotion get you worried?" Vince asked jokingly.


    "Nah, it''s given me the opposite effect. I''m even more pumped up to show the world I''m the best fighter." Tom replied.


    "Good. We''ll see each other again after the fight." Vince said as he and Price left the Las Vegas gym.


    The event was not as big as the Pro League Season 1 Finals but was massive, considering it was Tom''s first fight.


    The MGM hall was full of spectators interested in seeing how a fighter promoted by Future Studios would do.


    The announcer introduced both fighters in the middle of the circular cage.


    "In the red corner, the current light heavyweight champion, Adrik Kulikov!"


    The local fans were cheering for the champ.


    "In the blue corner, the challenger, Tom Fury!"


    The rest of the crowd started cheering for Tom.


    The referee stepped in between both fighters and confirmed they understood the rules.


    Adrik Kulikov was a wrestling and grappling specialist and had won plenty of Sambo tournaments in Russia.


    [Though Tom is a BJJ brown belt, it would be quite challenging to get the fight to the ground.] Vince thought.


    "This Adrik guy looks though, but I''ve trained with Tom for a long time since he was in middle school. That kid has talent and skill." Price declared.


    Vince and Price watched the fight from the VIP booth. So all the spectators could see them both in the hall.


    The fight started, and Tom immediately threw a few probing strikes at Adrik.


    Adrik was unfazed and returned some strikes at Tom.


    Tom attempted a [double collar tie] and was able to grip Adrik''s neck with both his hands and arms to break his posture.


    Adrik was too experienced to be controlled by a [double collar tie] and instantly gripped one of Tom''s arms using the [2 on 1] technique.


    Tom understood his situation clearly and instantly let go of the [double collar tie] to protect his arm.


    The fight continued for two rounds while exchanging punches and leg kicks.


    Adrik led the fight with more significant strikes and left Tom on the back foot.


    Vince had a worried look as he watched his friend struggling against an experienced fighter.


    [Why do you look so worried, Vince? I can see what Tom is doing while Adrik is entirely unaware. Tom hasn''t attempted a traditional takedown since the start of the fight.] Price commented.


    Two minutes remained during the last round.


    Adrik was confident in winning the fight by the judge''s decision but looked visibly tired.


    During a split-second of Adrik lowering his guard due to exhaustion, Tom took the chance and performed a beautiful [Imanari Roll] catching one of Adrik''s legs.


    Tom held on to the leg for dear life as he transitioned into a [leg entanglement].


    Adrik couldn''t get his leg free and was forced to the ground.


    The referee stopped the fight as soon as Adrik tapped due to a [heel hook].


    The crowd was stunned, watching Tom reverse the situation in less than a few seconds.


    The announcer presented the belt to Tom as he announced the winner, and Tom thanked Future Studios and all the fans who came out and watched his first fight.


    "That was an epic fight, Tom! Congratulations. You''ll be receiving bout offers left and right after that performance." Vince said.


    Price offered his congratulations to Tom before moving on to the after-party.


    [Playing video games seems less exciting than fighting for real. I hope Ms. Miller''s research succeeds soon so I can experience this in deep-dive VR.] Vince pondered.


    Stats last time checked:


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $2 Billion in Future Tech


    800+ employees (Future Studios, Hive Mind AI, ARM, BitCash, Future Security)


    Five company collaborators


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings


    EDITED


    Best novel online free at novelhall.com

 Chapter 26 - New Product Line

    War Online has been continually updated since its release many months ago.


    Updates like beginner tutorials and the main story produced partly by the Hive Mind AI and viewer tools/features to keep Pro League fans engaged have been beneficial in its steady growth.


    The Pro League cross-platform portal featured creators from different countries providing continuous online video content to fans worldwide.


    Also, the fantasy league was a massive hit as it paid out Bitcash for winning.


    Games like LoL, DotA 2, and Starcraft 2 weren''t as popular as in Vince''s previous life because players found them inferior in every way.


    Regular users couldn''t even play competing games on cross-platform.


    Each Arena Pro League season would be around four months and occur twice a year.


    The off-season would broadcast minor league teams vying for a top 32 spot to qualify for the APL.


    Vince ensured that Future Studios would continually provide more content to their existing fanbase and foster more viewers steadily.


    Advertising agencies have noticed quite a while ago that War Online catered to the most valuable demographic, young people aged 18-30.


    Marketing studies found that brands exposed to potential consumers around that age were highly likely to buy their products.


    Large organizations like Samsung and Sony fought for the last 16 franchise spots, and the lowest bid came out to be $200 million.


    [Damn! People are high on War Online.] So Vince thought as he was reading a Future Studios report.


    It was common to see random people walking around Austin wearing Prime Alliance jerseys or cosplayers dressing as their favorite player''s main character.


    [The esports scene in my previous life was niche at best. I would never have imagined War Online to be mainstream.] Vince thought.


    Vince shouldn''t have been surprised. War Online was chock full of game features yet to be explored by other video game developers in 2012.


    Now that summer of 2012 was over; Future Tech had already upgraded the available drone manufacturing suites.


    Future Tech sent Hive Mind version 2 suites to Koenigsegg, SpaceX, and Tesla.


    Future Tech engineers were dispatched, including the equipment on rented cargo planes.


    The engineers would support Future Tech''s partners and continue developing the AI remotely.


    Future Tech was only leasing out the Hive Mind and reserved the right to shut down the suites if necessary remotely.


    Koenigsegg required assistance with developing their innovative ''Free Valve'' system using the Hive Mind AI plus mastering the manufacturing process of their exotic vehicles and engines.


    Christian Von Koenigsegg offerred 10% stake in Koenigsegg Autos after hearing about Vince''s deal with Elon.


    Tesla shared battery and photovoltaic systems technology with Future Tech, allowing the version 2 upgrade to include more efficient batteries for each drone.


    Future Tech would also have to spend development efforts advancing the current technologies provided by Tesla.


    The drones sported the new Future Tech microprocessors designed and developed using Hive Mind AI, simply called AIM.


    Jessica had been hard at work creating a consumer-grade operating system that could fully utilize the AI-driven processing power from AIM with Patel and the engineering team.


    Rick and Sarah continued their UX design success with the beautiful yet straightforward system interfaces.


    While motherboard manufacturers conformed to AIM standards, Future Tech would sell products under its own electronics brand.


    [Apple will regret giving me a headache. I wonder how many Apple users I can eventually convert.] Vince pondered.


    "That was an exciting match to end the Asia conference finals. Congratulations to Clear Sky for achieving the top seed." one of the announcers said.


    "Thank you for tuning in to [Pro League Arena Clash Sundays], but before we leave, Future Studios would like to give the viewers a sneak peek to the future of consumer electronics."


    The audience was treated to a professionally directed commercial featuring the everyday use of new mobile phones, laptops, desktops, and tablets.


    One of Vince''s school seniors working at Future Studios directed the video commercial.


    "Whoa! The phone looks so different. It''s making my iPhone 4 look small." a viewer at a network cafe said to a friend next to him.


    "You can get them in so many different colors too!" the girl at the cafe replied.


    The product line was competitively priced compared to companies like Apple and Samsung.


    The standards and innovative designs were inspired by popular products sold in 2021. These devices boast even more advanced features with the help of AIM processors and Hive Mind manufacturing.


    Vince thought that a press conference was pointless and decided to send sets of Future Tech devices to major consumer technology outlets.


    YouTube channels, tech magazines, and news channels received one of each to review.


    "I don''t know what to say, guys, but this laptop is just superior in every way. The screen quality, high refresh rate, premium build keyboard, and 10Gig ethernet are overkill. In addition, the Future Tech operating system can flawlessly run non-native Linux, Windows, and macOS applications."


    "And this is only the first product I''m reviewing today." the Youtuber added excitedly.


    "The benchmark says it all, folks. I have no idea what kind of voodoo magic Future Tech is working with, but all I can say is rest in peace, Intel and AMD." the reviewer solemnly said.


    "Intense workloads like triple-A games on max settings don''t increase the temperature much. In addition, the specifications state that the AIM processors consist of carbon nanotubes instead of silicon."


    "This provides the device with much better performance and thermodynamic efficiency."


    "The onboard AI will automatically optimize workloads for the user to utilize all the compute cores within the AIM processors completely." The reviewer added.


    Pre-sales on the Future Tech website were ongoing, and the release was planned to be in a month.


    Future Tech had bought a fabrication and manufacturing center outside of Austin in preparation for the product line release.


    Hudson''s team hired 3,000 employees of varying skills and specializations for this new venture.


    Most of the manufacturing will be performed by the Hive Mind, but further development and support will take more staff.


    Hudson had also implemented the incorporation restructuring with the help of Ralph and Kemp-Jacobs.


    All employees were allowed to renew their contract as full employees with benefits and options provided by Future Tech.


    Hudson heeded Vince''s instructions, and the terms negotiated were better than the industry standards.


    Kemp-Jacobs was able to get special exemptions for Vince and his school friends and were allowed to work in the business regularly, after much effort from the law firm.


    Vince became the youngest CEO at 14 years old as articles from Forbes and Time Magazine were being shared around the internet.


    Stats last time checked:


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $2 Billion in Future Tech


    3800+ employees (Future Studios, Hive Mind AI, ARM, BitCash, Future Security)


    Five company collaborators


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings


    EDITED


    You can read the novel online free at novelhall.com

 Chapter 27 - Catching Up

    Read novel online free fast updates at novelhall.com


    Jessica stopped by the penthouse to find Vince.


    She wore casual attire like most Future Tech employees. People see her black hair and Asian features under an oversized beanie.


    A futuristic sliding door made out of a peculiar material slid open for the young American-Korean lady as the security AI recognized Jessica.


    The security AI had been developed by Price and his cybersecurity department in collaboration with Patel and the AI engineers.


    The tiny cameras on the new Future Tech product line, such as the mobile phones and laptops, were embedded within the futuristic material used in upgrading the penthouse.


    "Vince, you have a guest waiting in the living room. Should I serve some beverages to Jessica?" an AI assistant asked Vince.


    "If you will, please. "Tell Jessica I''ll be out shortly, Aiya," Vince replied.


    Aiya was an AI bot assistant that Vince had been working on with the Hive Mind robotics division.


    Vince named his humanoid assistant bot Aiya, rhyming with Leah, the name of his incredible mother.


    Aiya''s intelligence level could only perform simple tasks, limited by the processing power provided by AIM cores.


    The humanoid bot could perform more complex tasks and calculations if connected to a local Hive Mind network.


    Aiya was wearing a blue female butler suit designed by a talented artist in Future Studios.


    The outfit itself looked otherwordly and incomparable to any clothing in 2012.


    "Vince will be out in a moment, Jessica. Would you like something to eat while waiting?" Aiya asked.


    "No need for food, Aiya, but thanks, though," Jessica replied.


    Vince and Patel programmed the butler AI package to talk courteously, and it was only natural to reply to it in kind.


    Vince arrived in the living room wearing semi-casual clothing but was similar in design to Aiya''s.


    It was black-themed instead of blue but still resonated with a futuristic vibe.


    "You''re looking fabulous today, Vince. What are you and Aiya wearing?" Jessica asked curiously.


    "These are designs from the unreleased Future Tech fashion collection. It uses the new fabric that the material science division recently developed." Vince replied.


    Jessica approached Vince to touch the fabric.


    "Wow! It''s so soft to the touch. Does it get cold when you go out at night?" Jessica asked.


    "The material itself has an adaptive temperature function, but it only works where you wear it," Vince replied.


    "I want a set of the collection, Vince! So unfair!" Jessica angrily said.


    "Alright, Alright. You can meet up with Aiya later to get your measurements. Sheesh." Vince replied.


    "What did you stop by for in the first place, though?" Vince asked.


    "The War Online new expansion event is starting in a few hours. So we should gather the gang and play tonight." Jessica replied.


    "I forgot the expansion release was tonight. Thanks for the reminder. Alright, let''s head to the Future Tech LAN center on the 10th floor." Vince stated.


    "Aiya, please get in touch with Kyle, Rick, and Sarah to meet us at the LAN center," Vince asked.


    "Certainly," Aiya replied and then bowed.


    Jessica and Vince took the private elevator from the penthouse to the 10th floor.


    On the way, they were joined by Kyle, who also had access to the private elevator.


    Kyle was also wearing typical casual attire, with his brown hair covered by a Prime Alliance cap.


    Kyle''s Hispanic features showed more as puberty kicked in, such as a burgeoning beard starting to grow.


    "Hey, guys! Good seeing you both. You guys excited for the game event?" Kyle asked.


    "Yeah! I deliberately ghosted the Future Studios story campaign meetings to enjoy the expansion at release." Vince replied.


    "I like the drip, Vince. What''s with the fabric?" Kyle asked.


    "It''s an unreleased Future Tech product. You''ll get a set of the collection too, don''t worry." Vince replied.


    The three arrived at the Future Tech LAN center, where employees could relax and enjoy video games.


    Rick and Sarah were already there raiding with their guild.


    Rick was growing taller every day, and his blonde hair and typical caucasian features made him look like a runway model.


    Sarah was similar as she was Rick''s twin but boasted womanly features instead.


    "Good to see you both taking work seriously." Vince sarcastically said.


    "Shush! Stop talking. We almost have the boss dead to rights, but one mistake can wipe our ten-man squad." Sarah replied.


    Rick didn''t say anything and focused on tanking the boss.


    Vince, Jessica, and Kyle chose a Future Tech gaming computer near Sarah and Rick.


    They started logging in to War Online and setting up their main characters.


    "Yes! That''s how we do it! Fuck you, Bahamut! Eat shit!" Rick started shouting.


    "Rick, look at this staff that dropped for me. It''s legendary tier!" Sarah shouted in reply.


    "That''s so unfair. I only got an Epic tier weapon as a drop." Rick sadly replied.


    "Let''s group up before the event starts." Jessica declared.


    Jessica invited each of them to a party in War Online.


    The new expansion to War Online featured a new continent with different factions vying for control over it.


    The expansion release event started, and all players who opted into the event were transported to an enormous city square.


    It was medieval-themed but featured the unique aesthetic famously used by War Online.


    "Welcome, brave champions! My name is Gilvantis, the emperor of this continent. I thank you all for heeding my call for brave warriors to purge these lands of my enemies and restore the empire to its former glory." the NPC said.


    The expansion started with an intricate cut-scene that slowly integrated players into the new continent.


    Future Studios designed the primary campaign with the assistance of the creative AI suite developed by Future Tech.


    Vince and his friends enjoyed the opening event for a few hours, testing the new skills, traits, and weapons.


    "This bandit champion is strong!" Jessica declared.


    Rick was focused on tanking the boss while Sarah supported him with heals and buffs.


    "Jessica, don''t worry. I think our damage is enough to kill the boss before it phases again." Kyle replied.


    Vince stayed out of the way and utilized the new rifle, doing tons of damage from afar.


    [I''ve been busy with work for a while. It''s good just to relax and have fun with the gang while catching up on life.] Vince thought.


    Stats last time checked:


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $2 Billion in Future Tech


    3800+ employees (Future Studios, Hive Mind AI, ARM, BitCash, Future Security)


    Five company collaborators


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings


    (I decided to add more descriptive prose to the characters in-scene.. Please suggest more things I can work on to make this novel better. Thank you)


    Read novel fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 28 - Preparing The Products

    You can read the novel fast updates at novelhall.com


    Leah''s experimental treatment had been surprisingly successful with the assistance of Future Tech.


    She started taking more responsibilities within Future Tech, like managing and leading the charity fund and assistance programs.


    Her office was situated near the legal department on the second-highest floor at the headquarters.


    Vince stopped by her office to ask if she needed anything.


    "It''s good to see up and walking around again, mom. Do you need anything, maybe an AI butler bot?" Vince asked Leah.


    "I don''t need a butler bot, Vince. My secretarial skills haven''t faded yet. I can handle things myself." Leah replied.


    Leah''s physical condition, like her black her looked much better than a year ago.


    [It was fortunate that the doctors were able to catch her disease before it got any worse.] Vince thought.


    "I decided to donate $100 million to Dr. Sera and her team. You don''t mind, right, son?" she asked.


    "Dr. Sera deserves it for what she''s done for us," Vince replied.


    "Oh! I love these new clothes Aiya gave me recently. I assume it''s a new Future Tech product. When are we planning to sell them?" Leah asked.


    "The new consumer electronics will be the priority. The fashion line will probably hit the shelves in two months." Vince replied.


    "Some of my friends have been asking about the clothes recently. Do you mind if we start selling them in low quantities for now?" Leah asked.


    "That shouldn''t be a problem. You can talk to Maria from the materials division to order some." Vince replied.


    "By the way, You''ve been working too much this past year, son. It''s not healthy. Go out more and enjoy your young life. Maybe even start dating." Leah said seriously.


    "Oh, stop it, mom. You know I like working." Vince replied.


    "You have thousands of employees, Vince. Don''t give me that excuse." Leah replied angrily.


    She took a few seconds to calm down.


    "I''m grateful for what you''ve done for our family the past year. But, you should slow down and enjoy your success." Leah said calmly.


    "Alright, mom. I''ll take your advice. Stop nagging, please". Vince replied defeatedly.


    "I''m not nagging; I''m doing my job as a mother." Leah declared.


    They talked about the charity fund and assistance programs for an hour before Vince left Leah''s office.


    Vince then headed to the accounting department to discuss the financials with Ralph.


    Ralph was wearing his expensive tailored suit as usual. His brown hair was cut short yet elegant, which complemented his caucasian jawline.


    "Good day, Ralph. How are Future Tech''s finances doing?" Vince asked.


    "The three thousand employees have put a large dent on our annual expenses, but revenue is up due to the new expansion of War Online," Ralph replied.


    Ralph handed an updated financial report to Vince for reference.


    "Where did this $3 billion itemized as Arena Pro League come from?" Vince asked.


    "Oh, That''s revenue from the sixteen franchise spots in the Pro League. The bids averaged a bit below $200 million for each." Ralph replied.


    "Take $1 billion and reinvest it in the APL for marketing or anything Future Studios need to maintain our lead against our competitors," Vince instructed.


    The Arena Pro League didn''t have to compete with LoL or DotA 2 as they were already considered small fry compared to APL''s current size.


    The APL competes with enormous entertainment properties like the NFL, the NBA, and the Champion''s League.


    "Future Tech''s projected annual expenses is $10 billion at our current state. Expenses should double or even triple next year." Ralph said.


    "We can''t afford it for now, but conservative estimates of revenue from the new consumer electronics are around $50 billion," Ralph added.


    "You and David have managed our expenses well the past year. So don''t be surprised to receive a handsome bonus at year''s end." Vince replied.


    The financial report stated that Future Tech had $5 billion in liquidity for now.


    "Thanks for the update, Ralph," Vince added as he left to find Morgan to discuss the AIM processors.


    Morgan was his usual British self as he wore his old school yet regal-looking suit.


    "Good day, Morgan. Any updates about the AIM processors I need to know." Vince asked.


    "The current AIM processors are performing better than our expectations, but future upgrades will be more difficult with our existing fabrication equipment."


    "I request for more Hive Mind suites dedicated to improving our current fabrication and manufacturing equipment," Morgan stated.


    "That''s going to be a bit difficult. Patel''s AI team and the robotics division are expanding the Hive Mind suites. Still, Future Tech will use most of them to manufacture the current generation AIM processors and consumer electronics." Vince replied.


    "We are still developing the second generation AIM processors. So our team can wait until new suites are made available." Morgan said.


    "Thanks for understanding, Morgan. I appreciate what ARM and your team have achieved this past year." Vince said.


    "We are Future Tech now. I would never have thought ARM would produce better performing processors than Intel and AMD. It''s thanks to Future Tech''s advancements in artificial intelligence and manufacturing." Morgan replied honestly.


    Vince and his friends continued working on various projects while attending homeschool classes.


    More Hive Mind suites had been created and immediately started mass-producing the new consumer devices in the tens of thousands.


    An uncountable amount of transport trucks were heading to electronics stores around the US to stock the new products while shipping containers were heading to China, South East Asia, Japan, and other foreign countries for the same purpose.


    [This release will be the new chapter in Future Tech''s history. There will be a new tech giant to face behemoths in the industry, but we will prevail.] Vince pondered as he was waiting to watch the Future Tech release event on his flat-screen tv.


    Stats last time checked:


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $5 Billion in Future Tech


    3800+ employees (Future Studios, Hive Mind AI, ARM, BitCash, Future Security)


    Five company collaborators


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings


    Read novel fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 29 - The New Standard

    Hype levels for the new Future Tech consumer electronics line reached sky-high as more positive product reviews were flooding the internet.


    Benchmark reviews from reputable sources demonstrated the superior performance of AIM CPUs and other Future Tech-designed components like the new AIM-assisted solid-state drives.


    Common bottleneck issues that high-end graphics processors from NVidia and AMD usually suffered from were not problems with AIM processors.


    Looking out of the penthouse window, Vince could see a long line outside the Future Tech store located at the headquarter''s ground floor.


    Gamers, IT specialists, computer enthusiasts, and more were waiting in line patiently to experience the next-generation systems.


    This same situation could be seen in countless stores worldwide and was not slowing down anytime soon.


    Ars Technica, a popular consumer tech publication, invited Future Tech to discuss the new products more in-depth, and Vince decided to send Morgan as the spokesperson.


    "Welcome to Ars Technica. Today, we will be discussing the new Future Tech products with Morgan, the lead AIM developer at said company."


    "One of the most requested questions is regarding the battery life of the laptops and mobile phones. People seem to think it''s too good to be true." the Ars Technica interviewer asked.


    "It''s only natural to think that way, considering the battery life in these products is multiple times that of our competitors," Morgan replied.


    "How was Future Tech able to do it then?" the interviewer added.


    "These batteries are an upgraded version of current Tesla battery designs. Our advancement in battery technology is thanks to our partnership with Tesla." Morgan replied.


    "The Hive Mind manufacturing suites, or HMMS, can produce these batteries faster and with considerably less waste," Morgan added.


    "This Hive Mind system you''re referring to is quite impressive.


    Rumors have been going around the industry about it¡ªstories like manufacturing satellites and fabricating microprocessors.


    But, not much had been made public.


    Rumors like manufacturing satellites and spacecraft aside from fabricating microprocessors." The reporter said.


    "The AIM processors would never have been possible without Patel and his AI division. Future Tech had been heavily involved with the advancement in artificial intelligence applications long before my arrival." Morgan proudly replied.


    "Future Tech had been rolling out so many innovative products this past year; will this be slowing down any time soon?" the interviewer asked.


    "This is just the beginning. I can confidently say that Future Tech will have an even brighter future as long as Vince is leading the way." Morgan replied zealously.


    "You''re talking about Vince Dalton, the CEO of Future Tech, I assume.


    Time Magazine''s most influential person has Vince Dalton as the leading contender based on gossip. So what do you have to say about this?" Ars Technica asked.


    "I wouldn''t be surprised. Though Vince only cares about results for the most part. He works more than he should, but it''s because of his innovative mind and relatively high level of technical skill for a young man his age." Morgan replied.


    "We would like to thank Morgan, the lead AIM engineer at Future Tech, for joining us today. Huge thanks to our viewers and readers who make this possible. Better get to the stores before stocks run out!" the interviewer declared.


    "Bro! Look here, War Online has a new graphics setting on my new AIM mobile phone, even higher than the previous max settings." one of the customers on the ground floor said.


    "Alright. I''ll look at it later. But help me carry these accessories for my AIM desktop. " his friend replied.


    Future Tech also sold their brand of peripherals like keyboards and headphones, collaborating with accessory brands like Razer and Logitech.


    The pair of gamer buddies arrived at their shared apartment and immediately tested the AIM desktop.


    "Those benchmarks online were no joke. The integrated graphics in the AIM processor crushes my Nvidia GTX 580. War Online looks like a totally different game with the new settings enabled." one of them exclaimed.


    "I''ll be sure to save some money to buy the AIM dedicated graphics card when it eventually comes out." his friend replied.


    Millions of people worldwide were now exposed to consumer technology more advanced than any they have experienced before.


    Large multinational corporations like Apple and Microsoft were holding meetings to address the new player in their industry.


    Apple HQ, Cupertino


    "Update me on the situation." Tim Cook ordered.


    "The market is unhappy with our current progress on macOS and iOS, and the devices themselves. Our stock price is steady, but there is a noticeable lack of market movement." one of the managers replied.


    "The release of the new iPhone later this year is compromised because of these new AIM devices," he added.


    "Tell me some good news!" Tim shouted.


    "The AIM operating system will allow the App Store and Android Store to be installed on the new devices through the operating system''s native storefront." the manager replied.


    "How can their devices use our native apps? Are there no compatibility issues?" Tim asked.


    "They developed a near-perfect iOS and macOS emulator that can flawlessly run our applications. Most of them even run better." the manager added as he shrank in his seat.


    Tim sat back on his chair as he thought of the lawsuit Apple lost a year before.


    Meetings in Microsoft, Samsung, Sony, and other competitors in the industry went the same way.


    These same companies started poaching Future Tech employees but were out of luck as they ran into a wall known as Kemp-Jacobs.


    Austin, Texas, began to feel like the center of technological advancement when looking at Future Tech HQ and the expanded manufacturing campus outside the city.


    Vince was enjoying the War Online expansion but stopped because of a notification on his AIM phone.


    "I''d like to meet with you to discuss the dedicated graphics cards yet released," Morgan texted.


    Vince made his way to the AIM department and found Morgan talking to mid-level managers.


    "What''s the issue, Morgan," Vince asked.


    "Our department recently received motherboard prototypes from MSI, EVGA, and other manufacturers. But, unfortunately, none of them are even half as good as the ones in the AIM desktops." Morgan replied resentfully.


    "This will be a problem when we start selling the AIM processors and graphics units," Vince stated.


    "We''ll just manufacture the motherboards ourselves. I know it will strain our production line, but low stock is better than a mediocre product." Vince added.


    [Future Tech will set the new standards. I cannot compromise after we''ve achieved so much already.] Vince thought solemnly.


    Stats last time checked:


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $5 Billion in Future Tech


    3800+ employees (Future Studios, Hive Mind AI, ARM, BitCash, Future Security)


    Five company collaborators


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings


    You can read the novel fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 30 - Future Tech X SpaceX Satellite

    Read novel online free fast updates at novelhall.com


    August 2012.


    A week after Future Tech released the AIM devices, Elon scheduled a video meeting with Vince to discuss their cooperation.


    "Good to see you, Vince. I know you''re busy with plenty of things at your company, but I just wanted to notify you about the SpaceX satellite we''ve designed with Future Tech''s assistance."


    "SpaceX will launch the first one you ordered next month, and we''d love to have you there to witness it. With our advanced AIM satellites and refined manufacturing process, we''ll be able to undercut Boeing and Lockheed Martin in satellite sales." Elon added.


    "Thanks for notifying me. I''ll send Morgan and Dollar to Hawthorne to check on the satellite in a few weeks and meet you all a day before launch." Vince said.


    They bade farewells after some small talk, and Vince continued working with Patel and the AI department. He understood that most of their success had been thanks to advanced AI technology.


    Close to a month had passed, and sales had been too good for Future Tech, and the company had to stop pre-orders before fulfilling their current ones.


    The sheer demand was taking all the efforts of everyone to keep up.


    Morgan had to postpone the release of the new motherboards and dedicated graphics cards because he had no other options.


    Future Tech had to focus on manufacturing more Hive Mind suites because no other OEM could be contracted to produce their proprietary components.


    Sales projection was entirely off as everyone, and their mother wanted to own a Future Tech device.


    The company was currently $80 billion richer, and Vince decided to use $10 billion to purchase materials for more drones. (based on Apple''s 2012 net revenue)


    Vince brought Aiya to watch the SpaceX launch live from mission control.


    They flew on a private jet with a few security operators and landed at the Hawthorne municipal airport a few hours later.


    The group rented a few black SUVs and headed to the hotel to freshen up before going to SpaceX.


    Elon, Price, and Morgan welcomed them as they arrived at the headquarters. Elon showed them around and eventually brought them to the mission control room.


    The rocket and satellite were being launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida while they were watching the live feed and experiencing how SpaceX operates.


    "The launch will begin soon. It will take a few minutes for the pre-flight checks." Elon said.


    Vince and Elon talked about Aiya and AI bots while waiting for the checks to finish.


    They watched as the rocket pierced through the sky a few minutes later, delivering their first advanced satellite containing a Bitcoin Bank backup and satellite networking functionality.


    "Watch. The autonomous landing is the cool part." Elon said with a smile.


    With the use of Future Tech AI, SpaceX developed the autonomous VTOL system enabling the reusable component to land itself four years in advance.


    The SpaceX engineers started clapping, and some had tears in their eyes while Elon just stood there with a grin while watching the feed.


    SpaceX streamed the entire launching and landing process live on various video streaming platforms and received plenty of congratulations on the internet.


    "Elon, what if my satellite blew up while testing this new rocket?" Vince asked inquisitively.


    "Don''t be so modest, Vince. You can just pay to get another one made." Elon jokingly replied.


    [Damn. Elon''s right, but that''s still $500 million.] Vince thought.


    After the launch, Vince and his group immediately flew back to Austin.


    Vince still had plenty to do, but the new Hive Mind suites produced made life less stressful for everyone at Future Tech.


    It took another month before all the pre-orders were fulfilled and the additional stock was delivered.


    Hive Mind suites were made available to Morgan''s processor division, and Future Tech used some to upgrade the headquarters similar to the penthouse fully.


    It was a beautiful day in November 2012 at Austin. The clear sky showered rays of sunlight while the new solar panels of the Future Tech headquarters absorbed the photovoltaic energy.


    The panel cells covered the building in a magical-looking crystal lattice design.


    Locals admired the beautiful sight as they were passing through the downtown area.


    What people couldn''t see were the large battery units on the basement floors of the building.


    A large bald Swedish man wearing semi-casual attire spoke to Patel at the AI division while Vince was on his way to meet them.


    "Christian, It''s great to meet you in person finally. Welcome to Future Tech." Vince declared.


    "Thank you for having me, Vince. I have good news to share." Mr. Koenigsegg replied.


    "What''s got you all worked up?" Vince asked.


    "We got it to work! Freevalve! The most significant innovation in engine performance was electronically-controlled injection systems. With the help of Future Tech AI, we were able to develop an AI-controlled air valve system." Christian replied excitedly.


    "The engines are now much smaller without the need for bulky timing belts and camshafts. Engine performance is night and day. So it was more than worth giving you a 10% stake in my company!" Christian added.


    "I''m glad for your success, but you could have told me over a video meeting," Vince replied.


    "I flew from Sweden to attend the 2012 Austin Formula 1 Grand Prix to meet with Jean Todt. He''s the FIA president. I''ll be pitching the Freevalve system for use in the following formula update. (F¨¦d¨¦ration Internationale de l''Automobile)


    "And I also brought you a little present¡ªthe new Agera SFV containing the new engine," Christian said with a grin.


    "I have the Agera R parked at the ground level. So we can compare the two at the Circuit of the Americas outside Austin." Vince offered, and Mr. Koenigsegg immediately agreed.


    Vince called Aiya to rent track time at COTA, which surprised Christian as he''d never seen an AI butler bot before.


    [Christian is quite happy after developing Freevalve. It makes sense because he had to form a separate company in 2015 to develop the technology. He saved time and money working with us.] Vince thought.


    A burly man in a suit named Greg, Vince''s personal security for today, accompanied Aiya, Vince, and Christian to COTA.


    They took the Rolls-Royce Klassen Phantom while another security operator drove the Agera R behind them.


    The Agera SFV was initially brought into the country on one of the cargo planes used to transport Hive Mind suites.


    It was picked up by a hauler from the airport and was brought into the COTA pit lanes.


    [This is gonna be fun!] Vince thought excitedly.


    Stats last time checked:


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $75 Billion in Future Tech


    3800+ employees (Future Studios, Hive Mind AI, ARM, BitCash, Future Security)


    Five company collaborators


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings


    You can read the novel fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 31 - Track Time And Deep-dive

    The Circuit of the Americas usually required track rentals to be booked weeks in advance, but they made an exception after learning Vince Dalton and Christian Von Koenigsegg were arriving.


    The COTA track manager welcomed Vince and his group before showing them the facilities available.


    COTA offered Vince and Christian assistance from a professional driver based in Austin who trains COTA customers.


    "The first Formula 1 race to be held here in COTA will be next weekend. I assume both of you will attend?" The COTA manager asked.


    "Yes, of course. Vince here had never been to an F1 race before, and I''m sure he''ll be joining me." Christian replied.


    A young professional driver arrived after the group conversed for a few minutes.


    "This is Randall. He''ll provide you with driving tips and can entertain any more questions about the circuit. Please enjoy your stay." The COTA manager said before leaving.


    Vince had Randall take him around the track on the Agera SFV first to experience the difference between the two cars.


    The Agera R was fast, and Vince already knew that. But, the Agera SFV was quicker and lighter.


    Christian drove the Agera R trying to chase Vince and Randall on the Agera SFV but couldn''t even get close.


    After an hour of racing, the group took a break for a while.


    "The Agera SFV is far and above the fastest Koenigsegg," Vince stated.


    "I know. That''s why I''m confident in pitching Freevalve systems to F1 manufacturers for next year." Christian replied.


    "How confident are Koenigsegg in designing a Formula 1 car?" Vince asked.


    "It will be challenging to beat the current top teams, but it''s theoretically doable. So why do you ask?" Christian replied inquisitively.


    "I was just curious," Vince replied with a smile.


    [Formula 1 is an enormous property. RedBull was able to gain massive value in buying a team to promote their product. Maybe I should do the same. Owning a team sounds fun too] Vince thought.


    Vince was always interested in owning a professional team in APL, but David told him it was inappropriate.


    A well-built caucasian man in his semi-casual attire arrived at the COTA pitlanes.


    Price came over after learning about the track day Vince had rented.


    "Vince, Let me have a go in the Agera SFV," Price asked excitedly.


    "Alright, alright. Go ahead and knock yourself out." Vince replied.


    Price went on track with Christian and raced around for a few minutes.


    Vince spoke to Randall while the adults were having fun on the track.


    "Randall, You look pretty young to be a professional race driver," Vince asked.


    "You look pretty young to be a self-start billionaire." Randall jokingly replied.


    "Okay. You got me. But seriously though, what''s your deal.". Vince asked,


    "I''m an Austin local but haven''t been home because most Formula 2 races are in Europe. Now that we have COTA here, F2 will be the secondary entertainment for next weekend."


    "Instructing at COTA is a recent gig to earn a bit of cash. Racing is expensive as hell." Randall replied.


    "You''re quite lucky to have a home race. I''m sure you''ll do well with all the local support." Vince replied assuringly.


    "I sure hope so. One more win is all I need to get my super license. The license can help with negotiating a seat in Formula 1." Randall added.


    [Tom has been doing great work remaining undefeated in the UFC. He should receive a title shot soon from all the fans and wins he''d built up.]


    [Kyle, Jessica, Rick, and Sarah are slowly becoming experts in their field with access to great mentors within Future Tech, the education you can''t find in any university.]


    [I look at people like them and see the potential. Unlimited access to resources and support that I didn''t experience much of in my previous life undoubtedly helped them become more outstanding individuals.] Vince pondered.


    "I''ve been thinking about buying a Formula 1 team for next season to promote Future Tech and our partners. I''ll give you a seat if you win your race next weekend. No pressure." Vince declared.


    The 18-year-old Texan race driver was stunned to hear Vince''s sudden offer.


    "Don''t go looking for me in the crowd. I''ll be in a meeting with Christian and the FIA president on Saturday." Vince jokingly added.


    Price and Christian arrived after their conversation. They switched around cars earlier, trying to chase each other.


    Vince drove his new Agera SFV for half an hour with the assistance of Randall.


    [This thing is sick. And, with my new special exemption driver''s license, I''ll be able to drive this car around town feeling like a badass.] Vince thought.


    The few fun hours of rented track time were over too quickly for their group.


    Vince invited Christian to stay at his Villa for the week after bidding farewell to the others.


    Christian graciously accepted Vince''s offer. They took the Phantom and headed to his mansion.


    The house itself was very different from when Vince initially bought it more than a year ago.


    The design was similar to Future Tech headquarters, and Christian found it appealing.


    Vince introduced Leah to Christian before instructing the housemaids to prepare a room.


    They ate some dinner while getting to know more about each other. The maids served classic Texas BBQ and sides that Christian enjoyed very much.


    After dinner, Vince received a call from someone he hadn''t spoken to in a long time.


    "Ms. Miller, It''s been a while. How are you and your son doing?" Vince asked.


    "Things have been great the past year for both of us. I wanted to tell you great news about our research directly. My team had a breakthrough yesterday."


    "We developed the neuron output prototype for comatose patients. The tests involved volunteers in induced deep sleep. The prototype then projects photorealistic dreams into the subject''s mind." Ms. Miller explained.


    "Alright. So people asleep can watch movies in the first person as if they were awake? Do I understand this correctly?" Vince asked in confusion.


    "The AIM CPU and dedicated graphics processors render the world around the subject, similar to a movie, yes." Ms. Miller replied.


    "I''ve been teaching the Future Tech AI my algorithms, and the bioengineers built the prototype, but it''s currently limited to output with no input capabilities yet." Ms. Miller stated.


    "The team has succeeded in our current research scope and will be wrapping up soon. However, most of the research team wondered if Future Tech could employ us directly to continue developing the input functions." Ms. Miller offered.


    [Their achievement in this field is a historical landmark. They''re expecting a big payday for this research.] Vince thought cynically.


    [Though, this prototype is one enormous step closer to deep-dive VR.] he pondered.


    "I welcome your team to Future Tech. You can contact Hudson for further negotiations." Vince ultimately replied.


    Stats last time checked:


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $75 Billion in Future Tech


    3850+ employees (Future Studios, Hive Mind AI, ARM, BitCash, Future Security, FT VR)


    Five company collaborators


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings


    Read novel fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 32 - Buying An F1 Team

    Best novel online free at novelhall.com


    Future Tech had invested heavily in Ms. Miller''s research team to the tune of $250 million the past year. Investments include access to Future Tech AI and numerous testing costs etc.


    Hudson recruited almost the entire team of 50 people with generous contracts, while David and Kemp-Jacobs negotiated $500 million to purchase the whole project, including reimbursing Elon and other smaller investors.


    Vince decided to allocate $2 billion to the new FT VR division for the following year, and they were given a dedicated floor in the main headquarters.


    The researchers were thrilled to be paid so much money for their painstaking efforts. But $100 million was pocketed by the University of Texas.


    Vince drove his Agera SFV with Price and visited his futuristic manufacturing campus outside metro Austin to check on its progress.


    The city of Austin was glad to have the local tech industry develop the unused land.


    The new 4,000 highly skilled employees Future Tech had recently employed could mostly be found in this burgeoning tech district. There was no need for cheap labor with the Hive Mind AI taking care of most manufacturing.


    Plenty of restaurants and outlet stores surrounded the campus to provide the employees easy access to their daily needs.


    Vince met the campus manager for an update regarding how device manufacturing was going.


    A Hispanic-looking man in professional attire greeted Vince.


    "Good day, Vince. My name is Andreas, and I''m currently overseeing the Future Tech campus." Andreas said as he shook Vince''s hand.


    "Nice to meet you. How have the new Hive Mind suites been coping with our manufacturing?" Vince asked.


    "As you instructed, 20% of our manufacturing capacity is reserved for producing more Hive Mind drones. The rest are producing the AIM devices steadily and in much larger quantities than two months ago." Andreas replied.


    Price joined in the conversation. "How are the security drones handling the vast perimeter of the campus?" he asked.


    "We had to produce more security drones to cover the area after the expansion, but it''s currently sufficient," Andreas replied.


    The security drones around the tech campus attracted unwanted attention from the US Department of Defense. A representative recently reached out to David to schedule a meeting in Washington, DC, to negotiate a military contract.


    Vince decided to meet with them next week after the Formula 1 race this weekend.


    Vince and Price discussed some other minor issues before leaving the tech campus.


    The rest of the week passed as qualifying Saturday came around.


    Locals fans walking up the hill to the Circuit of the Americas recognized a blue on black Koenigsegg car followed closely by a similarly looking car in black on white.


    The Austinites started cheering and shouting to get Vince Dalton''s attention. Locals appreciated the prosperity Future Tech had cultivated for their city and revered the young billionaire who made it happen.


    "I play War Online every day! Big thanks, dude!" one of the local frat bros shouted, intoxicated.


    A group of university freshmen ladies was giggling by the sidewalk while Vince parked.


    Security operators cleared the area before their boss stepped out of the Agera SFV.


    [This feels much better than pulling all-nighters in my old office. Cute ladies were scarce around there.] Vince thought as he smiled at the onlookers.


    Christian borrowed the Agera R, and Vince didn''t mind. However, Price felt left out and decided in his mind to buy an Agera SFV as soon as possible.


    Jean Todt gave Vince and Christian free time to watch the qualifying event before meeting about Freevalve.


    They walked around the paddock before Vince found the Sahara Force India team''s modular headquarters.


    [This team is owned by Vijay Mallya and is the best candidate to buy out. Due to legal issues, Mallya had to sell the team in 2018, and I know he''ll sell his UK-based F1 team for the right price.] Vince thought


    They walked up towards the entrance and were stopped by security.


    An Indian man from the inside heard the commotion and headed outside.


    He found his security being stared down by a large and muscular man in a working suit.


    Next, he noticed a group of important-looking men, including a young man he''d heard about before.


    "Stand down, stand down." He instructed with a British accent.


    "Vince Dalton, It''s a pleasure to meet you here at the Grand Prix. Come in, come in. We have an excellent view on the upper floors of the pit lane and main straight. The qualifying session is about to start." Mallya declared.


    "Likewise, Mr. Mallya. Are my security personnel allowed inside?" Vince asked.


    "That''s not a problem. I trust your character." Mallya replied with a smile.


    [Just wanted to make sure cause my guys are packing heavy heat.] Vince thought.


    Vince, Price, Christian, and two security operators followed Mallya into the modular paddock home and showed them around for a bit before heading to the viewing section.


    Cameras from different critical areas of the track streamed a live feed to large screens around the room.


    "This is a great view, Mr. Mallya. Thanks!" Vince declared.


    [I would need to avail of more special treatment in the future. Feels good, man.] Vince thought.


    Qualifying started as their group watched formula one cars leaving the pitlanes to begin their flying laps.


    "I''m curious why you chose my team''s motorhome to watch the event. Any other team would welcome you, but you decided on my minor team instead." Mallya asked inquisitively.


    "I''ve recently gained interest in F1''s advertising potential," Vince replied.


    "You''re looking to advertise Future Tech? We have sponsor slots available if you''d like." Mallya offered with a grin.


    "I''m more interested in something similar to what Red Bull did a few years ago," Vince added.


    "You want to buy my baby? My Sahara Force India?" Mallya asked with a fake front. He''d already started negotiating.


    "I''m thinking about it. Williams F1 seems like another good option. Right?" Vince replied.


    Mallya got a bit nervous after hearing about Williams. Their teams are close in performance, but Williams has a more storied legacy in the sport.


    [I have to buy a current team. Creating a new team and bidding for a spot in F1 will be more of a headache.] Vince thought.


    "How much is your offer, then?" Mallya asked.


    "$150 million sounds fair." Vince offered.


    "Vince, you wound me with such a low offer," Mallya said sadly.


    "You''ve been such a wonderful host to our group today, Mr. Mallya. $250 million then?" Vince asked while drinking tea served recently.


    [This kid is offering me a good deal. The team is worth around $200 million at the highest.] Mallya thought.


    "I can entertain this offer. I appreciate your sincerity." Mallya replied.


    Vince gave him David''s number to finalize the deal as the qualifying time ran out.


    Stats last time checked:


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $75 Billion in Future Tech


    7850+ employees (Future Studios, Hive Mind AI, ARM, BitCash, Future Security, FT VR)


    Five company collaborators


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings


    You can read the novel fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 33 - Future Tech F1

    You can read the novel fast updates at novelhall.com


    "We have a Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull taking pole position, while Lewis Hamilton is starting in second place for McLaren. The other Red Bull of Mark Webber will trail them in third position." David Crofty said from the commenter box.


    Vince and his group listened to the closing remarks before bidding farewell to Mr. Mallya.


    Randall would be racing in Formula 2 in an hour after their teams finished preparing.


    [The kid''s got talent if he only needs one more win to become eligible for a super license.] Vince thought as their group walked to the FIA meeting room.


    An old french man with white flowing hair wearing a business suit was waiting inside.


    Vince decided to leave the two security operators and felt safe enough with Price around.


    Christian introduced Jean Todt to Vince and Price before sitting down around a meeting table.


    "I''ve reviewed the specifications of the Freevalve system Koenigsegg Motors recently developed. With your assistance, of course, young Dalton." Mr. Todt stated with an air of class and a french accent.


    "You can tell by the performance tests that Freevalve should be involved in the pinnacle of motorsport," Christian said proudly.


    "I understand the gravity of your innovation in engine performance, but government policies are forcing Formula 1 to reduce emissions and manufacturing costs. As a result, Freevalve may be too expensive for our next formula update." Mr. Todt replied.


    "Freevalve engines are 20% more fuel-efficient than a current formula one car, and Vince''s Hive Mind manufacturing drones have significantly reduced the engine''s manufacturing cost," Christian added.


    "If Future Tech can bear some cost in implementing Freevalve in Mercedes'', Ferrari''s, and McLaren''s engines, then this deal is most certainly possible." Jean Todt replied with an amiable smile.


    [Engine manufacturing is the most expensive expense in Formula 1 cars. The FIA is taking full advantage of my involvement in this deal.] Vince thought.


    The meeting was quick and done in 10 minutes. Jean Todt was forthcoming and wasted no time.


    Mallya had called David to negotiate the deal, and David sent him a contract prepared beforehand.


    David arrived at COTA within the hour to sign the deal with his power of attorney. He was fully prepared because Vince discussed his interest in purchasing a team with him last weekend.


    The Formula 2 race was about to start in 15 minutes, and Randall was preparing himself, but he heard some commotion around the paddock.


    "Good day to all our viewers watching the Formula 2 feature race here at Austin, Texas. We have several young drivers racing today on the cusp of winning the F2 championship: Luciano Bacheta, Matheo Tusher, and Randall Stevens, a local here at Austin." David Croft said in his British accent as he started the broadcast.


    Martin Brundle and David Croft were talking about the upcoming race. David interjected Martin''s monologue after receiving a note from the Sky F1 staff.


    "I''ve just received notice of a new owner in Formula 1, Martin. The local fans will love this news." Crofty said mysteriously.


    "Alright. Tell us before I lose my patience." Martin replied jokingly.


    "The young Austinian, Vince Dalton had purchased Sahara Force India for $250 million. So, Martin, what do you think about this deal?" Crofty asked.


    "Firstly, both seats in the team are now in limbo. It will affect the driver''s market for next season. Secondly, rumors of a new engine proposal from Koenigsegg and Future Tech will significantly impact the entire formula." Martin replied.


    Regular Formula 2 viewers started posting about the news online. Subreddits like r/Formula 1 and r/AutoRacing were filled with an excited buzz while sports news outlets were preparing their content to release.


    Around twenty Formula 2 cars lined up at the main straight after doing their formation lap.


    Randall started in third and had a good view of the first steep left turn while revving his engine in idle.


    Five red lights started to blink, and the race commenced.


    Randall had a great start and went left, going side by side with Luciano.


    Luciano was brave trying to take the outside racing line on the breaks, but he misjudged his braking point.


    He narrowly missed Matheo, who started in second place and lost two positions.


    Randall took the lead by taking the inside racing line and drove through the famous COTA esses in blistering speed.


    Matheo fought hard to keep up but lost the tread on his tires too soon and pitted for new tires early.


    Luciano tried to go for the long strategy and stayed out and waited for Randall to pit.


    The strategy didn''t work out as Randall reentered the race far in front after pitting.


    Randall won the race with 3 seconds to spare and ultimately won the championship at the last Formula 2 race of the season.


    "What a fantastic performance from our young drivers. Congratulations to Randal Stevens for winning the race and the championship!" Crofty declared through his microphone.


    Martin walked down towards the pitlane to do the winner''s interview.


    "Salutations to you, young Stevens. How does it feel to be the Formula 2 champion for this season." Martin asked.


    "I feel amazing! I want to thank my family, the team, and our sponsors who made this all possible. Austin, make some noise!" Randall shouted to the mic.


    The crowd started cheering for their town hero for the day.


    "What does this win mean for your prospects in Formula 1? Top teams like Ferrari or McLaren will want a young and hungry driver like yourself." Martin asked.


    "I''d already made my decision last week. Future Tech F1 will be my new home next season." Randall replied proudly.


    "I didn''t expect that answer. We''ve only known about the acquisition since before the race began." Martin said curiously.


    "Vince promised me the seat last week as long as I won this race," Randall replied.


    "Fair enough. Congratulations, and I''ll be looking forward to seeing you in Formula 1 next year." Martin replied before ending the interview.


    [The kid is quick, alright.] Vince thought after watching the race.


    Stats last time checked:


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $74.5 Billion in Future Tech


    8350+ employees (Future Studios, Hive Mind AI, ARM, BitCash, Future Security, FT VR, Future Tech F1)


    Five company collaborators


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings


    Read novel online free fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 34 - Military Contract

    You can read the novel fast updates at novelhall.com


    Vince met with Randall and invited him to dinner with his group.


    They ate at a BBQ place Price suggested.


    Randall rode with Christian in the Agera R while others drove in the Phantom.


    Vince spent some time getting to know more about his new F1 driver while the older gentlemen were drinking to celebrate our new deal with the FIA.


    They planned to watch the Formula 1 race the next day before bidding farewells.


    "I heard you bought an F1 team. Why didn''t you tell me?" Christian asked.


    "I still wasn''t sure which team I''d buy and just decided on the spot," Vince replied with an excuse.


    "Okay. But I''ll persuade Jean to allow Koenigsegg to supply your team with engines for next year." Christian insisted.


    "Good luck with that. We''ll have an advantage as the developers of the Freevalve system. Jean will disagree." Vince said.


    "I have my ways in dealing with Jean," Christian replied confidently.


    After arriving at Vince''s villa, he contacted Kyle, instructing him and a portion of Future Studios and FT VR to work with his new F1 team''s simulation division.


    [I didn''t mention it to Mr. Mallya, but I also wanted physics simulation engineers to help develop the new Future Tech VR system. Value deal right there.] Vince thought.


    Christian, Vince, Price, and Randall returned to COTA the next day to watch the Formula 1 race.


    News reporters were approaching their group to ask Vince questions about his new F1 team.


    "Randall had already taken one seat for next year. Have you decided on a second driver yet?" an interviewer asked Vince.


    "I trust my team''s current race director to fill the role before the new season starts," Vince answered.


    "On a separate subject, Time Magazine had named you the person of the year beating out President Obama and Tim Cook. What do you feel about this?" the interviewer asked.


    "It''s an honor, of course. There are billions of people on Earth, and they chose me." Vince replied.


    "Future Tech has changed how our society interacts with the digital world, yet there''s more to come," Vince added confidently.


    "Thank you for taking the time and answering our questions." the interviewer said humbly.


    The race started an hour later. It was the typical battle between the major teams in F1.


    Sahara Force India didn''t do too well, and Lewis Hamilton overtook Sebastian Vettel midrace, eventually winning.


    A larger crowd from yesterday were cheering after enjoying the Formula 1 race, held in the USA for the first time since the 2007 Indianapolis Grand Prix.


    Lewis Hamilton completed the podium with himself at the top step.


    Music was playing as the three drivers popped their huge champagne bottles in celebration.


    Jean Todt officially announced the new regulations for the next season, featuring the Freevalve system. Koenigsegg would join Mercedes, Ferrari, and Renault as engine manufacturers, supplying Future Tech F1.


    A few hours later, at Vince''s home. Aiya reminded Vince about his meeting with General Douglas he''d been putting off the next day.


    [Christian''s flight to Sweden and mine to DC will be early tomorrow. So I''ll need to get some rest soon.] Vince thought.


    Christian bade farewells before leaving in the Phantom. Vince had a security operator drive him to the airport.


    Vince drove the Agera SFV with Price to Future Tech''s private hangar with security personnel in tow.


    Vince recently ordered a luxury 787 Dreamliner from Boeing for $200 million. It could seat 40 people and reach anywhere around the world in one fuel tank.


    The group of five boarded the private jet and chose their seats.


    [Now, this is first class.] Vince thought excitedly.


    They were all served food and drinks by a group of beautiful stewardesses.


    It was an utterly comfortable few hours of flight to DC.


    Black SUVs were already waiting for their arrival to bring them to the White House. General Douglas insisted on meeting Vince Dalton with the presence of the US president.


    They arrived in front of the White House half an hour later, with the help of presidential escorts.


    The secret service insisted on disarming my security for a good reason.


    Price gave them his pistol while the other security operators were removing all their weapons.


    They surrendered heavily modified machine pistols hidden in their suits, extra ammo magazines attached to their body armor on their lower backs.


    They also handed over assorted knives and security accessories in their pockets.


    The secret service agent was dumbfounded in how heavy Vince''s security rolled.


    Secret service brought Vince and the others into the Oval Office.


    [The White House is a fortress. I''ve only seen the outside of the White House in my previous life.] Vince thought.


    A caucasian man in a military uniform in his late fifties sat across Barack Obama, one of the most powerful men in the world.


    General Douglas introduced himself and the president after.


    "It''s a pleasure to meet the 2012 person of the year finally." President Obama said with an amiable smile.


    "The pleasure is mine. It''s an honor to meet up in person, Mr. President." Vince replied.


    Vince introduced Price as his head of physical and cybersecurity while the others stayed outside for the meeting.


    "Are you aware of why we''ve scheduled this meeting?" General Douglas asked.


    "The request was vague, but I do have a rough idea," Vince replied.


    "Our NSA agents have reported Future Tech employing security drones at your tech campus." General Douglas mentioned.


    "That is indeed the case. Our patrol drones assist the local police department in quickening their response times in case of emergencies." Vince replied.


    "The Pentagon would like to use your autonomous drone technology in our war efforts in Afghanistan." General Douglas declared.


    [I knew this would happen eventually. I have my principles but would need to compromise.] Vince thought.


    "How exactly do you want our autonomous drones to assist in the war?" Vince asked.


    "We''ll install them on attack bombers." General Douglas replied.


    [That''s too much. I can''t have the military dropping bombs autonomously using my technology.] Vince thought angrily.


    "I understand that the US military uses unmanned predator drones already. So it would be redundant." Vince replied.


    "You''re but a child. You don''t understand the military as much as I do." General Douglas angrily replied.


    "Calm down, Douglas. I''m sorry about his sudden outburst. He''s very passionate about the military." Obama said.


    "I can see that," Vince added.


    "You understand Future Tech technology more than Douglas or I. So what would you suggest, Vince?" Obama asked.


    "I understand that unmanned drones have pilots. However, it''s ultimately these pilots'' decision to shoot or drop bombs. They''re human and are capable of making or changing their choices. AI drones do not." Vince said.


    "I suggest providing these pilots with more intelligence and information about their targets.


    Then, ensure they destroy the correct buildings and eliminate their chosen targets. With the use of autonomous recon drones in the sky and on the ground."


    You can outfit your current aerial recon drones with Future Tech AI, and our robotics division can supply each infantry squad with a terrestrial recon bot that can clear urban environments and tag targets in rooms or buildings." Vince added.


    [I can''t just say no to the military. The DOD will drag me in front of the Senate and force a deal down my throat.] Vince thought.


    A similar case happened with Microsoft in his previous life. They found out the army was using the Holo Lens to train and equip infantry units.


    Microsoft didn''t want anything to do with direct military involvement but was forced to sign a deal, officially selling batches of Holo Lenses to the Pentagon.


    "Those ideas sound quite compelling. What do you think, Douglas?" Obama asked.


    "It will give our pilots and boots on the ground some reassurance." the general replied.


    "I feel generous in giving ideas at the moment. How about IED sweeper bots to help clear the main Afghan roads and highways?" Vince added.


    "I''m open to working with the government, but there are lines I can''t cross." Vince declared.


    The president and general were satisfied with Vince''s ideas.


    Price inserted himself in the conversation.


    "A large portion of the Future Tech security operators are interested in taking contract deals to secure forward-operating bases or performing other missions. For the right price, of course." Price pitched.


    He was in charge of Future Security and was within his rights to offer their services.


    [It seems like the guys in the security department are itching for action. Guarding me or our buildings can get boring, I guess.] Vince thought.


    General Douglas took note of the offer before negotiating the specifics of the DOD''s partnership with Future Tech.


    The initial deal was for $30 billion worth of upgrades to current drones and the new equipment.


    The US government provided favorable tax agreements and allowed Future Tech to expand the current transcontinental and transatlantic fiber optic cables for their sole use.


    [The fiber optic expansion deal is more than worth the Hive Mind manufacturing hours.] Vince thought happily.


    Stats last time checked:


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $74.5 Billion in Future Tech


    8350+ employees (Future Studios, Hive Mind AI, ARM, BitCash, Future Security, FT VR, Future Tech F1)


    Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings


    Read novel fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 35 - Teenagers Advice

    You can read the novel online free at novelhall.com


    November 2012, Oval Office


    "These initial terms are satisfactory for the Department of Defense. Accordingly, I''ll be sending a military attache to Afghanistan to serve our partnership there at my behest." The stern General Douglas stated.


    "We''re currently expanding our military influence in the Balkh province."


    "Price, Your team will be joining the 1014th Engineer Company in the Dihdadi district in securing a forward operating base. DOD will assign more missions based on your performance." the general added.


    "This is my business card. You can notify me regarding the mission briefing when it''s ready." Price replied.


    "Alright. Now that our negotiations have concluded, you can leave us, Douglas." President Obama instructed.


    The good general bade his farewells and left the oval office.


    [I feel like the president will give me the talk.] Vince awkwardly thought.


    "You''re a young man, and I respect what you''ve achieved with Future Tech in the past two years. This war in Afghanistan is crucial in our efforts in the middle east."


    "The US is spread thin between East Asia, the Middle East, and NATO defended territories."


    "I would like to know your thoughts about this, as one of my highest tax-paying constituents," Obama stated.


    "I''m only 14 years old, but I understand some of the intricacies of this issue. With your defense budget, the government can produce advanced weapons continuously, but I don''t think any of that will lead to a US victory." Vince honestly stated.


    "Why say that? Future Tech can potentially earn an absurd amount from military contracts, yet you''re against developing weapons technology." Obama replied confusingly.


    Price was listening in to their conversation with eagerness and curiosity.


    "I don''t want to detract from the military''s efforts, but I''d like to propose a different strategy," Vince said as he started his pitch.


    "I recommend providing locals an opportunity to learn and integrate into a capitalist society. Due to globalization, South Korea and Japan have flourished, and I feel like the Middle East and Africa share the same potential."


    "American society is not perfect. Americans work their entire lives as slaves to the dollar, including Price, you, and I. Yet, Americans tolerate this lifestyle because of our privileges¡ªfreedom of choice, equality, a chance for a better life through education."


    "Instead of buying more weapons, sending more soldiers, dropping more bombs; build schools, medical buildings, mosques, expand infrastructure. Keep the locals busy in forming fulfilling lives, away from radicalism." Vince added.


    The president and Price had a look of disbelief.


    [Young people are much more optimistic than us oldies.] The president thought.


    "I feel your sentiment, Vince, but a project like this will be prohibitively expensive," Obama replied.


    "Have you heard of the Future Tech campus in Austin?" Vince asked.


    "Future Tech built that entire complex in under a year. Building structures and products are our specialties. This massive undertaking is not possible at our current scale, but I''ll take the project seriously if the US government can supply raw materials." Vince proposed.


    [Hive Mind drones are easy to produce but require difficult materials to acquire in large quantities.] Vince thought.


    "You want to build a tech city in Afghanistan?" Obama asked.


    "The rough idea is to build infrastructure and employ teachers, engineers, anyone who is willing to work for fair pay. We''ll provide education and technical training, awarding careers in local companies or even Future Tech if they''re talented." Vince replied.


    "We can start small and expand the budget after reviewing our impact in local Afghan society," Vince added.


    Obama went silent and thought about the proposal for a few minutes.


    "I''ll speak to Leon Panetta, the secretary of defense. So we''ll be contacting you soon about your proposal. Thank you for meeting with Douglas and me." Obama said sincerely.


    "Thank you for having us and asking for my input. Until next time." Vince said before shaking the president''s hand.


    Price did the same before both left the oval office.


    Vince and Price reunited with the other security operators and were escorted to the private hangar by the secret service.


    "Do you really think a war could be won by building instead of destroying? Price asked.


    "Yes, I do," Vince replied plainly.


    [20/20 hindsight. The US will lose the war in 2021, no matter how much money the US government spends to win it.] Vince thought.


    The group boarded the Dreamliner jet and enjoyed the luxurious amenities while flying to New York City.


    Vince received a call from Aiya on his AIM mobile phone, connected to the jet''s private satellite network.


    "You''ll be attending a meeting at the Time Magazine headquarters in New York tomorrow. I''ve already prepared your stay at the Ritz-Carlton." Aiya said over the phone.


    "Please update Hudson and David regarding our new partnership with DOD. I''ll send you the report shortly." Vince replied.


    "Gladly," Aiya replied before ending the call.


    The private jet landed while the usual rented Black SUVs awaited.


    Price stayed at the Ritz-Carlton to prepare for the Future Security mission in Deh Dadi while Vince freshened up and headed to Wall Street.


    Vince and a security operator took an SUV and visited Future Tech Investments at their Wall Street office.


    This investment firm has been around ever since Vince instructed Ralph to purchase stock from major corporations like Amazon, though Vince had never visited before. Close to one hundred traders could be seen around computers and an uncountable number of screens everywhere.


    A caucasian man in his 30''s with blonde hair, wearing a business suit, welcomed Vince into the office.


    "It''s nice to meet you, Vince Dalton, finally. My name is Richard Hanks, and I oversee your investments in the Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange. I''ve known Ralph since our Harvard years," Richard said.


    "I feel the same, Richard. I just wanted to stop by and see how the investment department is doing." Vince replied.


    [The business had done well investing in highly profitable markets like consumer goods, oil and gas, sea and air transportation, and other emerging technologies. These investments will be crucial in Future Tech''s growth.] Vince thought.


    "How are our finances doing?" Vince asked.


    "With the use of a quarter of Future Tech''s liquid assets in the past year, we''ve accumulated stock worth $30 billion across all our portfolios and $10 billion in cash," Richard replied proudly.


    [Future Tech''s cash flow has been evolving as our new core businesses eclipse BitCash and Future Studios'' revenue. Selling AIM devices and technology contracts is the latest and more enormous cash cow.] Vince thought.


    "Focus on telecommunications companies for now until I say otherwise. Preferably controlling stake or buy the entire thing, I''ll give you my direct contact to request for more funds if required." Vince declared.


    "Are there any notable recent acquisitions?" Vince asked.


    "We trade primarily in shares and stocks of top S&P 500 companies, but there was one that was quite expensive. Ralph thought you''d want to own a social platform, so we bought Instagram for $1.2 Billion." Richard replied.


    [Instagram, huh? That''s a steal for $1.2 billion!] Vince thought excitedly.


    Stats last time checked:


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $74.5 Billion in Future Tech


    8350+ employees (Future Studios, Hive Mind AI, ARM, BitCash, Future Security, FT VR, Future Tech F1, Future Tech Investments)


    Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings


    Read novel fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 36 - Person Of The Year

    You can read the novel fast updates at novelhall.com


    Instagram was bought by Facebook in 2012 but is now owned by Future Tech in Vince''s new life.


    [We paid $200 million more than Facebook did, but it was worth it.] Vince thought


    "Ralph assumed correctly. Social media is a multi-billion dollar industry. Would you please notify him in providing $5 billion to Instagram''s budget from Future Tech, and to start promoting channels related to the Arena Pro League and War Online on the platform." Vince asked.


    "Yes, of course, Vince," Richard replied.


    "Thank you for your time. I''ll be heading out." Vince said before leaving for his car.


    He enjoyed the cosmopolitan scenery in Manhattan before spending some time in Central Park.


    Vince called his mother while walking by the Bethesda Fountain.


    "Hey, mom. How have you been since I left Austin?" Vince asked,


    "I''ve been feeling stronger than ever. I have fully staffed our non-profit organization with the help of Hudson, freeing up some time for my hobbies." Leah replied.


    "I''m glad to hear that, mom. What kind of hobbies have you been getting into? Vince asked curiously.


    "Future Tech''s new design division is terrific. I can mock-up designs on the company computers, and viola, a new dress appears. I''ve been enjoying my time working with Future Couture." Leah replied excitedly.


    "Future Couture''s sales have been great, especially the new winter collection. Our Austin branch is always full of people trying out the new designs." Leah added.


    [I didn''t know mom was that into dresses. Maybe she and Jessica would get along because of their passion for fashion.] Vince thought amusingly.


    "During your free time from designing clothes, could you please prepare our NPO for new outreach programs I''ll be funding. Mostly in Afghanistan." Vince asked.


    "In Afghanistan? What have you gotten yourself into, young man?" Leah asked inquisitively with a harsh tone.


    "I''m sorry, mom. I had no choice. The President and the Department of Defense wouldn''t have taken no for an answer." Vince replied dejectedly.


    [Vince is a good boy. I need to trust him with important decisions like this. He deserves that at least.] Leah thought as she calmed down.


    "Alright, Vince. I''ll do what you ask. Civilians suffer the most during a war." Leah replied.


    "I know, mom. We''ll be working on it." Vince replied reassuringly.


    "Show me some of your designs when I get back to Austin. I''ll see you soon." Vince said before his mother told her farewells.


    He looked around and watched the beautiful Central Park landscape.


    [I''ll give everyone a chance to experience scenery like this even if I had to build a forest in the desert.] Vince thought with determination.


    Vince called Elon after his conversation with Leah.


    "Vince, are you calling about your satellites? We''ve already sent five of the ten you ordered in low earth orbit. But, unfortunately, SpaceX can''t go any faster." Elon said, quickly defending himself.


    "I understand, even though all of them should be up there by now. Delays happen. I''m calling about something else." Vince replied.


    "Okay, you should have started with that then," Elon replied


    [You didn''t even let me..Ugh] Vince thought


    "I remember you talking on an on about colonizing Mars. I propose a partnership in developing self-sustaining housing modules that we would eventually build on Mars for researchers and colonizers." Vince stated.


    "This could lead to valuable data for a very crucial aspect for our efforts in colonizing other planets. I''m in. Where do you want to do the testing? Nevada or Arizona?" Elon asked excitedly.


    "Afghanistan," Vince replied plainly.


    "Hmm. That country''s climate and the weather do fit our criteria. I''ll accept. SpaceX and Future Tech can make it work, I''m confident." Elon stated.


    "I''m glad you are. Send Future Tech the necessary personnel, and I''ll take care of the rest, at no cost to you." Vince replied.


    "If that''s all, I''m out. See you around, Vince." Elon stated.


    "Likewise, Elon. Thanks for considering my proposal." Vince replied before pocketing his phone.


    He left the park after spending a few hours walking around with his security before deciding to go.


    Vince arrived at Time Magazine''s headquarters half an hour later.


    Most of the employees at Time Magazine knew that an interview would be conducted today with an important guest. It was the main article for the December 2012 issue featuring the person of the year, Vince Dalton.


    Vince was guided into a private room where cameras were set up.


    "Thank you for sparing time for our interview, Mr. Dalton. I''ll only need to ask a few questions as most of the content will be written about your business and tech campus by our correspondents in Austin." the interviewer stated.


    "That''s fine. I''m ready whenever you are." Vince said amicably.


    "You''ve been named ''Person of the Year'' by Time Magazine due to your company''s contributions to the electronics and finance sectors. Yet, not much is known publicly of Future Tech''s work due to being a private company."


    "How did Future Tech evolve from a simple software development company into a tech giant competing with Apple and Microsoft?" the interviewer asked.


    "Software is an integral part of my company''s success. Our staff requires sophisticated software to utilize AI in various applications. Brilliant engineers helm the development of the Future Tech AI, and this product is our core business. The refinement of our manufacturing processes and advancements in material science are just byproducts." Vince said proudly.


    "Future Tech has invested heavily in the entertainment industry. Plenty of your early successes are tied to War Online and the Arena Pro League. How important is this business sector to Future Tech?" the interviewer asked.


    "I hold entertainment in high regard¡ªplatforms like film, music, video games, and competition connects our society and promotes a communal outlook. Our products bring communities together. That is my philosophy in business." Vince replied.


    "Whispers regarding Future Tech''s involvement in the war in Afghanistan is being spoken around the news industry. In addition, reports show that you visited President Obama yesterday. Of course, war is a controversial issue, but I''d like to ask in what capacity your company will assist in the conflict." the interviewer asked.


    "Future Tech and Future Security will ensure the safety of our brothers and sisters fighting in Afghanistan through drone reconnaissance and cyberwarfare. In addition, however, I offered the president a peacekeeping and rebuilding project for the benefit of Afghan locals." Vince replied.


    "From mobile apps to satellites, what more could be next for Future Tech?" the interviewer asked.


    "There will always be something next, but I can tease a new project in development for your magazine: smart devices and the Internet of Things," Vince replied.


    "Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Dalton. I reckon we''ll be doing more interviews in the future." the interviewer stated.


    "Until next time," Vince replied.


    [This war thing could be a problem. People can''t just blame me for being involved. Countless other corporations contribute to the war efforts.] Vince thought


    Price met Vince at the Ritz-Carlton''s restaurant for dinner.


    "Vince, Future Security will require additional funds to purchase enough land outside Austin for a training base. I''ll need to prepare our men before this mission starts." Price stated.


    "That''s fine. I foresee Future Tech being involved more and more in the war." Vince replied.


    [We need to be. Or else, the same thing will happen like in 2021.] Vince thought.


    "I''ll need to find suitable ground around Austin as soon as possible. The mission will start in February." Price added.


    "You can ask David for help with that. You''ll need to order Hive Mind security suites for Future Security''s use. Future Tech will provide your operators all of the assistance we''ll give to DOD but at a smaller scale, of course. That means you''ll get autonomous IED bot sweepers, radio satellite equipment, and autonomous air recon support." Vince replied.


    "Price, I''ll give you $10 billion initially to grow Future Security into a formidable fighting and peacekeeping force capable of winning this war.


    [General Douglas will only be paying Future Security $500 million to secure the entire Dehdadi province, though a $5 billion contract for securing Kandahar was on the table based on their performance.]


    [$2.3 trillion was the total cost of the war in Afghanistan. However, money couldn''t win the war.] Vince pondered.


    "$10 billion is more than enough to start with, Vince. You''re feeling generous today. What gives?" Price asked inquisitively.


    "The entire Middle East is at risk of falling into dictators'' hands. As a result, politics in the region will fracture sooner rather than later, especially in Syria." Vince replied solemnly.


    [ISIS did the war effort no favors. Countless civilians dead for no good reason.] Vince thought sadly.


    "You''ve been doing your geopolitics homework recently? Lighten up, kid. My men are competent and reliable. So you don''t have to worry." Price replied reassuringly.


    David called Vince as they were flying back to Austin.


    "General Douglas seemed eager to finalize the deal," David stated.


    "What did General Douglas order from the menu?" Vince jokingly asked.


    "Autonomous upgrades for 20,000 existing reconnaissance drones, 1,000 IED sweeper bots, 10,000 Hive Mind security drones, and development of an intuitive military control system for the officers to use. Upkeep and maintenance of all Future Tech assets will be our responsibility." David stated.


    "And how much was the general''s bill? Vince asked.


    "$50 billion for the first year. More contracts are on the table based on our products'' impact in the war." David replied.


    [War is indeed profitable.] Vince thought.


    Stats last time checked:


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $100 Billion in Future Tech


    8350+ employees (Future Studios, Hive Mind AI, ARM, BitCash, Future Security, FT VR, Future Tech F1, Future Tech Investments)


    Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings


    Read novel fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 37 - Military Division Expansion

    Read novel online free fast updates at novelhall.com


    December 2012, at the Future Tech penthouse.


    It was a week after Vince met with the president. He was busy working with Jessica and the API development team in creating a military control and monitoring system, easy enough to be used in the field.


    Price was busy preparing Future Security, setting up the training ground and barracks outside Austin.


    Price had recruited 3,000 operators after US military veterans heard the news of Future Security''s direct involvement in combat areas in Afghanistan. Future Security was currently 5,000 strong. 2,000 as a reserve force and headquarters security while FS would send 3,000 overseas.


    [These operators are not your run-of-the-mill soldiers. All of them left cozy posts to join Future Security instead of guarding rich kids like me.] Vince thought.


    Vince was disturbed from his work by a phone ringing.


    "Hudson, how''s the weather in Afghanistan?" Vince jokingly asked.


    "It''s dry. Very dry. I''d rather not be here, but you''re the boss." Hudson replied.


    "How is our technical school doing?" Vince asked.


    "We were able to purchase a large building in downtown Kandahar with the help of the US government. I''ve recruited every local with enough competence to work and learn for decent pay." Hudson replied.


    "The people we train will become essential personnel for Future Tech eventually. Maintenance and field support for our products is our top priority, but do treat them with care." Vince instructed.


    [Even without the governments'' support yet, I''ll start providing an alternative life to people who want it.] Vince thought.


    "There''s no need to rush their training. We need competence, not numbers. The defense contract duration is one year. So you''ll have enough time." Vince added.


    "The school will require Future Tech engineers. But, unfortunately, we only have a few Arabic speakers that can teach here." Hudson stated.


    "Future Tech employees who are willing to teach at Kandahar will do it in rotations like the FS operators and with bonus pay. Moreover, language won''t be an issue with our new smart device feature, real-time language translations."


    "Students will only need a pair of earphones, and every word of the instructor will be translated and played in their ears," Vince replied.


    "That''s convenient. I should be able to work this out now that language isn''t a problem. I''ll contact you if I need anything." Hudson said before saying farewell.


    Formula 1 teams are famous for their aerodynamic expertise, and Vince decided to use it to his advantage.


    Vince called Kevin Lawson, a British man who directs the Future Tech F1 team.


    "How is the deep VR racing simulator project with Ms. Miller doing?"


    "It''s early days, but progress is steady, though our new AIM-powered traditional racing simulators are far and above those of our competitors," Kevin replied.


    "Does the team have a second driver already?" Vince asked.


    "We''ve decided to keep Nico Hulkenberg for next season alongside Randall Stevens," Kevin replied.


    "How is the development of the new 2013 car?" Vince asked.


    "Most of the aerodynamic package has already been developed with the help from Future Tech and our previous experiences. So there won''t be any issues fielding two cars in April of next year." Kevin replied.


    "Good, because your team will be busy with a new project. Though bonuses and promotions are on the table." Vince stated.


    "What do you need us to do before the 2013 season starts?" Kevin asked curiously.


    "You''ll be designing planes. Specifically, long-range/high-altitude surveillance planes that I''ll sell to the military and transport planes like the Globemaster. In addition, you''ll work with SpaceX for the radio satellite functionality and Koenigsegg for the engines. No weapons for now." Vince instructed plainly.


    The British racing man was stunned to hear about his new project.


    "You''re the boss, Vince," Kevin replied over the phone before Vince ended the call.


    [I would have never imagined designing vehicles for military use.] Kevin thought.


    As soon as Vince arrived from New York, Future Tech recruited local gun machinists for his new venture, Future Arms. As a result, machinists and designers from everywhere in Texas flocked to Austin for an opportunity to produce small arms that operators will actually use in live combat.


    [Future Tech had been modifying weapons since Future Security was formed but hadn''t designed one from scratch yet.] Vince thought.


    Vince decided to buy Alliant Techsystems, the largest small arms and ammunition manufacturer in the United States. David negotiated the deal at $10 billion, which was more than fair.


    The headquarters in Arlington will serve as the Future Arms and Future Security branch headquarters close to DC.


    The robotics division was busy designing and producing the IED sweeper bots, while Patel and the AI division upgraded the thousands of existing military drones.


    [This is the perfect time to produce new products as consumer sales always dip at the start of the year. We''ll ramp up AIM device manufacturing again after designing the smart devices and IoT gadgets.] Vince thought


    The Arena Pro League Season 2 finals will be held in mid-December in South Korea, at the Daegu Stadium.


    Continuous updates to the game have retained people''s attention on War Online, and the broadcast ratings are still growing.


    Though Vince was exceptionally busy, he still decided to attend the event as an avid esports fan.


    [The Arena Pro League Finals won''t be the same without me.] Vince thought conceitedly.


    Vince called his friends to ask if they wanted to come and enjoy the City of Seoul with him.


    "Jessica, Are you free to join me at the APL Finals in South Korea in a week?" Vince asked.


    "I can''t, Vince. The API division is busy developing the military control unit for the new defense contract you signed a few weeks ago." Jessica replied grumpily.


    "I understand. Don''t overwork yourself. I promise to treat you to a vacation or something nice when you''re finished." Vince replied.


    "Alright, alright. I''ll be working now. Talk to you later." Jessica said before ending the call.


    [Feels bad, man.] Vince thought.


    He then called Kyle to ask the same thing.


    "Kyle, do you want to watch the APL finals in South Korea? I''ll be going in a week?" Vince asked.


    "I''d love to watch it live at the Daegu Stadium, but I''m busy working with Future Tech F1 and Future Tech VR, developing deep-sleep simulations. This project is far more interesting than watching the APL. Sorry, bro." Kyle replied.


    "Okay. Thanks for your hard work. You''ll be the first to play the deep-dive VR MMORPG when it eventually comes out." Vince stated.


    "Cool. See you, Vince." Kyle replied before ending the call.


    Vince then called Rick and Sarah for the same purpose.


    "Sarah, will you and your brother go with me to South Korea to watch the APL Finals?" Vince asked.


    "We''re busy designing the user interface for the military control unit. So our free time will only be during Christmas week." Sarah replied.


    [I deserve this for signing that defense contract without much preparation.] Vince thought dejectedly.


    "Alright. It''s good to see you twins are busying yourselves instead of raiding bosses at the LAN center." Vince replied jokingly.


    "We''d have killed the final boss of the expansion already if it weren''t for this sudden new project," Sarah complained in reply before ending the call.


    [None of my friends want to join me. I thought I was the only one addicted to work.] Vince thought sadly.


    Vince called his mom to ask the same question.


    "Hey, mom, will you be busy next week? I''ll be attending the APL Finals in South Korea. Would you please accompany me?" Vince asked.


    "Of course, I''ll go with you! I''ve always wanted to visit Seoul and shop for dresses in the Gangnam District! We should open a Future Couture store there too!" Leah excitedly replied.


    "I''m glad to have at least one person willing to join me in South Korea. How are the outreach programs doing?" Vince asked.


    "All the programs have been finalized and are already being executed in Kandahar. So I have plenty of free time!" Leah replied merrily.


    Vince continued working with Future Arms and Future Security to prepare them for their mission in February next year. Ralph projected that the defense contract and assignment at Dehdadi will cost $20 billion in the first year.


    Ralph walked into Vince''s penthouse office to talk about Future Tech''s finances.


    "Good to see you, Ralph. What''s up?" Vince asked while he closed his laptop.


    "Defense contracts is stable income, but you''ve been spending too much money on Future Arms and Future Security. As a result, our consumer electronics division won''t have enough capacity to sell our most profitable products." Ralph replied.


    "I''ll stop expanding our security division until we receive our next sizeable military contract. Happy?" Vince replied, exasperated.


    "Thank you. Our total annual expenses will be close to $50 billion next year; please keep that in mind." Ralph added.


    [All the technologies and companies I''ve bought will pay dividends. I''m confident.] Vince thought before going back to work.


    Stats last time checked:


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $90 Billion in Future Tech


    8350+ employees (Future Studios, Hive Mind AI, ARM, BitCash, Future Security, FT VR, Future Tech F1, Future Tech Investments)


    Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings


    You can read the novel online free at novelhall.com

 Chapter 38 - Arrival In South Korea

    You can read the novel online free at novelhall.com


    Mid-December 2012,


    Vince and Leah were preparing for their trip to Seoul at the headquarters penthouse.


    The security system alerted Vince regarding a visitor.


    A muscular and lean caucasian man in his 30''s wearing a combat uniform themed in blue and black entered his office.


    "Vince, I''d like to talk to you about something before you leave." Price stated.


    "Is there something wrong with Future Security?" Vince asked.


    "The men''s training is going well. Most of them have practiced utilizing Future Tech products like the new IED sweeper bots and recon drones." Price stated.


    "Our military operations is a sensitive subject. Future Tech''s current cyber warfare defense system I developed with Patel is top-notch. However, I''d still like to use the remaining $5 billion in Future Security''s budget in forming a separate cybersecurity division within Future Security to develop defense and breach protocols; continuously." Price added.


    "I''m on board with your idea, Price. I approve of your use of the remaining budget. A cybersecurity division will make it so we won''t have to rely on the CIA or the NSA to protect our military secrets." Vince said approvingly.


    "Great! I already have a few military contacts from my SOCOM days ready to be recruited. We''ll work with Jessica and the API team to integrate our new cyber warfare protocols within Future Tech when it''s ready." Price replied excitedly.


    [Price''s idea is fantastic! I can already imagine an army of netrunners defending the Bitcash network from corporate espionage! Indeed, we can''t rely on AI defensive mechanisms forever.] Vince thought.


    Leah arrived at the penthouse living room wearing a red-themed Future Couture dress. Her ashen hair and caucasian figure were magnified by an exquisite shawl made of the same advanced fiber.


    "I''m ready to leave, Vince. How about you?" Leah asked.


    "Price just left. I should be ready in a few minutes." Vince replied.


    A security detail of five operators would accompany Leah and Vince during their travels.


    Each operator was equipped with the new military personnel security drone, recently developed by Future Tech AI and the robotics division.


    [These new security drones are much larger and more intimidating than the ones used at the headquarters. It kind of looks similar to the Militech Griffin drones in Cyberpunk 2077.] Vince thought.


    "Hey, Felix. I''ve been busy with the military control systems these past two weeks. Could you please tell me about your new pet drones?" Vince asked one of the operators assigned to guarding their CEO.


    "It''s called the Future Tech Dragonfly. The drone features physical and cyber threat protocols and can scan a wide area of a 100-meter radius." Felix replied.


    "These five drones are different from the regular Dragonfly, though, because of the added integrated machine gun that shoots armor-piercing ammunition, Sir," Felix added.


    "They look rather heavy. How long can it stay hovering around and patrolling?" Vince asked.


    "The new two-stroke hybrid engine from Koenigsegg used in all the Dragonfly drones can patrol for 12 hours straight before having to go back to base for refueling. In addition, the material science division is currently developing new fuel mixtures to optimize fuel efficiency, Sir," Felix replied.


    [These guys are highly trained. Even Felix knows the ins and outs of this new drone.] Vince thought.


    "What''s this new combat uniform you guys are wearing?" Vince asked.


    "Director Price issued Future Couture designed uniforms with the prototype plate armor woven into the fabric. It''s lighter and stronger than any other body armor system in the market." Felix replied.


    [Price had been very busy these past two weeks.] Vince thought.


    "I assume your team is prepared to protect my mother and me in Seoul?" Vince asked.


    "Director Price only sends the best for your protection, Sir," Felix replied like a soldier.


    Their entourage headed to the private hangar and boarded the heavily modified 787 Dreamliner. Kevin from Future Tech F1 recently upgraded its system to meet the new military standards.


    The seventeen hours of flight was a pleasant wait. Leah, Felix, and the other operators enjoyed the luxurious amenities they''d never tried before in flight.


    "Flying like this is the best. Compared to the cold seats on the Boeing Globemasters we slept on, this feels like heaven." Felix stated.


    "Were you a paratrooper, Felix?" Vince asked curiously.


    "82nd Airborne Division, Sir. ''Death from Above,''" Felix said as he saluted proudly.


    "Wow! It takes a lot of skill and cajones to jump off a moving plane into live combat." Vince replied in surprise.


    "We train for months before our mission starts, and we don''t usually drop in hot areas. Our landing zone is usually miles away from the action." Felix replied.


    "What if your forces on the ground were in dire need of reinforcements? You''d have to run for miles before making a difference." Vince asked.


    "Parachuting into direct anti-air suppression fire is a death sentence for the troopers and the pilots. So we were limited in that respect." Felix replied, embarrassed.


    [Future Tech could develop a troop landing module using the Falcon 9 VTOL landing system and sell it to the airborne divisions. It will have to be more reliable, though.] Vince thought.


    They landed at the Incheon Internation Airport before the Dreamliner taxied into a private hangar.


    Delegates from the ROK government were waiting to welcome Vince Dalton and his entourage.


    Intelligence officers notified President Lee Myung-bak of Vince''s visit to South Korea for the Arena Pro League Season 2 Finals. He immediately readied delegates to represent the ROK and welcome the young CEO.


    [As the youngest CEO in South Korea, I can smell a business opportunity.] President Lee thought.


    The playoffs were already underway. The defending champions, Prime Alliance, are expected to take the top spot in Group A, while Clear Sky was dominating Group B.


    Devices of every variety were playing their local Arena Pro League broadcast worldwide.


    A television screen in a Seoul coffee shop showed images of the Korean professional players from Clear Sky while a commentator was talking.


    "Clear Sky has brought their peak form here in the APL Season 2 playoffs. Charlatan is playing better than ever, while their team cohesion has reached a new level." a female broadcaster said in Korean.


    "The close loss at the Season 1 Finals really lit a fire under these players to perform at such a high level." a male broadcaster replied.


    "The Russian players from Team Blizzard have been doing well in Group A and could potentially knock out Prime Alliance." the female broadcaster added.


    "Group A is up in the air for now. And, multiple teams in that group could potentially advance to the finals. Team Predator from the Philippines and Samurai from Japan, are two notable teams who played well during the season." the male broadcaster replied.


    "Don''t forget to tune in this Sunday for the Grand Finals! Thank you for watching Korean Daily Esports! Follow our Instagram account for more news." the female broadcaster said to end the show.


    Vince''s entourage and the ROK delegates arrived at the Signiel Seoul to settle down for the day. Leah was excited to try out the five-star amenities before going shopping at Gangnam.


    A middle-aged man surrounded by bodyguards arrived at the hotel. He looked more like a businessman than a politician.


    Regular hotel clientele quickly realized that the President of the Republic of Korea was walking through the lobby.


    A delegate notified Vince of the President''s arrival and gave him time to prepare for the unexcepted meeting.


    Vince met with President Lee at one of the hotels'' meetings rooms.


    "My name is Vince Dalton. Good to meet you, Mr. President. Funny enough, you''re the second president I''ve met this month." Vince said as he shook Lee''s hand.


    [I remember this guy from international news coverage. He was involved in bribery, embezzlement, tax evasion, and abuse of power during his presidency. He was good enough to evade the law for a few years but was eventually convicted.] Vince thought chidingly.


    "I''m glad of your visit to our beautiful South Korea. From entertainment to industry, we can provide." Lee said amicably.


    "Your Future Tech products have been quite popular here in South Korea. Corporations like Samsung have not been happy this past year, though our government is still open to doing business with you." Lee added.


    [Even though this guy is crooked. He''s still the CEO of Hyundai Engineering and Construction. I should be on guard, but it doesn''t hurt to hear him out.] Vince thought.


    "As a man of technology, I assume you know how advanced our telecommunications technology is currently. Your Future Tech has been buying out telecommunications companies worldwide and has been successful so far. But building more infrastructure will be demanding from your side of the world." Lee said.


    "I propose Future Tech partner with Hyundai Engineering and Construction to upgrade and expand communications towers in East Asia. We carry influence across the Asian continent. Of course, the Korean government can expedite the sale of our local telecommunications companies to Future Tech as a little bonus." President Lee proposed with a smile.


    [As long as I can gain access to Future Tech''s data, stealing and selling technologies will be more profitable than this deal.] Mr. Lee thought nefariously.


    [Future Tech does need help in expanding cellular tower coverage in Asia, but I know precisely why this smug bastard is offering me such a favorable deal. Something underhanded will be going on with those ''upgrades'' and ''expansions''. I''ll play along, but don''t feel so sorry later.] Vince thought.


    "We''re both businessmen, Mr. President. Let''s talk numbers. I estimate our current projected total cost of expanding our East Asia coverage is $20 billion for two years. What''s your offer?" Vince asked.


    "So expensive! We can do it for half the cost, with the support of the ROK government. What do you say?" Mr. Lee asked.


    "I appreciate your sincerity, Mr. President. The deal is as good as closed. I''ll provide you with my lawyer''s contact information after our conversation." Vince replied with a fake smile.


    They conversed in some small talk before ending the meeting.


    [Future Security''s cybersecurity division will soon have its first mission.] Vince thought.


    Stats last time checked:


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $85 Billion in Future Tech


    8350+ employees (Future Studios, Hive Mind AI, ARM, BitCash, Future Security, FT VR, Future Tech F1, Future Tech Investments, Future Arms)


    Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    Best novel online free at novelhall.com

 Chapter 39 - Executive Meeting

    Best novel online free at novelhall.com


    Vince arrived at his hotel suite and waited for the Dragonfly drones to sweep the area for listening devices and other privacy threats.


    Leah was getting ready to leave and go shopping as she saw Vince enter his room.


    "Vince, I heard you met with the South Korean president while I was swimming downstairs. How was it?" Leah asked curiously.


    "He treated me well and with respect, mom. He also offered me a value deal in expanding our East Asia coverage." Vince replied.


    "That''s good to hear, son. You''ve been busy with work while on vacation. You should relax a bit." Leah suggested.


    "I can''t relax for now. The deal with Mr. Lee smells fishy. It''s too good to be true." Vince replied.


    "Kids like you shouldn''t need to be dealing with politicians and the stresses they bring," Leah said sadly.


    "My vision for Future Tech is expanding; I need to practice in dealing with these types of people," Vince replied.


    [Mr. Lee could have easily deceived me if it weren''t for my old memories of the future.] Vince pondered.


    The Dragonfly drones confirmed Vince''s privacy within the hotel suite.


    Vince decided to call David and Price.


    "Hey David, Are you awake?" Vince asked.


    "It''s the middle of the night, Vince. What do you need?" David replied.


    "Representatives from Hyundai Engineering and Construction will contact you soon regarding a deal I''ve struck with President Lee. Unfortunately, something isn''t right with this deal, but we''ll play along for now." Vince instructed.


    "Understood, Boss. Can I go back to sleep now?" David replied.


    "Go ahead. Thanks, David." Vince replied.


    Vince then called Price regarding the counter-intelligence mission.


    "Price, did I catch you at the wrong time?" Vince asked.


    "I''m just working overnight. What''s going on?" David replied.


    "David will be finalizing a deal with the South Korean president soon. The agreement itself is too good to be true, so I''ll need cyberspies from Future Security to monitor our dealings with Hyundai E&C. "


    "I suspect they want to steal Future Tech intelligence and technologies using the telecommunication hubs we''ll be upgrading," Vince instructed.


    "I won''t let that happen, Vince. We''ll perform cyber intrusions in retaliation if they try anything suspicious." Price replied determinedly.


    "Take what you can get before your people get caught. I wouldn''t say I like snooping into other people''s business, but actions against Future Tech or me will have dire consequences." Vince stated.


    [It puts me at ease knowing that cyber security is Price''s forte.] Vince thought.


    Vince and Leah decided to roam around Gangnam to spend some time with each other.


    It was a beautiful but snowy day in Seoul. Naturally, though, the cold didn''t bother them much under Future Couture clothing.


    "Look over there¡ªan entourage with flying security drones; that should be Vince Dalton. He''s in South Korea to attend the APL Finals." A Korean passerby said to his companion.


    "You''re right! He looks so dreamy even as a young man." the Korean girl companion replied.


    "You wish! How are you going to compete with that hot lady he''s following around." her companion declared.


    Felix started carrying shopping bags while Vince and Leah explored the commercial district. Leah was more focused on the area than shopping itself.


    "Oh, that one! Vince, I want our Future Couture South Korea branch to set up there." Leah declared.


    She pointed at a store in the middle of the busiest area in the commercial district.


    "That''s going to be expensive, but anything for you, mom!" Vince acquiesced.


    [Future Tech will likely need a South Korea branch, too, with the new business partnership with Hyundai E&C around the corner.] Vince pondered.


    The group went around the commercial district for a few hours before heading back to the hotel. Vince had time to work on the new agreement with David and Ralph from the hotel suite.


    Felix deployed a mobile telecommunication hub within the room to provide secure network access.


    The hub itself was the size of a full-tower desktop computer and was connected to a small satellite dish receiver posted outside the window.


    "Felix, is this the new military communication system we''ll be selling to DOD?" Vince asked.


    "Yes. It''s called a Data Access Node, or just the Node. Price started developing the Node when Future Security began. I still remember because I was one of the first men you hired back then." Felix replied.


    "I recall our meeting at Tom''s gym. I was so paranoid from the failed assassination attempt." Vince stated embarrassingly.


    "We heard about what happened. You defended yourself like a true warrior. And you''re alive because of this warrior''s will." Felix stated reassuringly.


    "I got lucky, but I do agree. Thanks, Felix." Vince replied.


    Vince found his AIM laptop before connecting to the Node and started working.


    [Future Tech is expanding rapidly across foreign nations now. Corporate security wasn''t much of a problem as most of our business was in Austin. I''ll have to restructure the company again to protect our billions of dollars worth of assets overseas.] Vince pondered.


    Vince busied himself outlining the new corporate structure Future Tech will be complying with soon.


    An executive director will lead central departments in Future Tech like Future Security, Arms, Studio, AI, VR, Holdings, Investments, and the Hive Mind. In addition, they''ll be responsible for their detachments in overseas foreign branches.


    Executive Directors can appoint a limited amount of operations managers to oversee sub-divisions within their departments.


    These operations managers would assign project or mission managers to monitor the performance of lower-level employees.


    Each Future Tech member can slowly climb the corporate ladder to access more advanced tech, resources, training, and privileges.


    If an employee trains enough, there will also be opportunities to transfer from departments or divisions as a promotion.


    [This outline should be a decent starting point for Hudson to polish.] Vince thought before sending the text document to Hudson via the secure Node.


    There were still a few days before Leah and Vince had to fly to Daegu for the Finals. Vince enjoyed the city during the day while working at night.


    It was the middle of the night in South Korea. Vince joined in the daily executive video conference meeting hosted in Austin.


    David was the first one to start discussing business.


    "It''s already so late there, Vince. You don''t have to attend this meeting." David said.


    "I want to be here. Future Tech has a lot on its plate right now, and I need to stay on top of things." Vince replied


    "Alright. A representative from Hyundai C&E contacted me earlier this morning to finalize the two-year contract. It seems like you low-balled our initial estimated expansion cost from $40 billion to $20 billion." David stated.


    "I wanted to test Mr. Lee''s sincerity. He failed, unfortunately." Vince replied.


    "Your little test ended up saving us $30 billion because they settled for only $10 billion to seal the deal." David declared.


    "I told you it was too good to be true. We''ll capitalize on this lucky windfall, though." Vince replied.


    Patel followed up after David in explaining the status of Future Tech AI and the Hive Mind.


    "The AI department is heavily focused on contributing to our military contracts, though a quarter of the team is working with Morgan and the AIM department in developing our new products for 2013," Patel stated.


    "I''ve set up the Hive Mind department the same way, primarily focusing on manufacturing defense contract orders from DOD," Patel added.


    "Patel, You''ve done excellent work with our AI and its applications. Unfortunately, leading both the AI department and Hive Mind manufacturing is too much of a burden for one person. I give you the freedom to nominate an executive director for Hive Mind Manufacturing." Vince instructed.


    "It''s an honor, Vince. I want to nominate Andreas, the tech campus overseer, to be our newest executive director. He''s been working for me since before Future Tech bought my small AI company, and I feel like he deserves the promotion." Patel replied.


    "I''ve met Andreas, and he seems like a good fit to be a Future Tech executive," Vince replied in agreement.


    Ralph decided to chip in the conversation to discuss finances.


    "It''s been a highly profitable last quarter in 2012, though our total expenses exceeded our initial estimates but were still acceptable, at around $60 billion."


    "Gross profit from AIM consumer electronics, Bitcash transactions, War Online microtransactions, Hive Mind manufacturing rentals, and military contracts came out around $150 billion, which leaves $90 billion as liquid cash," Ralph stated.


    Richard joined in the discussion about finances and updated Vince regarding Future Investment''s portfolio.


    "Our portfolio hadn''t changed much since your visit at our Wall Street offices. The total value of the portfolio is $30 billion, and we still have $10 billion in cash for further investments." Richard stated.


    "Ralph, Richard, How much do guys think the entire Future Tech is currently worth, including all our businesses and assets?" Vince asked.


    "At least $300 billion," Richard replied.


    "It''s a low and rough estimate, but that seems about right. We''ll be performing a finance review in January for a more accurate valuation." Ralph added.


    [Damn. Future Tech is about to hit critical mass. It''ll be in a too big to fail situation soon. On the other hand, though, I would never want to be in a position needing to be bailed out by the government.] Vince thought.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $90 Billion cash in Future Tech


    8350+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, ARM, BitCash, Future Security, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms)


    Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    You can read the novel fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 40 - The Mecca Of Esports

    You can read the novel fast updates at novelhall.com


    The executive directors were taking turns in updating their young CEO regarding their businesses. A British man in his 40''s was keeping silent while others talked in the video conference meeting.


    [I feel so out of place joining in such an important corporate meeting.] Kevin Lawson thought apprehensively.


    "Kevin, You haven''t talked since we started the meeting. So how is the Future Tech F1 team doing? Is your department on track to fulfill the assignment I gave you?" Vince asked curiously.


    "I''m sorry, Vince. I''m just not used to attending meetings with such influential people. I''m just a racing team director." Kevin replied.


    "If you feel like your position is too demanding, we can replace you, but you don''t have to be a racing director forever. Show Future Tech your skills and talents, and we''ll assign an appropriate position." Vince replied reassuringly.


    "I''ve never been paid as much as I earn now. So it''s only natural I''ll have more responsibilities. Future Tech F1 has assigned all the engineers to develop the recon drones besides those collaborating with Future Tech VR. The designs should be ready for manufacturing in two months." Kevin replied confidently.


    "That''s good to hear. We''ll need to equip Price and Future Security with our new military tech to ensure their safety." Vince replied.


    "Which reminds me. Where''s Price?" Vince asked.


    "Price told me he''d be busy installing new security equipment at the headquarters, tech campus, FS training facility, and our other buildings within the United States," Hudson replied.


    [It seems like Future Security''s cyber division is already upgrading Future Tech''s defensive systems. I''ll have to give Price a bonus for all his busy work.] Vince thought.


    "How has the company restructuring been going?" Vince asked.


    "Your outline was detailed enough for me to start implementing this new organizational structure. I can already tell this new method will help us cope with further expansions in the future, especially abroad." Hudson replied.


    "Executive and management positions will enjoy Future Security''s protection to avoid corporate espionage," Hudson added.


    "Well done, Hudson. You''ve served me well since Kemp-Jacobs recommended you as my staff manager. I''ll promote you to Chief Operations Officer after the restructuring." Vince replied.


    "AIM processor and device development will be its own department now. Assign Morgan as the executive director for Future Tech Micro Devices." Vince added.


    Hudson was elated by the unexpected promotion and thanked Vince profusely before he ended the meeting.


    Vince and his entourage flew on the Dreamliner to Daegu the next day.


    Vince spent some time catching up on the Arena Pro League playoffs results by watching the ''Daily Esports'' broadcast in the private jet.


    "Prime Alliance barely won their bracket, though it was stacked with some of the best teams in the APL. They''ll get a chance to defend their title tomorrow afternoon." a male daily esports broadcaster said.


    "Clear Sky''s performance is getting better. It seems like they want to avenge their defeat last year in front of their home crowd. It''s exciting just thinking about it!" a female broadcaster replied.


    "They''ll have to put on a great show because the young CEO, Vince Dalton, will be gracing Daegu Stadium with his presence during the Grand Final." the female broadcaster added.


    "There will be more than 60,000 people in attendance for the Finals, so you better get there early or risk getting swamped by the huge crowd." the male broadcaster stated.


    [Sixty thousand spectators in one place could get dangerous, but Price is sending a detachment of 1,000 FS operators equipped with our new military technology to keep the peace.] Vince thought.


    Future Security rented five C-17 Globemasters to transport all their personnel and equipment.


    The detachment departed from Austin and landed at one of the US Airbases in South Korea, waiting to be deployed for the event.


    "It will be a bitter fight between Clear Sky and Prime Alliance, but I think Fortis can out carry Charlatan like what happened earlier this year." the male broadcaster said.


    "I disagree. Charlatan has been playing so well the past season. They''ve learned their mistakes and will win the Finals while their home crowd cheers." the female broadcaster rebuked.


    "We''ll see what happens tomorrow. The hype is growing, and I''m so excited to watch the event. Don''t forget to watch the free broadcast on Instagram, YouTube, or any other platform. See you tomorrow!" the female broadcaster said as she ended the show.


    A group of armored SUVs drove from Daegu''s local airport to a hotel.


    Leah spent some time appointing employees within the non-profit organization and Future Couture to new roles based on the corporate restructuring.


    It was well within her authority to do so as an executive director herself.


    Vince was working on his laptop in the living room and was so focused that he jumped in surprise when Leah grabbed his attention.


    "Mom, You scared me for a second there. I was so engrossed in writing programs with Future Security''s new cyber agents. What did you need?" Vince asked.


    "As an executive director, I assume I can use my yearly budget however I want, right?" Leah asked curiously.


    "Technically, Yes. But, I prefer you use it to expand the departments. Why do you ask?" Vince replied.


    "I''ve been thinking of recruiting Dr. Sera and her medical team. I spent a significant amount of time with her team during my treatments, and I miss them." Leah replied.


    "You don''t have to use your budget for that. I''ll be investing $10 billion in the medical field to support our mission in Afghanistan. You can start forming Future Med with Dr. Sera and her team." Vince stated.


    "Thank you, Vince! You''re the best son ever!" Leah exclaimed.


    "Alright, Alright. Calm down. I need to get back to work, so if you don''t mind." Vince replied.


    "Okay. I''ll go ahead and call Dr. Sera." Leah said before leaving the living room.


    Vince and Leah arrived at the Daegu stadium the next day. They were welcomed together with Prime Alliance and Clear Sky riding in limousines following behind their armored SUVs.


    Heavily armed Future Security operators could be found patrolling around the large stadium together with Dragonfly drones.


    Anti-corporation protestors attempted to form outside the stadium but were quickly repelled by security.


    Their group made its way to the VIP box with a clear sight of the main stage.


    The pre-show was well received. K-POP groups and artists were invited to perform before the match, and the locals appreciated watching their favorite idols on stage.


    FS operators entered the VIP box with President Lee and left quickly after.


    "I didn''t know you were a fan of War Online Arena, Mr. President," Vince said with a fake smile.


    "Entertainment is a cornerstone industry here in South Korea. So how can I miss the most prominent event held here since the Olympics?" Mr. Lee declared.


    Vince introduced Leah to Mr. Lee before conversing with him with some small talk.


    "You''re security team seems like a cut above the rest. I heard Future Security would be fighting in Afghanistan soon. Are you interested in securing the DMZ in the north? Our defense budget is quite large." Mr. Lee proposed.


    "Thank you for the offer, but we''ll only be involved in Afghanistan for now. I''m open for it in the future, though." Vince replied.


    [If you last that long.] Vince thought chidingly.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, the teams are ready. Please welcome the defending champions, Prime Alliance!" the announcer said on the microphone.


    The cheers were as loud as it was in the Staples Center earlier in the year.


    "Now, please welcome the contenders, South Korea''s very own, Clear Sky!" the announcer added.


    The stadium shook as all the local fans chanted and cheered for their home team.


    Prime Alliance and Clear Sky entered their gaming booths and started their first War Online Arena match, best of seven.


    "It looks like Fortis is going for a damage build instead of his iconic tank build. Is he trying to match up with Charlatan?" a match commentator stated.


    The first game was back and forth as Fortis and Charlatan''s characters slowly grew stronger from killing enemy creeps.


    Charlatan was better than Fortis as a damage dealer, and team wiped Prime Alliance to win the grueling first game after 45 minutes.


    Fortis stayed true to his offensive build and out carried Charlatan the second game to everyone''s surprise.


    "Fortis is such a great player. He can even change roles whenever he wants!" a commentator declared.


    History was repeating itself as the Grand Final reached the seventh and final game to decide the season champions.


    Charlatan turned into a gaming demon during the last game, trading blow for blow with Fortis.


    Everybody else was dead and waiting to respawn except the two best players on each team.


    "This fight will determine the champion!" the commentator shouted.


    Charlatan received a heavy blow from Fortis'' [Piercing Throw] and retreated to the high ground with his skills.


    Fortis saw an opportunity to kill Charlatan and win the game. He used his only gap-closing skill [Leaping Thrust] to chase the low HP Charlatan in the fogged high ground.


    Charlatan performed a masterful series of movements and skills, fighting Fortis instead of trying to escape.


    Fortis quickly realized he had the disadvantage of fighting Charlatan head-on because he built his character for team fighting.


    During the split second, when Fortis committed the grave mistake, Charlatan turned the fight around, stunning Fortis with his ultimate skill [Shadow Bind].


    Fortis was killed before the stun effect wore off, and the crowd cheered even louder than earlier.


    [South Korea is truly the mecca of esports.] Vince thought with a wide smile on his face.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $80 Billion cash in Future Tech


    8350+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, Future Security, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms)


    Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    Best novel online free at novelhall.com

 Chapter 41 - Future Med

    You can read the novel fast updates at novelhall.com


    The Arena Pro League committee invited Vince to present Clear Sky the Season 2 Championship trophy.


    Vince was escorted to the main stage and gave the trophy to Charlatan after congratulating their team.


    The crowd went wild in cheering after Charlatan raised the trophy above his head.


    "Clear Sky! Clear Sky! Clear Sky!" the crowd chanted.


    Vince walked up to a dejected Prime Alliance team outside their gaming booth in an attempt to console the loss.


    "You did your best, guys. But, a new season is just around the corner, and you''ll have your revenge like what Clear Sky did to avenge their close loss last season." Vince said to Prime Alliance.


    "I messed up. Charlatan played me like a kid''s toy, and I ended up losing us the match." Fortis said with some tears flowing down his eyes.


    "Charlatan played an insane series, but you were able to match his damage role like you were a top offensive player in APL. You''re the most flexible player in the league, and you should work on this with your team to win the next season." Vince said reassuringly.


    "Thank you for the kind words, Mr. Dalton. We won''t let you down!" Fortis declared after feeling a bit better.


    "You can call me Vince. I''ll be expecting your rivalry with Charlatan not to end here." Vince said before leaving.


    [$10 million in prize money is nothing to scoff at, but Prime Alliance will make hundreds of millions as a franchise team from merchandise, advertisements, and the APL itself. Prize money is just a bonus.] Vince thought.


    Mr. Lee met with Vince to bid his farewells before leaving the stadium.


    Vince and Leah were escorted to the local airport in armored SUVs immediately after the event.


    Vince decided to spend the night in the Dreamliner while flying back to Austin instead of extending their stay in South Korea until the next day.


    It was almost Christmas time, and Vince had been too busy to buy Leah and his friends some gifts.


    [The executives and managers will appreciate a Christmas bonus, but I don''t know about the others.] Vince thought.


    Vince knocked on the door of one of the private jet''s rooms.


    "Mom, Are you busy? I want to know what you want for Christmas. We were so busy last year that we didn''t have the chance to celebrate." Vince asked.


    "You can come in, Vince. I don''t need anything and would love any gift you''d give me, I promise." Leah replied.


    "Okay, I believe you, but how about Kyle, Jessica, Rick, and Sarah? What do you suggest I give them?" Vince asked


    "Material things won''t be a good idea. All of them are making plenty of money from Future Tech already. How about some time off and vacation for their families?" Leah replied.


    "Mom, you''re a genius! Thanks for the suggestion. I''ll be leaving now." Vince said before returning to his room in the Dreamliner.


    Vince ordered a new 787 Dreamliner that his friends and their families could use to travel worldwide on vacation. The new private jet would be made available to executive directors after the Christmas season.


    [Boeing can''t build the new jet in a few weeks. So I''ll lend them this Dreamliner to use in the meantime.] Vince thought.


    Their group landed in Austin before heading back to the headquarters.


    Vince noticed hundreds of security personnel patrolling around the building and within the corridors.


    It was mid-day, and Vince decided to check on Future Tech Robotics, a new department recently separated from the AI and Hive Mind departments.


    Vince walked through the futuristic offices and found the newly appointed executive director of Robotics, Heidi.


    She had flowing orange hair and caucasian features. Heidi had been working under Patel since the start of the Hive Mind project. Hudson''s department review determined that Heidi McGuire was the best candidate for the new position.


    She was in her 20''s and had yet to reach her prime but was already a brilliant robotics engineer.


    [She''s an essential asset for the growth of the Robotics division.] Vince thought before entering Heidi''s office.


    "Good to see, Heidi. Congratulations on your promotion." Vince declared.


    "Thank you, Vince. It''s been a long time. Patel usually did the leg work in meeting with you regarding our projects. What can I do for you?" Heidi asked.


    [I forgot how hot Heidi was. I''ve been missing out.] Vince thought pervertedly.


    "I was just curious how the IED sweeper bot project was going," Vince asked.


    "The department is already pursuing other projects. The sweeper bots were too easy to develop compared to the Dragonfly drones." Heidi replied proudly.


    "I''ve been busy working with Price and Future Security the past few weeks. Could you please refresh my mind on what the robotics division is currently developing?" Vince asked, embarrassed.


    "No issue, Vince. The division is focusing on research and development in nanomachines. The Hive Mind manufacturing process had become precise enough to fabricate computer embedded nanites at low costs." Heidi explained.


    "What are the potential applications of nanites you''ve discovered?" Vince asked.


    "The bioengineers working at the VR division have been testing nanite biochips as a control system for deep-sleep virtual reality, though the trials with rats have been failures," Heidi replied.


    "Share your findings with Morgan. Future Tech Micro Devices might find something of use in your research."


    "I see potential in this nanite project. Notify me if you find your 2013 budget lacking." Vince said before taking his leave.


    [Future Med may be able to get the nanites working. But, unfortunately, the VR division is too small to make a breakthrough with something as advanced as nanites.] Vince thought while walking to Leah''s office.


    "How''s the creation of Future Med going?" Vince asked.


    "I called Dr. Sera when we arrived from the airport. She and her team agreed to join Future Med. I''m so excited to see them again!" Leah replied happily.


    "I''m glad she accepted the offer. But, unfortunately, I''ll need Future Med to expand quickly, and her team isn''t enough. So I''ll ask Hudson to help you recruit around 5,000 medical researchers and field doctors to start." Vince stated.


    "Whatever. As long Dr. Sera''s team works for Future Tech," Leah replied.


    [I''m suspecting mom has a thing for Dr. Sera. I don''t care, though, so it doesn''t matter.] Vince thought as he walked towards Hudson''s office.


    "Hudson, please help my mother recruit medical experts for Future Med, a new division in the company. Around 5,000 to start and also hire specialists in medical nanomachines that''ll collaborate with the robotics division in some projects." Vince instructed.


    "How much is your budget?" Hudson asked.


    "The $10 billion I gave mom will be your budget, but call me if you need more," Vince replied before going back to the penthouse.


    He called Kyle, Jessica, Rick, and Sarah to grant access to the Dreamliner jet for use during their vacation, which will all be paid for by Vince as their Christmas present.


    They appreciated the Christmas present and thanked Vince before they all started working again.


    [I''ll need legal protection in foreign countries now that the business is expanding outward. My partnership with Kemp-Jacobs will have to be reconsidered.] Vince thought.


    He called David to meet him at his penthouse office to discuss the matter.


    "What do you require, Vince?" David asked while sitting down on the sofa.


    "How confident is Kemp-Jacobs in protecting my legal interests in South Korea and Afghanistan?" Vince asked seriously.


    "We''ve been training our paralegals and partners foreign and international laws in preparation for Future Tech''s inevitable expansion. So what''s concerning you?" David replied.


    "I take my partnership with Kemp-Jacobs personally because of all the help the law firm has done for my family. I want to invest in Kemp-Jacobs and become my primary legal force worldwide. The law firm can still represent your current clients, but no new clients are allowed without screening." Vince offered.


    [The Deloitte accountants already left their firm, and the entire accounting department formally joined Future Tech a long time ago.] Vince thought.


    "Accepting the offer is not my decision to make, but I''ll send it up to Marcia," David replied.


    "Thank you, David. Tell her my initial offer is $5 billion." Vince said before David took his leave.


    [Legal troubles will be a nightmare when I eventually go toe to toe with President Lee. I''ll need Kemp-Jacobs'' full cooperation.] Vince pondered.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $80 Billion cash in Future Tech


    10,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, Future Security, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med. Future Tech Robotics)


    Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    Read novel online free fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 42 - A New Year

    Best novel online free at novelhall.com


    (Sorry, The System on Nanite Chapter was supposed to be after this chapter. My bad, guys)


    It was Christmas day, and most of the employees were taking the week off to spend time with their families.


    Vince got his mom a personal Hive Mind suite used to manufacture clothing.


    "I love it, Vince! Thank you. Your gift will make my creative design process more streamlined and more effortless." Leah declared.


    Leah gave Vince a gift wrapped in a box. "This is for you, son," Leah said as she handed him the box.


    Vince opened the large box and found a set of clothing neatly displayed.


    "It''s the new Future Couture business suit I designed. I wanted to give you the first one." Leah said.


    The suit itself was made of the latest generation Future Couture fabric colored in blue and black. The design looked sleek and unique, incomparable to any other suit Vince had ever seen in both lives.


    "I love the design. Thank you!" Vince exclaimed.


    They enjoyed Christmas dinner before resigning for the night.


    Aiya accompanied Vince to the headquarters the next day to continue working on the military systems needed the next month.


    During his off time, Vince started sketching a design concept for a troop transport vehicle FS operators can use to parachute into combat.


    [Afghanistan is a large country, and all my security operators are precious lives. The troops will eventually divide in the field to secure the province. I need to make sure that reinforcements can arrive in the thick of battle to relieve their comrades.] Vince thought.


    His 3D concept design implemented features based on Felix''s advice.


    The vehicle was large and bulky. The main body was an elongated armored shell with heavy sliding doors on either side like a helicopter.


    Attached at each corner were four large swivel arms with jet engines that powered turbofans providing propulsion to whatever direction the arm points.


    [It''s quite rough, but I think FT Robotics and Future Arms can make it work. After that, I''ll just buy the engines from Koenigsegg.] Vince thought


    The Future Security operators were content in using modified M4A1 rifles while Future Arms developed the new infantry rifles.


    Vince turned on his AIM gaming computer and played the Alpha of the new game Future Studios is developing.


    He wanted Future Studios to compete with the most profitable games in his previous life. A single-player game Vince enjoyed the most was Grand Theft Auto 5.


    The prototype featured similar gameplay like driving around the city in a car and a deep story to experience. The primary difference is the visual quality and the modding features.


    Users can play online on modded servers to enjoy community-designed custom mini-games or gameplay scenarios like robbing a bank.


    The game will end up as a mixture between GTA 5 and Roblox, providing players unlimited replayability.


    Future Studios hired top celebrities like Robert Downey Jr. and Dwayne Johnson for voice-acting the main storylines.


    [The game is already playable, but it''ll take another six months before it can be released.] Vince thought while playing.


    A game editor will be bundled with the game to encourage people to create 3D assets and script events of their own making.


    Kandahar was more lively than usual. The local Future Tech branch provided work and training opportunities for people interested in changing their lives. At the same time, the outreach programs recruited farmers to grow crops in the SpaceX hydroponic farming dome in exchange for good pay, fruits, and vegetables.


    Future Security operators were deployed in the city to ensure the safety of Future Tech''s assets. However, the Dragonfly drones did most of the work patrolling around the branch headquarters and farming dome.


    Farukh was an afghan local who started working at the Future Tech training facility. All employees were allowed to use the LAN center to learn more skills and climb the ladder during their off time.


    Farukh was busy reading Dragonfly maintenance documentation and tutorial videos provided by Future Tech.


    [I''m making good money right now, but the drone maintenance job will pay five times more than working as a janitor. So I have to take this chance to give my family a more comfortable life.] Farukh thought.


    The same situation was common once Hudson opened the Future Tech training facility. Locals could now contribute to fighting the insurgents from the backlines.


    Future Tech also recruits soldiers but requires an extensive screening process. Only trained and trusted allied Afghan soldiers were allowed to apply for combat roles.


    Kandahar''s economy was visibly better than ever, and the US army was impressed by the positive difference Future Tech brought to the city.


    The US soldiers were confident their new comrades in blue would succeed in their mission at Dehdadi.


    Another group of people took notice of Kandahar''s rebuilding efforts, the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.


    In a dimly lit room inside a non-descript cave, rugged men were meeting.


    "Their new troops have these flying machines that can scan entire areas for concealed weapons and bomb jackets." one insurgent said.


    "The new soldiers don''t look like newbies. I''m sure most of them have fought in the Middle East before." another insurgent added.


    "We''ll have to plan our assault carefully. My intelligence source provided some information about our new enemy, Future Security. Their presence in Afghanistan is their first military contract. We kill them, and they''ll never come back." the insurgent leader, Ashkan, said.


    "Ashkan, how many men should we mobilize for the assault?" one of his men asked.


    "1,000 men should be enough. I will take my time planning the attack while you train our soldiers. Then, we''ll hit them next month." Ashkan declared.


    Mid-January 2013, Future Tech HQ


    Vince met with Andreas, the executive director for Hive Mind Manufacturing.


    "Andreas, how''s the aerodyne vehicle project going?" Vince asked.


    "The Robotics and Arms divisions were able to polish your design these past few weeks. Future Arms added features such as anti-missile chaff and an M320 30mm chain gun mounted at the front and rear." Andreas replied.


    "The FAV-1 can transport two gunners, ten fully armed operators, and can reach top speeds of 100 mph on flat ground. One unit costs $10 million to produce in-house." Andreas added.


    "When can we equip Future Security with FAV-1s?" Vince asked.


    "Hive Mind manufacturing can produce ten units before the Dehdadi mission starts, without disrupting production of our other products," Andreas replied.


    "That''s good to hear. Thanks for the update, Andreas." Vince said before leaving Andreas'' office.


    Vince visited Heidi''s office on a different floor.


    "Heidi, I heard from Andreas you did quick work of designing the FAV-1." Vince stated.


    "Future Tech already had the necessary technologies to make it work, though Koenigsegg had to design a new jet engine. Christian was quite happy to create the turbofan engines." Heidi replied.


    "We''ll be renting troop transport planes for our first mission in Afghanistan, but Future Security needs a way of traversing the desert faster than the FAV-1 and with a heavier load capacity for transporting supplies," Vince explained.


    "We can design a VTOL vehicle close to the size of a Chinook Helicopter. It can be less armored than the FAV-1, reducing weight, and utilize larger Koenigsegg turbofan engines for faster speed." Heidi suggested.


    "That''s a fantastic idea! I want the new vehicle able to carry a FAV-1 underneath like how Chinooks transport M1 Abrams tanks. You can ask help from Kevin if needed." Vince instructed.


    "That should be no problem. Designing vehicles like these don''t require much aerodynamics like regular planes, So we don''t even need to consult with Future Tech F1 aero engineers for help in designing them." Heidi replied confidently.


    "I trust in your capabilities, but contact me if you need anything," Vince said before leaving Heidi''s office.


    After the Christmas season, more veterans and private military operators started joining Future Security. The screening process took a few weeks, but another 5,000 operators joined the training camp at Austin.


    Future Security''s already trained troops were slowly transferred over to Kandahar to get ready for the mission in Dehdadi.


    Future Tech rented US military C-5 Galaxies and C-17 Globemasters for a low price to transport their personnel overseas.


    [This mission will decide how lucrative Future Tech defense contracts will be in the future.] Vince thought.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $80 Billion cash in Future Tech


    11,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics)


    10,000+ operators under Future Security


    Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    You can read the novel fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 43 - System On Nanite

    Read novel online free fast updates at novelhall.com


    (I uploaded this chapter mistakenly before releasing "A New Year" which is before this chapter. Sorry, guys!)


    The first week of February 2013, Future Tech HQ.


    A middle-aged British man wearing a lab coat was conducting tests embedding system-on-nanites within the microscopic nanotubes the AIM processors used.


    "Amazing!" shouted one of the researchers.


    [The Robotics division is genuinely one of the core businesses of Future Tech. I can see unlimited applications for this, though it will be expensive to explore them all.] Morgan pondered.


    He immediately called Vince to notify him about their progress.


    Vince arrived wearing typical Future Couture casual clothing.


    "You got something good for me, Morgan?" Vince asked.


    "Yes, Indeed. We''ve spent the past two weeks designing a workable system architecture for nanites to use with the assistance of the API sub-division. So instead of system-on-chip, we call it system-on-nanite."


    "The first application we embedded into nanites was meant to optimize microprocessor performance. We didn''t have much confidence because it was our first test, but the AIM processor has already doubled in computational capacity." Morgan explained fervently.


    "Great work, Morgan. Take your time refining the S-O-N for performance optimization. You''ll have to notify Andreas in halting the production of AIM processor-related products."


    "How difficult are the nanites to program now that you''ve made an application program interface with Jessica?" Vince asked.


    "We''ve done most of the leg work in altering the physical structure of the nanites. Experienced programmers should find it intuitive enough, though testing and learning would be prohibitively expensive without Hive Mind fabrication." Morgan replied.


    Vince decided to share Morgan''s research with all Future Tech executives to incorporate the new nanite technology into their division''s projects.


    [This breakthrough should help all the directors advance their technologies.] Vince thought.


    An Israeli woman in her 30''s wearing a labcoat received an executive notice regarding the nanite API.


    Dr. Sera took a few minutes and read through the abstract.


    [Nanites were too challenging to deal with before, but this new API Morgan developed will make things more manageable for Future Med.] Dr. Sera pondered.


    "We''ll be proceeding with our cancer elimination project. Get me one of the bioengineers ASAP." Dr. Sera said to her assistant.


    All the divisions in Future Tech started applying the SON in their new designs. Kyle began programming the nanites to work in conjunction with Ms. Miller''s FT VR prototype.


    At the Kandahar Future Tech branch, Price was overseeing troop logistics with the US Air Force. Then, he received a notification on his smart glove about the nanite research.


    Price tasked Future Security''s nethunters to employ nanites for cybersecurity applications.


    Heidi was in her office reading the shared research from Morgan.


    [The materials science sub-division under Morgan is quite impressive to transform my nanites into 100-nanometer computer systems.] Heidi contemplated.


    She left her office and walked to the Robotics laboratory.


    "We''ll have our software engineers focus on nanite program development. This new research from FT Micro Devices should improve our robotics technology tenfold." Heidi instructed.


    Patel started an outline for nanite use in Future Tech AI.


    [I can think of so many uses for AI nanites. The department had hit a roadblock, but this new research arrived just in time.] Patel thought.


    Andreas immediately began upgrading the nanometer-precise Hive Mind manufacturing suites to provide ample supply to all of Future Tech''s research teams.


    Vince ordered a new building constructed at the Austin tech campus consisting of only clean rooms to prepare for mass production of nanites in the future.


    Everyone at the headquarters was working hard and well. In addition, the new compensation structure for 2013 introduced by Vince and Hudson gave more impetus to contribute to Future Tech''s growth.


    Employees at the corporate level were given points or deductions based on performance.


    Points accrued by the end of the fiscal year will determine bonuses, raises, and promotions.


    Promotions included higher-level security access and better privileges like an armed security detail.


    Hudson was still in the process of refining the points system for lower-level employees.


    In a non-descript cave in the Registan Desert, a few men were discussing plans of an offensive.


    "Ashkan, There has been an influx of the so-called Future Security troops in Kandahar. Our 1,000 men can''t fight both the US army troops and the new enemies." an insurgent stated.


    "I already know. My sources have noticed a small number of their troops leaving Kandahar and flying north towards Dehdadi. 500 operators at most. We shall attack them at the new forward operating base they''re building in the north. Kandahar is too fortified now." Ashkan declared.


    "Our mission is to kill their men and destroy their courage, never to return," Ashkan added.


    Future Security''s mission had only started a week ago, which mainly was a preparation phase. The US Army 1014th Engineer company had built a crude base a year prior. The mission entailed securing the base and clearing the province of insurgents.


    Price would send 500 operators in cycles to man the forward operating base while performing to meet the mission objectives.


    The living quarters at Kandahar were much better than any forward operating base. Price wanted his men only to spend a few weeks at a time working at the FOB.


    General Douglas was notified of the positive changes at Kandahar and decided to grant Future Security the new contract in securing the large city in advance.


    President Obama was reluctant to sign the $10 billion contract, but General Douglas reassured him based on opinions from the US Army detachment stationed at Kandahar.


    The original weapons contract was scheduled to be on track this year. Future Tech had upgraded most of the existing recon drones and fulfilled the Dragonfly drone and IED sweeper bot orders.


    Kevin and Patel finalized the advanced stratospheric recon UAV''s design and contracted the use of SpaceX''s mega building facility for space to manufacture the ASR-1.


    [We''ve never had a military defense contractor deliver orders this quick.] General Douglas thought while smoking a cigar in his office at the Pentagon.


    After Vince bought the company, Future Arms took over Alliant Techsystems'' current defense contracts supplying the military with munitions and continuously produced missiles and rockets at the Virginia branch.


    A few days later, at dawn. Hundreds of pickup trucks carrying 1,000 insurgents rolled through the desert, weapons in hand. Ashkan stored AK-47''s, RPG''s and other assorted small arms within the truckbeds.


    The men were confident, knowing they had the numbers advantage.


    "Ashkan, we''re only destroying a forward operating base. Why do we need so many men?" an insurgent officer asked.


    "The men have trained well. They deserve to relish in the deaths of infidels." Ashkan replied while driving a pickup truck with a mounted PK machine gun.


    Price was working on the division''s nanite project when he received a notification on his smart glove. An autonomous Future Security RQ-4 Global Hawk that he bought from the US Air Force and modified at Austin HQ found a large contingent of insurgents in the north.


    Price remotely calibrated the autonomous flight system from his smart glove to follow the mass of soldiers for now.


    He turned on his FT laptop computer and saw insurgents headed to the Dehdadi forward operating base.


    Price placed the entire Afghanistan branch on high alert. As a result, FS operators woke up from sleep or stopped training and readied themselves for an attack in Kandahar and the Dehdadi FOB.


    [It will take the insurgents 30 minutes at least before they arrive at the FOB. The detachment is outnumbered, so I''ll have to send reinforcements soon.] Price pondered.


    He chose fifty operators and ten gunners to deploy in five FAV-1 vehicles. Price called the US army commander stationed at Kandahar and borrowed five Chinook helicopters to carry the FAV-1s into combat.


    The FAV-1s took flight using the four turbofan engines and rendezvoused with the US Army helicopter squad outside the city.


    Local Afghans were awed watching heavily armored troop transports flying through the air without propellers.


    [It looks like Kandahar isn''t a target, though I hope the reinforcements arrive in time at the FOB.] Price contemplated.


    Farukh was a newly minted aerodyne pilot who was once a lowly janitor at the Kandahar training facility. He passed the Dragonfly maintenance certification and continued his studies in FAV piloting.


    The control system was utterly intuitive, and Farukh passed the pilot test after a week of training.


    [I''m so nervous about my first mission in the field, but this is my responsibility now. My comrades are relying on me.] So Farukh thought while piloting the FAV-1 towards the airbase.


    Check out the new RLBT website at www.relife-businesstechnology.com


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $90 Billion cash in Future Tech


    11,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics)


    10,000+ operators under Future Security


    Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    You can read the novel fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 44 - Battle Of Dehdadi

    You can read the novel fast updates at novelhall.com


    February 2013, Dehdadi Forward Operating Base.


    A heavily armed and armored caucasian man in his 30s was giving orders around the FOB.


    "Get all of our Dragonflies in the sky to keep tabs on the enemy. And have all the operators man defensive positions around the base. Price estimates 1,000 insurgents are coming armed with rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, and driving NSTVs." Felix instructed an officer.


    [The estimated arrival of our reinforcements is 45 minutes while the insurgents will come into contact in 30 minutes. It''s cutting it close, but we''ll manage.] Felix contemplated.


    Half an hour passed, and a horde of pickup trucks could be seen on the horizon. The scene looked like a sandstorm as all the sand was dispersed by a thousand tires.


    The Future Arms M1156 precision guidance kits weren''t installed at the forward operating base yet, leaving Felix and his men lacking artillery fire.


    The insurgents were attempting to gain some ground while the FS operators were maintaining gunfire. The enemies were fearless in their assault as they ignored their fellow insurgents'' cries for help after getting shot.


    It took ten minutes before the enemies were within RPG range. FS snipers attempted to kill any enemy carrying heavy weapons, but one brave soul got close enough to destroy the base''s entrance before dying to a headshot.


    A mass of 800 men aimed to swarm the breach in FOB''s defenses while machine guns mounted on trucks provided cover fire for the insurgents.


    FS operators killed the enemies as they ran through the breach, but their sheer number allowed some of them to get through.


    The insurgents had never raided a forward operating base so brazenly before with such large numbers.


    The FS operators slowly retreated to more defensive fortifications in the middle of the FOB while the insurgents surrounded the area.


    "Cowards! Come out and fight us!" an insurgent shouted in Arabic.


    Plenty of insurgents were cheering as if they had already won the battle.


    [This should teach the infidels the folly of their ways.] So Ashkan thought while commanding the attack from the rear.


    While some insurgents were looking for undamaged RPGs to blow up the main fortifications, they heard loud propeller noises in the sky.


    Five Chinook helicopters carrying unfamiliar vehicles that looked like tanks from afar were heading towards the open area outside the FOB.


    "Altitude is good. Confirming drop sequence." Farukh communicated to the Chinook pilot in English.


    "Dropping!" replied the helicopter pilot.


    The insurgents expected the helicopters to go low as they readied RPGs to shoot them down but were dumbfounded watching the tank-like vehicles being dropped from so high.


    [Dumb Americans. They''ll destroy their own equipment just like that?] Ashkan thought.


    Their expectations were completely off as the FAV-1s started hovering in the air while gaining speed.


    Farukh piloted his FAV-1 flawlessly, positioning the vehicle at just the right angle to provide a clear view for both his gunners.


    Three FAV-1s were raining cover fire while the other two landed and dropped the troop reinforcements on the ground.


    The insurgents were receiving heavy fire from the air, flank, and central fortification in the FOB.


    The moment Ashkan watched the FAV-1s glide through the air effortlessly, he knew they had lost the battle.


    [Our flanks are compromised. There''s no hope for this fight.] Ashkan pondered as he drove away, far from the battle dejectedly.


    Future Security took no prisoners and slaughtered the entire enemy force.


    The men cheered after winning an outnumbered battle before thanking the reinforcements for their quick response.


    Felix performed a death and injury check and found two FS operators dead and eight wounded.


    The FS operators mourned the death of the two brave comrades who didn''t make it back to the central fortification in time while cleaning up the battlefield.


    The Chinook helicopters took their dead and wounded back to Kandahar with the FAV-1s in tow.


    [War is cruelty, there is no use trying to reform it; the crueler it is, the sooner it will be over.] a quote by William Sherman, Felix thought while gathering the enemy''s dead bodies.


    The Global Hawk recon drone continued to follow a fleeing pickup truck in the sky, unbeknownst to Ashkan.


    [Where do you think you''re going?] Price thought while using his computer.


    Price ordered the remaining five FAV-1s to be ready for deployment before contacting the US military commander.


    "Our forces at Dehdadi were able to repel the 1,000 man-strong assault. My recon drone is following an escapee. I was wondering if the army would like to join us in our retaliation." Price offered to the colonel.


    "Good work in eliminating those bastards. We''ve been trying to find their local base for years now, and they rarely come out and play in such high numbers." The colonel replied.


    "The reinforcements saved the day. Thank you for lending us your Chinook squad." Price said sincerely.


    "That''s no problem. Let me know if you find anything interesting by following the escapee. The marines were telling me how bored they were with peacekeeping." The colonel replied before bidding farewell.


    Price then called Vince to notify his boss about what happened.


    Vince picked up his phone, and Price started explaining the situation in detail.


    "We''ll start a fund for our dead''s families. They don''t deserve to live a life without a husband or a father." Vince said solemnly.


    "They knew the risks of war, Vince. Nevertheless, they fought bravely and won an outnumbered battle." Price replied reassuringly.


    "I''m glad most of you guys are safe. Transfer the injured to Future Med Hospital here at Austin. We''ll do whatever we can to treat them." Vince instructed.


    "They''re already enroute. I want to request for Future Security to join an offensive mission outside of our military contract scope." Price replied.


    "Revenge is not always the way, Price. Yet, in this case, it is. So do what you will but don''t get the men killed for no good reason." Vince instructed.


    "You said it yourself, Vince. We''ll win this war ourselves if we have to. Thank you for caring about the men. They''ll be touched to hear about your new fund for our inevitable casualties." Price replied before Vince ended the call.


    The Global Hawk recon drone sent a video of Ashkan driving into an almost invisible cave entrance in the Registan Desert a few hours after the battle to Price.


    Price studied the footage and sent it to the stationed colonel.


    He deployed the five reserve FAV-1s to scout the area of interest with Dragonflies.


    The cave complex showed signs of daily use but was now almost entirely empty. Instead, FS operators found Ashkan gathering all his valuable belongings, planning to escape the region.


    Ashkan attempted to flee as soon as he saw a Dragonfly at the end of the cave corridor. He tried to shoot it down when the Dragonfly got closer but was shot with a tranquilizer dart before hitting it.


    FS operators arrived and apprehended the unconscious insurgent leader before investigating the cave complex.


    Computers and documents in Arabic were scattered around the area.


    An FS squad leader carried a data access node from a FAV-1 into the cave''s server room.


    "Director, we''ve found some interesting things down here, including a rebel leader. I''ve installed a Node in one of the server rooms for your nethunters to use." The squad leader said over his communicator.


    "Good work. I''ll be sending reinforcements from the colonel to relieve your team in a few hours. Stay on high alert before they get there." Price replied before contacting his nethunter team.


    An Asian-American man in his late 20''s received a call from Price.


    "Anthony, I have a mission for the nethunters. First, find out anything you can from the newly raided cave complex. FS installed a Node already. I''ll grant you access now." Price instructed.


    Anthony was a young SOCOM operator when Price met him. Price mentored him for years while serving in the Special Forces and eventually found a job in the NSA after his three tours in the Middle East.


    He specialized in cybersecurity, specifically intrusion and espionage. Price granted him a squad leader role within Future Security after the expansion.


    The nethunter team worked out of the Austin Headquarters and had access to any tool they needed within their offices.


    [Their data security is so-so. On the other hand, ten minutes of penetration time isn''t too bad.] Anthony thought.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $90 Billion cash in Future Tech


    11,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics)


    10,000+ operators under Future Security


    Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    Read novel online free fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 45 - Operation Quicksand

    You can read the novel online free at novelhall.com


    Later the same day.


    Anthony and his nethunter team found lists of names, bases, accounts, and all sorts of valuable information.


    He then sent all their findings to Price, waiting for results at Kandahar.


    [I can work with this.] Price thought before contacting General Douglas in his office at the Pentagon.


    "Price, I''ve just heard of what happened from the Colonel. Future Security did very well in a tough situation." General Douglas declared.


    "Thank you for your kind words, General. I wanted to speak to you about the information we''ve uncovered from the insurgent''s base." Price stated.


    "How valuable is the information?" General Douglas asked.


    He understood that Future Security was a business and wouldn''t share profitable information without compensation.


    "I believe it''s enough information to turn the tide of the entire war." Price stated confidently.


    "The DOD has already paid a total of $46 billion in contracts thus far. So how much are you trying to sell this information?" General Douglas asked, a bit annoyed.


    "For $10 billion, Future Security will share all the new intelligence and assist for the entire retaliatory mission''s duration." Price offered.


    "Fine. I''ll talk to the President. We have a vast military budget, but you guys are earning all of it too quickly.] General Douglas stated before Price bade farewell.


    The Colonel stationed at Kandahar received the new intelligence from Price.


    [Where have Future Security been all this time? They''ve been doing fantastic work here so far.] So the Colonel thought while reading the report.


    Detachments from various US military branches were getting ready for the retaliation mission. Target locations provided by the new intelligence were being observed by autonomous recon drones far in the sky.


    FS operators boarded FAV-1s and Chinooks to be transported to their mission locations together with US marine soldiers.


    The US Army started deploying mechanized infantry units towards the designated areas, while Price oversaw the battle from Kandahar.


    General Douglas granted Price command of the mission based on Future Security''s performance so far.


    Thousands of US military Dragonflies swarmed key locations and sent their vital information back to command.


    Thousands of insurgents training and hiding around Afghanistan were unaware of the oncoming danger they were about to face.


    Special Forces and Navy Seals units were briefed regarding the new intelligence''s high-value targets and last known locations.


    [Revenge can be sweet at times.] Price pondered while overseeing the upcoming battle.


    Price would deploy a combined offensive consisting of 2,000 FS operators and 10,000 US military troops the same evening.


    A few hours later, most of the units arrived at their mission locations and commenced Operation Quicksand.


    Marine infantry assaulted cave complexes while Army infantry raided suspected insurgent buildings across Afghanistan.


    The surprise battle caught all the local insurgents off guard, and most of them fought, thinking rebel reinforcements would arrive to help.


    That was not the case at all, as most bases were being raided at the same time.


    Navy Seals and Special Forces performed HALO jumps in the dead of night at multiple areas in Afghanistan, hunting their high-value targets like rebel leaders and bombmakers.


    The US military''s pure might is unstoppable when they fight head-on against an enemy. There was no guerilla warfare to defend against in their surprise attacks.


    The following day, the troops counted no deaths and few casualties among allies, while thousands of insurgents were either dead or captured.


    Operation Quicksand was a huge success, thanks to Future Security''s intelligence and fast response after the Battle of Dehdadi.


    SOCOM killed most of the high-value targets, and all the information left was gathered.


    Price congratulated the FS operators and staff and gave them a mission bonus before contacting General Douglas regarding the operation.


    "General, Operation Quicksand has concluded. The mission was a total success." Price stated proudly.


    "I didn''t expect such a flawlessly coordinated assault. The money was well spent. I''ll contact the President for further instruction. Thank you, Price." The General replied in surprise.


    From Dehdadi to Operation Quicksand, The troops fought the entire battle in a little over twenty-four hours.


    In the Oval Office, DC


    "General Douglas, what do you have for me today?" President Obama asked.


    "Mr. President, the tides of war in Afghanistan have shifted. The recent Operation Quicksand decimated the local insurgent presence, with only a few stragglers escaping to different countries around Afghanistan." General Douglas explained.


    "Is this boon related to our new deal with Future Security?" The President asked.


    "Yes. I granted Director Price command of the operation as Future Security provided the intelligence. As a result, none of our 10,000 troops were killed or injured as we caught the insurgents off-guard. In addition, the operation resulted in 5,000 insurgents in custody and 15,000 dead rebels and high-value targets," General Douglas replied.


    "That''s more than half of the active insurgents in the area. Future Security did well. We''ll have to celebrate this victory as a turning point in the war." President Obama declared excitedly.


    A civilian living in Chicago was watching the daily news while eating breakfast. He was so busy with work that geopolitical issues like foreign wars were of no interest to him.


    The show was stopped abruptly while in the middle of a segment.


    "Breaking news! US military forces have culled 20,000 of the 30,000 active insurgents in Afghanistan. President Obama stated during a press conference that Operation Quicksand had increased chances of US victory within a few years ten-fold."


    "It has been reported that Future Security, a subsidiary of Future Technologies, provided vital intelligence and military support, including the complete command for the entire operation."


    Video footage recorded by Dragonfly drones was released to the public as a glimpse into the war effort.


    The reporter explained how the operation started, from the miraculous Battle of Dehdadi to the night operation consisting of 12,000 allied troops.


    Outlets broadcasted the same news on all the major US channels and online platforms.


    Users upvoted Reddit posts in r/Military to the front page, and everyone was commenting about the operation.


    "Why would a teenager involve himself in a war?" one user commented.


    "Does it even matter? We won, and that is what''s important!" another user replied.


    The news spread from US news outlets to international news corporations like the BBC and News Corp. Foreigners were intrigued by the idea of a private corporation in helping win a war.


    Price contacted Vince for an update on the offensive.


    "You''ve outdone yourself this time, Price. I believe you can grow Future Security into a formidable force soon. You can keep the $10 billion as capital for Future Security." Vince instructed.


    "Thanks, Vince. I''ll use the funds wisely." Price stated before ending the call.


    Price ordered 100 more FAV-1s from Hive Mind manufacturing for $1 billion due to the effectiveness of the first ten FAV-1s Future Security used during the operation.


    While ordering the FAV-1s, Price noticed a new vehicle in the Hive Mind availability list. It was a VTOL transport craft as big as a Chinook that could tow 10 tonnes of cargo like a FAV-1 or carry 55 troops called the Stingray.


    The Stingray costs $25 million each, and Price decided to order 100 for a total of $2.5 billion. Price had $6.5 billion cash left from the latest defense contract and opted to save the money for further troop expansion.


    Vince walked into Leah''s office at the Austin headquarters to discuss a new fund for the dead operators'' families.


    "Hey, mom. Have you seen the news recently?" Vince asked.


    "I''ve heard about what happened in Afghanistan. Price had done a great job working with the US military." Leah replied.


    "Two of our Future Security operators died defending the Dehdadi FOB. I was hoping you could start a fund for their families and our inevitable casualties in the future." Vince stated.


    "Yes, of course. I''ll prepare the fund as soon as possible." Leah replied.


    "Thanks. I''ll talk to Dr. Sera about our injured soldiers. See you later, mom." Vince said before leaving her office.


    Vince took his Agera SFV and security detail to Future Med Hospital down the street.


    The building was large and shared the futuristic aesthetic with the headquarters and tech campus.


    A young receptionist saw Vince and his security enter the main lobby.


    His bodyguards entered first to secure the area before allowing the young CEO to follow.


    "Mr. Dalton, what can Future Med do for you today?" the cute lady receptionist asked.


    "I''d like to see Dr. Sera and injured FS operators," Vince stated.


    The receptionist manipulated her keyboard and received a reply notification a few seconds later.


    "She says you can meet her at the director''s office." the receptionist stated.


    Vince thanked the receptionist as his entourage took the elevator.


    "Dr. Sera, I''m glad to see you. How are the injured doing?" Vince asked in concern.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $90 Billion cash in Future Tech


    11,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics)


    10,000+ operators under Future Security


    Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    Read novel online free fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 46 - Visit From The President

    Read novel online free fast updates at novelhall.com


    February 2013, Future Med.


    "Good to see you, Vince. The injured are resting in their rooms. Seven of them suffered from non-fatal bullet wounds to their limbs and will fully recover in a month, though one had a leg blown off from an RPG blast." Dr. Sera explained.


    "Is there anything Future Tech can do?" Vince asked, concerned.


    "Heidi and I have begun a joint project between Future Med and Future Robotics. We''re developing cybernetic limb and organ replacement methods. The smart nanites will act as a control mechanism within the blood, allowing users to manipulate the implant or metal-alloy limb." Dr. Sera explained.


    "The concept sounds promising. Make sure to contact David to work out FDA testing. You''ll end up helping plenty of people if this works. I''m willing to provide as much funding as I can with projects like these." Vince instructed.


    "Alright, while we''re on topic. Smart nanites have changed my view of the medical industry. For example, our cancer treatment project is progressing at an astonishing rate. In the worst cases, we can technically remove the organ hosting the tumor and replace it with a synthetic one."


    "We can also design smart nanites to fight cancer cells at earlier cancer stages. Body function performance-enhancing nanites are just around the corner, Vince." Dr. Sera explained zealously.


    "Cancer?! How much funding do you need? $10 billion or $50 billion?" Vince excitedly asked.


    [Curing cancer? That''s amazing!] Vince thought.


    "An additional $5 billion to our 2013 budget would suffice for now." Dr. Sera replied.


    "Granted. When you succeed, you''ll be a legend in the medical industry, Dr. Sera." Vince declared.


    "Thanks for the confidence, Vince. We''ll pass the FDA trials and deliver a profitable product for Future Tech soon." Dr. Sera replied.


    At Kandahar, Price went shopping and bought Andrews International and all its assets for $2 billion, including 10,000 active personnel and combat training facilities across the United States.


    [We''ll have to start guarding more key telecommunications hubs Future Tech had bought around the world soon.] Price thought while browsing the company equipment store.


    At the executive level, staff can order most of the available Future Tech equipment. Lower-level employees can only order company consumer products with a few exceptions.


    Price placed his orders for new vehicles, weapons, and armor for Future Security.


    Vince decided to expand the Hive Mind Manufacturing division. He was expecting more orders from the military and regular consumers based on their popularity and effectiveness.


    Vince visited Andreas in his office at the headquarters.


    "Andreas, I''ll be investing $35 billion in our Hive Mind division. Consult SpaceX about their large manufacturing buildings and integrate some at the tech campus. We''ll be constructing large planes the size of Boeing Globemasters soon." Vince instructed.


    "Understood, Vince. Patel and his department have implemented smart nanites with our high-precision Hive Mind suites. As a result, producing smart nanites now is less than half the cost as it was a few weeks ago." Andreas replied.


    "That''s perfect! I''m expecting smart nanites to be in hot demand for the foreseeable future. I appreciate your hard work, Andreas." Vince stated before bidding farewell.


    Ashkan was detained at a US military base while being interrogated by CIA agents in a pitch-black room.


    A CIA officer shined an intense light towards the prisoner''s face.


    "How many more active insurgents are in Afghanistan?" the officer asked in Arabic.


    "I''ll never answer. You know this. What you don''t know is that I''m just a small cog in a master plan," Ashkan replied.


    "What do you mean, Ashkan?" another officer asked.


    "You will know soon. We will rise and destroy your infidel way of life. We will cleanse our lands of western sentiment from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Daesh will crush you." Ashkan said before turning silent again.


    The Daesh precursor organization from Iraq originally sent Ashkan to Afghanistan. They entrusted Ashkan to disrupt NATO forces and plant IED traps on all the major highways.


    Ashkan was doing well the past two years, killing and injuring many US troops with IEDs and ambushes.


    The Future Tech IED sweeper bots cleaned out all their traps in Afghanistan and left Ashkan in a bind.


    He needed to deliver results and decided to attack Kandahar and instill fear into the enemy.


    His plan completely backfired and left him with no army and freedom, though he still believed in the cause.


    [It was a risk and would''ve been a glorious victory, but it was God''s plan, and I accept my fate.] So Ashkan thought in the pitch-dark prison cell.


    March 2013, Oval Office


    President Obama had his secretary clear his schedule for the next day.


    He decided to visit Future Tech headquarters in Texas. His staff notified Future Tech and the City of Austin about the president''s visit to prepare with ample time.


    Aiya contacted Vince regarding the presidential visit after she received the notification.


    "I''ll have the penthouse and offices ready to welcome President Obama and his entourage. I shall also notify the executives who may want to meet His Excellency." Aiya stated over her smartwatch.


    It was one of many new smart devices that will start selling in a few months.


    "Thanks for the heads up. Ready a Future Security escort equipped with Dragonflies and Stingrays. They will meet Air Force One at the airport. Would you please tell my mother to attend the welcoming?" Vince asked.


    "Understood," Aiya replied before closing the comlink channel.


    [It''s the perfect occasion to wear the new suit mom gave me for Christmas.] Vince thought.


    A contingent of FS operators boarded three Stingrays at the headquarters'' helipad.


    They arrived at the private hangar and secured the perimeter with Dragonflies.


    Air Force One landed half an hour later.


    [A security escort, how thoughtful.] President Obama thought.


    He walked off the plane surrounded by secret service agents and was welcomed by a peculiar-looking human.


    Aiya curtsied with respect before speaking to the President.


    "Welcome to Austin, Mr. President. My name is Aiya, Vince''s butler bot. I invite you to board one of our Stingrays prepared to fly us to the headquarters." Aiya stated.


    The secret service agents were skeptical about the request, but President Obama didn''t mind as he boarded the flying vehicle immediately.


    [The Stingray is beautiful. It looks and works like a V-22 Osprey but with turbofans instead of traditional propellers.] Obama pondered while he watched the city pass by through the windows.


    The three Stingrays landed vertically on the helipad without issue.


    Aiya guided them towards Vince''s penthouse below the helipad.


    "Welcome to Future Tech, Mr. President. First, I would like to introduce to you my mother, Leah." Vince stated.


    "It''s a pleasure to meet you, Leah." The President said as he kissed her hand.


    "I never imagined having the chance to meet our president. It''s an honor." Leah replied.


    "It was inevitable considering how brilliant your son is," Obama stated.


    "Would you like something to eat or a tour first?" Vince asked.


    "A meal would be delightful," Obama replied.


    The maids prepared Austin favorites for the President to try while their group conversed in the living room.


    "The Stingray we flew in was marvelous. I''d like to meet the person who designed it." Obama stated.


    "Heidi and the robotics division designed the bulk of it, but the Future Tech F1 team consulted with aerodynamics," Vince replied.


    "Has Future Tech designed other aircraft?" Obama asked curiously.


    "We have a turbofan armored troop transport, a long-haul cargo plane, and an advanced stratospheric recon UAV in production," Vince replied.


    Kyle, Jessica, Rick, and Sarah made their way to the penthouse living room to meet the President.


    Vince introduced each of them as co-founders of Future Studios and good friends.


    They conversed in small talk for a few minutes before the President decided to start the tour.


    Vince showed Obama around the building avoiding the most secure areas, and introduced him to Dollar, Heidi, Patel, Andreas, Morgan, and Ms. Taylor Miller.


    Vince explained the many projects Future Tech was researching at a surface level which intrigued the President more and more.


    "I can''t believe your company is using nanocomputers in such a sophisticated way. Your products are genuinely futuristic, just like your company''s name." Obama declared excitedly.


    [That''s not really why I named the company Future Technologies but close enough.] Vince thought.


    "Wait until you see what''s going on in Future Med. It''s down the street. We''ll get there faster on a FAV-1." Vince offered while they left the headquarters.


    A Future Tech security squad was waiting for them in front of the building.


    Vince and Obama entered the FAV-1 parked next to the security squad.


    The President entered the vehicle out of curiosity and was surprised when the FAV-1 started levitating over the street.


    "Is it even legal to drive this thing in the city?" Obama asked out of concern.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $50 Billion cash in Future Tech


    11,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    Read novel online free fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 47 - Shocking Technology

    Best novel online free at novelhall.com


    "Don''t worry. The Austin police department wanted to use one so severely that the city changed street laws to accommodate aerodyne vehicles." Vince stated.


    "I can clearly see why. It''s relatively quick for being heavily armored and can fly over traffic." Obama replied.


    "We''ve been working on police patrol, emergency, and personal vehicle variants of the FAV-1. They''ll be cheaper but still outrageously more expensive than regular vehicles." Vince stated.


    "How expensive are we talking?" Obama asked curiously.


    "Each would cost at least $5 million without options. A medical suite and life support system, for example, would cost an additional $2 million." Vince replied.


    "$7 million for an ambulance does sound expensive. However, more affluent cities in the United States will undoubtedly order some." Obama stated.


    "Koenigsegg has spent months refining the Freevalve Turbofan Engine to conform with current helicopter aviation and emission laws. I hope your administration will take significant consideration when a bill about aerodyne vehicles comes to pass." Vince said sincerely.


    [It would be a waste if I couldn''t sell my vehicles to the civilian market because of some random laws.] Vince pondered.


    "And of course, I''ll provide the White House a set of Future Tech AVs to use at your leisure," Vince added.


    [The secret service would be pleased trying out cutting-edge vehicles. Even I want to take one out for a spin.] Obama pondered.


    "You''re too good at playing the politics game for such a young man. I''ll have the Democratic Party back your bill when the time comes. But I get to keep one after my term." Obama replied honestly.


    "A custom AV can be arranged. I''ll show you our catalog after visiting Future Med Hospital." Vince stated.


    The FAV-1 landed vertically on a reserved AV parking space outside Future Med. The secret service detail secured the area before the President was allowed to enter the building.


    [I never knew I was getting the secret service treatment from my FS security detail.] So Vince thought while watching the agents surround their boss.


    The hospital was prepared for the President''s visit, and the receptionist immediately led the guests to Dr. Sera''s office.


    Vince introduced them to each other before taking a tour around the facilities.


    "This area is our patient ward. Seven Future Security operators are recovering from wounds taken during the Battle of Dehdadi." Dr. Sera explained.


    "The FS operators did excellent work out in the field. I''ll meet them later after our tour." the President declared.


    They walked around the hospital and reached the bioengineering laboratory.


    A young man in his twenties was seen jogging at an unbelievable pace.


    "That man jogging is Marco. He lost one of his legs in an explosion. So we''ve replaced it with a cybernetic metal-alloy leg seamlessly integrated onto his torso. He uses smart nanites in his bloodstream to control the cybernetic limb, just like the old one. Though he runs a bit faster now." Dr. Sera explained.


    "I can see that," Obama replied plainly.


    [Future Tech is advancing technology in so many fields in a place like Austin. This company has to be the most diverse in the world.] Obama pondered in shock.


    "We have one last major project that I can''t share right now. It hasn''t been approved by the FDA yet." Dr. Sera stated honestly.


    "That''s fine. I''ve experienced too many shocking revelations in one day." Obama stated.


    The President met with Marco and the other operators recovering from their injuries after the tour.


    They boarded the FAV-1 and headed back to the headquarters helipad.


    "Vince, those men are true patriots, especially that Marco fellow. He saved his comrades by kicking a grenade away but was caught by the shrapnel a few seconds after." Obama explained.


    "I agree; they are true patriots. Will you be staying the night here at Austin? I can have Aiya prepare lodgings for you and the secret service agents." Vince offered.


    "Thank you for the hospitality, but I should head back to the capital soon," Obama replied.


    "Thank you for stopping by. I hope you can express how much I value my partnership with the government to the people of Capitol Hill." Vince requested before the President left on a Stingray.


    Obama kept busy by choosing custom options for his civilian AV on a Future Tech mobile phone.


    [I hope the President enjoyed the tour. It would be great to have the President as a backup if anything goes sideways overseas, especially with the Mr. Lee problem.] Vince thought.


    Vince checked his daily reports and found five police FAVs ready to be delivered.


    He decided to donate them to the Austin Police Department for their assistance with the assassination attempt investigation two years earlier.


    While working on some new projects, he suddenly received a call from Christian.


    "Christian, my friend, How have you been?" Vince asked, using the secure comlink.


    "I''ve been busy keeping up with all your engine orders. I''ll need more Hive Mind drones soon. But that''s not why I''m calling. Will you be attending the Formula 1 race in Melbourne? You should go because it''s your team''s first race." Christian explained.


    "I''ll go if you''re going. We can ask Elon too if he has the spare time." Vince suggested.


    "Of course I''m going. I want to watch my freevalve engines go racing. That''s a wonderful idea. I''ll call Elon after." Christian replied.


    "Christian, I''ll have Future Security protect you like an executive director. You''re too important to our business. If you don''t mind." Vince offered.


    "I don''t feel any danger, but I''ll allow it. My own business had grown several times over after partnering with you. It''s the least I can do." Christian said before bidding farewell.


    [I hadn''t seen Randall since his Formula 2 Championship win last year. I should visit Future Tech F1 in the UK to see how things are going.] Vince pondered.


    March 10, 2013.


    Vince and his entourage flew on the Dreamliner to the UK.


    He was visiting the Future Tech F1 headquarters at Silverstone. A few miles away from the Silverstone track itself.


    [It would be dope to drive the Agera SFV around Silverstone.] So Vince thought before his ride arrived at the headquarters.


    He was welcomed by Kevin Lawson, the executive director of FT F1.


    "Welcome, Vince. I heard you''ll be attending the Australian Grand Prix. I assumed you were too busy." Kevin stated.


    "I''ve been busy, true. But Christian reminded me, thankfully." Vince replied.


    "His engines are pieces of art. We''ve always been a small team in F1, but I believe Mr. Koenigsegg''s engines can win us the Constructors Championship this year." Kevin replied reverently.


    "You should try racing an aerodyne vehicle. Though, I think it''s hazardous." Vince suggested jokingly.


    "I''ve seen the company research and demo footage. So I might do that someday. Let me show you our car package for 2013." Kevin stated.


    Kevin brought Vince into the main laboratory, where the cars were on display.


    The F1 cars looked similar to 2013 season cars in Vince''s past life but employed more sophisticated aerodynamic details like fins and ridges.


    The color theme they chose was the Future Tech blue-black-white.


    "The cars look stunning, Kevin. But, does the team have enough parts for the season?" Vince asked.


    "With the budget you gave us, we can develop and maintain the cars without problems. It''s our first time having such a large budget, but we''ll make the best out of the funds." Kevin explained.


    "I trust in your decisions, Kevin. How are the drivers doing?" Vince asked.


    "They''re in the simulation room practicing for next week''s race. The Future Tech AIM simulator has been the envy of our racing rivals the past winter break. The drivers say it''s like driving for real." Kevin explained proudly.


    "I leave them be for now. I don''t want to disturb our drivers'' practice time." Vince said.


    They walked around the Silverstone headquarters as Kevin introduced Vince to notable members of the team.


    Kevin and Vince met with both drivers for dinner later that night.


    "It''s good to see you, Randall. We''re glad to have you as one of our drivers." Vince said while shaking Randall''s hand.


    "Thank you for the opportunity. The car is quick, and I''m confident in my chances this season." The Austinian replied.


    "Vince, this is Nico Hulkenberg, our other driver. He''s been with us since 2011 and signed a new deal." Kevin stated.


    "It''s good to meet you, Nico. I hope to watch some great racing next week." Vince declared.


    "I''ll strive to put on a show for you, Mr. Dalton," Nico replied nervously.


    "Call me Vince. We''ll be giving out cash bonuses for championship points scored and consistency. So do your best out there." Vince declared before starting to eat.


    He flew back to Austin the same night and planned to fly to Melbourne on Thursday of the following week.


    [The race might be more exciting than the APL Finals now that I have a horse in the race.] So Vince thought while lying on his bed in the Dreamliner.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $50 Billion cash in Future Tech


    11,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    Best novel online free at novelhall.com

 Chapter 48 - Protection For Domestic Innovation

    March 12, 2013. The Capitol Building.


    Inside the historical building, many people were discussing a newly proposed bill.


    A middle-aged Caucasian politician stood tall behind the podium, House Speaker John Boehner.


    He was a House Representative from Ohio and a Republican.


    Boehner was a powerful man considering his leadership position within the Republican Party.


    John Boehner was involved in plenty of US committees, including the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.


    Boehner had his disagreements with President Obama due to party oppositions and has clashed in politics many a time.


    As a conservative, Boehner was against gay marriage, and his party approved. But he would also support initiatives like Planned Parenthood that destroyed his relationship with the Republican party in the future.


    "Thank you all for coming. The President has convened this congressional session using Article II Section 3 of the US Constitution." Mr. Boehner declared with a loud voice.


    President Obama walked up to the central podium and started speaking.


    "Senators and Representatives, I have gathered you here today to discuss the United State''s future. As you all know by now, Future Technologies has made significant contributions to our war in Afghanistan and the domestic economy. Two years'' worth of its federal taxes is $100 billion.


    I visited young Dalton''s headquarters in Austin a few days ago to observe how Future Tech operated.


    They are innovators in almost every field and industry¡ªmedicine, semiconductors, AI, robotics, material science, micro, and heavy manufacturing. All of these technologies seamlessly integrate themselves to produce products we enjoy and use every day. Who here still owns an iPhone?


    The Democratic party has drafted a bill to allow significant consideration in enacting laws in technological advancements.


    The first few pages outline federal guidelines allowing aerodyne vehicles across the United States, with varying limitations based on location.


    The bill also includes changes with how the US Food and Drug Administration can prioritize testing and trials based on the research''s impact on our nation.


    Each of you should receive a copy of the draft shortly," Obama stated with a regal aura.


    The President stepped away from the podium, and John Boehner took his place.


    President Obama has already persuaded the US senators with some old-fashioned politics to expedite the bill''s processing.


    "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has agreed to a motion to proceed. And Senate President Joe Biden is enacting Cloture Rule. We will be convening in two days to vote for or against the bill." John Boehner declared.


    The senators and representatives were dismissed and slowly vacated the meeting hall.


    John Boehner was curious how President Obama convinced the entire senate to enact Cloture Rule, rare and risky.


    "Mr. President, What makes you so confident in passing this new bill?" Boehner asked.


    "This bill is the easiest one yet. I just showed the senators FDA trial results from Future Med, and they all agreed." Obama replied honestly.


    "What''s so important that persuaded all one hundred senators to utilize Cloture Rule?" Boehner asked curiously.


    "Future Medicine is close to perfecting technology to cure all types of cancer," Obama replied with a grin.


    "You''re joking. That''s impossible!" Boehner replied in shock.


    "The trials and tests tell no lie. Future Technologies will help the US maintain market competitiveness, and this bill makes sure that happens."


    "I know you''re against my national security policy, but things will change soon. Finally, you''ll get the compromise you''ve been looking for regarding a post 9-11 society. Future Tech will help us win the wars in the Middle East and maintain western ideologies while we allocate more resources to East Asia and Eastern Europe." Obama explained.


    [Even if we win the war, national security will still be at risk from the few remaining radicals. However, it seems like Mr. President is confident in his plans. I''ll hear him out sometime], Boehner pondered.


    "Thank you for the explanation, Mr. President," Boehner replied before Obama left the hall.


    Two days later, at Capitol Hill, the "Protection for Domestic Innovation" bill was approved by a senate majority vote. Almost all senators voted yes, and the bill was enacted immediately after President Obama signed the document.


    Government departments from the county to the federal level started changing and adding laws based on the new bill.


    Local news outlets caught wind of the new bill''s passing and immediately shared the news with the masses.


    On a random television in California home, a family was watching the CNN evening news.


    "A new bill has been voted on in Congress earlier today. The "Protection for Domestic Innovation" bill was enacted to allow local companies to implement society-changing technologies. CNN sources found several technologies now available to civilians like cybernetic limb replacements and Aerodyne Vehicles. However, you would need an aviation license to pilot one." the newscaster explained while showing marketing images provided by Future Tech.


    "Dad, look at the cool flying car. When are we getting one?" the child asked.


    "I prefer to drive on the road, son. You can get one when you''re older." the father replied.


    Vince was watching the news after Aiya notified him about the bill''s passing.


    [That was quick. I didn''t think the President would take me so seriously. But, of course, the FDA trials helped a lot.] Vince pondered.


    He called Andreas to discuss Hive Mind Heavy Manufacturing.


    "Andreas, how has the Hive Mind expansion going?" Vince asked.


    "All of the newly ordered manufacturing drones have been produced. We''ll complete the Tech Campus expansion in a week, with the gracious help of our friends at SpaceX." Andreas replied.


    "I don''t know if you''ve heard the news, but our AVs are federally legal now. So expect plenty of orders from the military and civilian sectors." Vince instructed.


    "Don''t worry, Vince. Future Tech should be the largest manufacturer in the United States now, other than the large oil companies. In addition, Hudson employed another 10,000 people for maintenance and quality assurance at the Tech Campus." Andreas replied confidently.


    "That''s a lot of people. How are we training them?" Vince asked.


    "The Future Tech Education sub-division in Afghanistan has completely refined our training process. Hudson is already thinking about a training service business to profit from FT Education." Andreas explained.


    "I''ll talk to Hudson about his idea. Training potential employees will make it easier for us to expand in the future. Good work, Andreas." Vince replied before ending the call.


    News spread about the bill, as Future Tech utilized all platforms available to market products other than consumer devices from 2012.


    Civilians could only purchase Future Tech laptops and mobile phones. But now, they could also buy aerodyne vehicles and medical services.


    These items required more stringent screening of customers, but none of their target audience had any issue with a stricter verification process.


    Vince was watching a professionally directed commercial produced by Future Studios on his FT TV.


    The video portrayed a typical American family in distress while the mother was calling 911.


    Her husband was suffering from cardiac arrest during dinner and started suddenly convulsing.


    Within ten minutes, an emergency AV cleared the area outside the house before landing vertically.


    An EMS rushed into their house and used a futuristic-looking tool to save him. The family looked relieved as the emergency personnel boarded him on the AV and flew towards the nearest hospital.


    The next scene featured Robert Downey Jr. acting as Tony Stark enjoying a ride on a luxurious AV variant. The director showed a few seconds of his first-person view watching the city skyline pass by.


    The AV landed on the Avenger''s Tower helipad with a few parked Stingrays before the scened ended.


    A new scene portrayed Marco''s experience in the Battle of Dehdadi and his eventual recovery using Future Med cybernetics and treatments.


    The entire commercial was around five minutes in duration and was advertised around the world.


    [I can only sell these products in the US for now, but foreigners learning about them and nagging their governments for approval will benefit exports in the future.] Vince pondered.


    Major city governments within the United States began ordering millions of dollars worth of AVs in different variants. While rich and famous individuals started choosing AV options on the Future Tech website to purchase.


    Large complexes at the Austin Tech Campus got busy with thousands of employees monitoring and maintaining the Hive Mind manufacturing lines.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $50 Billion cash in Future Tech


    21,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    You can read the novel online free at novelhall.com

 Chapter 49 - Outer Space Exploration

    You can read the novel online free at novelhall.com


    March 14, 2013. Future Tech Penthouse.


    "Mom, Would you like to visit Melbourne with me?" Vince asked Leah.


    "Not this time, son. I''ve been busy with the NPO expansion and designing some Future Couture dresses for the summer collection." Leah replied honestly.


    "That''s fine. You can go whenever you want, anyway." Vince stated.


    "Why not ask your friends to join you?" Leah replied.


    "Kyle, Rick, and Sarah are busy with the final production phase for the new Future Studios game "Everlife Online". And Jessica is working on nanite computer applications," Vince explained.


    "You''ll be fine. Elon and Christian will be there to accompany you." Leah stated.


    "True. I''ll be out in a few minutes. See you next week." Vince said before leaving Leah''s office.


    Aiya arrived in the living room carrying her luggage and Vince''s.


    They were both escorted to the helipad and took off on a Stingray.


    The entourage arrived at the private hangar with three parked modified Dreamliners.


    They boarded Vince''s personal Dreamliner and flew towards Australia.


    It was a long 21-hour flight, yet Vince and his security detail felt like just leaving a hotel.


    Vince met up with Christian and Elon, that were also staying at the Crown Towers.


    His entourage entered one of the restaurants at the hotel and immediately caught the attention of most of the customers.


    "Look, it''s those soldiers from the Afghanistan war videos." an Australian customer said to his companion.


    "There aren''t any wars going on around here. It''s probably a Future Tech executive and their security detail. Most likely Vince Dalton himself. The F1 race is this weekend, and he owns a team." the companion replied.


    "Thanks for the reassurance. I got scared there for a bit," the Australian man replied.


    "I''ve seen the Future Tech commercials. I''ll buy an AV as soon as Australia makes it legal to own." the companion stated swaggeringly.


    Bystanders shared similar whispers around the restaurant as Vince sat down at a corner table.


    Elon and Christian arrived a few minutes later.


    "It''s good to see you both. How has Melbourne been treating you?" Vince said as he stood up and shook hands.


    "The FIA technical director is keeping me busy with questions and inquiries about the engines, but so far, it''s been good," Christian replied as he sat down.


    "I was invited to the track and raced around Teslas with Randall Stevens. Good kid, that one." Elon explained.


    "I agree¡ªRandall''s from Austin, just like me, and he''s a quick driver," Vince replied.


    "Vince, you better expedite my AV order. I want to fly around Palo Alto and enjoy the city sights as Tony Stark did in the commercial." Elon declared.


    "You''ll get it soon, Elon. You''re luckier than Christian. His company builds the engines, but he can''t even legally own one yet." Vince said jokingly.


    "Sweden will legalize Future Tech products soon. So I don''t have to worry about not owning an AV for longer." Christian replied.


    They ordered food, and it arrived a few minutes later.


    "Vince, the biosphere project in Afghanistan is progressing at a rapid pace. The dome itself currently produces more than half of the fresh produce sold in Kandahar. I think it''s ready for Mars!" Elon exclaimed.


    Vince almost choked on his drink before laughing.


    "Come on, Elon. Surely you would test the dome on the moon first." Vince replied seriously.


    "That''s what everyone says. I understand why testing it on the moon is for the best, but Mars, Vince, Mars!" Elon declared with some craziness in his eyes.


    [This guy''s mental for thinking it would be sunshine and rainbows on Mars.] Vince thought.


    "Future Tech will contribute to projects involving transit between Earth and the Moon. But Mars will have to wait." Vince stated honestly.


    "The current valuation of SpaceX is around $5 billion based on Future Tech''s estimates. So I''ll invest $10 billion for just half of your company. We''ll explore outer space faster than any of your competitors, I can assure you." Vince added.


    "It''s a good deal, Elon," Christian interjected.


    "I accept the offer. I never planned to sell parts of my company, but I''ll make an exception for Future Tech. SpaceX excels in space rockets, but not much else, and I understand that." Elon replied calmly.


    "Count me in on the space exploration project. Koenigsegg will help produce the most powerful jet engines ever created." Christian replied excitedly.


    They talked about expanding the biosphere project in Kandahar to build more biospheres and further testing and initial steps for the space exploration venture.


    Formula 1 Friday practice wasn''t captivating enough for the group to watch, and they decided to attend free practice 3, qualifying and the race only.


    On Saturday, a fleet of armored SUVs and Dragonflies arrived at the Albert Park Circuit paddock.


    Vince, Aiya, Elon, Christian, and FS operators walked towards the entrance gate.


    The Albert Park manager saw the dozen people approaching and didn''t know what to do.


    [Are we being attacked? What''s going on?] The lady manager thought.


    An older man hollered from within the paddock and welcomed the highly esteemed guests of the event.


    "Jean, it''s great to see you in good health," Christian said as he shook Jean Todt''s hand.


    "Likewise, Christian. I can guide you gentlemen towards the Future Tech F1 motorhome. Come with me." Jean stated.


    All three decided to explore the Future Tech F1 garages and watch the team operate during free practice 3.


    The group met with Kevin Lawson below the motorhome.


    "Vince, I thought you were busy and couldn''t come," Kevin said in his British accent.


    "I overate sushi yesterday and had to sleep it off. So how''s the car''s performance looking?" Vince asked while the other two were listening.


    "The car is faster than any other car in a straight line, thanks primarily to our Koenigsegg engine. Of course, Koenigsegg customer teams like Marussia and Caterham have the same engine, but our car is quicker overall." Kevin explained.


    Nico Hulkenberg and Randall Stevens arrived at the garages wearing the Future Tech-themed racing suits and helmets. They greeted the guests and quickly got into the cars as free practice three had already started.


    The Future Tech F1 car''s liveries prominently featured the Future Tech logo and had smaller ones like Epic, SpaceX, Koenigsegg, and Bitcash.


    Martin Brundle and David Croft were discussing the free practice 3 session live on satellite TV in the commentary box.


    "Martin, this season already looks completely different from last. Three minor teams have improved performance significantly. And the F1 food chain is now uncertain." David said in his British accent to a microphone.


    "Straight-line speed isn''t everything, Crofty, but it sure does help," Martin replied in jest.


    "We''ll be seeing the cars drive out of the pitlane soon. Which one of the teams are you most excited about?" David asked.


    "Surely it''s the Future Tech car; that''s a hot topic right now. I would expect nothing less from a company as technologically advanced as Future Tech." Martin replied honestly.


    "Speaking of, Am I seeing this right? Vince Dalton, Elon Musk, and Christian von Koenigsegg are in the Future Tech garage right now. Camera guys, work your magic." David said in surprise.


    The broadcast showed a live feed of Vince talking to Kevin while the other two were exploring the garages.


    "The net worth in those garages far exceed even some medium-sized countries'' yearly GDP," Martin said jokingly.


    "It''s always great to see innovators enter our sport. They provide fans with more exciting racing because of their contributions." David stated.


    Formula 1 fans around the world watched the broadcast with great interest. It was rare to see so many titans of industry in such a small place like a garage.


    "Are you buying one of those AVs when it''s legal?" David asked.


    "Those things look like a death trap. I''d rather drive a manual car on the road. But, you know I''m old-school, David." Martin replied.


    "I know. That''s why I asked you." David stated jokingly.


    Free practice 3 was eventful, with some cars having to take the run-off areas. Future Tech F1 and RedBull Racing set the top times after the session was over.


    Qualifying occurred a few hours later. Vince''s entourage went upstairs and sat at the private viewing area in the motorhome.


    "Who would you bet qualifying in pole position?" Elon asked.


    "I think Nico will take pole. Our car is the fastest, and he''s a more experienced driver than Randall in F1." Vince replied.


    "I bet it''ll be Randall. He was bloody quick in the Tesla the other day." Elon replied.


    Christian was watching the qualifying joyously, knowing that all engines on the track featured his freevalve technology.


    Qualifying started, and each car took turns producing faster and faster laps around Albert Park.


    The previous top teams couldn''t keep up with Future Tech F1''s pace as Nico took pole position and Randall in the second position.


    [Randall won from third last year. He can probably win from second too.] So Vince pondered while leaving the track for the night.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $40 Billion cash in Future Tech


    21,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    You can read the novel fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 50 - Future Tech F1 Win

    You can read the novel online free at novelhall.com


    While Vince enjoyed the Formula 1 event in Australia, US-allied countries like Japan, the UK, France, Sweden, and South Korea were working to enact laws allowing new technologies from the US to be imported and owned.


    President Lee Myung-bak was discussing the corporate espionage mission with his men.


    "We''ve gathered the best of the best for this mission: expert hackers and highly trained soldiers." one of the men said to Mr. Lee.


    [Now that other countries are allowing the purchase of higher-tech products, it''s the perfect time to steal data from Future Tech.] Mr. Lee thought.


    "Have them take advantage of the secret entrances at the key telecommunication hubs. Go in and out quickly, and don''t get caught. And have the hackers penetrate their cyber defenses as cover," Mr. Lee instructed before dismissing the men.


    A few hours later, Price received a notification from the FS nethunter team assigned to the East Asia region.


    The high priority message stated there was unusual activity in East Asia trying to disrupt the telecommunication hub defenses at multiple sites across the East Asia Future Tech communications network.


    Price called Anthony, who was working at the Austin headquarters.


    "Something''s happening to our communications systems in East Asia. Your mission is to investigate and retaliate." Price instructed.


    "I''ve been on it before you even called, Price. We''ll find them." Anthony replied before ending the call.


    Price ordered FS operators to deploy at critical communications hubs as reinforcements from the South Korea branch.


    A dozen Stingrays with 50 troops each flew towards their destinations from the US Air Force Osan Airbase while the nethunters utilized Future Tech satellites to find their enemies.


    Grand Prix Sunday, Albert Park.


    The red lights were blinking, counting down the start of the race.


    Nico had a great start and pulled away at the front of the pack. Unfortunately, Randall had a poor start as it was his first time launching an F1 car during a race.


    He maintained second place while trying to catch up with Nico. The Marussia and Caterham cars were making good time on the straights and started tailing the RedBulls.


    An hour and a half later, a few laps before the race ends, Randall tried to overtake Nico through a chicane but couldn''t stick the move.


    They battled for three straight laps in a race of their own, making the fans go wild in excitement.


    They were side by side at the last corner and dragged raced to the finish line.


    Nico crossed the line half a second before Randall and won the race.


    The German fans in the crowd were chanting while the top three finishers parked the cars.


    [What a thrilling first race we just had here in Albert Park. It''s a Future Tech one-two finish! We''ll hear more from the drivers from the pitlane. To you, Martin." David Croft said to a microphone.


    "That was a fantastic start Nico, but an even more electrifying last few laps. What was going through your mind battling your teammate." Martin asked.


    "I was fighting for my first win in F1 with my all. I knew Randall was quick after training for months together. He''s a respectful driver, and I enjoyed sharing the battle for the win with him." Nico replied.


    "Congratulations on the win, Nico," Martin said before starting to interview Randall.


    "P2 is an excellent result for your first race in F1. What was in your mind while battling Nico for a potential win?" Martin asked.


    "I knew I had the chance of winning the race, but I''ll have to work on my race starts from now on. Nevertheless, I''m proud of Nico and the team''s success today." Randall replied.


    "Enjoy the champagne, Randall," Martin stated.


    Sebastian Vettel was the next interviewee. "It was a rough day for RedBull; what went wrong, do you think?" Martin asked.


    "The Future Tech cars are much quicker than us, plain and simple. So we''ll have to rethink our aerodynamic package to keep in pace with them." Vettel replied.


    "P3 isn''t the end of the world, Sebastian. I wish you good fortune for the races to come." Martin Brundle said before ending the interview segment.


    Nico reveled in his victory at the top of the podium while celebrating with Randall and Kevin.


    The stereotypical champagne showered over all the people at the podium box and some in the crowd.


    Vince congratulated the team members at the garages and invited Nico, Randall, and Kevin to join his group for dinner at Vue de monde.


    "That was a great battle towards the end of the race. I enjoyed it so much that I''ll give both of you an Agera SFV. Then, we can go racing at COTA whenever we want!" Christian declared.


    "I hope you guys are content with your contract bonuses; it''s well deserved," Vince stated.


    "The world needs an all-electric racing series. Electric cars are the future." Elon complained.


    "I agree regarding electric cars'' importance in society, but racing electric vehicles? It doesn''t sound good cause there is no sound literally." Vince replied jokingly.


    Christian started laughing and joined in the conversation.


    "Aerodyne vehicle racing would be fun to watch but incredibly dangerous," Christian stated.


    "That''s a good idea, but I think it''s too early. Maybe in a few years, Christian. Let''s focus on perfecting our turbofan engine fuel complex and increasing efficiency first." Vince explained.


    "SpaceX will join the advanced fuel complex project. We''ll have to invest in fuel research to expedite our mission to the moon." Elon declared.


    Nico and Randall were listening in to their conversation and stared at Kevin in shock. Kevin shook his head in agreement as he, too, felt the same way once in an executive meeting.


    [These guys are nuts.] So Randall thought while eating his costly meal.


    President Lee''s men boarded a helicopter bound for an island off the coast of Taiwan. The ten private soldiers and two hackers were tasked with stealing valuable intelligence and installing a back door program without Future Tech knowing.


    The island was primarily used as a telecommunication hub for the trans-pacific underwater optical fiber cables originating from Seattle and running through Hawaii, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea.


    The helicopter landed five miles from their intended target to avoid being spotted by Dragonflies.


    A cave was located near the pre-determined landing zone, which served as an entrance to a hidden pathway underground.


    Hyundai Construction and Engineering built the secret pathway while upgrading the communication hub structure earlier in the year.


    Mr. Lee determined the most important communication hub and built only one such pathway to minimize exposure to Future Tech monitoring.


    The infiltration team walked through the underground passage for five miles before reaching the target.


    They hadn''t realized the small vibration and acoustic sensors strategically placed within a mile radius of every Future Tech communications center worldwide.


    The sensors were the size of a hockey puck and utilized IoT device functionality like communicating with the home base via satellite internet connection.


    Anthony and Price designed the sensors specifically to protect and monitor Future Tech''s static assets.


    A notification appeared on Price''s screen stating a vibration anomaly occurred at a hub off the coast of Taiwan.


    He diverted two Stingrays to secure the target base and capture the detected intruders.


    The infiltration team took half an hour to traverse through the underground pathway and found the entrance into the hub building.


    They emerged and found themselves in the maintenance room. The team knew exactly where to find the Data Access Node room because of the blueprints Hyundai C&E provided.


    It took another few minutes to find and open the security door leading to the Node. Then, two of the hackers took laptops and various tools out of the bags and went to work on disabling the doors.


    The 50 troops from the first Stingray that arrived surrounded the building while waiting for reinforcements. Another two Stingrays and 100 troops gathered to overwhelm whatever enemy was waiting.


    The vanguard FS operators went straight to where most likely the infiltrators would be, at a Node room.


    The two Korean hackers disabled the security door in ten minutes. After that, their group entered the room, and the hackers immediately plugged into the Data Access Node.


    After connecting to the Node, they started attempts to bypass the security protocols and defenses. The other men vigilantly guarded the area while the hackers were at work.


    The corporate espionage mission was going smoothly until they heard loud footsteps outside the security door.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $40 Billion cash in Future Tech


    21,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    Read novel online free fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 51 - Corporate Espionage

    You can read the novel fast updates at novelhall.com


    Inside the secure Data Access Node room at the basement level of a key communications hub, Two Korean hackers were working on breaking into Future Tech cyber defenses.


    They each had modified laptops physically connected to the Node.


    "What''s taking so long?" one of the armed private soldiers asked the hackers.


    "We''re running into some mad interference in the Node network. I think we''ve been compromised. I estimate it will take another 30 minutes for us to penetrate the Node''s defenses." one of the hackers replied.


    Meanwhile, at the Austin Future Tech Headquarters, Anthony and a team of nethunters were supporting in helping defend the Node remotely.


    Anthony opened a channel in the company''s secure comlink and called the FS Squad leader, who was in charge of the particular communication hub.


    "We''re making good progress at stopping their intrusion attempts. However, the enemies are undoubtedly inside the Data Access Node room already. Surround the area, and clear the space. Try not to destroy their computer equipment." Anthony said over the comlink.


    "Understood." the squad leader replied before closing the comlink channel.


    "We have two Stingrays and 100 operators as reinforcements arriving soon. Have them surround the building when they get here." the squad leader instructed a sub-leader.


    He took half of his contingent, around 25 FS operators, and headed towards the Data Access Node room.


    "This is taking too long. Can we just grab the Node and escape?" one of the Korean private soldiers asked.


    "The Data Access Node here isn''t the mobile version. Instead, we''re plugged into the console, and the Node is this entire room." the hacker replied.


    "We''ve been here for 15 minutes already. I suggest we abort this mission and head back to the maintenance room. FS are professionals. They could be here any minute now." the soldier declared.


    While they were talking, the FS squad team leader was content with his units'' positioning around the vicinity of the Node room and ordered a clearing operation.


    Six FS operators acted as the vanguard. As soon as the security door opened, they quickly threw flashbang grenades before entering the room.


    Their rifles utilized Future Arms'' new non-lethal 5.56x45mm ammunition loaded into M4FA rifles.


    The original Armalite rifle design the legendary Eugene Stoner introduced has been tried and tested. Future Arms decided to refine the rifles using more sophisticated materials, upping reliability, and designing more ammunition types for situations like hostage rescue non-lethal rounds.


    M4FA rifles include variable optics, laser sights, suppressors, and canted red dots as a standard-issue across Future Security.


    The six vanguards protected the Dragonflies while taking cover, and the rest of the unit stormed in with confidence.


    The Dragonflies were controlled by a nethunter assigned to the FS contingent and disabled the two hacker''s laptops using breach protocol.


    Their highly trained enemies immediately took cover though two were too late to react and were incapacitated.


    The firefight was quick and intense, but the FS upper body armor was too tough for sub-machine gun rounds.


    The remaining enemies were flooded by more operators entering the room and drowned under heavy fire.


    "Secure the area. Detain the enemies and confiscate all their equipment." The squad leader instructed.


    A lightly armored woman in her 30''s followed the FS squad leader into the Node room. She was holding a Future Tech laptop and barely armed compared to the others.


    "Bring me both of the confiscated laptops. I have work to do." the nethuntress declared.


    She plugged her Future Tech laptop into the console before connecting the confiscated ones.


    The nethuntress opened a secure comlink channel and connected to Anthony.


    "I''ve already unlocked the confiscated laptops. So let''s start the cyber operation," the nethuntress stated.


    "Let the games begin," Anthony replied joyously.


    Data Access Nodes across East Asia started retracing network channels the confiscated laptops were using while attempting the intrusion.


    Nethunters assigned at all Future Security branches from Austin to Kandahar were expected to contribute to the retaliation operation.


    After twenty minutes, a major Node located in Seoul was forcibly connected to the Hyundai C&E corporate database using the information gained in the confiscated laptops.


    Unfortunately, the multi-billion dollar corporation lacked enough cybersecurity defenses to stop the FS nethunters.


    The nethunters essentially had free access to the entire Hyundai Group database via the Construction & Engineering connection.


    Corporate information and secrets from Hyundai Motors, Steel, Capital, Card, Merchant Marine, and other subsidiaries were stolen and routed in different network directions.


    Nethunters utilized all the Nodes and Future Tech satellites in the world to cover their tracks after Anthony called off the operation.


    [We''ve already taken enough. Better not be greedy.] So Anthony thought while reading the stolen information.


    Price received a notification regarding the detainment and successful retaliatory mission.


    "Take the detainees and transfer them to the Kandahar FS branch. We''ll interrogate them here." Price instructed the squad leader over the comlink.


    Price switched communication channels and reached Anthony.


    "What did you guys get?" Price asked.


    "Shipping routes, business processes, construction techniques, technology designs, and some interesting information," Anthony replied mischievously.


    "President Lee has been busy. We found evidence involving embezzlements, bribery, blackmail, and various other illegal activities." Anthony added.


    "Good work. Grant executive directors access to useful information like the designs and business processes. Were there issues with our intrusion operation?" Price asked.


    "The Hyundai Group network security defenses were decent but still couldn''t detect us. So we spent 30 minutes transferring the information, got out, and left a backdoor." Anthony explained.


    "Will leaving the backdoor expose our involvement?" Price asked.


    "It''s my new toy, Price¡ªa smart nanite backdoor device I had an undercover FS operator install next to the building in Seoul. The nanites travel through the fiber optic lines and can escape towards our FS branch if needed. I call it ''Network Creepers'' and classified as top secret." Anthony replied boastfully.


    "Store the design and manufacturing process in Future Tech satellites. Of course, the government and other corporations will not be happy if they ever find out about these Creepers. But your nethunters did excellent work. I''ll contact Vince for further instruction." Price replied.


    "Sure thing. Talk to you later, Price." Anthony said before closing the channel.


    [Vince was right to be suspicious. The information we have is enough to shake up the South Korean government.] Price pondered while contacting Vince.


    Vince was conversing with Kevin in a restaurant in Melbourne and received a comlink request on his smartwatch.


    "Kevin, hold on a minute. Price is calling." Vince stated before taking the call.


    Vince started conversing with Price about the recent operation.


    "I''m having dinner, Price. What''s so important?" Vince asked while eating.


    "A group of armed men attempted to raid a Data Access Node off the coast of Taiwan. The situation is under control, and I sent the detainees here to Kandahar. I''m sending you a report and will wait for further instruction after you eat dinner." Price explained before closing the secure channel.


    Vince opened the report document file on his smartwatch and skimmed through it.


    Elon, Christian, Randall, and Nico, sitting at the table, overheard the call.


    "Did something bad happen, Vince?" Christian asked curiously.


    "Nothing too serious. Don''t worry about it." Vince stated.


    [It''s pretty serious, and I''ll have to call President Obama and ask for his opinion. Foreign affairs aren''t Future Tech''s responsibility.] Vince pondered as he continued with dinner.


    "Elon. Now that I own half of SpaceX, please allow FS operators to secure your headquarters and network. Times are changing, and we can''t risk our corporate assets." Vince said.


    "I understand. Just keep my security detail to a minimum." Elon replied honestly.


    The group finished eating dinner and bade farewells before Vince headed to the airport.


    Vince, Aiya, and his security detail boarded the Dreamliner and flew back to Austin.


    Vince found President Obama''s office number on his smartwatch and connected to a secretary at the White House.


    "Good day, madam. Can you please transfer me to the President?" Vince asked nicely.


    [Why does a teenager know this number? Mr. President only gives this number out to influential individuals, so I''ll just do what he asks.] the secretary thought.


    "Please give a minute. The President is in a meeting, and I''ll have to go inside the office to notify him. What was your name?" the secretary replied.


    "No problem. My name is Vince Dalton," Vince replied amicably.


    The secretary walked into the Oval Office and found the President and General Douglas conversing.


    "What is it, Maria?" Obama asked curiously.


    "I have a Vince Dalton on the line. He wishes to speak with you." Maria replied while giving Obama the phone.


    "Thank you, Maria. You can leave now." Obama replied as he took the phone.


    "Vince, what''s going on? Is my custom AV ready?" Obama asked.


    "It should be on the way to DC by now, but I called you for a more important reason, Mr. President," Vince explained.


    [If it''s important to Vince, this should be interesting.] Obama pondered while listening.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $40 Billion cash in Future Tech


    21,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    You can read the novel fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 52 - Interrogation

    Read novel online free fast updates at novelhall.com


    In the Oval Office, President Obama was listening to Vince over the phone.


    "One of our FS detachments caught a group of armed men red-handed attempting to hack into Future Tech," Vince explained.


    "Did anyone get hurt? Was it here in the States? Have you identified the people involved?" Obama asked seriously.


    "No one was hurt. Thank you for the concern, though the enemies got peppered with non-lethal rounds. It happened off the coast of Taiwan at one of our key Data Access Nodes. Most of them were Korean and sent to Kandahar for interrogation." Vince replied.


    "We''ll talk about that non-lethal ammunition later¡ªsmart move to take them to Afghanistan. I''ll have CIA operatives assigned in the area to help with the investigation." Obama replied in agreement.


    "There''s not much investigating to do. We already know Hyundai C&E is behind this. The FS team found a secret underground passage five miles long underneath the building. President Lee offered to build and upgrade Future Tech com stations for a heavily discounted price, and I took the deal in good faith." Vince explained in a soft childish tone.


    [Thanks to my future knowledge, I dodged a bullet. No good faith found here.] Vince thought.


    "That''s a serious accusation, Vince. I''m sorry to hear about your dealings with President Lee; I''ll need hard evidence to pursue this. Our alliance with South Korea is utterly essential to our foreign strategy." Obama replied honestly.


    "I believe the CIA can persuade the detainees to confess; I trust in my government. Though hypothetically, if Future Tech possesses incriminating information about President Lee''s involvement in bribery, tax evasion, and embezzlement, for example. How would you feel about it?" Vince asked vaguely.


    [Future Tech did something illegal. I''m sure of it, but information like that is priceless. It wouldn''t be challenging to install a new president with it in the right hands.] Obama pondered.


    "In this hypothetical situation, I would suggest revealing some information to the CIA operatives for further investigation. But, of course, your law firm will have full support from the White House, and Future Security will receive a $50 billion defense contract. I even have General Douglas here to negotiate the deal." Obama replied with his signature tone.


    [Hmm. A puppet South Korean president is worth $50 billion. Fending off Mr. Lee was more profitable than I thought.] Vince pondered.


    "Quite generous of you, Mr. President. I''ll have Price contact General Douglas regarding the deal. Thank you for your time." Vince said before ending the call.


    "Who were you talking to, Mr. President?" the General asked.


    "It was Vince Dalton. Write an outline of what the Pentagon needs. I promised him a $50 billion contract; you can get whatever you want." Obama explained.


    "That''s 10% of our 2013 budget. So what''s going on?" General Douglas asked curiously.


    "It''s a need to know, General. I suggest ordering those AVs. I hear they''re perfect for urban battlefields." Obama said before dismissing the General from his office.


    [This is going to be a lot of work.] Obama pondered while searching through his political contacts.


    In a Dreamliner flying over the Pacific Ocean, Vince was lying down on his king-sized bed.


    [I can see why the military-industrial complex makes so much money. The discretionary budget is practically free cash.] Vince thought.


    He decided to contact Richard working at the Wall Street branch.


    Richard immediately took the call from Vince as soon as his phone rang.


    "Vince, what can I do for you?" Richard asked.


    "Richard, I suggest shorting the South Korean Won starting tomorrow. Some bad news about Mr. Lee will come to light. Target the Hyundai Group too. Kemp-Jacobs will be suing them soon." Vince instructed before ending the call.


    [Something big must''ve happened.] Richard thought.


    He walked out of his office and shouted commands.


    "Listen up. We''ll be shorting the Won and buying up all of Hyundai''s holdings. Set up all your trading tools in preparation for tomorrow." Richard said before working himself.


    He called Price to discuss the following steps to be taken.


    "Price, leave an evidence trail for the CIA operatives who will be visiting soon. I''ve struck a deal with the President in exchange for the information. Continue monitoring our assets abroad and contact General Douglas about the $50 billion defense contract." Vince instructed.


    Price was surprised to hear how high the value of their work was.


    "I''ll see it done, Vince. Anthony will contact you about his new invention soon. I hope you don''t do anything rash with it." Price replied.


    "Thanks for the heads up. Good work out there, Price. You''ve been a model executive director. I''m glad to have you as an ally." Vince expressed before bidding farewell.


    [The young man is too humble.] Price pondered before working on the Pentagon deal.


    Vince called Marcia Kemp immediately after his conversation with Price.


    Kemp-Jacobs accepted Vince''s deal and retained their company name. However, they represented only current clients and mostly served Future Tech.


    "Vince, how are you doing?" Marcia asked over the phone.


    "I''ve been well, thank you for asking. Have your South Korean branch prepare a lawsuit against Hyundai C&E. They attempted to steal our corporate secrets and were caught red-handed. Start the suit when you hear news about the incident on tv." Vince instructed.


    "Understood, Vince. Do you need anything else?" she asked.


    "Price will get in touch with you to negotiate a deal with the Pentagon. Just a heads up. Thanks, and talk to you later." Vince stated.


    [What''s your move, Mr. Lee?] he thought before sleeping for the night.


    At the Blue House in Seoul, President Lee was drinking tea during a meeting.


    [The team should have gotten back to me already.] Mr. Lee pondered while sipping.


    A secretary entered the office and disturbed the conversation.


    "President Lee, you need to watch this." the secretary said as she turned on the meeting room''s flatscreen TV.


    South Korean news reported about the failed hacking attempt on Future Tech''s network and the alleged involvement of Hyundai C&E, including evidence in the form of confessions from the two hackers and incriminating documents for everyone to see.


    One of the men in the room, Senator Won Hyun, took the opportunity to question the President. He already knew Mr. Lee was guilty because President Obama contacted him before the meeting.


    "What''s the meaning of this, President Lee? Are you trying to dishonor your seat as President?" Won Hyun asked chidingly.


    The other members attending the meeting stood up and started leaving.


    "Where are you going? I haven''t dismissed the meeting yet." Mr. Lee declared in a harsh tone.


    "You have more things to worry about than our meeting. Goodbye." Won Hyun said as he left the meeting room.


    [What''s going on?!] Mr. Lee pondered while preparing an escape plan.


    At the Kandahar branch, a CIA operative took over the interrogation and started using his techniques on the detainees.


    The war veterans in the group were able to hold on, but the two hackers'' resolve was too brittle and confessed.


    The hackers negotiated for a plea deal. They would rat out Mr. Lee and divulge more information if they could stay out of prison.


    The CIA operative thought about it for a few minutes and consulted with Price.


    "Two of them are willing to confess and plead guilty but want out of prison. What should I offer?" the CIA operative asked Price.


    "The two hackers? I''ll hire them. With limitations and protections, of course.


    [I need more talented hackers, and these guys are professionals. I trust Anthony can set them right.] Price thought.


    The CIA operative returned to the dark cells and conveyed the offer.


    The two happily agreed, in fear of imprisonment, and spilled the beans.


    They were involved in an anonymous hacking ring that operated from the dark web. They, in particular, took contracts from politicians, business people, civilians, anyone who had money to spend and performed their services flawlessly.


    The ring had no formal name and was involved in organized crime, corporate espionage, and many other illegal activities.


    They explained that modern data network security was a joke for most hacker ring members, and it was the first time anyone got caught.


    The ring agreed never to attempt hacking into Future Tech because they employed the most sophisticated cyber defense technology globally. Still, the two were Korean hacker buddies who came across a massive contract worth $500 million and took the risk.


    The CIA operative was stunned to learn about such crucial information and decided to investigate further.


    The remaining detainees would be sent state-side for trial other than the two hackers who joined Future Security under heavy surveillance.


    Hyundai C&E was slapped with a lawsuit locally and internationally. President Obama held a press conference and publicly chastised Mr. Lee. He gave a rousing speech about defending Americans'' rights abroad and explained adapting newer ideas to confront the United States'' modern challenges.


    The public admonishment made the headline news, and local patriots went on social media to share their feelings.


    [Big yikes, dude. If you''re gonna do something like this, better not get caught.] a Redditor posted.


    [What kind of corporation has enough armed guards to secure such a backwater place like a small island?] another Redditor replied.


    [Plenty of corporations do, you idiot. Private military contractors are super typical, but they just don''t make the news often. Try searching for Constellis Group and G4S. It''s more common than you think.] another Redditor added.


    Future Tech was famous worldwide for cutting-edge technology, network communications, and manufacturing. Most people owned a Future Tech device or two and were very familiar with the brand.


    It was unusual for many to learn a company similar to Apple and AT&T was a formidable force militarily. Of course, everyday folks didn''t care much for the war in Afghanistan, but this news involved Future Tech and not Future Security.


    Corporations like Vodafone, Nippon T&T, and Deutsche Telekom AG immediately took extra precautions in securing their telecommunication stations.


    Many were concerned about two people confessing to being expert contract hackers working with a secret shadow organization.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $90 Billion cash in Future Tech


    21,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    You can read the novel online free at novelhall.com

 Chapter 53 - Future Education

    You can read the novel online free at novelhall.com


    President Obama''s speech calmed most of the populace down from the incident, but some were skeptical. Many were wondering if their data had been compromised by hackers or even the government.


    A caucasian man in his early 30s wearing glasses and semi-casual clothes watched the news broadcast on his phone. After quitting the NSA due to his political beliefs, Edward Snowden started working at Booz Allen Hamilton as an infrastructure analyst, otherwise known as a hacker.


    [The masses think they''re safe from cyber security threats but are none the wiser. Future Tech is innovative in protecting their data, and it seems that more people are learning how dangerous the internet can be.] So Snowden thought after watching the news segment.


    He gathered evidence regarding the government''s unethical data handling while working at Booz Allen Hamilton, doing the same thing at Dell a few months ago.


    His worldview was turned upside down after working for the NSA in many foreign countries. While in Japan, he was tasked to investigate mass surveillance in central Asia and found it all to be true.


    Shortly after, the United States started doing the same to Americans using the same techniques the NSA stole.


    [The moment is right. I have enough evidence already, and releasing it right now while cyber threats are a hot topic will be perfect for sending my message everywhere.] Snowden pondered.


    He started compiling all the evidence he had accrued over the past few years and bought a ticket to Hong Kong. Snowden planned to meet Glenn Greenwald, a journalist from The Guardian away from US soil.


    General Douglas called Price regarding the new deal to be ironed out.


    "Good day, Price. The President approved $50 billion from our discretionary fund to award Future Security a new contract. I''ve done some research and plan to order military spec AVs, Stingrays, 5 ASR-1s, Dragonflies, and the training for maintenance and piloting. A small number of the Colt Defense-licensed M4FT rifles for testing in SOCOM and various ammunition types. The President also requests Future Tech to upgrade our current network systems in all foreign US military bases." the General stated.


    "That can all be arranged. The training sessions will take place in our facilities around the United States. We got plenty of them after I bought Andrews International." Price replied.


    "Good to hear you''ll be able to accommodate my men. The contract is good for one year, and I expect you will hold your end of the bargain." General Douglas stated before bidding farewell.


    Price then contacted David to update him about the negotiations and called Andreas to place the expedited orders for the military.


    Price opened a communication channel, and Anthony connected.


    "Your new mission is to lead a nethunter team to upgrade network security at all foreign US military bases. I''ll assign an FS detachment for your protection and Hive Mind sets for your use," Price instructed.


    "Understood. I better get bonus pay for leaving my comfy office, Price." Anthony replied jokingly.


    "You''re already paid a million times more than you would at any information technology consulting firm, but fine, your team will get a bonus." Price yielded and ended the call.


    He talked walked out of his office to find Alexis, the sub-director for Future Education.


    He saw a pretty caucasian woman in her late 20s talking to some local Afghan children. The populace well appreciated the Future Tech training facility at Kandahar, and many men and women found an opportunity here when none could be found before.


    Future Education has been testing new teaching tools and methods for adults attempting to get Future Tech certified and children who want to learn the basics.


    FT Education bundled unreleased Future Tech products like the AI-processed real-time language translators and Mixed Reality Visors with augmented reality interactive teaching tools.


    Farukh learned to pilot aerodyne vehicles so quickly because of his involvement in testing earlier versions.


    Jessica and the software systems division implemented an operating system for the visors, while Rick and Sarah designed the user interface. The physical controls on the device were located near the temple of the head, and the visor itself employed eye-tracking.


    Kyle and Future Studios developed software tools enabling the creation of custom augmented and virtual environments with the help of Epic through a multi-million dollar partnership contract.


    Children can learn to read and write by listening to instructions through earphones and making writing gestures in the air.


    Aerodyne pilots can connect a Future Tech laptop or computer to the mixed reality visor and experience crisp quality virtual reality practice simulations and the visor even works as a HUD while piloting.


    The Kandahar training facility had plenty of mock aerodyne cockpits where students could learn while in VR.


    "How''s your work here at Kandahar going?" Price asked Alexis.


    "It''s been enjoyable teaching and helping the locals and your men. The Future Tech Mixed Reality Visor trial has been an enormous success. And the bonus was nice too." Alexis replied honestly.


    "I''m glad you''ve been thriving in your role as the point-woman of Future Education. For now, I''ll be assigning you to train US military troops and pilots to use and maintain Future Tech products. You''re currently a sub-division director and have done great work growing our training capabilities. I''ll ask Vince to promote your subdivision if you fulfill this mission within the contract year. Price instructed.


    Alexis perked up when she heard about the potential promotion.


    "Of course, director. I''ll accept this mission. Thank you!" Alexis replied joyously.


    [I have to take every chance I get. Life was rough when I became a teacher, but it all turned around after using my management degree and finding this random job in Kandahar.] Alexis pondered.


    "I have faith in you. However, you''ve only worked with Future Tech for a few months. A year is enough of a timeframe for Vince to judge Future Education''s worth. Therefore, I''ll allocate $5 billion from the contract as a budget injection for you. Don''t let Vince down."


    [That should be enough for the General''s men.] Price thought.


    Alexis was surprised to hear about money in the billions of dollars suddenly.


    "I can assure you we''ll train the troops well and create more profitable avenues for the long run," Alexis replied confidently.


    She immediately opened the corporate store and ordered enough sets of MVRs based on the outline Price had given her.


    Each aerodyne pilot in Kandahar made an average of $200 thousand annually, twice as much as the industry standard, mainly due to the higher risk of death on the battlefield.


    The FS Kandahar branch employed 80 stingrays and 80 FAV-1s. And almost all of the pilots were Afghan. So while most other countries were busy legalizing aerodyne vehicles, Kandahar locals were piloting AVs daily when patrolling and performing missions.


    Future Tech employed many other experienced and trained locals now that three months had passed since the facilities'' founding.


    The economy of Kandahar had reached an all-time height due to reasonably high wages shared by many in the community.


    American stores and franchises like Walmart that primarily served the SpaceX and Future Tech employees expanded with more branches across the city.


    Larger biospheres were in construction to grow more crops and perform further testing for the inevitable mission to the moon, providing cheap labor jobs to anyone interested in helping with Future Tech''s research.


    The energy was cheap in the region as crude oil was abundant, and Future Tech bought oil directly from the China National Petroleum Corporation, which legally mines oil in Afghanistan.


    The Kandahar branch housed a material science unit that refined fuel for use in AVs and Stingrays. Further research and development were invested in creating more efficient versions of the fuel complex and advancing jet fuel technology with SpaceX petroleum engineers.


    [This city is a considerable asset that Future Tech has invested billions in over the past few months. I''ll have to put more effort into defending the city, especially after what Ashkan had said. Maybe something like the Israeli Iron Dome defense system would be a good option. I may have to talk to Vince about it.] Price pondered while walking back to his office.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $85 Billion cash in Future Tech


    21,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    Best novel online free at novelhall.com

 Chapter 54 - Anarchy

    Last week of March 2013, Austin Headquarters Penthouse. A week after the Australian Grand Prix.


    Vince was reading updates from public news and his executives on his work laptop.


    Edward Snowden released evidence regarding the mass surveillance of all Americans on US soil soon after he arrived in Hong Kong.


    The Guardian released a news article citing Snowden''s work and described how the NSA utilized large communication companies in tracking metadata of every one of their users. Corporations like Sprint and Verizon were directly involved based on hard evidence Snowden collected throughout the years.


    US politicians went public, denouncing Edward Snowden and labeling him as a traitor. A portion of the populace was outraged to hear about the current news and lashed out against the government via social media and rallies. At first, they were already scared of the shadow criminal organization involved in hacking around the world. But now, even their own government was doing the same.


    [Protect our privacy! Uphold the constitution!] crowds chanted in front of the White House.


    President Obama already had his hands full trying to install Won Hyun as the South Korean President. And now he had to deal with civil unrest too.


    [Edward Snowden can wait. We''ll catch him eventually, but these protestors, though.] Obama pondered in his office.


    Keith Alexander, a military man currently the head of the NSA, walked into the Oval Office for a meeting.


    The General specialized in cybersecurity which landed him the job at the NSA and understood the ramifications of the Snowden leak.


    "How bad is the situation, General Alexander?" Obama asked seriously.


    "Network traffic shows growing negative sentiment about the leak. In addition, we''ve observed clients from foreign nations adding fuel to the fire and scaring more Americans." Alexander explained.


    [I bet the hacker ring is involved in this somehow. They retaliate fast.] Obama thought.


    "You''re the expert. What do you suggest we do?" Obama asked.


    "My team has spent time deliberating a strategy to limit the effect of this issue. All of our conclusions point to Future Tech. They''ve shown excellent ability in securing the Bitcoin and Bitcash network, especially after the corporate espionage attempt making the rounds in the news." Alexander explained truthfully.


    "How can they help with this issue? From what I understand, only Future Tech data traffic gets routed through their Nodes." Obama replied in confusion.


    "We need a new and trusted telecommunications provider in the United States. So let''s offer a deal to Vince Dalton publicly and watch how the masses react. Future Tech has been a model corporation for two years now, paying the highest taxes, creating thousands of high-paying jobs, and providing relief programs." Alexander explained.


    "Let''s leverage their flawless track record to turn this bad position into a good one." The General added.


    [Corporate data security is the future. I''d been planning on founding a new company called IronNet when I retire next year, though this is a great chance to transition into the private sector with Future Tech.] Alexander thought.


    "You''ve convinced me. I''ll talk to Vince Dalton after you leave." Obama said before dismissing Keith Alexander.


    The President took out his secure phone and found Vince''s comlink channel. Future Tech would route the conversation through satellites and Nodes as a standard.


    "Vince, good day. I''m not sure if you''re aware, but the United States is running into some issues regarding data security. Can you spare some time to talk about it? General Keith Alexander spoke highly of your company and suggested we work together." Obama explained.


    [I choose to pay the total 26% S-Corporation tax instead of using tax havens across Swiss and Cayman Islands bank accounts, so the government views Future Tech favorably. Companies like Amazon and FedEx avoid taxes to the point of barely paying any.] Vince pondered.


    It was well worth it, and Vince now had the opportunity to enter the public utility industry with the government''s backing.


    "Of course, Mr. President. I''d be happy to help however I can." Vince responded honestly.


    "First, I''d like to ask your opinion about the Snowden Leaks," Obama stated.


    "In all due respect, I agree with Edward Snowden''s sentiment. However, US citizens have the right to know about things such as data tracking. Even Bitcash and War Online explicitly state in our terms of service that Future Tech requires the storage and tracking of customer data." Vince explained.


    "Future Tech tracks data?" Obama asked in surprise.


    "Like many other companies and services, we track data of our consumers for their benefit, like not having to enter in long Bitcoin wallet codes every time they log in to our service," Vince explained.


    "Though we provide security services for Bitcash and War Online accounts of much better quality than our competitors," Vince added.


    "Then why are Americans so up and arms about mass surveillance?" Obama asked honestly.


    "The biggest mistake the NSA made was not disclosing the mass surveillance. But, unfortunately, the government underestimates how little people care. Consumers understand why their social media data is tracked and don''t care much as long as Facebook or Instagram is in working order." Vince explained.


    "Protestors are rallying because they weren''t made aware. Regular people have no time to ponder if Apple records their FaceTime calls. Instead, they''re busy conversing with a loved one across the world. Technology has its drawbacks, but the conveniences it brings will always prevail in the end." Vince added in detail.


    [I never really thought of it that way. Of course, I believed Snowden to be a traitor, but it seems like a patriot would be a better label.] Obama pondered in deep thought.


    "Vince, you''ve opened my mind to new ideas that I need to think over. The government will offer an internet utility deal with Future Tech soon. I''ll be in touch. Thanks for your time." Obama said before closing the audio channel.


    At the same time, the US economy became unstable due to a loss of consumer confidence; the South Korean market was crashing.


    Won Hyun led the impeachment process in kicking out President Lee from office. As a result, the Korean Won was crashing in the Foreign Exchange markets, while Future Tech Investments earned enormous sums of money by shorting.


    Local South Korean businesses associated with the Hyundai Group were scrutinized by the public, and their stock prices were falling in the stock market.


    Richard, the FT investments executive director, worked overtime with his team, capitalizing on the insider information Vince provided them.


    Suddenly, Future Tech bought plenty of Korean companies for discounted prices, such as K-POP entertainment businesses experienced in filming movies and shows.


    The mass surveillance issue was a hot topic in many different nations like Japan, the UK, South Korea, and the entirety of the European Union.


    Governments were deliberating on what to do will all the new information coming out. Some saw weakness within the United States and planned accordingly.


    President Lee was rushing around his house, trying to gather everything valuable before his escape.


    [I''m seriously fucked. The locals will tear me apart if they find me, though imprisonment is worse, I imagine.] Mr. Lee pondered.


    Lee knew he would be summoned to appear in the National Assembly soon but had no other option than running with no destination in mind. No matter how unlikely he''ll escape.


    While packing, he received a call from an unknown number on his phone.


    Mr. Lee was on his last legs and didn''t think a call from a random person would make his situation even worse.


    "Hello, this is Lee." Mr. Lee stated.


    "We know who you are, President Lee. You''ve compromised our organization by setting up the contract hackers to fail. It was your hubris that brought upon the authorities on us. The CIA and Interpol are working overtime trying to find information about our activities. You have nowhere else to go. Repay your debt to us, and you will be compensated and protected." a garbled voice spoke through the phone.


    "And what if I don''t comply?" Mr. Lee asked.


    "It''s pretty obvious what happens next. You will either be imprisoned or extradited to the US, where an even darker prison is waiting." the garbled voice replied.


    "What will you have me do?" Mr. Lee asked honestly.


    "Take all your wealth, and meet with our extraction team in Seoul. I''ll send you the details on this phone you''re using." the garbled voice explained.


    "Understood. What do I call you?" Mr. Lee asked curiously.


    "We are ANARCHY," the garbled voice proclaimed before cutting the connection.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $85 Billion cash in Future Tech


    21,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    Read novel online free fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 55 - Utility

    You can read the novel fast updates at novelhall.com


    The first week of April 2013, in an industrial complex near Seoul.


    Mr. Lee and his family carried a bag in each hand while waiting for someone to pick them up.


    A black SUV rolled up in front of a random warehouse and flashed its headlights.


    It was an agreed-upon signal, and the family entered the SUV without saying a word.


    "Where are you taking us?" Mr. Lee asked a man wearing tinted glasses sitting at the front passenger seat.


    "Our organization is active worldwide, but the boss decided to take you to the north." the mysterious man replied.


    "The north? As in North Korea?!" Mr. Lee shouted in reply as his family was frightened by what the man said.


    "You will do your part, Mr. Lee. That is the deal. Follow instructions, and you will keep your lives." the man stated in a monotonous tone.


    [Maybe imprisonment was a much better option.] Mr. Lee pondered while the vehicle left Seoul.


    Across the globe, Vince was testing a beta version of Everlife Online on his office workstation computer. He was controlling a photorealistic human character, driving around a fictional version of Miami City.


    Kyle was also playing Everlife Online right next to Vince and wanted some feedback regarding the final beta.


    "As you suggested before the development of Everlife Online, Future Studios added more employees to the video games division and is now 5,000 strong. Half of them worked on the single-player Everlife experience, and the rest are polishing the Everlife Online features and maintaining War Online." Kyle explained.


    "We also hired the Russo Brothers as you instructed last year as directors for the single-player story. In addition, Robert Downey Jr., Jennifer Lawrence, and Dwayne Johnson did excellent work in our motion capture and voice-over sessions." Kyle added.


    "The game itself looks finished. I think Future Studios should rent a large booth in E3 in June to reveal Everlife to the public." Vince replied.


    "Excellent idea, Vince! I was so busy with Everlife Online and FT VR that I forgot about those expos. I''ll have my team book a booth, for sure." Kyle replied excitedly.


    "Leave space for Future Education. I want to tease the new MVR Visor to our passionate gamer fans. They''ll go crazy after trying a demo." Vince said jokingly.


    Kyle and Vince continued playing a mini-game within Everlife for an hour before Vince had to go back to work.


    Vince received a call from Richard, the FT Investments executive director.


    He opened the secure comlink channel and accepted Richard''s call request.


    "Richard, how is the market doing?" Vince asked.


    "The South Korean economy is stabilizing, so we''ve stopped shorting the Won. FT Investments used our $20 billion in cash and turned an impressive profit of $40 billion from shorting and bought plenty of South Korean businesses, including a K-POP entertainment company." Richard explained.


    "Good work, Richard. Does the K-POP company only promote music groups?" Vince asked curiously.


    "The company owns a few popular K-POP groups but mainly produces Korean dramas for television," Richard replied.


    "Have the entertainment company continue producing whatever they were before we acquired them. Invest some cash and have them create Afghan TV shows we can air in Kandahar. Of course, they will have to recruit talented Afghan writers and actors. You can keep the cash for further investments." Vince instructed.


    "Understood, Boss," Richard said before closing the comlink channel.


    Aiya walked into Vince''s penthouse office and found him and Kyle playing Everlife.


    "Vince, President Obama is live in a press conference talking about the data security issue," Aiya stated.


    "Turn on the TV. I want to watch it." Vince instructed.


    Aiya turned on the flatscreen TV and switched the channel to FOX News.


    President Obama had a speech prepared for the press conference and started talking.


    "Good day, citizens of the United States. Sensitive information has come to light after a series of unfortunate events¡ªfirst, the corporate espionage attempt, and now the Snowden Leaks. My administration has deliberated for days now and has concluded the importance of mass surveillance in a post 9/11 society. Therefore, from this day onward, any state-sanctioned surveillance shall be disclosed publicly. In addition, all NSA facilities within Verizon, AT&T, and other telecommunications companies will retreat to NSA headquarters and operate from there."


    "The United States government will officially monitor the use of the public internet, and any citizen retains the freedom to choose whether to use the inconvenient and insecure dark web or the public network. Due to Future Tech''s contributions and achievements, the Federal Government has granted them a telecommunication utilities deal to provide secure public internet services to any citizen interested. The NSA will now require a formal process to gather user data from telecommunications companies instead of directly being involved. I hope you understand the importance of tracking online metadata, and I can assure you that none of your lives will change for the worse. The US government will strive to provide a convenient and fulfilling life to all our citizens. And lastly, we''ve decided to absolve Edward Snowden of his actions and welcome him back to the United States. Thank you all." President Obama said in his signature tone before leaving the press conference.


    [I''m surprised they absolved Snowden. However, my conversation with the President did change his views. Things turned out completely different compared to my past life.] Vince pondered.


    In China, Edward Snowden was watching the press conference in shock.


    [I succeeded?! I was so prepared to live a life on the run, but things turned out for the best. I just wanted people to know and had no intention and ability to stop the government from surveilling the masses.] So Snowden thought while booking a flight back to the United States.


    At a random lavish American home, a couple spoke to each other after watching the press conference. The husband earned a fortune by trading Bitcoin and Altcoins and was horrified to hear the insecure status of the internet.


    "Dear, I''ll opt to use Future Tech communication services for our company from now on. We''ll have to protect our data, and Future Tech has been competent enough to protect my Bitcoin and Bitcash. I''ll use their service for my Altcoins too." the husband said.


    "I think it''s for the best, honey. You''ve spent your entire life savings in trading War Online digital goods and speculating around Altcoins. I would feel much safer if you secure our information with a trusted company." the wife replied honestly.


    Similar conversations were shared across the United States, from website startups who were already using Future Tech products for full-stack development to regular consumers who just wanted peace of mind.


    In the office penthouse, Vince finished playing Everlife and focused on further business expansion.


    [I''ve spent most of my capital on telecommunications the past year. $30 billion investing in Future Tech for research, development, installation, and security culminate at this moment. If the attack weren''t thwarted, I''d be in a nightmare situation right now. I can''t slip.] So Vince pondered while doing the same thing he did before time traveling, kept busy with work.


    Billions of dollars worth of satellites, radio masts, and data access nodes began experiencing a surge of users from the United States. As a result, Future Tech had entered into the consumer telecommunications industry valued at half a trillion dollars.


    Utilities like water and electricity are highly profitable due to servicing a mass market. Likewise, Future Tech consumer products raked in plenty of cash, but there''s only a limited amount of money an average person would spend on a computer or electronic device. Network services, though, require a subscription which increases profitability in the long run.


    "Aiya, please call Hudson up to my office," Vince instructed while typing on his laptop.


    "As you say, Vince." the butler bot replied softly.


    A caucasian man in his 40s entered the room and greeted Vince.


    "How may I help, Vince?" Hudson asked courteously.


    "Who has contributed most to Future Tech NetServ in the past year? I''ll be promoting a new executive director." Vince asked.


    "One that comes to mind is a man named Azuma Tetsuo, or just Azuma. He began working at Bitcoin Market long before you bought it two years ago. Azuma specializes in physical and virtual network infrastructure and is a core member of Bitcash." Hudson explained.


    "Say no more. Bitcash was very important to our early successes, and it seems like Azuma was pivotal in his role. Promote him to executive director of Future Tech NetServ, and have him ready for expansion outside the United States." Vince instructed before dismissing Hudson.


    [Those Bitcash guys are OG like Future Studios. I can attribute my early wealth primarily to them.] Vince pondered while he was working.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $55 Billion cash in Future Tech


    26,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    Read novel fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 56 - Unique Tagging System

    You can read the novel fast updates at novelhall.com


    The US government publicly invited Edward Snowden to DC for a press conference and guaranteed his safety. In addition, the administration asked him to provide his motivations in releasing such sensitive information and his opinion regarding the current state of data security.


    A caucasian man in his late 20s stepped out of the airplane and admired his home country.


    [I never thought I''d see this again.] Snowden reflected while moving towards the arrivals terminal.


    Though he landed at LAX, the secret service was already waiting to ensure his safety and escort him to the White House.


    In an elevator going up to Vince''s office, a pretty woman in her early 30s waited for the door to open. Dr. Sera wanted to meet Vince to discuss Future Med.


    "Good to see you, Vince. I wanted to update you on the joint project I''ve been working on with Leah." Dr. Sera explained.


    "I can spare some time, doctor," Vince replied.


    "One of the Future Tech NPO programs for assisting the severely wounded US troops stationed in the middle east has been very successful. Previously, most of the soldiers had no chance, considering how little the government cared for them until our program gave them new life." Dr. Sera explained.


    "Two thousand IED victims who have lost limbs on the battlefield are now recovering with their new cybernetic replacements at Future Med Hospital. In addition, we treated another three thousand with various common health complications without issue. Future Med services are tried and tested now. I hope you''ll consider expanding the division." Dr. Sera added.


    "Your work has been excellent, doctor. You saved my mother''s life, and I will never forget. I''ll invest $10 billion for more employees, facilities, and research projects. Consult with Hudson regarding employment.


    Remember my executive order, we sell earlier version products and save the best for ourselves or when our competitors catch up." Vince declared.


    "Your orders are paramount, Vince. I''ll be using the fund injection wisely." Dr. Sera before stepping out of his office.


    National news was covering Edward Snowden''s return from Hong Kong. Supportive rallies in DC were allowed to show their collective agreement with Snowden''s actions, though violence was prohibited.


    After being escorted by the secret service, Edward arrived at the White House and met with President Obama before the press conference started.


    "I thought you''d label me as a traitor," Edward said to Obama.


    "The administration did, but an intelligent young man made me realize the folly of hiding the mass surveillance program from the public. I think of you now as a hero to the American way of life." Obama replied honestly.


    "Who could possibly sway the United States President?" Edward asked curiously.


    "I''m sure you''ve heard of him or have used his company''s many cutting-edge technologies. Vince Dalton, the CEO of Future Technologies." Obama replied.


    "The teenage warmonger?" Edward asked in surprise.


    "Future Security provides tactical and practical support in the war, but it''s only one part of his company. It would be best if you were grateful for his contribution to your absolution." Obama explained honestly.


    "Indeed," Edward said before both gentlemen proceeded to the press conference.


    Edward Snowden told his story in front of the entire United States. He was involved heavily in the mass surveillance of ordinary citizens and finally had enough when James Clapper was questioned and lied under oath about the program.


    "I had no intention in attempting to stop mass surveillance and just wanted to reveal the information to the public because everyone had the right to know." Edward declared.


    Many Americans across the nation agreed with Snowden''s sentiment. The least the government could have done was warn people about the program.


    People began feeling a sense of closure and could now move forward from this social issue.


    Riots and demonstrations calling for the termination of the mass surveillance program died down and people slowly returned to their day-to-day lives.


    [It seems the citizens are finally calming down. The idea of having Snowden address his concerns publicly was genius.] Obama pondered.


    A young man was busy outlining project directions for Future Tech''s many major and minor divisions at the penthouse office. On the wall was a TV playing the live news coverage from the White House.


    Vince watched the press conference and called Aiya into his penthouse office.


    "How can I help?" Aiya asked.


    "Contact the White House and have them extend an invitation to Edward Snowden. I want to recruit him for NetServ''s upcoming project." Vince instructed.


    "Oh yeah, and summon Anthony and Azuma for a quick meeting. Thanks, Aiya." Vince added.


    "Understood," Aiya replied politely before performing her task.


    A few minutes later, two executive directors walked into Vince''s office.


    One was a young Japanese man in his mid-20s wearing a sleek business suit, and the other was a Filipino-American man in his early-30s dressed in comfortable Future Couture cold-weather attire.


    [It does get pretty cold in the server node rooms.] So Vince thought as he sat on the sofa.


    "It''s an honor to meet with you directly, Vince. First, I want to offer my gratitude for the promotion, Sir." Azuma declared while bowing.


    "Call me Vince. You deserve the executive director position. The Bitcash network has yet to fail, and you''ve been instrumental in that achievement." Vince stated unreservedly.


    "And you, Anthony, have surprised me with a dangerously effective new piece of technology, the Network Creepers if I recall correctly," Vince added.


    "Thank you for appreciating my work. The Future Security-Cyber division has treated me well, and I think of it as a family now." Anthony replied honestly.


    "Future Tech does its best to provide for our loyal contributors; I''ve made sure of it. I want to discuss a subject related to your new invention." Vince stated sincerely.


    "The public internet is becoming more and more dangerous. Future Tech data is secure in your hands, Anthony, but not all network data receives the same treatment."


    "Now that NetServ provides satellite and fiber optic internet services, I''d like to add more security measures to protect consumer and commercial data."


    "My idea is to embed unique identifiers within any form of media. Pictures, videos, documents, or whatever is shared and accessed across our telecommunications channels."


    "The public will be given an option to check which personal unique identifier downloads or distributes a piece of content. For example, some Scandinavian countries allow locals to check how much money their neighbor makes in a year because it''s all public information. Still, the target individual receives a notice of anyone who requests their tax income data."


    "The system is a give and take of information. We can protect the unsolicited spread of personal pictures or videos and extend this feature to companies to counteract online piracy."


    "If a person downloads a pirated copy of a movie, without a legitimate purchase identifier, the software won''t run, and the pirate''s identifier will be investigated and banned from accessing certain areas of our portion of the internet," Vince explained thoroughly.


    "Won''t people think these unique tags are encroaching on their rights?" Anthony asked curiously.


    "They have no choice. And besides, NetServ will only store all the tagging data for a month and be available to all users, though government agencies will have to request tagging data of citizens formally."


    "This project is quite radical, but I can see the positives. The unique tags will make the management of sensitive data much more effortless. We can use the tagging history to pinpoint where an intrusion is originating from, though this will affect the Network Creeper''s performance." Anthony replied.


    "That is precisely the point. Only we own technology like the Network Creepers, but it won''t be forever. The unique tagging system provides our clients with a sense of peace and mind when threatening cyber technology becomes more prevalent." Vince expounded.


    "You are wise to think so far ahead, Vince. I''ll work together with Azuma to complete this new project smoothly." Anthony remarked.


    "We will not fail you, Vince," Azuma added.


    "I''ll be recruiting a new employee for NetServ, hopefully in a few days. Keep doing good work; you guys will be getting enormous pay raises next year, I''m sure." Vince speculated before dismissing them both from his office.


    At the guest wing of the White House, Edward Snowden was enjoying his life as a hero instead of what he initially thought would be a life on the run.


    He heard a knock from his door and opened it to find Obama''s secretary holding a phone.


    "Good day, Mr. Snowden. A representative from Future Tech is on the line wanting to speak with you." Maria explained before handing over the phone.


    "Hello, Edward. My name is Hudson, the chief operations manager for Future Technologies. I want to extend an invitation for you to visit Future Tech headquarters and discuss an open position at NetServ." Hudson stated.


    [I''ll be working in the private sector now, anyway. It won''t hurt hearing Future Tech out before making my decision.] Snowden thought.


    "Thank you, Hudson. I gladly accept the invitation." he declared.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $45 Billion cash in Future Tech


    26,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    Read novel fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 57 - Advantages Of Cybernetics

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    The second week of April 2013, the still air had dried up all the moisture in one of Austin''s busy streets. A loud humming noise disturbed the already bustling city sounds as turbofan engines soared through the urban landscape.


    The roaring sounds from the engines began to weaken as Vince''s private AV landed on a reserved parking space.


    The many corporate responsibilities drowning Future Tech executives had also weighed heavily upon a young man in his teens.


    Vince Dalton then entered a large building and smelled sweat from the hard work the Fury Fighting Gym members dedicated to their craft.


    [Training here once every day when I''m in town is the best escape from the piles of documents in my inbox.] Vince thought.


    [Wherever I go, strangers treat me like a prince and shower me with praises. Though, It''s the fame and money most of them desire.]


    [Here at Tom''s gym, everybody acts chill to each other, no matter who you were. Wealth and power weren''t concepts my 23-year-old self thought about much. Instead, I usually faced the work and learning grind, and I feel the same way on the gym''s fighting mats.] Vince pondered.


    Two FS operators wearing brown belts around their traditional jiu-jitsu attire escorted Vince during his daily training session while the rest secured the gym''s perimeter.


    Vince could hear a metallic clanging noise as an Italian-American man in his late 20s approached him.


    "Marco, are you attending the BJJ class this morning?" Vince asked.


    "Of course. I''ll need to get through my physical rehab before rejoining Price''s detachment in Kandahar." Marco replied.


    "You''ve served FS well; there''s no need to put yourself at risk again," Vince stated honestly.


    "I''m a soldier, Vince. Fighting is what I do, and I won''t let a metal leg keep me from doing that." Marco replied.


    [Future Tech did everything it could and gave me a second chance. Unlike my brethren suffering every day from PTSD, yet aren''t given proper treatment by the military.] Marco pondered.


    "You''re one of the good guys, Marco. I hope your new top-of-the-line cybernetic leg serves you well." Vince stated sincerely.


    "It serves me too well, sometimes. The other members here think my butterfly guard is impossible to pass based on my new leg''s strength." Marco jokingly said.


    "My butterfly and closed-guards need a bit more refining. Do you mind being my sparring partner for this session?" Vince asked.


    "It''s my pleasure to help with your training, Vince. Let''s get ready before the session starts." Marco replied while walking towards one of the training areas.


    The group of four arrived at the BJJ mats room and bowed before entering.


    Each member gave Vince a simple nod as a greeting when they watched the group arrive.


    Vince found a good friend among the crowd. A young yet large man built like a tank.


    "Hey, Tom. I didn''t know you were back from Las Vegas. How was your last match? Sorry, I''ve been too busy with work lately and haven''t watched your recent fights." Vince stated.


    "It''s been quite a while, Vince. My last fight was a brawl and went the distance; fortunately, I won unanimously by decision. Those UFC guys are the real deal." Tom declared.


    "Congratulations, Tom. Don''t worry too much about the veteran fighters. You''re only 18 and undefeated. I bet there''s so much more you can learn before becoming champion." Vince stated reassuringly.


    "Thanks, Vince. I owe you for starting my fighting career. My wins are your wins, as far as I''m concerned. Do you have a sparring partner already? I want to see how good at grappling you''ve gotten since the last time we trained together." Tom asked.


    "Marco here will be sparring with me, but I''ll go a few rounds with Austin''s pride himself," Vince said jokingly.


    "That''s so embarrassing, Vince. Would you please stop calling me Austin''s pride? It makes me awkward." Tom replied.


    Their conversation abruptly ended as the instructor, Mr. Fury, walked through the door.


    "Good to see everyone present for this training session. Partner up, and let''s perform some drills, then we''ll be sparring afterward." Mr. Fury declared in a stern tone.


    Some of the newer students suffered from exhaustion and fatigue from the drills but pushed through it forcibly. It was the same for Vince when he started training, and it was a natural process.


    The atmosphere changed as the sparring session started. First, the students formed up and were driven by competitiveness, then the bell rang.


    Vince started his sparring session by attempting a double-leg takedown. The same move he used while defending himself from the contract killer almost two years ago.


    His actions were much smoother than in the past, but Marco stood his ground and sprawled in defense.


    Vince gave up the attempt, as the risk of finishing the move wasn''t worth compromising his position.


    He sat down on his butt and started to fight in guard. Marco followed and worked his way through Vince''s legs to pass his guard.


    Ding! The bell rang, signifying the conclusion of a five-minute spar, giving students some time to rest.


    "You''re guard-play is evolving, Vince. Only a few people in the gym can stop my guard-pass attempts for five minutes." Marco stated.


    "Marco, stop going easy on me. I want to feel how much your cybernetic leg improves your techniques." Vince replied.


    "Alright then. You can try to pass my guard, and I''ll only focus on defense." Marco stated.


    The next sparring round began as everyone took their positions on the mat.


    Marco immediately sat down and employed his butterfly guard. Next, Vince tried a bullfighter pass and failed as Marco caught his legs, forcing him to the ground instead.


    Marco was practically toying with Vince, lifting his entire body with just both his real leg and cybernetic leg. It looked effortless, and Marco didn''t even break a sweat.


    Before the five minutes was up, Vince tapped from a triangle choke.


    "There''s no point trying to grapple when you have such a powerful leg. I see why the others think it''s cheating." Vince stated.


    Tom overheard their conversation while resting and interjected.


    "It is cheating, Vince. You can give an amateur a cybernetic implant, and they''ll surely win against even the best UFC fighters." Tom stated.


    "I agree. Though it''s a fake leg, it''s leagues better than my old one. I''ve been training hard to use my military-grade cybernetic implants to their full potential, but not on other people, of course." Marco stated.


    "Marco, you''re the first-ever person allowed to use these cybernetics. I hope you''d assist other veterans going through the same procedure. Based on your experience, I think you''re the perfect candidate for a position in FS in leading other cybernetically-enhanced operators." Vince said.


    "That sounds like a lot of responsibility, but I accept. Those people deserve our support, and I''ll gladly provide whatever help they need." Marco replied sincerely.


    "I appreciate it, Marco. You''ll receive the promotion once you''ve passed the rehab phase of your treatment." Vince declared.


    Vince rolled with Tom and Marco during the next few rounds and was sweating bullets after the training session.


    Mr. Fury gathered the class in the middle of the mats.


    "Everyone, we''ve been training with Vince for almost two years now. The higher-ranked members have noticed his effort and determination in this martial path. Though he''s helped the gym in many ways, it''s not why I''m promoting him. I believe he has the potential to get even better. So I congratulate Vince Dalton for his blue-belt promotion!" Mr. Fury declared.


    "Good job, Vince." "Keep up the good work." the other members said while Mr. Fury handed Vince his new belt.


    "Thank you, Mr. Fury, and thanks, everyone. This gym means a lot to me. I learned how to defend myself here, and this is Future Security''s home. I promise to live up to everyone''s expectations." Vince stated sincerely.


    Tom nudged him and said, "Nice! I''ll be able to teach you some of the riskier techniques now that you''re a blue belt."


    [Billions of dollars can''t beat this sense of fulfillment.] Vince pondered while he bowed in front of everyone.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $45 Billion cash in Future Tech


    26,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i.e., Instagram)


    Read novel online free fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 58 - Enigma

    Best novel online free at novelhall.com


    Mid-April 2013, the low air pressure above the clouds surrounded a helicopter and its accompanying UAV escort. Mr. Lee and his family sat in their seats uncomfortably. The helicopter provided luxurious amenities, but it was the sense of unknowing and confusion that unnerved them.


    The strange and mysterious men who brought them from Seoul never answered any questions about why they had to go to North Korea, of all places.


    The air pressure began to rise as their vehicle landed within a remote helipad among the blooming cherry blossom forest. Then, finally, the platform started to move and lowered itself underground.


    Mr. Lee felt relieved to see the men in black didn''t send them to Pyongyang.


    He walked out of the helicopter and was amazed to see a massive underground facility. His family followed and stared in awe, watching manufacturing drones, engineers, and armed security working around the area.


    "Is that an aerodyne vehicle?!" Mr. Lee asked in surprise after observing an SUV-sized vehicle hovering towards the helipad.


    "We''re not here to answer your questions. My companion here will show your family to the living quarters. After that, I''ll be taking you to meet someone." the man in the black combat suit stated.


    Mr. Lee walked through the facilities'' corridor following the mysterious man until arriving in front of a heavily defended area.


    The door leading into a lavish office opened for them to enter. A beautiful woman greeted Mr. Lee.


    "President Lee, welcome to our North Korea facility. You''re pretty lucky to meet the boss directly. He''s always in the European branches these days." the woman stated.


    She led Mr. Lee deeper into the office and met a caucasian man in his mid-30s. A sleek Future Couture-Esque business suit accentuated his regal demeanor.


    "Mr. Lee, I''m glad you made it here in one piece. I heard Senator Won Hyun petitioning for your immediate arrest. But before we begin this little interview, hand over all of Hyundai C&E''s crucial data. We both know you''re only valuable because of the information you have. I will remember your sincerity." the man said in a devilish tone.


    [I can''t mess with these guys. Especially now that my family is practically prisoners.] So Mr. Lee thought while reaching for a secure hard drive in his pocket.


    "Do you have a computer somewhere? The drive requires a master key to be unlocked." Mr. Lee asked.


    "Of course, You can use a laptop." the man replied as his secretary brought in a modified and unusual-looking computer.


    Mr. Lee plugged in the drive and typed in his master key.


    "You''re smart enough to comply without further persuasion. You have my gratitude. Hyundai C&E employed some data security strategies that made it a bit of a hassle to hack, but it''s no issue now. I''ll let you ask your questions, and I will answer as best as I can." the man declared.


    "Who are you? What is this place? Why did you take us here?" Mr. Lee asked as he jumped on the opportunity to get some explanations.


    "My name isn''t essential, but most people call me Enigma within the organization. I''m the fifth leader of Digital Anarchy or just Anarchy. This place is our North Korea facility, a significant branch servicing East Asia."


    "You''ve never heard of us, but for a good reason. Our roots trace back to the earliest hackers in the 70''s when the first Engima made his fortune by stealing research data from many US and European universities."


    "You will be working for Anarchy from now on. Unfortunately, like many of our employees, you and your family are now presumed dead and have no public identities." Enigma stated plainly.


    "Why are you telling me all of this? I assume your organization keeps secrets." Mr. Lee asked in confusion.


    "We do keep secrets, of course. But I feel like I can be candid with a person in such a sensitive position as you are. So unless you want your family to suffer for your mistakes, I suggest compliance." Engima said with a smile.


    Mr. Lee started sweating profusely after being threatened in such a casual way.


    "What would you have me do, Enigma?" Mr. Lee asked.


    "The organization requires engineering guidance for a current customer order. Anarchy''s old-time client, Kim Jong-un, has been satisfied with our long-term partnership with his family but is now in dire need of more weapons. Therefore, you will be joining the engineering team in designing and manufacturing nuclear ballistic missile systems and updating our construction process." Enigma replied.


    "You want me to make weapons for the enemy?!" Mr. Lee asked in surprise and anger.


    "North Korea is your enemy no longer. Always remember that you don''t have a choice anyway. You can try to escape with your family, but it will end disastrously, I assure you." So Enigma stated as a matter of fact.


    Mr. Lee chose to move on to a different topic fearing for his family''s life.


    "If you don''t mind me asking, Enigma. How do you have manufacturing drones and aerodyne technology? Future Tech protects their assets like an overbearing father." Mr. Lee asked curiously.


    "You''re correct in this assumption. But, unfortunately, there has never been a private company of Anarchy''s 40 years of history we couldn''t hack. Though we do have workarounds." Enigma explained.


    "The Scandinavia branch was able to steal the first generation Hive Mind schematics from a Koenigsegg executives'' inbox before most of their security measures were in place two years ago. The aerodyne design is the one licensed by Future Tech to Ford for commercial use. The schematic only contained the most basic turbofan engine design, but it''s a good start. We had a Ford employee steal the information in an inside job." Enigma explained truthfully.


    "How does Anarchy have so many agents to do your bidding?" Mr. Lee asked.


    "Most of our members don''t even know they''re part of Anarchy. The Ford employee sold his insider information on the black market. Hacker groups like Anonymous think their hot stuff, but most don''t realize Anarchy is just controlling them from the background. They''re happy to provide cybercrime services, and network servers in exchange for specialized equipment only Anarchy can provide."


    "The two talented Korean hackers who were detained and confessed to Anarchy''s existence is a stain in our glorious history. They will be dealt with soon enough." Enigma declared.


    Mr. Lee sat on the sofa with a blank face. His mind was trying to process all the information Enigma courteously shared.


    [What have I gotten myself into?!] Mr. Lee pondered while drinking the served tea.


    "The organization has plans¡ªbig plans to secure our monopoly in selling valuable information to the rich and powerful. Our biggest obstacle right now is Future Tech, and there will be a time of reckoning, but for now, do your task well, and you''ll be rewarded in kind."


    "Go and share what you''ve learned with your family. You will live a new life now, a life with more meaning." Enigma instructed before his secretary joined Mr. Lee in leaving his office.


    A man in a black combat suit entered the office after a few minutes.


    "Enigma, the commercial aerodyne vehicle is working as intended. The information provided by the Ford employee checked out, though the design cost $10 million." the man in black stated.


    "That''s great to hear. Unfortunately, most of the black market dealers who aren''t associated with Anarchy are usually inept and useless. We got lucky in this regard, though I''m not too fond of loose ends. I think the usual is fine."


    "I changed my mind. You can do a car accident for now. Anarchy has to lie low before we can match up with our enemies." Enigma instructed.


    "Your will is my command, Enigma." the man said before leaving the office.


    [Finally, Anarchy has an enemy who''s worth our time and effort.] So Enigma pondered while working on upgrading Anarchy''s manufacturing drones.


    A few hours later, at a random highway in Michigan, a man was driving to the Ford Motor Company offices.


    [I can''t believe it. I''m so rich now. What should I do with $10 million? I don''t want to go back to work, but it would be suspicious if I didn''t.] the Ford employee thought while behind the wheel.


    He was too enraptured in the thought of being rich and didn''t realize the car''s ECU was acting weird. Gasoline slowly leaked out of the gas tank while the car''s computer emptied the brake fluid.


    The moment the man turned toward the highway exit, he couldn''t slow down enough and crashed into the concrete barrier. He survived the head-on collision but was engulfed in flames from all the gasoline spread around the car.


    The fire department arrived 10 minutes later to find a scorched vehicle and a man burnt to crisp.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $45 Billion cash in Future Tech


    26,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    You can read the novel fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 59 - Recruitment

    A clear blue sky glowed above the City of Austin a day after Vince''s belt promotion.


    Edward Snowden had just landed at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on one of Future Tech''s Dreamliners. Hudson extended the best hospitality for Snowden''s visit, including an armed FS squad escort.


    Instead of the usual armored black SUVs, One mil-spec Stingray and a civilian AV were waiting and ready to transport Snowden directly to the Future Tech Headquarters.


    A man in his early 40''s wearing a Future Couture business suit was waiting to welcome the company''s guest.


    "Edward, thank you for accepting our invitation. How was the flight from DC?" Hudson asked.


    "The Dreamliner made the flight feel like a hotel in the sky and was quite pleasant, unlike my international flight from Hong Kong to DC a week ago," Snowden replied.


    "Good to hear. We''ll be taking a company CAV from here. Hop on." Hudson instructed as he entered the hover vehicle.


    The civilian AV or CAV is the first commercial version of the turbofan aerodyne vehicles manufactured by Future Tech.


    It was smaller and less armored than the military-oriented FAV-1 but was more agile, quicker and featured luxurious comforts like better seats and an exquisite exterior/interior design.


    A Future Tech CAV with all the bells and whistles cost around $4 million each, significantly cheaper than the upcoming Koenigsegg Flyga, an exotic/hyper AV costing around $7 million.


    [Even though I''ve seen these flying vehicles on TV before, it''s still surreal hovering around the busy city streets in one of them.] So Snowden pondered while the CAV and Stingray approached Future Tech Headquarters.


    They were hovering higher than most skyscrapers, which gave the passengers a bird''s eye view of the Austin Metropolis.


    Edward stared in awe after seeing the massive technology campus complex located 30 miles away from the city center.


    He watched autonomous drones patrolling the district, an AI-driven public transportation system, and the large manufacturing and research complexes scattered around.


    [This is the most futuristic thing I''ve ever seen. Even the supercomputer buildings in Japan aren''t as impressive as that city in and of itself.] So Edward thought.


    "How many people work at the Future Tech campus?" Edward asked curiously.


    "As the head of corporate staff, I''m the best person to ask about this topic," Hudson stated confidently.


    "After two years of construction and expansion, the campus currently employs a little over 50,000 people of varying skill and specialty who are primarily working with Hive Mind manufacturing and some of the less sensitive research projects. The rest of the crucial corporate staff of 25,000 people work at the downtown headquarters and its surrounding buildings."


    "Future Tech employs over 30,000 people across the different branches within the United States and foreign nations like Afghanistan and South Korea. Future Tech has a little over 105,000 employees right now and is still growing. I didn''t count the Future Security operators because Price is in charge of the military workforce." Hudson explained proudly.


    "Your company was crazy to expand so fast since its inception two years ago. Is Vince Dalton truly such an extraordinary genius?" Edward asked.


    "Vince is a smart kid; that indeed is true. But the reason for his success is because of his foresight and willingness to rely on his staff. He understands that even though he''s a prodigy in network architecture and systems programming, he''s only one person, and teamwork builds success."


    "Vince is always optimistic and glad to help anyone who has potential. He keeps his employees happy by investing all of his cash into projects, programs, and funds. None of our researchers feel like they can achieve the same success working for different companies." Hudson replied.


    "I''ve heard stories of Vince''s first business ventures in mobile games. I would have never thought he''d be a technological pioneer of his generation." Snowden stated.


    [Though his involvement in the Afghanistan War is unfortunate, it seems like Vince gives more life and prosperity to everyone around him. Maybe he isn''t as bad as I first thought.] Snowden pondered.


    "Speaking of his mobile game business. The first people who started working for Vince were his four school friends. All of them are currently high-ranking employees at Future Tech. Vince mentored and directed them on their development path before the release of War Online."


    "On a side note, Vince sponsored and endorsed Tom Fury, one of his school seniors, who''ll be surely fighting for the UFC championship next year. He even gave a local Austinian named Randall Stevens a seat in the fastest Formula 1 car on the 2013 grid."


    "Vince loves supporting his friends, employees, and strangers with as much as he can, so please think carefully about this job opportunity during the meeting," Hudson asked sincerely.


    "Of course, Hudson. Especially considering how well Future Tech has treated me since leaving DC." Snowden replied honestly.


    The CAV and Stingray escort both landed on the headquarters helipad a few minutes later.


    Aiya was waiting for their arrival and welcomed Edward to Future Tech.


    "I hope you had a pleasant trip, Mr. Snowden. My name is Aiya. Please follow me to Vince''s penthouse." The butler bot stated.


    [WTF?! It''s a talking humanoid robot.] Snowden thought in surprise.


    "Thank you for having me. May I know what exactly you''re supposed to be?" Snowden asked.


    "I am Vince''s butler bot, the first and only artificial general intelligent android. Further information is classified, unfortunately. Most people don''t realize I''m not human, but you have a sharper eye than most." Aiya replied politely.


    "Thank you for your honesty, Aiya. Please lead the way." Edward stated.


    Hudson, Edward, and Aiya walked through the futuristic corridors within the headquarters and reached the penthouse entrance.


    A young 15-year-old CEO and a Japanese executive director were waiting in the living room.


    "Mr. Snowden, I hope you''ve been treated well. Take a seat." Vince said while shaking Edwards''s hand.


    "This gentleman right here is Azuma, the head of NetServ," Vince stated.


    They both greeted each other politely and sat back down on the sofas.


    "This is quite an impressive headquarters, Mr. Dalton," Edward stated while Aiya served tea and snacks on the table.


    "Please, call me Vince. Thank you, I do get that comment a lot these days." Vince replied sincerely.


    "Call me Edward then. But, first, I''d like to thank you for persuading the President to absolve me for what I did." Snowden stated honestly.


    "Don''t mention it. I agree with your actions because civilians deserve to know the truth. Corporations mine consumer data every second, but we still have to conform to government standards." Vince stated.


    "Thank you, nonetheless. I thought I''d be living in a remote forest for the rest of my life and instead become someone who made a difference in the world." Edward stated.


    "You can continue making a difference here, at Future Tech. We treat our staff well, and I have a perfect NetServ project that requires your expertise. How much of an annual salary would a man of your talents be?" Vince asked.


    [Is this kid handing over a blank cheque to me? Does he think that money can buy anything?] Edward thought.


    "$500 thousand a year," Edward stated plainly.


    "I sincerely offer you a program director position at Future Tech NetServ for an annual starting salary of $1 million. The paperwork is ready whenever you are." Vince replied.


    [Starting at $1 million?! It does sound like he values my skills and experience. Well, Future Tech will be better than any other company, anyway.] Edward pondered.


    "Before I answer, I''d like to ask why you''re going to such lengths just for hiring me," Edward asked curiously.


    "Honestly, your story reminds me of my life in a way. You were talented as a young man and slowly climbed the ranks of the NSA, using security clearance access provided by your parents. Then, unfortunately, you swam too deep and had to make a life-changing decision and stick to it."


    "People praise me due to my success, but I find myself drowning in corporate affairs every day. I''m lucky enough to be able to entrust duties to capable and responsible people, but sadly, you didn''t have that luxury."


    "I want to allow you to work in our environment, one that supports each member in achieving greatness," Vince explained.


    "I can see how you persuaded President Obama. Do you give compelling speeches like this all the time?" Edward asked jokingly.


    "I take your answer as a yes, then. Aiya, please prepare the contract." Vince said before drinking his tea.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $45 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, SpaceX)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    Best novel online free at novelhall.com

 Chapter 60 - Augmented Cyberspace

    "What is this mysterious NetServ project you want me to work on?" Edward asked.


    "Augmented Cyberspace. I''ve worked on this concept with many Future Tech divisions, sub-divisions, and even a company partner, Epic Games."


    "You''ll be working under Azuma in refining this new way of interacting with data and network traffic. 2013 is a massive year for Future Tech because of the plethora of new software and hardware we''ll be selling in Q3 of this year."


    "One of the devices we''ll be publicly announcing at E3 is the Hypervisor," Vince said while Aiya brought in a laptop and a device the size of a headband.


    "The Hypervisor is the latest generation MVR visor developed and tested at Kandahar for education and training purposes. Future Tech has added many features since the start of the MVR program a year ago. Still, you''ll be focusing on a classified project developing the Augmented Cyberspace application with NetServ." Vince explained.


    "I vaguely understand what you''re saying, but I''ll do my best, whatever it may be," Edward replied proudly.


    "Don''t worry. NetServ already has a demo for reference. Wear the Hypervisor over your eyes, and you''ll understand." Vince instructed.


    Edward wore the device over his face and expected to see pitch darkness but was surprised to see his surroundings vividly.


    "There''s a small high-resolution camera that provides the user with clear peripheral vision and light-compensation to see in the dark. Those features don''t matter too much, so let''s move on to activating the ACS demonstration. Move your hands in your field of view, and the operating system interface should show one application available for use." Vince explained.


    Edward did just that, and a context menu appeared clearly in front of his view.


    "Amazing! I''ve never heard of an Augmented Reality device capable of this much detail and graphical fidelity." Edward said out loud.


    "The AR mode of the Hypervisor is the least demanding video mode, not requiring any extra hardware, unlike the VR mode, which does," Azuma interjected.


    "Now tap the program thumbnail you see in the middle of your field of view, and it should turn on ACS," Vince instructed.


    The moment Edward enabled ACS mode, his surroundings suddenly changed and showed network traffic around the room visually and in real-time via colored dots and lines.


    "What you''re seeing is data flow around a radius of 100 meters, which is the current limit. The new project aims to visualize all network and data traffic within NetServ using unique tags to categorize different data types. You will also see any network intrusions and violations at a glance instead of trying to find a needle in a haystack." Vince explained.


    "This technology is already advanced and working; what do you need me for?" Edward asked.


    "You''ll be working with Azuma in creating the ACS highways connecting traditional telecommunications systems like fiber optic, satellite, and cellular, in conjunction with proprietary NetServ network services. Unfortunately, one hundred meters is too small for my nethunters in Future Security. The ACS will eventually enable our nethunters to patrol cyberspace for dangerous unique tags without a range limit." Vince stated.


    "Network infrastructure is my forte. I can already imagine the possibilities of the ACS, Vince. So I''m on board 100%." Edward replied enthusiastically.


    "I''m glad to hear it. You''ll be working closely with Azuma and the FS nethunter director, Anthony. Feel free to choose any home near the area, and we''ll pay for your move. Future Tech recently started providing apartments and houses if you prefer." Vince explained.


    [The Hyundai C&E trade secrets worked like a charm. Now, construction projects are a joke to Andreas and the Hive Mind division.] Vince pondered.


    "I''ll take a Future Tech-house, then. I''m excited to see what kind of features it comes with." Edward replied jokingly.


    "You can continue the day discussing how to use the new Future Tech API and ideas in updating the ACS with Azuma. Welcome to the family." Vince declared before shaking Edward''s hand.


    Azuma and Edward left the penthouse living room and headed to the NetServ building across the street.


    Vince was busy working with Future Studios for the final touches to release their first triple-a game, Everlife, and its online component. He instructed Future Studios to continue debugging for two more months to ensure a smooth and bug-free experience.


    Vince received a comlink request from Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Epic Games, a long-term partner of Future Tech.


    "Tim, what a surprise. I barely see you at our weekly meetings. It''s been a while." Vince said over the comlink channel.


    "You know how busy I was in updating the Unreal Engine the past two years. And whenever I do work with Future Tech, It''s mainly with Kyle, Jessica, Rick, Sarah, and the rest of Future Studios. So where have you been all this time?" Tim jokingly asked.


    "Alright. You win this time. What did you call me for?" Vince stated.


    "Have you tested the latest stable version of Unreal Engine? All of the technologies we''ve developed together, like FT Physics Simulation and Global Illumination for the engine, are practically finished. Except for that Augmented Cyberspace thing you wanted so much to include." Tim Sweeney explained.


    "The ACS program is in good hands now. It shouldn''t be long until it''s in working condition." Vince replied.


    "Nonetheless, this new version of Unreal Engine is a milestone achievement! Without FT AI and FT Micro Devices, I would have needed to sell half of my company to Tencent this year. Thank you for your continued financial and engineering support!" Tim said.


    [I was ready to sell half of Epic to Vince based on how quick our progress was, but I wonder why he never asked to buy us out.] Tim pondered.


    "Don''t mention it, Tim. Even though we''ve never met in person, you and your company have helped Future Tech since the start of War Online''s development. Likewise, my company and friends wouldn''t have flourished without Epic Games." Vince stated sincerely.


    "Vince, you''ve spent $5 billion on our Unreal Engine collaboration just in the past year. That''s enough money to buy Epic Games five times over." Tim replied.


    "Yes, but think about all of our physicists, engineers, software developers, designers, and more who were able to hone their craft during this project. I spend money to nurture technology and ourselves. There''s no better way to burn cash than this." Vince replied honestly.


    "That is indeed true. I''ve heard from Elon that SpaceX and Tesla significantly optimized their designing pipeline using the new Unreal Engine feature set. Even your friends have grown to become talented developers and artists in their own right." Mr. Sweeney stated.


    "When will you publically unveil Epic''s new game engine?" Vince asked.


    "During E3 in June, of course. I can''t announce the new engine without Future Tech, and I heard you paid a hefty $20 million for a Future Tech booth. I expect nothing less, considering you''d be unveiling a game console, the Hypervisor, and Everlife." Tim said.


    "Most of our executive directors have been busy the past year in preparation for our 2013 product line-up. However, those three are just the tip of the iceberg. The new Unreal Engine is designed explicitly for Future Tech components, which we''ll sell in Q3 of this year." Vince explained.


    "You got me excited all of a sudden, Vince. I''ll wait until your E3 presentation, then. But in the meantime, Epic Games will finish developing the Future Education modules and user documentation. And ask Kyle to update me on Everlife''s final production phase." Tim said before bidding farewell.


    Vince instructed Aiya to have Kyle meet him at his office within the hour.


    Kyle arrived fifteen minutes later and sat down on one of the comfortable sofas.


    "Tim is asking when Future Studios will be through the final production phase of Everlife and online mode. I think he''s willing to share Epic devs if we need the help." Vince stated.


    "Without work crunch, the debugging and optimization will be finished by the end of May. Though we have 10,000 of our 15,000 game devs working on this project, Everlife single-player is still an enormous and ambitious video game. I''ll welcome any assistance Tim can provide. If I learned anything from him in the past years, a successful product is a team effort." Kyle replied.


    "I''m glad you learned at least one thing from spending time training with the Epic Games developers. Future Studios will release the game on June 15, with an early E3 demo in our booth from June 11 to 13. I trust your timeframe estimation, but please don''t overwork the devs even if we have to delay the release." Vince instructed.


    "Don''t worry, Vince; We don''t do that to family. Everyone is so proud of their work this time around. War Online was a massive success in the competitive and casual gaming industry, but Everlife is our first triple-a game. Even the new GTA 5 or The Last of Us doesn''t look half as visually appealing as our game." Kyle said with jittery excitement.


    "Good. As the technical director of Future Studios, you''ll be presenting Everlife and the new Unreal Engine with Tim Sweeney at our E3 press conference. You''ve earned it." Vince instructed.


    "Really? I don''t know if I can pull it off without a hitch, but I''ll do my best!" Kyle replied honestly.


    [That''s the mentality I respect the most.] So Vince thought while joking around with his friend.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $40 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, SpaceX)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i.e., Instagram)


    Read novel online free fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 61 - Catching Up

    Best novel online free at novelhall.com


    At the penthouse office, Vince and Kyle discussed Future Studio''s next steps after Everlife.


    "I''ll have to draft an outline for a new game project for Future Studios to work on after Everlife''s release. Do you have any suggestions in mind?" Kyle asked before sipping a cold beverage Aiya recently served.


    "Now that we''ll be selling the Hypervisor commercially, I recommended developing virtual experiences using the newest version of Unreal Engine. We created Everlife to be compatible with current-generation devices, but AR and VR would be the obvious next step with our new games." Vince replied.


    "True. We have more tools in our arsenal now. Traditional video games are fun, but an entirely virtual experience is in a different league¡ªtoo bad the FDA hasn''t approved Dr. Sera''s deep-dive system yet." Kyle stated.


    "Don''t worry. The current version of Unreal Engine is fully compatible with the deep-dive system, so you can still start creating an outline for the new game in the meantime." Vince replied.


    "While you''re here, let me call the others for their E3 presentation assignments. We haven''t been in the same room in quite a while." Vince added.


    "Aiya, please call Jessica, Rick, and Sarah to my office for a meeting. Kyle and I will be playing a bit of Everlife while waiting. No rush." Vince instructed over a private comlink channel.


    "Understood," Aiya replied.


    The blonde twins arrived at Vince''s office after thirty minutes, during which both he and Kyle were ''testing'' their new game.


    "Hey, I see you guys are playing the latest and greatest of Future Studios. Did Everlife meet your expectations?" Rick asked while finding a comfortable sofa to sit on.


    "The photorealistic aesthetic and graphical fidelity are far better than our previous work in War Online. People will go crazy after playing Everlife. How''s work been going?" Vince asked.


    "We''ve been focusing on the Hypervisor''s Augmented Reality mode and the cyberspace module. It''s so trippy trying to visualize data traffic in 3D. Kind of like that movie, Tron." Sarah interjected.


    "When do you guys think the graphical user interface for both the AR and VR functionality in the Hypervisor be ready for sale?" Kyle asked curiously.


    "The Infinity Operating System GUI is in the refining phase and should take a month at most until market readiness. OS versions for PCs, Mobile devices, and the new smart devices took half of the development time the past year, but most of our efforts were collaborating with Future Education on the Hypervisor. We''re still running into scaling issues in VR, but Mr. Sweeney notified us regarding the new Unreal Engine features that should be a quick fix." Rick explained.


    A young Korean-American girl arrived at the penthouse office mid-conversation, while Aiya served drinks and snacks for the group of youngins.


    "Jessica, good to see you. We''re just discussing the current state of the Infinity OS. Do you have any input regarding that?" Vince asked.


    "Patel, Morgan, and my sub-division have put our blood, sweat, and tears designing and developing the Infinity API and OS. Neither CUDA nor OpenCL is half as effective as our Infinity Cores. Our Infinity Architecture crushes the competition in single-threaded, multi-threaded, and 3D/Ray-Tracing computational workloads. Though you wouldn''t know much about our project since you barely showed your face during production, Vince." Jessica stated.


    "Come on, Jessica. I know enough about the new Infinity ecosystem. You know I''ve been busy with Azuma ironing out NetServ''s current business and expansion plans." Vince replied.


    "I''m just joking with you, Vince. You''ve been through a lot this year, and the company has flourished because of it." Jessica stated honestly.


    "We''ve all accomplished so much these past two years, and I''m lucky to have my friends in Future Tech. Kyle will present Everlife during our E3 presentation, and I''ll have Jessica join Morgan for the Infinity section. Rick and Sarah are responsible for the Hypervisor demonstration. I want the world to know who started Future Tech on such a momentous occasion." Vince explained sincerely.


    "Of course, we''ll save some of the spotlights for Patel and other executive directors," Vince added.


    "Thank you, Vince. Future Tech changed our entire lives, and I pride myself on our work. We''re lucky to have so many intelligent and caring colleagues to mentor us in our chosen paths. I wouldn''t trade my time here for a Harvard graduation certificate." Jessica replied.


    "Same here. Creating basic game menus and assets for Wingin'' Chicken was fun at the time, and I wouldn''t have imagined designing an entire virtual user interface for cutting-edge technology. Working for you was the best decision in my life." Sarah interjected.


    "And we get to play War Online anytime we want. People don''t dare to give us any shit about it, though we''re only 15 years old, so it''s understandable." Rick stated jokingly.


    "I appreciate how much effort you guys have exerted in the past two years, but we have more than 100,000 employees now¡ªwork at your own pace, especially you, Kyle. So I''ll have you appoint an executive director for Future Studios because the responsibility is too much of a burden for you right now." Vince instructed.


    "C''mon, man. Why are you demoting me?" Kyle asked.


    "I''m not, Kyle. War Online and Everlife are great products, but you shouldn''t lead Future Studios by yourself." Vince explained.


    "Alright, I''ll appoint someone, but it has to be Mr. Sweeney. He''s been a great mentor to me for two years now, even if we haven''t met in person yet." Kyle replied.


    "That would be a great idea if he were a Future Tech employee, which he isn''t." Vince retorted.


    "Future Tech still has a bit of liquidity until Q3 of 2013. The Epic engineers deserve a payday, and I know you can buy Epic Games right now." Kyle stated.


    "It''s not that easy, Kyle. Would Tim even sell his company to me if I asked? I''m not sure if that''s the case." Vince explained.


    "Give me a number, and I''ll ask Mr. Sweeney for you." Kyle declared.


    "$10 billion is the highest I''ll pay for Epic Games. If you manage to sway Tim, talk to David for the contract." Vince said.


    "You don''t give Future Tech enough credit, Vince. We''re advancing and innovating in so many industries, and everyone wants to find out what''s next. Tesla stock alone doubled in value since you bought half of SpaceX." Jessica added.


    "Yeah, but we''ve also attracted bad actors trying to compromise our success. For example, have you guys heard of the Data Access Node incident that happened off the coast of Taiwan?" Vince asked.


    "We saw it on the news, but the reporters said nothing too awful happened," Sarah replied.


    "Two of their hackers almost penetrated the Future Tech telecom system, which would have destroyed this company. We got lucky, but it won''t be the first time enemies try to take what we''ve built." Vince explained.


    "Most people only know of the regular data breaches the two confessed about, but I know classified information regarding their organization. The CIA and Interpol are investigating a group called Anarchy. They haven''t found anything yet, which makes sense, considering Anarchy is a hacker organization. I just wanted to warn you guys." Vince added.


    "Sounds super sketchy, Vince. Do you think they''ll attack Future Tech anytime soon?" Kyle asked curiously.


    "I honestly have no idea. It''s best to trust Price and Anthony regarding our security. There''s a reason why I''ve invested so much money on physical and cyber security projects." Vince stated.


    "Don''t be such a downer, Vince. Price will notify us if anything wrong happens. Let''s talk about E3 and the upcoming press conference. Isn''t it surreal to present our products at E3 when we could only watch the show online two years ago?" Jessica said.


    "Yeah, It was incredible watching Bethesda''s Skyrim trailer in 2011 and Watch Dogs from Ubisoft in 2012 looked so good!" Rick stated.


    [Unfortunately, Watch Dogs won''t look as pretty as the trailer.] Vince pondered.


    "Our show will be much more exciting this year. We''ll even have Robert Downey Jr., Jennifer Lawrence, and Dwayne Johnson for the Everlife convention." Vince stated.


    "They performed voice acting and motion capture at the LA Future Studios branch for the single-player story. I only met them via video conference, but I''ll be looking forward to meeting the Rock in person." Kyle explained.


    "We''ll meet Katniss Everdeen?!" Jessica and Sarah asked in unison.


    "Don''t forget Tony Stark! The Avengers was the best movie last year." Rick stated.


    "The E3 convention meeting is part of their contract. So don''t forget to take some pictures as a souvenir." Vince said.


    "It''s been fun catching up with guys. Let''s take the rest of the day off and have some more fun. We deserve it." Vince added.


    "Hell yeah! Chicken wings or sushi?" Jessica asked.


    "I vote spicy chicken wings!" Kyle announced.


    [My friends never changed.] Vince pondered happily.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $30 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, SpaceX)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    You can read the novel online free at novelhall.com

 Chapter 62 - CNT Batteries

    You can read the novel online free at novelhall.com


    While Vince and his friends were hanging out at the penthouse, a pretty lady in her late 20s arrived at her home in Brooklyn, New York.


    Director Price assigned an FS squad of seven operators with Dragonflies to escort Alexis after leaving Kandahar due to Future Education duties.


    Her entourage took one of the new FT-05 Super Galaxy transport aircraft manufactured at the Austin tech campus'' gigafactory. The large factory was a collaborative effort between Elon and Andreas, allowing Future Tech to utilize the Hive Mind manufacturing process on a physically massive scale.


    Vince made it standard for every junior or senior director to be provided a personal corporate-spec AV when traveling around urban environments where AVs were legal.


    It had enough space and comfortable seating for the passengers and security escort equipment.


    The autonomous landing system assisted the AV pilot and touched down in front of a residential building in Brooklyn.


    Though aerodyne vehicles were a current hot topic based on all of the commercials from Ford and other licensed manufacturers, not many civilians have actually seen one in person.


    "Look, mama, that flying car is even bigger than the one we watched on TV." the child said to his mother.


    [It''s landing next to our building. Should I go and check what''s going on?] the mother thought.


    "Big sis, Alexis! It''s sister Alexis walking out of the flying car, mom!" the child declared.


    Alexis saw her mother and brother watching her arrival from their apartment window. Then, she excitedly disembarked from the CAV to greet her family after spending months at Kandahar.


    "Sorry about not calling too often, mom. My new job keeps me busy, but I feel like it''s worth it. I was lucky to get hired in an educational management position after quitting my teaching job last year." Alexis said to her mother.


    "Why did you have to go to Afghanistan of all places? You made me and your little brother worried sick." the mother replied.


    "Future Tech needed a manager for their new educational sub-division. Director Price from Future Security promoted me to assistant director for the recent success of this amazing teaching visor tool and promised another promotion after we train the US military troops this year." Alexis explained.


    "I didn''t know you worked for such a big company like Future Tech. You only mentioned Future Education before you left and flew away." the mother replied in annoyance.


    "Even I didn''t know about Future Tech''s involvement when I took the job. But don''t worry about that now. I''ll be moving to Austin to work at the headquarters, and I''d like you both to join me." Alexis stated proudly.


    "Isn''t that going to be expensive, Alexis? You know we haven''t had much since I got too old to work a few years ago." the mother said sadly.


    "Our big boss is quite the generous CEO. He has an entire department dedicated to employee welfare. We''ll be moving to Austin fully paid by Vince Dalton himself." Alexis explained.


    [Of course, it''s mainly because I''m an assistant director for Future Education, but still.] Alexis pondered.


    "I''m so proud of you, Alexis. I knew you''d be able to make something of yourself after teaching university for a few years. So when do we leave?" her mother asked.


    It was the first week of May 2013, APL fans were busy watching the last few games of the season on Instagram Live or the many other esports outlets.


    "Thank you for watching Prime Alliance vs. Team Vapor here on Instagram! Before we end our broadcast, we''d like to show our viewers a new teaser trailer for Future Studios'' upcoming game, Everlife. Please enjoy." the show host stated.


    A photorealistic sequence of events featuring the main character, known as the ''mechanic'' saving his buyer, played by Dwayne Johnson, from an ambush. The trailer portrayed themes of violence, greed, deceit, and cunning. In addition, some other cast members appeared as quick cameos throughout the trailer, which pulled people''s attention even more.


    Everlife showed elements of GTA 5, Watch Dogs, and even the driving experience of Gran Turismo 6.


    "No way they rendered that trailer in-game, right?" one of the viewers asked his friend.


    "The ending credits mentioned a new game console, dude. I was thinking of buying a next-gen console from Sony or Microsoft, but this game trailer got me so hyped!" his friend replied.


    "Thank you for watching the trailer for Everlife! Don''t forget to tune in during E3 2013 for Future Tech''s new product announcement. We''ll see each other again this weekend for the Sunday APL Brawl! So I''m signing out." the host said before ending the broadcast.


    "The E3 convention is 30 minutes away from us. We should buy tickets and attend this year! I feel like it would be epic." one of the viewers said.


    "Let''s bring our recording equipment. Then, we might be able to film content for our video channel." his friend replied.


    Similar conversations were happening around the US, anticipating Future Tech''s E3 presentation.


    Vince was working on the presentation outline when a comlink request from a familiar name popped up on his Hypervisor.


    He gestured in the air to accept Elon''s call while saving his current work.


    "How have you been the past few weeks, my friend?" Vince asked.


    "My work with Morgan and Patel regarding carbon nanotube battery technology was nothing short of a miracle, Vince. I never knew your Hive Mind manufacturing process had already advanced to the point of making chemical vapor deposition obsolete. In addition, I heard from Patel that you suggested 3D printing graphene instead of using toxic chemicals." Elon stated reverently.


    [In 2021, additive manufacturing had already disrupted entire industries, like printing a whole space shuttle. I spent most of my billions upgrading the Hive Mind for a reason.] Vince pondered.


    "Our material science division is fortunate to have reliable leaders like Patel and Morgan. Even my local oil & gas neighbors have been eyeing the AV jet fuel complex." Vince replied.


    "Now that we''ve met our battery goals for Q2 of 2013, can I start implementing the new carbon nanotube batteries in my Teslas?" Elon asked honestly.


    "Elon, using small batteries for mobile devices, tablets, and the Hypervisor is perfect, but the large automotive and home batteries will require so much energy to charge from the power grid. We''re advancing battery storage technology too fast, while US infrastructure can''t catch up." Vince explained sincerely.


    "You''re right. I was so excited with the thought of carbon nanotube batteries it blinded me from practical and common sense." Elon said in a depressed tone.


    "When I envisioned Future Tech becoming a telecom provider, I invested most of my liquid capital into building network infrastructure around the world. I even had to negotiate a deal with President Obama for a private expansion of the transatlantic and transpacific cable systems." Vince explained.


    "So you''re suggesting we upgrade the US power grid before I can use the CNT batteries in my cars?!" Elon asked vehemently.


    "It''s for the greater good, Elon. Even if I throw all my money into fusion energy research, the power still has to travel using the aging and inadequate power grid." Vince stated.


    "The Department of Energy is a handful to deal with; heck, the entirety of the federal government is a hassle," Elon said in frustration.


    "Your quarrel with the government about the car dealership disputes is so dumb. Look at Future Tech. We''re selling AVs, and we''re technically not even a dealership." Vince said jokingly.


    "That''s different, Vince. My Teslas don''t fly like your AVs." Elon replied depressingly.


    "Alright, I''ll stop messing with you. I still have a few billion for Q2, but it won''t be enough for a complete upgrade. We''ll have to lobby for government support on this project as the current estimate cost is around $2 trillion." Vince explained.


    "Stop being so negative, Vince. A few billion to upgrade a city like LA and Austin is enough for a start, right?" Elon replied.


    "$5 billion for each city, and no more funding requests until Q3. I''m only doing this because of the hard work invested in our carbon nanotube battery technology." Vince instructed.


    [Man, even billions can come and go like the wind.] Vince thought.


    "Don''t be so modest. Your new product line will sell like hotcakes. For example, the Future Tech supercomputers make the Tianhe-2 feel like a Chromebook, and it''s half the price. Though $200 million isn''t cheap by any means." Elon replied.


    "Oh, you''ve got an Infinity Supercomputer already?" Vince asked curiously.


    "Andreas had it installed at the SpaceX headquarters yesterday. My engineers have been playing with it like kids ever since." Elon replied.


    "I''ll be in LA for the E3 presentation, of course. We can meet at the Future Tech exhibit before the event starts." Vince stated.


    "For sure! I can''t wait to see those silicon valley suits'' faces when you unveil the Infinity product line." Elon said jokingly.


    [Dude, you''re technically one of those silicon valley suits. What the?!]


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $15 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, SpaceX)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    You can read the novel online free at novelhall.com

 Chapter 63 - Lacking Energy

    Best novel online free at novelhall.com


    Vince took the elevator from his penthouse and walked towards the Material Science and Micro Device offices.


    He found an Indian and British man discussing in one of the meeting rooms.


    "Good day, Vince. We weren''t aware that you were stopping by." Patel said as he saw Vince enter the meeting room.


    "Sorry, gentlemen. I didn''t mean to interrupt. I just finished chatting with Elon, and he sang praises of both your work." Vince stated sincerely.


    "We wouldn''t have gotten this far without the team and your support, Vince. I appreciate Elon''s kind words." Patel replied honestly.


    "Likewise. Patel and I were discussing the final configuration of the Infinity product line. We''ll be working with Andreas to update the HV mass-manufacturing process." Morgan added.


    "Have Andreas save 25% of our total manufacturing capacity for corporate-only orders. The rest we''ll use to churn out commercial products." Vince instructed.


    "Understood. Do you have any input in our next project direction?" Morgan asked curiously.


    [I''ll leave it to the experts on this one. Nanometer manufacturing is way above my head.] Vince pondered.


    "None for now, but what have you guys brainstormed so far?" Vince asked.


    "Our system on nanites are sub-nanometer in size and currently too expensive for any commercial use. So we''re looking for alternatives to pursue in the meantime." Patel replied.


    "Marco''s leg cost us $10 million just in materials, and most of our SON components are already allocated to Dr. Sera''s cancer research project," Morgan added.


    "I suggest going back to basics, then. We''ve already achieved an economical production process for carbon nanotubes; why don''t we refine our graphene manufacturing? It''s not as small as SON chips, but still very useful." Vince recommended.


    "Indeed. We can slowly master weaving graphene and carbon nanotubes into more applications like radiofrequency antennas. In addition, the new batteries will help with our imminent energy upkeep issue here at Austin." Patel stated.


    "Which reminds me. A representative from the EU''s contacted me through the British embassy recently requesting technical support for their Graphene Flagship research initiative." Morgan stated.


    [The $1 billion European Union fund? The program that practically failed, probably due to such a pitiful investment amount.] Vince thought.


    "We own the patents for our production process, and it won''t be cheap if they want us to sell them our trade secrets," Vince replied in defense.


    "The US government will never let that happen. Our technology is a strategic asset to this country. We''d need approval from the secretary of state when the situation involves such valuable technology as carbon nanotubes and graphene." Patel replied.


    "What were you saying about an energy issue?" Vince asked inquisitively.


    "Future Tech headquarters and campus use a separate power grid and station from the rest of Texas but still requires energy from the Texas interconnection. Power costs are still within reasonable levels, but the sheer volume of energy is straining the power grid." Morgan explained.


    "I just approved a $10 billion budget to expand the power grid systems of LA and Austin. How big of a short-term issue are we talking about?" Vince asked.


    "Currently, Andreas cannot expand the Hive Mind factories further without ample energy headroom. So we are at our limits in terms of production." Patel explained in a soft tone.


    "Why wasn''t I notified about this potential issue?" Vince asked in annoyance.


    "Future Tech''s rate of expansion this year was like an explosion. We''re supplying 25% of the entire US military munitions, mass-producing cutting-edge aerodyne vehicles, and rebuilding a whole Afghan city. All this while producing consumer products for millions of people." Morgan stated.


    "Okay. Thank you for explaining the situation. Both of you will focus on optimizing energy transmission technology with the help of Elon and Tesla. I''ll add further funding in Q4 of this year." Vince instructed.


    "We should be okay with our current budget until the end of the year," Patel replied.


    "I''d like both of you on stage to present our Infinity product line during E3. Not required if you don''t want to." Vince said.


    "I already presented our first-generation AIM products last year, so I''ll be skipping E3. How about you, Patel?" Morgan asked.


    "Let me speak about the AI-driven ecosystem. It''s a feature I genuinely admire." Patel asked.


    "Of course, Patel. And you''re in luck cause we''ll be meeting a few famous people in LA." Vince replied.


    "What kind of presentation are we doing? The Apple style of product announcements seems to be popular." Patel asked.


    "The Apple launch events are dull as fuck. We''ll be in LA, and people there require more entertainment value than the rest. So I''ll be hiring famous artists for a musical show during our E3 presentation." Vince explained.


    "You''re going all out, huh? Might as well." Morgan said.


    "It''s what marketing is all about. Let me know if you guys need anything; I''ll finalize our E3 exhibit in my office. Oh, don''t forget to nominate an executive director for the material science sub-division." Vince said before bidding farewell.


    Vince returned to the penthouse and was notified by Aiya regarding a new arrival.


    "Assistant director Alexis of Future Education is waiting for you in the living room. I''ll bring some refreshments in the meantime." Aiya stated.


    Vince entered the room and found a pretty caucasian lady in her late 20s sitting on a sofa.


    "Welcome to Future Tech headquarters, Alexis. I''ve heard great things about you from Director Price. You''re work in Kandahar has been instrumental for the Hypervisor''s quick testing phase." Vince declared after shaking her hand.


    "Thank you very much, Mr. Dalton. I''ll do my best to perform my duties here in the States as well as anywhere this job takes me." Alexis replied sincerely.


    "Call me Vince. I admire your innate drive to pursue success but don''t push yourself too hard. From now on, you''ll be in charge of all Future Security''s training facilities, except the main barracks here in Austin. Your office is two floors down. I trust you''ll have all the US military troops trained and ready by the end of the year." Vince instructed.


    [Hell yeah! That''s my ticket to a promotion!] Alexis thought joyously.


    "I will, Vince. You can count on me!" Alexis replied.


    "Good to hear. I remember seeing you were from Brooklyn on your file. How''s the family doing?" Vince asked.


    "I asked my mother and brother to move with me here in Austin. We''re very grateful for the luxurious accommodations." Alexis replied.


    "The tech campus residential area is a prototype for a neo-modern city. I''m glad your family finds it appealing. You''ve spent plenty of time with the prototype Hypervisor. Do you want to do a live presentation during E3?" Vince asked curiously.


    "No. I mean. I don''t feel like I''ve contributed enough to speak in front of so many people, but I''ll gladly attend the event as support." Alexis replied in worry.


    "That''s a great idea! I needed someone to manage the Hypervisor demonstration booth, and you''re the perfect person for the job!" Vince declared.


    "I''ll have a team ready to assist any who wishes to test the Hypervisors, without issue. How many concurrent demos do you think we''ll be servicing?" Alexis asked.


    "Around one hundred Hypervisor and Infinity Console demos, and please keep it sanitary. But we''ll have medical staff around just in case. Most people haven''t experienced VR yet, let alone a photorealistic one." Vince explained.


    While Vince and Alexis were discussing work in the penthouse living room, Leah walked wearing the latest Future Couture design and was surprised to see a new face around the headquarters.


    "Who''s this pretty young thing?" Leah asked vivaciously.


    "Assistant Director Alexis, this is Leah, my loving mother," Vince said as he introduced them to each other.


    "It''s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Dalton," Alexis said.


    "She''s been working for Future Education at our Kandahar branch the past five months. Director Price himself highly recommended Alexis." Vince explained.


    Leah kept eyeing Alexis up and down with a predacious look.


    [What''s going on? It feels so awkward.] Alexis thought.


    "I can see why Price is so taken with you, my dear. You''ll do well in this company, and I can already see it." Leah replied with a matching odd grin.


    [Changing the subject is the play here.] Vince pondered.


    "She''ll also be joining the E3 conference exhibit as technical support and management," Vince explained.


    "The nerd convention in LA? That''s in June. So the weather would be perfect for sunbathing and hanging around the beach." Leah stated.


    "Yeah, but there will be so many tourists around you won''t enjoy it all," Vince replied.


    "How about I invite Dr. Sera, and we''ll rent a yacht to avoid the tourist crowds. Don''t tell me you can''t afford it, Vince." Leah said with a devious smile.


    [As if I can say no to mom.] Vince thought begrudgingly.


    "Whatever you say, mom," he replied.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $15 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, SpaceX)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    Read novel online free fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 64 - More Money, Less Money

    You can read the novel fast updates at novelhall.com


    Under the bright sunlight raining down on a middle eastern city, Director Price oversaw the installation of ten Future Arms All-Weather Missile Defense Batteries around Kandahar.


    [$500 million is a big chunk of Future Security''s annual budget, but we''ve invested too much in the city to watch it fall from enemy artillery.] Price thought while walking around a battery emplacement.


    He watched a few FS operators chatting with locals at a Halal Guys fast food restaurant.


    Kids were running around the clean and orderly streets playing with each other without worry or fear.


    [This is what we''re protecting. Fortunately, neighboring hostile nations haven''t set their sights on Kandahar. But it will only be a matter of time.] Price pondered.


    The new missile defense system in place was inspired heavily by the Israeli Iron Dome. The batteries will deploy target-locking and intercepting missiles to stop any incoming attacks. Each battery costs $50 million to build and requires yearly maintenance.


    Luckily, Future Arms already produces missiles for the US government, which reduced the R&D time for the new system.


    Price mostly spent Future Security''s 2013 budget of $25 billion on new equipment like FAV-1s, Stingrays, and ASR-1 drones. Troop training and drills weren''t too hard to manage, considering the US had 8,000 soldiers who were happy to train with the FS operators.


    [I''ll need to switch out the 5,000 FS units stationed in Mexico soon. The private security contracts we inherited from Andrews International are such a fucking hassle.] Price thought begrudgingly.


    [Recruiting more security forces can be a viable stop-gap measure but will become inefficient soon enough, especially with the company''s rapid expansion. Future Tech prides itself on the quality of its products; then Future Security should do the same.]


    Price decided to contact Heidi as soon as he got back to his office.


    He opened a comlink channel request after text messaging Director Heidi regarding his problem.


    "Price, I''m busy right now. What''s this big problem you mentioned?" Heidi stated with her alluring voice.


    "Do you have any suggestions for a project to enhance my men''s capabilities in battle? Unfortunately, Future Tech is growing too fast, and we won''t have the capacity to train new operators continuously." Price said in a hushed tone.


    "What? Are the Dragonflies, AVs, and atmospheric recon drones not enough for your men? Heidi asked, annoyed.


    "You know I don''t mean it like that, Director Heidi. We appreciate what the Robotics division has done for us here at Future Security this past year. I''m just asking for a friendly suggestion from a trusted colleague." Price replied sincerely.


    "You''re quite the lucky guy, Price. I''ve been busy designing an advanced version of the SpaceX spacesuit using exotic materials like graphene. We''ll have to test the suits soon, and I assume you''ll be able to do it for us at Kandahar. Then, of course, we''ll make adjustments based on Future Security''s offensive and defensive requirements." Heidi offered.


    "I''m open to testing products like the Hypervisor and this new suit, but what is it exactly?" Price asked.


    "Vince suggested the inspiration for the design at a SpaceX engineer meeting a few weeks ago. Have you ever heard of Space Marines, Director Price?" Heidi asked honestly.


    Vince discussed business with an African-American man wearing a lab coat in his 30s.


    Diontray Ellison, or Dion, was the assistant director of the material science sub-division. He specialized in carbon-based allotropes and was a protege to Morgan.


    They were waiting for a European Union representative to meet with Future Tech to seek research cooperation.


    A typical Texan man in his early 30s wearing a sleek three-piece Future Couture suit accompanied a French gentleman in his 50s up to the penthouse living room.


    "This is Gaston Boudier, a high-ranking member of the European Atomic Energy Community," David said as he introduced both Vince and Dion to their European guest.


    "We have contacted Morgan through the British consulate but had no luck. Thank you for meeting with me directly." Gaston said with a french accent.


    "Europe is a large market, and I''m always happy to entertain potential customers and clients. So would you please take a seat wherever is most comfortable?" Vince stated sincerely.


    Gaston and David took their seats across the living room table.


    "Let me be frank. My department has spent the past year investigating Future Tech products'' use of carbon nanotubes. It seems like you''ve devised an economical solution in mass-producing carbon microstructures. The EU was planning on investing $1 billion for a ten-year program for graphene R&D, but it is now practically useless knowing Future Tech already employs a viable manufacturing method." Gaston explained.


    "Dion, do you think $1 billion would have been enough capital to advance graphene production?" Vince asked.


    "It would be impossible, even with $10 billion for ten years. Our graphene production is only possible due to advancements in our AI manufacturing suite." Dion explained.


    "Your ''Graphene Flagship'' initiative would have been useless, either way. So what does the EU want from me?" Vince asked honestly.


    "One of the ultimate goals of our graphene initiative was to develop superconductive materials for fusion energy research at ITER. This project is the most crucial research path in human history." Gaston explained with passion.


    "I beg to disagree, but I do understand the importance of clean energy. However, you still haven''t mentioned what the EU wants from Future Tech." Vince replied.


    [We''re researching treatment for any form of cancer, which is pretty essential, in my opinion.] Vince pondered.


    "We would like to invite Future Tech to collaborate with ITER as a US representative. Of course, your company will receive a portion of the $60 billion in ITER government funding from the EU." Gaston offered.


    "In your dreams. Future Tech''s graphene production process is worth trillions of dollars by itself. So why would I share my technology for such a pitiful amount? Vince asked in an angered tone.


    "Might I remind you of the EU''s long-standing relationship with the United States" Gaston replied.


    "You don''t have to remind me like I don''t have to tell you how many billions of dollars in taxes the EU would lose if I choose to relocate all my businesses to the states." Vince fired back.


    "Gentlemen. It seems like this meeting has gotten off-track. You''ve traveled from quite afar, Gaston. Let me show you to your quarters. I can explain the protected status of our graphene technology on the way." David interjected.


    They left the penthouse living room and headed towards the guest floor.


    "Dion, was I too harsh on the old Frenchie?" Vince asked after calming down a little.


    "I agree with you 100%. However, these people have no right to force us to share technology for such a low price. I would understand if it were the US government, but we aren''t beholden to a foreign organization like the EU." Dion replied honestly.


    "Thanks for attending the meeting with Gaston, just in case I needed the technical expertise. Keep up the good work, and you''ll find yourself an executive director position soon. Morgan trusts in your work," Vince stated.


    "I appreciate Morgan''s nomination. I''ll live up to both of your expectations as best as I can." Dion replied.


    "You''re dismissed for now. I''ll have Aiya call you if I require technical assistance." Vince instructed.


    [My outburst might give me a headache later on. I should contact Marcia to get me in touch with the US Department of Energy just in case.] Vince pondered as Dion left the penthouse.


    Vince opened a private comlink channel and contacted Marcia Kemp, his lead attorney.


    "How is David doing with the EU representative? Are there any issues?" Marcia asked.


    "David is doing fine with Gaston. But, on the other hand, I may have gotten on the wrong foot with our guest. He had the audacity of asking for our graphene production process for just a portion of $60 billion in funding." Vince explained.


    "You were right to deny him. The US government would spend way more if we could guarantee a working fusion reactor within a few years." Marcia replied.


    "Should I continue negotiating with the Frenchie, or should we discuss things with the federal government first?" Vince asked.


    "Leave Gaston to David and me. I''ll talk to Ernest Moniz, the Secretary of Energy, before finalizing anything with the Europeans." Marcia replied.


    "And Kemp-Jacobs has recently signed a lease agreement with the Houston Port Authority for our pending oceanic shipping division. How much funding should I provide Andreas for construction?" Marcia added.


    "I still have $15 billion in cash left for Q2 of this year. So I''ll approve $5 billion as the initial funding for facilities, and I''ll add more in Q3." Vince replied.


    [My billions leave as fast as I earned it. Well, money was always meant to be spent, I guess.] So Vince pondered while counting his liquid savings.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $10 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, SpaceX)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    You can read the novel fast updates at novelhall.com

 Chapter 65 - Government Funding

    You can read the novel online free at novelhall.com


    A beautiful woman with blonde hair in her late 30s called Ernest Moniz''s business phone number, provided by one of her many industry connections.


    Within an office at the Department of Energy in DC, a Portuguese-American man in his mid-60s was busy with his current national project. He was distracted by a random call from an unknown number.


    [No one knows this number unless they''re huge donors or very important people. I''ll pick up just in case.]


    "My name is Marcia Kemp. I appreciate you accepting my call." the voice on the other line said.


    "Marcia Kemp? From Kemp-Jacobs, Future Tech''s law firm?" Ernest asked inquisitively.


    "Correct. Great, I won''t have to waste time introducing myself. Vince Dalton was approached by an EU representative asking for help with their fusion reactor project in France. He claims our proprietary graphene technology is vital to their project''s success and lowballed us for assistance." Marcia explained straight to the point.


    "Thanks for being direct about this issue. Our national ignition facility in California failed in almost every metric in 2012, which pretty much placed the United States on the back foot in the fusion energy industry. How confident is Future Tech in applying graphene in newer designed reactors?" Ernest asked curiously.


    "There''s a reason why ITER and the EU want us to collaborate on the Tokamak Reactor. It''s the one thing they require to succeed." Marcia replied in her negotiation mode.


    [Fusion energy will unshackle our reliance on foreign crude oil and also benefit the green climate change initiative.] Ernest thought.


    "How long would it take for Future Tech to start research and development for a new fusion reactor, then?" Ernest asked.


    "We''ve been investing in quantum, fusion, battery, and many other research projects in plenty of universities across the US. However, most of the promising innovations in fusion are currently at MIT, so I''ll start there for recruitment. It should take no more than a month to assemble an initial research team based in Austin." Marcia explained in detail.


    "The Department of Energy doesn''t have much in terms of discretionary funds, but I''ll talk to the President to approve your new venture as a military defense contract, in collaboration with my department, of course." Ernest offered.


    "I''ll be waiting for Secretary Hagel''s response. But, again, I appreciate your time." Marcia stated.


    Ernest Moniz wore his suit jacket and headed towards the Pentagon to discuss Future Tech''s offer in detail.


    After arriving from a quick car commute, he met with a man around the same age as him, the Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel.


    "What a surprise to see you around here, Ernest. I heard from your secretary you wanted to talk about something important." Chuck said while shaking hands.


    "Marcia Kemp, Future Tech''s lead counsel, contacted me out of the blue an hour earlier. It seems the Europeans are interested in our domestic fusion technologies. We''ll be conceding political leverage if we allow Future Tech to collaborate with ITER." Ernest explained.


    "We''ve already granted Future Tech $75 billion worth of defense contracts the past year. So if they''re expecting more funding, tell them to look elsewhere." Chuck replied.


    "Will the US military seriously allow foreign nations access to strategic assets like graphene and clean fusion energy? I call your bluff. Talk to President Obama; you won''t regret it." Ernest said confidently.


    "We''ve spent plenty of time and money on fusion energy already, but I''ll present Future Tech''s case to the President. How much funding are we talking?" Chuck asked.


    "ITER offered them a portion of $60 billion. Instead, we should negotiate using government concession agreements and contracts in exchange for a commercial fusion reactor within five years. Though Future Tech isn''t too flush with capital right now based on how Vince Dalton likes to spend his money, they''ll be swimming in cash after their 2013 sales skyrocket. So let''s offer them something they can''t buy with money." Ernest suggested.


    Kemp-Jacobs received an initial agreement allowing the sale of specific fusion reactor components to allied nations. The Hive Mind manufacturing process will perpetually be owned by Future Tech, with the protection of the US government, which includes graphene production.


    The federal government will fund the fusion reactor program for five years with $50billion and grant Future Tech further contracts if completed. Future Tech would also be exempt from taxes from its businesses in Afghanistan and other theatres of war and allow sponsorship of foreign employees to work in the US.


    [Now, this is a compelling offer, unlike the one Gaston proposed. Director Price won''t be bugging me about getting Afghan AV pilots cleared to work at stateside company branches anymore.] Marcia pondered while reading her private emails.


    She spent the rest of her day finalizing the agreement with the Department of Energy and Defense.


    David and the rest of her lawyers worked throughout the day, ironing out all the small details for this potentially massive deal with the government.


    Vince met with Andreas to ensure enough supply of the consumer-grade Infinity products like the Infinity console and Hypervisors for the planned release in June.


    "I heard about our energy limit issue from Morgan and Patel. What has your division done so far to alleviate the problem?" Vince asked.


    "Elon has ordered power station transmission lines and equipment with the funding you provided. We''re focusing our production output on the power grid upgrades for Austin and LA." Andreas replied.


    "How will this affect our targeted product release date?" Vince asked.


    "It should take around a month to fully update the power systems at the tech campus and headquarters. After that, the rest of the upgrades we can gradually work on throughout the year." Andreas said confidently.


    "Extend our private energy transmission system towards the Port of Houston in preparation for our naval manufacturing division. Let me know if you run into any issues as soon as possible." Vince instructed.


    "Understood, Vince. I assume the blueprints from Hyundai C&E were helpful in your new maritime venture?" Andreas replied.


    "Very. The information Anthony procured was the complete business data set from their decades of heavy industries experience. We were lucky, though. So we have to keep our guard up all the time to avoid the same thing happening to us. And feel free to join us for the E3 announcement." Vince explained before bidding farewell.


    He then visited the robotics laboratory at the headquarter offices.


    Vince walked in to find a gorgeous red-haired scottish-American lady in her late 20s tinkering with a power armor prototype.


    "Good day, Heidi. How''s work going?" Vince asked curiously.


    "Hey, Vince. The spacesuit designs are relatively basic and straightforward, but Director Price''s suggestions for the military version are another story." Heidi replied.


    "Wow, the suit is enormous. Probably the size of two people." Vince commented.


    "We''ve miniaturized many of the components, but some parts like the exoskeleton base are bulky in nature," Heidi explained.


    "At least it''s not multiple stories tall like the Gundam mobile suits," Vince replied jokingly.


    "Gundam, what? I could scale the armor to two stories large, but it would require too much power output from our current batteries." Heidi replied seriously.


    "I''m just kidding, Heidi. This size is big enough for our operators. Talk to Dr. Taylor Miller from Future Tech VR. Her team specializes in deep-dive experiences. She may be able to help with the control functions of the larger armor suits. You did great work in our Hypervisor program. I suggest you present a few features live on stage at E3." Vince stated.


    "Thank you for appreciating my efforts, but I''m not the type of person to do live presentations," Heidi replied.


    "Come on, a pretty lady like yourself would make plenty of fans at E3," Vince replied.


    "Are you flirting with me, Mr. Dalton?" Heidi asked in jest.


    "That would be inappropriate, Ms. McGuire. But I do have a thing for red hair. Honestly, though, you can join us for the event if you want. Mom is renting a yacht for our entourage." Vince explained.


    "If you were a few years older, it might have been possible. Regarding the E3 event, though, I''ll think about it." Heidi replied honestly.


    [I guess I don''t look too bad for a 15-year-old] so Vince pondered.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $10 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, SpaceX)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    Best novel online free at novelhall.com

 Chapter 66 - Mega-Yacht

    You can read the novel fast updates at novelhall.com


    June 9, 2013, at the Future Tech penthouse. Vince was preparing his luggage for their trip to Los Angeles.


    A beautiful woman in her mid-30s entered the penthouse living room wearing the latest Future Couture outfit, like many other Future Tech executives.


    "You''re looking fabulous today, Dr. Sera. Are you excited about some time off work?" Vince asked.


    "Thank you, Vince. And yes, a break from work right now is perfect. It was Leah who chose my current clothing style. She''ll finish packing in a few minutes. Oh, and I saw your friends walking up to the helipad before I arrived." Dr. Sera mentioned.


    "They''ll be taking one of the Stingrays and will wait for us at the hangar. I''m still waiting for Patel and his family before we can leave." Vince replied.


    A few minutes later, a family of four emerged from the penthouse elevator.


    "Patel, It was a good idea to bring your family with us. Mom said there was no better time to visit LA than in June." Vince stated.


    "If your mother says it, I believe it. Let me introduce you to my wife, Minu." Patel replied.


    Vince wasn''t trained formally in manners and etiquette and chose to shake her hand as a greeting.


    "It''s a pleasure to meet you, Minu. Your husband has contributed enormously to this company''s growth. I hope he still has time to spend with you and your family." Vince stated.


    "The pleasure is mine, Vince. My husband spends ample time with us, thanks to Future Tech''s work policy. He even attends our kid''s school events at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy from time to time." Minu explained.


    "This is my daughter, Shalini, and my son, Ravi. They''ll be finishing middle school later this year." Patel stated.


    "Nice to meet you both. I''m sure you''ll have fun seeing the LA sights with your parents. And of course, trying out the new games at E3." Vince said to both of the kids.


    "Daddy mentioned we''ll be staying on a yacht. Is that true, Mr. Dalton?" Shalina asked curiously.


    "Yes, Shalina. My mother decided to rent one the moment she heard about our trip to LA. And please call me Vince." he replied.


    "Awesome!" Shalina exclaimed.


    "All I want is to play Everlife," Ravi commented.


    "Aren''t you a little too young to play Everlife?" Vince asked.


    "You play it, and you''re only two years older than us!" Ravi replied.


    [Oh shit. I forgot I was 15 years old for a second there.] Vince thought.


    "You''re right. You can play Everlife as long as you''re parents allow it." Vince conceded.


    A woman walked out of her living quarters and arrived at the living room, pulling a luggage bag full of clothes and accessories.


    "Mom, are you ready? The others are waiting for us at the hangar." Vince asked.


    "I am. Is Dr. Sera here already?" Leah asked.


    "She''s in one of the restrooms. We''ll head to the helipad while you wait for Dr. Sera." Vince stated.


    He and Patel''s family found their way to the highest floor of the building and boarded a Stingray.


    A few minutes later, all the passengers were on board, and the Stingray started its vertical takeoff.


    Kyle, Jessica, Rick, Sarah, Heidi, and Alexis were waiting in a Dreamliner jet.


    Their entourage had a combined 50 FS operators as escorts because of the numerous corporate executives traveling together.


    "Marco, what are you doing here? I thought you were busy helping with physical rehab and training of the recovering troops." Vince said in surprise.


    "The E3 announcement will be a special occasion for Future Tech, so please have peace of mind with me protecting you," Marco replied.


    "I appreciate it, Marco. Maybe we could train a little during the mornings on this trip. I''ll bust out some new techniques that Tom taught me recently." Vince suggested.


    The passengers who haven''t met yet spent time getting to know each other during the 3-hour flight while enjoying the luxurious Dreamliner amenities.


    "Future Tech travels in style, huh?" Marco said while reclining his sofa chair for more comfort.


    "Wait till you see the yacht," Leah commented as she drank wine with Dr. Sera at the bar.


    "Mom, what do you mean?" Vince asked.


    "Oh, did I forget to mention? When the Los Angeles Yacht Charter found out Vince Dalton was renting a mega yacht, L¨¹rssen Yachts from Germany sent their new model, closely resembling the one they made for Sheikh Khalifa. I bet they''re expecting you to buy it based on your spending habits." Leah explained.


    [So what if I bought three more Dreamliners from Boeing? It''s for corporate executive use! Completely reasonable purchases.] Vince thought.


    "Then I expect it to be a top-class sea vessel. I''m not buying a random product worth hundreds of millions just because they rent one out to me." Vince replied.


    "Marco, are the troop transport flights that bad?" Vince asked seriously.


    "We''ve been using the US Air Force Globemasters for the past year, which isn''t too comfortable. However, the new FT-05 Super Galaxy is much more accomodating." Marco replied.


    "Alright. Future Security will be switching to solely using Super Galaxies instead of borrowing planes from the Air Force by the end of the year, so I hope our operators can make do for the meantime." Vince replied.


    "The men are prepared to do whatever it takes to perform their mission. Uncomfortable long-haul flights aren''t a problem for us, especially when we have our quarters and access to anything we desire through the corporate online market. Our lives are entirely different from when we were regular soldiers, and for the better." Marco explained.


    "Thanks for reassuring me. I know Director Price is doing his best to cultivate a good home for our troops." Vince replied.


    "Stop talking about boring topics, son. Aren''t you excited for the E3 presentation?" Leah asked.


    "Of course, I''m excited. I''ve been working on this show for months now and our new products for an entire year." Vince replied.


    "No need to be sassy about it. Here have something to drink." Dr. Sera said while handing Vince a glass of wine.


    Vince accepted the glass and started drinking when suddenly he heard shouting from the entertainment room.


    "Yes! Just continue piling on the DPS. The boss won''t make it until its enrage timer goes off." Rick yelled.


    "Ravi, stop buffing the group and focus on damaging the boss. We''re already boon capped." Kyle commented.


    "The AOE damage took Shalina down. Sarah, use your ult ability to rez her quick." Jessica instructed.


    [They seem like they''re having fun.] Vince pondered while drinking wine.


    After a few hours flying, the Dreamliner landed at LAX, where a FAV-1 and Stingray were waiting for their arrival.


    The Future Tech LA branch dispatched the vehicles and crew as Vince''s transport accommodations while in the city.


    They gathered their belongings and boarded the Stingray together with their armed FS escort.


    It didn''t take long until the aerial vehicles hovered over the coast of Malibu.


    Vince looked out the window and saw a 600-foot mega-yacht featuring a helipad and swimming pools on its deck.


    It looked closely like the Azzam, the second-largest yacht in 2021. The white exterior complemented the modern and sleek aesthetic.


    The Stingray and its FAV-1 escort landed on the helipad, and the passengers soon disembarked.


    "Welcome aboard L¨¹rssen Yacht''s newest creation. It currently has no name yet, until a new owner decides on one. My name is Paulos Amsel, the sales director for L¨¹rssen Yachts. It''s a pleasure to meet you all." Paulos stated.


    "This is quite an impressive vessel you have here, Paulos. How many people can the yacht accommodate?" Vince asked.


    "We can serve a maximum of 36 guests, the most people compared to any yacht in the world. In addition, your rental includes the 60 crew members required for all our guests'' needs." Paulos explained confidently.


    "Please join me while I show you the numerous amenities and luxuries our new product features," Paulos added.


    The interior was massive, thanks to its open design. No unnecessary pillars crowded the living spaces, which added to its size. Dozens of private quarters fully furnished with the finest materials looked like suits from a five-star hotel. It even came with a mini-submarine for underwater exploration and scuba diving.


    [This German guy is selling this yacht quite effectively. He''s roping me in bit by bit.] Vince pondered while walking around the main salon with Paulos and the others.


    The FS operators were busy securing the yacht and sweeping for any hidden electronic device while Dragonflies patrolled the low-altitude air space above the sea.


    Paulos looked concerned while Marco, a fully decked-out FS operator, was walking beside him so casually.


    "Might I say your security detail is quite grand? Not even the Russian oligarchs I''ve done business with employ such heavily armed personnel." Paulos stated.


    "I take that as a compliment. My FS guys pride themselves on their work, and their number one priority is the safety of corporate executives." Vince explained.


    [The operators do look pretty imposing, especially when fully geared. I expect the power suits will make them doubly menacing when the time comes.] Vince pondered while learning more about the mega-yacht.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $10 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, SpaceX)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    Best novel online free at novelhall.com

 Chapter 67 - E3 2013

    You can read the novel fast updates at novelhall.com


    Vince and his friends enjoyed the morning sun''s glow in the yacht''s rear deck jacuzzi the following day.


    Leah and Dr. Sera were sunbathing while the crew was cooking breakfast for the group. Patel and his family decided to roam around the city before meeting up at the LA convention center. At the same time, Heidi and Alexis went straight to the convention center to help Future Tech employees set up the exhibits and booths.


    "Hey Vince, Dr. Sera is pretty hot in her sunbathing suit. Am I right?" Kyle asked in jest.


    "Don''t let my mom hear you say that. I think they have a thing for each other." Vince replied seriously.


    "It''s so obvious. Both Leah and Sera have been spending all their time together since we arrived." Jessica commented.


    "You''re quite cute in that swimsuit yourself, Jessica," Rick stated.


    "Eww. Think of a better pick-up line the next time you try talking to a girl." Sarah interjected.


    "Wow, Rick. So smooth." Kyle said jokingly.


    "Don''t mind him, Jessica. He''s just trying to get a reaction out of you. You make it too easy sometimes." Vince stated honestly.


    While they were talking amongst themselves, Marco approached the jacuzzi.


    "Vince, a CAV is flying towards our direction. The Dragonflies identified it as Elon Musk''s AV. Were you expecting him?" Marco asked.


    "No, I didn''t but let him land. We''ll be eating breakfast soon, anyway." Vince instructed.


    A few minutes later, Elon and his security detail emerged from his CAV that had just landed on the yacht''s helipad.


    "I was supposed to attend the convention directly. But my secretary informed me you were staying at a mega-yacht off the coast of Malibu. I didn''t receive any invitations in my emails." So Elon said the moment he saw Vince on the upper deck.


    "Don''t do me dirty like that. I didn''t know you were interested in yachts. I would''ve invited you if I''d known. Are you ready for E3?" Vince replied in his defense.


    "Definitely! My kids got me into playing more video games recently. They love playing War Online and other popular games, and I got hooked." Elon explained.


    "Don''t get too distracted, or else we won''t be reaching Mars anytime soon," Vince said jokingly.


    "You''re one to talk. You''ve been living the high life on a mega-yacht the last time I checked. And don''t tell me your South Korea trip wasn''t for pleasure." Elon continued the friendly banter.


    "The APL Finals don''t count, and I won''t be attending the upcoming one next week cause I''ll be too busy," Vince replied.


    "Alright, alright. Show me around this exquisite piece of engineering. The yacht looked terrific from the CAV." Elon said.


    Meanwhile, tens of thousands of video game fans were starting to enter the Los Angeles Convention Center. E3 in 2013 entertained a total of 48,200 paying attendees.


    Most people were excited to hear more about the new consoles to be announced by Sony and Microsoft. Many others were thrilled to play video game demos from various developers.


    Fans from different age groups and backgrounds surrounded the convention center''s facade. Ordinary people, YouTubers, streamers, filmmakers, artists, and corporate suits were lining up the entrance.


    "E3 feels a bit different this year." a male YouTuber said to his companion.


    "It''s pretty obvious, dude. The building is surrounded by Future Tech Dragonflies and a thousand FS operators. I''m not blind." His female companion replied.


    "We attended the APL finals here at the Staples Center last year. And Future Tech secured the arena the same way," she added.


    They both waited for their turn to enter the building until two FS operators greeted them at the entrance.


    "Please step forward one at a time and allow the Dragonfly to scan you and your belongings." an FS operator clad in military armor and holding an FA-416 rifle instructed.


    The male YouTuber stepped in front of the hovering drone and watched as orange rays of light projected towards his body.


    "You''re cleared. Enjoy your stay at E3." the other FS operator stated.


    [Well, I won''t be scared of any potential mass shootings anytime soon.] he pondered while waiting for his companion.


    They pulled out their video cameras and started recording a vlog while heading towards the presentation hall.


    As they walked, his girlfriend noticed a massive section in the middle of the convention center blocked off by a temporary barrier.


    "This area should be Future Studios'' exhibit booth. I wonder why we can''t go in yet," the girl said.


    "There''s a sign that says they''ll open the exhibit after the Future Tech announcement this afternoon at 4 pm." her boyfriend explained.


    "So unfair. I wanted to test out the Everlife demo as soon as I could." the girlfriend replied in frustration.


    "Don''t worry about it. The event is scheduled for three entire days, so you''ll have plenty of time to test the game out." the boyfriend replied reassuringly.


    The crowd around them dispersed once they realized Future Tech wouldn''t open their exhibit until later that afternoon.


    "Alice, why don''t you start live streaming? I''m sure you''re followers will want to see E3 from the inside." Alice''s boyfriend suggested.


    "Oh yeah! I forgot about my NetServ subscription''s high upload speed. My old data plan from Verizon was useless compared to NetServ. Give me a second." Alice replied.


    She opened her bag and pulled out the Future Tech mobile phone she bought a year ago.


    NetServ''s telecommunication package is the only internet service capable of live streaming 4K video on a completely wireless and mobile connection, though only available in the US for now.


    Alice logged in to her NetServ account and chose the nearest Data Access Node as her primary network server.


    "What''s up, guys? It''s me, Wonder Alice, live from the LA convention center! Herewith me, as always, is my YouTuber boyfriend, 3D Jaden." Alice said while pointing the camera towards her companion.


    The same situation was happening around the convention center, where plenty of the attendees were online content creators of some sort.


    They both made their way to the presentation hall for the Microsoft announcement.


    Microsoft''s press conference took place at 9:30 am. The company announced a November 2013 release date for its forthcoming Xbox One console, priced at $499. The software lineup was also revealed, including Dead Rising 3, Quantum Break, Ryse: Son of Rome, and Halo''s next installment.


    In Vince''s previous life, Sony scheduled their presentation at 6 pm but now had to reschedule to noon due to Future Tech''s E3 entry.


    The PlayStation 4 was publicly shown for the first time, retailing at $399, with a November release. The software lineup included Infamous: Second Son, The Order: 1886, Final Fantasy XV, and Killzone: Shadow Fall. In addition, Sony introduced new games for the PlayStation 3, such as Gran Turismo 6, Beyond: Two Souls, and The Last of Us.


    EA announced Battlefield 4, Titanfall, Need for Speed: Rivals, and yearly sports games like FIFA and Madden.


    Ubisoft''s press conference took place at 3 pm. Upcoming action-adventure games included Watch Dogs and the sequels Assassin''s Creed IV: Black Flag and Tom Clancy''s Splinter Cell: Blacklist. In addition, two new franchises ¨C The Crew and The Division ¨C were also announced.


    "Alice, it''s crazy we''re getting two new consoles this year! So which games will you be streaming on twitch, do you think?" Jaden asked his companion while lining up outside Future Tech''s presentation hall.


    "I''ll play Watch Dogs next year if Everlife isn''t released yet. GTA 5 will take most of my streaming time at the start of 2014, though." Alice replied.


    They arrived at the conference hall''s entrance and were stopped by an FS operator.


    "Do both of you have your invitations?" The operator asked seriously.


    The hall was limited to 500 seats, and Future Studios sent out invitations months before the event to influential content creators and video game industry elites.


    "Yes, we do. I have the tickets right here on my phone." Wonder Alice replied while showing scannable QR codes on her phone''s screen.


    The FS operator allowed them inside without further trouble and went on scanning other people''s tickets.


    "Wow! The stage is huge!" 3D Jaden exclaimed while looking for their seats.


    "What would Future Studios need such a large stage for?" Wonder Alice asked curiously.


    "Let''s prepare our equipment. The sign at the entrance says recording is permitted during the presentation, but no flashes, though." 3D Jaden explained.


    [This show will be great content for my YouTube channel. I can already feel it.] 3D Jaden pondered.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $10 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, SpaceX)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)


    You can read the novel online free at novelhall.com

 Chapter 68 - Everlife Release

    Inside the L¨¹rssen mega-yacht, Elon, Vince, and Sera talked at the top deck.


    "Vince, this yacht is fantastic! I''ll be more than willing to take care of it for you while you''re away from LA if you buy it." Elon stated.


    "That''s right, Vince. Look at all your friends having fun in the jacuzzi. You could even do some scuba diving after we hire master divers for instruction." Leah commented while drinking french red wine.


    "Okay, okay. I''ll think about it. How much is this yacht, anyway?" Vince asked.


    "Paulos mentioned it costs $600 million, including ten-year maintenance," Sera replied.


    [I could buy two Boeing Dreamliners with that much money.] Vince pondered.


    "Let''s finish our drinks and wrap up here. We can''t be late for our E3 presentation." Vince said.


    An hour later, the people on the yacht boarded a Stingray parked on the helipad and flew towards the Los Angeles Convention Center.


    They landed on a predetermined area at the event''s private parking space, and Vince immediately headed towards their exhibit section.


    "Alexis, Heidi, how''s our demonstration booth looking?" Vince asked.


    "We have two hundred personnel, one for each demo booth, and all of the equipment is ready for use. We''ve already set up the stage for the meet and greet after our presentation. Most of the audience is already waiting at the convention hall, plus the special guests backstage." Alexis replied.


    "Marco, have Patel meet us at the hall. I''ll meet our guests before the event starts." Vince instructed.


    His lead bodyguard then opened a comlink channel to contact Patel''s security detail, following his orders.


    Their entourage made it to the backstage area without issue, considering the many operators escorting them through the convention center.


    "Look over there; It''s Vince Dalton for sure. We should head to the hall before we miss the presentation." a random person said to his friend in the crowd.


    While the performers were busy setting up backstage, Vince and his friends met with the three leading stars of the Everlife single-player story.


    While Robert Downey Jr., Dwayne Johnson, and Jennifer Lawrence talked in the guest room, Vince and his entourage entered through the back door.


    "My name is Vince; nice to meet you all. I''m glad the three of you were available to make an appearance for Everlife." Vince stated


    "I don''t do acting for video games much, but Future Studios'' production process was phenomenal. And the final product is even better. Thank you for sending me a demo, by the way." The Rock exclaimed.


    "You''ll be able to play the game soon, I assure you. Future Studios and Epic Games have been pioneering VFX and more advanced film techniques recently; I appreciate your feedback." Vince replied.


    A young woman in her late teens walked into the backstage room, presumably coming from the restroom.


    "I hope you don''t mind that I brought a friend with me. Hailee practically begged me to come after mentioning my involvement with Future Studios and its new video game." Jennifer Lawrence said courteously.


    "I don''t mind at all, and it''s a pleasure to meet you, Hailee. My friends and I love True Grit, especially Rick. He thinks just because he''s from Austin; he could be a Texas Ranger too." Vince joked as he introduced himself.


    "Thank you for having me. My brother and I have played War Online so much this past year. Even the cast of Ender''s Game has been holding mini-tournaments during our movie shoot offtime." Hailee stated honestly.


    "I''m delighted to hear your continued enjoyment of War Online. I assure you that Everlife will also be a compelling experience." Vince stated kindly.


    Vince introduced his mother and friends to the famous actors, leaving them some time to mingle.


    Kyle and Rick were drooling over Jennifer Lawrence and Hailee Steinfeld while Leah, Sera, Jessica, and Sarah were conversing with Robert Downey Jr. and Dwayne Johnson.


    Marco and Vince spent a few minutes discussing Everlife and other random topics with The Rock.


    "I''ve been watching your friend, Tom Fury, in his recent UFC fights. That kid is tough and enormous to boot." The Rock stated.


    "Marco and I train at his father''s gym every day when I''m in Austin. He''s busy with a fight camp at the moment, but he would''ve loved to meet you." Vince replied.


    "I''m a big fan! Tell him we can meet whenever he''s in LA. My home even has a full gym. I''ll have a cage installed just for him." The Rock replied excitedly.


    "Alright. Tom will appreciate the kind gesture. He''ll probably give you cage-side tickets the moment he learns you''re a fan." Vince stated honestly.


    "You''re friend here is Marco, the Marco from the Battle of Dehdadi, right?" The Rock asked.


    "Of course, you''ve heard of me?" Marco asked curiously.


    "You''re a living legend, dude! Plenty of my military friends who served in Afghanistan keeps talking about your heroics. Kicking a grenade with your leg before it explodes is a crazy and courageous act. It''s an honor to meet such a badass." The Rock replied reverently.


    "It seems like you''re quite famous in certain social circles, Marco," Vince said in jest.


    "I''ve been your fan for so long, ever since the WWF. Your words mean a lot to me." Marco stated.


    "War is a sensitive subject, but I bet we''ll win with men like you on our side. Do you mind showing me your cybernetic leg? I heard it''s the most advanced limb replacement in the world." The Rock requested.


    Marco happily pulled up his pants to reveal the Future Med enhanced cybernetic leg.


    "Holy shit. That thing looks dangerous as fuck." The Rock commented.


    "If I wanted to, I could easily destroy anything in this room, including the walls and floor with this leg," Marco explained.


    "This version of cybernetic replacement isn''t commercially available yet, and will probably not be sold to civilians anytime soon," Vince remarked.


    "I bet it''s expensive. I hope regular people don''t have access to this sort of thing, or else we''d be screwed." The Rock replied.


    A few minutes later, inside the convention hall. Wonder Alice and 3D Jaden were readying their equipment for the presentation.


    All of the lights suddenly dimmed in preparation for the show''s start.


    The hall was full of excited people who couldn''t wait to hear more about Everlife.


    Music began playing, and the spotlight pointed to a corner of the hall, where Pharrel Williams and Daft Punk were performing the Everlife theme music live, which surprised many people.


    A brand new trailer was shown on the big screen, featuring more moments with the leading actors, the different vehicles, and the game features Everlife had to offer.


    "They have the La Ferrari in the game?!" one of the audience members exclaimed.


    "The game has more licensed vehicles than just the La Ferrari. Look, Robert Downey Jr.''s character just hopped off an Agera SFV in the background." his friend replied.


    [Future Tech''s presentation is so much more entertaining than the ooze fest Microsoft and Sony announcements.] Wonder Alice thought while enjoying the photorealistic video.


    Towards the end of the new trailer, four people emerged from the backdrop, the leading cast of characters in Everlife and Future Studio''s junior executive director.


    The crowd started wildly cheering when they watched the pop icons walk to the middle of the stage.


    [I wonder who this young guy is. I''m sure he wasn''t in the trailer.] 3D Jaden pondered.


    "I''d like to thank Pharrel and Daft Punk for that fantastic performance," Kyle said confidently before clapping.


    The sudden entertainment fully engaged the audience with the compelling trailer and music, and everyone clapped even louder than earlier.


    "Future Studios has invited three of your favorite actors to speak about their experience with the game''s story development," Kyle stated.


    "I had so much fun working with these two guys and the rest of the cast at Future Studios LA. My character is very different from my usual stuff, and I hope you enjoy the intricate sidequest you''ll be experiencing with her." Jennifer Lawrence stated.


    "Though they couldn''t make it here at E3, The Russo brothers have outdone themselves with the direction of the game story. They''re filming Captain America - Winter Soldier this year, but I feel Everlife is still their magnum opus." Robert Downey Jr. explained.


    "All I can say is, this game is a must-buy! I''ve been playing the extended demo for a week now, and I''m craving for more. Good thing the demo version connects to an Infinity Cloud account, making it easier for me to transfer my progress to the game release version. You guys will share the same luxury when trying out the demo booths at the Future Studios exhibit." The Rock stated.


    "Though, don''t waste too much time creating your character because you''ll be able to change it at release," Kyle commented jokingly.


    "Everybody is wondering when the game will come out. I can confidently say that with the collaborative effort between 10,000 game developers and artists and the assistance of Epic Games, Everlife story mode will be available for download on June 14, 2013. While multiplayer is available for purchase now." Kyle declared.


    "Wait. That''s three days from now." 3D Jaden said out loud in surprise.


    "That''s correct. Future Studios started the development of Everlife a month after the release of War Online. Using Unreal Engine, advancements in the game development pipeline allowed us to complete this next-generation triple-a video game. That achievement is a testament to the prowess of Future Tech''s software and hardware engineers." Kyle proclaimed proudly.


    "The new Infinity Unreal Engine is a product of hard work and dedication between many divisions of Future Tech and the entirety of Epic Games. Now that Future Tech purchased Epic Games for $10 billion, we''ll be releasing the software development kit, including assets used in Everlife, free of charge. Anyone can use Unreal Engine for commercial use for up to $5 million in profit; then, Future Studios will charge a 10% license fee." Kyle explained.


    The game developers in the crowd were whispering to each other, primarily ones who use Unity and proprietary game engines.


    "Did we forget to mention that the entire Everlife trailer is rendered in-game? Meaning what you see is what you''ll experience when you play the game. This video game is the first to attempt a photorealistic aesthetic with the power of Infinity Unreal Engine. So you, too, can make video games as beautiful as Everlife." Kyle added.


    "You''re wondering how on earth your PC or previous-generation console can handle Everlife, but don''t worry. Future Studios designed the game to work on any platform, from mobile phones to the newest consoles, in varying graphics quality. But, of course, to achieve the level of detail you see in the trailer, you''ll need an Infinity-based computer system.


    The lights suddenly turned off, and the four people left the scene in the cover of darkness. Vince made his way up the stage while a video was playing on the big screen.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $10 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, SpaceX)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)

 Chapter 69 - Freebies

    An animated video showed the Infinity Series of products ranging from a new mobile phone to a supercomputer filling an entire building floor.


    When the video concluded, Vince took center stage and discussed Future Tech''s new product line for 2013.


    "Everybody is releasing new consoles later this year, but everyone will have the opportunity to buy an Infinity console starting tomorrow. Yet before we talk more about consumer devices, I''d like to show you one of the significant features of Everlife." Vince stated.


    Another Everlife trailer played on the big screen showing large-scale multiplayer and many other game modes already built-in from the story mode.


    "In partnership with NetServ, Everlife will feature online servers with a maximum of 10,000 concurrent players, for now, via the Infinity Cloud subscription, adding on to your existing telecom bill for $10 a month, or paid for separately. Any purchasing player can utilize the Infinity Cloud platform to host private servers and sell custom game modes and assets created on the Infinity Unreal Engine - Everlife kit. Future Studios will feature the best mods and custom maps on the Infinity Store and even include them on official servers for a fair price, of course." Vince explained.


    The crowd couldn''t help from cheering in excitement after learning about Everlife''s multiplayer feature.


    "You can technically develop entirely new missions with voice acting and custom animations using the software tools included for free on any Infinity-based product. The Infinity brand name comes from the new one-nanometer processor architecture developed by Future Tech that drives all our computers. We''ll continue security updates for our first-generation products for five years but will focus on the Infinity line from now on." Vince stated.


    "The Infinity console will retail for $999 and is a powerful computer in its own right, though I recommend buying an Infinity Workstation if you plan on developing 3D projects like games and movies costing $5,000. For businesses requiring on-premises Infinity cloud processing, Infinity Servers is the right choice for $25,000 each. Infinity Supercomputers boasts 500 Petaflops of processing speed, almost ten times faster than the Tianhe-2. These supercomputers cost $250 million each, reserved for universities and US government institutions for now." Vince added.


    "AI is a cornerstone technology of Future Tech, and all our users will experience the assistance of general artificial intelligence using Infi, a built-in AI assistant powered by the Infinity Cloud on all our new devices. But before we talk more about Future Tech AI, I''d like to present one of Future Education, Studios, and Robotics'' most outstanding innovation yet. The Hypervisor." Vince stated before the lights suddenly turned off.


    Daft Punk started playing more music from the Everlife soundtrack. Then, the stage lit up, and the audience could see eleven men wearing peculiar and futuristic devices over their eyes. After a few seconds of them dancing, the people instantly recognized the group as the Jabbawockeez, but instead of their usual white masks, they were wearing the new Hypervisors.


    [This E3 announcement keeps getting better and better every second.] 3D Jaden thought.


    The audience was ecstatic to watch one of the most popular dance groups in the world live on stage at such an unsuspecting event as a video game announcement.


    Three young people walked up to the center when the dance number concluded, and the Jabbawockeez left the stage.


    "As you could tell, the devices they were wearing is the new Hypervisor. Your peripheral vision is so clear; you can dance while you''re wearing them. The Hypervisor is the latest way to interact with the digital world. Augmented reality training simulations were the first application we tested using the Hypervisor. Future Tech has certified hundreds of aerodyne pilots using the prototype version, and this new iteration includes more free training simulations like for the Infinity Unreal Engine and other pre-installed Infinity operating system software." Jessica stated.


    "There are three modes currently available. Standard mode projects an enhanced image of what you''re looking at and can even compensate for darkness and brightness. The second mode is Augmented Reality, where the visor shows 3D and 2D objects in your field of view, which is very useful in training mechanics and professionals from many industries. The third mode is Virtual Reality, which requires a compatible computer like the Infinity Console or Workstation to run. It allows the user to experience immersive content such as video games and movies like you were there. You can also use a virtual desktop and abandon your multi-display setups for office workloads. Hell, you can even ditch your mobile phone because the Hypervisor has a built-in Infinity Cloud connection that works with any NetServ subscription." Jessica added.


    "We''ve spent months perfecting an intuitive control scheme easy enough for any user to learn. All software is technically compatible with Virtual Desktop, but Future Tech applications still work the best in the Hypervisor environment." Sarah commented.


    "Future Tech has worked diligently with Epic Games to refine the Infinity Unreal Engine enough to handle Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality workloads. Our advancements with in-game rendering and 3D-accelerated computations allowed us to integrate a holistic VR experience into Everlife. You heard that right. Everlife in high-resolution, fast refresh rate, Virtual Reality." Rick declared.


    [Like the popular anime, Sword Art Online?!] Wonder Alice thought excitedly.


    "I know you''re already thinking about the anime, but this isn''t deep-dive VR. Not yet, I would say." Jessica commented.


    "Future Tech is already working on deep-dive VR?!" an audience member shouted out while everybody else was dead silent from their shock.


    "For a year now, yes. We''ve designed the Infinity architecture, operating system, and Unreal Engine to accommodate our eventual shift into deep-dive VR experiences. However, it will take years before the FDA approves the project." Jessica explained.


    [We''re getting AR and VR now, and even deep-dive VR soon?!] 3D Jaden thought in disbelief.


    "If you''re courageous enough, under your seat, Future Studios hid a Hypervisor for anyone to try out right now. So go ahead, give it a spin." Rick stated.


    The audience members reached underneath their seats and immediately wore a Hypervisor as soon as they found it.


    "Future Tech has purchased many small companies like Grado Labs to add better features to our products, and the Hypervisor comes with audiophile-grade molded earbuds. I suggest turning off the noise-canceling and using ambient-sound mode for now." Rick explained.


    "All of the new Infinity products are powered by the latest batteries designed by Tesla in partnership with Future Tech Materials. For example, the Infinity mobile phone and Hypervisor come with a 60,000 mA Vertically-Aligned Carbon Nanotube battery. It improves power by a factor of 10, energy storage by up to a factor of three, and lifecycle by up to a factor of five, all while reducing charge time down to a mere few minutes. Lighter, smaller, and more compact than any on the market." Sarah commented.


    "I wouldn''t recommend virtual reality for prolonged periods, but the Hypervisor can handle wireless network, graphics, controls, audio, for days before you''d need to recharge the battery. So you wouldn''t have to worry about running out of juice in the middle of work or play." Sarah added.


    An augmented reality show starring various Everlife characters started a few seconds after the audience wore the Hypervisors.


    "Wow! It''s like the characters are physically around us." Wonder Alice said in awe.


    "The world is changing literally right before my eyes!" 3D Jaden replied in excitement.


    The three young executives exited the stage while Vince and Patel returned to the spotlight.


    "Thank you, Jessica, Rick, and Sarah, for the Hypervisor demonstration. "With me is Patel, the genius innovator leading Future Tech AI," Vince stated.


    "Infi, the assistant AI is more than just for ease of use. Infi facilitates all devices using NetServ Infinity Cloud-like autonomous drones and public transportation. Many Future Tech employees are already using Infi for train arrival/departure updates, calendar assistance, and miscellaneous application tasks like controlling Hypervisor functionality with just a few verbal instructions. More integration features will release once more Infinity-related products are available." Patel explained passionately.


    "We''ll be announcing upcoming VR and AR experiences like video games, simulations, movies, and other media throughout 2013. But for now, please enjoy your very own free Infinity Console and Hypervisor, which costs $2,500 as a set. You can register your devices to an Infinity Cloud account after the show. Special thanks to all the brilliant and dedicated members of Future Tech. These innovations wouldn''t be here without you, guys!" Vince declared as the end music started playing.


    The audience was still shocked by all revelations happening in the past half hour. Future Tech and Wonder Alice''s live stream viewers were going nuts and chatting at an insane rate.


    [We even get free stuff?! This show was the best E3 announcement I''ve ever seen!] Wonder Alice thought.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $10 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, SpaceX)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i.e., Instagram)

 Chapter 70 - Everlife Online

    Vince posted a replay of the Future Tech announcement and more specific product information on their website and social media platforms.


    Video game fans tuning in to E3 around the world couldn''t believe the recent news from Future Tech.


    While Vince was walking towards the Future Tech exhibit with Marco, he was approached by a young man in his late teens and a young woman about the same age.


    Both seemed non-threatening, so Vince instructed his security detail to allow them through.


    "Mr. Dalton, we thank you so much for the console and Hypervisor. I can already tell my workflow on YouTube will be much more efficient with Infinity products." 3D Jaden stated sincerely.


    "I''ve always wanted to stream Virtual Reality games when they eventually come out, and now I''ll have the opportunity to be one of the first VR Twitch streamers!" Wonder Alice added.


    "I''m glad you''re excited to use our new products. You look familiar. Are you 3D Jaden? The vlogger and APL content creator?" Vince asked.


    "OMG! Vince Dalton watches my videos?!" 3D Jason said to Alice in surprise.


    "I keep tabs on active social media influencers for War Online. People like you are the reason why the APL is as popular as it is. So why don''t both of you join us at the Future Tech exhibit? We''ll meet up with the rest of my companions and test out Everlife Online." Vince suggested kindly.


    "We''d we be honored to accept your invitation, Mr. Dalton," Alice sincerely replied while Jaden was still in shock.


    Marco and the other security operators escorted them through the busy convention center and arrived at the exhibit a few minutes later.


    Alexis noticed Vince arrived and immediately welcomed him to the recently opened Future Tech exhibit.


    "The E3 announcement was a massive success, Vince. You definitely know how to put on a show." Alexis stated honestly.


    "Our new line of products will change the world. So it was only suitable to make it entertaining. Have you seen Kyle and the others?" Vince asked.


    "Your mother and Dr. Sera went shopping around LA. Elon and your friends are playing Everlife Online in the private demo room." Alexis replied.


    Alexis then showed Vince the way towards the back of the exhibit, which was full of excited gamers testing Hypervisors and Infinity consoles for the first time.


    The three famous actors were sitting on the sofa on top of the exhibit stage, being interviewed by Future Studios as additional fan service for the crowd. The Rock was even playing the story prologue using the Hypervisor. A big screen showed his point of view for the audience.


    "How long did we book the three of them for E3? I forgot." Vince asked, embarrassed.


    "3 hours in total for the announcement and post-show. Did you want to extend the contract length?" Alexis asked.


    "They''ve done enough promotion for Everlife. It would be ungracious of me not to accommodate them further for today, so invite them all to the yacht for some relaxation. Include Pharell, Daft Punk, and the Jabbawockeez. We''ll leave after their post-show." Vince instructed.


    They arrived at the private demo booth and saw his friends and Hailee playing the racing multiplayer game mode.


    "Vince, that was an excellent show Future Tech put on; nobody even noticed me watching among the crowd," Elon stated.


    Wonder Alice and 3D Jaden were stunned to see one of the most famous LA businessmen in person.


    "Thanks for the compliment. These two are Wonder Alice and 3D Jaden. I met them on the way here. 3D Jaden does plenty of informative War Online online videos weekly, so I invited them along." Vince explained.


    "My name is Elon. It''s a pleasure to meet you both. Let''s play the heist game mode and make some money for our online characters!" Elon suggested excitedly.


    "What specialization are you leveling up on your character first?" Vince asked curiously.


    "The hacking mechanic got me hooked with all the different intrusion and breach devices in the game. So I''m going for a silent hacker build." Elon replied.


    "That''s a viable strategy, even in the single-player story. You can technically finish the game without killing enemies by only stunning or knocking them out with tech weapons." Vince replied.


    3D Jaden and Wonder Alice wore their Hypervisors and connected to the demo Infinity consoles to join the online server.


    "Be careful playing Everlife in VR if you''re susceptible to motion sickness. We have computer monitors as well if you need any." Alexis commented.


    "Thank you for the reminder, ma''am," Alice replied while setting up the game in the Hypervisor.


    "Wow! The operating system in AR and VR is so intuitive. I can do ten actions with each finger instead of just left and right-click." 3D Jaden commented.


    "I appreciate the compliment. The Hypervisor distinguishes each finger and arm using Infi AI. We spent months refining the user controls and menus, right guys?" Jessica stated.


    "Hell yeah." "Damn right." Rick and Sarah replied.


    "My name is Jessica, by the way. Vince forgot to introduce us, so let me. That scruffy-bearded kid is Kyle; those two blonde twins are Rick and Sarah, while that young lady is Hailee." Jessica explained.


    "I''m Alice, and this is my boyfriend, Jaden. Thank you for having us!" Wonder Alice replied sincerely.


    "My goatee isn''t scruffy at all! And my beard is better compared to most in our age." Kyle interjected in defense.


    "I''m just messing with you, bro! Now come on and steal the diamonds already. The police AI is halfway here." Jessica replied.


    "Where''s Patel and his family gone?" Vince asked curiously.


    "They left for San Francisco after the E3 show on one of our Stingrays. Patel mentioned they''ll be back at the yacht later tonight." Alexis explained dutifully.


    "Thanks for the info. You can help the other personnel on the exhibit floor. We can get ourselves set up in here." Vince stated.


    "My employees at Future Education can handle the public outside; I''ve made sure of it. It would be my pleasure to serve the private demo room in the meantime." Alexis replied sincerely.


    [This is my chance to prove my worth to the boss directly. I won''t have many more opportunities in the future.] Alexis pondered.


    "Alright. Do what you will." Vince replied.


    Vince and Marco tested the gun mechanics in the assault mission game mode while the rest farmed Everlife Online cash in various other game modes.


    An hour later, the post-show ended, and the three lead cast members arrived at the private demo booth.


    Vince disconnected from the online server to thank them for promoting Everlife on stage.


    "Vince, the Everlife Online is so much fun with so many game modes to play scattered around Everlife City. The Hypervisor made me a bit sick at first, but I got used to it after five minutes." The Rock said excitedly.


    "I saw the crowd waiting in line outside enjoying the post-show. I appreciate the three of you taking the time to attend E3." Vince said sincerely to all three.


    "Don''t worry about it. You already paid us $20 million each for voice acting and motion capture work. Fairly easy money, I would say." Robert Downey Jr. replied honestly.


    "And I heard from Alexis you''re inviting us to your yacht for an after-party. That sounds so much fun. My companion here will love it. Won''t you, Hailee?" Jennifer Lawrence commented.


    "I agree the idea sounds entertaining. I''m so down to go!" the young lady, Hailee, added.


    "It''s not mine yet, but my mother insists I buy the thing. I might ask for both your opinions later tonight." Vince replied.


    "Alexis, I''ll leave our E3 exhibit for the weekend in your hands. We''ll see you at the yacht when you close up shop later." Vince stated.


    "You can count on me, Vince. Please enjoy the rest of your day." Alexis replied.


    Except for Pharrel, Daft Punk, and the Jabbawockeez, who were doing other gigs later the same day, everyone gathered and headed towards the private parking garage.


    "I didn''t expect an invitation to your yacht, Mr. Dalton. I''ve never been on one before." 3D Jaden mentioned.


    "Haha! It was my first time on a yacht yesterday, so it''s a fairly new experience for us too." Vince replied.


    They approached the Stingray parked at the back of the convention center, which could fit all of them easily.


    "Sweet ride. I''ve seen the CAV flying around LA from time to time, but this one is much bigger and has a sleek aesthetic to it. Kind of like the B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber." Robert commented in awe.


    "Only Future Tech and the US military own Stingrays at the moment. Most of them are in Afghanistan or foreign Future Security branches." Vince explained.


    3D Jaden, Wonder Alice, and the other guests excitedly boarded the transport AV. They enjoyed the rare sight of flying over LA on their way to the yacht.


    [The city is so beautiful from this point of view.] Wonder Alice pondered while looking out the window.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $10 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, SpaceX)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)

 Chapter 71 - Relaxation

    The Stingray hovered over Santa Monica Bay, where a mega-yacht was waiting.


    Looking out the window, Jennifer was shocked to see such a large yacht parked a mile off the coast of Malibu.


    "I wasn''t aware Future Tech built luxury yachts as big as this one," Robert commented after looking out the window.


    "Of course not. We can only build cargo ships at the Houston Port currently. The yacht is L¨¹rssen''s latest design. A man named Paulos is attempting to woo me into buying it." Vince explained.


    "His mother loves this yacht, and as far as I''m concerned, Vince already owns it," Elon stated as banter.


    "Come on, Elon. I know you only want to enjoy the yacht while I''m away." Vince replied with his banter.


    3D Jaden and Wonder Alice were dead silent due to their sheer excitement to experience life on a mega-yacht.


    They landed a few minutes later and got themselves situated in the lounge room while the crew served refreshments, snacks, and drinks.


    Jennifer had gotten to know Kyle and Rick before the E3 announcement started. So she decided to sit next to Vince, Jessica, and Sarah to strike up a conversation.


    "Men from the have Hollywood scene have invited me to yachts plenty of times before, but I''ve never seen one as big as this," Jennifer said to break the ice.


    "Makes sense. Paulos told me this yacht is the biggest in any sea or ocean. I''ll name it ''The Longhorn'' after I talk to him tomorrow." Vince replied.


    "Great name choice, Vince. People back home will love it." Sarah commented.


    "Oh, I get it. Like the Texas Longhorn cattle, University of Texas'' mascot." Jennifer added.


    "You know your college lore, Jennifer. I didn''t expect that from you." Jessica stated.


    "Why didn''t you think so? Just because I never finished high school or college?" Jennifer replied angrily in defense.


    "Calm down, Jennifer. She didn''t mean it that way. I''m aware you consider yourself a ''self-educated'' professional but look at us. Kyle, Jessica, Rick, Sarah, and I barely take our homeschool seriously because we work more than sixty hours a week. We''re more alike than you think." Vince said reassuringly.


    "Vince is right. You''re busy acting in blockbuster movies to have enough time for studies on the side." Sarah added.


    The Rock, Elon, and Robert overheard their conversation and interjected by ordering drinks for everyone from the crew.


    "Relax, Jennifer. We''re here to have fun at Vince Dalton''s request. Let''s not be so on edge." Robert commented.


    "I''ll have one of my men pick up swimming and leisure attire for all of you, in case you want to swim in the pool, drink at the jacuzzi, and stay the night. We have enough rooms for 36 people on board." Vince stated.


    "Who''s down to ride jet skis on the Pacific with me?" Rick asked curiously.


    "Fuck yeah!" "I''m down!" Kyle and The Rock replied in unison.


    "You kids, be careful out there," Robert said jokingly.


    The three men gulped down their vodka cocktails and immediately went straight to the stern of the ship.


    "Do you mind if I jet ski with them, Mr. Dalton?" 3D Jaden asked in a hushed tone.


    "We have more than enough jet skis. Go ahead. And call me Vince, please." Vince replied.


    "How about you, Alice? Interested in some water sports?" He asked.


    "I''ll stay and drink with you guys here for now. Do you mind if I take some videos for my vlog?" Alice asked.


    "You can but be mindful of where you point the camera. You''re a Twitch streamer, right?" Vince asked.


    "Yes. Instagram Live is doing well right now, but as a video game streamer, the best platform is Twitch." Alice replied honestly.


    [Instagram Live will do better in the gaming industry if I integrate Twitch somehow.] Vince pondered.


    "Thank you for your opinion. I''ll keep it in mind. Future Tech might buy Twitch soon based on what you''ve said. Streamers are the lifeblood of modern video games, after all. And I want War Online and Everlife to stay relevant for years to come." Vince explained.


    [I''ve never heard anyone refer to streamers in that way. So is streaming supposed to be popular now?] Alice thought.


    "What''s this streamer mumbo jumbo you guys are talking about?" Robert asked curiously.


    "It''s self-publishing live entertainment like playing video games, a music show, or any form of media you''d see on TV, but broadcasted on internet platforms like Instagram or Twitch," Jessica explained.


    "It''s understandable why you''re not aware of streaming because it has only gotten popular recently due to War Online and the APL. Streamers are branching out to other types of content like vlogging and game shows nowadays." Alice added.


    "I''m not that old already, am I? You youngins are making me jealous of your youth." Robert said in banter.


    While they were talking, Vince smelled something funky in the air and looked outside the lounge to see Elon smoking a joint by the yacht''s railing.


    "Elon, what''s going on out there?" Vince asked in jest.


    "You said we should relax, and smoking Cali Kush is the best way to do that around here in California," Elon replied with a grin on his face.


    "Elon, come here inside and let me have a few hits. Then, I''ll sponsor the next ounce." Vince instructed.


    Vince didn''t toke like a bitch and hit the J as an experienced smoker.


    [I still got it. But, damn, it''s been years since I traveled back in time and last smoked the ganja.] So Vince thought while enjoying a puff.


    "I didn''t know you smoked, Vince. It never occurred to me such a serious businessman like yourself would be into things like this." Elon stated in banter.


    "You''re one to talk. Are you planning on getting high before heading to Mars?" Vince replied, adding to the banter.


    "May I? It smells too good to pass up." Robert asked.


    "Whoa! Tony Stark likes getting lit too." Vince replied.


    "Don''t call me Tony Stark; it''s incredibly embarrassing coming from you. You''re more of a Tony Stark than I am." Robert stated.


    "Tony Stark is a genius, and I''m just a lucky kid who spends his money wisely," Vince replied honestly.


    "Don''t mind Vince when he''s like this. Always so modest about his success. We''re literally enjoying the finest alcohol on the world''s largest yacht right now." Elon commented.


    "How much does Future Tech make? Unfortunately, it''s not a public company, so no one truly knows except you and your accounting department. I''m just curious. " Jennifer asked inquisitively.


    [Talking about money isn''t my style, but everyone is getting drunk and high, so there shouldn''t be too much harm to share a bit.] Vince pondered while smoking.


    "We pay and fund our staff well, so most of our profits get instantly halved. However, net profit last year was about $75 billion and projected to increase massively in Q4 of 2013. Not as high as the large oil and gas corporations, but we''ll get there." Vince explained.


    "Wow! Not even Apple makes that much profit in a year." Robert commented.


    "But Apple isn''t winning a war in Afghanistan and providing life-altering medical services," Marco interjected from the sideline.


    "Marco, stop acting so serious and grab a drink. Have fun and let the other FS operators do their job." Vince instructed.


    A few crew members appeared holding Future Couture bags for each guest containing complete sets of vacation clothing from the summer collection.


    "This swimsuit looks and feels incredible," Alice mentioned while checking out her new clothes.


    "It''s my treat. The crew will guide y''all to your private staterooms. Get dressed and jump in the jacuzzi whenever, and I''ll have our drinks brought to us." Vince stated.


    An hour of conversation later, The Rock, Kyle, Rick, and Jaden returned from their jet ski escapade.


    Jennifer felt more at ease after her little outburst earlier and continued drinking and talking to Vince and others.


    "So someone tried to kill you at your old home? That''s so scary." Jennifer stated.


    "But he beat the contract killer with a sweet double-leg takedown, from what Director Price told me. Vince has a heart of a lion!" Marco commented in his drunkenness.


    "Stop, Marco. You''re embarrassing me in front of our guests." Vince instructed.


    "Being courageous isn''t embarrassing at all, Vince. On the contrary, I think it''s quite charming." Jennifer stated seductively.


    [Is it just me, or is it getting hot in here?] Vince pondered while gulping his Vesper Martini.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $10 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, SpaceX)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)

 Chapter 72 - Summer Vacation

    The following morning, Vince woke up in the yacht''s primary bedroom with a massive headache from his hangover.


    [What a pleasurable dream I had.] Vince thought.


    He reached for his phone on the side of the bed where he typically charges it but noticed a young woman lying right beside him.


    [WTF?!] Vince thought in surprise.


    "Vince, you were so sweet and attentive last night. I guess we both fell asleep on your bed while watching TV after spending hours drinking with your friends." Hailee stated as she slowly woke up from her slumber.


    "What happened last night exactly?" Vince asked inquisitively.


    "You don''t remember? You''re the one who kissed me at the top deck while we were both alone last night." Hailee replied.


    [Elon and his Cali Kush got me into trouble. I''ll get him back for this one day!] Vince thought.


    "Thanks for jogging my memory. I''m slowly remembering what happened. You can take the first shower before we head to the dining hall for breakfast." Vince stated.


    "Alright, but you''ll have to join me. We don''t want to keep the other guests waiting." Hailee replied with a seductive smile.


    [More money, more problems, but I think I can handle an issue like this.] Vince pondered as he followed Hailee into the bathroom.


    Thirty minutes later, they both took the elevator and arrived at the lavish dining hall in the middle of ''The Longhorn'' where other guests were already eating breakfast.


    Kyle was about to say something, but Vince immediately stopped him from talking by holding his hand out.


    "I already know what you''re about to say, Kyle. So keep it to yourself." Vince stated sternly.


    "Come on, Vince. I was going to say good morning." Kyle said with a wide grin on his face.


    "Find a seat, you two. I''ll have the chef bring out more food." his mother Leah instructed.


    Vince and Hailee sat beside each other and started choosing dishes from the menu.


    Before the food arrived, Vince began talking to the other guests who decided to stay the night around the table.


    "Alice and Jaden. Are you satisfied with your current accommodations?" Vince asked.


    "Of course! Experiencing the high life isn''t a common occurrence for us. And we were able to film some of The Longhorn''s features for our vlog. Our fans have been bombarding our social media accounts asking about this mini-vacation you graciously invited us to." Alice replied sincerely.


    "I trust you won''t spread too much information about our get-together. Or else it may get awkward." Vince stated plainly.


    "Don''t go scaring the guests, son. They know their limits." Leah said in a scolding manner.


    "I would never do that to you, Vince, especially after Fortis told me about your inspirational pep talk after they lost the APL Season 2 Finals. You seem like a good person." 3D Jaden said honestly.


    "You''re friends with Fortis, Prime Alliance''s team captain?" Vince asked curiously.


    "He''s my cousin. We both got into War Online, but he preferred playing the game too seriously, whereas I liked creating content for viewers online." 3D Jaden replied.


    "Small world. I''ll have my lawyers write a sponsorship deal for both you and Alice as a sign of thanks for being such an enjoyable company." Vince stated.


    Hailee interjected with a question before Alice and Jaden could thank Vince''s generous offer.


    "Who''s this Fortis person? I noticed Vince got worked up when you mentioned his name." Hailee asked curiously.


    "It''s because Fortis is the best APL player in the world right now. He''s coming back with a vengeance this season, and not even Charlatan''s peak last year comes close to Fortis'' current form." Rick commented passionately as an avid fan of APL.


    "Damn right," "True," Kyle and Sarah added.


    "Will you be watching the APL Finals in Vancouver next week? You''ve attended the last two finals." Wonder Alice asked,


    "I wasn''t planning to go because of our Q3 sales schedule. And, all of our Infinity products will hit the shelves soon." Vince replied in frustration.


    "Vancouver has beautiful weather in late June," Leah commented.


    "That''s the same thing you said about LA when I asked you to join us at E3, mom." Vince rebuked.


    "Let''s go, Vince. We couldn''t go to South Korea last time because of that massive defense contract you threw on our plates, but it''s different now that all our current projects are in the review phase." Rick commented.


    "Every employee at Future Tech is allowed a maximum of three weeks for vacation, and we''ve barely used much of ours this year," Kyle added.


    "A trip to British Columbia sounds fun, Vince. Do you mind if I tag along?" Hailee asked with a puppy dog face.


    [We have been working a lot this past year. Continuing this summer vacation will be good for the gang, considering we''re all teenagers in the first place.] Vince pondered.


    "Alright, You guys win. We can take The Longhorn up north and dock at the Coal Harbour Marina. At 31 knots, it can take us there in 30 hours. We can spend more time here or pass by San Fransisco and Seattle on the way." Vince declared.


    "You guys can go without us. My family and I will take the Dreamliner back to Austin this afternoon. The kids have homework and classes to attend." Patel stated.


    Heidi and Alexis opted to join Patel on their trip back home while Leah, Sera, and the rest of the youngins stayed to attend the APL Finals the following weekend.


    "How did your shopping go yesterday? Unfortunately, both of you missed the E3 announcement." Vince asked chidingly.


    "I agreed to join you in LA, not your show. And it was terrific. We stopped by our LA Future Couture branch and saw it flooded with famous people, and we even met a few." Leah replied.


    "I''m glad you both had fun, at least. Do you have plans for the rest of today?" Vince asked.


    "We''re still thinking about it. I was considering maybe touring around the Griffith Observatory." Leah replied.


    "How about we go to Universal Studios Hollywood?" Kyle proposed.


    "Yes! I want to buy a wand from Ollivander''s!" Sarah added.


    "I''ve always wanted to check out the Jurrasic Park rides," Jessica commented.


    "I''m down to go! I never really had the chance to go because of all the foot traffic and paparazzi, but I feel safe with Marco and your security detail around." Hailee stated in agreement.


    "It''s settled then. Marco, please get in touch with Universal Studios to prepare for our visit. If I''m happy with our experience, I''ll be open to partnering with Universal to create new AR and VR attractions." Vince instructed.


    The gang went their separate ways to prepare for their outing.


    "Your mom picked out a few outfits for me to choose. How about this one?" Hailee asked.


    "I prefer the other one you''re holding. Though I don''t have much of an eye for fashion like my mother." Vince replied honestly.


    "You''re so cute when you get all honest on me," Hailee said with a chuckle.


    "Hey, though we have plenty of security. Are you alright with people seeing you and me together? Aren''t you in a relationship?" Vince asked curiously.


    "You assumed wrong, and I haven''t been dating for months. And who wouldn''t want attention from the most eligible bachelor in the world?" Hailee replied honestly.


    "Okay. Let''s have fun with the rest of the gang during our little summer vacation!" Vince said before changing into more suitable attire.


    The Stingray landed at the rear entrance of the theme park, as requested by the park manager. Moreover, the area was already secure enough, and Vince decided to keep three operators for each of them while strolling around the park.


    3D Jaden and Wonder Alice had their video equipment ready for the exciting moments during their stay at Universal Studios.


    "Hello again, everybody! You won''t believe it; not only are we hanging out with Vince Dalton and his posse in LA, but we''ll also be attending the APL Season 3 Finals as special guests. I think I''ve used up all my luck for an entire lifetime." 3D Jaden said to his wireless microphone while pointing the camera at his all-access pass to Universal Studios.


    [Fortis is going to be so jealous knowing he''s hard at practice while I''m enjoying the high life.] Jaden pondered while walking with Alice and the others.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $10 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, SpaceX)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)

 Chapter 73 - Theme Park Fun

    Future Tech Headquarters was updated regarding Vince''s extended vacation by Alexis, and business continued like it was any other day. Everlife Online sales were already in the millions, and it was only the second day of release.


    Infinity Consoles were also in hot demand, and everyone who was saving money for the new Microsoft or Sony console decided to splurge on the cutting-edge gaming platform.


    The Hypervisor was expensive, but a decent amount of people were willing to buy it as early adopters to test out the many features outlined during the E3 announcement.


    Meanwhile, at Universal Studios Hollywood, Vince and his entourage just got off The Flight of the Hippogriff ride at Harry Potter''s Wizarding World.


    "I wish VR had the same visceral experience as the theme park rides here. That would be so dope." Rick stated.


    "Hanging out with guys has been surprisingly fun. I''ve always thought of myself as a misfit. These days, I spend most of my time with old Hollywood men, and socializing with you all is a breath of fresh air. Thank you!" Hailee Steinfeld said sincerely.


    "You''re a pretty funny conversationalist if I do say so myself. I never thought I''d be hanging out with such a pop icon like you, Hailee." Alice replied.


    "Where do you guys want to go next?" Vince inquired.


    "Let''s go to Jurrasic Park and then head to the new Transformers ride that came out last year," Hailee replied as she wrapped her arm around Vince''s.


    While their entourage was walking through the theme park, the crowded areas dispersed when they saw the heavily armed security surrounding a group of young people.


    A few noticed the famous female actress they all adored walking very intimately with a young man taller than Hailee but looked younger.


    "That''s Vince Dalton and his friends. They all spoke during the Future Tech E3 announcement I watched yesterday. It looks like they''re still here in LA enjoying the sights." A random person said to his companion.


    "Isn''t Vince Dalton like 15 years old? How is he dating Hailee Steinfeld?" his female companion asked.


    "I don''t know, probably because Vince owns the most profitable business and is highly desirable for any woman on Earth. Two years of age doesn''t matter for people like them," he replied plainly.


    Vince and his group immediately hopped on the Jurassic Park: The Ride using their VIP access pass and skipped the line entirely.


    "It''s best if we wear the ponchos just in case we get drenched by the river water," Marco suggested.


    "It seems like Marco here is an experienced theme park goer," Kyle said jokingly.


    "I''ve been to Universal Studios Japan during my time in Camp Fuji. War isn''t my only pastime. I can have fun too, sometimes." Marco replied in jest.


    All of them boarded the ride. Kyle and Sarah, Rick and Jessica, and Vince and Hailee sat next to each other while Marco and three other operators filled the rest of the seats.


    The ride was delightful, and the water splashed a few times while navigating the river.


    Hailee pulled out her iPhone and took pictures of the group getting soaking wet.


    "Hailee, Remind me to give you an Infinity Mobile Phone when we get back to the yacht. Apple security is garbage." Vince instructed.


    [I don''t want anyone to experience what happened in my previous life. Better safe than sorry.] Vince pondered.


    "Thanks, Vince. I''ve been meaning for an upgrade for a while. You made my decision much easier now." Hailee replied sincerely.


    The group rode on the Transformers attractions before meeting Leah and Sera at Hog''s Head Pub.


    "How was your day drinking going?" Vince asked Leah and Sera.


    "The Wizard Brew and Dragon Scale aren''t bad. I''ll order some Butterbeer for you guys." Leah replied.


    "Thanks, Leah!" "Please and thanks!" Alice and the others stated.


    "It''s so crazy we were able to ride most of the attractions in only a few hours. The VIP access pass came in clutch with the ones with huge lines." Rick mentioned.


    "Next time we go back, they''ll have an augmented reality attraction made in partnership with Future Studios. Maybe a War Online-themed experience. The manager was thrilled to hear my offer." Vince replied.


    While Vince explained the AR attraction concept to Kyle and the others, he received a comlink request from Elon.


    "Vince, Are you still in LA?" Elon asked.


    "Yes, we''re at Universal Studios right now. What''s up?" Vince inquired.


    "I don''t want to intrude on your summer vacation, but do you mind stopping by SpaceX today? I want to show you the Falcon Heavy and a new toy that may help expedite the power grid upgrade." Elon replied.


    "Sure thing. We have a bit of free time until the APL Final next week. So give us an hour or so." Vince stated before closing the comlink channel on his smartwatch.


    Sera and Leah decided to visit the Griffith Observatory while Vince and the others headed to SpaceX Headquarters.


    The Hawthorne HQ looked very different from the last time Vince visited. Dragonflies and FS operators were patrolling the area similar to the Austin HQ.


    "Brothers and sisters from Future Tech, welcome to your LA branch. Vince is technically the majority owner of SpaceX now, so it''s only proper." Elon stated after meeting the group at the entrance.


    "Thanks for having us. Please lead the way." Vince replied.


    They took a company vehicle and headed towards the large manufacturing building. Vince''s entourage was mesmerized by the many spacecraft components strewn around the area,


    "That''s the newly updated Falcon Heavy. The freevalve jet engines and unique fuel mix are enough for a round-trip to the moon, though we need the space suits before launching." Elon explained while pointing at a giant rocket with three boosters.


    "The power suits are in the final stage of research and development. It would have been quicker if Heidi didn''t have to design a military version for Director Price." Vince replied.


    Elon nodded and directed the group to a different area of the mega factory.


    "Now, my new toy is for a project I''ve been conceptualizing for a few years. Highway traffic is a nightmare for regular people without AVs, especially in LA. So I devised a boring machine to dig tunnels for underground roads called Hyperloops." Elon explained as their group walked up to a massive boring machine.


    "I understand now. You want to use the same machine to lay underground power lines. It seems viable, but how much would boring a mile cost?" Vince asked curiously.


    "Our earlier design was unreliable and expensive to maintain, but we built the new version with the same advanced materials as some Falcon components, powered by freevalve Koenigsegg engines, reducing the cost from $10 million per mile; to only $3 million per mile," Elon explained.


    "That''s a massive difference, but still quite expensive. We''ll also require an outer tunnel as easy access for maintenance personnel. And cooling the power lines will be a whole other issue." Vince replied honestly.


    "I hear you, Vince. These are all valid concerns, but I assure you that building the Hyperloop in conjunction with laying down new power lines will be cheaper in the long run. We can also lease out space to power and network providers to recoup our losses." Elon stated.


    "Alright, you''ve persuaded me. How much funding do you need?" Vince asked.


    "Don''t worry, Vince. We still have plenty of the initial funding you provided for the power grid upgrades in Austin and LA. It should be enough for this year, but we need government support, and you''re better dealing with the Feds than I." Elon stated.


    "Okay, I''ll make some calls when we get back to The Longhorn. Show us around more, will you? It''s my friends'' first time here." Vince requested


    An hour after the in-depth tour, everybody started to get hungry and decided to eat at Nobu, as suggested by Hailee.


    "I''ve been to almost all the cool places in LA, but it was a pleasure to see the inner workings at the SpaceX Headquarters. This building might be the most modern headquarters in the US." Hailee said to Elon.


    "I appreciate the compliment, but please don''t say things like that in front of Vince. Future Tech Headquarters in Austin looks like it jumped out of a Star Trek. Even just the Tech Campus is a sight to behold." Elon replied honestly.


    [Elon''s comment makes me want to see Future Tech Headquarters for myself. I wonder how futuristic it would be.] Hailee pondered.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)


    $10 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, SpaceX)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch)

 Chapter 74 - Journey To Vancouver

    A gentle breeze swept through the open-air decks of The Longhorn on its journey to Vancouver.


    The West Coast climate lent itself well to the yacht''s amenities like the massage parlor overlooking the ocean.


    Future Tech performed a few upgrades on The Longhorn, such as a remote data access node and an Infinity LAN center where 3D Jaden and Wonder Alice can stream or edit videos. Paulos was mad with excitement and relief when he found out Vince was buying the new Lurssen Yacht concept.


    After breakfast, Vince took Leah for a quick and private conversation in the lounge deck after the entire group.


    "What did you want to talk about, son?" Leah inquired.


    "I can tell you''ve noticed my relationship with Hailee, especially now that she completely vacated her stateroom and moved into my bedroom. Why haven''t you said anything?" Vince asked curiously.


    "Come on, Vince. I won''t judge you for sleeping with an older woman as you''ve never inquired about my relationship with Sera. But, after being sick for so long, I''ve come to appreciate life more, and I want you to enjoy yours." Leah explained caringly.


    "Thanks for the clarification. I didn''t want to ignore the subject, and I feel more at ease now." Vince replied honestly.


    [Though I''m 15 years old at the moment, Hailee is still a few years younger than my age before I reincarnated. Still, relating emotions and experiences with her feel natural, and I can''t stop forming relationships until it''s 2021 again.] Vince pondered as he watched the water ripples around the yacht.


    They both returned to the dining area, and Vince heard Hailee''s hysterical laughter echoing through the corridor.


    "What''s so funny, Hailee?" Vince inquired in interest.


    "I was telling her about your disagreement with Apple two years ago after she asked why you disliked their products. She started laughing when I mentioned we destroyed them in court as a much smaller company back then." Jessica interjected.


    "Yeah! I couldn''t believe those pompous suits in Silicon Valley got their asses handed to them by you guys." Hailee stated.


    "So the Silicon Valley douchebag stereotype has some truth to it, I suppose," Vince replied.


    "True that. Those jerks think they can buy anything, including me," Hailee replied in disdain.


    "Don''t worry about it. After Vince''s run-in with the assassin, he has always kept us safe with security details. Harassment from asshole suits won''t be a problem if you stick with us." Sarah said in support of their new friend.


    "I grew up with a big brother, and he treated me like a boy all the time. So it''s nice to feel a bit of sisterly love finally." Hailee replied in gratitude.


    "We try to avoid talking about our professional lives because we''re on vacation, but I''m curious what you''re next movie will be," Jessica stated.


    "Lionsgate wrapped up the film shooting for Ender''s Game last week. So that''s why I have free time to join you guys." Hailee replied.


    "It''ll be a blockbuster hit for sure! I know you can''t reveal your upcoming projects because of contracts, but I appreciate the inside scoop about Ender''s Game." Jessica said.


    "The next movie I''ll be acting in is pretty is hard to say because my agents are still negotiating deals for next year. Will Future Studios make a new game now that Everlife is released?" Hailee asked.


    "Vince wants us to focus on AR and VR media like movies and a social media network for the Hypervisor. A new triple-a game won''t be too likely soon because now we have two enormous products to maintain. War Online is worth continuously updating considering how the APL is so popular." Kyle commented.


    "Oh, I always thought things like video games were a one-and-done type thing. So we''ll be watching War Online Arena this coming weekend, right?" Hailee asked excitedly.


    "Almost all video games are released once and never updated except for DLC, but live service games like War Online and Everlife Online are different in that respect. We''ll be watching the APL Finals, a professional league for the Arena players. Kind of like the NFL or the NBA, but more profitable, surprisingly." Kyle explained.


    "I always had faith in our esports sub-division. Vince was meticulous in preparing a suitable platform for the league by funding live streams and various other media as a promotion." Rick interjected.


    "Streamers weren''t as respected as it is now. Future Tech was the first company to support the new wave of entertainment, and I even made a bit of money through the Bitcash Market from fans sending me top-tier gear." Alice commented.


    "Hold on to your Bitcoin, and never spend it. That is all I will say." Vince stated seriously.


    [Last time I checked, Bitcash boomed the crypto market, and BTC is now worth $25 thousand each, already half of what it was in 2021. And even more, people are engaged in the market now.] Vince pondered.


    "Thanks for the advice. I heard Future Tech owns most of the supply, so if you''re not selling, there has to be a good reason." Alice replied sincerely.


    "Fiat currency is fucked. I spend most of my billions as fast as Future Tech earns because materials, commodities, and labor will always be king in our society." Vince explained his point of view.


    "That''s funny cause we made so much cash from bartering Bitcoin and digital goods the old-fashioned way. Five goats for a cow." Jessica commented.


    "It would be a nightmare for accounting if the government taxed Crypto like the Dollar, but President Obama assured me this wouldn''t happen during his administration," Vince replied.


    "Wow! Do you speak to the President often?" Hailee asked curiously.


    "Only during emergencies, and mostly about government policy and the campaign in Afghanistan. All of us here has met him in person at least once." Vince explained.


    "Interesting. I only knew of Future Tech because of the first AIM mobile phone released last year that some of my friends use, and Future Studios because of War Online. So you can tell I don''t pay much attention to the news." Hailee replied, a bit embarrassed.


    "Really? So you honestly never knew much about Vince before meeting him at E3? Most people instantly change their attitude when they hear Vince Dalton''s name whenever we''re traveling." Leah commented.


    "Yup. That''s why I was surprised to meet Elon and visit the SpaceX headquarters. Though I was too embarrassed to mention it." Hailee replied.


    "We sell more than crypto, video games, and consumer electronics. Or else I wouldn''t be able to afford a yacht like this. You should visit Austin to see for yourself what Future Tech is all about." Vince suggested.


    "Though you can''t expect much attention from him when he''s in his office. Always busy with work and all. But Sera and I can keep you company." Leah bantered.


    "Mom, I''m learning and managing most of our projects. And, of course, I''ll be busy when I''m in work mode." Vince bantered in his defense.


    "I''m just kidding, Hailee. For sure, Vince will love to keep you company. His penthouse bed is quite large." Leah continued the banter.


    Everybody started laughing as Hailee''s face began to blush after understanding what Leah meant.


    The rest of the trip to Coal Harbour Marina was a blast for all the passengers. Massages, a dip in the jacuzzi and swimming pool, watching movies in the cinema and admiring the upper deck lounge view of the Pacific Ocean.


    Jaden, Alice, and the rest of the youngins invited Hailee to play some War Online and explained the Arena Mode more in-depth to prepare her for watching the APL Finals.


    Hailee even created a Twitch account and co-streamed with Wonder Alice while playing after getting to know each other more, amassing millions of concurrent viewers.


    Vince decided to purchase Twitch before Amazon made an offer and called David to set up the deal for a maximum of $1 billion, a hundred million more than the deal from his past life.


    Vince joined the fun and streamed Arena games with Jaden, carrying him in their matches.


    [Damn, Arena players are no joke. It''s like everybody is playing to win the APL Finals in pugs.] Vince pondered in frustration.


    "Jaden, I think your rank is too high to party with me. I keep getting destroyed at mid." Vince stated.


    While he was complaining, Marco entered the LAN center and notified him of their arrival in Vancouver.


    [Another day, another new place to visit. British Columbia, better get ready!] So Vince thought as The Longhorn''s massive structure slowly found a free space to dock.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $8 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, SpaceX)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i.e., Instagram, Twitch)

 Chapter 75 - APL Season 3 Finals

    The humongous yacht barely fit the passage to Coal Harbour Marina due to its size.


    Yacht owners enjoying the pleasant climate and weather were astounded watching The Longhorn make its way to an available spot.


    "Holy Moley, That''s the biggest yacht I''ve ever seen; it''s unbelievable." a Coal Harbour regular said to his wife.


    "Whoa, is that Hailee Steinfeld I see on the upper deck? We loved her in the True Grit movie." the wife asked.


    "I knew she made plenty of money off her movies, but her yacht is on another level. Maybe I should have gone into acting instead of finance." the husband commented.


    While the couple and other bystanders discussed the new arrival at the harbor, Vince talked to Marco regarding transportation around the city.


    "Are AVs allowed here in Canada? It would be very inconvenient if it weren''t." Vince asked.


    "I asked the Marina officials earlier, and they confirmed that AVs are legal in British Columbia but not entirely legal in Canada yet until 2014," Marco explained.


    "Perfect. It''s my first time in Vancouver, and the Stingray will help significantly travel to each landmark and tourist destination. But, guys, we have two days before the APL Finals on Sunday, so let''s make the most of it." Vince stated.


    "Let''s go to Stanley Park!" Jessica said.


    "Science World is a must-see," Sarah added.


    "Granville Island is famous for its restaurants and shops. I suggest we go tomorrow morning." Dr. Sera suggested.


    "Shopping! I likey!" Leah commented.


    Their group spent most of their time appreciating the sights around Vancouver before attending the Finals on Sunday afternoon.


    At the B.C Place Stadium, the 55,000 audience members were treated to the same level of fanfare as the Finals in LA and South Korea.


    The only thing different is Vince opting to travel separately from the finalists'' limousine convoy.


    They instead flew on the Stingray and arrived at the stadium right before the show started.


    The group and its security escort arrived at the VIP box and settled down on the lazy boy seats.


    [It''s surprising to see many of the audience wearing Hypervisors. They aren''t exactly cheap at $1,500 each for the most basic version.] Vince pondered.


    "Hailee, what''s your opinion on the Hypervisor after getting a full tour from the Infi AI?" Vince inquired.


    "I was skeptical at first but slowly got used to the controls about an hour into practice. The demo AR and VR experiences were amazing, honestly. Especially the futuristic roller coaster VR thing." Hailee replied.


    "I''m glad you like it. We should talk about a new project Future Studios can work with you on later tonight. A new movie, maybe." Vince stated.


    "I can see the potential in this new type of entertainment, so I''d love to be involved," Hailee replied with excitement.


    The lights dimmed in the middle of the arena; then electronic music started playing as Deadmau5 was revealed on stage.


    As usual, the APL Finals featured famous local artists to hype up the crowd during the pre-show.


    After half an hour of music and dance performances, the APL theme song played as the finalists walked towards their booths.


    The crowd of more than fifty thousand passionate fans cheered for Prime Alliance and their rival Clear Sky.


    Even after multiple roster shuffles, these two APL behemoths were still the best in the world. Mainly due to their star players in Fortis and Charlatan.


    "This crazy rivalry has lasted since the first-ever season of the APL. It''s interesting to see if the new grand prize of $50 million, half the season''s entire prize pot, will affect their performance on the big stage." The APL live commentary caster said to his microphone.


    The players were setting up their gaming equipment, and most of them still used widescreen monitors except for Fortis, who chose a Hypervisor instead.


    "Why do you think Fortis will be playing on the Hypervisor?" The co-commentator asked.


    "There isn''t a competitive advantage using the newly released Future Tech product as a display, but the added gesture controls can make a difference if utilized correctly." The other commentator replied.


    As suggested by Vince in South Korea, Fortis focused on mastering all available character archetypes in preparation for the Season 3 final.


    He adapted the same mindset in learning the Hypervisor gestures to add more utility to his play style.


    During one of the team fights in the second game, Clear Sky caught prime Alliance in a smoke cloud ambush led by Charlatan and picked apart the support players in the backline.


    A Clear Sky initiator sought out Fortis in the fog of war and took responsibility for holding him back from helping the rest of Prime Alliance.


    Fortis instinctively released his right hand from the mouse and kept controlling the character with his index finger, similar to how mobile War Online players navigate the game map.


    "What is Fortis doing?!" the commentator screamed in his microphone.


    PC players frowned upon mobile Arena players because the mouse and keyboard were vastly superior.


    Even the audience was stupefied watching Fortis'' precision in dodging the enemy initiator''s incoming [Sweeping Lightning] skill with the use of a gesture.


    Fortis required quick, successive actions to dodge and help his supports and realized the only viable way was to gesture with his right-hand fingers to do so.


    Fortis looked like he was casting an elaborate magic spell through the game booth window while waving his arm and twitching his fingers.


    He turned the fight around on the big screen by ignoring the initiator and utilized [Blink Teleport], a skill not usually used by Tank players like Fortis.


    Charlatan was caught by surprise as he expected Fortis to at least take a few more seconds before joining the team fight.


    [How is he so quick?!] Charlatan pondered as Fortis'' DPS build shredded him to pieces after receiving a few regular attacks.


    Clear Sky lost the chance to close out the game and was now down zero to two.


    "What did we tell you, Hailee? Fortis is the best player in the world, hands down." Rick stated passionately.


    [That swift turnaround was mesmerizing to watch. I can see why people love watching professional War Online instead of only playing it.] so Hailee pondered.


    "What a fantastic play from Fortis to start their comeback in game two. That''s play-of-the-season type stuff, fellas. APL is the best place to watch plays like that!" the commentator preached to his microphone.


    Pure excitement filled the B.C Place Stadium as the audience watched Fortis destroy his enemies one by one with a new and innovative technique.


    Clear Sky looked rattled after losing a close game and was worried Fortis wouldn''t use his mouse anymore.


    [Actually, fuck the mouse. I practiced using the Hypervisor the entire week, but I finally understood how to use gestures properly in a pro match.] Fortis pondered while setting up his character for game three.


    An hour later, Prime Alliance won the next two games and made history by performing a full sweep 4-0 victory to win the Season 3 Finals.


    "Wow! Even though this match was one-sided, Fortis demonstrated the potential of the Hypervisor''s unique control system. Only the best APL player can pull that off with one week of practice. I assume he and the rest of the pro players will soon master the new techniques." the commentator stated.


    "I told you integrating custom control schemes on the Hypervisor was a good idea!" Jessica said proudly.


    "Yeah, yeah. You''re at least right about one thing." Kyle replied.


    Vince stopped their immature quarrel before heading to the stage to present the winner with the trophy and prize money.


    Before Vince began the ceremony, he briefly spoke to the Prime Alliance members.


    "See, what did I tell you? Your greatest asset I observed was adaptability, and Fortis here showed his prowess in learning new things. I, too, strive to get better and learn more, so I have mad respect for y''all." Vince stated before giving them the trophy and the giant cheque for $50 million.


    The crowd chanted Prime Alliance loudly, and two members of the North American team from Canada basked in their hometown glory.


    Vince walked up to Charlatan and his teammates and thanked them for their efforts in the APL using the Infi AI translation app on his smartwatch.


    He invited Prime Alliance to join their group for dinner at the Gotham Steakhouse downtown as a celebratory treat.


    The Stingray had plenty of seats to fit the five players and the two managers. The new guests were awed by the evening city skyline, like usual AV first-timers before arriving at the destination.


    They ate dinner and spent time getting to know more about Fortis with Jaden''s side-commentary as his cousin. Then Vince noticed APL audience members entering the restaurant wearing Hypervisors looking to eat a steak dinner and practiced gestures as they waited for a table.


    [It seems Fortis was the best marketing tool for the Hypervisor''s control system. I was worried people would stick to traditional input devices instead of adapting.] Vince pondered.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $8 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, SpaceX)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch)

 Chapter 76 - After Party

    In a hidden base among the Swiss Alps, a man was tinkering with new toys like he usually did when something Anarchy couldn''t steal became available in the open market.


    The organization leader had his men set up a full-spectrum signal jammer they developed after snatching US Navy digital documents in the early 2000s.


    "Tricky, tricky. Future Tech almost got our location with an automatic GPS pinging system." He said out loud as he turned on the Infinity Workstation.


    Enigma utilized various tools and software to crack the computer''s functionality but couldn''t devise a method without triggering Future Tech''s particular security features in their new products.


    [We''ll have to take our time re-engineering the Infinity product line. Damn those stupid traitors for exposing us. Network and hardware security is getting better and better, but I know we''ll power through like Anarchy has been doing for half a century now.] Enigma pondered deeply.


    Oblivious to the nefarious actions committed to his company''s work, Vince enjoyed the APL Finals after-party being thrown at the Longhorn.


    "I was so busy practicing for the playoffs and finals this week that I didn''t notice you were with Vince on a sailing vacation," Fortis said to his cousin, 3D Jaden.


    "You wouldn''t believe how much of a gracious host Vince and his friends have been to Alice and me. We even streamed War Online together with Vince and Hailee on Twitch. Our fans were going nuts in the chat." Jaden replied.


    "Sick! Do I get a revenue share as your cousin, then?" Fortis asked in banter.


    "If that''s the case, then I get a share of your grand prize too!" Jaden bantered back.


    "Anyway, how were you able to set up the flowing control scheme you employed to smack Clear Sky?" Rick asked.


    "I spent a good few hours talking with the Infi AI in refining my control options that suited my play style. The AI made it easy for me." Fortis replied honestly.


    "We can work with that quote. I''ll have the Future Tech website feature your thoughts and opinion about the Hypervisor control system if you don''t mind." Jessica interjected.


    "No, not at all. I''d be happy to help more people understand the Hypervisor. However, I can never go back to traditional displays after starting to use the Hypervisor because of the premium video quality and controls." Fortis explained.


    The festive atmosphere continued through the night with alcohol and various substances consumed with great enthusiasm.


    Vince and Hailee changed into swimming attire and hung out at the jacuzzi while the female guests joined them.


    "Where''s your boyfriend and his cousin?" Hailee asked Alice.


    "The other guys are drunk and attempting to solo speed-run a dungeon in War Online, betting on who gets the fastest time," Alice replied while shaking her head.


    "Boys will be boys. My dad always told me when my big brother was being an idiot. By the way, I assume you guys will be heading home to Austin soon. It''s been so fun hanging around new and young people, and I don''t want this vacation to end." Hailee said sincerely.


    "Hollywood seems super tough, Hailee, but you''re the best young actress for a reason. We work most of the week, but we''re always down to hang out with you." Sarah commented.


    "After you finish shooting your role in the next movie, I can have a Dreamliner fetch you from LA and take you to Austin or wherever you want," Vince suggested.


    Hailee blushed and quickly pecked him on his lips.


    "Thank you! I''ll be sure to visit Austin soon and see what Elon was gushing about for myself." Hailee replied in gratitude.


    "It should only be a day and a half to return to LA on The Longhorn, so we''ll extend the vacation a bit and take you and the Prime Alliance members home." Vince offered.


    "I''m alright with that. Future Med won''t need me badly until the FDA trials next week." Dr. Sera commented.


    "Oh! Is it the rumored cancer cure gossiped around online?" Alice asked inquisitively.


    "That project is still in the preliminary testing phase, and all I can say is, It is not." Dr. Sera replied plainly.


    "I''m sorry if I asked for too much information. I forgot about corporate rules and stuff. It isn''t my forte, sadly." Alice replied, flustered.


    "Don''t worry about it. An honest mistake is all." Vince said reassuringly.


    "How about another round of cocktails and Vancouver''s finest bud?" Sera asked to break the awkwardness.


    No one declined, and the party continued raging on throughout the night on the yacht.


    On a cozy bed in the primary bedroom, a young couple were cuddling under the sheets while watching random reality tv shows the tipsy Hailee preferred.


    "It''s crazy that the only thing these men want is to marry this random chick on a tv show," Vince commented, referring to the Bachelorette.


    "I agree it''s pretty ridiculous, but most men want a trophy wife, and most women want a sugar daddy. Pursuing fragile expectations like that makes this show amusing to me. How about you, Vince. What are you seeking in life? Hailee asked inquisitively.


    "I always worked hard and overtime for survival. Ensuring my mother''s health was my number one priority. Unfortunately, it took years before we had the resources and found Dr. Sera and her team willing to take on a rare case like hers, and she only recently recovered. As a result, I''m content with what I''ve achieved, and everything in my life now is a bonus." Vince explained with gripping emotion.


    "So that''s why she''s so close to Sera. I understand now that I have a bit more context. You never mentioned your mom was sick." Hailee replied.


    "Now that it''s passed, we don''t need to bring it up often, but I just wanted to be honest. Vince stated.


    [Well, not completely honest. Hailee would think I''m insane if I mention my incredible time-travel X reincarnation experience.] Vince pondered.


    "Do you ever feel anxious or scared about running a continuously expanding company like Future Tech?" Hailee inquired.


    "Not so much last year, but after our run-in with an organized hacker group and my involvement in the Afghanistan War, it weighs on my mind heavily at times. I work on company projects or attend Brazilian jiu-jitsu classes to keep my mind busy. But, unfortunately, good and honorable men have died under my employment, and even Marco was a few inches from death back in February." Vince openly shared.


    "Marco always seemed healthy and in high spirits. I wouldn''t have thought he almost died recently." Hailee replied in surprise.


    "His entire right leg is a cybernetic replacement. However, it''d be hard to notice. He saved many lives that day. It''s a good thing the insurgent leader decided to attack the forward operating base instead of Kandahar, or else innocent people under our protection would have suffered as collateral damage." Vince added.


    "Vince, don''t feel so disheartened. You have so many people around you ready to support you. You always seemed to be optimistic, energetic, and light-hearted with me, especially when you were around Elon." Hailee said with a bit of a chuckle.


    "That guy can be an idiot sometimes; it''s hard not to banter with him. So let me tell you what Elon said to me in Australia when we attended the Formula 1 race. He was trying to pitch an idea to me involving space travel, and instead of aiming for the moon first, he suggested going straight to Mars. He''s hilarious and crazy sometimes." Vince replied as he cheered up slightly.


    Hailee started laughing out loud, making Vince chuckle for a few seconds.


    "Let''s talk about you next. You mentioned growing up in LA. How was it?" Vince asked.


    "We did the standard stuff you would typically do in and around the city. I''m busy in different Hollywood sets most of the time, and I would like to leave the hustle and bustle once in a while like what we''re doing out at sea right now." Hailee explained.


    "Then you''ll love it in Austin. We got all sorts of sites like lazy rivers, hills, mountains, and more activities to do outside the city." Vince declared confidently.


    "You''re pretty sure of yourself asking me to move in with you already. We''ve only been together for a little over a week." Hailee replied in banter.


    "So what if I am?" Vince returned the banter.


    Hailee smiled before imagining a scene in her mind similar to her experience shooting True Grit in the wild west.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $8 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, SpaceX)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch)

 Chapter 77 - Back To Work

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel)


    A day and a half later, The Longhorn docked at the Port of Los Angeles. Vince gathered contact information from his new acquaintances from E3 and Prime Alliance.


    "I can''t promise to watch the next Finals in person, but let''s all keep in touch. I''ll have Marco dispatch a CAV for you guys; unfortunately, the Stingray can''t land in residential areas." Vince suggested.


    Hailee walked up to Vince for a quick conversation after hugging him.


    "When is a good time to see you all again?" Hailee inquired.


    "You can swing by whenever you''re not busy with work. Your Future Security detail can arrange the flight travel. Are you sure you''re okay with me assigning you a security detail? I know it seems a bit much, but I prefer to be thorough." Vince asked sincerely.


    "I said it''s fine. And those Dragonflies can disable cameras; I''ll have them terrorize my daily paparazzi stalkers. They''re so annoying all the time." Hailee replied genuinely.


    "I''m glad you''ll at least gain some amusement from my FS operators. The LA branch will cycle them weekly as they prefer cleaning up the Afghan countryside more than guarding people." Vince stated.


    A CAV slowly landed on the pier''s access road and was ready to bring the guests back to their respective homes within the city.


    The others bade their farewells to Jaden, Alice, Fortis, and the rest of Prime Alliance.


    Hailee kissed Vince on the cheek before saying goodbye and entering the waiting AV.


    [Well, It''s time to get back to work.] So Vince pondered while watching the CAV fly into the city.


    The Future Tech executives landed in Austin later the same day, with the usual Stingray pick-up ready and waiting.


    Most of the group returned home after arriving at the headquarters on their CAVs, while Vince decided to work the rest of the day.


    "Welcome home, Vince. May I get you something to drink or eat?" Aiya said to Vince as he entered the penthouse.


    "A cup of coffee would be delightful. And please have Ralph meet with me if he''s in the headquarters. Thank you." Vince replied.


    "Understood," Aiya replied with a slight bow.


    A finely dressed caucasian man in his early 30s wearing a three-piece Future Couture suit arrived at Vince''s office after ten minutes.


    "Vince, Good to have you back. How was your mini-vacation on the west coast? Ralph asked.


    "The E3 announcement seemed like a success thanks to Alexis and Heidi supporting the event from the background. The trip from LA to Vancouver on The Longhorn was quite fun. I suggest you and your family take it for a spin." Vince replied.


    "I expected it was a pleasure navigating the Pacific Ocean in The Longhorn, especially considering it cost $600 million. Thanks for the offer. You want to discuss the initial sales numbers for the Infinity Product Line, I presume?" Ralph stated openly.


    "That''s why you''re my Chief Financial Officer; you always know what I need," Vince replied with a chuckle.


    "The new consumer product line is only available in the US momentarily because all require an Infinity Cloud account with a NetServ Subscription to operate. As a result, our Sales sub-division estimated a significant decrease in orders, but the flagship products like the Infinity Smartphone, Infinity Console, and the Hypervisor are selling strongly." Ralph explained.


    "The first week of sales included 5 million Consoles for $999 each, 25 million Smartphones for $499 each, 1 million Hypervisors for $1,999 each, 500 thousand Workstations for $4,999 each, and a massive order from Amazon for Infinity Servers. In addition, the EU is negotiating a deal to purchase an Infinity Supercomputer for ITER and their fusion research program." Ralph stated from the top of his head.


    "The flagship products alone equate to a bit below $22 billion before taxes. That seems like decent sales numbers for the first week. Though I assume more people would test them out if it weren''t for the required subscription. I''ll have to ask Azuma-san his opinion about a free first-month subscription promo I''m considering to increase our sales volume potentially." Vince replied.


    "Vince, I need to discuss a sensitive topic with you. I understand your position in saving all our Bitcoin assets, and Director Dollar has maintained the Bitcash and Bitcoin trading platform well. Still, as a person who works in finance, it''s difficult for me to concede why we''re just sitting on $375 Billion worth of BTC, at $25,000 each." Ralph explained honestly.


    [You won''t believe it, but that''s not even half of what BTC was worth in 2021. Future Tech is just accelerating its growth.] Vince thought before replying.


    "Okay. I''ll share an outlandish vision I have for Bitcoin with you and the reason why I prefer hoarding BTC and choosing to promote Bitcash to our users. The US Dollar is not worth anything, and the government can print more, therefore inflating supply in the market. So Director Dollar and I designed and implemented Bitcash as a future replacement for the US Dollar, backed by the value of Bitcoin. Though it may take years or decades before our economy fails due to the government defaulting interest payments for bonds or whatever the suits at Wall Street would do." Vince explained thoroughly.


    "Hmm. I see now why I''ve always thought you were a cunning fellow. You practically set up Future Tech to become the global bank of tomorrow. And I assume you came up with this idea when you purchased Bitcoin Market in 2011. You''re a fucking genius, Vince. So even if the US turns to dust tomorrow, we''ll still have funds to protect our assets." Ralph replied, amazed.


    [Gold isn''t the only scarce commodity, and users can''t seamlessly send gold digitally to other people.] Vince thought.


    "Our traditional profits should be enough for our current rate of expansion. I''m open to selling BTC if required but prefer otherwise. How are the earnings from our other businesses?" Vince asked.


    "Thank you for enlightening me about the BTC situation. Everlife is shattering triple-a video game records, last time I checked. The first-day sales record is now 15 million units sold, and we''ve sold 50 million units after a week." Ralph replied.


    [Not bad for a full-priced video game. These stats are more akin to free-to-play mobile games than triple-a games.] Vince pondered.


    "Q3 will be rolling over in a few weeks. Has your department projected expenses and gross profit already? Vince asked.


    "The majority of Future Tech divisions are still within their 2013 budget limits, except for newer ventures like FT Maritime in Houston and the fusion energy research program. As a result, the accounting department will set aside a portion from our recent profits for funding, leaving $10 billion as liquid cash freely to use." Ralph replied.


    "Alright. Thanks for meeting me in the middle of the day." Vince said in gratitude.


    "It''s my pleasure. I just remembered Heidi and Morgan needed to speak with you." Ralph replied before leaving.


    Meanwhile, somewhere in the Swiss Alps, a man wearing a lab coat entered a lavish office furnished with high-end hardware tools.


    "Enigma, my team has partially re-engineered the first generation Future Tech electronic devices. Our version performs 25% less than the original but is still faster than current Intel and AMD processors. We''ve also progressed in replicating the military spec AV turbofan engines from Koenigsegg. But, any fuel mix we use burns much faster than what the US Military AVs consume during operation." the Anarchy researcher explained.


    "You''ve done good work, considering it has only been a year since the first-gen products were released. How about the status of our other current projects?" Enigma inquired.


    "Lee''s ballistic missile system development is almost complete, though manufacturing specific components will be difficult. Our cover organization, called Lazarus Group, gained notoriety in East Asia and is now in contact with Russian GRU cells, which are interested in paying for the group''s hacking services. Something about disabling the power grid in South Ukraine." the lackey replied.


    "Alright. I''ll deliberate on a course of action our little Lazarus Group should take. Update me on your progress daily. Dismissed." Enigma stated.


    [Anarchy needs more time researching and developing the new Future Tech products like their fuel mix and advancing our  AI manufacturing. I guess a distraction is required. Maybe Sarin Gas or cyber-intrusion, or perhaps even both.] Enigma pondered with a villainous smile on his face.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $18 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, SpaceX)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch)

 Chapter 78 - Armored Suits

    After discussing the first-week sales with Ralph, Vince decided to visit Morgan to learn about his concerns at the Micro Device offices a few floors below.


    A British man in his lab coat was conversing with four researchers next to the laboratory.


    "Morgan, is this a wrong time to speak with you?" Vince asked.


    Director Morgan dismissed his underlings and walked with Vince to his magnificent office, featuring a clear view of the Tech Campus across the Colorado River in the South.


    "The view doesn''t seem real sometimes. But, after two years of continuous construction, Future Tech built a sprawling community with more than 50,000 residents featuring the latest innovations in smart city design. Billions well spent. " Morgan stated while Vince was peering out the glass window.


    "The Tech Campus is a testament to you and all our collective achievements in advancing technology. Austin is lucky to have such talented and skilled residents. I''m lucky." Vince replied honestly.


    "I haven''t been here since day one, but based on what Director Dollar and the Future Studios staff, you''ve always been the one to lead Future Tech, and every step we take, we rise higher and higher. I''m glad you bought ARM and shared the opportunity to change the world." Morgan replied genuinely.


    "Thanks for the reassurance, Morgan. I feared incompetence in myself, in failing Future Tech and my staff. But the recent trip cheered me up a bit, at least." Vince replied honestly.


    "You pay us directors and the staff well for results, and that is what we''ll give you. I''ve been meaning to ask you regarding expanding the material science sub-division. For example, our graphene composites research project is going well. Still, I require all my experienced researchers to be involved, which would divert resources from material projects for the fusion reactor and rocket fuel." Morgan explained.


    "I understand why you wanted to talk to me directly. Which company are we buying now?" Vince asked plainly.


    "A semiconductor materials company based in Boston called Entegris. They also manufacture equipment to produce vital components for electronics that we could integrate with the Hive Mind. The market cap is currently $1.6 billion and would take around $2 billion to buy outright." Morgan replied.


    "Lucky for you, Ralph approved a few billion for free-spending after the accounting department processed the first-week sales. I accept your proposition. Designate Entegris'' current headquarters as our Boston Future Tech branch. You know the drill." Vince declared.


    "Thanks. The additional professional workforce will keep our project deadlines in check. Have you spoken to Heidi? She mentioned needing to talk to you during our last director''s meeting." Morgan added.


    "Last time we spoke was before she left The Longhorn in Austin. Ralph already reminded me. Thanks." Vince stated before leaving.


    A few floors down, a woman with red hair and glasses read reports from her researchers when Vince knocked on her door.


    "Come in," Heidi instructed.


    "Hey, I just arrived earlier this afternoon from LA and spoke with Morgan before heading here. What did you want to talk about?" Vince asked while sitting down on the sofa.


    "Welcome back. I assume Morgan spoke to you about our progress with manufacturing graphene composites. We''ll soon integrate the new fabrication process into the Tech Campus''s Hive Mind production lines. We''re currently limited to fabricating microscopic portions of graphene for our processors and system on nanite test products. But after the upgrade, we''ll be able to produce larger volumes of metal matrix composites using alloys and layers of graphene." Heidi explained.


    "That''s good news. Elon has been bugging me about his new spacesuits." Vince replied with a bit of banter.


    "He got wasted after the E3 announcement and talked my ears off about his desperate need for the spacesuits. I had to make him smoke and drink more to shut him up." Heidi bantered back.


    "When can I expect our astronauts able to be trained in their new drip?" Vince inquired.


    "That''s what I wanted to show you. Follow me." Heidi instructed before leading Vince to a testing facility on the same floor.


    "Though we can''t mass produce metal matrix composites economically yet, Future Tech Robotics and Material Science division were able to produce enough for these three suits," Heidi explained as they were entering the storage room.


    The first suit was small and similar to the size of a soldier and mainly was skin-tight; the second was larger and entirely enclosed in foreign-looking metals and fabric, while the third was ten feet tall and humongous, featuring more armor than the second.


    [The least-armored type is giving me Crysis vibes, while the medium-armored one looks like the Mjolnir from Halo. The heavy-armor type is a fucking mini-Gundam.] Vince thought in astonishment.


    "How could a regular-sized human control the medium and heavy armor variants without the need for increasing the frame''s power usage?" Vince asked curiously.


    "Dr. Taylor Miller from FT VR has adapted the prototype deep-dive VR control system for use with the armor. The pilot hibernates inside the armor using life support systems for food, oxygen, etc., while his consciousness controls the armor similar to his own body." Heidi explained.


    "See, I told you my teacher could help with the R&D. She''s quite brilliant," Vince stated as a matter of fact.


    "I agree. Alexis and I go out Downtown or at Sixth Street with her sometimes after working together for months on this project, but she''s a busy woman raising a young boy." Heidi stated honestly.


    "That''s good to hear. How expensive will these prototypes be when we complete the Hive Mind update?" Vince asked inquisitively.


    "The infantry-variant will cost $1 million, the medium-armor variant for $10 million, and the heavy-armor variant will cost $25 million, primarily due to more surface area where the graphene needs to be applied. In addition, the batteries we developed with Tesla specifically for the power suits are enough for their current features but would have to be replaced often, especially for the heavy-armor variant." Heidi explained.


    "The heavy-armor variant is too large to fit in our current dragon modules, so I assume the medium-armor variant is the one we''ll provide to SpaceX," Vince stated in confidence.


    "Bingo. Only the medium and heavy variants can operate in a vacuum, while the infantry variant is for terrestrial use. Some components are modular, and we can install more weapons and batteries by sacrificing maneuverability." Heidi stated.


    "Focus on producing enough suits for our astronauts as the priority. Then, we can manufacture more of the other variants when we''ve fulfilled our current SpaceX orders. Future Tech Robotics has been doing magical work this past year." Vince said as a compliment.


    "I''d be ashamed not to deliver results with the billions of funding Future Tech provided us this year. We''ll continue refining the design before mass-production starts. I require a test pilot as a benchmark for the performance trials. " Heidi stated.


    [Marco is a good choice, but he was already a guinea pig for the cybernetic replacement program. Unfortunately, Director Price is too busy with running operations at Kandahar. Oh, I know the perfect candidate!] Vince thought.


    "I''ll call Felix and assign him to test the prototypes. I suggest a more intense type of performance trial. He''ll appreciate it, I assure you." Vince said with a chuckle.


    "Alright. I''ll be in touch if my division requires anything else." Heidi stated before bidding farewell.


    While walking towards the elevator, Vince opened a private channel on his smartwatch comlink app.


    A few seconds later, Felix accepted the comlink request from his boss.


    "Good morning from Dehdadi, Vince. What''s up?" Felix asked.


    "Will your battalion be fine if I assign you to perform some tests here in Austin for a month or so?" Vince replied.


    "I''ve been training one of my company officers to lead a battalion eventually. I''m sure he can handle the FOB for a month without me. Director Price is always on call in case any emergencies happen, anyways." Felix replied confidently.


    "Excellent. The trials will be challenging and rigorous, so be ready for anything." Vince explained.


    "I''m up for anything. You know this, Vince. Will you tell me what I''ll be testing?" Felix asked.


    "It''s a surprise, Felix. But I can give you a slight hint. Think M1 Abrams Tank but in the form of a human." Vince said mysteriously.


    "I can already imagine. My blood is already pumping! I heard about a few bits and pieces from Director Price when we drink during my off days. He mentioned how he laughed the idea off at first after hearing about it from Heidi." Felix replied excitedly.


    "I know you''d be thrilled for the test, so I asked Heidi to make them more difficult. It would be best if you hoped she isn''t a sadist. Good luck." Vince said jokingly.


    "No, no, no. You''ve done me a great favor, Vince. I''m pumped up even more now. When can I leave for Austin?" Felix asked.


    "You can start gathering your things after our call. Price will handle your expedited reassignment stateside." Vince instructed.


    "Alright, I''ll be there as fast as I can," Felix said before closing the comlink channel.


    [Heidi isn''t a sadist, but Felix is indeed a masochist. I believe he should be fine, I think...] Vince pondered in hesitation.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $16 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, SpaceX)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)

 Chapter 79 - President Of Afghanistan

    Felix sat comfortably on a passenger seat while flying on a Stingray during a hot and blindingly sunny day in the Kandahar province.


    As the city was approaching, he could see additional biospheres owned and operated by locals and newly installed massive concentrator photovoltaic solar arrays designed by Tesla in partnership with the materials science sub-division.


    Though Afghanistan is rich in crude oil, the area was blessed with constant direct sunlight and was perfect for solar panels.


    The Stingray landed on the designated AV area at the Kandahar Airfield. The airfield was primarily for military use but now serviced more civilian passenger flights due to the recent increase in the local economy.


    Affluent Afghans from Kabul, Herat, and Jalalabad would regularly visit Kandahar to enjoy fine dining, featuring locally grown ingredients from the biospheres, and go shopping in American and international stores found in various newly built outlet malls.


    [It looks like Director Price is pleased to see me. He even dispatched a welcoming party.] So Felix thought as he saw a unit of US Soldiers, FS operators, and local soldiers were standing at attention by the hangar.


    He disembarked from the Stingray after it landed on the AV pad and walked up to Director Price.


    A caucasian-American man wearing an ornate soldier uniform and an African-American in his Future Security combat suit were waiting patiently next to the troops.


    [Wow! He even brought Brigadier General John Dolan to greet me. So cool.] Felix thought with a sprinkle of narcissism.


    "Director Price, General Dolan, It''s good to see you both. I appreciate the warm welcome." Felix stated confidently.


    "Felix, we''ve known each other for more than a decade now, but you''re still such an idiot sometimes. This welcoming party isn''t for you, dimwit. It''s for the arrival of Hamid Karzai, the Republic of Afghanistan''s President." Price stated chidingly.


    "An honest mistake. Feel free to join us, Lieutenant Colonel Felix. The President will be here any minute now." General Dolan stated professionally.


    A few minutes later, a US Air Force plane landed on the airfield carrying the most important man in the region.


    Hamid Karzai emerged from the plane wearing his signature lambskin hat and Popalzai tribal robe.


    [It''s good to be home.] Karzai pondered in nostalgia while making his way towards the military officers.


    "Welcome, Mr. President. Kandahar is at your service." General Dolan stated courteously.


    "It''s been a while, Dolan. How have you been since we met in Virginia back in 2006?" Karzai asked.


    "My studies at the National War College panned out, as you can tell. Nevertheless, I''m glad to see you again after so long. I want to introduce you to Director Price, the operations commander of Future Security, and his officer, Felix." Dolan said.


    "It''s an honor and pleasure to meet you, President Karzai." Director Price stated while shaking his hand.


    "Pleased to meet you, Your Excellency," Felix added as they shook hands.


    "I''ve read the reports. Your men are highly effective in battle and cause barely any collateral damage except for a few destroyed buildings here and there. My trip to Kandahar wasn''t only for personal reasons of seeing my home city, but to also discuss matters with you and Dolan." Karzai explained.


    "We expected that much. However, if you''d like to continue our discussion somewhere more private, I''ve already prepared accommodations and a meeting room at the Future Tech Kandahar branch." Price replied.


    "Alright. Lead the way." Karzai instructed.


    Karzai and his security detail followed Price, Felix, and John Dolan and entered a Stingray.


    They landed on the AV pad located at the top of the Future Tech Kandahar building, the largest structure in the city.


    Many Afghan FS operators lined up neatly in the main hall to show their appreciation for the President''s visit.


    Leading them was a well-respected local named Farrukh, an experienced AV pilot recently promoted to Colonel of the FS Aviation Brigade.


    Karzai noticed the well-armed and equipped Afghans and approached them to recognize their efforts.


    Price and the others gave their conversation privacy by not following too closely.


    Farrukh and the operators saluted in unison when Karzai arrived in front of them.


    [As a Kandahar native, I know every influential person in this city. However, I can''t recognize this officer.] Karzai pondered.


    "What''s your name, soldier?" Karzai inquired.


    "Greetings. My name is Farrukh. It''s an honor to meet you, Rais." Farrukh conservatively replied in Pashto.


    "Are you a native to Kandahar?" Karzai asked.


    "Indeed, Rais," Farrukh replied plainly.


    [He even has a US silver star. Very interesting.] Karzai pondered before asking Farrukh how he earned it.


    "During Operation Quicksand, my FAV squadron came across a US Marine team pinned down by heavy fire from a fortified position. Unfortunately, command headquarters were unaware because of damage sustained by their unit''s communication equipment. I took it upon myself to delay my mission and instructed the FAV gunners to cover the marines during the impromptu exfil. General Dolan awarded me a silver star, unofficially, a day after." Farrukh explained with modesty.


    "As the Khan of the Popalzai, I''m acquainted with my community''s skilled and notable people. So how come I''ve never heard of such a capable man like yourself?" Karzai asked curiously.


    "I was a simple farmer seven months ago before working at Future Security as a janitor. The job included the privilege of free access to educational tools like the MVR Visor, computers, and product documentation available during our off hours. It''s been less than a year since I''ve raised my social station. Notable, I was not." Farrukh explained honestly.


    "But apparently a quick learner, you are. You''ve done excellent work, and please continue representing our community with honor and pride." Karzai stated sincerely before saying farewell.


    [I never expected receiving a compliment from my President. Incredible.] Farrukh pondered in glee.


    In the building''s main meeting hall, Karzai, Price, Felix, and John Dolan chose a seat and were served refreshments and snacks by the staff.


    "That Farrukh fellow is quite intriguing," Karzai stated.


    "He''s the best AV pilot we''ve trained so far. And, I expect Alexis to reassign him as an instructor stateside soon for the practical training phase of the US military." Director Price replied.


    "The city has changed drastically since I last visited. The Taliban bombings in 2011 devasted a significant portion of the area, but now it''s like it never happened." Karzai stated.


    "Future Tech prioritizes the safety and comfort of the residents, and not just defending them from insurgents." Price replied honestly.


    "Which reminds me of the reason why I''m here in Kandahar. I understand the various positives Future Tech and Security have brought to this region, but why? Is it because of lucrative defense contracts?" Karzai asked inquisitively.


    Felix and General Dolan were fascinated by Karzai''s question and listened attentively.


    "The money is good, that''s true. But do you remember the time when you led the Eastern Alliance in 2001 to take Kandahar back from the Taliban? Felix and I were there while part of the 3rd Ranger Battalion and 101st Airborne, as 18-year-old recruits." Price replied.


    "Indeed, I remember attempting to save my hometown from the madness it was producing." Karzai recollected.


    "We dropped so many bombs on the city that it made all the Taliban members flee to Pakistan. But, unfortunately, it left Kandahar battered and ruined, never to recover due to constant attacks from remnant insurgents until this year. So I left the military after three tours of duty feeling regret in knowing our strategy of destruction wouldn''t change people''s thoughts, views, and way of life." Price stated with genuine emotion.


    "That was until I met Vince Dalton, a young man whose sole purpose in life was creating, building, and producing all kinds of technological innovations. He made me realize that I still have the chance to improve conditions here in Kandahar, where my career started. So as soon as the opportunity presented itself, I proposed a military contract deal with President Obama." Price added.


    "I always thought it was your young CEO''s idea to join the war in Afghanistan actively. Future Security has done well in chasing out the remaining insurgents from the region. Now that I have more context, I''d like to propose a deal." Karzai stated.


    "Though there are plenty of international corporations who are very willing to exploit Afghanistan''s natural resources, none have improved daily life here like you. Future Tech has demonstrated its professionalism and capabilities, which gives me enough confidence to offer you a joint partnership in prospecting and mining valuable minerals in the country." Karzai proposed.


    [Morgan and Andreas would love more raw materials, that''s for sure.] Price pondered.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $16 Billion cash in Future Tech 105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)

 Chapter 80 - Armored Suit Trials

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel)


    A discussion was ongoing in a meeting hall at the Kandahar Future Tech branch building.


    "I''ll pass on the proposal to Vince and our legal team. I appreciate your sincerity, President Karzai." Price stated.


    "Please do. I want prosperity for the Afghan people and trust in your character in helping me achieve this goal. Hopefully, I can meet with Vince Dalton before my presidential term ends." Karzai replied.


    "He loves meeting new people. But, sadly, he''s often busy managing the core divisions of Future Tech. You''re welcome to visit our Austin Headquarters if you find yourself in the States." Price suggested.


    "Thank you. Now that we''ve concluded the serious part of my visit, would you please show me the new facilities around the city?" Karzai asked.


    "Of course, Mr. President." Price replied.


    General Dolan returned to the Air Force base while Felix left and prepared for his flight back to the US.


    Felix arrived in Austin via an FT-05 Super Galaxy after 17 hours which landed on the private airfield next to the FS Austin Barracks and took the company CAV already waiting for him to the Downtown Headquarters.


    Vince was in his office and outlined corporate directives for the core Future Tech divisions when Aiya notified him of Felix''s return.


    "Good to see you, Vince. Did Price tell you about President Karzai''s offer already?" Felix inquired.


    "Yes, he told me during the director''s meeting earlier. I''ve thought about how to prospect the vast deserts of Afghanistan, but I have to finish my previous work first. You can meet with Heidi as soon as you''re ready to start testing the prototype suits. Don''t hurt yourself." Vince instructed.


    "Got it. I''m ready as I''ll ever be. See you later, then." Felix replied.


    "I might swing by the testing area later today if I have free time. Good luck." Vince said before dismissing Felix.


    A fiery-haired woman in her late 20s was in the middle of trial preparation at the remote testing site 25 miles away from Austin. The vicinity looked like a battlefield with plenty of obstacles and weapons around the area.


    Her secretary entered the control room with a robust caucasian man in his early 30s.


    "Heidi, our test pilot is here. I''ll have the team prepare the infantry variant suit while you speak to Felix." The secretary stated before leaving the room.


    "It''s been a while, Heidi. How are things in the Robotics division?" Felix started with a bit of small talk.


    "Things would be much better if Vince sent Price or Marco to test these new suits," Heidi replied in banter.


    "Come on, stop hurting my feelings. Anyway, those two are unavailable, so you''re stuck working with me." Felix bantered back.


    "Okay, okay. Follow me; I''ll explain our testing parameters before we make you suit up." Heidi instructed as she walked towards a table with two Hypervisors.


    "Wear this. It''ll help with the explanation with visual and audio aid." Heidi said as she handed Felix the new Future Tech commercial product.


    "I know how a Hypervisor works, Heidi. I''m not stupid," Felix stated playfully.


    "That''s what you say. Now focus and turn on augmented reality mode. You should see an encrypted file if you pull up the context menu. The password is Cataphract. Heidi instructed.


    [I''m not dumb. We tested the prototype MVR Visors in Kandahar extensively. I think she''s just trying to get a reaction out of me.] So Felix thought as he followed Heidi''s words.


    The AR presentation began with three distinct armor variants lined up in the middle of Felix''s field of view.


    "Let''s begin with the infantry variant." Heidi declared while the 3D images disappeared and were replaced by a magnified view of the first variant, featuring floating text describing each vital design component.


    "The helmet was designed based on the Hypervisor and is pretty much the same thing but enclosed in a recently developed hybrid composite plating and two separate layers of diamine graphene. One on the inside surface and the other on the outside surface. A layer of diamine graphene is almost as tough as diamonds, but be mindful that continuous damage on the same specific area will eventually defeat the layer." Heidi explained the basics of the first helmet design.


    "Okay. So if I''m targeted by either high-powered lasers or an M134 Minigun, find cover. Great." Felix commented.


    "The suit''s frame is made from carbon fabric weave, designed to be light and maneuverable without an energy source. Two diamine graphene layers are applied both inside and outside also." Heidi stated.


    "Alright. It''s like a skin-tight full-body type 4 armor that looks futuristic, but what I desire is the good shit. The ones Director Price has been telling me about!" Felix declared passionately.


    "Hold your horses, partner. We need to test the presumed standard-issue infantry version first to expedite mass production. However, the other two variants utilize a feature that may be jarring at first, so we better start at the basics." Heidi explained truthfully.


    "Okay, you''re the expert. Show me the changing room, and I''ll get the data you need quickly and easily!" Felix replied confidently.


    "An automated fitting room is outside and around the corner. The AI drone will help you wear the suit because it may be difficult initially." Heidi replied before Felix hurriedly left for the changing room.


    [He wants to test the power armors so severely, it''s a bit cute.] Heidi pondered.


    While Felix was changing, a pretty caucasian woman in her late 20s walked into the control room at the remote testing facility.


    "Hey! It''s good to see you, sister! So you''ve finished work at Future Education for today already?" Heidi asked.


    "You look fabulous today, sis! And yes, I was about to leave the office when my secretary notified me about our new test pilot for the Power Armor program. So I took an AV and wanted to see a few trials for myself." Alexis replied.


    "We''ll only be doing a few tests this afternoon. Let''s go to the club or something tonight after. Maybe the Vulcan Gas Company?" Heidi offered.


    "Good choice. I''m down!" Alexis stated in agreement.


    Alexis and Heidi have been spending more time together since getting to know each other at E3 and The Longhorn.


    A man entered the control room wearing the black skin-tight armor, which accentuated his well-toned muscles underneath.


    [OMG, this suit looks so embarrassing. Though there''s a hybrid composite crotch guard, it still feels like I''m naked.] Felix pondered in doubt.


    "I didn''t notice how ripped you were when you wore the regular FS operator uniform," Alexis commented vivaciously.


    "Please stop; it''s embarrassing. Now, what do we test out first?" Felix asked as he attempted to change the subject.


    "User Assist features, then maneuvering, and lastly, ballistics testing. Please head to the obstacle course; we''ll instruct you from here in the control room." Heidi stated.


    Felix followed Heidi''s direction and walked a few minutes into the open obstacle field.


    "The variant you''re using is meant to be the primary and standard-issue armor system for FS soon if the tests are successful. So now, let''s start the trials. One of the assist features is the target location tracker. Similar to the Dragonfly drones, the helmet overlays a colored outline over enemies as a marker for a clearer engagement." Heidi explained.


    A random FS operator posing as an enemy appeared from the surrounding area. The helmet HUD immediately marked the enemy and outlined him in red. The enemy ran away behind cover, but the outline was still visible due to estimation and visual indications that the user''s field of view captured.


    "Wait, so can I see through walls with this Helmet Hypervisor thing?" Felix asked in confusion.


    "The ''Augmented Combat Helmet'' cannot see through walls, unfortunately for a pervert like you. However, the many sensors constantly scanning an area of 100 meters observe slight sounds like breathing or a rifle reloading, or shadows and how light reacts, which adds critical data to the Target Location Tracker." Heidi explained.


    "That feature alone sounds complicated," Felix commented.


    "It took plenty of math and algorithms to develop the echolocation component alone. We''re lucky to have Dr. Miller''s team assist us with the development. The next feature is the suit temperature control powered by batteries integrated within the Augmented Combat Helmet. The suit''s fibers will absorb body heat and recharge the batteries if you feel too warm. It could also restore power using solar energy. If you feel too cold, then heat is applied throughout the suit." Heidi explained.


    Felix tested the temperature control after feeling a bit too warm in the middle of the trial field.


    [Wow! The suit instantly adapted to the most suitable temperature for my body.] Felix pondered.


    "Most of the other assist features you''ve already experienced with the Hypervisors. The helmet is just a heavily armored version of our commercial MVR product. Let''s move on to the maneuverability trial." Heidi explained.


    [I expect to be much more agile without having to deal with large pads of kevlar on my body.] Felix pondered before initiating the subsequent trial.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $16 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)

 Chapter 81 - Sixth Street

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel)


    (New video out on YouTube!)


    At the remote testing facility 50 miles east of Austin, a man wearing a graphene fiber power suit was busy traversing the obstacle course designed by Heidi.


    A 6-foot tall wall presented itself to Felix. Without additional gear wearing him down, he jumped with an explosive force and landed on top of the wall in a crouching position.


    [I expected to slide off the wall pathetically. This suit is more impressive than I thought.] Felix pondered.


    "How does my jump get the extra oomph?" He asked curiously.


    "The suit generates vibrational kinetic energy underneath the energy boots when jumping. In addition, the batteries'' limited power output can increase the user''s strength by three times passively for 12 hours before needing a recharge via solar cells on the muscle fibers or connecting a charging cable to the helmet." Heidi explained.


    "Oh, so the batteries are in the helmet itself. Could I suggest additional power packs to prolong use time? Unfortunately, places underground or in forests don''t have much potential energy like the deserts of Afghanistan." Felix proposed seriously.


    "I agree. We''re already developing modular accessories for the three types of suits. Now for the last test of the day, the ballistics. An FS sniper is locked and loaded a few hundred meters east. He''ll be shooting you once in the chest and head with M993 7.62x51 mm armor-piercing rounds from an ideal range for velocity. Say hi if you see him." Heidi stated mischievously.


    "Wait, what?!" Felix replied before getting shot square on his chest; the sheer force robbed him of oxygen as he suddenly fainted.


    "Felix, wake up! Come on; it wasn''t that bad of a first practical test. Look, you''re not dead. Just a bit bruised up a little. The graphene fibers acted the way our Infinity physics simulations predicted and absorbed the kinetic energy from the armor-piercing round. Hey! Are you awake?!" Heidi stated impatiently.


    "Yeah, yeah. I''m just trying to breathe here. My life flashed before my eyes for a split second. Is it necessary to shoot the helmet too? Don''t you feel a bit concerned for my tofu brain?!" Felix replied, shook.


    "Hahaha! I was kidding about shooting you in the head. We''ve already tested it using ballistic gel. The user will survive but will suffer from a severe headache. Better a concussion than straight dead, if you ask me." Heidi stated with a chuckle.


    "Thank God! I thought I wouldn''t survive long enough to test the other variants. It''s Friday night, tonight. Are you and Alexis interested in going out for a drink or two? The trials have me thirsty." Felix suggested.


    "I''d like that, Felix. Heidi and I have been thinking the same thing. Let''s go to this new place on Sixth Street I''ve heard about recently. It''s a multi-story digital entertainment spot with a bar on the top floor." Alexis replied after hearing Felix over the comlink channel.


    "Sounds interesting. I''m down to experience this ''digital entertainment bar.'' How about you, Heidi?" Felix inquired.


    "Fine, the other bars were growing stale anyways. Let''s take a company CAV because my LaFerrari can''t fit three people unless Felix is okay hitching a ride with our security detail." Heidi stated jokingly.


    "Hell no. The CAV is the only option. But, wait, you own a LaFerrari?!" Felix replied in surprise.


    "Can''t a girl appreciate Italian engineering? But, of course, men aren''t the only ones interested in high-performance machinery. I''m looking forward to racing Director Price and his Agera SFV whenever he comes back from Kandahar for vacation. He''s been talking shit during our director meetings non-stop since I bought my LaFerrari." Heidi explained.


    [I feel so left out. I''ll go shopping for a supercar while I''m here in Austin, for sure!] So Felix pondered as they boarded the company CAV.


    Sixth Street is a well-known entertainment district a few blocks south of Downtown Austin. Live music and cheap drinks flowed through the area, especially on weekends.


    An exquisite eight-seater aerodyne vehicle began landing after performing the typical landing protocol of warning bystanders and clearing the area.


    University students from UT, Saint Edwards, and Concordia were accustomed to seeing more and more CAVs flying around the city.


    "Look, it''s a Future Tech AV. Maybe we''ll be lucky and meet Vince Dalton or his friends tonight. The livestreams from his yacht were so entertaining; I want more!" A young woman wearing a UT burnt orange top said to her friends.


    Two beautiful women accompanied by an athletic and handsome man disembarked from their CAV with a few security guards in tow.


    "The place is called the Digital Den and opened a week ago. It should be the corner building over there." Alexis stated while leading the group through the sidewalks.


    Their entourage noticed the first floor was open to all ages and featured Infinity Consoles and Hypervisors for rent in private booths. The second floor was for customers aged 21 and older, designed like a typical sports bar with flatscreens showing esports events and livestreams like the APL. Finally, the third floor was invite-only and for VIPs.


    [This place is packed, but I expected such considering it''s a Friday night at Sixth Street.] Felix pondered.


    A lovely hostess noticed a group of people walk into the building escorted by FS operators the locals were accustomed to seeing around the city.


    "Good evening, everyone. Do y''all work for Future Tech? Digital Den''s owner welcomes all employees to enjoy the private floor if you''re interested." the hostess explained politely.


    "Yes, and that would be wonderful. I enjoy a wild night once in a while, but the second floor is getting a bit too rowdy." Heidi replied.


    "Sorry bout that, madam. The University of Texas versus the University of Houston War Online Arena match is starting, and everyone wants to watch the Arena Collegiate League''s first game. So your group will enjoy much more privacy upstairs. Feel free to take the elevator." the hostess explained.


    [Marco has been bugging me about this War Online and gaming thing for a while now. All the youngins look so excited to watch, so maybe I should try it out sometime.] Felix pondered while the elevator moved up two floors.


    The Digital Den has only been open for a week, yet the lower floors and the lavishly furnished VIP lounge were relatively packed.


    The group noticed a Hispanic-American man in his early 30s drinking at one of the tables with two much younger people.


    They approached the occupied table to greet their fellow Future Tech executives.


    "Good evening, everyone. Do you mind if we join you at this table tonight?" Heidi inquired.


    "Please take a seat, guys. We can''t possibly deny a request from Director Heidi." Andreas replied in banter.


    "You''re still the same cheeky bastard from two years ago before we started working for Future Tech AI and Patel." Heidi bantered back.


    "Come and sit down. Kyle, Sarah, and I are familiar with Alexis from Future Education, but who''s this Adonis of a man?" Andreas asked curiously.


    "Nice to meet you all. My name is Felix, a Future Security Lieutenant-Colonel. Vince has mentioned his friends in our conversations plenty of times. So it''s great to put faces on names finally." Felix stated courteously.


    "Oh yeah! You''re the paratrooper Vince told me about a few times. Afghanistan is lucky to have men like you protecting it. So are you guy''s watching the ACL match tonight?" Sarah said sincerely.


    "We wanted to go out and have fun, primarily. So I suggested trying out this new place after hearing good reviews." Alexis explained.


    "That''s funny cause my dad owns the Digital Den. He closed down his old bar and built this new and high-tech building to cater to different demographics. We noticed Andreas drinking at the bar earlier and invited him to our table moments before y''all arrived." Kyle explained.


    "Oh, that explains why Future Tech employees have access to a dedicated VIP lounge at the top floors. So, where''s the rest of your clique? " Alexis inquired.


    "Rick and Jessica are getting us Gelato from across the street, and Vince is working at his penthouse office still. I''ll message them if you guys want some too." Sarah stated.


    Heidi, Felix, and Alexis ordered a few drinks and snacks to start the night before catching up with their fellow executives.


    "How was the rest of your trip to Vancouver on The Longhorn the past week?" Heidi asked.


    "It was great fun spending some vacation time with old and new friends. Hailee, Alice, Jaden, Fortis, and the rest of Prime Alliance were amusing to be around." Sarah replied honestly.


    "I''m glad you guys enjoyed the trip. I''ve been playing more Everlife Online since the E3 presentation with my younger brother these days. Video games weren''t my thing before, but now it''s one of my favorite hobbies." Alexis stated.


    "Oh really? I''ve been contemplating new Future Studios media we can add to demonstrate the power of the Hypervisors. Do you have any ideas, Alexis?" Kyle inquired.


    [Director Kyle asking for my opinion?! Helping other executives will surely help me rise through the ranks of Future Tech!] Alexis thought while listing a few suggestions based on her experience with testing the Hypervisors.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $16 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch)

 Chapter 82 - The Digital Den

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 200!)


    (New video out on YouTube!)


    Future Tech executives enjoyed drinks and snacks at the Digital Den''s VIP lounge while most clientele focused on watching the Arena Collegiate League match.


    "Future Studios will be incorporating the Battle Pass feature Vince suggested for War Online a year ago into Everlife Online, but I can''t seem to decide on a new major game mechanic," Kyle explained.


    "I feel like the Infinity Development Kit is enough for the community to create new game modes, and Future Studios should focus on features only you can implement within Everlife Online. While working at Kandahar, I felt the most compelling aspect of the MVR Visor was its potential in promoting a communal experience." Alexis replied honestly.


    "You''re right. Everlife Online doesn''t have to be only a video game. Oh, I know! Future Tech owns Instagram, so I''ll integrate social media hangouts into virtual reality as an optional experience for our users. Thanks for the suggestion, Alexis!" Kyle stated proudly.


    "Yeah! Like a virtual reality lounge where users can chat and meet with their social media friends within Everlife Online during their downtime. We can even implement body scanning using Infinity Unreal Engine''s Photogrammetry tools." Sarah commented excitedly.


    While they were talking, a young Korean-American woman holding a paper bag full of ice cream arrived at the table.


    "Thanks, Jessica! I''ve been craving Gelato for the entire week. Where''s Rick?" Kyle stated.


    "He joined a gang of UT frat boys watching the ACL match downstairs. Rick said he''ll follow after the first game." Jessica replied in an unamused tone.


    "Sorry about that, Jessica. His attention span is as short as a small animal sometimes. I''m sure he''ll spend some time with you tomorrow or on Sunday." Sarah stated reassuringly.


    "I hope so. Hey, Heidi and Alexis, it''s good to see you two!" Jessica said, acknowledging the newcomers.


    "Our friend here is called Felix. He''s an FS officer usually stationed at the Dehdadi Base. He''s doing tests and trials for the in-development armor program." Heidi explained.


    "Nice to meet you, Felix. Vince and Alexis don''t speak much about our presence in Afghanistan. Do you mind sharing how life is there?" Jessica inquired curiously.


    "Aside from a few battles, Future Security primarily focuses on peacekeeping alongside the US military. However, Future Tech itself is heavily involved in the local economy like energy, education, and food infrastructure." Felix explained.


    "Most of the massive solar arrays we''ve manufactured are sent directly to Kandahar City. Our office there orders the most equipment out of all the Future Tech branches worldwide." Andreas commented.


    "I''m not privy to executive meetings but am curious when our maritime division will be ready to produce sea vessels for the FS Navy units," Felix stated.


    "Our zone at the Port of Houston requires further modifications to allow the manufacturing of advanced navy vessels and should take a month more of construction. But our Hyundai partners agreed to build cargo freight ships included with their lawsuit reparations, at least." Andreas explained.


    "Oh, I almost forgot about the East Asia debacle that happened back in March. Since the attempted corporate espionage occurred, Vince had been on edge and only started to relax after our summer vacation a week ago." Sarah commented worriedly.


    "Don''t worry about it. The CIA and Interpol are collaborating with Future Security with the investigation. Vince has heavily invested in Future Tech''s physical and cyber security wisely, so we''re luckier than most." Felix stated comfortingly.


    "Do you know any of the FS Nethunters that work at headquarters? They''re so mysterious, and we rarely interact with them." Kyle inquired.


    "Anthony, the Director of Cyber Security, has always been secretive with his work. So it''s natural for him to extend his paranoia throughout the department. Anthony, Price, and I share a long history serving in the US military together." Felix explained in nostalgia.


    While they were conversing, a blonde young man sat down beside Jessica.


    "Who won the first game?" Kyle asked curiously.


    "It was close, but the University of Houston team edged them out during the late game. I expect a close best of five matches from both teams." Rick explained.


    Heidi introduced Rick to Felix because they hadn''t met before and ordered additional food and drinks from a waitress on stand-by.


    "What''s up with this War Online Arena thing, anyway? Marco has been telling me to play with him, but it''s a hassle to find free time at the Dehdadi Base, especially with the massive time zone difference." Felix asked inquisitively.


    "Oh, you know Marco? We spent an entire week together out at sea on The Longhorn. He has a knack for playing initiator archetypes in Arena Mode. But, a simple answer to your question is digital sports. Think professional football, but it''s a video game instead." Rick explained.


    "The APL is currently the most prominent sports spectacle in the world, considering Vince invested heavily in plenty of media outlets for promotion and providing large sums of cash for the prize pools," Kyle added.


    [Boomer moment. It''s not my fault the FS veterans aren''t interested much in new school sports like the APL.] Felix pondered.


    "Marco is training the previously disabled soldiers at the FS Barracks'' rehabilitation center. So let''s play some unranked matches whenever y''all are free." Sarah suggested.


    "Oh! You should try playing Everlife, which was just released a week and a half ago. I''m confident you''ve never played a video game as next-gen as Everlife." Kyle stated proudly.


    "Alright, I believe you. Does it play similarly to War Online?" Felix inquired.


    "Completely different. War Online is played in isometric view while Everlife is played either through third-person perspective or, preferably, first-person view in the Hypervisor. You can use the HV Game Controller, mouse & keyboard, Hand Gestures, or third-party controllers for inputs." Kyle explained in detail.


    "Playing in first-person VR could easily give you motion sickness cause you''re not moving in real life, so be careful. You''ll see the enormous warning when switching to VR mode while playing Everlife on the Hypervisor. Oh, There''s a new mod called Playerunknown''s Battle Royale you should try created by a talented community modder." Rick stated passionately.


    [These guys are really into video games, huh?] Felix thought in amusement.


    "As a badass paratrooper, you''ll love it! Let me explain. One hundred random players are dropped from a Super Galaxy flying above an unpopulated Everlife City. Practically naked warriors attempt to find weapons, armor, and medicine to survive attacks from other players and the dangerous gas that entirely covers the map in forty-five minutes¡ªthat shit''s crazy, man. Future Studios invited Playerunknown for an office tour next week to award him an Infinity Modding Community prize." Kyle stated excitedly.


    [That sounds more fun than getting shot by armor-piercing rounds in real life.] Felix thought.


    The Digital Den''s VIP lounge also included private gaming booths like those on the first floor. Kyle and Rick invited Felix and Andreas for a quick Battle Royale match while the ladies continued eating and drinking at the table.


    "Jessica, Sarah, Both of you were students of Dr. Taylor Miller, correct?" Heidi inquired.


    "Yes! She''s a brilliant teacher and mathematician. Unfortunately, I haven''t seen her for some time, but I know she works at Future Tech VR." Sarah replied honestly.


    "Ms. Miller has been busy collaborating with Robotics and SpaceX with our current armor and spacesuit programs. I agree she is quite the intelligent woman." Heidi stated.


    "She even raises her six-year-old son by herself. So I asked her to hang out with us more often but quickly realized she had more responsibilities than Heidi and I," Alexis commented.


    "What has her department contributed to the armor program? I''m aware of her work with VR, but what does that have to do with spacesuits?" Jessica asked inquisitively.


    "It''s primarily confidential information, but what I can say is that we''ve applied her initial progress in deep-dive VR into new in-development armor products," Heidi explained.


    "Ms. Miller mentioned how difficult it was for deep-dive users to interact with a completely digital world seamlessly. I wonder how her technology is utilized in non-gaming situations." Jessica replied curiously.


    "You won''t have to wonder about it for too long. Testing the SpaceX spacesuit will take us a week tops, and then we''ll proceed with production for our astronauts." Alexis commented.


    Half an hour later, the group of four emerged from the booth full of excitement from almost winning a group battle royale match and reaching the top three teams.


    "Playing that game in VR mode was insanely thrilling. The only thing that could improve the experience is using my body as the input instead of a controller or relatively simple hand gestures." Felix stated.


    While talking, they heard the crowd on the lower floors cheering wildly because the University of Texas ACL team won the historical first match 3-2 against UH.


    [Video games are more entertaining than I gave it credit. Interesting.] Felix pondered while watching UT students celebrating their school''s victory.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $16 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch)

 Chapter 83 - Oculus

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 200!)


    (New video out on YouTube!)


    A few weeks later, two hundred miles north of Austin, a Caucasian man in his early 40s wearing glasses was busy testing a competitor''s product at the id Software headquarters in Richardson, Texas.


    John Carmack, a living legend in the gaming industry as a pioneer in 3D Video Game programming, was comparing the newly released Hypervisor with his Oculus Rift Dev Kit.


    [The performance isn''t even close. How did Future Tech fit such intricate mini-led screens across the visor? The size is so compact that the user barely notices it.] John pondered deeply.


    A young Caucasian man in his early 20s was on speakerphone from the Oculus offices in LA.


    "Our small crowdfunded company won''t be able to compete with a behemoth like Future Tech. But, unfortunately, that''s the reality of things right now." So Palmer Luckey stated while John immersed himself in the Hypervisor.


    "When we met each other for the first time last year, I thought the VR industry was but a small kindling, but little did I know it was already a massive forest fire," John replied.


    "How long have Future Tech been developing their cutting-edge Mixed Reality HMD?" Palmer asked curiously as a young leading expert in head-mounted displays.


    "Based on my research, the earliest evidence of Future Tech''s HMD was the MVR Visor trialed and tested in Afghanistan. That information came from US soldiers training with Future Education, which should be reliable." John replied.


    "It''s crazy they developed the Hypervisor without even focusing on the video gaming aspect. That''s probably why all three VR, AR, and the standard modes work perfectly." Palmer stated in a depressed tone.


    "Don''t get too down on yourself. This type of HMD was our dream, and it''s a bit unfortunate that we weren''t the ones to introduce it, but the Hypervisor is here now. I recommended we take this chance to collaborate with Future Tech and improve their VR capabilities." John suggested.


    [Making money from VR headsets was only secondary. Creating more fulfilling experiences for gamers and general users was and still is the goal.] So John Carmack pondered while enjoying the environment demo bundle with the Hypervisor.


    "Alright. My secretary will book a meeting with either Future Studios or Future Tech to pitch our partnership on Monday. We should get ready over the weekend." Palmer replied.


    "Understood, Palmer. I''ll be testing and exploring the AI assistant feature in the meantime. I''ve always been intrigued with general artificial intelligence." John stated before Palmer ended the call.


    At the Future Tech Headquarters in Austin the next week, Vince was still busy upholding his end of the bargain in the Afghanistan prospecting partnership with President Karzai.


    [I''m lucky that Elon and his team had enough foresight to have started the development of a mining drone meant for the moon mission. So Heidi''s engineers are in good hands at SpaceX for now.] Vince pondered while he immersed himself in the Hypervisor desktop environment.


    He received a Comlink request from Aiya through the visor.


    "Vince, I would like to remind you of a scheduled meeting with John Carmack and Palmer Luckey from id Software and Oculus in five minutes," Aiya stated politely.


    "Thanks, Aiya. Would you please serve them some refreshments in the living room while they wait?" Vince replied.


    A very human-looking butler bot took the penthouse elevator down to the main lobby.


    Aiya found both John and Palmer speaking with each other and touring around the lobby as they waited for the meeting to begin.


    "Good day, gentlemen. Vince would like to invite you both to his penthouse. Please follow me." Aiya instructed courteously.


    [Amazing! She''s an android, yet it''s pretty hard to tell she''s not an actual human. And I thought Infi AI was already marvelous. This level of AI can change the world!] John Carmack pondered fervently.


    At the Future Studios offices, Kyle was notified by his secretary regarding Vince''s meeting with a legend in the video game industry comparable to Tim Sweeney.


    Kyle immediately took the private elevator and made his way towards the penthouse.


    The three people arrived at the penthouse living room almost simultaneously. Kyle initiated a conversation as they waited for the big boss of Future Tech.


    "Mr. Carmack, welcome to our Austin headquarters. My name is Kyle, from Future Studios. I''ve heard so much about you and John Romero at id Software from my mentor all the time. I''m lucky to meet you in person finally." Kyle stated sincerely.


    "Thank you for the kind words, young man. May I know who you''re mentor is supposed to be?" John inquired.


    "Tim Sweeney, from Epic Games. Vince recently acquired his company, and Tim is now the senior director of Future Studios, though he and his team are still based in North Carolina." Kyle explained.


    "You''re fortunate to have such a magnificent mentor in Tim. I hadn''t talked to him since the Nvidia Montreal expo last year, but I hope he''s doing well." John said truthfully.


    "Nice to meet you, too, Mr. Luckey. My secretary told me you scheduled a meeting with Vince. May I join you, gentlemen? I''m curious about what you might discuss." Kyle asked.


    "Call me, Palmer. Referring to me as Mr. Luckey makes me sound old. I''m only 21 years old. And of course, we''d love to have the junior director of Future Studios attend the meeting." Palmer replied.


    While they were getting to know each other, Aiya served refreshments and snacks for the guests.


    "If you don''t mind me asking. Is Aiya a common sight around Future Tech? I never imagined such an advanced artificial intelligence already in use." John inquired passionately.


    "She''s the one and only. Patel and Vince spent hundreds of millions developing the android butler as proof of concept. Are you interested in AI technology?" Kyle replied.


    "Am I interested?! Of course! General artificial intelligence has too many potential applications that could change our way of life!" John explained passionately.


    "How about you, Palmer. Is AI tech of interest to you as well?" Kyle inquired.


    "My expertise lay in head-mounted displays and mixed reality. However, artificial intelligence is more John''s thing. We started developing the Oculus Dev Kit a year ago and never noticed Future Tech advancing and innovating HMD technology. After testing the Hypervisor, I feel like we wasted time and effort in Oculus." Palmer stated honestly.


    "Don''t be too down on yourself. The Hypervisor is a culmination of various Future Tech programs in plenty of divisions and subdivisions, which enjoy billions of dollars worth of funding each. But, unfortunately, based on our market research, Oculus only raised $2.5 million, frankly not enough capital to improve HMD technology." Kyle replied truthfully.


    Vince finished up his work and left the office to meet with John and Palmer during the allotted meeting time.


    He introduced himself to John and Palmer after greeting his old friend and colleague, Kyle.


    "Mr. Carmack, may I preface our meeting by saying how much I admire your work. Carmack''s reverse algorithm and id Software''s innovation of FPS and mouse-look functionality is legendary!" Vince stated reverently.


    [Even though I wasn''t a video game programmer primarily in my past life, I consider people like John and Tim to be up there with Bill Gates and Linus Torvalds with respect.] Vince pondered.


    "I appreciate it, Vince. And feel free to call me John. Palmer and I wanted to discuss the future of mixed reality head-mounted displays with you. As you know, we started producing Oculus Rift Dev Kits for our Kickstarter backers last year, but Future Tech''s Hypervisor is the best choice in the market, though it''s pretty expensive." John Carmack explained.


    "With all due respect, John. I don''t wish to monopolize the HMD market, and customers would feel better knowing cheaper alternatives were available to them. So I''m prepared to offer Oculus a partnership deal to produce more affordable VR products with fewer features." Vince replied.


    [Wow! That was easy. I thought we''d never be able to profit from Oculus ever again. Good thing Mr. Dalton is a John Carmack fan.] Palmer pondered in excitement.


    "Thanks for the gracious proposition, Vince. But I wanted to offer my services to Future Tech to improve and innovate your existing technologies, mixed reality, and general artificial intelligence. If you know my work, you understand I''m not in this industry for the money. Advancing entertainment and practical media is my life''s goal." John explained passionately.


    [How could I say no to someone like John Carmack. The guy is adamant about learning and improving, but he doesn''t even have a college degree.] Vince thought.


    "How about you, Palmer? What made you fly here from LA?" Vince inquired.


    "Honestly, I''ve always been interested in HMDs. I believed Oculus would be the big break for my young career. So I accept the partnership offer to deliver economical options for mixed reality products. My company will aim to sell HMDs costing half or a third the $1,499 price of the Hypervisor." Palmer replied confidently.


    "Alright, Kyle and Jessica will provide Oculus limited access to the Infinity API and free training in exchange for annual licensing fees, of course."


    [Future Tech can''t sell too many different variations of our products. So if customers want the best, they can only buy from us. Having competition is excellent for the growth of the industry too.] Vince thought.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $16 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch)

 Chapter 84 - Racing Sim Concept

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 200!)


    (New video out on YouTube!)


    Meanwhile, Enigma was present for a high-level Anarchy video conference meeting hosted on their private network servers. Inside a base hidden somewhere on the Andes Mountain Range in South America.


    A man speaking in a Russian accent was explaining the status of Anarchy''s current plans.


    "Mr. Putin was very impressed with the aerodyne vehicle technologies Anarchy has put up for sale recently. So he asked if the Russian Federation could purchase both the AV tech and hacking support for a discounted price." the mysterious Russian oligarch stated.


    "Negotiable. When does our client require Anarchy''s hacking service? We can''t be on stand-by for long periods just for one customer." Enigma asked in annoyance.


    "My contacts mentioned a few things about Crimea and the risks of Ukraine joining the European Union. The invasion is currently scheduled for early 2014, based on the country''s military actions I''ve observed." the Russian man replied.


    "Tell Putin we have a deal if his men can assist us with a business matter, one requested by a few powerful men in Syria and the Middle East. He gets the AV tech and hacking services in exchange for cash and unmarked professional operators tasked with rescuing a fellow named Ashkan from a very dark prison in South America." Enigma demanded calmly.


    "Understood, Enigma. Are the clients the same ones attempting to start their own caliphate?" the Russian man asked.


    "Correct. Though, we have a team in Syria masquerading as hacker extremists selling some of our available tech and services in exchange for cash and authority within the extremist groups. I feel like this avenue of our business could be quite financially and influentially lucrative." Enigma stated with a wide grin.


    Another man who looked like a stereotypical silicon valley suit interjected in the conversation to notify Engima about business in the United States.


    "Our recent development of the first-generation AIM processors has been a hit with many Silicon Valley executives. They''ve been clamoring for new tech that could give them a fighting chance against Future Tech, even if they acquired it from unsavory sources." the mysterious American explained.


    "I became aware of our successful business in the US after seeing the $20 billion in our Cayman Islands bank accounts. Continue doing good work at our US branch, and you''ll be promoted within Anarchy soon enough." Enigma stated before dismissing his underlings.


    [It''s been a few months since the CIA and Interpol have been on our tails, but they still haven''t figured us out. Amateurs.] Enigma pondered while continuing reverse-engineering tech Anarchy recently stole from a subsidiary of Reliance Industries. The largest conglomerate in India.


    At Future Tech Austin Headquarters, Vince discussed his plans with Kyle, John Carmack, and Palmer Luckey the same day.


    "Aiya, please have Dr. Taylor Miller attend our meeting as a representative from Future Tech VR. Thanks." Vince instructed.


    After a few minutes, a Caucasian lady in her late 20s arrived at the penthouse living room.


    "Thank you for freeing some time for this meeting. I understand you''ve been busy collaborating with Heidi and Alexis amidst the armor program." Vince told her before introducing John and Palmer.


    "Welcome aboard, Mr. Carmack! My team would love to have you. Most of my staff will freak out when they hear John Carmack himself is joining us as a consulting officer." Dr. Miller stated sincerely.


    "Please kindly stop. Future Tech has been showering me with praises since I got here. Feel free to use my expertise in any way your department requires. I''m always hungry to learn and innovate!" John replied passionately.


    "You and Dr. Miller can discuss Future Tech''s more classified VR information after our meeting. But, for now, I''d like to know more about our new consulting officer. I remember reading about how you and id Software started the esports industry in the late ''90s with Quake. Id awarded Thresh with your Ferrari 328 as the grand prize. Epic!" Vince stated reverently.


    "I loved that Ferrari, but Dennis Fong deserved it after playing such a phenomenal tournament. However, our events back in the day pale in comparison to the APL and its bi-annual finals that Future Studios started hosting in 2012." John replied genuinely.


    "The APL can''t take away the fact that id Software pioneered the competitive video game industry. You guys were a huge inspiration for us at Future Studios." Kyle commented with his point of view.


    "Side note, many of us here at Future Tech are into high-precision and performance engineering, so we own traditional vehicles you might be interested in, like Heidi''s LaFerrari," Vince stated in a playful tone.


    "What?! I heard those only came out last week. The Ferrari waiting list is insanely long, and I wonder if any of those listed are even real." John replied in surprise.


    "Heidi''s LaFerrari is the first and currently the only one in the United States. She paid for an FT Super Galaxy aircraft out of pocket to transport the car from Maranello to Austin. Our resident robotics expert loved the car after tearing up COTA on a track day." Vince explained.


    "I can imagine cause I felt the same way with the Ferrari Testarossa back in the 90s. The aerodyne vehicles that Future Tech introduced earlier this year have also been an interest of mine." John replied.


    "Hang on; you own a Formula 1 team, right?" John inquired suddenly.


    "Yes, they''ve been doing well this season. What''s up?" Vince replied curiously.


    "I''ve been thinking of a new video game that id Software could start developing while I consult with Future Tech. Your Formula 1 team already has a working physically realistic driving simulator; wouldn''t it be natural to refine the application and sell it on the Infinity store for regular display and VR players." John suggested.


    "Oh! You''re onto something, John. What if we could implement a league ladder system like real life to make it more legit. I can even speak to Jean Todt for a partnership with the FIA as the official racing simulator for their entire auto sports portfolio." Vince brainstormed out loud.


    "Whoa! I can see why you''re so successful, Vince. Your ambition speaks for itself. Those are fantastic ideas. However, we''d have to sell sim racing hardware for players who want a more immersive and authentic experience." John stated.


    "Future Tech has reliable peripheral partners like Logitech, but they may not be up to the task for manufacturing sim racing equipment. So we can worry about that further into the development stage. Though I''m uneasy about Zenimax''s involvement as id Software''s publisher and parent company." Vince said as he brought up the elephant in the room.


    "That may be a problem. How about I negotiate a buyout deal with Zenimax? My staff can support expanding the Infinity Console game library with new intellectual property based on our experience." John suggested.


    [War Online and Everlife has taken most of Future Studio''s attention while Epic is busy with the Infinity Unreal Engine. It may be worth purchasing id Software outright to bolster my video game portfolio.] Vince pondered.


    "These are all great ideas, John. I hope Zenimax and Future Studios can reach an amicable agreement. Our Infinity platform sorely needs more signature exclusive video game titles." Vince replied honestly.  While brainstorming about the new racing simulator game concept, Aiya whispered to Kyle regarding another guest meeting in ten minutes.


    "Brendan Greene, also known as PlayerUnknown, is waiting at the lobby for the office tour and to accept his reward for Best Infinity Community Mod," Aiya explained.


    "Thanks, Aiya. I almost forgot because of all the excitement from speaking with Mr. Carmack. I''ll welcome our guest shortly." Kyle stated before bidding farewell to the others in the living room.


    An Irish man in his late 20s with brown hair sat patiently at the Future Tech headquarters lobby.


    [This building, no, this city is drastically different from what I expected. But, on the other hand, Modding Everlife might be the best decision I''ve made in my life based on how prosperous everybody here seems to be.] So Brendan thought while drinking tea served by a Future Tech employee.


    Kyle emerged from the private elevator and introduced himself to his guest.


    "My name is Kyle, the junior executive director of Future Studios. Welcome to our headquarters, Brendan. I can begin showing you around if you don''t mind starting earlier than our scheduled meeting." Kyle stated.


    "Of course. Thank you for inviting me. I recall you speaking at the E3 announcement about two weeks ago. It was a great show and inspired me into modding Everlife during my free time working as a photographer and web designer in Brazil." Brendan said while they were walking around the Future Studios offices.


    "I''m glad to hear about your interest in modding Everlife. We designed Everlife and Infinity Unreal Engine to allow modders of all skill levels to contribute ideas on our platform, ensuring the longevity and variety of our new triple-a game." Kyle explained.


    [Good thing I watched the E3 announcement, or else I''d still be stuck in Brazil eating ramen noodles and working shitty gigs.] Brendan pondered while the Future Studios offices amazed him at every glance.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $16 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch)

 Chapter 85 - Battle Royale

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 200!)


    (New video out on YouTube!)


    Advertisements from Apple and other consumer electronics manufacturers played throughout United States television channels and online media.


    The commercials revealed new products releasing soon, much cheaper than Future Tech''s higher-end devices. For example, Apple''s new iPhone was demoted to a middle-class mobile device but would now boast processing power equivalent to the first-generation AIM electronic devices.


    Many consumers were thrilled to hear about more economical options for their favorite devices and now wouldn''t have to shell out the big bucks to buy from Future Tech.


    The rich Silicon Valley suits were so proud of themselves for spending billions of dollars in exchange for sufficient technology enough to fight against Future Tech''s sudden growth.


    Meanwhile, Russian military factories had begun churning out below-average aerodyne vehicles meant to equip their frontline troops for the inevitable war against Ukraine on the other side of the border.


    Instead of focusing on defensive capabilities like Future Tech''s FAV-1, the Russians added more firepower and accessible pilot controls because their version of AV wasn''t equipped with the same cutting-edge AI assistance program the CAVs and FAVs feature nor the Future Tech insurance.


    [We got a sweet deal from those dark web outlaws. AV tech and an assured hack job are well worth ghosting Interpol and their current investigations.] Putin pondered in his Kremlin office.


    More than three thousand miles away from Moscow, a few Syrian military officers were finalizing a deal with a mysterious extremist group that recently made their existence known in the middle east, selling tech and information in the local black markets.


    Plenty of other organizations and companies uninvolved in shady dealings have been rapidly advancing their technologies and offerings using the first-generation and current-generation Future Tech products available to the public.


    The massive performance boost in the computational capacity of the new processors most professionals have adopted has positively affected daily workflows, especially in laboratories worldwide.


    One significant example is the Hollywood industry, which has joyously migrated all its 3D rendering workloads to either AIM or Infinity workstations, reducing render times and overall costs.


    Motion capture and photogrammetry were trivial matters for anyone who owned a Future Tech mobile device and used its Infi AI-driven camera to capture high-fidelity images.


    Disney also recently negotiated with Future Tech to purchase two Infinity Supercomputers as soon as their chief technology officer learned of the new offerings from the Austin tech giant.


    Humankind was improving and changing much quicker than in Vince''s past life. As a result, the butterfly effects of his existence are getting more and more apparent.


    After the office tour, an Irish man in his mid-20s couldn''t believe his eyes. Kyle awarded him $1 million for the community modder award and a job offer to work at the FPS sub-division at Future Studios.


    "Pinch me! I think I''m dreaming." Brendan blurted out while reading the contract details.


    "Even though Future Studios employ the highest number of dedicated game developers in the world, we''re still looking for innovative creators to add more value to our video game ecosystem. After speaking with the FPS progenitor himself, John Carmack, an hour ago, I feel like you share the same passion for video games and deserve a spot on my team." Kyle explained with an air of leadership, even at the age of 15.


    [I won''t have to eat Brazilian-brand instant noodles anymore?! And I even get a job offer to work with John Carmack!? That seals the deal for me.] Brendan pondered as he signed the paperwork without a second thought.


    Vince, Dr. Taylor Miller, John Carmack, and Palmer Luckey enjoyed a few drinks at the penthouse bar to learn more about their new colleagues.


    "I was amazed when I first tested the Hypervisor. The quality and level of detail your company integrated into the mini-led displays were marvelous. Do you mind my asking how many you''ve sold so far?" John asked curiously.


    "We''ve sold about 5 million Hypervisors units so far, and a third of our users actively play Everlife and War Online using VR desktop mode," Vince replied.


    "Very popular, indeed. It''s natural for customers to flock towards the latest and greatest consumer devices as they did with the first iPhones a few years ago." The young Palmer commented.


    "I''m sure the Oculus version will sell much better due to the significant price difference. More people need to experience this life-changing VR and AR technology!" John stated in a passionate tone.


    "There''s still a place for traditional displays, especially for industrial applications like the instruments on the Dragon Space Capsule, but now we have more granular and refined control with the Hypervisors. Side note, I''m not sure if you''ve heard of a recent Everlife Online mod released a week ago, called PlayerUnknown''s Battle Royale. It''s a hugely popular online game mode centered on the first-person shooter aspects of Everlife. The modder is meeting with Kyle to receive his community award and prize. You may have ideas about the FPS genre you can suggest to him when we meet for dinner." Vince explained.


    "I''m sober enough to try it out on a traditional display screen. Give me a second." so John said before pulling out the new Infinity Notebook he purchased at the ground floor Future Tech storefront.


    "That''s completely fine. Everlife was explicitly designed for traditional displays to allow most people to play it. So VR isn''t essential to enjoying the different game modes." Vince replied while powering on his Infinity Workstation.


    Aiya arrived carrying two Infinity Notebooks meant for Palmer and Dr. Miller to use, but the good doctor declined courteously.


    "You boys can enjoy the rest of the day while I return home to my son for the evening. I expect we''ll see each other soon, Mr. Carmack." Taylor said before leaving the penthouse.


    "Alright, we can play trios after doing the quick tutorial," Vince stated as he invited John and Palmer to his in-game squad.


    All three loaded into a large modded level within Everlife Online with targets in varying distances and weapons laying around ported from the base Everlife game.


    "I suggest practicing with the FA-416, the Future Arms variant of the M4 carbine. It''s the most common gun spawn in the mod. Try out the mid-range and short-range optics at the shooting range." Vince explained.


    "Wow! Besides the insane graphical fidelity, these animations are smooth as silk. How were you able to do this?" John asked passionately.


    "The stock animations that come with the modding toolset were created using full-body inverse kinematics and motion capture of various people from Future Security, Studios, and contracted Hollywood actors. In addition, Infinity Unreal Engine automatically fixes minor mesh issues using Infi AI assistance." Vince explained in detail.


    "Amazing! I''ll make it my priority to learn the ins and outs of your new software development suite. Even the physics feel authentic." John replied after shooting a target at 50 yards a few times.


    "You guys should play Everlife. The story alone is worth the playthrough." So Vince stated as the three of them deployed for their first battle royale match.


    "One hundred random online players will parachute drop into any available part of the map the FT-Super Galaxy we''re riding flies over. Let''s drop there. That area provides an average amount of loot, but most players avoid it." Vince explained as he pinged [River Town] on the squad map.


    [I''m glad Brendan started modding Everlife instead of Arma in my past life. How could I forget how popular Battle Royale games were. Kids on Tiktok were dancing the Fortnite emotes unironically.] Vince pondered while looting a house.


    Brendan was kind enough to provide a HUD minimap to help teammates keep tabs on each other.


    "Guys, I think I''m in trouble here," Palmer said in worry as he heard a group of enemies running around his vicinity.


    John took position on the third floor in a house across the road from Palmer. He found three enemies looking to loot [River Town] and took it upon himself to fire the first shot from his excellent vantage point.


    John was lucky; he found an SR-25 and ACOG scope in the same house and downed one enemy via headshot.


    "Great shooting, John. Watch this!" Palmer exclaimed before rushing the last two enemies while brandishing a stock FA-416.


    He took cover behind an abandoned truck and emptied his magazine towards the two enemies attempting to revive their teammate.


    "The gunplay is just so good, Vince!" John said while looting his kill.


    "Online connectivity and realistic physics were crucial to my vision of Everlife Online, and we spared no expense in developing the game engine for our purposes," Vince replied proudly.


    The toxic gas slowly covered the playable areas of the map until the last few teams fought for survival.


    Unfortunately, toxic gas caught the trio in the open between two squads which sent them straight back to the lobby after a valiant attempt.


    "I feel the rush in my blood, Vince. This game mode is addicting!" John commented.


    "That''s why we offered the developer a lucrative deal. Future Tech is always looking for talent. He may be of use to our upcoming projects. I already feel the US military''s interest in purchasing augmented reality training simulations for SOCOM and specialized roles like bomb defusing." Vince replied.


    "I envy your commitment to the business side of things. But, unfortunately, I''ve always been too focused on developing games rather than growing id Software." John said honestly.


    "My mother thinks it''s my affliction," Vince replied in jest.


    The three of them laughed before jumping into another match of Battle Royale.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $16 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch)

 Chapter 86 - The Guild

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 200!)


    (New video out on YouTube!)


    In mid-July of 2013, roughly a week after Brendan Greene officially joined Future Studios, a Caucasian man in his mid-30s was scrolling through his phone''s contact list.


    Enigma was sitting in a different office furnished as lavishly as ones at other Anarchy bases, enjoying a glass of Macallan whiskey.


    His aid, a man wearing a dark combat suit and balaclava, entered the office to notify Enigma about his current mission.


    "Hades, what do you have for me?" Enigma asked as he placed his phone on the desk.


    "My strike team is supplied and ready to meet up with the unmarked Russian operatives for our contract in the Caribbean. Forced extraction is par for the course for our men. Still, the other mission involving the assassination of the Anarchy defectors won''t be easy considering they work for Future Security now." Hades replied in detail.


    "That''s fine. As I said, Anarchy will have to lay low for the time being. However, nothing is stopping us from availing this kind of service from the true assassination professionals." Enigma stated in a calm tone.


    "You mean The Guild? I understand they''re the best with that sort of operation, but I doubt they''ll do better than our in-house hitmen." Hades replied skeptically.


    "I know you''ve had run-ins and bad experiences with members of The Guild, but we''ve had a decent relationship with them for decades now, and I trust they will hold the end of their bargain. So you''re clear to depart for the extraction mission. Here are the contact details of our Russian intermediary." Enigma stated before dismissing his right-hand man.


    Then Enigma found the contact number he was looking for on his mobile phone and called it.


    The call request passed through Digital Anarchy''s private communication network. Finally, it reached a woman enjoying red wine and the cool breeze of the Mediterranean.


    A respectable amount of security surrounded the villa itself. Still, every inch of the area was under video surveillance, courtesy of one of Anarchy''s many legitimate companies scattered throughout the world.


    A beautiful brunette Italian woman in her late 30s was sunbathing outside her Malta villa. However, her bliss was soon interrupted by a phone call from a prominent man amongst her particular business circle.


    "Well, well, well. I''m not surprised to be hearing from you, old friend. I assume you need help cleaning up after the mess in East Asia. Has your organization fallen into hard times having to hire The Guild?" the woman said jokingly.


    "Madame Francesca, you wound me with your harsh words. I thought you''d miss our times together instead of my recent headaches. It has been quite a while." Enigma replied in banter.


    "The Guild''s centuries'' worth of professional experience is available to you, of course. In truth, the toys your organization has sold to us these past decades have made the assassination business rather easy. Unfortunately, though, we still have our limits, Enigma." Francesca stated honestly.


    "Don''t worry. I''m not asking for The Guild to assassinate Future Tech executives. We both know we''re a year too late for that sort of thing to be probable, but I do have fresh intel about the two South Korean defectors who will be at the receiving end of our deal." Engima replied reassuringly.


    "Good. For more than a thousand years, The Guild hadn''t shied away from a problematic mark; we''ve assassinated presidents, prime ministers, and royalty. But these tech giants like Future Tech are a different story now. But I accept the contract, for old times'' sake." Francesca stated.


    "Our agents around Future Tech noted two new but very talented Asian hackers who recently finished training at Kandahar being reassigned to support Future Security operations in Mogadishu. I''ll send you the full report after the call. Francesca, I expect you to send your best hitman for this job. Failure will put both our organizations back for a long time if Future Tech finds out. I''ll pay $50 million now and another $100 million when the job is done." Enigma explained.


    "Rather generous of you, Enigma. Do you hate the two hackers that much?" Francesca asked curiously.


    "You of all people should know that traitors must die. It''s a given in our business circle." Enigma replied.


    "Quite right. When will you be in Europe? I''ve missed the nights we''ve spent together." Francesca asked.


    "I''m rather busy at the moment, but I am required in Europe next month. We can arrange dinner and time alone, then. I appreciate The Guild''s cooperation with my recent headache. I''m lucky to be closely acquainted with the boss herself." Enigma replied.


    "Very lucky indeed," Francesca said seductively before ending the call.


    Francesca returned to her room and chose one of the many Future Couture outfits she bought while shopping in Monaco a week earlier.


    [Beautiful and elegant as always.] She pondered while looking at her mirror.


    After changing clothes, she headed towards a control room only accessible to her, hidden behind an original painting by Sandro Botticelli. Francesca remotely powered on all the video displays that showed the updated locations of the numerous professional assassins employed by The Guild.


    Instead of choosing one already in East Africa, Francesca looked for her ace assassin, codenamed Eleven.


    [It looks like he''s in Dubai right now. So that isn''t too far from the targets, fortunately.] So Francesca thought while requesting a secure communication link using the computer console.


    An ethnically ambiguous man in his mid-20s was unpacking a set of bartender clothing that looked exactly like what the staff used at the Burj Al Arab.


    [Perfect. I''ll blend in at the Skyview Bar for just enough time with this disguise.] Eleven thought.


    While planning out his mission for later in the afternoon, he received a call from the top dog of The Guild.


    "Eleven, how is your current mission going? An important client requested our best man for a job in Somalia." Francesca inquired.


    "All of my preparations are in place. Based on my scouting report, I only have to perform the hit in a few hours, and I''ll be off to my next target." Eleven replied unemotionally.


    "Alright. I''ll arrange transportation for you later today." Francesca stated before closing the comlink channel.


    A few hours later, Eleven entered the hotel via one of many employee passages. Thick doors and RFID readers secured each entry, and Eleven had just the right tools for a silent infiltration.


    The Guild has procured various tools and services such as RFID spoofers and legitimate-looking credentials from their good friends at Anarchy. However, none of the assassins truly knew where these cutting-edge devices came from.


    As Eleven predicted, his mark, an influential black market weapons dealer who loved day drinking, arrived at the lobby.


    [The incoming civil war in Yemen has been quite lucrative. I should treat myself to some expensive cocktails as a reward.] the mark pondered as he rode an elevator towards the Skyview Bar.


    His numerous bodyguards followed in tow, which narrowed down the assassination methods that Eleven could utilize.


    Eleven systemically traversed through the employee passages while avoiding direct contact with other staff members and CCTV cameras.


    He arrived at the bar and found two bartenders attending to their affluent clientele.


    [At least one of them will notice I''m not a real bartender. I need a low-key distraction.] Eleven pondered.


    He observed that the younger bartender seemed worried and unaccustomed to the environment.


    [The young one is new and won''t notice my presence, but the senior bartender will have to go.] Eleven thought.


    Eleven passed the bar once and saw the bartender using his phone for a quick second before a customer asked for a drink.


    He placed his phone down on the counter to free his hands to mix the customer''s order.


    Eleven smoothly swiped the phone and walked out of the bar, searching for a random employee.


    "Excuse me. I found this phone in the men''s restroom. Do you mind taking it to the main lobby in case the guest goes looking for it?" Eleven asked the staff member politely.


    "I appreciate you turning this in, sir. I''m glad to be of assistance." the Burj employee said before heading towards the reception area.


    Hotel management notified the bartender a few minutes later that his phone was currently in the main lobby.


    Eleven took this chance and immediately changed into his bartender disguise. He then headed towards the bar to mix the mark''s favorite cocktail, a Manhattan, with an added dose of a boutique slow-acting poison.


    He mixed a Cosmopolitan and asked the newbie bartender to serve it to a fine-looking woman seated a few tables away from his target, courtesy of his mark.


    The young man did not question his authoritative command and did what Eleven told him dutifully.


    Eleven walked up to his target with a smile while holding on to a tray.


    "The young lady over there noticed your love of Manhattans and asked me to serve you one on her tab," Eleven said as he looked over his shoulder towards the woman being told the same thing by the young bartender.


    The two customers smiled at each other, and his mark happily drank the Manhattan.


    Ten minutes later. After the target finished the drink, the mark was about to approach the lovely woman to express his gratitude and flirt a little. But then, he suddenly had an ache in his chest and died on the spot.


    Eleven was long gone from the scene and the hotel, already in a town car heading back to his safe house.


    [Mission Complete. On to the next one.] Eleven pondered while reading up on the South Korean targets.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $16 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)

 Chapter 87 - Retaliation

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 20!)


    An inferior version of a mil-spec Stingray landed in an open field surrounded by dense tropic vegetation.


    Hades and his strike team rendezvoused with Anarchy''s Russian contact on a remote island amongst the Caribbean.


    Their contact brought twenty unmarked operatives to support Anarchy''s thirty-man strike team.


    All the men''s identities were kept safe using balaclavas and thick helmets featuring night-vision goggles.


    "Greetings. You can call me Hades. Let''s get straight to the point. What crucial intel are you providing us? I believe the value was pegged relatively high." Hades stated in fluent Russian.


    The large man decked out in heavy assault armor, and helmet nodded in agreement.


    "I go by Kadrovik. Our government found a CIA black site a few months ago on a nearby island, meant for prisoners that the Americans deemed to deserve a darker cell than available at Guantanamo Bay." Kadrovik explained.


    "I see where this is going. Do you have proof that Ashkan is being held in this particular black site?" Hades inquired.


    "When the SVR RF located the site, they had no reason to raid it immediately and instead conducted surveillance around the island. As a result, a security drone captured your mark''s face in the vicinity a week ago." Kadrovik replied while showing Hades the footage on his tablet.


    "I''m glad the new toys we''ve sold you have been helpful. I can finally fulfill this long-standing contract. My strike team will take point on the extraction. We go in slow and steady while your military AV unit covers us from the sky." Hades stated as a matter of fact.


    "You''re the boss. We''re only here to provide assistance and support." Kadrovik replied before ordering his men to prepare for the assault.


    They waited until midnight before taking boats across the narrow sea channels towards their target.


    The CIA black site was off the books. It, therefore, was not included in the security upgrade contract between the Department of Defense and Future Tech, leaving the area vulnerable to security threats and no Future Cybersecurity remote assistance.


    After landing at the beach, Hades'' pair of top-tier hackers got to work and took control of the local wireless communication channels.


    "Boss, we found a communication hub two clicks north. I suggest we take control of the area and find more specific information about the black site." one of the veteran hackers stated.


    "Alright. One of you will join a detachment to secure the hub while the rest of us make our way towards the black site." Hades commanded.


    The island was remote and therefore had few guards. Most of them relied on early warning systems scattered around the island, but those were outdated and easily disabled by the Anarchy hackers.


    The three guards stood no chance against the well-trained and heavily armed detachment. Moreover, all of their weapons were equipped with suppressors, which helped them avoid attention.


    The Anarchist approached the communication hub console and plugged his laptop to perform a breach protocol.


    After a few minutes of disabling layers of cyber security, he succeeded in intruding into the black site''s computer systems.


    "We''re in, boss." the Anarchist stated over the comlink channel.


    A disheveled Syrian-Arab man wearing plain prison attire sat silently in his small dark cell.


    CIA operatives routinely dragged him out of his box for daily interrogation, leaving him weak physically but still strong-willed enough to withstand the torture.


    [Give me one chance, a chance to avenge my defeat at the hands of the infidels. Then, I will shed the shame away with glorious feats.] Ashkan prayed.


    Suddenly, the cell guards were alerted about the security breach via their earpieces and left the area to investigate their surroundings.


    Hades and his team entered the compound unimpeded by the security systems and dispatched any guard they came across on the way to Ashkan''s cell.


    The Anarchy hacker who wore their version of an AR visor guided the team through the black site and towards their target.


    "Hades, the package should be behind that locked steel door. I''ll have our demolition team make us an entrance," he stated.


    "Good. Detachment one, can you read me? Vacate the area and rendevous with our exfil one-click south of the compound." Hades instructed.


    Thanks to the Anarchists running interference within the communication channels, no reinforcements would arrive anytime soon.


    Though highly trained, the minimal amount of guards could not regain control of the building through force.


    A controlled explosion blasted through the thick doors and allowed the team to enter the prison block.


    They found a surprised and confused Ashkan standing in one of the cells.


    The demo team opened the locked door almost immediately, and Ashkan instantly understood he was being saved from the wretched place.


    Ashkan said no words and followed the instructions Hades gave him in Arabic.


    The strike team made their way out of the compound and towards the exfil landing area.


    They met Kadrovik waiting by two transport AVs and the rest of Hades'' strike team, which destroyed the communication hub.


    "Packaged acquired. Let''s take to the sky, boys." Hades commanded as he boarded one of the AVs.


    It would take at least a day before Langley HQ realized what had happened at the remote island.


    Halfway around the world, Eleven was performing maintenance on his kit, including his suppressed pistol and fiber wire.


    After scouting the area for a day, Eleven found the base of operations Future Security was using to support their peacekeeping contract with the Somalian government.


    They used a state-owned mansion provided by the local authorities outside the city powered by solar arrays installed by Future Tech.


    [Gaps within their security routine are few. For example, car explosives are out of the question because they store all the CAVs indoors with armed operators. Poison won''t do with how tight I assume the kitchen security will be.] Eleven pondered while cleaning his beloved custom Cheytac M200 sniper rifle.


    Eleven scouted the area within two kilometers of the mansion the day before and noticed a hill around 1800 meters north of his targets.


    He decided to camp out on the hill and observe the mansion using high-magnification scopes for the rest of the day.


    [Finally, they make an appearance.] So Eleven thought as he peered through his binoculars.


    Two South Korean men walked out into the balcony and enjoyed a few cigarettes before heading back to work after a ten-minute smoke break.


    He recorded how often his two targets went out to the balcony and noted the windage and distance.


    Eleven chose the most accurate ammunition on hand and dialed his sniper scope at 1,855 meters.


    He went prone and took position on top of the hill covered by a beige cloth to conceal his presence, though it didn''t matter too much considering he was almost two kilometers away.


    [I get one shot. That''s it. Giving chase to fulfill this contract after a failed attempt will be a massive headache for The Guild and me. I cannot miss.] Eleven pondered.


    A few hours later, the air was still and unmoving, and the two targets showed themselves at the mansion''s balcony.


    Eleven stayed calm for nine minutes until the two decided to walk back inside their makeshift fortress.


    He exhaled and waited at the precise moment when the two lined up perfectly with each other. The trigger pull was smooth as silk, practiced during Eleven''s undercover tenure, training with the US Olympic shooting team.


    The projectile flew through the air for a few seconds, affected by mostly gravity. Thankfully, the wind calmed at the perfect moment.


    Both Anarchy defectors died almost simultaneously, by the same .408 round through their skulls.


    Eleven decided to vacate the area after alarms started roaring from the mansion as soon as possible.


    He chose not to open any communication channels until leaving Somalia in case Future Cybersecurity was sniffing around.


    Back in Austin, at the Future Tech Headquarters, a Filipino-American man was alerted by his phone of an ongoing attack against his team in Mogadishu.


    Anthony rushed towards the NetServ control room and found Edward Snowden leading his team on a digital network sweep centered around Somalia''s capital.


    "Anthony, the two recruits you recently cleared from probation were assassinated. We''re looking for any signs of them digitally while the operators onsite secure the surrounding area." Edward explained in detail.


    "Thanks for taking the lead while I was on break, Edward. I can take it from here." Anthony replied.


    [Those two showed promise and repentance. What a waste of good men.] Anthony pondered while coordinating his staff.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $16 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch)

 Chapter 88 - Frustration

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 20!)


    A plethora of Hive Mind manufacturing drones and various specialized equipment could be seen around Vince and Morgan while discussing a recent problem in his FT Micro Devices laboratory.


    "As you can see, the new microchips Apple and the other silicon fabricators are producing share a strikingly similar design and manufacturing process to our first-gen offerings. Moreover, they even derived a few basic AI features like face recognition based on Patel''s investigation in his department. So our competitors are clearly reverse-engineering Future Tech products and are undercutting us to boot." Morgan explained with disdain.


    [I knew this would happen sooner or later, but it''s only been a year.] Vince thought before replying.


    "We have a few courses of action, like taking all of them to court, but that would be expensive, time-consuming, and bad publicity. Future Tech has already been a target for a while now, and I can''t let my company be dragged into counter-suits right now." Vince stated calmly.


    "So we do nothing?" Morgan replied disappointedly.


    "What we do is maintain the status quo. We need competitors to avoid anti-trust lawsuits, and even then, Future Tech will always be the best and premium option. Yes, we''ll lose profits, but that''s better than being forced to break up my company by the government." Vince explained.


    "We''ll focus on advancing our technology to keep our competitors at bay while providing better and better customer experiences. In addition, I''ll speak with Heidi to improve our hardware protections to reduce the risk of reverse-engineering." Vince added.


    While the two discussed adjustments with Future Tech''s development strategy, Vince received a message on his Hypervisor inbox.


    "Excuse me, Morgan. Anthony needs me at the NetServ Control Center. So we can finish our discussion later today. Thanks for your time." Vince stated.


    "It was my pleasure," Morgan replied before he returned to working with his lab assistants.


    Vince took his private elevator towards NetServ''s dedicated floor within the headquarters.


    As soon as the young CEO walked into the Control Center, he felt a heavy atmosphere shared by his Cybersecurity Director and his team of nethunters.


    "Anthony, did something happen?" Vince asked curiously.


    "Vince, I''m sorry to inform you about an attack on our Mogadishu operating base. The assigned detachment and my nethunters have secured the perimeter on land and the network, but we couldn''t find the culprit." Anthony replied solemnly.


    [First, the reverse-engineering issue, and now this.] Vince thought angrily.


    "I hate asking this question, but how many casualties did we incur?" Vince asked inquisitively.


    "The two targets were our newly recruited Korean hackers who were involved with the so-called Anarchy. We believe the hit was in retaliation for their defection to Future Security, but further investigation is required." Anthony replied truthfully.


    Vince forced himself to calm down after learning about Future Security''s additional casualties since its inception.


    "Find out more about the people who orchestrated the hit. I authorize the use of your Network Creepers. Future Tech will make sure to compensate their families via the casualty fund." Vince instructed before returning to his penthouse to clear his mind.


    While Vince was lying down on the sofa overlooking the Austin Metropolis, he received another unscheduled call from the Future Security Director.


    "Price, are you calling about the tragedy in Mogadishu? Anthony has already updated me about it." Vince asked via his Hypervisor.


    "The nethunters notified me regarding the incident earlier. I spoke to those two when they were locked up here at Kandahar. They were decent lads, even though they tried to hack us because of their greed. But unfortunately, I''m calling about a different incident. My CIA contacts have just informed me Ashkan, the rebel leader who failed to overrun our Dehdadi FOB escaped from his prison cell with the help of unmarked assailants." Price explained in detail.


    Vince was livid after hearing about yet another blunder experienced by Future Tech in a single day.


    [Motherf*****! My enemies are relentless. For some reason, I feel like all of these incidents are connected.] Vince pondered after slamming both his fists on the sofa.


    "What''s the CIA''s excuse? I thought all the foreign bases'' security systems have been updated by Future Tech already." Vince replied, fuming with anger.


    "The CIA transferred Ashkan from Guantanamo to an off-the-books black site which wasn''t part of the upgrade deal with the Pentagon. I take full responsibility for failing to keep track of Ashkan. I should have ensured his imprisonment for the murder of our dead FS operators." Price replied solemnly.


    "You aren''t to blame, Price. The government is as unreliable as ever. I''m no military strategist, but I assume Ashkan will seek revenge after regrouping with whatever jihadist group saved him. I''ve already authorized FSC to use Network Creepers with their investigations. Collaborate with Anthony and find whatever you can about the unmarked assailants, and devise a counterplay if able. Thank you for the update, Director." Vince said with a stern tone.


    "Of course, Vince. I won''t let you down. Price out." the Director replied before closing the comlink channel.


    [I feel so powerless. Is the ''growing pains'' aspect of business this painful? I''ll need to get used to hardships like these to continue developing Future Tech. Or else everything I''ve achieved with my friends and family would be in vain.] Vince pondered deeply.


    A beautiful butler android with short brown hair slowly walked up to the sofa, holding refreshments on a tray.


    "Vince, would you like me to call your mother?" Aiya asked after her empathy module detected Vince''s negative mood.


    "Just because I''m a teenager doesn''t mean I always need my mom. Thank you for offering, though," Vince replied with an annoyed tone.


    [What a headache.] So Vince thought as he enjoyed the glass of juice while watching Wonder Alice and Hailee streaming together on Twitch while attempting to calm his nerves.


    Meanwhile, in South America, two fully armed and armored men spoke in Russian. At the same time, their respective squads loaded up an Anarchy transport AV donning Lazarus Group symbols with supplies and the $300 million worth of Roubles in cash as advanced payment for their hacking services.


    "Mission complete, Kadrovik. We''ll keep in touch once your operations in Crimea ramp up." Hades said plainly.


    "Our psyops department requested an upgrade recently. The President wants to expand Russian social media operations before commencing the war in Ukraine." Kadrovik explained.


    "It will be expensive, but our holistic services are more than worth the pretty penny. I''ll have a team dispatched to Moscow within the week." Hades replied.


    Kadrovik nodded in response and yelled, "Move out!" instructing his men to board their own AVs.


    Hades'' team departed a few minutes later, transporting Ashkan to one of Anarchy''s remote airstrips in the Caribbean.


    The sickly-looking man was curious where he was being taken and respectfully inquired about his current circumstance.


    "Thank you again for saving me from that horrible place. God bless you all. Who should I thank for my liberation?" Ashkan asked.


    "You have rich, powerful, and connected friends, Ashkan. It may take a few days, but we''ll provide you safe passage to your home." Hades replied.


    "Syria? I would appreciate it." Ashkan stated honestly. He rightfully chose to ask only a few questions out of self-preservation and a bit of respect.


    [My homeland. One I haven''t seen in years. What would I say to my superiors? That I failed them in Afghanistan? No. I promised to cleanse my mistakes with glory. Instead, I will have my vengeance.] Ashkan pondered while he waited for his homecoming.


    More than a dozen hours later, Hades and his team rendezvoused with an Anarchy cell assigned to the middle east, undetected by the lax local law enforcement.


    Men who looked like typical insurgents but sported specialized equipment such as MVRs and basic security drones secured the area for the handoff.


    "Ashkan, these men are known as Fawdaa, the group who sub-contracted your escape to us. If you want revenge, I suggest cooperating with them. Most of the extremists around here are already taking advantage of their services for good reason." Hades stated before leaving with his team.


    What Hades didn''t tell Ashkan was the crucial fact that Fawdaa was just another Anarchy sub-organization taking advantage of the political and social instability in the region similar to the Lazarus Group in East Asia, all working under Enigma''s thumb.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $16 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch)

 Chapter 89 - Entertainment Industry

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 20!)


    At this point, Future Tech''s E3 presentation and release of a new line of hardware and software products had been selling for a month. Besides academia and the IT industry, the leaders in entertainment have been busy integrating the latest tech within their companies.


    Across the Atlantic Ocean, a French lead game developer at Ubisoft was refining an Assassin''s Creed demo his team programmed using Infinity Unreal Engine.


    [This version is almost identical to the Snowdrop Engine iteration of the demo. Let''s see how Future Tech''s free toolkit performs.] Gauthier thought skeptically.


    Gauthier was fortunate to access the new Infinity Workstations the company recently procured as a high-ranking developer at Ubisoft.


    He instructed one of his subordinates to run the demo performance benchmark of both versions using varying computer hardware from the current generation consoles to the newest devkits available.


    It took a few hours before the preliminary tests concluded, which showcased the optimization features Infinity Unreal Engine provided.


    [I see how Future Studios were able to develop an expansive videogame such as Everlife so quickly and flawlessly. We''ll have to notify our upper management about this before they conclude the 2014 development roadmap.] So Gauthier thought as he reviewed the shocking benchmark reports.


    Another sector of the entertainment industry beloved in Japan and worldwide, Anime, has seen great results with the newly available tools Future Tech had released.


    Takahiro Miura, a series director at Ufotable, was working almost twenty-four-seven on the learning grind with his team watching free translated Future Studios video tutorials to improve their skills for an anime project set for 2014.


    Like most anime production companies in Japan, most of Ufotable''s staff were underpaid and overworked. In addition, illustrators weren''t even issued company pen tablets as a standard and had to buy their own.


    [This is too good! I can''t believe Infinity Unreal Engine is free. My employees won''t have to worry about subscription costs for Adobe and AutoDesk anymore, assuming we can learn it soon. I can already imagine how beautiful Unlimited Blade Works will look.] So Takahiro pondered while overseeing the key-framing department.


    Fortunately for Takahiro, Vince Dalton instructed FT Investments to purchase businesses that provided products and services related to full-stack development pipelines, such as HitFilm for video editing and Fruity Loops Studio for music production integrated within the Infinity Unreal Engine. At the same time, Blender, an open-source tool, facilitated 3D workflows.


    After two years of improving Unreal Engine with Epic Games, Future Tech slowly amassed more, if not as many, media software engineers compared to massive properties like Pixar and DreamWorks, giving Hudson plenty of work.


    At an exquisite office in Burbank, executives and directors were discussing the preliminary trial results after a month of testing the Infinity Unreal Engine for their purposes.


    An Argentine woman in her early 40s initiated the discussion while holding a PowerPoint clicker.


    "Based on our VFX and animation trial results, it''s safe to assume it would be a mistake not utilizing Future Tech''s state-of-the-art media toolset. You''ll see what I mean after you watch the Avengers: Ultron pre-viz Joss Whedon and his team worked on the past week rendered using Disney''s new Infinity Supercomputer." Victoria Alonso, the Vice-President of Marvel Studios, said seriously.


    Kevin Feige and other executives focused on the thirty-second video of the Sokovia fight scene playing on the widescreen TV.


    "Wow! The destruction physics looks amazing!" Kevin blurted out halfway through the clip.


    "Are all the 3D meshes in the clip high-poly? I can''t find any artifacts on the edges." Trinh asked curiously.


    "Infinity-AI-assisted physics can handle more destructive scenes than this, while the Nanite feature allows scenes to contain billions of polygons as a default setting. These are only two of the many useful plugins available on their platform, and it only costs five percent net profits for the commercial-use license fee." Victoria shorty explained.


    [I guess the industry forecasters were correct in assuming the video game industry would soon overshadow the film industry.] Victoria thought.


    "But is it worth our five percent? Our intellectual properties rake in billions of dollars in revenue, so five percent would be a significant portion. How about the others'' opinions?" Kevin said skeptically.


    "My brother and I are more familiar with Future Studios after directing the Everlife campaign. I understand that the five percent policy is meant for indie game developers. Marvel Studios could probably negotiate a separate license if it tried." Joseph Russo interjected with his two cents.


    "Alright. I''ll entrust you both to liaison with Future Studios if we vote in favor of adopting their production ecosystem." Kevin Feige instructed before they deliberated further.


    Meanwhile, in the independent scene, freelance video game devs kept busy designing and producing digital assets like clothing and armor for Everlife and War Online, which could be sold on the Infinity Marketplace in exchange for Bitcash from any interested users on the platform.


    The community-ran Unreal Engine subreddit buzzed with users sharing ideas and their work as small creators flocked towards the new free resources available to everyone.


    Broke music producers who couldn''t afford the full version of their favorite DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), Fruity Loops Studio, now had access to all the plugins without paying a cent.


    "Hey, check this fire track out! The dude looks funny, but the track is dope!" a user posted on the subreddit.


    "He even referenced Vince Dalton in the first verse. Respect!" a Redditor replied.


    The link led to a slightly different version of Post Malone''s White Iverson music video, recorded using his Infinity Phone and wholly produced on Infinity Unreal Engine.


    Like Posty, many other young aspiring artists had the opportunity to advance their careers years earlier, at almost no cost, compared to Vince''s previous life.


    As a result, social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram experienced an uptick in viral video releases, which bode well for online advertising value.


    Vince arrived at the penthouse via CAV after his daily training session at the Fury Gym.


    "Aiya, could you please get me a glass of water. I''m so thirsty right now." Vince instructed the obedient android.


    [Training is practically my therapy these days.] Vince pondered before downing the glass of water Aiya delivered.


    He found his Hypervisor and immediately wore it to start working again like he always did.


    Vince started reading digitized reports from dozens of Future Tech divisions and sub-divisions regarding matters ranging from finances to design schematics.


    While browsing through his corporate duties, Aiya notified Vince about a high-priority call patched through NetServ via her custom link to his Hypervisor.


    "Who''s on hold? I''m busy right now." Vince stated plainly through his Hypervisor microphone.


    "Marvel Studios. They''d like to schedule a meeting with Future Tech regarding commercial use of the Unreal Engine." Aiya replied.


    Vince performed a quick hand gesture which brought up his calendar and reviewed it for a few seconds.


    "Perfect. I''ll be in Los Angeles this coming Friday to visit SpaceX. Tell Marvel I''ll make time while I''m there." Vince instructed before going back to work.


    Vince suddenly remembered the week vacation his crew spent on the west coast and the fun times they shared with newfound friends on The Longhorn.


    [I''ve been so busy with NetServ''s expansion and stressing over the recent civilian casualties that I forgot to keep in touch with Hailee and the others.] Vince pondered deeply.


    He closed his eyes to disconnect from the utterly stimulating experience augmented reality provided and reminisced about the few moments before his life changed and was brought back ten years in the past.


    [Achieving a fulfilling life is more than saving mom from her disease, nor contributing to society, but I''m slowly understanding Kid Cudi''s pursuit of happiness bit by bit.] he thought for what seemed to be hours.


    A few hundred miles away, a pair of young women were shopping for clothes at the famous Rodeo Drive. One had brown hair and wore trendy LA clothing, while the other had pink-dyed hair wrapped around the newest limited collection from Future Couture. They stood out in the crowd due to the presence of another two seriously armed FS operators working as Hailee''s security whenever she was in public.


    "Wasn''t the Future Couture store fantastic? I can''t recall any other apparel store that takes measurements and produce custom-fit clothing within the hour. In-house too." Wonder Alice said.


    Her companion kept quiet while walking down the boulevard, Alice immediately noticed. So she found an excellent spot to sit down and cheer her friend up.


    The two operators moved farther from the pair for privacy while scouting the area, following security protocols.


    [Oh, I may have brought up the elephant in the room by showing her around a Future Tech store.] Alice thought.


    "I know Vince hadn''t kept in touch with you or any of us the past month, but I assume he''s a busy person. Either way, you don''t deserve the cold shoulder." Alice stated before hugging Hailee.


    [An entire month without so much as a message. I wonder if Vince found another young Hollywood actress to seduce.] Hailee pondered while returning Alice''s hug.


    As she calmed down from her distraught state, her Infinity Phone received a notification.


    "I''m sorry that I''ve been caught up with work and neglected to keep in touch, Hailee. If you can forgive me, I''ll make time to NetServ call." was the message she received from Vince, including a selfie of him doing the puppy dog pout.


    Hailee burst into laughter all of a sudden, which surprised Alice.


    "What''s up with the mood swing, girl?!" Alice asked curiously.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $16 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch)

 Chapter 90 - Reconnecting

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 20!)


    (3D character designs updated with Rick and Sarah Meyers! Check it out in aux chapter)


    The young and talented actor excitedly showed the newly received message to her caring friend.


    "He didn''t forget about me, Alice! Look here." Hailee said with a joyous expression.


    [I was so close to assuming Vince didn''t remember the fun times we shared on The Longhorn.] She pondered with a clearer mind.


    "What are you still doing here, sis?! Go home, and video call him! Thanks for shopping with me today. Let''s do this again soon." Alice replied happily.


    "Thanks for cheering me up when I was down earlier," Hailee stated sincerely.


    "Don''t mention it but don''t forget to keep me updated!" Alice declared before leaving towards the car parking area.


    Fortunately, Wonder Alice''s Twitch channel had been doing so well lately that she purchased a sweet ride using her contract and donation profits. She was already popular in the variety gaming scene but was propelled to the top of the viewer charts because of her livestreams featuring Vince Dalton and his crew on The Longhorn.


    Hailee and her two dutiful security operators went their way to Rodeo Drive''s recently built AV parking lot for accommodating their wealthiest patrons, who were rich enough to own one.


    The LA Future Tech branch dispatched a corporate CAV for her daily commute, courtesy of Elon, the branch director, at Vince''s behest.


    While flying over downtown LA, She couldn''t wait until arriving home and decided to give Vince a NetServ video call.


    After about an hour of apologies and catching up, Hailee asked, "When can we meet each other?"


    "As I told you before, you''re always welcome to visit us here in Austin. It''s just difficult to find time away from my office." Vince replied honestly.


    "It didn''t feel that way after you ghosted me for almost a month." Hailee jabbed in reply.


    "Fair, yet you could have at least messaged or called me first before assuming I''d forgotten about you. I don''t want to argue again, Hailee. I''ll be in LA next weekend, but you can take a jet and spend some time with me here before I accompany you back." Vince offered to defuse the situation.


    "Are you just saying that to make up for your ghosting?" she asked cynically.


    "I miss you too. But, please don''t play hard to get right now. I''ve had a terrible week already." Vince replied sincerely.


    [Two of my employees'' heads literally exploded. An open-casket funeral wasn''t even an option.] Vince thought.


    "Alright, I''ll cut you some slack for now. You better be ready when I arrive." Hailee declared with an alluring expression.


    [Roger, roger.] So Vince thought before saying his farewells.


    Soon after the call, Hailee asked her parents to let her travel to Austin, accompanied by an FS escort. It took a few puppy dog pouts and persuasive dialogue before they agreed.


    She started to pack her things, getting ready to reunite with her boyfriend and escape the monotony of waiting for her agent to find a movie role. The only thing that kept her sane was the few times she joined Wonder Alice on her livestreams.


    A CAV picked her up the next day and flew towards Future Tech''s private hangar with a Boeing Luxury 787, ready to depart.


    She was expecting a private jet similar to ones most celebrities owned, not ones as big as a 787.


    "We''re happy to serve you today, Ms. Steinfeld. Please take a seat wherever you want. We also reserved a stateroom for you in case you wanted to sleep during the flight." the stewardess said politely.


    "Thank you, ma''am. So are we waiting on more people?" Hailee inquired.


    Before the stewardess could answer, a dozen SpaceX and Tesla engineers boarded the plane, followed by a familiar face.


    "Young Hailee, how have you been since you visited SpaceX?" Elon asked as he took a seat adjacent to her.


    "Well, thank you for the concern. I''m guessing all of you are traveling to Austin for business." Hailee replied.


    "Your guess is indeed correct. We''ll be performing on-site testing of the power grid update. I can''t avoid the legwork, unfortunately. How about you?" Elon inquired amiably.


    "Visiting Vince and exploring Austin for the most part," Hailee replied.


    "That young man takes work too seriously, especially for his age. Vince deserves a bit of leisure at least once in a while." Elon said honestly.


    "He told me once that his life was just a bonus now, so why is he still working so hard?" Hailee asked curiously.


    "You''ll understand when you see Austin," Elon answered plainly.


    A few hours later, the jet prepared for the landing while lowering altitude.


    Hailee took the opportunity to look out a window and see for herself what Elon meant.


    She observed the newly installed massive solar arrays that Future Tech initially tested in Kandahar. Next, she saw the Tech Campus located outside the city.


    She was amazed how much had changed since she last visited Austin a few years prior with her family.


    "That''s why Vince takes his work too seriously. More than one hundred thousand people rely on Future Tech for their livelihood, and that number keeps expanding." Elon explained.


    [Maybe I was too hard on him.] Hailee pondered.


    They landed a few minutes later. Vince Dalton was waiting alongside a Koenigsegg Flyga and Stingray for the engineers traveling to power grid stations amongst the hilly Austin countryside.


    "My team and I will start the trials and testing immediately. We had enough rest in the jet." Elon declared before leading his team towards the Stingray.


    Elon didn''t even greet Vince, which cracked up Hailee, and both started laughing.


    "Elon and I speak to each other almost every day. We skipped through standard niceties a long time ago. But you, on the other hand." Vince said as he wrapped his arm around her and went for a quick kiss on the lips.


    Hailee embraced him in return for a few seconds, and Vince said, "Get in the Flyga. We''ll go wherever you decide until I return to work after lunch."


    Koenigsegg''s latest model CAV-variant was currently the pinnacle of commercial AVs, costing $20 million before taxes. It featured a completely autonomous flight system facilitated by NetServ GPS tracking and performed much better than any Ford or Toyota AV in the market.


    Like all Vince''s vehicles, the Flyga wasn''t his personal property but Future Tech''s property. As the owner and CEO, he had the privilege of purchasing anything legal for his use and having Future Tech pay for any upkeep costs.


    It didn''t matter to him much because he reinvested all net profits back into the business. As a result, Vince financially supported his lifestyle as a business expense clearly defined in the corporation bylaws Marcia Kemp herself wrote.


    Most executive officers in Future Tech earned much more money than Vince because his annual salary was the bare minimum, but with plenty more privileges.


    "I''ve been meaning to visit Zilker Park but didn''t get the chance my last time here," Hailee replied while taking a seat in the luxurious Flyga.


    "It''s settled then. I''ll have food delivered to us for a little picnic in nature." Vince said in agreement. Four turbofan engines spooled up a few seconds later and took the Flyga towards the sky while a FAV-1 escort followed.


    After landing, the group walked around to look for a beautiful and secluded area for the picnic.


    The park was located reasonably close to downtown Austin, and practically in the middle of the city, so many people could be seen enjoying the scenery and fresh air.


    It was challenging to avoid attention when three fully armed operators and Dragonflies were escorting the young couple.


    "Hey, look! It''s a Future Tech executive going for a stroll." a local man said to his companion.


    "Is your eyesight that bad? It''s not just any executive but Vince Dalton himself. You know I have a cousin who works at the Tech Campus and talks about Vince like he''s Jesus or something." the woman companion stated.


    "This is Austin. It''s no surprise everyone loves Vince Dalton here. But my eyesight isn''t bad enough that I couldn''t recognize Hailee Steinfeld. Maddie Ross, baby!" the man replied.


    The bystanders were gossiping about Future Tech, but none were brave enough to approach the couple to ask for autographs.


    Vince and Hailee kept up their conversation while walking through the park, oblivious to everyone around them.


    It was the perfect day for outdoor activities, and they both took full advantage by doing a lap around the park before eating lunch under a tree.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $16 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn, Flyga


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch)

 Chapter 91 - Visiting Austin

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 20!)


    (3D character designs updated with Rick and Sarah Meyers! Check it out in aux chapter)


    A beautiful and sunny day blessed Austin''s residents who enjoyed spending time in the outdoors.


    FS operators could hear laughter from a picnic area twenty feet away, within their line of sight.


    "Thank you for taking me here, Vince. The weather, scenery, and food are fantastic!" Hailee said sincerely.


    "We''re lucky cause it''s usually too hot during summers here. I''m glad you''re enjoying our short escapade this morning. I have a meeting with my NetServ director at the headquarters. So you can visit Sarah and the others while I''m busy with work if that''s fine with you." Vince replied warmly.


    "Please, I''ve wanted to catch up with your crew for a while now. So let''s go?" Hailee replied.


    Vince stood up and took responsibility for cleaning up the picnic set delivered by his staff earlier.


    Having his FS escort clean up after them never crossed Vince''s mind because he respected the veteran soldiers and understood their job was to protect him.


    Soon, the group made their way back to the Flyga parked near the entrance, and it took off moments after boarding.


    The Flyga arrived at the Future Tech headquarters after a few minutes of flight due to how close Zilker Park was to downtown.


    Vince''s dutiful android butler greeted and welcomed the couple as they landed above the penthouse.


    "Hailee, meet Aiya, the most advanced android project in Future Tech. She''s one of a kind." Vince said proudly.


    "You''re words are too kind, Vince. It''s my pleasure to serve you to the best of my ability as Vince''s guest, Hailee." Aiya stated.


    "Thank you, Aiya. I''ll need the support considering how much has changed in this city." Hailee replied in gratitude.


    Vince kissed her on the cheek goodbye before he left for a meeting with Azuma and Edward at NetServ.


    "See you later and have fun. My mom is in her office in case you want to visit her." Vince said.


    "Of course, I do! Aiya can help me find my way. So don''t work too hard until I see you again tonight." Hailee affectionately declared.


    An ashen-haired beautiful woman in her late 30s was busy designing apparel using Infinity tools and a boutique Hive Mind drone specifically for producing clothing.


    Leah''s designs were becoming more sophisticated and neo-modern, making them incomparable to her contemporaries such as Gianni Versace and Giorgio Armani.


    While waiting for the drone to finish producing her latest prototype design, Leah heard a knock on her office door.


    "Come in," Leah said calmly.


    Aiya remained by the door while Hailee approached the queen of Future Tech.


    "Good to see you again, Leah. I remember our time on The Longhorn fondly. How have you and Dr. Sera been the past month?" Hailee asked courteously.


    "We''ve been well, thank you for asking, young lady. Did my son at least show you a good time out earlier this morning?" Leah asked curiously.


    "Yes, he did. We had a pleasant picnic, and I enjoyed it very much. What''s this new dress?" Hailee replied after noticing the newly produced apparel design.


    "Do you like it? It''s for Future Couture''s fall collection, though only a prototype." Leah explained.


    "I''m fond of the different types of materials used throughout the design. I''d love to buy one when it''s available. Alice showed me around the Future Couture store at Rodeo Drive, and it''s quite impressive." Hailee replied honestly.


    "Come on, don''t act like a stranger. Why buy one if I can make one for you right now?" Leah objected and quickly had Hailee stand next to the Hive Mind Dresser the size of a large refrigerator.


    Leah clicked a few buttons on her Infinity Tablet, and the machine started taking Hailee''s measurements while the manufacturing compartment worked on the physical product.


    The two women spoke and caught up with each other for a few minutes while the HMD worked its magic.


    Leah chose a different color scheme compared to the prototype, which she thought suited Hailee, purple and gold.


    Hailee thanked Leah profusely and excitedly entered the dressing area in Leah''s huge office to change into her new outfit.


    She emerged from the dressing room looking like a bonafide lady Future Tech executive and would fit right in amongst Heidi, Alexis, and Ms. Miller.


    "Stunning, darling. Marvelous. I can tell you have modeling experience, Hailee." Leah commented as she clapped her hands softly.


    "I love it, Leah. Your clothing is completely different from the typical designer stores, so I''m curious about what inspired your designs for Future Couture." Hailee asked while she spun in front of the full-body mirror.


    "Working at Future Tech made me appreciate the simplicity of patterns and symmetry. It''s my version of the ''neo-modern'' style. But my knowledge is mostly based on design books and resources I read during my treatment rest days. Sera encouraged me to pursue hobbies as a form of rehab while she supported me throughout the process." Leah explained honestly.


    "I can see why you hold her to such high regard. Thank you for the insight, and I''m glad your treatments were successful." Hailee replied genuinely.


    "Me too. Alright, you better say hello to Vince''s friends, or they''ll hold it against you as a joke for a long time. So I''ll see you at dinner tonight." Leah stated kindly.


    Hailee bade farewell before Aiya escorted her to the Future Studios offices.


    Jessica worked at the Software Dev division and Future Tech AI, so Hailee could only find Kyle, Sarah, and Rick amongst the hundreds of media developers ranging from video game architecture to VFX animation artists.


    Unfortunately, the entire development roster couldn''t fit in the headquarters, and the thousands of devs were based at the Tech Campus instead.


    Most of the staff observed the arrival of an iconic actor, especially to people in the south. But none chose to bother her for autographs due to their professionalism.


    [This is quite the operation they got going here.] Hailee pondered as an acclaimed media professional herself.


    Aiya brought Hailee to Future Studios'' lounge area, where Kyle, Rick, and Sarah were already waiting, having been contacted prior.


    "Welcome to Future Studios, our little home away from home," Kyle stated.


    "Thanks. It''s been a hot minute, huh?" Hailee replied.


    "Sure has been. How''s the Hollywood hustle been treating you lately?" Sarah interjected.


    "My agent''s still negotiating and hunting for a good deal, leaving me bored out of my mind with homeschool," Hailee replied honestly.


    "Homeschool is the least fun activity, I one hundred percent agree." Rick gave his two cents.


    "Though watching Twitch and Instagram livestreams and playing War Online or Everlife kept me entertained. Though, the more free time allowed me to pursue other passions like music at least." Hailee explained.


    "You write music, Hailee? Who would''ve guessed Hailee here was multi-talented." Kyle joked casually.


    [My pent-up feelings were so intense that I had to write music to release a bit of tension in my heart.] Hailee pondered but was too embarrassed to say out loud.


    "Give our guest a break, Kyle. Not everyone is like us, being able to take your relentless teasing." Sarah scolded in banter.


    "Alright, alright. If you''re passionate about music, then you''ll appreciate our music studio located just around the corner from here." Kyle explained.


    A short walk later, their group arrived at Future Studios'' in-house music production facility, primarily used for creating video game soundtracks and sound effects.


    There were seven young men inside the recording booth while another was working behind the soundproof glass as a producer. One thing they all had in common was being Korean.


    "This studio is crazy! Comparable to the mainstream music studios in LA, for sure!" Hailee commented excitedly, initially ignoring the people inside.


    "We contracted Pharrell Williams to produce the Everlife soundtrack and included his consultation for setting up this music studio. All I can say is, it was expensive."Kyle replied.


    "Awesome! So who are these guys?" Hailee asked inquisitively.


    "During the South Korean financial crisis, FT Investments bought out numerous South Korean companies which included Big Hit Entertainment if I''m not mistaken. That''s Pdogg, the producer, and those guys are known as the ''Bangtan Boys''. Their first studio album is a work-in-progress so you''ve probably never heard of them." Sarah explained.


    "Directors, we thank you again for allowing us to record in your studio. The one we have in Seoul isn''t half as good." Pdogg stated sincerely with his thick Korean accent.


    "Don''t mention it. We''re all family here at Future Tech." Rick interjected.


    "Also, our esteemed guest here apparently loves music so let''s entertain her when you''re done with the recording session if you don''t mind," Kyle instructed with an air of authority.


    "Of course, Director Kyle. We would be happy to be of service to miss?" Pdogg asked with his broken yet understandable English.


    "My name is Hailee. And I would really appreciate a rundown on how stuff works in the music studio, Pdogg." She stated truthfully.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $16 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn, Flyga


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch)

 Chapter 92 - Music Studio

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 20!)


    The smaller recording studios were being used by voice actors recording dialogue for Everlife''s expansion planned to release at the same time as GTA 5 in September. But Kyle, Rick, Sarah, and Hailee decided to hang out with Pdogg and BTS in the main recording booth instead of touring further.


    After a few takes, the group of young Korean artists finished recording their new single and exited the soundproof booth to pay respects to essentially their bosses.


    The seven young Korean men bowed slightly towards the Future Studios executives before sitting on the large sofa.


    "Good work with the vocals today. We''ll continue our session tomorrow morning." Pdogg stated before introducing BTS to their valued guest.


    Each of them was enchanted, meeting a unique beauty like Hailee that Jungkook couldn''t help himself from flirting.


    "It''s our pleasure to meet such a fine lady like yourself," Jungkook commented with an almost perfect American accent.


    "You flatter me. Thank you for the kind words. I didn''t understand the lyrics of your song earlier, but the beat, singing, and rapping were pretty good." Hailee replied respectfully,


    "We''re glad you enjoyed it, Hailee. I can run you through the recording process if you''re interested, but you''ll have to put up with my accent through the in-ear monitors, unfortunately." Pdogg stated honestly.


    "Your accent isn''t that bad, and I would appreciate the mentoring, Pdogg," Hailee replied sincerely.


    Rick, Kyle, Sarah, and the other members of BTS cheered her on as she entered the soundproof booth to experience working as a musical artist.


    Hailee positioned herself in front of the microphone behind the soundproof glass while listening to Pdogg''s instructions.


    "I wrote music the past month. I''ll sing it acapella first if you don''t mind." Hailee said through the mic.


    "Go for it! We can work on the chord progression and melody once I know what I''m working with." Pdogg replied.


    While Hailee was singing her song ''Starving'' acapella, Jessica entered the recording studio after Sarah texted her about Hailee''s visit.


    After a few minutes, the entire group listening started clapping for Hailee''s incredible non-instrumental vocal performance.


    "Okay, I''ll follow your BPM and build out an E Major chord progression, then you''ll try singing again. Don''t worry too much because music production is a trial and error process." Pdogg explained expertly.


    Pdogg started with basic guitar loops and percussion sounds for Hailee to follow.


    Thanks to Pdogg''s professional mentoring and direction, Hailee''s song was slowly evolving.


    "Wow! I didn''t expect our impromptu recording session to be this productive. I think the pop-electronic genre would suit your style. Give me a second." Pdogg stated while he performed his magic on the Infinity studio console.


    After five minutes, Pdogg played Hailee''s recorded vocal on top of the new beat, and everyone got excited suddenly.


    "That''s fire, dude!" Rick commented while the BTS crew agreed in unison.


    "The track is practically done. It just needs a bit of refining, but it''s a hit single, for sure. Tell me the truth. Are you a professional singer, Hailee?" Pdogg said over his microphone.


    "Of course not. You''ve been phenomenal for showing me the ropes in music recording. I''ve absolutely enjoyed our short session. Thanks to all of you." Hailee replied genuinely.


    [Much more fun than homeschool, that''s for sure.] So she pondered while relistening to the new track.


    The key and progression were similar to Vince''s previous life, but this new ''Starving'' track featured the iconic K-Pop flair and texture.


    Jessica, Rick, Kyle, and Sarah crowded Hailee when she returned to the control room.


    "I never knew you were a fantastic singer, Hailee! We should try karaoke sometime!" Jessica Mirae, the Korean-American, stated excitedly.


    "It''s good to see you again, Jessica. I thought you were too busy to hang out today." Hailee replied.


    "I decided to finish up all my work first before coming down to Future Studios and hang out. Rick, Sarah, and Kyle have it much better than me these days." Jessica explained.


    "Hey! It''s not our fault you enjoy working on so many projects at the same time." Kyle rebutted in banter.


    "Anyway. Now, all four of us are free the rest of the day to show you around Austin." Jessica stated while ignoring Kyle''s rebuke.


    "Aww. That''s so sweet of you guys!" Hailee replied.


    "Come on; we spent a week together out at sea. We''re friends, simple as that." Sarah commented.


    "The boys and I will be staying in Austin for a month to produce the new studio album, so don''t be shy; stop by, and we can record more tracks. Also, Big Hit Entertainment is searching for foreign music artists if you''re interested. Any friend of our Future Studios executives is a friend to us." Pdogg said honestly.


    "You guys haven''t watched True Grit, have you? Our friend here is an Oscar-nominated actor. But, unfortunately, she''s probably too busy acting in movies." Rick interjected.


    The BTS crew, including Pdogg, finally realized why Hailee was so professional in taking direction and instructions.


    "Oooohhh! I see I see. Forgive our ignorance. None of us have watched the movie you mentioned. South Korea doesn''t screen all American movies, sadly." Pdogg stated.


    "No offense taken. I''ll take you up on the offer. I need something to do while Vince is busy with work this week, anyway." Hailee replied.


    "Oh, you mean Vince Dalton, our CEO?" Pdogg inquired curiously.


    "Yeah, he''s my boyfriend. I''ll tell him all about this fun experience." Hailee replied.


    "Please send our regards. Though we haven''t met Mr. Dalton, we appreciate the support here at HQ and the States." Pdogg said respectfully on behalf of his agency and young artists.


    While the dozen young artists in various forms of media socialized at the luxurious studio control room, Vince made his way towards the music studio as he used the Hypervisor to locate Aiya.


    "Oh, speak of the devil. It''s the big boss gracing us with his presence." Kyle joked.


    "Shut up, dude. I''m spending my meeting break to see you guys, so don''t mess around too much." Vince replied in banter.


    "So, how has Future Studio been treating you, Hailee?" Vince asked.


    She replied about how fantastic the experience was working with the K-Pop group and his friends as an audience.


    [I knew she''d enjoy the music department. She''s a true artist, after all.] Vince thought.


    Each BTS member and the producer took the rare opportunity to introduce themselves to one of the most influential personalities for the past two years.


    "We''re glad to meet you, Mr. Dalton. Your facilities here are at HQ are the best we''ve used so far." Pdogg stated sincerely.


    "Call me Vince, please. Instead, you should thank Rick and Sarah''s team because they''re in charge of audio and video production." Vince replied humbly.


    "Shower us with more praises!" the twins commented in unison.


    "That was enough praise for one day. It''s nice meeting you all. You mentioned ''Bangtan Boys'' as the group stage name, right?" Vince asked inquisitively.


    [Why does it sound so familiar?] Vince pondered, attempting to remember his original memories.


    "Correct, but they go by BTS for short," Pdogg replied, confirming Vince''s suspicions.


    [BTS?! I can see why Richard works at Wall Street. He''s lucky as fuck to purchase BTS'' agency before they gained any fame yet.] Vince thought excitedly.


    Pdogg diligently found headphones for Vince and asked him to listen to Hailee''s new track.


    After a few minutes, Hailee eagerly asked Vince''s opinion on her new song.


    "When did you write this?" Vince inquired.


    "Around a week after you left LA. It''s one of the more positive songs I wrote. You did me dirty for ghosting, don''t forget." Hailee replied with a mischievous smile.


    "I love the track, Haiz. Have you thought about a concept for the music video?" Vince stated after giving her a quick kiss on the lips.


    "Oh yeah, I haven''t given it much thought yet," Hailee replied.


    "Don''t worry. Our directors here in Austin and South Korea are trained and well-equipped for that sort of thing." Sarah interjected.


    "Excellent. Our Haiz here deserves a poppin'' first music video, am I right?" Vince stated confidently.


    "Hell yeah!" "Definitely!" everyone commented in agreement.


    "The boys and I will gladly help as much as we can. These guys are great background dancers too." Pdogg suggested.


    "Any assistance would be welcome. While I''m here, let me listen to some of the Bangtan Boy''s recorded tracks." Vince instructed.


    Pdogg played around five songs for Vince, but most were heavy rap music instead of the electronic dance-rap genre BTS was known for in 2021.


    "I''m no expert in music, but I do have a few suggestions for the boys'' style and genre." Vince offered.


    "You''re THE Vince Dalton. No one here would dare question your insight. I don''t think anybody in the entirety of Future Tech would." Kyle interjected, reminding Vince of his godlike status as a man of business.


    (Stats same as in chapter 91)

 Chapter 93 - Dancing

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 20!)


    "Amazing! I think this is Bangtan Boy''s new sound and style. You have quite the talent in music direction, Vince." Pdogg said excitedly after an hour of coaching from their CEO.


    [Not really. I just guided BTS towards their inevitable signature style.] Vince thought.


    "That was all you, guys. Alright, Imma bounce. Y''all are welcome to Hailee''s welcoming dinner tonight. It''s the least I can do to thank y''all for entertaining my special guest." Vince offered graciously before heading towards the NetServ Control Center.


    Vince emerged from his private elevator on NetServ''s dedicated office floor a few minutes later.


    He found Azuma-san and Edward waiting in the meeting room discussing the project.


    "Have you guys deliberated enough about the release date yet?" Vince asked as he sat down at the head of the table.


    "As we concluded earlier in the meeting, the unique media identifier initiative is ready for market, but the augmented cyberspace project is lagging behind the development. Nevertheless, I stand by my suggestion to release both when the ACS is fully functional." Azuma-san stated.


    "I respectfully disagree. We have the opportunity to level up Future Tech''s security protocols if we implement the identifier system while also protecting our clientele''s digital property. The ACS can wait." Edward Snowden explained.


    "I understand your gripes with releasing an unfinished product, Azuma-san. That''s why I respect you highly, but we should start utilizing the identifiers, especially with my negotiations with Disney and Marvel coming up this weekend. It will also make moderating all our different platforms much easier." Vince explained.


    "Alright, Vince. But you have to inject additional funding into NetServ to complete the ACS more quickly." Azuma-san replied.


    "Consider done. I''ll add $1 billion to your funding for the rest of 2013, specifically for the ACS development. Can we move on to the next order of business, NetServ''s foreign expansion?" Vince stated.


    "Marcia Kemp is finalizing the agreement with the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations regarding our service expansion. So NetServ''s next quarter target is growing our presence within the African Union and China if possible." Azuma-san described shortly.


    "How about Russia? Plenty of other nations are frothing at the mouth for a new alternative internet provider, so why has Russia stayed silent?" Vince asked in confusion.


    "Most of our attempts in entering their market have been unfruitful and a waste of time. The Russian government doesn''t want anything to do with NetServ''s global internet initiative." Azuma-san replied.


    "Well, That''s annoying. Is there anything we can do, at least?" Vince asked.


    [Multi-national deals like this were never my forte, though I''m learning slowly in my new life.] Vince thought.


    "It''s a lot of politics, Vince. The Russian market is currently too much of a headache, but it makes sense. Anthony and I have been investigating the Ashkan prisonbreak and found evidence of SVR RF movement around the CIA black site a few weeks before the assault." Snowden commented.


    "So the Russians were behind freeing one of the highest-ranking Al-Qaeda officers ever to be captured alive?" Vince inquired seriously.


    "Future Security is collaborating with Interpol in the search for Ashkan, but what can we do? The Russians will simply deny it and intimate that the US forged the evidence." Edward replied sullenly.


    "Have Anthony compile all the findings and evidence Future Security gathers in our database. Then, if the authorities can''t do shit, we''ll retaliate when the time is right instead." Vince instructed sternly.


    "Agreed. However, I question Russia''s motive for going out of its way to free a known terrorist. I''m having trouble wrapping my head around it." Edward


    Vince went silent and reminisced deeply of his past memories about Russia in 2013. He had to focus intensely because of the numerous distracting memories in Vince''s mind from both his lives.


    [Euromaidan. But what does a jihadist have to do with the civil unrest in Ukraine?] Vince pondered.


    What Vince didn''t know was the fact that Russia has been gathering tactical support from various sources such as Anarchy''s Lazarus Group and Fawdaa in preparation for the invasion.


    It was around 5 pm when the meeting was concluded, which perfectly aligned with the end of the day shift.


    Vince bade farewell to his NetServ executive director and vice-director before returning to Future Studios to find his friends.


    Game developers on the way out of the office noticed Vince Dalton going in the opposite direction.


    "I appreciate the excellent work, always. Have a good night, everyone." Vince told the devs as he walked by.


    "Likewise, Mr. Dalton." "You too, sir!" the staff enthusiastically replied before leaving the office.


    [Yeah, fuck working at the office late at night. Everyone at Future Tech deserves ample time with their families and away from work.] So Vince thought as he remembered the nights he spent at his old office in 2021.


    He found a group of thirteen young men and women dancing around the video production wing at the Future Studios offices.


    A massive background replacement screen that directors could switch to any color surrounded the area filled with different types of camera rigs and boom microphones, and staff working the later-day shifts.


    "Hey, babe! Come here and watch the music video we shot while you were away. It isn''t finished yet, but we already have a solid vision of the final version." Hailee shouted enthusiastically.


    Vince complied with her request as a supportive boyfriend and thought it was good enough to post on YouTube and Instagram as is.


    "Catchy and entertaining, I''m digging it. It looks finished enough to start post-production so what''s the problem?" Vince asked.


    "Two things actually. Firstly, I''ve decided to sign with Future Studios as my music label. I called my agent earlier to receive approval and they''re fine with it, but no feature-length movies yet. Secondly, I want you to be in my first music video, Vince." Hailee explained in detail.


    "Aight, you''re messing with me, aren''t you? Did Kyle or Rick put you up to this? Not cool, guys." Vince replied in mild surprise.


    "It was all her idea, stupid. Why does everything have to be my fault?" Kyle commented jokingly.


    "I''m serious, babe. I wrote the song about you, so it seems fitting to have you appear in the video, at least." Hailee said with a puppy dog pout.


    [The things I do for the women in my life.] Vince pondered before Sarah and Jessica went to action and started doing make-up on his face.


    Future Studios employed staff for this sort of thing, but Vince''s friends insisted they would do it.


    The music video primarily featured Hailee singing her song ''Starving'' with BTS acting as her background dancers at certain parts of the song.


    The only scenes missing were Hailee and Vince''s short interactions in different parts of the production set.


    Jessica and Sarah revealed Vince''s transformation as they arrived from the dressing room.


    He was wearing a set of active Future Couture clothes meant for exercising similar to an Adidas tracksuit but designed with Leah''s unique style.


    Rick and Kyle were having the time of their lives, laughing their asses off because they were about to watch Vince make a fool of himself on stage.


    "Ha ha ha" Vince sarcastically murmured as he shook his head like a monkey.


    "Thanks for doing a terrific job, ladies!" Hailee said to Jessica and Sarah.


    "Don''t mention it. All I want to see is Vince dance on two left feet, honestly." Jessica replied, bantering.


    "Wait, you''re gonna make me dance too? We might be here all night if that''s the case." Vince said as he tried to escape from his evolving predicament.


    "Come on, Vince. J-Hope will show you a few moves. Don''t stress about it, babe." Haiz interjected.


    It took about fifteen minutes until Vince was comfortable enough to dance with Hailee on set, but there was one more thing he had to do.


    "Before we start, I want you to take off your shirt." Hailee requested.


    Everyone started laughing, including the Korean artists, the moment after she made her request.


    "Haiz, not even my sparring partners train with me while I''m shirtless. Is it really necessary?" Vince stated.


    [Come on, man. Why ask me, the body shy person, to remove my shirt for a music video that millions of people will watch.] Vince pondered before bottling up his embarrassment and going shirtless.


    Vince wasn''t hugely muscular, but the supplements Tom Fury recommended to take every day made a decent difference.


    "Whoa! What the hell, Vince, you''re shredded!" Kyle reacted first.


    "I''ve been pushing you to attend daily training at the Fury Gym, but you keep on making excuses. So this is what an hour of anaerobic activity every day can do for you." Vince rebutted.


    "Alright, remind me again tomorrow," Kyle replied.


    "Remind yourself, dude," Vince replied before heading up the stage.


    The production crew began the video production process as Vince held his own with the dancing and positioning around the stage, to his relief.


    The video shooting took half an hour, thanks to pre-recording most of the sections prior to Vince arriving.


    "You did great, babe! Thanks for being a good sport and putting up with your friends'' teasing." Haiz said before giving Vince a quick kiss on the cheek.


    "Please tell me beforehand if you plan on doing that again. We can leave the post-processing to Future Studios. We''ll eat dinner at my house in an hour but I want to show you something first." Vince explained.


    "I''m yours tonight, so please take me wherever you want," Haiz replied with a playful smirk.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $15 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn, Flyga


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Numerous subsidiaries under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch, Big Hit Entertainment)

 Chapter 94 - Humility

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 20!)


    The various city lights illuminated the City of Austin while a Flyga and FAV-1 escort flew towards a middle-class neighborhood.


    Due to Austin''s recent prosperity, the district government improved the residential area with better roads and brighter street lamps. However, it remained almost the same since Vince last visited.


    The Flyga landed in front of Leah''s old house where Vince grew up. The FAV-1 stayed hovering in the sky while monitoring Vince''s safety from above.


    "What are we doing here, Vince?" Hailee asked curiously.


    "I wanted to show you my roots, so you know what to expect from me. I never claimed to be wealthy or born of high status. Just a regular joe who lived and went to school in this very neighborhood only two years ago. Plenty has changed in my life, but I didn''t change much." Vince explained as they entered his old home.


    Vince kept the tiny house as a reminder of his roots. One of the biggest reasons Future Tech has to succeed is to help people in different ways, attempting to solve a wicked problem with Vince''s complex solutions.


    They walked around the house, and it only took a few minutes because of how small it was.


    "Thanks for showing me your childhood, Vince. You''ve been honest with me since we met, and I understand your situation. I''m sorry if I was too hard on you over the phone last night." Haiz said genuinely.


    "No worries. I deserved it. The others should be at the house for dinner, so let''s bounce and eat some Texas BBQ!" Vince replied with passion.


    The Flyga took off a few minutes after and flew towards Vince''s residence at Barton Creek.


    They arrived ten minutes later and landed at the mansion''s AV pad after descending slowly.


    The mansion''s yard was so large that it took ten garden staff to care for the sprawling hedge maze daily, courtesy of Future Tech.


    Vince lived mainly at the headquarters penthouse, but as his personal property, he spent some of his yearly budget as the CEO to further improve the manor.


    Vince had wholly remodeled the structure based on Leah''s designs which started in 2012 and only recently finished.


    Adjacent to the neo-modern primary structure was a decently sized vehicle glass showroom where the Agera R, Agera SVF, and Klassen Phantom were parked and maintained.


    Two-seater hypercars weren''t too practical for Future Tech executives, with their security escorts preferring a more controlled environment to operate like in AVs.


    "Vince, why do you have three of the same car but in different colors?" Hailee asked after checking out the beautiful glass-laden garage.


    "The orange SFV is Randall''s. He''s busy flying around the world to race for Future Tech F1 while the black SFV is Director Price''s ride. He keeps it parked here while working in Afghanistan. I still can''t believe how he fits in the thing." Vince said jokingly.


    "It''s still kinda crazy how your company produces video games and music videos while part of it fights conflicts abroad," Haiz commented honestly.


    "I feel the same way sometimes, trust me. We can walk around the property after dinner, Haiz. Shall we?" Vince asked as he offered his left arm to Hailee.


    "Lead the way," Hailee replied while wrapping her right arm around him.


    The house''s interior was its most remarkable and stunning feature, conceptualized by Leah.


    High ceilings contrasted by enormous dangling chandeliers that formed a symmetrical pattern welcomed the couple as they entered the foyer. Leah obviously spared no expense for her and her son''s residence.


    Leah, Sera, Heidi, Alexis, BTS, and Vince''s crew were sitting together in the living room watching Hailee''s new music video on the projector.


    The Future Studios production staff spent a total of six hours of recording and post-processing to finish the music video, a testament to their continuous training and the power of Infinity Unreal Engine.


    "These are some fairly naughty lyrics you''re singing, young lady," Sera commented halfway through listening to the chorus.


    "Dr. Sera, please stop. It''s embarrassing." Haiz said with her cheeks red as a tomato.


    "Sera, give her a break. You should pay attention to Alexis instead. Look how flustered she''s acting sitting next to Jin." Leah remarked playfully.


    "I''m not the one who invited all these handsome young men over, so don''t blame me." Alexis defended herself while suffering the same blushing cheeks.


    "Thank you for having us, by the way. You have such a wonderful home, Ms. Dalton." Pdogg stated on behalf of BTS.


    "Just Leah, and thank you. I designed it myself. You boys must have talent if my son pays you this much attention. His attention is quite hard to receive, as Hailee could attest." Leah replied graciously.


    "I have high expectations for BTS, and I feel they have what it takes to make it big internationally," Vince explained.


    "Do you really mean it, Mr. Dalton?" Jungkook, the youngest member, inquired.


    "With our support, your success is inevitable" Vince replied while pondering [I''m only sure of myself cause you guys were the most famous artists in the world in 2021.]


    "Yeah!" "Nice." the boys replied as they pumped each other up with all the positive vibes.


    The music video continued playing until Vince appeared and started dancing with Hailee.


    Vince was quite tall for his age at around 5 feet and 10 inches and towered over most BTS members dancing in the background.


    "Who''s idea was it to show off Vince''s six-pack abs?" Leah asked the room.


    "Who else would it be other than Hailee, our little minx" Sera replied, continuing her teasing from earlier.


    "Fact," Rick added.


    "That indeed happened," Jessica interjected.


    "True," Sarah remarked.


    "Honestly, I thought Vince wouldn''t do it," Kyle commented.


    All of a sudden, half the living room was teasing Haiz until she went completely red.


    "I thought it would look entertaining for the potential viewers out there. Vince always tries to avoid the limelight, so it''s another outlet for him to connect with his loving fans." Hailee explained, attempting to defend herself.


    "Okay, stop. We get it. Sex joke here, there, everywhere. Can we start eating? The smell of brisket and ribs is making me go crazy." Vince begged his friends.


    Usually working at the penthouse, Vince''s cooking staff were transported to the mansion via CAV to serve his guests.


    Chef Tony, a local in his 40s who has served Vince and Leah the past year, prepared the Texas BBQ classics like brisket, ribs, and a varied choice of sides with his cooking staff.


    He was a diligent chef, so he immediately updated the dinner menu with a few popular Korean dishes such as bibimbap, bulgogi, and kimchi when he learned of the new guests arriving.


    Fortunately, the young Korean men appreciated both courses and were delighted to eat authentic local cuisine.


    Leah, Heidi, Sera, and Alexis caught up with Hailee in conversation as they were eating while the others on the opposite side of the table were discussing War Online.


    "My dream is to perform live during a big show like an APL Finals. I still remember watching the match in the arena filled with more than 50,000 people, cheering on Clear Sky to win in South Korea." Jungkook mentioned after enjoying a piece of tender brisket. As the youngest member of BTS, he had high aspirations for himself.


    "That event was crazy. I recall Vince being there watching from the VIP box with former President Lee." Pdogg commented.


    "Charlatan carried his team to a close victory. Fortis was devastated after losing game seven, but Clear Sky was the better team that day." Vince replied.


    "Have you guys played our new game, Everlife?" Rick inquired as he finished another side of potato salad.


    "Who hasn''t? The boys and I play Everlife Online during our downtime, and I''ve even replayed the campaign twice already." Pdogg replied.


    "Future Studios will require more original tracks for Everlife and War Online''s expansions, so we can probably feature BTS and Hailee''s music in the new updates," Sarah interjected.


    "The boys and I can add that to our to-do list while we''re here in Austin. Do you mind if we shoot the next music videos outside HQ, like at the Tech Campus or downtown?" Pdogg inquired.


    "Definitely! More people need to see what Future Tech fosters and builds here in Austin. You can even record a few scenes in my hedge maze." Vince replied in approval of the Korean producer''s request.


    While Vince and his guest enjoyed dinner at his opulent mansion, Future Studios'' social media sub-director received confirmation to publish Hailee Steinfeld''s new music video on YouTube, Instagram, and other platforms.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $15 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn, Flyga


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Numerous subsidiaries under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch, Big Hit Entertainment)

 Chapter 95 - Celebration

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 20!)


    California was blessed with almost never-ending beautiful weather and sunshine. Alice, a young 20-year-old blonde caucasian woman, was hard at work livestreaming on Twitch while entertaining her rapidly growing online audience.


    For apparent reasons, her computer of choice was the Infinity Workstation, which could seamlessly stream 4K video while running Everlife on max video settings.


    Wonder Alice''s chat was as busy as usual because of the more than 100,000 concurrent viewers she attracts daily.


    As a result, her variety stream had been highly lucrative, with Future Tech as her primary sponsor to the tune of $2 million a year, based on her performance metrics.


    Future Studios provided less significant streamers on Instagram Live and Twitch with contracts but ones more appropriate to their level of success.


    Wonder Alice was one of the many modern media personalities who''ve had breakout successes since Future Tech popularized the utilization of online platforms to promote their products effectively.


    "I''ll be continuing my no-death run of Everlife''s campaign. Thank you all for being the first ones to log into my stream today!" Wonder Alice said to her live viewers over her Shure SM7B microphone.


    Everlife single-player was no walk in the park for most gamers, and a few journalists from Polygon couldn''t even get past the starting area with only street thugs to defeat.


    Every time the player dies, their character would be revived back at the upgradeable base, but without any of their previous gear like weapons, armor, and a large portion of experience points, hence the title Everlife.


    The game city was open-world, but the player could quickly tell if their character wasn''t strong enough to explore specific map areas by getting one-shot by a boss crime lord''s security operators.


    A game mechanic meant to help awful players was the upgrades for the player''s base that could be purchased while progressing through the campaign, which doesn''t reset even if the player dies.


    Wonder Alice had done well so far by reaching the first boss without dying, which should unlock Dwayne Johnson''s NPC after beating it, opening various sidequests meant to upgrade her base.


    Due to still being in the early game, Wonder Alice''s female main character had no access to powerful guns, cybernetics, or armor and only had a combat knife and Glock 19 with almost zero penetration power.


    "Wish me luck, guys!" Alice said before attempting to overrun the first boss'' base of operations.


    Alice noticed her chat going nuts after successfully saving Dwayne Johnson''s character in the story and watching the detailed cutscene.


    "Wonder Alice, you need to check out this new music video that Future Tech posted on their channels. POGGERS." the text-to-speech bot said over her stream due to a donation.


    Alice paused the game and alt-tabbed to watch what her viewers were raving about in chat.


    "Oh, these boys are cute." She commented while watching the intro to Hailee''s "Starving" music video on YouTube.


    She didn''t worry about copyright claims or DMCA because Future Tech legally protected their content creators via Kemp-Jacobs, included in their contracts.


    This situation was in stark contrast to Twitch and YouTube in 2021, when creators struggled with using certain content on their channels in fear of copyright strikes.


    Some viewers who were well-informed of K-Pop culture quickly pointed out the background dancers as the new and upcoming group, BTS, in the chat.


    Alice went crazy when Hailee started singing and went even crazier when she noticed Vince dancing in the music video.


    "I can''t believe this! Jaden, come here. You gotta watch this!" Alice shouted to get her boyfriend''s attention in the room next door.


    Jaden quickly saved the video he was editing on Infinity Unreal Engine for his YouTube and Twitch channels and went towards Alice''s streaming office.


    "Oh my god, is that Vince dancing shirtless?" Jaden asked, dumbfounded.


    "Yeah! Jaden, when will you get a six-pack like that?" Alice asked while still streaming live to so many people.


    Alice''s chat started spamming PepeSad when Jaden just stood there comically, thinking of a reply to Alice''s question.


    A Twitch clip of the humor that ensued on Wonder Alice''s channel was shared by her fans on the TwitchFails subreddit and social media platforms, adding another reason for Hailee''s music video going viral on the internet.


    BTS and Hailee worked together the rest of the week while Vince and his friends were busy during the day and couldn''t hang out.


    The overnight success of their first music video inspired them to write, record, and produce more music videos to capitalize on their early achievements online.


    Future Tech knew precisely how well the video was doing due to the recent implementation of the digital media unique tags, or DMUT for short.


    An automated system introduced by NetServ counted every time a user tag interacted with a piece of media like the music video on the internet.


    The system assisted with statistics and metrics tracking with the added benefit of enforcing proprietary anti-piracy methods for interested parties such as music labels and even video game developers using Infinity Unreal Engine.


    Hailee shot her second music video for Love Myself in downtown Austin with a few of the locals joining in and she also appeared on a BTS music video as a featured artist, singing the chorus with the K-Pop group.


    Throughout the week, Future Studios produced a total of two videos for Hailee and three for BTS'' first studio album with the help of its professional staff.


    During a Friday evening of the second week of August, Vince received a notification on his Infinity Watch while he was signing documents from Kandahar, which he usually did towards the end of the workday.


    "BTS and Hailee want to celebrate their productive work week and wanted to visit my dad''s spot downtown. Let''s meet up at the Digital Den around 6 pm tonight when you''re done with signing autographs." Kyle messaged through NetServ.


    [Approving initiatives and programs for dozens of Future Tech divisions and sub-divisions isn''t as easy as "signing autographs".] Vince pondered as he shook his head and digitally signed the last few documents on his Infinity Tablet.


    He summoned Aiya by pressing a button on his Infinity Watch interface.


    Vince''s dutiful android butler entered his office a few moments after, asking what her boss needed.


    "I''ll be taking the Flyga to Sixth Street tonight. Please have my security detail prepared for departure and remind them of our trip to LA tomorrow morning." Vince instructed as he changed into the more appropriate attire from Future Couture''s Nightlife collection with a matching pair of Chelsea-styled boots.


    It was Friday night at Sixth Street so it was only natural for so many people to enjoy the nightlife, especially the local university students.


    The Digital Den''s first and second floors were packed with people enjoying drinks while consuming media such as livestreams being broadcasted on video displays hanging from the ceiling.


    Vince didn''t have to walk through the main entrance and instead used the AV pad access meant for Future Tech clientele.


    He found the table with the most amount of young people but ordered a drink for himself beforehand at the bar.


    It was technically illegal for the Digital Den to serve alcohol to minors under 21 but the bartender didn''t even flinch and started mixing Vince''s order without question.


    Hailee noticed Vince waiting for his drink at the bar and decided to join him for a moment.


    "What are you drinking tonight?" Haiz asked as she sat down.


    "A Moscow Mule. What would you like?" Vince replied.


    "Hmmm. I''ll get a Cosmopolitan." Haiz decided.


    The bartender didn''t have to be told and started mixing Hailee''s drink too as he overheard their conversation.


    The couple made their way towards the table after a few minutes of waiting for the drinks at the bar.


    "I''d like to thank Pdogg and the rest of BTS for supporting me through my first week of becoming a musical artist. My agent watched the music video and immediately shared it with Universal Pictures, which landed me my next big role on Pitch Perfect 2! That''s our little secret, guys." Hailee explained genuinely.


    "Congrats, sis!" Jessica commented with a huge smile on her face.


    "We should thank you, Hailee. Our music videos had been popping here in the States because of your collaboration with us." Pdogg replied in gratitude.


    "I''m proud of what all of you have achieved the past few days, so drinks and food are on me tonight!" Vince declared before everyone started ordering like crazy.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $15 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn, Flyga


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Numerous subsidiaries under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch, Big Hit Entertainment)

 Chapter 96 - Meeting The Family

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 20!)


    The following day after celebrating at the Digital Den with his friends and BTS, Vince woke up naked in his penthouse bedroom with Hailee in his arms to his left.


    She woke up after noticing Vince getting up from bed and said, "Can we sleep in a bit more? It''s a Friday after all."


    "I''m sorry, Haiz, but I have a meeting at Marvel Studios at noon. So you can continue sleeping in the 787 on the way." Vince replied.


    "Fine. I''ll get ready. Oh, I almost forgot about brunch with my family." Hailee said.


    "Luckily. I didn''t. And Feel free to join me in the shower whenever you''re ready." Vince replied with a wide grin.


    "How about right now?" Haiz asked in reply.


    Half an hour later, the two lovebirds met Leah in the living room before leaving for Los Angeles.


    Future Couture boxes containing the newest designs were waiting on the table to be carried into the Flyga.


    "Thank you for hosting me for the entire week, Leah. I appreciate the new outfits you''ve given me as well. I hope we can do this again soon." Haiz said sincerely.


    "The pleasure was all ours, Hailee. You''re always welcome in my homes whenever you''re in the city recording music or otherwise." Leah replied honestly.


    "Why don''t you join us for brunch in LA, Leah? I think Vince will have an easier time with my parents if you''re around." Haiz suggested.


    "That''s a great idea, Haiz." Vince chipped in.


    Leah took a few moments to think about her responsibilities for the day and decided Aiya could reschedule her morning activities.


    "Alright, give me fifteen minutes to get ready. I''ll take the 787 back home after we eat." Leah replied before heading to her room.


    [Nice! The brunch won''t be as awkward now.] Vince pondered while he and Hailee waited for Leah.


    The Flyga took off the penthouse AV pad and landed at Future Tech''s private hangar after a short flight.


    David Henderson, one of the highest-ranking senior partners at Kemp-Jacobs who''s been with Future Tech since the beginning, was sitting inside the 787 waiting for the rest of the passengers.


    The 30-year-old caucasian Texan owed much of his recent success to Future Tech. However, he found himself reminiscing about his time helping Vince''s small company, which involved plenty of leg work.


    David opened his eyes as he heard Vince, Leah, and Hailee board the jet.


    "I trust you have all the necessary documents, David," Vince said to him as he sat down on a comfortable seat.


    "Indeed. I believe we have everything we need to close the deal with Marvel and Disney." David replied dutifully.


    "Good to hear. I''ll be eating brunch with Leah and Hailee, so you can have the morning off until our meeting." Vince explained.


    "Alright. I''ll visit the LA branch to see how our lawyers are doing while you''re busy." David replied.


    The 787 didn''t take long before landing on the private strip in LAX and taxied towards Future Tech''s hangar.


    As usual, the local branch dispatched CAVs for the executives and a FAV-1 for the FS operators who traveled from Austin.


    In the meantime, they went their separate ways as Vince, Leah, and Hailee took a CAV north of LA, in Tarzana, to pick up Hailee''s family while his escort followed.


    The casual flight only took fifteen minutes, thanks to bypassing the atrocious LA traffic.


    The CAV''s AI flight control system slowly landed itself in an open area next to a country home in the suburbs, being careful not to disturb the neighbors too much.


    [This is it. Meeting the parents was always the most difficult part of dating for me.] Vince pondered as the CAV''s large door sliding door opened to welcome its three new passengers.


    Hailee excitedly introduced Vince and Leah to her parents, Peter and Cheri, and her older brother, Griffin.


    Leah got on well with the parents while on the way to Republique, a new French restaurant located in a building built by Charlie Chaplin in 1929, adding a certain ambiance to the dining experience.


    Vince had the rest of his security detail standby in the FAV-1 outside while only allowing one to accompany him inside the fairly small restaurant.


    They talked about random things to get to know each other better in a rather short amount of time, and Vince got on well with the 19-year-old gearhead who loved motor racing.


    "I was never really into video games or consumer tech so I didn''t really know much about you until I watched you on the F1 broadcast walking around the paddock and garages with Elon Musk and the Swedish bald guy," Griffin said honestly.


    "You mean Christian. He''s one of the most brilliant engineers I''ve met and I''ve met plenty. He''s actually the person who made me consider buying an F1 team last year." Vince replied amicably.


    "I''ve seen all the races this season and the only team that comes close to Future Tech F1 is Redbull Racing and Petronas Mercedes. The Koenigsegg engines are too much to handle for the rest of the grid." Griffin stated.


    "You know your F1, Griffin. I bet you''re planning to watch the race in Austin in November. If so, I can get you a special paddock pass with FT F1 motorhome access." Vince offered graciously.


    "That would be sweet, dude. Thanks! You''re a good guy in my books, Vince." Griffin replied excitedly.


    [Well, that was easy. Bribery works in mysterious ways.] Vince thought while eating the third dish of the four-course brunch.


    "And if you''re careful, I''ll let you drive my Agera R or SFV in Circuit of the Americas. A few of my executives and I rent track time there from time to time." Vince added the cherry on top.


    "That would be so amazing! Hailee, you better be careful or I might steal away your boyfriend while you aren''t looking." Griffin replied jokingly.


    "I dare you to try!" Hailee bantered back.


    While the younger ones mingled, Leah handled the parents well by sharing her stories of Vince when he was younger and how much a loving and respectful son she had.


    "Thank you all for joining us for brunch and acquainting ourselves with each other. Don''t be strangers and stop by our place in Austin when you get the chance." Vince stated as they exited the restaurant.


    After an hour of fine dining, Vince gained the approval of Hailee''s parents to much of his relief before parting ways with her family and sending them back home on a separate CAV.


    Vince dropped Leah off at the private LAX hangar before heading to Burbank and meeting up with David, his legal counsel.


    The Walt Disney Studios headquarters was fairly old, being built in 1940, but the massive office still exuded the same ambiance one would feel visiting the newer Disney World.


    The HQ serviced the richest executives of Disney, so the parking lot naturally had its own AV pad for Vince''s CAV to land on without compromise.


    A secretary could be seen waiting by the AV pad to welcome Vince and his party as a courtesy.


    Bob Iger, a Caucasian-American gentleman in his late 60s was waiting in the meeting room accompanied by Marvel Studios'' Kevin Feige and the Russo brothers.


    The secretary opened the double door to allow Disney''s important guests to enter, two of the most influential men in the rapidly growing multi-national corporation, Future Tech.


    The older Texan man who entered wore his style of Future Couture suit with a cowboy flair like a wide brim hat and bolo tie while the younger but taller man was dressed in a custom three-piece suit and a graphene-weaved black overcoat that protects against small to medium caliber rounds.


    Each of the gentlemen introduced each other before commencing negotiations of a potentially massive deal between the two media giants.


    [The young man is more intimidating than I expected. This won''t be an easy day in the office.] Bob Iger pondered as he sat down at the head of the meeting table.


    "Before we begin, I was skeptical about this meeting because of the rumors I''ve heard recently about Future Tech''s deal with Universal Parks, our number one competitor in the theme park industry. Vince, could you please explain the nature of your partnership?" Bog stated seriously.


    [Oh, come on. That was just a random deal I made with the park manager to get VIP access for my friends.] so Vince thought.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $15 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn, Flyga


    Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)


    Numerous subsidiaries under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch, Big Hit Entertainment)

 Chapter 97 - Disney Partnership

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 20!)


    The negotiation meeting became awkward quickly as Vince attempted to formulate a good enough excuse for Bob to let the issue go.


    "I never meant the AR and VR attraction partnership with Universal Parks to slight you or Disney, Mr. Iger. On the contrary, I have always planned on sharing our tech with the most consumers, meaning the need to cooperate with Disney Parks as well." Vince explained as eloquently as he could.


    "Apologies for my misunderstanding. I assumed you Universal was scheming to monopolize this new form of media your corporation has popularized recently. So we can discuss our park partnership today, as well." Bob replied amicably.


    [The older man is trying to throw me off my game. Sly.] Vince pondered while David prepared the visual presentation.


    "It was a pleasure working with Kyle and Future Studios directing the Everlife campaign. My brother and I would love to work with them again on a different project." Anthony Russo stated while waiting on the presentation to start.


    "Definitely. I''d also like to thank you for connecting us with Disney and its executives. It saved plenty of trouble of setting a meeting up." Vince replied sincerely.


    "It was actually Kevin here who instructed us to set this meeting up, primarily for the use of Unreal Engine for our upcoming movie projects." Joseph Russo added.


    "Alright. So we''ll start the presentation of our new product pitch first before discussing our media production partnership." Vince explained.


    The Disney executives were confused because they initially thought the meeting only regarded the Unreal Engine and theme park negotiations.


    David signaled he was ready, and Vince stood up to start explaining Future Tech''s new business-to-business solution for piracy prevention and the on-demand video streaming platform hosted by NetServ.


    "We recently developed unique tags embedded within online media such as pictures, audio/video, film, and video games that protect from the typical and more advanced methods of re-distribution. NetServ will also implement the solution on an all-in-one media platform meant to compete with Netflix, HBO, Spotify, and Apple Music." Vince explained while scrolling through his presentation.


    "I think I have an idea where you''re going with this. You want Disney-licensed properties as one of your main attractions. Am I correct?" Bob inquired as he quickly understood the gravity of Future Tech''s innovation.


    "Yup! We''ll allow Disney partnership access to Infinity Unreal Engine for any of your upcoming projects if Future Tech becomes your primary online content distributor. We''ll naturally pay Disney a portion of the monthly subscription payments based on content watch time. Compared to our competitors who can''t even stream standard high-definition, our service will be streaming ultra HD 4K instead." Vince replied in detail.


    Bob Iger and Kevin Feige started whispering to each other to discuss the implications of Vince''s offer.


    [This is my best opportunity to garner a fighting chance against the well-funded media companies I''m trying to compete against.] So Vince thought while waiting for Bob''s decision.


    "The Digital Millenium Copyright Act is, at best, a band-aid solution in maintaining your profits. But the robust service we provide allows Disney to police their copyrights in foreign markets, unlike DMCA, which is practically useless abroad," David mentioned as a further reason to partner with Future Tech.


    "We''ve had trouble expanding our online reach in emerging markets like South East Asia and Africa, mostly due to poor network infrastructure. So Disney should consider Vince''s offer seriously, in my opinion." Kevin whispered to Bob.


    "I''ll allow it under two conditions," Bob stated sternly.


    [Is this the part when he asks me to pay an absurd amount of money upfront?] Vince thought worriedly.


    "Disney requires a dedicated section within your platform which separates us from non-Disney content and a higher percentage of the subscription profits," Bob added.


    [Phew! Future Tech needs the liquid capital right now with all the projects going simultaneously.] So Vince thought as he looked towards David for confirmation.


    "It''s within our limits, Vince. We should take the offer." David whispered to his CEO.


    "Acceptable. We can move on to the theme park partnership, then. I''ll offer you the same deal we have with Universal Parks. Future Studios will provide the technical and development expertise in creating licensed VR and AR park rides based on whatever you want in exchange for a small portion of the park''s revenue." Vince stated politely.


    "That should be fine. Though I''m more interested in Future Studio''s core business, video games, because of how excited the Russos get whenever we discuss the matter." Bob Iger replied.


    "Everlife is a phenomenal experience, Bob. You have to try it out yourself to understand what my brother and I mean." Anthony commented as an avid gamer.


    "If that''s the case, then Future Studios could probably develop a compelling Marvel video game," Bob stated nonchalantly.


    [Wait. Is Mr. Iger serious?! I can''t let this chance go to waste.] Vince thought deeply.


    "Future Studios and Epic Games are very interested in creating third-party licensed video games, especially now that we''re only working on updates and expansions for Everlife and War Online," Vince said excitedly.


    "Video games are slowly rising these past few years and are projected to eclipse the film industry, which dominated the entertainment industry for almost one hundred years. So I think it''s only proper for Disney to explore this form of media with the best in the business." Bob Iger explained eloquently.


    "The Marvel games don''t have to be too expansive like Everlife, and instead should be an enclosed single-player experience that Future Studios could develop in a reasonable amount of time." Kevin Feige commented.


    "You don''t have to worry about development time considering my staff''s expertise. Future Studios doesn''t run into crunch issues like our competitors because we treat our people well throughout the production process." Vince explained proudly.


    "Say no more. I''ll have Kevin discuss the details of an appropriate Marvel property to adapt into a video game. Would you like to talk about anything else today?" Bob inquired.


    "One last subject I''d like to raise is the production of an Everlife movie for the mass market. I''m willing to shoulder most of the cost, at around $500 million, and I want the Russo brothers to direct it." Vince replied.


    "I think it''s a great idea! My brother and I have already discussed a possible film adaptation we''d pitch to you eventually, but now you''ve made it a lot easier for us." Anthony commented.


    "Future Studios will have Disney''s support if required now that we''re officially media partners. Let''s sign the paperwork already so I can leave you gentlemen to discuss the projects further." Bob suggested.


    David Henderson opened his suitcase and retrieved an Infinity Tablet, having a secretary print the edited documentation for signing off the tablet.


    A few moments later, the secretary from earlier arrived with the paperwork that both parties immediately signed.


    "It was a pleasure to meet such a young and talented businessman like yourself, Vince Dalton. I hope our partnership leads to success for both sides." Bob Iger stated before bidding farewell to the younger gentlemen.


    "So which Marvel property are we adapting into a video game first? I suggest saving an Avengers game for when the video game series is more established." Vince stated.


    "How about we start where the Marvel Cinematic Universe began, with Iron Man." Kevin Feige pitched.


    "True. Depending on the first game''s reception, we can follow it up with a Captain America and Thor video game. I''m sure we can afford to get Robert Downey Jr. to reprise his role as Iron Man and the other actors involved in the original movie." Vince replied with his opinion.


    "Alright. How about the Everlife movie? We were thinking something along the lines of a prequel to the story campaign rather than a sequel." Joseph stated.


    "The movie''s main storyline could be about the past experiences of the major NPC characters in the game like The Rock and Jennifer Lawrence," Anthony added.


    "Then we''ll start a script with that concept in mind. I trust both of you to direct the prequel movie as well as you did for the Everlife campaign. Will $500 million be a big enough budget for your vision of the movie?" Vince inquired.


    "More than enough, Vince. My brother and I have a lot on our plate right now directing the Captain America sequel, so we''ll likely begin pre-production for the Everlife movie later this year." Joseph explained.


    "Understood. I''m in no rush to release Future Studios'' first-ever feature film. Quality is what''s most important." Vince replied honestly.


    [With this agreement in place with Disney, the other companies like NBCUniversal, Comcast, and Warner will have more reason to join Future Tech''s multi-media initiative.] Vince pondered as Kevin Feige concluded the lengthy meeting.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $14.5 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn, Flyga


    Collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E, Disney)


    Numerous subsidiaries under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch, Big Hit Entertainment)

 Chapter 98 - National Currency

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 20!)


    While Vince was busy negotiating deals for Future Tech''s new media platform, a group of Al-Qaeda forces led by Ashkan was also mediating an agreement between the Syrian government and Fawdaa.


    President Bashar Al-Assad had been fighting rebels against his regime since mass protests started in 2011.


    Though Russia assisted him politically and financially, most of his citizens were relentless in voicing their concerns regarding Al-Assad''s policies.


    "You vouch for these people, Ashkan?" one of the Syrian officers loyal to Al-Assad inquired in Arabic.


    "Yes. Fawdaa were instrumental in my escape from our enemies'' clutches." Ashkan replied honestly.


    "Let''s get down to business, then. We''ve heard about Fawdaa''s capabilities and the many useful toys it''s willing to sell for the right price." the officer stated.


    The two masked Fawdaa members chose to show the officer a tablet which contained the list of goods and services available for purchase instead of speaking directly.


    "Hmmm. We have plenty of Soviet-era chemical weapons in our stockpile, but reliability issues have been too common and what you''re selling is much better than the ones we''ve developed so far. Can we get a discount if we also buy the missile system schematics?" the officer asked.


    "Ten percent off. And we also sell different types of warheads such as blast and fragmentation." one of the masked men replied plainly.


    [So these guys are Arabs, at least based on their accent.] the officer pondered.


    "Does the system work properly in high-interference environments like around radio towers?" the officer inquired.


    "You mean work properly in high-population dense areas with plenty of radio signals going simultaneously like a residential area. The system is unaffected by such things. So reliability is of no concern." the other masked man replied.


    "So you''re still going to sell it to us even though you know we''ll be killing civilians with it?" the officer asked in confusion.


    "Do we look like we care? As long as you can afford it, we''ll deliver whatever you want." the Fawdaa leader stated.


    "Well, if that''s the case, my government will be ordering ten blast warheads, five Sarin gas warheads, and the missile system schematics." the officer replied.


    "Aright. Fawdaa will expect half of the $500 million total costs today. The warheads should arrive at the Tartus port the following week." the Fawdaa leader replied.


    "It was a pleasure doing business. My president will be very pleased." the officer said before he left the area with the rest of his men.


    [Idiot pawns.] the Fawdaa leader, who was actually one of Hades'' subordinates in disguise, pondered.


    Towards the east, across Iran and Iraq, Director Price traveled to Kabul on an FT-05 Super Galaxy to discuss his strategy with the President of Afghanistan.


    The capital city of Kabul showed signs of prosperity thanks to the growth of Kandahar''s economy in the south.


    The people of Kabul now regularly did business with their southern neighbors due to the lacking presence of the Taliban, which usually blockaded the highways.


    Though AVs were now more common, the masses still relied heavily on road transport and logistics.


    An African-American man wearing Future Security''s newest light infantry armor and metal-matrix weaved overcoat entered the presidential palace with five operators also wearing the new standard equipment.


    "How are things in Kandahar going, Director?" President Karzai inquired amicably.


    "Well, Mr. President. Regular shipments of Super Galaxies have been delivering equipment for our mineral prospecting partnership which I wanted to discuss with you further." Director Price replied respectfully.


    "Go on, Director. I''m open to your suggestions, considering how much good Future Tech has done for my people and me in Kandahar." Karzai stated.


    "I feel like this new initiative will breathe new life into Afghanistan''s economy though it won''t be enough in achieving our shared goals in bringing this country into the 21st century." Price replied.


    "Then what did you have in mind?" Karzai inquired.


    "I''d like to expand the prospecting initiative to include rebuilding Afghanistan''s highway infrastructure. It will be an expensive endeavor, especially if we decide in boring through the Hindu Kush Mountains, but it''s the only way to unite the tribes culturally and economically." Director Price explained passionately.


    "Considering the Taliban''s recent defeat, now would be the best opportunity to finish building the national highway we''ve planned since the 90s." the President''s adviser commented in agreement.


    "And with Future Tech''s assistance, there''s an actual chance of success, unlike in the past decades of continuous wars in the region. The boring machine had been tried and tested in the US, upgrading the utility grid infrastructure, which we could also tackle here in Afghanistan." Director Price added.


    "How expensive are we talking?" Karzai inquired.


    "Frankly, too expensive for your government to afford right now. But that could change in the near future once national unity is established, allowing your government to collect much more tax revenue. If Afghanistan wishes to be an independent nation, then it will have to be self-sustainable." Price explained.


    "That''s all and good, but how will my government pay Future Tech to begin this new initiative?" Karzai asked in confusion.


    "Favorable tax breaks and a few radical ideas my boss wants to implement here in Afghanistan." Price stated.


    "Vince Dalton would like to introduce Bitcash as Afghanistan''s new official currency with its value backed by Bitcoin and US Dollars. I understand your apprehension because the idea is quite out there, but let''s face it. The Afghan Afghani is barely worth anything, and counting on the local economy to boost its value is a pipedream." Director Price said honestly.


    "The people of Kandahar have been using Bitcash as the standard mode of payment within their city for more than half a year now. Our accounting department had noted the effectiveness of Future Tech''s monetary system and the positive impacts it had brought to the economy at large." the presidential adviser explained.


    "That''s true. All of our employees working for Future Tech here in Afghanistan are paid in Bitcash, and I bet they pay the most taxes compared to everyone else. And of course, Future Tech will provide the network infrastructure, free of charge, until Afghanistan can afford its own Bitcoin Bank satellites." Director Price added.


    President Karzai spent a good few minutes thinking deeply about Price''s fair offer.


    "Your young CEO is putting me in a tight spot, Director. The tribal chiefs will not be happy about suddenly changing our national currency." Karzai stated.


    "The chiefs will come to appreciate the nation Afghanistan will become. A safe haven for moderate Muslims who only want the chance to live a decent and fulfilling life without conflict." Price replied.


    President Karzai deliberated with almost everyone within his administration regarding Price''s offer. The economists had plenty of positives to say about changing the financial system, but a few generals were completely against the proposition.


    The skeptical President launched an investigation on each of the generals, who provided vague reasons why it was a bad idea. After a few days, evidence came to light regarding the corruption going on in the Afghan Army.


    High-ranking officers like generals and colonels were systematically skimming money from the budget meant to pay for the hardworking soldiers protecting Afghanistan''s citizens.


    Their illegal activities would cease if a new method of compensating the troops were to be introduced.


    He quickly replaced all of the incompetent army officers with trusted and capable soldiers, mostly ones from Kandahar trained by Future Security.


    Karzai finally understood why Future Tech was adamant about changing the monetary system before investing further in Afghanistan''s development.


    [This can''t go on for any longer.] Karzai pondered while assembling officers working at each branch of Da Afghanistan Bank.


    "We''ll be purchasing all the Afghanis in circulation in exchange for US Dollars and Bitcash while providing everyone one free Bitcash wallet, courtesy of Future Tech. Any questions?" President Karzai stated with authority.


    "Rais, with all due respect, I''m familiar with hardware wallets, but what if a citizen accidentally loses or destroys theirs? Will their accrued wealth also be lost?" an officer of the Jalalabad bank inquired.


    "Future Tech isn''t that dumb. All the Bitcash is stored within their satellites, and the wallet is just for ease of use. So our citizens'' Bitcash wealth will always be connected to their identity, rather than a small gadget." Karzai explained.


    [Educating the populace on the use of hardware wallets may be the most challenging aspect of this initiative.] Karzai pondered before allocating work amongst the national bank''s officers.


    It will be very costly for Future Tech to provide free Bitcash services to the entire country of Afghanistan. Still, Vince Dalton understood that a more productive populace would be more profitable in the long run.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $14.5 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn, Flyga


    Collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E, Disney)


    Numerous subsidiaries under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch, Big Hit Entertainment)

 Chapter 99 - Starship Engines

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 20!)


    Announcement: Please check the glossary/characters auxiliary chapter for updated concept art!


    After Vince met with the Disney executives, he instructed David to pay the top media companies a visit to negotiate similar deals regarding Future Tech''s new online platform.


    The original reason for Vince''s LA visit was to meet Director Elon at the local Future Tech Branch, the former SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne.


    Unlike most places that only provided AV pads for public use, the branch featured both public and private ones for executive use, where Vince''s CAV landed.


    Elon Musk and Christian Von Koenigsegg greeted Future Tech''s CEO as Vince walked into the testing facilities'' control room.


    "I know we regularly speak over NetServ conference calls, but it''s good to see you in person after so long, Christian," Vince said respectfully.


    [This guy is a genius for inventing the new standard of aerodyne engines, using only basic Future Tech AI technology, more than a year ago.] So Vince thought while ignoring Elon.


    Musk didn''t take it to heart because they spoke and saw each other more often than Elon spent time with his children.


    "The Raptor engines are ready for testing, Vince. We''ll ignite all thirty boosters in quick succession, not simultaneously." Elon explained, skipping the niceties of greetings.


    "Based on our Infinity simulations, there is a small chance the entire rocket may explode if the onboard AI system which facilitates the engines'' freevalves doesn''t fire correctly," Christian commented calmly.


    "Okay, I don''t even want to think about how expensive it would be if half of the Starship explodes, so just begin the test and pray for the best." Vince plainly stated.


    "You heard the man. Commence successive stage ignition." Elon instructed one of his engineers.


    Around 500 meters away from the bulletproof glass was a staging area surrounded by water with the Starship rocket right in the center.


    SpaceX used the water to cushion the outgoing heat and sound energy produced by the thirty screaming Raptor engines.


    Unlike the original engines from Vince''s previous life, these were designed in Sweden in collaboration with SpaceX aerospace engineers.


    These Koenigsegg-brand Raptors utilized Future Tech''s AV jet fuel mixed with liquid oxygen.


    Compared to the Merlin engines used in Falcon rockets, these new ones provided almost three times more thrust while maintaining fuel efficiency throughout the voyage.


    Each engine ignited in consecutive order within ten seconds without signs of misfires or failures to everyone''s relief.


    "Yes! Christian, you''re engines are works of art, my friend." Elon shouted excitedly.


    "Patel''s continuous updates for Infi AI made my job much easier designing these monstrous engines," Christian responded humbly.


    "I guess our space exploration program could start practical testing now we''ve assessed the Raptor engine''s performance," Vince commented.


    "SpaceX should be ready to launch our first crewed mission by the end of the year," Elon replied.


    "Will the private Spaceport be ready in time for the mission?" Vince inquired.


    "Marcia Kemp finalized the deal with the California State Government months ago. Texas was very interested in hosting the Spaceport at Boca Chica, but California was adamant we build ours here." Elon explained.


    "Makes sense. Texas has the Tech Campus in Austin, so building the Spaceport there too would be unacceptable for the two competitive States." Vince stated.


    "We have no escape from politics, sadly," Christian commented.


    "Speaking of politics, how''s the development of Future Security''s spy satellites going? We need them as soon as possible, based on everything going on with FS right now." Vince asked seriously.


    "I''m not quite sure how I feel about the new type of satellites Director Price and Future Robotics proposed to us. Some of the features seem straight-up illegal, Vince." Elon explained honestly.


    "You mean the defense systems which are meant to protect our assets in geosynchronous orbit like the 20 Bitcoin Bank satellites and our future space station, Elon. Nobody would know except us, and you''re aware how difficult it is to steal corporate intelligence with Anthony snooping around." Vince stated reassuringly.


    "If it were any other client, I wouldn''t launch them into orbit, but you''re right. We can ask for forgiveness later if needed." Elon reluctantly replied.


    "Future Security wants at least five spy satellites up there before we start the Starship missions. I can add to your budget to expedite the launch within the year." Vince offered.


    "Space X will need $1.5 billion to complete the five with its remaining armaments. Remember, we can''t refuel or resupply them without the space station." Elon reminded the young man.


    "No worries. We''ll have plenty of options once our astronauts are deployed out there. Of course, performing spacewalks for maintenance will be a piece of cake for Heidi''s medium power suits. How''s their training going, by the way?" Vince replied curiously.


    "They''ve been spending plenty of time at the Future Med wing, preparing physically and practicing the deep-dive control system in conjunction with the space power suits Future Tech designed," Elon explained.


    "Good. The astronauts need to accustom themselves to living as one with their suits. Besides our ventures in SpaceX, how''s your Tesla doing lately?" Vince asked.


    "The updated and redesigned Model S is being mass-produced by the updated Hive Mind Suites we recently ordered from Austin HQ. So we won''t have to worry about production issues for a while. Also, it''s the perfect time to introduce the new car because of the recent power grid update." Elon answered.


    "I hope the mass consumer market starts adopting electric vehicles, even if it meant lower CAV sales. EVs will be the turning point for humanity''s sustainability on Earth." Christian commented.


    "We''ll need government funding to continue upgrading the power grid throughout North America, or else, only Texas and California residents will be able to take advantage of our recent innovations in EV tech," Elon said dejectedly.


    "I feel Sweden will also make the switch from traditional vehicles soon. My staff heard talks about the government planning to sub-contract the country''s power grid upgrade entirely to Future Tech. The results here and in Austin have made it clear; better energy infrastructure is vital in combatting climate change." Christian stated confidently.


    "Thanks for the heads up. I''ll have David send a legal team with you on the way back. The deal should be a boon for Future Tech''s cash flow situation, considering how expensive the efforts in Afghanistan had been." Vince replied.


    "They''ll have to make do with one my Koenigsegg''s executives while they''re in Sweden because I''ll be staying in Austin to open our new factory and dealership at the Tech Campus. Engine manufacturing should be considered a strategic asset for our corporation." Christian responded.


    "You should consider relocating your family to Austin. Then I''ll be much more at ease with your security. Sweden is too close to Russia, and they''ve been messing with the corporation recently." Vince explained scornfully.


    "It may be difficult to convince my wife to leave Sweden, but Future Tech had been so instrumental with my company''s growth that she would at least consider the idea," Christian replied.


    "The H-1B2 visas won''t be a problem with our corporation''s current connections with the federal government. The Future Education Academy should be open when your family eventually moves to Austin. We''ll be employing a more refined strategy for educating all the employee''s kids there based on results from Kandahar, and it''s all free." Vince explained.


    "I''ll keep it in mind, Vince. If that''s all, gentlemen, I''ll be heading back to the Tech Campus and oversee the construction of my buildings." Christian responded before bidding farewell to his fellow corporation executives.


    "Will you be staying in LA to spend more time with your girlfriend? I watched the music video, Vince. It''s playing on every Future Tech audio/video billboard downtown." Elon teased.


    "Shut up, dude. I plan on expanding Future Studio''s music label while I''m here, for your information. You''re just jealous you can''t dance as well as I do. Maybe it''s the age. I''ll need to use one of the meeting rooms, by the way." Vince bantered back.


    "Ha! I''m already used to my kids calling me old, so it doesn''t affect me at all. Alright, I''ll have my secretary prepare a room for you. First, though, which musician did you invite? Is she hot?" Elon curiously replied.


    [This guy should avoid dating music artists, or else he''ll end up with Grimes releasing a diss track about him.] Vince pondered.


    "No, it''s a man, not a hot chick. And you''ve met him at E3 two months, Pharrell Williams." Vince explained.


    The stats section is currently being revised in newer chapters. Sorry for the inconvenience.


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $13 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn, Flyga


    Collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E, Disney)


    Numerous subsidiaries under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch, Big Hit Entertainment)

 Chapter 100 - Typical Workday

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 20!)


    Announcement: Please check the glossary/characters auxiliary chapter for updated concept art!


    ---------------------------


    It was a typical working day at the Future Tech Headquarters, with everyone performing their daily tasks dutifully.


    A young American-Korean woman wearing the classiest Future Couture dress, usually worn only by corporation executives, entered the software development offices where Bitcash, Instagram, Twitch, and other local dev teams were based.


    Jessica Mirae found her corner office after a few minutes of walking, located next to Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger''s offices.


    Instagram had only thirteen developers when Future Tech Holdings purchased it for more than $1.2 billion in 2012, and all of them moved to Austin to work in the most advanced headquarters in the world.


    A Brazilian-American man in his late 20s noticed Jessica and greeted her good morning, as a sign of respect for one of Future Tech''s earliest executives.


    Mike Krieger, the former CTO of Instagram, was a brilliant software engineer who mastered computational linguistics at Stanford University, a cornerstone subject in computer science involving AI, cognitive science, neuroscience, and programming.


    If regular programmers could write code, Mike Krieger could write the language the code is written on like C or Java.


    "Good day, Jessica. How was your morning homeschool?" Mike inquired while entering her office.


    "It was boring, as usual, especially compared to our work here at Future Tech." Jessica responded as she powered on her Infinity Workstation for the day.


    "We''ve made significant progress on the multi-media platform meant to compete with Netflix and Apple Music. I''ve heard Mr. Dalton has been negotiating distribution rights in LA recently, so we''ll need to pick up our development pace in the next few weeks in refining the application, though I''m proud of what our team has accomplished already." Mike explained.


    "I''ve learned so much from you and Kevin the past year. I can''t thank you guys enough." Jessica replied genuinely.


    "It''s the least we can do considering Instagram''s recent success with livestreams and shorts, suggested by Future Tech. There are so many possibilities for our app now that the corporation is supporting us." Mike stated honestly.


    Vince Dalton spent plenty of his time and resources attempting to foster a team-oriented culture within Future Tech, aiming to uplift employees to achieve their full potential.


    "Save some of the praise for your earlier mentors like Director Dollar and Patel. Instagram''s contributions to the corporation pale in comparison to BitCash and FT AI." Mike humbly retorted.


    "Don''t sell yourselves short. Contributions will be aplenty once the multi-media platform is released to the general public. Vince values the entertainment industry, so you don''t have to worry about Instagram''s place in this corporation." Jessica replied reassuringly.


    They proceeded to continue discussing short-term goals for developing the upcoming media platform before starting the workday like usual.


    ------------------------


    A few floors down, Kyle, Rick, and Sarah were in their offices working with the Infinity Unreal Engine on the various VR and AR projects they''ve been helping Epic Games with for the past month since the Hypervisors'' release.


    The twins were busy with the video and audio compositions while Kyle was scripting simple user-driven events using Unreal Blueprints for a few AR advertisements meant for Time Square and Shibuya Crossing.


    It was the same node-based scripting language utilized by Everlife contributors in producing community mods like Battle Royale which was created by one of Future Studios'' newest game developers, Brendan Greene.


    While 3,000 of the Future Studios devs worked at HQ, the rest were either at the Tech Campus or the Epic Games offices.


    Future Studios successfully procured id Software from their competitor, Bethesda Softworks, for $1 billion after a long series of lawyers deliberating from both sides.


    Bethesda was able to flip their 2009 purchase of id Software for a hefty profit and was more than happy with the deal as it wasn''t their only other video game studio.


    John Carmack maintained his duties at id Software while he consulted with Taylor Miller at Future Tech VR, advancing the Hypervisor initiatives.


    Carmack''s former staff were now entrusted with developing updates and expansions for War Online and Everlife alongside Future Studios and Epic Games.


    A Caucasian-American man in his early 40s was writing initiative directions in an executive office on the dedicated floor meant for id Software developers.


    [This is why I never sold live service games at id. Paying subscribers will always expect more from the devs, but I trust Vince''s vision for Future Studios.] John Carmack pondered as he reviewed the upcoming street-racing update for Everlife Online.


    John launched the beta version of Everlife Online 1.1 but on a regular 4K display instead of the Hypervisor. His online character spawned in a luxurious apartment bought using in-game currency which supported the beta vehicle garage.


    Official server players are able to buy in-game currency from Future Studios instead of grinding the different game modes, but it was a different story for users who preferred the hardcore role-play private servers where cash was purely from game activities.


    The role-play community of Everlife Online had been clamoring for an official race solution instead of the janky options the private servers were using the past month.


    The game update mixed elements of Future Tech F1''s race simulator but adjusted for each licensed car available in the game, including performance analytics. This was important because the update focused on upgrading owned vehicles in Everlife Online and racing street and track courses with friends.


    Unlike the many race mods already available on the Infinity Marketplace running on private servers, the update would fully integrate the underground racing concept featuring a co-op story campaign inspired by Fast and the Furious.


    [The cars feel physically authentic and should be ready for release soon, though we have to test all types of consumer racing rigs for compatibility issues.] John pondered while racing against AI cars in-game with a controller.


    John then tested how the law enforcement AI performed during illegal street races and found them too aggressive which would have to be recalibrated through the Unreal Blueprint system.


    [That issue shouldn''t be too difficult to fix with the help of Sweeney''s team at Epic.] John thought while upgrading his character''s LaFerrari in the garage.


    Similar to licensed vehicles, the update featured licensed vehicle components from manufacturers ranging from BC Coilovers to Garrett Turbo Chargers which affected the vehicles'' performance.


    [Tuner cars like the Toyota Supra in the game will become much more popular with version 1.1, for sure.] John thought as he saw the abysmal upgrade options for the LaFerrari.


    Boutique manufacturers like McLaren and Ferrari don''t often support aftermarket products, which balances the gameplay for slower but more upgradeable vehicle choices in Everlife Online.


    ---------------------


    Across the Colorado River, bystanders could clearly see the newly built Future Tech Human Resource offices right in the center of the Tech Campus.


    Working on the highest floor was one of the busiest men in all of Future Tech, the Chief Operations Manager, Hudson.


    The Caucasian-American man who left Microsoft to pursue a more impactful role at Future Tech, definitely found what he was looking for.


    Though Vince''s corporation didn''t employ as many people as Walmart, Hudson had to deal with a higher proportion of professionals which required more care and attention than minimum-wage workers.


    [The corporate-funded employee programs are expensive but quite effective.] Hudson thought while reviewing poaching statistics from their competitors like Apple.


    Almost all Future Tech employees decline lucrative job offers from large companies like Microsoft, Samsung, and Sony because of all the privileges available to them working for Vince Dalton.


    Perks like free housing, education, and plenty of opportunities to climb the corporate ladder were too much for Future Tech employees to sacrifice.


    [This situation is completely different from my market research on developer turnover.] Hudson pondered as he moved on to his new assignments.


    For most companies, it was the norm to fire the entire workforce and replace them with cheaper, but less proficient staff, the opposite of Vince Dalton''s strategy which focused on self-betterment instead.


    Hudson assumed he''d learned everything he needed to know to properly run a company''s operations, but spending more time with Vince made him realize things can be done differently, you just had to try.


    As one of the first people to assist in Future Tech''s growth, Hudson wasn''t surprised by the corporation''s quick success. They were revolutionizing what it meant to be a corporation, one that lifts its community up and moves forward together.


    ------------------


    Stats last time checked: (This area will be revised in future chapters!)


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $13 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn, Flyga


    Collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E, Disney)


    Numerous subsidiaries under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch, Big Hit Entertainment)

 Chapter 101 - Label Executive

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 20!)


    Announcement: Please check the glossary/characters auxiliary chapter for updated concept art!


    It was an odd occurrence for the multi-grammy award winner to attend a meeting in a place like the SpaceX headquarters, which was now considered the Future Tech LA branch.


    The stylish 40-year-old African-American man was told by his agent about Vince Dalton''s interest in recruiting him for Future Studio''s music label and didn''t waste the opportunity, clearing his Saturday afternoon schedule for the meeting.


    The SpaceX secretary guided Pharrell Williams to the designated conference hall, where Vince waited patiently.


    "It''s a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Williams. I appreciate your work on Everlife''s soundtrack and upgrading our music studios at HQ." Vince amicably stated while shaking Pharrell''s hand.


    "Future Studios paid me well, and it was a breath of fresh air working with young and brilliant minds like Kyle, Rick, and Sarah on the Everlife project," Pharrel honestly replied as he sat down on the sofa.


    "I''m sure they learned plenty from you as well. We''ve been making good use of the music studios you designed in Austin now that we''re expanding our media influence towards the music industry." Vince stated.


    "I''ve seen the recent music videos produced by Future Studios. Hailee Steinfeld and the Korean-pop group, BTS, had been making waves the past week on social media, and I think they''re a great start for your music label." Pharrell responded.


    "I thank you for the honesty, but I feel like my music label would do much better if led by an accomplished musician and producer like yourself. I want to build a label that focuses on inclusivity, spreading music that communities can enjoy together, no matter the place. Be it here in the US, South Korea, or Afghanistan." Vince explained with a bit of flattery.


    "I have a similar vision for one of my projects and would love to pursue our shared goals, but Sony won''t let me go easily, I expect," Pharrell replied.


    "Sony, huh? I bet they''re mad because of Future Tech''s abrupt entrance in the video game console market, their biggest profit generator." Vince thought.


    "Sony and Future Tech are competitors, but we''re both businesses. So how much money will it take to buy out your contract from Columbia Records?" Vince confidently inquired.


    "The deal I signed with them last year was worth $100 million, so you''ll most likely have to pay twice as much, stipulated in the contract," Pharrell responded.


    "I''ll be investing $2 billion in Future Studios Music, so the buyout price isn''t too much of a problem. Your position at Future Tech would also be as an executive, which includes certain perks like security escorts, a CAV, and international private jets." Vince pitched.


    Pharrell was stunned to hear the amount of money Vince was casually throwing around in his business which made sense because private corporations weren''t required to publicly display their finances, unlike companies on the stock market. So he had no idea how much money and influence Future Tech had amassed in only two years.


    "Is this 15-year-old kid for real?!" he pondered incredulously.


    Vince noticed Pharrell''s sudden change of demeanor and immediately reassured him.


    "My corporation has been doing quite well lately, and the $2 billion will be money well spent, Pharrell. So are you on board?" Vince asked for confirmation.


    "Act chill. You''re a grown-ass man." Pharrell thought to himself.


    "I feel that should be enough of an initial budget for your new music label, and you can count on me to grow the roster with talented artists from around the world. I''ll speak with my attorney later today about our deal." Pharrell responded as calmly as he could.


    "Fantastic. I''ll be more at ease with you at the helm. One of my lawyers will explain your other privileges once you sign the new contract and become a department executive in the corporation." Vince explained.


    "I''m looking forward to whatever perks come with the job. I''ll take my leave to prepare for my transition, then." Pharrell stated as he shook his CEO''s hand.


    -------------------


    While Vince and Pharrell discussed the music label, rumors were going around Hollywood about Vince Dalton''s recent visit to LA and signing a massive online distribution agreement for Disney properties.


    A middle-aged man in his office at Cupertino slammed his table harder than one would expect.


    "The cult of Vince Dalton is at it again! Apple has been formulating a strategy to corner the online streaming market for years, and it seems they''re way ahead of us already." Tim Cook pondered angrily after reading a tip from a friend living in LA.


    He summoned the company''s program directors into the office to vent his frustration and adjust their short-term strategies accordingly.


    A few minutes later, a few of his subordinates arrived and were surprised to see their boss livid.


    "What have you all been doing the past month? Just because we were able to purchase tech upgrades from the black market doesn''t mean we can slack on our other projects!" Tim stated furiously.


    The Apple suits had no idea why their CEO was enraged but remained professional and respectfully inquired, "What would you have us do, Mr. Cook?".


    "Move up the timetable for our Apple TV Plus subscription initiative. I want it up and running by next year, and we''ll pay whatever it costs to hire enough developers. And remember, we''re competing with 4K resolution options from Future Tech, so high-definition 1080p won''t cut it." Tim explained impatiently.


    "We can apply some of the black market tech we recently acquired into the Apple TV Plus project, which should allow us quicker research and development." another subordinate suggested.


    "Terrific! That''s why you get paid the big bucks. Now make it happen!" Tim sternly responded before dismissing the impromptu meeting.


    ------------------------


    Vince was escorted by FS on the way to LAX on the CAV when he suddenly received a message from someone he didn''t expect.


    "I heard you were in town from Alice and wondered if you''d be down to hang out at the Prime Alliance compound. I know you''re a busy guy but just asking if you''re interested." 3D Jaden said via NetServ chat.


    "I bet Alice found out I was in LA from Hailee. Though the rest of my Friday isn''t too busy, so why not?" Vince thought as he instructed the AV pilot to change destinations.


    ----------------------


    Orange County, a few miles south of LA proper, was a massive area hosting multiple buildings for housing, entertainment, media production, and team practice.


    One would think the compound was owned and operated by a large sports organization like Manchester United or the Dallas Cowboys but instead was run by North America''s premier esports teams such as Optic Gaming and Team Liquid.


    Prime Alliance was originally an effort founded by professional War Online players contracted to different NA organizations but banded together to create the best War Online Arena team in the APL.


    The two North American teams still competed against each other in other competitive scenes like DotA 2 and CSGO but played under the banner of Prime Alliance in the APL.


    A Mexican-American man in his late 20s was drafting practice schedules based on the APL''s recently announced matches starting right after the off-season.


    "The money has been flowing thanks to being two-time APL champs, but the other teams are out for blood. So next season will the hardest one yet." Hector pondered until he heard a knock on his office door.


    Hecz walked up, opened the door, and said, "Fortis, it''s good to see you back early from your vacation. What can I do for the league MVP?"


    The young but accomplished 20-year-old was humble enough to appreciate his boss'' praise and respectfully responded, "It''s always a team effort, Hecz. But I''m here early to invite Vince Dalton over and give him a tour around the Prime Alliance compound. I assumed you wouldn''t mind cause it would be great content for our social media presence."


    "You''re a team player in and out of the server, Fortis. You did splendid work connecting Prime Alliance to the big man of Future Tech himself." Hecz replied in agreement.


    "Vince Dalton is an easy-going guy and pretty fun to be around, so it felt natural to at least show him around this place after he graciously hosted us on The Longhorn. The yacht was breathtaking, Hecz. I owe him for that experience." Fortis said honestly.


    "You''ve been raving about that trip since you got back, so I believe you. I''ll have our media producers ready the equipment if Mr. Dalton is interested in that sorta thing." Hecz replied before he received a notification on his Infinity Phone about a CAV approaching the compound.


    -----------------


    Stats last time checked: (This section will be revised in future chapters)


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $11 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn, Flyga


    Collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E, Disney)


    Numerous subsidiaries under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch, Big Hit Entertainment)

 Chapter 102 - Top Esports Organization

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 20!)


    Announcement: Please check the glossary/characters auxiliary chapter for updated concept art!


    -------------------------------


    The compound''s groundkeeper welcomed Vince and his escort before a secretary guided them towards the main lobby.


    Prime Alliance''s recent success in the APL and social media presence could be clearly felt when entering their newly built professional gaming facility in Orange County.


    Team Complexity''s headquarters in 2021 couldn''t hold a candle to Prime Alliance''s compound in terms of aesthetics and functionality.


    [This place is quite impressive for an esports outfit. The APL has been treating these guys well, from what I can tell.] Vince pondered as a staff member served him coffee.


    The two young Californians, 3D Jaden, and Fortis arrived after readying the place for Vince''s tour a few moments later.


    "Jaden, Fortis, it''s been a while. Thanks for the invitation, by the way." Vince said as he went for a new school handshake with the cousins.


    Hecz joined in at the main lobby after finishing up his CEO duties and introduced himself to the man who started the lucrative business known as the APL.


    [Dope! It''s the online content maestro from Optic Gaming. The guy has done it all in my past life''s esports industry. A true pillar in the Call of Duty community for years.] Vince pondered as Fortis gave his introduction.


    Hecz felt a bit of intimidation like other adults did when meeting the young businessman but steeled his resolve and said, "We''re honored to have you here at our gaming facility, Mr. Dalton. I''ve always appreciated how seriously Future Studios treated the competitive scene under your management."


    Rival companies like Valve, Blizzard, or Activision weren''t supportive of the professional gaming aspect of their games, unlike Future Studios, which invested heavily in the promotion, such as online advertisements and influencer partnerships.


    While games like Call of Duty had to rely on third-party production companies to host and broadcast professional matches like ESL or MLG, Future Studios employed its own media department specifically for multi-language livestreams and arena events in different countries.


    It was no coincidence why War Online was so popular worldwide, even in countries that didn''t allow its legal distribution like in certain parts of Asia.


    Vince held a deep respect for Hecz and humbly accepted the flattery before replying, "I''m proud of our work on War Online, and I''m pleased that so many people share our love for the game. Organizations like Prime Alliance contribute plenty to its success, though I can''t play favorites."


    [This kid is entirely different from any 15-year-old I''ve met. It makes sense considering his recent accomplishments. What I would give to start hustling younger.] Hecz reminisced before inviting the others to a lounge area first.


    Vince allowed one FS operator to follow while the group made their way further into the large esports compound.


    The lounge featured foosball tables, classic arcade machines, and even a sponsored Coco-Cola soda fountain you''d typically see at movie theatres.


    The projector screen on the wall played the free APL 24/7 livestream broadcast that presented pro match reruns and the Arena Collegiate League in the recent month, among other types of content like player interviews and documentaries.


    It showed the live ACL match between UCLA and Stanford University, all competing for either a spot in the league teams or a job opportunity at Future Tech.


    Hecz was a bit nervous in trying to make a good impression and asked, "Would you like anything to eat or drink before we start the tour?"


    "I''m just here to hang out with Fortis and Jaden for a while, but a tour, later on, would be nice. A Tito''s vodka and chaser would be good after a long afternoon speaking with old Hollywood suits. You''ve got quite the facility here in Orange County." Vince honestly replied as he sat down on the comfy sofa.


    Hecz had worked overtime to ensure Prime Alliance''s success, which included providing his players with the required resources, and relished in the compliment before replying, "Our players deserve no less. Even our War Online amateur guild members enjoy the many amenities here. I''ll have one of my staff fetch a drink for you."


    Afterward, their conversations were casual, with Vince asking how Fortis and Jaden were doing since they last met.


    "Hailee told me you and Alice bought a streaming house in the city recently. So the business had been treating you guys well, huh?" Vince stated amicably.


    "My recent move to Twitch On-Demand Video was a blessing with all the ad revenue potential compared to YouTube. Good thing I hadn''t signed Google''s exclusivity deal before you bought Twitch and improved it." 3D Jaden replied honestly.


    "That''s good to hear. Kemp-Jacobs spent plenty of time and resources refining our advertisement contracts directly with interested brands instead of going through third-party marketing companies." Vince responded.


    Media platforms owned by Future Tech also utilized a similar system to modern YouTube Premium, where NetServ subscribers received no ads, and a portion of the revenue is proportionally distributed to contracted creators.


    Because YouTube hadn''t supported its premium system yet, many famous personalities switched to Twitch after being purchased by Future Tech.


    Massive creators like PewDiePie, NigaHiga, and Jenna Marbles were now producing online content under the Future Tech banner, providing further media presence for Vince''s products.


    Another welcome feature was the automatically generated Infi AI translations which allowed English and non-English speaking creators to connect to international viewers much easier versus other platforms.


    "How about you, Fortis? What have you been up to for vacation?" Vince inquired.


    "I finally bought my mom a house using my pro earnings from the past year. She believed in my passion for War Online and supported me when I dropped out of college to take it seriously. So she deserved to live the rest of her life without worrying about a mortgage." Fortis proudly explained.


    Vince wasn''t surprised to hear a good-hearted kid trying to provide for his family and said, "Congrats, dude! I felt the same way with my mom when my company started to gain traction. I''m sure she''s very proud of what you''ve achieved so far."


    Hecz decided to reinforce his support for his best player and commented, "Fortis is a great role model for the other young players in our roster. We''re lucky to have recruited him right from the start, or else we''d have struggled against him in the server."


    While they were enjoying a chill session at the lounge area, Vince received another unexpected NetServ message from Aiya saying, "A Disney ABC representative invited BTS and Hailee for a live performance on the Jimmy Kimmel Show later in the evening. I can reschedule your meetings and activities for the rest of the day if you''d like to attend."


    Vince read the message on his Infinity Watch and pondered, [Disney is doing me favors now, huh? It seems our partnership is more important to them than I initially thought. But, of course, I''m already here, so why the hell not?]


    "Is something the matter, Vince? Do you need to be somewhere else right now?" Jaden worriedly inquired because they were day drinking.


    "Nah, I just got word my music label''s new artists got booked for a gig here in LA later tonight, so you don''t have to worry about it. I''m down to the facility tour real quick." Vince reassuringly replied.


    Hecz perked up and took the opportunity and asked, "Do you mind if we film a bit of the tour for our social media accounts? I''ll understand if it''s too much of an ask. I''m not tryna clout chase."


    Vince valued Hecz being mindful by asking permission first and replied, "I''m open to some media attention, though I don''t do interviews much. So feel free to record whatever you want while showing me around your compound."


    Vince was given a VIP tour and was allowed to see everything like the practice and livestreaming rooms, gym, player dorms, media production offices, and the kitchen.


    The Prime Alliance group spared no expense in ensuring their players'' performance and even supported a regular War Online guild to represent them in the Battlegrounds and open-world, recruiting potential prospects into the organization.


    Vince spent a few minutes watching one of the contracted livestreamers leading a 100 strong alliance army fighting in the battlegrounds against Luminosity Gaming to loot each other''s corpses and profit Bitcash from the Infinity Marketplace.


    Vince was glad to see so many people engaged in War Online and thought, [We make games at Future Studios, but these guys live and breathe the game.]


    ---------------------


    Stats last time checked: (This section will be revised in future chapters!)


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $11 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn, Flyga


    Collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E, Disney)


    Numerous subsidiaries under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch, Big Hit Entertainment)

 Chapter 103 - El Capitan Theatre

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 20!)


    Announcement: Please check the glossary/characters auxiliary chapter for updated concept art!


    -------------------------------


    The Prime Alliance gaming facility was more than Vince expected from an esports organization. Each computer in the building was Future Tech''s brand which would''ve cost a fortune, but Hecz was adamant in providing his players with only the best equipment and even recently upgraded to Enterprise NetServ Optical Fiber for their networking.


    Elon made quick work of the power grid upgrade in Austin and LA, which included laying high-bandwidth lines connecting the cities to Future Tech Data Access Nodes scattered throughout both states.


    Plenty of the local small internet service providers accepted their fate and sold their businesses slowly to NetServ to work directly with the growing corporation.


    Vince wondered how much effort and time Hecz had spent on his new project and inquired, "So are you still running Optic Gaming or solely focusing on Prime Alliance?"


    Hecz found the question interesting, considering he was known for treating Optic as his baby, and replied, "I love my org, but I honestly feel much more passion competing in the APL than in COD, so I have my old business partners deal with Optic while I''m busy here. But I''d feel different if Activision treated the COD pro scene with as much respect as you do for War Online."


    [If they did, I wouldn''t have broken through the esports industry as easily. One man''s trash is another man''s treasure.] Vince thought.


    "The only downside in running the APL is the fact I can''t own a team, but it''s fine; my F1 team is doing well, at least. Y''all are also welcome to watch the Austin race in November, by the way." Vince offered graciously.


    The three accepted the casual invitation politely before looping around the facility and arriving back at the lounge.


    People such as Gabe Newell would rarely ever interact with the pro community, unlike Vince, who embraced the culture. So Hecz was quite happy about the content his production team filmed of Vince spending time at their headquarters and said, "I hope you enjoyed the tour, and we''re very grateful for allowing us to film. I''ll tag you on the video when it releases tonight."


    "Dope. If you guys aren''t busy the rest of the day, you should watch the Jimmy Kimmel Show with me. I''m sure they can make space for three other people." Vince suggested.


    "That sounds fun. I''m down." 3D Jaden replied.


    The other two didn''t want to disrespect Vince and followed Jaden''s lead.


    -----------------------


    A group of eight young Korean men was enjoying the lavish amenities of a Luxury 787 and still couldn''t believe they would perform on US mainstream television.


    A squad of FS operators and a dozen of Oliver''s crew who usually worked on the APL live events and broadcasts production team supported them in the background.


    Pdogg maintained his cool to ensure he managed his boys well and said, "Alright, all of us will spend at least an hour of preparation and practice with Hailee before the show begins. I''ve spent time thinking about it and decided you''ll perform ''Boy For Luv'', with a similar dance routine to the music video."


    The young artists were hyped after hearing the song they would have chosen themselves. It was a massive hit on social media, featuring Hailee''s enchanting chorus, and was already in the hundreds of millions in viewers across all platforms within the week.


    Jungkook felt a bit nervous as the youngest member and asked, "Why do you think ABC suddenly invited us for an appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel Show?"


    "Hey, don''t go second-guessing yourself when a big opportunity like this presents itself," Pdogg replied with an air of leadership, as the much older big bro.


    "I remember Vince mentioned a meeting he''d have with Disney while we were drinking at the Digital Den. So I guess they settled on a deal, and we lucked out on landing a gig with their subsidiary." RM explained his thought process.


    "That doesn''t matter. We focus on putting on an amazing show to all our potential fans in America. If we want Future Tech to continue supporting us with luxury flights and state-of-the-art recording studios, we''ll have to pull our own weight in the music label." Pdogg sternly reminded his artists.


    Suga interjected and excitedly said, "We can be serious as we touch down in LA, but for right now, let''s enjoy the flight."


    The boys quickly agreed and started taking photos for their social media accounts, flying on the most lavish jet money can buy.


    -----------------------------------------------


    While BTS was on their flight to Los Angeles, Alice and Hailee struggled to decide which Future Couture dress she should wear for the show.


    [Leah gave me so many beautiful dresses, I can''t even choose!] So Hailee thought as she wore another one to show Alice.


    Wonder Alice was a huge admirer of Future Couture after spending time on The Longhorn and excitedly said, "They all look amazing, Haiz. Though I''ve never seen these designs at the Rodeo Drive storefront, so they''re probably limited editions by Leah Dalton herself."


    The fashion industry was and always has been a crazy money-making business, with Bernard Arnault, for example, who''s estimated to be worth almost $200 billion for owning Louise Vuitton, among other luxury brands.


    Future Couture was rapidly climbing the fashion ladder, introducing neo-modern styling and functional features like metal-matrix weaved materials for temperature control and bullet protection.


    The richest of the rich preferred buying the most expensive options, and Future Couture had that in spades; Vince''s black overcoat alone costs $100 thousand before taxes and a personal background check.


    Hailee finally wore a purple and gold-themed outfit with a few revealing features, and Alice commented, "That''s perfect, sis! You''ll look phenomenal on stage wearing that."


    "Alright, I''ll go get ready for our rehearsals. You''re coming with me, right?" Hailee asked.


    "Of course! And Jaden texted me they''ll be watching the show with Vince." Alice replied.


    Hailee felt exhilarated with her heart skipping a beat and pondered, [Vince will be there? I thought we wouldn''t see each other for another month or so.]


    ------------------------------------------------


    About an hour later, a Future Tech CAV arrived at El Capitan Theatre along Hollywood Boulevard, where ABC taped the Jimmy Kimmel Show.


    Plenty of locals and tourists were roaming about and enjoyed the cool weather on a typical Friday evening.


    Vince, Jaden, Hecz, Fortis, and the FS escort made their way towards the entrance, where hundreds of people waited in line for the live show.


    Their entourage naturally received attention from the crowd before a theatre steward allowed them inside the building.


    "Was that Fortis from Prime Alliance?" a bystander inquired.


    "Who cares about Fortis if Vince Dalton was next to him? If he were older, I''d definitely gobble him up. He was so hot in the ''Starving'' music video." the bystander''s girlfriend replied.


    The other people in line quickly realized they were in for a treat that evening and quickly shared the rumors about Vince Dalton attending the Jimmy Kimmel Show on their social media accounts.


    The El Capitan Theatre was almost a hundred years old, yet the old school aesthetic held up even in the twenty-first century.


    The iconic late-night show host himself welcomed the special guests and greeted, "It''s a pleasure to meet you all. First, I''d like to extend my gratitude for you accepting the invitation on such short notice a few of the executives at ABC and Disney decided they wanted to reveal the recent partnership during our interview featuring your label''s artists."


    Jimmy was not short by any means, standing at around 6 feet tall, but the young man looked at him at eye level with a certain seriousness.


    Vince was caught off guard and confused in asking, "What do you mean? My butler didn''t tell me about an interview. Everyone knows I rarely do them."


    Jimmy Kimmel was startled with how Vince spoke in such a domineering way, though he was only 15 years old and paused for a moment.


    [I see through your strategy, Disney. You''re making me do the legwork in promoting our new venture. Classic.] Vince thought before saying, "It''s alright. I''ll do the interview, but we''ll only discuss the Infinity Channel and other stuff. No politics, including FS and Kandahar. It''s a sensitive topic for me right now."


    Jimmy clearly felt an intimidating aura from the young man and quickly cooperated in replying, "Completely reasonable, Mr. Dalton. Thank you for clearing up the misunderstanding." while sweating a little bit.


    "Please, call me Vince. I assume the others are preparing for their musical number?" he amicably inquired.


    "They''re currently doing stage rehearsals. Would you like to observe their practice while waiting for the show to start?" Jimmy asked.


    Vince thought about it for a moment for replying, "Nah, we''ll let them be for now so they can focus on their own thing. I''m more interested in a tour of this theatre."


    Jimmy was happy to oblige and explained, "The El Capitan boasts a storied history, Vince. Let me show you and your friends a quick rundown of the place. This very theatre hosted citizen Kane''s world premiere in 1941."


    [I don''t want to distract Hailee from getting ready for her first-ever live musical performance. That would make me an irresponsible partner. But I hope she enjoys it.] Vince pondered while their group learned more about the old entertainment venue.


    ----------------------------------------


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $11 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn, Flyga


    Collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E, Disney)


    Numerous subsidiaries under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch, Big Hit Entertainment)

 Chapter 104 - A Late Night Show

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 20!)


    Announcement: Please check the glossary/characters auxiliary chapter for updated concept art!


    ---------------------


    Twitter and plenty of the other social media platforms were buzzing with posts being shared filled with pictures of Vince Dalton entering the El Capitan Theatre and BTS on the flight towards LA.


    A local woman in Arizona was chilling for the rest of her Friday evening while browsing on an Infinity Phone and said, "Dude, have you seen this recent viral clip on Instagram? People are speculating Future Tech''s CEO will be doing a Jimmy Kimmel interview."


    The online rumor surprised her roommate, and he had to ask, "For real? I remember Vince Dalton doing one interview with Time Magazine last year, but that''s it."


    "I dunno; he might just be watching the show, but let''s tune in tonight to double-check. He might even remove his shirt again and start dancing!" the woman replied excitedly.


    "Hey, calm down. The kid is 15, remember?" the man rebuked.


    "Oh, come on, did you watch the ''Starving'' music video? He looked much manlier than your chunky ass at 25." she jabbed back.


    "No fair. Kids like him have plenty of hormones and testosterone flowing; it makes it easier to get shredded," he replied in defense.


    A whisper in the room echoed as she said, "Excuses."


    Conversations and discussions were spreading throughout Continental America and South Korea, as everyone into pop culture waited patiently for the show on TV. #JimmyKimmel, #FutureTech, #BTS were trending on every platform within a few hours.


    ----------------


    Inside the theatre, the ABC production staff started to arrange all the show props in place while Cleto and the Cletones band prepared their musical instruments.


    The Future Studios employees didn''t sit around either and kept busy preparing the stage for Hailee and BTS'' performance.


    Jimmy was hospitable and provided Vince and his crew a VIP room backstage where they could hang out until the show started.


    The group was talking about random things like the Everlife story and the upcoming War Online updates until they heard a knock on the door.


    It was Alice who had been observing rehearsals until she decided to pay her respects to Vince and reunite with her boyfriend, Jaden.


    "It''s good to see you again, Alice. Come in and join us." Vince politely instructed.


    Alice was relieved to hear Vince''s friendly request and replied, "You too, Vince. How was your time hanging out with my oaf of a boyfriend and his cousin?"


    "The Prime Alliance facility was better than I expected, and Hecz was a great host," Vince responded in kind.


    The American-Mexican man felt pride in his heart as he made space on the couch for the newcomer.


    "Jaden has told me about the success of your livestreaming. Prime Alliance would love to have your stream under our banner, with financial incentives, of course." Hecz offered.


    Alice pondered about the offer for a moment before replying, "No thanks. I''m satisfied dealing directly with Future Studios and Twitch for the time being, but I''ll keep it in mind."


    "Uhm, Vince. Shouldn''t you be preparing for your interview?" Fortis worriedly asked because they were drinking a few hours prior.


    Vince gave him a profound gaze and confidently replied, "I''m the CEO of Future Tech. I know my corporation''s initiatives like the back of my hand."


    --------------


    The entrance door of the theatre opened, and the long line of people outside started to trickle inside as they were theorizing if Vince Dalton was the special guest for the night.


    They didn''t mind the team of FS operators securing the building''s perimeter for any potential threats.


    Around thirty minutes later, when all the audience members were seated, including Hecz, Jaden, Fortis, and Alice, the lights went dim to introduce the show host.


    The theatre atmosphere was filled with anticipation as Jimmy started his show.


    A recorded announcement echoed throughout the theater, saying, "Live from Hollywood! Tonight, we have BTS, Hailee Steinfeld, and a special guest, Vince Dalton. So relax as we welcome our host, Jimmy Kimmel!"


    The crowd cheered in excitement as they realized the rumors and gossip were true.


    "Whoa! That''s the biggest entrance applause I''ve experienced. Calm down, everyone. Thank you for coming tonight." Jimmy joked as he spent a few minutes presenting a pre-written comedy skit.


    Jimmy sat down on his interviewer chair before stating, "Before we begin the main segment of the show, I''d like to introduce BTS and Hailee Steinfeld to treat us with a performance of their hit collaborative single ''Boy For Luv''."


    All the women in the crowd started screaming when the curtains unveiled the young Korean artists, and the men joined in the cheering as the beautiful and multi-talented singer took to the forefront.


    Naturally, all of the artists on stage wore different styles of Future Couture clothing as an extra advertisement for Leah''s department.


    The group practiced seriously for hours and gave the audience one-hundred percent effort to showcase their talents to America.


    Each audience member appreciated the musical routine amongst the intricately designed stage, inspired by the music video.


    "I love you, J-Hope!" a young woman in the crowd shouted as they ended the short concert on a high note.


    Jimmy walked towards the stage as he clapped and said, "Hailee Steinfeld and BTS, everybody! Give them another round of applause for that amazing performance."


    The crowd didn''t need Jimmy prompting them to clap even louder than earlier as the theater shook with an exhilarating aura.


    The applause filled the young artists with relief as they relished in the applause, and Hailee pondered, [Not bad for a first live gig. I hope he watched and enjoyed it as much as I did.]


    Her inner thoughts abruptly ceased as Jimmy asked them to sit on the guest sofa for a quick interview.


    "It seems like people on this side of the Pacific Ocean love you guys as much as in South Korea," Jimmy stated.


    Jungkook took the chance to share his gratitude for their support and passionately replied, "I didn''t expect we''d get such a warm welcome in Hollywood, and I thank all of you here or watching at home for making our dreams come true!"


    From that one humble statement alone, BTS grew their fanbase even further across the States, only watching the show for fun or out of habit.


    "With your talents, the sky is the limit. Especially for young Hailee here, who, by the way, is an Oscar-nominated actor. So how did your musical career start?" Jimmy inquired for the viewers.


    Hailee recalled her time living with Vince for almost a week, started blushing, and calmly replied, "These guys inspired me to record some music while I spent time with my friends at Austin. Pdogg was a great help producing my first few songs, and I eventually decided to sign a label contract with Future Studios."


    "From my point of view, they''re lucky to have you and BTS as label artists." Jimmy politely stated.


    He focused the initial interview on their upcoming projects like studio albums yet to release, Ender''s Game, and their plans for the future.


    Then, Jimmy was notified of the commercial break over his earpiece and said, "The show will stop for a quick break, but don''t go anywhere because our next guest rarely does interviews!"


    Many of the audience members went for a restroom or smoke break outside as the production staff cleared out the stage from earlier.


    Vince had just finished getting some slight make-up done when someone knocked on the door and said, "Mr. Dalton, you''ll be up in a few minutes, so please get ready."


    Vince was calm and collected as he replied, "Alright, I''ll be out soon."


    [On second thought, announcing the Infinity Channel on national television may be the most appropriate way. I''ll have to thank Bob and Disney during our following meetings.] he pondered while making his way backstage.


    Jimmy took frontstage to introduce the special guest of the night and said, "Next, it''s my pleasure to introduce a young man who started his business at the age of 13 and climbed great heights in numerous industries, 2012''s Person of the Year, Vince Dalton!"


    The cheering from the crowd was as loud, if not louder, than earlier in the show as Vince emerged from the backdrop curtains.


    The young CEO took a moment to wave at the audience before sitting down next to Hailee and BTS on the guest sofa.


    -----------------


    Stats last time checked: (This section will be revised in future chapters)


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $11 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn, Flyga


    Collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E, Disney)


    Numerous subsidiaries under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch, Big Hit Entertainment)

 Chapter 105 - Infinity Channel

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 10!)


    Announcement: Please check the glossary/characters auxiliary chapter for updated concept art!


    ------------------


    Vince walked onto the stage wearing his signature Future Couture style, mixing Leah''s neo-modern design with a bit of contemporary hip-hop inspiration.


    The audience was mesmerized by the intricately weaved patterns on Vince''s black overcoat hoodie, and some decided to check out the Future Couture store to purchase something similar.


    The non-bullet protective version was much cheaper but still cost around $10 thousand, not a typical shopping item for most people.


    Jimmy opened up the interview by saying, "It''s a treat having you here on the show, sitting next to your label''s first artists. How does it feel to have the crowd warmly welcome both you and Future Studio''s prelude to the music industry?"


    Vince took a moment of thought before replying to Jimmy and the audience, "It''s a pleasant feeling to know I won''t have to worry about promoting my music initiative with all the loving fans out there. Am I right?"


    The crowd went wild, not expecting Vince to be so casual in addressing the audience, and cheered for Hailee and BTS in support.


    His Korean compatriots appreciated the validation from both the fans and their CEO while staying silent for Vince''s segment.


    "That''s confirmation right there if I''ve ever seen one." Jimmy joked and made the crowd laugh for a moment.


    Jimmy wanted to get the announcement out of the way and commented, "Though, I''ve heard your music initiative is only a small part of a much more ambitious project."


    Vince quickly understood what Jimmy meant and explained, "You''ve heard correctly, Jimmy. One of Future Tech''s major programs releasing in the coming weeks is a collaborative effort between media corporations like Disney to distribute on-demand and ultra-high-definition video content to all NetServ subscribers, with a free segment for non-subscribers, called the Infinity Channel."


    The reveal piqued the audience''s attention, and they quietly listened to Vince''s announcement.


    Vince continued the reveal from the top of his mind. He added, "An application where you could listen to your favorite artists, watch movies and sporting events like the APL, interact with the platform using Twitch, Instagram, or NetServ accounts, and available for download on almost every device through scaling. An all-in-one online media solution."


    The crowd was stunned to hear of Future Tech''s newest service. The closest thing to what Vince explained was Netflix or Spotify, but none bundled all media types in a single solution like the Infinity Channel.


    Vince didn''t mention the anti-piracy features to avoid ruining the moment, as the audience was thrilled to hear their NetServ subscriptions will have more functionality, other than a global network connection and access to War Online and Everlife Online.


    Vince''s main goal for starting the Infinity Channel was persuading more people to purchase a NetServ subscription that wasn''t already using Infinity devices.


    Apple and Samsung users will have to pay Future Tech to enjoy on-demand Disney movies and other compelling media properties in the global market.


    The $5 million flat-rate renting fees for iOS and Android determined by the lawsuit between Future Tech and Apple almost two years ago was chump change compared to the profit potential of the app.


    Competitor tech companies like LG and Samsung will have to thank Future Tech for the sheer amount of 4K TV sales they''ll receive after the announcement.


    Jimmy continued the show and said, "I bet everyone is eager to use your new Infinity Channel service. So what else is going on in your private corporation these days?"


    "Jimmy, we''ve got too many projects to discuss in such a short interview, but I can say the Everlife expansion and War Online major update will be released soon."


    Hecz, Fortis, Jaden, and Alice were quite happy with the news of updates for their favorite games amongst the other gamers in the crowds.


    "An Everlife expansion so soon after the initial release? I don''t play many video games but isn''t that too fast?" Jimmy inquired.


    "For most games, yes. But we''re lucky to employ more than three game studios'' worth of developers to keep our players engaged and enjoying our products." Vince explained.


    "Will the lovely Hailee Steinfeld or BTS be featured in the upcoming expansion?" Jimmy asked as he gestured towards the other guests on the sofa.


    Vince casually replied, "Maybe, but Hailee will surely be in the Everlife movie, the first-ever one produced by Future Studios."


    The young actor was surprised to hear about a sudden movie gig she wasn''t told about and commented with a sour face, "Vince, you haven''t mentioned it to me yet."


    "Oh, I forgot, Haiz. Surprise?" Vince responded with a grinning smile.


    The audience couldn''t help themselves from laughing as they watched the young couple joking around together.


    "A movie, huh? Considering how popular the game is, an adaptation makes sense. RDJ, The Rock, and Jennifer Lawrence were phenomenal as the main characters from what I remember from playing Everlife as a skit on the show." Jimmy stated.


    Vince remembered Jimmy Kimmel''s boomer moment in 2015 when he made fun of people for watching video game content online and said, "What a surprise. I thought you didn''t like playing video games. I bet the easiest difficulty was too hard for you, right?"


    Jimmy took the jab professionally and quipped, "I''ve been learning the ways of the gamer, okay. So could you please cut me some slack, will ya?"


    Vince was content with Jimmy squirming in his seat and replied, "Alright. But just this once.


    Jimmy fixed his composure and resumed the interview by discussing Future Tech''s partnership with Disney before ending the show.


    "Unfortunately, that''s all the time we have. Another round of applause for this group of young and talented guests." Jimmy stated as the crowd clapped and the curtains closed.


    The FS squads around the building assisted the local staff with clearing out the audience while Vince spoke to his friends backstage, introducing whoever didn''t know each other yet.


    Vince was satisfied with the interview and happily praised, "That was a beautiful performance earlier, Haiz. You and the boys did very well."


    "I gave it my all cause I knew you were watching," Haiz replied as she kissed Vince lightly on the lips.


    Most of the others were used to the couple''s frequent public displays of affection, but Hecz raised an eyebrow as the oldest person in the group.


    Pdogg wanted to spend more time in LA as it was his and BTS'' first time there and asked, "What are your instructions, Vince?"


    [I hope we don''t have to leave for Austin so soon. LA is the place to be as an entertainer and worth exploring.] Suga pondered as they waited for Vince''s decision.


    "It''s 6 pm already, so there''s no point in flying back early. Why don''t we stay the night in LA and return tomorrow? We can stay on The Longhorn as our accommodations." Vince suggested.


    "Yes!" "Alright!" the boys excitedly cheered.


    The American-Mexican man, Hecz, overheard the name that Fortis always mentioned at the Prime Alliance facility and asked, "The Longhorn. Isn''t that the mega yacht you own, Vince?"


    "Yup, it should have enough staterooms for all of us, including you guys," Vince replied, referring to Hecz, Jaden, and Alice.


    The BTS members and Pdogg were intrigued hearing about a mega-yacht and felt even more thrilled staying the night.


    Hecz sincerely replied, "Thanks for the invite, but I''ll need to return home to my family tonight."


    Jaden spoke for Fortis and Alice in saying, "We''re down to continue hanging out with you guys wherever."


    Vince was adamant with his request and stated, "Have dinner with us, at least. I''d like to repay you for the Prime Alliance HQ tour earlier."


    Hecz was a connoisseur of eating food and quickly replied, "Dinner in town would be fine. Where do you guys wanna eat?"


    As a fellow foodie, Hailee suggested, "The Baja Mexican restaurant, M¨ªrame, in Beverly Hills has been on my LA spots radar for a while."


    Hecz was impressed with her suggestion and replied, "Oh yeah, that place has some amazing Tostadas. Let''s go before it gets packed."


    -----------------------------


    While they were discussing where to eat and spend the Friday night, many of the audience members from earlier started discussing the announcements Vince Dalton revealed during the interview online.


    Plenty of them shared their evening experience, like the performance at the start and the amusing love quarrel between Vince and Hailee towards the show''s end.


    Disney exactly received what they wanted, free promotion from the most popular young personality in America.


    ----------------------


    Stats last time checked: (This section will be revised in future chapters)


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $11 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn, Flyga


    Collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E, Disney)


    Numerous subsidiaries under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch, Big Hit Entertainment)

 Chapter 106 - Decision

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 10!)


    Announcement: Please check the glossary/characters auxiliary chapter for updated concept art!


    --------------------------


    The M¨ªrame restaurant staff promptly provided Vince and his group the best table in the building, naturally, as most people in LA already knew of the young and accomplished businessman from the Time Magazine interview and numerous online articles about his success as a teenager.


    Fortunately, Vince''s FS operators preserved his privacy even as a pop culture icon.


    The place was a popular spot for locals, including Hollywood actors who lived in the neighborhood. But no one was gossiping about them and instead spoke about Vince Dalton and his entourage.


    The food was pretty good, and even the Korean boys loved it, much to Hailee and Hecz''s relief.


    Alice was curious why Vince didn''t have his own social media accounts and asked, "Hey Vince, Have you considered starting an Instagram account or something? I''m sure you''d have more followers than any of us within a day if you did."


    Vince stopped eating and took a moment to ponder, [I''ve been concentrating on the corporation''s growth that I never really thought about it. Better late than never, I guess.]


    "Thanks for the reminder, Alice. I should definitely be more active online to further promote Future Tech." Vince replied while creating an account via his Infinity Watch.


    Hailee observed a pause in their conversation and interjected, "Hey, you haven''t explained the movie thing from the interview earlier. What''s up with that?"


    "I pitched an Everlife prequel movie concept to the Russo brothers during my noon meeting, and I just decided to have you play the main character." Vince simply explained.


    Hailee knew he wouldn''t decide on something as consequential without believing in her and thought, [Vince really does love helping his friends with their careers, and I''m so lucky to receive a share of his big heart.]


    She gave Vince a yearning stare which creeped him out a bit, and he reassuringly stated, "Come on, Haiz. You''re such a talented actor to be intimidated by a leading role in a movie. I trust you''ll do great work with Jennifer and the rest of the cast."


    The BTS members agreed in unison with Alice and supportively commented, "You can do it!" "Your Oscar win is just a matter of time." "We believe in you!"


    "Alright, alright. I''ll have to read the script first before I can be confident enough with a movie project but thanks for the positive vibes." Hailee stated honestly.


    The expansion reveal was still on Alice''s mind, as a livestreamer who played mostly Everlife and respectfully inquired, "Vince, do you mind if I ask what the Everlife expansion will feature? I''ll understand if you can''t say."


    Vince thought about an answer for a second and replied, "Think Fast and the Furious as the story campaign and functions you''d expect from a racing game. You know what I mean because you stream roleplay content on private servers, right?"


    Roleplay Everlife streamers loved to race each other online for cash bets or pink slips but couldn''t do it without a janky third-party mod which the expansion should alleviate.


    Jaden overheard the conversation and plainly said, "Sweeeeeeeeeet."


    Vince and his entourage finished eating dinner a few minutes later, and he naturally paid for all the meals as the host.


    The group left the restaurant, and Vince had them pose together for a picture before Hecz had to leave for the night.


    [This is going on my new Instagram account.] So Vince thought as he chose the best one out of the few pictures taken.


    Vince was glad to spend time with an esports legend and politely said, "Thanks for hanging out with us today, Hecz. The tour was great, and I hope we see each other soon, dude."


    Hecz appreciated the level of respect the young CEO didn''t have to show him and replied before departing, "It was my pleasure, Vince. You''re always welcome at the Prime Alliance facility if you just want to chill while in town. Until next time."


    They took the same CAV to the restaurant, so Vince graciously had the LA branch dispatch another one earlier to take Hecz home.


    -----------------------


    It was a gorgeous evening flying over the glittering downtown LA towards Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club.


    Vince wanted to take his friends to an LA nightclub, but it was a hassle considering almost all of them were under 21.


    Though it was pretty dark at the marina, the BTS members glimpsed the silhouette of The Longhorn through the windows and were astonished by its sheer size.


    The others, like Jaden and Fortis, have spent so much time on the yacht, so they didn''t have the same kind of reaction.


    Vince''s entourage was eager to enjoy The Longhorn''s amenities such as the jacuzzis, swimming pools, wellness spa, and the LAN center as they disembarked from the CAV.


    Vince walked towards the front of the ship, arms locked together with Hailee, and he surprisingly said, "Look who''s here. I shouldn''t have expected nothing less from you, Elon."


    He was in the primary jacuzzi while smoking a pre-rolled OG Kush joint and bantered, "Come on, Vince. Can''t I enjoy myself after the successful Starship test run earlier today?"


    Vince was unimpressed and bantered back, "I bet you''re just hiding from your wife and kids at home."


    Elon thought about Vince''s comment and agreed, "Yeah, that too. You''re quite attentive sometimes, but my family loves me for who I am."


    [Says the man who divorced and remarried the same woman three times.] Vince pondered as he shook his head.


    Hailee and Vince left him alone and checked how the others were settling in The Longhorn.


    "Beware, everyone, we''ve got a stowaway on board. Elon''s hogging the jacuzzi on the top deck, so be careful if you don''t want to see an image you''ll never forget." Vince explained in a joking manner.


    Even though the Bangtan Boys lived in South Korea, they still recognized the name of the man who ran Tesla and SpaceX and was surprised how casual Elon was with Vince and his property.


    Pdogg was a bit worried and said, "We''ll use a different jacuzzi instead. We wouldn''t want to disturb Mr. Musk."


    Vince chuckled for a moment and replied, "Disturb him all you want. That loner will probably appreciate your company. He''s harmless and quite fun to be around. But don''t get too high with him, or we may have to fish you guys out of the sea."


    Fortis, Jaden, Alice, and Hailee started laughing at Vince''s joke while the young Korean artists were perplexed to hear about drugs.


    "Oh yeah, I remember weed is very illegal in South Korea, so I couldn''t smoke while I was there for the APL Finals," Fortis explained to the Bangtan Boys.


    Jaden heard Fortis'' comment, shaking his head, and said, "Cuz, I''ve already told you to stop getting high before an event like the Grand Finals."


    "Dude, I was the NA Season MVP and was high the entire way. Our loss at Daegu was because of my impatience. Nothing else." Fortis said to defend himself.


    The quarreling cousins amused Vince, and he thought, [How did this guy manage to win two APL Finals?]


    "Wait, do you also smoke weed, Vince?" Jungkook inquired as the youngest and least experienced in the group.


    Hailee chose to answer for her boyfriend, saying in jest, "Vince doesn''t smoke as often as he drinks, but he''s a chimney when he does."


    "Alright, let''s not discuss my bad habits. Everyone enjoy yourselves for the rest of the night." Vince declared as he led Hailee towards the yacht''s bar.


    ------------------


    The yacht''s lounge was as exquisite, befitting the most luxurious sea vessel. Vince ordered the bartender to make him two Mojitos as they each took a seat.


    It was a busy day for the young man, so he took a moment to unwind in privacy with Hailee.


    They spoke about how each other''s day went after they had brunch earlier, and Vince mentioned, "You were wonderful on stage today, Haiz. I''m so happy and proud of you."


    Hailee felt her heart skip like during the performance as she heard Vince''s praise and responded, "Do you know why I did so well?"


    "Why?" Vince inquired, following along.


    Hailee chuckled at Vince''s scripted response before replying, "You, dummy! Because I knew you were watching, Vince. But I want to say something, so be quiet for a second."


    Vince was curious about what was so important and stayed silent before Hailee said, "I''ve decided I want to live in Austin. With you, Vince."


    [Okay, I think it might be the hormones talking.] Vince pondered as he searched for a response.


    "Are you sure, Haiz? How about Alice, your family, and your career?" Vince asked softly.


    Hailee took a second and collected herself before explaining, "I want to be with you. I can visit LA; they can hang out in Austin. It''s no big deal, and I already told my parents about finishing the studio album. Are you not happy? Don''t you want me by your side every night instead of just a week here and there?"


    Vince didn''t want to argue and reassuringly said, "I do, Haiz. I want you to be happy, like everyone I care for in life."


    She quickly placed her Mojito down on the table, gazed at him for a moment, and went for a sensual kiss.

 Chapter 107 - Flagged

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    --------------------------


    On the Mediterranean sea, a cargo ship filled with all kinds of consumer products was headed towards Port Said as their first stop to deliver daily necessities to the people of Egypt.


    Most of the merchant marines onboard were left unaware of a hidden compartment in the lower deck containing 15 Blast and Sarin warheads to be transferred when the ship docked at Tartus Port on the way to Istanbul.


    Ever since Future Security discovered the involvement of Russians in the armed escape of Ashkan, which resulted in a dozen dead CIA detention officers, Anthony had been monitoring odd movements in Russian airspace and ports using NetServ satellites.


    At the FS offices within Future Tech Headquarters, a Filipino-American man in his early 30s was busy working on his Infinity Workstation until he was disturbed by a knock on the door.


    It was a young but well-trained external nethunter, agents who focused on Future Tech''s outside threats rather than internal problems.


    Anthony logged off the propriety Future Security software before asking, "


    What''s up, Matthew?"


    The young Taiwanese-American man dutifully explained, "We''ve come across a cargo ship which was flagged on our systems as it crossed the Gibraltar Straight. I''ve done a cursory investigation and found all their permits and licenses are legitimate, but the travel manifest noted a stop in Tartus Port."


    Anthony took a moment to think and replied, "Tartus Port? Why would a commercial cargo ship dock at a Russian naval facility?"


    "That was the sole reason why our system flagged it. Though, the cargo manifest seemed awfully normal, filled with stuff like toothpaste and toilet rolls." Matthew commented.


    [There''s something fishy going on here. We can''t let the ship arrive at Tartus without an inspection for the sake of my sanity.] Anthony anxiously pondered.


    "Thank you for your diligence, Matthew. Send me the details, and I''ll speak to Director Price about a course of action we can pursue." Anthony stated before dismissing his subordinate.


    --------------------


    Meanwhile, on The Longhorn, It was a long and active night for the young couple, but the morning was the opposite for most of the party-goers, ending in tremendous hangovers.


    Jaden treated the Bangtan Boys to a typical American Friday night, getting wasted on mixed drinks from the dutiful bartender.


    Fortis challenged Elon to a smoking competition until they got so stoned and proceeded to join the others drinking at the bar and lounge.


    They went easy on the younger BTS members, but Pdogg and the older ones had to keep up with Alice and Jaden.


    The rager took everybody''s attention, and no one noticed Vince and Hailee absent throughout the party.


    Suga barely climbed out of bed and got ready for breakfast. His world was going round and round as he traversed the quarters'' deck.


    He found Elon eating at the dining area and curiously asked, "How are you looking fine after drinking so much last night?"


    Elon pitied the young man, so he tossed a bottle of a foreign-looking blue liquid and replied, "That should clear up your hangover."


    Suga wasted no time and drank the entire contents of the bottle in the hopes of stopping his mind from spinning.


    He felt a sudden relief and quickly inquired, "What is this magic?"


    Elon stopped eating for a moment and explained, "It''s what my astronauts use to maintain their nutrition in the new spacesuits. The solution to any hangover is hydration, and that''s one of its main functions."


    Suge couldn''t follow the detailed explanation, just thinking about the term ''astronaut'', and said, "Cool. I would never have guessed it was for that kind of thing."


    "Yeah, we don''t publicize our joint projects with Future Tech for a good reason," Elon said before more of the guests arrived at the dining area.


    They were looked awful from all the drinking and were lucky Elon had more bottles he swiped from the Future Med LA offices.


    The boys appreciated the assistance and said their thanks as the young Caucasian-American APL MVP emerged from his quarters.


    "Fortis, you need one?" Elon asked in support.


    Fortis replied, "Nah, I waked and baked a second ago, so I''m good. Thanks for the bud, by the way."


    ---------------


    Meanwhile, in Vince''s stateroom, he struggled to wake up his stubborn counterpart.


    "Come on, let''s get in the shower before the others go looking for us." Vince jokingly begged.


    Hailee was hiding behind the bedsheets and replied, "Hey, it''s your fault for keeping me up all night!"


    Vince wasn''t too serious as it was a Saturday, one of his days off from a busy schedule, and said, "Alright, you can sleep in for a little bit, Haiz."


    He took a quick shower to wash all the sweat from the night before choosing an appropriate outfit from his vast Future Couture collection.


    [Ah fuck. There''s so much stuff in here. And it''s mostly Hailee''s.] So Vince thought as he combed through the glorious walk-in closet.


    He joined the entourage around thirty minutes after and asked how everyone''s night went while eating breakfast.


    Alice noticed her best friend wasn''t present and asked, "Vince, where''s your girl?"


    Vince honestly replied, "Sleeping in. You can try waking her up if you want, but she''s too tired."


    "Yeah, I bet," Jaden commented with a grin before Alice hit him in the shoulder to shut up.


    Fortis and Elon were obviously chuckling in the background while the Bangtan Boys minded their own business out of respect for their CEO.


    Vince was slightly amused by the banter and said, "All jokes aside, I''ll be returning to Austin because I''ve accomplished my duties in LA. So feel free to join Hailee and me or do as you wish for the rest of your weekends."


    Alice replied, "Jaden and I can work wherever as long as we bring our equipment, so I''m open to visiting Austin. How about you, babe?"


    "Yeah, more vlog content would be good. Cuz, you''re still on vacation for another week until the regular season starts, right?" Jaden stated.


    Fortis raised his eyebrow and honestly replied, "Hecz won''t mind if I''m out of state until next weekend. I might visit the University of Texas campus and find myself a nice southern chick."


    Jaden gave him a look of approval, while Alice stared at him in confusion and disgust.


    Pdogg represented the boys and interjected, "We''ve decided to stay in LA over the weekend and check out the local sights like Universal Studios and Rodeo Drive. We''ll take regular flights back to Austin instead."


    Vince appreciated the consideration but replied, "Regular flights? Nonsense. Our 787s regularly fly between LA and Austin, so you don''t have to worry about flights. You guys deserve a little vacation in between recording your studio album. I forgot to praise you guys yesterday for a job well done during the Jimmy Kimmel Show, so enjoy yourselves on my tab."


    The Bangtan Boys were ecstatic to hear about Vince paying for the rest of their trip and replied, "Thank you, Vince!" "You''re the best boss ever!"


    "Alright, calm down. Keep up growing your fanbase, and eventually, you won''t have to worry about money anymore." Vince stated as a motivator.


    While they speaking at the dining area, Hailee finally emerged from her deep slumber and was ready to eat.


    Vince thought Hailee would be glad about the news and said, "Your best friend Alice will be joining us in Austin, with Jaden and Fortis."


    "OMG! Sis, we''ll be able to explore the city together!" Hailee excitedly said.


    The two young women shared a moment of cheer while the rest continued their conversations and breakfasts.


    ---------------


    A few thousand miles from LA, Director Price had finished discussing the flagged cargo ship with Anthony over a NetServ conference call.


    Price had plenty on his plate already; leading the initiatives in collaboration with the Afghanistani government but also pursuing leads to Future Security''s long-standing investigation on a mysterious group called ''Anarchy'', the only solid information they''ve uncovered so far.


    Director Price was sitting in his spartan yet neo-modern designed office and thought, [Inspecting a private cargo vessel is no easy task without evidence. I''ll need US military support before we even attempt to do anything.]


    Price pulled up his contact list and searched for General John Dolan''s secretary to schedule a meeting.


    He took a personal escort and a FAV-1 to the local US Air Force base, arriving thirty minutes later.


    The soldiers were accustomed to Future Tech vehicles going in and out of the base and allowed the FAV-1 to land without issue.


    Lieutenant General Dolan greeted Director Price as they entered the meeting hall and asked, "What''s got you troubled, Price?"


    The director sat down and explained, "Future Security''s database intelligence software red-flagged a seemingly normal cargo ship in the Mediterranean. We have reason to believe they''re either delivering something sensitive to the Russians or the Syrians as they stop at Tartus Port."


    "And no solid evidence, I would assume. I''ve heard about the run-in with unmarked Russian operatives in the Caribbean. Don''t let it cloud your judgment." the general plainly stated.


    Director Price was unyielding and replied, "Anthony and I are sure about this, General. We''ll have fire teams in place to monitor the situation and simply require your political support when things get a bit dirty."


    John Dolan was in a tough spot and thought, [Future Security had done so well and made my job much easier here in Afghanistan. So a small favor wouldn''t be out of the question.]


    He shook his head and reluctantly said, "Fine. Acquire solid evidence, and I''ll consider having a potential international incident on my plate."


    ----------------


    Stats last time checked:


    Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion


    15 million BTC (currently trades at $25,000)


    $11 Billion cash in Future Tech


    105,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education, Epic Games, 60% of SpaceX, 10% of Tesla, 10% of Koenigsegg)


    20,000+ operators under Future Security


    Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner, The Longhorn, Flyga


    Collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E, Disney)


    Numerous subsidiaries under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram, Twitch, Big Hit Entertainment)

 Chapter 108 - Honesty

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    --------------------------


    It was a typical Saturday noon in Austin when a Future Tech 787 taxied towards a private hangar.


    Fortis enjoyed the comfortable flight and said, "Here, I thought flying First-class was already amazing. Your jet is incomparable."


    "Naturally. If I sail in style, I''ll also fly in style. As you can tell by the CAV over there." Vince said, referring to his Koenigsegg Flyga parked next to an FS FAV-1.


    Fortis rushed to the exotic AV to examine it and excitedly said, "I''ve grown to love CAVs after hanging around with you, dude! Where can I buy one? How much?"


    Vince didn''t remember what it cost but replied, "Christian is in town overseeing his factory''s construction. I can introduce you later today to ask him directly."


    Fortis was pumped and shouted, "Hell yeah! It''s a beautiful piece of art compared to the typical Ford or General Motors CAVs."


    Jaden was skeptical of his cousin''s desire for the most expensive CAV in the market and said, "Cuz, are you sure about that? I heard the Flyga costs like $10 million or somethin''."


    Fortis wasn''t the shy type with his finances and defensively replied, "The APL is poppin'', bro. FaZe Clan offered me $50 million under the table to switch sides during the off-season cause we beat them at every regional final, but I''m still with Prime Alliance. So I told you, Cuz. You should''ve joined my team when you had the chance."


    Jade and Alice began coughing in disgust and disbelief as he thought, [I''m making millions but not tens of millions. So maybe he was right, after all.]


    And even Hailee was surprised to hear such a significant sum, not even stipulated in a contract.


    Vince knew about the APL''s finances well and wasn''t surprised to hear the league MVP was earning as much, if not more, than the likes of David Beckham and Lebron James.


    Future Tech was raking in hundreds of millions worth of advertising space and from the Bitcash betting platform available to NetServ subscribers 21 and older.


    Not to mention the War Online player base itself, which continuously contributes to the Infinity Marketplace eco-system.


    Vince was feeling mischievous and said, "You know I can get you and FaZe Clan fined for colluding to circumvent APL franchise policy."


    Fortis started to sweat a little and replied, "Come on, Vince. Nothing came of the deal with FaZe. Hecz hooked me up, and we''re happy. So please don''t tell anybody."


    Vince got a good laugh from Fortis'' shaky response and said, "I''m just messin'' with you, bro. That''s the APL commissioner''s problem if it ever does come to light."


    Jaden was a bit scared for his cousin and interjected, "Cuz, be careful about what you say, especially around APL staff here in Austin. That big mouth of yours will get you into trouble."


    Before exploring the rapidly growing city, Vince and his entourage decided to settle in at his Barton Creek manor.


    All five of them fit comfortably in the exquisite Flyga while a FAV-1 escort followed towards Vince''s home.


    The three friends were in awe of Dalton Manor''s size and aesthetic as they landed on the AV pad, and Alice said, "I''ve seen all the houses in Beverly Hills and Bel Air, but this one has to be bigger than any of them."


    Hailee went for an inside joke and replied, "Vince''s previous house was even larger than this."


    Vince stared at Hailee while remembering their shared moment at his old home before giving her a quick peck on the lips.


    "Haiz, you little brat," Vince said as he playfully chased Hailee throughout the central atrium.


    A few house staff members arrived to assist Vince''s guests settling in at the guest wing of the manor.


    The young couple finally stopped running as they reached the hedge maze at the mansion''s expansive backyard.


    Vince pointed at the pergola located in the center of the maze before they both sat down and relished in nature.


    Hailee loved the hedge trees and rustic scent of the old wild west, reminding her of shooting True Grit a few years ago in New Mexico.


    Vince sat down near the fountain and asked, "I''m free on Saturdays, so what would you like to do?"


    Hailee valued the thought of Vince considering her decision but replied, "What do you usually do on your off days? Drive around the Agera SFV?"


    "I usually hang out with Kyle and the others. Though, I attend classes at the Fury Gym twice instead of once a day during the weekends." Vince patiently explained.


    "How about I join you for a class? I''ve never done martial arts before, and I''m pretty interested." Hailee honestly replied.


    "Will it be ungracious of us to leave Alice and the others by themselves?" Vince inquired.


    "I''m sure they''ll have fun if they come with us. It''s only an hour and a half, right?" Hailee stated.


    "Alright, but before we go back inside, I want to tell you something important." Vince earnestly stated.


    Hailee remained silent to give her counterpart a moment to speak.


    Vince said, "Now that you''re living in Austin indefinitely, I''d like to explain a few things. First, I didn''t want to bring this up when you asked if you could live with me. I was scared you''d take it the wrong way like I didn''t want you in my life, and I hope you don''t think less of me after."


    "Haiz, I''ll be honest. There are some things I can''t share with you for your own sake. I believe in Future Tech and what it can achieve in terms of helping society advance in a positive way, though we skirt the lines of legality. We''re competing with conniving corporations and politicians, but I''m not afraid of using their own weapons against them."


    [Especially the reincarnation voodoo magic thing that happened to me. Or else she''d think I''m crazy.] So Vince thought while waiting for Hailee to digest his frank explanation.


    It took some time, but she recollected herself and supportively replied, "Thank you for opening up, but which billionaire didn''t break a rule or two before becoming that rich? You have the biggest heart out of all of them, and I know for certain you''re trying so hard to make your dreams a reality."


    Vince was relieved to hear Hailee didn''t take it the wrong way and cheerfully replied, "I''m lucky to have you here in Austin, Haiz."


    Hailee''s heart fluttered before she responded, "I''m the luckier girl who found her prince charming."


    "Alright, princess of Future Tech. Let''s unite with the others inside. I bet they''re keen to explore the city." Vince said as he guided Hailee back to the manor.


    Fortis ran up and down the wide corridors until he found Vince and said, "Dude, imagine how huge of a house party you could host here. It would be bananas!"


    Vince replied, "I''ll consider it, but my mom has been planning a charity ball or somethin'' for a while now. But would you and the others be down for a quick MMA class at my friend''s gym?"


    Fortis was carefree and replied, "Yeah, I''ve got another week of free time before the regular season, so I''m down for anything right now."


    Alice and Jaden arrived from the guest wing a few moments later and agreed. Vince had the Flyga take them to the local Future Couture storefront and procure the essentials like rash guards, gi sets, mouth guards, crotch guards, and compression shorts.


    -----------------------------


    After a fifteen-minute AV commute, the group arrived at the downtown gym, then Vince guided them to the changing room before the noon session started.


    While walking, Vince noticed a massive 18-year-old Caucasian-American man running on the anti-gravity treadmill, which Future Tech sponsored.


    Vince took a moment to greet his friend and said, "Hey, How''s training going, Tom?"


    Tom Fury was in the zone but recognized his number one supporter and replied, "Vince, it''s been going well. So who are these guys lookin'' dapper in BJJ gear?"


    Vince introduced the local MMA favorite to each of his friends and said, "My friend here will surely become the UFC champ one day. However, I feel like only Jon Jones is his match."


    Tom shook his head and said, "Stop it, Vince. It''s embarrassing. I''ll be done with the treadmill before the session starts, so we''ll see each other on the mats."


    Hailee and Alice looked rather cute in their new outfits as they walked towards the training mat area where Brazilian Jiujitsu classes take place.


    Vince explained, "We''ll only be doing grappling today because kickboxing might be too much for our casual session. Mr. Fury usually teaches the class, but it changes sometimes."


    They were a bit early, but it only took a few minutes before the rest of the gym members arrived for the Saturday class.


    Tom''s dad entered the training room as the clock hit noon and instructed the class to perform a quick warm-up before assigning Tom and another blackbelt to teach Vince''s friends.


    Mr.. Fury didn''t mind the extra work considering everything Future Tech had done for his gym and son.

 Chapter 109 - Fire Team

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    --------------------------


    Vince rolled with a few other gym members while his friends were being taught the basics.


    Fortis wasn''t struggling as much as Jaden because he kept physically fit while competing in the APL. Likewise, Alice and Hailee weren''t doing too bad, considering it was their first time exerting themselves in such an odd way, like in Brazilian Jiujitsu.


    Alice attempted the fairly basic double-leg takedown on the much larger black belt and finally lifted the man using her hips and proper form after a few times.


    She was so excited and said, "I did it! I would never have thought I could lift a person twice my size."


    Tom interjected as a trainer himself and said, "Good job, Alice. And for your information. Helio Gracie developed BJJ to allow much smaller people to defend themselves against larger enemies. That''s the whole point."


    Vince watched them while resting from a spar and commented, "The ground itself is a line of defense. Experienced practitioners can easily submit a trained fighter who isn''t used to grappling."


    Hailee felt a rush when she eventually learned how to execute a triangle choke properly from a closed guard position and said, "Vince, let me see what you can do!"


    Vince complied and responded, "Alright, I''ll show you, but you have to be my sparring partner."


    Hailee was quite confident and immediately went into the starting position Tom taught her a few minutes ago.


    Vince didn''t want to go too easy on her, so he grabbed her right arm using the two-on-one technique and tripped her outer leg, forcing Hailee towards the mat.


    Hailee had no idea how to defend a guard pass properly, so Vince quickly transitioned to side-control without much effort.


    The entire sequence of events only took five seconds at most, but Hailee didn''t want to concede and attempted to push Vince off as an amateur would.


    Vince''s face was right next to hers, and he whispered, "You''re just wasting energy trying to push me that way. Instead, slide one side of your body and turn towards me, then push my body out with your legs."


    She felt like a lightbulb was turning on in her mind as she followed Vince''s guidance.


    She shrimped to the right and successfully escaped Vince''s side-control without prior practice.


    Tom was impressed with how well Hailee took instructions and commented, "You''ll do well in this gym if you keep that attitude up. An open mind can go a long way in BJJ."


    Mr. Fury was watching them train for a while and interjected, saying, "It''s a cerebral sport, and I feel that''s why Vince excels in BJJ. Because the flow tests your mind over strength, and that young man may be the smartest person I''ve met."


    It was high praise coming from a man who''d been training people like Director Price, who was a genius in his own way.


    Fortis had a little too much fun submitting Jaden over and over again, practically bullying his cousin with a physique advantage.


    Alice and Hailee started to get competitive and, like many newbies before them, pushed themselves too much and were tired before the session ended.


    Hailee was loving it and said, "Vince, I should have joined your classes much sooner cause this is pretty fun."


    [That''s what I''ve been telling everyone, but Kyle and the others are too stubborn.] Vince dejectedly pondered.


    Mr. Fury dismissed the class when the clock alarm rang and bade farewell to his new students before heading home until the evening session.


    The gym members knew who Hailee was because every one of them watched True Grit but treated her like they did Vince, with mutual respect and not asking for autographs.


    Vince and his friends change back into their regular clothes after taking a quick shower before inviting Tom to hang out with them.


    Tom considered the offer and said, "I don''t have to teach the evening class, so I''m down to accompany you guys around town."


    Hailee overheard the conversation and asked, "How about Jessica and others?"


    Vince was pleased Haiz was getting on well with his friends and replied, "I texted them earlier to join us wherever we go after the gym session."


    Vince requested the group to pose in front of the gym for a quick picture before boarding on the Flyga.


    Vince opened his Instagram app on an Infinity Phone and was surprised to see his earlier posts reaching 15 million shares and 70 million likes.


    His Instagram profile itself had ballooned since the last time he posted and already boasted 120 million followers.


    [People are really into the superficial, huh?] so Vince pondered as he uploaded the new photo for his fans before tagging his friend''s social media accounts.


    While Vince had the most followers on Instagram in the group, Fortis, Tom, and Hailee were not far behind, with around 80 million each.


    It made sense because of the many features Future Tech had added to Instagram since 2012, like Vince''s suggestions favored by young TikTok fans in 2021, like short videos and algorithmic recommendations.


    Instagram had garnered mainstream popularity and had 300 million users in the North American market, not to mention people in Asia, Europe, and Africa; proving Infi-AI autotranslation built-in the app had greatly benefited foreign users.


    Saturday afternoon spots around Austin were usually hiking trails or lazy rivers. Still, Vince''s entourage was a bit too tired for another physical activity and so decided to chill out at the Digital Den instead.


    -------------------


    Meanwhile, a few thousand miles away in Syria, a Future Security fireteam rendezvoused at one of the CIA''s safehouses.


    Director Price had formed plenty of connections with international intelligence agencies through working with Interpol, and a few owed him a favor or two.


    A deep-cover CIA agent welcomed the newcomers and guided them towards the briefing room in preparation for the mission.


    The three operators from Future Security were two veteran marines recently cleared from training at the Austin FS barracks while the third was a previous NSA analyst and one of Anthony''s subordinates.


    They were equipped with the latest light infantry power armor and standard-issue modded FA-416 rifle. But as a reconnaissance force, they also employed one dragonfly each and a NetServ communication console, while an FS ASR-1 recon drone supported them from above radar detection.


    The CIA agent started by saying, "Your mission is clear. Identify the anomalous ship''s sensitive cargo, and report to base. No casualties, civilian or otherwise, until we are allowed to engage. I''ll provide an encrypted list of our other safehouses in case things go south but don''t expect back up from us."


    The nethunter patiently replied, "Understood. We''ll deploy once we confirm the ship has docked at the Tartus naval facility and track the sensitive cargo from afar until an opportunity presents itself for confirmation."


    The CIA agent added, "You can''t fly FAV-1s around here without anyone noticing, so I took the liberty in procuring a common local Toyota pickup truck for your transportation. If you need anything else, I''ll be in the basement."


    The three operators found a room with enough privacy and applied what they''ve learned from the updated operator training agenda at the FS Barracks.


    The nethunter proceeded to set up a mobile data access node while the two marine veterans ensured their upgraded dragonflies were in combat-ready condition.


    Director Price and Anthony designed FS equipment to allow operators local access to support devices like the ASR-1 drone to decrease reliance on centralized authority at FS headquarters.


    These men had plenty more agency compared to the "sit and wait" orders they would usually receive in the US military due to intelligence delays.


    The nethunter logged into the ASR-1 recon drone and watched the flagged cargo ship gliding across the Meditteranean.


    He commented, "The target''s estimated time of arrival is about 12 hours from now. We don''t know where the item is headed after the port, so prepare for any type of engagement."


    The two veterans nodded in agreement as they trusted the squad nethunter before they began an internal briefing regarding potential exits the transport trucks would take leaving the facility.


    ----------------------


    Half a day later, a ship docked at a location the regular merchant marines weren''t too familiar with as a few Russian porters assisted them in unloading the cargo, included in Hades'' deal with Kadrovik.


    The agreement stipulated the use of a few Russian military installations as drop points for their illicit products. Anarchy sold, and one of the locations was Tartus in the middle east.


    The Russians asked no questions and barely mingled with the ship''s crew before forcing them to leave as soon as possible.


    A small group of Syrian soldiers was waiting by a truck to transfer the warheads to a military base near Damascus.


    Meanwhile, the three operators were waiting outside the compound while monitoring the unloaded crates with the ASR-1 dedicated to their mission.


    The nethunter perked up and said, "I''ve confirmed our target.. It''s the Syrian military truck exiting south. Let''s rollout, boys!]

 Chapter 110 - Hammer

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    --------------------------


    It was a cold midnight in the semiarid Syrian desert as a convoy of soldiers were escorting what seemed to be a valuable package on the back of a military truck.


    The underpaid and lazy Syrian soldiers were oblivious to an FS fireteam stalking them throughout the journey.


    Remotely controlling a dragonfly was relatively easy given a suitable amount of training. While the two combat-oriented operators drove the vehicle and kept overwatch of their surroundings, the nethunter patiently controlled the recon dragonfly closely by the target.


    He controlled no ordinary offensive dragonfly but rather one specialized in stealth and identification functionality. Though much smaller than a security dragonfly and contained no weapons, it featured better cameras, active camouflage, and environment sensors, perfect for its current mission.


    The fireteam kept a reasonable space between them and the convoy, but the dragonfly''s remote control range was more than capable of handling the distance.


    They found a chance after a section of the convoy split up from the group and headed somewhere else, probably a different military base.


    The nethunter sprang into action by maneuvering the dragonfly towards the recently unguarded rear of the truck, eventually reaching inside the cargo compartment.


    The mysterious items were sealed by an unmarked supplier within specialized crates meant for transporting armed warheads.


    There was a look of concern on the nethunter''s face as one of the operators asked, "Did you find out what''s in the truck, Holo?"


    Holo honestly replied, "I''m not sure what''s in those crates, but it looks bad news. It could be a nuke for all we know."


    The operator coughed in astonishment before replying, "Send the info to base right now. We won''t go anywhere near that truck until further instructions."


    Holo followed orders by sending the reconnaissance data back to FS headquarters and the Kandahar branch for the higher-ups to decide the next course of action.


    --------------


    Anthony and Director Price were in the middle of a meeting until they both received word from their boots on the ground.


    Director Price looked at the photo taken by the recon drone and was distressed in saying, "Are you looking at the containment units? Our hunch panned out and now hold solid proof enough for the General to support a practically illegal raid."


    Anthony replied in concern, "These look like the real deal, Price. I bet whatever is in those crates would be dangerous in the hands of a tyrant. We can''t let it reach its destination."


    "Don''t worry, Anthony. I''ll talk to the General first for confirmation before deploying our new assets on the field." Price reassuringly replied.


    Anthony was stunned to learn about Price''s plan and inquired, "Are you sure about that? We haven''t even field-tested the heavy power armor yet."


    Director Price was confident enough and explained, "It''s either we let a dictator get his hands on warheads armed with god knows what or trust in our Future Tech comrades in producing reliable tools for us to use in situations like this. Besides, Felix will love it."


    While Price went to speak with the General for his political support, an FT-05 Super Galaxy was en route from Austin to Kandahar listed on the flight plan but, in reality, was circling Syria at high altitude while waiting for orders.


    Felix wasn''t alone and instead was accompanied by two other highly trained veterans among their circle of friends.


    One served for three tours with Seal Team 6, while the other retired from Delta Force after ten years of service.


    Felix carried a large canister of nutrition solution while thinking, [Chilling in a city like Austin is fun and all, especially with Heidi around, but taking this baby out for a spin on the field seems like an even better time.]


    Thick utility cables like vines in the jungle were scattered around the plane''s interior connected to three vessels.


    He installed the canister on an AI-driven maintenance unit half the size of a shipping container which supported mobile deployment for one of Future Security''s newest offerings.


    Designed to fight battles in zero gravity and the Earth''s atmosphere, the Heavy Power Armor, or what Felix refers to as the ''Hammer'' after the trials in Austin, boasted two Raptor hybrid engines for terrestrial missions.


    The Starship''s engines were devised for carrying weight such as cargo and traveling long distances. In contrast, the hybrid engines in Hammers optimized energy output for the flight system and weapons, using Future Tech''s secret petrochemical fuel, known colloquially as ''Black Gold'' among the people of Afghanistan.


    Black gold powered plenty of Future Tech products like AVs, Dragonflies, and Hive Mind suites and is mainly produced in the middle east, away from the prying eyes of ExxonMobil in Texas and Chevron in LA.


    Supporting the jet engine was the latest and greatest carbon nanotube Tesla batteries boasting 2 gigawatts of energy for ion propulsion movement in outer space and the upcoming FS beam rifle that''s currently in the works.


    Large explosions were out of the question, so the three high-level operators had Heidi 3D-print melee weapons using a Hive Mind suite as a stop-gap solution for the absence of the Hammer''s primary weapon system.


    Like his comrades, Felix was busy ensuring he supplied his armor with enough Black Gold, battery input, nutrition solution, and liquid oxygen before receiving a NetServ satellite message about a mission update.


    Felix smiled as he confirmed his orders and declared, "Alright, boys. Let''s suit up."


    He pressed a button on the maintenance unit, which opened the frontal area of the Hammer, allowing the pilot to enter.


    The armor was 8 feet tall and covered with various FT techs such as Hypervisor functionality, graphene metal-matrix composite plating mixed with weaving for the joints, and a deep-sleep control system developed by Future Med and FT VR.


    The maintenance unit confirmed Felix was ready for deployment and systematically closed the armor.


    It was dark and silent within the armor until Felix heard a familiar voice, the Infi AI instructing, "Please close your eyes as we initiate the deep-sleep connection."


    Felix followed his orders like a dutiful soldier until he found himself in a dream-like state as the control system established a link.


    Darkness and silence were replaced by a heightened sense of vision and audio. In addition, many of the features found in the less armored variants could also be utilized by the Hammer, such as enemy estimation tracking and NetServ communication systems.


    One significant drawback of any type of armor like tanks or even a spacesuit was the claustrophobic environment. The deep-sleep control system eliminates that issue and allows the pilot to perform more effectively by controlling the armor using brainwaves instead of arms and legs like in the Gundam anime series. High stress from maneuvering in zero gravity that could potentially force the pilot unconscious was no issue anymore, as they were already in a deep sleep.


    The three maintenance units released control of the fully powered Hammers, which were now ready for action.


    Felix had Heidi produce a medieval-style sword with the most robust material suited to its purposes no ordinary man could ever wield. At the same time, his compatriots chose a mace and a staff.


    Felix was a whole notch crazier than his old friends like Price and Anthony and said, "You know, I listened to music while testing the armor out in the Austin boonies using the built-in media player. So here, play this."


    His two comrades quickly realized Felix''s meaning and accepted the share music request on their own Hammer deep-sleep interfaces.


    The intro to Master of Puppets by Metallica started playing as each pilot heard the music through their deep-sleep links.


    The cargo bay door opened, signaling the Hammer team to perform a high-altitude jump, which the three were experienced doing, but with parachutes instead of a hunk of metal.


    The music was blaring while Felix thought, [As Drake said, You only live once.], before jumping first while the other two followed.


    It was the middle of the night, and there was barely any visibility. Still, the FS recon fireteam supported the Hammer''s guidance systems on the ground by painting the convoy using a targeting laser.


    The Hammer team manipulated the movement jets in following the red target in the middle of the Hypervisor user interface.


    Felix observed the landing zone and instructed, "Whatever you do, don''t swing at the military truck. We need to insure the package''s safety, or else we''d be testing how resilient Hammers are against a warhead explosion."


    The two plainly replied, "Copy." "Understood."


    They rapidly approached the ground and controlled the hover jets to output enough power to land safely.


    Holo, the fireteam''s nethunter, watched as the three balls of flame headed directly towards their enemies and couldn''t help himself from shouting, "The cavalry has arrived!"

 Chapter 111 - First Combat Test

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    --------------------------


    In the dead of night, a Syrian military transport convoy was a few hours away from their destination, a missile base near Damascus.


    The lead driver casually said, "The port was so far, but we''ll have ourselves a few drinks each courtesy of the General, so it isn''t too bad."


    While conversing with the co-driver, he noticed three bright lights streaking down the dark sky and confusingly asked, "Can you see that? Look up!"


    They quickly realized it was dangerous to move further and stopped as the foreign objects headed right towards the convoy.


    The ground shook as the Hammers landed softly by hovering over the ground first. The last moment in his life was watching a giant mace smashing through the windshield, killing him and the co-driver instantly.


    The soldiers rushed out of their vehicles to fight against the unknown enemy in the middle of darkness.


    It was no issue for Felix and his men, as Heidi integrated the Hypervisor''s light compensation function into the armor''s interface.


    A few of the more competent soldiers cracked light flares to at least give them a chance in the fight, but the only consolation was watching behemoth metal humanoids eliminating them one by one.


    Felix took the lead as the soldiers unloaded AK-47s towards his armor to no avail, and he thought, [Even armor-piercing rounds are like pellets against my Hammer. Let alone your puny standard-issue ammunition.]


    This fact was utterly true, considering Russian or US body armor easily defeats older and cheaper ammo types common in the middle east.


    The remaining ones alive attempted to call base for backup, but Holo, the nethunter, already employed an FS high-powered frequency jammer from the sidelines.


    One brave soldier picked up an RPG-7 and fired it towards two Hammers. Warning signals started appearing on their interfaces as Felix dodged out of the way before decapitating the enemy.


    Hammer 2 wasn''t too familiar with piloting an HPA and received a direct hit, but the reactive graphene armor plating shrugged the explosion like it was nothing.


    Soviet-era technology was no match for Heidi''s masterpiece of a machine.


    Felix''s Hammer amplified certain sounds within 20 meters and heard a soldier behind the cargo truck shouting, "Help! We need reinforcements!"


    The enemy estimation tracker marked the sound source as red on the interface, then Felix suddenly arrived in front of him and spoke through the speakers in Arabic, saying, "No one will know".


    That was indeed the case as his team mercilessly killed all the combatants before burning the bodies using the Raptor engines.


    The battle ensued for only a minute before the Hammer team annihilated the dozen-man convoy. Locals weren''t even concerned by assuming the quick volley of gunshots were either the military enforcing their tyranny or simple practice.


    Felix found the warhead crates and carefully placed them on the ground as the fireteam approached the battlefield, blood scattered everywhere.


    NetServ FS communication was independent of the consumer and enterprise offerings on the market, so the Hammer pilots spoke freely over proximity voice chat.


    "We appreciate you painting the target for us because the ASR-1 location tracking couldn''t do much with how dark it is out here." Felix sincerely stated.


    The fireteam was still in awe of the new FS armor type, seeing them in person and watching live combat through their own Hypervisors.


    Hammer 2 excitedly commented, "Hammer 1, listening to Metallica was a good idea."


    Felix chuckled and replied, "Told you so. But back to the mission at hand. The Super Galaxy can''t land in Syria, nor can a FAV-1 be spotted near here, so we''ll escort the fireteam and warheads south into friendly territory in Israel."


    Hammer team and the others followed orders, hid the crates on the back of the pickup truck, traversed the desert on land while the Hammers hovered in high-altitude.


    The Hammers were too small and low-profile for Syrian military radar to detect, so they arrived in North Israel without issue a few hours later, where the Super Galaxy was waiting.


    ------------------------


    Meanwhile, in Austin, an entourage of FS escorts and Vince''s friends arrived at the Digital Den on Sixth Street during a busy Saturday.


    Vince wanted to show the guests his friend''s entertainment venue completely by starting on the first floor.


    The clientele enjoying themselves inside noticed FS operators enter the building and one said, "Dude, look. Let''s bet which Future Tech executive is coming. I think it''s the red-head hotty."


    His friend observed the operators and replied, "Bet. It''s Vince Dalton, for sure. Look at their armor markings; it''s completely different from the usual ones we see."


    His hunch was correct as Vince and the rest of his friends walked through the front door.


    "WTF!? That''s Fortis and Tom Fury!" another customer playing War Online shouted.


    A bunch of college students stood up, desiring to ask for autographs but quickly noticed the scary-looking operators around the vicinity.


    Fortis and Tom realized what was going on as both were used to dealing with fans as pro athletes.


    Fortis said, "Vince, I''ll meet you upstairs after giving these guys a few autographs if you don''t mind."


    "Alright, but I''ll leave one escort for you in case things get out of hand. Tom won''t need one, naturally." Vince graciously replied.


    Hailee acted as a host to assist Vince and explained, "This place is owned by Kyle''s dad, Mr. Garcia. The best thing about this place is the cops won''t trouble us if we drink alcohol at the VIP floor."


    Alice admired the venue''s aesthetic and said, "I remember Kyle from our trip. He''s a pretty funny guy."


    Jaden chipped in and commented, "He knows so much about War Online; it was crazy debating character builds with him and I even made a few popular videos about our discussion."


    Vince, Hailee, Alice, and Jaden arrived at the VIP floor where his friends were waiting.


    Jessica and the others were happy to see their friends after a month and discussed how they were doing before ordering drinks.


    The table seating immediately switched around with the boys on the right side and the girls on the left.


    Sarah was delighted to have Alice around again and said, "I''ve been keeping up with your livestreams on my off time. Your Everlife roleplay character is hilarious!"


    Jaden acted as a supportive boyfriend and commented, "I agree, and that''s probably why her viewer count is reaching the hundreds of thousands these days."


    Alice delighted in praise and said, "I''m lucky Everlife RP is so popular on Twitch these days, especially with the new expansion around the corner. Even I was surprised after hearing about it on the Jimmy Kimmel Show."


    Kyle was very familiar with the topic as a Future Studios Junior Director and proudly commented, "Mr. Sweeney and Epic Games spent thousands of hours collaborating with Future Tech to improve the game engine. And now, it takes fifty percent less work and effort to produce various media like video games. Expansions take even less time!"


    Rick chimed in the conversation and said, "Sarah and I wrapped up the motion capture, soundtrack, and voice-overs in more than 20 languages about a week ago. And other teams had already done some of the work before Everlife released too."


    Future Tech''s thousands of game devs and engineers weren''t only for show and continuously worked on projects dictated by upper management and executives.


    Future Tech gave its staff medical insurance, free housing, reasonable work hours, and other benefits, but the corporation expected consistent and positive results in return.


    Jessica didn''t want to be outdone by her friends and said, "The team I''ve been working with recently are already beta testing the Infinity Channel, so watch out for a September release. I bet Jaden and Alice will love the Twitch integration."


    The two content creators'' interests were piqued but didn''t ask for more information out of respect before Fortis and Tom arrived from the second floor with a few Zeta Tau Alpha sorority chicks back in town for the Fall semester.


    After noticing an FS escort following the group, the venue security guard allowed them to enter the VIP lounge usually reserved for Future Tech employees.


    Fortis had one girl in each arm as he walked to the table and asked, "Vince, I took the liberty to invite these nice people. I hope you don''t mind."


    Vince shook his head in disbelief before replying, "It''s your vacation, so do whatever you want, but don''t ask me to bail you out of jail."


    Hailee was amused about the scene and asked in banter, "Alright, could you introduce us, then?"


    Fortis was placed in a tough spot because he was too distracted by the massive chests and couldn''t remember their names.


    Tom paid more attention and introduced the four sorority girls to the group before Vince ordered more drinks for the table.


    The ZTA chicks couldn''t believe their luck when Tom and Fortis invited them to join and even met Vince Dalton and his crew.


    Sophie, the blonde and busty sophomore, didn''t want to seem too much of a fangirl and casually said, "You looked so beautiful during the Jimmy Kimmel Show, Hailee."


    Hailee enjoyed the compliment and replied, "Thank you! It took Alice and me a whole hour just to find the right outfit. So what have you girls been doing today?"


    The ashen-haired Japanese-American ZTA senior, Yui, replied, "We arrived in town early to prepare for the first years'' initiation program."


    Vince took a good look at Yui and thought, [Damn, this chick is hot.]


    Hailee noticed Vince''s inappropriate gaze but followed up by saying, "You know, I''ve been thinking about a music video involving cameos for Jessica and the others. And I feel like a pool party with a bunch of sorority girls would be a fun concept. So what do you think, babe?"


    Vince stopped drinking to take a moment and thought, [I haven''t thrown a big party in the manor yet, so why not? It''s for the music label, too, so it''s technically working!]

 Chapter 112 - Missing Warheads

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    --------------------------


    While an FT-05 Super Galaxy transported the three Hammers and warhead containment units, Director Price discussed the mission review with General Dolan at the Kandahar US Air Force base.


    Video footage of the successful raid played on a TV display, showing the Hammer unit engaging the enemy and securing the package from Hammer 1''s point of view.


    The General observed the footage closely before asking, "Why isn''t there any sound, Director?"


    Price closed his eyes and shook his head in disapproval as he turned on the audio recording featuring Master of Puppets by Metallica.


    The General started chuckling before he commented, "I admit, the music fits well with the situation."


    As a man of the Air Force, the first detail he focused on was the Hammer''s flight capabilities and inquired, "Be honest with me, Price. How would your Heavy Power Armor fare against an F-35 Fighter Jet one versus one?"


    Director Price thought about it for a moment before responding, "Jet fighters are too fast at 30,000 feet, but the Hammers are more agile and designed to fight in extreme atmospheric conditions. I can''t say for certain which one will win until the weapons systems are completed."


    The General calmed down and realized jet fighters and Hammers served different mission objectives and shouldn''t be compared directly.


    He then asked, "How much would the Pentagon have to pay for one of these?"


    Director Price was already prepared for negotiating a preliminary deal in exchange for further support with investigations regarding Anarchy and the unknown warheads and replied, "With the beam rifle weapons system, a Hammer would cost around $100 million, before maintenance costs. But it''s the amalgamation of Future Tech''s various development initiatives worth more than $100 billion."


    Vertical integration was a powerful strategy, given the correct amount of funding. Though deemed illegal in 1948, Future Tech was now lawfully safeguarded under the Protection of Domestic Innovation bill signed in 2013 led by Vince Dalton''s political ally, President Barrack Obama.


    General Dolan felt his heartache after hearing the Hammer''s price and thought, [The F-35 program is way over budget at around $300 billion, and yet Future Tech was able to design such a unique but effective weapon with a fraction of the money. Is Lockheed Martin just scamming us?!]


    Director Price broke the silence by saying, "Future Security is also willing to dispatch Hammer units to help the US military''s efforts for fair compensation."


    The General was content with the offer and replied, "Heavy Power Armors might be too expensive for the Air Force right now. But please update me regarding the warhead investigations; you have my full support."


    -------------


    Meanwhile, in Syria, President Bashar al-Assad spoke to his general, who he entrusted to purchase the warheads, and angrily said, "All dead or missing. No witnesses. Are you kidding me?! Where are my warheads, General Qadir?"


    The Syrian general was scared shitless because it seemed like he stole the money and orchestrated a plan to cover it up and begged, "I''ve already paid Fawdaa for the warheads, but I promise you new ones after I speak with them again. Please, believe me."


    Bashar al-Assad needed competent and loyal dogs and couldn''t afford another execution. Hence, he forgave the general on the condition of either paying him back in cash or warheads before dismissing the meeting.


    Bashar held tightly on his desk and pondered, [The Russians confirmed the warheads'' arrival at Tartus, and Fawdaa transmitted us the missile system schematics after we sent the downpayment. So who''s fucking with me?!]


    ---------------


    While Vince enjoyed his time with friends at the Digital Den, he messaged Aiya to call Oliver, the Future Studios program director, to prepare the necessary equipment and staff to shoot an impromptu party music video at the Dalton Manor.


    Their table got a bit too rowdy, with almost a dozen young people drinking, talking, and laughing out loud.


    Like a Tech Campus supervisor and his colleague in the corner, the other patrons on the VIP floor weren''t too annoyed, considering it was Vince Dalton''s friends who were causing the ruckus.


    Still, Vince felt a little embarrassed and said, "This spot is feeling a bit too crowded. Let''s hang out at my place while the film crew prepares their stuff. Oh, and here''s my address for your other ZTA sisters."


    Hailee agreed and replied, "That''s a good idea. Alice and the others haven''t explored the backyard and swimming pool yet. Though I think we have to balance out the gender proportions a bit. Hey, Tom. Can you have some of your gym''s fighters join us for the video?"


    Tom was very interested in this topic as a pro who appreciated the promotion and advertising side of the MMA business and replied, "A few of our guys have recently signed with Bellator and One FC, so I think this would be good social media exposure for them."


    Hailee was ecstatic about her vision of a party music video coming to life and merrily replied, "Perfect! so we''ll meet at Vince''s place in thirty minutes?"


    The others cheerfully agreed before paying the tab and taking their own vehicles to Barton Creek as a Flyga, and a few CAVs departed from the Digital Den''s AV pad.


    Leah greeted them as they arrived at the manor, and she said, "It''s a pleasure to see y''all again after our trip on The Longhorn. How did your business meetings go in LA, Vince?"


    He honestly answered, "They went well, mom. Thanks for asking. Do you mind if we throw a party at the swimming pool area for a music video?"


    Leah pondered for a moment before replying, "It''s your house too, Vince. But don''t do anything too unreasonable. I trust you to keep the place in one piece. I just arrived from the Headquarters, but I''m headed elsewhere with Sera for the rest of the day. So I''ll be back later tonight or tomorrow."


    An FS escort followed Leah into a CAV, and it flew towards the Tech Campus, where Dr. Sera and other executives lived.


    Vince instructed a staff member to assign Tom a room in the guest wing to freshen up for the party while the others headed to their own quarters.


    Hailee tried on a few outfits for Vince before deciding the best one for the music video as he asked, "You aren''t going to make me dance again, right?"


    They shared a quick laugh before she answered, "No dance routines for this one, but a bit of camera interaction would be nice. You know, I noticed you giving the Asian ZTA chick a perverted look earlier."


    Vince got a bit worried but calmed down and reassuringly replied, "It was an innocent look. And believe me when I say you''re my only partner, Haiz."


    Hailee wasn''t too mad and commented, "I admit, she''s pretty hot at 21 and a bit more developed than me."


    Vince regretted being too obvious at staring earlier and honestly replied, "Haiz, you know that''s not true. I''m the luckiest person to have a partner as perfect as you. Talented, warmhearted, beautiful, and more!"


    Hailee valued Vince''s consolation and said, "Alright, I''ll forgive you. But you have to make it up to me later tonight. I won''t take no for an answer."


    Vince didn''t want to argue before the party started and replied, "Okay, I promise, Haiz. The production staff and Oliver just finished preparing the lights and cameras, so let''s head downstairs."


    ----------------


    A Taiwanese-American man in his late 20s led his staff around the manor and was ready to start filming.


    Hailee wanted to get the video shoot out of the way first and worked closely with Oliver to direct her vision. The rest either drank free alcohol provided by Vince or took a dip in the massive swimming pool under the afternoon sun.


    The pool party was well underway as around twenty ZTA sisters from the University of Texas, and six fighters from Tom''s gym arrived to fill the area with more attractive people.


    Young women in either a bathing suit or a two-piece bikini danced and partied with Vince''s friends. At the same time, the fighters wore swimming trunks and carried a few girls around for the video as Hailee''s song "Party Pop" played via the integrated speaker system throughout the manor.


    Hailee made sure to include her friends in the video as cameo appearances, persuading everyone to get involved; even the stubborn Kyle got into the groove and started dancing to the catchy tune like everybody else.


    Hailee was content with the swimming pool and exotic cars scene, using Vince''s Agera SFV and Agera R in the background a few hours later.


    Though the music video shoot was over and Oliver''s team had left, the party was far from done, as Fortis and Tom entertained the guests with their wild antics.


    Vince''s friends didn''t really party too much because of their young age and only drank alcohol at places they could. So it was natural Kyle, Jessica, Rick, and Sarah were enjoying themselves with random and familiar company.


    Around midnight, plenty of the guests was either too drunk or high, so Vince graciously offered to dispatch CAVs to take them home.


    A few ZTA chicks remained like Tom and Fortis'' girls for the night while Vince headed to his lavish bedroom, posh like everything else in the Dalton Manor.


    Hailee entered the room a few moments later and mischievously asked, "Do you remember promising me you won''t say no to anything tonight?"


    Vince admitted it and helplessly replied, "Alright, what do you want me to do?"


    Hailee gave him an evil smile before opening to door, revealing Yui, the Japanese-American university senior, and declared, "Do us both."


    Vince took a moment and pondered, [Am I getting punked right now?!]

 Chapter 113 - Going Viral

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    --------------------------


    August 12, 2013


    Sunday morning the following day, the Dalton Manor looked like a huge party never happened the night prior due to Future Tech cleaning staff starting work at the break of dawn.


    Hailee was unyielding the previous night and desired to watch how her partner would take Yui before joining in the fun a few loud moans later.


    The circumstance forced Vince to perform with double the effort overnight and left him in a deep sleep sandwiched between two stunning young women, befitting a CEO of his stature.


    The sun was almost high noon and glowed a luminous ray into the bedroom''s skylight windows. The three heard knocking on the door but were too exhausted and sluggishly woke Vince up from his slumber.


    He could barely open both eyes and yawned before standing up and opening the door groggily.


    The door opened and revealed Jessica, who decided to sleep over after drinking too much Soju last night.


    Vince''s eyes were still adjusting to the light and couldn''t clearly see and murmured, "Why are you waking us up?"


    Jessica blushed red as a tomato and realized Vince was utterly oblivious to being fully naked.


    Before she could shout or run away, Jessica heard Hailee''s voice from within the room asking, "Who''s out there? Is it food?" another voice added, "Oh! Brunch would be nice!".


    Jessica relaxed and calmed her nerves, saying, "Anthony, the creepy nethunter guy is looking for you. Also, stop baiting me into your orgy and put some pants on!" before storming off.


    Vince finally recognized the absence of any clothing on his body the entire time he spoke to Jessica, felt a bit embarrassed, and yelled. "Sorry! My bad, my bad."


    He moved towards his bathroom to take a quick shower before meeting Anthony waiting at the manor''s living room.


    At the same time, his young Korean-American friend rushed to her guest room and pondered, [What was he thinking?!], as she reimagined the awkward moment like a PTSD patient.


    After freshening up, Vince chose to wear a bathrobe instead of wasting time on an entire outfit and headed downstairs.


    He instructed the house staff to prepare breakfast for his two companions and the rest of the guests before speaking with his Cybersecurity Director.


    The Filipino-American man in his early 30s browsed through his Hypervisor while waiting for his CEO and noticed a robed young man approaching,


    Anthony stood up out of respect and said, "Good morning, Vince. I spoke to Leah at the penthouse, and she told me I''d find you here. I wanted to discuss a major mission recently performed by Future Security directly with you."


    Vince didn''t speak to Price and Anthony about Future Security often unless it was necessary and said in interest, "Alright, I have a bit of time before brunch, so what''s up?"


    Anthony pulled out an Infinity Tablet and showed Vince video footage of the Heavy Power Armors defeating the Syrian soldiers and snatching the fifteen warheads.


    Vince was impressed with their performance but asked in confusion, "I thought Heidi hadn''t completed the new armors yet, and we had to wait until 2014 until a field test?"


    Anthony sat down and explained, "Director Price required a quick reactionary force and decided to send Felix and his Hammer team to secure the warheads in the cover of darkness. We got lucky intercepting them because one of the blast-type warheads is advanced enough to level a city block, not to mention the Sarin gas version."


    Vince was relieved to hear Future Security succeeded in the mission and replied, "Thanks to your diligence, civilians won''t have to suffer because of those warheads. Investigate them further and attempt to find their origin. The Russian involvement shouldn''t be understated, they''ve been messing with us for a while now, and it''s getting annoying."


    Hailee and Yui decided to emerge from their sleep and entered the kitchen wearing bathrobes to find some water and food, oblivious to the serious meeting in the living room.


    Anthony ignored the newcomers and said softly, "There were no witnesses left, so both the warheads and the armors are under no scrutiny at the moment. But General Dolan is on our side in case things go south politically."


    Vince was surprised to learn Future Security was able to keep the Hammers from public view, thanks to primarily operating at night, and replied, "Good. Future Robotics and FT VR will have more time to refine the weapons systems before mass deployment and anyone else knowing about them. How''s your work reviewing the general access for our blockchain outreach programs?"


    Anthony was recently assigned a pro bono project by Leah, as required by the corporate bylaws. As all Future Tech staff needed to work at least 50 hours to benefit the less fortunate and society, Anthony was no exception.


    He begrudgingly replied, "The blockchain voting platform''s encryption protocols and public access satellite-data access node points are stable. Furthermore, Future Security has compiled legal identities from all 195 countries involved with Interpol and associated them to a dedicated NetServ account, so each person old enough within the system to vote should already be registered. Therefore, I approve the platform for beta testing with Kandahar residents or even in Ukraine for their upcoming elections. And I hear it''s going to look messy."


    Vince wasn''t too happy about the unknown forces playing with him in the background but appreciated their effects, like Future Security partnering with Interpol and foreign intelligence agencies through the CIA.


    Vince honestly said, "Have them start testing the voting platform in Kandahar for now, and thanks for your contributions to this non-profit initiative. My mom will be pleased to have that out of the way for new projects. Would you like to join us for brunch, Anthony?"


    Hailee and Yui, wearing their revealing bathrobes, were minding their own business at the kitchen table as Anthony replied, "Maybe next time, Vince. I''ll relay your ideas and orders to Director Price and Ms. Dalton. I''ll see you at headquarters tomorrow!", before promptly exiting the manor.


    The house staff served bacon, eggs, and other typical morning food before the other guests awoke from their drunken slumbers.


    Hailee looked at Vince curiously while eating a piece of bacon and asked, "What was that about? He didn''t look like a regular FS operator."


    Vince chose to amuse her question and explained, "That was Anthony, the FCS Director. He''s in charge of the nethunters and Price''s second-in-command."


    Yui overheard the conversation and commented, "Oh, nethunters sounds bad. Like naughty bad."


    Vince nodded in agreement and said, "Yeah, like both of you last night. Naughty and unruly."


    Before they could continue with the dirty talk, Jaden and Alice arrived at the breakfast table, clearly hungover from the party.


    Jaden inquired, "Do you have nutrition fluid, like the ones Elon gave us on The Longhorn yesterday morning?"


    Vince had a staff member bring a few bottles of the Future Med nutrition fluid to aid with his friend''s hangovers. Though, it wasn''t designed for such a superficial purpose.


    A few minutes later, they were joined by Tom, Fortis, and two ZTA sisters at the dining area, and Fortis excitedly declared, "Southern college towns are the best, Vince. Thanks for taking me out here! So when can I check out the available AVs I can buy?"


    Vince finished the last bite on his plate before replying, "I''ll introduce you to Christian because of your interest in luxury AVs, but Future Tech also custom-designs CAVs, in case you want other options. Though, I suggest avoiding car manufacturer-brand AVs like Ford or Toyota."


    Fortis considered his choices and decided, "I''ll stick with Koenigsegg for now. So we''ll head to the Tech Campus later, right?"


    Vince wasn''t sure what the other guests wanted to do and asked, "How will y''all spend the rest of your Sundays?"


    Alice stopped eating for a second and replied, "Jaden and I planned to do an IRL livestream at Zilker Park, by the creek a few blocks from here. We''ll check out the Tech Campus tomorrow."


    Tom honestly commented, "I''ll head back to the gym after eating, or else dad would get pissed if I missed my morning session. The party last night was crazy, so thanks for the invite, Vince!"


    Vince was glad to show his friends a good time and excitedly replied, "No worries, dude. Thanks for the patience playing along with Hailee''s impromptu music video."


    Tom sincerely responded, "Come on, Vince. You gave me my first chance at pro-fighting, so keeping your girl happy with the video was the least I could do. How did it turn out, by the way?"


    Hailee pulled up her Infinity Phone and checked the Instagram video posted under Future Records, ''Party Pop'' music video. It had already garnered 150 million views when Oliver posted it the night prior.


    His team returned to Future Tech HQ and produced the video with voluntary over-time media production staff, competitively compensated for their time like every Future Tech employee.


    Hailee jumped out of her seat in excitement, then shared the post to everyone via NetServ message and excitedly shouted, "It''s gone viral!"

 Chapter 114 - National Initiatives

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    --------------------------


    In the deserts of Afghanistan, the blessed sunlight pouring from above was continuously converted to energy by the solar arrays scattered throughout the Loy Kandahar region.


    President Karzai had never been as busy with administration duties until this mission but was determined to succeed for the sake of his people''s future.


    He was escorted by the typical presidential bodyguards and an FS infantry unit with its FAV-1 attachment.


    Director Price didn''t want to risk the president''s safety during his visits to the local Afghan tribes.


    A large Future Tech transport vehicle followed the convoy, containing miscellaneous equipment they needed for the outreach program, such as Infinity Workstations and Data Access Nodes.


    Trailing the convoy was a team from Hyundai Construction & Engineering, laying the underground foundations for utility lines like fiber optic, power, and water on behalf of Future Tech.


    The team had made good progress so far, thanks to the open and untouched nature of Afghanistan, unlike the sprawling LA and Austin metropolis.


    Their entourage arrived outside a small town west of Kandahar City, and the FS unit commander said, "Rais, I''ll have a few of my men secure the area before you start the meeting with the local chief."


    Karzai appreciated the gesture and replied, "Thank you, Farrukh. I''ll need your help later in persuading the chiefs to adapt. It won''t be easy."


    Farrukh was an average man a year earlier but was given an opportunity, learned so quickly at Kandahar, and now a Future Security liaison with the president himself.


    He felt a bit of pride, rightfully so, and replied, "Of course, Rais. Director Price explained how important this mission is to our people''s future. My men and I won''t take it lightly."


    The local chieftain welcomed the President and his party to the village. Still, the populace seemed uneasy with so many foreign-looking soldiers who wore completely different armor than US or Russian forces.


    The Dragonflies reported no active threats around the area on Farrukh''s integrated Hypervisor and instructed, "Remove your helmets and show the people we are Afghans just like them."


    His unit obeyed orders and revealed their faces to the villagers, all strong and confident-looking Afghans, completely different from the typical soldiers they''d see patrolling the area sometimes.


    A few children walked up to Farrukh and asked, "Why do you look so different from the others?"


    No one other than Future Security forces had the pleasure to wear the new infantry power armor, worth $1 million, excluding the other standard-issue equipment. So it was natural why the locals were so intrigued.


    The same situation was happening throughout the village as the people who rarely left their homes mingled with the Afghan Future Security operators.


    They were willing to do this as part of their mission, to integrate the smaller towns and villages with new national policies, including the switch from Afghan Afghani to Bitcash.


    After a brief meeting, President Karzai ordered the Future Education staff to unload the transport truck and begin the census.


    Future Tech had compiled almost every identity in 195 countries, including Afghanistan. Still, it wasn''t complete, so part of their mission was to document identities while persuading the local chiefs and advisers to support Future Tech initiatives.


    A curious young man lined up first as the transport truck staff finished installing a Data Access Node for a NetServ connection.


    The Future Education staff was one of Alexis'' subordinates, running operations locally while she was busy with the US military programs stateside.


    He asked the young man for his name before checking the identity database for duplicates. He said in Pashto, "It looks like you''re already registered after entering Kandahar two months ago. Here''s a complimentary BitCash wallet that contains 500 Bitcash. Please don''t lose it, or you''ll have to order one for $100 or use an Infinity device to access your money. You can attend a quick tutorial class on the other side of the truck. Next!"


    The young man stepped to the side but was frozen in shock and thought, [What?! I''ve never had so much money in my life!]


    The average yearly income in Afghanistan was $400, and most of the wealth revolved around the major cities like Kabul, so rural people like him didn''t earn nearly as much.


    To be eligible to receive the 500 Bitcash, the account holder must be older than 17 years old with a complete identity profile.


    The young man was in luck because people who did business at Kandahar usually had to work with Future Security operators to complete registration before entering the city.


    Another transport truck contained discounted Future Tech consumer devices like first-generation AIM mobile phones and even Infinity Tablets for people interested in spending Bitcash.


    Farrukh and the other operators recommended the villagers to buy at least one Infinity Laptop per family, siting their own experiences learning skills at Future Education, and slowly improving the lives of their families.


    The local chieftain was pleased to see his people having a good time as Karzai said to him, "I''ll need your people''s help with our next national program, expanding the highways and utility grid. Future Tech is footing the bill, but we need your cooperation. I''m certain we can uplift Afghanistan together, as its sons and daughters."


    Since he was a teenager, the chief had known Karzai and replied, "I believe you, Rais. Our country is changing for the better this time. No more madness and bloodshed."


    Karzai nodded in agreement and said, "The Russians and Americans didn''t respect us, but it''s different now. I''ve never seen a corporation like Future Tech, willing to risk so much on our growth. I know they have their own agendas, but this is a round-about way of doing things if they didn''t care about us."


    Both men watched the Future Security operators socialize with the locals, wearing armor, not even the US military can use, just because they''re trusted as humans and treated with esteem rather than disdain.


    After the Bitcash lessons many of the locals attended, Future Tech started recruiting people for the national mining and prospecting project.


    A few families decided to send one member each, after hearing they''d be paid a competitive wage in Bitcash.


    Afghanistan''s biggest export in 2013 had been Black Gold, ever since Future Tech had opened their petroleum refinery near Kandahar, and most locals even outside of the cities knew about it.


    This situation bodes well for Karzai''s government, earning taxes from exporting Black Gold to rich AV owners in the United States, Asia, and Europe, while Russia was shadowbanned from purchasing Black Gold, due to Future Tech''s investigations.


    The China National Petroleum Corporation was very happy to supply Future Tech with crude oil mined in the region, for a good price, while the prospecting program was underway.


    China wasn''t too keen on the Taliban disrupting their oil mining businesses, so they appreciated the current peace brought by Future Security, freeing them to focus on efficient production.


    This was the first stop of many planned by President Karzai, throughout the country, to advocate the positive social changes the government was enacting. The west wasn''t asking the locals to convert or forget their culture and heritage, Future Tech wanted Afghanistan to progress on different metrics like peace, higher standards of living, and sustainability.


    Karzai understood that achieving these lofty goals would only be possible if all the local tribes were on the same page.


    The nation of Afghanistan was randomly drawn by the British Empire more than a century ago, but Karzai focused his rhetoric on the small communities, and what they could achieve working together, and creating their own country not dictated by foreigners.


    Many locals slowly realized the vast potential their country showed during a rare time of peace after Operation Quicksand, with the help of Future Tech.


    Karzai sat down at the village square and observed the heartwarming scene, as he thought, [Things have changed so much in the past eight months, so I can only imagine what things could be like in three or ten years.]


    He was filled with hope, after so many years of doubt in the fight against the Taliban and their dangerous social movement.


    A few hours later, a Future Education unit escorted by FS operators arrived to set up a temporary basic school to teach kids how to read and write for free, included in the national program.


    Karzai watched the children excitedly join the free lessons as he reminisced about a conversation he had with Director Price.


    He asked Price how Future Tech was so successful a week ago, and his response had stuck with Karzai, explaining their strategy of investing in people, instead of superficial stocks or technologies.


    Everyone who worked for the young CEO believed in this vision, and Karzai could clearly see it with his own eyes, watching Future Tech educate his people for free.


    Karzai fondly pondered, [I guess the lofty goal of changing the world isn''t too hard with so many people striving for the same thing. I have to meet Vince Dalton at least once in my lifetime.]


    Karzai was a smart man and understood the boons experienced by his country will soon come under threat by his jealous neighbors like Russia in the north, and the extremists in the west, so maintaining Afghanistan''s advantage would be the natural next step.

 Chapter 115 - AV Shopping

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    --------------------------


    A group of Indian college students was having a good time and partying at a friend''s place until one of the young women found a shared Instagram video on her timeline with an attractive thumbnail of a vast mansion. At the same time, the footage scrubbed through the content of a house party as she hovered her thumb over the Infinity Phone.


    Mike Krieger and the Instagram software development team had already implemented plenty of suggestions from their CEO, like the scrubbing feature and the automatic Infi-AI text translations depending on the region, based on Vince''s experience from 2021.


    The young Indian college student queued ''Party Pop'' as she gathered her friends to watch the viral music video recorded at the lavish Dalton Manor.


    A similar situation happened throughout Future Tech''s various social media platforms promoting the music video. For example, Google welcomed generous advertising revenue from their competitor in many ways, Future Tech, to push their media products on YouTube and the search engine.


    -----------


    It was a peaceful Sunday morning at the Barton Creek neighborhood as a Chinese-American man in his early 30s jogged around the culdesac with an FS guard and noticed Anthony''s CAV landing at the manor.


    Dollar stopped running for a moment and thought, [Oh, it looks like Vince is at home. He usually lives at the penthouse, so I wonder what''s going on.]


    Ever since he sold the Bitcoin Market Exchange to Vince, Dollar has been living the high life at Austin, buying a mansion around the corner from Dalton Manor and working primarily from his luxurious home.


    Dollar hadn''t seen Vince in person in a while and decided to visit his young CEO after freshening up from his morning run.


    He arrived at the Dalton Manor around thirty minutes later and was welcomed by an FS operator assigned to secure the area outside.


    Dollar noticed a bunch of young people watching a music video in the living room and said, "That''s a catchy tune.", as he garnered everyone''s attention.


    Vince was surprised to see one of his earliest executives visiting and replied, "Dollar, come join us. We''re watching the music video Oliver and his team filmed yesterday.", before introducing him to Tom and the others.


    Dollar was happy to meet his UFC lucky star, Tom, and excitedly said, "I made $10 million betting on you winning against Lyoto Machida last month. So don''t even the odds too much but keep up the good work!"


    Dollar''s favorite past-times these days was sports gambling in Las Vegas over the weekend, and the UFC was one of the more entertaining ones to watch. He dabbled with APL betting but wasn''t familiar with the players like Fortis.


    Dollar sat down on the couch and asked in banter while watching the video, "The party looks like a blast. Thanks for the invite, by the way."


    Vince bantered back and replied, "It''s supposed to be a college house party, not a Silicon Valley convention. The video would''ve been odd with you in the background."


    Dollar bounced back and said, "Like you''re any different, Vince. I remember you looking like a tech start-up suit when we first met. It takes one to know one."


    They both shared a laugh while the other guests were confused about how nonchalantly Vince dealt with his executives.


    If they understood correctly, Dollar led the highly lucrative Bitcash network worth hundreds of billions, and they were casually bullying each other with banter.


    The University students present, like Yui, took mental note of how such a successful person like Vince acted with his subordinates, as young people learning how to become successful themselves.


    Vince Dalton was the prime example of accomplishment, but it didn''t stop him from treating his staff with mutual respect and rapport, an attitude of a true leader.


    The music video ended, and Alice commented, "I love it, sis! The song itself is a banger of a track, and the video fits perfectly."


    Soon after, the other guests shared their agreements to much of Hailee''s relief, and she said, "Thanks for the cooperation, everyone!"


    Tom had to leave for his daily training session and said his farewells before noting the phone number of his ZTA night companion.


    Vince stood up and declared, "The rest of you can stay or do whatever while Fortis and I head to the Tech Campus to do some AV shopping. Join us if you''d like.", before heading to his bedroom.


    Dollar chose to return home, while Yui and the other two ZTA sisters decided to head back to the UT Campus to finalize their Fall semester registrations but left their contact information for more parties in the future.


    The Japanese-American student gave Vince a long French kiss right in front of Hailee and whispered, "Last night was fun. Let''s do it again sometime.", before leaving with her sorority sisters.


    Jaden and Fortis were so bewildered and coughed in confusion before Alice forced them to stop.


    While all this was going on downstairs, Jessica was in her room, trying to forget the awkward situation she found herself in earlier.


    --------------


    An hour later, Jessica decided to join Vince, Hailee, and Fortis to shop around the Tech Campus, while Jaden and Alice IRL-streamed their time at Zilker Park.


    The weather was perfect for outdoor activities on a Sunday, so the Tech Campus residents enjoyed the public parks scattered around the area.


    Future Tech employees and their kids were having a great time at the playground as Vince, and his friends walked by.


    FS Dragonflies secured most of the Tech Campus while the local Future Security operators were on stand-by and ready whenever they were required.


    Most cars on the road were primarily electric vehicles like the Tesla Model S and Future Tech-brand hybrid trucks meant for transporting materials around the Tech Campus.


    Their group arrived at the Koenigsegg dealership and offices, featuring a glass window design showcasing their different cars and civilian AVs available for purchase.


    The building was a work-in-progress, but the manufacturing facility across the street was around ninety percent operational.


    Christian''s automotive company had transitioned well into the aerodyne vehicle market, and now most of their revenue came from luxury AV sales, bought by wealthy business magnates and famous personalities like Fortis.


    Local governments quickly amended laws to allow AVs, especially in the Middle East, where plenty of oil billionaires was waiting to ditch their Lamborghinis and Ferraris for something that flew in the sky.


    For example, in South East Asia, Jefri Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei''s brother, recently ordered a custom gold-plated Flyga costing $20 million, adding to his already insane car collection.


    It was no surprise that the affluent leaned more towards AVs to separate themselves from the plebians on the ground, dealing with city traffic.


    A bald Swedish man in his late 30s welcomed the group as they arrived at the dealership lobby and amiably said, "Hey, it''s always good to see you, Vince. You look lovely as usual, Jessica. How may I be of service?"


    Vince introduced his friends to Christian before saying, "Fortis here would like to purchase a nice AV. He''d been earning too much money in the APL and wants to burn some."


    Christian perked up after hearing of a potential customer and said, "You chose the best place to spend your money, young man. Unlike our competitors like Ford, we provide the best maintenance policies and even deliver Black Gold directly to your home. So come, I''ll show you all around the factory."


    Vince and his friends observed the various Hive Mind suites 3D printing, processing raw materials, and ultimately assembling the vehicle systematically.


    Fortis was excited like a child in a toy store and asked, "Where do you build the AV engines?"


    Christian quickly answered his customer''s question and explained, "Future Tech has a special facility for engine manufacturing with restricted access. The design is proprietary, so we don''t openly show it as the chassis."


    Vince wanted to share a bit of insider information and added, "We build all the energy platforms, including the Starship Raptor engines near the FS Barracks side of the Tech Campus."


    Christian nodded and asked, "Fortis, did you have a specific AV in mind, or would you like one customized?"


    He retrieved an Infinity Tablet from his secretary and showed Fortis designs ordered by Barrack Obama, Madonna, and Tiger Woods, among other, presets while the others roamed the facility.


    Hailee watched in awe as AI-driven mechanical arms assembled another electric vehicle without issue and heard Vince say, "Amazing, isn''t it? The Hive Mind was Future Tech''s first foray into the technology market. Now all my partners like Elon and Christian rely on it to manufacture their products."


    Jessica overheard the conversation and interjected, commenting, "Yeah, the company was small back then, so we spent endless weeknights working with Patel to get the damn thing to work. But the money was good, so whatever."


    Future Tech had plenty of software engineers assigned to upgrading the Hive Mind after expanding rapidly, leaving her time for other projects.


    Hailee was curious and asked, "I want to get my brother a car, but it seems like these would be expensive to maintain. What do you guys think?"


    Christian''s hearing was sharp enough to detect another potential customer and left Fortis, who was busily customizing his own Flyga, to speak with Hailee.


    "Young lady, I can assure you my vehicles are more than worth its annual maintenance cost, but we do have other options catered to fans of sports cars. As a Tesla partner, I can offer you the new Tesla Roadster. It features a similar Hybrid engine to the 2013 F1 cars, that can run on regular fuel, or Black Gold for increased performance and efficiency."


    Vince agreed with Christian''s suggestion and said, "Griffin will love it, Haiz. Young people don''t appreciate fully electric vehicles yet, so a hybrid would be a good in between."


    As Hailee thought about her decision, Jessica pondered, [Vehicle shopping is kind of fun, actually.]

 Chapter 116 - Insider

    (Comment here for anything you want to see on a new YouTube video about this novel and please vote using powerstones and golden tickets to get us within the top 10!)


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    --------------------------


    Fortis balled out and spent $15 million on a custom Flyga, similar to Vince''s but in a blue-gold color scheme, based on his main character in War Online.


    Hailee''s brother wasn''t interested too much in AVs. Hence, she bought him a 2013 Tesla Roadster for $400 thousand, using her recently acquired record label earnings from the music videos and hit singles.


    Christian was a genius engineer but was still very happy to sell two vehicles for his company and said, "We always appreciate the business. First, the factory will start manufacturing both the Flyga and Roadster; then we''ll send it your addresses in LA at your convenience."


    Jessica was content with her corporate CAV and had no plans to buy one, but enjoyed the shopping nonetheless and commented, "Your brother will freak after he finds out you bought him a car. You mentioned he was a gearhead, right?"


    Vince knew how fast a Roadster could go and warned, "He''ll be tearing up the drag strip on that thing, but he better wear a seatbelt."


    Fortis was flying on cloud nine as he accomplished his goal of buying a Koenigsegg AV and said, "Thanks for hooking me up with the plug, Vince."


    The young CEO bantered in, saying, "Yeah, but I hope you keep playing well in the APL to afford the maintenance costs. Or else you''ll go bankrupt."


    Black Gold prices were going down every day as the petroleum facility at Kandahar expanded and became more efficient. However, it was still significantly more expensive per gallon than pump gas.


    Other than military use, civilian AVs were reserved for the richest of the rich and are now a status symbol, not just a mode of transportation.


    Vince had some plans for his evening and said, "I''ll be attending Fury Gym class in an hour, so feel free to join me or do whatever."


    Hailee decided to spend time with Vince and practice her grappling skills while Jessica headed home for the meantime, and Fortis explored more of Austin.


    -------------


    In an arid Syrian desert, a group of men discussed a replacement deal for the missing warheads.


    A Fawdaa operative had no patience left and said, "You paid for 15 warheads; we gave you 15 warheads. The Russians and your soldiers confirmed they received the package. Therefore, we have nothing left to discuss."


    General Qadir was sweating bullets, afraid of what might happen if he returned without warheads nor money to pay his dictator back, and begged, "Please, give me something to work with here. I''ll do anything!"


    The Fawdaa operative smiled under his face mask and replied, "Anything? That could be plenty of things, general."


    Fawdaa''s main objective was to sow chaos in the Middle East, and having a high-ranking inside man supporting their own men would be a boon to their efforts.


    The armed Fawdaa operator declared, "We''ll give the money back, but I''ll have a few people enter your unit to pursue our interests in your nation. You''d be fairly compensated for your assistance, of course. But they follow my orders, you understand?"


    The general was relieved to hear a way out of his perilous predicament and thankfully replied, "Deal."


    Another insider was now part of Anarchy''s international intelligence network, placed in various countries worldwide, and the assigned Fawdaa operators could push the Syrian military in favor of whatever agenda Enigma decides.


    While his general was negotiating with Fawdaa, President al-Assad watched videos of protestors in Damascus.


    Bashar was annoyed with all the unrest going on in his country and pondered, [I don''t have the new Sarin gas warheads, but the old ones are just collecting dust in storage, so might as well remind people who''s the boss around here.]


    In East Asia, the Supreme Leader of North Korea was delighted to watch simulation testing of their new Intercontinental Ballistic Missile system he recently purchased from contacts of his late father.


    The Korean fatty Kim Jong-Un impatiently declared to his subordinates, "I want a grand military parade next month when we unveil our greatest weapon against the evil Americans!"


    ---------------


    At the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, previously an Air Force Base during the Cold War, a Caucasian-American man in his early 50s disembarked from a Boeing C-40 wearing an ornate US military officer''s uniform.


    General Douglas planned to inspect a potential bid for the army''s ambitious Future Soldier initiative, which focused on mind-boosting drugs, powered exoskeletons, and artificially intelligent assistants.


    In Vince''s previous life, the Department of Defense shelved the program due to inadequate technology and high costs. Still, the situation in this new timeline was utterly different, with Future Security introducing unique and advanced weaponry by integrating research and development across the corporation''s multiple departments.


    Future Tech scheduled the demonstrations and tours for General Douglas the following Monday. Still, he decided to arrive a day early and see Austin''s new sights and attend an impromptu audience with a young CEO.


    The local Air Force base dispatched a USAF-marked FAV-1 to accommodate the General''s transportation while in Austin.


    His staff confirmed with Aiya that Vince was in town but at his manor instead of the penthouse. The FAV-1 hovered before flying at cruising speed towards its destination.


    President Obama shared his time visiting Future Tech with General Douglas but it was still a unique firsthand experience watching the rapidly developing Austin metropolis with its Tech Campus neighbor while flying over the city skyline.


    It was becoming more common to see civilian AVs flying around Washington D.C. Still, it was incomparable to the number of CAVs in Austin air space, mostly Future Tech executives or the local CEOs benefitting from the region''s economic growth.


    2013 was barely over, but economists had already projected Austin to be number one in the gross domestic product metric, beating out significant metropolitan areas like New York and Los Angeles, which had stood on top for decades.


    General Douglas was lost for words as his FAV-1 landed on the Dalton Manor''s AV pad and thought, [It looks like the young man is doing well for himself.]


    Unlike the other CEOs of private military contract companies like Triple Canopy and G4S, Vince appreciated the luxurious, not the spartan aesthetic soldiers preferred.


    ----------------


    Vince and Hailee attended the afternoon gym session and returned to the manor an hour and a half later.


    They cuddled on the living room sofa, resting after rigorous training at the Fury Gym while watching random music videos on the projector.


    Vince was too relaxed and neglected to check a notification sent by Aiya regarding a visit from a powerful ally.


    While "Clarity" by Zedd played on the projector, a group of military officers was escorted by an FS operator into the manor as the music echoed through the corridors.


    Vince noticed their arrival, lowered the volume using his Infinity Watch, and graciously said, "Ah, long time no see, General. We weren''t expecting you until tomorrow. Welcome to my home, and please take a seat. Your men are free to explore the grounds. It''s quite beautiful this time of day outside. Hailee, meet General Douglas, the presidential military advisor and right-hand man of Chuck Hagel, the DOD Secretary."


    The General knew his place and courteously said, "It''s a pleasure to meet you, young lady. Vince, I wanted to meet with you before we begin the technical demonstrations this week, so are we interrupting?"


    Vince understood how essential his partnership with the Department of Defense was to Future Tech''s position, so he amicably replied, "No, not at all. I''ll have a few friends over tonight, but I''m free right now. So how''s the President doing these days?"


    General Douglas appreciated the gesture of goodwill and explained, "He''s busy touring the Middle East, specifically Israel, right now. But I heard President Obama will spend more time in Afghanistan to confirm the positive reports we''ve been receiving from the region lately."


    Hailee was a bit out of her depth in the conversation and remained silent while the two men discussed random topics.


    The General wasn''t into pop culture as a military man but realized the young lady played Mattie Ross in True Grit and said, "Oh, I couldn''t recognize your friend earlier because she was much younger in the movie. You did a splendid job with the accent, as a Southern Arkansas man myself."


    Hailee was stunned to hear an acting compliment coming from a US Army General and replied, "Thank you, General. So how did you guys first meet each other?"


    General Douglas chuckled before replying, "Vince and I met at the Oval Office and got on the wrong foot with each other at first, but the DOD can''t deny Future Security''s effectiveness, and I''ve learned to keep a more open mind. I still can''t believe I raised my voice during that meeting."


    Vince remembered how calmly he dealt with the defense contract negotiations and said, "Water under the bridge, General. We''re creating positive changes together now, which is all that matters. Our partnership has done well recently, especially the successful mission thwarting the warheads from reaching Damascus."


    General Douglas followed along with Vince''s conversation until learning about an unfamiliar situation to him and curiously asked, "What was that about warheads?"

 Chapter 117 - Armor Demonstration

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    The General inquired about the warheads the young man mentioned, and Vince said, "Sorry, I assumed General Dolan debriefed you about the situation already. I''ve only recently been told by my FSC Director. Come with me, and I''ll show you the reports in my home office."


    Vince leaned over to Hailee, gave her a quick kiss on the lips, and whispered, "We''ll speak in private for a bit, Haiz. But it won''t take long."


    Hailee understood the situation and softly replied, "Take your time with the General, Vince. I''ll stay here and wait for the others to arrive."


    General Douglas and his two officers followed Vince as they walked upstairs and entered his technologically sophisticated and secure office, similar to the penthouse office.


    Vince manipulated the displays using his Infinity Watch and pulled up an encrypted report stored in a dedicated NetServ databank satellite, high above the western hemisphere, in geosynchronous orbit.


    Initial investigations regarding the warheads and the sole copy of Hammer 1''s camera footage played for the guests to see.


    While General Douglas and his officers watched the video, Vince reassuringly said, "The operation only ended 8 hours ago, so it makes sense you haven''t been debriefed yet."


    Douglas wasn''t paying attention to Vince as he concentrated on observing the power armor in the video''s background, one much bigger than the Infantry-variant he visited Austin to trial.


    Douglas noted this new information and pondered, [Dolan, pulling a fast one on me, are ya? I''ll have to reassess my negotiation strategy with this new tech popping up.]


    General Douglas was a sharp man politically and considered the possibility of General Dolan keeping the report under wraps to increase his odds of a successful US Air Force bid, without the US Army knowing.


    Vince noticed the General''s silence as he read the report and explained, "Just so we''re on the same page, whatever is in that video never happened."


    General Douglas could''ve arrested Vince for explicit war crimes by allowing his private military to enter a sovereign nation and kill soldiers. But he wasn''t mad at all and instead imagined the many ways the Heavy-variant could help Army operations.


    The General amicably replied, "Of course. If General Dolan signed off on the mission, that''s good enough for me. Thank you for enlightening us about the warhead situation. I''ll take my leave, but I hope we can meet each other again while I''m in Austin for the armor demonstrations."


    Their meeting took half an hour before the officers walked downstairs as his friends hanging out in the living room noticed them leaving.


    Vince didn''t mind them and proceeded to accompany General Douglas and his men to the AV pad outside the manor as a courtesy.


    Kyle and the others weren''t acquainted with the General. Still, they knew of the corporation''s partnership with the Department of Defense because they worked on different aspects of Future Security''s military products.


    The USAF FAV-1 was ready to depart, and Vince respectfully said, "You''re always welcome at my home, General. Don''t hesitate to contact my butler, Aiya, if you need anything during your stay in the city. Until next time."


    The General and the officers shook his hand before boarding the AV and heading towards Camp Mabry.


    Vince returned to the living room and reconnected with Hailee and his friends, and Kyle asked in concern, "What was that about?"


    Vince gave him a simple answer and replied, "The General and I discussed the armor demonstrations at the FS barracks this coming week. Nothing too important. So what do guys wanna do tonight?"


    Hailee thought about it for a moment and suggested, "Let''s clear the God''s Temple raid wing on challenge mode. I bet Fortis would be a good help in farming some top-tier loot."


    As gamers themselves, Kyle and the others readily agreed before relocating to the manor''s entertainment center.


    Before another busy work week, Vince and his friends took advantage of their Sunday off and spent time with Jaden, Alice, and Fortis.


    --------------


    The following day, Pdogg and the Bangtan boys arrived at a private hangar in LAX after spending the weekend exploring LA, like Universal Studios and Malibu Beach.


    They boarded a Future Tech 787 and noticed a familiar African-American man in his late 30s, listening to music using in-ear monitors while reading documents on an Infinity Tablet.


    Pdogg instantly recognized the most successful western musical artist in 2013, Pharrell Williams, and took the opportunity to introduce himself and the Bangtan Boys.


    Pharrell had seen and heard of BTS'' work and was open to socializing with the young Korean artists on the flight back to Austin.


    Pdogg was interested in why the acclaimed Pharrell was on a Future Tech jet and asked, "Will you be working on the Everlife expansion soundtrack?"


    Pharrell replied, "We recorded the entire soundtrack half a year ago, but Vince Dalton hired me to lead Future Records as an executive director."


    Pharrell understood how significant an upper management position at Future Tech would be for his career and family, considering how the corporation bred triumph and plenty of money, and decided to move his family to Austin eventually.


    Pdogg carefully replied, "Then I guess you''re our superior now. Will you still produce music? BTS would love to have you feature on one of our tracks."


    Pharrell appreciated the sentiment and explained, "Of course, I''ll always write and produce music, but the main focus is building the record label roster with talented and marketable artists. I spent the weekend negotiating with a few of my contacts in the industry and poached Bruno Mars from Atlantic Records and Ariana Grande from Republic Records."


    Pharrell didn''t mention the less notable names he also contracted under the label, like the rising social media artists such as Post Malone, Yung Lean from Sweden, and Aryana Sayeed from Afghanistan, among many others.


    Pharrell pondered, [I spent the $2 billion pretty quickly, but we''re going in the right direction based on Future Tech''s vision for the Infinity Channel.]


    The BTS members were excited to hear about famous artists joining their ranks in the same label and imagined the various collaborations that could be possible.


    Pharrell agreed to feature on one of their studio albums while casually discussing Future Records.


    -----------------


    During the same Monday morning, General Douglas and his officers attended their official visit to the Future Security Barracks located near the Tech Campus.


    The soldier dormitories and recreational buildings looked completely different from typical US military bases, as he noticed units of FS operators cleaning their custom FS-416 rifles after morning training.


    They observed a few Austin police officers receiving free training from Future Security, as one of the ways the corporation assisted the local government.


    The area itself shared the neo-modern industrial aesthetic with the Tech Campus and Future Tech Headquarters, which made sense considering most architectural decisions were based on input from artificial intelligence, maximizing the Barrack''s material and functional efficiency.


    An Italian-American in his late 20s wearing the new Infantry Power Armor welcomed the General and gave him a quick tour of the grounds before starting the demonstrations.


    Marco had recently finished physical therapy and training the first batch of cybernetically-treated veterans and was reassigned to govern the primary Future Security Barracks in Austin, based on his flawless results.


    General Douglas amicably stated, "Marco, I''ve heard so much about you from my troops and a few friends. Of course, I hope soldiers as courageous as you would stay in the US Army, but I understand the benefits of working for Future Security. You even get to play with all the advanced weaponry your corporation is developing."


    Marco accepted the compliment humbly and replied, "I''m proud of my service in the military, and I''ve learned plenty from my time in your army. Future Security fights for a similar cause, just not under the red, white, and blue."


    The General nodded in agreement and said, "True. But, back to the matter at hand, I do have a question regarding your Power Armor program. Vince Dalton shared information regarding a more capable variant currently in development. Unfortunately, I didn''t want to discuss business with him on a casual Sunday, so I''ll ask you instead. Are the Heavy Power Armors on the table?"


    Marco took a moment of thought before explaining, "The Hammers are operational, but barely. It may take at least a year before a complete version becomes available, unlike the Infantry and Medium variants Future Tech is ready to produce for the Department of Defense."


    General Douglas was disappointed but accepted reality and replied, "Alright, at least I tried. Now I want to see if your fancy armor isn''t just for show."


    Marco complied with the General''s request and ordered a unit of FS operators to demonstrate the many capabilities of the Infantry variant.


    The main issue with competing exoskeleton solutions like the TALOS system developed by DARPA and the Army Research Laboratory was the unequal stress distribution throughout the soldier''s body.


    Sure, TALOS would keep the weight away from your back, but then your knees would bear the brunt of the muscular stress.


    The Future Tech Infantry Power Armor featured a graphene-matrix weave layer that utilizes battery energy to fully enhance the soldier inside.


    An FS operator picked up a typical army rucksack weighing 100 pounds on average. It appeared heavy at first, but the armor quickly adjusted energy distribution based on the operator''s actions. The rucksack seemed to be so weightless in a split second as the operator threw it up and down.


    Marco instructed the unit to perform different practical tests showcasing the armor''s capabilities, such as assisted jumping and the Hypervisor military interface.


    General Douglas was quite impressed as the armor fit almost all his criteria and pondered, [The Future Soldier Program won''t be a pipe dream, after all.]

 Chapter 118 - Cross Promotion

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    Vince spent two hours of his Monday attending a morning kickboxing session with Hailee and their three house guests before returning to work at his penthouse office.


    Fortis decided to spend time with his blonde ZTA output at the University of Texas campus, while Jaden and Alice produced videos and live-streamed at the Headquarters'' media center.


    Hailee and Vince relaxed for a moment on the sofa as he relished the free time he had until his next business meeting.


    Vince carefully caressed Hailee''s cheek and softly said, "It was a busy weekend, huh? I met your family; you performed with BTS on the Jimmy Kimmel Show and even produced another viral music video while we partied."


    Hailee smiled and replied, "Don''t forget the new moves I''ve learned at the Fury Gym." as she mischievously attempted a guillotine choke on the young CEO.


    Aiya, the butler bot, interrupted their playtime by entering the living room and said, "Vince, your first appointment is in five minutes with Future Records'' Executive Director. Would you like to use your office or the Future Studios meeting room?"


    Hailee interjected and curiously asked, "Who''s the label''s new boss?"


    Vince kept his meeting with Pharrell after the Starship testing from Hailee as a surprise because she was a big fan.


    So he replied, "Aiya, please prepare the meeting room; Hailee and I will be with him shortly."


    --------------


    Meanwhile, at the Future Tech Headquarters main lobby, Pharrell wondered in awe, [This entire place looks like it jumped out of a Star Trek episode. Flying AVs everywhere, people are driving Teslas, and everyone is wearing Hypervisors. Fuckin'' crazy!]


    He''d only suggested the layout plan and equipment list for Future Tech''s music studio and never visited the main offices.


    The office building was buzzing like any other typical Monday morning. Still, Pharrell could feel the sense of camaraderie between the staff, thanks to the positive work culture promoted by the young CEO.


    A lovely secretary approached the guest seating area and said, "Mr. Dalton is ready for your appointment. Please follow me."


    They took a private elevator and eventually arrived on the Future Studios floor, where most media-related production executives and critical staff worked.


    Pharrell admired the artistic design implemented throughout the floor; even the Google offices couldn''t compare.


    Hailee saw the mysterious Executive Director through the glass walls and excitedly shouted, "OMG! You signed Pharrell?!"


    Vince introduced the awestruck young artist to Pharrell before beginning their meeting about Future Records'' direction, in conjunction with other Future Tech initiatives.


    Vince didn''t force Hailee to attend the meeting, but she decided to stay and hear about her label''s plans and strategies.


    Vince humbly said, "My staff manager, Hudson, will provide you with living accommodations and an office worthy of your position here at Future Tech. I commend your busy work over the weekend, Pharrell. I bet the other record labels hate you now after poaching so many of their rising stars."


    Though Vince was calm about it, Pharrell understood he needed results after being entrusted billions of dollars to spend.


    Pharrell accepted the praise graciously and replied, "You were quite serious during our first meeting as you discussed your vision of the Infinity Channel, so it only made sense to sign a few expensive marketable artists. But I do have a few suggestions regarding our live concerts. I''ve been fascinated with the War Online and APL fandom, as it''s such a modern pop culture zeitgeist."


    Vince wasn''t an expert in live event organization but sharply comprehended what his executive implied and said, "I welcome any recommendations and advise but let me call in Oliver, the Future Studios Program Director, so we can get the most out of your idea.", as he manipulated his Infinity Watch.


    A few minutes later, a Taiwanese-American man in his late 20s entered the meeting room as requested and introduced himself to the new corporate executive.


    Pharrell proficiently explained, "I''d like to propose a cross-promotion strategy between our label music artists and the APL live Grand Finals, but further expanded. Future Tech puts on an amazing show whenever the bi-annual Grand Finals roll around and hosts free livestream broadcasts of all the APL games. In addition, the live audience seems to love the popular local artists who perform in between matches. Your product is amazing, considering the hundreds of millions of War Online fans around the world, but I believe we can improve it."


    Hailee, Vince, and Oliver attentively listened as Pharrell continued, "Imagine smaller-scale live events in different cities and countries held on a regular weekend schedule, hosting live APL games, and our roster of music artists entertaining the crowd in between matches."


    Latency and lag weren''t too much of a problem for most War Online players with a NetServ subscription, so pro teams played even official APL games online. Furthermore, unlike games such as CSGO and League of Legends with inferior net coding, the APL never required local area network connections to play competitively.


    Vince considered the proposed cross-promotion idea and pondered, [Hmmm. Every other professional sports league hosts live games on a much more regular basis than twice a year. Heck, even the Texas Longhorn football team around the corner attracts more than 100,000 audience members during NCAA season games. Pharrell is onto something here.]


    Future Studios focused on mass distribution through free online livestreaming in many different languages instead of competing with esports tournament organizers like MLG and ESL.


    Memories of Blizzard failing miserably to implement the regional franchising of Overwatch League definitely swayed Vince in favor of a broadcasting approach at first.


    While Vince was thinking deeply in his chair, Oliver confidently commented, "I''ve been wracking my head around producing a more entertaining APL Season 4, and I feel your cross-promotion concept is the perfect place to start. In addition, fans on Reddit and other forums have voiced their want for more live matches, so there''s already a good reason to host more events."


    The group deliberated for almost an hour and decided to host a game between regionally popular APL teams featuring performances from label artists on the weekend once every month of the regular season, ultimately bringing up the yearly total stadium event count from two to ten.


    The idea would have to be processed by the APL Commission, leaving Kyle and Oliver plenty of work before the season begins.


    Pharrell also proposed hosting dedicated music concerts as the norm in the industry, but the APL was the best platform to advertise his rising label talents.


    Vince paid around $3 million to rent Daegu Stadium and the Staples Center, so he injected $100 million into Future Studios solely for producing entertaining events that live up to the APL Grand Finals'' prestige and quality.


    Oliver was happy about the idea and asked, "Where should we hold the first concert?"


    Hailee, who kept silent almost the entire discussion, perked up and commented, "The locals love the APL, but Future Studios had never hosted the pro matches in your home city, so we should do it here in Austin!"


    The others agreed with her observation as Vince said, "True, and we can even provide discounts to Future Tech employees if they''re interested. But we''ll need a proper venue."


    Oliver thought about the few stadiums available and replied, "Future Tech is a patron of the University of Texas, so I''m sure they''d let us use the Texas Memorial Stadium."


    The college football teams only played twelve games a season, leaving plenty of time to schedule an APL event.


    Vince considered the venue choice and pondered, [Lucky bastards. It looks like UT will receive another round of funding from me for renovations.]


    The local university had been fortunate for Future Tech''s educational programs, equipping laboratories with all the necessary devices to perform all kinds of experiments reserved for government institutions due to costs, in exchange for potential staff and rights to certain scientific discoveries.


    Now the Longhorn''s pride and joy, their massive football stadium, would get a new make-over on Vince''s dime.


    -----------


    An hour later, official Future Studios posts on Instagram and the NetServ platform announcing the APL Monthly Bash, holding the first event in Future Tech''s home city, Austin.


    A few friends playing War Online together in Louisiana were distracted by an in-game announcement of the new APL live event format. Unfortunately, they lived too far from LA and Vancouver and couldn''t attend the two Grand Finals hosted in North America.


    One of the guys said, "Boys! It won''t be a long drive to Texas to watch Prime Alliance versus FaZe Clan and Evil Geniuses versus Cloud9."


    His other friend mentioned, "They even have performances from Bruno Mars for Saturday, and Ariana Grande on Sunday, among other artists."


    People from across the southern and central states discussed the possibility of either taking a flight or a car to visit and experience entertainment in what most news outlets refer to as the ''City of Tomorrow''.

 Chapter 119 - Rifles And Ammunition

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    --------------------------


    Marco escorted General Douglas to a more secure location in the FS Barracks after the infantry variant demonstrations.


    The Future Arms factory and offices were located within a heavily guarded area deep into Future Tech''s military complex.


    Mark DeYoung, a Caucasian-American man in his early 40s, welcomed Marco and General Douglas as they entered the main lobby.


    Marco amicably stated, "This is Mark, the previous CEO of Alliant Techsystems, and now the Executive Director of Future Arms after their acquisition."


    Mark led them to a firing range testing facility as he said, "As you know, we''ve been producing the M1156 Precision and the AGM-88 Anti-Radiation missiles based on our pre-existing contract with the Department of Defense. In addition, with the generous funding from the corporate office, we''ve steadily developed small arms ammunition and battle rifles that may interest you."


    Future Arms issued FS operators with licensed designs from Heckler & Koch manufactured using a unique process and material composition but decided to produce ammunition locally for logistics purposes.


    So True Velocity, a small Texas-based ammunition company, was purchased by Future Arms in its earliest expansion for their expertise and experience.


    Vince wasn''t aware that the small local company would eventually replace the long-standing US military 5.56mm round with their patented polymer 6.8mm round in 2019.


    General Douglas was too concerned with the armor program and sternly replied, "We can discuss the new rifle and ammunition options later. I''d like to see the Medium Power Armor first."


    Mark complied with his request and escorted General Douglas and Marco into a more protected area, accommodating the most sensitive Future Tech military projects.


    The group observed five maintenance units similar to ones used by Hammers, but smaller, hosting medium variants known as the Commando.


    Though not much bigger than the size of a large human, the Commando featured plenty of the functions seen in the Hammer. Pilots controlled the armor using the deep-sleep interface and supported nutrition fluid for long-duration missions.


    SpaceX ordered the first three Commando suits for the astronauts, but Heidi modified them for their specific objectives in Outer Space.


    Only the best FS operators could pilot Commandos and Hammers, so Mark instructed a British Special Air Service veteran to initiate the deep-sleep connection and begin the demonstrations.


    The Commando was much more imposing than the regular Infantry variant because of the added layers of armor, which counted to its appeal.


    The operator entered a bulletproof room and was fired upon by multiple large-caliber machine guns from different directions. The graphene weave and platelayers adjusted energy output throughout the armor as it absorbed the kinetic forces from each bullet.


    Ensuring field officers'' safety and lives were General Douglas'' number one priority for the US Army, and he thought the Commandos would be perfect for that role.


    The Commando pilot picked up a new 6.8mm Future Arms light machinegun, featuring an intelligent optic wirelessly connected to the pilot''s Hypervisor interface for improved accuracy.


    The armor was small enough to allow operators to use typical weapon systems like M4A1 carbines and M24 Sniper Rifles, an essential factor if purchased by the US military.


    The light machinegun sprayed all its ammunition without overheating and jamming, which impressed the General''s officers, based on their experience.


    General Douglas curiously asked, "How much would we have to pay for 1,000 sets of Commando Armor?"


    Mark did the quick math before replying, "Each at $10 million, so $10 billion for 1,000 sets before maintenance costs."


    General Douglas vomited in his mouth for a second as he said, "Alright, let''s go ahead and with the rifle and ammo demonstration."


    Mark thanked the SAS veteran for his participation before leading the group to a firing range with different types of ammunition and small arms laid out for inspection.


    Mark confidently explained, "Future Arms has developed less-harmful types of 5.56mm and 9mm for hostage rescue situations, but our new 6.8mm polymer cartridge was designed to defeat modern body armor used by Russia and other advancing foreign militaries."


    He turned on a video presentation showcasing the ballistic trial results comparing older ammo cartridges like the large-caliber 7.62x51mm and presented 20% better performance across multiple metrics such as Minute of Angle and thermal efficiency.


    Mark added, "Our talented local Texan gun machinists have collaborated to create a battle rifle, light machinegun, and sniper rifle specifically designed for utilizing the new 6.8mm ammunition. The first line of small arms made in-house, and not licensed from Colt or H&K."


    The rifle meant to replace the M4 was called the FA-68 and sported the newly developed recoil-gas action mechanism in an ambidextrous bullpup form factor.


    The FA-68 included a short suppressor and all the necessary modifications such as a laser sight, flashlight, and micro dot optic.


    General Douglas observed the FS operator shooting the rifle at various distances from 100 meters to 800 meters reliably, without much recoil or kick between shots.


    The Commando operator had already demonstrated the FA-249 light machinegun, so the demonstrator procured the bolt action sniper rifle instead.


    The FA-338 boasted an effective range of 2,500 meters using a specially designed version of the Future Arms 6.8mm round with an outstanding ballistic coefficient meant for precision shooting.


    The operator aimed at a small target 500 meters away, as any farther would be a test of the shooter''s skill rather than the sniper rifle itself, and hit true to the mark with all twenty rounds in its magazine.


    General Douglas had his qualms with the configuration, like moving away from the traditional form factor, instead opting for a bullpup design used by the Israelis and Austrians, but said, "Purcashing products like weapons and ammo will take time to be processed by congress and the senate. We''ll see how the Future Arms weapons systems fare against General Dynamics, Sig Sauer, and Textron bids. I''m ready for the next demonstration."


    Mark bade his farewells to the General and Marco before they boarded a FAV-1 and flew towards the FS Barracks Private Airport.


    ---------------------


    A British man in his early 40s was instructing his staff to prepare an FT-05 Super Galaxy for inspection until his secretary interrupted, "Director, our guests from the Department of Defense have arrived."


    Kevin Lawson had raced cars in many different categories until he reached his team principal position in Formula 1.


    He remembered an executive meeting vividly when Vince Dalton called him out for not reaching for something more significant and achieving success outside of the motor racing industry.


    Now he found himself in a very different situation selling aircraft designed by the Future Tech F1 team in collaboration with Future Robotics to the US military.


    A different Department of Defense general visited the Airstrip first; as a Caucasian-American man in his early 50s, US Air Force Lieutenant General Chris Bogdan introduced himself to Kevin.


    General Douglas visited Vince earlier than their expected trial week, but General Bogdan only arrived in Austin before noon.


    The Air Force General amicably said, "I appreciate the warm welcome, Kevin. I''d like to inspect the transport aircraft when my colleagues join us, but we can start discussing my current military headache, the F-35 program."


    The Department of Defense royally screwed up the production of their newest fifth-generation fighter jets by attempting to dedicate only one program to equip the Air Force, the Marines, and the Army.


    Naturally, the program would eventually cost approximately $1.7 trillion in 2021 due to management mistakes, software issues, and more taxpayer dollars threatening its failure, and all these problems fell on General Bogdan''s lap.


    Kevin was well informed about the issue and replied, "Of course, General. I''ve read the trial results, and I feel for you. Whoever signed off on the program a decade ago was high on drugs or something. Contracting Future Tech to refine the fusion software controls and manufacture the expensive components would be the most straightforward solution. I can introduce you to Patel or Heidi for further and more detailed negotiations."


    General Bogdan felt a sigh of relief and happily replied, "That would be much appreciated, Kevin. I can''t have the citizens paying for a dumpster fire like the F-35 jets."


    Their discussion was interrupted as Marco and General Douglas arrived at the airport to inspect the Super Galaxy, replacing the old Boeing C-17 Globemasters and the C-5 Galaxies.


    The demonstrations showcased the higher cargo load and more accessible landing systems, which have been extensively field-tested, performing plenty of missions for Future Tech worldwide, but mainly in Afghanistan.


    Both Generals were already intending to purchase multiple FT-05s for the Air Force and the Army after hearing praises from their forces in the Middle East.


    General Douglas took the lead and said, "My men will continue the trials throughout the week, but while we''re here at the Tech Campus, I''d like to visit the Austin Biosphere."


    Marco acted as their guide and accompanied the military officers to one of the most beautiful places in the area, providing delicious fresh fruits and vegetables to the local population.

 Chapter 120 - The Crystal Palace

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    --------------------------


    Vince was kept busy with multiple successive meetings regarding the different divisions across the corporation.


    He spent time between appointments writing programs on the Infinity Code Editor for the Augmented Cyberspace initiative. These days, however, he wrote less and less as his CEO responsibilities took the forefront of daily life.


    There was no point in exerting energy into trivial programming if negotiating deals and capitalizing on his future knowledge would obviously be more effective.


    Vince Dalton''s public image as a young business and technology savant was arguably more valuable to his corporation than his time as a code editor.


    His focus was interrupted by a soft voice saying, "Why aren''t you eating lunch? I''ve been waiting in the dining room for ten minutes already."


    Vince saved his work as a force of habit and replied, "Haiz, I forgot you wanted to eat together. But I''m making good progress with this side project, so I''ll continue if you don''t mind."


    Hailee wasn''t too happy but replied, "Alright, we can eat out with the others for dinner instead. You better show up, though. I''ll have Aiya bring you some snacks." before kissing his cheek goodbye.


    An hour later, a Mexican-American man in his early 30s appeared on Vince''s Hypervisor on a NetServ video call.


    Andreas and his division, Hive Mind Manufacturing, worked at max capacity after the power grid upgrade concluded and were ready to produce more assets for the corporation and its'' clients.


    Vince logged off the code editor and cleaned out his table as he said, "You mentioned something about needing my opinion during the executive video conference this morning. So what''s up?"


    Andreas procured his notes regarding the issue and replied, "President Karzai is performing a national visit to every major city and community in Afghanistan and noticed the lack of proper housing, so he asked Price to connect me with him. My division owns the necessary equipment to build low-rent condominiums in cities like Kabul or Kandahar. Still, all our projections for small family homes have failed, primarily due to logistics cost."


    Vince analyzed the problem for a moment and pondered, [Pre-fabricated homes are pretty popular in the States, but those would be too difficult to transport all the way out to the Middle East.]


    Andreas observed his young CEO close his eyes and think deeply, like every time he came up with a brilliant idea or concept, so Andreas wasn''t too anxious.


    Vince was focused on recollecting housing innovations he''d seen on the news or learned about during his previous life and remembered a peculiar tweet Elon Musk posted in 2021.


    It was about living in a $50 thousand pre-fabricated home located in his Boca Chica SpaceX facility, which brought media attention to an upcoming housing firm, Boxabl, that aimed to provide customers with economical and sustainable dwellings using recycled materials.


    Vince described a system wherein a small house or sections of a larger structure could be manufactured locally into a box the size of a shipping container that could be disassembled on-site and easily transported.


    He initialized the Infinity Unreal Engine computer-aided design plugin, spent a few minutes visually laying out a few examples and shared his Infinity Workstation display with Andreas over the NetServ platform.


    The executive director was astounded by the simple but effective boxed structures, and Andreas thought, [Wow! We can probably apply this concept to our larger construction projects and sell them to local customers too. This guy is truly a boy genius!]


    Vince explained a few requirements, such as using child-safe recycled materials and manufacturing processes, aiming for an affordable price for the small family units at around 30 thousand US dollars or Bitcash.


    Andreas was relieved to find a solution for President Karzai''s request and said, "It may take some time before a specific Hive Mind suite is developed to produce the boxed homes efficiently, but I''ll contact the local prominent pre-fab companies like Westchester Modular Homes to sub-contract some assistance."


    Vince dismissed the successful meeting, freeing some spare time before his weekday homeschool session began.


    Meanwhile, at the Tech Campus offices, Andreas contacted his important client regarding a feasible solution to his citizens'' housing issue and would update him the following week.


    -----------------


    The visually stunning Austin Biosphere complex with its natural sunlight was where Future Tech housed multiple containment facilities to grow vegetables, breed edible fish and raise Angus cattle.


    SpaceX and Future Education built it based on testing results from the successful biosphere program in Afghanistan.


    Before Future Tech arrived in the region, the US soldiers were forced to wait patiently for weeks before getting resupplied with proper meals.


    Feeding US soldiers in faraway lands like Afghanistan was expensive. However, the military had saved plenty of money by purchasing food from local biospheres to much of the soldiers'' delight.


    Tourists who find themselves in the ''City of Tomorrow'' would often visit the Tech Campus, Downtown, and the new Biosphere complex, aside from the hiking trails and nature spots.


    Marco and the military officers visited a recently opened biosphere called the "Crystal Palace," the size of a mega shopping mall and geared towards providing visitors a sense of nature while strolling through its beautiful landscapes.


    Future Tech earned additional income from renting out spaces to local businesses like high-class restaurants and storefronts and the entrance fee of 20 dollars or Bitcash per adult.


    The leisure version of the biosphere had been flourishing in Austin and Kandahar, so the jealous California state government immediately contracted SpaceX to build one in LA and San Francisco in exchange for $1.5 billion and tax deductions.


    Daylight turned to dusk as the uncountable LED lights turned on, powered by solar energy absorbed and stored by the biosphere''s auxiliary systems during the day.


    The night lights allowed customers to experience the ambiance amongst the flowers and the vegetation throughout the night while shopping or eating at their favorite spots.


    General Douglas reminisced of his time in the wilderness as a soldier while his entourage made their way towards "Eden Garden", a Michelin-star restaurant recently featured on Gordon Ramsay''s Instagram video series located on the mall''s top floor.


    The eatery''s architecture leaned heavily towards the nature aspect of the Crystal Palace and featured 17th-century water fountains, koi ponds, and an atrium with dining tables for customers.


    Rain, snow, or too much heat wasn''t an issue for the climate-controlled environment within biospheres, which the customers appreciated.


    An elegant young hostess welcomed the esteemed guests to Eden Garden and led them to a VIP area with the best view in the restaurant.


    While they were finding a table, Marco noticed Vince and his rowdy group of friends eating dinner while having a great time, as his FS escort remained on alert.


    Kyle caught a glimpse of his buddy FS operator from their good times on The Longhorn and hollered, "Hey, Marco! Come and join us. We can have the staff add more tables."


    The hostess accommodated the Future Tech executive''s request and immediately instructed her colleagues to expand the seating arrangement.


    The General and his officers were unfamiliar with dining with people much younger than them but had to comply for the sake of mutual respect.


    Hailee graciously said, "General Douglas, it''s good to see you again."


    Douglas remembered meeting the princess of Future Tech the night prior and amicably replied, "Likewise, Hailee. I hope we aren''t disturbing your meals."


    Vince interjected and honestly said, "Not at all, General. Eden Garden has a few meat dishes because we are in Texas, after all. But the vegan and vegetarian options are delicious. Ramsay approved!"


    Marco introduced General Chris Bogdan to Vince before the officers took their seats.


    They ordered more food for the table like vegetable rolls, salads, and Angus beef brisket for protein.


    The officers couldn''t share much of their day because it was classified but listened to stories from Fortis, Jaden, and Alice about their Austin adventures a few hours earlier.


    The content creator couple live-streamed their time at the Tech Campus while Fortis visited the University of Texas ACL team as a special guest.


    After eating, Douglas felt emotions spending time in The Crystal Palace in stark contrast to a long day of weapon and armor demonstrations at the FS Barracks.


    He curiously asked, "Vince, when did you get the idea of building something like the biospheres?"


    The young CEO took a moment before answering, "I spent an afternoon in Central Park when I visited New York City more than a year ago. The beautiful scenery compelled me to share the same experience with everyone, no matter the place. So I conveyed my idea to Elon, and here we are."


    Afghanistan had problems with food sustainability, but the introduction of biospheres provided a fresh supply and an extraordinary tourist destination for locals interested in horticulture and husbandry.


    General Douglas slowly understood what made the ambitious Vince Dalton distinct from other entrepreneurs.. Future Tech wasn''t afraid to fail in their attempts at achieving success, even in a conflict zone.

 Chapter 121 - Loan Options

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    --------------------------


    General Douglas and the other officers spent the rest of the week compiling data and trial results for their many different military programs.


    Fortis returned to the Prime Alliance compound in LA to prepare for their live professional match held in Austin the next week, kicking off season 4 of the APL. Jaden and Alice decided to remain living at the Dalton Manor and enjoy more of the local sites as house guests of the young CEO.


    Hailee spent time with BTS, Pharrell, and the recently arrived Future Records label artists as she wrote and recorded her first music studio album while preparing for the APL concert weekend.


    Vince and his good friends worked on their respective projects like the Everlife expansion for Kyle, the Infinity Channel platform for Jessica, and the feature-length film for Sarah and Rick.


    At the Future Tech Headquarters law offices, a blonde Caucasian-American woman in her late 30s was occupied by leading the biggest media licensing deal in the history of the global entertainment industry.


    Marcia Kemp and her army of Juris doctors expended thousands of billable hours negotiating and finalizing Infinity Channel distribution rights with significant international media corporations like Universal Studios, Comcast, Viacom, amongst plenty others.


    Of course, the law firm had to also deal with Future Tech divisions and subdivisions for their specific legal needs and requirements.


    Marcia stopped reading documents on her Infinity Workstation to prepare for a scheduled appointment with the BitCash Executive Director, Dollar.


    She wore her company-issued Hypervisor, connected to a NetServ video call, and said, "Good day, Dollar. I''ve skimmed through the Bitcash loan proposal you sent. We''ve spoken to Ralph''s accounting team, and we''ll have to edit a few pages and lines, but the program should be feasible."


    Dollar had been focusing his time assisting with the financial situation in Afghanistan, as their current monetary system is transitioning towards the primary use of Bitcash.


    The wealthy citizens didn''t have problems because Karzai''s government purchased their Afghanis using US Dollar reserves in the national treasury. Still, the middle and lower-class people required financial support to reinvigorate the local economy.


    The free 500 Bitcash for all working Afghan adults was a decent first step, but buying a plot of land and a house would be impossible without housing loans for most citizens.


    Marcia had to be very careful with implementing loans because of the many risks involved for Future Tech and the taxpayer burdens on the populace.


    The proposal from President Karzai requested 5 billion Bitcash, meant for business and personal loans with a 4% annual interest rate.


    The Afghanistan government will not profit from the loans; instead, the citizens will pay the interest directly to Future Tech via the BitCash portal.


    They discussed the proposal for an hour before Dollar said, "Thanks for your time, Marcia. I''ll speak with Ralph about reserving $5 billion of the liquid funds we have on hand to back the value of the newly issued Bitcash."


    The NetServ video call ended, and Marcia returned to working on the Infinity Channel deal with her team.


    Future Tech ensured that Bitcash loans were limited in supply, unlike the messed-up financial system in the United States, where banks like Wells Fargo can continuously provide loans by infinitely adding debt to the federal reserve.


    This fragile system will eventually result in rapid inflation and constantly increasing federal taxes regular citizens must pay throughout their lives and their descendants'' lives.


    Vince and Dollar understood that in modern monetary theory, the concept of paying only interest for an entire nation''s debt worth hundreds of billions was unsustainable on many metrics.


    -----------


    A Korean man in his early 30s named Hwang Ryung, a lead field engineer of Hyundai C&E, sat in his Kandahar office while reviewing progress reports of the national utility grid project in Afghanistan.


    He was a diligent and responsible employee unaware of President Lee''s illegal activities. So Hwang felt relieved when Future Tech dropped the lawsuit against his company in fear of getting fired, but they settled out of court instead.


    The international courts required the South Korean conglomerate, Hyundai, to repay Future Tech for its breach of contract through reasonable goods and services.


    Hwang was involved with the power grid update in Austin and LA, working closely with SpaceX and Future Tech engineers.


    He opened a document on an Infinity Tablet and thought, [We''re making good progress for only a week of construction. The experience from the States is paying off and saving us time and money.]


    More than half of the engineers performing on the utility grid project were South Korean but had no issues working in a desert because of their competitive salaries and privileges.


    Hwang suddenly received a notification on his NetServ workspace regarding the housing initiative and reviewed the boxed disassembly unit featured in a product video demonstration.


    After a few minutes, he pondered, [These houses look pretty nice. I bet it would easily sell to rural folk in the South Korean market.]


    He signed off on the construction contract as the lead field engineer before updating his staff regarding Future Education training for properly disassembling their new product.


    -------------


    The following day, massive video billboards located in the largest cities of Afghanistan began showing advertisements promoting the upcoming budget boxed houses and the government''s low-interest Bitcash loan options.


    The more affluent citizens who owned an Infinity device and subscribed to NetServ found a featured post regarding the same products on their homepage.


    The houses were only available in Afghanistan and the USA until Future Tech, and Hyundai C&E built more dedicated cargo vessels in their shipyards for more international sales.


    Vince Dalton received a dose of criticism online for selling cheap houses, considering he owned the most expensive manor in Texas. Still, the more optimistic fans pointed out the constantly rising housing costs in the world, which the boxed house product would alleviate.


    It didn''t matter much to the young CEO as he treated the haters as added promotion, and he was too busy to worry about random strangers online.


    -----------------


    A unit of FS operators escorted one of the many construction convoys working across the arid deserts as they trained potential Afghan military officers President Karzai recruited for their army restructuring during the uneventful journey.


    A considerable amount of the prior and current generals were too corrupt to improve their national security, so most of the Afghan new blood had been reassigned to learn from the war veterans amongst Future Security.


    An FT hybrid support truck carried supplies like food, medicine, and two types of ammunition; one for combat and another for practice.


    A young Afghan soldier in his late teens, Ramesh, had shown significant progress during the week of his first deployment.


    President Karzai spent some of his tribal visits recruiting soldiers willing to fight for their community''s prosperity, and newly enlisted privates would earn 1,500 Bitcash each month with benefits.


    Ramesh scored high enough on the written exam and physical tests to land him an on-the-job training position for officers.


    After a long day of target practice, he was on break and decided to clean his beloved government-issued rifle, the FA-416.


    Future Tech wasn''t allowed to sell weapons to non-NATO allies, so President Karzai purchased the reliable Future Arms weapon system from the US military as an intermediary.


    Ramesh rebuilt his rifle and thought, [I hope my family is doing alright.]


    His tribe wasn''t known for any particular trade and was relatively poorer than the others, so he decided to work in Kandahar to provide for his aging adoptive parents.


    He wanted them to migrate to the city, but the most available housing options built by Future Tech were large condominiums, not fit for older folk.


    A colleague and friend of his brought him back from melancholy by hearing him say, "Ramesh, watch this video on my Infinity Phone. You mentioned wanting to get your parents a place in Kandahar, right? Maybe one of these would be nice."


    Ramesh read the details on his friend''s phone, noting loan options for any adult citizen with a BitCash account.


    He excitedly pondered, [The boxed house is perfect! It''s small enough for three people, and it even has a pre-built utility system!]


    Ramesh thanked his friend and used his own phone to purchase the expandable basic unit on his existing account on the BitCash Portal.


    Future Tech would install it on land provided by the local governments as part of the national housing program.


    The young soldier was in tens of thousands of Bitcash in debt, but it didn''t matter to him because he could earn money, but his parents were much more important.


    Ramesh returned to perform his duties as a security escort. He continued his practical training under men who were risking their lives in a foreign country to better its people.


    Plenty of other capable and ambitious Afghan locals took the opportunity of low-interest loans to improve their lives and contribute to society for good and respectable reasons as Hive Mind Manfucaturing suites at the Austin Tech Campus produced boxed houses en masse for the pre-order customers.

 Chapter 122 - Local Event

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    --------------------------


    August 17, 2013


    The fall university semester was starting in a week, but there was much more buzz going around the City of Austin unrelated to schools or students.


    Passenger flights and cross-country vehicles arrived in droves to experience the weekend of entertainment at the ''City of Tomorrow''.


    Professional War Online fans who lived around Texas were thrilled to attend a live match without needing to travel too far.


    A local news reporter was live on air, broadcast on TV networks and Instagram Live as she said, "Good day, everyone. It''s the perfect weekend for the show as four APL teams would be kicking off the APL Season 4 competing to win a bonus of 10 million Bitcash and a portion of the season battle pass profits for their efforts at the sold-out DKR Texas Memorial Stadium with over 100,000 people in attendance. Saturday will feature a best of three matches between Evil Geniuses and Cloud9 with performances in between by Post Malone, Kacey Musgraves, and for the finale, Bruno Mars. While on Sunday, Prime Alliance will compete against their regional rival, FaZe Clan, with Hailee Steinfeld, BTS, and Ariana Grande gracing us with their musical presence."


    The reporter''s co-anchor showed their audience the many different locations to visit while in the city, such as The Crystal Palace, Future Tech Avenue, the Tech Campus, and the national parks in the surrounding areas.


    Most tickets were affordable for the masses with discounts for Future Tech employees, but wealthier patrons could pay more for better seating accommodations and privileges within The Texas Longhorn''s stadium.


    ---------------


    Oliver, the Future Studios program director, meticulously organized the massive event, as he''d done during the past APL Grand Finals.


    They''d set up a wide format projection screen behind the main stage for video effects while the production team scattered an intricate light display around the open-air stadium.


    Vince wanted to host the best stadium event Austin had ever seen, with appearances of local personalities like Tom Fury and Randall Stevens.


    Naturally, the stadium event will be live-streamed for free on Instagram and Twitch for fans worldwide, as any other show Future Studios produced.


    Vince and Hailee attended the Saturday noon training session while waiting for the event to start in the early evening.


    The young CEO''s Flyga landed on the AV pad as they returned from the Fury Gym. Vince noticed an SFV engine revving loudly as they disembarked and asked Hailee to follow him for a moment.


    They walked towards the glass vehicle garages adjacent to his home and found a familiar person inside the orange hypercar.


    He was a young 18-year-old Caucasian-American man and the local racing phenom representing the United States in Formula 1.


    Vince amicably said, "Randall, long time no see. I expected you''d be with your team before the event started. Driving an F1 car inside the stadium isn''t the easiest thing to do."


    Randall sincerely replied, "The race season got me busy, but I''m glad to be back home for the weekend before the Belgium Grand Prix next week. So who''s this lovely lady?"


    Hailee blushed as she said, "My name is Hailee, and it''s a pleasure to meet you, Randall. My brother is your biggest fan."


    The young F1 driver took the compliment graciously and replied, "Nice to meet you. Get me a shirt or a helmet, and I''ll gladly sign it for your brother."


    Hailee appreciated the kind gesture and said, "Perfect! I''ll let him know later. Thanks, Randall!"


    They entered the manor and walked towards the living room where Kyle, Jessica, Sarah, Rick, Tom, Jaden, and Alice watched an APL news show discussing the upcoming games.


    Fortis was in town for the matches but too busy with his team to hang out with his cousin and others at the Dalton Manor due to his responsibilities as a team captain.


    Randall politely introduced himself to the unfamiliar faces before sitting down on the comfortable sofa.


    The projector displayed the Arena Daily News broadcast with the two regular hosts describing the first best of three matches happening in a few hours.


    The woman animatedly said, "Cloud9 had always placed within the top three teams in North American APL, but the recently formed Evil Geniuses roster signed a potential star player from Canada."


    Her show host companion added, "Their new player, Arteezy, had been dominating the Arena ranked ladder the past year while attending high school. EG signed him for a whopping $80 million contract for two years during his birthday. He''d never played the open-world MMO aspect of War Online and spent thousands of hours only in Arena. Season 4 is becoming more interesting by the second!"


    The news show displayed an image of the young phenom Arena player. Vince remembered him from his past life and thought, [Arteezy was amazing at DotA 2 but never really achieved the accolades deserving of his skill. Let''s see how you do in the APL.]


    --------------


    After a few hours, when evening arrived, Vince''s entourage took off on the Flyga, followed by his typical FAV-1 escort.


    Hailee looked out of her window as they approached the University of Texas campus and found long lines of people patiently waiting to enter the venue.


    One thousand FS operators secured the area using Dragonflies and other Future Tech devices as standard protocol with more stand-by at the FS Barracks in emergencies.


    The Texas Memorial Stadium was open-air like most other American football arenas, allowing the AVs to land near the VIP box from above.


    The locals among the 100,000 audience members recognized the Future Tech CEO''s personal Flyga and cheered as they disembarked the AV.


    The spotlight trailed Vince''s entourage as hometown heroes, Tom Fury and Randall Stevens, waved to their adoring Austin fans.


    The event was about to start in ten minutes, so they found the best seats before Randall left and reunited with his F1 team detachment for the demonstration.


    All the lights turned off, leaving only the starry night sky shining a little throughout the open stadium.


    The silence was broken by an iconic voice hosting the event familiar to everyone who lived in Texas, Matthew McConaughey.


    The beloved local actor said, "Alright, alright, alright. Before we begin, I''d like everyone in this stadium to show Austin and everyone watching from home some love!"


    Nobody would dare not follow Matthew''s instructions as they shouted, clapped, and cheered with excitement.


    Even the broadcast and livestream viewers felt the hype and passion through their TVs and other electronic devices.


    Matthew slowly said, "Let''s hear from our special guest, our very own, Randall Stevens!"


    The spotlight focused on a Future Tech F1 car while revving the hybrid freevalve engine that reliably produces 1,200 horsepower.


    Randall drove around the stadium a few times for the fans before performing donuts and allowing the engine to sing in its own way.


    Matthew McConaughey returned to the stage and presented the first musical act of the night, a rising Texan hip-hop artist, Post Malone.


    Posty performed two songs, "White Iverson" and "Too Young" from his upcoming Future Studios album.


    Oliver prepared specific background videos and effects collaborating with the technical staff, adding another entertaining element to the musical numbers.


    Kyle introduced the highly-anticipated match between EG and Cloud9 on the main stage as the players walked into the gaming booths.


    A few of the passionate fans chanted Arteezy''s name, cheering for the young gun on his first match in the APL.


    He played a similar archetype with Charlatan from Clear Sky, focusing on dealing damage and winning team fights from the backlines, though a bit more aggressive.


    The main characters entered the Arena, and the Cloud9 players couldn''t help themselves from laughing at Arteezy''s avatar dressed with the most basic items.


    The Arena mode automatically balances all items used by players, so it didn''t matter if you had fancy armor or weapons. Yet most pro players spend plenty of their winnings buying the most aesthetically pleasing outfits for personal branding.


    Fortis was famous for his blue and gold armor, for example. Arteezy didn''t care because he never played the War Online MMORPG anyway and had no use for expensive and appealing gear.


    Arteezy was known on his livestream to switch up weapons and traits before his ranked games to practice more techniques, and he chose dual-swords for the first match.


    The game commentators in the stadium understood that some of the audience members may not be familiar with War Online Arena and explained the basic concepts in layman''s terms for everyone''s enjoyment.


    The early few minutes of the game went smoothly for Cloud9 as their side laners bullied the enemy team. Arteezy kept up his dominance in the middle lane and transitioned to roaming as soon as he unlocked the trait ultimate ability.


    He moved around the arena too effectively as the Cloud9 support players were always a few seconds too late in saving their teammates.


    Taking the lead in the early game wasn''t enough for Cloud9 as they lost the first game of the best of three disappointingly.


    The EG players left their booths and reveled in the cheers of fans in the tens of thousands before the next musical artist began performing.

 Chapter 123 - Local Event (2)

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    --------------------------


    Kacey Musgraves, the next musical artist, was born and raised in Texas, so the crowd naturally welcomed her with ecstatic applause.


    She performed three songs from her latest studio album before the third game between Evil Geniuses and Cloud9 began.


    Arteezy was singled out by the enemy team during the second game, forcing him to farm the jungle and ultimately losing the mid-lane to the tenured APL pro, Doublelift, who transferred from TeamSoloMid to Cloud9 during the summer off-season.


    The young EG mid-player couldn''t farm enough gold and experience to unlock more powerful traits at the opportune moments and eventually lost the game at the 28th-minute mark.


    The event host, local actor Matthew McConaughey, took to the stage as he welcomed the last musical feature of the night, the multi-talented showman, Bruno Mars.


    Everyone who appreciated western music bopped to his songs like "Treasure" and "Locked out of Heaven" as the crowd followed Bruno Mars in singing the chorus.


    The wide-format projection behind the stage lit up to add flair to each performance, but his background video was the best so far by spending time working with Future Studios as a perfectionist. His thirty-minute performance was a magical experience, complemented by pure charisma and charm.


    The ten-minute show break was most welcome, considering the night''s final game lasted a full hour of bitter comebacks.


    EG''s support players adapted to Cloud9''s strategy and utilized resources in the first five minutes of the game to protect Arteezy from enemy harassment.


    The strategy on both sides prolonged the match until both Doublelift and Arteezy were powerful enough to end the grueling game.


    Cloud9 formed up and attempted to capture a buyback respawn point near EG''s home base under a utility skill [Shadow Fog]. Arteezy was farming neutral units in the vicinity until a capture alert notified his team of the situation. Then, he looked on the mini-map and quickly calculated how long supports would arrive to help and aggressively used [Sword Whirlwind] over the terrain to contest the objective.


    Cloud9 couldn''t believe Arteezy would fight alone as he focused on damaging Doublelift while evading enemy lockdown abilities with utility skills and items.


    One EG support cast [Holy Light] on his teammate and saved his reckless ass in the nick of time while fighting two versus five for a few seconds before Doublelift succumbed to Arteezy''s swords.


    The teammate fight was a slaughter as Cloud9 couldn''t output enough damage to the numerous full-health players joining the battle before the fight ended with no one left on their side and losing the inaugural match of the APL Season 4.


    The crowd went wild after a long and stressful. Yet, thrilling last game, and even the non-APL fans who attended only for the musical performances were enamored by the competitive video game.


    After signing him for an absurd amount of money over the off-season, the young phenom immediately earned his team a welcome bonus of $5 million Bitcash.


    McConaughey closed out the show by saying, "I''m no gamer, but that was one hell of a match, am I right? Future Studios hopes everyone had a wonderful experience tonight, but we''ll be back for more music and APL action. Enjoy your weekend stay in the City of Tomorrow!"


    Businesses around the campus and Sixth Street provided goods and services to numerous tourists throughout the night, pouring out of the stadium.


    The Digital Den hosted an after-party on the VIP floor, where higher-ranking Future Tech employees could socialize with professional players and musical artists.


    Vince and Hailee attended the party for an hour as a courtesy and spent time with his friends, fellow executives, and the new additions to Future Record''s artist roster.


    Kacey Musgraves was lovely as ever while speaking to Leah, Heidi, and Alexis. Bruno Mars entertained Andreas, Dollar, and Patel at the bar with his antics.


    The young couple joined their friends at a rowdy table with Post Malone downing two beers as a dare from Kyle.


    Though, they didn''t stay long because Hailee wanted to be one hundred percent for her first live concert performance on Sunday.


    ---------------


    The following day, the city visitors and locals were either hungover from partying the night prior or ready for the upcoming hours of pure entertainment again.


    The Sunday event was similar in format but featured a match between Prime Alliance versus FaZe Clan.


    But the show started with a ten-minute exhibition submission grappling match between the "Pride of Austin", Tom Fury, and Marcus "Buchecha" Almeida, the absolute weight IBJJF World Champion.


    They treated the audience with technical finesse as both fighters mixed offense and defense, attempting to submit each other within the time limit.


    Buchecha was a hulk of a man and used it to his advantage in all his bouts, but Tom Fury was equally large.


    Members of the audience who knew nothing about grappling nor mixed martial arts appreciated the beauty in their movements, rolling through dummy sweeps, passing each other''s guards, and countering submission attempts until the ten-minute bell rang.


    It ended in a draw, but the crowd cheered as if their hometown hero won, appreciating the entertaining close fight before the first musical number began.


    Hailee dramatically entered the stage behind a thick layer of fog, wearing a custom Future Couture outfit meant for her performance.


    She performed "Starving", "Most Girls", and her most popular track so far, "Party Pop". The audience loved the visuals in the background that accompanied her singing and dancing, as she felt the rush of a live concert for the first time.


    Hailee received a standing ovation from all her adoring local and tourist fans from around the United States present in the stadium.


    After a few minutes, she returned to the VIP box with plenty of praise waiting for her from Alice and the others.


    The APL match began after a short intermission, as Prime Alliance fans chanted "Fortis" while the players entered their gaming booths.


    FaZe Clan was the second-best team in North American APL season 3, and it looked like their roster changes didn''t do much to increase their winning odds against their bitter rival.


    Prime Alliance was the favorite based on the BitCash betting platform for a good reason. Fortis had fought members of FaZe Clan in Arena and Battlegrounds for almost two years now and knew exactly how to dismantle their strategies.


    Prime Alliance won the first game without issue and took a break while BTS performed for the American and South Korean fans.


    The Bangtan Boys weren''t intimidated by the massive crowd but relished in it instead. Their shared dream was to perform on a stage like the Texas Memorial Stadium with over 100,000 people in attendance and deliver their best effort.


    NetServ''s Digital Media Unique Tags (DMUT) metrics accounted for the free concurrent viewer numbers across all electronic devices supporting network connectivity.


    The Indian commentary broadcast garnered 150 million viewers, the Spanish and Portuguese versions had 100 million, the South Korean version had 20 million while the English broadcast which was translated by Infi-AI for the smaller countries without dedicated language commentary had 250 million.


    The APL Weekend Bash boasted 520 million in total, around 10% more concurrent viewers than the previous night.


    The second game began, and it quickly became apparent FaZe Clan couldn''t provide an answer to the war machine called Prime Alliance.


    It was a short bloodbath, ending in twenty-five minutes. Fortis graciously accepted the $5 million Bitcash on behalf of his team and thanked the Austin crowd for their support.


    The loud cheering from the audience slowly turned to silence as Ariana Grande performed the last musical number of the event.


    Hip-hop enjoyers were up for a surprise as Ariana was joined by Big Sean and Mac Miller as they sang "Right There" and "The Way".


    Ariana Grande wouldn''t be outdone by Bruno Mar''s finale the previous night, and eventually persuaded everyone to sing and dance along.


    She ended the night singing a track on her new album, "Break Free", before preview trailers for the Everlife Expansion, War Online update, and Infinity Channel played on the wide-format screen as a bit of promotion at the end of the show.


    It was a great success as the audience members remained excited as they systematically exited the stadium.


    The Sunday night after-party was held at the Dalton Manor where Chef Tony and his cooking staff prepared a Texas buffet for the players and musical artists.


    Aiya contracted a local DJ to provide background music during the party and prepared table arrangements in the manor''s backyard.


    Multiple CAVs dispatched by Future Tech transported the guests to Barton Creek, bypassing the heavy foot and car traffic easily.


    Experiencing the Dalton Manner in person was much more enchanting compared to simply watching a music video, as the guests were in awe of its majesty after disembarking the AVs.


    Any doubtful thoughts of Vince Dalton''s wealth were squashed as he amicably said, "Thanks for joining us, everyone. Welcome to my manor. Feel free to enjoy the amenities like the pool, hedge maze, aquaponics garden, or whatever.. The food will be ready in fifteen minutes."