July 15, 2033 | 10:30 AM | Tokyo, Japan

  “H-hello, everyone.”

  Inside a massive semi-circular conference hall with ceilings so high they felt imposing, Mook stood in the center of the stage. Behind him, a giant screen displayed complex graphics of brainwave patterns.

  Today, he was dressed in a sharp, navy blue suit, meticulously tailored to enhance his presence and project an air of calm authority—perfect for presenting his work to Saito’s wealthy investors, who were now lined up on soft leather seats in the viewing gallery.

  Mook took a deep breath as he scanned the ten investors. Each of them wore the latest translation device, designed to look like a piece of gemstone jewelry adorned on their ears.

  “Uh... what you see on the screen here is my most significant discovery. It is a method to feed any 'data set' directly back into the brain without the central nervous system resisting. This means we are fully stepping into the era of brainwave computing.”

  As he finished the sentence, Mook subtly observed the reaction of the group. Everyone sat in total silence, staring at him so intensely that the only sound audible was the hum of the air conditioning system. The high-pressure atmosphere began to make the young man, who had never stood on such a grand stage before, feel nervous.

  That was until Eleanor Agnes, a strikingly beautiful and powerful middle-aged woman who owned a multinational food and pharmaceutical empire, spoke up.

  Eleanor looked magnificent in a burgundy silk dress. Her sharp features, in a Parisian style, complemented her light brown eyes that seemed to pierce through every movement. Her lips, painted a deep crimson, moved as she spoke in French with a cold yet commanding demeanor.

  “Is that so?” She leaned back and crossed her arms, looking like a queen evaluating her prey. “Do you have any idea how much money I’ve burned on this project? No less than two hundred million dollars. And the result? Having to pay compensation to the families of test subjects who ended up disabled. I lost both money and reputation. How can I be sure history won't repeat itself? What evidence do you have to show me?”

  “Y-yes, ma’am,” Mook nodded. He quickly walked to the side of the stage to wheel out a cage containing a chimpanzee. He carefully checked the shimmering silver brainwave transmission plate attached to its head.

  “From this point, I will make it believe it is hungry and sees a 'banana' placed right in front of it by firing simulated brainwaves into it.” Once he entered his work mode, Mook felt the ‘spark.’ His nervousness vanished, replaced by sheer proficiency.

  Tap, tap, tap!

  The sound of his fingers racing across the laptop keyboard echoed throughout the room before Mook pressed enter with a confident weight in his hand.

  “Eek!” The monkey let out a soft cry, appearing alert. It began reaching its hands out into the air, desperately trying to grab an imaginary banana that wasn't there.

  “My people could do this too, until they thought they could test it on humans. The first time isn't so bad, but after repeated attempts, every test subject ended up in the hospital,” this time it was Eric Kahn, a brawny middle-aged man who owned a solar energy giant, speaking up skeptically.

  Eric was a sun-tanned man with a rugged face and a faint scar at the corner of his eye. His shirt looked tight against his thick chest, projecting an intimidating presence.

  Mook didn't answer with words. Instead, he raised a single index finger with a face full of confidence. He walked over to wheel out four more monkey cages. Then, he rapidly fired brainwave data into them, setting the system to an automatic loop.

  “Would you like to try customizing it yourselves? For example... make them see something else,” Mook challenged confidently.

  Behind him, the monkeys began to experience hallucinations based on the data sent, yet their bodies remained perfectly healthy, showing none of the seizures or complications that had previously occurred.

  “Give me thirty minutes,” Eric said, immediately picking up his phone to issue a command without waiting for permission.

  Saito walked over and whispered in Mook’s ear, “Mr. Eric is calling his people to test the system. Keep a close eye on them. Don't let them do anything other than testing.”

  “Understood,” Mook nodded. Saito’s warning was to ensure the other party didn't take the opportunity to copy the technology or steal the secret codes he had discovered.

  Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

  ***

  Thirty minutes later, two men in black suits—elite researchers—stood before the laptop by the monkey cages. They tried using Mook’s program to fire their own custom brainwave settings continuously.

  However, the result remained the same. Every monkey was in excellent health and responded perfectly to the hallucinations. The two men hurried off the stage to whisper their report into Eric’s ear.

  Suddenly, the big man’s demeanor shifted.

  “I want to buy another ten percent of the shares in my portion, in exchange for an additional investment of ten billion dollars!” Eric announced loudly with an arrogant flair.

  Saito, standing beside Mook, smirked and replied politely, “Currently, there are only twenty percent of the unowned shares left. If you take that much...”

  “Twenty-one billion dollars for all the remaining shares!” Steve Morgan, a plump young investor in a luxurious pinstripe suit sitting at the back of the room, shouted out, refusing to be at a disadvantage.

  After that, the atmosphere in the meeting room transformed into a battlefield. The investors began fiercely outbidding each other for the remaining percentages. From being skeptical and holding only 2% each, once they saw Mook’s work, everyone was ready to go all out to possess this world-changing technology.

  ***

  One hour later...

  The fierce auction came to an end. The top five wealthiest investors divided 3% each, while the remaining five took 1% each until all shares were accounted for. When the meeting concluded, the investors remained seated as if waiting for a significant declaration.

  “Take Mook out now,” Saito commanded the three maidservants who had come to help care for the monkeys.

  He then stepped onto the stage with an air of absolute power. “As you all have seen, the hope of destroying our rotten society... is drawing near.”

  “Destroying?” Rina, walking beside Mook, happened to overhear that word. She murmured it in confusion before turning to ask the man beside her, “Do you know what Master Saito was talking about?”

  “I don't know, and I don't care,” Mook replied dismissively. His eyes weren't on the stage but on the woman beside him. He took her hand and walked out of the building to sit under a large, shady tree in the middle of a lush lawn.

  He then pulled Rina to sit astride his lap and leaned in, intending to passionately crush her thin lips.

  “This is a public place!” Rina tried to push against his chest, her eyes darting around nervously. She thought briefly about what Master Saito might be planning, but the comfort of her current life made another thought pop up: 'Whatever.' Her boyfriend loved her—not just in words, but in actions. He hadn't wavered toward the other two at all, just as he had promised. And now, she loved him too.

  “No one’s looking...” Mook gave a devious smile as he tightened his embrace.

  “You lecher... Mmph...” Rina complained softly in her shyness before yielding and granting a sweet kiss to the young man.

  Whatever Saito had just said might be a matter of life and death or a world-shaking plan, but Mook, at this moment, didn't care about anything. The only things he cared about were his comfortable family and Rina... his beloved girlfriend right in front of him.

  ***

  July 20, 2033 | 09:30 AM | Nagano, Japan

  Amidst the silent valleys of Nagano, several luxury limousines were lined up in front of a wrought-iron gate strangled by dried vines. Standing tall behind it was a deserted empire of learning. Dozens of massive wood-and-concrete school buildings stood in long rows like forgotten ancient fortresses. Hundreds of large windows reflected the dark forest. The surrounding area was desolate yet remained strangely elegant and powerful.

  “All the investors, including myself, have agreed to make you the Director of this Brainwave Computer Research and Development Institute,” Saito said, scanning the area. “We are allowing you to hire 100 elite personnel and another 2,000 general operational staff... and if those three beauties behind you aren't enough to bring you happiness, the elders have authorized you to select about 10 more from a pool of models, if you wish.”

  Saito finished speaking and gave Mook’s shoulder a light pat with a meaningful smile before stepping into his luxury car and driving away, leaving Mook standing in awe amidst the grandeur of his new empire.

  “Ten more, huh... sounds interesting,” Mook murmured to himself, imagining a life of sheer indulgence.

  STAB!

  “Urgh!” Mook jolted violently as he felt the cold, sharp touch of a pointed object piercing the small of his back.

  “Is it still 'interesting'... Master Mook?” Rina’s sweet voice, which used to sound so endearing, spoke right into his ear. However, this time, the tone was dry and ice-cold, enough to make his hair stand on end.

  Mook broke out in a cold sweat, unable to move even a single centimeter. He slowly stole a glance behind him in terror, only to find Rina, in her pitch-black maid uniform, standing as still as a statue. Her doll-like face was now pale, devoid of any emotion. Her eyes were empty yet burning with an aura of death. Her thin lips slowly curled into a wide grin, showing her clean white teeth.

  But it was a distorted and horrifying smile—like a demon about to dismember its prey.

  In her hand, she wasn't holding a tea tray... but a jet-black pocket knife, its sharp tip slowly sinking into Mook’s skin.

  “N-not interesting at all! Having Rina alone is more than enough for me! Truly!” Mook stammered, raising his hands above his head in total panic.

  “Are you sure?” Rina tilted her head slowly. Her movements were stiff and uncanny, almost non-human. That horrifying smile remained etched on her face.

  “Yes! I’m the most sure in the whole world!”

  “Good.”

  With those words, Rina returned to her usual bright and lovely smile.