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Chapter 002: My Fiancée

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The question is: what then?

As it was troublesome to think about it, then they can just brush off this 'hacking incident' as being an act of personal goals.

Whether it was Panorama Cop or someone with an unimaginable wealth to upgrade their Battle-AI, the issue remains unconnected to their main goal so they brushed the idea of dealing with it off of their hearts and minds.

Since they can't act against this Battle-AI, they can only grit their teeth, accumulate enough resources to upgrade their own Battle-AIs, and do what they can towards their goal.

Puffing another batch of white smoke, the dwarf with a gangster personality said, [I have seen that mission log and investigated with the boss. It was telling Siva to search for a person called Zeta.]

A 'Treant' behind a man with square eyeglasses spoke with a kind and amiably aged voice, [I seem to have collected data with this Zeta. He is a very weird and eccentric Dragonnaire —Wizards whose interests lay on the research of Dragon Lores— in an area in the southern continent.]

The leader agreed, "Yes. After I spent a few days chasing this topic last week, I discovered that this Dragonnaire is long dead... and Siva's mission is to find this Zeta or else, the curse on his body will be permanent and the Blood Dragon God will rise again in Terroa."

When they heard the words 'Blood Dragon God' all of them cringed at the thought of him.

"That thing is still alive?"

"Shit."

"I hope there as a mission log to explain all of this."

The leader heaved another groan, "As I was saying in regards to this topic, we have two things to put in consideration in order for us to get Siva to give us the necessary component, or lead, so that we can go back to that time."

When they heard this, realization struck their mind.

Zeta is long dead... Siva needs to find him to cure his curse... if that's not enough clue, then they do not deserve being called Pioneers.

After a pause, he summoned a panel window and it showed the detailed outline of the things they have to do which leads to their goal.

He said, "The first is to choose whether we'll go as supporting elements to help him with his search for 'Zeta' and then request or get the item or whatever component it is that can allow us to go back to that time as a reward... or we can choose the second method: kidnap Siva then kill him after determining the manner on how we can go back to that era."

The others spent a long time to consider all of their options and then decided.

With three voting to serve as 'supporters' just like how a traditional NPC mission component goes; with two voting to kidnap the man.

After all, they've already confirmed that Siva is not a [Player] and is an [NPC] —because only those very few players back then are the ones who were aware of the Era of the Gods and how the name "Siva" holds a significant meaning to it.

Besides, one of their strongest convincing clue as to determine whether Siva is an NPC or not is this battle video itself.

They have seen the secret records of Ragnarok and the name 'Siva' was repeatedly spoken of over and over... with one clear indication of his burning hate towards the Devil Gods.

Siva fought Baal above Jeremiah and based only on his actions alone, even an elementary student can tell that his actions carried hate on them as he pounced at Baal with the intent to destroy him and ignoring everything else around him.

Of course, the leader's vote wasn't needed; "With that said..." as he spoke, he dialed a video call and it connected into two other groups with the same kind of atmosphere of desire as them.

After a long discussion as to what they were about to do with this plan, the voting happened and there was a landslide victory towards the first option.

. —becoming Siva's supporters—

The leader of the group of six clapped, "Now that we have a common ground to work with... should we form the alliance?"

The two leaders of their groups nodded, and the leader of the six gave a kind smile.

"Well then, from this moment forth... [Atropos] will launch its campaign to support Siva in finding Zeta; and then after that, we go back... to where all our souls truly belong in this world."

A look of nostalgia and fanatic worship emerged on everyone's faces and although they all differ in their own factions, they still wanted the same thing —to go back to the time where their dreams were granted and where the colors are vividly brighter.

"So what is our first task?" asked a female leader after a while.

"First things first, establish contact with Siva."

*****

The current society of the world is too advanced to be described in mere sentences.

Billboards flashed on the sides of bridges, roads, the sides of buildings, to the sky, and even at your feet on pedestrian paths —showing their ads about products, services, promotions, and all kinds of the mundane propagandist-sorts of campaigns.

Vehicles still had four wheels but ever since the third world war, "fossil fuel" had been a 'regulated' product as the atmosphere of earth was almost to the point of being unable to return to being safe.

All vehicles are electric, but it doesn't mean that the drivers didn't enjoy the sound of a roaring engine. There was even a LAW about it: vehicles are divided by their speed bars... the faster and more horsepower you got, the louder the roar of the engine you are allowed to use.

Of course, since all the street vehicles are electric, then these 'roaring engines' are all products of the latest audio-speakers technology.

What more, it was actually seldom to see an actual driver driving his/her own truck/car.

70% of all vehicles in the world are being driven by semi-autonomous AIs as highways are now made of half-metal and half-cement compound, where a few select "special" utility vehicles run in magnetic technology to travel the cities and "do" their jobs.

Of course, the buildings weren't that different from the post-modern 21st century designs. It's just that during the pre and post-3rd World War designing concepts, there are many engineering innovations implemented that almost all of the buildings in the entire world have been renovated and with all their foundations improved based on those designs.

Perhaps only few historical architectural landmarks are the ones that's probably left untouched by it.

Naturally, all modern buildings embodied all these innovations and the speedway Rex was going on at the moment just so happens to pass by one.

Going for a staggering 150kph, Rex daringly bent his head sideways, marveling the pyramid-shaped building on his right.

It just so happens that said building was also one of the five World Trade Centers of the country.

Through the black mirror walls of the 500m high building, the road was reflected along with his own image of driving the bike.

"This world is different." he murmured and looked at the orange sky on the horizons.

It can be said that ever since his time as [Siva], all those years ago, this is actually the first time that Rex, with all his memories intact, had strolled in the real world.

The speedway had no maximum speed limits and it was a 15km stretch that goes slightly northeast to an angle to the southwest, 80m above the avenues of Metro Manila.

In under a minute, he travelled more than 2km and five minutes more had passed before he swerved right to the road towards Amanda's area.

Driving at that speed felt great and the tropical air of a tropical country felt cool as his body battled the wind.

A video call request came and Rex smiled at the girl's name on his vision. With only a thought, the video call connected through Cortana's hardware that's embedded directly to his skull.

"Rex, where are you right now?"

It could be said that Cortana's hardware was the best and most advanced communicator device out there for he didn't need any actual handset or any sort of device to get the benefits of the gadget.

"I'm almost there. I'm at the entrance of the subdivision so you might want to make the call to the security guards here at the gate."

Following Amanda's sent map data, Rex entered the private subdivision through their large metal gates and one look was enough for him to say that this was a neighborhood that's 60% as impressive as the 'mansions' in Beverly Hills —with their differences being that this subdivision was themed for 'nature' with lots of trees and lush green lawns.

"If she's this filthy rich, why still work as a nurse?"

The houses here were as costly as his old house and recalling it now made Rex miss his own home.

"I wonder if mom's garden was still being taken care of..."

Rex couldn't help but murmur.

Following the street signs and Mandy's directions, he turned to an isolated street after a few more turns and after 2 minutes saw a very large home.

"Now this is way bigger than our house..."

It could be said that Rex's house was a typical-type of an interior double-floor bungalow with a pool and a small garage that can fit three cars.

This house —no— this 'manor' was 50m in length just in one glance, excluding the area where there are the gates, the garage, the courtyard garden, a 30m large pool, and a circuit driveway.

This was a multi-millionaire's home, in full honesty.

Four 'guards' in black suits were guarding the dark red double gates with a small personnel entrance at the side.

[Firearms confirmed sir. These are Class-A pros of an executive security company.]

—on the same level as my hired men?

Not to mention that the 'guards' weren't wearing the traditional white uniform and a baton on their sides, but these 'guards' were actually dressed this hot in a tropical country. That's torture! And yet not a single one of them were moving as if they were the 'sentinels' assigned at the Buckingham Palace.

So, an Executive Security Company...

Class-A professionals...

......with firearms permit...

"Dayum..."

Rex wondered just how 'important' was Amanda's family were for their guards to be allowed to carry live firearms when on 'guard' duty... and there are four of them just on the gates alone!

When Rex just turned on the street, the eyes of the 'guards' became gloomy. But their expressions turned serious when he slowed down as he drove his bike towards their principal's abode.

And when Rex stopped not far from the entrance driveway of the streets from their gates, these four guards began to slowly 'unlock' their handguns that were hidden on their 'black suits' as eyes glared at Rex who was now removing his helmet followed by his black riding jacket.

Rex didn't feel much of the 'tropical' air because as of this time, Cortana was already 1.2% done in fully controlling the 'NanoMechs' left on his body by the bastards' forced androidification of his body.

It may only be 1.2% but this small tiny bit of control was already enough for Rex to regulate his body's temperature and as well as the amount of sweat he will secrete. In addition, this amount of control also provided Siva an overview of his body as if it was a suit of armor made up of flesh and skin that he can monitor at all times.

His long hair fell down and Rex removed his gloves, putting them at the bike above the jacket.

"Hm?" His eyes noticed three cars parked not too far away from the entrance driveway where he had parked the bike. "Cortana, search those plates."

Because [Public–Net] is a Government Project that allows citizens to almost always be connected to the Net no matter where they are in the country, it was easy for Cortana to maximize all the available bandwidth to her monitoring purposes.

[Search done. Registered to House Gregory of the National Parliament... under the current Minority Leader Howard Gregory...]

With the words spoken, photographs were shown with the "Howard Gregory" surrounded by guards in the parliament building. Of course, these were public photos used by Media Authorities.

[Should I hack inside the house and try to see if the guest is indeed the Minority Leader?]

"You don't need to. I've seen him once before in a party after I received my Junior Nobel Prize award after a submitting an engineered design for the [Android Mobile Armor] of the UNICORN."

Rex was voicing out his words as if he was talking with someone over a video call and though in a low voice, it was heard by the 'guards' whose nerves were being reheated because of his presence.

Ever since Rex's 'breakthrough' in the Triple Flower Meditation method and the body cleansing that he experienced that day, not only his height, but everything in him seemed to have maximized in age and potential —his body became slightly more muscular and robust, his hair got neck longer, and his height boosted up to 1.8 meters.

Seen outside, he was a tall man with suitably toned physique —a body of an assassin.

Rex wasn't that handsome but he's at least above average. Before, he was alright. But what made him more attractive now is that air of confidence and as well as the air of a [God] that went through all those millions of years of life and death battles.

His deep eyes hid his fierceness and these guards being experienced individuals at Graham's level all felt the dormant danger emanating from the lad.

They couldn't help exchanging looks as they made a nod and readied themselves to do their jobs if the lad made any mistake of approaching them.

After fixing himself and making sure he didn't smell weird after that travel, Rex sat on the leaning bike, back turned against the 'guards', and waited for his pickup to get him.

"Rex!"

It wasn't even long when the personnel gate of the manor opened up as Amanda's jolly figure came in a dash like a teenager seeing her idol celebrity.

Rex turned and was all smiles when seeing her cute appearance; wearing a dainty pearl-white short-sleeved cotton upper and a pink knee-length skirt... it was a casual house dress but Amanda's natural elegance and currently blushing beauty was accentuating and increasing the quality of the very simple attire —enough, in fact, to melt all hearts— even of a God's such as himself as he felt assured about his feelings.

—this was the woman that took care of me, the woman who nursed me, the woman who stayed silent even if she's jealous...

—the woman who endured my unbridled nature...

—the woman who silently waits for me...

—the woman who chose to like a mentally twisted guy like me...

Rex felt warmth looking at this lady whose smile was as beautiful as a blooming flower, and he can't help but to beam widely as well, much to Amanda's happiness.

"This is the first time we're seeing each other in the real world in a different light." He said smilingly.

Amanda blushed and fixed her hair to her left ear, her dimples showing as she delicately bit her lower lip to try to appeal to his heart more —and knowing her, it was a unconscious act when she was feeling shy about something.

Standing right in front of him, the wind carried her scent and it was an inexplicable smell —a smell of a woman in love. It made him smile happily.

The guards blinked, panicked, and were surprised as their Young Miss made cheesy eyes towards an unfamiliar person.

"Thank goodness you've come! I'm suffocating in there... I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

Amanda grabbed his hands and buried her face at his chest as she embraced him. It was a very close and lovable act that made all the guards exchange looks gain.

"You... what's with—"

He didn't finish his words because he was out of it.

Rex didn't know what was going on.

As far as he knows, this was a surprise visit from him and earlier during their call, it doesn't seem to be that there was something wrong. So why is she acting as if she was being bullied?

He put his hand on her head and patted it, "Mandy, is there something wrong in your house?"

When Rex asked, instead of her answering, there was someone else's voice that answered him. It was a voice that carried the venom of hate and the malice generated from jealousy.

"Get your filthy hands off my fiancée!"

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