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Chapter 020: At the Gathering

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Hearing the story, Siva's heart began to regret a few (many) things the more he heard.

Firstly, of course, the death of an innocent that is now the bane of an entire tribe.

And it was all caused by him.

Secondly, he began to doubt if his —former ways that didn't care at all with anything because he can afford so— old unbridled ways were correct; or is already an obsolete method to establish himself as he founded his territory, let alone when he tries to solve an issue with that method...

—and it wasn't even a territory in terms of land, no, it was a territory in terms of "reputation". It was the key to the foundational safety of Asgard that will still protect it even without him personally being there...

Reputation, after all, is also a kind of strength and he himself knew that the greater the reputation is, the better shield it becomes. That's why he needed to establish an image to create a brand for his name... for that brand will become his shield to protect Asgard who will protect Baron... and, if his plans go smoothly, his parents —his entire family!

His third regret; it was in the mini realm itself.

Siva regretted that he didn't leave one of it behind in Asgard before he teleported to Alexandria. He could have left it for Akhenaton to guard so that he can do something with the Asgard's lack of a real territory to call its own.

After he heard the part of Middle Earth being an untapped landform for resources —a feudal region the size of Espada or more— he began to regret it instantly because, after all, he only needed to tweak at the [rules] of a mini realm and apply more [slots] into it, before he can then 'eat' up the entire Island Fortress, send it here, and then let the rest of the members of Asgard teleport back to Asgard.

That would have been a great deed. And, as far as he knows, there are only 15 or so days left for the Asgard to finish its defense perimeter... having a land of their own rich in Monster Resources, which are the very resource that is "going to be" the main livelihood of Asgard, Middle Earth would've been a nice place to establish Asgard as a country with its own naturally resource-filled land!

In fact, he didn't need the entire continent, for his plans —no— he only needed a small part of it.

Such a regretful fact indeed...

But, no matter, although his Liberty Drone outside travels really slow, it was still continuing to travel at a speed at least half as fast as flying... even while he's offline.

[Boss, Matthew is outside the house right now.]

Cortana's cue made Siva look at her beside him.

'Oh?'

[Should I tell him you're online?]

'No. I will see him. This is a good chance to do a little experiment on our project. Just maintain the defensive scanning zone around the BMA while still traveling at normal speeds for now.'

[Yes sir.]

'Then start gathering data.'

[Initiating Half-Focus state in three... two...]

—ugh... this is really painful...

[One.]

Siva prompted Cortana to log him out. Even though his body was still floating in Terroa, a small part of Siva's brain waves remained online and connected him to his Avatar, thus his brain-attached adjutant controlled everything else.

This was all possible because of Cortana's attempt to 'copy' the NLD Console's functionality—

—unique only to Siva because she was physically connected to his brain.

*****

Rex opened his eyes on his bed. Around him were boxes, clustered and stacked, empty of all of their valuable contents. Plastic cases and wrappers, all forms and shapes of polystyrenes were scattered here and there, making the entire bed room look like some company's production team's office.

On a corner of his room is a metal box glowing dim blue from its liquid-cool system, a silent hum drone on as it quietly did its job.

Lights are off when he woke up but the half-meter square metal box in the corner had a dim blue light which illuminated the surroundings.

The air-con was running to help cool the room. As for that external-DB, it was Cortana's main back-up drive in case something stronger than her came to attack them, here, online.

Rex had adapted this thinking and thus used all his ability and gathered money to buy the latest and all advanced Data-Bank technologies available in the commercial markets, and assembled this personally designed External-DB.

Just its plain sight alone looked cool already but if such personally assembled external-DB were to be seen by any geek outside this room, they would all lose their souls and kneel down as Templars solely to worship this technological marvel —for this was a task and a challenge for no ordinary dude to be able to complete with the available Tech-Data one can browse and read online.

This —if put in a gamer's slang— is an Invention!

The locking-system was magnetic; the framework is inter-engineered to be assembled part by part but cannot be disassembled the same way they are constructed, and served as both a puzzle and like a maze, the deeper one analyzed the structure of the External-DB, the deeper they'd find their minds in a quagmire of sorts, giving them headaches but also making them addicted to the prospect of being able to solve this puzzle.

But they could only be wronged for the surface of this Invention is smooth despite it being made from many parts; for this is the real-world version of the game's BMA —this was Rex's creation, his pride!

Coupled with Cortana's software tweaking, no part of this External-DB was unused —adding Rex's odd sense of detailed insecurity— unless Cortana did not put over 300+ Security Measures with Rex adding in a very expensive and almost illegal, and even broken, DNA-scan Pad from an underground trading site which he fixed and revised using odd and questionable means, along with a few state-of-the-art Hi-fi audio systems, and a Corporate-grade laser frequency signal fidelity accessory calibrated with so much software adjustments that not even a particle of any hacking attempt could get in... Rex wouldn't have ever allowed Cortana to use this thing to be her sanctuary for unexpected mishaps.

This 'box' was her second home —aside from his physical brain.

It was even sealed tightly and only a small little wire going to the Net Ports connected the metal box to anything outside of it. In terms of software danger, Cortana could cut all other connections this thing has and keep herself safe here through an internal 'cutter' that will break off and disable all circuits that connected the External-DB to anything.

What makes this thing even more of a wide-eyed opener, is the fact that the materials used to make the External-DB are all Military-grade in quality that gives it anti-scanning, anti-rusting, and many other anti-eventualities any military equipment are made to be as a standard.

Of course, without Cortana's Intel sniffing and the Credits generated from manipulating a few items in the stock market, world-wide, shipping these items from questionable resources would have been the most impossible task next to buying it.

But then again, Rex had been careful.

Cortana may be a powerful AI, but he didn't let that get into his brain and think that she was invincible.

If Panorama Corp created the Janus System and Cortana is nothing more than a single small part of the Janus System's "Warden Protocol", then there is enough reason to doubt that there might be AIs out there that had capabilities a notch —or more— higher than hers.

Perhaps Cortana's only advantage over them is the fact that she can borrow Rex's 'senses' and all of his imagination to strengthen her own awareness of the matters regarding her activities' security. As such, it was part of her basic protocol to lay down at least 200 basic firewalls before proceeding with a single online activity.

Internally, even, this External-DB can last until a bit over 50 years with the central 'magnetic generator' Rex created —which was the source of that gentle humming sound filling the room.

Seen from inside though, this box is going to stun just about anyone as the edges which emitted that dim glow of its liquid cooling system had its internal cooling system regulated by independent coolants of enormous quantity in bio-ceramic tubes used to be used by medical facilities for keeping safe very fragile 'samples' of varying categories.

These 'tubes', once agitated to such a degree, will even serve as an acid that will 'burn' all internal HD as a last line of defense.

Rex had even asked Cortana about it and got her agreement... that she would rather disappear than be hacked and used in ways not intended by her master, Rex's father, Etheron Kingsley.

[Boss, as this is the first time we're doing this, I am entering observation mode for now so please, do remember not to mentally strain yourself. I will be forced to intervene on such eventuality since all of my processes are put into scanning and analyzing your neural statistics from Terroa and here.]

Meaning, Cortana was using at least 60% of her data-processing resources to do all of this. As the brain is a really complex thing to study, not even someone with her 500YB processing power could escape the shackles of eventualities called "limits".

"I understand."

—the first time they were doing it.

Rex had just completed all these stuff last night, or to be precise, 10hrs ago. It was a whole day and more in the time in Terroa.

Leaving a thought to maintain online activity while also being awake —or half awake— in real world to do a few low mental-straining things... it was a part of Rex's experiment and data gathering into all the effects of having a body such as his; and also the biggest project he was planning to do in the future.

Clenching his hands and feeling his body, Rex was in a weird state of mind right now.

...for he could 'see and feel' —live— two lives at the same time.

One was in Terroa, traveling in front of Electra...

The other was the here and now, waking up from a 5hrs rest from finishing all set up processes.

"Maintain defensive awareness. Are all the Hydra Guards blocking off all spying in our echelon?"

[They are doing quite fine, sir.]

"Good."

Rex was satisfied. The "Hydra Guards" were a set of Worm Viruses with Anti-Virus capabilities that'll devour any and all 'hacking and spying attempts' to their [echelon] network.

There are thousands of them planted in all of the computers in the world.

As long as a console with a 'Hydra Part' is online, it will link up with other Hydra Parts and will serve as the "heads" that will guard the echelon network.

Just imagining the number of consoles and other old generation computers in the world that had the Hydra Part; billions of computers working together to serve as a large net was like some supermassive supercomputer... it was a frightening feat. But Rex did it and by now, many hackers and other curious individuals have been given an example just how frightening the Hydra Guards were once they are provoked even in the slightest bit.

Thus, those hackers and wandering snoopers all became slaves by the Echelon Network —or else, if they don't do a good job according to the interest of the Echelon Network, their crimes will be spread public and their lives will be doomed.

As indoor geeks and social misfits with few bravery issues, their talents to a different side of society is still called 'talent' so why not use them in a way that can benefit both parties?

Therefore, Rex's [Echelon Network] —his spy and information network— only became stronger as the days passed by.

He took a glance to his work at the corner and felt a sense of pride and accomplishment. That thing is at least a technology of a little 20 or so years more advanced from the Tech of the current times.

Rex stood up from the bed and saw the mess he'd left unattended for in the last few days.

He went to the bathroom and took a quick shower, then took a towel, changed clothes, and then went downstairs, pick a can of fruit juice from the fridge, and then went at the gate to welcome Matt in.

"Sorry, I was just in the bed."

"You went missing all of a sudden. The last I saw you were some four or so days ago online. Where did you head off to now, man? We can't even get a word in to contact."

They sat down on the sofa inside and Matt saw the disorderly appearance of the house that made him chuckle and felt at home. This... this is a house of a normal teenager with a scientist's mind living in a loner's life. This is how a normal teen should be.

Although his thoughts were wrong in some points, these were still honest thoughts of a friend. And as of to read his mind, Rex threw the can of fruit juice to Matt who caught it with a surprising reflex.

Rex's eyes went wide.

"Are you shocked?" Matt teased.

"Just a little." Rex said but actually, he was very.

"I myself am surprised as well." Matt's face became serious at this point. "And what more... Anna, she did something that surprised mom and dad last night."

"What did she do?" Rex felt concern. Anna was his sister —Hawkeye in the game.

"She back flipped inside the house after a roach managed to sneak in from the open window."

"..." Rex didn't know what to feel about this.

"That is... unexpected."

Matt sipped the juice. "No, you don't understand. I felt my reflexes are sharpening and Anna flipped inside our house from surprise... how do you think it all became possible?"

"What's that had to do with me?" Rex felt tangled.

"Ah, well, do you remember the things you said to us back then... about disabling all security features of the NLD?"

Rex frowned, "And you did?"

Matt nodded.

"How many?"

"All of it."

Rex glared, but still, disabling 'all of it' —which are only the ones available in the options menu— is all but 10% of the true security features in the NLD.

Even with the 'software upgrades' they all received from him; those are nothing more than a 'detector' of sorts, aside from software improvement to their communicator devices, to when they happen to get close to a certain extent to that something AG's lot had taken away from him.

Disabling the rest of the hidden security features of the NLD was basically impossible without the help of a "cracker" with Cortana's ability.

But still, 10% means that they had force-unlocked 10% of the total capability of the NLD —which is not advised by Panorama Corp since it will remove all safety features of the game console.

Removing these security protocols meant that the NLD would be rendered as a "hardcore" gaming device that only "hardcore" gamers would use.

A waver was presented to the buyer when they've first bought the console and this exact detail was in there, highlighted and in bold letters... signifying a fact that Panorama Corp will never be liable for any kind of damages the user will incur upon removal of the security features... and that the removal of these security features was akin to tampering the [seal of quality] of the NLD —thus making the NLD console itself already void of all responsibilities that Panorama Corp has of its [quality products].

In short, removing these security protocols, or just the fact that the NLD owner disabled it, is already a signifying fact that the user is aware that he or she is already using a product not intended for casual users, gamers, or players.

It was part of the waver they signed when they all bought the gaming console.

"How long have you been doing it?"

"Almost two weeks. Ten days, actually."

"Just ten days and there're already these changes to your bodies?"

"So far, I've never been hurt from any side effects that you experienced back then but what I came to you today, at least part of my reason, is to consult to you about that lightning flash."

"The Dragunov's uses?"

"Yes. That... you see, ever since I got it from you, I've always been practicing it and I noticed that my own reflexes were improving the better I control all the possible uses of the technique."

"It's because your brain is being molded." Rex said with a cold tone.

Then he warned, "But I suggest that you to do not overdo it. Because there will be a side effect happening to you guys sooner or later... and just like how you saw me back then, you might incur a permanent trauma. My case is special but you guys don't have the same circumstances as I had back then so the sideeffects to your constitutions might be worse than what I had."

Matt finished the fruit juice and crumpled the can in his hand then said, "I will still help you, though."

"..."

Rex understood where this abrupt line was coming from. Yes, risking this dangerous gamble with the NLD had the chance of 'improving' anyone's bodily constitution by directing a forced mental growth to the brain, which leads to the injection of hormones that then makes the body improve to that specific effect...

The NLD had this capability —only if one had the crazy mind to actually tamper with all the console's security features.

Besides, these 10% security features wouldn't even be visible to anyone without a basic hacking capability... which boils down to the fact that when an NLD owner hacks the console, they've already breached the waver itself.

Whether they knew about the effects of the NLD to the brain or not and only wanted to improve their VR experience by maxing out all of the hardware features of the NLD console... only crazy people brave enough to incur the effects of the wave will even think of doing that.

Matt was one, Rex knew it, but how did Anna came to disable hers as well? Did he instigate her to do it or did she do the hacking herself?

"...as your friend, and someone who knows your background and someone you told your secret to, I will help you... but more than that, it's because I'm your friend. I don't have many friends in school or anywhere else because of my extreme style and also my personality, but I do treasure friendship dearly... if it comes down to the level of dangers we might fall into, you know, I've tried to put myself in your shoes and realized just how scary it was... and that's why, in order to prevent more things like this happening, especially to the people around me, especially to the people I care about, I will do my best to help just because I can help. We rescue you brother, we rescue your family, and then we let Anthony take care of the security of your family until we get the people who made you suffer like this locked into jail. That's what we're gonna do."

It's hard to imagine that a man with a anime or even a novel-like valiant personality such as Matt could actually exist... and yet there he is, right in front of Rex, swearing words with a brotherly compassion.

Even to him, Rex saw this valorous and honest side of Matthew as... hair-raisingly scary.

Particularly his eyes that lacked no hesitation...