Chapter 1330: The Data (1)
The biological supercomputer thought about millions of things when Erik asked that question, and all in the fraction of a second.
[These systems are very advanced, but it’s nothing that reaches today’s technological level. I can access them.]
It said yes.
The system ntally nodded. It then went through the computer files and started injecting them into Erik’s brain.
The young man felt the familiar sensation of the biological supercomputer working: the feeling of the computer giving him knowledge in the span of seconds.
The connection strengthened as the system navigated through layers of security and data structures.
[I am downloading the entire database. There is a lot of information here—research notes, project files, personnel records, facility schematics.]
[Around three minutes. The data volu is large but well-organized.]
It was the first ti injecting information was going to take this much. It could only an that whatever data the AI was taking, it was a lot.
Erik remained still as information flowed through him. The others watched without uttering a word. It was unnecessary, but they didn’t want to risk the process being ruined, although that could not happen.
Then Erik saw it.
…
…
…
The image of a person sitting at a table appeared in Erik’s mind.
A man in an expensive black suit sat across from another man at a tal table. The interviewer had short-cropped hair, wore glasses, and kept a professional attitude.
Yet Erik could see there was confusion in his expression, or at least skepticism. The badge on his chest read “R. Saunders – Silverline Corp.”
The man being interviewed looked out of place. His clothes were worn and mismatched—a faded blue button-up shirt with frayed cuffs paired with what looked like hiking pants.
In one word, it was horrible.
His hair grew wild and unkempt, and several days’ worth of beard covered his face. Dark circles highlighted his eyes, giving him the look of soone who hadn’t slept properly in weeks.
“Mr. Walker, you claim to have seen what, exactly?” Saunders’s tone was clinical and detached.
Walker leaned forward, hands clasped together on the table. “As I said for 100 tis already, to different interviewers, I saw a disaster. Not a natural one—sothing worse. It will wipe out humanity.”
“I expected talk of ghosts or monsters from soone claiming to see the future,” Saunders made a dismissive wave. “Not doomsday prophecies.”
Having enough of the interviewer’s dismissive attitude, Walker decided to demonstrate the reality of his claims.
He hadn’t done this the other tis he got interviewed, but he really had enough of this dismissive attitude. The problem was that openly showing this to normal humans was bound to create trouble for him. That was why he refrained from showing his powers until that point.
Walker’s expression hardened. Then his eyes fell on Saunders with sudden intensity. He extended his palm across the table, and a fla appeared, dancing above his skin without burning him. The fire illuminated his gaunt face from below, casting shadows that emphasized his hollow cheeks.
Saunders jumped from his chair, knocking it backward with a tallic clang. “What the—”
“Do you believe now?” Walker asked, closing his hand to extinguish the fla. His voice carried no triumph, only weariness. He knew he did sothing that the others were not going to like.
Walker had gone through three previous interviews at Silverline’s regional offices.
First with their Research Division, then with the Advanced Technologies branch, and finally with their Special Projects unit.
Yet they never believed him. After all, he was soone who said he could see the future. And yet, he said sothing that made the higher-ups be interested in him.
Walker understood their skepticism—claims of supernatural abilities and future disasters weren’t taken seriously by a company of Silverline’s stature.
In truth, not even by the average person.
This interview with Saunders represented his last interview at the corporate headquarters, so Walker had to play this well.
Walker knew that was his only way for them to believe his claims. In his vision, he saw himself show control over fire, undergo a battery of tests, and deliver the urgent ssage about humanity’s future.
The scientists were recording everything. They would then analyze the demonstration from every angle and compile reports that would then end up in the higher-ups’ laps.
Cautiously, Saunders righted his chair and sat again, keeping so distance between himself and Walker. He adjusted his tie, trying to regain his composure.
“Why co to us?” Saunders asked, voice steadier than his hands and more willing to believe. “Why not the police or governnt?”
“Because I saw a chance for humanity to survive,” Walker said. “And that chance depends on you.” He paused, studying Saunders’ face. “Tell ,” he paused. “Have you ever heard of mana?”
Then the image got interrupted; it was clear there was more to see, but Erik wasn’t that interested in this information.
The cataclysm the man was referring to might have been the thaids, so centuries from now, or even millennia.
What Erik wanted was to have clues about the blackguard’s location; whatever this disaster was, he could deal with it after he was done with his revenge. He knew the location of the labs inside the Lorogia Region, where they were most likely hiding, but he needed sothing more specific.
He couldn’t waste ti.
…
…
…
New images flooded in. A laboratory with gleaming equipnt. Scientists in white coats huddled around monitors. Charts showing energy patterns unlike anything Erik had seen before.
[Processing data cluster 17-B], the biological supercomputer said. [Subject: Project Mana.]
Docunts flashed before Erik’s eyes. Research notes detailing experints with animals. dical reports showing bizarre physiological changes. Brain scans with anomalous patterns highlighted in red.
One image stayed longer than the others—a small dog suspended in a cylindrical tank, electrodes attached to its head. The dog’s eyes were open, glowing with an unnatural blue light.
[This appears to be early experints that brought to the creation of mana], the supercomputer said. [Based on the data, the test subjects showed an increased neural activity.] It paused. [Yes… It makes sense.]
[Well, mana is controlled by specific regions of the brain, working with the brain crystal as a power source. Based on what this research shows, to make creatures capable of wielding mana, scientists first had to increase their neural processing speed by 300% and strengthen synaptic connections in the prefrontal cortex. This enhanced cognitive function and sped up the neural activity, which allowed mana manipulation.]
More files appeared. Classified docunts stamped with “SILVERLINE CORPORATION—RESTRICTED ACCESS.” Maps of energy fields across the planet. Geological surveys of areas with high concentrations of unknown minerals.
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