Note 1 : More gifts for more chapters
Note 2 : i ve created a discord co join
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Lassen remained motionless for a long mont after ending the call, his eyes locked on the now-dark screen. The room, bathed in dim light and punctuated by the soft hum of technological devices, seed frozen in ti. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the edge of his desk, almost chanically, while an amused smile played on his lips.
[Well, that was entertaining] the system's familiar voice echoed in his mind, dripping with sarcasm.
[That kid has the energy of a hyperactive puppy. Are you sure this is a good idea?]
"Absolutely" Lassen replied without hesitation, his eyes still fixed on the blank screen. He seed to be gazing into an invisible horizon where his plans were already unfolding.
"He's exactly what we need: enthusiastic, raw, authentic. And most importantly, he has a real connection with his audience. They listen to him because he's one of them."
The system let out a sound resembling a sigh
[Authentic, maybe. But you know he's going to ask you hundreds of dumb questions, right?]
Lassen chuckled softly, the quiet sound breaking the stillness of the room "That's what makes him valuable. He's not yet corrupted by caution or arrogance. His questions co from pure curiosity, not from a desire to manipulate or to seem clever. That kind of spontaneity is rare."
The system didn't seem convinced
[If you say so. But don't co complaining to when he bombards you with questions about the color of your socks or your favorite brand of coffee. Oh, wait... no, scratch that. He'll probably do it live in front of millions]
Lassen's smile widened as he crossed his arms on the desk "Maybe. But wouldn't that be fun?"
[Fun? You have a strange definition of that word]
The system paused before adding mockingly
[And of course, it's not who'll have to deal with it. Oh, wait... it is ]
"Stop whining" Lassen replied, shaking his head slightly, his smile growing "Adrian will handle him first. And you know how he is: direct, efficient. That should balance Ethan's overflowing energy."
He stood up from his chair, rolling his shoulders to release the tension "Call Adrian"
After a few rings, a deep, composed voice answered
"Yes, sir?"
"Adrian. I have an assignnt for you tomorrow" Lassen began, his tone calm but carrying a natural authority "A certain Ethan Carter will be arriving at the airport. He's a strear—you shouldn't have any trouble spotting him. He'll probably be nervous, so try not to overwhelm him. Be... yourself, but a little more patient."
A brief silence followed, broken by a barely concealed sigh
"I'm being noted for my patience, is that it?"
Adrian replied, his tone laced with sarcasm
"Let's say I trust your professionalism"
Lassen said, his voice carrying a faint trace of humor
"Bring him straight to the villa. I want him to see where it all begins. And prepare yourself for a lot of questions"
Adrian let out a soft groan, a mix of amusent and resignation
"Of course. I'll practice my smiling until then. Anything else?"
"No" Lassen concluded as he set the device down on the desk "I trust you."
The call ended, and Lassen stood there for a mont, his expression thoughtful. The dim light in the room accentuated the shadows on his face, giving him an almost sculptural appearance. He clasped his hands behind his back and turned to face a large bay window overlooking the illuminated cityscape.
[You trust Adrian. But what about Ethan?] the system asked, breaking the silence.
"I don't need to fully trust him" Lassen replied, his tone growing more serious.
"I don't expect him to understand everything. But he's a crucial piece of the puzzle. His passion and enthusiasm are exactly what we need to open the next door."
The system seed to mull this over before responding with a hint of irony
[Alright, prophet. I hope you know what you're doing. Because if this goes off the rails... it's going to be loud.]
Lassen didn't reply, his gaze fixed on the horizon, the faint smile lingering on his lips.
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At the Airport
Ethan slowly descended the plane's steps, gripping his backpack tightly. The cool airport air hit him imdiately, a mix of jet fuel, heated asphalt, and the morning breeze. He took a deep breath, as if trying to imprint the mont into his mory. It was hard for him to believe he was really here: Macro, the nerve center of so many mysteries and rumors. A place where anything seed possible.
Adjusting the strap of his backpack, he entered the terminal, quickly finding himself amidst the constant flow of travelers. Flight announcents echoed in the background as luggage carts rolled across the polished floors. Ethan walked slowly, his eyes darting around, searching for a sign pointing to the exit or a taxi stand.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out instinctively. Notifications were blowing up, his tweet about Mr. X was still going viral. Comnts, retweets, and ntions were pouring in faster than he'd ever seen.
"Seriously, Mr. X? You're bluffing!"
"Blaze, this is HUGE. If it's real, I'm not missing that stream."
"INVITE !"
A proud smile spread across his face. He'd known the tweet would grab attention, but seeing the frenzy it had created was even more thrilling than he'd imagined.
"Calm down, Ethan" he muttered, slipping the phone back into his pocket
"It's all good. Just an airport... and then a eting with one of the most brilliant minds on the planet. Nothing stressful, right?"
As he approached the automatic doors, his eyes kept scanning the crowd for a taxi sign or a shuttle board. He tightened his grip on the handle of his suitcase, ready to face the chaos outside. But before he could reach the exit, a tall figure erged from the flow of travelers, striding directly toward him.
The man was tall, impeccably dressed in a dark suit. His sunglasses partially obscured his expression, but his posture and aura of complete control were enough to turn heads.
Ethan froze, feeling a mix of curiosity and apprehension. The man stopped a few steps away.
"Ethan Carter?" he asked in a deep, steady voice.
Ethan blinked, surprised. "Yes... that's . But... who are you?"
The man extended a sleek, minimalist black card, engraved with a single na: Adrian.
"My na is Adrian" he said. "Mr. X sent to pick you up."
The words took a mont to sink in. Ethan's eyes flicked from the card to Adrian, and back again "Wait... Mr. X sent you? Like, you work for him?"
"Exactly" Adrian replied neutrally. He gestured toward a sleek black car parked near the exit.
"If you'll follow , I'll take you to your destination."
Ethan stood frozen for a second longer before excitent overtook him. He quickly grabbed his suitcase and jogged to catch up with Adrian, his mind buzzing with questions.
Once outside, Adrian opened the back door of the car and waited for Ethan to climb in.
The strear took an admiring look at the interior: pristine black leather seats, soft ambient lighting, and a built-in tablet displaying navigation data. This was no ordinary car.
"Wow" he murmured as he sat down, his hands absently running over the armrest. "This is... impressive."
Adrian closed the door behind him before getting into the driver's seat. Once settled, he started the car without a word. Ethan, however, was far too excited to stay silent.
"So... what are you? His driver? His bodyguard? Or both? How long have you worked with him? Did you see Eternal Realm before it was released? What's it like working for soone like him?"
Adrian glanced at Ethan in the rearview mirror, his expression impassive "I'm his bodyguard. I handle his security and everything that cos with it. And yes, I saw Eternal Realm before its release. Now sit back and fasten your seatbelt."
Slightly thrown off by the concise response, Ethan quickly buckled up. But his curiosity surged again almost imdiately.
"Okay, okay. But... are you with him all the ti? What's he like in real life? Serious? Funny? Does he play his own gas? Like, imagine him rage-quitting... That would be hilarious."
A faint smile flickered across Adrian's lips "He plays sotis, but he doesn't rage-quit. Now try to get so rest. You'll need the energy."
Ethan frowned slightly, intrigued "Need energy for what? We're going to the hotel, right?"
Adrian shook his head slightly, his gaze focused calmly on the road "No. We're going to Mr. X's villa."
Ethan froze, his mouth falling open "His... villa? Wait... You're serious? You an where he actually lives? Like... his ho?"
"Completely serious" Adrian replied without missing a beat.
Ethan felt his heart race. He leaned forward slightly, his hands gripping the edge of the seat
"But... that's insane. I'm going to Mr. X's house! Is it... futuristic? Full of gadgets? Does he have a gaming room? Or maybe a secret room? Oh! Does he have a pet?"
Adrian didn't respond imdiately, keeping his focus on the road. Finally, he let out a soft, amused sigh
"You'll see for yourself."
The initial shock quickly gave way to overwhelming excitent. Ethan let himself fall back into his seat, a wide grin stretching across his face "This is unbelievable. Absolutely insane. I'm going to Mr. X's house."
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