Becoming A Tech Tycoon Begins With Regression

"Hello again, Dmitri." Ethan said as he walked under the light that hung overhead, "you're handling this a lot more calmly than I expected."

Dmitri sat, chained to a metal chair just like Nathaniel was, with a calm expression on his face.

In a certain corner of his mind, he had expected this.

He had been allowed to know a bit too much about OmniTech/Ethan, so it didn't come as much of a surprise when he suddenly passed out after feeling a sting when he was at the location he was supposed to deliver Nathaniel.

"So," Dmitri started, "what happens now?"

"Hmm.." Ethan put a hand in his pocket as he seemed to think about it, "I could let you go, since you've deligently delivered whenever I gave an order."

There was a pause and Nathaniel immediately knew that there was a but coming.

"But," there it was, "you know a bit too much to be released just like that."

"You'd just be a loose end," Ethan continued, "and I'm not really fond of loose ends."

Dmitri raised his head to look at Ethan without the slightest bit of fear in his eyes as he asked, "what about my family?"

"Don't worry," Ethan answered, "I intend to fulfill my part of our deal, they'll be safe."

"I see," the Russian nodded, a bit of relief flashing in his eyes before he quickly concealed it, "then go ahead."

Ethan smiled a little, Dmitri might be some psychopath who enjoys torturing people, but the man genuinely cares for his wife and kid.

Besides, who was he to judge someone's psychopathic levels, especially after the way he had just completed his revenge.

"Alright," Ethan nodded, "but there's a couple of friends that'd like to do it themselves, y'know, personal grudge."

After his words, Ethan disappeared into the darkness, leaving through another door and the sound of the main door opening was heard, followed by the sound of multiple footsteps.

The new arrivals soon walked to the light causing Dmitri's expression to change from calm to a bit of shock.

"What's wrong, employer?" The person leading started, "you look like you've seen a couple of ghosts."

"Damn it," the one that seemed to be the youngest, a kid with a head full of white hair, "I wanted to say that."

The Vigilants, save for Spectra, stood before the chained Dmitri who looked shocked, an expression that didn't even feel right on his face.

"Damn, he really is scary up close," Silk said as she looked at the man sitting in the chair.

Dmitri dropped the shocked expression as he started chuckling, which became a full blown laugh, causing Zero to step back, hiding behind Nico.

Dmitri's laugh continued.

It wasn't directed at Ethan or the Vigilants. It was directed at the situation, at the realization of how little a chance they stood against Ethan.

The kid had convinced the entire world that the Vigilants were dead. Even he, who had made sure everything was going exactly as planned hadn't seen this coming.

Ethan had always been a couple of steps ahead and they hadn't realized it until it was too late.

Dmitri stopped laughing before his face returned to calmness, prepared for whatever was coming.

"Y'know," Tag said as he crouched before him, "I really wished to see you begging as I did."

Dmitri let out an amused chuckle before replying, "forget it kid, unlike you, I've been prepared for death since my last job... I do not fear dying."

Tag let out a sigh as he stood back up. How he really wished to see some form of fear in Dmitri's eyes but to his disappointment, there was none.

Turning to Nico, she handed him the very same helmet Ethan had used on Nathaniel.

"I also really wish I'd see you dead," Tag continued as she took the helmet, "unfortunately, again, our new boss prefers you alive so this is the best we could go with."

Dmitri's brow raised in confusion at his words, he was sure that they were going to kill him so what did he mean that they were keeping him alive.

Plus what was that helmet and what the hell did it do?

But he had no chance to ask any questions because the helmet was soon placed on his head and turned on.

A Wave of pain quickly hit him and it felt as if someone was forcing his brain out of his head and he was conscious to feel it all.

Luckily, the helmet suddenly forced him to completely pass out and prevent him from feeling all the pain.

"So...." Silk started, "what does this do?"

"I'm not sure," Tag replied, "according to the note I picked it up with, it's supposed to erase specific memories of specific people and replace it with another."

"I see." Silk nodded as they turned back to the helmet that was still on.

They were silent for a while before Bypass adjusted his glasses and asked, "doesn't that mean he knows OmniTech's identity?"

"Y'know, since his memories are being erased and all." He completed.

"Knew," Nico corrected, "if what the note explained is correct, then that means he doesn't remember anymore."

"Makes sense," Bypass replied.

Silence fell in the room again before the machine finally went off and removed it, from the still unconscious Dmitri's head.

"Now what?" Zero asked curiously.

"Now we take him to the location the boss sent us." Tag answered.

"You really have gotten comfortable with calling OmniTech, boss." Silk pointed out but Tag said nothing in response.

"Let's go," he simply said as he picked up one of Dmitri's hands and Bypass went to the other side as they picked him up and walked out the room and to the van of the same criminal who owned a van.

He was more than happy to do this job since the first had been the first time he had laid hands on that much money.

He really wished he hadn't been skeptical and just gone for a billion instead....

So when this unknown man called him for another job, he drove as fast as he could to here.

_________

While the Vigilants took the bodies of the two men, one with no memory and the other not breathing anymore,

Ethan made sure Athena perfectly forged the camera tapes to the location where the two were being delivered, making sure whoever investigated would see both Dmitri and Nathaniel driving to that location.

Leaning back, Ethan let out a sigh. It wasn't really one of relief, just one he let out at the fact that a thorn had been removed in his life.

Maybe he should start the next phase of OmniTech Cor—

{How about taking a vacation first?} Athena suddenly suggested, {a time to rest at least.}

Ethan's first thought was to reject the suggestion. He wanted to speed up OmniTech's growth and reach whatever level the system wanted him, just to see what was its deal.

But a name suddenly crossed his mind.

"Maria…" he whispered, his eyes softening a bit.

{Yes. Her.} Athena chimed in knowingly. {She'll be happy to see you, oh and you can also take this chance to attend that get together that guy you met mentioned.}

He thought about it for a moment, everything was going smoothly right now, so taking a little break wouldn't hurt.

Besides, if anything went wrong, Athena could inform him or even handle it herself.

"Fine," Ethan said at last, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "A short vacation. I'll see Maria… and I'll attend the get-together."

{Good,} Athena said with what almost sounded like relief.

{I've already booked you a flight,} Athena continued. {Private, of course. I don't think you'd want to sit in coach beside crying toddlers.}

He sighed and stood up, pulling his jacket over his shoulders. "Alright then, Athena. Time to pay Maria a visit."

{Oh and don't forget,} Athena added slyly, {pick up a gift for her on your way, and also, your university reunion is right around the corner. You'll have the perfect excuse to… reconnect.}

Ethan let out a chuckle as he repeated, "reconnect huh? I wouldn't exactly call it that."

{Well, you should have some friends you want to reconnect with right?} Athena questioned.

"Not really," Ethan shrugged, "I was too young to understand their 'adult' jokes plus I was too deeply buried in books and being a jack of all trades to concern myself with friendship."

{.....} Athena was silent for a while before saying, {I'm sorry.}

Ethan just waved his hand before him as he said, "meh, it really wasn't that bad."

{I see.}

Ethan entered his car, closed the door and turned on the engine, "well, there was one person but I'm not sure if they'll be attending the get together."

"Like me, he was also considered an outcast so he had stuck to me but all he was being was an annoyance," He let out a chuckle.

{I'd like to meet him..} Athena said.

"Let's just hope he attends the get together."