NOVEL NEXT Chapter 78: Lose Fast
The room echoed with astonished murmurs. "Its motor functions are flawless!" a young researcher exclaimed.
Finally, they tested the support function for a fallen patient. A staff member pretended to collapse, and the robot immediately responded. It approached from the side, wrapped one arm around the person.
And lifted them with calculated strength firm enough to carry the weight, gentle enough to avoid injury.
"Fantastic," Professor Grant muttered, slapping his forehead in disbelief. "This is the design we could never get working before… now it's truly alive."
Amid the celebration, the young man stepped forward. He wanted to complete the final integration step. He raised his hand and touched the cold metal of the robot's arm.
In that moment of stillness, the AI system's voice returned to his mind.
[Unit creation successful. Status: Malware-free.]
[Progress System: 20%]
Alaric stood silently, eyes locked on the robot. Then the voice continued:
["Next mission: upon completion, progress will increase to 100 percent. For more advanced missions, progress may spike up to 200 percent."]
His heart stirred. The numbers echoed in his head, 20, 100, 200—and at the top. The ultimate goal: 1000. He whispered inwardly,
"If that's the case, then even a vessel capable of holding 1000 percent progress is no longer impossible."
His thoughts were quickly interrupted by the sound of cheers erupting throughout the room.
"WE DID IT!" a staff member shouted, raising their hands in the air. Others joined in, clapping, some even embracing each other in celebration. Professor Grant wore a broad smile, his aging cheeks flushed with joy.
Alaric turned his head. Robin, his personal driver, who had been observing quietly from the corner, joined in with a chuckle and slow applause. "Heh… I don't know a thing about machines, but when people this smart start high fiving each other. It must mean something big just happened, right?"
Alaric gave a faint smile. "Yes, Robin."
Professor Grant walked up to him and gave his hand a firm pat. "You're brilliant, young man. Without your system and quick thinking, this project would've been lost for good. I'm truly impressed."
"Team effort, Professor," Alaric replied modestly.
A few more staff gathered around him, offering handshakes and excited praise.
"That was amazing, Mr. Alaric!"
"Your remote control system really saved the day!"
"If it weren't for you, this robot would've ended up as scrap metal again!"
Alaric simply smiled, nodding politely, accepting the flood of compliments with quiet composure.
...
The large hall of Brightmind Robotics was filled with spotlights and the low hum of conversation from the guests. White and blue balloons were tied to several corners of the room, and a giant screen behind the stage displayed elegant visuals with the words:
"Grand Launching – CareBot Series 01"
People streamed in, ranging from investors and hospital representatives to curious members of the public. In the middle of the room, the latest lineup of nursing robots stood in neat rows. Their metallic bodies gleaming with green indicator lights that gave off a futuristic aura.
When the MC announced, "And here it is, the latest innovation from Brightmind Robotics, the result of a collaboration with the brilliant young mind, Greg Laz Alaric!" The room erupted in applause.
Alaric stood next to Professor Grant and Mr. Langston. His eyes widened in surprise at the level of enthusiasm from the crowd. He had expected a positive response, but he never imagined it would be this overwhelming.
"The realtime sales data just came in," a staff member said, handing a tablet to Mr. Langston.
Mr. Langston glanced at the screen and smiled with satisfaction. "Incredible! In just the first hour, 2,450 units sold." He raised his voice so both Alaric and Professor Grant could hear.
Professor Grant chuckled, giving Alaric a hearty pat on the back. "Look at that, Alaric! Our creation is truly making a difference. Just one hour into the launch, and thousands of units are already out the door."
Alaric was momentarily stunned, his face a mix of disbelief and awe. But soon, he realized their eyes were on him. "Eh… no, Professor," he said quickly, shaking his head. "I only helped develop it. The initial investment, the facilities, and the courage to go first. Those all came from you. Without Brightmind, I don't think any of this would have happened."
Professor Grant beamed, his eyes twinkling. "You're so humble."
Mr. Langston nodded firmly, then added, "And that's exactly why people see you not just as a genius trying to show off, but as someone working for real results."
Those words made Alaric smile. He scratched the back of his neck, slightly embarrassed, before lowering his head slightly in gratitude.
Meanwhile, more visitors kept pouring in. Some headed straight for the sales booth, filling out order forms, while others pre-ordered out of fear of missing out. The room buzzed with questions:
"Can this robot be programmed to meet a patient's specific needs?"
"How long does the battery last?"
"If there's a technical issue, is there a service center?"
The Brightmind team answered all the questions patiently, even demonstrating the robot guiding an elderly person down the hallway. The crowd cheered in awe.
Alaric watched from a distance. He could see the hopeful eyes of patients' families, the curious expressions of investors, and the excitement from the healthcare professionals present.
But he also realized something. His presence at this event wasn't just a formality. Many of the customers had intentionally come because they knew his name was involved. "If Alaric's involved," he overheard people whispering, "any technical issue will be solved. He always has an idea."
Those comments made him lower his head. He knew the reputation was his, but quietly, he also understood that without this collaboration, he never could have completed it alone.
If he'd worked on his own, it might have taken six months just for research and testing. The results might not have been this good.
Alaric gave a small smile, his eyes sparkling. "It's not about who's the smartest... And the whole reason I wanted to bring this idea to life was to help," he murmured softly.
Once again, the applause filled the air, marking the success of the launch. Camera flashes popped, capturing the historic moment.
Now, Alaric's name was not only echoing among engineers or in the tech community, but also making its way into mainstream media. Almost every major news outlet featured his face on the front pages. Headlines flashed:
"Brilliant Young Man Revives Brightmind Robotics!"
"Greg Laz Alaric: The Revolutionary Figure in the Tech Industry"
"Surprising Collaboration: Craftpartner & Brightmind, Behind Alaric's Rise"
What made the media coverage even more compelling was the journalists' perspective. They didn't just focus on the newly launched nursing robot, but also highlighted Alaric's boldness.
While most big companies had severed ties with Brightmind Robotics, once viewed as a failure. Alaric had taken the opposite route. He embraced the company, collaborated, and proved that rising from failure was possible.
One of the TV news segments featured a female reporter's voice, set against a backdrop of footage showing Alaric smiling at the launch event:
"At a time when the tech world turned its back on Brightmind Robotics, Alaric moved closer. The result? A collaboration that today has shaken up international markets. This new nursing robot has not only sold thousands of units in its launch, but it has also opened a new chapter in medical robotics."
The camera shifted to several brief interviews with event attendees.
An investor enthusiastically said, "Alaric's courage is rare. He's not just a technician; he's a visionary."
A housewife, attending with her child, added, "If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have believed in these robots. But now? I even want to order one for my parents."
Alaric's name couldn't be stopped. The hashtag #AlaricCraftpartner briefly trended on social media.
And, of course, the news eventually reached the ears of some powerful people... including the CEO of Iyluma Technologies, a tech giant long considered a dominant player in the field of artificial intelligence.
---
In a high rise room full of transparent glass walls, the Iyluma headquarters stood proudly in the heart of the city. The spacious upper floor, with its view of towering buildings, was the workplace of the CEO.
Edmund Veyland, a man in his forties dressed in an elegant black suit, stood facing the window. He held a glass of red wine in his hand, though he only swirled it slowly without actually drinking. His face was serious, a bit pensive, as if deep in thought.
Suddenly, a soft knock on the door interrupted him.
"Come in," Edmund said flatly.
A well dressed man with glasses, carrying a tablet, entered the room. He was Nathan Crowell, Edmund's trusted assistant and right-hand man. Nathan bowed respectfully before speaking.
"Boss, there's a new report you should see."
Edmund turned slowly, raising an eyebrow. "What report?"
Nathan handed him the tablet, but Edmund didn't take it right away. He preferred to hear the summary first.
"It's about Craftpartner, the tech company we once considered for a partnership. You remember them, right?"
Edmund frowned. "Craftpartner? The company run by that young founder? What about them?"
Nathan hesitated for a moment before answering. "Their founder just collaborated with Brightmind Robotics. And the results… are pretty surprising. They launched a nursing robot. The launch event was yesterday, and in just a few hours, 2,450 units were sold. Pre-orders are flooding in."
Edmund, who had been relaxed, now put his wine glass down on the table. His voice grew heavier. "Brightmind… They're still going after their previous failure? What technology did they develop to sell so quickly?"