The Tycoon's Odyssey

Anxiousness…

It had been a while since Evan had felt this level of unease. Leaning against his desk, he stared blankly at the holo-projection of the world map, his hands gripping the edge so tightly that his knuckles whitened. His shirt clung to his back, damp with sweat, and his breath came shallow and fast.

By the window, Suri stood watching him, her calm presence a stark contrast to his visible tension. She studied him quietly for a moment before speaking.

"Everything will be alright," she said, her tone gentle yet firm.

Evan turned to her, his brows furrowed deeply. "You really think so?"

Suri stepped closer, folding her arms. "Don't you believe in your own people?"

"It's not that," he replied, his voice low and strained. "I trust them, but I'm worried the other side will play dirty."

Suri's eyes narrowed slightly, scrutinizing him. "This isn't like you. Usually, you calculate every variable down to the last detail. What's bothering you?"

Evan ran a hand through his hair, letting out a sharp exhale. "It's just… I have got this feeling. A bad one. Like something's not going according to plan, and I can't figure out what it is."

"Premonitions don't suit you," Suri said with a faint smirk, trying to lighten the mood. "You're not a fortune teller."

Before he could reply, Aurora's voice cut through the room like a blade.

[Sir, it happened.]

Both Evan and Suri straightened immediately, their hearts pounding in their chests.

"What happened?" Evan demanded, his voice tight.

Aurora's tone remained steady, delivering the report with machine-like precision.

[Daniel engaged the target, Adrian. Despite warnings from my secondary self, he chose to attack. He failed. The target's strength far exceeds our expectations—possibly rivaling your own, Sir.]

Evan's eyes widened, a rare flicker of shock crossing his face. "What?"

Suri's gaze darted to him, catching his reaction but choosing not to press.

Aurora continued, [The individual demonstrated abilities beyond human limits. It's not just raw power—his body shows advanced adaptation. He appears to be utilizing cosmic energy to significantly amplify his capabilities. Based on my analysis, this energy boosts his capabilities several times over.]

Evan clenched his fists, his mind racing. The implications of such a force were staggering.

"What about Daniel?" he asked, keeping his voice steady despite the turmoil within.

[He has managed to escape. I implemented countermeasures to assist him. He's en route back to base, but the situation remains precarious. Fortunately, my secondary instance, though unable to communicate directly with me, is self-sustaining and capable of gathering valuable data from the field. Once Daniel arrives, I will synchronize and provide a full report.]

Evan began pacing, his expression growing darker with each passing second. "This is worse than I thought," he muttered under his breath.

"The situation is more precarious than we can think of," he finally said aloud, his tone grim.

Suri studied him, sensing the weight of his words but remained silent. Meanwhile, Evan's mind churned, calculating contingencies and strategies.

"Prepare everything for Daniel's return," he instructed Aurora. "I want every shred of detail on this Adrian, down to the last fragment of data."

[Understood.]

As Aurora's voice faded, the room fell into a tense silence. Suri's gaze lingered on Evan, her usual calm now edged with concern.

"You know something you don't want to say," she remarked quietly.

Evan didn't respond right away. His gaze remained fixed on the map, but his mind was elsewhere.

"Let's just hope Daniel's data gives us answers," he said at last, his voice distant. "Because if this Adrian is who I think he is… we're facing something far bigger than we ever imagined."

_____

Deep within the heart of Area 51, Walter sat alone in his dimly lit office, waiting for the latest report on Daniel. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the sleek surface of his desk, his expression unreadable but heavy with anticipation.

The door creaked open, and Adrian stepped inside. He bowed his head briefly before speaking.

Walter looked at his secretary whose disguise he had taken to meet with Daniel.

"They have managed to evade our missiles and escape the airspace despite all your hard work sir."

"And we aren't sure if he found out anything more.Contrary to your expectations they aren't any hack attempts on their sides while we also fail to hack into their communication, " Adrian said, his voice carrying a mixture of frustration and reluctance.

Walter's jaw tightened, though his face betrayed little emotion. "I see," he replied, his tone calm but laced with an icy undercurrent. After a moment of silence, he continued, "Despite taking all measures, it seems we've underestimated Evan. Gravely underestimated."

His gaze drifted, distant as his thoughts took over. "I knew something was suspicious after Fabiano returned," Walter said. "When I checked him myself, I found his brainwashed and his mind tempered with—those nerve gears. And now, Daniel…"

Walter's expression darkened as the memory surfaced: glimpses from Daniel's mind replayed itself vividly—a world far beyond anything he could have imagined.

An AI with capabilities that rivaled human intelligence, no, surpassed it. It wasn't just self-sustaining; it felt human, alive. Gadgets and weapons powerful enough to obliterate nations, knowledge so vast that it bordered on omniscience. Walter couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't mere human ingenuity; it felt otherworldly.

"It's as if he's from another time," Walter murmured. "Or maybe… something beyond this world. An alien entity, perhaps? Or someone who has somehow leaped across centuries of progress."

He shook his head, dispelling the thoughts before they could distract him further. "Whatever it is, we cannot let him continue. This is how far it goes. He's far too dangerous to be left unchecked."

Leaning back in his chair, Walter allowed a humorless smile to spread across his face. "Someone once said something very true," he began. "Peace is just the failure of war."

Adrian remained silently, observing his boss with a growing sense of unease. Walter's words carried a weight that made the air in the room feel thicker.

Their encounter with Daniel had been bizarre, almost surreal. Disguised as Walter, Adrian had faced Daniel directly. But the situation had spiraled into chaos before they could extract anything useful. Thankfully, no one had been killed, but it had been a close call.

"Sir, what should we do now?" Adrian finally asked, breaking the silence.

Walter turned his piercing gaze to Adrian, who involuntarily stiffened.

"Death," Walter said, his voice as cold as steel. But then he paused, a grim smile forming on his lips. "No, not just death. That's not enough."

Adrian felt his blood run cold as Walter continued, his tone dripping with finality. "We need to erase his entire existence—completely. Wipe him and everything connected to him from this world. Only then can we ensure he's no longer a threat."

Walter's laughter echoed through the room, sharp and chilling. Adrian stood frozen, his mind racing but unable to fathom the full depths of Walter's resolve.

"Prepare everything," Walter ordered, his voice like a blade. "This time, there will be no escape."

Adrian nodded quickly and left the room, leaving Walter alone once more. The dim light cast long shadows on the walls as Walter leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled in front of him.
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"This is the end, Evan," he muttered to himself, his tone filled with icy resolve. "Your brilliance will end here. You can't be left alive even in the memories."