- Too risky! As expected. We are in a heated discussion with the department directors, who keep rejecting my plan because they are risk-averse. - Listen. You have to remember that you are just an ordinary employee in the IT department, and if not for your boss who convinced the executives to keep you, you would have been dismissed the moment you stepped out of Egypt. And do you understand the word 'budget'? Look. we do not want things to escalate, and just try to help you realise what your job is. - Because I am in the IT department, I can access all sorts of data in the company if they are not restricted. That is why I say that it is possible. - Well, show us. With Mirai backing up, I cannot wait to see the eyes of the men, who condescendingly talk to me, shining up as if they see an entire gold mine. But no, after this, they will see a literal one. After walking towards the large screen, I place my tablet on the table to establish a

Plunging across the sea of sand like speedboats, making waves of sand bursting behind their backs, after exactly one minute, the jeeps (or some kind of vehicle not even a jeep anymore) stop at the research site. The temperature starts dropping, forerunning the incoming night in the desert. Another reason mining activities are limited in deserts is the wild fluctuation in daily temperature. Screw all the scorching heat workers endure during the daytime, the sub-zero nighttime temperature is sufficient to deter anyone from setting up facilities here. On top of that, without vehicles as fast as pods, deserts are the most remote areas one would ever imagine working at. Except for the Internet connection, there is nothing to entertain themselves during off-work hours. While I am regaining my sense of direction, the research team has completed dismantling equipment from the jeep storage. The destination is a small oasis a few tens of kilometres away from the Intruders' base. The oas

We return to the shelter the following day after placing bugs at five blue crosses. We bring the sleepy people back to their rooms and clean up the banquet. There are around three hours left before the anaesthesia wears off. On the next morning, the army of jeeps goes to an area nearby, where we have earlier confirmed that the ore density is high enough to conduct mining activities. While Mirai goes to help the research team assemble their equipment, I, along with the other men from the escorting team, sit on the back of one of the jeeps, observing the surrounding. I withdraw a pack of cigarettes from my pocket, take one out, ignite the end and smoke. Since Mirai advocates for health and imposes her ideology on me, it has been a long time since I get to smoke, and the feeling of pleasure and familiarity spread through my entire body. I give one to the man next to me. - Here, have one. - Sure. But, I thought you are the team leader. Why are you sitting here?

It was a silent night near the end of the year 2059. The streets were already decorated with huge Christmas trees and illuminated with neon lights. That was probably the only time of the year that the city looked visually colourful at night. The Australians, as always, gathered at homes before the veil of darkness encapsulated the sky, but the absence of any human sounds did not make the night any less vibrant. If one had an acute sense of hearing, one could hear the faint humming of traditional Christmas songs in the background. In a not-so-peaceful backstreet near the University of New South Wales, the hurried footsteps of a man disrupted the tranquillity. It was followed by a series of silenced gunshots from at least three armed persecutors. The man was also carrying a handgun, but he well knew that the moment he stopped running, his body will become a slice of cheese, full of holes. And why did it become as such? Everything happen at lightspeed, and he had to suppress h

The foundation of the construction mine has already been built, thus the structural disruptions due to the leaks of gravitational waves are relatively minor. After relishing in joy, Mirai and I help the construction team to pick up tools on the ground. And now, in the control room, locked and without any speck of light, the three of us sit around a table. We try to keep the atmosphere as chill as possible, but if Maric plans to make a move, Mirai would not hesitate to pin her down again. While I sit with my arms supporting my head, Mirai takes out a syringe and plays with it in her hand. It seems that Maric immediately recognises what liquid is in the syringe just from its purple colour. Mirai does not take long to realise the panic coming from the subject and confirms her deduction. - That! How do you have that? This is even out of bounds to some high-ranked personnel! - Ah, so you know what this is. Then let's go to the main part, shall we? Knowing tha