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A Backpack, a Gun and a Codex Interlude 2 - Decision
It had been days since Albert's social withdrawal. He wanted, but he could not overcome the series of trauma that befell him. He was lost. Lost in his memories. Lost in his sense of ethics and morality. His mind was wandering among the vast pool of thoughts, which overlapped and interfered with each other into a complexity that he did not even want to comprehend. Next to him, there were empty bottles of wine, rolling on the floor. He did not bother going out to restock his groceries. He trapped himself inside his house, the only comfort zone that he probably had. Like his mind, his body wandered around the house, aimlessly. The food in the refrigerator depleted, slowly but steadily. The dust had accumulated around the house due to no cleaning. If only something would save him from this misery. "Knock. Knock." Speak of the devil. Somebody is knocking on the door. Albert remembered that he installed a doorbell but did not even care enough to question it. He made his bod
A Backpack, a Gun and a Codex Chapter 53 - Desert Artefact (part 1)
2055, As far as it is concerned, we have detected no spike in the activity of the Intruders despite us posing great threats to them. Sometimes, we would raid their yellow-level facilities to slow their progress down. Thanks to the stolen technology of gravitational charge, our raids go more smoothly. Ordinary bullets are charged up to the energy equivalent to a railgun projectile, making a powerful addition to the arsenal. Additionally, the sphere can generate a gravitational field within a limited radius, opening up to a variety of tactics. But let us neglect that story. We have other things to discuss. - Mirai. Guess what. - Yes? - I land a job. We are sitting on the couch in our living room. Mirai is still busy upgrading our technology level, but we have been stagnant since then. The gravitational charge technology can be utilised, but cannot be replicated. Also, one person cannot have an infinite pool of creativity and brainpower to create new
A Backpack, a Gun and a Codex Chapter 54 - Desert Artefact (part 2)
Monday, 5 July 2055, - Good morning! Let's see, Yuusha Takahashi, right? Welcome to Anderu Corporation, Tokyo branch. I will be your supervisor, you can refer to me as Yoichiro. - Thanks, Mr Yoichiro. Nice to work with you. - No problem! Let me bring you to our office. Today is the first day that I go to work. I am standing in front of the big company building, and a person in a very formal vest and tie already stands there, greeting me. Knowing that he is my supervisor through the company mail, I approach him and we exchange firm handshakes. After the talks, he brings me deep into the building. We take the lift and it brings us to the tenth floor. The lift door opens directly to a large room with a comparable table in the centre. There are many doors on the wall, neatly lined up. - This is our department. We are currently standing in the conference room, also the main room for department meetings or receiving customers, although it is t
A Backpack, a Gun and a Codex Chapter 55 - Desert Artefact (part 3)
The first month of work passes through like a breeze. I receive my first monthly payment. There is a fixed component and an additional 'work efficiency' payment. I do not pay much attention to it. The fixed component of an IT occupation can help me sustain until the next payment, both in terms of basic needs and the costly technological rampage by Mirai. It feels good to receive my salary, but there is another thing. - Hi, this is Yoichiro. Can you go to the conference room for five minutes? I want to talk to you. Yoichiro is speaking using the microphone near the doorbell. My nerves and muscles suddenly stiffen. - Yes, sir. Please give me a few seconds. Have I done something wrong? I am pretty sure that I have been an obedient subordinate. I finish all of the tasks assigned to me before the end of each working day. I do not provoke any quarrels or tensions with my colleagues. I am used to being put in trouble, but not this kind of thing. After g
A Backpack, a Gun and a Codex Chapter 56 - Desert Artefact (part 4)
- Clothes, checked. Personal hygiene items, checked. Laptop and charger, checked. All good. I am packing up to get ready for the temporary relocation. I need to make sure that whatever necessary luggage is put neatly in the tablet's archive. Even though Mirai's technology allows travelling back and forth in merely fifteen to twenty minutes, it is still a pain in the ass to do so. - Are you ready to go, Yuusha? - All good. I wear my tie, then polish my shoes. I need to keep a bare minimum appearance in front of the higher-ups there. Mirai is also busy gearing up. - Wait... Mirai, are you also going now? - Yea. I need to scout them to see where they would accommodate you, then rent a nearby hotel or house to make easy contact with you. - I thought you can simply intercept their emails or something. - I did, but I could not find any. So I would just fly there in advance and peek at them. Mirai goes to our backy
A Backpack, a Gun and a Codex Chapter 57 - Desert Artefact (part 5)
- You can alight now, Yuusha. - Thanks. The IT department guy steps out of the car and opens the door for me. I thank him and bring my suitcase out of the car. It is a small hotel next to a building with a huge logo of the Anderu Corporation. It looks like the check-in process was cleared before I arrive. The hotel receptionist hands me the key card to my room and asks the staff to lead me to my room, as soon as I enter the hotel. My room is on the highest floor. After we reach the room, I scan my key card to enter my room, and after making sure that the customer has occupied the room, the staff leaves. I wait until no footsteps can be heard and contact Mirai. - I have arrived at the accommodation venue. Have you found yourself somewhere to stay? After a few seconds, there is a signal from the other telecommunication device. I hear a response. - Yes, but actually no. There is a lot of free space around your hotel, so I planned to t
A Backpack, a Gun and a Codex Chapter 58 - Desert Artefact (part 6)
After clearing the payment, the ticket person calls another staff to bring us to the preparation room. There, we are handed a pair of augmented-reality goggles that looks like a head-sized ring and a controller in the form of an assault rifle. - Please wear this and hold the power button for a few seconds. I find a red button on the back of the ring and hold. After half a minute, the game graphics are loaded. Whatever background I see in my vision is the same, but the controller has been coated with a game-like design. It looks familiar. - Mirai, is this game some kind of collaboration with the virtual reality battle royale tournament? They just recycle the photon series design. - I tap on Mirai's back. - Most likely. This is also the first time I know that there are other modes around the world, although I know that the franchise is absurdly huge. A loading screen flashes through my vision, which shows a lengthy essay about the background story.
A Backpack, a Gun and a Codex Chapter 59 - Desert Artefact (part 7)
After a short discussion, I know that the boss has a few skills. The first one is an interruption skill. When we are some distance from each other, we can use our communication devices, but when the skill is active, long-distance communication is disabled. There are mechanisms around the museum that allows faster signal restoration. If the archaeologists are near the ghost, their vision will be slightly interfered with, as a warning feature. The second one is environmental manipulation. It can haunt (imaginary) artefacts, making them move around and disrupting the archaeologists. They can be shot down by the provided assault rifle. It can also randomly cause the rooms to move, either shaking the floor or causing fragments to fall on the archaeologists (of course virtual fragments are used to ensure safety). The third skill allows the phantom to temporarily switch between the phantom form, in which it can pass through structures but cannot interact directly with the archaeol
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Chapter 109 - Project Tomorrow (part 8)
- Have you received their money?- Yes, but ultimately, they agreed on half the maximum prize. It was a huge compromise on our side, but better than nothing. The money was wire-transferred into my decoy bank account this morning. A few days have passed since the filming of the game show. I was told to do nothing, as Mirai would handle the negotiation. Details of how they met up are intentionally omitted when I ask her, but she agrees to disclose how the negotiation progresses. Nobody knew the exact location of the room, but it represented the interrogation room, except nobody was having the edge. As per Mirai's request, they only brought three people. In the middle of the room, there was only a poorly maintained wooden table, with two chairs on opposite sides: Mirai on one side, and the main negotiator on the other side with two standing guards. The room was small, and the only source of light was a loosely hanging lamp. Their negotiator initiated the conversat
- A Backpack, a Gun and a Codex
Chapter 108 - Project Tomorrow (part 7)
With an abrupt gunshot, the screen that streams everything happening in the studio loses signal. Ali's face distorts and darkens: given how the strict protocols have kept the upper hand for him and the production crew, the incident is a surprise. He tries to contact the surrounding staff for help, but the electromagnetic interference system imposed on this room renders all his attempts futile. - I knew it! You have been the mastermind behind this scheme all along. Now we can legally arrest you for fraud...- I am pretty sure this is one of your operation blunders that resulted in a technical failure. On top of that, you have no grounds to frame me, and given how you said that everything I have to go through here is backed by the government, I wonder how this narrative would develop in case we see each other again in court.- Nonsense! As if somebody will trust the word of an ordinary person.- But how would you, the perpetrator, prove that whatev
- A Backpack, a Gun and a Codex
Chapter 107 - Project Tomorrow (part 6)
So the production team does not stop at heightened security.- You don't seem surprised at all.- I know the production team will go all out to protect the hefty sum of a billion pounds. It is just a matter of time before you rely on drastic measures, but to go this far... So, regarding the fifteenth question...- We have plenty of time. And the moment you incorrectly answer the last question, it is all over.- What makes you think that I will get the final question wrong?- Of course not you, but him.- Him? The screen in front of me shows the footage of the studio. Everything is there: the dramatic lighting and sound, the audience holding their breath, the host reading the question, and the contestant furrowing while listening carefully to every word. Except the people sitting at the podium are not Ali and I.- The moment I first saw your assistant pushing you into the office for registration, I have already felt s
- A Backpack, a Gun and a Codex
Chapter 106 - Project Tomorrow (part 5)
- Quick! Secure all exits of the television studio. Initiate first-level protocol. Focus security around studio 4-A. Hurried footsteps echo through the corridors and halls, as fully-armed police and military personnel impose a lockdown on the studio and check every nook and cranny for any intruders. The studio that hosts the game show is located in a fairly remote region near Cairo. As a national studio that produces most of the programmes in the country, its level of security is on par with a military base. The specific information of measures implemented is obfuscated to the public. Still, with some observation, one would realise that making any move within the studio needs meticulous planning from the most intelligent of humanity. As soon as every staff in the studio is mobilised, the girl starts to move. The trip sensors she installed throughout the studio have simultaneously triggered, capturing a huge movement.__________- The twelfth question is another
- A Backpack, a Gun and a Codex
Chapter 105 - Project Tomorrow (part 4)
- ... and despite being the country with the largest area in the world, boasting up to eleven different time zones, Russia is surprisingly not the country with the most time zones in the world. In fact, it is France that claims the crown as the country with the most time zones in the world, with twelve different time zones ranging from UTC-10:00 to UTC+12:00! This is attributed to the fact that France has many territories worldwide, which also highlights their significant presence worldwide.- Wow, that is a very detailed description, although it may be difficult for the audience to grasp what you are trying to say. But yes, the correct answer to the country with the most time zones is B, France! Let us give another round of applause for the amount of wisdom this fortitudinous man possesses! With Mirai's assistance from somewhere outside the studio, we breeze through the first ten questions ranging in all sorts of topics and requiring countless hours every day look
- A Backpack, a Gun and a Codex
Chapter 104 - Project Tomorrow (part 3)
- Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the thousandth show of the series "Who Wants to Be the Zillionaire?", a weekly trivia game show every Tuesday only available on Al-Hayat TV. I am your host, Ali, and today, to commemorate the thousandth show, the stakes have been raised. There are still fifteen questions, but each question is exponentially harder. In return, once the player clears all fifteen questions, he will win up to... A billion Egyptian pounds, approximately three billion yen or twenty million US dollars. That is ten years' worth of my previous salary or more. For thirty-three years of my life, I have never thought about this, because the odds of reaching the final question are as high as winning a lottery. However, with Mirai's help, getting the winning prize will be a breeze.- Let's welcome our player for today! Due to special circumstances, we will refer to him as T. Mr. T, please come in. The door to the game show arena opens., and I am immediately
- A Backpack, a Gun and a Codex
Chapter 103 - Project Tomorrow (part 2)
- It has been so long since we last talked in person. So, how have you been? - Let's say, my past few years have been a mess. You? - Same on my side. You cannot imagine how difficult it is to live around that woman. - From what I see, she is a very intelligent and awesome person, no? I envy you for having such a partner. - It is because of that so-called intelligence you praise her for, that I do not even understand what is going on in her head. I have a better chance of winning a lottery than guessing her mood. We quarrel almost every day. - However, if you think of it, it is those days that you argue that make you appreciate the days that you two live harmoniously together. Of course, I cannot speak for you, because my marriage is very peaceful back then... - I think I have mentioned this before, but please do not compare our dynamic with a married couple. - You are overthinking, brother. Albert and I
- A Backpack, a Gun and a Codex
Chapter 102 - Project Tomorrow (part 1)
2060, Sahara desert... Project Ashita... After the brief exchange with the Colonel-ranked Intruder named Lamabula, Mirai and I spent countless hours after the construction observation duty hours to devise a plan. After careful consideration, the seeds of Project Ashita are sown. Before introducing the project to the CEA survivors, Mirai initially hesitated, but she ultimately discussed it with Lamabula. Without a doubt, he burst into his signature, explosive laughter and rejoiced the moment Mirai mentioned the scale of the project, and willingly lent a portion of the base's space for the construction of the colossal battleship. So long as he deemed us subpar compared to the Intruders, he would continue lending assistance. However, the dangerous part of this rigged contract is that we do not know until when he would deem us sufficiently dangerous and suddenly cut all support. However, that has never been Mirai's concern, who can fight head-on with Lamabula, and whose distrust a
- A Backpack, a Gun and a Codex
Chapter 101 - The Future that Bet Life to Believe
Counter-Extraterrestrial Association, Egypt branch, 2060, From the outside, it looks like a small stand-up comedy house within the bustling tourist area of Cairo. However, in the basement, its true form is revealed. More than half of the basement area is for equipment and vehicle storage, and in the corner, a hydraulic lift is responsible for carrying them to the first floor. Deeper into the basement is the meeting room. Around the table, Mirai and Wilhelm sit next to each other, on the largest seat designated for high-ranking officials of the CEA or important people. Then, Ernst, Gottlob, Arthur, Maric, and I sit on the remaining seats. At the centre of the table, a hologram depicts the images of the current situation. Under the table, each seat will have a mouse which resembles a ball, so anyone can freely rotate or zoom in on the hologram projection for better observation. - Thank you everyone for being here. Before we start the impromptu meeting, two more people wo
