New ERA Saga

Chapter 07 – Breakfast at the Restaurant

The day passed, Nouel, feeling too lazy to cook, headed to a restaurant to satisfy his hunger. Fortunately, this morning he didn’t have any appointments, so he could relax a bit. As the leader of the Wolf Team, he usually had a lot on his plate, but this morning was an exception.

Nouel left his apartment that morning, wearing glasses with dark blue lenses. Something unusual was happening to him, perhaps due to yesterday’s mission or for some other reason. As he entered the elevator, descending floor by floor, Nouel’s vision started to conjure up images he had never experienced before. It began with scenes from his life with a young man who was his friend, then encounters with people who didn’t exist in the present.

“AI,” Nouel immediately activated his AI Assistant, which he had created to assist with tasks and activities.

“Yes, Nouelvaegnr, how can I assist you?” the AI asked in a female voice.

“Scan my brain, check for any side effects from yesterday’s mission. I feel like the enemy might have launched a mental attack through my helmet.”

“Scanning in progress.”

At that moment, the elevator stopped, the doors opened, and several people entered. Automatically, his glasses scanned those who entered the elevator and displayed their biographical data.

Nouel averted his gaze, causing all the biodata to disappear. As the elevator resumed its descent, the AI delivered its findings.

“Scan complete. Nouelvaegnr, my system did not detect any anomalies. Your brain activity is normal, and there is no damage.”

“That’s strange, I must be hallucinating,” Nouel muttered, puzzled by the AI’s information.

The AI added more information. “However, we did find some backup memory activity.”

“What? Have I lost my memory?” Nouel asked, becoming even more confused because he didn’t feel like anything was missing from his memory.

“This backup isn’t necessarily due to memory loss. There are several possibilities. First, an external party may have secretly transmitted memories. Another possibility is an attempted attack on your mind, and the third is that these are memories intentionally stored and hidden. I can confirm that none of these activities have disrupted your brain.” The AI provided a reasonable explanation.

“I see.”

“Is there anything else I can assist with?” the AI inquired.

When the elevator doors opened, Nouel walked through the lobby and was greeted by a receptionist who appeared to admire him. Nouel simply smiled and waved.

“Can you disable the biodata feature on these glasses? I don’t want to see everyone’s information,” Nouel requested with a hint of discomfort, as he found it somewhat intrusive.

“Of course.”

“Biodata scanner deactivated. Is there anything else I can assist with?”

After stepping outside, he paused on the sidewalk for a moment. Then, he surveyed his surroundings before giving another command to the AI, “I’d like breakfast. Recommend a nearby and delicious restaurant, and place my order as well.”

“Command executed. The system will list breakfast options at the nearest location with a focus on tastiness, healthiness, and suitability to your preferences while filtering out disliked food types.” The AI provided a more detailed explanation to ensure Nouel received a specific breakfast menu that he would surely approve of.

“Oh, and make sure there are no disturbances. I want to enjoy my meal in peace.” Nouel issued another command while walking along the bustling sidewalk.

“I will block any disruptions, including calls,” the AI took control, blocking all forms of transmission.

After a second of processing the previous command, the scan results came in, and the AI reported, “The nearest restaurant has been located, approximately one and a half kilometers away. The menu has been scanned, and we have selected the best dishes among the options available.”

“Seafood? That’s quite rare. Excellent. Have you already placed the order?” Nouel responded, showing interest.

“The order has been received, and the transaction has been completed,” the AI replied.

“Good. I’m done with you.”

“Very well.”

The AI assistant then deactivated.

Nouel then jogged lightly, almost like a morning run, along the sidewalk. He removed his glasses, observing the busy inhabitants of Lycaelus City going about their activities. He didn’t dwell on the visions he had experienced, he didn’t care much whether they were memories or something else. What mattered most was that they didn’t have any adverse effects on him.

The view of Lycaelus City was similar to that of any modern city. Holographic billboards displayed place names, product advertisements, and more. Smooth, noiseless vehicles moved along the streets, hardly disrupting the soundscape.

Most of the city’s inhabitants had machine-enhanced bodies covered in synthetic skin. They were cyborgs, but their appearances were indistinguishable from humans. The glasses Nouel wore were the only things that could reveal the mechanical components beneath their synthetic skin. Therefore, Nouel deliberately took off his glasses to view this beautiful city from a normal perspective.

In the sky, a semi-transparent blue dome enveloped the entire massive city, invisible to the naked eye but visible through special devices like Nouel’s glasses.

Throughout his journey, Nouel saw various holographic displays, with the majority featuring promotions by a company named NewTech Industries. This company was the world’s largest and had branches in cities all under domes.

Upon arriving at the chosen restaurant, Nouel was scanned and greeted by a waiter who was clearly a cyborg. He received excellent service, and the waiter was very formal and complimentary.

After sitting down, several waiters promptly placed his ordered food and drinks on the table.

The restaurant selected by the AI had a luxurious and elegant ambiance with a calm atmosphere. From the outside, the sunlight streaming in gave the interior a unique glow. The spacious restaurant featured numerous elegant wooden tables and comfortable chairs. Waitstaff in black and white uniforms served food and drinks with utmost courtesy.

Despite being in a new era, the restaurant didn’t adopt a futuristic theme, its ambiance remained reminiscent of beautiful, luxurious restaurants filled with antiques and fresh plants by every window. Something highly cherished by people of the future.

Around Nouel, several guests were enjoying their lunch and engaging in lively conversations with friends or colleagues. Laughter and stories filled the air, creating a relaxed atmosphere.

While Nouel filled his stomach, he noticed holographic screens displaying news and advertisements. Once again, the advertisements centered around NewTech Industries, introducing an advanced weapon said to be a breakthrough in the defense and security industry.

NewTech Industries was a major corporation dedicated to developing new technology to improve the world post-nuclear war. They were pioneers in cyborg development and cutting-edge medical technology. Additionally, they had expanded into the military arms and equipment business, supplying the military forces of various nations, which was unsurprising since in this era, the military relied on the company for all their needs.

“This technology, I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. I can’t believe they’ve only just created it, it seems quite ordinary,” Nouel mumbled softly. He then continued to enjoy his exquisite meal.

For context, in Nouel’s city and this era, natural foods like vegetables, fruits, and meat were quite expensive due to the lengthy manufacturing process that made them scarce. Therefore, the restaurant he visited was high-end, specializing in natural foods.

So, what about the citizens who needed basic sustenance?  Scientists had created synthetic vegetables, fruits, and meat in laboratories. With adequate technology, lab-grown foods could mature rapidly, taking less than a month before fruits, vegetables, and synthetic meat were ready for consumption and distribution.

Unfortunately, lab-grown foods tasted different from natural ones, the flavor of natural foods was far superior. These synthetic foods became the staple diet of the surviving human population, being not only more affordable but also readily available. Every surviving nation had adopted this approach.

The newly created foods contained substantial amounts of carbohydrates, protein, and vitamins, and they were believed to taste as delicious as the moa bird, an extinct creature that had been renowned for its exquisite meat centuries ago.

Even though he felt full, Nouel continued eating to ensure that his order wouldn’t go to waste. Not only did the food taste delicious, but he also didn’t want to waste it because he was aware that many people in the city struggled with food shortages. He also didn’t want to squander his money, so he made an effort to finish his meal.

After some time had passed, and his order had been fully consumed, Nouel left the restaurant. Upon reaching the restaurant’s courtyard, he took a deep breath and surveyed the surroundings. The restaurant was located in a highland area, offering a clear view of the city.

In reality, a food crisis had led to the creation of synthetic food produced in laboratories, as opposed to traditional farming and livestock. This was something rare in Nouel’s time, and it remained a mystery as to how they still managed to obtain agricultural and livestock products at such high prices.

While strolling, Nouel witnessed a group of young people wreaking havoc in the street. They were smashing store windows and vandalizing parked cars on the roadside.