Chapter 55 - Utility

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The first week of April 2013, in an industrial complex near Seoul.

Mr. Lee and his family carried a bag in each hand while waiting for someone to pick them up.

A black SUV rolled up in front of a random warehouse and flashed its headlights.

It was an agreed-upon signal, and the family entered the SUV without saying a word.

"Where are you taking us?" Mr. Lee asked a man wearing tinted glasses sitting at the front passenger seat.

"Our organization is active worldwide, but the boss decided to take you to the north." the mysterious man replied.

"The north? As in North Korea?!" Mr. Lee shouted in reply as his family was frightened by what the man said.

"You will do your part, Mr. Lee. That is the deal. Follow instructions, and you will keep your lives." the man stated in a monotonous tone.

[Maybe imprisonment was a much better option.] Mr. Lee pondered while the vehicle left Seoul.

Across the globe, Vince was testing a beta version of Everlife Online on his office workstation computer. He was controlling a photorealistic human character, driving around a fictional version of Miami City.

Kyle was also playing Everlife Online right next to Vince and wanted some feedback regarding the final beta.

"As you suggested before the development of Everlife Online, Future Studios added more employees to the video games division and is now 5,000 strong. Half of them worked on the single-player Everlife experience, and the rest are polishing the Everlife Online features and maintaining War Online." Kyle explained.

"We also hired the Russo Brothers as you instructed last year as directors for the single-player story. In addition, Robert Downey Jr., Jennifer Lawrence, and Dwayne Johnson did excellent work in our motion capture and voice-over sessions." Kyle added.

"The game itself looks finished. I think Future Studios should rent a large booth in E3 in June to reveal Everlife to the public." Vince replied.

"Excellent idea, Vince! I was so busy with Everlife Online and FT VR that I forgot about those expos. I'll have my team book a booth, for sure." Kyle replied excitedly.

"Leave space for Future Education. I want to tease the new MVR Visor to our passionate gamer fans. They'll go crazy after trying a demo." Vince said jokingly.

Kyle and Vince continued playing a mini-game within Everlife for an hour before Vince had to go back to work.

Vince received a call from Richard, the FT Investments executive director.

He opened the secure comlink channel and accepted Richard's call request.

"Richard, how is the market doing?" Vince asked.

"The South Korean economy is stabilizing, so we've stopped shorting the Won. FT Investments used our $20 billion in cash and turned an impressive profit of $40 billion from shorting and bought plenty of South Korean businesses, including a K-POP entertainment company." Richard explained.

"Good work, Richard. Does the K-POP company only promote music groups?" Vince asked curiously.

"The company owns a few popular K-POP groups but mainly produces Korean dramas for television," Richard replied.

"Have the entertainment company continue producing whatever they were before we acquired them. Invest some cash and have them create Afghan TV shows we can air in Kandahar. Of course, they will have to recruit talented Afghan writers and actors. You can keep the cash for further investments." Vince instructed.

"Understood, Boss," Richard said before closing the comlink channel.

Aiya walked into Vince's penthouse office and found him and Kyle playing Everlife.

"Vince, President Obama is live in a press conference talking about the data security issue," Aiya stated.

"Turn on the TV. I want to watch it." Vince instructed.

Aiya turned on the flatscreen TV and switched the channel to FOX News.

President Obama had a speech prepared for the press conference and started talking.

"Good day, citizens of the United States. Sensitive information has come to light after a series of unfortunate events—first, the corporate espionage attempt, and now the Snowden Leaks. My administration has deliberated for days now and has concluded the importance of mass surveillance in a post 9/11 society. Therefore, from this day onward, any state-sanctioned surveillance shall be disclosed publicly. In addition, all NSA facilities within Verizon, AT&T, and other telecommunications companies will retreat to NSA headquarters and operate from there."

"The United States government will officially monitor the use of the public internet, and any citizen retains the freedom to choose whether to use the inconvenient and insecure dark web or the public network. Due to Future Tech's contributions and achievements, the Federal Government has granted them a telecommunication utilities deal to provide secure public internet services to any citizen interested. The NSA will now require a formal process to gather user data from telecommunications companies instead of directly being involved. I hope you understand the importance of tracking online metadata, and I can assure you that none of your lives will change for the worse. The US government will strive to provide a convenient and fulfilling life to all our citizens. And lastly, we've decided to absolve Edward Snowden of his actions and welcome him back to the United States. Thank you all." President Obama said in his signature tone before leaving the press conference.

[I'm surprised they absolved Snowden. However, my conversation with the President did change his views. Things turned out completely different compared to my past life.] Vince pondered.

In China, Edward Snowden was watching the press conference in shock.

[I succeeded?! I was so prepared to live a life on the run, but things turned out for the best. I just wanted people to know and had no intention and ability to stop the government from surveilling the masses.] So Snowden thought while booking a flight back to the United States.

At a random lavish American home, a couple spoke to each other after watching the press conference. The husband earned a fortune by trading Bitcoin and Altcoins and was horrified to hear the insecure status of the internet.

"Dear, I'll opt to use Future Tech communication services for our company from now on. We'll have to protect our data, and Future Tech has been competent enough to protect my Bitcoin and Bitcash. I'll use their service for my Altcoins too." the husband said.

"I think it's for the best, honey. You've spent your entire life savings in trading War Online digital goods and speculating around Altcoins. I would feel much safer if you secure our information with a trusted company." the wife replied honestly.

Similar conversations were shared across the United States, from website startups who were already using Future Tech products for full-stack development to regular consumers who just wanted peace of mind.

In the office penthouse, Vince finished playing Everlife and focused on further business expansion.

[I've spent most of my capital on telecommunications the past year. $30 billion investing in Future Tech for research, development, installation, and security culminate at this moment. If the attack weren't thwarted, I'd be in a nightmare situation right now. I can't slip.] So Vince pondered while doing the same thing he did before time traveling, kept busy with work.

Billions of dollars worth of satellites, radio masts, and data access nodes began experiencing a surge of users from the United States. As a result, Future Tech had entered into the consumer telecommunications industry valued at half a trillion dollars.

Utilities like water and electricity are highly profitable due to servicing a mass market. Likewise, Future Tech consumer products raked in plenty of cash, but there's only a limited amount of money an average person would spend on a computer or electronic device. Network services, though, require a subscription which increases profitability in the long run.

"Aiya, please call Hudson up to my office," Vince instructed while typing on his laptop.

"As you say, Vince." the butler bot replied softly.

A caucasian man in his 40s entered the room and greeted Vince.

"How may I help, Vince?" Hudson asked courteously.

"Who has contributed most to Future Tech NetServ in the past year? I'll be promoting a new executive director." Vince asked.

"One that comes to mind is a man named Azuma Tetsuo, or just Azuma. He began working at Bitcoin Market long before you bought it two years ago. Azuma specializes in physical and virtual network infrastructure and is a core member of Bitcash." Hudson explained.

"Say no more. Bitcash was very important to our early successes, and it seems like Azuma was pivotal in his role. Promote him to executive director of Future Tech NetServ, and have him ready for expansion outside the United States." Vince instructed before dismissing Hudson.

[Those Bitcash guys are OG like Future Studios. I can attribute my early wealth primarily to them.] Vince pondered while he was working.

Stats last time checked:

Future Tech current valuation - $300 billion

15 million BTC (currently trades at $1,000)

$55 Billion cash in Future Tech

26,000+ employees (FT AI, Future Studios, Hive Mind Manufacturing, FT Micro Devices, BitCash, FT VR, Future Tech F1, FT Investments, Future Arms, Future Med, Future Tech Robotics, Future Education)

20,000+ operators under Future Security

Personal Vehicles: Klassen Phantom, Agera R, Agera SFV, Boeing Luxury 787 Dreamliner

Five company collaborators (Epic, Koenegisegg, SpaceX, Tesla, Hyundai C&E)

Dozens of investments under Future Tech Holdings (i..e., Instagram)

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