It had been a few days since the beta testing of the world's first fully immersive VR game by Kurt Technologies began, and the internet was still ablaze. Discussions about the game and the VR Pod dominated social media, news outlets, and tech forums alike. The anticipation in the air was tangible, and as each day passed, the public's patience grew thinner.
Everyone wanted one thing: the game and the Pod in their hands. The demand had skyrocketed so much that, even without an official price set by Kurt Technologies, the Pod had a speculative price tag of $278,000. And, in a strategic move, Silas had played his part in stirring the market further—leaking selective "misinformation" about the limited number of VR Pods available.
this chapter is NovelFire|le|mp|y r
The scarcity only intensified the frenzy, driving the speculative market into overdrive.
But of course, success never comes without complications. Just as people clamored for the release of the game and Pod, opposition arose from various corners. Kim found herself overwhelmed with calls from more than twenty powerful entities within just two days.
Besides the coalition of aging corporate giants that had already tried to buy their way into the game, new suitors emerged—international corporations, tech conglomerates, and investment firms, all with the same request, though dressed up in different ways: access to the Pod or, even better, the technology behind.
Some offered staggering sums of money, while others hinted at strategic partnerships. Silas couldn't help but laugh when Kim relayed their demands. It wasn't surprising—they were reacting exactly as he'd predicted. What amused him was just how transparent their desperation had become.
The first tactic they used was trying to buy shares in Kurt Technologies, but they quickly ran into a brick wall. Kim, patient and professional, reminded them repeatedly that Kurt Technologies was a privately owned company—no shares available for purchase.
Realizing they couldn't buy their way in, they shifted strategies, offering to purchase the Pods outright, naming prices that would make most companies jump at the opportunity.
But amidst the noise, the most persistent challenges came from global powers. The U.S. government, never subtle in its approach, was the first to make its intentions clear. Their calls barely masked their true objective: they wanted the Pod and, more importantly, the technology that powered it.
They framed their interest as cooperation, but the underlying demand was clear—share the tech or face potential consequences. To the USA, the pod and VR game had much more meaning, to them, it was a strategic asset, one that could reshape military training, national security, and global influence.
And they weren't alone. Kim fielded calls from Russia, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UK, each vying for a piece of the technology behind Kurt Technologies. These governments saw the strategic advantage such tech could offer, from military simulations to remote operations, and they wanted control. Silas had no illusions about what they would do with the technology if they got their hands on it.
Yet he remained unmoved. There was no chance he would give them what they wanted. If anything, their demands only played into his hands, giving him the pretext he needed to launch the next phase of his plans. He knew this game, and he was playing it better than they realized.
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In the midst of the chaos, Silas's phone rang with a call from an unknown number. He glanced at the display and couldn't help but smile. Even though it appeared as an unknown number, he could already see the information on the caller.
For a moment, he considered letting it ring, but curiosity won out. He accepted the call, a smirk on his lips as he leaned back in his chair.
"If it isn't the one and only Empress, Elizabeth Frederick," he greeted smoothly.
There was a brief pause on the other end, then a low, confident chuckle. "It's been a while, Silas. I hear you've been busy turning the world upside down."
Silas's grin widened. This was going to be interesting.