15 A World of Enemies (Edited)

Infinite Realm

<<< 997-998-999-100 trillion, 100 trillion and 1... Sire, your physical prowess transcends human imagination. If only I could scan your body, that way I can better observe the construction of your muscles and fibers, but I can't even detect your presence, let alone attempt to scan you. It's truly a pain this young sir cannot bear.>>>

In his infinite realm, within a spacious chamber with a gym-like design, Patrick lay on a bench-pressing machine as he bench-pressed a pole with over twenty racks of plates on both sides. On each of the weight plates was "100 TM." Although one might expect the weights to be heavy, Patrick effortlessly lifted the weights with ease, making the weights look like feathers. Noticing Alpha's silence, Patrick spoke.

"Alpha, tired of counting?"

<<< Sire, my apologies, but I can't keep up with your speed. My last count was merely a guess, hopefully, my guess wasn't far off.>>>

"Actually...," Patrick began speaking as he settled the racks of weight on the stand, he then sat, his face not showing the faintest sweat, as if he hadn't been exercising at all. He continued with a casual smile, "... your guess wasn't only far off, it was a different dimension far off... that was my trillionth set of nine hundred and ninety-nine decillion reps."

<<<....! >>>

"Master. Should I include physical exercise in your daily schedule?."

"I don't see why not... that's fine. And Grace, please increase the weights next time, this one was too light."

"Very well, Master, I shall increase the weights from 100 Trillion Multiverses per plate to Infinite Multiverses per plate. Does that sound satisfactory, Master?"

"... It doesn't really change anything, but it's the idea that counts, so yes. Besides, working out has become habitual."

Patrick spoke as he approached another machine, this one being a weight-squatting workout machine. As Patrick stood underneath the pole, one hundred racks of plates simultaneously materialized on both sides of the pole, each weight plate having "∞M" etched on it. Causally lifting the weights over his head and placing them on his back, Patrick began his workout of squatting.

A trembling sound reverberated throughout the scene as Patrick squatted at a speed invisible to even high-dimensional beings (Us the readers). Alpha floated not far from Patrick as it constantly took pictures and videos of its Sire despite not being able to even see its Sire's physical body, Patrick was squatting at a speed so fast his figure faded with the surroundings. But despite that, Alpha multiplied as its figure filled the entire spacious gym, making Patrick's known location the center of attention. The scene resembled a celebrity surrounded by ravenous paparazzi with the solid aim of capturing the best shots of their favorite celebrity, but in this case, Alpha was the ravenous paparazzi capturing photographs of its Sire.

________

At the broadcasting station, Ludwick walked in a hallway, followed by a group of people. The majority of the people surrounding him were paparazzi, who constantly flashed their camera lights, taking dozens of photos of him; some were news reporters energetically following and holding their mics to Ludwick's face as they bombarded him with questions.

"Mr. Ludwick, when will you reveal the true owner of King Technologies?!" "One second please, Mr. Ludwick, who are your financial team members and how were they able to prevent King Technologies from losing even a penny in the recent economic crash?!" "Excuse me, Mr. Ludwick!! Is it true King Technologies has something to do with the sudden increase in emerging Gates?!-"

Suddenly, from among the crowd of questioning reporters, a woman's voice over a megaphone sounded, her voice topping the rest of the reporters, causing the scene to go silent and instigating Ludwick to stop, which also forced the bunch of reporters to follow suit. With a frowning eyebrow, Ludwick stared through the crowd to see where this female voice originated from; as if understanding his intention, the crowd of reporters orderly opened a path for Ludwick to see as a young woman, seemed to be in her mid-twenties, was revealed standing with a megaphone.

The woman was quite beautiful, her hair neatly straightened out as it lay over her slim back. She wore grey long office pants which gripped her thighs and a matching coat with a white long-sleeve shirt underneath which covered her breasts. She had doe eyes, a pointed nose, and small lip and was mix-skinned of Indian and European. Seeing the cleared path, the young woman began walking towards Ludwick with a visitor tag hanging over her neck, indicating she was a guest at the broadcasting company.

The crowd shockingly gazed at the beautiful yet brazen woman as some couldn't help but be amazed at her beauty, even wholly ignoring her rude behavior of using a megaphone in a closed area. But contrary to the crowd's reaction, Ludwick held a calm and unreactive face as he stared at the incoming young woman, he suddenly pretended to check his watch as he double-tapped the classic-looking but technologically advanced watch on his left wrist.

Immediately after tapping his watch, Ludwick's eyes lightly shone white as if wearing contact lenses, he then stared at the woman as a certain recognizable voice sounded from a tiny earpiece in his right ear.

<+ Scanning subject's facial image for identity information... searching all databases... subject found... summarizing information.< p>

The subject is Natasha Page, 24 years old and a graduating student at the Institue of Journalism, current debt of D$ 30,000. Tracing background... subject's parents are immigrants, the father is deceased, and the subject's mother is in critical condition at the Metro City General Hospital due to clogged Mana veins, Mana surgery procedures cost D$ 15,000. Hacking W.A.O and other Awakened organizations... The subject is not a registered Awakened... Subject's threat level...low. +>

"So she is not an Awakened, that levels the plane field then! Thanks, Alpha, sometimes I don't know what I would do without you."

Dylan Ludwick murmured to himself as he pretended to adjust his sleeves and covered his watch. Within mere seconds, the lesser version of Alpha, which seems to be the installed artificial intelligence in King Technologies, provided every known detailed information about the young woman, leaving her completely exposed before Ludwick. The woman finally reached Ludwick as she held her visitor badge and spoke.

"Natasha Page, student at the Institute of Journalism, I hope you didn't find my action unpleasant, after all, I am a news reporter trying to do my job."

"... Not at all, Miss Page, I don't mind, please, ask your question."

The scene went silent again as even Natasha was left speechless. She couldn't help but voice her thoughts.

"...Really?! Just like that?!"

"Just like what?! I thought you would like to ask your question properly. You make some bold accusations against my employer and my company, I wouldn't like to leave such reputation-staining accusations unanswered. After all, all it takes for rumors to spread is one mouth."

Hearing this, the young woman, Natasha assumed an impressed expression as he continued with a flushed face. Clearing her throat, she spoke.

"Ehem... Very well then. Mr. Ludwick, it's no news that King Technologies not only manufactures highly advanced technologies but also indulges in the profit of making Mana-operated devices such as Environment Detection Devices, otherwise EDDs, Presence Erasing Pens, personal electronic devices, motor vehicles, and many more of which I cannot name all... but we can safely agree your company profits greatly from the existence of Gates. Since you are the manufacturer of such reality-defying techs; my question here is, if you have the knowledge and technology that can affect even powerful Awakened and provide resistance against Gates, what is there to say you don't also possess the technology that forces the appearance of Gates?!"

"...!"

Silence permeated the scene as everyone stared at the young woman with impressed gazes, some reporters even switched their cameras to the woman, making her the center of attention. But other than looking at the young beautiful woman, some reporters also turned as they gave Ludwick an expecting gaze; as if expecting him to reply to the lady's question.

But contrary to public thought of hastily answering such accusations, Ludwick held an amused smile as he gently arranged his suit's coat. But just when Ludwick was about to open his mouth and speak, he paused and held an 'excuse me' finger to the lady, digging his right hand into his pocket, Ludwick pulled out his phone, an all-black screen with glass body. Holding the phone to his gaze, Ludwick had a change in expression, his calm and unbothered face instantly changing to that of seriousness and respect, as if receiving a call from an important figure.

Without an ounce of hesitation, Ludwick answered the phone.

"Sir?!"

With a serious face, Ludwick spoke as he attentively listened, as if a soldier awaiting orders from his commander. But instead of a long and commanding speech from the other party, all Ludwick heard was two words, these two words leaving him in shock as he couldn't hide his widened eyes and opened mouth. The words were, "It's time!"

The crowd stood confused as they witnessed the changing emotions of Mr. Ludwick, which went from calm to serious and respectful, then to utter shock and disbelief as if hearing the impossible. Even Natasha held a baffled expression as she halted her questioning. One of the reasons for her shock was even after the person on the phone had dropped the call, Mr. Ludwick still held his phone to his ear and stood shocked and in a stupor, just what news a man such as Mr. Ludwick, a billionaire, scientist, and inventor, must have heard for him to react like this? And who is so important that they can force an influential man like Mr. Ludwick to immediately answer their call?!

But suddenly returning to consciousness, Dylan Luwdick made an embarrassed cough as he spoke while handing a glass card to Natasha.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Natasha, but important matters request my presence. Here is my card, it comes with a one-time phone use, and I would like for us to discuss this sometime; Please give me a call when you are ready, and I will properly answer all your questions... excuse me..."

Ludwick spoke as he hurriedly walked past Natasha and rushed to the door's entrance. The crowd of reporters hurriedly followed behind him like flies to food as they continued with their questions and took dozens of pictures of him. The young woman, Natasha, remained standing at her location with a blushed but confused face as she stared at the glass card in her hand, which had "King Technologies" and Luwdick's name and position as the CEO designed on it. As if forgetting something, Natasha hurriedly turned as she saw the disappearing figure of Ludwick, who was now entering a black luxurious and advanced vehicle. The vehicle's back door closed as it drove away, leaving the bunch of information-hungry reporters and their clusters of flashing lights behind.

_______

In the black luxurious and advanced vehicle that drove Ludwick away, Ludwick loosened his necktie and opened his coat as he sighed exhaustingly.

"Sigh~ Is there any end to this invasion of privacy?"

"Well, if you had taken your friend's advice and hired bodyguards, you wouldn't have been in this position today."

"Are you serious, Ellan?! Now of all times, you choose to lecture me about hiring bodyguards?"

"What?! You are wealthy enough to hire the entire world as your bodyguard, and even better, you can also use any of those super high-tech robots you are supplying the military as your bodyguard, so why do you still prefer to appear in public unaccompanied?"

"... We are childhood friends, Ellan, you should know me better than anyone... we grew up in the streets of Metro City, where we had to survive by the hour, I didn't have bodyguards then, so I will not have bodyguards now, and besides, we are ordinary humans with no Awakened powers, what are our chances if a powerful Awakened sets to kill us?"

"Well, the answer is zero- huh?!"

"What is it?!" Ludwick asked with a concerned face, he stared at the Scottish-looking 38-year-old man expecting an answer.

"Dylan, the EDDs are picking up Mana signals of six Awakened coming from behind us at fast speeds." The driver spoke as he stared at a wide display screen, relaying the information to Ludwick. Listening to his friend and chauffeur, Ludwick assumed a serious face as he double-tapped his watch, pulling up a map that displayed six red dots closing in on their location, then, Ludwick suddenly murmured. "Alpha?!"

<+ On it, sir, connecting to our satellites... scanning for target information on the W.A.O and all underground organizations' databases... no data found six individuals, sir.+>

"So they are unregistered Awakened, and aren't from some underground organization either. Alpha, perform a world sweep and search every company or organization in the world. Maybe we are thinking too small."

<+ Yes, sir, .... data found, the six incoming individuals are Awakened mercenaries from X-Org, here their personal data...+>

"X-Org, huh? So they have resorted to assassination, I will deal with them later, but now I have more important matters to attend to. Alpha, take us out of here."

<+Right away, sire.+>

With Ludwick's command, the vehicle, which was at an increased speed of over a hundred miles per hour, suddenly began levitating, three seconds later, the wheels folded inwards and were replaced by a blue thrusting flame, which lifted the vehicle in the air, then, the backlights of the vehicle suddenly opened sideways as another blue thrusting flame stronger than before emerged from the back, the flames burst out as the vehicle was launched from its current location, it's figure vanishing from the scene and into the skies.

Exactly three seconds after the luxurious black vehicle took off, six red-masked figures, with the letter X on their mask foreheads, simultaneously flashed at the location where the vehicle took off. The six individuals stood in the middle of the highway street as they stared up at Ludwick's vanishing vehicle on the horizon. Disregarding the existence of other speeding civilian cars and motor vessels, the six individuals stood unbothered in their position, leading to the sudden break and crash of multiple cars, trucks, and motorcyclists. Fortunately, a motorcyclist survived the crashing vehicles as he skillfully sped past the chaos, but just when the motorcyclist was about to pass the six individuals, one of them, a tall bulky man of unknown description and origin, suddenly gripped the cyclist's head in the helmet, separating him from his bike, which crashed and exploded in the distance. 

The bulky man steadily raised the cyclist by the head with his left hand as he held the cyclist before him, staring at his reflection on the cyclist's helmet, the red-masked bulky man spoke with a heavy voice, his words seeming distant as if talking to someone else.

"He escaped! It seems King Tech's CEO is quite resourceful with his toys!"

-"And you chose to tell me of your failure instead of chasing after him?!"-

"..."

-"Listen, King Technologies holds the secret of how to integrate Mana with modern-day technology, and because of that, they have overshadowed every tech industry in the world. The only person knowledgeable of that secret is Dylan Ludwick, and since he doesn't plan to share such a godly scientific breakthrough with the world, we must take matters into our own hands. Capture Ludwick, keep him alive enough to extract the information from him, and remember, there is no room for mistakes, or else consider yourselves retired mercenaries of X-Org."-

The person over the phone spoke with a commanding tone and ended the call, not even allowing the former to reply once. But contrary to expected emotions, the bulky and tall man was unreactive as he listened through the whole message, even after the latter cut the call on him, instead, he firmly squeezed his left palm and crushed the screaming motorcyclist's head and helmet together as he spoke.

"You heard the boss... Dylan Ludwick yet remains our target.!"