The news of the 30-billion-cred research fund hit the academic world like a lightning strike. In a world where most funding was tied to corrupt government strings, a private, massive investment in the middle of the "Monsters' Den" seemed like a myth.
I spent the next forty-eight hours locked in my room at home. My fingers were a blur on the Banio laptop as I finalized the logic for the Kingdom of Oria and the Soloan power grid. With the UIA's help, I compressed two months of work into two days.
"Contracts submitted," I whispered as the final 'Upload Complete' bar turned green. "Now they'll see what a 'Monster' can really do."
I stepped out onto the porch to get some air, but I didn't find the quiet village I expected. Instead, a sleek, dust-covered hover-car was parked near the gate. A woman with sharp glasses and a white coat was arguing with the local guards I had hired.
"I don't care if it's a 'restricted zone'!" she snapped. "I saw the funding announcement on the global ledger. No one drops thirty billion creds on research in a village unless they've found something revolutionary. I want to speak to the Chairman!"
I walked down the steps. "I'm the Chairman. And you are?"
She stopped and stared at me, her eyes scanning my youthful face with pure shock. "You? You're just a boy. I am Dr. Aris Vane, former lead of Bio-Energy at the Diamond City Institute. I resigned this morning when I saw your project brief for the Joonam Research Complex."
She pulled out a tablet, showing me a list of her patents. "I've been trying to find a way to stabilize high-output energy without using the toxic Black Stones for a decade. But the Diamond City Council suppressed my work because the Batan family pays their salaries."
"And why come here?" I asked, crossing my arms. "It's dangerous. There are monsters in the forest and no five-star hotels."
"I don't want a hotel," she said, her eyes burning with intensity. "I want a lab that isn't owned by a politician. You have the money, and according to the rumors, you have the most advanced AI logic in Galena. Let me lead the General Science wing."
I looked at her for a long moment. My Nurturer instinct was tingling. She wasn't here for the money; she was here for the breakthrough.
"UIA, check her background," I commanded internally.
UIA: Scanning... Dr. Aris Vane. Zero criminal record. Rank: Genius-level polymath. She was fired for refusing to sign a safety waiver for a Batan-owned mine. She is legitimate, Master.
"Welcome to Joonam, Dr. Vane," I said, offering my hand. "You'll have your lab. But be warned—I expect results that change the world, not just the country."
With a world-class scientist now on board, the vision for the Research Center shifted. It wasn't just a building anymore; it was becoming an institution.
"We start tomorrow," I told her. "Doah and Tersa will be your counterparts in the Military wing. You will handle the Green Energy and Health sectors. We are going to make the Black Stones obsolete before the Batan family even realizes the market has shifted."
By evening, news spread that more scientists were on their way from the capital. The "Monsters' Den" was no longer just a place of fear—it was becoming a beacon of hope.
The influx of brilliant minds into Joonam was faster than the construction crews could keep up with. These weren't just employees; they were the foundation of a new era.
I stood on the balcony of our temporary office, watching the horizon. The one-week countdown for FaceTalk's global launch was ticking down on my laptop. Beside me, the UIA was managing a logistical nightmare.
"Master," the UIA chimed. "The number of researchers and scientists arriving from Diamond City and beyond has tripled this morning. They are camping in the village square."
I looked down at the crowd. There were professors in dusty suits and young engineers with nothing but their backpacks. I had two months before school started again, and I needed to handle this now.
I walked down to meet them. "Listen to me!" I shouted, my voice cutting through the chatter. "I appreciate the enthusiasm, but the Joonam Research Complex isn't finished yet. The labs aren't ready. I'm asking you to go back and wait for the official opening."
A murmur of disappointment went through the crowd. Many turned to leave, but several stayed.
"Chairman, we can't go back!" one young man shouted. "I quit my job to come here. I have nowhere else to go."
The Affordable Housing Shift
I looked at the people who had risked everything to join my vision. I couldn't just turn them away.
"UIA," I commanded. "The initial investment buildings we finished—the ones for the bank and the tech staff—open them up. Let the researchers who have the means buy in. For those who can't afford it, set up a rental system."
"But Master," the UIA warned, "the market value for this tech-ready housing is sky-high."
"I don't care about market value," I replied. "Set the rent under market value. I want it affordable. We are here to foster genius, not to bleed it dry."
I also didn't forget the original villagers. Those whose old homes were in the path of the new city weren't just kicked out.
"Every tenant whose land was taken for the complex must be compensated double the value," I told the project managers. "And every one of them is to be moved into a new High-End Estate house for free. No one in the Venan family's shadow loses their home."
While the village transformed into a bustling hub of intellectual activity, I retreated to my private lab. I had two days left to finish the final encrypted messages for the foreign kings.
"Leo is ready for the FaceTalk launch?" I asked the UIA.
UIA: Yes, Master. The marketing campaign is viral. The servers are stable. In seven days, FaceTalk will be the primary communication tool for Galena and beyond.
"Good," I said, my fingers flying across the keys. "I want these international contracts finished tonight. If I'm going to spend my last two months of vacation in Joonam, I want my debt to those kingdoms cleared so I can focus on my own empire."
By midnight, the last of the encrypted files was sent. The Kingdom of Oria, the Republic of Zale, and the Soloan Kingdom now had their solutions—fifty-eight days early.
I leaned back, my eyes tired but my mind racing. I had built the bank, funded the research, housed the people, and secured the military.
"Now," I whispered, "we wait for the world to notice."
The morning sun hadn't even touched the horizon when I finished the final data packets. My international debt was cleared, and the work was perfect.
"UIA," I whispered, rubbing my tired eyes. "The files are sent. Demand the final payments immediately. No more delays."
UIA: Payment requests sent to the Kingdom of Oria, the Republic of Zale, and the Soloan Kingdom. Total pending: ☆152,500,000 Star Cash.
With the business out of the way, it was time to look into the heart of our home. I took Doah and Tersa to the Governor's office. If we were going into the Monsters' Den forest, we couldn't go alone—not even with my sisters' sharp minds.
"Uncle Gao," I said, leaning against his desk. "I need strong personnel. We're going to explore the deep forest, and I won't risk my sisters' safety."
"I'll see who is available," Gao replied. He stepped out through a back door and returned a few minutes later. "I found three A-Rank Hunters. They are elites, but they know their worth. They are demanding 400 million Creds a day."
I didn't even blink. "Agreed. Here is the payment upfront. Tell them if they do a good job and keep us safe, a massive bonus is waiting for them."
The next morning, we set off. The three hunters were tall, scarred, and silent, keeping a tight circle around us. We walked past the ancient, twisted trees and thick vines. Surprisingly, it wasn't as terrifying as the rumors suggested. Either the "monsters" were hiding, or the strongest ones had died off long ago.
As we reached a rocky clearing deep in the woods, my Banio laptop began to vibrate violently in my bag. The UIA wasn't just notifying me; it was screaming for my attention.
"Wait," I told the hunters. They stopped instantly, hands on their weapons.
"What is it, Sadd?" Tersa asked, looking around nervously.
"UIA is going crazy," I muttered, pulling out the laptop. "Talk to me. What did you find?"
UIA: Master! I have detected a massive energy signature. This is not Star Stones or Black Stones. This is Neuro-Energy. It is an untapped deposit so large it could power this entire planet for 1,000,000 years.
"Neuro-Energy?" I asked. "I've never heard of that on this planet."
UIA: It is a raw energy, similar to oil or petrol, but far superior. It is emission-free and generates zero heat. It could power planes, satellites, warships, and cars without harming the environment. Most importantly, it naturally repels hostile monsters.
"Repels monsters?" I whispered. "Is that why the Cataclysm happened? Were the monsters fleeing from this energy?"
UIA: It is a high probability. This deposit is worth over a quadrillion Star Cash. It can be used to create nuclear-level weapons, impenetrable shields, and clean engines. It is the ultimate resource.
I looked at the ground beneath my feet. I was standing on the greatest treasure in history. If the Batan family or the foreign kingdoms found out about this, they would turn Joonam into a graveyard to get it.
"Doah, Tersa, come here," I said, my voice trembling with excitement. "Take some samples. We're going back to the lab. We have our own research to do."
I looked at the A-Rank hunters. They were staring into the forest, unaware that the dirt they were standing on was worth more than their entire lives.
"Keep your eyes open," I commanded. "We're leaving, and not a word of this location leaves this circle."