I nodded to my sisters, signaling them to be discreet. We couldn't start testing this here. If the A-Rank hunters or the local officials saw the true power of this energy, the secret would be out before we even reached the village.
"Pack it up," I whispered to Doah and Tersa. "We take the samples, but the real work starts when we get back to our private lab in the city. No one here can know what this actually is."
The three A-Rank hunters stood guard, their eyes scanning the thick brush. They were professional, but I could tell they were bored. To them, we were just rich kids playing explorer in a quiet forest. They had no idea that the small canisters my sisters were sealing into lead-lined bags held the future of the world.
"Is that all, Chairman?" the lead hunter asked, his hand resting on the hilt of a massive blade. "The sun is starting to dip. The deeper parts of the Den aren't friendly after dark."
"We're done," I said, tucking my laptop away. "Let's head back."
We trekked back to the village in silence. As we reached the edge of the woods, I saw the rising lights of the SIGLAV Tower and the new housing estates. It looked like a small city growing out of the wilderness.
Once we reached the Governor's office, I handed the hunters their bonus. They bowed, satisfied with the easy pay, and disappeared into the shadows of the town.
"Uncle Gao," I said, finding him in his study. "The forest is quiet for now. But I want the area we visited marked as a 'High-Risk Bio-Zone.' No one goes in there without my personal authorization. Tell the public it's due to lingering monster toxins."
Gao Martin nodded, trusting my judgment. "Consider it done, Sadd. Anything for the safety of Joonam."
That night, back in our home, I sat with Doah and Tersa. We had the samples hidden in a secure, shielded case that the UIA had helped us design.
"We have two months of vacation left," Doah said, her eyes reflecting the blue glow of the neuro-energy through the thick glass. "Are we really going to wait until we get back to the Academy city to start the research?"
"Yes," I replied firmly. "The research center here is for the public and the military. It's too exposed. The Batan family and other organizations have eyes everywhere in the capital, and they'll be watching our every move in Joonam. But back in the city, we have our private facility, our own servers, and the protection of the Academy's neutral ground."
"Besides," Tersa added, a small smirk playing on her lips, "it gives us two months to finish the FaceTalk launch and make sure Mom and Uncle Calsius are fully settled in their new home."
I opened the UIA interface one last time before bed.
"UIA, run a simulation on the neuro-energy samples based on the initial scans. I want to know the absolute minimum equipment we'll need to refine this once we return to the city."
UIA: Simulation running... Master, the energy is incredibly stable but highly concentrated. To refine it into fuel or shielding, you will need a Particle Decelerator and a vacuum-sealed laboratory. Both are available for purchase in the Diamond City industrial district.
"Good," I muttered. "We'll buy the equipment under the name of a shell company. For now, we play the role of the successful students on holiday."
I looked out the window at the quiet village. In seven days, FaceTalk would go live. In two months, we would return to the city, not just as wealthy students, but as the owners of the most powerful energy source in human history.
The week flew by in a blur of activity. Between managing the construction and preparing for the global launch, the final payments for the international contracts finally arrived.
"UIA, have the foreign kingdoms paid the remaining balance of the contract?" I asked, looking over the latest bank ledgers.
"Yes, Master," the UIA replied, displaying the confirmation of the ☆152,500,000 Star Cash transfer.
"Good. Now, we move the funds to secure our foundation," I commanded. "Allocate half of that payment to FaceTalk. I want massive backup servers and farm servers built across other kingdoms and nations immediately. We cannot afford a system crash on launch day."
"And the other half?" the UIA prompted.
"Allocate the rest to the Home Project," I said, a smile touching my lips. "We are going to build another city. Name it Jami Town, in honor of my grandfather. Later, I will build one for my grandmother, and I want you to secure a perfect piece of land for the construction of my castle."
The UIA paused for a microsecond. "Understood, Master. But we must be clear for the records. How do we refer to the first city you have already created here in Joonam?"
"Oh, that," I looked out toward the rising SIGLAV Tower. "That is Old Town City. It will be the capital. We have a lot of things to do there, but we will handle that later."
I looked at the digital ledgers on my screen. Even after the massive allocations for the new city and the server farms, there was still so much left in all the accounts. It was time to stop being quiet and let the world know we were here.
"UIA," I called out, my voice filled with anticipation. "After the FaceTalk backup servers are fully operational in the other kingdoms, I want every single credit remaining in that fund to be poured into one thing: Visibility."
"Understood, Master," the UIA responded. "Should I focus on digital advertisements?"
"Everything," I said. "Promotions, aggressive advertising, and massive gift packs. I want people to feel like they are missing out if they don't have an account. And we aren't launching this from the capital. We are launching it right here at Old Town City."
The plan was set. Old Town City, once just a quiet corner of the Monsters' Den, was being transformed into a high-tech festival ground. Huge holographic screens were being erected near the SIGLAV Tower site.
"Master," the UIA reported, "the gift packs have been prepared. They include limited-edition digital badges, premium FaceTalk features for the first million users, and physical care packages for the local citizens of Joonam."
I stood on the balcony, watching the workers install the last of the broadcast antennas. In just a few days, the FaceTalk signal would scream across the borders of Galena, the Soloan Kingdom, and beyond. I wasn't just launching an app; I was launching the heartbeat of my new country.
"Let them see," I whispered. "Let the Batan family in Diamond City watch their influence crumble as the world looks toward Old Town City."