Vol 5 Prologue (1/2)

Prologue

Translators: Souldead

Proofreaders: Zephynel, Amalice

In the year 2105, countries are on the decline and the Earth has been divided between some hundreds of financial organizations. These organizations, in the name of pursuing profit, have gathered under numerous trade cartels. Out of these, the first and foremost is the Solaris Federation, controlling 30% of the world’s economic flow. The leader of the Solaris Federation is thought to hold the greatest power and influence on Earth.

It’s not that no one thought to attack the existence of this supreme being; it’s just that he seemed to be able to foretell the future. When danger is imminent, he rises above, either preemptively striking down the opponent or waiting like a lion in the bush and pouncing on the enemy, right when their victory seemed complete. Those who plot against him often discover that at the crucial moment, it was they who were plotted against. Everyone who collapsed before being able to beat him would cry that they had only been one step away from defeating him.

Once, twice...it was the same every time. At last, everyone understood that it was neither luck nor fate: everything was under his control! All who had once competed against him swore to never oppose him again.

They say that all things happen within his plan and that no scheme nor trickery ever escapes his notice. On this planet he exists like a G.o.d. He will never fall. They deferentially call this legendary figure the Solaris Emperor.

Devon Solaris glared at the computer screen but was constantly distracted, his thoughts always floating to a certain silver-haired youth.

“Solaris Emperor? Solaris Emperor?”

After being called two or three times by his most commonly used t.i.tle, Devon finally snapped back to the present. He glanced at the computer--his secretary Kyle was calling him relentlessly from the screen. Impatiently, Devon snapped, “What?”

Finally! Kyle suppressed a sigh and proceeded to report. “Please sign this doc.u.ment, the contents of which I have just detailed,” even though the Solaris Emperor only caught half of it.

As soon as Kyle stopped talking the screen s.h.i.+fted from his face to a crowded and wordy form. Devon lifted his electronic stylus and, without a single glance at the screen, signed his name on the indicated spot.

“Today’s official business has now come to an end, Solaris Emperor. Please rest soon.”

The screen was once again filled with Kyle’s face. He put away the file as he began a new task. The day’s work had been completed, but only for the Solaris Emperor. For Kyle, the time had not yet come to pack up and go home.

Ten minutes later Kyle raised his head, since the Solaris Emperor had yet to close the signal: evidently he had an errand for him. The Emperor would definitely not have needed ten minutes to contemplate any work-related a.s.signments. Therefore, the matter must have involved young master Daren Solaris.

“Dar’s not back yet.”

Another ten minutes pa.s.sed. Kyle had already answered five messages requesting a.s.sistance when the apprehensive Devon Solaris finally opened his mouth. “What if something happened? Last time he went to the supermarket, he met a terrorist. This time, he’s at the opera. What if, what if he encounters a flood? Or a tornado? An explosion?”

That was actually possible!

Even though Kyle sincerely believed that due to Master Daren’s...how to describe it? Bad luck? Frequency of accidents? Whatever it was, nothing that happened to the young master surprised him anymore. However, he couldn’t respond to the Solaris Emperor this way. Chances were, nothing good would happen.

He could only be sympathetic. “Emperor, you worry too much. Young master Daren is only going to the opera. There will be plenty of business and political elites, not to mention the best singer in the world. Security is no doubt watertight: even if there were to be an explosion, it would never affect the theatre.”

At least, it should be this way, right? He added to himself.

“Is that so? But then why is he still not home? It’s already past eleven.” Devon said, emphasizing the word “eleven.” Taking into account the length of the opera and the distance from the theatre, it was quite unlikely, even if the young master were to rush out immediately after the show, that he would arrive home right now. The Emperor should have been able to reason this out himself. Indeed, when it came to the young master, the Solaris Emperor’s IQ seemed to halve itself.

Kyle gave a mental sigh and reminded the Emperor, “Maybe he went out for a late night snack. Doesn’t the young master often enjoy eating midnight snacks when he’s together with his friends?

“That is true.”

Still, even after saying this, the Solaris Emperor did not end the conversation. Kyle had no choice but to continue with his tasks, raising his head occasionally to check if Devon’s expression had changed.

Finally, after another ten minutes or so, Devon Solaris’s eyes began to drift and he muttered as if to himself, “Would he think I were too overbearing if I called?”

“You could ask Mr. Avery to call the young master instead. He often asks the young master to bring home late night snacks, so he could use the same excuse this time. Young master wouldn’t suspect anything at all.” Kyle suggested calmly while silently overturning his previous statement. He had been truly mistaken--when it came to Daren, the Emperor’s IQ didn’t merely have itself. It had seemingly jumped off a cliff without a parachute. It wasn’t merely halved, but also divided by 10.

“That works!”

Devon Solaris finally made up his mind and shut the connection without hesitation, tossing aside the now-defunct secretary. He then entered the communication signal for home. However, he had absolutely no desire to see Theodore Avery’s zombie-like face, so he did not open a display screen. As such, only Avery’s voice came through the phone: “Solaris Emperor? Did something happen to Dar again?”

“What are you talking about! Nothing happened to Dar...do you want a midnight snack?” Devon went straight to the point after that reprimand.

“...”

In the bas.e.m.e.nt Avery was speechless for a moment, then turned to glance at the clock on the wall and sighed, “I understand. Then I’ll phone Dar.”

“Don’t hang up on me. Use the other line instead. I want to hear Dar’s voice.” Devon Solaris immediately added.

“Yes, yes!” Unable to disobey, Avery typed in Daren Solaris’s cellphone number.

The phone rang again and again, but no one answered. Finally, Avery hung up the phone, ending the ceaseless tone at last.

“How could no one pick up...Dar!”

It took several minutes after the ringtone stopped for Devon Solaris to snap out of it. His expression changing drastically, he urgently pressed the b.u.t.ton connecting him to the secretary, intending to order the immediate activation of the Special Task Force.

“Wait a minute! Don’t be too hasty! He only missed a phone call. What if he was riding the bike and couldn’t take the call...Oh!” Avery hurried through half of what he was going to say, only to remember what kind of person Daren Solaris was...He is the half-cyborg Dark Sun! Even if he were accosted by a dozen or so modified humans, he would still be able to fight and talk with Devon over the phone simultaneously, not to mention a measly bike ride. Dar’s capabilities definitely exceeded taking a call.

Could something really have happened?

Avery hesitated--it couldn’t have, right? It was just an opera, and furthermore he was accompanied by Elian and the others. But then, last time he went to the mall, they were also there, and then they met terrorists...Oh! This time, even Avery shut his mouth.

Seeing how Avery had no more rea.s.suring comments, Devon Solaris became even more restless, instantly shouting to the bemused secretary: “Bill! Hurry, mobilize the Special Task Force at once and find Dar’s location!”