Chapter 22 - The Seizure (1/2)
Balthazar and Robert returned from the forbidden zone and decided to go to the herbarium to carry on with their assignments.
”We have repeated the process for more times than needed. He is repeating the assignments if we finish prior to the deadlines. I am really bored by this,” said Robert complaining about the assignments.
”I agree. We need to have better assignments than these. Why don't we just look over the V.R. lectures instead.”
”We can also fight each other,” suggested Robert.
”Yeah. That is a good idea,” agreed Balthazar. ”But I am thinking of checking my cyber cafe. It did open today. It wouldn't be good if I as the owner didn't even visit it.”
”I will come with you.”
”Sure. Let's go.”
As they reached the cyber cafe. They noticed that the cyber cafe was filled with people. People were even waiting in line outside it, to try out the new somnium V.R. technology.
”It looks like the opening was quite popular.”
”Well, we did do it on the same day as the somnium tech was released. That did boost it up a bit.”
As they went inside, they saw Slaine at the manager counter, handing out tokens to the customers. It was crowded inside. They had to put in a couple of benches and tables near the manager counter for the waiting customers.
”Hi. You guys want to try it out too. I think I can squeeze you in next,” said Slaine.
”I already have the somnium V.R. capsule at home, dude. I just came to have a look around,” said Balthazar.
”Got a headgear, myself,” said Robert.
”Well, that's good. We had a good amount of people showing up today. The cyber drome also didn't interfere. We are going well. We have also earned quite an amount in these 8 hours.”
”Well, I expected so. I have taken care of the cyber drome's interference. They wouldn't go troubling us directly from now on.”
”I notice that the price of usage is more than triple the one in cyber drome. Wouldn't that effect our business?” asked Robert looking at the leaflets Slaine was giving out.
”Oh! No. You don't need to be worried about that. The prices have been raised due to the new somnium tech even at the cyber drome. Also, these new headgears require more bandwidth and use more memory and power than the previous ones. We need to keep the price at least 1.5 times the ones for normal ones to maintain the costs.”
”Oh! But would the customers really agree for threefold the price?” wondered Balthazar.
”Of course, they would. It is a new product and very exciting. Also, you know time flows three time slower when the somnium tech is being used and also it is very immersive. Some might consider the prices here to be very reasonable,” said Slaine.
”OK. That kind of makes sense,” agreed Robert.
”Oh! That isn't even the best part of today. Most of the customers who are used to one hour are so spend less than 20 minutes and leave spending the amount for half-an-hour. Some are even just trying it out, making an account and setting their thought passwords to their accounts. That hardly takes 5 minutes.”
”I guess, it will slow down from tomorrow then,” said Robert.
”Yeah. But I still expect it to be better than the usual profits we had at cyber drome. And once vita-nova is released, the traffic will increase by a lot.”
”Ya that will be very popular. And I believe that most of the customers will opt for normal V.R. headgear till vita-nova is released,” added Balthazar.
”Yes. I think that slow down the profits from tomorrow. But they did release a software that would modify normal V.R. apps and games to somnium V.R. apps and games.”
”Some of the simpler V.R. games and V.R video players have already announced the release of somnium compatible versions in this week.”
”Yeah, I personally am thinking that the console connected V.R. headgear would soon become obsolete due to it,” said Slaine.
”SLAINE! THERE IS SOMETHING UP WITH THE NETWORK IN LANE C.” came a voice from within.
”I think we need to upgrade our internet plan and the get better fiber optics, apparently the last upgrade seems to be insufficient. Once, the vita-nova is released it will become worse. Talk to you, later,” said Slaine running off to lane C.
”Looks like your decision to start the cyber cafe was at a really good time. This somnium tech would definitely boost up your business,” complimented Robert.
”I think it was a good idea too. Actually, ever since Slaine mentioned about the software, Samsara, I have been getting better ideas like using it to start a small V.R. fighting platform or arena. We can even create a small fighting arena for practicing our weapons.”
”You can do that?” asked Robert.
”Well I did have some experience in creating small games at college. A fighting platform would just require creating a few weapon objects and a closed arena. I think it is would be a bit hard to imitate the V.R. testing and evaluation of the app, that Leon sent.”
”Even if that is not possible, there is an inherent advantage of the somnium tech of triple the time to practice. If you are not sure, there would be someone who created the app that Leon sent. He would be able to help you.”
”I don't think he would be helping me. That guy could possibly create it without my help and probably would already be working on it. But I am sure I can create an arena to fight against one another,” said Balthazar.
”Oh! Balthazar, you are here,” said a voice calling out to Balthazar. ”Manjunath is at the hotel Ambrosia. He wanted to talk to me about some stuff related to the cyber cafe. Care to join us?” asked Rudra.
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At the same time in the forbidden region in a dark passage, Arthur was furious and running like his life depended on it. He just heard that a couple of Max's bodyguards who they were monitoring had gone missing. They suspected them to be moving towards the centre of elysium towards the planet BR-64 where Bolena was working at the apropos labs.
As soon as the warning came on his wrist band, he had arranged to send reinforcements for the security watching over Bolena. He also arranged for kidnapping of the remaining bodyguards covertly.
He opened a door and walked into a group of people monitoring the remaining bodyguards.
”Are they still at the hotel Ambrosia?” he asked entering the room.
”Yes. They have been quite non-nonchalant about the other two leaving the planet. It looks like they don't even know that their teammates have left the planet,” said a person looking over a screen.
”Identities of the remaining two?”
”One is Abel Santiago. He is quite renown as a bodyguard and has been the leader of the group in the Orthrus Guardian Group. He is acquainted with Salazar and Elaine's groups. They were in hostile situations before. The other is Roger Quirk. He had been along with Abel for more than ten years in the same unit.”
”Who are involved in capturing them?”