"It’s been a while since we had a real outing instead of a virtual one," Felix remarked, taking a sip from a plain, unbranded can that looked like it had just come off the assembly line.
"If not for the countermeasures put in place, you wouldn’t even be able to tell the difference," Sarah replied, mirroring his actions as she drank from an identical can. She glanced toward Aron, who was seated with them, his eyes fixed on the ceiling of the small open-roofed resting hut, lost in thought. "Besides, he’s been buried in his research for what seemed to be decades in VR time. With a mountain of discoveries still waiting for him, I doubt he even realizes how much time has passed."
Noticing that Aron remained unresponsive, seemingly unaware of their conversation, Sarah smirked. Without hesitation, she pressed her cold drink against his cheek. The sudden chill jolted him slightly, making him blink in surprise as she teased, "Your Highness, we’re talking to you."
Aron exhaled sharply before straightening up, his sharp yet weary gaze shifting from Sarah to Felix. He reached for his own drink—a can identical to theirs—taking a slow sip before finally speaking.
"You do realize you could just invite me, even when I’m busy with research, right?"
Sarah arched an eyebrow. "And have you actually shown up? Please. We’d be waiting another twenty VR years." She gestured toward the vast imperial gardens stretching beyond the hut under the sky. "And don’t tell me Nova didn’t remind you at least a dozen times to take a break."
Aron rubbed his temple. "She did."
"And?" Sarah pressed.
"I had research to finish."
Felix burst into laughter, while Sarah let out an exaggerated sigh. "Of course you did. What else is new?"
"Is this an original recipe? Because it’s quite good," Aron said, inspecting the can in his hand. It contained his favorite drink—mango juice—which perfectly hit all the right spots on his sensitive taste buds.
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"Nova made the recipe for you and sent it to me when she found out about this gathering," Felix explained, gesturing toward his own drink. "She figured you’d appreciate something tailored to your tastes."
Aron took another sip, savoring the unique flavor. "It does taste different—better, even. Looks like I’ll have to ask her for more."
Felix chuckled. "She’s already ahead of you on that. A large batch has been ordered and should be delivered by tomorrow at the latest."
Aron nodded, pleased with Nova’s initiative. She always had a way of anticipating his needs before he even voiced them, and this was yet another example of it.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Sarah leaned forward. "Speaking of which, I went through the updated files and finally got a look at what you’ve been working on." Her expression grew more serious. "Why haven’t you released it to the public yet? This could revolutionize the empire."
She and Felix both had clearance high enough to access classified projects due to their roles in the empire. Sarah and Gaia Technologies were semi-responsible for overseeing the universal simulation, managing updates, expansions, and new integrations. Felix, on the other hand, was the CEO of the company that was the empire’s primary producer of nearly all their needed technology, excluding military-grade products, which were handled by the military’s production division. Their positions, combined with their deep ties to Aron, granted them access to highly restricted information—information that few outside of Aron’s inner circle were privy to.
"It’s not that I don’t want the public to use it," Aron replied, setting his can down. "But right now, it’s more beneficial for the imperial army to have sole access to it."
He didn’t elaborate further, knowing that the specifics weren’t within their clearance.
Sarah leaned back, chuckling as realization dawned on her. "Looks like Nyx is about to put it to good use."
Given their level of access, it didn’t take much for them to connect the dots. They were aware of only fragments of the empire’s larger plans, but even those fragments were enough to see how this new technology fit into the grander strategy.
Felix, however, had another concern. "Are you sure you want to reveal the existence of the universal simulation to them during the next mana exchange?" He tapped his fingers against the wooden table. "Gaia Technologies just sent an order for over a billion VR units, all set to be delivered to the new Trade Hub store once they are completed. That’s a huge move."
"What’s there to worry about?" Aron asked, his tone casual. "This is an opportunity—expanding our influence, even among their people."
"But won’t they realize that some of their technology is embedded in these devices?" Sarah questioned. "If they do, they might reverse-engineer it, and if they succeed in recreating the universal simulation, it could lead to an unimaginable level of technological advancement for them—one we might not be able to control." Stay tuned to freewebnovel
Aron chuckled, shaking his head. "If they manage to break through and replicate the tech, it’ll be nothing short of a miracle."
The confidence in his voice was absolute. The devices incorporated technologies and security systems far beyond the Astral Conclave’s current capabilities—so advanced that even the knowledge of theirs that had been used had been refined through the system, surpassing the understanding of their original creators. But more than that, the core foundation of the universal simulation itself—the intricate code that powered it—remained an enigma. Despite over a decade of utilizing and studying it, Aron had yet to fully grasp its depths. He had acquired it from the system, but deciphering its true nature was an entirely different challenge.
Simply put, even if the Conclave somehow managed to break through the security wall, they wouldn’t get far.
Sarah and Felix exchanged glances. It wasn’t often that Aron dismissed something as "impossible." If he was this confident, then they had little reason to doubt him.
With that, their conversation naturally shifted, flowing between semi-official business matters and the kind of casual discussions friends had when simply enjoying each other’s company. This wasn’t just a social visit—it was also the prelude to the upcoming meeting with the CEOs of Aron’s various companies. They would soon gather to discuss their strategies for launching business operations within the Trade Hub, which was on the verge of opening. More importantly, they would explore the potential for expansion into the Astral Conclave’s market—if the next mana exchange negotiations unfolded favorably.