Chapter 35: Who’s scheming?
Zack N’golo was the Executive Director of GAIA Corp, a man driven by ambition who had only one objective: maximize profits while avoiding risky investments.
But he was also a man consumed by greed.
Zack was a very charming man with an impeccably polished appearance. His light dark complexion attracted a great deal of female attention, and his carefully groomed hair only reinforced the image of a distinguished gentleman. Even his build reflected refinement and confidence.
As Mamadou’s childhood friend, he had been invited to join GAIA Corp when its foundations were first laid. Since he was exceptionally eloquent—or rather, someone who could easily approach and persuade people—Mamadou entrusted him with many responsibilities, and Zack eventually obtained a very high-ranking position.
But a man like Zack could never be satisfied with that.
Even with such a prestigious position, he wanted to climb higher.
Even if it meant pushing others down.
Zack strongly disliked Mamadou’s policies, but on his own, he could not bring him down. Although he had contributed greatly to the company, GAIA Corp was something Mamadou had largely built by himself. Even from an administrative standpoint, Zack found it extremely difficult to identify any weaknesses.
Still, he refused to be discouraged and continued plotting behind Mamadou’s back.
He was currently holding an unofficial meeting with one of GAIA Corp’s shareholders.
The two men had met in an extremely luxurious restaurant.
Still dressed in a black suit, Zack raised a glass of wine to his lips and took a sip while the man sitting across from him observed him calmly.
He set the glass down and spoke in a composed tone. The confidence radiating from him was so convincing that it could make almost any nonsense sound believable. That was the kind of presence Zack possessed.
"Mr. Oneel, I assure you that things are progressing. Thanks to you, an opportunity has presented itself. I appreciate all your help up until now. That man is a fool. He has dug his own grave."
Oneel Winseberg did not hold his companion in particularly high regard.
To him, Zack was simply another scavenger in the jungle.
That was precisely why he remained cautious.
Except for a blind fool like Mamadou, Zack’s ambition was painfully obvious.
Although he had been the one to bring the plan to the table, Oneel had no intention of getting carried away by Zack’s actions.
Of course, the plan only worked because Oneel personally knew both Mamadou and Zack, something the two men had long forgotten due to outside influences and the passage of time.
"Even if we proceed with the plan, I doubt he’ll surrender so easily. Why are you in such a hurry? If you stir the fish, the water may become muddy."
A mocking smile appeared on Zack’s face.
He cut into the fish on his plate with a sharp motion.
"A troubled fish doesn’t stir the water, Mr. Oneel."
Oneel smiled, though inwardly he was somewhat surprised.
He had not expected Zack to go this far.
After all, Mamadou had been his friend.
But that wasn’t what surprised him the most.
What fascinated him was how easily a person’s life could become a game piece.
"I see. Remarkable, Mr. Zack. If you present it that way, then we can proceed with the second phase of the plan. It’s a pleasure doing business with you, CEO Zack."
The two men laughed.
If Zack was determined to dispose of his friend with his own hands, Oneel would gladly provide the weapon, so long as he was not the one getting his hands dirty.
Mamadou was also a thorn in the side of several other shareholders.
He had founded GAIA Corp and owned a substantial portion of the company, which left major shareholders such as Oneel with very little influence over the company’s direction.
GAIA Corp dominated the artificial intelligence market.
Six years earlier, the company had expanded into the video game industry.
Things had gone well until Mamadou decided to launch PANGEA, an advanced virtual reality game.
The resources allocated to that childhood dream were a bottomless pit.
Although the consequences had not yet become visible, many shareholders feared losing everything.
With that decision, Mamadou had dug his own grave.
A project of such magnitude naturally came with countless challenges.
After forming an alliance with Zack, Oneel had begun manipulating public opinion, gradually cornering Mamadou.
People rarely understood the real issues.
They only understood what they were told.
If enough people were told that artificial intelligence was dangerous, then regardless of its actual risks or benefits, public perception would inevitably shift.
The two men had exploited that fact and launched a propaganda campaign.
They knew there would always be people willing to play PANGEA.
That had never been the objective.
Their goal was simply to corner Mamadou.
The media pressure placed upon him became immense.
Scandals erupted here and there.
Investments fluctuated.
Some investors withdrew.
Yet Mamadou stubbornly refused to abandon the project.
Ironically, that only benefited Zack and Oneel.
Now the final solution they had chosen had already been set into motion.
With Zack’s decision, Oneel believed it would become much easier to shelve the project permanently and provide consumers with a low-quality product instead.
With that thought in mind, the meeting between the two men came to an end.
---
Wearing a silk robe, Zack sat in a luxurious penthouse, lounging on a sofa while sipping a cocktail.
His phone suddenly vibrated.
He picked it up.
A message from an unknown number had arrived.
At first glance, it appeared to be an advertisement.
Zack stood up and walked to a nearby wardrobe.
Inside were five computers and six phones.
He grabbed one of the computers and returned to his seat before immediately powering up one of the disposable machines he kept for special occasions.
The computer was not entirely under his control.
Information automatically began loading.
Moments later, an application appeared on the desktop.
He opened it.
Inside were photographs of Mamadou’s corpse.
Zack immediately understood.
Mamadou had just died.
The efficiency of the people recommended by Oneel was terrifying.
At that moment, Zack decided to increase his personal security.
Unlike Mamadou, who preferred handling everything himself, Zack intended to surround himself with heavily armed guards.
Zack smiled.
He finished the cocktail in his hand.
"Finally... this is the beginning of an empire."
And from his perspective, it truly was.
What he did not know was that no empire lasted forever.
That was the beauty of the game.
