Weasel's anxious and heartfelt words struck a chord in Kieran's chest. If anything, it triggered a fleeting memory he had of this man. After all, the net was indeed all he had.
Like Kieran, Weasel was an orphan. However, unlike him, Weasel was awarded to the state where conditions were more… institutionally spartan.
Children inside his ward were sent to homes governed by the state, homes that weren't really a conducive place for bright children. In those places, happiness could rarely be found, if none at all.
Either way, the strict scheduling, the bland meals, and the stilted interactions made the children seek gaiety in other not-so-extracurricular activities.
Weasel's attraction ultimately ended up being numbers—sequences and patterns, in particular—whether it was in colored blocks, mathematical equations, or the beginning stages of code.
A stark description of what Weasel sought was mental stimulation.
Soon enough, Weasel was engrossed in the behavior of patterns and sequences, alienating himself from other children. Though, it wasn't done purposely at first; children simply avoided him for being weird.
Not that he minded it at first. After all, he was too fascinated with the new realm of knowledge he had delved into.
'A shortened version, more or less.'
This story had been told to Kieran in greater detail, where emotions rose and fell, remnants of pain and joy flickering across Weasel's expression. He was awkward to a fault, but it wasn't entirely his fault.
Though the qualities rested in him… Weasel was a product of his environment.
Again, Kieran swore that he would do no wrong by him.
"I promise not to screw you over. Whatever you create will be yours. I only ask that you use it for the benefit of the team and in no way become a detriment, even if inadvertently. I need you to wrack that mind to devise prudent failsafe measures to prevent and stop the unauthorized use of your network."
Weasel pondered over his words as he sat on the couch, deep in thought. His eyes roamed while his mind churned, using the prescient command as a way of thinking.
"I want my Data Acquisition Network Group to become incomparably vast. It needs to blow the competition out of the water."
"However, the problem with having something so vast is how thinly the fibers of security are spread. I'll have to implement redundancies on top of redundancies, making sure that none of them conflict."
When talking about his dream and potential realization, Weasel exuded the air of a typical person without absurd idiosyncrasies. Well… for as long as weaselly possible.
"Well, bend me over and fuck me silly. This is gonna be a doozy, ain't it?"
'Ah, there's the Weasel we know and love.'
"It will take time, but you'll have access to time, resources, and space to think. In fact, I have just the right facility in mind to help you."
Weasel's ears perked up at the mention of a facility. That was one hell of an upgrade, a supremely desirable one at that.
"How can I help? Need me to do anything?"
Kieran thought about it for a moment.
Caelum Lenders was already handling the financial matters of the business. Though, there were still several registrations and legal documents to tend to. With someone like Weasel now added to the team, however, that no longer posed a significant issue.
"I think I have the perfect task for your new role as the Warden of Security here at…"
Kieran furrowed his brow, realizing the newly-created company would have no name.
What could he call it?
The business licenses weren't official if there was no name to attach to them. Gaming would be one of the company's main focuses, but he intended to branch out into other fields when the opportunity presented itself.
'Something universal…'
He considered going generic… but even that was difficult, given the sheer number of businesses worldwide.
While he continued to ponder over it, Weasel grew more and more impatient, wanting to know the continuation of Kieran's halted thought.
"Here at? Well? What is it?"
Then, a glimpse of realization and a flash of understanding flitted across Weasel's face.
"Oh! Have you got no name yet? If so, allow me to help. How about… hmm… oh! This is a good one. No, it's actually amazing. Wait for it… Weasel & Co."
Weasel opened his arms in a grand gesture, his eyes shimmering with gleeful mirth. Though, that deflated instantly when Kieran gave him a dark look.
"No. Next."
"Shot down. Ugh, my heart. The Weaselly Crew?"
"No. Are you mad?!"
"…The Net Scurriers?"
"You're quite literally insane. Also, why are you supplying names that are only focused on you? A universal name. Universal!"
"Oh, um… yeah. I got nothing. Then again, does that really matter? Just become the name and the face, then you'll command respect no matter what! You'll be so great."
The advice was surprisingly wise.
Weasel was no sagacious fellow, but Kieran had to give praise where praise was due. There was no reason to think long and hard about the name. After all, he would be the face and name of it.
In the end, the company's name simply needed to portend something that resonated with him.
And so, Kieran came up with one.
"Herald. The company's name will be Herald."
"Oh. Simple… sleek. Just genius! I like it; I like it a lot."
Seconds later, the Master Circuit flashed in Weasel's eyes, a holographic keyboard following next.
Kieran was initially shocked, exasperated by how carelessly the disproportionate freak loaded up his prized and incomplete possession. There was no telling how faulty its security was, how flawed its operating system was… or how easily it could be detected.
However, Kieran's mind soon changed when he looked around and saw how everyone in the cocktail lounge disregarded them. Kieran circled Weasel, keeping his eyes trained on the screen and his hands.
From certain angles—almost all of them—the Master Circuit's light was muted. Perhaps camouflaged was the better word. In any case, it seemed to manipulate the light spectrum to blend with the wavelength of any source in the room.
It was only the obnoxiously bright boot-up sequence that grabbed attention.
'Fascinating. Was it this refined in its rudimentary form? Weasel really is a genius. This technology might be cutting edge and unique.'
No promises, though. Kieran couldn't estimate the depth of technology the creators of X-hancers had at their disposal. Manipulating the human body went beyond toying with trinkets. That was life.
Nevertheless, Weasel's fingers moved with ingrained precision, the position of every key committed to memory. His eyes perused and penetrated through several layers of information every few seconds. Soon enough, he arrived at where he needed to be.
"Ahahaha!"
The outburst caught the attention of many, but he cleared his throat and responded without a care in the world. What a shamelessly insouciant fellow.
"A roach, people. Just a roach. Nothing to fear, ladies, and gents."
Within seconds, Weasel shifted the commotion from himself to everyone around him. The lounge erupted in distraught, noisy murmurs. It wasn't an environment fit for focus, but neither Kieran nor Weasel minded.
"The corporation—Herald, Inc.—has been registered. I am backtracking and filling in all the necessary paperwork right now. We'll establish the links to each document and create shelters and havens right now. Haha! We're doing it. We're being criminally friendly with one another. Isn't this a rush? And we won't be caught. I'm just too good."
"Okay… dial it down. Those who tend to boast too much meet an unfortunate end."
That much was true, but it didn't necessarily apply to Weasel.
He was immodest and conceited, but in a satirical way. Everything was presented as an innocuous quip and never seeped beneath that indecorous shell he wore. Underneath it all, his mind was focused and unbroken.
"The Weasel of the Net was not born to be caught. He was born to sneak, scurry, and scamper away with the loot! Gimme the loot!"
Crazed laughter blended in with the loud mumblings filling the room. He had created a distraction to produce a genuinely chaotic ambiance.
'Unhinged… but usefully so. That's the kind of ingenious and bizarre mind I need.'
By the end of his hacking job, Weasel had finished setting up all of the basic needs, though the more advanced assets would have to be handled at a later date. He focused on giving Caelum Lenders the associated information so Kieran could assume proper control of the facility.
While that was being handled, Kieran moved the casino-given briefcase to Weasel. There was no money inside. There were, however, several digital vouchers to be scanned and added to active bank accounts.
Paper money was virtually a thing of the past. They were living in the age of technology.
"Your first payment, sponsorship—whatever you want to call it. It's all the winnings from tonight. Start acquiring everything you may need to move forward in your personal project. Have the items sent to the address Caelum Lenders will be giving you."
Afterward, Kieran stood. He adjusted his shirt, scanning the crowd simultaneously and then the building for an exit.
"Will you be staying in Minence City, or will you be moving elsewhere? You have my contact information should you need to contact me."
Weasel blinked, his expression comically perplexed.
"What do you mean... stay? We're friends! I'm coming with you, silly. I've found your return information and added myself to it. Oh, this will be such an exhilarating ride, friend. I can't wait!'
Kieran inwardly groaned, his thoughts steeped in grim, desperate regret.
'Why? …It's like I've acquired an ankle-biter, and I haven't even had sex yet! This isn't right.'
A virgin… with a man-child. Rejoice.
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