The Tycoon's Odyssey

The night was crisp and quiet as the car sped through the winding streets of Luxembourg. Streetlights cast a soft glow on the cobblestones, illuminating the charming facades of old buildings.

Evan, seated beside the driver, gazed out the window, his thoughts drifting like the passing scenery. The city's historic beauty and tranquil atmosphere seemed to blur into a gentle, dreamlike haze as the car glided smoothly along the road.

However, reflected in Evan's eyes wasn't the beauty of the streets. Instead, his mind replayed the memories of his conversation with Suri.

The world was deeper than he had imagined.

The world was never united, nor were there any decision-making nations that held all the power. The World War which paved the way for immense destruction, had also paved the way for wealth and prosperity.

Many of those who persisted were able to rise to power and engulf everything which led to the formation of the council that became the real decision-making body of the world.

And it wasn't the UN.

The UN was just like the fake teeth of elephants, hiding the deeper, real ones. Many powerful, wealthy families rose to form a council known as Federations.

Yes, Federations...

A place infested with filthy rich and powerful people, possessing wealth, and armed with greater technology and resources far beyond what was visible in the modern world.

story by m|v_l,e,m,p,y,r

Evan had learned about this from Aurora, who has got many links, but he couldn't be certain of anything just from that. After all, there were countless conspiracy theories hanging around. But Suri revealed everything, confirming it all.

The families that had taken place in Federations from Indra were the Mahajans, Rajputs, Amdanis, Talwars, Udays, Bhosales…

Tapping on the windowpane, Evan couldn't help but chuckle, recalling a Metube video.

"Certain that Baldy was actually speaking the truth when he was talking about the Matrix."

"Huh! What Sir? Did you say something?"

Evan snapped out of his thoughts upon hearing Mac's words and just shook his head.

"No..." Evan paused and then added.

"Drive carefully and keep your eyes on the road."

_____

The next morning, the sky over Luxembourg was a brilliant blue, a perfect day to visit one of the city's prestigious institutions.

Evan, now dressed in a sharp, tailored suit, stepped out of the sleek black car and approached the grand entrance of Lumina University. The university's Gothic architecture exuded an air of intellectual rigor and historical significance.

Inside, the corridors were lined with polished wooden panels and ornate decorations, leading Evan to the cutting-edge research facilities where the latest advancements were being made.

There, he was greeted by Dr. Sophia Laurent, a leading researcher in neurotechnology, and Dr. Marcus Rinaldi, the head of the university's Biomedical Engineering Department.

Dr. Laurent, a woman in her early forties with a warm yet focused demeanor, extended her hand for a greeting. Her bright eyes and gentle smile conveyed her enthusiasm for the work she was about to present. "Mr. Evan, welcome to Lumina University. We're thrilled to have you here."

"Thank you, Dr. Laurent," Evan replied, his tone calm yet appreciative. He shook her hand firmly, his gaze unwavering.

Dr. Rinaldi, a tall man with a commanding presence and a neatly trimmed beard, nodded in agreement. "Good to meet you, Mr. Evan. We've been eagerly anticipating your demonstration of the virtual nerve gear."

After the short greeting, they led Evan to a spacious, state-of-the-art lab where several researchers were already preparing for the test. At the centre of the room, a sleek, futuristic device was set up—a prototype of the virtual nerve gear.

At first glance, it resembled a sophisticated helmet with an array of sensors and wires.

Evan handed the nerve gear to Dr. Laurent, who had been briefed about this and took the lead.

Dr. Laurent then began the demonstration, adjusting the gear with a practised hand. "This gear is designed to interfere with the nervous system through advanced neurostimulation. The goal is to help patients with paralysis regain some level of their motor functions."

Evan watched intently as one of the research subjects, a middle-aged man in a wheelchair, was gently fitted with the virtual nerve gear.

Once done, the room fell into a hushed silence as Dr. Laurent and her team prepared to initiate the test.

Dr. Rinaldi, observing the process with keen interest, turned to Evan. "This technology could revolutionize the treatment for paralysis. It's designed to not only stimulate nerves but also to adapt to individual neurological patterns. Can you provide us with a brief overview of how it is able to achieve this?"

In a calm and measured tone, Evan began explaining. "The virtual nerve gear utilizes a combination of neuroadaptive algorithms and real-time biofeedback. It maps the user's neural pathways and adjusts its stimulation parameters accordingly, allowing for more precise and effective treatment."

Dr. Laurent leaned in slightly, her eyes reflecting both curiosity and admiration. "So the system learns and evolves with the patient's progress?"

"Exactly," Evan confirmed, his expression firm and confident. "It's designed to continuously adapt, and improve over time as the patient's neural responses change. By immersing the patient's consciousness in a VR environment, we can interact with them more freely, which could greatly boost their hope and motivation."

Dr. Rinaldi nodded thoughtfully. "Impressive. The adaptability could indeed make a significant difference in rehabilitation efforts. We're excited to see how it performs in a broader range of tests."

Dr. Nina Hoffman, a young researcher with a keen intellect and an inquisitive demeanor, joined the conversation. "Mr. Evan, could you elaborate on the safety measures incorporated into the device? How does it ensure that the stimulation is both effective and non-invasive?"

With her curly hair pulled back into a neat bun and a pair of stylish glasses perched on her nose, Dr. Hoffman looked at Evan with keen interest.

"The gear includes multiple layers of safety protocols," Evan replied, "This included real-time monitoring of neural activity and automatic adjustment features to prevent over-stimulation. The data collected during each session is then analyzed to ensure that any adverse effects are promptly addressed."

As the test concluded, the subject demonstrated a noticeable improvement in hand movement, sparking a ripple of excited murmurs among the researchers.

Dr. Laurent beamed with satisfaction, her pride evident in her bright smile.

"Thank you for bringing this groundbreaking technology to us, Mr. Evan. We look forward to further collaboration," she said, extending her hand once more.

Evan shook her hand, a rare smile flickering across his usually stoic face. "It's my pleasure. I believe this is just the beginning of something very impactful."

Soon, upon hearing about this, many professors eager to experience the technology themselves, rushed forward, their childlike enthusiasm clearly evident as they jumped in line to test it.

Entering a virtual reality was a dream of many. Although the current version only offered them a single scenario designed by Aurora, it was still more than enough.

Seeing a group of people crowding around the nerve gear, a deep smile spread across Evan's lips.

"It seems like our plan is becoming successful."