CHAPTER 181: I SPY? NO, A SPY.

[A few weeks later]

Lillian stood in the lab with Liam and Lizzy as they explained exactly how much of a success the Vitaband’s test was for the umpteenth time.

But she was neither bored nor frowning because she could genuinely see how happy the siblings were.

Their dream was becoming a reality and this time, not a single government was standing in their way.

"So, about the launch," Elizabeth finally turned to Lillian, "our time has green lit it and we’re ready whenever you are."

"Good," Lillian said with a smile. "Then let’s set the official release window for next week. Marketing will run the countdown teaser tonight."

Liam tried and failed to not show exactly how proud of this he was of this. He knew Ethan had promised it would happen, but the fact that it was already happening made him even more proud.

In just a month and a few weeks, the two had gone from blacklisted scientists to being part of an innovation in the medical field.

A few months ago, if someone told either of them that this would happen, they’d have thought the person was mocking them.

Liam exhaled slowly as he looked at the device on his wrist.

"It still feels unreal," he murmured.

His words were answered by a pinch from Elizabeth causing him to yelp.

"Still feels unreal?" She asked with a smile on her face.

"Nope, it’s definitely real," He muttered as he rubbed the spot she pinched.

Lillian couldn’t help but laugh softly at the sight. She couldn’t help but be reminded of Aria...who currently was on her way back from California.

So she had to pick her up on a few hours.

"Well," she said, clasping her hands together, "next week, everything changes. Not just for OmniTech... but for the medical world."

"By the way," Liam suddenly muttered, "where’s Ethan?"

"He had something to handle this morning," Lillian simply said. "He’ll stop by later."

The siblings nodded in understanding, completely satisfied with an answer vague as it may seem.

It seemed Ethan was one of the only two people that they knew of that was working directly with this OmniTech person.

***

Ethan, meanwhile, was currently in his home’s lab again, but this time, instead of simulating something, he was tinkering again.

You see, during his multiple simulation session, he discovered an easier way to farm SP.

Yes, Sentinel was popular. Yes, it was gaining him a fair share of SP every day from corporate adoption and global integration.

But that was nowhere near enough.

Not for what he was planning.

So, what was this new idea?

Well, there were a couple of options. There were certain things people used every single day, phones, social media platforms, messaging apps, navigation services...

What he was making was something that would keep people glued to it for hours unending.

"What people interact with the most," Ethan muttered, "that’s what gives the highest passive SP yield."

{Don’t you think you’re moving a bit too fast?} Athena asked, {after all, the hype for Vitaband is just beginning to grow, won’t this just make OmniTech Corp seem like a company without direction.}

"Definitely," Ethan nodded with a small chuckle, "but OmniTech has already established itself as a multi industry company, so it should be fine... besides, it’s not like I’ll be releasing this anytime soon."

{Right—}

Before Athena’s words could be completed, Ethan’s phone suddenly started ringing and it was from an unknown number.

He glanced at it for a moment before saying, "put the person through."

With that, the phone let out a beep as the call connected.

It was silent for a while on the other end, before Ethan calmly said, "hello?"

"Ethan Carter?" The person had a similarly calm voice.

"Speaking," Ethan replied.

A soft hum echoed through the line, as though the caller was smiling.

"I see. You’re a difficult man to reach."

Ethan raised a brow, "And you are?"

"Unimportant," the man on the other end said, "I’m here to offer you an opportunity."

Ethan leaned back in his chair, interested in whatever the person on the other end was about to say.

At this point he knew exactly who was on the other end...well, maybe not their identity just yet, but he knew who this was.

"I recently came across your profile," the man said, ignoring the lack of response. "A former part-time teacher with zero corporate background... then suddenly handpicked by OmniTech’s mysterious CEO. Quite the jump, wouldn’t you say?"

Ethan didn’t respond, so the man continued.

"I admire talent," the man said. "I invest in it. Cultivate and elevate it."

"Mm," Ethan let out a hum, "and you want to... cultivate me?"

"Exactly so," the man replied. "You see, your boss has caught my interest. OmniTech has been disrupting sectors that were... perfectly balanced for years."

"Suddenly, out of nowhere, your CEO appears, believing himself anonymous and untouchable, dropping an innovation months, years, ahead of global research and also promising a few months," he continued.

The man then paused, letting that sink in.

"You work closely with him, don’t you?"

"Reasonably closely," Ethan answered casually, "but that man is a mystery to even me, after all, like you said, he prefers remaining anonymous."

"Good," the man said. "Then this proposition should be very easy for you."

He could already guess where this was going, but he allowed the man to speak.

"I want you to keep me informed about OmniTech’s direction. Products, Internal research, future plans, anything that hints at what your enigmatic CEO is creating next and if possible, his identity." The man completed.

Ethan kept his expression relaxed, though his amusement was clearly visible in his eyes.

This felt like the biggest joke of the century, but he wasn’t going to laugh just yet... he was going to wait for the actual punch line.

"A spy," he said simply.

"I prefer the term consultant," the man corrected, completely unfazed. "And I am willing to pay very, very well for your... consultancy."

Ethan said nothing, he waited for the man to continue.

"I know your salary range, I know you didn’t make much as a teacher, and even OmniTech’s paycheck isn’t exactly life-changing for someone of your potential, after all, they’re still a young company."

"Oh?" Ethan murmured. "And what would be life-changing?"

"Five million dollars wired immediately," the man said, his voice was steady and completely confident. "And a yearly salary double that if you continue delivering valuable insight."

Ethan’s eyes twitched as he took a look at his personal savings through the system’s, 85 million... And the man was offering five to ten million for information on himself, how interesting.

Very interesting indeed.

{He’s bold,} Athena commented with an amused smile on the face of her avatar.

"Five million... upfront?" Ethan repeated.

"Immediately," the man confirmed. "Just for agreeing, the rest depends on the quality of what you provide."

A short silence followed.

Ethan tapped his fingers on the desk as if he was seriously thinking about the offer.

He was not...not in the least bit.

"Alright," he finally said. "I accept."

There was a brief pause before the man asked, a bit surprised, "You do?"

"Yes," Ethan said calmly. "If you’re willing to pay that much for information, then sure. Why not?"

A soft, pleased laugh was heard on the other end. As the man continued chuckling.

"Excellent. I knew you were smart, Ethan. This partnership will benefit us both greatly."

"Mm," Ethan replied. "Send the contract over."

"I’ll have my people handle it," the man said. "Welcome aboard."

The line soon disconnected.

Athena looked at him for a moment before chuckling, {you accepted to spy on yourself?}

"Of course I did," Ethan replied, stretching slightly as he stood back up. "He wants a spy?"

{...Yes?}

"Then I’ll be the best spy he’s ever had," Ethan smiled faintly. "Just... not as he expects."

{You’re going to feed him false information.}

"Not immediately," he shook his head. "If I give him bullshit now, he’ll get suspicious and I won’t have time to find out who he is."

{So what’s your plan?}

"We’ll feed him truth," Ethan said. "Small, harmless truths. Ones that don’t matter much but at the same time, will be enough to keep him satisfied."

{And when he’s fully comfortable...}

"Then," Ethan said, a mischievous glint appearing in his eyes, "we give him the lie that destroys whatever he’s building."

Athena nodded slowly.

{You’re turning his own plan into a weapon.}

"Of course," Ethan murmured, "like I said, never interrupt your enemy when they’re making a mistake."

{Right,} she nodded in response.

Her creator was definitely enjoying this and she could see it on his face. He seemed to be imagining how that man’s face will be when he finds out that he was bribing the same man he wanted to spy on.

It’d be a funny reaction really.

"By the way," Ethan soon sat back down, "were you able to track the location of the caller?"

{No,} she shook her head.

"I figured," he muttered, "now then, let’s start playing spies."