CHAPTER 60: CHAPTER 60 – THE SMILING THIEF (PART 1)

Chapter 60 – The Smiling Thief (Part 1)

"What the hell?" Zane muttered, eyes wide as he stared at the glowing hologram hovering above his wrist. "What is this voice speaking to me?"

"I am your Dimensional Integrated Assistant," the voice replied, calm and toneless. "Or DIA for short. You may address me as Dia."

The voice belonged to a female A.I., artificial yet strangely lifelike in its cadence—robotic but not entirely soulless.

"DIA...?" Zane raised an eyebrow. "Alright, Dia. What exactly do you do?"

He had a vague idea. Clearly, this was some kind of personal device given to candidates. But its function? He was still in the dark.

"My primary role is to assist you throughout your journey as a Dimensional Knight. I provide several useful features designed to help optimize your performance and ease your adaptation into your new environment."

"Useful features?" Zane repeated.

In response, the hologram shifted, reshaping itself into a floating screen filled with icons—polished, minimalist designs reminiscent of a smartphone interface. But it was sleeker, sharper, and clearly more advanced.

"I provide tools you may already be familiar with—calendar, communication, media, and entertainment—derived from your world’s smartphone interfaces," Dia explained.

"Additionally, I include exclusive features such as real-time health monitoring, internal body scans, injury diagnosis, mapping systems, call functions within shared dimensions, localized online communities of knights with shared interests, and much more."

Zane blinked at the display. "So... you’re literally just an assistant. Like a super phone that talks back."

"Yes."

’That’s... actually kind of awesome,’ Zane thought, a slow smile creeping across his face. ’Man, this looks like something out of a sci-fi movie... and now it’s stuck to my arm.’ He couldn’t help but feel a little giddy. Technology this advanced wasn’t something he thought he’d experience in his lifetime—let alone wear.

"What else can you do, Dia?"

"I can analyze your condition in real-time, track any internal damage or irregularities, and offer immediate advice on how to treat or stabilize your injuries. I can also scan objects and beings for information—be they animate or inanimate. Think of it as an identification and information gathering system. Additionally, I will manage and update your schedule and send you alerts if you ever forget important deadlines or appointments."

Zane’s eyes widened slightly. ’A built-in medic, analyst, calendar, and tech support system. All in one.’

"Does it run on Core Energy?"

"No. I am designed to absorb ambient energy from the environment. As long as there is dimensional energy around—which is nearly always—I can function. However, I was also implemented with emergency battery if energy isn’t present."

"That’s efficient," Zane muttered. "And what about the translation device Ian mentioned yesterday? Is that you too?"

"No. That is a separate artifact. You will find it inside your equipment box."

Nodding, Zane turned back to the box on his bed and began rummaging through it. Just as she said, nestled beneath some folded documents and a change of uniform was a much smaller metallic case—compact and sleek.

He clicked the button on its side, and the top slid open with a soft mechanical hum.

Inside was a tiny, intricate object that looked more like a microchip than anything else. Its surface was covered in minuscule engravings and delicate bumps, pulsing faintly with energy. Zane picked it up between his fingers, inspecting it.

"This little thing is the translator?"

"Correct."

"And how do I use it?"

"Place it into your ear. The device will handle the rest."

Zane smirked. ’So, no complicated rituals or setup. Just shove it in and go.’ "Alright."

He brought the chip to his ear. As soon as it made contact, it reacted—latching gently but firmly into the canal. There was a momentary tingle, like a faint electric current crawling through his nerves. Then it faded completely, leaving behind no pain, no sensation—only the knowledge that something foreign was now integrated into his body.

"Is... is it working?" he asked, unsure.

"Would you like me to speak to you in another language to confirm?"

"I’d appreciate that."

The voice shifted—same tone, same cadence, but something was unmistakably different. Yet Zane still understood it perfectly. The words flowed into his mind seamlessly, as though they were in his native tongue.

"You’re speaking in another language now?"

"Yes."

Zane nodded slowly. "Then it works. I didn’t even hear the difference. It’s like... the words just translated before they even reached my brain."

It was almost unsettling how natural it felt.

’No wonder Ian said some people prefer learning languages the hard way,’ Zane thought. ’This device skips the struggle, but it also steals something from the experience. Still... it’s going to be essential.’

"And this one?" he asked, tapping his ear. "It charges the same way?"

"No. It uses a very minor portion of your own energy. However, the consumption is negligible and will not interfere with your combat or daily functions."

"Fair enough," Zane said, stretching his arms. "Alright Dia, when do classes start?"

"Your schedule begins tomorrow. First class: 08:00 sharp which will be Dimensional Biology."

"Nice. So I have the whole day to myself?"

"Affirmative."

"Then I think I’ll go for a jog. I haven’t trained properly in two days."

He grabbed his keys and headed out, his boots tapping against the stairs as he descended into the main lobby. A moment later, he stepped back into the sunlight—and into the city that had captivated him just yesterday.

The street was alive, pulsing with energy. Creatures of every shape and size passed by, some walking, some gliding through the air on wings, and others floating without any visible means of propulsion. A woman with feathers instead of hair crossed paths with a lizard-like being in a velvet cloak. The absurdity was lost in the normalcy of it all.

Zane smiled faintly and started jogging, weaving through the crowd with ease. The warm sun kissed his skin as he passed by the vibrant heart of the city.

There were food stalls spilling delicious smells into the street, barbershops advertising alien hairstyles, artifact vendors shouting about rare trinkets, and weapon shops that displayed swords taller than he was. It was sensory overload in the best way possible.

Everything about the city felt alive. The streets sparkled clean, the buildings stood tall and symmetrical, and even the distant hills and trees seemed to hum with harmony. It was organized but not rigid. Manmade, yet still breathing with nature’s rhythm.

’It’s not like the cities back home,’ he thought. ’It’s definitely prettier, as much as I have my doubts.’

Eventually, he jogged into a different sector of the city. This one was clearly designed for leisure.

Bars, cafés, art studios, open parks, and even a brightly colored amusement park decorated the area. Laughter echoed from somewhere up ahead. The mood here was considerably different as knights looked less strained and more comfortable, clearly enjoying their time a bit more despite the harsh work.

’So this is the entertainment district,’ Zane thought, slowing his pace. Looks lively enough.

"Dia, are you mapping the area as I move?"

"B56 City is already stored in my data banks. You have full access to its entire layout. For any uncharted regions, I will begin auto-mapping the moment you enter them."

"Nice. Can I pull up the map now?"

A second later, a massive hologram projected from his wrist—an aerial view of the city in perfect 3D. Structures, routes, and landmarks were labeled, and a small glowing arrow marked his current position.

Zane stared, eyes wide.

"Wow..."

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