"G-good afternoon, Mr. Lee!" I nervously greeted the towering figure.

"No need for formalities, young man. I imagine you're feeling quite proud of all the things your mother has accomplished. To put together such an incredible display takes a certain amount of finesse and careful planning. Bravo, I say ahaha," Mr. Lee always laughed with his entire body, a trait that brought every memory of him to life. Whether he was wearing his usual jovial smile or holding his belly in a fit of laughter, his warmth and cheer were unmistakable.

"But I think you two might be stealing the center stage right now, so why don't we all return to our seats in the meantime," he suggested or rather politely ordered . We wordlessly bade each other farewell and returned to our seats. As I sat down, I felt the weight of numerous eyes fixed on me. Okay, maybe I didn't quite relish this role, but somehow, it was strange how often I found myself thrust into the limelight at such events in one way or another.

Not long after, the eccentric MC reappeared, signaling the end of the intermission.

As the interactive presentation finally neared its conclusion, by now all of us in attendance had probably grasped the core focus of the SCP and its backers. The flamboyantly dressed presenter had vocally expressed it on more than one occasion during his two-hour-long speech,

'To build a new world where time no longer exists.'

In other words, the primary allure of the immersive virtual world, known as the V series, lies in the notion that participation requires only one's consciousness. Upon immersion, a player's body was left in a near comatose state, safely locked in what was seemingly a triggered natural sleep (Faux-Sleep). The most fundamental fear of humanity, which was undoubtedly death, remained inscrutable despite technological advancements to date. But the creators and backers of the V series had actively declared themselves as leading the charge as the first MMORPG that actively sought to challenge the crux of humanity's greatest fears. How to cheat death.

All the companies, NGOs, and big-money conglomerates that had invested substantial resources in maximizing their efforts to explore the unknown space, naturally understood that appealing to the allure of the concept of immortality was always going to drive home whatever it was they were truly selling beneath the fabric of that. 

Whilst I pondered on the finale of the presentation, I too realized that the brilliance of the V series marketing campaign lay in its adept transmission of this thought process to everyone. I surveyed the hall for a few moments, seeing faces filled with excitement and yearning already apparent. Then it hit me in a cold and somewhat frightening truth. Whether the world governing bodies approved it or not, the V9 was destined for release at a national level, and perhaps weeks after its successful launch across the Pacific, would eventually lead to its global release across the entire world.

Deep within my heart, I harbored a nearly certain belief that its release would wreak havoc.

'But the world was already in chaos- what harm could another potential problem do'

A yawn escaped my mouth, and I used my free hand to discreetly shield it. Standing beside some of the escorts, who were dressed in pinstriped, tailored black suits, I observed them overseeing the guests entering and leaving the hall. In my other hand, I cradled a small glass of fizzy apple juice, taking patient sips from its elegant rim. I savored each sip, knowing this would be my last drink here

Though I had lost sight of Ringo some time ago, I wasn't overly concerned with locating her. The last I saw, she was interacting with other young girls from prominent rich families or engaging in small talk with eligible boys forming a line to speak with her.

This scenario might have bothered me if I weren't familiar with Ringo as a person. In truth, my concern extended more towards those boys, not yet knowing what they were getting themselves into. 

"Maybe if she gets married, I'll finally have peace at long last." I poured the remaining fizzy juice into my mouth, relishing the thought of what life would look like if Ringo were to get married.

'Tis a shame we're only 17, I suppose.' Well, in some countries, being so young wasn't a problem. 'But how would I sell it to Mom?' I pondered deeply, entertaining if whether or not I could get Ringo to be whisked away and married.

"Ah, excuse me...are you... Shoba... Doctor Nagato Ren's son?" A voice interrupted my daydreams from behind. That seemed to be the theme here.

Turning around, I discovered a slender, young-faced fellow with fiery red curls, staring at me with two peculiar yet intriguing sets of eyes—one lilac and the other a deep fountain of clear blue .

I couldn't help but stare directly toward the carmine side. I felt this strange ominous feeling as though he was carrying a sinister reddish glint.

'What in the world is going on with his eyes,' I thought to myself. After noticing the pale, outstretched hand between us and my hesitation to receive it, I swiftly regained composure and shook the fellow's hand in response.

"Yes, I am Shoba... Nagato Shoba."

I refrained from asking his name, expecting it to be offered after my introduction. There was something peculiar about him, perhaps the oddity stemmed from his mismatched pupils, giving off an unusual vibe. And if that was the case, I needed to work on not judging people for looking different.

"Ah-wow, incredible! You look just like your father... F-forgive me, I worked with Mr. Thomas a few years before he left the Astrophysics department. Well, in truth, 'working with' might be a stretch, aha, as I considered myself his protégé." He said, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. I got the sense he was almost trying to brag.

'Oh, he knows my father... fair enough... but what's with that chilling weird smile?' There was an indescribable oddity about the fellow, though it was unkind of me to pass judgment based solely on our initial interaction. I still found him somewhat peculiar.

'I could've sworn I've met him before too.'

"So you knew my father then?" I inquired with a slightly raised brow, attempting to maintain politeness.

"Ah, of course, who didn't! Everyone knew the great man he was. Despite the public friction he had with the SCP and its donors, there's not a single mind here that can consider Mr. Thomas's work to be anything other than the driving force behind the technological discoveries we've made with the V series today." He brought his face slightly closer to my own, feigning a whisper before he continued.

"They wouldn't say it, mind you, but we true children of science appreciate the beautiful mind of Mr. Nagato Thomas. And may the true purpose of his work live on... forever."

Only when he brought his glass forward and audaciously tapped it against mine did I notice he, too, held a stemmed glass in his hand.

A soft *Clink* echoed as I stood there, rendered momentarily speechless, offering only an awkward smile.

"Well, it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance, young heir to the Nagato house aha. But also, I do hope that whatever the future holds, you will be safe, and we shall meet again. Whether it's within this world...or the next" He sang before performing an out-of-place bow. He then gave me a smirk and walked away.

'What the heck was that? And why did it sound as though...' Before I could complete my thoughts, Ringo suddenly appeared, bouncing around me like a small cub who had just enjoyed running amok for the past few hours.

"Hey, Shoba! Mum's getting ready to leave now, so let's go-go-go-go," Ringo urged, practically halfway out of the hall when I gathered myself to respond to her