Divinity: Against the Godly System

"Believe me; no one knows it better than me. The meeting will be canceled," Ryder said as he glanced back to make sure that Alice wasn't here. "Because that guy... He is dead."

"What? He is dead? What do you mean?" Shu asked, stunned. 

The Vice President was dead? He didn't hear any news about that. How could it be that only Ryder knew about it, unless...

He stared at Ryder before he asked, "Don't tell me you killed him?"

Ryder took a deep breath before he once again glanced back to check up on Alice. "I did."

"Why?" Shu asked. 

"Because he was one of the people that were here to kill me. You can call it self-defense," Ryder answered.

In any case, it wasn't as if anyone could prove that he had murdered the Vice President. According to the world, he was still in the New Capital. Moreover, he came here secretly with Aluren, so Ryder was sure that there was no proof that he was coming here. He also kept his face hidden when coming. 

He wasn't worried in the least that Shu would rat him out to the authorities, but even if he did, it wouldn't matter since there's no proof. His body is also destroyed by now. 

"Are you really not joking?" Shu asked, frowning. 

"I'm not joking at all. That guy really is dead," Ryder answered. 

"Hah, I really didn't expect that. You seemed to be in a real mess if the one who came to kill you was the Vice President. But I don't understand, why did he come personally? He could have used his authority if he wanted you in trouble?" Shu asked. 

"Don't ask that since I can't answer as even I don't know. The man who can answer is the Vice President, but he is already dead, so I doubt we can ask him," Ryder answered before he turned on the TV. 

In the meantime, Alice brought some food for Shu as well. 

"Aren't you going to eat?" Ryder asked Alice, who sat near them, without anything to eat for herself. 

"I already ate before you came to take me," Alice answered as she shook her head. 

The TV was on, playing a news channel that seemed to be talking about Necrosis. 

Seeing that name in the headline, Shu told Ryder, " Increase the volume."

Ryder turned up the volume as he was also curious about it.

"That's right; we just got the news. The government has finally clarified its position on Necrosis Corporation, putting all the rumors to rest. Necrosis Corporation has received a multi-billion dollar contract to develop a virtual training world for the United States to prepare them," the News Anchor explained. 

"Ron, what's the latest update?" he asked the correspondent.

"The world seems to be going crazy after hearing this news. The stock prices of Necrosis are through the roof, increasing the value of the company massively, but that's nothing in front of the large scale implications it might have!" The correspondent answered. 

"Ron, please tell our viewers that don't know anything about this matter. What large scale implications could this have?" Ryder asked. 

"The large-scale implications are the impact of this on the world. The United States government has given the green light to the speculations that we all had. It's that the Virtual Reality can be used for military purposes."

"As for how it increases the efficiency, it's to be seen, but for one aspect, now the soldiers can gain experience of large scale real world wars in the world of Necrosis. Moreover, they can learn many new things, all at once."

"Since it's a Virtual World and technology related to the brain, it's also possible to implant knowledge in the head of the soldiers. As I said, the implications it has are really massive!"

"For the moment, the United States is leading in this technology because of Necrosis, but I'm sure other countries will try to catch up. And if they can't, they'll try to tie up with Necrosis. Let me remind you, this is a company that just rose recently, and now it's going to be at the center of the new world."

"In the upcoming days, you can expect even more jumps in the stock prices of Necrosis as it's a delicious pie at the moment in the eyes of the world's largest economies, and everyone would be asking for a piece of this pie," the Correspondent explained.

"Hah, so it finally happened. I knew something like this would happen. The rumors weren't false after all. That's why I wanted to buy Necrosis before, but even after I tried such a hard hand, the owner of Necrosis is too stubborn. He would rather watch Necrosis burn than sell it," Shu commented as he sighed.

He seemed upset. 

"Necrosis is really doing some big things, but I still don't think they're right. They're really scheming something, and they would soon fall if they don't stop. In fact, their fall would be even faster than their rise," Ryder told Shu before he turned off the TV.

"What do you mean? Do you know something about them that I don't?" Shu asked, curious. Ryder surely knew something, it seemed. 

"All I can say is that Divinity isn't what it seems. And if they don't stop playing with Divinity, they'll regret it," Ryder replied. "Anyway, I'm going to the Necrosis Headquarters tomorrow. So I'll know more about them."

"You're going to Necrosis? Why?" Shu inquired. 

"They have the billion-dollar event. They'll be giving a brief about that to the players soon," Ryder explained. 

"Huh? So you're taking part in it? Didn't you say you won't?" 

"I'm not taking part. Alice is taking part. She applied before I even knew about it since she was invited. I'll be going there to accompany her and to keep her safe," Ryder explained. 

"Alice was selected for that? Don't tell me she's a top ten player? The heck? I didn't even know she played, let alone the fact that she became a top ten player?" Shu explained in surprise. 

"She's not a top ten player. She took part in a special event and got this offer. This tournament isn't actually restricted to top ten players. You can call it as an exclusive which will include top ten players and any specially invited players," Ryder further explained. 

"Not bad, Alice. Congrats on being selected, but I'm glad that you're taking Ryder," Shu congratulated Alice.

"I should come too, though. I don't trust that Necrosis," he further suggested. 

"You're not coming. She can only bring one person with her, and she's bringing me. Moreover, I don't want you to come with us. If you come, many eyes will be on us. You've got a pretty eye-catching personality, after all. Only I will go so I can do what I want without attracting any attention," Ryder told Shu, refusing him. 

Shu just looked at Ryder blankly for a moment before he rolled his eyes. "You always keep me out of all the fun. Fine, I won't come with you."

...

Back in the headquarters of Necrosis, the preparation was going on, which was for tomorrow's briefing. Moreover, there was also preparation going on for the billion dollar event and the live broadcast arrangement for that. 

"Is the preparation completed?" The owner of Necrosis asked his assistant who was walking behind him. 

"Ongoing, Sir. They'll soon be completed," the assistant replied. 

"That's better. What's the news surrounding the players? We gave them permission to sell their rights to any broadcaster of their choice. How did that go?" The man asked his assistant as he entered his chamber. 

"A lot of them have signed exclusive deals, earning millions since Divinity is only gaining popularity. Amongst the top fifty players, thirty-seven have signed exclusive deals with broadcasters," the lady answered. 

"Is Lucifer or Hades amongst those thirty-seven?" The man asked as he sat on his chair. 

"No, sir. Those two are from the thirteen that haven't. Many agencies have released their offers online for Hades and Lucifer to approach them, but I don't think any of them got a response," the lady answered. 

"What's the highest offer each of them received?" The man asked with an amused smile on his face. 

"For one year contract, the max Lucifer was offered was just above twenty million dollars. As for Hades, he was offered a little over fifty million dollars," the lady answered. 

"That's not much. Hah, do one thing. Release our offer from our subsidiary company. Five Hundred million for Hades and four hundred million for Lucifer. Maybe this can sway them," the man told his assistant before he opened his laptop.

"I'll do that, sir," the lady acknowledged before he left the office. 

"I would love to have Hades and that Lucifer, but even if they don't come to me, I have other arrangements too. But still, I'm curious. Just who is this, Hades? Even I can't find his identity. As for Lucifer, I don't understand how he is hacking our system."