There are various versions of paradise for different people. For one it can be lush green landscapes taken straight out of a painting but for some, it's a large man cave with alien-like technology and top of the line equipment to provide the best gaming experience.
In short, this room was what each and every one of them dreamt of especially Fen Hao who was shamelessly drooling over one of the gaming capsules.
Imagine being able to escape from reality twenty-four seven and live in a world far from the monotonous study, work, family, retire and die cycle.
This was what most of them dreamt of. A unique world that extricates oneself from the vicious cycle of life. Of course, they would be death eventually but the unique experience games had to offer was a different life far from reality.
The instructor began to explain how the gaming capsule system worked. It was a magnificent piece of technology beyond its years. The gaming capsule was like a three-dimensional elongated cylinder made of high fibreglass with an AI-controlled regulatory system to ensure the safety of the host's body while in the game.
There was also live feed played from the giant screens coming from the virtual world which meant the outside world could view what was happening inside the game.
This was also a potential source of income for the company like a live stream but ten times better. While the recruits were exploring this fine piece of technology, a group of people dressed in high-end suits and expensive accessories were seated at an oval table watching the so-called new recruits on the big screen.
"They look weak in stature compared to the recruits we have acquired over the years. How certain are we that they won't bite the dust as soon as they step out of the safety zone?" said a tall foreign-looking man with a well-kept moustache.
Some of the men nodded in agreement questioning the selection criteria. The company had recruited lone wolves with better physiques than these nerds even then they lost ten per cent of them in the first twenty-four hours so what chance did this batch have?
"I mean look at that one, he looks like he is going to get blown by the wind in the very next second. I bet he won't last two hours," said another man letting out a throaty chuckle.
"You haven't seen blondie over there. He must have mistaken this for a fuckin beauty pageant...AH!" said a chubby man that is before his head was banged against the table with a loud bam!
The chubby man grunted lowly but didn't make a single sound after that. The one who had the man's head pressed down against the table was only known as Du She which directly translated to venomous viper but of course, that wasn't his real name.
No one had ever seen his real face let alone know his real name. Half his face was covered by a vantablack mask made out of tungsten. One could only see one of his eyes as the other was partially covered by his long bangs.
A deep jagged scar ran down his other eye with an iris as red as blood with three tear-shaped dark spots. With a single glance, one could tell there was something wrong about him but no one had the balls to voice their curiosity.
His appearance wasn't the scariest part about him. It was his heavy mysterious aura as dark as the deepest abyss. If it weren't because they had made a shit load of money from this dark and sinister character they wouldn't have willingly associated with him.
He was like a firecracker ready to snap at a moments notice for the stupidest of things. Du She had no issues killing either and no one would care if a person lives or dies through the meeting.
That's because the contractors who were mostly from wealthy nations would easily appoint a new representative. Like in the case of this chubby man whose head had been pressed down on the table so hard that his skull caved in.
The expensive mahogany table was soon covered by a puddle of blood creating a gory scene unsightly to the common folk. A man standing beside Du She handed him a warm towel to wipe his obviously clean pale fingers.
"Anyone else have something to say?" he asked in a deep imposing voice while thoroughly wiping a finger at a time. He raised his head staring at them with that spine chilling eye that seemed to have darkened to a deeper shade of red.
No one spoke with beads of cold sweat forming on their foreheads. The temperature in the room suddenly increased sharply causing some of the men at the table loosening their ties. It wasn't a problem with the aircon but the man sitting in front of them.
"Now, since no one has anything to say I will speak," he said handing back the towel to the man beside him. "Prepare your underground live streaming parlours. I need them running within a week," he said before standing up to leave, "We need to make more money to expand our exploits in Equino. Be sure to convey my message."
He stepped out of the room leaving behind a group of petrified men breathing heavily to recalibrate themselves after being exposed to such a suffocating environment.
Du She reached out a hand to fix his cufflinks shaped like a viper as he addressed his assistant, "What did my uncle want?" His uncle was the very professor Z working in the research lab. They barely communicated with each other unless it was business matters and the old man had requested his presence.
The assistant pushed up his rimless glasses and said, "Subject X's brother has joined the program," with a tone of indifference.
Du She's hand froze so did his steps that is until a malicious smile crept up his face. "This ought to be interesting. Let's put him first in the reconstruction chamber," he said before resuming his previous actions.
"Yes sir," replied the assistant as he led the way. This meant nothing good was coming for Jin Lin.