As always, Giliath demands your power stones!
*****
The same evening.
Crossbell City.
International Bank of Crossbell, or commonly known as the IBC.
Basement Level.
Despite it being the new year, several orbal engineers could be seen rapidly typing away at their assigned stations. Most of them had a single computer assigned to them, which were placed on the lower level of the basement floor. The one engineer all the way in the back, if they looked upward, they could see three giant monitors draping down right above their heads, making it appear menacing to look at, but these engineers were used to seeing computer screens like these.
A freckle-faced blonde-haired boy could be seen furiously typing away at the bottom-most level where the three giant monitors currently hanged above him. Two of the three screens could currently be seen lit up. Massive amounts of data could be seen moving at a fast pace, never seeming to end. A look of agony appeared in the boy's eyes.
"Tell me again why I'm here? I should be celebrating the new years back inside my cave, stuffing my face silly with pizza until I pass out!", the boy complained, ignoring the fact that his hands were typing on his keyboard, not stopping, just like the other engineers were currently doing.
Closer toward the center of the basement level, where the raised platform was, a man wearing a monocle in one of his eyes could be seen. His expression remained unchanged, even after hearing the boy retort that. He had a professor's white lab coat over his body, which hid away a red-vested shirt and light brown pants.
"Keep the noise level to a minimum, institute student. Or if you want, for the test we are about to perform, I could make it your final grade for the current term, and if this test fails, you will be kicked out of the institute.", The aged man retorted back.
"You wouldn't dare, Professor.", The boy responded back, revealing a frown.
"Try me.", The aged man said back to the boy.
Hearing the two exchange that, a worried look appeared in the figure standing beside him. He wore a large white coat that had blue highlights around its edges. He had short brown hair and a rather thick mustache.
"Jona's assistance tonight has been of great help to us, Professor Schmidt. We don't really need to tread that path, do we?", The middle-aged man said. He went by the name Roberts.
"I run the Institute of Technology, so what happens there, passes through me. Tonight's connection test will be the farthest we have reached so far since we've installed the Orbal Network here in Crossbell. If this test works, we will be able to install more wide-range communication devices in other countries for faster data processing and receiving.", Professor Schmidt said in a serious voice this time. In a way, he acted as if everyone's job was on the line. He was always a serious man like that, prioritizing his work ethics and research over everything else. It didn't matter if he worked with the heroes or villains of the Trailsverse, if he got what he desired, that would be the best outcome for him.
To add to that, Professor Schmidt was one of the key figures in the field of orbal technology as a whole, and he was one of three disciples of the founder of orbal tech, Professor Epstein. Around forty years ago, Professor Schmidt spearheaded a project that would further revolutionize orbal tech. Along with both funding and assistance received from the Reinford Group, they were able to develop the frameworks of most orbal cars people drive on the streets today.
At the very least, Professor Schmidt was one of few individuals that would frequently change sides depending on how the flow of the games went. If there was another group or entity comparable to him, it would be Jaegers. Unlike being a person thirsting for knowledge, Jaegers were literally hired arms. As long as one had enough mira, that person could hire a Jaeger corp. Zephyr was along those lines, they fought against Rean's group, and helped Rean's group during the Cold Steel games.
With that thought in mind, Professor Schmidt looked toward the center of the basement floor, which was where the elevated platform was. A single figure could be seen using both of their hands independently, from one keyboard to the next. To a normal person's eye, what they were currently doing was equivalent to performing magic. It was almost as if this figure's hand speed matched the speed of the data that was rapidly moving through the giant monitors up above.
"At least try to be like my prized pupil here. She can keep up with the Orbal Network's data system. Do you really want a failing grade, institute student?", Professor Schmidt asked as he observed the nine-year old blue-haired girl before him. She will be turning ten years old this year. If there was one word to describe the present state of this girl, she's a prodigy. She could already handle what most adult engineers struggle to do as an engineer.
Jona immediately frowned hearing Professor Schmidt say that. Even a hint of fear appeared in his eyes.
"You're asking the impossible here, man! There's no way I can keep up with Tio's speed. She's a demon!", Jona cursed out, even though his hands were still typing away.
The moment Jona yelled out, a cold air suddenly swept the entire basement floor. The girl, who was of course, Tio Plato, turned serious. Her eyes and expression remained mostly deadpan, but one could tell that he was mad by that remark.
"You want to repeat that again? Since you like the sewers so much Jona I'll just let you live with the rats.", Tio retorted back with a cold look.
"Hahaha...", Roberts spoke out with a half-hearted laugh. A tired look in his eyes appeared after Tio said that.
"You'd really ditch me, your best and ONLY friend?", Jona retorted back at Tio.
"You're neither of those. I have friends, and they aren't you.", Tio retorted coldly again.
"Ouch. Point taken.", Jona responded.
"Less talking, more typing. I expect to leave this place at a reasonable time tonight.", Professor Schmidt reiterated to the group before him.
'I think that's the Professor's way of saying we'll be staying here past midnight. Can he really do that to his students...?', Jona inwardly exclaimed to himself, but didn't want to anger Professor Schmidt anymore. He continued typing away. Tio also remained silent, letting her hands dance like magic.
A certain beat soon echoed throughout the basement. A beat Professor Schmidt had heard countless of times, it was almost as if he himself was working on a large-scale project.
He wanted to do this testing when the orbal waves would have peak interference due to the holiday season where everyone was out and about in one of the largest capital cities on Zemuria. Having that target place in mind, some time passed as they were trying to get everything squared away.
Before long, a single prompt appeared on the screen. Tio stopped her hands, and spun around on the chair she was seated on, turning to look at Professor Schmidt.
"We were able to clear out the remaining bugs, Professor. Shall we initiate the connection?", Tio asked.
"Proceed.", Professor Schmidt answered, nodding his head a single time with a firm voice.
"Initiating the connection. Starting in three. Two. One.", Tio suddenly said, turning her chair back around. She pressed the large enter key on her keyboard.
[Connection Successful. Now connecting to the opposite terminal...] A single message displayed on the screen before them. In no time at all did the blank blue-lit screen begin to change and distort.
The immediate first image that came onto the screen caused Tio to suddenly pause in her tracks. She, along with everyone else saw a scarlet-haired boy in a flashy tuxedo now on the screen. A doubtful look in his eyes could be seen as he stared right at them, believing whether or not the boy was actually seeing what he was currently seeing.
"Why is it, you?", Tio slowly asked, not expecting to see this scarlet-haired boy on the giant screen. She just stared blankly at the boy.
"Aha! Now there's those eyes I remember seeing! Long time no see, kid. Been well?", The boy asked Tio.
"I will ask you again. Why, is it, you?", Tio said as her eyelids shifted downward, becoming cold again.
"Oh c'mon, I know you missed me. We're buddies, right? Please say we are. We went through that whole ordeal back on that island together!", The scarlet-haired boy said, frowning.
"Island?", Jona questioned. "What island? You went to an island, Tio?", Jona continued to question, disbelief appeared in his eyes.
"You don't need to know, Jona.", Tio retorted Jona. At this time, everyone present in the room heard a laugh, coming from another individual from behind the giant screen, likely where it was connected to.
"Haha, that's enough out of you, Lechter. It really is nice to see you again, Tio. Have you been well?", A familiar voice said, only to bring a violet-haired boy with pure golden eyes on screen. They would only turn vermillion whenever he activated his skill. He was dressed in his regal robe. He opted not to wear any crowns, but he could if he wanted to.
"Mmm.", Tio happily responded, cracking a rare smile. She has been trying to smile more these days, and under the right conditions, this is what she would get. The violet-haired boy became happy seeing Tio smile like this.
"Looks like the connection test is successful. Good work, my prized pupil. Do you have any intermittent disruptions on your end, Naoto?", Professor Schmidt asked. The screen to the left and the right continued its massive data flow, but it's been flowing smoothly without any errors. The violet-haired boy shook his head gently.
Hearing that, the violet-haired boy raised his eyes. He wasn't sure exactly when Professor Schmidt started to address him by first name, but doesn't he only do that for individuals he respects? Perhaps he gained Professor Schmidt's favor the moment he introduced AI KeA to him. It left him thoughts to ponder. The only thing that didn't happen was the Favorability meter. It has yet to be unlocked for Professor Schmidt.
"None that I can see, Professor. Welcome to Heimdallr.", I declared. Seeing the Foundation's successful connection test to Erebonia's capital city, a smile appeared on my lips. After pushing Lechter aside, the boy who appeared on screen was of course me. Tio happily nodded her head in response to the successful connection.