"Hmm... true," I conceded. "But how will we explain having two identical bikes?"
IM shrugged. "We'll just have to hide the second one," he said nonchalantly. "I'll figure it out."
I nodded, deciding to trust his resourcefulness. "I'll duplicate it tomorrow," I said. "Let's head inside for now."
We walked up to the front door, and I reached for the handle.
Click! Click!
The door was locked.
"No one's home?" I mumbled, a wave of frustration washing over me.
I checked my phone, but there were no new messages. I glanced at the windows, their curtains drawn shut, blocking any view of the interior.
"Tsk... where could they be?" I muttered under my breath.
Just then, the door clicked open. I looked at IM, who was grinning mischievously, his hand still outstretched towards the doorknob.
"Ta-da!" he exclaimed.
"Oh right, I forgot you can phase through things now," I said with a chuckle.
"Haha!" IM laughed, his voice filled with childish glee.
We stepped into the house, the familiar scent of home enveloping us. But instead of the usual lively atmosphere, an unusual silence hung in the air.
The living room was dimly lit, the only sound the soft snoring coming from the couch. I followed IM's gaze and saw my mother curled up on the cushions, fast asleep.
"Looks like someone's tired," IM whispered, a hint of amusement in his voice.
I chuckled softly. "She's probably exhausted from doing nothing all day," I joked.
I gently shook my mother's shoulder. "Mom? Wake up."
Hmm! She turned over, mumbling something incoherent, and promptly fell back asleep.
"She's more of a baby than I am," I muttered, shaking my head.
"Let's just go to your room, Xian," IM suggested.
I nodded, and we headed upstairs.
I entered my room, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting long shadows on the walls. IM followed, closing the door behind him with a gentle click.
"Xian, can you imagine a new phone for me?" IM asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"You want a phone?" I asked, surprised.
He nodded eagerly.
"Alright, a new phone... hmm..." I opened my phone and began searching online for the latest models.
"How about this one?" I asked, showing him a picture of the ManggosPhone 15. "Do you want that?"
IM shrugged. "Whatever you think is best."
I looked at the phone's specifications, studying its features and design.
An ManggosPhone 15... appearing in my hands...
I closed my eyes and concentrated, visualizing the sleek device materializing in my palm. I could feel the familiar warmth of my Blue Blood coursing through me as I focused my will.
A sleek, black ManggosPhone 15 materialized in my hand, its smooth surface cool to the touch. I held it up, marveling at the intricate details, the polished metal edges, and the vibrant display.
"I'm not even surprised anymore," IM remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Here," I said, handing him the phone.
He took it and began exploring its features, but his brow soon furrowed in confusion. "Why is there no signal?"
"... Hmm, it's supposed to be using an eSIM, so the service should just activate automatically," I replied, puzzled.
I leaned closer, and a notification popped up on the screen: "This phone is not registered on any network. Please contact your carrier for assistance."
I looked at IM, a sheepish grin on my face. "Seems like I can't create a fully functional phone," I admitted.
"That sucks," IM said, disappointment evident in his voice.
"What should we do with it, then?" I asked, unsure of what to do with the now-useless device.
"Is there any way to brute force the eSIM and get an operator ID?" IM suggested.
I shook my head. "I have no idea," I admitted. "But I can search for videos on the internet."
I settled into my desk chair, the familiar hum of the laptop a comforting sound in the otherwise silent room. I opened a browser and searched for videos on how to brute force an operator ID, hoping to find a solution to our eSIM dilemma.
Hours passed as I watched countless videos, my eyes glazing over with the technical jargon and complex instructions. It seemed like a daunting task, one that required specialized knowledge and tools.
I glanced at IM, who was sprawled out on my bed, scrolling through social media on his new (albeit non-functional) phone.
"Any luck?" he asked, his voice muffled by the pillow.
Ishook my head, a sigh escaping my lips. "It's more complicated than I thought," I admitted. "I don't think I can do this on my own."
IM sat up, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Maybe Gilg can help," he suggested. "He's a master hacker, after all."
I nodded in agreement. "I'll give him a call," I said, reaching for my phone.
I quickly typed a message to Gilg, explaining our predicament and asking for his assistance.
[Me: Hey, Gilg, need your help with something. Can you call me when you get a chance?]
I waited for a response, my fingers tapping impatiently on the desk. But as the minutes ticked by, my phone remained silent.
He must be busy, I thought, a flicker of frustration crossing my face.
I decided to try calling him, but it went straight to voicemail.
"Damn it," I muttered under my breath, tossing my phone onto the bed. It seemed like I was on my own for now.
I looked at IM, who was still scrolling through social media on the phone. "But it works fine on Wi-Fi, right?" I asked, hoping for some good news.
He nodded. "Yeah, I can access social media and browse the internet, just... not with cellular data."
"Well, that's something," I said, trying to remain optimistic. "At least you can still use it at home or when you're connected to Wi-Fi."
IM shrugged, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. "It's not ideal," he admitted. "But I suppose it's better than nothing."
I stood up and stretched, my muscles still aching from yesterday's workout. "I'm going to take a shower," I announced. "Then maybe we can go for a walk or something."
IM nodded, his eyes returning to his phone. "Sounds good," he replied.
< Chapter 091 > Fin.