Alex entered the studio and found Lassen in his usual posture: slumped in his armchair, a novel in hand, his feet carelessly propped up on the coffee table. He took a light breath before standing straight, ready to deliver the latest updates.
"Master," he began, with his usual composure. "The contract with Vito is progressing well. However, they've requested detailed reports to track the progress of the fixes."
Lassen raised an eyebrow while keeping his eyes on his book. "Reports? Why can't they just wait until it's all done?"
"They want guarantees," Alex replied, unfazed. "They need to ensure the vulnerabilities are being addressed before finalizing the payment."
A theatrical sigh escaped Lassen as he slowly closed his book and finally sat upright. "Fantastic. Now I have to work on reports… What a joy."
[Oh, stop complaining, host. We both know you're not going to do anything.]
The familiar voice of the system resonated in his mind, dripping with sarcasm.
Lassen rolled his eyes. "You know me too well," he muttered, before raising his voice slightly. "Alright, system. Create a software. Something that analyzes systems, finds all the vulnerabilities, generates detailed reports, and while you're at it, fixes everything if necessary. In short, do all the work."
[Your ambition is as inspiring as ever…]
[Software in progress.]
Lassen absentmindedly stared at a corner of the room, imagining the system at work. A few seconds later, the voice returned.
[Software complete. Intuitive interface and fully automated functionality. You are now an official genius, congratulations.]
"Great. Pass it to Alex; he'll know what to do with it" Lassen replied, slumping back into his chair and reopening his novel as if nothing had happened.
Alex approached, took the phone where the application had been installed, and nodded respectfully. "Thank you, Master. I'll send these initial reports. They will be satisfied."
"Do that. And don't come back with dumb requests," Lassen said without looking up from his book.
Alex gave a slight bow before leaving the room. Once alone, Lassen turned a page and murmured, "I should patent my ability to delegate… someday."
---
Alex descended the stairs, phone in hand, and activated the application. The simplicity of the interface surprised him, as did its impressive efficiency. He allowed himself a faint smile. "The master has a peculiar way of showing his genius" he thought.
Reaching his temporary office, Alex connected the software to a mock-up of Vito's system he had prepared earlier. Within minutes, the application had generated a complete report of the remaining vulnerabilities and proposed a detailed correction plan. Impressed, Alex made slight adjustments to make the content more credible and less… automated.
He then sent the first report to Vito via a secure channel, accompanied by a concise and professional email:
> Dear Vito Management,
Please find attached the initial report regarding ongoing fixes. As agreed, our team remains at your disposal for any clarifications.
Best regards,
Alex L. <
A few minutes later, a notification of thanks appeared on his screen, followed by a request for clarifications on specific points in the report. Alex responded calmly, tailoring the information to match what was expected from a "team effort."
Meanwhile, the application continued to gather data for future reports, remaining invisible and untraceable. Alex, satisfied, closed his laptop. "The master has no idea of the impact he's making, but at least everything is under control."
---
Later that evening, Alex returned to the studio. As expected, Lassen was still engrossed in his book, his feet firmly planted on the table. Alex gently placed the phone on the coffee table.
"Master, the report has been sent, and Vito is satisfied for now. But it gave me an idea" he stated calmly.
Lassen raised an eyebrow without taking his eyes off the novel. "An idea? You've piqued my curiosity. Go on."
Alex smiled faintly, maintaining his composure. "This type of operation is likely to repeat itself. We'll need a legal structure to manage future financial transactions. I suggest creating an offshore company with a subsidiary dedicated to technology."
Lassen slowly turned a page of his book. "A company? What for?"
"To discreetly manage payments and provide a credible cover. It will prevent long-term suspicions" Alex explained, as calm as ever.
Lassen closed his book and stared at Alex. "And you want me to handle this, right?"
Alex shook his head, a subtle smile on his lips. "Not at all, Master. I'll take care of everything. The system can generate all the necessary documents."
Lassen nodded, a faint smile on his face. "Okay. Call it Ghost. Sounds cool."
"And for the tech subsidiary, got any ideas?"
"SpectraSys, for Spectra System" Alex replied without hesitation.
"System, handle this for me," Lassen said casually.
[Documents generated. Ghost is now registered in the Cayman Islands. SpectraSys is operational, with associated bank accounts. Another testament to your… exceptional involvement, host.]
"Good" Lassen concluded. "Alex, you handle all that. I'm going back to my book."
Alex gave a slight bow. "Of course, Master. Everything will be in order."
As Lassen resumed his novel, the system chimed in one last time.
[A perfectly balanced team: the master who reads and delegates, and the system that does all the work. A model of efficiency.]
Lassen smirked slightly. "Exactly. Now hush. I'm at an interesting part."