Ethan woke up feeling lighter than he had in weeks. The bed was almost unrealistically soft, and for the first time since leaving prison, the constant weight on his chest had eased. He stretched, hearing his bones pop, and looked out the suite's large window. The sun was already high over the city, but inside his room, the silence was absolute.

"System, I'm back," Ethan said the young man in his mind as he sat on the edge of the bed. "Show me the AI options again. But tell me something... do I have the ability to control them remotely without needing a physical computer, or will I have to manage it all myself?"

[The connection can be established, but this model is different from the finalized versions I showed you before,] said the System. A new notification appeared before his eyes.

[Remote AI Seed — 100 Lux Points]

"Wow, it's cheap," Ethan said the leader, surprised by the price compared to the thousands the System usually demanded.

[It is cheap because it is raw knowledge. Unlike the finalized models, this seed will take a long time to learn and adapt. It's a blank slate. Of course, I'm offering this because I know you don't have enough points for the completed ones,] said the System with its usual mocking tone.

"Yeah, yeah, don't remind me," Ethan thought with a sigh. "What do I need to do to install it?"

[First, you need a Data Center to house the seed. However, the technology of this world is far too primitive for its requirements. We would need to develop it ourselves,] said the System.

"Can you build it?" Ethan asked the young man, raising an eyebrow.

[Of course I can, but it will be expensive since it doesn't exist in this world. It might be better if you created it yourself,] said the System.

"Damn... with everything I have to do, I don't know if I can handle designing server architecture," Ethan thought, rubbing his temples.

[Why would you have to do it? Don't you have interns or money? Look for people who want to work for you. You're the CEO, Ethan. Start acting like one,] said the System.

"You're right. I'll see what talent I can recruit from my network," Ethan said the leader.

He stood up, looking at the city skyline. He had a monumental task ahead of him: recruiting tech geniuses and building a digital bunker that could withstand the Union's scrutiny. He needed a foundation that didn't rely on existing infrastructure.

"The AI seed is the first step. If I can get it to learn and grow, it won't just be an assistant; it'll be the brain of this whole operation," Ethan thought.

[That's the spirit. Build an inviolable fortification and create the supercomputer first. Once the 'Brain' is online, the rest will follow,] said the System.

Ethan walked down the main staircase of the headquarters, his eyes scanning the hive of activity below. The silence of the morning was gone, replaced by the rhythmic clatter of keyboards, the distant hum of machinery, and the focused murmurs of operators. Everyone was working on something; the air felt charged with a new, frantic energy following the previous night's revelations.

Jason spotted him from across the floor and marched over, his face unreadable but his posture straighter than usual.

"Good morning, boss. You look like you actually got some sleep," said Jason.

"I did. Better than I expected," Ethan said the leader. "Report the situation. How are we looking after the 'exchange'?"

"It's more than we anticipated. Celestial didn't just send a peace offering; they sent a small army's worth of logistics," said Jason. He led Ethan toward the loading docks where a line of black, armored transport trucks were being unloaded by Royal security teams. "They delivered three hundred million in cash, laundered and ready for use. But that's just the liquid assets."

Ethan whistled softly as he saw the crates of equipment being moved.

"The hardware is top-tier. We've received automatic and semi-automatic rifles, high-grade explosives, tactical drones, and four assault tanks. They also delivered armored transport vehicles and two stealth-capable helicopters. The total value of the assets they've 'donated' to Royal exceeds one billion," said Jason.

"They really want to stay on my good side," Ethan said the young man with a smirk.

"It seems so. But there's more," said Jason. He reached into his tactical vest and pulled out a heavy, matte-black card with an embossed gold crest. "They left this with the lead transport officer. It's not just a business card; it's a direct line to the Council. There was a letter attached."

Ethan took the card and the accompanying envelope. The paper was thick, smelling faintly of old parchment and expensive ink. He opened it and read the grandiloquent script aloud:

"To the Honorable Ethan Blake, Master of the Ancient Legacy:

The House of Celestial does not seek to be an obstacle in the path of a titan. Let these offerings serve as the foundation of a new understanding between our houses. We acknowledge your sovereignty and your strength. May these tools assist you in achieving your 'objectives,' whatever they may be. We consider the debt of the past night settled, and we look forward to a future where our paths remain parallel, rather than in conflict. The world is changing, and it is better to have a god as a neighbor than an enemy."

"A god as a neighbor... they're laying it on pretty thick, aren't they?" Ethan said the leader, tossing the letter back to Jason.

"They're terrified, boss. I've never seen Celestial blink like this," said Jason.

"Good. Let them blink. It makes them easier to manage," Ethan said the young man. "Jason, take twenty million of that cash and set it aside. I need to 'buy' something that doesn't exist on the market yet. Also, tell Lena I need a list of the most brilliant, most disgruntled server architects in the country. If they've been fired for being 'too radical' or 'unstable,' I want them at the top of the list."

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