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this chapter is NovelFire|le|mp|y r

The scarcity only intensified the frenzy, driving the speculative market into overdrive.

But of course, success never comes without complications. Just as people clamored for the release of the game and Pod, opposition arose from various corners. Kim found herself overwhelmed with calls from more than twenty powerful entities within just two days.

Besides the coalition of aging corporate giants that had already tried to buy their way into the game, new suitors emerged—international corporations, tech conglomerates, and investment firms, all with the same request, though dressed up in different ways: access to the Pod or, even better, the technology behind.

Some offered staggering sums of money, while others hinted at strategic partnerships. Silas couldn't help but laugh when Kim relayed their demands. It wasn't surprising—they were reacting exactly as he'd predicted. What amused him was just how transparent their desperation had become.

The first tactic they used was trying to buy shares in Kurt Technologies, but they quickly ran into a brick wall. Kim, patient and professional, reminded them repeatedly that Kurt Technologies was a privately owned company—no shares available for purchase.

Realizing they couldn't buy their way in, they shifted strategies, offering to purchase the Pods outright, naming prices that would make most companies jump at the opportunity.

Kim's response remained the same: a polite but firm refusal. And as the rejections piled up, their frustration turned to thinly veiled aggression. They dropped the pretense of partnership and went straight for the heart, demanding access to the underlying technology that powered the Pod and game. It was clear now—this had been their true goal all along.

They saw Kurt Technologies as an upstart, a young company that they believed could be pressured or strong-armed into compliance.

They tried to use their experience and influence as leverage, pointing out that Kurt Technologies was barely a year old and lacked the clout to stand against the giants of the business world. But at that point, Kim didn't even bother responding. She left them sitting in the conference room and walked away, leaving them to stew in their own frustration.

As the days went on, the pressure continued to build. Rumors and accusations began to circulate, claiming that the Pods posed a danger to the health of the beta testers. Calls for independent health assessments started to gain traction, with claims that the Pod was causing "irreversible damage to the brain" and that the situation would worsen without immediate intervention.

When Kim told Silas about these new demands, he burst into laughter, the sound echoing through his office. It was all so predictable, so utterly absurd. "Irreversible damage to the brain?" he said, shaking his head. "They'll come up with anything, won't they?"

He knew what they were trying to achieve—an attempt to stoke fear and sow doubt among potential consumers, hoping to delay the game's launch or force Kurt Technologies into a more vulnerable position. But instead of backing down, Silas saw an opportunity to turn their tactics against them.

"Kim, arrange for the beta testers to undergo full medical scans—MRI, CT, PET, the whole works. We'll post the results online," he instructed, his grin widening. He wanted to be absolutely transparent, to strip away any credibility their accusations might have. And, as expected, the test results showed nothing concerning, just as Silas had known they would.

Within hours of the scans, Silas uploaded the results to every social media platform and major news outlet, presenting undeniable proof that the testers were perfectly fine. The narrative shifted once again, turning the accusers into the ones scrambling for an explanation.

Meanwhile, the beta testers themselves weren't left untouched by the frenzy. They had become minor celebrities, caught in the spotlight of the game's hype and the surrounding controversy. Lucrative endorsement deals started rolling in from companies eager to capitalize on their newfound fame, and their lives began to change in unexpected ways.

Silas found it amusing—these testers had signed up for a game and stumbled into fame.

But amidst the noise, the most persistent challenges came from global powers. The U.S. government, never subtle in its approach, was the first to make its intentions clear. Their calls barely masked their true objective: they wanted the Pod and, more importantly, the technology that powered it.

They framed their interest as cooperation, but the underlying demand was clear—share the tech or face potential consequences. To the USA, the pod and VR game had much more meaning, to them, it was a strategic asset, one that could reshape military training, national security, and global influence.

And they weren't alone. Kim fielded calls from Russia, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UK, each vying for a piece of the technology behind Kurt Technologies. These governments saw the strategic advantage such tech could offer, from military simulations to remote operations, and they wanted control. Silas had no illusions about what they would do with the technology if they got their hands on it.

Yet he remained unmoved. There was no chance he would give them what they wanted. If anything, their demands only played into his hands, giving him the pretext he needed to launch the next phase of his plans. He knew this game, and he was playing it better than they realized.

---

In the midst of the chaos, Silas's phone rang with a call from an unknown number. He glanced at the display and couldn't help but smile. Even though it appeared as an unknown number, he could already see the information on the caller.

For a moment, he considered letting it ring, but curiosity won out. He accepted the call, a smirk on his lips as he leaned back in his chair.

"If it isn't the one and only Empress, Elizabeth Frederick," he greeted smoothly.

There was a brief pause on the other end, then a low, confident chuckle. "It's been a while, Silas. I hear you've been busy turning the world upside down."

Silas's grin widened. This was going to be interesting.