The Tycoon's Odyssey

Chapter 173: 173:New Workers

Mac, who had been trailing just behind Evan and Suri, stood frozen in his spot. His eyes were wide, his jaw slightly slack as the tension in the air thickened around them, becoming almost palpable.

The looming possibility of violence and a potential fight with Mrs Suri weighed heavily on his mind.

His thoughts raced as he wondered—if a fight broke out and Suri got hurt, what would the boss do? He'd surely retaliate, but would that be enough to quell the situation?

The atmosphere was so thick with suspense that even their breathing seemed laborious. Suri, who had been glaring at Evan with icy detachment, suddenly burst into unexpected laughter.

The sound was sharp and incongruous, cutting through the backdrop of their serious confrontation.

PFT!

"Enough, Evan!" Suri's voice cut through the tension as she gave Evan a light, playful nudge on his shoulder. Her laughter was like a refreshing burst of rain, quenching the thirst of dried earth.

"You should at least manage your expressions better. Your words don't quite match up with your actions and facial expression."

Caught off guard, Evan raised his hand to scratch his cheek awkwardly as his brows furrowed in confusion. "What, really?"

Suri snorted, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Hmm! You thought you could scam me, one of the most prominent rising actors of recent times? And moreover, I don't think my eyes are so bad that I'd mistake you for a villainous boy."

As she spoke, her laughter faded, leaving behind a confident, almost challenging look. Since the moment she heard Evan's words, Suri sensed that he was putting on an act. Though she wasn't bluffing about her willingness to fight if it meant protecting innocent lives, she knew Evan wasn't going to go that far.

Evan's lips twitched as he considered whether she was simply trusting her instincts or if she was genuinely serious.

Despite his doubts, he felt a strange sense of relief. It was oddly comforting to be around someone who would offer genuine criticism rather than blindly supporting him, even if it meant correcting his mistakes and bringing him on the right path. He understood the value of having someone who wouldn't just indulge his darker impulses.

"Okay, enough with your trailblazing thoughts," Suri said, her expression shifting to a more serious one. "Now tell me, what's your plan?"

Evan turned his attention back to the task at hand, his demeanor sharpening with determined focus.

"The government has sold us this land because they are sure that we are unlikely to do anything with these tribal people. But I have a way. And as for disturbing them…" Evan paused for a moment, weighing his words.

"These tribes have managed to stay isolated, protected by God's blessing, while wars raged all over the world. But we don't know what might happen in the future. They could be enslaved or even get killed."

Suri nodded, her face grim, "You are right about that. You might not know of this, but there had already been talk of building a base here, and someone even suggested blowing up this entire place. But the leaders hesitated, worried that this might alert other countries."

"We will observe them tonight and return early in the morning," Evan continued. "We'll seek help from the captured ones so we can blend in with them."

Suri raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Huh! Will they actually help us? And can we even understand their words?"

Evan's face softened, a confident smile playing on his lips. "Of course, we will."

His smile was reassuring, a promise of the plans he had in mind.

_____

As the dawn broke over the horizon, the team returned to the luxury cruise ship, exhausted after a weary day.

In the ship's lower quarters, where the tribal captives were held, the air was thick with the scent of salt and damp metal. The tribespeople still lay unconscious, scattered in a disorganized heap on the cold floor.

Evan glanced around the room, noting the subdued hum of machinery and the faint vibration of the ship's engines.

The cruise ship had been modified, and Evan had personally overseen the upgrades of the basement. It housed the latest quantum server and even a miniature tower to ensure that it would keep providing reliable signals.

Evan approached the control panel where Aurora was interfaced, his gaze shifting over the tribal captives. "Aurora, we need to make these captives more cooperative. Their language barrier is proving to be a significant obstacle."

[Understood, Sir. I will begin the process of scanning and rewiring their neural pathways to facilitate easier communication and increase their trust in us,] Aurora's voice resonated from the ship's speakers with clinical precision.

Then with quick movements, Evan put a VR headset on everyone.

He then watched as Aurora's systems came to life, dozens of nerve gear devices whirring whirring into action. The devices, resembling a complex network of metallic tendrils and sensors, were carefully positioned on the tribal captives. Streams of data were displayed on Aurora's interface as she began the intricate task of altering their perceptions.

[The neural rewiring is progressing smoothly. I am adjusting their cognitive responses to align more closely with our objectives. This will make them perceive us as trustworthy and reduce their resistance to our commands.]

Evan nodded, impressed by Aurora's efficiency. "How long will this take? We need to act swiftly. I hope this doesn't take a day considering how underdeveloped their brain might be."

[The rewiring process will be complete within the next hour. I am ensuring that their compliance is optimized while minimizing any potential side effects on them. This will allow us to communicate effectively and extract the necessary information.]

As Aurora worked, the captives began to stir. Their expressions slowly shifted from unconsciousness to a more alert state. Evan observed closely, noting their tentative glances and the gradual easing of their earlier hostility.

"Good work, Aurora," Evan remarked, his gaze fixed on the tribals, who were now waking up with altered perceptions. "Once they're fully cooperative, we'll need to secure their assistance for our plans. Make sure that they understand their role in our mission."

[Affirmative. I will continue monitoring their responses and ensure that their compliance remains consistent with our goals.]

Soon, the tribal captives slowly woke up and gradually rose from their resting places, their movements slow but purposeful. To Evan's surprise, they bowed deeply as they stood, their eyes filled with a mix of reverence and fear. They greeted him in unison, their voices trembling as they addressed him, "Master."

Evan's eyes widened in shock and he turned sharply towards Aurora's interface, frustration evident on his face. "Aurora, when did I ask you to make them behave like slaves for real?"

Aurora's calm voice responded, unruffled by his outburst.

[I did not program them as slaves, Sir. They see you as their boss, but for them, a boss often equates to a master due to their deeply rooted cultural beliefs. It was a challenge to rewire their neural pathways without affecting their inherent worldview. As layman people with limited understanding of the broader world, they require a gradual process of assimilation to adjust to the new paradigms.]

Evan exhaled sharply, his frustration subsiding as he considered Aurora's explanation. He nodded, adjusting his approach. "Alright. Let's proceed. Ask them the name of their tribe."

Aurora relayed the question to the group. The burly man who had previously taken the lead stepped forward, his expression a mix of determination and caution.

"Our tribe is called the Kureli," he said, his voice steady but respectful. "We are one of five tribes that live together. We are just a bunch of small tribes sticking together."

Evan leaned in, intrigued. "Tell me more about your tribes. What are they like?"

The Kureli man continued, his voice gaining more confidence as he spoke of his people. "There are five tribes in our land. The Kureli, our tribe, are known for our hunting skills and our deep connection to the forest. We live by the traditions passed down through generations, focusing on sustaining ourselves through the land."

"The second tribe is the Haruni, who are skilled in crafting and trade. They are known for their intricate artwork and are considered the merchants among us.

"The third tribe is the Fenari, a nomadic group renowned for their knowledge of navigation and their vast travels across the distant regions. They gather information from distant lands."

"The fourth tribe, the Tavari, are experts in agriculture. They cultivate the land and are responsible for growing the crops that feed all the tribes."

"Lastly, the fifth tribe is the Nori. They are the keepers of ancient knowledge and rituals, preserving our history and spiritual practices. The current village chief belongs to the Nori."

Evan listened intently, absorbing the details he had just been provided with. "Thank you for the details. Now, I need to know if you and your people are willing to follow me. Will you work with us?"

The Kureli man bowed deeply once more. "We will assist you, Master, if it means protecting our people and ensuring our survival."

Evan nodded, satisfied. "Good. We'll discuss the specifics of your role and how we can work together. For now, get some rest. We'll begin our collaboration soon."

With that, Evan turned away, his mind already working on how to integrate the tribal knowledge and skills into their plans.