The Tycoon's Odyssey

Chapter 188: 188:Meeting With Macrosoft CEO

In the present times, privacy and freedom have become mere illusions, with surveillance having infiltrated every aspect of life.

Every individual, action, and piece of data was scrutinized, all in the guise of national and global security. The notion of personal privacy had long been dismantled, replaced by an intricate network of monitoring that left no room for secrets.

Evan, fully aware of the constant surveillance, understood the importance of managing the flow of information with extreme care.

He knew that complete transparency could lead to severe complications, so he meticulously controlled what was visible and what remained hidden. His approach was to allow limited access while concealing the most sensitive data.

However, data transmission posed a significant challenge. Every piece of the information being transferred was critically important, and any leak could have dire consequences. To safeguard this process, Evan took a drastic measure. Though seemingly straightforward, his decision could have profound implications.

Aurora, tasked with securing the data, worked diligently to ensure its integrity. She developed an advanced encryption protocol, eliminating any potential bugs and malware that could compromise the transmission. Despite numerous attempts by numerous global entities to breach her defenses, Aurora's security remained impenetrable.

For the next few minutes, no matter how intense the global efforts were, they couldn't bypass the barrier she had erected.

Aurora's technology was so advanced that even if the entire world mobilized against her, they could only recognize the presence of a powerful AI but would never be able to penetrate her defenses.

At that moment, Aurora wasn't just a step ahead of her time; she had transcended centuries of technological advancement. Once she uploaded herself onto a quantum server, her capabilities would surpass anything the world had ever witnessed, making her an unparalleled force in the realm of cybersecurity and data protection.

_____

However Evan had anticipated the moment things shut down, and as expected, people began to take notice.

In the conference room of the USL's National Security headquarters, General Adrian Stone, the highest-ranking officer, pointed at the large map displayed on the screen. His voice was stern as he addressed the room.

"So, you're telling me that we can monitor the entire world's communications, except for key officials and government entities in Indra? And now this location, Utkal in Indra, has gone dark too?"

The room fell silent, and everyone nodded in agreement. A deep frown etched across General Stone's face as he stared at a section of the map where the pings were missing. It appeared that the monitoring system had been offline for several critical moments.

"I want to know why our system failed to track this area," General Stone demanded. "What's going on with the data we're supposed to be collecting?"

Dr. Ellen Reyes, the Director of Cyber Intelligence, stepped forward. "We believe that the issue is tied to a recently implemented advanced encryption. Our current systems are struggling to keep up, and this has caused gaps in our surveillance."

"Are you saying that the data from Utkal is so heavily encrypted that our technology can't decrypt it efficiently?" General Stone asked, his voice growing sharper by the end.

"Yes, General," Reyes confirmed. "We're working with the NSA, but even their most advanced supercomputers are facing trouble. Their projections indicate that it could take decades to fully decrypt the data."

General Stone's face darkened. "What exactly is so critical about this data? What could be hidden that's causing all this trouble?"

Reyes continued, "We suspect the encrypted data may be linked to a new type of experimental technology. Recently, there was a significant spike in energy consumption from the Utkal facility for a brief period before quickly returning to normal. We're using this anomaly to justify sending field agents to investigate further."

"Also, overseeing the things, I think that someone may have a hand in Indra's firewall. This is just an assumption because there are no major political or financial figures in the area, so the chances of the rise of a new force or figure with such significance out of nowhere might be a bit plausible—a genius with a mind far ahead of current progress."

General stone expression soured, however, he seemed satisfied with the answer.

"Good," General Stone said with a determined look. "We need answers. We can't afford to have key regions going dark while we're trying to track every potential threat. This technology could be the key to understanding what's really happening at Utkal."

He turned to the other officials in the room. "Make sure we can get the necessary permissions and resources to expedite this investigation. We must uncover what's hidden behind this encryption and ensure that it doesn't hinder our ability to monitor and secure our interests."

"Start deploying agents in Indra to investigate."

With that, the officials nodded in agreement, and swiftly began preparing for the next steps, knowing that their mission's success could play a crucial role in maintaining their strategic advantage.

_____

Evan and Mac stood on a high platform, gazing at the sprawling islands below through the relentless sheets of rain. Dark clouds loomed heavily, casting a somber mood over the construction projects unfolding beneath them.

Evan glanced at Aurora, who was closely monitoring the situation through her tablet. "Aurora, give me a full update on the underground construction and the expansion of the breach area. How are we progressing?"

Aurora quickly reviewed her reports. [For the underground structures and bunkers, we're making excellent progress. The initial phase, including core bunkers and critical infrastructure, will be completed within four months. This phase involves a dedicated team of 20,000 workers and advanced atomic printers fabricating key structural components on-site.]

Evan nodded, satisfied with the progress. "And what about the expansion of the breach area using sand filling? What's the status?"

Aurora's focus intensified as she provided the details. [The expansion is underway but is more time-consuming. We're using automated sand-filling machines combined with manual labor. Currently, 15,000 workers are dedicated to this task, supported by machines that manage large-scale sand deposition and compaction. Full expansion might take up to six months due to its scale.

Atomic printers are constructing temporary barriers and support structures to assist with the process."

Evan took the information in, clearly satisfied but still mindful of the timeline. "Keep a close watch on these projects. The faster we finish the underground and expansion work, the sooner we can move forward with our plans."

Aurora confirmed, [I'll ensure regular updates and make adjustments as needed to keep everything on track. We'll maximize efficiency and address any issues promptly.]

Mac, diligently took notes, adjusting the planning and execution schedules, chimed in. "Also, make sure to account for the vegetation. Once construction is complete, we need to ensure that leftover areas are filled with full plantations to restore the environment."

Aurora nodded again. [Understood. Reforestation efforts will be integrated into the final phase of the project.]

Just then, Aurora's device beeped with an incoming alert. She glanced at the screen and then looked up at Evan. "Sir, the CEO of Macrosoft is requesting an urgent meeting with you. It seems urgent."

"Why?" Evan raised an eyebrow.

[Do you want to give me a possible analysis?]

"No!"

Evan said, his expression growing thoughtful. "Schedule the meeting as soon as possible."

Mac looked up and followed Evan, shielding him from the rain while holding a large umbrella as they turned away from the platform.

Evan glanced back at the rain-drenched landscape, his mind shifting focus to the upcoming discussions with the Macrosoft CEO. "Mac, keep the construction on schedule and make sure that everything runs smoothly. The rest will fall into place."

Mac gave a confident nod. "Leave it to me, sir."