Dying In Real Life Is Another Way To Play

Few days had passed and Fu Shen has yet to make any progress with his assignment. He impressed Head Engineer Rong and his colleagues by making sure that everything he was tasked with, was completed timely and perfectly.

He had been wondering how he can try to infiltrate further into the inner parts of the laboratories and departments but ended up with frustration. He already tried to use "social engineering" but people where mum whenever the topic diverted to their job or projects. Whenever he tried to "casually" chat with other departments, a personnel from the security team would appear out of nowhere and break them up.

He even thought he might as well quit, given that the security measures being enforced in this facility was tight. Besides, there weren't any details on his mission as to whether there will be consequences in filing a resignation.

Just as he was thinking of filing a resignation, Head Engineer Rong called for him in his office. When he got there, he saw two guards posted at the side of the opened door of the Head Engineers office, inside he saw an old man wearing a laboratory coat, most likely one of the scientist.

"Professor, he was the guy that was tasked yesterday to fix the "Heisenberg Quantum Processor"." Head Engineer Rong said as soon as he came in.

Seeing that this person might be important he bowed and said "Hello Professor, was there something wrong with the repairs?"

"You. tell. me..." the old professor replied.

Fu Chen paused as he gulped and honestly said "If my actions have resulted in the failure of the device. I am willing to take responsibility."

As Fu Chen said this and bowed, he cursed himself for being too enthusiastic, he did make a few changes on the functionalitu of the processor that he fixed yesterday, although it worked, he thought that some of the circuitry wasn't exactly performing what it was initially intended to do as such he made a few programming adjustments and made a bypass on the circuit architecture of the processor.

He also removed a few lines on the original code that sacrificed efficiency for safety, he thought of this after he investigayed the damaged circuity on Zhang Shans burnt IFVR Capsule and thought that with stability between efficiency and safety everything would work much better. But in this case, it may not be so.

"Did you know that the changes you made has created an irreversible effect on on of our machines which costs billions of yuan, even if you work for all of your life it wouldn't make any difference?"

"I-I'm really s-sorry Sir... I don't know what to do.."

The professor signaled the guards as he said "Take him."

Fu Shen was devastated, he never thought it would come down to this. Normally, he would fight it out with the guards and then using his knowledge for the facilities layout he would try to escape with his life. However, he knew that he was the one in the wrong this time. His mind was filled with chaotic thoughts as he was assisted by the guards to move out of the office.

He was later, seated into a chair into another office which he never even noticed how they even ended up where to.

When he looked up, he saw the professor waving at the guards to leave. They bowed as they closed the door behind them.

The professor then looked at him and said.

"Chief Zhao sure has gone overboard in trying to meddle with our research."

"..." Fu Shen was stunned and went silent for a while before saying.

"No, professor. Chief Zhao has nothing to do with this, he only asked me to monitor breaches of integrity and identify security threats, but this was my own actions..." he said as he thought since the secret was out, best he come clean and admit his own actions.

"I believe you..."

"Yes, if you want to send me to prison or kill me.. wait... what?" he was surprised with the professors response.

"Chief Zhao was never someone who would resort to such means just yet. If he is still unsure with what he is up against, he would only try to understand the situation by testing the waters." the professor said.

"Were you only trying to test me out? That there was really nothing wrong with the processor?" Fu Shen asked as he realized he's been played by thus conniving old man.

"The Processor did have an issue... come with me." the professor wlked towards the door,opened it and waited for Fu Shen to follow before proceeding.

The two walked towards an elevator as the professor started to talk.

"Fu Shen, 33 years old, divorced. Only daughter Fu Qin, 6 years old, was left with grand parents and has

Haemarthrosis, a genetic condition that causes bleeding into joint spaces, a common symptom of haemophilia." the professor started

"Studied atTsinghua University regarding Quantum Engineering but dropped out due to some internal family issues before graduation. Had a few years serving the military and was even part of Ministry of State Security before being discharged due to negligence of duty." he added.

"Was hired by HIVE NEURO TECH two years ago into one of it's IFDVR Capsule support branches due to Xiong Man, your ex-wife's uncle.... isn't that right? the professor said with a solemn look as they stopped in front of the Elevator

Fu Shen stopped and was speechless. He didn't expect this old man to uncover his true identity. Even with his forged credentials prepared by Chief Zhao.

"Before we step in the elevator, I want you to understand that I am not threatening you with showing the extent of my connections... However, I want you to know that as soon as you step inside this elevator, there is no turning back, you will lose everything..."

"However we can make arrangements for your daughter..." the professor sternly warned him as he looked into his eyes.

"If my daughter can live a normal life even if I'm gone, or unable to meet her, I'm willing to lose everything..." Fu Shen said with conviction as he stepped first into the elevator that just opened.

"Good."

"..."

The elevator went down for a few more floors down, but Fu Shen didn't count this time. The two were silent as they continued to descend below.

As the doors opened, Fu Shen saw a wide space the size of a stadium. There were a hundred or so scientists of different fields all around the place and ann array of quantum computers, IFDVR capsules were out and about but looked very different than the commercial ones, a few large odd looking machines were also present.

As they entered, a scientist came walking right at them and bowed as he greeted

"Professor Xuan Ye, the final readings for the updated Heisenberg Quantum Processor has been completed and is extremely stable unlike the previous one which burned out. We can begin with the trial."

"You may begin as scheduled." Professor Xuan Ye replied.

The scientist bowed and went off, while Professor Xuan Ye instructed one of the guards to take Fu Shen Badge and prepare him a set of new badges and uniform. After which he gestured Fu Shen to follow him. They walked for a while until they were in front of the Quantum Servers.

As the Professor touched the server he talked without looking back at Fu Shen

"Ten years ago, me and a group of scientists designed a machine to try our theories in teleportation. However it didn't turn out us as expected, instead what it did was connect us to a different dimension..." as he trailed off explaining

Professor Xuan Ye further explained that the reading was exactly similar to what can be found with NASA's results for possible habitable planets. Ecstatic as they were, they had to tread with caution.

Using the Advanced AI technology of HIVE NEURAL TECH and a few additional scientists, the AI helped them render images. Later on, it helped them transmit and receive signals.

After which, it took them two years to create the "Gate", while it doesn't exactly work as a teleportation unit, it can send signals to the living beings on the other side and they were able to connect via a device that the other side uses, the communication method they used was not a language since there would be language barriers but instead they communicated by reading nueral patterns which the other side responded to.

Using the same processing core that the quantum servers are using, they created the first IFDVR Capsule. By the help of a volunteer, the first connection was established.

The volunteer saw a vast world with lots of things that did not exist on earth, unfortunately, the connection didn't last as he was "killed". But when he came to, he was surprised that he was still alive and safely inside the capsule.

Later on, a few more IFDVR capsules were created to confirm the experience and it was found that these volunteers were at a specific location close to each other.

They were able to locate each other and found they were possessing real bodies instead. If the volunteer logs off, the possessed entity dies and there were no other ways beyond that.

Then came the operation that lasted for two additional years for learning and understanding the world they were at, they started to learn the language and create a translation AI with the help of linguists and other experts from different fields which expanded their idea of the world at the other side.

Later on, after four more years, they researched a few things with the help of earth's technology and the knowledge on the other side to come up with the solution of not having the possessed entities to die by using an object.

They came to encounter the "crystal cores" which in turn, helped them to further be more efficient with controlling the possessed entity, and this time, the possessed being didn't have to die. However if the user logs off, the being will be like an idiot who doesn't know anything at all.

A year later, their research on the other side allowed them to genetically manufacture bodies to avoid "snatching lives and future" from the innocent, it also allowed them to ensure that the "avatar" would hibernateif the user logs off.

After getting into an agreement and treaty with a kingdom, they were allowed to roam freely and learn more about the world. However the costs for further exploration were absolutey astronomical.

As such to minimize these costs and issues, they purchased a game company to assist in creating additional resources that they direly need which is"man power". With readily available gamers, the research has progressed far more faster than they had for the past years. The only thing they had to focus on with the game is monitoring player movements and their interaction with the native inhabitants.

As such, a year ago, they opened it officially and called it "Alternate Realm Chronicles".

Even with the research going, it didn't stop them for further developing teleportation.

Roughly 3 years ago they succeded in sending inanimate and lifeless objects back to earth, as such they were able to examine and study it more thoroughly, these findings gathered additional investors for the company whixh was on the verge of bankruptcy.

These objects do not contain any bacteria or life forms due to some special properties that the teleportation process undergoes which causes any living organism to die, thus they can only send back ores and minerals, sometimes send in a few wepons and armamanets back to earth.

After Professor Xuan Ye explained, he saw Fu Shen in a stunned look which showed that he was still trying to comprehend the truth behind the game he was supporting.

Later on after collecting himself Fu Shen asked.

"Why are you telling me this... Where do I fit in all of this?"

Professor Xuan Ye smiled "Your foolishness on "fixing" the Heisenberg Quantum Processor is the reason for you being here, remember?"

"I see... in that case, if I have to work all my life to make up for the damage, I will do so..." Fu Shen bowed as he said this seriously.

"Ha! Ha! Ha!"

Professor Xuan Ye laughed when he heard this causing Fu Shen confusion thinking if there was so.ething wrong with what he said.

"I never mentioned any damage at all when we talked, haven't I? I do remember saying that your foolishness created an irreversible effect on one of our machines which costs billions of yuan, that even if you work for all of your life it wouldn't make any difference..." he said teasingly

Fu Shen started recalling what the Professor said earlier and realized he had been played right from the start, this old man was very convincing and cunning.

"In that case, why am I here then?" he asked

"The irreversible effect you did made the research we have made it leap, no, somersault forward!" the professor answered.

"Previously, we can only send back items from the other world to earth, but now... we can do it both ways... aside from that, I believe we can now start sending in seeds of plants which would be very "game changing"." he added.

"What? that much just for what I did?" Fu Shen could not believe that his spark of inspiration from Zhang Shan's cause of demise was what that caused this.

"Yes, that much was most helpful and in the most opportune time." he said to Fu Shen.

Afterwards, Professor Xuan Ye told Fu Shen as to which department he would be closly working with and what is expected from him.

Fu Shen was greatly inspired by the professor that he offered to do his best and his loyalty. Before they parted the professor told him something.

"Fu Shen, I read the research report on the changes you made with the processor which caused it to work the way it is, and for some reason it resembles the solution that could have avoided the accident that was cuased to the processor unit that a player named Zhang Shan has when his capsule blew up..." he said

"About that professor..." Fu Shen started to explain when the professor stopped him from speaking with a gesture of his index finger in front of his mouth

"I know you had nothing to do with it... but here's a secret..." he said

Fu Shen was all ears with what the professor was about to say.

"Zhang Shan, well... he's still alive... although for some reason, he's stuck in the other world on a different body..."

"What?" Fu Shen's mouth was agape, he thought he could no longer get any further surprises from this old man but he had done it again.

"Yes, I think he's doing fine so far, what really made me admire him was that he was able to make his face look like what he was on earth..." as he said this he showed Zhang Shan's image on his smart phone with a demonic reddish feature from the system interface.

"H-how could.." before Fu Shen could finish

"We're still finding out how could that have happened... with you here, I think it would go better" Professor Xuan Ye smiled as he walked away.

Fu Shen looked down and ruminayed on the recent events that transpired trying to digest everything when the professor looked back at him and said.

"By the way, I forgot to introduce you to the Quantum Computer that houses the whole project's Artificial Intelligence..." as he pointed to the Quantum Server

Fu Shen glanced at the Quantum server and looked back at the him as Professor Xuan Ye said.

"Fu Shen, meet Titiana..."