The year 2001 began not with fireworks, but with purpose.
Leonardo woke before dawn most mornings, his routine as meticulously designed as his inventions. Stretching beside the massive window of his room, he greeted each day with mental clarity and structure. Gone were the nights of childhood wandering and grief. In their place stood discipline. Vision. Drive.
He was nineteen now. The edge of adulthood, but already operating leagues beyond.
The estate had grown in activity. What was once quiet was now efficient, humming with energy as DeMarco Tech's motorsport division expanded operations. Alfred had appointed new staff, most loyal, well-vetted, and told little. The ones that did know anything thought Leonardo was simply a gifted mind—perhaps eccentric, but undeniably talented.
That suited him fine.
The motorsport simulator launched to strong acclaim. It had been introduced under a new subdivision—DeMarco Performance Tech—positioned as the next-generation training partner for racers.
Engineers praised the feedback calibration. Instructors admired the real-time response mechanics. It became popular in private garages, racing schools, and even among a few curious European manufacturers.
But what no one knew was that Leonardo had embedded a failsafe—a silent subroutine in the firmware that tracked performance parameters on every unit.
Not to spy. Not to control.
To learn.
He used the data to improve Oblivion's adaptive feedback system, tailoring its drive dynamics for different terrains. Project Oblivion was no longer just a passion project. It was becoming the gold standard for every future design he had in mind.
Still, he remained cautious.
He released nothing too advanced.
When the system offered him high-capacity solid-state battery blueprints, he archived it. When it dropped a fluid-piston magnetic suspension system, he rewrote it into a mechanical-electronic version that could pass for cutting-edge.
He wasn't just hiding his cards.
He was playing chess with history.
January passed into spring, and with it came Leonardo's first real-world proving ground: the DeMarco Invitational.
A closed-track race held on private land. Invite-only. Engineers, racers, and a few high-level industry observers gathered beneath white tents to see what the young prodigy had built.
The star of the event was the DeMarco S-15 Vortex, a street-legal concept car enhanced with the DVA system, an early-stage modular ECU, and redesigned aerodynamic panels inspired by Leonardo's fluid testing simulations.
It looked aggressive. Minimalist. Clean.
The car didn't roar.
It sang.
And when it completed three flawless laps, setting a new track record, the applause was spontaneous.
Still, Leonardo didn't step up to take the mic.
He let the machine speak for him.
Later that evening, as guests mingled and champagne glasses clinked, he stood at the edge of the venue, watching the sunset. A few journalists had tried to approach him for interviews, but Alfred deflected with expert finesse.
"You're building a reputation," Alfred said, joining him quietly. "People are curious."
"Let them be," Leonardo replied. "The more they speculate, the less they understand."
Alfred gave a rare smile. "You've grown quite Machiavellian."
"I've had good teachers."
Back at the estate, Leonardo reviewed his system logs.
[System Alert: Weekly Reward - Tier Two Blueprint Available]
He selected the reward and reviewed the schematic: a pressure-sensitive traction modulation system originally designed for variable terrain pursuit vehicles. Meant for special ops or high-endurance environments.
He rewrote it. Rebuilt it.
And within weeks, the Terrain-Adaptive Suspension Suite (TASS) was born—a version that could realistically be released to performance vehicles within five years.
It wasn't time travel. It was tactful engineering.
He filed the patent under a shell subsidiary. Just in case.
His mother, now fully recovered, had begun overseeing the family foundation once more. Philanthropy, education, and youth scholarships. She avoided the corporate spotlight, preferring to remain private, but her quiet influence returned stability to the DeMarco name.
One night over dinner, she asked, "Leo, what happens when the world finally catches up to your mind?"
He paused, then replied, "Then I'll just walk faster."
Near summer, a surprise system alert appeared:
[Monthly Milestone Unlocked: Strategic Expansion Token]
Reward: Full ownership rights to a defunct European tuning firm - "Vérité Engineering" - Basel, Switzerland]
Leonardo's eyes narrowed.
A shell company, long dormant, but with old ties to a motorsport dynasty.
He made no immediate move. But he began to read.
And plan.
Current Age: 19