Simiyon Street, Central Intelligence Office.
"So, this guy was a major figure during the Norsian Era," the officer said.
Matt nodded as he listened.
There were five eras marking technological advancements, categorized by tech and energy source utilization.
The Steam Era relied on steam engines powered by burning fossil fuels. The Green Era saw a shift to electrical energy derived from natural elements, mostly renewable and less harmful to the environment, a significant improvement. Then came the Gregon Era, where technology reached new heights, and energy was harnessed from light. This era's advancements propelled humanity into the space race against other beings in the universe.
Finally, the Norsian Era emerged. AI created at the end of the Gregon Era became essential for humanity, which lagged behind its cosmic neighbors. These AI were revered as gods, with names inspired by deities from ancient cultures, as humanity became heavily dependent on them.
Now it was the Fifth Era, often called the Era of Revolution. Humanity teetered on the brink of extinction, turning against itself and demonizing its own existence in a desperate attempt to erase itself.
"A Forever he is. Code Name: Old Timer,"
Forevers were immortal humans created through technology developed during the Gregon Era, a time when humanity was at its peak vigilance, having finally come under the watchful eyes of the universe and its inhabitants.
Matt placed his hand on the table edge and tapped on the motel. "What was the connection between this dock worker and Old Timer, and between Liu Guozhi's gang members?"
The officer didn't reply immediately. Instead, he slowly returned to the terminal, compiling all the information and wirelessly sending it to Matt's device.
"Take a look for yourself."
Matt glanced at his terminal, browsing through the files until he found ones containing links. He opened them and began reading slowly. The officer waited patiently as Matt took his time, occasionally going back to reread sections, disbelief etched across his face. Seeing this brought a smile to the officer's face. He tried to maintain a stoic expression, but his smugness was unmistakable.
Matt stared at the officer, muttering in disbelief, "Persona?! Right?!"
The officer replied firmly, "Yes, a Persona. Just when we thought all the multiversal paradoxes were solved, this happens."
Personas were multiple clones of a single human existing in the same universe. They were created when time merged with space from different dimensions and universes. This was mostly accidental, as the universe naturally tries to maintain the fabric of space straight and unfolded. However, some alien technology managed to achieve it intentionally. During the Gregon Era, amidst a war between humans and an alien race, multiple Personas were introduced into the universe, resulting in numerous copies of the same individuals.
The officer shook his head, his face growing grim. With a dark expression, he began to speak again.
"This dock worker was the persona of one of the Revolutionary Army leaders, Old Timer. Furthermore, it wasn't a Forever like original body or precisely our universe's body, yet he existed in a time where he wasn't supposed to."
Matt whispered with a sense of enlightenment, "A Timeless Persona!"
The officer confirmed it, shaking his head in agreement.
"Yes, to be honest, the gangbangers actually helped us. This Timeless Persona might have introduced some wormholes into the planet."
The officer told Matt to update his device before leaving, as there was a new system update.
While walking to the counter to submit his older device, Matt had serious doubts about whether to come forward or not. He now realized the matter might be bigger than he initially thought.
'Should I inform them about Ruther's state?...'
In the end, he chose not to. He reasoned that it was better to keep the matter in his own hands. If complications arose, he would seek help from the CIA, but for now, he felt it was best to handle his personal affairs himself. Besides, the connections seemed weak. Ruther was still a small-time player in a gang, and Liu Guozhi relied on petty dealings. There didn't seem to be any real danger, he thought.
'It's better I check on Ruther.'
After leaving the CIA office, Matt headed to a desert town on the outskirts.
For travel, there were teleportation portals and rented vehicles for short distances, but both had their drawbacks. Teleportation was only available for specific destinations and required registration, while the Nitro-surfer was area-bound. After being misused by terrorists, it had been programmed to operate only within city limits, making it unusable for Matt's journey to the deserted outskirts.
While moving through the city, he came across bizarre shops opening up. With the advent of new policies, previously banned items were now flooding the market. From hallucinogenic drugs to viral-cyberware, everything was being sold.
Viral-cyberware, a bionic technology based on nanotech, was initially designed for repairs and critical operations. However, they were soon found to be defective. Once inside, they became harder to control, often resulting in the patient's death if the operation wasn't performed by a professional.
The main reason was that they were being used as weapons.
Soon, the outskirts came into view. As a CIA cyborg, Matt had advanced tech installed in him, enabling him to move faster than most pedestrians.
The manhole, the entrance to the dark market, was in front of him, but he couldn't enter yet. This was the time when gangsters and criminals were hiding. When night fell and these gangsters could move freely again, only then would the market open.
It wasn't that night provided safety to roam, but the law ensured these people had a chance to carry out their activities. Criminals caught at night generally faced lighter punishment, but in the morning, when the city was bustling with normal people contributing to society and maintaining economic stability, any criminal activity introduced then resulted in harsher penalties.
The sun sank beyond the horizon, its fading light swallowed by the slow advance of night.
It was time.
Matt glanced at his watch before heading toward the manhole.