"Welcome," Zara clapped with a laidback smile. "You both are lookers. Come to the company and we'll have a photoshoot, what do you say?"
"That sounds fun, right, Rosy?" Zed chuckled. "We'll visit later."
"Mhmm." Rosy gave a curious nod. She had never taken a picture of herself in good clothes, but she saw today many girls taking pictures of many things in the school, including themselves.
"Where were you until now?" Vena asked. "Tomen told me there was some trouble at school?"
Zed chuckled. "I solved it. And then went to buy a phone for Rosy. That being said, all of you are free after eating, right?"
"Yes, but not for long," Nejir said as he blinked. "Why?"
"I wanted us to watch a show together. This show is going to be broadcast all over the world in all countries. I heard it's a big deal."
'They will find out that it's us if you say it like that.' Rosy thought. 'Does brother want to do that?'
"Oh? What show is that?" Zara curiously asked. "I haven't heard of any major shows like that."
Zed blinked. "I just saw its announcement on my phone while we were returning. And it wasn't even going away."
'Lapis. Start phase one.'
37 U.R points consumed.
In the next second, people all over the world had their phones and media screens hijacked, showing a countdown of thirty minutes in a horror theme with Zed's masked face above the numbers, his ruby eyes flickering bright and scary.
The phones at the table rang. Everyone was surprised at the collection and checked their phones.
Rosy took out her phone and saw the countdown as well, but she was surprised. 'This…'
It was indeed Zed's masked face, but it didn't look like a mask! Zed looked like a real demon. His ears were also elven, and his hair was painted white instead of black.
Zed also didn't want to give a shock to this family just after arriving. Tomen might find the truth since Zed told him beforehand, giving a direct hint, but it was fine if he found out.
Tomen was the family head, so he must know the truth.
"Huh? I can't even make this go away." Zara raised her eyebrows.
"This is strange." Nejir frowned. "My mobile phone can't be hacked with how I've made it. But it's completely taken over by this."
Tomen and Vena saw the countdown and were surprised as well.
"Master, our phones are also taken over."
"Mine, too!"
The two maids and two butlers serving the food and standing nearby also checked their phones and were startled.
"Tyrant Mahakaal Show?" Vena muttered. "What does Mahakaal mean?"
"No idea." Tomen looked at Zed. "Do you know?"
"No idea." Zed shook his head.
"This is interesting." Lina blinked. "So this person can hack everyone's devices and broadcast this show forcefully?"
"That seems to be the case." Zara nodded.
"I've lost my appetite." Nejir stood up while pulling apart his phone into two. "I'll wait for the show and watch it. I must find out just how my phone got hacked."
"Nej, eat first." Vena's voice cut in, calm but firm. "I won't let you sleep on an empty stomach. Deal with the phone later."
"But this is an emergency, Mom. And I already ate a bit on the way since I was hungry."
Nejir left the dining hall, his footsteps fading to the living hall as he turned on the TV, but it was also hacked, showing the countdown.
"Let us eat before it gets cold. We'll watch the show after," Tomen said.
Suddenly, Nejir's shocked shout rang as everyone heard him cursing. "Bullshit! How come my laptop is also hacked when it's not connected to any internet?!"
"Haven't seen him this shocked before. Looks like this show is doing numbers on him before it even began," Zara said with a laugh.
Rosy's stomach rumbled, and her cheeks flushed.
Zara chuckled. "Guess someone's ready for the main course."
"Don't worry, Rosy. I'm starving too." Lina giggled softly.
"Then let's not keep the food waiting," Vena said and began eating.
Everyone began eating.
Tomen looked at Zed and couldn't help but feel Zed had something to do with the show.
'He already knew about the show beforehand and told me. But how come he knows someone who can hack everything like this?'
Naturally, this mass hacking in the world was making many big companies and big shots in all countries sweat because any and all security was breached completely.
Even the video screens in secret locations that used private satellites for their computers also showed this countdown, which was absurd.
How can you hack something if you don't even know it exists?
But now, the things they thought were hidden from others have just been hacked by an unknown party.
Soon, the Vaylith family finished eating and arrived in the living room, where Nejir was sitting with a helpless expression, blankly looking at the TV as the countdown was about to hit zero in a minute.
"This is impossible," Nejir muttered.
"It's about to begin." Zara sat beside Nejir on the couch. "Come on, brother. Cheer up. You might be a genius, but haven't you heard? There's always a taller mountain."
"It's starting," Lina said and sat on a single sofa chair.
Everyone took their seats as there was plenty of space in two large couches and four sofa seats.
The maids and butlers also gathered behind to watch the show.
People all over the world could only see this countdown everywhere they go, and by now, everyone was curious and had settled down to watch it.