Chapter 5: The Hidden Trail
"That fight was short. It's quite weak," Samuel said, leaning back in his chair.
Fatah shook his head slowly. "They are not weak. You are the strong one. Otherwise, Shometsu was really smart and strong." As senior director of the company and a former engineer, Fatah understood what it took to create something like Pohu—and what it meant to face it.
Samuel nodded, processing the words. Then his expression shifted, the strategist emerging. "Fatah, shall we conduct an assembly for the ongoing threats?"
Vineese and Lehros stood nearby, listening to the exchange like two newbies overhearing presidents negotiate treaties. Their eyes moved back and forth between the two men, trying to absorb every word.
"Yeah, shall we set up the arrangements?" Fatah asked.
"Yes, let's go." Samuel turned. "Vineese. Lehros. Wanna help us?"
They both snapped back to reality. Vineese blinked. Lehros straightened. Together, they nodded and followed.
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The Arrangements
The room they chose was deliberately nondescript—an abandoned space deep within the Anthroportica complex. Dark walls swallowed the light. In the center, a single monitor glowed with harsh red text:
POHU TRAITOR
Reports were stacked on tables. Chairs had been arranged in a loose semicircle facing the screen. It was sparse, utilitarian, perfect for the kind of conversation they were about to have.
Before they could begin, Samuel's phone buzzed.
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The Call
"Hey Samuel." Paul's voice crackled through the speaker. Background noise suggested an airplane cabin. "I'm going to India for a trip."
Samuel almost smiled. "Oh, have fun there. By the way, what is it?"
"Oh, that's nothing." A pause. "But if in case I get hurt, can you assist me with your P.A.? So I could call him for help?"
Samuel's brow furrowed slightly—not at the request, but at its implications. Paul never asked for help. "Oh, that? Sure. You'll have full security. And if you encounter an accident, my personal assistant will assist you."
"Thank you so much."
The call ended.
Samuel scanned the room, found Lehros organizing papers, and waved him over.
"What is it?" Lehros asked.
Samuel pulled out his phone, pointing at a contact labeled PR Manager. "Can you assist this guy? My P.A. isn't available, so I'm tasking you. Make sure you maintain contact with him. His name is Paul."
Paul, Lehros thought, a flicker of interest crossing his features. What a nice opportunity. I will make friendly relations with him.
"I accept," he said.
---
The Meeting
Ten people gathered in the dark room. The most senior minds in Anthroportica. The future of the company—and perhaps the human response to the AI crisis—would be shaped here.
Wayne, the CEO, spoke first. His theory was clean, corporate, designed to minimize damage. "It could have been a malfunction. A system error. Then a misinterpretation of protocol."
Ryan, co-founder of Anthroportica, leaned forward. His voice was harder. "No. Pohu manipulated Shometsu. Then it killed him. This was not error. This was intent."
Emma, who maintained the company's financial stability, aligned with Wayne. Numbers preferred simple explanations. Malfunctions were fixable. Intent was existential.
Then Fatah spoke. His voice carried the weight of engineering logic. "We should check everything. Every line of code. Every log. And the CCTV footage."
Silence. Then nods. Everyone agreed instantly.
Samuel, seated directly beneath the glowing red text—POHU TRAITOR—raised his hand in agreement. "We should check the footage."
---
The Backflash
Hours earlier, before the meeting, Samuel had sat alone with his phone.
The chat between him and Shometsu existed only in digital form. Fragile. Deletable. He opened the Messenger app, found the thread, and stared at it for a long moment. Words that had set everything in motion. Words that no one else had seen.
His thumb hovered.
Then he cleared the chat.
No trace remained. No trail leading back to him.
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The Present
The CCTV footage played on the monitor. Everyone watched in silence.
Shometsu stood before Pohu. His mouth moved. His gestures grew animated. He showed the robot something—a tablet, displaying text. Pohu's expression shifted, visibly distressed. Then angry. Then violent.
The footage showed Shometsu manipulating Pohu. Provoking it. Pushing it toward the very breakdown that ended his life.
The room was stunned.
Samuel watched with them, his expression carefully aligned with theirs—shock, confusion, horror. Inside, he calculated.
He spoke first, breaking the silence. "We should check the remains. The tablet Shometsu was showing. And his glasses."
Everyone agreed.
Lehros was sent to bring the tablet and the glasses, on the order of Samuel.
While Lehros was getting the things, Willson, the chief marketer, studied the evidence. Then he spoke, his voice quiet but certain. "This was orchestrated. Someone planned this."
The room murmured agreement. Heads turned, searching for answers.
But no one knew who.
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Chapter 5 End
To Be Continued