April 1, 2037 | 1:00 AM | South Korea

  Outside a gargantuan, fortress-like mansion...

  Several luxury cars glided through heavily guarded gates, lining up in front of the opulent estate.

  Thud. Thud. Thud.

  Doors opened in rapid succession as billionaires and power players stepped out, greeted by a fleet of staff in formal attire. They entered the mansion, unaware that high above, military surveillance drones were circling, their silent lenses tracking every move.

  ***

  1:10 AM | Inside the GREM Virtual World

  At the sprawling meadows of the Central Hub, the voice of a Japanese singer drifted through the air, ethereal and pure. Her tone was like that of a descended goddess—each syllable flowing perfectly, harmonizing with the virtual breeze.

  “Her voice is so beautiful... Do you know who she is?” Rina asked. Mook was currently resting his head on her lap beneath the shade of a massive tree.

  In this meadow, alongside holographic ads from GREM investors, many talented singers now performed in mascot suits or masks, busking for tips. The system had a dedicated zoning function; once a performer started, others had to stay far enough away to ensure their audio didn't overlap.

  “That’s Nanase-chan. Don’t you know her?” Mook looked up at Rina, enjoying the moment.

  “The name doesn't ring a bell. She must be new,” Rina replied, trying and failing to recall the face behind the voice.

  “Mr. Mook!” Rick, a young Englishman, materialized nearby and ran toward them. “We’ve detected a massive gathering of investors in South Korea.”

  “Let me see.” Mook sat up as Rick generated a small holographic display.

  On the screen, the investors were entering a soundproofed conference room. The drones had already scanned and identified every face: human traffickers, drug lords, pop-industry moguls, cosmetic tycoons—all those who had lost a fortune because of GREM. They were meeting in secret, exactly what the government had asked Mook to monitor.

  When GREM was first sold to European governments, drug and crime issues were draining their budgets. GREM had wiped those problems out, but the governments wanted the big players. They had asked Mook to assemble a team to discreetly scan the memories of GREM users to track them down.

  Mook had finally hit the jackpot. Because beauty tycoons were also in attendance, there was now a legal pretext to arrest them all. Eleanor would be thrilled.

  “Get this to Mr. Jake immediately,” Mook ordered.

  He then lay back down on Rina’s lap, opened a window to donate one million yen to the singer, and closed his eyes in peace.

  ***

  April 5, 2037 | 8:20 AM | GREM Special Administrative Islands

  In front of Jake’s military command building...

  “Come on, Dad. Just talk to that Saito guy. Tell him to unlock the system so women can make a living in GREM freely,” Lily, a beautiful thirty-year-old blonde, pleaded. She bore a striking resemblance to her father, Roland—a senior EU member with significant negotiating power.

  “I’ve already asked, and he refused. What do you want me to do?” Roland replied, walking briskly down the hallway.

  “Find some leverage! The Navy surrounding this island is European!” Lily persisted.

  “Listen, Lily. Do you realize how peaceful Europe is right now? The US doesn't dare threaten us; Russia and China are silent. Crime from migrants is nearly zero, and drugs are extinct. It’s paradise. What more do you want?” Roland stopped at the elevator, venting his frustration.

  Europe had become a literal heaven on earth. GREM had lowered the cost of living significantly. City management was easier with fewer crowds. Budgets once wasted on chronic migrant issues were now redirected to public welfare.

  For unemployed women, the state provided roles in security and monitoring. For those who couldn't find work, the monthly subsidies were more than enough to live comfortably.

  Inside GREM, users were blissfully satisfied at a low cost. With their desires fulfilled, real-world crimes—rape, robbery, and gang violence—had vanished as if they never existed.

  “Peaceful? Dad, millions of women are out of work. That’s never happened before!”

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  “So what? We have the welfare system, and I’ve secured security positions for women. Isn't that enough?”

  “That’s just in Europe! What about Asia, Iran, or China? They don't have our welfare. Even if they do, it’s garbage. Do you have any idea how much those women are suffering?” Lily hugged her father, her voice softening. “Please. Talk to that man again. Just try.”

  Roland sighed. He had tried twice and been rejected. He couldn't force Saito, as other EU members were so satisfied with the peace that they chose to ignore the ‘women’s problem.’ “Fine. I’ll try one more time.”

  Roland entered the elevator, leaving his daughter behind.

  Lily watched the elevator rise. She knew the result would be the same.

  “Wait, is that...” Lily walked toward a lush garden outside. “The Creator.”

  To the world, Mook was just a Director. But Lily knew exactly who he was.

  In the garden by a small stream, Mook was relaxing with his three wives after helping Jake summarize the arrest results.

  “I need a word with you,” Lily’s sharp voice came from behind.

  “Go wait for me in the room. I’ll make some cake later,” Rina said, kissing Mook’s cheeks before leading Natsuki and Hana away. Despite her jealousy, Rina knew Lily was Roland’s daughter. This was business.

  “How can I help you?” Mook stood up and moved to a stone table nearby.

  “Doesn't it weigh on your conscience? Making so many women unemployed?” Lily sat across from him, crossing her arms like an interrogator.

  “Not at all. I’m just doing my job,” Mook replied nonchalantly with a mocking smile. “Besides, this is my right. Why should I care?”

  Lily flared her nostrils, taking a deep breath to suppress her rage at his use of the word 'right.' “What’s the endgame? Wiping every handsome man off the face of the earth so beautiful women only pay attention to guys like you? So they only offer their bodies to you?”

  “That would be ideal,” Mook grinned provocatively.

  “Sigh...” Lily tried to find a weakness. “That Rina woman... you two seem very much in love.”

  “None of your business.” Mook narrowed his eyes. Lily was a women’s rights activist who had failed to move Saito; now she was targeting him.

  “You say GREM has all these perfect AI girls for entertainment... yet you’re stuck on a human girl?”

  “Who I love is my right. You know that word, don't you? Right?”

  Lily’s brow twitched—that was the same line Mook had used to crush Nisa. “And what about those other two? If you accidentally get them pregnant and your number one doesn't accept it, where will they go? In this world, do you think they can take care of themselves?”

  Mook’s eyes flickered for a split second before turning cold again. “I’ve never touched those two. Rina asked me to look after them, so I do. I’m just doing what my lover asked.”

  “Seriously? With bodies like that, you haven't slipped up once?” Lily looked skeptical.

  “I’ll admit, the temptation is there. But I’m loyal enough to have self-control.”

  Lily realized Mook wasn't a womanizer. “And if Rina has a daughter? If you die, or if she’s left alone...”

  “If you don't have anything important to say, I’ll take my leave,” Mook cut her off, bored of her attempts to guilt-trip him.

  Grab! Lily snatched Mook’s hand and forced him back down. She glared at him, breathing heavily, before letting go.

  “What now?” Mook asked, annoyed.

  “Does it have to be this extreme? Do you have to wipe out the whole system? Fine, I get it—women went too far, worshipping looks and ignoring right from wrong. But does it have to be this? Can’t you just give them a warning? Just... just...” Lily scrambled for logic. “Just make everyone equally beautiful so looks don't matter anymore. Or tell the GREM investors not to hire them for ads. You don't have to block them entirely...”

  Lily paused for breath, speaking again before Mook could open his mouth. “Yeah, it’s your and Saito’s right to lock the system. But have some heart. Just for the women. As for those ‘handsome’ guys? Block them all you want. Let them struggle and find their own way.”

  Mook stared at the stream, appearing indifferent, but he was listening.

  Lily looked at the translator in Mook’s right ear and continued. “A trade of rights. I have enough power in the association. If a woman has a handsome husband, I’ll ban all aid to her. Let them fend for themselves. Let’s build a new value system. Just unlock the system so women can use their beauty to earn a living in GREM. Please.”

  “Other skills are—”

  “Yeah, I know!” Lily cut him off. “Use other skills, right? Is that easy now? You intentionally let men monopolize most of the jobs from the start. Company owners are so scared you’ll lock the system that they won't hire women. No matter how you spin it, the world knows why you locked it. That picture of you crying in front of the university is all over social media. Don't act like a petty, hurt little boy!”

  Everyone could see that GREM had intentionally shut women out for the first three years. Yet, the men chose to remain silent. They didn't care because what GREM was doing had forced women to be the ones chasing men. Even beautiful women were now pursuing men they once would have ignored, as long as the man had a stable job. Men now held the ultimate bargaining power, and the era of male dominance was beginning to resurface.

  Hiss! Lily took a sharp breath, but she wasn't the only one. By bringing up his worst memories and calling him a petty boy, she had ignited a fire in Mook.

  “Help...” Lily started to speak, but stopped.

  Crush! Mook pulled the translator from his ear and crushed it into dust in his right hand. He placed the wreckage on the table for her to see, then stood up and walked away in total silence.

  ***

  Inside a lounge adjacent to the military briefing room.

  “He almost wavered there,” Eleanor said, watching the security feed of the garden. Whenever Lily appeared, she tried to manipulate the EU into interfering with the system. Eleanor watched her every move. “Are you sure... that our Mook is strong enough not to falter under those pleas?”

  “I am,” Saito replied flatly, staring out the glass wall at the horizon. He turned toward the door to prepare for the meeting. “...And even if he wavers, reality will forge him back into someone even harder than before. Or perhaps... harder than he ever was.”