In a mountainous region, nestled inside a house built on the slope, a young man stands by the window, gazing at the falling snow. He holds a phone in his hand and engages in conversation. The man inquires, "Are the preparations complete?" A deep male voice responds from the other end, "Everything is set. He'll be joining us today." The man acknowledges, "Excellent," and ends the call. He stashes his phone in his pants pocket, then turns and strides toward the couch, taking a seat. With a grin, he remarks, "With knowledge, one can achieve anything, and it continuously expands. To remain at the forefront, we must actively seek new knowledge or learn from those who possess it." Dec 01, 2018, England. Oxford University, Department of Engineering. Inside the lecture hall, a middle-aged man of about 46 stands on the stage next to the podium, delivering a lecture. The man begins, "Nuclear bombs have profoundly transformed modern warfare. Their deterrence capability is unparalleled, surpassing any other weapons or military forces. There is no effective means to shield ourselves from this weapon of mass destruction. Nevertheless, many countries began developing Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) and Missile Defense Systems (MDS) during the Cold War, amid nuclear crises. Numerous claims were made regarding the ability of these systems to intercept ballistic missiles, and some successes were witnessed in testing. However, their actual effectiveness remains uncertain due to the absence of practical deployment. I am not suggesting anyone launch a nuclear ICBM to test the interceptors' efficacy. Perhaps these defense mechanisms were not conceived as long-term solutions against ICBMs, or maybe our focus shifted from developing effective air defense systems. "We must explore alternative approaches, such as shielding technology capable of protecting entire cities or countries, or a freezing technology that can immobilize the cores of incoming ICBMs. While numerous theories and ideas exist, only a handful are both practical and feasible." A student rises and inquires, "Professor Prakash, if the interceptors and MDS systems fall short of completely stopping ICBMs, what if a situation arises where a nuclear war unfolds in the future? What would be the outcome?" Prakash Shodh, the Head of the Engineering Faculty, responds. Prakash explains, "An excellent question. The First World War spanned four years, from 1914 to 1918, while the Second World War lasted six years, from 1939 to 1945. In the event of another global conflict, it would likely conclude swiftly. Remember that I mentioned 'Nuclear power has reshaped modern warfare.' Unlike the prior two world wars, a major deterrent now exists to restrain the actions of nations possessing substantial firepower. This hypothetical war would also encompass cyber warfare, where skilled hackers could wreak havoc by disrupting traffic systems, GPS, air travel, power grids, and financial markets, using a computer virus to inflict significant damage on economies. "If this war were to unfold within the next 20 to 30 years, the likelihood of nuclear strikes may not be as high. Consider this: launching nuclear weapons would result in catastrophic losses. Our population would suffer, the environment would be tainted by radiation for an extended period, and infrastructure would crumble. Thus, based on my assessment, a nuclear war seems unlikely. "As for stopping incoming nuclear ICBMs, aside from interceptors, we lack practical solutions at present. While future possibilities may emerge, for now, all we can do is hope." Another student raises a question, "What about the use of reflective barriers or energy shields?" Akash responds, "That's an interesting idea with potential effectiveness. However, implementing it requires a shielding technology capable of covering vast areas, such as entire cities like London or New York. Regrettably, this technology is still in its infancy. Perhaps in the coming years, we might witness the establishment of substantial barriers ensuring city safety, but currently, it remains beyond reach." A girl raises her hand. Akash acknowledges her and says, "Yes, Mio." Mio Taira ( 24), brown eyes, long black wavy hair, tall and slim, with sharp features, a student of the Mechanical Engineering Department, proposes, "Is there a way to prevent the launch of ICBMs?" Prakash responds, "I believe that's unlikely. To begin, all obstacles must be cleared to access the codes, which entail multiple levels of encryption and procedural requirements. Moreover, the communication link between the launch facility and the control center is physically disconnected from the internet. Hacking into it would necessitate a highly intelligent AI, and currently, we lack an AI of that caliber. Therefore, hacking nuclear codes is exceedingly improbable." Mio continues, "Sir, what if someone has already developed it?" Prakash replies, "In that case, history could repeat itself." Mio appears puzzled, gazing at Prakash. Prakash observes her and elaborates, "Consider when humanity first encountered nuclear weapons. It was when Japan's populated cities were obliterated. The world witnessed unprecedented destruction. Similarly, the individual or nation capable of developing an AI that can steal codes showcasing how chaos and devastation can be wrought without physical involvement." Mio settled back into her seat. Prakash scanned the surroundings, realizing no one would ask questions, he concluded the lecture. "Alright, today's lecture ends here." The attending students gradually left the hall. Prakash packed his belongings and descended from the stage, heading toward the exit. Exiting the hall, he returned to his office, placing his notes in the drawer and grabbing his bag before walking away. Taking a leisurely stroll around the college campus, Prakash slowly made his way to the parking lot. He received greetings from students and teachers along the way. Getting into his car, he headed home. Later that night, he returned to his house. Exiting the car after parking, Prakash unlocked the door and stepped inside. Turning on the lights, he entered the kitchen to find milk, but was surprised not to see any. Prakash scratched his head, muttering, "I think I probably had milk. Right?" Unable to find the milk, he settled for water and moved to the living room. As he was about to sit on the couch, he noticed a half-empty bottle of milk on the table in front of him. Picking up the bottle, he examined it. Prakash mumbled, "That's my bottle, and it's half empty." He glanced around the house expressionlessly. Placing the bottle down, Prakash went to a shelf beside the TV and retrieved a cross from a drawer. Holding the cross, he nervously looked around. Prakash uttered, "Please, God, save me. Oh Jesus... Oh Buddha... Oh... Shiv..." A voice came from behind him. "Don't fear, we are not ghosts. And did you just call the names of gods from three mythologies?" Prakash responded, "I don't know which religion this ghost follows." Turning quickly to face the voice, Prakash heaved a sigh of relief as he realized it wasn't what he thought. Guard still up, he asked, "Who are you, and what are you doing in my house trespassing?" Four individuals stood before him—three men in their mid-twenties and a woman wearing a mask. The woman greeted, "Hello, Professor. How was your day?" Prakash retorted, "It was going well until all of you showed up." One of the men clenched his fist, warning, "Speak nicely to her, or this fist will do the talking." Maintaining his composure, Prakash felt an inner fear. The lady scolded the man, "Shut up, don't talk to him like that..." The man quickly bowed to her. "Sorry, lady." Then he turned to Prakash. "Sorry, sir." Prakash sighed, "Alright, now tell me why you've come to 'greet' me." The lady clarified, "No, no, we're not here for greetings. I've come to take you." Prakash was shocked. "What! This is kidnapping!" The lady denied, "No, Professor, it's not kidnapping. I won't take you forcefully." Prakash inquired, "Then..." One of the men handed a tablet to the lady. After operating it for a minute, she handed it to Prakash. "Look at the future and decide for yourself whether you wanted to be a part of it or not." Prakash gazed at the tablet's screen, becoming absorbed in what he saw. After half an hour, excitement was evident on his face. Prakash asked, "Have you already done this?" The lady confirmed, "Yes, Professor. You've seen our capabilities and why we need you." Prakash affirmed, "Yes, I've seen it." The lady inquired, "So, what's your choice?" Prakash replied confidently, "You already know my answer, but you asked anyway. Of course, I'll come." The lady smiled, "Great." Prakash added, "But listen carefully: I won't help with anything related to destruction." The lady assured, "Don't worry, Professor, I understand. The assistance we need from you is not weaponry; it's Nano technology, as you've seen." Prakash asked, "So when and where do I have to go? " The lady teased, "Well, that's a surprise." She glanced at her men, and one of them pulled out a gun and shot at Prakash. Seeing the man raise the gun, Prakash urgently exclaimed, "Wait!" The trigger was pulled, and an electric bolt hit Prakash, causing him to collapse. The lady ordered, "Proceed quickly." "Alright," the men picked up Prakash and left, followed by the lady. .... Two days after Prakash's Kidnapping. Oxford University. In the office of the Division's head. A man around 45 is seated on the chair with crossed arms, a nameplate lies on the desk in front of him, bearing the inscription "Peterson Faulkner, Mathematics, Physical and Life Science Divisional Head." Peterson appears lost in thought, his face showing tension. A knock at the door interrupts his reverie, causing him to snap out of it. Peterson: "Come in." A woman approximately 33 years old, Jenna Rhodes, his secretary, enters the room wearing a formal dress and holding some files. After glancing at her, Peterson asks with anticipation. Peterson: "Have you found him?" Jenna: "No, sir. We haven't located him; it's as if he's vanished into thin air. The police are still investigating." Peterson: "Let it be. They might have taken him out of the country." Jenna: "What would they want to do with him?" Peterson: "You're overlooking the fact that he's the world's foremost aeronautical and mechatronics engineer. Numerous organizations, countries, or tech companies would go to great lengths to acquire him." Jenna: "So what should we do?" Peterson: "No, we don't have to take any action. I've informed the relevant department; they will be in charge from here." Jenna: "And the police?" Peterson chuckles and replies, "The police! This situation is far beyond their capabilities." Jenna: "But—" Peterson: "Alright, don't inquire about what you shouldn't. And concerning Prakash, don't worry. They won't harm him; he's a treasure." Jenna sighs, doesn't say anything, and turns to walk away. ....... Dec 03, 2018, Japan. In a room filled with various computer equipment, a person with his head covered was bound to a chair. In front of him, an Asian man around 38, dressed in a coat and pants, sat on a chair, while two henchmen stood behind him. The strapped man lay silently on the chair as if he were unconscious. Suddenly, he woke up and saw nothing but darkness, then realized someone had covered his head with a black cloth. The man exclaimed, "Hey! Uncover my head. Who are you, and what—" The Asian man replied, "Calm down, sir. We are not the bad guys." The man asked, "Then why was I kidnapped?" He then remembered something and mumbled, "How the hell did I get here?" The Asian man responded, "Oh, did you forget? You accepted our invitation." The man inquired, "So, you're with her, the masked lady?" The Asian man confirmed, "Yes, you can say that. Remove it." One of the henchmen went behind the man's back and removed the cloth covering his head. It was Professor Prakash. Prakash remarked, "Ah... A new face. Are you the boss? " The Asian man introduced himself, "Hello, my name is Jack Park, and no, I am not the boss. You can think of me as a manager of this facility." Prakash asked, "Ok. Can you free me?" Jack assured, "No problem." He glanced at his henchman, who then freed Prakash from the straps. Prakash rubbed his sore hands. Jack apologized, "We are very sorry for the inconvenience, but it's all for secrecy. You can understand that." Prakash looked around at the computer equipment he had previously ignored. Jack continued, "This is our Tech faculty, a secret hideout known to only a few people. Even the researchers here don't know the location because it holds the gate to the future. Follow me, Professor; I will introduce you to this faculty." Jack stood and walked to the door, with Prakash following him out of curiosity, along with the henchmen. Jack explained, "This is the 1st floor, with dorms for the staff, medical facilities, and a canteen." They strolled slowly and reached the 2nd floor via stairs. Jack pointed out, "This is the second floor, designated for the research team. There are currently eight teams, each led by an expert in their field." As they approached a cabin, Prakash peeped inside and saw two men, one pointing a gun at the other, both wearing lab coats. The second man held a round plate-like object above his fist. After a brief check, he nodded to the gunman, who then fired. To Prakash's surprise, the second guy wasn't hurt; the bullet collided with something in the air and fell to the ground. The second guy gestured for more, and they repeated the process three times, successfully blocking the bullets. Prakash exclaimed in excitement, "An invisible energy shield!" Jack smiled, saying, "Oh, there's more to come, Professor." Jack proceeded to show Prakash the entire second floor, showcasing various technologies like laser swords, energy guns, exoskeleton suits, and body enhancement serums. He also mentioned that the testing area was located on the ground floor. After the tour, they returned to the previous room. Jack inquired, "So, what's your opinion, Professor?" Prakash responded, "You know, I thought you were bluffing when you said 'here you will find the gate to the future.' But now, after seeing all of this, I've changed my mind." Jack credited their researchers, saying, "All of this is the result of our researchers' hard work." Prakash stated, "I want answers." Jack asked, "About what?" Prakash questioned, "Why not make it public? Some of the tech here could be used for civilian purposes." Jack laughed heartily, pointing to one of the henchmen behind him. "He's Natsu; his dad was a biomedical researcher. After five years of hard work, he developed a drug that could extend the life expectancy of a leukemia patient by 30 to 40 years. It was 15 years more than was currently possible, and its cost was very low. He just wanted to give people fighting leukemia some relief. However, in the end, his family was killed by individuals who felt their profits were threatened by his drugs. They destroyed his labs, formula, and drugs. Only Natsu survived the attacks, purely by luck." "This world isn't as bright as it seems; darkness exists alongside it. To survive, one must learn to live with both sides." Prakash looked at Natsu, who met his gaze with conviction and devotion, devoid of sadness, anger, or hatred. Prakash stated firmly, "Okay, I'll help you, but it can't involve weapons. I won't aid in developing any weapons." Jack reassured him, "We don't need you for weapons." Jack handed him a tablet. Jack said, "Check it. It contains everything you need to know." Prakash looked at the tablet's screen and read aloud, "Dome of Gaia." Stunned by the information on the screen, Prakash murmured, "But that lady showed me something different." Jack smiled and explained, "In case if you had declined our invitation, she lied as a safety measure." Dec 04, 2018, Germany. In Budapest, within the city's outskirts, stands a sizable villa. The villa's expanse is encircled by robust walls crowned with barbed wire. Numerous armed men vigilantly patrol the area. Adjacent to the villa, a white fountain statue stands. Within the villa's interior, situated in the living room, is a man in his late thirties. He occupies a couch, boasting short brown hair, brown eyes, a small nose, sunken cheeks, and an oval face. This is Harold Gater, the Vice President of Zark Aero, a German-based aircraft manufacturing company. Currently, he engages in a phone conversation. Harold inquires, "...I have taken them into our custody, what's next?" A man's voice responds from the opposite end. "I have dispatched Joker to retrieve them; he should arrive within an hour." Apprehension grips Harold upon hearing that Joker is en route. "What! You should have informed me earlier. I could have handed them over myself." The voice reassures from the phone, "No need to worry; he will act only as necessary." Harold seeks assurance, "Are you certain?" The voice on the line affirms, "Absolutely, just ensure they remain with you until he arrives." Harold remarks with confidence, "Rest assured, no one can wrest them away from us." In a second-floor bedroom, a woman and her daughter are seated on a bed. The daughter, around 10 years old, displays blonde hair, brown eyes, chubby cheeks, a prominent nose, and a round face. She is Sherry Hughes. The woman, Lida Hughes, is 36 years old and shares the same blonde hair, possessing features akin to her daughter's. Sherry reclines on her mother Lida's thigh, inquiring, "Mom, when will dad return?" Lida responds warmly, "Your father has gone to work; once he's done, he'll be back soon." Sherry gazes at Lida, asking, "But when?" Lida gently caresses her head and reassures, "Soon, my dear, very soon." After some conversation, Sherry drifts into slumber, her eyes closing. Observing her daughter's peaceful face, Lida murmurs, "When will you come back, my love?" Stepping away from the bed, she approaches the balcony and leans against the parapet, gazing down at the men within the compound. She looks up and prays with closed eyes, "Oh God, please rescue my daughter and me from this predicament." Suddenly, the blare of honking horns emanates from the entrance. Lida directs her attention toward the gate and witnesses a truck barging in, demolishing the gate and colliding with the statue. Subsequently, the remaining men draw their guns, cautiously advancing toward the truck's front. Witnessing this, Lida is struck with astonishment. As if comprehending something, she hurries back to the bed. Meanwhile, Harold stands up in the living room, alerted by a loud crash outside. Baffled, he steps out to investigate. As he strides out the door, he witnesses a truck collide with his fountain statue, while his armed men stand, guns drawn, aiming at the truck's cabin. A man approached the cab, wafting away the smoke with his hand. When the smoke dissipated, he realized the seat was empty. Glancing back at the others, he said, "There's no one here, go check the back." Two men headed towards the back to inspect. Harold observed all of this, bewildered. He signaled a man to come closer, and the man complied. Harold asked, "What's happening here?" The man replied, "This truck—" Suddenly, shots were fired at Harold's men from behind the truck trailer. Seeing his men falling, Harold tried to run back towards the villa but was shot in the back and fell while running. After a while, the firing ceased. None of Harold's men were left standing. Six armored men with guns, wearing masks, emerged from behind the trailer. Two members halted, surveying the area, while the other four entered. Upon entering, they shot the remaining four men who had gone inside earlier to hide. They proceeded to the second floor and searched all the rooms. After finding Lida and her daughter, one of them removed his mask. A man in his late twenties, with medium blond hair, blue eyes, a round face, and a strong build. Jason Kart, leader of Squad - 12 of Trinity. Approaching Lida slowly, he said, "Please calm down, we've come to take you to your husband Issac." Lida, holding her daughter close, asked fearfully, "Who are you? How can I trust you?" Jason replied, "We don't have much time. A very dangerous man is after you. Before he arrives, we need to go. Your husband sent us." Lida questioned, "But isn't Issac working for Harold?" Jason scoffed, "Harold was just a pawn." Lida looked puzzled, "What?" Jason grabbed her shoulder and urged her to move. "Let's go, we have to move quickly." Reluctantly, Lida went with them. Outside the villa, she was horrified by the bodies strewn about. One of them said to her, "If we don't leave before he arrives, you'll witness worse than this." Ignoring the words, Lida quickened her pace. Arriving at a prepared car, Jason and the others got inside. Inside the car, Jason asked a man beside him, "Did you prepare the gift I asked for?" The man replied, "It's done. But will it be effective against him?" Jason sighed, "The odds aren't that great." He leaned back and closed his eyes. Sheery, who had awakened, looked at them silently, while Lida caressed her daughter's head and gazed out the window. After half an hour, a convoy of cars arrived and stopped at the village entrance. A man stepped out from the lead car and walked towards the entrance. He was Logan Hawk, also known as The Joker, with long black hair, brown slanted eyes, sharp features, and a lean build. Seeing the wrecked gate and bodies, he stopped, staring at the villa. Two men stood behind him. One of them asked in a low voice, "Should I check, sir?" Logan glanced at the man on his right and nodded. The man then looked at the other man on Logan's left, but he didn't react to his gaze. Disdainful, the first man entered the compound. With his gun drawn, he proceeded cautiously, scanning his surroundings. Logan, still looking at the man's back, commented to the man on his left, "You're quite perceptive." As the first man pushed open the villa's door, a massive explosion occurred, obliterating the entire building. The men outside the villa flinched and stepped back, except for the one standing with Logan. A piece of hot red iron flew and crashed on the ground beside Logan. Observing it, Logan said to the man next to him, "Inform headquarters that we lost our package."