"!! ... Aaron, you damned pig!! ... There's nothing behind the wardrobe!"
Zeus thought quickly before hearing approaching footsteps. He hurriedly pushed the wardrobe back into place, causing some clothes to fall, which he hastily threw back in and slammed the wardrobe shut.
Mira entered, placing the glass of juice in front of Zeus, who was staring at the computer screen with a serious and intense expression, sweat beading on his forehead.
"Is there a problem?"
"Yes... I accidentally deleted the design."
"You're joking!!"
Mira thought to herself: "He really looks upset... Poor Zeus, it must be awful to lose all your hard work like that... How can I comfort him?"
"Don't be upset. You can make a new one, and I'll help you this time. If we do it together from the beginning, we'll finish it quickly and avoid common mistakes."
"I really appreciate that... We can do it later."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"I mean, is there something we can work on now that won't take long? Like the rotating disc blueprint."
"No... I'm afraid it'll take a long time. I'm working on another weapon, much more complex, and I really don't want to bother you. I'll work on it later by myself. You've got plenty of work and studying—I don't want to distract you from that."
"I really don't mind... I actually have a lot of free time."
Zeus stood up, signaling he was determined to leave, and drank the whole glass of juice in one gulp.
"By the way, my mom sends her regards... And I just remembered something important I need to discuss with Aaron. Maybe I'll call you tomorrow to find a time to work on the design that suits you."
"Alright then, I'll be waiting for your call tomorrow."
"I might not call, I'm not sure if I'll be free."
"No problem. Just call me when you want to work on the design."
"Deal... Sorry again for the bother. I really have to go now."
"!... Goodbye."
Zeus left, and Mira closed the door behind him.
"Poor Zeus... Bad luck just keeps following him these days."
...
[Two minutes later – in Aaron's room]
"You bastard! Why did you lie to me!?"
Aaron laughed and spoke cheerfully:
"Calm down, calm down... This is your punishment for hiding the rest of your money. You lied to me too!"
"How did you know I didn't give you all my money!?"
"Come on, maybe you don't remember, but you've pulled that trick on me several times over the past two years."
"You know you're a jerk, right!? You took advantage of my memory loss!"
"I don't care... Hand over the rest of the money if you want me to tell you where the prosthetics are."
"!!... Damn it, here you go."
Zeus pulled seven gold coins from the inner pocket of his long black coat.
Aaron immediately searched the same pocket and even checked the other ones, pulling three more gold coins from a different pocket.
Zeus cursed him in his mind but stayed silent.
"Tell me where the damn prosthetic is now."
"You'll find it under my dad's bed."
"!!... Damn it, fine, I'll give you all my money!"
Zeus pulled five gold coins from his underwear and a few silver coins from his shoes.
"Here, this is all my money."
"Damn, I'm holding these coins!!... Wash them first!"
"!!"
Zeus left the room and came back a few minutes later.
"Now tell me."
"I didn't really lie to you... I have two prosthetic limbs hidden under my dad's bed. He already found all the other ones—even the ones that were behind Mira's wardrobe."
(Zeus): "!!... I'm not getting those limbs myself... you go get them."
(Aaron, annoyed): "Then we don't have a deal."
"Fine. Give me back my money then..." Zeus replied with a grin.
"!!... Wait... Damn it, I'll get them."
...
[Thirty minutes later – Zeus' room]
Zeus opened a box under his bed that contained over 1,000 gold coins. He took 100 and put them in his pocket.
Then he headed to his little sister Natalie's room.
"What do you want?"
"Can you transfer 100 digital gold coins to my account? I'll give you the cash right now."
"And why would I do that? Carrying cash is annoying."
"I'll give you 150 coins for 100 digital ones."
"I don't need the money."
"I'll give you 200 coins. It's easy money."
"Make it 1,000."
"Why 1,000 exactly!?"
"I saw them in your stash under your bed."
"!!... Why are you snooping through my room!?"
"I was looking for something you stole from me."
"!!... Damn it. Fine, deal. Transfer the money now. You can have the 1,000 coins, but give me 300 digital gold coins."
"Deal."
Zeus stormed out angrily. Unlike Aaron—whom Zeus knew would squeeze every coin from him if he asked for help—Zeus had tried to trick him by hiding the money.
But in the end, it was his little sister who truly got the better of him.
...
Zeus returned to his room, took out the rotating disc, and used it to sever the foot bearing the surveillance anklet.
Then he attached the prosthetic leg in its place.
He cleaned up the blood and placed the anklet on his bed before sneaking off to his brother William's lab.
"I see you cut your foot off again... You and that idiot are both so stubborn. Here's your usual order."
Zeus looked at the table and saw the supplies he needed already prepared and neatly arranged.
"Why do I feel like you were expecting me?"
"I wasn't waiting—I just prepared them a while ago to save time."
Zeus took a syringe and injected himself with a painkiller.
Then he took a second syringe—this one accelerated limb regeneration for gene warriors. With it, his leg would fully regenerate in just ten hours, compared to the one-month recovery time for a second-level gene warrior like him.
"Do you want me to get you anything from the city?"
"No, just take care of yourself and stay out of trouble."
"It's not like I'm looking for it! Trouble finds me."
"You think you're the main character in some action movie!? Stop chasing after damn trouble!"
"!!"
...
[One hour later]
Zeus stood on the main road, waving at passing cars until a transport truck stopped after a few minutes.
"Need a ride to the city?"
"Yes sir, I'd really appreciate it."
"Hop in."
Zeus arrived in the city. The truck was headed to a massive shopping center downtown, which suited him perfectly.
He thanked the driver and said goodbye, then made his way to a massive entertainment complex that spanned twenty full floors with wide spaces.
This complex had virtual reality equipment, a local-style restaurant, concert halls in the lower levels, and many other entertainment sections.
It was, in fact, the main hangout spot for most of the city's youth.