MTLNOVEL Chapter 13: Access Denied
It simply read:
Name of Product: Emotion Amplifier and Detector
Version: 22.9
Producers: Cyberpunk Technologies
Use: A powerful device designed to alter and intensify emotions. It works through palm contact, connecting directly to the superficial palmar venous arch and releasing technologically modified waves to the brain.
The device has four buttons corresponding to the basic emotions: happiness, sadness, anger, and motivation.
Practical Use: Press a button and hold the target's hand. Whatever you say will be perceived with the selected emotion.
Side Effects: May cause brain damage. In unfortunate cases, both the user and the subject are affected.
Note: This device is currently illegal due to its harmful effects and manipulative nature.
---
Lucy stared at the screen, stunned by what she had just read.
So that's what he used…
She felt sick. I'm of no real value to him, she thought bitterly. But just as she was about to close the file, something caught her eye—the company name: Cyberpunk Technologies. Her curiosity sparked.
She began digging deeper.
Surprisingly, nothing suspicious turned up. Cyberpunk was one of the largest tech companies in the world—ranked third after Sky High Technologies and Vissle Tech. That wasn't particularly helpful—until she scrolled further down the page.
Her heart skipped.
Cyberpunk was listed as one of the sponsors for a major upcoming competition. And, crazily enough, her school was participating.
Wait… what?
She was shocked. How had she not heard of this before?
Without wasting time, Lucy copied everything she'd uncovered onto a mini chip, scooped up her tablet, and rushed to the sitting room. Her mom was sitting calmly, scrolling through something on her phone.
"Mom, look what I found!" Lucy said breathlessly.
Miss Alison looked up slowly, watching as her daughter spread the chip across the table. Information lit up in a bright glow as the files loaded.
"Brandon high is participating in a competition and you didn't tell me?" Lucy asked, her voice rising. "You know how badly I've wanted to compete!"
Miss Alison didn't answer right away. Her eyes remained fixed on the projected display. She knew exactly which competition Lucy meant. It was the same one Derek had been selected for.
She finally looked up, trying to sound innocent.
"Wow. When did this happen? I honestly had no idea."
But her tone—flat, off-key—betrayed her.
Lucy narrowed her eyes.
"First you said I wasn't old enough. I waited. Then you said I wasn't top of the class. I studied, and I got to the top last session. So what's the excuse now?"
She was trembling now, angry and hurt. This was the one thing she had always wanted. The one thing she felt good at.
Miss Alison let her daughter finish. Then she quietly closed the glowing file and slid the mini chip back to Lucy.
"You're going to participate in the competition," she said gently, holding Lucy's hands. "But first, I need you to dig deeper. Find out everything you can."
Lucy's eyes widened.
"Really?"
Miss Alison smiled and nodded.
"Really."
"Thank you, Mom! You're the best!" Lucy hugged her tightly, then dashed off back to her room, her heart racing with joy.
But the moment she stepped inside, her smile vanished.
The emotion-altering device still sat on her table, its presence cold and silent.
She knew the real work was only just beginning.
---
Meanwhile…
Derek flew home on his hoverboard, wind tugging at his jacket. His thoughts were a storm. He needed to clear his head.
Once home, he quickly showered, changed, and sat down at his desk, determined to study.
His dad was out tonight well he didn't expect him home after all he was actually a really busy person and spent about 52 days at home in a year, now he would be expecting his mom to call soon.
But two hours passed—no call.
Odd… but he wasn't complaining.
He took the opportunity to investigate the upcoming competition he was set to attend.
"SkyTech," he said, activating the family's AI assistant, "give me a detailed breakdown of the national competitions scheduled for next year."
The interface flickered to life on his desk. He scrolled quickly through the list.
But… Brandon High wasn't listed.
Frowning, he tried again.
"SkyTech, list all Brandon High competitions for the calendar year."
This time, a message appeared:
Access denied.
He activated the voice option.
"Why don't I have access to this information?" he asked.
Access denied.
Derek blinked. Something was off.
He deactivated the AI and leaned back, feeling the weight of suspicion settle in. He didn't want to jump to conclusions… but what if Miss Alison had lied to him?
His thoughts grew foggy. He shut his books and climbed into bed.
He closed his eyes, exhausted.
But what Derek didn't know—what he couldn't have seen—was that something bigger was already in motion.