Handler XX: Stock Maestro

He nodded, glancing at her,

"Alright..." She muttered, staring at the screen as she stood up

It's just an automated voice.

It's not the real person.

Her jaws tightened as she glanced at him, looking at her go through the stairs.

I'll just stand outside.

"THE NAME OF THE BOOK BEHIND ME IN THE VIDEO"

Seren's voice repeated,

Trent closed his eyes to remember. It didn't take long, with the increase in intelligence he'd been getting.

"Fortified Sapiens by Broderick Moses..." he muttered, opening his eyes slowly

"CORRECT..." Seren's voice acknowledged, chuckling.

Was this really automated?

The screen of the laptop turned grey with words typing on the screen.

"REPEAT THE WORDS YOU SEE" Seren's voice spoke again as the typing stopped.

The words on the screen?

What was written was.

X STILL Y U I07 THE 7538 BEST.

Words?

"Still the best"

"CORRECT, QUITE SIMPLE, NO?"

Why did he set all these weird things?

Just get to the point already...

Trent glanced at his phone— 2:23 pm already.

"Let's get the over with" he groaned,

"ALRIGHT, TRENT..."

He flinched, shifting backwards.

Did he just---

"THERE'S NO NEED TO BE SURPRISED. ITS GOOD ANGELA STEPPED OUT"

Holy...

"Y–You're talking..." Trent blurted, eyes widening.

"IT'S COMPLICATED. ITS A CLONE CONSCIOUSNESS AND I'VE BEEN LIVING IN MY MODELS— EXPLORING THE WORLD MORE"

Huh?

"What about your main mind? It's---"

"DEAD. I FOUND OUT. I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED FROM THE TIME I CREATED THIS CONSCIOUSNESS THOUGH. SEPARATE LIVES" Seren chuckled,

Wow.

That was possible?

"Will you keep appearing from now on?"

"NO— I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE INFORMATION AND GO BACK TO MY PARADISE. ITS FUN HERE"

Did he create a world or something?

"Alright... I'll need the information. I have to go to somewhere later"

"YOUR MEETING WITH YVAINE..." Seren laughed.

"How---"

"NOTHING CAN BE HIDDEN FROM ME"

Damn...

Cheeky bastard.

"THE DUMROE FAMILY STARTED AS FISH FARMERS FROM THE EASTERN CONTINENT. THEY'VE RISEN TO THEIR POWER WITH THE AID OF KNOWLEDGE, POWER CONTROL AND OF COURSE... LUMINA"

"That's confusing. How did they start the Lumina group?"

"THE QUEEN, HUNDRED YEARS AGO, GAVE BIRTH LATE AND NEEDED TO SECURE POWER FOR HER SON, THE SECOND PRINCE— SHE RECRUITED DUMROE AND OTHERS AND FORMED LUMINA TO SERVE THE STAR SHE WORSHIPPED"

"Sirius..."

"YES. IT BEGAN AS A POWER SOURCE TO THE SECOND SON AND IS NOW BIGGER THAN ANYTHING IN THE WORLD. THEY HAVE POWER OVER EVERYTHING"

Hmmm...

"Why then do they seek members?"

"EXPANSION..."

Right.

That doesn't mean they have to collect high table members too if they wanted to keep their powers.

"High table, my ass..."

There was probably a higher table for them to keep their authority.

"YOU'RE GOING FOR A HIGH TABLE?" Seren asked, surprised.

"Yeah. They say it's the most powerful but I don't know about---"

"IT IS. THE BILLION IS JUST FORMALITY. ONLY THE LEADER CHOOSES WHO SITS ON THE HIGH TABLE"

If it began with the Queen of the empire, was the Leader of imperial blood, then?

"What's their goal?"

"BALANCE" Seren scoffed, "THEY ONCE INVITED ME IN DURING MY EARLY DAYS BUT I REFUSED"

"Why?"

"I DIDN'T KNOW THEIR POWER. UNFORTUNATELY, YOU CAN'T GET IN AFTER REFUSING"

Trent stared at the screen for a while.

He must've really wanted in— that intrigue of his must've wanted a bit of the pie.

"Why is this a keyword?"

"...I THOUGHT MY SON WILL TAKE OVER FROM ME. HE SEEMED TO HAVE DIED AFTER I UPLOADED THIS CONSCIOUSNESS"

Wait.

Was that why the introduction to the video was like that?

"How long has it been since you've uploaded yourself"

"ALMOST 2 YEARS"

Woah.

"Didn't... Main Seren visit anytime?"

"HE STOPPED VISITING AND MADE IT HARD TO FOLLOW WHAT HE WAS DOING. VERY HARD"

What was the Seren doing before he died?

"But the codes for Angela and Xander..."

"THAT'S MUSK. HE ENTERED REMOTELY AND DIDN'T INITIATE ANY CONVERSATION WITH ME. WE HAD ENEMIES BUT I DON'T THINK HE GOT KILLED AS ANY MESSAGE"

"Enemies? What---"

"TELL ME ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING"

Why? Was he trying to change the topic? Trent exhaled and engaged him.

They talked about everything that was happening in.

Seren knew a whole lot.

He called what he had now, Godhood.

He'd transcended to a level close to the stars.

An entity that will keep living in the world he's created with civilization progressing.

Trent noted every bit of information about the individuals in the groups— The current 5 members of the high table and current members of the lower table.

"Thank you very much for all these" he bowed slightly, looking at his phone.

It was already 5:43 pm.

They should be coming soon.

"THEY'RE A WEIRD BUNCH. POWERFUL, BUT WEIRD. I WONT COME OUT AGAIN UNTIL I DEEM IT FIT. GOODBYE"

"Alright"

______

His phone buzzed crazily as he stepped out of the building.

The signal must've been blocking the messages.

3 missed calls from Marie.

A call from Scarlet and Isak.

Numerous messages from people hoping to set up a meeting.

"I should change this number" he huffed, looking around.

Angela must've gotten tired and left.

Did she try to listen in?

No. Seren must've been playing that stupid game while sensing her leave it the signals.

"What a weird old man"

He looked at the phone and exhaled, before dialing.

"Hey..." Marie's spoke as it connected,

"I got your message"

"Is that the Twerp?" Anton's voice cut through.

"You're at the headquarters?"

"Yeah. He called me in— There's been some success linking the accounts of the terrorist group"

"Oh... Should I be there? I've got---"

"You've been busy... I got called in this morning after you left"

Hmmm...

It's understandable now.

She must've lied to Mia when she rushed out.

He exhaled, as if a ton was raised off his shoulders.

Huh? Why did I just do that?

"...Twerp?" Anton's voice jolted him back,

"Y–Yeah?"

"You've been a really busy rich young master, haven't you? I've reached out to the heads of the other branches. Cisco's asked about you thrice today— said you haven't responded his message. Something about encrypted..."

Must've missed the message.

For the other branches... It's time to change the way donations and supports are made.

"I'll stop by tomorrow. Tell them to be available by evening"

"Alright. You should teach your Mrs. more manners for the elderly— she's still a wildling"

"I've gotta go..." Trent chuckled, hanging up.

Angela's car was still outside when he reached the front.

She's still around.

She's probably confused about what happened. I should---

"New mission initializing..." Ave cut in, "sign-in, Grand crest Hotel, Cabrini, Kraven"

A new mission so fast?

"Let's face this, first" he muttered, walking in.

He headed straight into the bathroom to freshen up.

_____

"You keep working so hard, you'll die someday" Scarlet huffed at Xander as they talked.

"I'm just doing my work— it's very important" Xander laughed, shifting closer to her.

Ugh...

You're going to be all flirty in the chopper too?

They'd arrived a little late and headed straight to the location of the helipad.

Too many things running through my mind to even ask during the car ride or even half of this journey.

"What made you guys late?"

Xander flinched, turning to him, slowly.

"We were on a date" Scarlet answered sharply.

Xander turned to her face back,

"What? Is it against our contract to fall in love?"

Love? This psycho killer lady is talking about love?

"It's not..." Trent mused, looking through the window.

"I should've informed you that we were going to run late" Xander exhaled,."My apologies, Sir"

"It's okay, Man. And you don't have to call me Sir everytime. Anytime"

"I told you..." Scarlet chuckled, looking at Xander, "He's chill... That's the only redeeming quality for his evil self"

"It seems we'll be landing..." Xander focused, looking at the ceiling.

"There's a car ready" Scarlet turned to the window.

She looked at her phone as a message buzzed through.

"I'll be going alone" Trent turned to both of them.

There's no need to bring them along.

They stared at him, surprised.

"Enjoy your date— just don't let her fuck anything up" he chuckled, looking at Xander.

"Oh, don't worry... There's only one thing I'm going to be fucking up" she mused, with a grin.

Ugh...

Xander's face flushed as he turned to her.

Get me out off this place already...

_____

"I'll hit you up by morning" He glanced at them, hands on the wheels.

The GPS was already set to lead him to the hotel.

"Have fun in your meeting" Scarlet scoffed, "Jus---" She paused as her phone rang and walked away.

"Call me if there's anything, S---" Xander smiled, stopping himself.

"You'll get used to it" Trent laughed, pulling the windows up.

_____

Such a beautiful city.

Worthy of being the capital.

It surpassed Westeron's capital by a small margin.

He nodded at the security at the gate as he drove into the hotel.

"Mission complete... Zara Technologies— Sell. 8am"

Hmmm...

Should this be used as a gift?

It'd definitely clear the double fortune stuff.

His phone rang immediately as he slowed down— unknown number.

Who's this? His eyes scanned as the Valet walked towards him.

"Hello, I'm---"

"Follow the lady on green"