Chapter 51: Chapter 51: "Superheroes" and Looking Ahead
Beep… beep beep…
The harsh, repetitive sound of an alarm clock echoed through the dim bedroom.
As the alarm continued, the curtains automatically opened according to their programmed schedule, allowing warm and comforting sunlight to flood the room, revealing its messy state.
The dressing table was cluttered with various cosmetics of unknown specific effects, many bearing the red "Λ" logo. Clothes were strewn haphazardly on the wooden floor, indicating that the room's owner might be somewhat careless about tidiness.
"Ugh..."
All this commotion made the woman lying under the covers frown deeply. She forced herself to sit up.
She stayed like that for nearly half a minute before drowsily opening her eyes and looking at the holographic screen on the smart nightstand.
06:47/1995/09/07/Thu (Thursday).
"Ugh~"
Seeing that it was still early, the woman breathed a sigh of relief, turned off the alarm, and got out of bed, sitting in front of the dressing table to groom herself.
After a while.
The woman in the mirror went from having disheveled, shoulder-length hair to a neat short ponytail. Her complexion and spirit improved, possibly due to the makeup.
With her appearance sorted, the woman left the bedroom and entered the living room, which had floor-to-ceiling windows and an open balcony.
She first opened the windows, letting fresh air flow into the room, not paying much attention to the beautiful view outside the balcony of golden beaches, green oceans, and a modern cityscape.
From the view, it was clear that this was a high-rise single apartment.
The woman turned on the holographic TV and tuned it to a news program, then went to the bathroom to start her morning routine.
"~~~"
"Good morning, welcome to the 7 o'clock edition of 'World Talk,' I'm your familiar host, Clark Essos. Let's first look at the top news of the day."
Soon, the living room was filled with the woman's favorite shower music and the news program's opening.
The holographic TV was broadcasting the news studio, and after the host finished the opening remarks, the director began switching to the news content.
The screen darkened briefly, then showed the ruins of a post-explosion site. Facing the camera, being interviewed, was a "superhero" in a dark blue combat suit, using a star-spangled banner as a cape.
However, this "superhero" looked somewhat disheveled and weary, speaking wearily. The male host then explained to the audience:
"The day before yesterday, a group of terrorists took over a chemical plant in New Jersey, using bombs and hostages to threaten the local government, demanding a ransom of 30 million dollars. To prevent further escalation, the young hero 'Homelander' quickly arrived on the scene, but the crazed terrorists still detonated the bombs.
According to preliminary investigations by the FBI and Vought International, it is suspected that this was an assassination attempt on Homelander, aiming to use a suicide attack to kill the hero who cares deeply about hostage safety.
But the terrorists' plot failed, and this young hero proved his tagline true, being the strongest superhero ever. He was unharmed despite facing an explosion equivalent to 11 tons of TNT at close range."
At this point, the host paused, and the director switched the footage to a product launch event.
The backdrop of the launch event prominently featured the red "Λ" logo, and the host continued:
"Every year on September 3rd, Atlas holds its annual Summary and Outlook event.
Last year, Atlas unveiled a groundbreaking creation—the Titan 3G. Since its release, the Titan 3G has sold over 30 million units in North America alone, meaning one in fifteen North Americans owns a Titan 3G.
The Titan 3G ushered in a new era, allowing every mobile phone user to share moments and connect to the internet anytime, anywhere, making our world and society more closely knit.
At this year's event, Atlas announced several upcoming products, including the fully upgraded Titan 3G 2S (Atlas 3G 2S) and the world's first personal tablet, the Titan Pad (Atlas Pad).
Then came the segment most beloved by gamers. Atlas's gaming department will release next-generation consoles and handheld devices on January 1, 1996, with multiple game trailers announced. Those interested can visit the official website and download Atlas's digital distribution platform for pre-orders.
Of course, these were just teasers. Atlas also announced plans to gradually make virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology widely available to the public within the next two years.
This year's Atlas event has sparked widespread discussion and anticipation for the coming year. Mainstream media have unanimously praised Atlas as a leader in industry progress and an innovative powerhouse."
The host paused again, waiting for the director to switch content.
Before the screen could update, the woman, having finished her morning routine and a quick breakfast, returned to the living room and waved at the sensor to turn off the holographic TV.
The woman, now completely free of her earlier laziness, had changed from a white nightgown to a grey suit that accentuated her figure, with red "Λ" metal buttons on the collar and cuffs.
After pinning on her ID badge, which bore her photo, name, position, and other details, it was clear that she was also part of Atlas.
The ID badge read:
Name: Angela Ziegler Cage
Gender: Female
Age: 25
Position: Core R&D Team, Bioengineering Department
Clearance: Senior
From the look of anticipation and longing on Angela Ziegler Cage's face, it seemed she had just been recognized by the company and transferred to the core team of the Bioengineering Department.
Ding-dong~!
Hearing the doorbell, Ziegler quickly walked to the shoe cabinet, changed into a pair of black low-heeled shoes, and adjusted her nervous expression.
Opening the door with a smile, she saw a woman in a suit with neat short hair standing in the hallway, who said indifferently, "Company Investigation Department, Jill Valentine. You can call me Agent Valentine or Ms. Valentine. Please follow me."
With that, the investigator turned and walked towards the elevator.
"Okay, Ms. Valentine!" Ziegler quickly stepped out of her apartment, closed the door, and jogged to catch up, introducing herself:
"Angela Ziegler Cage. Because my name often gets mistaken for 'angel,' I prefer to be called Ziegler or Cage."
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