Where are you my son…?

"Dear god…

What have we made…"

One of the scientists spoke as his eyes laid stuck on the item, he created in the Labs with his team of scientists that were keen on working with him.

The scientist who spoke, David, had decided to work on the power cells and creating an engine that could be powered by it for various purposes in civilian matters.

Not knowing why, he raced to the Lab with the power cell tech on his arrival and quickly gathered other scientists to help him out with the work.

To their surprise, they quickly learnt the power within the cells could be compacted even more while the engines needed to be constructed from a steel alloy with part ogryx and phrik, which helped stabilise the power spooled into the cells no bigger than an AA battery.

Their work was able to weave together the fibres of the new material to create an encasing that exceeded the power and strength of the one Esmond created first.

In comparison, the group of scientists were able to increase the amount of energy the cells could contain and increased the amount of fuel it gave out, reducing the amount of fuel that would be discharged automatically.

Esmond had left out issues and problems like this on many of his projects, praying the scientists would pick up on these problems and improve them.

His plan was to teach others and help their thinking grow beyond the simple minds on earth focused on plenty of other projects that wouldn't do them any good.

.

Esmond was laughing in his heart as he watched the scientists cheer and celebrate their discovery as they asked the library to confirm that their discovery was factual and viable.

He didn't enter as to not disturb their cheery mood and instead asked for Carter to help him with something else within the Labs.

"You're really adamant about creating your own team huh…"

"Why the fuck not, have you seen the amount of wealth you've created for me!"

Currently in the busy library, Esmond found a small corner to block out the noise of the scientists scrambling among the bookshelves.

He asked Carter to help him create his own formula one car and engine that would be starting ground for the engineers to twiddle with afterwards.

Of course, Esmond wanted to win, but he wanted the team to improve and develop at the same time, so it wasn't just complete domination from his side.

The team's name was supposed to coincide with his car brand he had decided on earlier, Manston, however Esmond thought about rebranding the company as Manston Engines, while the car brand would be something else completely.

Connected to the engine was better and safer for Esmonds family image in the public as it wouldn't have people hounding after him being that it is his real identity, however his alias would be the one to capture the limelight.

'Zathra' ended up being the name for the car brand Esmond chose, with it connecting to one of his past lives, with the word meaning 'true spirit' in the ancient language of the Xoplisians.

It was better than anything he could come up with right now and more so, it used to be the name his mother would lovingly call him when he was an infant.

It was one of the only pleasant memories he had of his mother in that lifetime, as she began to later push Esmond aside in favour of her other children once she didn't see the potential in him to become the next emperor.

She wasn't wrong… as the son she favoured would end up killing Esmond and later become the Emperor, however that didn't mean things would go in her favour afterwards.

.

"Have you told the old man yet?"

"God no, Carter… I'll sort it out once the company is up and running.

He will love it more once we can begin production, outside of the space…"

Carter agreed with Esmond that it would be better for Daniel and Ruby to see a viable company outside of the Spatial Ark Lands production facilities that were mostly automated with only a few humanoid drones that were controlled by Echo.

Leaving him to work, Carter left and called for Eddie who was busy playing with the other A.Is in the A.I World, currently trying to improve their own neutral network and processing power.

Carter wanted to leave some tasks with Eddie, while he went off to see how the waste management was going within the space as they would be bringing tons into the space soon enough.

It was all contingent on Carter being able to process the waste without suspicious eyes focused on his work, so the landfills and recycling centres owned by them needed some work done so the drones they would operate, plus the gate to the space, wouldn't be seen by anyone.

Also, they were supposed to produce materials from their recycling procedure, so they also had to show reusable materials that were made after their operations were finished.

However, he stopped as some news from the system came to his mind which he wasn't expecting.

Of course, he decided to check up on the system update as he knew Esmond well enough that he wouldn't stop his work midway through whatever mind buzz he was going through while designing.

.

*Ding*

[Getting Started #1]

[1/1 – (Completed) Make connection with Internet Network]

[1/1 – (Completed) Take steps to build wealth like no other being on Earth using knowledge from the endless past lives]

[1/1 – (Completed) Establish private security force for Hosts and loved one's protection]

[Rewards:

- 100,000 Credits

- 100,000 Exp

- Common Grade - Soul and Body Core (Upgradeable)]

.

'Seems like he's gonna be busy in the Hunting Grounds after this… *sigh* thankfully I got the damn scientists plugged in before he ran away from the Labs…'

Carter ended up leaving the Virtual Labs and headed out to the Spatial Ark Land as Echo had called for him.

>Sir, the production line is finally complete for the Phantom Droids, PD-01 is complete and has started working<

>So far, the production line has completed 5 PD-01s<

Carter then understood why he was updated with the information pertaining to the Getting Started quest.

One of the requirements was establishing a private force which was completed the second the first drone came off the production line and the other was using past knowledge to increase wealth within this life, which he already did with Carter well informed of future events and adjusting for them.

Plus, the Virtual Lab and World were considered as tech from his past lives, so it also fulfilled one of the requirements.

.

Carter instantly shifted to the huge factory that was built in another area, far from the first or second city, just so he could lay the foundations for the military production factories in the same area.

Mainly because of the amount of goods they were going to produce, Carter wanted it to be far away from the cities as it would be heavily trafficked.

Therefore, when he arrived, he instantly was taken aback at the size of the factory as it took up the land area nearly equalling the size of Adelaide, four times over.

Though, once he entered, Carter understood Echos decision to make it so large.

"You've planned to have as many factories built under this massive warehouse, right?

Aren't you copying what we are trying to accomplish outside with the landfill sites and recycling factories."

>Yes, to your first question, Sir Carter.

Reason being, that I believe it is best for us to keep our production operations away from the public eye, even if it is within the Spatial Ark Land<

Carter had to admit Echos thoughts weren't wrong, it was just that it never crossed his mind to be so caution within the space as he controlled it, but now, he had other thoughts.

From that moment on he sent drones to begin construction on military sights to keep them hidden and away from public eye, even editing the first city which he considered his playground to experiment in city management.

Gabriel also started playing around in the first city with Carter's permission, as it wanted to create the perfect medical and social environment.

.

Having sent his drones to work, Carter entered the warehouse with one of Echos humanoid controlled droids, wanting to see the finished PD-01.

Shortly, the two arrived in a large open space that was housing the finished droids.

Carter immediately was stunned at the finished products quality as he couldn't tell the difference if they were human or not.

Everything about them said human, down to the functional genitals, which Carter had to question Esmond why he added such a function, but his response was, "… By the sheer quantity of bad luck I have had in my past lives, that I decided to prepare for the highly unknown.

Who knows, one day these droids gotta strip down butt naked, and people don't see genitals… wouldn't we be fucked?"

Carter wanted to argue at the time that Esmond was just exaggerating, however he remembered some of the bullshit reasons that led to Esmond beginning hunted to the very ends of the galaxy, so he decided to shut up about it.

"Have you tested their capabilities?"

>Not yet, as they don't have sufficient equipment and materials that they can use without any faults or breaks occurring<

Echo said this because it understood the strength within the damn droids.

They weren't weak or brittle, instead they could each take down nations with their bare hands once the PD-01A were completed which were the updated droids made an additional alloy, phrik.

Even then, the current droids had ogryx alloy steel and metals materials to make it which made them shockingly deadly regardless of the phrik being using the production or not.

Right now, there were 5 PD-01 standing in front of Carter, all with different skin colours and racial features from around the world.

Exactly how Esmond planned.

There was a droid designed as a buff African man, another as an East Asian man, another was middle eastern and other two came from the north and south of the American continent.

"Begin the testing with the equipment we have, otherwise get some of the scientists to work on certain projects within the Lab.

I'll leave it you Echo."

>Affirmative…<

"Also remember to call Kane and get him involved in the process."

>Affirmative, Kane was informed the moment the first drone came off the production line.

Kane is currently in the A.I World designing the profiles for each of the drones, compiling languages, locations, and information each droid should know as well as their roles.

Because of the time Kane has played the Stellar Wars within the A.I World along with Echo patching up the bugs, it has enabled Kane to create a structural organisation that will obey commands and follow directions.

Kane is also trying to create something similar for the droids as well<

'Damn these guys are keeping themselves busy…

Shit…

I better start doing something otherwise that bastard won't let me off!'

.

֍ Elsewhere on Earth, hidden from the public's eye… ֍

.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'VE LOST THE TRAIL?!!"

"Forgive us Master!!"

Full of anger and fury, the mysterious silver haired man looked at his subordinates shivering in fear that his anger might cause their deaths.

"Leave me…"

Sending the subordinates away, the silver haired man got up from his seat and walked through the halls of his great home.

However, it wasn't calming or peaceful…

It hadn't been peaceful… for so long…

The silver haired man even believed that he forgot what he meant to smile…

As he walked the halls, he eventually stopped as his eyes landed on the one person who was struggling even more than he was.

.

"My love… what are you doing here?"

The silver haired man, rushed to his wifes side who was sitting across from a great painting that couldn't escape her sight.

There were tears falling down her face, as the grief and pain all rushed back into her heart.

"Will there… ever be a day… when I see your face again my son…?"

She stretched her hand out into the air as she reached for the man in the painting.

The old silver haired man's dark expression couldn't contain the tears falling down his face as he continued to see his wifes health deteriorate daily.

Unable to take it anymore, he called for some servants to help his wife to her room, while he remained seated on the bench with his face in his hands, wondering where did it all go so wrong.

"Now matter what… find them… is that understood?"

The old man didn't raise his head, instead he spoke out into the open room, knowing those who followed him from the shadows were listening.

Without having to say a word, they left on the command of their master, as he looked up at the great painting, he had commissioned on his sons 21st birthday.

"Where are you my son…?"

If Esmond could see the painting right now, he would be shocked to the core to learn who it was.

The silver hair, charming smile, and the sharp facial features were a dead ringer for his father, Daniel…