A Tour and A Gift

Hana shows Kai around the city called Lacester. The city stretched endlessly across the horizon, a dazzling display of futuristic marvels blending seamlessly with the natural environment. Towering skyscrapers, constructed from gleaming alloys and shimmering glass, pierced the sky with spires that seemed to vanish into the clouds. Between them, intricate networks of flying cars zoomed through the air, weaving effortlessly along designated skyways that glowed faintly with neon lights. Roads on the ground were sparse, reserved for pedestrians and small autonomous service vehicles. Holographic billboards projected vibrant advertisements directly into the air, some interactive, responding to passersby with tailored messages and stunning visuals.

 As Kai and Hana as well as Jack walked through the streets, he marveled at how every corner seemed alive. Digital-physical stores lined the pathways, their entrances marked by floating holographic menus and robotic greeters offering assistance. Shoppers passed through seamless walls of light that scanned and verified purchases instantly, eliminating the need for checkouts. Trees adorned with glowing leaves lined the sidewalks, their light pulsating gently in rhythm with the ambient hum of the city. Above, artificial weather domes created perfect conditions, shielding the city from harsh elements while still allowing a picturesque view of the stars. To Kai, it was as if he had stepped into a utopia—a world that once existed only in his wildest dreams.

 "We should go to my favorite café! You're going to love it, trust me. They have the best desserts in the world—well, this world, at least. Never mind that, come on, Kai! We have so much to do!" Hana's excitement was contagious, though her energy was relentless. "You have to try their drinks too; oh, and we'll definitely get you some new clothes. Not that your current outfit is bad or anything, but our fashion is way cooler—you'd look amazing!" She barely took a breath before continuing. "We should visit the electronics district! You'd totally love the gadgets. And video games! You play video games, right? I mean, you're a guy; you have to love video games!"

 Hana's voice filled the air like a never-ending melody, leaving no room for Kai to respond. How could someone so small have this much energy? He glanced back at Jack, hoping for some reprieve, but the stoic bodyguard remained unaffected, walking with the patience of someone clearly used to this. Meanwhile, Kai was already feeling drained just listening to her endless stream of suggestions. At this rate, the tour would be more exhausting than exhilarating.

 Then, something snapped. Kai realized something very important—money. He had money from Earth, but that was utterly worthless here. He didn't have a single credit to his name in this world. How could he enjoy all the things Hana kept suggesting if he didn't have any money to pay for them? He couldn't possibly ask Hana or Jack to cover him; that would be rude. They must have earned their money through hard work. Stopping in his tracks, Kai hesitated before nervously calling out, "Uh, Hana... wait..."

 Hana turned around, noticing that Kai had stopped walking. "Yes? Is something wrong, Kai?" she asked, tilting her head in confusion. Jack stopped as well, glancing at the two of them. Kai's face was dripping with nervous sweat as he stammered, "Uhm... I actually don't have any money..." His words came out trembling.

 To his surprise, Hana burst into laughter, doubling over as if she'd heard the funniest joke in the world, startled people around them. Kai blinked, confused. Why was she laughing? Did he say something funny?

 "Oh my Lord, Kai! You're hilarious!" she managed between giggles. "I thought it was something serious. You really got me there for a second! Look, if you want to check how much money you have, you just have to—"

 "Just tap your forearm twice," Jack interrupted, his voice calm but firm.

 Hana gasped, spinning around to glare at Jack. "What the—hey! You can't just do that, Big Bro! I was about to show Kai how to do it! Idiot!" She crossed her arms and pouted dramatically, turning her back on him. Kai blinked again, stunned. Big Bro? He looked between Hana and Jack, bewildered. They're siblings?

 Jack noticed the confused look on Kai's face and decided to clarify. "Yes, we're siblings. Hana is my younger sister. I'm 22, and she's 18. So, don't you dare try anything with her, you hear me?" His tone shifted, and the air around him grew tense. The look in Jack's eyes was intense—cold and menacing, as though he was ready to kill Kai on the spot, even though Kai hadn't done anything inappropriate toward Hana.

 "Stop that, Big Bro!" Hana snapped, glaring at him. "I'm an adult now. I can choose whoever I want to hang out with or even date any man I find interesting!" Her defiant tone caught Kai off guard. For someone who came across as a cheerful and carefree young woman, she had a rebellious side that he hadn't seen before.

 "Anyway," Jack muttered, completely ignoring Hana's protest. He turned back to Kai. "Tap your forearm twice. It'll display how much money you have in your account through your vision."

 Kai hesitated before doing as instructed. He tapped his forearm twice, and suddenly, a holographic display materialized in front of him. It looked so vivid, like a 3D projection floating in real life, though Jack and Hana didn't seem to see it. The implant in his brain was clearly working, projecting the information directly into his eyes.

 Kai's eyes widened in disbelief as he focused on the numbers. Three... four... five... five zeroes?! His heart nearly skipped a beat. 10,000?! He blinked, stunned. What shocked him even more was the strange letter 'C' after the number. "What does that mean?" he asked aloud.

 Before Jack could respond, Hana jumped in, cutting him off with her signature enthusiasm. "That, Kai, is our currency! It's called Credits, or 'C' for short. That's what we use for everything—food, clothes, entertainment, and whatever else you can think of! Oh, and 10,000 Credits is no small amount. You're richer than most people starting out here!" She beamed at him, clearly thrilled to be the one explaining things.

 Jack sighed, clearly used to his sister's habit of interrupting, and crossed his arms. "She's not wrong," he muttered, though it was clear he wasn't a fan of being cut off mid-sentence. These siblings love cutting each other off mid-sentence.

 But the most pressing question now was: Where did this money come from? Kai was essentially broke when he arrived on this planet, with nothing but Earth's now-useless currency to his name. Did someone send him this money? Who would do such a thing, and why? And why hadn't he received any kind of notification about it? His mind swirled with questions, each more confusing than the last.

 "Do a swipe-down gesture on your forearm. It'll display your notifications," Jack said, cutting through Kai's thoughts. As if able to sense what was happening inside Kai's head.

 The explanation made sense. It sounded similar to how smartphones on Earth worked, where swiping down revealed the notification panel. Kai followed the instructions, swiping down on his forearm, and sure enough, a message appeared in front of his eyes.

 'Hey, Handsome~ I've sent you some money for your tour. Don't worry, it's not my money. So just enjoy our world. -Your lovely doctor'

 An emoji of red lips blowing a heart-shaped kiss was tagged at the end of the message.

 Even when Natasha wasn't physically present, she somehow still managed to tease him. Kai sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, but a small smile crept onto his face despite himself. She really was something else.

 "Ooh, you're smiling. I know that smile. What's the message about? Was it from a girl? You've just arrived and already managed to charm someone? You're so much better than my idiot big brother here. He's been single since the day he was born," Hana teased with a mischievous grin.

 Jack shot her a glare so intense it could probably cut steel. Hana jolted slightly before quickly backtracking. "—I mean, he just hasn't found the right partner yet. He's been busy with work, you know? Hahaha..." She laughed awkwardly, avoiding her older brother's piercing stare.

 Kai chuckled quietly, finding amusement in the sibling dynamic. They were quite the pair, and their banter lightened the mood.

Meanwhile...

 In General Hackett's office, the man sat rigid in his chair, his eyes fixed on the feminine figure standing before his desk. She held a sleek tablet in her hands, reading off a report in a composed yet confident tone.

 "...It's not impossible," Hackett replied after a moment of thought, his deep voice cutting through the silence of the room.