Global Conspiracy

Eight PM found Alex in David Kim's private office, a soundproofed room behind the warehouse's main floor that felt more like a military command center than a freelancer coordinator's workspace. Multiple monitors displayed global awakener incident reports, encrypted communication channels hummed with international chatter, and a wall-mounted map showed red pins marking locations that made Alex's blood run cold.

"Before we discuss your accelerated training program," Kim said, sealing the office door with locks that looked decidedly non-standard, "there are things you need to understand about what's really happening in the awakener world."

Kim activated privacy shields that filled the room with white noise, ensuring their conversation couldn't be monitored by outside agencies. The precautions seemed extreme until Alex noticed the sophisticated scanning equipment tucked discretely around the office.

"Those red pins," Kim continued, pointing to the global map. "Each represents an awakener who demonstrated capabilities far beyond their registered classification. Twelve total, spread across six continents."

Alex studied the locations with growing unease. New York, London, Tokyo, São Paulo, Sydney, Mumbai, Berlin, Lagos, Stockholm, Toronto, Cairo, Seoul. Major population centers, but the distribution seemed almost... deliberate.

"What happened to them?" Alex asked, though he dreaded the answer.

"Three are dead under suspicious circumstances," Kim replied grimly. "Four have vanished completely—no trace, no communication, families claim they never existed. Two joined major guilds and became 'reclusive,' refusing all outside contact. Two others..." Kim paused significantly. "Two others are in rooms very similar to this one, having conversations very similar to this one."

The implications hit Alex like a physical blow. "I'm not the only one."

"You're not even close to the only one." Kim activated another monitor showing detailed profiles. "Meet Sarah Kim—no relation—biologist from Seoul. Demonstrated impossible growth rates in ice manipulation techniques. Recruited by Seoul National Guild three months ago, hasn't been seen publicly since."

The photo showed a woman in her thirties with the focused intensity Alex recognized in his own mirror. Her technique analysis showed development patterns eerily similar to his own accelerated mastery.

"Marcus Silva, São Paulo. Fire specialist who developed fusion techniques overnight. Found dead in his apartment two weeks after guild recruitment offers began arriving. Official cause: technique overload leading to energy burnout. Unofficial cause: techniques don't burn from the inside out."

Kim's expression darkened as he continued through the profiles. "Yuki Tanaka, Tokyo. Lightning specialist who could copy any electrical technique after seeing it once. Joined Rising Sun Guild, family says she's 'focusing on advanced training' and can't be contacted."

"Pattern recognition yet?" Kim asked.

Alex's analytical mind was already assembling the pieces. "They all showed rapid development. Unusual technique mastery. Analysis-type characteristics. And they all faced pressure from guilds, governments, or both."

"Bingo. Now for the really disturbing part." Kim activated encrypted communication software and initiated a video call. After several security handshakes, two faces appeared on screen—a young Black man with intense eyes and a blonde woman who looked like she hadn't slept in days.

"Alex Chen, meet James Morrison from London and Elena Nordström from Stockholm. Two of the three remaining free-range anomalous awakeners."

"Free-range?" Alex asked.

"Not dead, disappeared, or guild-captured," James explained in crisp British accent. His background showed what looked like a secure bunker. "Though 'free' is relative when you're living in hiding to avoid becoming another missing person statistic."

Elena leaned closer to her camera. "James and I have been comparing notes for six weeks. The patterns are undeniable—we're all part of something larger, something planned."

"Planned how?" Alex asked, though Combat Data Archive was already flickering warnings across his peripheral vision.

"Consider the timing," Elena replied. "Twelve awakeners, all developing impossible abilities within a three-month window. All in major cities with significant awakener populations. All demonstrating similar analytical capabilities despite different technique specializations."

James nodded agreement. "The probability of natural occurrence is effectively zero. Someone or something is creating us deliberately."

Kim activated another screen showing Alex's own development timeline. "Your awakening coincided with Hudson River Gateway incident. Phosphorescent water contact, rapid system activation, immediate technique copying abilities. Ring any bells about artificial enhancement?"

Alex's throat constricted as he remembered the warm energy flowing through his bloodstream, the way Combat Data Archive had initialized with suspicious efficiency, the system's almost eager response to combat situations.

"You think we're experiments," Alex said.

"We know we're experiments," Elena corrected. "The question is: experiments for what purpose?"

Combat Data Archive suddenly activated without Alex's conscious command, displaying interface elements he'd never seen before:

External Connection Detected Network Protocol: Establishing Data Synchronization: 47% Complete Observer Network: Online

"What the hell?" Alex gasped as his vision filled with information streams from other sources—technique databases, energy patterns, combat recordings that definitely weren't his own.

"Ah," James said with grim satisfaction. "Your system just connected to the Observer Network. Welcome to the real conversation, Alex."

Elena's image shifted, showing technical readouts that matched Alex's system interface. "We've all got variations of the same underlying architecture. James calls his 'Combat Analysis Suite,' mine's 'Technique Integration Matrix,' but they're clearly related technologies."

"Technologies?" Alex asked, struggling to process information flowing from three different system sources. "You mean our abilities are artificial?"

"Artificial, but not necessarily hostile," Kim interjected. "We've been analyzing energy signatures, development patterns, system behaviors. Whatever created these abilities put enormous resources into making them functional and sustainable."

James leaned forward. "The real question is: who has the technology to create analysis-type awakeners with perfect technique copying capabilities? Because that's beyond current human understanding of awakener physiology."

"Aliens?" Alex suggested weakly.

"More likely extradimensional entities," Elena replied seriously. "The same source that created the dungeon system in the first place. Think about it—dungeons appear five years ago, completely changing human civilization. Now special awakeners appear with unprecedented analytical abilities. The timing isn't coincidental."

Combat Data Archive pulsed with what felt like confirmation, displaying deeper system information than Alex had ever accessed:

Project Observer: Phase 1 Complete Data Collection: 67.3% of Target Parameters Subject Survival Rate: 41.7% (Within Acceptable Ranges) Phase 2 Initialization: Pending Authorization

"Phase 2?" Alex read aloud, and the others went silent.

"That's new," James said grimly. "Our systems have never mentioned phases before."

Elena's face had gone pale. "Data collection... survival rate... acceptable ranges. We're not just experiments. We're disposable test subjects."

Kim leaned back in his chair with the expression of someone whose worst suspicions had been confirmed. "This changes everything. If your abilities are part of a larger plan, then the guild recruitment, federal investigations, and missing awakeners aren't random pressure. They're part of the experiment."

"What kind of experiment requires some subjects to be captured, others to be killed, and a few to remain free?" Alex asked.

"The kind that tests different outcomes," Elena replied. "Guild integration versus government control versus independent development. They're studying which approach produces the most useful results."

James nodded. "Which means we three represent the 'independent development' control group. We're being allowed to remain free to see how we evolve without external control."

"But for how long?" Alex asked.

The question hung in the secure office like smoke from an electrical fire. Kim's monitoring equipment showed global awakener activity continuing its upward trend, but now every data point felt sinister rather than exciting.

"That depends," Kim said finally, "on how quickly you can become valuable enough to survive Phase 2."

"Valuable to whom?"

"To whoever's running this experiment," Elena replied. "If we're test subjects, our best chance is to become indispensable test subjects. Subjects whose elimination would damage the research more than our continued existence."

Combat Data Archive displayed new interface options Alex had never seen:

Advanced Training Protocols: Available Accelerated Development: Authorized Survival Parameters: Updating Warning: Phase 2 Timeline Shortened

"The system's responding to this conversation," Alex reported. "It's offering advanced training protocols and warning about shortened timelines."

"Same here," James confirmed. "Whatever Phase 2 involves, it's happening sooner than originally planned."

Kim stood and began pulling equipment from secured cabinets—devices that looked far more sophisticated than anything a freelancer network should possess.

"Then we accelerate everything," Kim decided. "Alex, forget the gradual development plan. You're going into intensive enhancement protocols starting tomorrow."

"What kind of enhancement?"

"The kind designed for someone who needs to reach B-rank effective capability within two weeks," Kim replied. "Because if Elena and James are right about Phase 2, that might be the minimum survival threshold."

Elena's image flickered as her connection destabilized. "Alex, be careful who you trust. We've identified at least three major organizations that seem to know more about Observer subjects than they should. Government agencies, guild coalitions, private research groups—they're all positioned to benefit from studying awakeners like us."

"How do I know you're not part of it?" Alex asked.

James smiled grimly. "Because we're all hiding in bunkers instead of living in luxury research facilities. Trust me, if we were willing participants, the accommodations would be considerably better."

The connection terminated as encryption protocols activated emergency disconnection procedures. Alex was left staring at blank screens while Combat Data Archive continued displaying ominous system updates.

"Kim," Alex said slowly, "what exactly are these intensive enhancement protocols?"

The older man activated equipment that definitely hadn't come from any commercial awakener supplier. "The kind that might kill you, but will definitely make you strong enough to matter in whatever's coming next."

"And if I refuse?"

Kim gestured toward the global map with its red pins marking disappeared awakeners. "Then you become another pin, and your family spends the rest of their lives wondering what happened to their son."

Alex thought about his parents' ultimatum, about Amy's protective determination, about federal agents with containment protocols, about guild recruiters with suspicious smiles, about whatever entities had created the Observer Network for purposes that included "acceptable" loss rates.

"What's the survival rate for intensive enhancement?" Alex asked.

"Historically? About sixty percent make it through without permanent damage."

"And the other forty percent?"

"Learn very painfully that some prices are too high to pay for power."

Alex stared at the equipment that would either transform him into someone capable of protecting everything he cared about, or destroy him in the attempt. Combat Data Archive pulsed with readiness, offering power beyond his current imagination if he was willing to risk everything to claim it.

"When do we start?" Alex decided.

Kim smiled with the mixture of pride and worry that defined mentors watching students attempt dangerous growth.

"Tomorrow at dawn. Get some sleep, Alex. It might be the last peaceful night you have for a very long time."

As Alex left the secured office, Combat Data Archive displayed one final message that made his blood freeze:

Phase 2 Initiated Timeline: 96 Hours Remaining Survival Probability: Calculating... Observer Network: Prepare for Evolution

Whatever was coming, Alex had four days to become strong enough to survive it. The question was whether intensive enhancement would save him, or simply provide a more spectacular way to die.