Getting a Technology System in Modern Day

“Should we accept your requests, what are the conditions?” the Elara representative asked, breaking the heavy silence that had settled over the room. The air was thick with contemplation as each delegate weighed the enormous implications of the offer before them.

They all knew this wasn’t the meeting where a decision would be made. The stakes were far too high. Instead, they were here to gather the full list of demands, terms, and potential benefits, enough to return to their respective governments and present a comprehensive proposal for final judgment.

Masimbi gave a slight nod, then replied steadily, “There are only a few conditions, but each exists for good reason. They’re not just to protect our interests, but to ensure that the system cannot be corrupted or weaponized to the detriment of the entire network.”

He raised one finger.

“First, we require that the VR network be protected from hostile interference. This protection must be formally enshrined within Conclave law. Any individual or group that knowingly damages a VR tower would be labeled a pirate and dealt with accordingly.”

A few heads tilted at that harsh, but understandable.

“In return,” Masimbi continued, “every civilization that votes on this resolution, regardless of whether it passes, will receive compensation. If the resolution passes, those who voted in favor will receive a 20% discount on all mana stones purchased with END. If it fails, those same nations will have their mana stone quotas tripled for the next five years.”

He let that hang in the air for a breath before moving on.

“Second, we need VR network coverage across all Conclave territories within five years, allowing universal access. In return, the Empire commits to supplying 200% of the mana stones required to meet the wormholes’ demands for this endeavor, with half serving as compensation for your efforts.”

When they heard his third condition, they all took a deep breath, stunned by the empire flexing its wealth.

Before anyone could interrupt, he raised another finger.

“Third, any agreement signed and notarized within VR will be legally binding in both Terran and Conclave territories. And for each enforcement carried out by a local government, a payout will be issued as compensation.”

He then addressed pricing.

“While you’re free to set any price for your VR devices, we ask that each civilization offer a basic model priced at production cost. We will subsidize those units ourselves to ensure widespread adoption.”

Then he spread his hands slightly, concluding.

“These are our core conditions. We are open to counteroffers or additions, but the final agreements, whether negotiated individually or collectively, will not stray far from these foundations.

Once we reach an agreement, we will immediately begin implementation.”

When he finished, the room fell into silence again.

It wasn’t lost on anyone that the Empire was using both carrot and stick with surgical precision and doing so with complete transparency. But the carrot was too tempting to dismiss outright. In a Conclave where mana stones meant influence, power, and progress… what Masimbi offered could redefine the future of their civilizations.

After a brief discussion, the topic was temporarily set aside, shifting the focus to the exchange of mana stones. These needed to be swiftly transported back to their respective nations, as the mana stones could be dispatched ahead of time, while the representatives stayed to finalize and agree upon the VR-related deliberations.

……………

“Yes, that’s what they want from us, Mother.”

“I told you not to call me that during official communications. Do you want your brothers to use it against you?”

“But Mom, who else is even watching these calls besides us? I’m pretty sure they talk the same way with their mothers too, so what difference does it make?”

“The difference is that their mothers have the backing of powerful factions in the government. They can get away with things I can’t, and you know that.”

“I know… but…” he paused, then sighed in resignation. “Fine. Your Majesty, do you think you could convince His Majesty to support expanding the VR system into our territories?”

“I can try. But you know your father. He’s not one to be persuaded just because I say something should be done.”

“Yes, but with this technology in our hands, our faction could grow significantly, without the prying eyes of my siblings. It’s a rare opportunity.”

“And how exactly do you expect me to convince him to let another civilization deploy what’s essentially a potential spying device in our empire, without him questioning where my loyalties lie?”

“We focus on the benefits. Make him see what he gains, not what he risks.”

“Such as?”

“For one, this network would allow him to deliver orders directly to citizens across the empire, no longer relying on planetary representatives who might twist his words for their own gain. It could also serve as a tool to monitor those same representatives. Citizens could report directly to him, giving him insight into who’s loyal and who’s not.”

He leaned forward, voice gaining energy. “We can propose a condition in the negotiations: a dedicated planet within the VR network, protected by our own encryption protocols, inaccessible to the Empire. That private space could serve as a virtual Senate, where he can conduct system-wide government meetings, or even one-on-one conferences with officials on distant worlds, face to face.”

“You could think of more uses, of course, but even just these could be enough to sway him. And more importantly, we’d be the ones who brought him the idea, not my brothers or sisters. That alone would increase our standing. We’d give him tighter control with minimal risk… and secure ourselves more influence and mana stones in the process.”

“…Fine. I’ll try. But temper your expectations.”

“Thank you, Mo—your Highness,” he corrected, catching himself.

The call ended with a soft chime.

“Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…”

The Trinairan prince exhaled deeply, reclining into his chair. The fatigue from the conversation was plain on his face.

“What do you think? Will my mother be able to convince him?” he asked, his gaze fixed on the distant stars outside the window, not bothering to turn toward the one he was addressing.

“She’ll do everything in her power to try,” his guard replied, his voice measured. He didn’t elaborate further, there was no need. Both of them understood the unspoken truth.

His mother was driven by ambition, fierce, relentless ambition. Once an orphan who clawed her way up from nothing, she’d captured the king’s attention during a visit to her homeworld. Since then, power had become an addiction she had no intention of relinquishing. She didn’t have royal blood herself, so the only path to the throne was through her son.

To the court, she was a queen. To her son, she was a mother only in title.

He knew it. Knew that her efforts to push him forward weren’t for his sake, but hers. If he rose, she could rule from the shadows. And yet… despite that knowledge, he still found himself chasing her approval, believing, or perhaps hoping, that if he gave her what she wanted, she might finally give him what he had always longed for: affection.

But in a palace where every half-sibling saw him as a political threat, where every step forward meant stepping into someone else’s crosshairs, affection was something he could receive from only a few individuals: his mother and his father. But with his father being a control freak himself, the only one left was his mother, which in turn gave her significant sway over him.

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