A Path To Omniscience

For Asher, time seemed to fly by, though that didn't mean he wasn't keeping himself busy.

The day after his little visit to the Schnee Manor, he successfully hacked into Frostvale Enterprises' system. From there, he gained access to the company's entire shipment and tracking data—routes, shipping statuses, and everything in between. He now had all the information related to their inventory, supply chains, client lists, financial records, and operational analytics—basically, anything that wasn't meant for the public eye.

It took him about half a week to sift through it all, but by the end, he had a thorough understanding of Frostvale Enterprises and how his parents were running things. With this level of access, he could easily destroy the entire company by leaking the data to the right people—though obviously he had no plans on doing that. 

Besides, stirring the pot too much or trying to mess around with the company's infrastructure could alert the people in charge of handling the company's security of his infiltration. He didn't want that. Instead, he'd use the resources to help lay the groundwork for his own company. It would be simple enough with all of Frostvale's market information and predictions at his fingertips.

When the time came for him to take over Frostvale Enterprises, he'd already know how everything operated, bypassing the learning curve. More than that, he'd have a fully developed roadmap in place, ensuring the company's future success.

Still, one thing he hadn't expected was when he realized that the Nexus Space had begun assimilating the data he'd accessed from the company. In hindsight, it should have been obvious, but Asher hadn't considered the Nexus Space would absorb business-related information too.

It hadn't hit fifty percent yet, so the Nexus Space didn't start simulating the company's growth up to the present. But Asher decided he'd get around to that eventually. The thirty percent it had already assimilated included the most critical data—relevant for the present. The rest? Old documents, outdated contracts, employee records, and other trivial details. They weren't crucial, so he planned to go through those in his spare time.

Still, the thought of running a company while knowing its future potential was something that interested him. It felt like a guaranteed formula for success. It also made him wonder what would happen if he deviated from the future the Nexus Space predicted. Yet another thing he was interested in experimenting with when he got the chance. 

Aside from that and his other plans, Asher hadn't neglected getting closer to the Schnee siblings. Just like he said he would, he visited them again a week later, after finishing all the books they'd recommended to him. They seemed genuinely surprised by this—those books weren't exactly short, after all.

But then again, they reminded themselves this was Asher. Maybe it wasn't all that shocking.

Their meet-ups continued after that, gradually becoming more frequent. Eventually, Asher was visiting them twice a week, and sometimes they would come to him instead.

Asher's parents didn't mind—after all, they saw it as him making friends. Jacques, on the other hand, simply saw it as his children following orders, getting closer to the son of his business partners.

During these visits, a few patterns emerged. First, Weiss almost always challenged him to a duel. Most of the time, Asher accepted—and most of the time, he lost. Still, it was clear that the gap between them was closing fast, though this didn't seem to bother Weiss. If anything, it only looked to push herself to improve even more.

Whitley, on the other hand, might have had the most significant change.

He slowly began drifting away from the usual corporate heir topics he usually spoke about to his 'friends' and actually started taking an interest in the drones Asher was developing—and in engineering overall. What began as casual questions evolved into more focused conversations about Asher's projects.

But the most significant development came when Asher's independent bank account was finally set up. Because just a few days later, the money from his contract came in.

July 31st, 2033

"Overall, since the contract with the Schnee Dust Company went through, we've been steadily integrating into their logistics and taking over their shipping routes. So far, we've noticed some strain along the Vale and Vacuo lines, but our warehouses in Atlas and those regions are managing to keep pace with the increased cargo flow." The speaker, a man in a dark blue suit with slicked-back black hair, was holding a report, summarizing its contents as he scanned the details.

He, along with four others, sat around an elongated octagonal conference table with a hollow center. Despite the small group of five, there were fourteen chairs in total—five on each side and three at the corners on one end, with a singular chair at the opposite end.

At that end sat Asher's father, Vance, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the hardwood surface as the man in the blue suit finished his report.

Behind Vance, a large window framed two views. One captured the dark night sky, dotted with the armada of large-scale airships patrolling Atlas' airspace. The other view overlooked Atlas itself, the city lights giving it an almost nebula-like appearance. 

The cool blue tint of the atmosphere outside clashed against the warm white and orange glow of the conference room.

"You mentioned we've been under strain. How are we performing with on-time deliveries?" asked another man, this one wearing a similar suit, though with glasses. He sat across from the speaker. This was Frostvale Enterprises' Chief Operations Officer (COO), directing his question to the Chief Supply Chain Officer (CSCO), who had just been speaking.

The CSCO flipped through his report, pulling up the numbers before responding.

"We're still maintaining a ninety-eight percent on-time delivery rate for Atlas, and ninety-six percent for Mistral shipments. However, we've dipped to around ninety-two percent for deliveries to Vale and Vacuo. That said, we've already begun reallocating resources to redistribute the load and address bottlenecks, so those numbers should improve over the next few months."

The COO nodded in acknowledgment, satisfied with the response. The CSCO, now looking to Vance for approval, added, "Based on our analytics, the Schnee Dust Company should see a six to eight percent improvement in their logistics efficiency after fully transitioning to our system. That's predicted to increase even further after the full turnover."

"Good." It was a single word from Vance, but it carried weight. The CSCO visibly relaxed, placing the report on the table and leaning back in his chair, clearly relieved.

"Moving on, I want an update on how the new security measures are performing. Are they as effective as the metrics predicted?" Vance asked, his tone firm as he directed his question toward the COO. The COO's eyes brightened at the mention, and he immediately sat up, picking up the report he had laid out in front of him.

"Actually, sir, they've far exceeded the metrics our team projected. The data shows that on every ship where the new protocol has been implemented, not only have security-related incidents dropped significantly, but other performance metrics have jumped—some by more than ten percent." That revelation drew surprised glances from around the table, and Vance's expression shifted as his eyes narrowed.

"Explain," Vance said. The COO nodded and continued.

"As I mentioned, security-related incidents have plummeted. Since we rolled out the new measures, the number of stowaways has decreased by ninety-seven percent, and successful smuggling interceptions have gone up by eighteen percent. From what I've read, this is largely due to the drones' ability to scan and track unauthorized personnel approaching our ships while docked in the harbor."

He paused briefly before adding, "Beyond that, the drones have had an unexpected operational impact, reducing the time needed for cargo inspection and minimizing the reliance on ground teams to verify shipping documents, manifests, and stowage plans." That statement caused Vance to raise an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Hmm, I don't recall reading anything about the drones being equipped for that kind of operational support." At this point, another executive raised his hand slightly. Unlike the others, he wasn't dressed in a formal suit. Instead, he wore a neatly tucked white button-up shirt, yet he still exuded the same air of professionalism as his colleagues.

"I can answer that," he said, his tone eager. He was the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and had overseen the integration of the drone software into their system. Initially, he had been skeptical, especially since Asher's parents hadn't disclosed the origin of the drone technology.

But now, his stance had seemed to have done a complete one-eighty, evident by the enthusiasm in his voice.

Vance gestured for him to continue, and the CTO wasted no time.

"While it's true that operational support wasn't part of the drones' original parameters, the AI installed in the drones that operate on the S.I.R.E.N. System is simply exceptional. Even if certain functions aren't explicitly programmed, the AI can perform them if given enough data. By integrating the AI with our Inventory Management System (IMS), it can verify cargo contents, track missing items, and even identify misplaced goods by cross-referencing visual data with stowage plans."

In simpler terms, the drones could fly around, scan the cargo using their advanced visual systems, and automatically check whether everything was in its proper place. If something was misplaced or missing, the AI would flag it and send the information back to its central hub and user—or even directly into the company's database.

And because the AI was handling these tasks, it completed them much faster than any human team could. This essentially eliminated several layers of slow manual work.

That Asher... he really outdid himself with these, huh?

Vance knew he'd be lying if he said he wasn't both happy and proud. His son wasn't just indulging in a hobby he enjoyed—he was a genius inventor, and those same inventions were actively benefiting the company. For a family like theirs, there was hardly anything more rewarding.

But alongside that pride came concern. Both he and his wife worried that Asher's brilliance, the very thing they praised him for, might one day put him in danger. That thought lingered at the back of Vance's mind, making him sigh internally as he pushed the meeting forward.

"Alright, but what about the Maritime Security Data? How are the drones performing outside the harbor, and overseas once they're disconnected from the CCTS?" The question prompted the COO to flip through a few more pages of his report before responding.

"So far, they've been performing well. As per the new security protocols, the drones are deployed in a triple-layer formation. Twenty drones are assigned to five of our major cargo ships. The first five drones form an inner layer, operating one to five kilometers from the ship, directly monitored and controlled by the ship's security officer. The next five form an outer layer, operating on autopilot at a range of one hundred kilometers. Lastly, there's the long-distance net, with ten drones operating at two hundred to two hundred fifty kilometers."

While the third layer of drones operated beyond direct communication range with the ship's hub, the drones' mesh network allowed them to stay connected with each other, creating an expansive surveillance field. The drones stationed two hundred-plus kilometers away were responsible for monitoring major threats.

The primary concerns were aquatic Grimm, pirates, and high-risk zones that intersected with the ship's route. These drones also collected weather data from afar, giving the ship time to either avoid incoming storms or prepare for them if evasion wasn't possible.

The second layer focused more on sea conditions and environmental hazards—anything that might have slipped past the first layer due to the larger range of their monitoring.

Finally, the closest layer, operating directly around the cargo ships, handled real-time condition monitoring. These drones inspected the ship's structural integrity, checked equipment, and oversaw the cargo. In essence, they were assisting the crew, ensuring everything on board was in optimal condition if they missed anything. 

"Major incidents are rare, so we don't have enough data yet to measure the drones' impact in those situations. However, as with everything else, the drones' presence has been nothing short of a net positive," the COO explained, glancing at Vance.

"In one instance, the onboard AI, GAIA, even used its terrain mapping abilities to optimize one of our trade routes. The suggestion was forwarded to our Route Optimization Department. They're busy right now, so it'll take some time, but early analysis suggests the route could be viable and applicable by next summer." With that, the COO took his seat and placed the report down, signaling he was finished.

"I see. So, would you all say the implementation of the SU-P Drones and the S.I.R.E.N. System has been a complete success?" Vance asked, looking around the room. The executives exchanged glances before nodding in agreement.

"Hmm, alright then. We'll monitor the progress for another month, and if no issues arise, we'll begin efforts to integrate them into the security protocols for all future shipment plans." The group seemed to reach a consensus, nodding in approval before moving on to the next topic on the agenda.

August 2nd, 2033

Asher's gaze drifted over the dim orange glow radiating from the windows of the passing buildings. The vehicle jolted occasionally, hitting cracks and potholes in the uneven road. Outside, the people walked along the sidewalks, bundled in thick, heavy clothing—muted colors that seemed to blend into the grim and decaying city around them.

Whether it was their attire or the exhaustion etched into their expressions, it was a sharp contrast to the people he usually saw in Atlas.

"Is it your first time down here?" Liv's voice broke the silence, her tone soft as she sat beside Asher in the car. 

"Sort of," Asher replied, his eyes still fixed on the window.

"Frostvale Enterprises has a few warehouses and distribution centers down here, but personally, this is the first time I've really seen Mantle like this," he added after a pause. Liv glanced out her own window upon hearing that. While Asher's gaze held a feeling of detachment like that of a spectator, there was a quiet melancholy in hers

"I don't like coming down to Mantle very much," she admitted. Her words finally made Asher shift his attention to her.

"Really? That's surprising," Asher commented. 

"I know," Liv sighed.

"Most of the Faunus cases I handle come from Mantle. But... it's hard. Up in Atlas, it feels like you're living in a castle in the sky. You want to believe that's all there is. Then, you come down here. You leave behind the rooftop gardens, the polished tiles, the marble walls, and the glass towers. And suddenly, the illusion shatters. You see all the suffering hidden beneath, all the things Atlas ignores just to stay floating. It..." She hesitated, as though searching for the right words.

"It shows you how wide the gap is between reality and your goals, doesn't it?" Asher said quietly.

"Reminds you that some things might just be out of reach." Liv seemed startled by his words, meeting his eyes for a moment before slowly nodding.

"Yeah. It makes it almost ironic that the warehouse that met your requirements is available down here," she added with a soft chuckle, though Asher shook his head slightly.

"Mantle isn't a gleaming jewel-like Atlas," he said, his gaze drifting back to the window.

"But that's only because no one has taken the time to polish it." Liv shot him a curious look, unsure of what he meant, while Asher's thoughts wandered. His eyes took in the dilapidated streets, but his mind saw something far beyond.

Mantle will be one of the first major cities to fall in the future. But I won't let that happen this time. Not when a place this broken holds so much potential for growth.