THE HOLLOW CODE

CHAPTER 2 : NEUROSPHERE'S VISION

The rain pelted the streets of Neo-Tokyo as Kaito Nakamura stood at the entrance to the NeuroSphere Tower, the city's technological heart. The building loomed above him like a massive obelisk, its sleek black surface absorbing the light of the neon jungle below. The NeuroSphere logo—a rotating sphere of electric blue light—flickered on the skyscraper's facade, casting eerie reflections across the endless glass.

Kaito had done his research on the way. NeuroSphere wasn't just another megacorp; it was the megacorp. In the last decade, it had become the leader in AI development, virtual reality systems, and consciousness mapping. Their influence stretched from the glittering corporate towers of Neo-Tokyo to the deepest parts of the Net, where rumors swirled about secret projects and unethical experiments.

Kaito felt a knot of unease tightening in his gut as he approached the glass doors. His instincts screamed to turn back, but something else, a deep-rooted curiosity or perhaps a reckless need for answers, pushed him forward.

Inside NeuroSphere: A World of Precision and Control

The lobby was minimalistic yet impossibly intimidating—polished marble floors, towering columns of glass, and walls that seemed to pulse with streams of data. The building exuded cold efficiency, the kind that only came from decades of perfectionism and ruthless pursuit of control.

A holographic receptionist materialized in front of him, her form flickering into existence with unnerving precision. Her face was perfectly symmetrical, almost too perfect to belong to a real person, with sharp, sterile eyes.

"Welcome, Mr. Nakamura," she said in a neutral, robotic voice, scanning his face instantly. "Ryota Kimura is expecting you."

Kaito tensed. He hadn't even introduced himself yet. Of course, they already knew everything about him.

Without another word, the hologram gestured to an elevator at the far end of the lobby. As Kaito walked past the towering glass walls, he noticed something unsettling—the building was silent. Not the faint hum of servers or the murmur of people working, just pure, unnerving silence.

He stepped into the elevator, which immediately began its ascent, shooting upward at breakneck speed. Transparent walls gave him a dizzying view of the city below as he was whisked higher and higher, past floors filled with rows of digital servers and what looked like research labs filled with bio-engineered specimens and humanoid figures in tanks. Kaito felt a chill creep down his spine. NeuroSphere was into more than just AI.

The Pinnacle: Meeting Ryota Kimura

The elevator doors slid open with a hiss, revealing the top floor—Ryota Kimura's private office.

It was massive, almost inhumanly large, with panoramic windows that provided a breathtaking view of Neo-Tokyo's neon sprawl. At the center of the room stood a figure—Ryota Kimura, the man himself. He stood with his back to Kaito, his hands clasped behind him, staring out over his empire.

Ryota Kimura was nothing like the typical corporate executives Kaito had seen before. His presence was calm but suffocating, like the stillness before a storm. His silver hair, slicked back and pristine, reflected the dim blue lights of the room. His tailored suit fit him with military precision, but it was his stillness that unnerved Kaito the most. The man barely seemed to breathe.

"You're late," Kimura said, his voice soft but with a hint of iron beneath it. He turned slowly, his sharp eyes locking onto Kaito's. Kimura's gaze was piercing, cold, and assessing—as if he could see straight through him.

Kaito didn't flinch. He'd faced worse in his time on the streets, but something about Kimura was different. This wasn't just some CEO—this was someone who knew control, who lived control.