Chương 18: Chapter 17 - The Wall (III)

July 31, 2024 - Headquarters of the United Nations, New York, US The break began with a soft murmur of conversation as attendees moved towards the refreshments table. Elena mingled briefly with various colleagues before finding herself in a quiet corner with Dr. Lee. They discussed the finer points of the latest data until an officer approached them. He was a mid-level officer, not a key decision-maker but with enough credentials to be invited to this United Nations meeting.

"Excuse me, Secretary-General," he began. Elena turned to face him, smiling warmly.

"Yes, how can I help you?"

"I'm Officer George Carver," he introduced himself, shaking her hand firmly.

"I've been following the discussions closely, and I have some concerns about The Tower and its implications." Elena nodded, indicating he should continue. George, experienced and composed, met her gaze steadily.

"I find it strange that no confidentiality agreement has been signed for this meeting. Given the gravity of what we're discussing, shouldn't there be some level of secrecy?"

"That's a valid concern, Officer Carver. However, all the information we've discussed can be easily found on the internet," she said, giving him a warm smile.

"Yes, yes of course, but… isn't it still risky? Shouldn't we be more cautious?" Elena sighed, understanding his concern.

"The scale of this phenomenon is too large. We're talking about something that's impacting close to one million people worldwide. Trying to keep it under wraps would be futile and counterproductive." George frowned.

"But wouldn't that cause panic?" Elena shook her head.

"The people must know, if they don't already. The lack of information is causing more chaos. Look at the protests and the unrest in the streets. People are scared and confused. Measures have to be taken, and there must be transparency. I understand that being transparent is a foreign concept for many of us in positions of power, but it's necessary now more than ever." George nodded thoughtfully.

"I see your point. But how do we ensure that the information is used responsibly?" Elena smiled.

"That's where we come in. By being open and transparent, we can shape the narrative and provide accurate information. We can counter the fear-mongering and misinformation." George stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"I suppose that makes sense. It's just… difficult to adjust to this new approach." Elena nodded.

"It is. But we must adapt. The world is changing rapidly, and we need to change with it." George sighed, nodding in agreement.

"You're right." Elena placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"We're all in this together, George. We'll find a way through it." As they continued their conversation, the murmur of voices around them grew louder. The break was providing a much-needed opportunity for everyone to process the information and share their thoughts. Elena glanced around the room, observing the various groups of people deep in discussion. She knew that the path ahead would be challenging, but she felt a renewed sense of determination.

The transparency they were striving for was already starting to take root, fostering an environment where people could speak openly and collaborate effectively. This was the first step. Returning her attention to George, she said, "Remember, Officer Carver, our strength lies in our unity. We need to work together, support each other, and remain committed to the truth. For the first time in history, we may have to put aside our grudges and work not as separate nations, but as one humanity."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. George smiled, feeling reassured.

"Thank you, Secretary-General. I appreciate your perspective and fully support it." Elena nodded.

"Thank you. And please, feel free to share your thoughts and concerns anytime. Your input is valuable." As the coffee break continued, Elena moved through the room, engaging with other attendees. The sense of camaraderie and shared purpose grew stronger, and she knew that despite the daunting challenges, they were on the right path. Just as she was about to engage with Dr. Jensen, she noticed Marshall Viktor standing alone next to the coffee table. He raised his cup and smiled at her. She smiled back.

He closely examined each button, comparing every tiny aspect of them: the smell, the touch, the visual details. Everything was the same. After not finding anything, his mind drifted back to the violence and fights, and perhaps the purpose of the sword. Maybe he should use some of his blood on the walls; maybe some hidden message would appear.

"No!" He quickly and ruthlessly cut down that line of thought. It would be like the first room all over again. No. That was not it. This was not the first trial. This was the fourth. But if not blood… he then walked back and picked up the sword. He stared at the left part of the wall first. Mustering perhaps 60% of his full strength, he struck down at the wall.

"Bam!" The impact echoed through the narrow room with a resounding clang, like metal striking an unyielding surface. The vibration traveled up the sword and into his arm, making his hand throb with pain from the recoil. Despite the force, the wall remained unscratched. His hand hurt even though he had not used his full strength, intending to avoid just that. Unfettered, he repeated the process on the other side... the same. Then in the middle: the same. No matter where he struck, there was no reaction whatsoever.

His hand was feeling numb from the recoils. He decided to take a step back. This was not it.

"Think, Alonso, think," he muttered, reclining his head against the wall and putting his sword down. He suddenly started laughing.

"Crazy guy in underpants swinging his sword in an empty white room—that would be a catchy headline." He shook his head and let his mind wander.

'What would Pablo be up to? Which floor had he reached? Was he perhaps stuck here just like me?' he mused.

'It would be nice to see that smiling chubby face again. And then... what about my current PhD? Damn, only six months left, and I could have gotten my nice Dr before the name. Dr. Shemson, has a nice ring to it,' he chuckled.

'But how would the people at the uni note my absence? Was this considered annual leave, sick leave, or abducted-into-psychopathic-alien-testing-white-rooms leave?' He looked at the buttons on the wall.

'Left or right? I hope this is not a political decision,' he chuckled to himself. His stomach growled.

"I know, I know," he muttered, rubbing it with his hand.

'I guess the break is over,' he thought, his expression turning more serious.

'Should I just press one? Let luck decide?' He was tempted to...

'Is perhaps the answer not in this room? Maybe those before... now that I think of it, is there any relation between each of the tests?'

'The first test was to persevere through isolation for a certain amount of time. That is more like a test of will and mental fortitude, of your desire to live, I suppose.'

'The second was to make you fight, I mean, press the button and fight, and kill. In that trial, you had to overcome your fear and fight back. You had to be decisive. But, in a sense, it was also a test of the mind more than the body.'

'The third trial put you through that dream state, and its purpose was clear: to overcome addiction to power, to control yourself and gain your clarity back. It was also a test to temper the mind.'

'The fourth and last trial I passed: the room with the circles and the battles. Here, I felt it was more about tempering your body. It was where the effect from the orbs was more pronounced. The room tested my will to fight and my adaptability to the power gained through the orbs. But... if I go deeper, I may say that there was more to it.

By deciding to take the orbs again after passing the trial on the third floor, it tested my resolve to strive for this power again, despite the dangers, and yet control it at the same time.'

'But there is more... the final touch of the last challenge: the purple ring. The decision that was made between going up the stairs and avoiding the fight or fighting first to acquire more power before climbing. I somehow feel I made the correct choice then... I acknowledged the need for this power and put my life on the line to get it. It was then, also a test of resolve.'

'But then, all these tests... it's not about the body….'

'It's about the mind.'