December 31, 2038 | 8:00 PM | Inside the GREM Virtual World
At a private beach, the designated meeting point for the elite investors...
“That was a close one, wasn't it? But now, the symbol of their defiance has crumbled.” Eleanor mused, her eyes fixed with deep satisfaction on the giant holographic display floating in the sky. She reclined, sipping a vintage wine in total relaxation.
With a slight flick of her hand, she projected a live feed from Mook’s bedroom onto her palm. Mook was currently preoccupied with his two women, appearing completely indifferent to anything other than his pleasure and his work. “But tell me, where did that young man get the confidence that he would be the one to win in the end?”
“Human nature, Eleanor,” Saito explained, gazing up at the sky where holographic monitors displayed reactions from losers across the globe. “Mook intentionally opened the gates for women to earn a living in GREM without any restrictions from the start of his plan. He deliberately lowered the pressure to breed complacency. Human beings are inherently selfish—as long as a disaster hasn't touched them personally, they rarely care about the plight of others.”
“That shouldn't have been enough,” Eric tried to analyze logically. Nisa’s ‘Woman Power’ was formidable; she had mobilized women worldwide in record time. Mook’s simple trap shouldn't have been enough to topple her so easily.
“Of course, that wasn't all,” Saito replied calmly. “He built 'rogue' servers packed with pirated dramas featuring stunning lead actors. The moment anyone logged in to watch, the system flagged their exact location to him. Mook then simply handed those coordinates over to the 'Witch Hunters.' He even invested in massive free Wi-Fi zones everywhere. Even if someone was unemployed and couldn't afford internet, they could still watch their dramas through his free service—unknowingly pinning their own location for the hunters.”
“What about that final spike in numbers? It looked like the men were starting to feel sympathy and stopped sending clips. Why did the count suddenly jump again?” William asked, his curiosity piqued.
“Being betrayed... it hurts,” Saito revealed the final masterstroke. “Mook created a simple dating app and advertised it with the promise of absolute secrecy. He launched the campaign on December 10th—right when he saw he was losing, and right when the women were becoming complacent, thinking they had already won. In this era, many unemployed women seek out men regardless of looks, as long as they have the money to support them. They live in a suffocating culture where old values haven't faded. When offered a 'safe' space to vent their desires, it wasn't hard to lure them. Even if a hundred are smart enough to avoid the trap, there will always be that one person who slips up—just like a victim falling for a scammer.”
As Saito finished, everyone was stunned by Mook’s calculation. William felt a twinge of guilt for helping Mook come this far. ‘If Mook had grown up in a better environment, how far could he have advanced the world?’ William wondered, glancing at Saito. The situation had forged Mook into a terrifying demon, but William suspected Mook wasn't nearly as frightening as the man standing beside him—the one who barely had to move a muscle but got exactly what he wanted.
Saito hadn't killed Rina, but he was the architect of the opportunity. He ensured Mook would make public appearances with Rina and elite bodyguards, making sure Mook stayed safe while Rina remained in the perfect 'at-risk' position. He simply waited for the birth of a loyal demon. A man who thinks this deeply... would be a truly horrifying enemy.
William exhaled a long, resigned breath. Despite his guilt, his family was now perfect and secure. They were like residents atop a high ivory tower. He chose to let go and simply watch the events unfold.
***
January 1, 2039 | 10:30 AM | Bangkok, Thailand
Inside Nisa’s private office...
Nisa sat staring at a medium-sized box on her desk, her heart pounding uncontrollably. She was terrified that inside would be something she never wanted to see. But when she gathered the courage to open it, she found only a single rope and a scrap of paper with a short message: “Only one survives.”
After reading it, Nisa stared at the rope before looking straight ahead with cold resolve. She had fought with all her might for what she believed in, but in the end, she had lost. The consequences were about to fall on her daughter. And as a mother... she would never allow that to happen.
“I love you, Nam.”
Thirty minutes later...
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“KYAAA!” Pim’s scream echoed throughout the building followed by frantic sobbing. She had opened the door only to find Nisa’s lifeless body hanging from that very rope.
On that same day, GREM announced the re-imposition of the ban on human sexualized labor. The women who had just begun to breathe and find work were suddenly cast back into the void. Many fell into deep depression. Everything seemed hopeless, but eventually, the world settled into its new equilibrium... a world where everyone had to struggle to survive in this brutal new era.
***
December 25, 2044 | 8:00 AM | Phayao, Thailand
At an airport in Phayao province...
“You monster! You evil bastard!”
The hateful screams came from Nam, Nisa’s daughter, as she tried to shove through a wall of bodyguards to get to Mook. She did this every time Mook returned to Thailand, tracking which airport and what time he would land just to curse him.
After Nisa’s death, Mook had allowed Nam to return to Thailand without a single scratch. But since her return, Nam had continuously organized groups of women to protest against GREM. Of course, GREM did nothing illegal. The government couldn't touch them—especially with the veiled threat that they might sell their hyper-realistic technology to non-democratic nations. This kept the European powers, the strongest in the world, silent. And when Europe remained still, the rest of the world followed suit.
Over the past few years, unemployment had skyrocketed. Tourist attractions crumbled as people stopped visiting. Service staff were purged. The fashion industry collapsed as demand vanished, leading to mass layoffs in manufacturing. GREM had created a chain reaction across the globe. For men, new jobs were often available—security for GREM users or labor in essential industries. But for women, new opportunities were almost non-existent. The female unemployment rate far exceeded that of men, leading to...
“Let me go! He killed my mother!”
Nam wouldn't stop screaming, even as several women tried to hold her back.
“Don't, Ms. Nam! If you cause any more trouble, you’ll be 'Branded'!” The women with Nam warned her, their voices thick with fear.
“The Branding.”
In this new world, men had so little interest in women that the birth rate had plummeted to terrifying levels. Unemployed women turned to chaos, resorting to theft and scamming men for money, creating massive social issues. Governments were forced to enact laws to control them in exchange for aid and peace. In Europe, the laws were milder—prison or loss of aid. But in Asia, it was different. Patriarchal values had been resurrected and codified into law.
Any woman displaying inappropriate behavior, excessive obsession with looks, infidelity, or causing public disturbance would be branded as a “First-Class Woman”—losing all state aid and rights. If the behavior persisted, she would be branded “Second-Class”—her value would be appraised as a commodity. Any man with the funds could purchase a Second-Class woman as a wife, and she would have no right to refuse. Finally, if the trouble continued, she became “Third-Class.” Her rights were non-existent. If no one bought her, the state could use her for hard labor. If a man bought her, he had the right to chain and confine her for his own purposes.
“Let’s go,” Mook said to Natsuki and Hana, walking past Nam with utter indifference. He could have reported Nam and had her branded as First-Class instantly, but out of a tiny, lingering shard of guilt for the past, he chose to ignore her instead.
As they drove away from the airport, Mook gazed at the landscape. Malls and shops had completely vanished. The once-crowded streets were now empty. Many buildings stood derelict and abandoned. When human desire in reality became zero, everything else became worthless.
Humans once dreamed of grand houses and lavish amenities. Now, they only wanted a small, square room containing a bathroom, a storage space, and a bed comfortable enough to dive into the world of GREM.
Fine dining, luxury atmospheres, or high-end fashion... when everything could be tasted and felt in GREM, the outside world only required cheap wholesale food outlets to survive.
Ultimately, the outside world was left to nature, which was beginning to heal itself. This was another reason the government didn't touch GREM. The world, which had been facing environmental collapse from human overconsumption, was repairing itself. Drugs were extinct. Nature was lush. The filth was gone, replaced by purity. GREM, despite its immense harm, brought immense benefit at the same time.
And above all... regardless of whether GREM was a curse or a blessing... as its creator, I simply used my own intellect and wisdom to build it. It is my right and my liberty. Whether anyone uses it or not... I didn't hold a gun to their head and force them.
Mook thought to himself, a subtle smirk playing on his lips.
“What are you smiling about, Mook?” Natsuki shifted to sit on his lap, turning his face to meet her eyes.
“I don't know... the view is nice, I guess,” Mook replied, staring at the woman he loved. Currently, the temporary sterilization Saito had given him was likely nearing its end. Soon, he might finally become a father. “Should we try for a baby?”
“How can we? The sterilization hasn't expired yet,” Natsuki teased, her eyes blushing with shyness.
“And you, Hana?” Mook turned to the girl on his left, who was resting her chin on his shoulder.
“The same for me,” Hana replied with a seductive smile.
“Then we’ll just 'practice' for now.”
With those words, Mook buried his face in Natsuki’s chest, while his left hand pulled Hana closer, idly caressing her as they drove toward their future.
