Free Web NovelChapter 206: ABO / 5.17 : Checkmate
Atlas got out of the house with his suitcase. The driver took it and put it in the trunk while he took a seat. Damian and Jacob frowned when they saw that he had been crying.
Damian pulled him in his arms and Atlas held onto him. Jacob said:
"I’m sorry."
"Was it you and Elwyn’s plan?"
Jacob immediately said:
"Of course not I would never do that to someone."
"Exactly you’re not responsible so you didn’t have to apologize."
Jacob nodded but he still felt like he had to apologize. He asked:
"What did they say?"
"I swore that I wasn’t responsible but they didn’t believe me. Before they could tell me that they wanted me out of their life they asked where my latest project was. Once I said I left it in my office they said that they only kept me here this long for the project and that I’m nothing more than a nuisance."
Damian held Atlas tighter.
"I’m sorry baby. You don’t need them, Jacob and I are here for you."
"Exactly."
Atlas smiled.
"I know that’s why I’m okay."
Damian and Jacob smiled.
Ludek walked down the stairs and went to the dining room. He sat at the head of the table and started to eat his breakfast while checking the state of the company.
He was taking a sip of coffee but he spat it out as he looked at his phone in shock. Elwyn and Mircea looked at him in worry seeing his face. Mircea asked:
"What happened?"
Ludek said:
"An article went viral, it said that all the people who kept playing our games despite the rumors have been hacked too. The technician sent me an email telling me that one of the victims targeted our servers and that now they’re all down. Even if people were willing to play they wouldn’t be able to since all the games are offline. He tried to turn them back on but couldn’t."
Elwyn felt his heartbeat quicken. No this can’t be true, the man who sold him the virus said that it would only impact Extinct. Unless it somehow infiltrated all the servers since they are all linked.
Now someone got revenge by shutting down the servers and they can’t turn them back on. He needs to call the man who sold him the virus to know how he can fix this mess.
Mircea asked:
"No one at the company can fix it?"
Ludek passed a hand through his hair frustrated.
"No one can. The only person who would be able is Atlas."
Elwyn immediately panicked, if Atlas examine the servers he might see that it happened because of the virus and track the person behind it.
"Father, don’t you see that this was his plan all along? He wants us to feel like we won’t be able to survive without his help."
Ludek yelled:
"Do you think I’m stupid and I don’t know that? But we need to put the servers back on or we won’t even be able to sell Universum and the VR headset and it’s the only thing that will be able to save the company from going bankrupt."
Mircea thought then said:
"How about we tell Damian to sell it, we’ll collaborate with them and use their server that way people won’t be scared to buy the game and the headset since everyone worships Cian Cube."
Ludek looked at his wife.
"If we collaborate he would be taking credit for something he had nothing to do with."
Mircea insisted:
"It’s the only way to get money and infuse it into the company to fix all the issues. Right now we’ll hire an expert hacker so he can fix the problem and secure our server and games so they can never be breached again. Once it’s done we’ll let everyone know that it’s been fixed and once they play Universum and see that there’s no problem they’ll come back."
Ludek looked down thinking. He knows it’s the best plan but it kills him having to concede half of the credit of his work to someone who didn’t do squat. Knowing Damian he knows he’ll want half.
He sighed.
"I know a hacker who will be able to fix the problems and fortify the security of the games and servers. We’ll release a statement saying that Nye Games is taking a break while we fix a few issues. During that time we’ll work on the production of the headset and Universum. Publicity for the new project has to be done by Cian Cube. We’ll only say when all the problems are fixed that we are the creators of the headset. For now, Nye Games can’t be associated with it and the game or people won’t give it a fair chance."
Mircea nodded with a smile and Ludek smiled. It makes them feel better to have a plan of action. Elwyn looked down and texted the man he had used for the virus but didn’t get an answer.
He’s sure that whoever his father we’ll use won’t be able to track the person responsible and even if he does it won’t be him. He’s worried he might be able to tell that the game Extinct is a copy of the original.
Even if he does he won’t look for the culprit since they all believe it’s Atlas. As long as Atlas doesn’t help them fix the servers he’ll be fine. Elwyn calmed down thinking that.
He looked at Ludek calling his friend hacker and relaxed. When he received a text he looked at it and smiled brightly. Mircea who was looking at him asked:
"What’s going on?"
Elwyn smiled.
"Jacob texted me he wants to meet tomorrow since today he has a lot of work."
"Make sure to bring up the new project. I’m sure if Jacob tells his father Damian will call."
Elwyn nodded.
"Don’t worry I will."
Mircea smiled.
Jacob entered Atlas’ work room and asked:
"Hey."
Atlas smiled.
"Hey. You’re ready?"
Jacob nodded excitedly.
Atlas smiled, he felt like he was looking at a little kid, very cute. He understands since he is just as obsessed with video games.
It’s weird to be since he only played sometimes in his last life but after having all his memories from this life he can’t get enough.
He likes making his vision come true. Altas and Jacob spent the day creating a world and characters. The hardest part is making sure you have every angles covered and that the game flows naturally.
Atlas was impressed by Jacob, he had already thought about a game so he had a precise vision. Atlas only upgraded his idea and helped with the character’s back story and physique based on Jacob’s conception.
Jacob looked at all the characters Atlas had already using his directions and felt stunned. He swiped and looked at the amazing background he had sketched as a base speechless.
He put the table down and hugged Atlas. Atlas hugged him back with a smile. He pulled back and said:
"This is amazing, that’s exactly what I was picturing. I can’t believe how well you were able to make what I was picturing come true."
Atlas said:
"It was easy you had an idea it just needed to be made a reality. The hardest part in creating a video game is the creation of characters, back story, background, missions, and purpose but you already knew all of that. You’re thorough and decisive you knew what you wanted so it was simple. It’s impressive especially since it’s your first game. I like working with people who know what they want. We make a great team." freewēbnoveℓ.com
Jacob smiled with shiny eyes, hearing that from Atlas means the world. He’s the best when it comes to video games.
"Thank you it means a lot coming from you."
Atlas smiled. He meant every word, he knew them working together would go well.
Elwyn knocked on his father’s office door and entered when he couldn’t hear anything for a long time. Ludek was sitting behind his desk looking fixedly at a few papers on his desk.
He looked catatonic like whatever he had been looking at had taken the life out of him.
"Father?"
When his father didn’t answer he walked to the desk and looked at the papers. He grabbed and skimmed through it. Once he did his heartbeat quickened.
Like a fool, he thought this whole fiasco was over when his father’s friend secured the server and games and they agreed that he would talk to Jacob tomorrow about collaborating on their new project but he was deadly wrong.
He said:
"Father we can sue Atlas and say that he was working under Nye when he created the headset, controllers, and Universum. We also paid for the production of it which means he can’t just patent and license it under his name."
Ludek pushed a few receipts and said:
"He purchased all the materials himself and he worked on the project at home every day after work. Even if Nye Games sue him we’ll lose, it was all done legally. Atlas didn’t break any rules or the clause of his contract with Nye Games as an employee."
Elwyn cursed inwardly, this is the only thing that could’ve saved them. When he saw a handwritten note he asked:
"What is that?"
Ludek said:
"Atlas managed to license and patent his work under his name yesterday. He only did it because of what happened last night. After he left home he called a lawyer who helped him fast-track his demands then went to the company and dropped a note with all his receipts to make sure we would know that we have no ground on his work. He only did this because of what we said, he said on the note that he believed Mircea and I loved him but now he knows that we only cared about what he brought to the company and that he’s done with us."
Elwyn let out a breath, they are screwed and this is all his fault. He destroyed a company that’s been standing for more than sixty years. He needs to find a way to fix this or he’ll never inherit a multimillion company.
