Humanity or Technology

After parting ways with Aaron and Serena, Lolita and Max headed towards the rear side of the towering structure, entering an alleyway strewn with tangled wires and overflowing trash cans.

Max wrinkled his nose, covering it with his hand. "This place reeks," he remarked, clearly affected by the odor.

Lolita explained, "This small back alley is off the strict monitoring radar."

Nervously, Max looked around, his eyes darting here and there. "Do you really think we won't be caught Miss Lolita??" he asked, his anxiety palpable. Lolita produced a bracelet and handed it to him.

"Put this on," she instructed, as she herself adorned a bracelet on her arm. With purpose, she crouched and moved towards a discreet backdoor.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Max questioned, "What's this bracelet for?" However, Lolita paid no attention to his question.

Instead, she opened the door, revealing the tower's kitchen beyond.

The space was vast and highly advanced, filled with machines emitting steam as they diligently prepared dishes. It seemed like the entire culinary process was automated, orchestrated by machines and robots. Amidst this automated symphony stood a lone figure, a man who turned his gaze towards Lolita and Max as they entered. With a friendly smile, he greeted, "Hey there, Darling."

"George we need to make it fast open the door" Lolita asked George in response, he rolled his eyes playfully and pulled her into a warm embrace.

"Of course, my darling," he murmured, pressing his lips against hers. However, she didn't reciprocate the kiss. Observing this, Max's anger surged, and he felt an intense urge to confront the situation.

"So, is he your boyfriend or something?" Max blurted out.

Chuckling, George replied, "Haha, well, I've certainly asked her out multiple times."

Max's jealousy was palpable. George had a handsome appearance with his curly hair, causing Max to feel even more envious.

"Can you shut up and tell me about the floors," Lolita interjected, her gaze fixed sternly on George.

Adjusting his glasses and apron, George cleared his throat. "Ah, yes. So, the auction is happening on the 67th floor, and the item house is on the 68th. Items will be sent down through the Jeron machine to the 67th floor."

Standing beside Lolita, Max added, "So, how do we get to the upper floor?"

With a grin, George pointed behind him to a small lifting machine. "You'll go up using this cart lift. It's quite simple. This is how food is sent to all the floors."

Lolita questioned, concerned, "Will this take too long?"

George reassured her, "Don't worry. All the other floors are currently out of operation due to the auction."

George then motioned toward the cart filled with glasses of wine. "Alright, you two, hop into the lift."

Lolita swiftly settled into the small lift, and Max followed suit. The space was cramped, and Max's shoulder brushed against Lolita's, causing a shiver to run down his spine. He couldn't help but notice her sweet, rose-like scent.

Lolita seemed unfazed by their proximity as she held onto the tray. The lift jerked into motion, and they began their ascent.

Confused, Max inquired, "Oh hey! Where are you going?" as he watched Lolita climb to the top of the lift.

"We're stopping at the 67th floor with this cart lift. Our actual destination is the 68th floor," Lolita explained, her irritation evident in her voice.

Max looked up, then down—realization dawned on him. "Oh... So?"

Lolita's voice echoed down from the top of the lift. "You need to climb up here. Once we reach the 67th floor, we'll jump to the 68th."

Max peered upward and then downward, realizing how high they were. Stunned, he exclaimed, "What the Fuck! How are we so far up already?" His unease was palpable as the lift continued its gradual ascent.

"This lift is moving so fast!" Max exclaimed his grip tight on the tray.

Lolita responded with an eye roll before extending her hand towards him. "Just come up already, we're almost there." Max hesitated for a moment, glancing between her outstretched hand and the ground below.

Finally, he reached for her hand, feeling the softness of her skin as she pulled him up with surprising strength. His ascent caused the lift to jerk, adding to his unease.

"Phew, goddamn! We're really soo up!" Max panted, looking down before turning to face Lolita.

To his surprise, she was mere inches away from him. His heart raced, and he instinctively began to back away, but his footing slipped, almost causing him to fall. Lolita reacted swiftly, her hands finding his waist and preventing his fall. She held him close, her eyes closed as she sighed in relief.

"You're just dragging me" she murmured, her grip still steady. Max, steadying himself and scratching his head, apologized, "Ah, I'm sorry."

Lolita paid no attention to his apology. Instead, she gazed upwards as the lift cart neared its destination.

The surroundings were shrouded in darkness, except for a faint glow emanating from a door on one of the floors. Max's curiosity got the better of him, and he gestured towards the wristband Lolita had given him. "What's this for?"

Examining the wristband, Lolita replied, "It's a device that makes you invisible to cameras and all other security systems, except for the human eye."

Max was awestruck. "That must be expensive. How did you get your hands on it?"

Lolita brushed off his question and stood up carefully. "Get up, we're nearly there."

Max cautiously rose to his feet, being extra careful not to lose his balance.

.....

Meanwhile Aaron and Serena.

"Welcome to the 12th Annual Javacity Auction!" announced a man dressed in a sleek black suit as he appeared on the grand stage. The entire auditorium was abuzz with people, all eager for the auction to begin. The event was already in motion, showcasing various artifacts one by one. The theme of this auction was Historical Treasures, and each item presented held a piece of the past. From vintage cars to ancient weaponry, the stage came alive with a journey through history.

Amid the lively crowd, Aaron and Serena were seated, still absorbing the unexpected encounter they had just experienced.

"This auction is boring..." The guy continued speaking, taking a brief sip at his cup. "They are literally showing us what is easily available in the market, you know?" "Drake", if Aaron wasn't mistaken, was the name of this man.

He remembered that this guy was the one who slayed the humanoid in a matter of seconds back when they were in.

Drake was one of the officers from one of the three Strongest force, "The Revolutionary Army".

As everyone's applause filled the air, another piece took center stage, initiating a fresh round of bidding. Aaron's attention was drawn to Drake, who was dressed in a sleek black suit. Drake leaned in, his voice a soft whisper in Aaron's ear. "Aaron, let me ask you something. In your opinion, who's in the wrong? Is it technology or humanity?" He leaned closer, a peculiar smile on his face. "Which one do you think should fade away? Technology or humanity?"

A shiver ran down Aaron's spine. He studied Drake's expression, finding a mixture of enigma and amusement. Drake's gaze then shifted to the stage, but his voice carried, reaching even Serena, who was seated beside Aaron.

Interrupting the tension, Drake asked, "What brings both of you here? And please, spare me the idea that you're here to bid on a straw hat."

Serena responded cryptically, "Who knows?"

"Could it be that you're interested in that EOL tube?" Drake inquired further.

Turning the question around, Aaron asked, "And are you also here for that?"

Drake chuckled in response. "Do you really believe it's going to be that simple?" he mused. Suddenly, he placed a gun against Serena's neck, causing a surge of fear to rush through her veins.

"Who hired you?" Drake demanded, his voice tense. Serena could feel her heart pounding, the small gun's presence on her neck adding to the intensity of the moment.