Eight

Click

Whhrrrr .... pik pik pik

[Welcome, Mr.  Vernon]

[Countdown to 27 years old, begins]

[5 ...]

[4 ...]

[3 ...]

[2 ...]

[1 ...]

[Happy 27th birthday Mr.  Alexander Vernon]

[Synchronization enabled]

Beep

Beep

Beep

============================================

Chrip Chrip

The morning rolled, Zara returned to light Westmort for the umpteenth time, Lex's swollen face seemed to blink several times, he was asleep since yesterday afternoon and just woke up from his sleep at 9 this morning.  All-day long following Mel to observe the victim's family, had little impact on him.

[good morning, Mr.  Vernon]

"Uwaaakkkhhh !!!"

Lex fell backward in surprise, suddenly a virtual window appeared in his sight, a virtual window he often saw in sci-fi movies.

"Shit, what is this?"  he said confusedly as he reached for the virtual window, but nothing could be felt on his fingertips, only empty air felt as if his hand had pierced a hologram.

He looked at his hands, then took turns looking up at the virtual window, his face still confused, he didn't know what was happening.  Then Lex realized that there was writing there, and read it carefully.

[Congratulations you have entered the intermediate period, syncing is complete...]

"Synchronization? What synchronization?"

[Synchronize your strength of course, now that you are old enough to be able to fully control that power ...]

"Wow, he answered me,"  he muttered in amazement

[Of course, I am your father's AI, Mr.  Morgan Vernon ...]

"What? Dad made things like this?"

[Yup!  I was planted in you when you were 5 years old, your father learned all about the power you have ...]

"And you just got active now?"  Lex glared, he was annoyed because it was not active since a long time ago, from childhood he had suffered a lot because there was no place to share other than his mother.

[Happy Birthday!]

"Hey! Answer me jerk!"

[I was programmed to be active when you turned 27 ...]

"Why?!"

[...]

"HEY!!"

[Ask the swaying grass]

"What?"  Lex frowned at the absurd answer.

[He he he got you!]

"A-are you joking?"  He looked confused, how could an AI be joking.

[Yes]

"Wow, I can't believe it."

[Which one?]

"How could there be artificial intelligence who could joke, stupid!"

[I can]

"Tch!"

[Let's play guesswork!]

"I don't want to! Hurry and explain why you just appeared now ?!"

[Alright ...]

Whrrrrrr...

Pip

[Age 27 years, is the most appropriate age to start introducing you to that ability, because at that age where your 'Manna' flows stably, Xirgitan has a fairly accurate age calculation to hone abilities.  And according to Xirgitan's calculations, your father arranged for me to be active when you turned 27 years old.  Synchronization will automatically activate, and you will start honing your skills, from now on ...]

Lex gaped, he didn't understand at all, xirgitan?  Manna?  Power?  The power of smelling lies?  Did fathers know about the ability?  He doesn't remember at all.

"I still don't get it."

[You will slowly understand, that's what master ordered me to answer when you say that]

"Then, what power do I have? The power to smell lies?"

[Right, I'll help you learn it properly]

"For what, I don't really need this ability, don't waste time."  Lex looked away, he isn't really interested in that power or anything like that, if he could choose, he wanted to live a normal life without power.

  Zzzztt ...

  [You don't want to know where your parents are from and who killed them?]

  The virtual window reappeared in front of his face even though he had turned around.  Lex was silent reading the writing there, studying each letter.  His jaw tightened, his suspicions about the death of his father and mother being offended by it.

  "You ... what do you mean?"

  [You don't want to know where your parents are from and who killed them?]

"I TOLD YOU WHAT YOU MEAN! Damn!"

  [You don't want to know where your parents are from and who killed them?]

"Answer my damn question!"  Lex tries to punch the virtual window, but it's no use.

  [You don't want to know where your parents are from and who killed them?]

"Hhhaaaahh ... Yes! Tell me everything!"  he said giving up.  He didn't know what would happen next.

[Data Loaded ...]

Pik

Pik

Pik

[...]

[...]

[Loading complete]

Whhrrrrr ...

[Welcome, Mr. Vernon.  You have to study emotions and various things about emotions before opening the facts 1]

[Are you ready to do it?]

"Whaaaat? Hey! Tell me about my parents and who killed them!"

[Your level is still too low to reveal fact 1, want to level up?]

"Are you kidding?!"

[Not!]

[Your level is still too low to reveal fact 1, want to level up?]

"You were the one who offered me the matter of fact, then you made it difficult. Did you play with me? Stupid AI!"  growled Lex but didn't know how to vent it

[What do you mean?  Those are the conditions Master has made ...]

"Master? My father?"

[Right]

"Eeeuurrrggghh ... well, what should I do to level up?"

[Learn]

"What?"

[Learn about what emotion is, understand it and you have to take a leveling test afterward...]

"Is there no other way? It's so boring."  Lex sneered

[NOT]

"Shit, when do I have to learn that?"

[I'll deliver the materials when you're ready]

"Okay, then later. I'm hungry now. Go first."

[Orders received]

Pik

"Ah! How can I call you if I need?"

Pip

[You can give me a name]

"Aah ... what was the name my father gave you first?"

[PXT2789-56701-JKTXVRW-Z-08]

"Shit, how can I say it if it's that long!"

[Give me a name you like]

"Hmm ... okay, I'll give you the name ... Jinx!"  shrieked Lex excitedly.

[...]

"Hey, give your response!"

[You really like that name?]

"Certain!"

[Am I unlucky?]

"Phhfffftt ... maybe,"  said Lex nonchalantly.

[...]

"You don't like it?"  Lex was a little amused, it was like playing a prank on someone, and it felt good.  Lex never had friends before.

[Yaaahh ... It's a little bit ...]

Lex stifled his laughter, this was a pleasant feeling that was the first time Lex felt, being able to communicate with other people freely even though it was only artificial intelligence.

[Alright, I have no other choice ...]

"Buahahahah, okay, from now on your name is Jinx!"

[Order received]

Whrrrr...

Pik

The virtual screen disappeared, now Lex's vision returned to normal, he then confirmed again whether if he called that name, the virtual screen would appear?

"JINX!"

Pip

[Good morning Mr.  Vernon]

"Woaaaahh ... this is cool."

[Is there anything I can help you with?]

"Nothing, I'm just trying it out. Go back to where you were hiding."

[Order received]

Pik

His vision returned to normal, no virtual visible screen appeared in front of Lex.  He whistled happily while making a bowl of cereal, Mel took him to Wellmart yesterday after he helped her to meet the victim's family, he bought a lot of stock for his kitchen needs, as well as toiletries that he didn't buy some time ago because of the incident with Mel.

Today, he has to go with Mel again to meet 2 male friends of the first murder victim, and now Lex is waiting for Mel to pick him up.

Regarding Jinx, Lex had planned to find out more about that artificial intelligence, he thought, his father's old computer still kept many secrets that the young man had not been able to solve until this moment.

The banging on the door broke Lex's reverie, he walked

to open it, and you could already guess that the one who banged was Mel, a flat-faced woman with no expression.

"Hurry, I don't have much time!"  exclaimed Mel who was suddenly annoyed at how the man looked at this time.  He even still wears his nightshirt now.

"Yeah ... yeah ... you nag, let me finish my cereal."  Lex returned to his bowl after closing the door.

"Why didn't you get ready earlier? I told you, I'll pick you up at 9."

"Eeuuh ... I have something to do first, so yeah ... that's it."  Lex bribed his cereal, savored every bite without caring about the already agitated woman in front of him.

"I'll give you 5 minutes to finish your breakfast and 2 minutes to change your clothes!"

"Hey, why are you messing with me ?! You asked me to help you, not me begging, you remember ?! So don't be careless with me Melva O'connor!"

"Whatever, the important thing is quick, I really don't have time to relax now."

"I know! Let me eat in peace!"

Mel was silent, choosing to look around the house, which looked a little tidier than usual.

"Give me 5 minutes!"  Lex was in a hurry to change and clean, leaving Mel alone in the kitchen.  Soon Lex finished and they chose to go immediately to meet Ivan Spike, one of the male friends in the first victim, Naomi Andersen's social circle.

The sports shop looked deserted, they entered casually and walked away as if they were regular customers, Lex with his mask also looked around, only a faint black and gray visible in his sight, a sign that there weren't many people in this place.

A man is behind the counter, his name tag matches the name of the person they are looking for.

"Mr. Ivan Spike, I am Melva O'connor from VCPD, I ask your cooperation to provide additional information about Naomi Andersen. You know the victim, right?"  said Mel, showing his badge.

The man looked surprised and a second later he ran to the back room of the shop to escape.

  "Shit! Chase him!"  Mel thought to Lex who walked straight out of the shop and chased the man from the outside, and Mel was chasing him from behind.

  Ivan had jumped the low fence behind the shop building to the shop next door, but thanks to Lex's ability, he was able to catch it by following the emotional trail that accompanied to that man.

  Lex hit him by jumping until Ivan fell on the asphalt, Mel came a few seconds later then took over Ivan by handcuffing his hands behind him.

  "Why did you run away? Now I have reasons to take you to the police station, Mr. Ivan spike."

  Lex gasped after running a few meters earlier, dark green emotions rising from Ivan, with a slight red tinge between them.