Chapter 22

"Immortality? Is this man crazy?" people started to whisper amongst themselves as they view the man in front of them as someone with a loosed screw in his head.

The people that knows the specific didn't really bothered looking at the clueless people. Instead they just enjoyed the beverages and food at the party.

"Immortality or death? I know you would choose immortality." the man laid out his hands. He then opened his palms as a holographic image suddenly appeared on top of it, floating steadily.

The image that floated is that of an eagle, and a skull. The eagle signified immortality as it has been for the past thousands of years. The skull on the other hand signified death as usual.

"On my palm, you can see two symbols. The symbol of immortality, amd the symbol of death. What do you know of these two symbols?" the man dispersed the hologram on his palm as the picture of the two insignia suddenly appeared on top of his shoulder.

"Have you seen it on any books regarding the history of the world? Or have you seen it on ancient coins? Perhaps you've seen it on statues?" the man started to walk around as he eyed each and everyone of the audience on the fore front of the stage.

"No? That's understandable as they're purposely hidden and scholars committed extreme levels of historical manipulation or falsification." the man snapped his fingers as images upon images of different things such as uniforms, weapons, and even statues can be seen on holographic projection on the air.

"See? These insignia are on all cultures even if it's out of place. Do you think the Chinese or the Japanese will have these skulls carved directly on their armors when they loved their tigers? No!" the man enlarged the image of. Chinese sabre with the skull insignia on the part of the blade covered by the pommel.

"But this can only be a coincidence, after all, we, the west has meddled with other cultures almost since the dawn of time. This can all be a coincidence." the man shrugged his shoulders as he walked down the stage to have a face to face with some random man or woman.

"But no! I don't think it's a coincidence! This very insignias are present in all of these artifacts!" shouted the man with an ecstatic voice as different holographic images suddenly appeared on the air for everyone to see.

Some people gasped by this revelation. Some laughed and just talked to someone as they didn't bother paying attention to what they labelled as a "crazy" man. They came here to get investments, not believe on some urban legend.

While those who apparently has some knowledge or background on history had a knowing expression. Yes, they may half heartedly believe the archaeologist in front of them but the evidences he presented are pretty impossible to rebut. It may even be faked for all they care, but something about the thought of them becoming part of such a conspiracy spanning timelines tickles their senses.

"These evidences are more than enough to tell you that they, they're on the shadows. That they control the world not the Prime Minister nor the regional presidents! Think like me! If we can shed some light regarding them, we will go down in history as the people who freed the world from their oppressive tyrants hiding in the shadow." his voice is full of pride as people liked the idea. Some left and went to private rooms for privacy, while the old investors had an angry expression on their face.

They thought he'll present new findings but all he did was recycle the speech he told them long time ago. They are now starting to think that he's only conning them and is but a good for nothing ambitious archaeologist.

"Who's with me!" the man raised his hand in a fist as some people cheered, not the exact thing he's expecting but it's good enough. They can provide him money for his next planned trip of stealing the technology cache.

The party progressed steadily as the showcase of different historical artifacts became the main event after the banquet. People took pictures, replicas that's being sold beside the actual item.

The man met with the investors properly in a private conference room deep beneath the garage. The investors are fuming in anger.

They wanted to see the results! Yet all he gave them are a bunch of nonsense pictures that won't even give something tangible in benefits.

"Where are the benefits you promised? Where is the promise of glory? Where's the promise of money!" people shouted at the man who is only watching them with a calm expression, waiting for them to settle down.

As the voices started to dwindle, the man just smirked on his mind as he fixed his collar and stretched his legs on top of the table.

"As you may know, a technological cache was found on the surface of the red planet. I plan to bait them out of their hiding. I'm sure they would want to get ahold of this cache one way or another." the man started to share the plan to the investors who almost flipped the table in anger.

"How are you so sure that they don't already have the cache? For all we know they may be the one who planted it in the first place!" shouted the old man in anger. He can't believe he's conned by the man in front of him. If he can only turn back the time then he'll instead invest on lifespan increasing technologies instead of his bullshit of a promise thay involves immortality.

"Spaceflight are a heavily controlled aspect of our society. They can't have private space planes, plus, my informat is one of the guards responsible for the safety of the cache. He said it will be transported 3 days fron now." explained the man as people nodded their head slowly realizing his plan.

The man in front of them sounds convincing enough. If this plan of his works, then they'll get immense benefits.

"Let's say we are in for this ride, what merit or benefit we can get by giving you the support?" asked a skinny man which made everyone rally behind him in support.

"We can have your scientists study the cache, monopolize the whole technology for yourselves which will bring in lots of money. You will be popular once we proved their existence, each of you will be seen as heroes of humanity for saving them from their oppressive masters." the man took his feet off the table and looked the skinny man directly in the eyes.

"As for me? My lifelong dream will finally be fulfilled..."