Day 2

The next day the majority voted in favour of introducing the transparency mode as a general method to increase public safety worldwide. Twenty-three people were against it and sixteen abstained from voting.

No matter what he said, Fuyuki belonged to the former group of people. He blatantly voted no, risking everything, while knowing deep within his heart that it was futile. The majority was convinced while he wasn’t. Especially because he couldn’t help shake the feeling that its 2.0 version might be even worse. Of course, the idea itself behind it is good as it could certainly reduce the number of crimes but not all people are dumb. Sooner or later, there’ll be someone capable of hacking those gadgets that would make their existence pointless, or rather, it would become a thing people can exploit to their own advantage. And fallen into the wrong hands, who knows what might happen?

He still hasn’t contacted Winter Breeze after last night. Not even after getting his message saying he unexpectedly ran into someone and had to go. His instincts told him that he should wait. Wait until he finds something big. But there is a possibility that he won’t. Then what?

At this point, he felt a faint, piercing pain in his stomach probably due to the stress. He has to focus less on his doubts and more on ways to achieve his objective. But for that, he has to be more cunning. At least more than the enemy.

If there is something everyone present at the summit agreed on it’s the vetoing of the gender reversal procedure. By that, they didn’t mean that outdated technology of men undergoing surgeries to become women and vice versa. The gender reversal procedure meant changing the person’s gender while still being an embryo, way before being born. For the most part, they couldn’t believe that doing such a thing was even possible, and even if it was it might be harmful for the people in the long term. There would be chaos, an imbalance of genders, and increasing societal problems leading to inequality and dissatisfaction everywhere. For the greater good, they couldn’t just risk everything for such an invention.

“This is madness,” Annisa, the Indonesian delegate whispered to him angrily. “They think they are gods playing with the people’s lives.”

“Being a god or not that is a serious invention that could shake up the whole world. Just not in the right direction,” remarked Fuyuki.

“It depends on the perspective,” someone interrupted from behind. “Everything is relative. What you consider the right direction is probably the worst choice for someone else,” he said seriously but with a slight mocking tone as if he was looking down on everyone and everything who didn’t held his views.

Fuyuki vaguely remembered that this person was one of the American delegates, who had Japanese roots since he emigrated from Japan with his family when he was little. His name was Yamada something. He didn’t remember his given name as they rarely ever had any job-related matters to discuss with each other, so Fuyuki thought that it wasn’t important to remember it. As far as Fuyuki knew, they were the same age but that person always acted like he was a bit younger. Perhaps because he always seemed too carefree, too nonchalant. At least too much for what Fuyuki considered good for their line of work.

“What, you think that it won’t cause chaos if that proposal is actually approved?” asked Annisa bewildered.

“Not necessarily. And even if it will it is not our job to deal with it,” he replied which made both Annisa and Fuyuki shocked to the core. “Besides, we don’t even know for sure that such a procedure actually works.”

“Well, it is true that after everything the doctors can do to an unborn child to become perfect both mentally and physically it really is just an additional step towards reaching that perfectness,” contemplated Annisa.

“But quite a radical step,” remarked Fuyuki seriously.

“Just as radical as all the other alterations the soon-to-be parents pay for. I think people would be overjoyed to hear that such an option is available for them. Of course, that might cause some serious issues but we won’t know for sure until we try.”

“That’s quite a risk to take,” turned around Annisa as she heard what the person sitting behind them said.

Fuyuki agreed with Annisa but decided not to react as he couldn’t be sure whether the other person only had a devil-may-care attitude towards most things and really believed what he said or he was just spouting nonsense to probe what his views were regarding this subject. Not that there’s any logical explanation for the latter.

He looked around thinking hard while his eyes subconsciously searched for and landed on the person he had a drink with last night.

Feng Liwei had the usual stern expression on his face while concentrating deeply on the subject of the meeting. Fuyuki was still dumbfounded by his own sheer recklessness as he wantonly approached the unapproachable. At the thought of how it could have turned out worse that dull pain in his stomach returned making him grit his teeth in pain.

At this moment, as if he sensed someone watching him, Feng Liwei turned his head to the side and looked straight into his eyes. The moment it happened, Fuyuki turned his head away. He was just casually looking around after all and didn’t want that person to think he was staring at him. Not in a million years.

Winter Breeze to Wintry Tree:

I’ll have the blueprint tomorrow.

The message came as a ray of sunshine on a cloudy winter morning making him grit his teeth even more and resolve to find a way to crack that nut open and find the secrets hidden behind its outer shell.

Wintry Tree to Winter Breeze:

I need more time.

Winter Breeze to Wintry Tree:

I was just letting you know.

This reply made Fuyuki relax a little since it meant Winter Breeze kept his word to what they agreed. Not that he ever went back on his word during the time he knew him. But it was still comforting to know that there is at least one person whom he can count on.