Chapter 4: Different Time, Same Personality

Jacob frowned, uncertainty and discomfort flickering in his eyes after hearing Emi’s words. Suppressing these feelings, he quickly masked his face with a neutral expression and blurted out the first question that came to his mind.

“So, does all this mean my sentence is over?” he asked, his voice a mixture of hope and skepticism.

Emi met his gaze, hesitating before replying. “Well, you could say that. You’re a free man now.”

Jacob smirked faintly, his tone laced with irony. “Great,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “Then I’m out of here.” Without waiting for a response, he spun on his heel and headed toward the exit of the room.

Emi quickly followed him, her voice rising slightly. “Wait! You’re not ready for the new world yet! The environment could overwhelm your current mental state!”

Jacob didn’t stop. Ignoring her warnings, he turned back to her with a mocking grin. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ve seen it all before.”

With that, Jacob strode toward the door. He managed to move through the corridors without drawing much attention from the humans and robots around him. The metallic walls and bright lights reflected his hurried steps. His eyes locked on what he assumed was an exit, and he confidently reached for the handle.

When the door opened, Jacob’s breath caught. Before him lay a breathtaking scene: towering skyscrapers stretched toward the heavens, their metallic surfaces reflecting the sunlight and giving the impression of another world. Vehicles glided silently through the air, their hums blending into a harmonious dance across pathways. People and humanoid robots walked together, some robots adorned with glowing indicators and holographic screens that captivated his attention. From a corner, the melodic chime of a bell rang out as a drone passed close by, ascending gracefully into the sky.

The sights, sounds, and movements around him were both mesmerizing and disorienting. For the first time, Emi’s warnings made sense. Jacob’s eyes scanned a world he had never imagined. Towering technological marvels loomed, and vehicles moved soundlessly in the air. Some robots appeared indistinguishably human, while others were distinctly mechanical. Holographic displays flickered into existence in people’s hands before vanishing again. His mind struggled to process the sheer grandeur of it all.

“What… the hell is this?” he muttered, disbelief tinging his voice.

As he wandered in awe, his lack of focus caused minor chaos. He accidentally knocked a small, glowing device out of a humanoid robot’s hands. The device emitted flashing lights and a warning beep as it hit the ground. Moments later, he disrupted the flight path of a drone, causing it to make a sharp maneuver to avoid him. People stopped to watch, their expressions curious, while some robots momentarily paused their tasks.

“Oh, come on,” Jacob grumbled, scratching his head. “Is all this really necessary?”

At that moment, a robotic police officer approached swiftly. The lights on its body flashed, and its mechanical voice carried an authoritative tone.

“Commencing identity scan,” the robot announced, directing a beam of light at Jacob’s face. The cold glow reflected on his features as the robot’s mechanical arms clicked and whirred. Jacob’s instincts screamed at him to run, but his legs refused to move. The robot’s metallic voice returned, emotionless but firm. “Unidentified individual detected. Arresting for unauthorized behavior.”

“Damn it, not the cops again,” Jacob muttered, instinctively stepping back. But the robot’s swift, precise movements left him with no escape route.

Just then, Emi rushed to the scene. Activating a device in her hand, she halted the robot’s actions. “This is a misunderstanding,” she said firmly. “He’s under my supervision. He’s just emerged from cryogenic stasis and is in the process of adjusting to this world.”

The robot paused for a few seconds before replying in its cold, mechanical tone. “Information verified. Temporary release granted. Supervising individual remains accountable for monitoring.”

Jacob exhaled deeply and glanced at Emi. “Thanks for saving me,” he said with a touch of sarcasm. “But I didn’t really need it. I had everything under control.”

Emi rolled her eyes. “Sure you did. But trust me, you don’t want to try that again. The rules in this new world are different, and you need to adapt.”

Jacob crossed his arms over his chest. “Listen, I can take care of myself. No matter how weird this world gets, I’ll figure it out. Now just leave me alone.”

Emi took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure. “How about this?” she said at last. “Let me teach you. What do you say?”

Jacob’s brow furrowed. “Teach me?”

Emi stepped closer. “Be part of my project. Let me observe you, and in return, I’ll help you adapt to this new world. I’ll teach you its rules, systems, and even how to earn a living. That way, you won’t have to struggle to survive.”

Jacob hesitated. The offer wasn’t appealing. His deep-seated desire for freedom resisted the idea of accepting help. Yet, the complex and foreign world around him made it clear that things had changed. He knew he had no other choice; rejecting the offer would mean being completely lost in this unfamiliar place. The survival instinct that had always guided him won out. This world was alien and brimming with dangers. He didn’t want to admit it, but he needed help.

“Fine,” he said grudgingly. “But remember this: It’s only temporary. As soon as I can, I’m going my own way.”

Emi smiled faintly. “Agreed. But for now, we’ll work together.”

Suppressing his unease, Jacob followed Emi. The bright lights, strange technologies, and alien atmosphere of the new world surrounded him, an uncharted landscape filled with both wonder and peril.