Philippe is walking in a maze of grass-covered walls, being led by a butler and the CEO of his company to the meeting of the world council. Somehow, the UN council has become meeting between companies' owners in the last 16 years. To be honest, governments lose their rights with the diminish money they got from income tax. Last 16 years, almost 2 billions people die, old and young. But nobody complains because everybody, we all want to be immortal, we think we would have a chance, nevertheless, all evidence proved the much-shortened life for everyone. He is no different, though. Besides, most people have no information as no news outlet dare to go against its rich owner. In the end, only those who born with silver spoons on their mouth can laugh. Just like his CEO, who would not take a glance at anything that is not pretty women, alcohol or his boats. The rich would laugh until they realize that their time is drying up - every one clock is being cleaned off too fast to mooching off.

Philippe knows his higher up never read nor touch any papers. Time has been easy for those fragile boys and girls who were too used to being the heirs and heiresses. Some of them even spend over their heads - to lose thousands days for a night party. He opens a company in that service with his mother's time so he knows. In the same time, he has accumulated over a thousand years and a half. He was a solid Director at the age of 25, and at 29 he was a Managing Director - 5 years sooner than usual (because he has no personal life and he dares to sell his life). He is doing their jobs already (soon they will be his jobs).

When they arrive, most of the counc il has settled in. Philippe praises his host for choosing this location, the huge garden proved his wealth when the maze just traps people inside - weaken them even before starting any negotiation. After all, that is The one, the richest man alive. The title used to belong to The One's father, but the old guy dies from a heart attack, leaving all his money to his heir. Forget all Philippe's claims about heir and heiress, The One is a brutal force to be reckoned with, as he had several degrees in science and tons of experience in controlling his corporation. He is smart and dangerous, but you can change him with good evidence and reasons when his father is just an immobile stone.

The One is actually the first person to have his gene being fixed to be young forever. The old guy's corporation has many patents in genetic editions, including the immortal gene and ultra-smart, superhuman,... At first, the old guy became rich with GMOs that literally solved world starvation, but of course, they just started projects messing up humankind's gene and controlled human race with their fancy plan of giving people immortality, for a price. They supervised governments in the exchanging money process. They maintain order with their droid and superhuman. It is not exaggerated when Philippe thinks they own the world and any other rich man is just their decorating.

That is why this meeting is important. This is the meeting when power is directed from the old generation to the generation that born immortal. That is why he just seized the chance and sent The One his plan of giving human more time, to not bring the end of the world too soon. The birth rate is at the lowest, the death rate is at its highest. At this time is sound normal, but 40 years from now, the youngest from the time before is at their 80, and if no one born any children, they only have around 2 billion people from the population surge from 2050 to 2060. If most of them have not timed out as they are supposed to have only 1 year. In this new world, calculating population is much complicated than before.

Philippe's CEO takes his seat. Only council members have their seat, as an assistant, he has to stand behind his higher up all time. And The One appears as all members stand up to greet him. He is supposed to be in his 40 but he feels young with his energetic and enthusiastic stride. Philippe stands too far to notice his facial character, but his tall and lean frame, and his dark hair color.

The One started the meeting with his deep voice. And that baritone sounds like honey - luxurious and warm - that lure everyone in. He starts with humble comments about himself and progress to acclaim his father works before he … asks for change. Philippe lit up from his bowing pose. The One goes on about the time lost, quoting Philippe's words, and he knows he knows that the most important man in the world actually recognize his contribution and nothing could remove this intimate moment out of his mind. He is shaking as each of his words would utter by The One.

The One ends his speech and asks for his incompetent CEOs to talk, Philippe gives him the papers that supporting this motion of creating an International Time Fund to generate an annual amount of time and to put it under the leash of the council, of changing the council to a no intervention organization, lower the anonymous count to ⅔ of the council member, of annual meeting. His higher up is doing great without choking on the words. Even with his brain, he should understand that it is The One's command, and with Philippe's preparation to blame everything on The One, he will not mistrust Philippe.

After the conclusion is the conference. His boss stands up and commends his paper, well, if it is to be passed, the man would have more money after all. But Philippe still does as plan, talking about The One mail or how The One thinks a like-mind, you, as his right-hand man. His CEOs loves and savors every praising words. He even publicly hugs Philippe before departing to find a woman to flirt.

Suddenly, Philippe feels a change in atmosphere, a sudden cold. He turns back and faces The One. The man is a head taller than Philippe, with a much squarer complex. He has a childish grin that imprinted on his face. Seeing that he has Philippe's full attention, his grin turns into a smile.

"You are shorter than what I imagined."

Philippe is too stunt for a smart remark. And his mouth must be open, as The One just helps him close his jaws. The taller man just runs his fingers along his jaws to his hair and scruffs it.

"I like your proposal. And I take it as your first speech at this kind of meeting."

Philippe has just collected himself enough to thanks for his compliment then said that he would transfer it to his boss.

This time, The One puts a finger to his lips to shut it.

"I am talking about you." "We shall meet again in the place where there is no darkness."

Then The One leaves again. How he can secure a minute alone to talk with Philippe is unimaginable.

And why he had to talk to a nobody like him?

The further he walks, the clearer his mind. Philippe realizes that he is dreaming.

Yes, he constantly dreams of his first meeting with The One. Yes, the proposal passes and then become the council's constitution. Yes, Philippe had long replaced his boss as the council member. But, no, he never sees The One again. The council hardly have any face-to-face meetings, because there is no reason for any change, or to risk life traveling outside their playgrounds is not worth it.

Those words come from the mouth of someone who drove hours to delve into the wood. So many fear for nothing it seems.

The problem is, now, everything is so damn quiet. No noise but his own breathing. No movement except the beating of his own heart. Only a burning sensation from the cut that keeps him awake. Philippe is still lying on the bed, having no reason to get up. One reason to not get up, injured. Second, everything can be ordered here. Third, no need to pretend tfo anyone. Holy hell, counting is making it worse.

Yesterday has proved that watching movies after movies is not his thing; he kept skipping frames and scenes, and he does not like documentaries about economic and political problems. And he has no courage to reach for something as related to his past as books. Yep, already thought of it.

Those last few weeks even better in comparison with today. Today, his mood is fooled

Now, he thinks that everything might happen because he wanted it to happen (because it is 60 years with no change, no new purpose). He can easily pay for Sylvia's ransom. It is only 1/50 his annual income. It is nothing. And he secretly felt gleeful when she was kidnapped, he always wanted someone to teach her a lesson (someone had to teach rich kids about real life struggling). Not to mention, he turned blind eyes at every effort from the Timekeeper to catch them. Treason. There are two reasons for his neglection. One, he didn't want Sylvia to get caught, either because their troublesome behaviors are his source of fun, or because of his expectation that she is growing up. to be a formidable enemy. Secondly, he might be a sympathizer to his daughter's cause. That is what reasons The One would believe. Philippe knows that one knows he hímself is not incompetent to lose. And treasonous to the system any belief about him both sound.

"Cortana, I want an apple." "1 minute, sir"

Hmm, not his problem. He is not on the battlefield anymore. There is no evidence for his involvement, it is just plain arrogant from his side.

The apple rolls on the bedside table from a tube. He pulls up and falls right down to the mattress because of the pain. He had already forgotten that he cut his wrist, just last morning. He squirms to the strong side then get up. He checks for under the bandage, a red angry line, and it is fucking swelling, hot and stiffed. Ah, he was very well-manner, so this is like his first deep cut. Philippe unwraps the bandage, let his wound out in the open air.

He picks up the apple with his strong arm and observes it. Artificial apple, of course. He could not have a farm that grows everything. But, he could still get a generator that 3d printing the apple molecular to molecular from wheat and sugarcane. An invention from the past too.

Test tube apple, test tube human.

He thinks as he bits the apple. What would he have done if he had a company that could make immortal individual? Would he change the whole world the way they did? Just no, he would patent the process then use it for a restricted number. They use it for everyone, but Earth's population was so high. The clock is that restriction, but what is the last number?

Test tube human, Bon appetite for the last rat standing.

Why did The One agree to his proposal? Because the old way is killing too fast, for someone came from dirt like Philippe, there is not enough time for them to change their social standing. Why don't they kill everyone when there are any problems in the colony? Because that process will kill any potential candidates for a new heaven on the Earth?

He knows for sure that The One thinks highly of him, so very sure with all the praises that he gave his first council meeting, and spies. A lot of rich ones from collapsed zones settled into his zone. And his wife, Michelle appeared in the right place, at such a right time. Philippe was desperate at his early 40s, he had climbed all the steps of his social-ladder. Stocks or real estate on the next level is restrictive. With double of what he has, he finally can reach those opportunities. An heiress that need a man to claim her inheritance just appeared among the immigrants with the number he needed. And she doses after him. So the broker sold himself with a marital promise. Because, why not?

No food for free charge, somehow she stayed with him for 70 years. It is just too long. Keeping appearance? No lover. Undying love? He never believes that scam. Spy? No one would be that paranoid to send any high skill spy that soon. Unless The One believes that Philippe is competent and dangerous. That is the elitist sign, then.

He knows for sure that The One is keeping secret. Too many high tech things came from his colony. Some colonies focus on the production of cars, some on clothing, some on minerals, but his area is on things like the transmitters, the industrial machine... And no face to face meeting might happen because others colonies are crumbling when technology keeps advancing there.

He knows that he himself had bestowed the power on that one. That day, The One also gained the power to generate money. How much did he created, and can the economy feels that change, if his colonies can self-sufficient?