T.L Feel this arc will have a lot of nationalism just a feeling, If you notice any I miss let me know.
Getting officials to reach Tony wasn't difficult. It was only a matter of time.
"When do you think they'll come for you?" Natalie asked softly.
"Within a few days, at most," Tony replied. "They can't just let the public outcry spiral endlessly. Eventually, someone will have to step in and set the tone."
If the authorities really decided to shut him down, It would be a big setback. It wasn't like he'd suffer much as he already had enough wealth to last multiple lifetimes and his system would still be with him but it would cause massive delays. Worst case senario, he would have to move to another country and start over.
Though, if [New World] collapsed, it wasn't just his loss. The industry itself would sink back into mediocrity. Players would never again see a game burn so brightly. Yet, seeing strangers online, stand up and defend [New World] filled him with a quiet warmth. They didn't even know him, yet they were fighting for the same thing.
As those thoughts circled in his mind, the distant hum of an engine grew louder outside the villa, until it cut off just beyond the gate.
"Cortana, what's going on?" Tony asked.
"Cameras show an Audi A6 at the entrance," Chang'e reported. "Unusual plates, white background. There's a pass in the window… labeled Military Access."
"What?" Natalie shot up, wide-eyed. "Military?"
Tony didn't move. He simply exhaled, already piecing it together. "An old Audi, white plates, military pass… Well, speak of the devil. Looks like they've come in person."
"Soldiers? Why would the military come here?" Natalie whispered, her nerves spilling through her voice.
"Why else? They want me. The military coming directly is more serious than I expected… which means they want something only I can give." Tony's tone was steady, almost too calm. "Cortana, shut yourself down for now."
"Understood," Cortana replied, then fell silent. Some secrets weren't meant to be exposed so casually.
The villa's doorbell rang.
Natalie gripped her hands tight, tension written across her face. She had been confident in front of millions of viewers before, but the thought of facing uniformed officers made her falter.
"What do we do, Tony?"
"What else? We open the door." Tony rose and walked toward the courtyard.
At the gate stood two men in crisp military uniforms. The older one, around forty, wore the rank of colonel on his shoulder. A younger officer stood silently behind him.
"You're Mr. Willis?" the colonel said. "An honor to meet you." He stepped forward, saluted, and introduced himself. "I am Colonel Mustang, of the Southern Military Command. We'd like to discuss something with you."
"Please, come inside," Tony answered politely, ushering them in. Natalie trailed behind, stiff with nerves.
"Anything to drink?" Tony asked as they sat in the living room.
"No, thank you." Colonel Mustang shook his head. His expression was serious, though his tone carried a note of respect. "To be frank, we're here to talk cooperation. Specifically, we'd like to explore applying your technology to our training systems."
He went on to explain, modern VR was already used in military training across the world, but progress was slow. Most simulations could only manage crude tactics, barely surpassing commercial games. Nothing came close to the lifelike depth [New World] had achieved.
With Silent Hill, Deep Sea Trek, and now Sekiro, [New World] had built worlds that felt more real than reality, AI that could think and adapt, networks that could host tens of thousands without lag, and combat systems that demanded peak physical and mental engagement.
"Suffice to say, Mr. Willis, your games aren't just entertainment. They're strategic assets," Colonel Mustang said gravely. "Sekiro in particular shows us a new way to train. If adapted, it could push soldiers beyond what traditional drills allow. Techniques too dangerous to attempt in reality could be tested safely in VR."
Tony was quiet for a long moment before nodding. "I can help with that. If my work can bring people joy and also serve a greater purpose… that's an honor."
He was didn't want to use his games to help towards war, but he knew, even if he wanted to refuse, he couldn't. This was too big an offer. Saying yes didn't just mean cooperation, it meant gaining a shield powerful enough to silence all the current noise and any future issues against him. With backing like this, rival studios and media attacks wouldn't matter anymore. He would be free to do almost anything.
"I'm willing to develop a dedicated training platform," Tony said. "But I do have one question."
"Please," Colonel Mustang encouraged.
"What's the government's stance on this wave of public opinion? Will [New World] survive?"
The colonel's lips curled into a confident smile. "Mr. Willis, you don't need to worry. There's no plan to shut you down. Quite the opposite, your work has unprecedented support. What you've built has captured the world's attention. No one is blind to that."
Tony raised a brow. "Truly?"
"Absolutely," Colonel Mustang nodded. "Your creations aren't just games, they're global phenomena. You've changed the landscape of an entire industry. That kind of influence is rare, and it's recognized."
The younger officer by his side pulled out a phone, set it on the table, and played a video.
On screen, a noisy street came into focus with crowds of protesters.
"This was filmed just yesterday," Colonel Mustang explained. "After playing Sekiro, many players organized anti-war demonstrations. Your work… it's sparking conversations far beyond games."
Colonel Mustang leaned back with a smile. "And it's not just here. Protests have broken out in Japan, UK… even in China and South Korea."
"All of this… because of Sekiro?" Tony blinked.
He hadn't been paying attention to anything beyond the firestorm of public opinion. The fact that players had already taken to the streets with anti-war protests was… surreal.
Yes, he had embedded an anti-war theme inside Sekiro, but he never expected players to pick up on it, let alone take action in the real world.
Colonel Mustang chuckled. "You're not the only one caught off guard. I'm sure the governments there didn't see it coming either. That's the kind of influence your work carries. Honestly, it's not an exaggeration to say you've become a man of power."
Tony tilted his head, lips quirking into the faintest smile. "Well… since you put it like that, I won't deny it."
Countless figures in history were celebrated as visionaries. Why shouldn't he become his own?
"You don't need to worry," Colonel Mustang replied firmly. "The people in charge see things clearly. They know this so called wave of 'public opinion' was manufactured, stirred up by rival companies, with some other influences mixed in. It's just noise, not truth. Those responsible have already been warned. The attacks against [New World] will fade soon enough."
Hearing that, Tony finally let out a long breath. He had worn a mask of calm earlier, but the truth was he hadn't wanted to see everything he built collapse overnight. [New World] was his work watching it go down would have been unbearable.
"One more thing, Colonel," Tony pressed. "What's your personal view on games? Just curiosity."
Colonel Mustang considered the question, then said, "Games should be seen dialectically. Yes, some students get addicted and their grades suffer, but blaming games alone is nonsense. Without games, those same kids wouldn't magically become scholars. And addiction is a minority problem, not the whole picture."
He leaned forward slightly. "In fact, your titles, Subnautica and Sekiro, require real physical and mental effort. They're not easy to binge endlessly. If anything, they've helped train players bodies and sharpen their reflexes. These games haven't been seen as harmful. Quite the opposite."
"As for Silent Hill…" Colonel Mustang chuckled. "Who would be addicted to that nightmare? Unless they're crazy!"
The young officer at his side couldn't help laughing with him.
Tony raised a brow. "Colonel Mustang, you sound like you know my games a little too well."
"Of course I do. I've played all three," Colonel Mustang said proudly. "In fact, I had my soldiers use Silent Hill to train their courage. Brutal, but effective. Ask Jones here."
The younger officer winced but forced a smile. "It's true. After surviving that… I feel like I can face anything."
Tony suppressed a laugh. He knew just how terrifying Silent Hill could be. Forcing soldiers through it as 'courage training'… only the military would come up with something that extreme.
"Anyway," Colonel Mustang continued, "we've already tested Sekiro as a temporary training simulator. Everyone loves it, myself included. The action, the sheer intensity, it's top-class. So yes, Mr. Willis… you've gained quite a fanbase in uniform."
"You flatter me." Tony smiled faintly, then joked, "Sounds like I've already done half the military's work for them."
"That's exactly it." Colonel Mustang grinned. "But now we'd like more direct cooperation. When you have time, we'd like you to visit our base. Best if it's within the next two days. I was sent here with that mission. We'll send a car for you."
"Tomorrow morning works," Tony replied without hesitation. "I don't need to bring a team. I can handle this myself."
"That's fine. We'll provide developers on our end. We'll be waiting."
With that, Colonel Mustang and his aide stood, exchanged a crisp salute, and left.
The villa grew quiet again.
Natalie exhaled shakily and finally found her voice. "Tony… are you really going?"
"You saw it yourself," Tony shrugged. "A colonel came to the door. Do I have a choice?"
"But…"
"It's not a bad thing," he cut in gently. "Didn't you hear? They've already dealt with the smear campaign. Once this blows over, [New World] won't just survive, it'll thrive. We'll have milltary backing and that Sis, is very good news."
1661 Words.