William leaned forward, his fingers steepled on the polished desk. His eyes were sharp, but his voice came out respectful, almost deferential.
"Young Lord, there is… one more matter," he began carefully. "My closest allies, the ones who stood with me when I was nothing—they wish to meet you. Not to take, not to bargain. They won't ask for shares or profits. All they want… is to shake your hand. To say they have met someone like you."
Karma swirled the wine in his glass, watching the ripples catch the light. "Connections," he said evenly. "That's what you're offering them. And what you're asking me to give."
William inclined his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Even the most powerful men of this world crave proximity to greatness. It costs you nothing. But for them—and for me—it will secure loyalty beyond gold."
Karma held his gaze, calm and unreadable. "And where do you stand in this?"
For a flicker of a second, William's composure wavered, then a low chuckle escaped him. "Where I've always stood. The Su lady and her Master are cold, distant gods. But you…" His voice lowered, almost conspiratorially. "You are different. You are approachable. And yet you carry a mystery greater than theirs. If I remain useful, my path will rise higher than I ever dreamed."
The words hung between them, a silent, binding agreement.
At last, Karma set down the glass. "Very well. Arrange it at a Ritz-Carlton in one of the major cities. Somewhere neutral, professional. I'll attend."
Relief flickered through William's eyes, quickly hidden. "As you command. Then… allow me one more liberty. Take Anna with you. She will smooth arrangements, ensure your comfort, and handle details unworthy of your attention. Please, Young Lord. Accept this as my offering."
Karma studied him in silence, his gaze heavy. Finally, he inclined his head. "Fine. She may accompany me."
William bowed deeply, his heart hammering with both fear and triumph. Yes, he thought. This is the bond worth nurturing. Not with cold gods who see me as dust, but with this one—this young master cloaked in humility and mystery. As long as I serve him well, the benefits will eclipse everything I gained before.
The next morning, Karma departed with Anna. The journey was uneventful—thanks to the Su Clan's concealments, mortals remained blind to the colossal vessel still hovering in orbit. By noon, the Ritz-Carlton rose before them, glass and marble gleaming under the sun like a monument to mortal wealth. Anna handled the arrangements with practiced grace. Within minutes, Karma was settled in a suite high above the city, the skyline stretching before him like a sea of steel and light.
His heart was restless. His feet carried him away from luxury, toward a modest house he once knew well. The key clicked in the lock. The door swung open, and a familiar scent of dust and faint cologne greeted him.
The stillness was profound. His old room was bare. A hollow ache pulled at his chest, a ghost of a feeling for a life that was no longer his. He stepped into Badri's room, and the sight stopped him cold. His prized iPad, Mac, iPhone—even his high-end mattress—were being used as if they had always belonged to someone else. A flicker of irritation twisted in his chest, hot with betrayal. Then, slowly, it faded, replaced by a quiet, profound detachment.
What was the point of clinging to such pettiness? He gathered the few belongings that remained and set a note on the desk:
Thank you for taking care of my things till now.
Nothing more, nothing less. With that, he closed the door, leaving behind not only a house, but a piece of his past. The click of the lock felt like the final period on a forgotten chapter.
Back at the Ritz, Karma asked Anna about the prototype.
She greeted him with a calm smile. "It will be delivered tomorrow morning. The engineers call it a deep-immersion pod. Sleek, fully equipped. Everything you requested is included."
Karma nodded. "Good. I'll test the formation the moment it arrives."
That night, he practiced. On the polished floor of his suite, he drew spiritual lines, weaving them into delicate formations Grand Elder Yuan had shown him. The array pulsed faintly, illusions flickering like candlelight. He could almost feel the Dao humming in response.
By midnight, a thin smile tugged at his lips. This will work.
The next morning, the cabin arrived, a sleek black capsule gleaming with glass and polished alloy—mortal technology perfected. Karma placed his hand against the cool surface.
"Let's begin." He carved the formation lines, embedding them into the circuits. The runes pulsed once, then settled into a low hum. The hatch hissed shut behind him.
Darkness. Then the world bloomed. A meadow stretched in every direction, drenched in sunlight from twin suns. He felt the soft give of the jade-green grass beneath his feet, the perfume of wildflowers filling his lungs, and the distant, sonorous cries of jeweled birds. The illusion wasn't just convincing—it was a new reality. He felt the spiritual energy that brushed against his skin, faint but nourishing. This wasn't a game; it was a simulation so perfect it could guide.
Outside, Anna pressed her lips together, her hands trembling. The pod glowed with a faint, otherworldly light. For a moment, she swore she heard whispers—ancient voices murmuring just beyond understanding. She stepped back, chest tight, her professional facade cracking. What is he… really? An hour later, Karma stepped out, his expression calm, though a profound awe lingered in his eyes.
Anna, who had been watching quietly, finally spoke. "It worked, didn't it?"
"It did," Karma said simply, his voice calm but resolute. "Now tell me—what of the meeting? Are the preparations in place?"
Anna adjusted the tablet in her hands, her expression efficient but tinged with awe. "Yes, Young Lord. Mr. William has secured the Ritz's grand hall. Invitations have gone out discreetly to his allies—hidden family representatives, corporate titans, a few key politicians. They were told only to expect something… extraordinary. Security will be airtight, and all arrangements will be handled under my supervision."
Karma nodded slowly, satisfied. "Good. Then let them wait. They'll see soon enough."
Anna bowed her head. But inside, her thoughts whirled. She had never met anyone like him—someone who spoke with humility, yet carried the presence of a god. She couldn't decide if she was serving a man… or standing at the dawn of a new age.
The following evening, the Ritz-Carlton's grand hall brimmed with power. William's top allies had gathered, their skepticism shattered, now only curiosity, greed, and fear remained. When Karma entered, silence fell. He wore simple robes, yet carried himself with an assurance that silenced even the most arrogant. William introduced him with a flourish. "Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to present the young master under whose guidance our future will unfold."
Karma's gaze swept the room. His words were steady, quiet, yet each syllable struck like iron. "The world you know is but a shadow of what lies beyond. I offer you a choice: to build a bridge between worlds. Through your technology and our formations, mortals can awaken—not to fantasy, but to truth. Not to play, but to prepare."
The murmurs began. Then the prototypes were brought out. One by one, the titans of Earth slipped inside. One scoffed at first, but when the cabin opened, tears streaked his face. "I… I walked among the heavens," he whispered. Another refused to remove the headset, clinging to it like a drowning man clings to driftwood. "Don't—don't take me back! That world is real! This world is fake!"
The hall fell silent, the titans of industry trembling, their illusions of power shattered. William watched with a predatory smile, already envisioning how he would bend this awe into chains of loyalty. At the center of it all stood Karma, calm and steady. He had planted the seed, and he could already feel it taking root. This was more than a meeting; it was the first tremor of something vast, a bridge between realms. A sharp, unshakable certainty filled his chest. This was only the beginning.