The notebook is activated when exposed to sunlight, which also registers its owner.
Throughout the notebook, sensory chips are embedded. The moment a target touches it, their brain is attacked by an electromagnetic pulse. As long as their fingerprint or signature is recorded, the sensor chip transmits their information to the server. The system then processes the data and registers the target. We have a vast database on human profiles. After that, every time a command is issued, the sensor chip transmits signals to the server, which continues processing and sends electromagnetic waves to the target’s brain through any available medium—phone signals, WiFi signals. These waves resonate with the ones previously embedded in their brain, allowing us to manipulate them by altering information within their neural pathways.
We do not want this technology to be exposed. If even one other person besides you touches the notebook, their brain will be attacked. If the system detects that the person has recognized the notebook’s instructions (the text on the cover), it will automatically deactivate the notebook. Fortunately, you have not revealed this secret yet.
We call this technology Spiritual Technology, researched and developed by numerous software experts and world-renowned spiritualists. They have dedicated ten years of research to this. You are quite lucky—despite paying just a few small bills, you have been using a product worth billions of dollars.”**
Hearing her words, I felt as if I were hypnotized. I had remained silent, absorbing every word. It took me a while before I managed to ask a question:
“Why me?”
“Random selection. I had a gut feeling to choose you. We select test subjects based on three criteria: simple-mindedness, kindness, and the ability to keep secrets. Coincidentally, you meet all of these criteria quite well.”
“Who’s simple-minded? You must be mistaken.”
**“I mean, you’re intelligent but not overly ambitious. If the user were too greedy, they could interfere with national finance or even governments, potentially drawing the attention of security agencies. If they were too foolish, they wouldn’t know how to use the notebook properly or safely. You have kept the secret well. You possess all the necessary traits of an owner.
You even discovered an undocumented function—the ability to control targets with your voice. But you never questioned the contents of the instruction guide, did you? In reality, the notebook works on people of the same gender as well. However, we only wanted the user to perceive it as a tool for collecting a harem.”**
I narrowed my eyes. “What do you want from W?”
“W is expanding globally. Our first objective is to take over W before moving on to larger corporations. I came to Vietnam with three missions: find a test subject for the notebook, recruit IT talents, and take over W.”
After saying that, she opened her makeup case and started applying cosmetics. A moment later, her face had transformed into that of a weary middle-aged woman—the same woman who had sold me the stack of discarded books. I shuddered. So that time, she had deliberately disguised herself and altered her voice to deceive me.
She continued explaining:
“Once the experiment is successful, we can use the notebook to manipulate financial markets and even politics. And you know, people like Trần Hùng Phong never sign documents carelessly, so this notebook can hardly do anything to him. I still don’t understand how you managed to get his signature.”
I stepped back, leaning against the desk as if to draw strength.
“Why did you accept me into IT? You wanted me to stop you, didn’t you?”
“Correct. I don’t want to take over W.”
“Because you love the CEO?”
She let out a chuckle—one that seemed to mock herself. “Unfortunately, he does not love me.”
In her eyes, I saw hesitation and inner turmoil. I realized this was an opportunity I couldn’t waste.
“Do you want to cooperate with me? Every piece of software has flaws. If we dig deep enough, we can find vulnerabilities and destroy it.”
She looked at me in surprise, then laughed—a genuine, hearty laugh, yet filled with mockery.
“Of course, this is just another imperfect technological product. That’s why we needed experiments. But do you really think a little girl like you can go against an organization full of geniuses? If you value your life, you should know your place. Our organization has numerous secret members who don’t even know each other’s identities. I’m just one member, with the nickname angel’s smile. Even though Trần Hùng Phong has been secretly collaborating with the FBI and intelligence agencies to investigate us, he still hasn’t found a trace. Or maybe he has, but he hasn’t acted yet. I can’t read that man.”
“Why are you telling me all this?”