System S.E.X. (Seduction, Expansion, eXecution)

Chapter 106: Chapter 106: The Kernel Panic and the $1,000 Prize

The six headed toward the entrance of the bar, a loud, crowded place, typical of a college town pub. Right at the door, a couple of sorority-looking girls were sitting at a makeshift table with lists and pens, while a burly security guard monitored access.

The guard stopped them. ”Are you here to play or just audience?”

”To play,” replied Ruby, the most eager.

”Cool. Have bucks ahead,” said one of the girls at the table, pointing to a sign in red letters. ”Tonight is a special prize night. You have six players, you need to register a team name. There’s a thousand dollars for first place.”

The mention of a thousand dollars caused Ming’s, Quinn’s, and Ruby’s eyes to widen with excitement. That was mere pocket change for Ethan and Max, but for Ming, it was real money that could mean an upgrade for his gaming rig or help with expenses.

Max and Ming looked at Ethan, who simply pulled out a roll of bills and paid the six entries without even blinking.

[$1,000, Champion? That’s less than what you spent on that steak, but look at your friends’ faces. Money has a ridiculous emotional value!] The System scoffed with amusement.

”Unbelievable!” exclaimed Ming, rubbing his hands together, already focused. ”With the combined power of the MIT Engineering Division, that thousand dollars is already ours.”

”We’ll see about that,” Ethan smiled, looking at Hailey. ”We need a team name. Something that strikes fear.”

Quinn, who was studying Computer Science, piped up immediately. ”How about ’The Root Access’?”

Ruby shook her head. ”Too boring. Sounds like a gardening club.”

Max, polishing his glasses, offered, ”The Silicon Squad?”

Ming scoffed. ”Too 2005. We need something more... terminal.”

Ethan leaned over the registration table. ”We’ll take ’The Kernel Panic’.”

The sorority girl marking the list looked up, raising an eyebrow. ”’The Kernel Panic’? Okay, that’s definitely a new one. Good luck.”

[’The Kernel Panic’ is an excellent choice, Champion. It suggests sudden, catastrophic power beyond comprehension. 9/10.]

The group was led to a large, slightly sticky wooden table near the back of the pub. The atmosphere was loud, fueled by cheap beer and overconfident university students from various schools in the Greater Boston and Cambridge Area.

Ethan immediately ordered a full round of drinks and some premium appetizers for the table, pulling out his black card again.

”Alright, strategy session,” Ethan announced, ignoring the disapproving look from Max over the extravagance. ”We have four rounds: History & Geography, Pop Culture & Arts, Science & Engineering, and a Wild Card round.”

”Science and Engineering is ours,” declared Max confidently, adjusting his seating to include Ming. ”Ming and I have a combined Ph.D.-level knowledge of theoretical physics and applied robotics.”

”I’ll handle Pop Culture and the Arts,” Hailey volunteered quickly, eager to prove her worth beyond her complex about her looks.

”And the remaining rounds?” asked Quinn, looking between Ethan and Ruby.

”I’ll cover History, Geography, and the Wild Card,” Ethan said simply.

Max frowned. ”But... you just got here. What’s your specialty?”

Ethan just winked. ”I specialize in not losing.”

[Tell them the truth, Champion. Your specialty is having access to the entire human knowledge base and real-time processing of complex data streams. That usually trumps beer-fueled human memory.]

The host, a man with a booming voice, started the night. The first round was History & Geography.

The questions were challenging: Which treaty ended the Seven Years’ War? Name the capital city of Liechtenstein.

Max and Ming scribbled nervously, relying on vague school memories. Hailey looked lost. Ethan, however, wrote quickly and confidently.

Which treaty ended the Seven Years’ War? Treaty of Paris, 1763.

Name the capital city of Liechtenstein. Vaduz.

Who was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize? Marie Curie.

After the first round, the energy at their table was low. Max looked defeated. ”We definitely bombed that one. I guessed Vienna for Liechtenstein.”

Hailey picked up the answer sheet. ”Let’s see yours, Ethan.”

She read his answers, her eyes widening with each correct response. She looked up, stunned. ”Ethan, these are all perfect! Did you... Google them?”

”No signal down here,” Ethan lied smoothly, pointing to the thick stone walls. ”Just a good education.”

The host returned and announced the scores. ”The current leader, with a perfect score of 10 points: ’The Kernel Panic’!”

The MIT table erupted in surprised cheers. Ming grabbed Ethan’s shoulder, ecstatic. ”You genius! How did you know all that?”

Ethan smiled, handing the stack of cash to Ming. ”Beginner’s luck, guys. Pure luck.”

[Beginner’s luck, my shiny metal butt. What a liar, Champion. Tell them the truth, Thomas Edison!]

Ethan stopped, the system’s accusation freezing his internal grin. ”Wait, why did I know the capital of Liechtenstein? And Botticelli? I haven’t looked at a history book since high school.” He mentally addressed the System: ”Did you have something to do with this?”

He tapped his temple, a sudden realization hitting him. Lately, his mind felt sharper, faster, more agile. He could recall facts with terrifying precision and process complex information instantly, like in the engineering round. He didn’t understand what was happening. ”What’s going on? Is my brain broken?”

[Your brain is fantastic, Champion. It’s working exactly as intended. Everything is because of your growing stats.]

”But I haven’t been allowed to add any! I can’t even see my stats since you told me I couldn’t upgrade anything until I finished the 30 days of training,” Ethan shot back mentally, frustrated by the hidden mechanics.

[Just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean they aren’t growing, Champion. The more they grow, the smarter you’ll be, the faster you’ll be, the better you’ll be. That’s the reward for your continuous training. Enjoy it! Show off a little.] The System’s tone was smug, hinting at a power that was far exceeding Ethan’s expectations.

The second round, Science & Engineering, began.

Ethan looked at his new friends and whispered in their ears, ”Go for it, maybe you can each get your princess.”

This was Max and Ming’s time to shine.