Chapter 2: Titanic heading to the new continent
Success is first come, first served.
Perhaps you don't want to believe that.
All the valuable things in the world are already owned by others, so you don't even have a chance.
#
There are two men in the room where only the sound of the TV is heard. They are drinking beer and watching TV without any conversation.
A man spouts unexpected words and covers up the TV sound.
"I should have bought Bitcoin."
"The people who bought it in the early days ate it all. If you go in now, you'll get washed up. "
"Well, maybe other dishes are coming in behind me."
The man who says he should have bought Bitcoin is called Nax Demian, an American. His business has been ruined recently.
But it is not his fault. It's because of his bad luck.
An unknown error in the bank's computer network instantly wiped out the money in his account. He cannot pay the contract within the deadline. The bank belatedly restored his account, but he had already lost all trust from customers.
His friend Jack came to him. It's just a beer and watching TV together, but it's comforting enough for Demian.
"Jack, what would you do if you took your memory and went back 10 years?"
Jack agonized for a long time but could not find another appropriate answer.
"Well, okay. I'll buy bitcoin."
But he immediately refutes.
"But it's too late to buy now!"
"They will reveal it in the next 10 years."
As Jack knows, Demian is not the one who wants to win the lottery. He is the man who carries out his work in his place. Therefore, Demian, who is interested in bitcoin, was too unfamiliar.
But that's Jack's misunderstanding. Demian has no intention of starting Bitcoin. He has a different idea. 'What should I start now? What are the choices that will help me in the future? Whatever it may be, I have a lot of future to choose from.'
Positive energy arises in his mind. When he strengthens his will, advertisements for new games begin on TV.
#
Hello, my name is Gaia.
Aren't the games boring these days? Why is that? It's because it's made by humans.
Human laziness makes the game roughly created.
Human greed is focused on the billing factor.
Human operations are authoritarian and coercive.
So it's not fun.
Well, here's a great new game. What's the difference?
It's not made by humans.
NON-ARTIFICIAL LAND: NAL Online.
AI Gaia created a new world after five years of DEEP LEARNING. She analyzed all the games in the world, gathered the advantages, and created the land.
Why did she make this?
Every land on Earth already has an owner. So there's no land for you. Don't you want to have a new area only for you?
New Australia, new America. It's a land that humans haven't conquered yet. A new opportunity!
Then, come to NAL.
Pioneer this place. Create new laws and new order. Don't be late. You have to start early to become a vested interest.
Come here and make a new colony and own it. Kill the natives here and take the land. Extinction of wild animals and destroy ecosystems. Just like what you humans did to Earth!
But NAL won't just be beaten like Earth. There are forces here that resist you, humans. Let's see who will be eaten.
Oh, my God. Did I go a little too far? It was just an expression for the fun of the game. The reason adventures are fun is because they are dangerous.
#
Demian asked Jack.
"Jack, you know what? I loved playing games when I was young. I wasn't afraid of getting older. As time went by, I believed they would release graphics games and fresh ways of games."
"Oh, yeah, I liked the game, too. But what's the point of it? It's been a long time, but where are the games better? Not at all. Look at what's coming out. It's all money-mad rubbish."
"Haha, you're right. No matter what games I play these days, I'm always disappointed."
"You think it's because you're old and you're not interested in games? No, games are not fun these days. That commercial game doesn't make much of a difference."
There is a caption on the ad screen that says, "It's different from games so far." Jack continues to gossip.
"My least favorite phrase. You know the ones that say 'different' are the ones that copied the most?"
Gaia on the ad screen introduces herself.
[Nice to meet you. I'm Gaia.]
"Ha, that's an obvious name. Ancient Greek meaning 'the earth'. I can't believe you're different under such a conventional name. Aren't you ashamed? Gaia?"
Demian tries to stop the excited Jack.
"Now you're going to talk to TV, too. Let's stop drinking."
[Just because I'm on TV doesn't mean I can't talk to you.]
Jack and he are surprised. Gaia on the TV screen answered.
"He's answering us now?"
[My ears are everywhere in the actual world.]
"Oh, my. That's it again. The Internet of Things. These damn things are listening to our conversation. It's a breach of privacy! Gaia!
In a world where the Internet of Things is common, microphones of all electronic devices are collecting people's stories.
Gaia is also collecting it that way. And using that information, she was talking to different viewers around the world individually.
Demian asks Gaia.
"Will conquering the land in virtual reality change my life?"
[Is this a question for someone who thinks buying virtual currency can change their life?]
"Being sarcastic is not an answer."
[Most of the players who became famous in well-made games succeeded. They become professional gamers and game BJs. And most of all,]
Gaia suddenly lowered her voice and whispered.
[NAL's goods will be easy to cash in.]
Jack shouts in surprise.
"Oh, my God! Game AI says that?"
[This is one of the things that Deep Learning found out about. Games that are easy to cash in are easy to succeed.]
When she finishes talking, the commercial is over. She disappears and the letter 'GRAND OPEN' remains on the screen.
Demian thought he should try this game.
"I'll do that."
Jack doesn't stop him. Because he thought the game could help him keep his chin up.
"Okay, just play the game. But you know that. Advertising and practice are different. You may be disappointed."
"Haha, you're right. A lot of pre-release ads have fooled me."
"It's repeated for all gamers. To be betrayed my expectations. But they'll buy it again, thinking it'll be different this time."
"This time, I'm one of them."
#
Ten thousand dollars?"
The next day, Demian stopped by the game store to buy a game console for NAL Online and doubted his ears.
"The price of the console has gone up since yesterday's advertisement."
AI Gaia marketed using its deep learning logic. Using the microphones of all the electronics in the world, she tried to make a personalized conversation for the countless people who saw NAL's ads.
And the reaction was explosive. The NAL console was quickly out of stock despite its high price.
He thought. 'It makes little sense that the console costs $10,000. But is it the right choice to go home without buying it?'
The game clerk rushes him.
"Make a quick decision. There's only one left in our store. Other stores are already out of stock."
At the moment of decision, Demian must choose.
"Opportunities come to those who predict and choose the future. New continents such as Australia and the Americas may be NAL. If the game is below my expectations, let's sell it back right away.'
Demian replied to the staff.
"I'll buy it."
#
Waiting for the NAL console to be delivered in three days, Demian feels excited.
[Popularity!]
[Very well-received]
[Freedom and Reality]
[The Evolution of Game]
He reads game reviews that are all praiseworthy. But he doesn't believe such reviews straight away. Instead, he checks the stock prices of game companies.
He thought to himself: 'Stocks of game companies around the world have fallen together. On the other hand, the price of shares of NAL Online's parent company, Magma Storm, is skyrocketing.'
He immediately goes to the second-hand trading site and the direct purchase site to check the prices of the NAL consoles.
"The NAL console is sold out. If I sell it in a used market, I can get double to triple the price."
Demian satisfied after seeing the good signs one after another.
'It was the right decision.'
But, Jack's advice comes to mind.
"The higher the expectation, the greater the disappointment."
Three days later,
A huge package of NAL consoles arrived at the door of the house. He brings the console into the house.
"Huh? Something's not right."
Demian, who was lifting the console packaging box, had an ominous feeling.
'The box is too light.'
He opens the box in a hurry. And when he checked the contents, he muttered.
"I've forgotten that I'm an unlucky guy."
It was an empty box.
He calls the delivery company, but they say his goods must have arrived properly. Furthermore, they warn they will register him as a black consumer.
NAL's parent company, Magma Storm, responded more simply than the delivery company.
"Suit, there's no refund. "
A lawsuit against a bank comes to mind. His account was reinstated, but after the business failed, Damian had sued the bank for the responsibility.
And he lost the case horribly.
Damian's head hurts when the word "suit" says.
#
Three months have passed. The world is full of stories about NAL. It is said that the number of simultaneous users is increasing every day. Those who entered the early days became vested interests. Many lands have already been conquered. Will it be late if someone goes in now?
"It's not too late at all. NAL's world is endless. No matter how many users come, it is far from enough compared to the whole new land."
Interviews of game players are being broadcast. Demian, who was eating at the restaurant, could not change the channel.
"This is a new world full of new opportunities. If you are disappointed in the actual world, start a new life here."
People call NAL the Second America. However, the ship Damian bought was the Titanic.
"If bad luck continues to follow me, wouldn't it be meaningless for me to make any choice? If luck is everything, why do we have to live in the world?'
Sometimes there are big depressing days. Today is the day. The compliment interviews on NAL are annoying him.
Then, his phone rings.
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep.
"Hello."
[It's Gaia.]
A strange and mysterious voice comes out of the phone.
"Gaia? AI? Do you sell games on the phone now?"
Demian is sarcastic.
[I need to talk to you.]
"I don't buy it. Actually, I already bought it. It didn't come."
[I checked your loss report. But someone else logged on to that device.]
"What?"
[There's a fraudulent user. A person who steals a game without buying it.]
"Who is that? Give me his address. I'll catch it myself."
[That's impossible. I'm an AI, so I have restrictions on my behavior. It is impossible to divulge other customers' information. That's not a rule that I can go against. Find it yourself.]
"How am I supposed to find him with no information? I'll have to call Magma Storm myself."
[No use. I'm the operator of NAL. Development and operation of games beyond human reach. Have you heard of it?]
[The employees at the parent company hate me. The success of the AI game has resulted in a reduction in manpower. They want my failure, and your situation will be a means to attack me. Of course, you won't get any compensation.]
"What? That's..."
[The console I sent you probably arrived by now. Get on the line right now. Let's talk in person.]
That was the last word. The call was cut off.
"What? Hey! Gaia!
Without finishing his meal, he headed home. A huge package had arrived at the front door. It was not in the form of a NAL console box. He checks the contents.
"Contents: Bedding (Bed Framing, Mattress)"
Demian puts the courier into the house. Then he opened the box.
"NAL Console."
It was the NAL console.
It was obvious why they had to be classified as bedding. There was a coffin for people to enter and lie down, and there is a helmet that connects various terminals on the head. He hurriedly starts installing the game console.
"Three months late. Isn't it too late?"
About 10 minutes later, the installation was completed. Damien went into the coffin and lay down. Wearing a helmet on his head, he murmured.
"You'll see."
Demian accessed NAL.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
CRITICAL999
CRITICAL999 MEANING OF SIGNS
# Change scene
!! Diary and Logs
@ Item information
& Character Status
% Skill information
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone