Chapter 420 - Big Gift

Chapter 420: 420 - Big Gift

Lohan walked slowly toward the massive metal case resting on the marble floor of his private terrace, his blue eyes fixed on the sturdy structure with a mix of disbelief and curiosity.

He could still feel the echo of the wind generated by the magnetic thrusters of the large Vance Group military drone that had just taken off, leaving behind that pearly white container two meters wide.

Lohan’s first assumption was that Lisa’s mysterious gift was simply a massive, over the top amount of Grade SS nutrient solution vials, which would explain the physical weight and dimensions of the package, and even the secretive, careful way it was being handled, since it was a product not yet available to the general public.

After all, the Vance Group heiress had not the slightest sense of moderation when she decided to show off her generosity or her whims for someone she held in high regard, this apartment he was living in was a great example of that.

If it weren’t for him wanting to pay a fair rent, it was very likely she would have let him live there completely for free, actively losing money just to keep him comfortable.

However, as he got closer to the structure, Lohan began to notice technical details that disproved that simplistic theory of it just being a container of nutrient solutions.

The metal box wasn’t an ordinary cargo transport container. The corners of the block were gently rounded and the brushed white finish showed a highly resistant thermal coating against pressure and temperature variations. It had carbon fiber panels reinforcing the sides, and small LED lights blinked intermittently along hermetic security latches, indicating that the interior maintained active, pressurized insulation.

That was far more complex, secure, and technological than a box just used to transport nutrient solutions, even if that was still a secret, immediately raising his suspicion that there was something completely different hidden inside.

Lohan reached out his right hand and touched the cold surface of the central control panel positioned on top of the container.

The instant his fingers made contact with the tempered glass display, the holographic screen came to life, glowing in an extremely sharp sky blue tone that projected digital characters into the air in front of him.

"Active Security Protocol," a smooth, electronic, feminine voice sounded out from the small speakers built into the metal alloy. "Initiating single recipient authentication process. Please keep your face focused on the reading sensor for system validation."

A thin reddish laser beam appeared from the corner of the panel and began scanning Lohan’s facial features, moving up from his jawline to his forehead with perfect precision.

Simultaneously, the optical communication device attached to Lohan’s left eye let out a sharp beep of data synchronization.

His personal hologram flickered, connecting directly to the box’s authentication circuits to transmit the identity keys Lohan had set when he claimed that device as his own property.

"Facial biometric validation and neural registry completed successfully," the electronic voice announced, the green LED lights switching to a steady glow. "User identity confirmed: Lohan R. Hayes. Unlocking hermetic pressurization seals."

A hiss of pneumatic decompression echoed across the private terrace as pressurized air escaped through the container’s side vents.

’With security this complex, this is definitely not just carrying a ton of nutrient solutions...’ he thought, shocked, looking at it.

The latches slid back with mechanical clicks, and the box’s upper lid rose smoothly and automatically, revealing the highly luxurious contents protected under layers of absorption foam.

Lohan stepped forward and peered inside, feeling his heart race involuntarily at what his eyes took in.

Lying peacefully in the protective cradle was a magnificent, state of the art immersion pod, its futuristic design resembling a drop of water sculpted out of white metal and high density translucent glass.

The Vance Group’s shiny silver logo was perfectly engraved on the side of the polished shell, gleaming under the morning sun.

Lohan was completely shocked by the appearance of that machine, but his mind short circuited right afterward.

Lohan simply didn’t understand what it actually was for.

He ran his hand over the smooth glass surface of the protective dome, watching the built in digital displays showing energy readings and biological temperature at zero, unable to figure out the practical use of such an advanced piece of equipment.

’Is this some kind of state of the art gym machine?’ he wondered, confused.

Before he could dig deeper into the theory of it being some gym machine or try to turn the machine on, his optical communicator buzzed with the arrival of a new message notification.

He opened Syn’s floating menu with a blink, seeing Lisa’s icon pop up with a message that exuded subtle pride.

[Lisa: Good morning, you stubborn thing. Vance Medical’s monitoring center just sent me a report confirming the military vector made the safety landing at your penthouse. Tell me, have you gotten the special gift I sent overnight yet? I hope the size of it didn’t scare you. 💅 🤭]

Lohan shook his head, amused, his curiosity reaching its peak as he started typing his reply on Syn’s virtual screen.

[Hayes: Hey Lisa. Yeah, the gift just landed here on the terrace and I’ll admit its size almost called for a security renovation of the outdoor area. I’m massively shocked by the quality of the container and the machine that was inside it, but I have to confess something pretty embarrassing... I have no idea how to thank you for this generosity, and worst of all, I have no idea what I just received from you. What exactly is this giant machine with your family’s logo for? 😂 🤷]

Lisa’s reply took less than ten seconds to arrive, and Lohan could almost hear the girl’s crystalline, amused laughter through her text.

[Lisa: Hahaha! You really are one of a kind, Halon! No need to thank me for something you don’t even know what it is yet... But fine, I’ll explain the mechanics of it to you. That magnificent machine on your terrace is a Vance Group medical neural immersion pod, the most advanced prototype the Group’s engineers developed for the exclusive use of the true elite in Elysium.]

The Syn screen kept scrolling as Lisa detailed the technical specifications with obvious pride in her family’s brand.

[Lisa: Unlike that cheap gray helmet you use to connect, which causes severe mental strain and requires you to disconnect to eat and sleep, the medical pod carries out the neural connection directly, smoothly, and without biological friction. It has integrated thermal compartments that keep your body temperature at the ideal point for the user’s body regardless of the outside temperature, and it injects the Grade SS nutrient solutions directly into your system through subcutaneous and respiratory pathways, fully automatically. With it, you can stay connected to the world of Elysium for days on end with perfect safety, and even sleep in that world without suffering any muscle strain, dehydration, or physical fatigue in the real world. That’s the perfect infrastructure for my Vice President of Astralis Requiem to shine right alongside me.]

[Lisa: So, I think we can put you on another solo mission for a few days now, how about that? Hahaha?!]