Overgeared: Saharan Successor

Chapter 56: Interview (I)

The VR capsule's lid opened with a soft hiss, and Mathias blinked as the real world came into focus. 

Stretching his long limbs, he glanced at the clock. He still had some time before the interview, but first, he needed to stretch his legs. Slipping out of the capsule, he went to the living room, where Luna was lounging lazily in her oversized bed.

Usually, the warm, soft weight of Luna, his Russian Blue cat, would be perched somewhere nearby, waiting for him to return from his gaming session. Today, however, she was off in her little world.

After a moment of scanning the large living room of his Penthouse, he found her. Luna was lounging comfortably on the couch, her velvety gray fur catching the soft glow of the television screen. Her large, intelligent green eyes were fixated on the TV, where a National Geographic documentary was playing. A scene of wild cheetahs sprinting across the savannah unfolded on the screen.

Mathias chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck as he walked over to her. "Of course, you're watching TV," he muttered with a grin. "What is it this time? Wild cats on the prowl?"

Luna's ears twitched at the sound of his voice, but she didn't break her gaze from the screen. She let out a soft, acknowledging meow before refocusing her attention on the show as if telling him to wait until the cheetahs finished their chase.

Amused, Mathias leaned against the back of the couch, folding his arms as he watched her. "You never cease to amaze me," he said softly, affection in his voice. 

After a minute, Luna finally turned her head to him, her intelligent gaze meeting his as she blinked slowly, a sign of trust. Mathias reached out and gave her a gentle scratch behind the ears. "Enjoying the show, huh?"

Luna responded with a soft purr, shifting slightly as she made room for him to sit beside her. Mathias couldn't help but smile again. Despite everything she had gone through, Luna always had that spark of life, as if she had chosen him to be her protector, friend, and family.

"You're a special one, you know that?" Mathias said quietly, sitting down next to her. He gave her another scratch, his fingers tracing the line of her spine, feeling the softness of her fur. Luna's purring grew louder, a sign that she enjoyed the attention.

For a moment, the two of them sat together in comfortable silence, the wilds of Africa unfolding on the screen. Cheetahs sprinted across the savannah, their sleek forms captured in breathtaking slow motion while the quiet hum of the city filtered in through the large floor-to-ceiling windows. 

Beyond the glass, Bucharest was alive, though it was a different Bucharest than the one his grandfather had grown up with.

The city's transformation was remarkable. The skyline had changed so drastically over the years that it almost seemed unrecognizable to the older generation—the generation that had lived through the days of concrete gray apartment blocks and the oppressive uniformity of the communist era.

Where those hulking, brutalist buildings once stood, sleek, modern apartment blocks stretched high into the sky. Glass and steel dominated the cityscape, gleaming under the streetlights and casting long reflections across the asphalt. Bucharest had evolved into a metropolis akin to Tokyo, blending the old with the hyper-modern. 

Its narrow, winding streets had been replaced by broad boulevards flanked by cutting-edge architectural designs that housed everything from high-tech offices to luxury apartments. The hum of electric cars echoed softly in the background, weaving their way through the city's efficient public transportation systems.

Mathias could see all this from his penthouse—an entire generation's progress etched into the skyline.

That past, full of hardship and scarcity, was now a distant memory for the younger generation. 

For them, the oppressive uniformity was nothing more than stories passed down from grand-grandparents or grandparents who heard those stories from their parents, as they had to live in a city dominated by a gray concrete jungle.

As he sat there, with Luna's soft purring vibrating against his arm and the distant sounds of the city filtering into the penthouse, Mathias reflected on how far they had all come. 

People had changed a lot. His generation no longer carried the weight of that old world, nor did they feel its imposed limitations or being taken as fools by corrupt governments. 

Within the European Federation that united ~600 million people of different cultures, the past imbeciles and corrupt rats running free without suffering the punishment of the Justice System finally phased out. 

There was apparent resistance, but once the final steps were taken to turn the union into a federation, nothing could stop the reach of the Federal Government.

Mathias and many youngsters like him all over the Balkans and Eastern Europe had a brighter future because of this transition, which turned Europe into a Superpower that could stay equal to countries like the USA, China, Russia, India, Mexico, and Brazil.

"Alright, I'll let you get back to your documentary," he chuckled, standing up after giving her one last affectionate rub on the head. Luna gave a soft meow in response, her attention already drifting back to the screen as the next show segment began.

Mathias stretched again, feeling his body loosen up, and headed toward the room of his twin brothers since they had to prepare for the evening ahead.

"Alright, time to pull those two idiots out of the game," he muttered, thinking about the Ricci brothers, Enzo and Luca. They were supposed to be his bodyguards, but these days they were more like overgrown kids wasting time in Satisfy World.

Striding toward their shared gaming room, Odin banged on the door. "Enzo! Luca! Time to log out, boys!" he shouted through the door. "I'm giving you five minutes or pulling the plug from the Capsules myself!"

A series of groans and muttered complaints filtered through the door, but Odin smirked. A few minutes later, the door swung open, and the Ricci twins emerged, looking sheepish but grinning.

"Come on, boss. We were about to finish a dungeon," Enzo complained, his blue eyes flashing with amusement.

"Yeah, yeah," Mathias said, waving them off. "Finish your dungeons on your own time. We've got a real-world quest. We're heading out into town, so get ready."

The blonde twins exchanged glances but nodded and hurried off to get dressed. Odin, too, headed back to his room to prepare. 

He slid open his wardrobe, selecting a stylish, tailor-fit suit. The black fabric perfectly hugged his lean, muscled frame, highlighting his broad shoulders and narrow waist. He slipped on a crisp white dress shirt, fastening the buttons with practiced ease before adding a sleek black tie.

Once dressed, Mathias glanced in the mirror, smirking slightly at his reflection. The suit gave him a sharp, polished look.

Smirking to himself, he reached for his phone on the dresser. His thoughts wandered to Mi-Jung, who loved teasing him with her flashing pictures from the office or her bathroom.

'Let's give her something to look at in bed.'

He opened the camera app and tilted the phone slightly to capture his complete form. The soft, warm light of the room highlighted the sleek lines of the suit, making his muscles stand out even more beneath the fabric. 

'Not bad for a guy who usually sticks to leather jackets and jeans.'

He flicked through the best shots and sent them to Mi-Jung, and she was on them instantly, as if she logged out just to have access to her phone.

With a satisfied nod, Mathias tucked his phone into his pocket, grabbed his cologne, and gave himself a quick spritz. The subtle, woody scent filled the air as he straightened his tie one last time. 

He was ready to go. Enzo and Luca would be dressed by now, but it never hurt to make them wait a little longer. Let them see who the real boss was.

His phone buzzed almost immediately. A message from Mi-Jung popped up on the screen:

— Mmmm~ looking sharp, Mat. 👀 I might just have to steal you away from your event tonight.

Mathias walked out to see Enzo and Luca dressed to impress in matching dark suits. "Look at you two," Mathias teased, adjusting Luca's crooked tie. "Almost looking professional for once."

Luca grinned, his mischievous eyes flashing. "We clean up nice, don't we?"

"Better than usual," Mathias quipped before gesturing toward the door. "Come on. Let's go."

As Mathias moved toward the door, he paused momentarily, glancing back at Luna.

"Alright, girl," he called softly, walking over to her. He crouched down and gave her a gentle scratch behind the ears. She looked up at him with those knowing eyes that always seemed to understand him better than most humans. 

Her purring grew louder as he rubbed her head, and for a moment, Mathias felt a pang of guilt at leaving her behind.

"I'll be back soon, don't cause too much trouble while I'm gone," he smirked. Luna gave a slow blink, her way of acknowledging his words, before returning her attention to the TV.

Mathias stood up, grabbed his coat from the hanger, and headed toward the door. As he stepped out into the hallway, the sleek, modern lines of his penthouse were reflected in the polished floors and mirrored walls.

Enzo and Luca were already waiting by the elevator, both looking sharp in their dark suits. Enzo tapped on his phone while Luca leaned casually against the wall, adjusting his watch.

"You boys ready?" Mathias asked, pulling on his black coat as he approached them.

"Always," Enzo grinned, pocketing his phone as they all entered the elevator.

A gust of cool evening air greeted them as they exited the building. Parked in front of the entrance was Mathias' car—a BMW MX-7, an advanced model designed with the sleek aesthetics of the 2070s. It was reminiscent of an M3 model but with the aerodynamic curves of a sports car in sedan form.

Mathias fished the keys from his pocket and tossed them to Luca. "You're driving," he said with a smirk. Luca caught the keys effortlessly, a gleam of excitement in his eyes.

"I trust you not to crash it," Mathias quipped, slipping into the backseat.

Enzo climbed into the passenger seat while Luca slid into the driver's seat, running his hands over the futuristic dashboard. The car's interior was just as sleek as the outside—carbon fiber details, holographic displays, and soft leather seats that conformed to each passenger's body.

The engine roared to life as the car rumbled out of the underground garage and headed toward the bustling heart of Bucharest.

Odin sat in the back, leaning back into the luxurious leather seat, the city's neon lights reflecting off the car's windows. He had a lot on his mind, but for now, the rhythmic beat of pop music helped keep the mood light. Luca glanced at him through the rearview mirror.

"You good, boss?" Luca asked casually, adjusting his grip on the steering wheel as they merged onto a busier street.

Odin sighed, leaning back into the soft leather. "Just thinking about this interview. The moderator has a reputation for pushing buttons. You know how it goes, trying to get a rise out of people for ratings."

Enzo turned up the volume slightly, the energetic chorus of some popular song blaring through the speakers. "C'mon, relax a little before you gotta be all professional and polished on TV," Enzo said with a grin. "Gotta loosen up!"

Odin rolled his eyes with a small smile. "You call this relaxing?" He leaned forward, tapping on the car's central console. "Alright, enough of that bubblegum American pop." He scrolled through his playlist, smirking to himself. "Let's switch it up a bit."

The next track to blast through the car's sound system was none other than Blackpink's 'Kill This Love'. The vocals filled the car, instantly changing the atmosphere. Enzo looked over his shoulder, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.

"Wait, I heard this one before. It's an old one. Blackpink? Really? I thought you were more of a metalhead," Enzo jabbed, smirking. "You know, guitars, headbanging, that kind of thing. Did Mi-Jung put a spell on you or something?""

Mathias smirked, unfazed by the jab. "Maybe she did. Or maybe I just have better taste than you give me credit for. Also, it helps me learn Korean, so?"

Luca chuckled from the driver's seat, bobbing his head slightly to the beat. "You got a point, boss. This one does hit pretty hard."

"See? Luca gets it," Odin said, leaning back with a satisfied smile.

Enzo feigned disbelief, holding his hand to his chest. "First you, now Luca? Bah, you don't even understand what those galls sing. Tsk, I'm losing both of you to the K-pop wave. What's next? Are we getting custom-made lightsticks and dancing to BTS choreo?"

Odin raised an eyebrow and, without a word, switched to a classic BTS track, Dynamite, blasting it through the car. 

Odin couldn't help but grin as he watched Enzo's face twist in mock horror.

"Noooooo!" Enzo cried dramatically, throwing his hands up in defeat. "The conversion is complete. You've become one of them!"

Luca, unable to hold back his laughter, nudged his brother. "Better get used to it, man. This is the future now. S.A Group is Korean. They will take control over the globe with their VR World."

As they pulled up to a stoplight, the city's vibrant skyline stretched out before them, with glowing advertisements and holographic displays lighting up the night sky. 

Enzo turned to Odin once more, this time a little more serious. "Hey, don't sweat the interview too much. You've dealt with way worse than some pushy moderator. Just be yourself, and you'll be fine."

Mathias met Enzo's gaze, appreciating the reassurance. However, he was also annoyed about their slacking. "Thanks, Enzo. Just keep your head in the real world for once tonight, don't focus on the Auction House and the fluctuating prices, alright?"

"I don't want to explain to anyone why my bodyguards are goofing off when they're supposed to be watching my back."

Luca chuckled. "No promises, but we'll try our best."

As they rounded the corner, toward the Sky Tower, the sight was unmistakable—a group of fans was already gathered near the entrance, a mix of teenagers and twenty-somethings holding up signs and their phones, eagerly waiting for a chance to see their favorite idol in the flesh.

Some of them had spotted the black MX-7 approaching, and there was a noticeable stir in the crowd as they pointed and waved, excited whispers spreading through the group.

Mathias smiled to himself. He could see the enthusiasm in their faces, even from the car. He'd been in their shoes once, as a fan, idolizing someone he admired, however it was in football. Now, it was his turn to give them a moment to remember.

"Luca, park us over there," Mathias gestured to a nearby spot. "Let's give them a quick hello before we head inside."

Enzo turned around with a grin. "Man of the people, huh?"

Mathias just smirked. "Always."

Luca eased the car to a stop, and before Mathias even stepped out, the fans had gathered closer, their phones flashing, capturing the moment. He stepped out of the car with a relaxed but charismatic demeanor, dressed sharply in his suit, the sleek cut showing off his well-built frame.

As he approached the group, there was an excited murmur through the crowd, and Odin raised a hand in greeting, flashing them a warm smile.

"Hey, everyone," he called out casually, his deep voice carrying over the excited chatter.

A few fans shouted greetings back, some holding out posters and game merchandise for him to sign. Mathias took the time to chat with a few of them, signing autographs, taking selfies, and listening to their stories about their journey in Satisfy World.

"Been following you since you started the first Leviathan series on SkyNet," one teenager said, barely able to contain his excitement. "You're the reason I got into the game!"

Mathias smiled, giving the kid a pat on the shoulder. "Glad to hear it. Keep grinding. You'll be at the top in no time."

After a few more minutes of signing and chatting, Mathias rechecked his watch. Time was ticking down, and he knew he couldn't keep the interview waiting.

"Alright, guys, I gotta run—interview calls. Make sure to check it online or on the Netflex" Mathias said with a wave, causing a mix of disappointed groans and cheers.

The fans didn't make it hard for Mathias to leave the gathering, not when he behaved like a normal guy with them, chatting and even giving some newbies pointers when asked. Just as they adored him, he also appreciated their support, which made it possible for him to be in this position.

His livelihood was an extension they have contributed from all the revenues generated by his SkyNet channel or sponsorships from global brands.

As he walked toward the entrance of Sky Tower, Luca and Enzo followed closely behind, and Odin couldn't help but feel a rush of energy. 

The buzz of the crowd, the anticipation of the interview.

"This is just the beginning for me and Leviathan," Mathias murmured to himself, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "In a couple of years, we'll be global stars holding the world in our hands."

Luca, walking beside him, glanced over, eyebrow raised. "Global stars, huh? That's some serious ambition, boss. You aim to be the next President of the Federation or something?"

Mathias chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Nah, I'll leave the politics to the old men in suits. But the world? That's a different story. Leviathan's already changing the Satisfy World—literally. It's only a matter of time before everyone's watching."

Enzo, trailing behind with his usual carefree swagger, chimed in. "You better not forget us when you're sitting on top of the world, Mathias. I don't want to wake up one day and find out you've replaced us with some fancy Hollywood bodyguards. Life in Palermo is shitty. I'm a bit sick of the Mafia Life."

"We escaped because you talked with the Capomafia and vouched that we could make good money with you."

"Then you better work harder because I got myself in an uncomfortable place by talking with your dad. Heck, no normal guy would haggle around with a Mafia Boss. But you showed potential in the Satisfy World, so I had to reach out."

Mathias glanced over his shoulder at Enzo, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Besides, as if anyone could replace you two idiots. Who else would keep me grounded by messing with my playlists or crashing my Conference with the whole of AESIR with a pizza party?"

"Exactly," Enzo grinned. "You need us to keep things interesting. Can't have the great Odin getting too serious now, can we?"

Luca, ever the level-headed one, gave his brother a playful nudge. "More like he needs us to ensure you don't turn everything into a circus act."

"Hey, my circus act has charm," Enzo shot back, unbothered by the ribbing. "Besides, the fans love me. We're a package deal, right, boss?"

Odin shook his head with a chuckle. "Yeah, yeah, a package deal. But just don't forget whose name is on the marquee. I lead, you follow. And when the whole world's looking at us, don't screw it up."

"Who, us?" Luca quipped with a grin. "Never."

As the elevator ascended, Enzo, always ready to lighten the mood, leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "So... after we conquer the world, do we get to take a vacation? Maybe hit up the beaches in Bali or something?"

Luca rolled his eyes but smiled. "Only you would be thinking about a vacation right now."

Mathias chuckled, shaking his head. "Tell you what, I'll let you pick the destination once we're big. But until then... no distractions."

Enzo gave a mock salute. "Yes, sir. World domination first, vacation later."