Matthew Atkinson
Oxford, United Kingdom
[Welcome to the Forge, Master Matthew.]
Matthew was greeted by an area resembling a corporate lobby upon entering the factory.
Although his intention in building this structure was to create a factory, that didn't mean he couldn't set aside a portion for himself.
Therefore, Matthew had arranged for a portion of the building to serve as his office and laboratory.
Just like Tony Stark had his own laboratory in his mansion.
It also had other rooms and offices, including a washroom, a bathroom, guest rooms, and a lounge.
In fact, there wasn't even a direct path to the factory's production area. Matthew's office was adjacent to the factory section, and if he needed to go there, he had to remove the wall separating the two.
Matthew walked through the now completely deserted lobby and headed towards the stairs leading to his office.
Although Matthew was the only person here at the moment, all the furniture and equipment one would expect in a company were present.
Matthew didn't know when he should show this place to someone, but if he did, at least it wouldn't look like a fraudulent company.
And although Matthew hadn't designed this section in a super luxurious way, everything was high-quality and functional. Matthew valued functionality over ostentation.
He quickly arrived at his workspace. It looked like a typical CEO's office, but the wall behind his desk was completely bare, unlike the others, and there was a gap in the wall to the right of his desk, leading to his lab.
Matthew approached the wall behind his desk and said, "ROBIN, activate the viewing platform."
[Viewing platform activating.]
Then the nano-metal wall in front of Matthew reconfigured itself into a viewing platform.
Matthew was now looking down on his production area, which had a 9.9-meter-high ceiling, from a 6.6-meter-high viewing platform.
Although this section didn't encompass the entire factory, it allowed Matthew to see the general layout of the production line.
However, no machines were running at the moment, and the factory was passive. This was because Matthew hadn't yet given instructions for mass production.
"ROBIN, give a general report on the factory's status," Matthew said.
[Production, assembly, calibration, testing, packaging, and storage sections are all ready for operation, Master Matthew. The machines have undergone maintenance and checks. The Iron Smiths are in a passive state but ready for duty at any moment.]
The Iron Smiths ROBIN was referring to were robotic workers that Matthew had designed and built using the Iron Man armor design. Although the factory housed many robotic machines, they could perform only their defined tasks.
But the Iron Smiths were different. Matthew had removed almost all the weapons from the Iron Man armor design, leaving only the thrusters and stabilizers.
This allowed the Iron Smiths to fly while also defending the factory if necessary. Of course, Matthew also planned to build and deploy armor whose sole purpose was protection.
But he needed ROBIN to work at full capacity to design a real Iron Man armor, and that's why he hadn't built a true combat armor yet.
Even though the Iron Smiths lacked many weapons systems, Matthew transformed them into excellent workers. They could do every job a human worker could, including maintaining and repairing other machinery.
And all of them were under ROBIN's control.
"ROBIN, where are the finished products?" Matthew asked.
[They're currently in the testing section, Master Atkinson.]
"Send them to my office."
[As you wish, sir.]
A minute later, an Iron Smith entered his office, placed a tray on his desk, and stepped back to wait.
"You can return to your post," Matthew said, and Iron Smith returned and left the office.
Then Matthew looked at the two devices on the desk. These two devices were ready-to-use versions of the first product Matthew would release.
Actually, these were much more advanced versions than what he was going to release. These two devices were for his and Natalie's use, so instead of using the public version, Matthew tasked ROBIN with creating special-edition devices with advanced features.
Matthew's first product to release was the Neuro Linker device from Accel World.
{IMAGE: Neuro Linker}
A semi-collar-like personal computer that wirelessly communicates with the user's brain. Normally, it has two specialists: "Virtual Reality" and "Augmented Reality".
But Matthew planned to launch the device with only Augmented Reality (AR) functionality, without activating Virtual Reality (VR). However, all devices, even if not fully activated, possessed VR capabilities, and Matthew could activate them with a single update.
But Matthew planned to activate VR once OASIS was fully operational. This way, people would have devices that could access OASIS as soon as it became active, and OASIS could then rapidly evolve.
But even in its current state, Neuro Linker was a groundbreaking device.
Besides possessing significantly more powerful processing and storage capabilities than existing computers, its Augmented Reality feature allowed all screens and keyboards to appear directly in front of the user, visible only to them.
And because it could wirelessly connect with the user's brain, users could operate many functions by speaking in their minds.
They could even communicate telepathically with other users via a call function.
Matthew knew that upon its release, it would dominate the market, eliminating phones, computers, and many other devices.
But its features weren't just commercial. Neuro Linker would also be a groundbreaking device for health.
Because it was directly connected to the brain, it could transmit information from the outside to the brain, as well as transmit information from the brain outward. This would eliminate disabilities such as blindness, deafness, and muteness.
People with these disabilities might need to use additional devices such as glasses or speaker attachments, but otherwise, they would have no difficulties.
And Matthew planned to distribute both Neuro Linker and the necessary additional devices free of charge to people with these kinds of disabilities.
But it wasn't just for people with these disabilities; Neuro Linker would also have a significant place in other areas of health.
First of all, thanks to its "Augmented Reality" feature, it could automatically adjust the eye focus for people with visual impairments. This meant that the use of medical glasses would become a thing of the past.
Furthermore, Nero Linker had a highly advanced health-monitoring system. It could instantly track the user's health data with the same level of detail as advanced hospital devices, generate periodic reports, and even call an ambulance when necessary.
When people started using this device, the concept of delayed diagnosis would generally disappear, thus saving many lives.
Frankly, Matthew thought that he deserved at least a Newton Prize for this device.
"If you're wondering, folks, in this world, instead of Nobel Prizes, Newton Prizes are awarded," Matthew said, looking at the readers.
'Another fourth wall break?' Matthew thought, but then shrugged and refocused on the devices in front of him. He had other things to do right now.
The devices in front of Matthew were factory-made, in classic gray and black colors, but Matthew had designed the Neuro Linker with customizable appearances. Of course, standard customization options were limited, and users who wanted more unique designs had to purchase skins from the store.
"ROBIN, what is the factory's production capacity for the Neuro Linker Spark I?"
The Spark I version was the version Matthew designed for the public.
[With Forge's current capacity, the estimated daily production number for the Neuro Linker Spark I is 5,220,873, Master Matthew.]
"That's a pretty good number, but it's still not enough when I want to make everyone over the age of 7 in the world a Neuro Linker user, especially considering we have other projects."
Given the world's population, Matthew needed to produce nearly 10 billion devices to reach his goal. With an average daily production of 5 million, that would take approximately 2000 days.
For Matthew, more than 5 years was a very long time.
"I assume that number will double when the other Forge modular parts are completed," Matthew said.
[That's right, Master Matthew. Currently, Forge's expansion plan includes adding another 400 modular parts to the existing 400. This expansion is scheduled to be completed within a month, with 100 modular units added each week. Once the expansion is complete, the estimated daily production number for the Neuro Linker Spark I is expected to be 10,678,142.]
The 400 new modular parts would double Forge's current space, but all of them would be used for production. Matthew wouldn't need additional office and lab space.
This would more than double the production number. But Matthew still didn't consider this amount sufficient.
"ROBIN, create a new project file. Project name: Forge Expansion Plan 2. After the first expansion plan is completed, we will build a second Forge in the second hangar with 800 modular parts. This will quadruple our current production. We will look at the rest when the second expansion plan is finished."
[Your instructions have been carried out, and the project has been put on hold to be activated when the time comes, Master Matthew.]
When Matthew first decided to build this factory two months ago and began work, the initial stages were slow and challenging.
Although this world's manufacturing technology was more advanced than Earth's, it was still not advanced enough to produce Matthew's projects.
Therefore, he initially used existing manufacturing machines to create more advanced machines. Then, using those, he created even more advanced machines.
After this cycle continued on machines across many different areas, Matthew had access to the current manufacturing technology and could now produce many things he wanted very easily and quickly.
He could easily even create the Iron Man armor after completing the designs and calculations with ROBIN.
But frankly, the Iron Man suit wasn't exactly a suit of armor that Matthew would find useful. Therefore, he was still undecided about whether to make it.
If he could take it to the Supernatural Realm and use it there, perhaps he could make it and give it to Natalie, but since it wasn't a Supernatural Item, it couldn't be used in the Supernatural Realm.
And he didn't want to expose them to the real world. At least not yet.
If the governments of countries learned that he could mass-produce Iron Man suits, they would relentlessly pursue him to get their hands on them. And Matthew didn't want to deal with such a scenario.
Matthew shook his head, snapping out of his reverie, and said, "ROBIN, contact the publishing houses and send them the Neuro Linker advertising plan."
[Details of the advertising plan you prepared, along with brochure and gift card designs, have been emailed to publishing houses, Master Matthew.]
The sixth book in the Harry Potter series, The Half-Blood Prince, and the second book in the Lord of the Rings series, The Two Towers, were to be published on the 15th of this month.
Although these books had already been printed, and it wouldn't be possible to add advertisements at the end within 12 days, Matthew planned to distribute a brochure and a gift code card along with the books.
The publishing houses would have some difficulty meeting the deadline, but it wasn't impossible.
With these brochures, Matthew would promote Neuro Linker, while the gift card would offer users free Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings skins for Neuro Linker.
Moreover, these skins would only be exclusive to the sixth Harry Potter book and the second Lord of the Rings book, and would not be obtainable in any other way.
Therefore, Matthew believed this advertising plan would increase not only Neuro Linker sales but also book sales. That's why Matthew knew that even if the publishing houses complained, they would still go along with his plan.
Because Neuro Linker was a device that would change the era, and it would be utterly foolish of them not to take advantage of it.
If one publishing house refused to comply with the plan, Matthew wouldn't hesitate to switch to another. If they didn't have the vision to seize such an opportunity, they weren't worthy of working with Matthew.
Matthew planned to launch sales of Neuro Linker in the United Kingdom on the 20th of the month, five days after the books were published. Still, he would begin internet, television, social media, and billboard advertising two days later, on the 5th.
This way, people would be aware of the news 10 days before the books went on sale, and Matthew was confident that this would be the most crowded and highest-grossing sale ever.
"ROBIN, activate the Forge at full capacity and begin producing Neuro Linker Spark I. I want the products ready for distribution to stores."
[Understood, Master Matthew. The Forge is being activated to operate at full capacity.]
Within the next 17-18 days, the total number of Neuro Linkers produced will be around 90 million, enough to feed the United Kingdom.
Of course, Matthew wouldn't release them all at once, but having a sufficient quantity would give him peace of mind.
Furthermore, he could use some of these stocks to sell in other countries if necessary.
The biggest challenge for Matthew with the Neuro Linker was the internet connection problem.
Of course, the Neuro Linker had Wi-Fi and mobile network connectivity. But the Neuro Linker was a personal computer/phone that everyone would carry with them at all times, and all its functions worked via the internet.
Therefore, using only Wi-Fi was not feasible. And Matthew couldn't expect people to connect the Neuro Linker to their phones' internet.
Moreover, given the Neuro Linker's internet usage, people would most likely stop using the device after seeing their phone bills.
The most logical solution would be to make an agreement with telecommunication companies and use their base stations for internet access.
But Matthew knew that telecommunication companies would demand exorbitant prices for such an agreement. He had even approached a few with negotiations, but after seeing their offers, Matthew swore he would never do business with those sharks again.
Therefore, Matthew had to solve this problem himself. And he had to build his own base stations in the United Kingdom.
But it wasn't as difficult as it seemed. Neuro Linker's connection systems were far more powerful than normal devices, and the signal strength in the base stations Matthew built was incomparable to that of classic base stations.
In fact, he only needed to install 4 base stations to cover the entire United Kingdom. But Matthew still increased the number of base stations to 10 to ensure that the connection wouldn't be interrupted in the event of a malfunction.
And thanks to this, he became the company with the best signal strength in the United Kingdom. Moreover, thanks to its advanced technology, people can easily use Neuro Linkers even in areas with strong signal interference, such as underground.
And when Neuro Linker launched, Matthew would gleefully watch those telecommunication companies go bankrupt.
However, this infrastructure was only available in the United Kingdom and hadn't yet been established in other countries.
But Matthew didn't worry about that. Once Neuro Linker went on sale in the United Kingdom and the world saw its features, other countries would line up to buy this product.
Because Matthew knew that not having such a product meant falling behind the countries that did.
Then Matthew would be able to easily obtain the necessary permits and land for base stations from these countries.
Some countries might resist and refuse to allow Neuro Linker into their territories to protect their own industries. Still, Matthew knew that all their resistance would crumble when OASIS came into play.
Matthew sent two specially produced Neuro Linkers to his inventory and left the Forge, walking back to his dormitory.
From then on, it was entirely up to ROBIN; Matthew could continue resting in his dormitory.
[Author Note: The main focus of this story is superpowers and the Supernatural Realm. Therefore, I don't plan to focus too much on technology and business.
In particular, I won't be focusing on detailed product planning or company management. We'll see technological developments intermittently, much like in Matthew's novels.]
---------------
Author's Note: You folks can also read up to +50 chapters on my P@treon Pages as an early access privilege.
You can also read "+3 Free Chapter" and see some pictures as aFree Member.
www.patreon.com/spell_merchant
P@treon Page Name: Spell Merchant
www.patreon.com/vanguard_v
P@treon Page Name: V For Vanguard
Next Chapters' Name:
Ch.203: Tenth Layer Entry Day
Ch.204: A Trap?
Ch.205: Showing Some Sincerity