CHAPTER 2: THE MASTER KEY
The warm water cascading from the automated shower seemed to wash away the exhaustion and the grime of poverty that had clung to Aryo all day. The bathroom itself resembled a luxury medical bay; the walls detected Aryo's body temperature and adjusted the water with absolute precision. The soap dispensed carried the scent of sandalwood—the same scent his father always wore.
Aryo emerged wearing a casual grey suit that fit like a second skin. The fabric felt incredibly light yet warm, a material he had never encountered in any clothing store.
As he stepped into the dining area, the aroma of fried rice filled the air. On a long table made of black glass sat a plate of Nasi Goreng Kampung with a sunny-side-up egg, cooked exactly how his father used to make it when he was a child.
Alia stood by the table, hands folded neatly in front of her.
"Please enjoy, Master. Biometric analysis indicates your blood sugar is low. I have added extra nutrients to the meal."
Aryo sat and took a spoonful. The flavor exploded in his mouth. His eyes watered. "This... it tastes exactly the same."
"I possess the database of all Dr. Satria's recipes," Alia replied with a soft smile. "Seeing you eat heartily brings satisfaction to my systems."
After the plate was clean, Aryo remembered something. He reached into the pocket of his dirty trousers, which Alia had already washed and dried in seconds, and pulled out the small, rusty metal box his uncle had thrown.
"Alia," Aryo called out. "Uncle Hardi threw this at me. He said it was trash my father left behind. do you know what this is?"
Alia tilted her head slightly, her sapphire eyes scanning the object in Aryo's hand. Suddenly, her expression shifted from calm to alert.
"Master," her voice turned serious. "May I hold it?"
Aryo handed the box over.
With fingers moving with blinding speed and precision, Alia cracked open the rusty metal casing. The rust was merely a protective outer layer. Inside, hidden away, lay a crystal chip glowing with a faint blue light.
"Your uncle made the biggest mistake of his life," Alia murmured.
"What do you mean?"
"This is not trash, Master. This is the Master Key. The Core Processing Unit for the entire 'Blue Horizon' system, your father's masterpiece."
Alia walked toward a blank wall in the living room. "Please provide voice authorization, Master. Say: Access Legacy Protocol."
Aryo stood up, his heart racing. He stared at the wall and spoke clearly, "Access Legacy Protocol."
Alia inserted the chip into a hidden slot in the wall.
The room instantly plunged into darkness.
A second later, thousands of light particles materialized in the air, forming a hyper-realistic three-dimensional hologram. A middle-aged man with thick-framed glasses and a white lab coat appeared in the center of the room.
It was his father. Dr. Satria Purnomo.
Aryo choked back a sob. "Father..."
The hologram began to speak, his voice crisp and clear.
"Aryo, my son. If you are seeing this recording, it means I am gone, and you have successfully found this place. Forgive me for leaving you alone amidst that greedy family."
The hologram of Satria sighed, as if the burden were real.
"Hardi, your uncle, always wanted the fruits of my labor without understanding the process. He covets the main house and the company patents. Let him have them. They are empty shells. The company he manages now is obsolete. I have already moved the primary assets."
The hologram pointed toward the chip now embedded in the wall.
"All my research on artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and the liquid funds from international patent royalties over the last fifteen years... everything is inside this chip. And this house, Aryo, is its operational center."
Virtual screens popped up around Aryo, displaying rows of numbers—balances in offshore bank accounts—that made Aryo's eyes widen. The digits were so long he struggled to count the zeros.
"Your uncle's house may look luxurious to the common eye, but this place... this is a fortress of the future. Use what is here to build your life, Son. Do not let them trample on you ever again."
The hologram smiled gently, a gaze that seemed to pierce through time and look directly into Aryo's eyes.
"And Alia... she is not just a robot. She is your guardian. Trust her. Fight well, my son."
The light faded, and the room lights returned to normal.
Silence enveloped the room. Aryo sat limply on the plush sofa. He was no longer a homeless outcast. Tonight, he had just inherited wealth and technology beyond anyone's imagination—including Uncle Hardi and Bayu.
"Data integration complete," Alia's voice broke the silence. This time, her voice sounded more alive, richer in emotion. The chip had unlocked the restrictions on her system. "Defense systems active. Satellite access active. Operational funds ready for use."
Alia walked closer, then knelt on one knee before Aryo, bowing her head deeply.
"Your command is absolute to me. What do you wish to do with this power, Master Aryo?"
Aryo stared at his reflection in the window glass. Out there, in the distance, he could see the city lights where his cousin was likely partying, celebrating his eviction. Aryo's face hardened. His sadness slowly morphed into a cold ambition.
"They threw away a diamond to pick up a pebble, Alia," Aryo said coldly.
He turned to the beautiful robot.
"Prepare the data on Uncle Hardi's company. I want to know exactly how fragile that 'kingdom' they are so proud of really is."
Alia smiled—a small, charming, yet dangerous smirk.
"Immediately, My Lord."